Louis Vuitton Makeup Launches in Australia: Is the $265 Lipstick Worth It? A Beauty Journalist’s Take

Sigourney road tests the new Louis Vuitton lipstick, baume and eyeshadow compact: and shares her honest verdict.

I’ll admit, when I first heard Louis Vuitton’s debut lipsticks would cost $265 in Australia, I almost choked on my almond latte. A lipstick that could cover the cost of our occasional date night? Globally, it lands at $160 USD and £120 in the UK. Still eye-watering, but that $265 local tag looks like the sting of the Australian luxury tax all over again. As for the eyeshadow? A cool 420 big ones.

Mais oui, it’s Louis Vuitton! The brand that transformed travel trunks into icons and handbags into heirlooms is finally bringing its Midas touch to makeup. Under the creative direction of Dame Pat McGrath, DBE (arguably the most influential makeup artist alive) this isn’t just lipstick. It’s Vuitton’s statement that makeup can be as collectible, covetable, and enduring as a monogrammed Speedy.

“Make-up is culture. It's power. It's presence. And it's personal. Luxury in make-up is about performance, craftsmanship, and sensoriality. True luxury is when every detail is considered: from the way the pigment melts into the skin to the way a lipstick feels in your hand. It's the fusion of artistry and technology, of heritage and innovation.” - Pat McGrath

Where to Buy Louis Vuitton Makeup in Australia

The collection launched at the Sydney Maison on 29 August (after an online debut on the 25th) and is available exclusively through Louis Vuitton boutiques. There’s no department store rollout; Vuitton has kept it tightly within its own world, just like their fragrances.

How Much Does Louis Vuitton Lipstick Cost Worldwide?

Australia: $265 AUD
United States: $160 USD
United Kingdom: £120

Would most of us spend that on lipstick? Probably not. But Vuitton isn’t targeting the everywoman here – it’s aiming at the collector, the brand devotee, the woman who sees a lipstick as an object of art.

Are Louis Vuitton lipsticks refillable?

Yes and phew: the refills cost a lot less! There’s also a sustainability story here, albeit dressed in Vuitton couture. The lipsticks, baumes and eyeshadows are designed as refillable heirlooms, meaning once you’ve invested in the initial case, you’re not discarding packaging each time you want a new shade. Instead, you click in a refill, which carries its own Monogram flower emblem, turning the act of swapping colour into a ritual.

How much do Louis Vuitton makeup refills cost?

While the upfront cost of the system is undeniably steep, the numbers look less shocking once you factor in the refill system: lipstick refills are $115 and eyeshadow refills are $150. Still luxury, but gentler than re-buying the entire object. In this way, Vuitton positions La Beauté not just as fleeting makeup, but as collectible design with a smaller environmental footprint

What happened when I tried the new LV Makeup Line?

When my courier dropped off the press coffet, though, the price began to make more sense. I pulled a deep blood-red box out of it’s oversized Louis Vuitton bag. It was reassuringly heavy. Inside were three layers all lined in pink velvet.

The first layer: an LV logo mirror, which lifts off to reveal compartments for the products. At first glance it appears simple and streamlined – just a black compact with a white cardboard refill, and two lipsticks – a black and a white, both heavy and jewelled, with two refill options for both.

The third layer reveals a black protective bag for each, reinforcing the value of my new treasures – god forbid they get scratched! It’s clear: Vuitton has already set the stage for me to expect an entirely different league of beauty ritual.

Pat justifies it even more succinctly: “The beauty universe is about so much more than just product, and what we are creating here will unlock a new level in luxury beauty," she says.

What Makes Louis Vuitton Lipstick Different?

Naturally, the LV Rouge lipstick collection shade range is perfection. They launched with 55 shades: 27 luminous satins, 28 sculptural mattes. Each is conceived as part of “55 Journeys” – a subtle nod to the Maison’s Roman numeral signature (LV = 55) and its dedication to symbolism and storytelling.

Pat declares: "Lipstick is presence. It's a signature in a single stroke. It's how women carry themselves in the world."

What’s the difference between Louis Vuitton lipstick and baume?

LV Rouge Lipstick Review

These are bold, sculptural colours designed to make a statement. They glide on with either luminous shine (satin) or plush depth (matte). They’re infused with Louis Vuitton’s bespoke floral scent (mimosa, jasmine, rose), and are engineered to feel like “couture pigment.”

When I lift the first black and gold lipstick from its velvet slot, I notice the weight immediately, it’s satisfyingly solid in the hand, more objet d’art than beauty product. Even before you swipe it on, it announces itself as luxury.

