Designer Lips: New Gucci Lipstick, La Bouche Rouge, CL and Laura Mercier review, 2019
2019's new designer lipsticks are anything but the norm: these are easy to use and come in the most covetable packaging
Gucci Lipsticks, £34
“Lipstick is the most beautiful object you can find inside a handbag. It is the most fascinating because it has always had a beautiful scent—we made Gucci lipsticks perfumed with violet. Lipstick is a playful object because it recalls crayons that children colour with. Lipstick also symbolises of the world of cinema, and all of the famous lips from Hollywood,” says Alessandro Michele, the now lipstick-obsessed Creative Director.
True to his word, the 58-piece lipstick collection featuring three different formulations is undoubtedly far from the norm. Take the advertising, dental diversity or what, with snaggle and jagged-toothed models smiling from the glossy pages, Michele says, “[my vision is] close to reality with a humanized point of view, however seemingly strange.” It’s eye-catching for sure and refreshing coming from such an established and prestigious fashion house.
But what we really want to know is, are they any good? The lipstick bullets are delicately scented in a pretty grandma kind of way, with a whiff of powdery violet (a spark of genius) as this also acts as a very discreet breath freshener and is much more subtle than your average a slap-in-the-face mint.
The formulas fall into categories; satin, sheer and balm and are super easy to wear and use, they can be slicked on straight from the tube. No brush or building required unless you want a more pigmented colour, plus some are multi-use and can be used on lips and cheeks. 
While the packaging takes it’s cue from Art Deco inspirations, like something you’d find on a 1940s dressing table; the roses are reminiscent of the wallpaper of an old motel, a beauty parlour in Los Angeles in the 1950s or the lipstick you would find in a vintage market. However, they are anything but old-fashioned. This is the new ideal of beauty, a realistic refreshing take, and as Michele adds, “it’s about women wearing make-up in a very liberating way.” We can’t argue with that. How thoroughly modern.
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La Bouche Rouge, refill from £32Are you looking for that perfect lipstick shade to suit you? That also comes with some brilliant eco-credentials (they’re sustainable, plastic-free and for each lipstick sold, the company supplies 100 litres of safe drinking water to the charitable association Eau Vive Internationale) and something that looks stylish when pulled out in public?
Then allow us to introduce to you, ‘La Bouche Rouge’. You can choose the hue or buy from one of their 25-existing (and exciting) colours.
Plus they are vegan, cruelty-free, pure formulas that contain no plastics or beeswax and they’ll also monogram the vegan or calfskin leather with your initials. It’s the future of luxury beauty, that’s both sustainable and sexy.
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Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick, £26Laura Mercier, the French make-up artist pioneer and creator of the ‘Flawless Face’ has been at the top of her game since the ‘80s after working with the likes of American Vogue and celebrities such as Madonna and Mariah Carey, and Sarah Jessica Parker who has admitted to being ‘Laura-dependent’ and when you see her in action, you know why.
We’ve had the honour of being on set with her; she’s an unpretentious figure whose perfectionist nature, teamed with natural ability, means it’s no wonder her range is one of the most sought after today.
For example, the latest lipstick range, ‘Rouge Essentiel’ has French girl chic written all over it. It combines a minimalist case with a magnetic closure so it almost fastens by itself; the formulas deliver rich and intense colour in one swipe, which feels insanely moisturising and comfortable to wear – all thanks to the sea algae extract. But remarkably doesn’t feather either (so good for every age). Plus it comes in over 30 spectacular shades, from hypnotic mauves, rose and nudes to a jaw-dropping coral that’s simply perfect for spring/summer wear. Tres chic indeed.
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Christian Louboutin LoubiGraffiti, £70
It’s not just Banksy who is creating some limited edition and thought-provoking street art – Christian Louboutin is also getting into the anti-establishment scene with ‘LoubiGraffiti’ lipsticks. The collection is housed in boxes with the designer’s scribbles, slogans and punchy patterns that celebrate spring in the city. The formula is an intensely pigmented velvet matte that you can apply straight from the tube to achieve a super-vibrant colour that lasts for up to four hours. And even better the lipstick doubles as a necklace – perfect for the micro-bag trend – as you can wear it, instead of trying to squeeze it into your clutch.
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