After a hectic week that included a fun few days in Miami, my birthday bash and the 4th of July celebration (fireworks and cupcakes included), I found myself craving my old routine and feeling a burning need to bring back order to my life. Having just finished Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on Audibles, I decided a little decluttering would help lift off those weighty feelings and restore the much-needed sense of normalcy. And what better place to start than with my makeup shelves? I haven’t done a real, intense purge in a very long time. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever done this kind of decluttering, the kind where I take Marie Kondo’s principles to heart and embark on a quest to seek only those items that bring me joy.
Over the past few months I’ve been accumulating quite a wide selection of beauty products, some sent to me for testing and review, some gifts and some that I have purchased myself. With people showcasing their vast beauty collections and latest hauls all over social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, it seems that the going trend is more is always better. But do we really need everything we come to own or per Marie Kondo’s principles, does each and every single item we have bring us happiness? Are we sometimes just buying into clever marketing? A quick glance at my makeup stash immediately revealed that I own far too many pretty-packaged goods donning similar claims and performing the same task. Case in point: the new Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Lip Balm. Does it live up to expectations and is it worth it?
Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Lip Balm
This is Givenchy’s new best-selling enhancing lip balm that promises to be a 3-in-1! It’s meant to soften and plump the lips, while enhancing their natural color. The balm naturally reacts with the pH of your lips to create a unique shade that’s universally flattering. Lips are instantly softer, suppler and fuller. The formula is enriched with shea butter to moisturize and nourish, pepperslim to plump up the lips, and eosin which reacts to the skin’s pH to create a fresh, customized rosy shade. The packaging is next-level luxury, a gorgeous blush pink genuine leather sheath, making it THE most stylish and chic lip balm to have ever graced my beauty shelves!
My Experience
This product is essentially a tinted lip balm that comes with a hefty price tag. I am a big fan of tinted lip balms in general and especially for day-to-day, running errands and keeping up with my soon-to-be 3-year old. I find lip balms to be the best beauty allies! They’re super easy to wear, can be applied on-the-go (no mirror needed) yet they instantly liven up my complexion and make me look more put together without having tried too hard. However, I own quite a few of these tinted lip balms! From luxurious ones such as the YSL tint-in-balms which were too adorable to pass up (see my review and swatches here) and the latest Dior Lip Glow, to more reasonably priced options from Fresh Beauty, Josie Maran, L’Occitane and Burt’s Bees! So was this Givenchy fancy lip balm a toss or a keep in my decluttering quest?
In my experience, the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm performs exactly as claimed. It feels so comfortable on the lips and wears well, even after a few chai lattes and a meal complete with dessert. From its clever formula that feels so soft and moisturizing on the lips, to the beautiful ‘my lips but better’ color and its slick, ultra-luxe packaging, I find myself reaching for this product over any other lip balm I currently own. I still adore my YSL tint-in-balms, but find the Givenchy formula less slippy. It grabs hold of my lips and stays put a little while longer than the YSL balms. It is very similar to the Dior Lip Glow formula but I much prefer the slick, elegant Givenchy leather packaging over the bulkier and heavier Dior plastic case. So in short, the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm brings me joy every time I wear it! It is a major keep and I will re-purchase over any other existing balms in my collection!
So I thought it would be helpful to show you a comparison of three high-end, lip-enhancing, skin pH-reacting lip balms that I currently have in my collection. You can see in the photo below just how similar in terms of color payoff the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm is compared to the Dior Lip Glow. They feel and wear almost identical, the only major difference being the packaging. The Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl in Noir Revelateur, an Allure Magazine Best of Beauty winner, is the one that looks the most intimidating in the photo. It feels slightly balmier than the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm and transforms into a sophisticated berry, mauvey shade. I have to admit that of all these three options, when I consider the formula, shade and packaging, the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm wins every.single.time!
So for now, I’m keeping the Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Lip Balm and going to leave my makeup collection for a few days, then come back to it with fresh, new eyes. I’ll keep you guys posted!
This is NOT a sponsored post but it does contain referral links. Read my Disclaimer policy for more info.
I so agree on the decluttering topic – however, some things are too pretty to pass up. Maybe one of each rather than every color? Lol It seems as though I need this little pretty too ?
I definitely feel a lot ‘lighter’ and more creative when my space/surroundings are in order! I’m not entirely done decluttering, but slow and steady wins the race! 🙂 As far as the Givenchy Lip Balm, it is definitely a great option if you don’t already have something similar! ~ Cat L.
I definitely stick to the Maire Condo principal, I give away products that I have tried and don’t like, or have multiple off. I feel weighed down by clutter and too many things so I hear you and understand completely where you are coming from. As for the lip balms, we definitely are sold on packaging the number of times I have bought products because I thought they would look good on the dresser is unbelievable. But if it sparks joy what can I say. Yes please keep us posted about the Givenchy led rouge perfecto lip balm
You bring up some excellent points and I must admit I relate to every single one! I definitely am one to fall for bold claims and pretty packaging (beauty blogger issue, what can I say 🙂 ) but I also believe in letting go of those products that don’t work out or we happen to have multiples of! I’m definitely not done decluttering my space, there are a few more rounds that need to happen, but I am committed to put Marie Kondo’s principles to good use! Thank you for reading and commenting, Esnath! I really appreciate your support! ~ Cat L.
Thank you for sharing this review Cat; although this lip balm looks absolutely divine, I agree that it is more about its packaging rather than its benefits. Which is totally okay especially, if you don’t mind paying a little extra. I will be actually sharing my thoughts on Marie Kondo’s book soon (I have decluttered so much it is crazy), I think it is a bestseller for a reason! Also, happy (belated) birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day xx
Naya // http://www.partyparrotblog.com
Thank you for stopping by, Naya and for the bday wishes! I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Marie Kondo’s book!!! I’ve been contemplating sharing a review as well. It is one of those books that as you say, is a bestseller for a reason! ~ Cat L.
Happy belated birthday Cat, I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating! ??? I know I’m definitely guilty of purchasing products for their packaging, but it’s part of what brings me joy when I use them, so I suppose that makes them pass the Marie Kondo test? ?
This givenchy lip balm is absolutely gorgeous, I immediately fell in love with the sleek design when I saw your pic on Instagram! So glad to hear that it’s more than just a pretty tube, and that it works well. I love my Dior lip glow but I feel like I need to at least try this out when I visit Sephora next time. Thank you for this wonderful review!
Thank you Jenny for the bday wishes and for stopping by! If you love your Dior lip glow, then this Givenchy lip balm is almost an exact dupe but that comes in a super gorgeous pink leather case! Definitely check it out! It’s way too pretty to resist! ~ Cat L.
I love the way the balm feels on my lips! It’s so nourishing and the packaging is just so elegant!
xx
Dom
http://www.calibeaute.com
Always a pleasure to read you ! This balm is very elegant indeed ! As you said, we have a lot in our stash and sometimes is good to reorganize and (re)discover some essentials 😉 Hugs !
Kédidja ~ beautymoodboard.com
I fell in love with this product the moment I saw it so I am so glad to know that it does actually perform as well as it looks! Givenchy have certainly done good here as this truly is any lip lovers dream and I may need to invest once my Dior one runs out as I too love products like this.
Stunning images Cat and I think I shall have to pin the top one to my Pinterest board! LOVE it!
Kelly xx
http://www.KELLiLASH.com