Tag Archives: Guerlain

Guerlain | Summer Collection 2016 by Terracotta

From the brand that has perfected the art of bronzing, comes the latest release: introducing Guerlain’s Summer Collection by Terracotta, a capsule range aimed at providing your skin with its most luxe faux glow yet. With a spicy new cover adorning the iconic Terracotta bronzing powder, lipsticks that just beg to be taken out & applied in public, and a new innovation in the field of washable tans, it’s like Guerlain has brought the beach that much closer to home. Works for me.

Guerlain | Summer Collection 2016 by Terracotta

Guerlain | My Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes Summer 2016 Limited Edition

My Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes, limited edition (CAN $64.00) | Housed in the brand’s iconic tortoiseshell-pattern casing, this cult-fave product has been given a fiery new silicone outer sleeve for Summer 2016 (which adds a couple of dollars to the price, but it’s removable thus making it reusable, and provides some protection in the event the compact falls). The powder’s surface is embossed with a nautical-inspired rope design (that will wear down with use), and bears the newly reformulated Terracotta fragrance that consists of: freesia, orange blossom, tonka bean, vanilla & white musk — all of which combine to form the very essence of summer.

There really is no other bronzing powder currently available that is as finely-milled as that of Terracotta; the texture is so refined that once applied, it truly blends seamlessly upon the skin. Created with moisturizing properties to ensure skin stays hydrated throughout the wearing, there is no oxidation seen and it almost seems to get better (if that’s even possible) as it fuses with your skin’s warmth and natural oils.

Guerlain | My Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes Summer 2016 Limited Edition

Guerlain | My Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes Summer 2016 Limited Edition (swatches)

Guerlain | My Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes Summer 2016 Limited Edition

A veritable tower of bronzing ‘macarons’, done in Guerlain style

Since the Terracotta powders rank as one of my absolutely favourites, and depending on the season and what level of glow I’m aiming for, I have several versions that I alternate between throughout the year. Please note that in the swatch below, it should read as 01 Light Brunettes and not 01 Natural Brunettes.

Previously reviewed:

Guerlain | My Terracotta Summer 2016 Limited Edition & comparison swatches

Terracotta L’Eau Hâlée, limited edition (CAN $62.00) | The latest innovation in the Terracotta family is a bronzing water with a light-as-air texture and slight cooling sensation felt upon the skin upon initial application. Dispensed via a dropper, this is a non-transferable yet still washable veil of colour that is best applied with your fingers (brushes, beauty sponges or even cotton pads can also be used, but will absorb way too much of the product along the way) for the most seamless and natural look. Scented with a tropical Tiaré flower fragrance (that serves to instantly transport me to the beach — any beach), the texture has a slight gel-like quality and is quite fool-proof to apply, as it becomes quickly absorbed and thus easy to build up if desired. One way to use L’Eau Hâlée is like a traditional bronzing product and therefore applied to key areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit (upper cheeks, forehead, bridge of the nose and tip of the chin), or you can also mix a few drops in to your favourite moisturizer for an all-over natural sunny radiance.

This one universally flattering shade is totally customizable, meaning you can layer it to achieve the intensity you prefer and the best part? No commitment, since it’s also easily removed at the end of the day with soap and water (or your preferred makeup remover).

Guerlain | Terracotta L’Eau Hâlée Summer Limited Edition

Guerlain | Terracotta L’Eau Hâlée Summer Limited Edition (swatches)

Guerlain | KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Color Summer Limited Editions

342 Fancy Kiss, limited edition (CAN $43.00) | A soft peachy/apricot hue with semi-opaque coverage, in the brand’s hydrating formula that leaves lips feeling moisturized both throughout and after wearing. There’s just the right balance between pink and orange/coral in the base, to make this shade wearable by a wide range of skin tones and I can totally see this as the perfect counterpoint to a light tan.

Guerlain | 342 Fancy Kiss swatch

367 Kiss Blossom, limited edition (CAN $43.00) | Described as a ‘soft bohemian pink’, this is a pale rose hue that will be wearable by even pink-phobes such as myself, as there is an underlying warmth that comes through once applied. Slightly less opaque than Fancy Kiss but with the same long-term moisturizing properties, both lipsticks also bear a soft classic rose-lipstick fragrance which nevertheless seems to quickly dissipate after application.

Guerlain | 367 Kiss Blossom swatch

Guerlain, you’ve nailed it … again. The new L’Eau Hâlée has been seeing a lot of use from me lately, as I’ve yet to find anything that’s even remotely close to providing the same totally natural looking yet still subtle sun kissed glow, topped off with a light dusting of the Terracotta bronzing powder to give my skin a 3-dimensional radiance. Lipsticks used to be something I reserved for more formal occasions (I’m usually a gloss girl), but how can anyone resist anything labelled ‘KissKiss‘? Not this beauty aficionado, that’s for sure.

