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My Top 5 Must-Have Products by Guerlain

Long-time readers will know that Guerlain is easily one of my favorite brands. A lot of my very favorite products are by the brand, from foundation to finishing powder to lipstick. If we threw limited edition shades into the mix, there’d be even more favorites to be found. If you’re new to the brand and aren’t sure where to start, let me share with you my five must-have products…

  1. Guerlain Meteorites — pressed or loose pearls, they’re a cult favorite for a reason. I prefer the pressed as a finishing powder to add subtle luminosity back into the skin. If you like a little more shimmer and sparkle, I’d opt for the loose pearls.
  2. Guerlain Rouge G Lip Color — it’s been a non-stop winner for my very, very favorite lipstick formula for years; long-wearing, hydrating, smoothing, and good variety of colors. Guerlain’s strength, for me, has always been in base and lip products.
  3. Guerlain Le Vernis — incredibly glossy (without a top coat), highly pigmented, and long-wearing–I love the cream finishes best.
  4. Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain L’Extrait — long-wearing, intensely pigmented, matte lip color
  5. Guerlain Parure de Lumiere — foundation is another strength by the brand, as I haven’t encountered one I didn’t like (and my favorite, Parure Gold, is now discontinued), and every time I wear Parure de Lumiere, a reader asks about my skin care routine. The major downside is they have a limited shade range.

Have you tried Guerlain? Any must-haves you’d recommend to others?

117 Comments

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abigailod Avatar

Absolutely have tried it – and it’s all because of Temptalia! ♥ I’m a huge advocate for the Meteorites. And the brand in general is the definition of luxe, romance and elegance that’s quite rare nowadays.

beka Avatar

i don’t know what your skin tone is, but i love the 4 seasons bronzer and i am not a bronzer person. i am pretty pale and use 00 nude. it has a lovely pink in it. the sections are large enough to use one at a time, so you can really get the color you desire.

Mariella Avatar

My Guerlain favourites are Lingerie de Peau foundation and the Les Fumes eye shadow quad. I have several Rouges Automatiques and while I really do like them, I wouldn’t consider them “must haves”. Ditto the Cruel Gardenia Meteorites (LE) – it’s really pretty and the gardenia shape of the powder is so enchanting but it’s not really a “must have” as there are plenty of other really nice similar products out there (and with better packaging).

Mariella Avatar

If I had an every day palette, it sure would be. My “problem” (I’m sure you and many here can understand) is I have so many palettes and shadows that nothing is “every day”. Les Fumes could easily qualify though (with the addition of a highlight shade) – it is so perfect, wearable, elegant and always “right”.

Sunny Avatar

I’d never say no to some Guerlain!

Rouge Automatique is the first lipstick formula that I fell in love with, and it opened the whole world of lipsticks for me! I am also a big fan of Parure de Lumiere: it is my “fancy” foundation! Rouge G’s are just so luxurious, and I can’t resist the temptation of whipping it out in public if only just to check how I look with that little mirror. Rouge G L’Extrait is hands down my favorite liquid lipstick, and I am also a fan of the famous Meteorites 🙂 Basically, I haven’t tried much (if anything) from Guerlain that I don’t love!

Rashmi Avatar

OMGGGG , I only have one from your list Christine 🙁 🙁
shame on me
honestly , I only tried few stuff from the brand and loves everything ….
Rouge g’s being my fav and I have 7 of them , not to mention including GEMS , I highly recommend as you said .
I also use the terracota bronzer # 4 but still not veryyyyy happy with it , guess still needs to find my perfect shade in it .
Next in my list is the L’extrait and Crazy pressed powder also the foundation .
AS there is no GUERLAIN counter in my city NOWWW ( Bangalore ) , I buy online and only trust your swatches and reviews .
I may get LDP foundation in # 4 … hope it matches my NC 40 skin tone .

Christine Avatar

I really wish they’d at least add say 3 more shades – they really need probably 5-7 additional shades at least to cover a full range (at least, in some capacity), but it’s definitely too small right now. I mix two and three to get my shade!

