Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Spring 2012: Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette ($85.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a new and limited edition palette for spring. It contains six eyeshadows, with the long, skinny shade on the right designed to be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner. The palette is hefty with a metal compact and filigree lid. There’s an interior mirror that flips open that’s connected to the lower portion of the palette. Inside, there is also a small, dual-ended brush that is serviceable but not better than the average full-size brush. The shades are described as soft pink, tea rose, pearl mauve, soft violet, luminous pink, and intense plum. I’m not entirely sure which description goes with which, to be honest! I know that the luminous pink shade is the center shade and the intense plum is the eyeshadow/liner shade on the far right of the palette.
The upper left eyeshadow is a pale white pink with a satiny shimmer. It has surprisingly good color payoff for as pale and light as it is, and it doesn’t look chalky against my skin tone. It’s similar to Tarina Tarantino Delightful (more shimmer), MAC Fresh Ice (more shimmer, purpler), and Bare Escentuals Muse (a touch darker, pinker).
The bottom right (or side right) eyeshadow is pale pink-tinted mauve with a pearly sheen. It’s soft and light with nice pigmentation and a smooth, silky soft feel. It didn’t seem like something different, but I couldn’t find a dupe for it; there’s the mauve in it that separates it from shades like Bare Escentuals Giddy, which is similar in lightness and finish but is much pinker.
In the center, there is a vibrant medium, subtly blue-based pink with a white, frosted finish. The color payoff is nice, and it has a really dense, buttery texture. Make Up For Ever #85 is less blue-based. It is fairly similar to Urban Decay Hot Pants. MAC Feather Pink also compares well in regards to hue, but it is bluer and matte.
To the right of the center pink eyeshadow, there is a medium-dark purple with a pearly sheen. It could be more pigmented; there is some softness there that makes it appear less like it does in the pan when applied to the skin. Make Up For Ever #142 is a darker, deeper version. Bare Escentuals Encore is darker and less red.
The bottom shade is a rosy brown with a satin finish; it almost appears matte. The color payoff is so-so, and on deeper skin tones, I’m not sure it would show up well. Inglot #344 is browner, while Inglot #359 is pinker.
On the right side, there is an eggplant purple with a pearled finish. It’s supposed to be an eyeshadow/eyeliner shade, so I did swatches of it dry and wet. This shade was finicky to work with; the texture was drier and stiffer compared to the other shades in the palette, so the resulting color payoff was sheerer and a bit uneven. When it is used wet, it is a lot easier to use. MAC Hyperviolet is deeper and less purple. Bare Escentuals Nightcap is darker, more matte, and browner. Le Metier de Beaute Fig is deeper and browner. MAC Fig 1 is a little darker and matte. Inglot #445 is a touch lighter and more frosted.
Overall, the palette is decent but not great–the color payoff could be improved. This was really my major issue with this palette, because three shades had pigmentation issues to some degree, with the eggplant shade having the most (as well as texture issues). Even though pink eyeshadow can sometimes be difficult to wear, Guerlain’s incorporated a lot of mauve, rose, and plum to dial back the pink; the only genuinely pink shade in the palette is the center shade. Both the pink mauve and rosy brown work well as neutrals. The wear of these eyeshadows is better over a prime and so-so without; they wear about eight hours before I start noticing some slight fading. I find Guerlain’s eyeshadows a tiny bit powdery overall.
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse Eyeshadow Palette
As usual I reaaaaally love Guerlain’s packaging, but 85$ (which here in Europe will be even more) are way too much for five eyeshadows.
Yeah, these palettes are hard to swallow! Even though it’s six, it’s still a lot to shell out at once!
these are usually 72E in europe.
These colors are gorgeous; I have a lot of purples, but each of these seems to be just a little bit different from the versions you see more often. Too bad they are not top-notch quality, I wouldn’t spend this much on eyeshadows that I wasn’t incredibly impressed with, regardless of the color.Probably. Ok, maybe, but it would have to be a really good color!
LOL! If it was one of those palettes that could become a go-to, it could be worth it, but definitely not if it’s not stellar quality!
I honestly don’t understand how companies have the gall to release a product that costs nearly $100 for some eyeshadows and then not even bother to give them a decent formula. It’s just astonishing to me.
I haven’t found that I LOVE Guerlain’s new eyeshadow formula overall, some shades are better than others, but overall, they’re not my #1 or anything.
This palette is SO PRETTY! But also way too expensive. 🙁 I don’t think I’ll buy this anytime soon.
Yes, very pricey!
this is super pricey but personally i love these easy to wear, easy to layer shades which are a pretty unusual colour scheme overall.
Nice! I am surprised they launched two pink palettes in the same collection!
Way too expensive, especially since I don’t wear pink eyeshadow! But the name reminds me of Les Miserables, so I have a soft spot for it for that reason alone! (Yeah I know, that’s an actual Parisian street, but. . .)
Yes, it’s definitely pricey and certainly not worth it if you don’t wear pink!
you would expect way more pigmentation. if you are a package girl I guess its for you
Agreed!
I have to agree, for that price it has to peform perfectly, the packaging is lovely though
Same here
This looks similar to the colors from the Lancome’s palette
Which one?
Pity the formula isn’t there, because the colors in it are fab. One of these days I’ll make the plunge into Guerlain…but not for this. LOL
Yeah, definitely not this 😉
I had issues with Guerlain Rue de Sevres (which was supposed to be the nicest one). The pigments weren’t that great, and they would crease after a few hours. No matter what I did, I could not get the colors to last. I had to return it 🙁 I was so excited when I saw your pictures of this, but I think I’ll have to pass. I wish they would make the shadows better.
Were you using the shades alone or over a primer?
