Dolce & Gabbana Monica Voluptuous Lipsticks in 70 Gentle Monica, 80 Only Monica, and 100 Chic Monica

Dolce & Gabbana's make-up range remained a unicorn to me until earlier this year, when I discovered that they're available online at Sephora for Canadian consumers (without hefty shipping and/or duties fees). For whatever reason, they've never made it to stores here (Holt Renfrew, which carries the cosmetics lines by Burberry and Tom Ford, doesn't even carry D&G), though they're available at more upscale department stores in the US. I've been wanting to try their lipsticks for a few years now, so when I saw that they were on Sephora's website, I promptly ordered three shades from their Monica Voluptuous range, which is inspired by muse Monica Bellucci (who was the face of Dior for four years). The Monica Voluptuous formula is described as "a highly pigmented lipstick that gives medium to full coverage in a radiant, satin finish [that] leaves lips looking plump, feeling soft, and appearing voluptuous." They are packaged in weighty curved square gold metallic tubes with "Dolce & Gabbana" engraved on one side and Monica Bellucci's signature on another side. D&G's logo is engraved into the side of the actual lipstick bullet, and they have a sweet rose scent and flavour. Each lipstick contains a total of 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $33. 
70 Gentle Monica, 80 Only Monica, and 100 Chic Monica
70 Gentle Monica, 80 Only Monica, and 100 Chic Monica

70 Gentle Monica is a light-medium soft warm pinked peach-brown with a subtle sheen in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, lightweight, and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly more peach than MAC Fanfare, warmer and less pink than MAC Grande Dame, more peach than MAC Glamour Era, darker and more peach than Urban Decay Naked, lighter and less brown than Urban Decay Liar, and lighter and more peach than YSL 5 Beige Etrusque.
80 Only Monica is a medium brightened grapefruit pink with a subtle sheen in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, lightweight, and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly more pink than MAC See Sheer, lighter and more coral than MAC Speak Louder, more coral than MAC Elegant Accent, darker and more muted than Urban Decay Streak, lighter than Tarte Poppy, and more orange than Tarte Tulip.

100 Chic Monica is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink with a subtle sheen in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, lightweight, and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and slightly more muted than MAC Girl About Town, warmer and more reddened than MAC Flat Out Fabulous, cooler and more pink than MAC So Good, more pink than Urban Decay Catfight, and darker and more muted than Urban Decay Anarchy and YSL 11 Rose Culte.

These remind me a lot of Dior's Rouge Dior Couture lipsticks, from the texture and colour pay-off to the smell and taste (and even the muse — Monica Bellucci was the face for the Rouge Dior Couture lipsticks as well). This isn't a bad thing, of course, because it's a gorgeous formula: smooth, light-to-medium weight, creamy, richly pigmented, and hydrating. They're incredibly comfortable to wear and actually have a fairly impressive wear time of about five to six hours. The packaging is luxurious and very much in line with Dolce & Gabbana's aesthetic with its curved edges and gold metal tubes. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the scent, which is the same as Dior's. It has that traditional rose fragrance that is actually fairly strong; at least, enough for me to taste it. I'm sure this is meant to be apart of the "luxury" aspect of the lipstick, but it makes me think that I just inhaled too much perfume. I generally prefer my lipsticks to have a subtle, pleasant scent, but no discernible taste. I love the formula enough for it not to be a deal-breaker, but if you have a sensitive olfactory scent, you may not like these. On the flip side, if you're looking for a great luxury lipstick formula from a high-end fashion house, these are a fantastic option.