Guerlain #27 and #40 Rouge G de Guerlain Matte Lip Colors Reviews & Swatches
#27
Guerlain #27 Rouge G de Guerlain Matte Lip Color ($33.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark orange-red with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without dragging. The texture was lightweight and more velvety, but thin, so it clung more noticeable against my lips but didn’t emphasize my lip texture, though it definitely didn’t smooth out my lip lines or make my lips appear fuller. It lasted for five hours, left a faint stain behind, and was slightly drying over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Light My Fire (P, $26.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cruella (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Pure Red (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Fire Orange (885) (P, $36.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Ardente (175) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Spit Fire (P, $12.39) is warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Flame Red (214) (P, $36.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Rouge 8 (LE, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Elote (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Cayenne (DC, $26.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$33.00/0.12 oz. - $275.00 Per Ounce
The Matte formula is supposed to have a "semi-matte" finish that has "the perfect balance between hydration and vibrant color" and contains "hylauronic acid and blurring powders" to help "smooth and volumize the look of lips." The coverage was semi-opaque to opaque, somewhat buildable, but there was enough slip that it was better to keep it two layers or else I experienced the color clumping up on itself and becoming more uneven in overall application. The texture was velvety and thin, I get that "blurring powder" feel that some of the recent matte formulas have had in them--a little "dry" and more prone to clinging on my lips. They wore between three and six hours but fade evenly and more red-based shades left faint stains behind. I didn't find any of them hydrating, and some of them felt drying to me. They had the typical violet scent but no taste.
For me, Rouge G was all about making my lips look better: smoother, plumper, and delivered good wear with a hydrating formula, but the Mattes left me wanting, as they weren't hydrating, didn't smooth out my lip lines for the most part, and felt a bit tight to wear after a few hours. One of the tell-tale signs of a drying formula is during the swatch-a-thon; given that there were only 11 shades to swatch, it should have been easy, but my lips felt a little raw afterward, which is typical of swatching more drying formulas for me.
Browse all of our Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
#27
PPermanent. $33.00.
#40
Guerlain #40 Rouge G de Guerlain Matte Lip Color ($33.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a vivid pink-coral with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good pigmentation in a single layer, but the color did not apply that evenly and sank into many of my lip lines. I also found that the color balled up and appeared clump (most noticeable on my upper lip in the close-up photo). I could feel that as a textural element, too, which made it a curious product to wear. The texture as the lipstick went on was smooth, velvety, and comfortable to apply as it didn’t drag, but it felt clingy and my lips felt a bit raw after wearing it. The color stayed on well for four and a half hours but was drying over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Rouge Immortel (LE, $27.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Chanel Tentation (238) (LE, $45.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Flame (LE, $26.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Unattached (P, $24.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Chanel Fleur de Lotus (830) (P, $45.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Tango (LE, $12.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Chanel Vivant (144) (P, $45.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- NARS Grace (P, $34.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Dragon Mami (P, $18.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Naked Ladies (LE, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$33.00/0.12 oz. - $275.00 Per Ounce
The Matte formula is supposed to have a "semi-matte" finish that has "the perfect balance between hydration and vibrant color" and contains "hylauronic acid and blurring powders" to help "smooth and volumize the look of lips." The coverage was semi-opaque to opaque, somewhat buildable, but there was enough slip that it was better to keep it two layers or else I experienced the color clumping up on itself and becoming more uneven in overall application. The texture was velvety and thin, I get that "blurring powder" feel that some of the recent matte formulas have had in them--a little "dry" and more prone to clinging on my lips. They wore between three and six hours but fade evenly and more red-based shades left faint stains behind. I didn't find any of them hydrating, and some of them felt drying to me. They had the typical violet scent but no taste.
For me, Rouge G was all about making my lips look better: smoother, plumper, and delivered good wear with a hydrating formula, but the Mattes left me wanting, as they weren't hydrating, didn't smooth out my lip lines for the most part, and felt a bit tight to wear after a few hours. One of the tell-tale signs of a drying formula is during the swatch-a-thon; given that there were only 11 shades to swatch, it should have been easy, but my lips felt a little raw afterward, which is typical of swatching more drying formulas for me.
Browse all of our Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
I prefer CP 27, tbh, lol.
Eh, for the price point of the Rouge Gs (assuming you care and would prefer complete packaging instead of just the bullet portion), I feel like you can do better! But this is coming from someone who would expect a Rouge G to perform perfectly.
Connundrum here. I have MAC Lady Danger, but really love the more reddened shade of #27 much more. However, with this year being on a low-buy, I will wait it out for another year or so, will try to use LD more this summer, too.
I guess I’ll be saying it til I’m blue in the face but I just do not like matte lipsticks.