I thought I would’t like this palette because it’s filled with so many types of purple but after seeing the swatches, it actually looks pretty wearable for Asians. Thanks for the post!
xoxo,
Roxanne
No prob, Roxanne!
I don’t know what this palette could change to make it worth $85. I also don’t wear pink eyeshadows (exception: expensive pink from Mac).
For me, it’d be no powderiness and full pigmentation across the board – like true-to-pan color.
The sheerness reminds me of Paul and Joe beaute
Interesting! I have tried very little from P&J!
I can only sigh at this… this palette has a really neat packaging… wish someone can give this for me this christmas. lol… It’s really expensive.
The packaging is definitely gorgeous!
The packaging is so beautiful on these I want one just for that. Now if only they would have an outstanding selection of colors to push me over the edge…
Thank you for the review n’ swatches! 🙂
If you have a Guerlain counter nearby, they have several other combinations, so maybe you can find one 🙂
I love this palette and the packaging is totally worth it to me. I think one thing you forgot to mention Christine, is that while this palette is $85, it’s also twice as much product as most companies give, and therefore nearly the same value as 5 mac shadows. Personally, I’ve found Guerlain to be higher quality than MAC. I feel like you’ve displayed a lot of negative predetermined bias toward a product when you’re usually fair, especially since your swatches show a lot of color payoff.
It’s 0.047 oz. per eyeshadow, which is about what most companies give, actually. It’s by no means twice what others give! I’m not sure what companies you’re comparing it to? Maybe you could tell me, since you brought up MAC specifically, and their quads are 0.05 oz. per shadow (VPs are 0.04). While you may find these are better than MAC, I don’t find these particular shades to be, on the whole, necessarily better. And I’m not sure if you’ve read my reviews, but I rarely give MAC high marks on their palettes or quads – I’d say their eyeshadows average around B/B- overall, with some standouts. Both brands have hits and misses–some shades are great, others are so-so, and still others are flops. It’s also important to look at the fact that most of us do not finish an eyeshadow, so there always comes a point where the actual price tag comes into play. Would you buy a $100 eyeshadow and say it’s worth it because it’s 0.50 oz.? Would you actually argue that it’s a bargain? Price plays no role in the rating, but I really don’t think it’s wrong to say, “Hey, 3 shades are under-performing, so I don’t think $85 is justified!” It’s no different than if 2 shades of a MAC quad were under-performing–I would say the same thing; it’s not worth $38.
Also, Guerlain’s eyeshadow quads have 0.25 oz. of product – so those are actually a much better deal. This palette isn’t worth $85 because of the discrepancies in quality–it has nothing to do with the amount. Three of six shades have good color payoff – the other three I had issues to some degree with. It’s all well and good that you prefer Guerlain’s eyeshadows, but I didn’t have that experience, and I can only speak from that experience. Have you tried this product? If you haven’t, it seems odd that you’re accusing me of bias when you haven’t used this particular product before.
Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean that I’m wrong or that you’re wrong – I can only speak from my experience, and you are equally welcome to speak from yours. It certainly doesn’t mean I’m biased or that I’m being unfair. If you LOVE a product that I don’t, that’s great – all that matters is that you’re happy with the products you buy. I don’t think Guerlain’s eyeshadow formula is the best on the market, and I’m really just as entitled as you to hold that opinion, because it’s based on my experience with the product against my experience of hundreds of other products.
You hit the key point, Christine. It’s a lot to pay at one time. Most women don’t go out and buy six shadows all at once so they experience sticker shock when they are confronted with a price tag of $85. But, if a woman likes all six shades, then these palettes, housed in a luxurious case, are actually quite a bargain. Six shadows for $85 comes out to $14.51 a piece which makes them cheaper than MAC singles. As for the other luxury brands, Guerlain is comparable in cost but is priced for six colors as opposed to the more usual four.
So, enough already about the price! Let’s put it in perspective and deal with the real question: Once a person has determined the overall quality, would that person be willing to buy all six shades if they were singles? If the answer is yes, than Guerlain’s Écrin 6 Couleurs are a good deal. If the answer is no, than they are an extravagance and it is up to each person to decide whether or not it’s worth the splurge. Personally I have gotten a lot of use out of the three palettes that I already own, but I selected them carefully.
I’m definitely in the camp that I don’t want to spend the full price tag (whatever it may be) if there are issues, and the higher the cost outlay, the more frustrating it is (because with the price tag, there’s no reason they should have skimped on quality). Like I hate when there’s an eyeshadow palette and there’s one really AMAZING shade – I am so over buying the whole thing just for one shade!
But like you, it’s about buying products you’ll love and use regularly. Whether it’s a $50 lipstick, $85 eyeshadow palette, or $1 lipstick, it should be about whether you’ll love it and reach for it often and take pleasure wearing it. The choice of whether to buy or not is very subjective and is subject to a justification and rational process, so I’m here to try and give you the pros and cons.
Which three did you purchase? I’ve liked their quads better than the 6-pan palettes myself!
I have Rue de Sevres, Rue de Passy, Rue De Rivoli; and of the new quads I have Les Cuirs, Les Verts, Les Ombres de Nuit, and Les Gris. I love them all so for me they were worth the expenditure 🙂
That’s great 🙂 I’m all about loving what you buy!
I agree completely Eileen! Thanks for clarifying that!
This is absolutely gorgeous on pale blue eyes. I use the “paint by numbers” instructions included and do the couture look. I am a light-medium complexion (MAC NW-25 BB-Beige Chantecaille-glow) with pale blue eyes. The colors can be applied so that they appear almost neutral but make the blue POP! More color can be applied, the pinks are shaded so they don’t give you that tired, hungover look that pink eye shadow can sometimes impart. A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Worth EVERY PENNY!