I'm Calling It—Hermès' New Silky Lipsticks Are About to Become Beauty's Ultimate Status Symbol

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a beauty editor, it’s this: when Hermès launches a new beauty product, you sit up straight and pay attention. The heritage French house, known for its quietly luxurious Birkin bags and Twilly silk scarves, gives utmost attention to detail to its beauty launches. So, when the Rouge Hermès Silky Lipstick Shine (£63) landed on my desk in that chic, colour-blocked bullet (practically a handbag accessory in its own right), I knew it was about to have a moment. Scroll ahead for everything you need to know about the new Hermès beauty launch.

Hermès Rouge Hermès Silky Lipstick Shine Review

Let’s not pretend the packaging isn’t half the thrill here. Housed in a heavyweight tube with lacquered, minimalist colour blocks (mine: glossy black, creamy ivory and a glimmer of brushed gold. Other limited-edition shades have collectable, bolder colour-ways), it whispers:“If you know, you know.” It’s the kind of lipstick you’d nonchalantly whip out at an art gallery pretending you’re not low-key thrilled someone clocked it. It also comes housed in its own orange Hermès box, complete with a canvas pouch to protect your lipstick while on the go.

The texture is where Hermès flexes its luxurious craftsmanship. Inspired by the house's silk Twilly scarves, the Rouge Hermès Silky Lipstick Shine isn't your average sheer lipstick. The angled bullet hugs your lips and glides on like silk pyjamas on freshly moisturised legs—light, hydrating and impossibly smooth. It’s buildable too, which I love. One swipe bestows a translucent veil of colour; three swipes and you’ve got a polished, glossy pout that looks expensive (because at £63 a pop, it is).

Miraculously, despite its buttery texture, it doesn’t slip and slide around like some glossier formulas. It delivers just the right amount for a grown-up sheen and wears off evenly, leaving behind a soft tint. And thanks to its blend of nourishing vegetable butters and waxes, it leaves lips feeling moisturised and soft, too. It really feels like more of a tinted lip balm than a traditional lipstick. Even the scent whispers luxury, with a subtle fragrance of arnica, sandalwood and angelica, while the refillable format means you can keep the case forever.

If you’re after a new lipstick that doubles as an objet d’art, feels like silk on the lips and makes you look like the kind of person who has their life neatly filed in colour-coded Hermès folders—this is it. Scroll ahead to see the Who What Wear UK team try on their favourite shades.

Rouge Grenade

"Red lipsticks are usually very much out of my wheelhouse so I didn't know how I would feel about Rouge Hermes in 77 Rouge Grenade, which is described as a crimson berry shade," says Who What Wear UK affiliate manager, Jerrlyn Saguiped. "The formula smells amazing, feels much more moisturising than a traditional lipstick and is more buildable too, so it's the perfect product to keep in your handbag if you're looking for just a pop of colour in the daytime, or need a bolder lip in the evening. I paired it with a walnut brown liner, which really helped to pull the lip together for more of a natural blend."

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Rouge Amazone

"I sometimes find red lipsticks to be a little intimidating, but thanks to the sheer, buildable formula of Rouge Amazone, this is one of the most wearable reds I've tried," says Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. "This hue is a warm, summery tomato red that applies sheer, but can be layered up from a soft veil of colour to a bolder statement. The buttery texture cushions the lips and leaves them feeling moisturised while leaving a subtle sheen that isn't too glossy, so you get a couple of hours' wear before needing to top up. Not that I mind topping up at all; with its brushed metal packaging and Hermès emblem-topped cap that closes with a satisfying magnetic click, applying this lipstick is both a luxurious and sensorial experience."

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Beige Halo

“There’s something undeniably special about the experience of using an Hermès lipstick, and the limited-edition Silky Lipstick Shine in Beige Halo absolutely lives up to the hype," says junior branded content editor, Humaa Hussain. "From the moment you twist up the beautifully designed case—those chic colour-blocked tones make every touch-up feel like a luxury—it’s clear this isn’t just any lipstick. The formula itself is incredibly smooth and glides on like a dream, melting into the lips with a balmy, hydrating feel that’s light yet indulgent. Beige Halo is the kind of effortlessly elegant shade that sits somewhere between a soft nude and a warm beige-pink, giving just enough colour to enhance your lips while still feeling natural. It has a luminous, almost glossy finish that catches the light in a really flattering way without ever feeling sticky or heavy. As for longevity, while it’s not a long-wear formula (and doesn’t claim to be), it holds up surprisingly well for something so silky and shine-focused. I found I only needed to reapply after eating, and even then, it wore away evenly, without clinging to dry patches or settling into lines. It’s the kind of lipstick you find yourself reaching for daily—not just because it looks and feels gorgeous, but because wearing it makes you feel just a little bit more polished, even on a casual day.”

Who What Wear UK assistant social media editor, Annie Wheatland-Clinch, also rates Beige Halo. "I loved the subtle shimmer to this shade and felt it was the perfect everyday neutral that worked with my normal makeup look. The product glided on like a lip balm but still gave my lips the perfect nude tint."

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Rose Gélatine

"I tried Hermès Rouge Hermès Silky Lipstick 30 Rose Gélatine," says Who What Wear UK insights analyst, Sophie Cookson. "The application of the lipstick was so incredibly smooth, it felt like putting butter on my lips. It glided on seamlessly and immediately had a good amount of pigment, so I didn't need to apply loads. It gave a glossy shine that looked natural and moisturised my lips. I would say that colour was quite pink for me, but with the right outfit it would be perfect."

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Rose Himalaya

"I tried the shade Rose Himalaya," says Who What Wear UK social media editor, Megan Storey. "I wasn't sure on the shade of this when I saw it, as it looks like a fairly bright, almost highlighter pink, but the formula is so creamy and sheer, it gives the lips a lovely rosy glow. It's going to become my go-to everyday lipstick!"

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Rouge H

Who What Wear UK acting fashion editor, Sophie Watson, tested the shade Rouge Brillant. It's now out of stock, but the closest match available is Rouge H. "On first look, it appears as a brick-like red in the tube, but applies much more like a rich pink on the lip," she says. "Dabbing it on, it does build quickly and has some staying power. I’m never normally a red kind of girl, but I do appreciate the Parisienne appeal of this particular shade."

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Rouge Casaque

"I've always been afraid to wear a red lip. I know it's a cardinal rule for French women and can always make you look chic, but with my slightly pink skin tone and smaller lips, I always thought scarlet shades wouldn't compliment my lip fullness or complexion," says Who What Wear UK SEO writer, Ava Gilchrist. "That was until I tried Rouge Casaque. A true red with a slightly cooler base, the matte formula is quite sheer to apply, leading to a really beautiful and buildable payoff. The lipstick settles into a more rosy colour over time, but never dries your lips out. With the right red lip pencil, I'll be making this a regular in my beauty arsenal."

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Corail Jaipur

"I tried the shade Corail Jaipur," says Who What Wear UK managing editor, Poppy Nash. "I can see myself wearing this bright, pink-toned coral this summer. I like that the formula delivers a buttery sheer tint to the lips, which makes it all the more wearable with a bright hue such as this. It leaves my lips feeling soft and nourished, while fading away gradually to leave behind a gentle tint after the balm has worn away."

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