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Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Red Nail Extensions

May 2, 2016

This May, Christian Louboutin introduces three new rouge nail colors for spring to summer in his Red Nail Extensions Collection ($50 each). There are two new additions to the Pop Colors Family and one new shade for the Noirs Family. Just when I thought all the reds have been done – Louboutin manages to add three new shades that are absolute perfection. The Louboutin team sent the three shades for me to play with for a week and swatch for my readers. I’m thrilled to be able to share a peek at them today.

There are three bright and bold colors added to the rouge lineup – all of which are very opaque and offer full coverage with a single coat. I personally prefer two coats for all nail polishes I wear for a super rich and cushiony look. I’ve reviewed the Christian Louboutin Nail Polish formula in previous post so I won’t do a full recap (review on Rouge Louboutin in this post here) but the quick take is these have a naturally glossy shine to them, smooth coverage and excellent wear. I have yet to try every single color of nail polish Louboutin makes, but from what I have tested, the Pops, Noirs and Rouge Louboutin have full opaque coverage. The Nudes have a mix of sheer coverage and full coverage formulas. You can read the full review on all 10 nudes in this post here.

Shown above for the Red Nail Extensions, from left to right:
  • EdgyPopi is described as a punchy orange-red that’s fun and flirty. It is my favorite color out of the three. It definitely packs a gorgeous punch of bright summery color that’s perfect for the tips and toes. It’s deeper and brighter than my other favorite Miss Loubi.
  • Lady Peep is a medium to deep raspberry red. It darkens on the nails to a dark raspberry shade. This one is a cream without shimmer and is also very pigmented and smooth.
  • Jazzy Doll is a stunning peony red pink that has a very subtle shimmer mixed in. It glimmers in direct sunlight. In natural light the shimmer is visible but it is more on the subtle side.
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A look at all three shades and swatches. For reference each swatch image has two coats of polish applied. I also used the Formula X Base Coat and Nails Inc. Kensington Top Coat. First up is EdgyPopi which looks like a standard orange cream. Once on the hands I just can’t get over how pretty it is against olive skin. 

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Lady Peep is a really pretty deep raspberry color. It’s medium deep which makes it more on the dramatic side but not too dark that it’s a vamp. It’s similar in vibe to Very Prive but Lady Peep is cooler in undertone and more raspberry.

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Last but not least is Jazzy Doll which is one of the prettiest soft peony pink shimmers I’ve ever seen. The shimmer is very smooth and finely infused into the polish. It’s on the subtle side which gives it a more conservative edge to balance and out the brightness bright.

Swatched comparisons to a few other Louboutin Nail Polishes that I have, same set of colors in each comparison group, two different lighting variations:

One last group shot:
All three are gorgeous colors and absolutely perfect. I’ve been a fan of the Louboutin Nail Colours and have purchased quite a few shades. They are quite the splurge at $50 each (as in they may break the bank kind of splurge) but the formula and colors are really among the best I’ve tried. I’ve only been able to play with the Red Extensions for a week as the Louboutin team let me borrow them to review and photograph, but I have my nail wheel so I’m going to try and see if I can find any dupes in my stash before splurging on all three. That being said I’ve already added EdgyPopi to my online cart and expect to be a happy owner of the color very soon.
Have you checked out the new red shades yet? What do you think? Are any of these calling your name?

You can find the Red Nail Extensions starting this month at all Christian Louboutin retailers, online now at Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, launching soon at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Christian Louboutin.
Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Beauté Hawaii Kawai I Nail Coffret Trio for Spring 2016

January 26, 2016

For spring this year Christian Louboutin designed a gorgeous tropical floral print for shoes, handbags and accessories in a collection called Hawaii Kawai. For beauty lovers, Christian Louboutin Beauté has launched two limited-edition Hawaii Kawaii Nail Color Coffrets ($90 each) to complement the accessories in Set 1 and Set 2. Each version comes packaged in a beautiful keepsake box decorated with the same colorful prints featured in shoes and handbags. The colors in these sets are existing shades but in miniature sizes which are 0.2 fl oz/6 ml each compared to the full size bottles that contain 0.4 fl oz/13 ml of product. Today I am thrilled to be able to share the Hawaii Kawai I with you today. The Louboutin team also sent some beautiful accessories from the collection for me to play with, specifically for this feature. The patterns and prints are to die for. The pumps featured are the Pigalle Follies (120 mm), purse featured is the Triloubi Small Chain Bag.

