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Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

A Lipstick Meant for Layering

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick ($35.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as a “gold with tone-on-tone sparkle” and is supposed to be used to illuminate lips with a veil of sparkle or used as a layering base/top coat with another lip product. The base is mostly clear, perhaps just enough to give it a warm tone, but it is predominantly composed of lots and lots of gold sparkle and shimmer ranging from medium to micro in size. MAC Ruffian Gold is similar, slightly less yellow-y. Dior Or Etoile paler and more uniform in the size of the shimmer (which is fairly fine). I was also reminded of Bobbi Brown Canary, which is a gloss.

I love that Guerlain made sure to describe this exactly as it is:  a sheer veil of shimmer that’s designed more as a layering shade than a standalone shade in the Shine Automatique line–a range that is typically semi-opaque to opaque in color.  It has a healthy dose of sparkle, and I like using it as a base shade rather than a top coat, only because it tends to be easier to apply that way. I’ll apply Altoum first, and then I’ll apply a more opaque lipstick on top.  If you use a lip brush, then I like using Altoum second, since you can pat it on.

As sheer shades often wear off quickly, I wasn’t all that surprised to find that this shade didn’t last as long as other Shine Automatique shades: four hours overall, but there were a few pieces of shimmer that lingered for longer.  It was slightly hydrating but not as moisturizing as other shades.  I could also feel the texture of the sparkle from the get-go.

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Altoum (700) Shine Automatique Lipstick

23 Comments

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blueraccoon Avatar

I’d love to see this layered over Lou-Ling; I think that would be gorgeous. I may not get this because I want Canary, and I don’t think I need both, but I am tempted.

Wwendalynne Avatar

LoL! Do you know how many times I went back and forth on my cart for the Burberry lippies? I freaking could not decide! I finally put the pin in this week and made myself settle on just three 🙁 since the Chanel holiday collection was finally on pre-order too :).

blueraccoon Avatar

Ooh, which ones did you get? I have two and I’m probably going to pick up a third this week 😀 (Peony Rose, Pink Azalea, and I want either Rose Pink or Pink Amber.)

blueraccoon Avatar

Gah. Pink Amber is the one I want, not Pink Apricot. I don’t think I’m quite confident enough to wear Military Red 🙂 I also want Redwood, and maybe Fuschia Pink, and Rose Pink, and…;)

holly Avatar

Great…I can’t drive to the mall because my right foot is in a cast (yes, i’m a klutz). My only option is to whine rather loudly until Hubby agrees to be my chauffeur.
Altoum, you WILL be mine!!!!

furandlace Avatar

I really wanted this but now I’m not so sure. I prefer the look of the Dior one you linked. I don’t think I’d like feeling the grit on my lips. I’ll probably still check it out for myself in person though.

On another side but related note, I’m very glad to see you have removed ‘packaging’ from the scoring system. It never made sense to me.

Mariella Avatar

For 35 bucks (38 here in Canada last time I bought one and possibly more now), I want a lipstick I don’t have to layer if I don’t want to. Easy for me to pass this one up!

Eileen Avatar

This is definitely for those of us who like the possibilities that a good layering product brings to the game. A lot of us have shimmering or sparkling gold glosses that create a festive holiday look, but Altoum is a fresh and modern take on the concept. There are gold sparkles aplenty, but the overall finish is satiny rather than glossy which makes Altoum more in line with the trend towards satin/matte lip finishes. It doesn’t make sense to invest in one of this season’s beautiful matte shades and then cover it with a glossy gel. That’s where Altoum comes in. It provides a golden sparkle without altering the satin or velvet finish of the base color.

Claire Avatar

If you don’t mind trying out an indie company, Portland Black Lipstick Co has a gold one called Gilded Lily. It’s packaged in a lip balm tube, though, so if you like traditional lipstick packaging it’s not gonna be your kind of thing.

xamyx Avatar

I love these shades for Holiday & festive looks, but I don’t find myself pulling them out any other time. For this price, it’d have to be something I’d use at least once a week. I think these shades should be put out in smaller amounts, and at a lower price. That said, I have a similar Revlon gloss that gives the same effect, and I won’t feel bad if I have to toss it after it turns.

Quinctia Avatar

Argh, I love these gold lipsticks every time I see one, and I still haven’t picked one up! Probably don’t need to spring for a Guerlain version, but I should probably still get one if I love them so much!

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