When YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres (I'll call it Glossy Stain for the rest of this post) first launched, I wasn't all that interested.  Firstly because it is a gloss, and secondly to be honest, because the packaging is ugly.


I finally gave in and swatched them a few months after the launch.  I wasn't impressed at first - when I swatched them they looked and felt like they would be quite sticky.  However I liked the colours so I went back to various YSL counters over a few weeks to swatch them again.  Curiosity killed the cat and I finally caved when there was a bonus points event at Debenhams - I picked up Corail Aquatique and Corail Fauve (I couldn't decide on the colour).


The Glossy Stains are housed in what I would call retro 80s inspired packaging - it's like the equivalent of Trump Tower - flashy and ostentatious (in my opinion).  There's a bit too much gold and the logo is just a bit too big.  It's not helped either by the clunky size either.  The clear window, although useful, makes it look like a nail polish bottle.


Now onto what I do like about the product.  Firsty, the flat and angled applicator is excellent - it allows you to apply a very precise line and reaches the corners of your mouth without making a mess.

The sticky feeling I got when I swatched the Glossy Stains at the counter was because I didn't let the product dry down and settle.  After application, at first the products stays sticky for about 30 seconds, and afterwards it is considerably less sticky.


Corail Aquatique looks quite bright and corally peachish here but applies more like a 'your lips but better' pink on my lips.  I did a very scientific test to try out the staining ability of Corail Aquatique - I applied it to only one half of my lips and left the other half bare.  I tissued off the product after an hour and surprisingly found there was a very natural stain.  I wasn't really expecting to anything on my naturally pinkish lips (because I've never noticed it when I've worn Corail Aquatique and the product has worn off).

One very unfortunate thing about these Glossy Stains is the scent - I always feel a bit queasy after I apply it on my lips and can't wait for it to disappear.  It's a very artificial, saccharine sweet rose syrupy sort of smell and taste.


My feelings about Glossy Stains are mixed - love the product but hate the smell/taste and the packaging.  If the scent was less in your face and the packaging revamped, I would probably buy a lot more of them.