Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope- Black Tie & Private Party

Poppy King of Lipstick Queen has so many lipstick ranges in her own line and as collaborations that it can get very confusing. But there's no mistaking Lipstick Queen's Velvet Rope collection for anything other than her top drawer luxury product. The boxes are coated with a velveteen material, the cases are heavy Art Deco style (actually these are only the caps. The tube itself is much lighter, and the base is thin and flat like a tester. That's kind of an odd choice). They're meant to be displayed next to one's Tom Ford and Guerlain lipsticks and other items in this price bracket.

There are five shades in the Velvet Rope range, and I could have easily bought four (the nude pink Star System is too light for my taste), but I picked the two I knew I was going to wear the most: Private Party, a red-based hot pink that's actually very wearable because it's free of neon, and Black Tie, a deep berry red. The lipsticks have an about 75% coverage and a silky finish that is not really matte, so I find the combination to be the most flattering on non-filtered face and lips.

Both Velvet Rope lipsticks leave a good and even stain behind them, which is especially nice with such a lightweight formula. They have a reasonable longevity (can survive a drink or a snack if applied in the classic liner-brush on-blot-brush on a second coat method), but they transfer onto teacups, corn ears, and cats. The lipsticks are comfortable, slightly hydrating, and make a good choice for a night out: they won't become dry or patchy, and pulling the chic tube out for a touch-up is an elegant move.

Here's where I get cranky, though: The ingredient list is not printed on the box (you can't really print much on the velveteen) and there's no leaflet attached. As a matter of fact, the only place you can find the content of the lipstick is on the Lipstick Queen website. Here it is:

VELVET ROPE BLACK TIE: INGREDIENTS (CONTENTS): CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE,DIMETHICONE, OCTYLDODECANOL, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX (CANDELILLA CERA/ CIRE DE CANDELILLA), SILICA, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, PERFLUORONONYLETHYL STEARYL DIMETHICONE, BEESWAX (CERA ALBA/CIRE D’ABEILLE), POLYETHYLENE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX (CERA CARNAUBA/CIRE DE CARNAUBA), ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNAL OIL, PHENOXYETHANOL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)

VELVET ROPE PRIVATE PARTY: INGREDIENTS (CONTENTS): CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE,DIMETHICONE, OCTYLDODECANOL, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX (CANDELILLA CERA/ CIRE DE CANDELILLA), SILICA, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, PERFLUORONONYLETHYL STEARYL DIMETHICONE, BEESWAX (CERA ALBA/CIRE D’ABEILLE), POLYETHYLENE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX (CERA CARNAUBA/CIRE DE CARNAUBA), ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNAL OIL, PHENOXYETHANOL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891).

The lipsticks have a light minty smell. It's from the use of natural peppermint oil which is a is known irritant.Some people can be very sensitive to it, just as much as to an artificial fragrance. I don't have a problem with this ingredient and I like mint, but this is not necessarily the best choice for a luxury lip product.

Bottom Line: As long as you're not allergic to peppermint it's a good use for your Ulta points.

Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope lipsticks ($50 each, made in Canada) are available at Barneys, Nordstrom, SpaceNK, and Ulta (!).