Review: YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in "Pink in Confidence"

You know when you put off buying a product for ages for fear of it not quite being as good as the price tag/rave reviews/Instagram tags/Carol from work suggests? Well, the YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks have been a bit like that for me, forcing myself away from the counter in Selfridges with a heavy heart and a what-if feeling every time I passed until finally, finally a few months ago I caved...and discovered perhaps my favourite lipstick in the process.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 08 "Pink in Confidence" / £26

Okay, so sorry first of all for the gratuitous, pouty filter shot but unfortunately my camera is playing up and this is the best one I could find wearing the product without it - but hey, who doesn't love a flower crown? Thankfully, this is a pretty true-to-colour photo of the lipstick in reality despite the heavy filter, and look how pretty! The shade is a beautiful, subtle sheer pink/nude that looks just as beaut when I'm blonde and pale as it does when I'm brunette and tanned so it's a real all-rounder. I would describe is as a classic sheer your-lips-but-a-hell-of-a-lot-better shade, and I am thoroughly obsessed!

It goes totally without saying but I couldn't do a review on a YSL lipstick without mentioning the packaging. Just. Look. At. That. Packaging! It is the most elegant, expensive looking packaging I've ever used, even beating out my gorgeous Chanel collection - definitely one to take in your bag when you want to impress or add a touch of glamour. And just to add to the luxury of it all, it has a subtle scent of delicious vanilla sweets. Elegant, no?

So what of the actual formula? This is where you might love or loathe this lipstick, depending what you're looking for. Unlike some of the other shades in the Rouge Volupté Shine range which I've heard can offer quite an intense colour, "Pink in Confidence" is sheer as sheer can be, and it really doesn't offer much in the way of buildability. It applies and sits more like a very luxurious lip balm, so much so that you don't even need a mirror to apply it. As I'm sure you can imagine this is reflected in its longevity, so this one is definitely not one to eat or drink with because you will need touch-ups aplenty. That said, it is incredibly wearable, containing 6 moisturising oils that work wonders on your lips and ensure no clinging to dry patches.

Since purchasing it, this has definitely become my most-worn lipstick, and is one I'll keep repurchasing as my go-to shade for everyday wear, as well as when I'm doing a look more focused on my eyes or a more dramatic contour. It also works really nicely as a lighter shade to perk up a matte lipstick, as the shiny (important: not glittery) finish creates a plumping effect. However, if you're looking for a bolder lip look, this won't be the one for you.

At £26, this beauty doesn't come cheap, but I will happily part with every penny when it runs out. Now to try to hold myself back from the other 29 shades...