The Gold Standard

Despite having more than 80 lipsticks at last count, I've only recently purchased my first one from Yves Saint Laurent. I've long admired these gilded bullets of magnificence, but at $55 a pop, I wasn't sure I could justify the splurge. Enter the utterly enabling environment of duty-free airport shopping, and the Rouge Volupté Shine in Corail Intuitive (15) was mine. As always, picking the shade was a difficult task, but Jennifer convinced me to go for something on the bright and peachy side.

l-r: Revlon Juicy Papaya, Lancome Blush Classique, YSL Corail Intuitive, Revlon Peach Parfait, Maybelline Mango Diamonds

I predicted I'd have a few similar shades to Corail Intuitive and it's no surprise that I absolutely do. The closest is probably Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya. It's brighter in tone, slightly more neon, and also thicker in texture and less emollient. Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Blush Classique (337) is very similar texturally to the Rouge Volupté Shine, but distinctly more pink in colour and more shimmery. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait is grittier in texture due to the chunky gold shimmer, and more beige/rosy in colour compared to the YSL, which is more orange/coral and slightly lighter. Maybelline ColorSensational "The Shine" Lipstick in Mango Diamonds (445) is darker yet brighter in tone, more red-leaning and not as sheer.

There's not much to fault with YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Corail Intuitive. I'm a fan of the fruity, sweet scent, it has a sheer, lightweight, moisturising formula that glides on but doesn't settle into lip lines, it's not super pigmented making it ideal for everyday wear but can also be built up in intensity for a punchier look, it imparts the lips with a soft, plumped up sheen that isn't overly glossy, and then there's the packaging. I'll be the first to admit it was about 85% of my motivation to purchase. It's an object of art to be appreciated when placed on your vanity or retrieved from your purse for touch ups. Without a doubt, this is the single most glamorous lipstick in my collection.