There’s been a lot of chatter about 2016 makeup making a valiant comeback, but as someone who lived through it the first time, I’m hesitant. I’m all for the return of creativity—I’m just as bored of “clean girl” beauty as everyone else is—but everything about the era felt so….intense. That’s especially true of liquid lipstick, which is one product I swore I would never revisit. Yes, the pigment is unbeatable, but that usually comes with a side of ultra-dry lips and a crusty, caky finish.
But if there’s one person who could make me reconsider the medium, it’s makeup artist Violette and her brand Violette FR. Violette is a master at the lip category, and consistantly releases some of the most innovative and interesting takes on the format, including her now iconic Bisou Balm and my recent favorites, Bisou Jelly and Lip Nectar Stain. So when I heard her brand was launching a fresh take on liquid lips, I was intrigued,
Ahead, Violette fills me in on Plume Lip, plus, my honest review.
The Inspiration
“It’s funny because usually I have a formula in mind long before I ever have a name. With Plume it was the opposite,” Violette tells Byrdie. “After launching Bisou, I couldn’t get the word ‘Plume’ out of my head. It means feather in French, and to me there’s such a beautiful paradox there—a feather is soft and light, but together they create wings, powerful enough to fly.”
Violette_FR
“That paradox resonates with my culture too,” she continues. “We don’t see things in black and white, but in the blurry in-between. Some days you want to feel strong, others soft, and often both at the same time. That’s when it clicked: Bisou formulas are my effortless, everyday ‘best friends,’ while Petal Bouche and Yeux Paint are my couture formulas, the ones that need more precision. Plume is the missing middle ground. It gives you everything at once: strong medium-coverage color, a featherlight feel, and total ease of application—without compromise.”
Violette FR
Real fans will know that Violette_FR already has a beloved liquid lipstick, Petal Bouche, in its lineup. But with Plume, Violette wanted to create something a little more wearable. “Petal Bouche is couture—precise, dramatic, and designed for those big-statement moments,” she explains. “With each layer, it builds intensity, creating a deep ombré effect with the richest pigments in the spectrum. And couture always takes a little work. Plume is different. It carries the same spice as Petal Bouche, but with the effortless application of Bisou Balm and a color payoff that sits between Petal Bouche’s full coverage and Bisou Balm’s sheer, buildable wash.”
It was crucial that Plume had that signature French girl ease about it. “It gives you mistake-proof, medium-coverage color with a feather-matte finish that’s ultra-blurred and intuitive,” says Violette. “You don’t need a liner—you don’t even need a mirror. It feels soft and effortless, yet still impactful. To me, it’s the spicy lip for a lazy day, or one that even a makeup novice can achieve.”
The Formula
The lipstick has a unique whipped texture with a feather-light formula. Comfort was top of mind for Violette, as was creating a product that never feels dry or heavy. “We worked on this whipped, gel-cream texture that feels like nothing on the lips but is infused with emollients so it still delivers lasting colors and hydration,” she explains. “Another non-negotiable was the blur—I wanted that ultra-blurred effect built right in, so it looks like you spent time perfecting your lips when in reality it’s just one swipe.”
Violette FR
Special attention was paid to the shade selection, as well. Plume Lip comes in six shades, ranging from a warm nude to deep wine. “I added a touch of smoke to each shade so they never feel flat or too “perfect”—with the exception of En Feu, a warm, fiery red that I wanted to keep as a true, bold red.”
“Color is always emotional for me,” she adds. “For this first chapter of Plume, I wanted the shades to feel classic but with a twist—familiar enough to reach for every day, but with a smoky depth that makes them feel chic and elevated. I borrowed Mon Chéri from Bisou Balm, because I loved the idea of carrying that same irreverent brown-red into Plume, but with more impact. For all of them, it was about striking the balance between wearable and impactful.”
My Review
As mentioned, I am usually pretty skeptical of liquid formulas, even if they claim to be hydrating. However, I’ve never disliked a Violette_FR lip product, and I’m happy to report that Plume Lip will be keeping that streak going. The whipped formula glides right on, and dries down to the most unique finish. It has that silicon-y slip and “blurred” effect, yet feels super hydrating and light. Though it does dry down, it moves with your lips, and stays put for hours with no crusties or dryness.
Bella Cacciatore
As expected, the colors are gorgeous. Even though they’re bolder than what I typically go for, I’ve found them really wearable, even the bright pink Rose Fume shade. In particular, I love Syrah Fumé for a lived-in ’90s brick shade. My favorite thing about these lipsticks is they almost function as a stain—you can build up a few layers for more impact, or you can pat in it with your finger or tissue some off for a sheer wash of blurred color that stays put all day. Also important: they fade evenly and softly, not crumble off, and leave a pretty stain behind.
While I won’t be revisiting carved-out eyebrows anytime soon, Plume Lip has me adding a touch of color back into my makeup routine.
