What can’t Serge Lutens do? His resume comprises photography, fragrance creation, make up artistry, hair styling, fashion design and film making. How can one person be good at so many things? His history with Shiseido for whom he worked for ten years continues (previously he created the Dior make up range) as Shiseido acquired the Serge Lutens trade mark in 2015 and have full control over the brand. In fact, I don’t know truly if Serge has anything at all to do with any of it any more. He’s notoriously enigmatic – practically reclusive actually – and gives few interviews but if you’re interested in learning more, the Independent’s interview by Rebecca Gonsalves HERE is definitely worth reading.
I’m trying my level best to understand why the Serge Lutens Lip Palette costs £120. Even Chanel doesn’t ask this money for make up. I’ve reviewed Serge make up before, enticed by the prices and the anticipated luxury and I think I was won over. But, things change and this time, I’m questioning it much harder. Yes, it’s beautiful and yes, I think you’d be pushed to find these intense, blackened berry shades in such a combination elsewhere, but £120? I like to think that if you paid that you’d afford the palette a reverence and relish every single stroke of the little brushes loaded with juicy colour over your lips and if that’s the case, perhaps it’s worth every damn penny. But, looking around at other brands, Serge doesn’t seem special enough any more for the money. It’s remained more or less the same for all the years I’ve known it and yet, it comes from such a creative brain who has made fragrances such as Jeux de Peau (play on skin), Nuit de Cellophane and La Fille de Berlin. Owners, Shiseido, are creative and dynamic too – bareMinerals, NARS and Laura Mercier belong there too, to name a few.
I feel that the Serge Lutens make up brand needs something more special to justify the spend that’s required (a single, small lipstick is over £50), something more creative and intriguing than a lip bar palette in a black case. I don’t not like this, in fact, I love it, but I wouldn’t pay £120 for it as it is now. This particular shade selection has sold out (so someone is buying it!) for now but there’s a selection of other shade bar palettes HERE if you feel tempted as well as eye bars (£118) and a selection of lip products.
Non Aff HERE
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