Iram Avatar

Not a fan of Guerlain’s foundation shade range but since everybody always raves about Lingerie de Peau I’m tempted to give it a try. And I’m sure you’ve mentioned Parure de Lumiere before too so that must be good – on the list it goes!

Maya Avatar

Christine, what’s the rouge G color featured in pic? It looks so pretty. Which are your fav colors in the line? I only have one rouge g, and I do like it. I have more of the rouge automatiques, they are also quite nice.

Christine Avatar

Madame Reve! http://www.temptalia.com/product/guerlain-rouge-g-de-guerlain-lip-color/madame-reve-862?i=124905

Going off of the list on Sephora (though half are sold out), Garance (great beige), Greta (red), Garconne (amazing red), Gisela (warm rose), Gigolo (berry), Girly (coral pink)

To be honest, I haven’t met one I don’t like or LOVE. Rouge Automatiques are also very nice!

Mariella Avatar

Almost EVERYTHING is showing as “sold out” at Sephora’s online site – most of the Hourglass shadow duos, for example and so much other stuff and it is almost ALL because of the 20% off days site-wide as well as in store. Crazy, isn’t it? Just shows how much product they could move if they did these more often.

Christine Avatar

They could probably add one more sale, but with history, people really *wait* for this sale – so they save up and arguably spend more than they would normally at full price (because you feel like you’re getting more, so it’s okay!). The problem with too frequent sales means nobody buys at full price – kind of like some brands who regularly do 50% off sales or always pop up on HauteLook or bargain stores, nobody wants to pay full price!

xamyx Avatar

This was the first year I actually “indulged” in the sale, and even then, I only bought one palette. It took a long time for it to hit shelves, so the timing simply worked out. I’d rather just pay full price if necessary to guarantee I can get it, but then at nearly 10% sales tax, 20% really isn’t a great deal. If, however, there is a Spring sale, I may use it as an excuse to overhaul my foundation. If Guerlain has a suitable match, I may look into trying that, and a pressed Meteorites.

Kelly Avatar

I will have to try the lipsticks. I am waiting for my shipment of the holiday crazy Paris pressed and loose pearls. I waited so long they were sold out almost everywhere except a Bloomingdales in New York that I called.

LU Avatar

Thank you for this tip!!! I’ve been stalking the Bloomingdales website for days, called a bunch of stores, and it finally popped up online a few minutes ago so I called in and grabbed it!! I’m super excited to try my crazy paris radiance powder and compare it to the pearls I just received in teint beige.

Anne-Sophie Savard Avatar

Oh I’m so sad about the Parure Gold being discontinued 🙁 It’s my holy grail foundation! Parure de Lumière was a little bit too thin in consistency for me, personally… And Lingerie de Peau was too matte, I exchanged it for Parure Gold. Meteorites are AMAZING, it’s the symbol of luxury cosmetics for me.

Antonella Avatar

02 is perfect for me. I love the light reddened undertone! Most bronzers are yellow based and they make my complection seems “sick”…
I use 02 shade in the winter for a light and natural contouring while in summertime all over the face.

Iris Nguyen Avatar

Oh Guerlain, I have a love-hate relationship with it. I own far too many items from Guerlain in comparison to other brands because I love its Parisian aesthetics. Here is what I found about the brand:

– Rouge G is amazing! It is the only Western brand that provides a weightless and super lustrous formula. However, this properties is only found in the current color (like Garconne). The old and probably discontinued color/formula is still creamy but clingy and blotchy (like Gardenia).

– Their other lipsticks ranges are better than average. They used to have one called Kisskiss Stick Gloss (discontinued) that I like very much and I think of it as the big brother of all the sheer and moisturising lipsticks nowadays. Rouge automatics have more of a jelly texture.

– Their face powders, in general, are some of the best of the market. The new meteorites are always more refine and less sparkling than the past ones, and yet they are gonna reformulate it to get a better texture! No wonder do they have such a big cult X_x

– Guerlain foundations have so much limited number of shades that they are almost not worth it. My skin tone changes with seasons and the foundation becomes positively darker now. So for the next 4-5 months of winter, I cannot use them anymore. Such a waste -> hate

– Eye shadows, blusher, pencil eye liners and lip liners aren’t great. I found the color very basic and the texture not as amazing as some other brands. You probably want to give your money to elsewhere. Their liquid eyeliner is good; it has great staying power and a deep (black) color, yet I still think it is over priced.

