Introduction to Guerlain
Introduction to Guerlain
I’m new to this brand. Where should I start?
Face
Rouge Gs
Lip Colors
Lip Glosses
A Few Notes | I’m a long-time fan of Guerlain’s liquid foundations, though the shade range is limited, but if you can find a good match, they’re worth considering. Two of my favorite setting powders are Guerlain’s Les Voilettes Loose and the pressed (better value in the loose). I really enjoy Maxilash (Volumizing and Curling) for a fluttery, feathery lash that doesn’t get clumpy (it is also more forgiving if you have to reapply hours later). They are well-known for their Meteorites Perles and Terracotta bronzers, both of which I enjoy, but you’ll need to pick the shade that works for you (with the Perles, most will be universal with some being too pigmented for very fair skin tones as a finishing powders or too white-based for darker skin tones).
Their brushes have always disappointed me. Their current powder blush formula along with their eyeshadow formula tend to be more often a miss than a hit. Keep in mind that a lot of their products are scented, some more heavily than others, so depending on your tolerance or preference for scent, you may want to check that out first.
What would you recommend to someone just trying Guerlain for the first time?
WHERE TO BUY
SEPHORA NEIMAN MARCUS NORDSTROM SAKS BLOOMINGDALE’S MACY’S
The meteorites! I caved for the holiday 2015 meteorites and was not disappointed. Just finishing with a thin dusting of it makes everything else about my face look clearer/fairer/brighter.
… But yeah, it took some adjusting to get used to the powdery violet scent.
I like readers’ idea suggested in the past to offer scented/non-scented versions!
It did for me, too, although I’ve acclimatized to it. Srong scents can make me feel nauseous, so I usually avoid.
P.S. my spouse is allergic to strong scents, so I stopped wearing perfume a long time ago and now I can’t tolerate strong scents.Once when I was trying to finish a sample Lancome moisturizer that was overly scented (not my preferred formula but I wore it at night just to finish it) and he noticed it right away. I have a similar issue with a Clarins day cream.
I love my Air Kiss lipstick so much that Red Strass will probably be my next Guerlain lipstick! I’m really getting tired of matte lipsticks, therefore the moister, luminous finish of these really appeal to me. Who knows, perhaps a Rouge G somewhere down the road, although I fear it would be SO good, I’d wind up ignoring all my other lipsticks!
I love the finish on Air Kiss! Very luminous 😀
I really need to try the Meteorite Perls some day, I have been meaning to for ages, just because they are so pretty!
They are pretty!
I don’t own a lot of Guerlain. I would recommend the Meteorites and Pressed Meteorites. The eyeshadow quads I have are the old formula. Those are fantastic, but from what I’ve seen of the new formula, it doesn’t measure up.
The older one is easier to work with, I think; the new one is much drier/dustier!
I only have Air Kiss lipstick from them, which I love. I wish I could buy more Guerlain as their packaging is stunning, but their foundations, powders, and blushes are usually loaded with fragrance and/or alcohol, which my skin can’t take. And their shadows don’t last on my oily lids, had to return. It’s on my bucket list to try a Rouge G, but haven’t figured out which color to get yet. I was planning to do a big swatchfest tomorrow at the local stores, so will stop by the Guerlain counter to check them out.
Totally understand, Katherine! A lot of the summer products are too scented for me 🙁
I actually don’t have anything by Guerlain, although I’ve had some of the lipsticks on my wish list for a long time! The fragrance in the powders would be a problem for me. When I’ve tried the lipstick shades available at my local Sephora, none were quite right for me. Someday!
I wish they weren’t so heavily scented!
I wish a *lot* of products weren’t so heavily scented! Scented makeup and skin care just doesn’t work out well for a lot of people with sensitive skin. When a brand uses a lot of fragrance in its products, I often end up felling that they’re just not interested in having me as a customer.
Also, a lot of the scents that are used in products just don’t appeal to me. If I’m going to wear a fragrance, I want it to be something I’ve carefully chosen because I love the way it smells, and a lot of the lower-cost synthetic fragrances that are used to scent most products just really bother my nose.
