Sephora Love Wins, Empowered, Wicked Smart Rouge Lacquers Reviews & Swatches

Love Wins (09)

Sephora Love Wins (09) Rouge Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It was very “fruit punch” in color–bright and rich enough to be more like a fuchsia but not warm enough to be a pink-coral. The texture was creamy, emollient, and had moderate slip going on but didn’t slide around too noticeably during wear. It had nearly opaque color coverage that went on evenly and didn’t settle into my lip lines. It wore well for five and a half hours and left a pinkish stain behind, while the formula felt hydrating over time.

Top Dupes

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Colour Pop Freshman (LE, $5.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Guerlain #67 (P, $33.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Burberry Crimson Pink (241) (P, $34.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Maybelline Fuchsia for Me (P, $7.49) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Flowerscope (LE, $18.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Burberry Magenta (33) (P, $34.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Mix (P, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Dior Darling (775) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Bite Beauty #004 (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Chanel Framboise (P, $37.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar).

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Formula Overview

$13.00/0.1 oz. - $130.00 Per Ounce

The lipstick is supposed to have a "silky smooth melting formula" that yields "intense long-lasting color and high-shine" with "instant hydration." Most shades were creamy without being so slippery that they felt that way or went on unevenly. They do melt quickly, though, so if they are left in a warmer area (with all my photography lights running) and applied, they feel substantially creamier than at room temperature (about 72 degrees).

The texture was smooth, creamy, and comfortable to apply and to wear with most of the shades applying well, though lighter and very deep shades tended to have application problems. The lighter shades tended to separate and sit in my lip lines, while deeper shades were less pigmented and more prone to patchiness (but didn't pull into my lip lines as noticeably as the lighter shades did). The majority of the shades had semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation with a few coming in at more medium to semi-opaque coverage.

As there are 30 shades in the range, wear time definitely varied from three to six hours, depending on depth and pigment level with deeper, redder shades lasting longer than pale beiges and peaches. The formula has been moderately hydrating without feathering on me so far, but I'm not particularly prone to that but would worry about it for those who find it a more frequent occurrence with some of the deeper shades in the lineup.

They had a scent that Sephora lists as having these notes: "vanilla, peony, and intrepid patchouli," and I'd describe the scent as a subtle, sweet, vanilla-floral hybrid mix (nothing specific to my nose) and on most shades, I didn't notice a taste but some shades gave me a bit of one (enough that I was like, "hmm").

Browse all of our Sephora Rouge Lacquer swatches.

Ingredients

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Polybutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Synthetic Wax, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Stearalkonium Hectorite, CI 15850 (Red 7), Parfum (Fragrance), Propylene Carbonate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, BHT, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Citric Acid.

Love Wins (09)

A-

Permanent

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Empowered (04)

Sephora Empowered (04) Rouge Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a rich, deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish with barely-there pearl–the pearl seemed to contribute more to the shine than making it appear shimmery on. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which adhered smoothly and evenly across my lips without dragging. What I was most impressed by was how creamy and emollient the formula felt and yet smoothed out most of my lip lines. This shade stayed on nicely for five hours and was moisturizing while worn.

Top Dupes

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Burberry Military Red (305) (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Colour Pop On Display (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
Sephora Deep Water Bay (24) (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Make Up For Ever Raspberry Red (401) (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay Mrs. Mia Wallace (P, $18.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Forbidden Love (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
Urban Decay Bad Blood (P, $18.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
MAC Brave Red (P, $18.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Estee Lauder Boldface (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Warren (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$13.00/0.1 oz. - $130.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sephora Rouge Lacquer swatches.

Ingredients

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Polybutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Synthetic Wax, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)), Stearalkonium Hectorite, Fragrance, Propylene Carbonate, CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, BHT, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Citric Acid.

Empowered (04)

Permanent

9.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

97%

Total

Wicked Smart (02)

Sephora Wicked Smart (02) Rouge Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and barely-there micro-shimmer paired with a lightly glossy, cream finish. It was intensely pigmented with a smooth, creamy consistency that felt like a balm-lipstick hybrid as it skated across my lips and melted against their warmth. I’d recommend applying just one layer and taking a step back as it can be easy to over-apply! It lasted well for five and a half hours, left a very faint reddish stain behind, and was lightly hydrating over time.

Top Dupes

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Make Up For Ever Raspberry Red (401) (P, $24.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Dior Ultra Shock (851) (P, $37.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Braised (P, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Sephora Popsicle Lips (28) (P, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Hourglass Icon (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Colour Pop On Display (P, $7.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Forbidden Love (P, $38.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
MAC Como La Flor (LE, $18.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Tannin (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Bite Beauty Gemini (Right) (LE, $26.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$13.00/0.1 oz. - $130.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sephora Rouge Lacquer swatches.

Ingredients

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Synthetic Wax, CI 15850 (Red 7), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Stearalkonium Hectorite, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Parfum (Fragrance), Propylene Carbonate, CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, BHT, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Citric Acid.