Ballerina Shoes Lipstick (L’Oréal 135): Who It Flatters, How to Wear It and the Best Dupes
Ballerina Shoes lipstick is shade 135 in L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick: a frosty, pearly baby pink that costs roughly $7 to $12 at US drugstores. It went viral on TikTok in late 2025 and 2026 because it looks like the milky, glossy pink of a Y2K lip, and because creators linked it to Elle Fanning’s Oscars makeup. It looks best on fair to light skin straight from the tube. On medium and deeper skin it usually needs a warm liner underneath or a different shade altogether.
By Rehan Khatri | Fashion & Beauty Writer at RK Fashion Zone.
What Is Ballerina Shoes Lipstick?
Ballerina Shoes is a permanent shade in L’Oréal Paris’s Colour Riche Original Satin range, not a limited edition. The shade number is 135. L’Oréal describes the range as a creamy satin formula with argan oil, vitamin E and omega-3 for comfort and hydration, per the L’Oréal Paris USA Colour Riche page.
On the lips, most reviewers describe 135 as a light pink with a pearl or frost shimmer. Some see it as slightly warm, others as cool. That mismatch is part of why opinions are so split: the tube color, the lip swatch and your own lip pigment can all read differently.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Brand and line | L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick |
| Shade | 135 Ballerina Shoes |
| Finish | Satin with a frosted, pearly shimmer |
| Color family | Light baby pink |
| Typical US price | About $7 to $12, depending on retailer and sales |
| Where to buy | Target, Ulta, CVS, Walmart, Amazon |
Why Did Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Go Viral?
The formula is not new. Three things pushed this one shade into the spotlight:
- The Elle Fanning connection. Several creators recreating her Oscars look said Ballerina Shoes was the pink she wore. Treat that as creator-reported rather than officially confirmed.
- The frosted lip comeback. Pearly, milky pinks are back after years of matte and liquid formulas, and Y2K nostalgia keeps feeding it.
- The “ballet slipper” lip trend. Beauty editors have been calling soft, cool baby-pink lips “ballet slipper” lips, and this shade fits the look at drugstore prices.
Stock-outs and restocks then fed the hype, which sent more people searching for the shade.
Who Does Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Look Good On?
Honestly, it depends on your skin tone and lip color.
- Fair and light skin: This is where it works best. Applied straight from the tube it gives a soft, luminous pink.
- Medium and olive skin: It can look chalky or too light on its own. A warm nude liner or a sheer topper usually fixes that.
- Tan, brown and deep skin: Many creators found it too pale or metallic by itself. It can still work over a liner, but a deeper frosted pink or plum often flatters more.
Your natural lip color also matters. The paler your lips, the more true to the tube the shade will look. If your lips are pigmented, the pink shows up more sheer and cooler.
How to Wear Ballerina Shoes Lipstick on Every Skin Tone
The warm liner trick (medium, olive and tan skin)
- Line and fill your whole lip with a warm nude or soft brown-pink liner that matches your natural lip color.
- Press Ballerina Shoes on the center of your lips.
- Blend the edges with your finger or a lip brush.
The liner base cuts through the pale frost so the shade blends into your lips rather than sitting on top of them. L’Oréal’s own advice is to pair Colour Riche lipsticks with a matching liner.
The sheer topper (all skin tones)
Dab Ballerina Shoes over the center of another lipstick, such as a nude, rosy pink or berry. You get frosty shine without the pale base taking over.
The gloss blend (if it looks too metallic)
One creator who found it too metallic used a pink liner around the edges, the lipstick in the center and a pink gloss to blend everything together. This softens the frost and gives a fuller look.
Keep the rest of your makeup cohesive
Frosted lips look best with a fresh, luminous face: light base, soft blush, minimal liner. A heavy matte face or warm bronzed eyes tends to fight the cool frost. If you like a soft, girly look, this shade pairs well with easy Y2K outfits. It’s a natural match for the fitted tops in our guide to how stylists wear baby tees with tailored trousers.
Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Dupes and Alternatives
If Ballerina Shoes is sold out or doesn’t suit your tone, these are commonly recommended alternatives. Always swatch first, because shades vary by batch and lighting.
| If you want… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A fair-skin lookalike | MAC Angel | A well-known frosty light pink from the Y2K era |
| A warmer frosted pink for medium skin | Revlon Super Lustrous frosted pinks | Warmer pink bases suit medium skin more naturally |
| A deeper option in the same family | L’Oréal Colour Riche 754 Sugar Plum | Creators recommend this as a deeper, plummier frosted alternative |
| A softer pink-nude to wear with liner | L’Oréal Colour Riche 165 | Often compared with 135 on fair skin |
| A frost without the commitment | A pink gloss over your usual lipstick | Adds shine and shimmer for a few dollars |
For the “ballet slipper” look with a gloss, editors have pointed to cool-toned baby-pink glosses layered over a grayish-pink liner.
Ballerina Shoes vs. the Rest of Colour Riche
Colour Riche has dozens of shades, and Ballerina Shoes is only one of the pale pinks. If you want a pink that looks less frosted, browse the nude and rose shades in the same range, since the formula is the same. If frost is the point, 135 is the one to buy first.
Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Review: Pros and Cons
What people like
- Comfortable, creamy satin feel that doesn’t dry lips out for most people.
- Affordable and easy to find at drugstores.
- Great for the Y2K, milky and “clean girl with a twist” looks.
- Flexible: works alone, over liner or as a topper.
What to know before buying
- The frost can look chalky, gray or metallic on medium and deep skin without a liner.
- It highlights lip texture, so exfoliate and use balm first.
- Satin formulas fade with eating and drinking, so plan to touch up.
- Popularity means it can be sold out or marked up by third-party sellers.
Where to Buy Ballerina Shoes Lipstick (and How to Avoid Fakes)
Buy from big retailers such as Target, Ulta, CVS, Walmart or L’Oréal’s own site, where it typically sells for about $7 to $12. Prices vary by retailer and change with sales. If it’s out of stock, check back or look at local drugstores in person.
Be careful with marketplace listings priced far above retail or with vague photos. If you buy from a third-party seller, check the shade number (135) on the base, the batch code, and that the packaging is sealed.
How to Make Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Last
- Exfoliate gently and apply a light lip balm 5 minutes beforehand.
- Line and fill with a matching liner for better grip.
- Apply lipstick, blot with a tissue, then apply a second thin layer.
- Carry the tube for touch-ups after meals.
Lipstick does not last forever, so toss it if the smell, color or texture changes.
Is Ballerina Shoes Lipstick Worth It?
Yes, if you’re fair to light skin, love the frosted Y2K look, or want an affordable trend piece you can also layer as a topper. It’s a low-risk purchase at drugstore prices. If you have medium to deep skin and want it to look polished, plan on using a liner, or pick a deeper frosted pink from the alternatives above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What shade number is Ballerina Shoes lipstick?
It’s shade 135 in L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick.
Is Ballerina Shoes lipstick pink or nude?
It’s a light baby pink with a frosted shimmer. On some lips it reads as a pink-nude, especially over a nude liner.
Does Ballerina Shoes lipstick work on dark skin?
Not usually by itself. Many creators found it too pale or metallic on deep skin. A warm liner underneath or a deeper frosted pink such as 754 Sugar Plum tends to look better.
Did Elle Fanning wear Ballerina Shoes lipstick?
Some creators recreating her Oscars look said this was the shade. It hasn’t been widely confirmed by an official source, so treat it as creator-reported.
How much does Ballerina Shoes lipstick cost?
Usually around $7 to $12 at major US retailers, depending on where you buy and any sales.
What lip liner goes with Ballerina Shoes lipstick?
A warm-leaning nude liner that matches your natural lips is the most recommended. Creators have used L’Oréal Colour Riche liner in Toffee To Be and Maybelline liner in 125.
Is Ballerina Shoes lipstick matte or glossy?
Neither. It’s a satin finish with a frosty, pearly shimmer.
Is Ballerina Shoes a limited-edition lipstick?
No. It’s part of the regular Colour Riche shade range, but the surge in demand made it hard to find at times.
What is a good dupe for Ballerina Shoes lipstick?
MAC Angel for fair skin, Revlon frosted pinks for medium skin, and L’Oréal 754 Sugar Plum for deeper skin.