The Hawaii Kawai Set 1 is packaged in a box a white colored background (Set 2 has a black background). The colors in this one are:
  • Very Prive – a deep jelly wine color, it applies red with the first coat but deepens to a darker shade with the second coat, in direct sunlight it looks brighter than in natural light where it appears more deep
  • Batignolles – described as a cross between a sky and turquoise blue, inspired by the timeless beauty of Paris, this is such a fun aqua cream, two coats gives you full coverage
  • Miss Loubi – one of my favorite colors, it’s a bright coral pink, I already own this in the full size, it’s one of the most cheerful corals I own

First a little reveal/box opening. The presentation is so fun – opening the box was half the fun!

A red felt cover is nestled inside:

When you open the box, the setup looks like a doll house for fancy nail polish. The red bits of ribbon help you pull out the polish – they are securely cushioned in the box so they don’t move around while in transit:

The proportions of the bottle and brush are similar in the mini versus full size. Sometimes with mini polishes, brushes can be uber tiny and hard to use but I didn’t have any issues with these. The brush is slightly smaller in size but noticeably shorter:

Some close ups and swatches of each color in the Hawaii Kawai I Set. Up first is Very Prive which is like a blood red color. The first coat applies like a true red. Once you add a second coat and it dries it turns into a deep wine color. The texture is smooth and applies evenly. Coverage is pretty full but with the first coat it feels like it has a jelly finish because it’s just the slightest bit transparent.

Next is Miss Loubi. I’m obsessed with peachy coral creams. This one sometimes looks more pink on my skin, other times it looks more coral or peach. Either way it’s something that brightens the mood. I love it for fingers or toes, year round.

Below shown with two coats. The Louboutin polishes have a naturally glossy finish, but I still top with a top coat. Below I used Chanel Le Top Coat over Miss Loubi.

Last but not least, Batignolles – one of the best aqua colors I’ve tried. I also own this in the full size (so yes, I do already own 2 of the 3 in this set). This is a full coverage opaque cream color (no shimmer). Long time readers know I’m kinda anti-green when it comes to nail polishes, this one has enough blue in it so it doesn’t look yellowish.

A quick look at the back of the box:

The items in the Louboutin Beauté line are the epitome of luxury when it comes to cosmetics – they come with an expensive price tag but after testing a number of their polishes I really believe the quality, packaging and design make them phenomenal in terms of performance. On me the polishes last remarkably well without chipping or tip wear. I can get up to 7 days of wear and by day 7 the polish still looks perfect. The colors apply smoothly and most of the shades I’ve tested have extremely good pigment and coverage. (Some of the nudes require three coats to get the coverage I want, but coverage is still very smooth and every nude in the line is absolutely quite perfect.) The packaging is truly a work of art. 

If you’ve been eyeing the Louboutin Nail Polishes but were hesitant to spend $50 on a single bottle, I think the nail trios offer a nice way to try three shades for $90 instead of spending $150 (even though they are minis). I think the minis are adorable and there seems to be enough to get a decent number of manis or pedis out of them. At $90 a set, these make for a very luxurious splurge, but this breaks down to $30 each polish for the minis which I think is easier to justify for a luxury product compared to the $50 price (although I have splurged on quite a few by now).

The Louboutin Hawaii Kawai Collection I and II are both limited-edition ($90 each). You can find them online for a limited time while supplies last at Christian Louboutin, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman.
Will you be checking these out? Do you have any Louboutin Beauté favorites? I’m still waiting to see the lipsticks in person but am dying for a few good nudes because the formula is so good!
The nail trio was provided courtesy of Christian Louboutin for review. Accessories kindly loaned to style photographs for this post.
Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Lip Colours: Rouge Louboutin

September 1, 2015

 

Today Christian Louboutin launches 38 shades of Louboutin Lip Colour in three distinct formulas ($90 each). The Lip Colours come cased in the most ornate packaging I’ve ever seen for the lipstick. The design is inspired by Babylonian architecture – it resembles an elixir vial and is capped with a stunning crown. The three different textures include a multitude of colors. Each formula has the red classic Louboutin Rouge color. I have swatches of the three reds to share today. They come with a hefty price tag and I am pleased to report Louboutin has taken lipstick to another level, not just with the packaging, but also with an incredible formula. According to Louboutin these are made in the USA, paraben-ree, mineral oil-free, DEA-free and Phthalate-free. First a look at each of the three formulas and color selection.