– All in all, I think Christine nails it down with the 5 must-haves of Guerlain. You will be bound to find some rouge G that are worth spending money on!

Zia Avatar

Thanks to you I’ll be trying out my first Guerlain products this week!! My package should be delivered on Tuesday!! I already posted it in my Sephora VIB Haul post, but I’ll be getting Avarice Rouge G L’Extrait and Chant d’Aromes Rouge Automatique Lipstick! Guerlain Mythic is on my weight loss reward list… but only once I lose like 80 pounds!! Someday 😛

LU Avatar

I actually just made my first Guerlain purchase. I ordered the meteorite pearls in beige, do hope I like them! I wanted to try the pressed voyage powders, but they were sold out everywhere.

Shari Avatar

I want to slap myself for not having tried the Rouge Gs yet despite being a HUGE Guerlain fan. Your reviews on L’Extrait (my hands down favorite liquid lipstick!) pushed me to the right direction as far as none-drying, non-moisture sucking formulas go. Don’t even mention Meteorites! Others dismiss this as shiny balls in a beautiful can that are figments of the beauty-obsessed’s imagination BUT I swear by its magical powers. So sue me! Love your Guerlain picks, Christine.

As for the Meteorites LIght Diffusing primer… thoughts? 🙂 Wait lemme check out your review on it.

Kathy Avatar

Christine, I’m an NC20…what shade do you recommend in Lingerie de Peau and/or Parure de Lumiere?

Thanks for all you do! I love Temptalia…wish my bank account did. LOL!

Kathy

Sansu Avatar

Absolute favourite brand for rouge g n foundation…i thank you for this post coz it made me take out all my stuff(not too much)–rouge G in Gracia (mlbb lipstick),terracota bronzer,meteorites compact,cruel gardenia meteorites and les violettes mineral.
Im hoping to add a 4 seasons bronzer and try the parure lumiere..any idea christine which 4 seasons would suit an nw35/nc44…i match both 🙂

beka Avatar

guerlain is one of my favorite brands. i love the finish and coverage of their foundations, but, like so many others, can’t find my shade. i wish they made the amber pale shade in all of the foundations. it works for me, but unfortunately, the parure de lumiere it comes in doesn’t sit well on my skin. i like the new tenue de perfection and it comes in the amber pale but no one carries it…ugh! i love their eyeshadows, powders, and especially their mascaras. the rouge g used to be my fav, but i discovered armani and like their lipsticks better. guerlain did make me like bronzer.

Montréalaise Avatar

I have two Guerlain must-haves: Tenue de Perfection foundation (because I have oily-combination skin and this keeps me shine-free for hours) and Maxi Lash mascara (because it makes me look like I’m wearing false lashes, which is quite a feat considering my lashes are puny). I would have added some of the classic Guerlain perfumes (especially L’Heure bleue and Vol de nuit) but sadly, they have been reformulated and are just a shadow of their former magnificence.

Zainab Avatar

They’ve refurbished my local Guerlain counter and now carry tester bottles of all their classic perfumes, so between that and the lipsticks I doubt there’ll be many other brands getting much of my money. Plus they’ve lowered their prices! 🙂

Jenn H. Avatar

Ah yes the Rogue G is classic. I would go for the new Tenue de Perfection foundation since it hides my pores. The Terracotta light is another must. It’s my bronzer, blush and eyeshadow in one.
My auntie forced on meteorites on my face once. Guess that’s how I started liking the brand! My first purchase was the Rogue G Le Brilliant in Bianca B21.
My current stash:
Rouge G- 65 Grenade
Terracotta Light- 05 Sun Brunettes
Liu Calligraphy Palette- unused
Rouge G- Madame Flirte- unused
Ecrin 4 Coloeurs in Ombres de Nuit
Lingerie de Peau in 23
Metorites compact powder in 03 Teint Dore
I brought Liu because a duty free shop had it on sale and I HAD to add that in my collection!