I hear ya, Fran! The older I get, the less inclined I am to tolerate certain scents in beauty products. Especially if it lingers 🙁 Like you, if I want to SMELL like something, I’ll choose something specifically for that scent (usually an actual perfume).
I was just grumbling the other day because dry shampoos are SOOOOO scented typically, and it’s like I’m inhaling perfume for the first ten minutes, lol!
I wish they’d introduce more nude and neutral Rouge G’s – the two I really wanted got discontinued a few years ago, but I really want to try the formula with a colour I know I’d use a lot.
Also, it’s a nice colour, but the name “Browny Clap”… just why? Hilarious though.
I WISH THEY’D INTRODUCE NEW ROUGE GS PERIOD. ANY SHADE. I’LL TAKE ANYTHING.
🙁
I really hope they add a permanent maxi velvet lip range. I bought the one from the holiday collection and its such a great formula and pretty color
Everything you suggested! I have each of these exact powders & Rouge G & Kiss Kiss in colors that suit my preferences. They are superb. The best!!
Thanks for this! I’ve been wanting to try Guerlain for the longest time and didn’t know where to start.
Quintissential brand. Kept it french chic unlike other brands,
Current favorites are Parure Gold foundation, Les voilettes powder (loose), Kiss kiss lipstick and Shalimar edp. There is one thing which i really dont like is the violet scent of their products… I really wish it was unscented or maybe mild scent or some other fragrance( like mac or Chanel). I really wish they werent so very heavily scented.
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau is my holy grail foundation. I am 30 with dry skin with texture on the cheeks and the Lingerie foundation makes my skin look beautiful <3
Next on my list to try are the L'or gold primer and the Meteorite pearls!
Guerlain is my first luxurious brand and it delivers, worth the money. I’ve been using these for 5 years now. I own and have repurchased these: the ROUGE AUTOMATIQUE lipstick in Champs Elysées (moisturizing & long lasting!), the TERRACOTTA LIGHT SHEER BRONZING POWDER in 05 and PARURE GOLD RADIANCE POWDER FOUNDATION in 04. I have sampled their LINGERIE DE PEAU BB spf30 Cream and it gave me the most flawless, youthful complexion and it was so lightweight. I didn’t need any primer nor concealer and it lasted the whole day! I’m buying full size when I finish my BB/CC Cream stash.
The only products I have of Guerlain’s are the eye shadow quads of Les Gris, Les Aquas and Les Verts. If you are in the market for some outstanding blue/grey shades Les Gris is for you. These maybe hard to get now. Their latest eye shadow offerings have been quite average.
As a woman of color, Guerlain isn’t necessarily a go to cosmetic brand for me. I find that most of their makeup line is not complimentary to my skintone (NC50), particularly the foundations and most of the finishing powder products. My favorite and only product are the bronzers: the Terracotta 4 seasons bronzer (awesome all year round ) and the bronzing powder (summer). The past 2 holiday seasons had meteorite LE perles that are very complimentary to olive and brown toned skin – I use them as highlighters. I know the Rouge G lipsticks are popular, but personally I’m underwhelmed by the lipsticks. The one I actually liked – Gracia – is very dupable.
I really like these introductions. Lots of fun, you get inspiration and you can see if you’ve missed something. Very good if it’s for a brand that all of a sudden becomes availabe. On that note, are ther any absolute musts from Kat Von D? Launching here on the 16th. sorry for going off topic.
Back to Guerlaine, I only have on product from them, a lipstick Rouge G, I think, from a LE, Madame Batifole. I like it a lot, and I love the scent.
Rouge G are imo the best formula for lipstick. And the packaging is practical (mirror), with lovely jewellery finishing (metallic, not plastic). They are just perfection ! Also they are less expensive than the loubs, and the formula is better. Imo they are definitely worth the splurge !
The (holiday) LEs are really worth to follow. For example, the holiday 2014’s Rouge Parade is still my favourite red lipstick. Love the holiday eye & cheek palette, so travel friendly !
The bronzers and meteorites are their signature products. Love the violet perfume in them.