 

 

Louboutin Rouge Nail Color featured on the nails in all photos, reviewed + swatched here:
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Silky Satin Lip Colour – 20 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with an opulent and sensual feel.
  • A unique blend of ultra-fine colour pigments expresses deep and generous colour with a silky satin finish and soft shine.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.
  • Available in a universal shade palette, ranging from light to deep tones, across mid-tonal and bright hues of pinks to berries, reds and corals, nudes and browns.

 

Velvet Matte Lip Colour – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with smooth precision.
  • Intensely rich color goes on with full coverage and sets with a soft touch matte finish.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.

 

 

Sheer Voile Lip Color – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.5 gr / 0.123 Oz
  • Glides on lips with a creamy smooth nourishing sensation.
  • Impactful colour accents lips natural radiance with a wet luminous shine.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization and creates a protective effect against dryness.

 

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The Louboutin Beaute team was kind enough to send the three Rouge Louboutin colors. I’ve been playing with these for the last month – it was so hard to touch the actual product. They are almost too pretty to use. Each lipstick comes in a hefty case with a cap that has a small loop opening so it can double as a charm. Each color comes individually packaged (search #LouboutinCharme for more photos and uploads from others). Mine came in a stunning black and red box as part of the press sample. The three formulas each have a distinct design for the packaging. The Velvet Mattes have a brushed matte finish on the case, Silky Satins have a glossy finish to the tubes, Sheer Voiles have a patterned weave to the outside.

 

 

 

Swatches below, you can see the difference in texture. For the color in Rouge Louboutin, all three reds are very similar, if not almost identical in color.

 

Closeup to see the texture differences:

 

 

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Thoughts and swatches on my lips from sheer to full coverage. First up in Sheer Voile. I haven’t tried or seen the other colors but the pigment of Rouge Louboutin is very very good. It has a super lush glossy finish that has a slightly transparent look. It is very pigmented on my lips and glides on like a dream. It has a very soft scent that’s hard to describe – it’s like fresh and clean with a very slight powdery touch. The scent is very subtle. I found it extremely hydrating. The product is supposed to last four hours without fading. I was able to test it for 3 hours without having it budge before I had to eat something, it stayed put relatively well through snacks and it did not bleed around the edges. For a red, this is the best sheer red I’ve tried. It’s not too cool, it’s not too warm, and it doesn’t turn fuchsia. My wallet is going to be so broke when this one is used up because I will have to repurchase it.

 

 

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Silky Satin is the classic formula, it comes in 20 different shades. At $90 a tube the lipstick costs an arm and a leg. I already cry everytime Tom Ford launches new lipsticks because they break the bank. I’m of the mindset that no matter how good a lipstick is, a lipstick is still just a lipstick. Still I will splurge on Tom Ford and after testing Louboutin I am beyond amazed that they have truly taken lipstick to another level. The Silky Satin is out of this world. It lasted a full five hours on me without bleeding, fading or budging. It did transfer to a soda can, but the color lasted through 2 Diet Dr. Pepper cans and a 4 Oreos without fading at all. The color is super hydrating and lush. It has full opaque coverage with a very slightly glossy sheen. It makes the lips look lush because the pigment is so rich.

 

 

 

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Last but not least is Velvet Matte. I try to stay away from matte finish lipsticks because they often leave my lips looking dry and emphasize lip lines. There are few exceptions (Tom Ford Lip Color Matte is one formula I really like). The Louboutin Rouge Velvet Matte is amazingly exceptional. It offers full opaque coverage. It does have a slightly drier texture compared to the other two formulas. It sticks to the lips and stays put without budging. As with most rich reds this requires precise application. I usually like sheers or glossy formulas because they are more forgiving – for mattes like this one if you don’t cover the entire lip evenly it shows. This one takes more care to apply, but it’s the same as with any dark or bright lip color. Even though it’s matte it’s non drying. It has a distinct matte finish but still manages to have a glow to it.

 

 

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After playing these for a few weeks now I am surprised to report that I am truly impressed. I still think lipstick is simply lipstick and I thought there was no way lipstick could get better than it already is. The $90 price tag is really hard to swallow, but somehow Christian Louboutin has managed to take lip colors to another level with the formula. If you can budget for one it’s totally worth splurging on. It is a luxurious item that is very nice to have. I’ve already started budgeting to splurge on a few colors I have my eye on and my wallet is crying a flood of tears right now because these will break the bank.
All 38 colors officially launched at stores and online today. I can’t wait to see the entire range in person soon. You can find them online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Sephora and Christian Louboutin. (There are also new Lip Liners that have launched with the collection.)
Have you checked out the Louboutin Lip Colours yet? If yes what did you think? If not yet have you ordered any yet! Let me know so I can live vicariously through you!