Jillian Avatar

Christine- I just bought the meteorites in teint beige & I just don’t see any significant difference. I am using it as a finishing powder. I am really disappointed. I bought the brush as well and it sheds A LOT. It isn’t soft at all and not very big for a powder brush. The balls are hard and even when shaken do not create any residue. Think I am going to return them. Really really disappointed!!

Ashley Avatar

So I did end up splurging with the VIB sale and picked up the Meteorites Pearls, Compact Powder, Parure de Lumiere foundation (Beige-Pale 01 was almost a perfect match, and while I could go a tad lighter I will suffer & make an effort to get out in the sun more for a bit more color lol!) and the Light-Diffussing Primer. While I just picked up the foundation today, it felt and looked beautiful on when I got color-tested! I can’t wait to start using everything together 🙂

Andrea Avatar

I just purchased the Lingerie de Peau foundation after checking out your foundation reviews and love it! I was lucky and didn’t need foundation in my 20s but have noticed the need for some with some redness and discoloration lately (once I turned 30, my body started to fall apart! haha). I’ve tried Smashbox and Makeup forever and both just sat on my skin and made it look dry. I gave up home until I tried this in Sephora. It’s awesome! Thanks for recommending Guerlain foundation!

Leticia Avatar

I would probably not have tried Guerlain if it wasn’t for you reviews, Christine! The first product I got was the Turandot quad and I loved it…then I got the pressed Meteorites in Tein Beige and loved them too – and taking out the lovely compact for touch ups simply makes me smile! I couldn’t take Wulong off my mind last year and thanks to a lucky break, I was able to get one of the two compacts left at a counter earlier this year. It ‘s by far the most luxurious product I own and I’ m so happy I got it, because it’s such a great performing product in one of the most beautiful compacts I’ve seen! I didn’t thank you back then for such a great recommendation because I got it so late, but I wish to thank you now! So far, Guerlain has definitely been worth the splurge! Oh, and now I’m doing my nails with Colour Lacquer in L’heure Bleue 🙂

LuxLosAngeles Avatar

Since everyone has gone bonkers for Hourglass Ambient Lighting, can you compare it to Guerlain Meteorites? Or are we talking about different things, here? Just curious!

Shelley Avatar

I don’t have any guerlain but really want to try meteorites! I have oily skin-would the pressed or the loose pearls be better? also, do you prefer meteorites, hourglass ambient lighting powder, or NARS reflecting powders?

stacey Avatar

What I like and dislike about Guerlain…other than the price. Everytime I bought a product which was refillable like its compact where you fill the eyeshadow and blush….this was before you wore makeup, Christine….Guerlain would later discontinue it. I like the packaging. I think Guerlain Rouge G lipsticks are fabulous, but the case is too heavy. A side note, before I’Magnins closed on Union Square in San Francisco, there was a Guerlain counter there. At one time, before Guerlain was so popular like today, Guerlain had a promotional card….and if you bought up to limit….you get some pretty free gift…Remember, this way before online transaction where everything was stored in a computer so you had to keep this plastic member card (like Sephora’s VIB). There was an array of perfume by Guerlain on displayed. I’Magnin was very chic and Parisian….so so sad it no longer exist. Since many of you are fond of Guerlain, I thought to give you some history….and yes, I still have the eyeshadows untouched…bought over 25 years ago…..the colors are really funky….just like in the ’80’s.

Christine Avatar

Thank you for sharing, Stacey! This is really interesting. One of the things I like about Guerlain is that it has a really long, rich history in the cosmetics world – they are by no means a new brand.

They still create refillable packaging and then discontinue stuff far too quickly, lol!

Mandy Avatar

Thanks to your reviews Christine, I did my VIB shopping at Sephora today and came home with Guerlain! Teint Dore pressed powder & the 24Kt gold Primer. I already have one of their lovely G lipsticks. Still another day to score some more!

