Marc Jacobs 1000 Point VIB Rouge Perk - Love and Lust Lip Set

It seems like Sephora is trying to step up their VIB Rouge program. They recently had an open discussion on the Beauty Talk forums, which gave members the opportunity to lay out all the ways in which they felt the program was lacking. While the initial response from Sephora officials wasn't altogether promising, it appears that they are making some changes, slowly.

I've personally noticed that they are offering more frequent and better quality promo codes for Rouges, both online and in store. (The latter is actually a big bonus for me, since as much as I enjoy my local Sephora, I rarely shop there because the perks were always better online.) It's annoying that the minimum spend for these perks is arbitrarily higher (35$ to 50$), but it is a step in the right direction.

More recently, they came out with a 1000 point perk that is currently limited to Rouges: the Marc Jacobs Love and Lust Lip Set. This set contains two full-sized lip products in limited edition shades, not currently available for purchase.

The items come packaged in a nice little box to make you feel all fancy (though cardboard only goes so far), with a little booklet included. The latter is essentially an advertisement for the Marc Jacobs brand, and the first page congratulates you (yes YOU!) for being part of an exclusive inner circle of awesome people to get these two special shades that Marc designed just for you.

The Lovemarc Lip Gel is in the shade Cabaret, which is described as "deepest cranberry", and the Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl is in the shade Shooting Stars, described as "raisin berry".

Love and Lust Lip Set

Lip Gel in Cabaret

Lip Vinyl in Shooting Stars

 As far as the actual product goes, I have absolutely no complaints. These are GORGEOUS.

I don't own of the Marc Jacobs lipsticks, and I have to say I will be investigating them after trying out Cabaret. The texture is wonderfully smooth, and feels rich while still having a light texture. Wear time is about average, and the finish is a creamy satin that retains a bit of sheen as it dries down. It's also vanilla scented, which is always a plus for me. The colour is fantastic for me - a rich wine with a strong violet/grape undertone, almost plummy in certain lighting. It wears down to a plum stain.

I have tried the Lip Vinyl formula before, but Shooting Stars goes on more opaque than I was expecting from previous experience. It's not a liquid lipstick type formula, but it definitely packs a ton of pigment. It feels very comfortable on the lips, cushy and nourishing and not tacky. Lasting power is, again, average, and the scent is faintly sweet/floral, and it has a minty tingle. The colour is a very muted red, with a mauve undertone, (if they want to call this raisin, sure, but I don't see the berry at all) and pretty shimmer throughout.

Both these colours actually feel very autumnal to me, so I wonder if they are going to be released eventually and this set is a sneak peak for those "very special beauty insiders".

Lip Gel in Cabaret

Lip Vinyl in Shooting Stars

So am I happy that I spend 1000 points for this duo? Yes, in the sense that I love them, and I'm glad to own them. I didn't spend any money, and the points would otherwise be sitting in my Sephora account, to be spent haphazardly on random 100 point samples. I'd rather get two amazing full sized items rather than 10 deluxe samples, you know?

That said, I think the actual value system attached to the points is a little nuts. Compared to something like the Optimum Points system, it's laughable and almost insulting that spending 1000$ nets you 70$ worth of free product. I get that companies are under no obligation to give away freebies, but once they make a tiered customer loyalty program, they have to take into account that it also goes up against the loyalty systems offered by their competitors.

I guess I have mixed feelings overall.

What about you? If you're Rouge, are you thinking of picking this set up? If you're not, are you satisfying with Sephora's loyalty program as it stands?