Available at Guerlain Boutiques & Institute and select counters. Visit Guerlain.ca

Feeling the sun through the kindness of Guerlain/As always, all opinion are my own

Guerlain | My Super Tips (Beauty Survival Kit)

May 17, 2016

Just in time for travel season, Guerlain has released a travel size collection of skincare heros that you really won’t want to be without. As a brand that is the very epitome of understated luxury, don’t expect fireworks and/or trumpeting; instead what you’ll get is four must-have products for your face & lips that produce results — quickly and effectively.

Guerlain | My Super Tips (Beauty Survival Kit)

Guerlain | My Super Tips (Beauty Survival Kit) swatches

SOS Cream (CAN $35.00) | A rose scented ultra-nourishing dense cream that becomes instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving a buttery soft feel behind. Created to give your skin a shot of TLC after being exposed to external irritants and influences, it can be used morning or evening — or whenever you feel the need for a little bit of extra pampering.

Midnight Secret (CAN $35.00) | A lightweight cream in a semi-fluid texture with a soft lavender fragrance, and that is meant to be applied in the evening before bed. Aimed at giving your skin a more refreshed and revitalized appearance, along with helping to reducing puffiness and a tired/dull complexion, this is the perfect product to have on hand to beat the late-night blahs. Seriously.

Radiance In A Flash (CAN $35.00) | A peachy pearlescent cream-lotion with a cooling feel upon the skin, bearing a light & fresh floral fragrance, this adds a jolt of luminosity to the skin with an instant tightening effect you can feel immediately upon application. Worn alone, it provides a light evenness of tone (not meant to camouflage like a foundation, however) and also works beautifully under foundation as a radiant-type primer. It can also be applied over foundation on strategic key areas to give your skin some enhancement.

Lip Hero (CAN $35.00) | Brimming with nourishing oils and butters, this lip balm aims to not only provide lips with an instant plumping effect (albeit, slight as it is), but will keep them thoroughly nourished with beneficial long-term effects. The convenient slanted tip makes application on the go a breeze, and the warm almost vanilla/butterscotch-like scent (my absolute fave) is positively delicious. I have two last words: Holy Grail.

Guerlain | Lip Hero swatch

A quick show of hands: Planning a quick weekend getaway? Need some conveniently-sized skincare helpers in your daily makeup bag? A fan of Guerlain’s amazing products? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, then you need to check these little treasures out. As someone who is somewhat obsessed with lip balms (and believe me, I’ve tried TONS), I now refuse to be without Lip Hero and love the difference it’s made to my frequently parched lips. I’m now a complete fan of how quickly Radiance In A Flash becomes absorbed into the skin, yet still manages to leave a nice base behind and as to Midnight Secret? Let’s just say that I had occasion to put it through vigorous testing this past weekend and was so pleased at the results. For anyone who’s a fan of rose-scented skincare, you’ll adore SOS Cream, but what will wow you even more is the way your skin will feel after application … impressive enough that I think I’ll petition Guerlain to create a full-body version.

Available at Guerlain Boutiques & Institute as well as www.guerlain.ca

Thank you to Guerlain for providing this amazing beauty survival kit/As always, all opinions are my own

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder

April 8, 2016

With warmer temps fast approaching (although having snow fall in April is a little discouraging), my mind turns to all things sunny and topping that list is one of my favourite products, the Terracotta Bronzing Powder from Guerlain. This past January, I attended the private launch of their newly expanded range of this iconic powder, which now comes in 8 shades (compared to 4 previously), providing colour options from the fairest to dark complexions.

This special event was held at Le Richmond, a trendy eatery bordering Old Montréal and upon arrival, I was able to sit down with my dear friend, Maxime Poulin, International Makeup Artist for Guerlain Canada (along with the lovely head of PR, Josianne Gauthier) for a personalized Terracotta consultation. Within seconds, the shade he chose for me was not one I would have initially thought to go for, but his keen eye and expertise were proven correct as 01 Natural Brunettes is an absolutely perfect match for my light-medium skin tone.

