The Hybrid: Yves Saint Laurent releases three-in-one lip lacquer

Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres… what’s that? It’s the name of YSL’s latest lip collection, which is being previewed at Heathrow Terminal 5 until 11 February, ahead of its main launch next month.

What is so special about it, you ask? It’s a bit of a mouthful, sure, but Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres is a whole new way to let your lips do the talking. It is no ordinary lip colour, but three products in one – a hybrid of lipstick, lip gloss and lip stain. This single product does the work of three – giving you  colour that is long-lasting, super glossy and vibrant. It has the light consistency and shine of a lip gloss and the intense colour of a lipstick, but with the hold of a stain. This is one lip colour that you won’t have to re-apply constantly.

According to YSL, the new lip colour features a revolutionary system called ‘Lifeproof Colour Emulsion’ – this combines a polymer called ethyl cellulose (used to coat food and give it shine) with emollient and silicone oils, which have then been emulsified in an aqueous base. The resulting formula is purported to provide softness, comfort, hold and shine.

The collection consists of 20 shades, created by Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director at YSL, ranging from lightest beige to deep reddish brown, with plenty of gorgeous pinks and reds in between. Each lip colour is presented in the exquisite packaging typical of the French beauty brand – a stunning black and gold bottle with a flat, slanted wand for easy application and a fine tip for a precise outline.

The Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain Collection is available nationwide from February 14, with a recommended retail price of £22.50. The days of weighing the merits of gloss, stain and lipstick are over… now you can have it all in one!

Khaleda Rahman