As you may know, L’Oreal has released a new-to-the-US line of lipsticks, the Rouge Caresse lipsticks. The UK has had these for a while now. As far as I know, the only place where these are available so far is Target. Although my Target’s display was nearly empty, I did manage to find three shades that I wanted enough to purchase! Since one of my local Targets actually has labeled testers of many (though not all) lip products, I was also able to swatch two additional shades for you.
The Rouge Caresse lipsticks have been compared to Revlon’s lip butters, but they have a significantly different texture and color payoff in my opinion. The lip butters are firmer, feel like a sheer lipstick, and are much more pigmented. The Rouge Caresse lipsticks are more balm-like, softer, more moisturizing, and are more sheer. I haven’t used the Rouge Caresse lipsticks enough to have a preference yet between the two. Actually, I think my favorite sheer lipstick formula of the moment is actually the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains – I’ve been wearing Romantic every day lately!
Back to the Caresse lipsticks: I bought three shades – 167 Sunset Angora, a soft pink, 179 Cherry Tulle, a sheer red that reads more berry on me, and 181 Sheer Linen, a soft nude.
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| L’Oreal Caresse Sunset Angora, Cherry Tulle, Sheer Linen |
As you can see, the Caresse lipsticks are packaged in slimline tubes, but in a normal lipstick-sized gold case. The packaging is fine; it’s quite lightweight (not luxe), but is functional and reasonably attractive. My one gripe is that these have only a small sticky label holding them closed, which makes it easy for people to open them in-store, difficult to tell if they’ve been opened, and leaves a bit of sticky residue. I much prefer shrinkwrapping as packaging, as it deters people from opening, makes it obvious when items have been opened, and doesn’t harm the packaging.
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| L’Oreal Caresse Sunset Angora, Cherry Tulle, Sheer Linen |
As you can see, these are sheer – and meant to be sheer. They really remind me of a tinted balm in feel – they are very soft and slightly glossy. They do all show up on me, even the nude – but would certainly be more apparent on someone with less pigmented lips. The below lip swatches are generously applied.
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| bare lips |
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| Sunset Angora |
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| Cherry Tulle |
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| Sheer Linen |
The one downside is wear time – due to the nature of the product, these simply don’t wear for very long on me. After an hour of wearing Cherry Tulle, I had a little color and no glossiness left. Your specific wear time may vary, but these are going to be a fairly short-wearing product on anyone as contrasted with a more opaque lipstick.
As mentioned above, since my Target has testers (proof!), I also have swatches two more colors: 178 Cardinal Plume and 177 Fiery Veil. Please note that these photos were taken in Target lighting with my phone, so are not necessarily color accurate. To me, Cardinal Plume looked like a bright, sheer red (gorgeous on some, but those always pull pink on me), and Fiery Veil was a TRUE bright orange.
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| L’Oreal Cardinal Plume, Fiery Veil |
Overall, I like these – especially Cherry Tulle, which is a lovely sheer berry that’s fairly unique among my lipsticks. I can see myself using Sheer Linen layered over another nude to add some shine without adding the stickiness of a gloss, and using Sunset Angora on a natural-makeup day instead of just lip balm. However, due to the wear time, these will be a daytime lipstick option for me rather than something I wear on nights out – at night, I want something that will last longer.
Have you tried the Caresse lipsticks? Are you planning to?
