Lip of the Day: Estee Lauder Pure Color Velvet Lipstick in Red Velvet

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that I absolutely love a red lip, and that I own a rather large range of red lipsticks, from cheap and cheerful (NYX) to ultra high end (Tom Ford).  This new one, from the Estee Lauder Modern Mercury collection for autumn / winter 2011, has displaced all of them as my new favourite.  A true, blue based red, it has the most incredible pigmentation I've ever seen.  The photo above is of barely even one pass over the lips with the bullet - most of the colour on my bottom lip was transferred from my top lip when I pressed them together.

The lipstick has a full on, matte finish.  Given that it's part of the Pure Color lipstick line, which Sarah and I both love for its plush, comfortable texture and excellent pigmentation, I had high expectations for the texture - and whilst this isn't a massively drying formula, it's not as a soft and comfortable as the main line.  That's not particularly surprising, really, for something so matte.  Wear is good, as you'd expect, although for comfort's sake, it's definitely worth topping up every four hours or so.

The Modern Mercury collection launches on August 1st, both online and at Estee Lauder counters.  Pure Color Velvet Lipsticks cost £18.50 each - definitely a splurge, but well worth it for that incredibly smooth pigmentation.  What do you think?  Tempted?  Let us know in the comments!

PR sample