WHEN you think of lipstick, the first color that comes to mind is a red. It is always exciting when brands come up with new ways to present this color as almost every brand has an iconic red.
I discovered Dior Rouge two years ago via Ambitious Matte (964), a matte red that wears for hours and is quite comfortable considering its formula. I also purchased Diorific Mat Splendor (950), another red, from Dior Rouge’s holiday collection that year. Since then, I’ve had two or three tubes of Lip Glow, Rouge Dior’s iconic color-adjusting lip balm; and the Lip Tattoo, their lip tint.
I’m not sure why women buy bags that cost more than a child’s tuition for a year but I suspect that it’s the same reason I purchase lipsticks from luxury brands, like Rouge Dior—it’s all about that fuzzy feeling you get after you open the box and hold the beautiful tube in your hands. I’ve been very excited about Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge and the new line Backstage Beauty (more about this later), so I was happy to be invited to the launch of the new lipsticks at SM Makati last week.
“Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge is the first ultra-wear, ultra color and comfortable lipstick. The wearability is up to 12 hours, the colors are vivid, the texture is very comfortable, and the packaging is chic couture,” said Lenard Tiongson, brand general manager for Dior in the Philippines.
Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge has been an Internet sensation for months now (search #RougeDiorUltraRouge on Instagram). I’ve seen Japanese model Kiko Mazuhara wear Rouge Dior’s iconic 999 shade in this new formula.
“Long lasting, great texture, fierce colors: a lipstick fantasy that becomes reality. Dress your lips like a painter would glorify a canvas. Easy to apply, easy to wear,” said Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior Makeup, in a press release. Tiongson explained that in the Philippines, Dior’s market includes women ages 18 to 55. Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge is admittedly for the younger segment of that market. It is, so to speak, an entry level to red lipsticks for the new generation, who will otherwise wear mostly pinks, browns and nudes.
Dior has called Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge “an original lipstick for a new generation.”
“What do women want from a lipstick?” asked Philips. “Everything. Today, they are used to high-pigment lipsticks with staying power, even if that means less comfort. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, they want light-as-air, weightless color. This lightness is possible with inks, although it often comes at the expense of color impact and comfort. Ultra Rouge squares the circle and provides a different experience for every woman who loves the magic of makeup, comfort and sophistication.”
Ultra Rouge is “the first lipstick that wears like an ink while being ultra-comfortable.” This claim is backed up by a test that Dior carried out on 20 women using the 17 shades of the range except shade 000 [the white one that can be used for toning down vivid colors].”
“We wanted to go even further with the idea of combining the two eternal opposites of staying power and comfort. Thanks to years of research and in-depth scientific studies, we managed, in fact, to identify a polymer which, when combined with a plant oil, offers both comfort and deep hydration, along with 12-hour wear. All without any tightening or drying sensation,” explained Brigitte Noé, director of the Formulation Laboratories.
Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge, which comes in an elegant couture case crafted from an ultra- modern lacquered red metal, is an ode to red. There are 15 shades in the collection plus a white and a black. The collection includes nail polishes and liquid lip liners.
“Ultra Rouge adds new magic both to the experience and the expression of lipstick and the expression of red,” said Philips.
The collection includes reds like Ultra Dior (999), which is the first red Rouge Dior lipstick any woman must get in any formula. Ultra Love (770) is a strong raspberry. Ultra Shock (851) is a burgundy, while Ultra Star (777) is a warm coral. Ultra Light (000) is a white to neutralize your natural lip color or soften another shade, while Ultra Night 111 is a black.
Dior Rouge Ink Lip Liner is the first liquid lipstick in a couture pen available in six shades. It’s high precision with the felt tip providing perfect definition. When tilted on its side, it fills in the lips. The ink formula with intense, deep shades in a matte finish lasts up to 12 hours.
There are four Dior Vernis that share the same red obsession, from the most iconic shade, Rouge 999, to Rouge en Diable 851 via two newcomers, Love 770 and Star 777.
Natalie Portman is the face of the Ultra Rouge campaign orchestrated by Peter Philips and shot by David Sims.
“She is constantly acting, and yet these images reflect her self-confidence, her sensuality and her joie de vivre,” said Philips.
Another exciting development at Dior is Backstage Beauty, which aims to make luxury beauty accessible to the Instagram generation. The line became very popular after Meghan Markle wore several of the products, including the Face and Body Foundation, on her wedding day. The foundation has 40 shades organized by undertone. The rest of the collection consists of palettes and brushes. The Glow Face Palette consists of four shimmery and silky highlighters in rosy pink, bronze, golden tan and white champagne.
According to Tiongson, Backstage Beauty will be launched in the country in December. The first counter will be in Cebu City while other counters will open in the first quarter of 2019, as the line requires dedicated counters separate from other Dior products. n