After more than a year of wearing masks everywhere, I was looking forward to showing off a smile with gorgeous lips. I started my hunt for a perfect lipstick, and I might have just found it: Gucci’s Rouge a Levres Satin Lipstick.
What is it?
These creamy lipsticks are super lightweight and moisturizing, so they keep your lips really soft and smooth. The color is bold and long-lasting with a satin finish.
As well as a lightly fruity and violet, floral scent, these lipsticks come in gorgeous vintage-inspired packaging decked out in gold.
Pros
There are a lot of things this lipstick gets right.
The most immediately obvious, of course, is the packaging. These bullet-style lipsticks come in glittering gold tubes etched with a vintage-inspired design that screams elegance. This is a lipstick I can not only show off in a collection, but it also turns heads when I reapply in public.
Each shade also easily layers and blends.  Even a few colors—like a light, dark, and rich red shade—can transform into a variety of different looks for different occasions.
The satin formula is great because it not only is long-lasting (as far as lipsticks go) but feels amazing on the lips. It feels very comfortable, no doubt in part by its hydrating properties.
These colors also work well as a blush for a fully cohesive look. Just a little blended into the cheeks brings the color together in a natural way that I love.
Cons
Although a pro for me is that these lipsticks are long-lasting, they aren’t the most lasting formula I’ve ever tried. After all, these are still lipsticks, so they can only have so much staying power. Therefore, they don’t last through eating or drinking, but the color can always be reapplied, so it wasn’t a huge negative for me.
Also, these colors can be a bit sheer. One swipe gives good color, but I usually need a few passes for complete coverage.
The last con is that sometimes the fragrance of these lipsticks can be a tad overwhelming. They have an artificial floral perfume scent that, since the lips are right below the nose, can be strong to the wearer when just applied.
Alternatives
While there aren’t any lipsticks that compare to Gucci as far as visual appeal, there are some formulas that can compete.
In a similar price range from top brands, there’s Chantecaille’s Lip Veil and Christian Dior’s Rouge Dior Lipstick. The Lip Veil, however, is a bit sheerer than Gucci’s. The Rouge Dior Lipstick is refillable, which is a fun touch (we always support sustainability), but the sheen of the satin fades after just a few hours and the color itself doesn’t last as long as it’s supposed to, either.
For some still-fun packaging with a satin finish, you could try Givenchy’s Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick or Lancome’s L’Absolu Rouge Ruby Cream Lipstick. I find Givenchy’s to be balmier and a tad sticky, however, and Lancome’s smears easily and has a bit harder of a texture, like it needs a balm to help melt it into the lips.
For a bullet with a golden tube, if that’s what you’re after, there’s also L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Satin Lipstick. It’s also a tad sheer, so it needs multiple applications for the full effect, and it dries a bit after a few hours of wear.
On the cheaper side, there’s also NYX’s Butter Lipstick, Max Factor’s Colour Elixir Lipstick, or NARS’ Satin Lipstick. However, NARS’ formula is a tad waxy, Max Factor’s smears and transfers easily (therefore doesn’t last as long), and NYX’s breaks easily and acts more like a colored lip balm.
Verdict
Overall, I don’t think the cons outweigh the pros—and while I would give it a higher score for my own preferences—as a general score, I’d give Gucci’s Rouge a Levres Satin Lipstick 4/5 stars.
If you’ve been thinking of trying a new lipstick, I wouldn’t recommend waiting to try one of these. The formula is so good it immediately made its way to the very top of my go-to makeup. It looks and feels great on as much as it looks great in the tube.
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