Red lipstick is a quintessential classic that I think every makeup-wearer should try at least once. Clearly Shiseido thinks so as well because they just launched their Rouge Rouge collection* of 16 shades of lipstick, focusing on variations of red. I was lucky enough to be provided the full collection and wanted to share swatches and my thoughts on the formula in case you're looking for a new lipstick to try.
Let's run through the basics first before we get to the swatches. The Rouge Rouge lipsticks are currently available on Shiseido's website as well as Macy's and Nordstrom but I expect they will roll out into other department store counters and places where Shiseido is sold. Each lipstick contains .14 oz and retails for $28. Packaging-wise, these are in line with the simplistic style I've come to expect from Shiseido. The black plastic packaging clicks closed with a magnet, although I wish the magnets were concealed for a cleaner look. The lipstick bullets have a very sleek design with the Shiseido imprint which I like. I wish there was some indication of the color on the outside of the packaging because it can be difficult to tell what shade you are reaching for if you have more than one of these.
There are eight true reds in the collection - four creams and four with a slight hint of very fine shimmer. The lighter four look so similar that in the swatches below you really can barely tell them apart from one another. Poppy and Ruby Copper immediately caught my attention because cool toned reds just pop against my warm skintone. Rouge Rum Punch looks like a great fall and winter burgundy red. If you haven't found that perfect shade of red for your skintone or personality, Shiseido has you covered.
The lipstick formula is supposed to be vibrant, creamy and moisturizing - all things I personally look for in a lip product. You can see from the swatches that the lipsticks are pigmented, creamy and high-shine. While these are full on swipes of color, you can easily jus dab the product on your lips and blend with your fingers for a more natural hint of color.
In the collection there are also four shades that I would describe as rose nude colors and four true corals. There are some really gorgeous neutrals in this collection so even if you don't wear reds, you still might find your new favorite shade amongst the Rouge Rouge line.
Despite Hushed Tones clearly being a pale nude, it still has a hint of red in it so you won't get that zombie-lip look. Sweet Desire is a wearable version of the cool toned brown pink shade that is all the rage these days. The corals look quite similar to one another though I think Burning Up and Crime of Passion would look especially amazing on deeper skintones.
No lipstick post would be complete without lip swatches! I chose the shades that stood out to me the most from each category (cream red, shimmer red, rose nude and coral) to give you an idea of how they look on. I love, love, love how Poppy and Rose Crush look on my lips. Rose Crush is an excellent everyday lipstick and would probably be a lovely nude on deep skintones. The creamy texture was easy to apply and layer on the lips. Liaison also looked very nice and is a more toned down, daytime red. Coral Shore was a little harder to work with because it was a little more patchy and it sunk into my lip lines more than the other shades. I think it's better used as a hint of color or layered under a gloss rather than fully swiped on.
Shiseido is known for their skincare but I think their makeup releases deserve more attention. The Rouge Rouge formula is comfortable and pigmented and the shade selection is flattering for a variety of skintones. All in all, I'm really happy to have these in my collection and I'm excited to branch out with this assortment of reds. Do any of these shades jump out to you? What is your go-to red lipstick?
* These lipsticks were provided by PR for consideration. This is not a sponsored post and my opinions are 100% honest and my own.