French luxury house Louis Vuitton has entered the beauty market with its debut La Beauté line, but the price tag of its lip balms and lipsticks has drawn widespread criticism. The collection, featuring 55 lipsticks, 10 lip balms and eight eyeshadow palettes, costs £120 per lip product – more than some people’s monthly council tax.
Created in collaboration with makeup legend Dame Pat McGrath, the refillable products are designed for high-end glamour. However, social media users have dismissed the launch as “tone deaf” and “desperate”, with one commenter joking that the price “better include a handbag”. Another said: “This brings nothing of worth to the beauty table, just yet another logo-cashing venture.”
Dame Pat McGrath, who has worked backstage at Louis Vuitton fashion shows for 20 years, defended the range, stating it “unlocks a new level in luxury beauty”. But beauty fans argue that makeup expires and skills matter more than expensive packaging. By contrast, a Chanel lipstick costs around £37, while alternatives from MAC, e.l.f. and Charlotte Tilbury retail for £21, £10 and £30 respectively.
The backlash reflects growing resistance to normalising extortionate prices for everyday items. One user urged customers to “teach brands that we are not stupid”, noting that makeup has a limited shelf life. Louis Vuitton’s move follows a trend of high-end fashion houses launching beauty lines, but its pricing has proven uniquely controversial.
