YSL Gloss Volupte in 206 Fuchsia Oran (left) and 15 Grenade Pepite (right)

Or so they claim.

YSL recently released Gloss Volupte, a pleasurable, non-sticky top topcoat for your lips. This latest collection, we're talking bling-tastic shine, features twenty-three shades split amongst three finishes:

Golden (gold glitter; shades 1-49)
Iridescent (multi-tonal flecks; shades 101-104)
Pure (no glitter; shades 201-209)

The lip-shaped applicator, in addition to being cute, is also quite efficient at ladling enough product onto your lips. And, with a simple flick in order to flip the applicator, the convex side works to smooth and even things out. The slit located at the centre sops up excess gloss and acts as a reservoir should you need to apply a bit more colour.

The fruity scent (think Sweet Tarts) has been somewhat controversial or more to the point off-putting for a few other bloggers and reviewers, but it doesn't really bother me as it fades fairly fast. Personally, I'm just glad YSL didn't duplicate the scent used in their Glossy Stain formula.

Grenade Pepite, loosely translated from French to English means pomegranate nugget. Translation aside, I get more of a pale pink pomegranate kernel, better yet a pink lady apple with yellow undertones and major flecks of gold glitter. The finish delivers high shine that lasts for a couple of hours, max, and then wears down to a subtle sheen thereby placing the gold glitter on display. Despite the presence of glitter in Grenade Pepite, I still found the texture to be smooth and plush-like.

If you're not into the glitter look definitely skip shade nos. 1 thru 104.

Fuchsia Oran, put simply features a magenta hue (a deep pinkish red) with orange undertones. I found Fuchsia Oran to be especially dynamic for its finish. At the very peak you get crystallised berry and in the valley is where the soft, blush rose lies. Talk about enchantment.

Glossiness lasts for about three hours, during hour four is when the sheen emerges and finally, during hours five to six, Fuchsia Oran dries down to a smooth stain with some of the pigment settling into fine lines. It's nothing a little chapstick can't fix and something I'm willing to look beyond for the colour alone.

For both Grenade Pepite and Fuchsia Oran full opacity can be reached after two swipes.

Swatches of 15 Grenade Pepite (left) and 206 Fuchsia Oran (right) — Swatches of 15 Grenade Pepite (left) and 206 Fuchsia Oran (right)

My recent travels to Hong Kong afforded me the opportunity to see all twenty-three shades in person; if this hadn't been the case, I don't think I would've chosen as wisely or been as inclined to even make a purchase.

As of right now Gloss Volupte is only available through their website and select international stores.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for YSL's Gloss Volupte: