10/26/2016

Your Lips Are Like A Coloring Book...Sonia Rykiel x Lancome Parisian Lips Le Crayons

Last week, some close friends of mine were in town. They left on Sunday, and now it's back to the grind.

I must say, the acquisition of all four of Lancôme's Sonia Rykiel Parisian Lips Le Crayons involed a little bit of drama. I reserved each item of the collection (over the phone) with the Lancome counter at Mitsukoshi, Ginza. However, when I went to the counter to pick everything up, the SA had made a mistake, and I was told M01 wasn't available because it's an Hankyu Umeda, Osaka exclusive shade. I find it incredibly annoying when brands do counter, or department store, exclusive product releases; it's like throwing "cosmetic chum" into the beauty waters, causing me to go into a frenzy trying to get the item.

Anyhow, after some back and fourth with the SA in Osaka, telling me "they don't do send sales to Tokyo," and me telling her "yes, they do. I've placed orders with the department store before," M01 was promptly delivered from Osaka to Tokyo in one day.

All four of these double-ended lip crayons have two different formulas; a sheer, tinted balm on one end, and a pigmented, creamy, satin-matte on the other.

From left to right: A01, M01.

A01 Parisian Audace: a vivid, deep, reddish, persimmon orange.

M01 French Sourire: a deep, reddish-raspberry pink.

From left to right: A02, M02. 

A02 Parisian Spirit: a deep, blue-toned, fuchsia pink.

M02 French Baiser: a vivid, deep, blue-red.

The concept behind this product is to create a blurred lip effect, by first applying the balm end, and then layering the matte side on top. I've tired, and liked, the blurred out effect of combining both formulas; still I prefer wearing them individually.

Both sides wear comfortably, with the balm side being more hydrating, of course. I get about 2-3 hours of wear with the balm formula, and around 5 hours with the matte.

I love the ease, simplicity, and fun of the Sonia Rykiel x Lancome Parisian Lips Le Crayons, and I really hope Lancome revisits them in future releases.