Chanel did it again this spring. They picked an ordinary type of lipstick, the lip crayon, and they took it to the next level, just like they did with liquid matte lipstick last fall. The new Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur lipstick is available now in 11 shades, and I picked it in No 2 Rose Violine. Let's take a closer look!




The first thing I noticed when I got my Crayon de Couleur is that despite Chanel's description of a "jumbo longwear lip crayon", it is much thinner than similar products: it is only 1.2g, vs. 3g for the mother of all lip crayons, Clinique's Chubby Stick. It's even narrower than Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, and half the amount of product (Nars is 2.4g). The very small amount of product you get makes the $37 price tag even more painful!

Comparing sizes

In terms of packaging, I don't think Chanel tried very hard: it's a rather basic black plastic body with a twist up system and a colored ring at the bottom that shows the shade. It doesn't look cheap, but it's certainly not as luxurious as the brand new Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo!




So far we have basic packaging, very little lipstick, and an outrageous price... so why on earth am I saying that Chanel just revolutionized the lip crayon?? Well, everything changes when you put it on your lips!




First of all, it is incredibly pigmented and yields opaque coverage in one swipe. The intensity took me by surprise, since lip crayons are often sheer or semi-opaque - because everyone copied the Chubby Stick, which is really more of a balm than a lipstick. The Crayon de Couleur, on the other hand, has the pigmentation and vibrancy of a true lipstick! Its intensity reminds me of the Rouge Coco Stylo, also by Chanel.




My shade, Rose Violine, is one of the most neutral in the range, and yet it looks pretty bold on due to its opacity. The name suggests a plummy rose, and that's what I see in the tube, but once applied to my warm-toned skin, the shade develops very strong warm undertones, to the point that it looks almost coral under certain lights. It is a beautiful color, although not as "nude" as I expected! Yet when swatched next to the other shades in the range, it looks very soft... that gives you a good indication of the vibrancy of the brighter shades!




Application is effortless, the lipstick glides on the lips, looks even and doesn't get into lip lines. The finish is very glossy, giving the lips a beautiful shine. I find the texture lightweight yet very comfortable on my chronically dry lips, it almost feels like a very thin balm. I wouldn't say that it's intensely nourishing, but it definitely keeps my lips moisturized throughout the wear.




And the wear, let's talk about that! It's the other surprise of this lip crayon: when Chanel said "longwear", they weren't joking. It doesn't budge as long as I don't eat, and I can still see a good amount of color after a meal. It does transfer on glasses and mugs, but somehow that doesn't seem to affect its intensity. I get a good 6 hours of wear if I don't have a meal!





Another fantastic lippie by Chanel! With its amazing pigmentation and surprisingly long wear, the Crayon de Couleur is really unique in the lip crayon category. If you can stomach the price tag, I definitely recommend giving it a try. I'm also tempted to buy one of the red shades, now that I know how vibrant they look!


Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and other department stores.


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