First introduced in 1981, the House of Dior reinvents their Rouge Brillant (CAN $39.00 available in 12 shades) – a high impact lip gloss – with a new innovative formula and incredible shine. More than just a gloss, each slim profile tube is banded by the brand’s iconic ‘Cannage’ pattern in silver, with a transparent reservoir that clearly displays each colour held within. According to Peter Phlips, Creative and Image Director for Dior makeup, each new Rouge Dior Brillant is also a ‘modern treatment for global beauty, a truly Elusional Liquid Balm, bringing lip care to the heart of your lips for radiant perfect colour’
Dior was kind enough to send me several Rouge Brillant shades to test out, and after playing around with them for just over a week now, I am impressed enough to want to add them all to my beauty collection. The formula is created with a blend of three highly refractive treatment oils that include Vitamin E for its antioxidant and regenerative properties, as well as a proprietary plumping ingredient that ‘reactivates collagen synthesis‘ to help your lips feel incredibly smooth and completely hydrated. The precision-tipped applicator has a well in the centre to hold the perfect amount of product per swipe, while the included ‘long-wear contour waxes’ provide colour definition, staying power and mega-watt shine. Each gloss is scented with Dior’s signature rose fragrance, although I don’t notice anything after application – still worth noting for those with sensitivities.
The texture of each gloss, is where this product displays how outstanding it is in the category; the feel is a total sensorial experience with its buttery and emollient consistency, while the deeper Rouge Brillant shades are intensely colour-saturated enough to enable you to achieve full coverage with one swipe. I experience minimal settling into lip lines (and my lips are quite deeply lined), with no pilling of the product along lip edges either (when it collects along either the inner rim of the lip or at the corners). The absolute perfect mix of colour, brilliant shine, and balm. I’m not sure about a plumping effect, although I do sense a slight tingling upon initial application which leads me to believe that some fullness probably does result, although that effect would be temporary at best.
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur, #808 Victoire, #775 Darling
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling, #808 Victoire, #468 Bonheur
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur
Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur | A delicate light milky pink that leans warm against my skin tone, filled with an ultra-fine shimmer that never feels gritty upon the lips, but serves to add radiance instead. As my lips are quite lined, my high-res swatch photo below gives the illusion that #468 Bonheur emphasizes said lines, but the effect is quite the opposite seen in person. Finding a pale pink that doesn’t clash with the underlying yellow tone in in my skin, can be a challenge but I believe I can stop looking now. The shortest in staying power of the three (obviously due to the pale hue), I am still able to get a good 3 hours of wear (if you exclude eating & drinking from the equation), with my lips feeling fully nourished even after the colour fades.
FUN FACT: this pink shade was a favourite with M. Dior who believed that this colour “not only made women more beautiful, but happier”
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur swatch
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire
Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire | An apricot/coral shade filled with the same type of shimmer as the rest, with a deeper pigmentation than that of #468 Bonheur (although not as intense as #775 Darling), which can also be layered to some degree for a stronger tone. Definitely more of a warmer hue, #808 Victoire will also make a great shade for those with cooler complexions, as it doesn’t lean too orange. As far as longevity goes, I am able to get 5 hours of wear (less, if drinking/eating), with a light peachy stain left behind on the lips after the colour has faded.
FUN FACT: Victoire was M. Dior’s youngest fit-model and muse, and this colour is named for her, as well as inspired by her youth and ‘sassy elegance’.
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire swatch
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling
Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling | An intensely colour-saturated and pigment-rich raspberry/fuchsia shade, that provides full overage from the first swipe. In the same format as the rest (with regards to shimmer and texture), #775 Darling is hands-down the longest wearing of the three, and leaves a deep rose stain on the lips after the majority of colour/shine has faded. The coolest-leaning of the group, there are slight warmer hints in the shimmer that enable this shade to be worn by all skin tones with ease, and is the perfect pop of colour to pair with a simple black liner. Lasting power is impressive, and I’m able to easily get about 6 hours of wear, although I do experience a tiny bit of bleeding into surrounding lip lines after eating (adding a matching lip liner beforehand could help with this issue).
FUN FACT: This shade draws inspiration from an evening dress of the same colour that was created by M. Dior for the Spring/Summer 1948 Fashion Collection, embodying the spirit of ‘seductiveness and couture elegance’.
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling swatch
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant swatches, direct sunlight
Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant swatches, alternate lighting
I received one more shade, #999 a classic red in true Dior style and that I will be showing in an upcoming post (spoiler: it’s totally gorgeous and you’ll want it – even if you never wear red lip shades). Don’t get me wrong; I love lipstick and the elegance that seems to be a part of the application ritual (there’s something to be said for taking the time to enjoy makeup, as opposed to just wearing it), but gloss is just so much easier, especially when you’re on the go. The new Rouge Dior Brillant glosses have upped the ante in the lipgloss game, by creating a product that feels as good as it looks. Did I mention that they’re also all layerable over lipstick? Not that you’ll want to, as they’re just so luscious on their own.
Available exclusive at The Bay as of April 1st, all Dior counters as of April 1st (Canada). Find more information by visiting dior.com
Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration
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