As much of a lover I am for ultra-fierce Latina afros, electric blue nail polish, and booming loud lipstick, my typical beauty purchases lean more towards the opposite. Being a college student living in the heart of New York City, I’ve attempted to scale back and spend my money only on things that are the whole package and then some.
In other words, multi-functional products are key to my everyday survival.
And as CC creams have rarely failed us in the new hybrid skincare/foundation space, Giorgio Armani has blessed us with the first ever CC (Color & Care) lipstick with the launch of Rouge Ecstasy. I was able to test it out in the shade 302 Tokyo, which (spoiler alert!) has become my new go-to lippie!
PACKAGING
Yes this lipstick deserves a paragraph just for its packaging. Standing 3 inches tall, this very sleek, bold red tube is just downright sexy and totally luxe. It’s smooth and cool to the touch, and best of all – I don’t ever have to worry about a missing cap thanks to its magnetic closure. I just let the cap fall right on top and it conveniently snaps into place. (I almost feel like a female spy whipping out my dual lipstick/secret weapon when I apply it in public.. shhhhh.)
APPLICATION
Beauty confession: I had not exfoliated my lips for days when I first tried Rouge Ecstasy. So you can imagine how rough and dry they were. I constantly debate whether to apply lip balm before lipstick to avoid visible flakiness, with the flip side being the balm may then dilute lip color or cause it to slip off quickly. But the concept of a CC for lips boosted my confidence, so I skipped lip prep and went straight to it.
After two full swipes, my lips felt like they were bathing in creamy goodness. I was SO surprised at how well the lipstick glided on that I had to double-check whether I was using the lipstick or my normal lip balm!
Because my lips were drier than normal to begin with, it did take a few coats for the lipstick to kick in full-effect. On that note, I do recommend a quick exfoliation beforehand. This can be as easy as swiping your lips with a clean disposable mascara brush, a trick I learned from LDiva. After this is done, you can sit back and let Rouge Ecstasy take care of the rest!
RESULTS
I absolutely love love LOVE this particular shade and though it’s even more radiant with flash photography, it actually leaves a matte, velvety finish. Not only do my lips look and feel healthy and hydrated, but this color is perrrrrf for everyday wear. Whether it’s running errands, hitting the gym, or even grabbing happy hour cocktails with the girls, this multi-functional coral CC lipstick got my instant approval. Even better, its color longevity is ahead of the game, lasting about 4-5 hours before reapplication is needed.
Lastly, moisture is EVERYTHING when it comes to Rouge Ecstasy. After hours of wear, my lips still felt extremely soft, like satin. I can definitely say it works better than my normal lip balm (which you know has since been put to the side).
Priced at $34, I honestly think it’s worth your buck. If it means an end to the hunt for the perfect everyday lipstick/lip-balm combo, I’ll take it!
xx
~Jessica