Bourjois' best-selling Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick, that I already showed you a while back, has a little shy sister: the Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet. She's a liquid matte lipstick too, but a sheer one. I know, that sounds odd... wouldn't a sheer liquid matte lipstick be a streaky mess? Keep reading to find out!



The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet is the classic, opaque liquid lipstick that's been so popular for the past 3 years, and one of the best I've tried in that category. But not everyone wants a full coverage bold lip color everyday! For those people who prefer a soft look but still enjoy the convenience of a liquid lipstick, Bourjois created a spin off, the Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet.

Souffle means breath, but I would translate this lipstick's name as "velvet whisper". I think it conveys the idea behind the product pretty well. It's a liquid lipstick unlike any other I've ever tried: contrary to the classic versions it's very lightweight and translucent, so the natural lips show through a soft veil of velvety matte color.


The tube looks very much like the original Rouge Edition Velvet, except that the clear part is frosted. The cap shows the shade of the lipstick inside. The applicator is a classic rounded fuzzy doe-foot that is slanted on one side. I find it easy to use for quick application.

The texture of the Souffle de Velvet is quite surprising: it feels very light but also silky and silicone-y, with a whipped mousse consistency. It's very thin so you naturally get the thinnest of layers on your lips by applying it with the doe-foot like you always do. I was really concerned that it would look streaky, but somehow it seems to self-level so I have a very even coat of subtle, sheer color on my lips.

The Souffle de Velvet dries down to a soft matte finish that looks and feels almost powdery. Not in a drying, cakey way, but in a flower petal kind of way, plus there's absolutely no tackiness at all. I think the finish is beautiful, and it's very unusual for this type of sheer lip color.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet in 03 VIPeach

The fact that the Souffle de Velvet is sheer doesn't mean that the shades are boring or dull. The shade I have, VIPeach, is actually a vibrant orangey red that adds a nice pop of color, but in a more subtle and elegant way than a fully opaque liquid lipstick. All the shades in the collection are fun and colorful, ranging from pinks to oranges and reds, without a nude in sight.

A classic liquid matte lipstick, especially in a bold or bright shade, can be hard to pull off. It tends to be very unforgiving when the application wasn't perfect, and it's a little too "in your face" for a subtle, fresh look. The Souffle de Velvet is a user-friendly, easy-to-wear version that I can put on in seconds to add a touch of matte color to my lips.

It transfers a bit and wears off in 3-4 hours, but I don't have to worry about it cracking or flaking. It fades away evenly and it's very comfortable throughout the wear, not making my lips look any dryer.


This Souffle de Velvet might remind you of the Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour'Ink, one of the rare other liquid matte lipsticks meant to be sheer (my review). However the Guerlain version was quite streaky, as I had feared for a formula of this type, while Bourjois really nailed it. I would definitely recommend the Bourjois over the Guerlain!



If you like the convenience of a liquid lipstick and enjoy a matte lip color, but sometimes look for something that's not too bold or too high-maintenance, the Souffle de Velvet should be right up your alley. If, on the other hand, you are a gloss person, it would be a good way for you to experiment with a matte finish without having to go with a fully opaque formula. Personally I love having such an easy-to-wear matte option in my makeup bag!



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