Beauty News: Christian Louboutin Beauté Nail Lacquer – worth the hype?

Christian Louboutin Beauté, the new cosmetics collection from the red soled shoemaker extraordinaire, is finally here. The collection has kicked off with a nail lacquer range featuring a red and 30 other colours to be launched at the end of August.

The star of the show is undoubtably Rouge Louboutin, a red nail polish that is the exact same colour as the red soles that are a signature of Christian Louboutin shoes.  Red nail polish was actually the original inspiration for the red sole of Louboutin shoes so this is a complete no brainer and Loubie lover dream.

However when I read that the price price is £36 a bottle, my first thought was “no way”. That’s double the price of a bottle of Chanel nail lacquer and two thirds the price of a Tom Ford. What on could possibly justify that price?

Rouge Louboutin is now available in Selfridges so I popped along to have a look

LOUBOUTIN SAYS:

“Rouge Louboutin… a timeless, vibrant red suited to any skin tone. A true objet d’art of a dramatic 8-inch height inspired by the tallest heel Christian Louboutin ever created – the Ballerina Ultima. The iconic Rouge is encased in a faceted, weighted glass bottle with an unique ombré effect. The tall slender cap, inspired by calligraphy, turns the application into a luxurious experience, inviting women to take their time. The custom-designed, patented triangular brush picks up the right amount of formula, without air bubbles, to deliver flawless, chip-resistant coverage. A highly pigmented, super glossy formula delivers in just two coats the effect of 20 layers of traditional lacquer. Enclosed in a patent leather like finish presentation box with a red reveal”

WONDERLUSTING SAYS:

The long handle is inspired by a calligraphy pen and you do feel like you’re about to pen an opus when you hold the bottle. The sales assistant gave me the spiel about how two coats are equivalent to 20 layers of normal polish. It certainly dried quickly and is a rich red lacquer colour. However let’s not kid ourselves, no matter how great the brush and red is, this is ALL about the packaging. We are talking To Die For. Once you hold the bottle in your mind, all sensible thoughts will leave, you will be consumed with lust and HAVE to have it. We are talking pure packaging porn.

It is a very good thing I am still on my Summer Spending Ban. £36 is a ridiculous amount to pay for a nail polish but but but……if you think of this more as an objet d’art it becomes reasonable. Looking at the bottle would give great pleasure and that long handle would double as a weapon so you’re saving more money. This would make an amazing present. I don’t even wear red polish (the last time was two years ago!) but I will be dropping Sumo sized hints to my nearest and dearest 😉

Christian Louboutin Beauté and Rouge Louboutin is now available exclusively in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Christian Louboutin boutiques. The full collection of 30 colours, base coat and top coat will be available from 30 August 2014. For more info visit http://eu.christianlouboutin.com/uk_en/