Moody, seductive and perhaps a little dangerous, the new Rouge Dior On Stage lipstick line is an invitation to be audacious. With none other than purveyor of the gothic look Jenna Ortega as the face of the collection’s campaign, it’s both a love letter to bold self-expression and a subversion of beauty conventions. “I feel absolutely thrilled to be the face of this new chapter of Rouge Dior. This lipstick is all about revealing different aspects of yourself, which is obviously a huge part of my life as an actress,” she says. “Being able to explore yourself through all the different attitudes and faces that you have to offer is honestly what gives you the most confidence.”
It’s confidence – gleaming, untouchable and deliberately theatrical – that defines Dior’s newest beauty star. Peter Philips, Dior make-up’s creative and image director, envisioned Rouge Dior On Stage as more than a lipstick. He wanted a performance. A lipstick designed to play with light, cast shadows, dazzle and leave a trail of colour with the staying power of a leading role. “Whenever I apply someone’s lipstick, there’s this feeling of wow, of cool and sophistication, this empowerment, which is what I wanted to put in this new creation. Rouge Dior On Stage puts you where you’re meant to be: in the spotlight,” Philips explains.
The lipstick itself is a marvel of dual-phase innovation: pigments locked in place by an “ultra-colour” core, swirled with a luminous oil phase that makes the lips shine. The result? A formula that feels hydrating, looks impossibly glossy and – crucially – lasts throughout the day and night. “Lock in the colour and let the light play with the shine. Rouge Dior On Stage will give you the ultimate makeup result: a long-lasting shine with intense colour,” Philips says.
For Wednesday star Ortega, the technological wizardry of the bullet was a revelation. “What surprised me most about the new Rouge Dior lipstick is how easy it was to apply. It has a slender bullet, and it feels very smooth and quite moisturising at the same time and that is really hard to find. It glides on almost like a lip balm, and it’s so light that it feels weightless, as though your lips can breathe. It’s very refreshing, and that’s how I like my makeup. I want it to elevate my face, not weigh it down.”
It’s not just the formula that’s striking. Rouge Dior On Stage debuts in a new midnight-blue case – elongated, silver-cannaged and marked with a reversed CD logo that dares you to rethink what a lipstick should look like. And the bullet itself? Designed like an instrument. Rounded for Cupid’s bows, pointed for definition, engineered for control. Philips calls it “intuitive, effortless application.”
On set, Ortega embraced that same sense of effortlessness. “Working on this campaign was an incredibly fun experience as the shoot was very relaxed. I wore an outfit that had a very 1920s feel to it that reminded me of Cabaret. I loved the blazer in particular, as stylistically it felt a lot like me. There was a very playful atmosphere on the set too. Sometimes in campaigns you can really enjoy partaking in this elegant, refined and poised moment, but it’s also fun to be a little silly and not always be a perfectionist, because it’s more about conveying a feeling.”
That balance of poise and play is written all over the campaign imagery. Directed by Gordon Von Steiner and shot by Oliver Hadlee Pearch, Ortega transforms from off-duty ingénue in 120 Iconic Rose to femme fatale in the fiery 390 Redwood Star. “My first campaign really is all about being bold. I quite literally let my hair down. It’s about no longer being concerned about what other people think and owning your confidence,” she says.
Ortega credits much of the creative alchemy to Philips himself. “Peter Philips is a living legend. It was such an honour to be a canvas for him, and I feel very privileged to know him as a person. He is unbelievably sweet and kind, and also has a great sense of humor. I love spending my days with Peter because I know I’ll have a wonderful time. He is a truly talented human being – there are very few people in my life who are with him in that category.”
Bold makeup, Ortega argues, doesn’t just change your reflection, it alters your energy. “I think a bold statement like Rouge Dior On Stage really impacts the way you carry yourself, and I know this firsthand because of my job. It’s about being able to see yourself in a new light and appreciate your beauty in a different way. That’s a really beautiful and exciting gift that makeup can give people. To be able to explore these different facets of yourself, and these new identities, is really beneficial in discovering who you want to be as an individual.”
Her own routine? Refreshingly simple: “I usually apply hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, an oil, moisturiser and sunscreen. I’ll apply concealer if I need it that day, or on certain areas if I have any discolouration. Then I’ll quickly put on some eyeliner and mascara. Lastly, I’ll choose a berry shade or a dark red for my lips, like my mother used to wear, and that’s usually when the Rouge Dior comes out, depending on how I feel that day.”
That maternal reference underscores exactly why Dior chose Ortega. She embodies modern femininity without severing ties to heritage. She can be nostalgic, irreverent, serious, playful, mysterious or open-hearted – sometimes all in one look – both as herself and as an actor. And in Rouge Dior On Stage, every one of those faces shines.
Shop Rouge Dior On Stage here. Photography courtesy of Christian Dior Parfums.