 

Many thanks to Louboutin for sending the Rouge Louboutin Lip Colours for review.

 

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Beauté Scarabée

July 9, 2015

Christian Louboutin Beauté released a new limited-edition Scarabée Collection inspired by Louboutin’s love of Egypt. There are three colors ($50 each) that have a soft shimmery multi-dimensional chrome effect. I saw the preview of these while I was in Europe. On our last day in Paris one of the Louvre Carousel Shops had the three new colors on display. I didn’t purchase them there but ordered them online and they arrived at my home the same day I came back to the US. Below you can see the three new colors at the top of the display along with all the nudes, pops and noirs. (For reference all the nudes reviewed and swatched here.)

All three come cased in a pretty brown carton embossed with a gold
scarab motif on the outside. The handles are lacquered with a coat of
warm gold colored caps. Each color flashes different colors as you move
your hand and the lacquer reflects with the light. In the bottles they
look duo-chrome which can look sharp once you apply them on the nails.
On the hands the color softens because the shimmer is very fine and all
the colors blend together beautifully. All are metallics but brush
strokes aren’t visible and the application is very smooth. Colors are sheer with the first coat with a jelly finish. Two coats gives full coverage but three coats will make the color deeper and richer. I’ve swatched each color with two coats.

Scarabée I is described as a soft metallic flecked with shades of rose and gold
Scarabée II is described as a deep blue with flashes of purple, emerald and gold
Scarabée II is described as a bronze with highlights of green and blue

Louboutin shot a few fun collage images for each shade. I’ll include one for each color along with a close up and swatches. Scarabée I is a warm rose gold. It’s iridescent and flashes a tiny bit of gold and olive depending on how the light hits the nails. On the fingers it’s like a pink red sunset.

Scarabée II is a metallic teal blue. I thought it would be similar to Chanel Azure or Bel-Argus. It has a similar vibe but it’s more of a cross between the two with less visible brush strokes. I’m wearing this right now on the toes and it’s a fun color for summer. It has a teal base with flashes of purple and deep blue and some silver.

Scarabée III is a stunning warm bronze gold with hints of olive shimmer. I thought it would be a dupe for Chanel Peridot, but it’s actually noticeably different. (Comparison swatches below.) I have a hard time pulling off anything with green or yellow undertones on my nails because it makes my olive skin look sallow or yellow. Scarabée III is quite pretty.

Comparison swatches below:

Louboutin Scarabée I
Rescue Beauty Lounge Elvis in the Cloud (swatched here)
Rescue Beauty Lounge Bonne Journée (swatched here)
Louboutin Scarabée II
Chanel Azure and Bel-Argus (discontinued, reviewed here)
Louboutin Scarabée III
Chanel Peridot (discontinued)
Chanel Alchimie (reviewed here)

At $50 each, Louboutin Polishes are a luxurious splurge. They are extremely pricey but I am really happy and pleased with all three shades I purchased. I found each of the three colors unique with a really smooth easy to apply formula. The texture is the perfect density for thin coats that are easy to layer. The dry time is fairly quick and two to three coats gives the nails a lush glossy lacquered look. I can’t pick a favorite out of the three although the teal blue Scarabée II keeps catching my eye (I have it on my toes and keep staring at them). All three are limited-edition colors and I suspect they will sell out (a quick search shows some have already sold out on a few sites). You can find them at Louboutin Beaute retailers. Online while supplies last at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin.

Have you checked out the Scarabée Collection yet? What did you think? Did you splurge on any?

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Nail Color – The Nudes

December 8, 2014

Earlier this year Christian Louboutin released a classic red nail polish called Louboutin Rouge followed by thirty additional shades in three families called The Nudes (neutrals), The Pops (brights) and The Noirs (dramatic dark shades). The nail polishes are among the most expensive in the market, priced at $50 each but have been selling out repeatedly. I pre-ordered these from Nordstrom back in August before they were released. I received them the first week of September and have been putting each shade to the test for weeks. I’ve already reviewed and tested the classic Louboutin Rouge (more thoughts in this post). Today I have all ten nudes to share with you (yes, my fingers have been very busy swatching!).

