Lancôme Le French Touche Absolu Nu from Rosaraie des Delices for Spring 2012

Lancôme has introduced a divine "bare lips sensation" lip balm/lip gloss hybrid with its Rosaraie des Delices for Spring 2012. Created by Aaron De May, Le French Touche Absolu Nu ($35) in Cotton Candy (#316) is a limited-edition shade. I can't figure out why it's limited. They could start a trend - perhaps a pricey one - but I'd be buying every new shade introduced.

The packaging, with its mint green diagonal stripes, was inspired by Lancôme's heritage lipsticks - fourth edition. This sheer pink shade was inspired by mouth-watering cotton candy, something I had to have as a child when we went to the amusement park in DC: Glen Echo, which closed long ago. Fortunately, we can still buy cotton candy at parks and fairs if we want an airy pink sugar treat.

Le French Touche Absolu Nu will enhance your natural lip tone in a veil of shiny, translucent color. The first ultra-caring lipstick with Lancôme's Pro-Xylane, it offers a new infinitely light texture, enriched with enhancing sheer pigments to reveal the radiance of beautifully replenished lips. Le French Touche Absolu Nu will adorn your lips with a delicate veil of color. It's right up my alley.

On my lips, it's pink - all pink - baby doll, cool pink. If it were a normal lipstick, I probably wouldn't like it. I'd say it's too light. The problem is that it feels so good, while providing a pop of pink color. Granted, that's not a problem, but it may be one reason you haven't read much "fuss" about it. Some may think it's too light for them. For fair-skinned gals? It's a perfect shot of pink for spring.

A few days ago, when it was frigid, I got arm swatch photos to show you. I willed my body to get rid of the goosebumps, as I ran outside in late-afternoon sun to snap photos. Clearly, my lips have more pigment than my inner arm does. I'll bet yours do too. That means that Le French Touche Absolu Nu will translate to its own shade on you. On me, it's a blue pink, with a color more like my second photo. I tried to get more oomph in the swatch photo above by finding a bright spot that didn't wash out the color.

If it weren't for the $35 price tag, I'd buy more of these. What I hope now is that Lancôme will see the light and make more shades available to us. Le French Touche Absolu Nu provides more color than the usual tinted balm, but much less than the usual lipstick. Additionally, Pro-Xylane restores moisture to the lips for up to eight hours, an extra-added benefit.

What do you think? I bought mine at Neiman Marcus. I've seen it at other Lancôme counters with the spring collection. It's also available at Lancôme's Web site, where there is a promotion. If you spend at least $75, you will receive a seven-piece gift. The totes are cute.

Photo at top courtesy of Lancôme; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty