LANCÔME | LIP LOVER #362 BORDEAUX TEMPO

There’s something about deep berry lip shades that just say ‘Fall’ to me, but with my colouring, it’s not always easy to pull them off. A highly pigmented lip gloss such as Lancôme’s Lip Lover in 362 Bordeaux Tempo, provides that intense colour I’m looking for in a lightweight yet highly moisturizing format, and with somewhat less commitment on my part, application-wise.

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo

362 Bordeaux Tempo (CAN $29.00) | A rich oxblood hue with ultra fine shimmer that you can see in the tube, but which translates to the barest hint of shimmer once applied. This is a cooler leaning shade, but can still be worn equally well by those with warmer complexions (no need to fear it closing with your skin tone).

All Lip Lover tubes have a transparent panel so you can see the colour you’re getting, and bear a button in front for easy 1-click opening & closing and which also acts as a safety feature to prevent the cap from ever opening up on its own (and winding in the bottom of your purse/makeup bag/makeup drawer/etc). There is no discernible scent, and what little I do pick up, seems fairly neutral and pleasant. The wand is relatively short and bears a sponge applicator shaped flat on its sides (excellent for applying broader swipes of colour) and a rounded point at the tip for more precision work.

The formula is a mix of: balm, lipstick & gloss, with an ultra creamy and buttery soft texture that enables it to literally glide along the lips. The deep shade of 362 Bordeaux Tempo (as seen in the tube) applies initially slightly more translucent and at first swipe, you can clearly see its grape undertones. The shade is layer able to a certain degree, but don’t expect the opacity of a similarly coloured lipstick. Staying power is 2-pronged; when the majority of gloss has faded (around the 3.5 hour mark on me), I’m still left with colour on my lips along with a very quenched & moisturized feel. The secondary effect, is that the stain left behind in fact will most likely remain until removed – an impressive feature when considering that this is a gloss. Another bonus: with a colour this deep, I expected some feathering and bleeding into surrounding lip lines (which hit at about the 4-hour mark on me), and hardly noticeable overall.

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo (1-click closure)

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo

Lip gloss has come a long way from the Bonne Bell days of clear & flavoured roller-balls (anyone remember those?) and I must say that all brands have definitely stepped up their gloss game. The trend now is for this new type of format: basically, a liquid lip product that displays a high pigment level, is über-glossy as well as long-lasting, and delivers a highly moisturizing feel. Lancôme’s 362 Bordeaux Tempo scores high on all counts, and while not opaque per se, it still gives a gorgeous surge of colour – enough to satisfy most of my Fall lip cravings.

Available through all Lancôme counters nationwide , find more information here.