I prefer meteorite in pan, more easy to use. I don’t use the pearls that often.
Les voilettes powders. I use more often the pan version, more easy to use. But the loose version is great for price/amount rate.
The ecrin 6 couleur eyeshadow palettes are the most beautiful eyeshadow palette packaging ever !
It’s great as gift if you don’t appreciate the product yourself. I’m ok with their quality, they are less pigmented than UD, but more suitable for no makeup makeup looks, or light hand makeup days.
As Christine mentioned, their makeup brushes are really a shame. The quality is not there at all. And here they are sold with the price here close to TF in the US !
I didn’t had great experience with their mascara.
The nail polishes are great. The brushes are like Dior’s in shape. I love their LE polishes. The Stardust and Jardin de Bagatelle are my favourites.
Their perfumes ! Guerlain is a house of perfume basically, their perfumes are really nice. My favourite is the Terracotta, it smells jasmine.
With TF’s Jasmin Rouge, they are my favourites jasmine perfumes.
Great overview of the brand! Basically the primer, mascara, bronzing powder and meteorites powder are on my wishlist! haha!
Also I’m looking for a good fluid foundation with medium to full coverage that doesn’t look cakey (and doesn’t irritate acne-prone skin). I saw that in editor’s choice awards Guerlain Lingerie de Peau was recommended? I’m truly not sure what to go with and beauty experts keep referring me in different directions…
Well, I love Guerlain! Mostly for their lip products but I do love the Météorites Perles. The Rouge Gs are my all-time favourite lipsticks but their other lipsticks are also great! I have way too many of their lipsticks but I treat it as an investment. ?
i don’t own anything guerlain maybe bc the price range. it might be a bit off of my budget also i don’t live in the US and things can get more expensive… i’d love to try the rouge g’s … you’ve been talking about ‘GEMS’ for years and i wish they could repromote/reintroduce/bring it back again that color is just beautiful!
I know the color range is limited and it won’t work for everyone, and those less impacted by the forces of gravity may not be able to appreciate it as much, but Guerlain’s Precious Light is my HG under eye brightener/concealer that I reserve for when I want to look my very best. I use it on any area of my face where there are deeper lines or shadows to bring those areas “forward”. It always applies beautifully, blends well, doesn’t crease, and I swear it contains magic dust!
And, yes, the perles! I discovered them at the perfect time — in my mid-forties — when the powder products I use began to steal the glow away from my skin. I don’t think I would have appreciated them in my twenties or thirties because I didn’t have issues with dry skin back then.
although i agree with most of your choices it just drives me bananas that the 4 seasons bronzer that i have develops a hard film on the surface after 3 uses ( i wash my brushes regulary) and i have to scrape it off. The color and blendability is beautifull but it’s just so anoying that i have to do that.
Does that happen to any of you or did i just get a dud?
Guerlain always has such lovely lipsticks! And the météorites of course!
The lippies are beautiful. I haven’t got any of them, will have to treat myself someday! Meteorites too.
Hopefully one day! 🙂
My only introduction has been the 2015 Holiday limited edition Perles des Neiges and I love it! My next fouray will be lipsticks, using Temptalia reviews as a guide.
Christine, tbese are wonderful collection reviews! I’ve gone back to others as I consider purchases from collections I’d like to explore further or make a first purchase of a brand I know little about. A++++
Oh, thank you, Tracey! 🙂 I’ll be curious to see which lipstick you try.
Other than perfume, they barely have anything that doesn’t contain a significant amount of beeswax, so my lime tree allergic self has to skip on most of their products.
I do love the meteorites powder, also their Terracotta bronzers I recommend to anyone who’s a beginner at bronzing. They’re really easy to work with.
Oh no! 🙁 I’m so sorry you’re not able to enjoy the brand much, Xegg!
For some reason, some of the “view swatches” links don’t work for me, like for the lip colors.
Should work now 🙂
Their Lingerie De Peau foundation is heaven, expensive, but a great formula. I haven’t been able to commit to spending the money on it, but it’s on my wish list. The Air Kiss color is on my list now too, that looks like a great shade.
It is a really lovely formula, Niki!