Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour ($32.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm, caramel undertones and a fine copper and gld pearl. It had semi-sheer color payoff after two layers, and it could be semi-opaque after three layers, which is a little less than described but close. The texture was smooth, balm-like, and easy to apply to the lips. The color lasted for three hours and was lightly hydrating. Estee Lauder Tender Trap (P, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Monica (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar). Too Faced Sweet Maple (DC, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Glamour Era (P, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Chanel Script (218) (P, $37.00) is more pigmented (90% similar). Urban Decay Broken (DC, $18.00) is darker, more pigmented (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Cala di Volpe (LE, $55.00) is more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). Guerlain Gaetane (16) (DC, $58.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour ($32.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plummy-brown with warm undertones and white and gold shimmer. This was one of the more shimmery shades in the range that I tried. It had semi-sheer coverage after two layers. The texture was soft, smooth, and glided on with ease. The color wore for three hours but was lightly hydrating. Tarte Glaze (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Bite Beauty Rosewood (DC, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Suzanne (438) (P, $37.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Nico (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar). Givenchy Moka Imprime (304) (P, $36.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Ellie (LE, $36.00) is lighter (85% similar). NARS Falbala (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Air Kiss (304) (P, $37.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Forbidden Romance (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Revlon Pink Truffle (DC, $7.49) is less shimmery (90% similar). Revlon Goldpearl Plum (P, $8.49) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Punch (LE, $16.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Where No Man Has Gone Before (LE, $19.00) is cooler (80% similar). Estee Lauder Raging Beauty (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar). Pat McGrath Skin Flixx (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar). NARS Shrinagar (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour ($32.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a bright, medium coral-red with warm, orange undertones and a lightly pearlized finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation after two layers of product, which applied fairly evenly, but it could have gone on more smoothly overall. The consistency was moderately emollient and a little thicker than the other shades, but it was comfortable to wear and felt lightly hydrating. This shade lasted for three and a half hours on me. Chanel Rouge Corail (P, $37.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Understanding (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Guerlain Rouge Sensuel (DC, $58.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Chanel Ultrarose (257) (LE, $45.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar). Chanel Amant (DC, $34.00) is darker (90% similar). Laura Mercier Sweet Guava (P, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Revlon Cruise Collection (P, $9.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). Gucci Beauty Goldie Red (25) (P, $42.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar). Smashbox LA Sunset (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Revlon Softsilver Red (P, $8.49) is cooler (80% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Ready to Swoon (P, $0.99) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW |
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour ($32.00 for 0.09 oz.) is supposed to be a “buildable, lightweight lipstick” with an “ultra-luminous” finish. They are deliberately scented to smell like La Petite Robe Noire, which is a sweet, fruity and floral fragrance–the scent is noticeable both in the tube and applied, though I do not notice it after about about an hour or so of wear (if you are sensitive to scent, I would consider trying these in person or purchasing with the ability to return). There was a somewhat soapy, sweet taste (it contains Stevioside, used as a sweetener) at times, particularly if I ate/drank with the lipstick on.

The coverage varied from semi-sheer to semi-opaque with a more stained-like appearance, as it wasn’t too slippery and had a natural sheen. Some of the shades run together, but they tend to look more varied once they are on the lips (and depending on the coloring of your natural lips, this may or may not be as apparent, particularly with pinker or redder lips). The sheerer nature of these makes it harder to know how they will look on against a mere swatch on the skin, and even from the tube-to-swatch comparison, they can look different.

They have a balm-like feel on the lips, and they tend to feel softer and melted as I applied them, but they weren’t too emollient or too thin or too thick. The formula wore between two and six hours on me with some of the richer, deeper shades lasted the longest, and it was lightly hydrating. As they’re a buildable formula (Guerlain describes it as one, two, and three-layer coverage), all swatches I did were using two layers. A couple of side notes: 1) the label is on the cap only, so if you take off multiple caps, it is possible to inadvertently put the wrong cap on the wrong shade, and 2) they can be less-than-ideal for storing, if you typically have yours vertical, as the flat-side has the label on it.

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Python Bag (012) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour

Guerlain Poppy Cap (020) La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour