Views: 28
Back when I was studying fashion, I took a course called Colour and Design, which (as the name might suggest) ran students through aesthetic principles like the golden ratio, colour theory and visual hierarchy. But one simple lesson has always stuck with me: If you want people to pay attention to what you have to say, use elements that draw the eye up toward the face, like statement collars and bold shoulders. Lately, I’ve been adding lipstick to that list of notice-me tactics: a bold red for a day of speaking in meetings, a grunge-y dark berry for a party. Still, even in the best of times, lipstick can make me feel hyper-aware of myself. (Is it on my teeth? Has it escaped past the lip line? Is it too much?) I need my lipstick to walk a fine line: be impactful but not over-the-top, unfussy but trustworthy. And I think I’ve found it in Dior Beauty’s latest lip launch: Rouge Dior On Stage. [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRHyptejZJ5/” /] The new range, available starting September 1 and first announced to the media during the Cannes Film Festival this past spring, combines the best features of both a liquid- and stick-format lipstick, providing a long-lasting and transfer-resistant swipe from its precise pointed bullet. And here’s perhaps the coolest part: The shiny formula actually becomes more gleaming as you wear it, thanks to an innovative new double-phase technology developed in Dior Beauty’s labs. You see, classic lipstick is a single-phase offering: You simply apply it and hope for the best. Rouge Dior On Stage starts out with a colour phase, which anchors the pigment to the lips, and follows with a coated-shine phase, which releases a sheen on contact with the lips that stays put for hours. Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior Makeup, explains that the formula is “beautiful and lightweight” upon initial application, but “after a few seconds, it will show you its true identity.” The range of shades is compact (just 10 in the lineup), and this was intentional, according to Philips. “We really didn’t want to distract from the formula, the lightness of the application and the beauty of the shine.” [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DRKnIWZDZsz/” /] The focus remains largely on sophisticated, wearable neutrals and nudes—something Philips reminds me is unique to the individual. “One girl’s nude is not another girl’s nude,” he offers, “but one of the guidelines I can give is to match your undertone—warm or cool. From there, just try and play.” While he refuses to play favourites, Philips highlights Redwood Star, “a beautiful warm rosewood,” as a shade of note. And with a shiny formula like On Stage, the artist likes to fill the colour just past the lip line to give lips a little bit more volume. Talk about a lipstick that’s ever so ready for its close-up. This article first appeared in FASHION’s October 2025 issue. Find out more here. Continue Reading