I twist it, it’s that same deep dark LV red of the coffret “Monogram Rouge” and it’s beautiful – super dark probably not something I’d wear often but a stunning statement, nonetheless. A careful swipe (wish I had matching lipliners!) and it’s oh so creamy – the satin finish feels extra luxurious and hydrating. Must be the shea butter and hyaluronic acid that promises a “12-hour moisture preservation”.

Next up I sample “Rose Odyssey” : a fresh but earthy matte pink, this is definitely more wearable day to day.

I think if I was buying it I would opt for a strong nude like “Dune Explorer” or “Wild Soul”.

Finally, a Rouge Louis – a very classic matte red – lovely for a statement look that really pops and makes my teeth look very white.

When I close the lid or change the refills there’s a a satisfying magnetic click. Just one of the tiny sensory pleasures that tells you someone has obsessed over engineering the details! I remember one product designer telling me years ago that the weight and click of these luxury details are inspired by the feeling of a European car door closing.

LV Baume Lip Balm Review

Softer, sheerer, and more about nourish + glow than statement colour. These are available in 10 shades and promise 48-hour hydration with buildable coverage. Think: a hint of tint plus care, and I’m obsessed with the scent: a refreshing mix of mint and raspberry.

They’re perfect for everyday wear, especially when you don’t want to look “done” but still polished.

I start with the deeper shade “Monogram Touch” which is a burgundy in the bullet but comes out super sheer and balmy with just a hint of colour that you can layer for more punch. I could see myself using this day to day because it’s so hydrating and just gives the perfect amount of bitten “stain”.

Finally, I switch this one out for the lighter shade of the balm, sorry baume a sheer pink shade refill “Tender Bliss” (because – school run.)

It’s a delicate, barely-there luminous pink that gives just of a glow up to my mouth without screaming “lipstick.” The texture is buttery and comforting, more skincare than makeup. I

Unlike the bold Rouge shades that I would save for evenings, Tender Bliss is the kind of shade you can swipe on in the rear-view mirror and instantly feel a little more pulled together.

The Scent Factor

Here’s where Vuitton sets itself apart. the lipsticks have a custom fragrance, created by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud in collaboration with McGrath. Think mimosa, jasmine and rose whispering through the Rouge; mint and raspberry for the Baume. It’s a sensory signature, aligning makeup with Vuitton’s olfactory heritage.

Design as Artefact

The cases are designed by Konstantin Grcic, the German industrial designer more often associated with sculptural furniture. This is his first foray into beauty, and the results are architectural, weighty, and designed for permanence.

LV Ombres Review: The Most Bougie Eyeshadow Palette Ever

If lipsticks are the jewels of the collection, then the LV Ombres eyeshadow palettes are the crown. Each compact houses four shades: three ultra-wearable tones anchored by one disruptive shade designed to “ignite a spark of glamour.” The palettes span six finishes, from whisper-soft mattes to gleaming glitters. It’s the kind of textural mix only Pat McGrath could dream up.

"With product development I have always been obsessed with the smallest of details: the perfection needed in product texture, the precise application methods, just the right amount of pigment pay-off, and how products should make you feel,” - Pat McGrath.

Not to mention the whole luxury makeup as status symbol element. Pulling one from your handbag feels like performing a tiny luxury theatre. The compact itself is hefty lacquered, and magnetic – the kind of object you’d happily flash at dinner just to check your eyeliner. It’s a makeup mirror on steroids, something that says: yes, I carry Vuitton in my beauty bag too.

I carefully open my palette, it’s shade 896 – Monogram Rouge. Again, not the right time of day for it but I test it on my hand, this will be perfect for date night. The colour payoff is satisfying and totally true to the palette. I’d expect nothing less from Dame Pat.

I swap it with the super wearable refill: “Beige Memento” and quickly blend a beautiful goldy-bronze eye. The powders are creamy rather than dusty and blend easily.

So… Why Is It So Expensive?

As we’ve seen, it’s because Vuitton isn’t just selling a lipstick. It’s selling:

An object of desire (architectural packaging, refill ritual).
A collaboration of creative heavyweights (Pat McGrath + Jacques Cavallier Belletrud + Konstantin Grcic).
A luxury experience (the scent, the weight, the heirloom case).

It’s less about price-per-swipe and more about the theatre of application, the way pulling this out of your handbag is designed to signal something about you, much like carrying a monogrammed LV tote.

Final thoughts ...

Is a $265 lipstick justifiable? It depends on what you value. If you measure worth alone in pigment and wear time, it will stand alongside many other amazing lipsticks out there. But if you love the brand and see beauty as storytelling, ritual, and art, Louis Vuitton has created something that transcends makeup and becomes, in its own way, priceless.