Precious Avatar

I love Guerlain!. Thanks to your reviews, I’ve found my holy grails. 🙂

My top five are:
– Meteorites Perles Light Diffusing Primer
– Meteorites Voyage Powder in Mythic
– Parure de Lumiere
– Rouge G in Gigolo
– Rouge G L’Extrait in Orgueil

Mine Avatar

Thank You so much Christine You turn me towards guerlain .Now my favourite Brand .So far I have meteorites pressed and pearls, and rouge automatique and rouge g. I really appreciate your hard work .Your blog always made my day whenever I can read it.Can you tell me the dupe of chanel rouge coco destinee 41 in guerlain automatique or rouge g? Destinee is another great find from your blog .I love the shade but its little bit drying on me.Once again I really appreciate your efforts in telling us everything beauty ,I love it

Sheila Avatar

Hi Christine!
I tried the Crazy Pressed Meteorites powder based on your recommendation and it didn’t do anything for me 🙁 Perhaps it is my olive, dry skin. I do have the loose pearls coming in the mail so I will have to see if they work out better for me.

Jade Avatar

I went through a Guerlain phase years ago, shortly after I REALLY got into makeup at 17 – I did the reverse to a lot of people, I quickly went to high end makeup, and have slowly worked my way back down to drugstore! I remember I had a Guerlain compact powder foundation which I really liked, and a Kiss Kiss lipstick which I LOVED – it remains the only lipstick I’ve ever finished twice, it was a peachy-pink colour. I swear I had more than that lol but that’s all I can think of right now!

I actually went to a counter today because I saw they FINALLY had the holiday collection, only to discover the one product I REALLY wanted, Crazy Pressed Meteorites, aren’t coming to Australia! I had a bit of a cry, got colour-matched to their Tenue de Perfection, and the sales assistant gave me some sample sachets of Lingerie de Peau. The sales assistant matched me to 02, which seems close but not quite right, but I’ll see when I try the Lingerie de Peau tomorrow. Here’s hoping!!

Christine Avatar

Australia isn’t?!?! Why oh why? Who decides these things!

I went straight to Benefit/MAC myself – and I stayed primarily there, then started blogging, and so most of my early experience was with higher end. Now I am more equal opportunity though I tend to prefer indie for more affordable price points over drugstore!

Joyce Avatar

Christine, Some of your favourites have really gotten into luxury. Tom Ford Guerlain, YSL, etc. I appreciate the wide selection of reviews of luxury to mid-range to drug store products. Some more reviews of Laura Mercier products would be much appreciated though. I feel that her colour products like the new rouge weightless lipsticks don’t get as much coverage but they pack a load of pigmentation.

Shelley Avatar

I’ve never tried anything from guerlain, but I really want to try meteorites. I have oily skin, would the pressed be better? Also, which is your favorite for oily skin: NARS relfecting powder, hourglass ambient lighting powder, or guerlain pressed meteorites?

Christine Avatar

NARS is best for oily skin, IMO, because it is also rather mattyfing! Hourglass Ambient over Guerlain as the Ambient Powders have a powderiness to them – they just do, and it’s not really a bad thing! – that would take well to oilier skin types (because powder naturally absorbs excess oil!).

Emily Avatar

Hello Christine! I recently purchased the Guerlain Crazy Meteorites Pressed Powder, and although I do like it, I don’t love it. I purchased it from Saks Fifth Avenue, and when I contacted them about returning it, they said it had to be able to be resold. Do you have any experience with returning to Saks? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Joyce Avatar

That’s why I prefer to purchase from Sephora when I can. They have a better return policy. Even if Saks was able to resell them, how can they tell that the Meteorites have been used? I am not sure they can tell if you even swatched it? As a consumer who might purchase from Saks, I don’t know how comfortable I feel about purchasing a product that someone could have used if they resell their returns. You get what I mean?

Ann Avatar

After I finish up this SFF I want to try the Guerlain Parure de Lumiere foundation. Every time I read your blog and think “wow her skin looks amazing” I read that you have it on in the picture. I have no idea how to say it but I want my skin to look like yours and if you recommend it I’m sold! Will be looking out for this on my trip in the winter to Paris as they have a Sephora.

SheDaisy Avatar

Since reading your blog I have gotten a Shine Automatique lipstick, Turandot Holiday eye quad from last year (used at least 3x a week since, haven’t hit pan!), and after a couple weeks of deliberation, Gloss D’Enfer in Candy Strip! Everything has met expectations, fully. The packaging is also stunning and built to last.

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