Violette_FR’s Lip Nectar Stain Is My Summer Essential

I know we’re supposed to have evolved past idolizing “French Girl Beauty” (or at least we should expand the definition), but something about the look will always call to me. Blame it on all the time I spent reblogging photos of Jane Birkin on Tumblr in high school, but there’s something about the effortlessly-chic aesthetic I will go back to again and again—glowing skin, red lips, and undone hair will always be my personal beauty blueprint.

If there’s anyone who embodies the most modern take on French Girl Beauty, it would be Violette_FR founder Violette. The makeup artist and her namesake brand pairs traditional French signatures—barely-there complexion makeup, velvety red lips—with her art-school training—Renaissance painting-inspired blush, starry night sparkles—for classics with a twist.

The brand’s latest product, the Lip Nectar Hydrating Lip Stain, is the perfect example of this innovation on a classic. The product blends Violette’s signature “bouche mordue” (that would be “bitten lips”) with a glossy shine and ultra-hydrating powers. Ahead, everything you need to know about the launch, plus my honest review.

The Inspiration

When it came to Lip Nectar, Violette worked tirelessly to create a product that combined gorgeous, long lasting color with a comfortable formula that would quench her chronically dry lips. “The sensorial allure of Lip Nectar is truly irresistible,” the artist tells Byrdie. “My goal was to create a lip product that felt indulgent and sensual, like jam—rich in texture and full of luxurious color, with the perfect amount of shine, hydration, and that ideal stain without the stickiness. I spent years perfecting this formula—a long-lasting stain that’s deeply nourishing and provides color that stays put for hours.”

The glossy stain comes in four shades “inspired by the rich, blooming colors of flowers.” There’s Pois de Senteur (Sweet Pea), a sweet soft pink; Dahlia Noir (Black Dahlia), a deep berry with warm and cool tones, Rose de Moab (Moab ‘Desert’ Rose), a soft nude; and Bêtise, a warm berry shade borrowed from the brand’s bestselling Bisou Balm. “I wanted to create a palette that is both sophisticated and sensual, with chic shades that evoke the pleasures of nature and indulgence—unlike any lip oil colors you see out there,” explains Violette.

The Formula

Like Violette mentioned, Lip Nectar has an innovative texture and unique gel-like formula. While most stains are thin and watery, Lip Nectar has some heft to it, and it instantly coats lips in a layer of nourishing shine. To keep lips supple, plump, and hydrated, the formula includes coconut water, shea butter, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.

Apply one layer for a sheer wash of color, or build it up for a more pigmented effect. “For a richer stain, layer the color slowly,” intructs Violette. “Wipe away a bit of shine between coats and reapply to build pigment for a deeper stain effect.” She also suggests creating a subtle ombré effect by using Dahlia Noir to define the outer edges of the lips, and blending Bêtise into the center.

My Review

I love love love the idea of a lip stain—that just-ate-a-popsicle effect is so pretty to me—but usually hate them in practice. They can be messy, drying, and cling to my dry patches like its their job (which, I guess, it kinda is). Enter: the Lip Nectar. These are everything I could want and more in a lip product. The jelly texture glides on smoothly, coating my lips in an even blanket of color. One layer will give you a soft wash of color, but it’s really easy to build up to something with a little more oomph. The glossy finish adds instant hydration to my dry pout, but even if I tissue off the shine for a matte look—my preferred way to wear it—the moisture remains.

Like all of the brand’s lip products, the shade range is so sophisticated and pretty. They somehow feel really natural and easy to wear, yet interesting, and they always add that special little touch. I’ve been wearing Rose de Moab for an everyday nude, and I love Bêtise (worn here, blotted to dull the shine) for a kiss of soft berry. The tint really does stay all day, without any of the dryness or patchiness of a traditional stain. I’ll be wearing these all summer—with a bare face, a bikini, or a little dress at night.