Ever encounter a cosmetic brand that’s so fabulous, so excitingly enshrouded in mystery that it almost feels magical to get your hands on a few products? For me, Rouge Bunny Rouge has always been that brand.
Perhaps it’s the whimsical product names, the slight difficulty in procuring their products (I’m not certain there are counters stateside, for instance) and the dreamy colors. I almost always feel like birds should be sweeping the kitchen and braiding my hair while I apply Rouge Bunny Rouge cosmetics.
“Rouge Bunny Rouge is quintessentially British — a vision of intellectual beauty, a uniquely Neo-Victorian style … [the brand is] also renowned for its fantastic world of storytelling. Elements of magic, whimsy and mystery are playfully reflected in the names of [the] products.” — Rouge Bunny Rouge
Very early on in my blogging days at Getting Cheeky (and you can tell just how early on by the photography), I managed to get my hands on the stunning shadow in Abyssinian Catbird, and the love affair began. So it was with the excitement of a love-struck fairy-tale heroine that I started playing with the Rouge Bunny Rouge Masters of Texture Makeup Collection.
Please allow for a brief pause while this makeup and classic literature lover swoons…
I can think of no more exquisitely packaged powders than those offered by Rouge Bunny Rouge. Housed in substantial and sleek black external packaging reminiscent of Victorian hat boxes, removal of the lid reveals a weighty black compact and sweet “RBR” monogrammed powder puff.
*swoon*
Rouge Bunny Rouge’s Loves Lights Highlighting Powder ($48) is not your average trend-driven illuminator. Finely milled to the point of feeling like a cloud, these beauties create a diaphanous, rather than overt, glow.
The brand describes the formulation of the powder as being composed of “spherical powders” which “[produce] an unusual perfecting powder with smoothing properties.” While it pained me to swatch away the ephemeral dandelion pattern on the surface of the powder, the result was well worth the temporary torture. I could verily paint myself from head to toe in 066 Goddess (an opalescent pale pink), and 067 Sweet to Touch (a gold spiked amber) pairs well with blushes of a plum hue on my complexion.
As for the Raw Garden Shadow Palette ($55) in 086 Antigo, it’s a work of art. I’ve tried many matte shadows in my time as a beauty lover, and while I have my favorites, it’s not often that I’m this impressed… To be honest, I don’t even remember the last time I audibly said “oooh!” while swatching, but Antigo accomplished just that.
Comprised of a faintly luminous golden pearl, a pink toned mink, rich deep brown and neutral coffee, this palette is as foolproof in terms of creating looks as it is indispensable. I am fully enamored of the texture and highly recommend this particular piece in the collection. Are you a neutral shadow lover? Then run, don’t walk.
Available in two shades, Rouge Bunny Rouge’s Alchemy Long-Lasting Brow Liners in 088 Antimony and 089 Troma don’t offer an immense variety of shades (blondes, red heads and raven-haired beauties will struggle to find a perfect match), but they do offer the opportunity to choose between warm and cool-toned brown. Pencils of this style with such a fine point of product are ideal for creating natural brow strokes, creating a “my brows but better” effect. I’ve been favoring 088 Antimony to pick up on the deeper hues in my auburn hair (as shown in the FOTD shots in this post).
Another long-time and much-beloved star of the Rouge Bunny Rouge line are their lip products. The Dazzling Sip Tinted Luxe Balms ($31) are another dreamy throwback to my early days as a beauty blogger in 2011 and 2012, when Rouge Bunny Rouge had burst forth on the scene and their lipsticks were wildly buzzed about. Available in three shades, 091 Pinch of Nude, 092 Sip of Pink and 093 Specks of Cerise, these pillowy balms feel somewhat reminiscent of cushioned marshmallows on the lips. A formula like this one is rare, and these balms are incredibly comfortable for a beauty lover with such sensitive lips.
Alas, although it’s a smidge too dark for my incredibly fair complexion, I am incredibly impressed with the consistency of Skin Soul Drops Foundation Essence ($63). Similar both in packaging and consistency to Giorgio Armani’s Maestro foundation, an oil-based formula that largely evaporates on the skin to leave behind pure pigment only, Rouge Bunny Rouge’s take blends like a dream and feels incredibly comfortable and is, dare I say, imperceptible when applied. Available in only three shades, it’s intended to be a bit of a chameleon and suit a wide variety of complexions.
