Having heard and read many raves for Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupte line of lipsticks, I knew I could only hold out so long before I finally captured one for my very own. At $34USD plus tax, this baby isn't just a lip colour - it's a bloody investment.

But the question is: is it worth it? Does it live up to the hype?

Follow up:

Let's start with the packaging. This beauty? Not dainty! Don't be deceived by pictures with nothing for scale - this tube is without question larger and heavier than other lipsticks I have kicking around.

The golden-hued metal tube feels decently solid, with the exception of the YSL logos around its midsection. I feel like I could break those off accidentally at any time, unfortunately. I really like the weight, though, and it's also pretty spiffy that this tube comes with a wee mirror on the top of the cap. You wouldn't want swap out your vanity mirror for this, but I can definitely see it coming in handy for touchups (particularly with bolder shades).

Peach Passion is a lovely shade that I could easily see myself wearing the death out of, with everything and anything. I'll admit: I'm a total sucker for this sort of colour. A tube contains 4 grams of product, and though it may not seem like much for the killer price tag, a little goes a long way.

When I first smoothed the lipstick on, I was surprised by how weightless it felt. Creamy and opaque in just one coat, it was definitely enjoyable. When first applied, it does have a glossy finish, but after a while it dries down. Once dried down, it feels very nearly like I have absolutely nothing on my lips, and it's respectably transfer-resistant (my drinking glass and boyfriend whom I subjected to the kiss test can verify this!). I didn't keep an eye on the clock for wear time, but I can say that it survived a meal just fine. Best of all? Through all this wear, it absolutely did not leach the moisture out of my lips!

Overall, I think the packaging is lovely and the formula is pretty darn impressive. I especially love how weightless and non-drying it is, while still lasting on the lips for a good length of time. Everything about this product screams luxurious, and it certainly makes me feel good using it. But dudes, that price tag still makes me shudder. I can see splurging on one or two of these in shades you know you'll wear all the time, but for the special occasions shade? I'll be sticking to something more affordable.

What do you think? Have you tried this line? Or is it just too rich for your blood? I'd love to know where you stand on this!