Lips Like Velvet: Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Taffetas

Recently, I've been on a mission to somewhat revamp my lipstick collection; I swatched, compared and roadtested most of my stash and then gave away a significant portion to make room for some newer and better lipstick specimens. And so, via the irresistible incentive of Sephora VIB sale and an equally alluring post from Driveller Kate, came into my possession this luxe beauty: Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Taffetas no. 201 ($36 for 3.4g/ 0.12 fl oz).

 (As a side note, does anyone else find the name just a touch pompous? It's like calling your product 'The Lipstick'. I know the French can get away with almost anything and sound glamorous, but isn't this kind of a tall order to fill...? The Lipstick? I'm not quite sure if it's more impressive or just megalomaniac.)

 Lo and behold, this lipstick is a true beauty; in fact, I do not own a single piece of make-up that is more beautifully packaged than Le Rouge. The cap is envelopped in genuine soft black leather interrupted by a silver metallic accent, engraved with the brand's name and decorated with a single stud at the base. The design under the cap is just as harmonious, and the lipstick bullet comes engraved with the Givenchy logo of quadruple G's. The attention to detail is so tremendous that I honestly had a hard time bringing myself to actually using this product.

 Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Taffetas is described as a 'light pink coral' but could also be categorized as a warm rosy pink. All of Les Rouges 'deliver intense color and semi-matte finish all in one stroke' (as per Sephora's website), and if you're wondering about the semi-matte, it's almost like a velvety effect - it's not completely matte like the Revlon or MAC offerings, but it's definitely not a cream either; there's no visible glossiness or shine to the product. If anything, the finish is very much like the bare skin of one's lips.

 In terms of consistency and wear, Le Rouge goes on smoothly on the lips with no tugging, and covers very well in a couple swipes. It doesn't seem to plump up my lip lines but doesn't make them more apparent either. After 3-4 hours wear, it does start to feel a bit clingy and drying, though this can be alleviated by adding another layer without compromising the finish. I would say it lasts somewhere around the 5 hour mark (by which point I obviously have to eat... and it doesn't make it through the meal without needing to touch up). My lips do feel a bit dry after wearing Le Rouge for the day, however they're not completely parched like they would be after wearing a full on matte, and wearing a good matte lip balm underneath (Nuxe Reve de Miel, of course!) helps a lot as well.

Compared to my other light pink corals, Rose Taffetas (left) is similar to MAC Viva Glam Cyndi (middle) but more vibrant, opaque and obviously without shimmer. Compared to YSL Rouge Pur in Pink Grenadine (right), it's quite a bit lighter and with more pink rather than red undertones. On the lips, it also doesn't look like anything else I have in my collection and goes with a variety of different eye looks as a slightly brighter but still rather classic option.

Have you tried Givenchy Le Rouge formulation? What is your favorite matte or semi-matte lipstick?