Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipstick Swatches and Review

Towards the end of last year, I was invited to preview the new Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipsticks. A cursory glance across the colour range turned into a double take when I realised that I would gladly have worn every single shade out without having to modify my usual make-up to accommodate the lipstick. Every hue from the palest pink to the deepest aubergine appealed to my make-up obsessed, but ultimately a bit sensible, self.

And this is where Mercier shines; while plenty of extensive colour ranges exist for anyone wanting to indulge their creative side, few brands so stoically stick to flattering, comfortable, easy-to-wear make-up. LM is the queen of classic, the undisputed make-up brand for anyone wanting enhancement and prettiness. Hers is the crisp white shirt of make-up brands, a bastion of good taste.

Mary Greenwell, who is an ambassador for the brand, was on hand that day to explain and demonstrate that the velvety matte was so highly pigmented that you basically could swipe the bullet on and dash out the door. She examined my face and pulled out the chestnut brown ‘Fierce’ stick, convinced that it would lend my face a sort of ’90s chic. She was right, of course, and I now turn to it whenever I want to channel my grungier side.

But I wear and have been wearing the others, too. ‘Fire’ is the perfect blazing red, ‘Bring It’ a treat with a smoky eye, ‘It Girl’ just perfect for bold days when paired with a lick of mascara. And Mary was right when she said that they offer great intensity of colour without dryness or chalkiness – provided your lips are in good nick when you apply them. That said, I’ve also found that they work as well under a lick of gloss, which I usually pat right in the centre of my lips over the lipstick, encouraging it to work its way out across my lips by rubbing them together.