Is LV Rouge the most expensive lipstick launch of 2025?
Louis Vuitton’s new LV Rouge $160 lipstick might be the priciest beauty launch of 2025. But does its luxury craftsmanship, refillable design, and Pat McGrath’s creative direction justify the splurge? Let’s find out.
Source: Louis Vuitton
Makeup Launch: Say bonjour to La Beauté Louis Vuitton
The August 2025 launch of La Beauté Louis Vuitton marks a new journey for La Maison de Louis Vuitton, who welcomed globally acclaimed makeup artist Dame Pat McGrath as Cosmetics Creative Director. The new brand launched with a long-awaited collection of lipsticks, eyeshadows, and lip balms.
The most buzzworthy product from the collection is the LV Rouge lipstick. Built to last in a refillable monogrammed case, these lipsticks will set you back $160. There are 55 shades available in “Creamy Satin” and “Velvet Matte” formulas that promise “intense pigmentation” and long-lasting color. Once you start to run low on product or decide to try a new shade altogether, single lipstick refills are available for $69.
But before you close this browser and go buy literally any other less expensive lipstick, let’s consider what you’re really paying for here at Louis Vuitton.
Why Louis Vuitton Lipstick Costs $160
It’s pretty clear that the LV Rouge lipstick is about more than lip-enhancing color. They are a status symbol that showcases the heritage and craftsmanship of this hyper luxury brand.
Here are a few possible elements that reflect how and why this $160 price tag came to be:
Cosmetics Expertise: These lipsticks were created and developed by the brand’s new Cosmetics Creative Director Dame Pat McGrath. Here, you are essentially paying for her time, expertise, and creative excellence.
Elegant, Symbolic Design: These lipsticks are housed in a metal keepsake case—designed by industrial designer Konstantin Grcic—featuring the iconic LV monogram and flower motif in the lock. It’s like carrying a piece of artwork in your purse.
A Legendary History: This lipstick is an opportunity to own a part of The Maison Louis Vuitton, one of the world’s most influential fashion houses with its earliest beginnings dating back to 1837. From luggage and perfumes to clothing and accessories, this brand’s products are built to last. Louis Vuitton’s makeup line, including LV Rouge, represents the brand’s next chapter.
Even if LV Rouge lipsticks offer consumers an opportunity to buy a piece of the renowned Maison Louis Vuitton, the house took a risk with their hyper luxury price of $160 per lipstick (refillable case and one color). A simple price review shows that LV Rouge by Louis Vuitton is the most expensive lipstick among Tom Ford, Gucci and Prada—three brands that sell lipsticks for a fraction of the cost.
How LV Rouge compares to other luxury lipsticks
Brand (Alpha order) Lipstick Line Price (USD)*
Gucci Beauty Satin/Velvet/Sheer $49
La Beauté LV Rouge (refillable lipstick) $160
Louis Vuitton
Prada Beauty Monochrome (refillable lipstick) $50
Tom Ford Matte/Runway/Ultra Shine $62
*Source for prices: Sephora
At more than double the price of Tom Ford, Gucci, and Prada, Louis Vuitton is betting that consumers will pay extra for heritage craftsmanship, refillable design, and the prestige of its monogrammed case. Time will tell if Louis Vuitton’s pricing strategy pays off—especially in a year like 2025.
Source: Louis Vuitton
La Beauté Louis Vuitton in the 2025 beauty market
La Maison de Louis Vuitton is one of the last global fashion houses to launch a beauty line. Tom Ford, Prada, and Gucci—to name a few—ventured into color cosmetics years ago. The timing of La Beauté Louis Vuitton’s launch during a difficult economic climate has raised a few eyebrows.
Professor Elana Drell Szyfer of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) shared her take in a survey conducted by the Beauty Independent.
“The timing is interesting—increasing global tariffs and political tension, a continued slowdown of the strongest beauty markets for the past several years in Asia, specifically China and travel retail in Asia and a slowing global economy.”
Should you buy an LV Rouge lipstick?
Now that we’ve completed our LV Rouge review, it’s time to decide if you’ll be putting this on your pout. There are many reasons to be tempted to purchase an LV Rouge lipstick—and I am. There’s the heritage craftsmanship of Louis Vuitton, the lipstick’s sturdy, refillable metal case, and the line’s inclusive shade range.
The beautiful keepsake case is refillable, and the lipstick refills are recyclable, so kudos to Louis Vuitton for reducing some product packaging waste.
However, at these prices—$160 for a complete lipstick set and $69 for each refill—this is not the time to play with makeup. To ensure you’ll use up the product, choose a tried-and-true lipstick shade that always flatters your complexion, and pick your favorite formula—creamy or matte. Better yet, swatch or sample the lipsticks IRL for the best color match if you live near a Louis Vuitton store or pop-up location.
If you can’t bear to purchase an LV Rouge lipstick on your own, remember that the gift-giving season is just around the corner. Consider putting one on your holiday wish list!
Do you consider the $160 LV Rouge lipstick a must-have or a mistake? Would you splurge on it or stick to a $49 Gucci bullet instead? Let me know in the comments!
