Rouge Casaque

Rouge Hermès is more than just a lipstick, it’s an all-round sensory experience

Before you even open the outer box, you know that Rouge Hermès is something special. A tiny window in the front of the box reveals a sliver of the house’s signature orange, and I challenge your pulse not to quicken as you slip the little leather-textured orange box out of its casing. It’s small, but perfectly formed.

Inside the orange box, the lipstick is swaddled in a little fabric pouch, and there’s a good reason for this. The Rouge Hermès casings are refillable, so the sleeve ensures its longevity. The object itself is heavy, plastic-free, and finished with brushed metal. The cap fuses to the base with a strong magnet, making a satisfying click when closed.

The bullet itself is deeply matte, and with an appearance almost of suede you might imagine it would sit heavily on the lips, but the second you swipe it on, its buttery texture is revealed. On the lips it’s entirely weightless and comfortable. The pigment is unparalleled; a single swipe yields the most vivid crimson. The bullet shape on the matte lipsticks was crafted with precise application in mind, hence the ultra-fine point.

To say this lipstick plays to all the senses was not hyperbole; not to be overlooked is the scent of this lipstick, one especially crafted by Christine Nagel with notes of sandalwood, arnica and angelica.

You realise then that what you have in your hand is something truly special. More than just a beauty product; a thing of beauty.