CHANEL | Rouge Coco #440 Arthur | ommorphia beauty bar

Red … the colour of love and of unlimited passion, simultaneously volatile and intense – all traits that are perfectly captured in #440 Arthur (CAN $42.00) from CHANEL’s newly relaunched range of Rouge Coco lipsticks. This collection of 29 lipsticks shades come in 5 colour ranges (reds, nudes, corals, pinks, plums) and are each named after friends, artists and lovers who inspired Coco Chanel.

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s lifestory is filled with mystery and contradictions, but one thing that remains constant is her tumultuous and deep love for Arthur Capel, known as ‘Boy’ amongst his friends … and the man who was to be the love of her life. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, than with #440 Arthur, a richly passionate red created in homage of that love.

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel & Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel (1917) – credit

CHANEL | Rouge Coco #440 Arthur

Rouge Coco #440 Arthur | The newly reformulated Rouge Coco range of lipsticks are a vast improvement over the original incarnations, with a significant increase in colour vibrancy as well as bearing an intensely moisturizing feel that features an ‘exclusive complex of Jojoba and Mimosa Butters, Sunflower Wax and silicone for lasting hydration and luminous results‘.

I own several of the earlier Rouge Coco versions, and while I adore the shades, I’ve always been less than impressed with the way they performed overall – in terms of colour, moisture levels, and lasting power. I fell in absolute love with Rouge Coco #440 Arthur from the first swipe; this warm tomato-red hue (which has a depth of tone unlike anything I’ve seen in this colour group before) applies in an über-creamy way, literally gliding along the lips. The colour has a vibrancy that while intense, manages to also look playful, sexy, and sophisticated at once – making this one of the most perfectly easy to wear red shades ever. There’s a gorgeous glossy sheen than lasts almost throughout the wearing, and a quick press of the lips is all you need to refresh the colour. Lasting power is excellent, and I’m able to easily get 8 hours of wear, with a light stain left behind on the lips once the majority of colour has faded. Best part, is that I experience no feathering or bleeding into surrounding lip lines.

CHANEL | Rouge Coco #440 Arthur

CHANEL | Rouge Coco #440 Arthur, in full sun

CHANEL | Rouge Coco #440 Arthur, alternate lighting

For the time being, #440 Arthur is the only shade I saw available at my local CHANEL counter, but if this lipstick is anything to judge by, then this entire range looks highly promising (I can hear the cries from my wallet). For someone whose comfort zone has traditionally been nude lip shades, it’s actually quite shocking how many red lipsticks I own; given my well-documented love of CHANEL products, coupled with this incredible new formula, I have a feeling that #440 Arthur is going to be getting quite a bit of my love.

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥

Available at all CHANEL counters across Canada. I picked mine up at The Bay.