In the swatch below, I placed a thick drop of the foundation to the left of my arm and gradually blended in a gradient fashion moving toward the right. It’s worth noting that I blended with my fingers, and I find that this is the best method for foundations of this style; however, a dense kabuki style or dome foundation brush would also do the trick.
Despite the color mismatch, I wore this foundation for a day (much to my family’s concern) around the house to test longevity. Although I have dry skin and can’t speak to the way Skin Soul Drops Foundation Essence would perform on oily or combination skin, it lasted me a full 10 hours without requiring powder or blotting.
Naturally, given my propensity to fall in love with any and all makeup that is literary and whimsical in nature, I had to take all of these products for a spin. As fabulous in quality as Rouge Bunny Rouge’s reputation would suggest, each and every one feels dreamy and exquisite.
I’ve developed a particular soft spot for the Loves Lights Highlighter in 066 Goddess. As the glow it creates isn’t as overt as other popular highlighters, I find that it stays with me better throughout the day. And who could resist the flirty glow of the Dazzling Sip Tinted Luxe Balm in 092 Sip of Pink? Certainly not this girl.
It’s hard to condense my thoughts on this comprehensive collection into just a few words, and I barely even scratched the surface! Mysterious and high quality, Rouge Bunny Rouge is truly an enigma wrapped in a myth, and I love every minute of it.
Fellow niche beauty lovers, have you tried Rouge Bunny Rouge? What are your favorite products? What else should I try?
Erin says
Yikes the color of the foundation is so off!
jonirae says
omg. I had heard of this brand but wasn’t sure exactly where to find it, nor had I actually seen any of their products before! I love that shadow palette! it’s so unique, I haven’t seen shadow in a compact quite like that before!
I’m super intrigued by goddess. Do you wear it just on your cheekbones and such like a true highlighter? or is it more all over brightening finishing powder-esque? I can’t tell if there’s shimmer so I wasn’t sure?
I’m googling the company’s website right now. you have been piling onto my I-want-that list lately with your recent reviews! thanks!! (I think, lol) 😉
LindaLibraLoca says
I don’t think I ever properly noticed the brand. I have heard of them, true, but didn’t ever take a closer look at their stuff. Seems like a mistake now.
Becky says
I’ve not tried anything from Rouge Bunny Rouge – but I have long had my eye on the Diaphanous Powder (thanks to Karima at Shameless Fripperies!) but that eyeshadow palette is calling my name!
Beekeyper – Latest post – Aztec Secret – Worth the Hype?
Nivedita says
The Raw Garden reminds of of Oreo Cookies and Sweet to Touch looks like my kind of color. The liquid foundations are around, but somehow, I have not managed to lay my paws on them yet.
Dawn says
I love Rouge Bunny Rouge!! Fire drops and matte shadows are my favorites. I think their products work especially well on fair skin….the colors aren’t overpowering.
Kiss & Make-up says
Nope, haven’t tried Rouge Bunny Rouge yet but every time I see the brand featured or reviewed somewhere I wish I could! Sounds like Antigo really blew your mind 🙂
Sherry P says
Ohhhh Antigo and Goddess speak to me too! This is a brand I’ve stalked forever but never purchased. That has GOT to change! Thanks for the beautiful post
Rachel R. says
I haven’t tried any of RBR’s products. They always look so pretty, though. Those foundation drops are soooo dark and warm. Not good.
Marcella Yakalis says
This whole collection looks like it would be right up my alley 🙂 The eyeshadow in particular is really stunning.
Lizzie S says
I was so happy to see a post on this brand. I know Karen did show case Rouge Bunny a long time ago. This is one of my favorite brands of all time and my collection continues to grow and rarely disappoints. I love my Raw Garden Shadow Palette and have been using it on the daily for months since its release and dare I say I prefer it over my Tom Ford Coco palette. I love RBR’s packaging, their magical way of naming things and the products themselves are top quality. I love their fragrance line too. I was not so impressed unfortunately in the skin soul drops foundation. I think the formula is nice but the shade range was terrible. I’m a medium skin tone and wear a 5.5 in Armani Luminous Silk and wanted to use it to darken some of my lighter foundations but even the darkest shade was too light for me. Their liquid highlighters by the way are “BOOM” fairy twinkle pretty. I appreciate your swatches on the brow pencil because I was debating on trying them but I prefer a more grey toned shade. Nice post thanks for sharing!