The Louboutin Nudes have two different finishes. All are creams without any shimmer. There are shades with a sheer finish and then colors with more opaque coverage. The range of nudes is quite wide, but the soft pinks are very similar in effect with slight variations in undertone. First, the packaging is quite stunning. These have long heel spikes for handles. All the nude colors have a pearly beige finish on the handles with large glass jars to hold the polish. Each one contains 0.4 fl oz/13 ml of polish. All of mine say they are made in the USA.

Packaging these seems like it would be quite challenging to construct a large box. Instead of encasing the entire polish + handle in a box, these come with a cardboard container that goes around the glass portion. Mine were all wrapped individually in study stock when they were shipped. They all arrived in tact and without any scratches or issues:

The colors are labeled at the base:

Here are all the shades lined up side by side:

Colors and descriptions according to my testing below.

  • Tres Decollete is the darkest pink with a blue base, this one is sheer but has the most coverage out of all the soft pinks
  • Sweet Charity is a super sheer soft white cream, this was the only shade I did not like, mainly because it took four coats to get decent coverage, three coats gave the nails a soft glossy look, but one I think could be duplicated by cheaper brands
  • La Favorita is a medium warm pink, the pigment is sheer, but applied smoothly and evenly with two coats
  • Simple Nude is a warm camel nude that has medium-to-full coverage
  • Me Nude is a cool mauve nude with excellent pigment, it had smooth flawless coverage
  • Just Nothing is a beautiful nude that leans beige, but still has a bit of pink in it so it doesn’t look orangey on the hands
  • Alta Perla is a unique grey nude with a hint of sage, the formula is medium on this one, with two think coats you might still see the nail underneath some fingers, I applied a slightly thicker second coat to get full coverage
  • Tutulle is the perfect nude pink cream
  • Zoulou is a really lovely chocolate nude cream with excellent pigment
  • Madame Est Nue is a the lightest pink, it’s a nude pink that has super sheer coverage

One more view below, same order as above, but in direct sunlight:

Swatched side by side, lightest to darkest:

Individual photos and swatches, I’ll indicate how many coats I used for each one. I tested these with a number of different base and top coats. The cult favorite Seche Vite gave major shrinkage with these polishes on tips and cuticle areas causing these to get tip wear after 1 day. I don’t recommend it, although I know many people love that brand. I really liked mine with the Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat to help color adhere to the nail, and then topped with either the Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme or Dior Gel Top Coat. Louboutin has their own Nail Care Kit, but after splurging quite heavily on the colors themselves, I decided to try what I already had first. Using either the Dior or Chanel Top coats allowed for 7 days of wear without any chipping or tip wear which I found very impressive with this formula.

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Sweet Charity, shown with four coats

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Madame Est Nue with three coats

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La Favorita with two coats

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Tres Decollete with two coats

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Tutulle with two coats

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Just Nothing with two coats

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Me Nude with two coats

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Simple Nude with two coats

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Zoulou with two coats

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Alta Perla with two coats (pinky has three coats)

The wear on these is really amazing in my experience. I didn’t want to say that I would fall in love with $50 nail polishes but the colors that Louboutin has released are truly flawless and naturally flattering. A good flattering nude can be hard to find. There are many good ones out there, but so many are either too pale, too warm, too orange or just look pink on my hands. Louboutin hands down has created the perfect palette of nude polishes with a diverse range to suit any skin tone.

If you’re looking to splurge, I would say you definitely don’t need all ten of the nudes. My thoughts rounded up:
  • For a soft pink, I like Tres Decollete the best, although La Favorita comes in close second
  • For a medium nude, Tutulle is my favorite because it has a bit of pink, followed by Just Nothing which is another great nude
  • For unique colors, Zoulou and Alta Perla are the best picks, they do have a similar vibe to other brands, but these ones just work so well with the skin
  • Two to skip for me include Sweet Charity (just too sheer) and Simple Nude for my specific skin tone is too match so it blends in (if you’re lighter or darker in skin tone, I think this will look lovely on you)

One last shot, my personal take on the Louboutin Nudes cluster:

I hope you enjoyed this roundup. It’s taken me weeks to complete but I can say that I highly recommend these if you’re looking to treat yourself (or a friend). The $50 price tag on 10 shades has certainly been an ouch on my wallet, but I have no regrets. Available now at Nordstrom.


Special thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post.
For more information, refer to my Disclosures.

Christian Louboutin

Louboutin Rouge Nail Colour

September 11, 2014

I’ve been putting the Louboutin Rouge Nail Colour ($50 for 0.4 fl oz/13 ml) to the test for the past month on multiple occasions (tips and toes). The bottle is a remarkable work of art made with an extremely sturdy glass bottle and spike handle. My inbox was flooded months ago with e-mails about this polish from readers who had seen it in Europe before we received this in the US. I wasn’t going to purchase one due to the price, but there was so much excitement from some of my readers and after seeing swatches I caved and ordered one. The Louboutin Rouge has sold out multiple times in stores and online. Some of the sites have restocked while others have this on back order. My local stores did not receive any of the polishes so if you’re like me you might have to do a bit of research to track one down.

Louboutin Rouge is a deep rich red that matches the soles of the covetable Louboutin shoes exactly. I’ve found quite a few reds that come close or look pretty similar from arm’s length, but nothing I’ve tried matches it exactly. The formula is very fluid with super opaque coverage. You do need two coats though. With my first few tries I found the brush to be a bit challenging to work with. It’s a longer skinny brush which I found needed a bit of wiggling and angling to control. It is a softer brush which allows you to control it more. I’m used to the dense thick chiseled brushes that are goof-proof, so this one took a few tries but it does apply flawlessly on the nails. (I tend to be challenged when it comes to getting even application around the cuticles).

The bottles are very study and the design is amazing. The bottles have a unique multi-faceted shape. They stand up quite tall (approximately 8 inches tall). Each polish comes with the base encased in a box with a removable cap. There is a circular cut out on the top for the spike.

In terms of lasting power I’ve had phenomenal results. As mentioned in my hand and nail care essentials post, lasting power of a nail lacquer will depend on your nail care, length, daily or weekly activities. Shorter nails will have less contact with hard surfaces (such as keyboards if you type a lot). Also the angle in which you hold your fingers will also determine how much contact the tips have with any given surface.

(the second bottle is a gift I purchased for a friend)

In testing the Louboutin Rouge nail polish, I found without any base or top coat, the nail polish had significant tip wear and chipping on the third day. By itself I found the polish looked amazing but lasting power wasn’t so great by itself, however I do believe this is the case with most polishes I’ve tried. Louboutin does have a Manicure Care Kit with a base and top coat available but I haven’t tested it (not sure if I want to splurge on this). I tested the polish with a few other brands of base/top coat. I really liked it with the Creative Nail Design Sticky Base Coat and Formula X Top Coat. With this combination I was able to get 7 Days of polish wear, no chipping and tip wear didn’t start to appear very slightly until Day 6 on a few fingers.

Swatches with two coats of Louboutin Rouge and the Formula X Top Coat:

Christian Louboutin
book (one of my coffee table must-haves)

I tried to photograph some comparisons but I found the reds very difficult to capture accurately on camera. I have two very close dupes which have a slight difference in real life. I’ll add descriptions as a substitute to help you gauge the difference. I recommend googling reviews to see what others have compared as well.

  • Guerlain Rouge D’Enfer 121 is almost identical in undertone, intensity and pigment, the Guerlain has a more of an orange undertone though
  • Dior Captain is brighter with a jelly finish, it’s almost orange-looking next to all the other reds
  • Chanel Enthusiast (d/c) is 2-3 shades lighter and clearly more orange (although it looks close in the photo)
  • Rescue Beauty Lounge Gondoliere is brighter, more orange, more transparent
  • Chanel Pirate is deeper and has a lot more blue/cool tones
  • Chanel Rouge Rubis is pretty close but slightly lighter in color, the Chanel also has a sheerer finish
  • Chanel Dragon is darker and has more brown

One last photo:

Updated 9/14/2014: Ingredients from bottom of the box label

I’m really pleased with the quality, color and lasting power. I’ve accumulated several Louboutin nail polishes so far (Lady Twist swatched here, some nudes and pops coming soon) and the colors I’ve tested so far are really lovely. The pigment is excellent and smooth. Before I tried the Louboutin Rouge I was worried I wouldn’t like it, but so many of my readers put me at complete ease – I’ve received so many emails and comments from others who have splurged and absolutely adore theirs.

I didn’t want to spend $50 per bottle and I didn’t want to fall in love but I have. I don’t know that I can say these were worth every penny, these are more of a splurge than a necessity, even for the die-hard nail polish collector. The price is extremely high for a nail polish but it is something specially created by a luxury designer. These are a luxurious splurge, but I’m very pleased.

Due to the popularity of this color, you might need to wait a bit to find one since it has been selling very quickly. My local stores did not have this so I ordered online. It’s available at Christian Louboutin, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Sephora.

Did you purchase any of the Louboutin nail colors? Which ones?