Lisa Eldridge Lipstick Experience Review

If you never thought recycling was sexy, read on...

[unpaid/samples] Lisa's latest lipsticks are a world first - honestly! All of the refill componentry is made from aluminium - not even a speck of plastic anywhere. She has apparently been trying to get this recyclable technology off the ground for five years and, as a relatively small brand in the big world of make up, if she can, anyone can. So, it's a siren call for all the bigger make up houses to take a leaf out of her book. I hope she has it patented beyond the max.

The exterior casing takes reference from the lipstick case that was given to Audrey Hepburn by Cartier in 1956 - it's not exactly the same but the ridging is certainly a key feature of both. I'd love to know which manufacturers she worked with in the creation of this. Lisa is also a jewellery designer (and has her own range of jewellery HERE) so the fine detailing, I feel, comes from the attention to detail that second skill needs.

There are eight new shades in total in a creamy formula with a blurry sheen. Above from right to left are: Ashes of Roses, Lisa and Audrey. Lisa has always said, since she bought the Cartier case at auction, that she'd like to recreate the colour that she found within. It was a complete surprise that there was any lipstick in it all and I'm wondering (hoping) if the shade named Audrey is that longed-for replication.

Unexciting as the DNA of refills is, this beauty is a symbol of determination and the ability to fail over and over until finally, the result comes. Keeping the faith over five years led to this and when you consider the billions of lipsticks produced every year across the world, you can see how important this piece of componentry could become.

Here's Audrey! It's a lively coral pink that (I feel) brings my whole face to life. I was certainly grinning at it like a Cheshire cat as I opened it and applied and if a colour makes you smile like that, it's a keeper!

This is Lisa - a neutral, nutty pink.

And this is Ashes of Roses, described as an earthy rose. The idea is that you buy the case (£49) and then replace your shades as and when. The aluminium refills have their own little cap at the top and the shade number on the bottom so that they'll a) stay moist and b) be easy to find. I think maybe a refill holder would be a good idea so you can see at a glance which shade is which rather than rummaging. I feel sure I've seen a vintage example of something like this. You could, if you prefer, just buy the refills because they work perfectly well without being in the casing. The individual refills are £25 which feels reasonable to me. The Rouge Experience is described as a debut collection which implies there are more to come. Find The Rouge Experience HERE.