Originally launched in 1984, Guerlain’s Terracotta Bronzing Powders were one of the very first powdered bronzers commercially available, quickly reaching cult status – and with good reason; their sublimely fine-milled texture which is infused with a moisturizing ingredient for a total skin-comforting feel throughout the wearing, combined with a heavenly tropical scent and a totally flawless sun-kissed effect, has resulted in one Terracotta Bronzing Powder being sold every 25 seconds worldwide. And as if all that weren’t enough, throw in the slim-profile compact with its 3-D tortoiseshell-like design, and it becomes basically impossible to resist.

For 2016, the Terracotta range has been added to with four new shades (still labelled as either Blondes or Brunettes, but don’t let that deter you, as this odd-sounding system actually manages to cover basically all skin tones). Inspired by their best-selling Terracotta fragrance, the scent of the new Terracotta bronzers is a subtle blend “combining the fresh and comforting notes of bergamot and white musks with delicious sunny notes of neroli, jasmine and ylang-ylang“, managing to capture the evocative essence of sunshine, beaches, and lazy tropical days all in rolled into one (a sidebar: the fragrance is not of the subtle variety, and while I am quite obsessed with it, those with sensitivities should take note). Even the logo embossed on the surface of the powder has been enhanced, still bearing the brand’s double G’s, but now surrounded by a ring of geometric chevrons reminiscent of the sun’s bountiful rays.

Guerlain | Terracotta private launch

Guerlain | the venue: Le Richmond for the Terracotta private launch

Guerlain | Terracotta private launch, with Josianne Gauthier & Maxime Poulin

Guerlain | All eight shades of the new Terracotta Bronzing Powder

With Maxime Poulin, Guerlain International Makeup Artist (Canada)

Natalia Vodianova for Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder (credit)

Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes – the shade personally chosen for me by Maxime Poulin, Guerlain International Makeup Artist

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder

Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder (CAN $62.00) | With its legendary ultra fine-milled texture, shade 01 Light Brunettes, a light-medium tan hue with a slight beige undertone, is hands down the most perfect bronzing hue I have ever worn. According to Maxime Poulin, International Makeup Artist for Guerlain Canada (and a close personal friend – more like family, in fact!), the best bronzing powder for one’s complexion should be one that matches your skin tone when testing at the counter. And he’s absolutely right; initially thinking that this shade would be somewhat light for me, it turns out that not only does it work beautifully along my skin, but gives off the most realistic sunny glow – barring a day actually spent in the sun.

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder (logo detail)

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder swatches

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes The Bronzing Powder (compact detail)

While I have many bronzing powder options that I love using, I can’t deny that my personal favourites are those by Guerlain, not only for the wonderful way that they apply, but for the absolutely amazing results I get every single time. I happen to have quite a few varieties of Terracotta bronzers in my beauty vanity, but to keep things simple I chose to show how 01 Light Brunettes compares to two other shades in the range.

01 Light Brunettes – the seemingly lightest, but actually most neutral of the three
02 Natural Blondes – reddish undertones for more warmth
03 Natural Brunettes – the deepest of the three, more tan-leaning

Guerlain | Terracotta 01 Light Brunettes vs 02 Natural Blondes & 03 Natural Brunettes

Guerlain | Terracotta Bronzing Powder logo comparison, new (left) & old (right)

Guerlain is a brand that is not only steeped in history, but infuses everything they create with special touches of glamour and exceptional luxury. Their best-selling Terracotta Bronzing Powders are a perfect example of that, often imitated but never duplicated and quite possibly the ‘bronzers to rule them all’, in my opinion. This is a product that is basically goof-proof and once applied, seems to magically become even better with the wearing, fusing perfectly with your skin’s warmth and never oxidizing. For those who want that perfect & realistic faux-glow but without the actual sun commitment, then look no further: Terracotta is definitely the way to go. Worth every single penny.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder is available at The Bay, Sephora, and Nordstrom stores nationwide. Find more information on the brand via www.guerlain.com

Product samples kindly provided by Guerlain for my unbiased consideration

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Guerlain | Smile Blush Duo & Enjoy Long-Lasting Eyeshadow, Spring Glow 2016

February 21, 2016

The Spring Glow 2016 Collection from Guerlain has arrived at counters, bringing with it uplifting messages and touches of joy. Upon opening the limited edition Rose aux Joues Blush Duo, it’ll be hard to not ‘Smile‘, while the Long-Lasting Eyeshadow with its sunny disposition reminds you to kick back and just ‘Enjoy‘. Olivier Echaudemaison, Creative Director for Guerlain Beauty, believes that makeup has the power to induce happiness and with the release of this collection, I’d say he’s definitely got that right.

N°17 Smile Blush Duo, Limited Edition (CAN $73.00) | Two complimentary shades of blush with an included [dual-coloured] brush, housed in a red metallic compact that comes safely nestled in a velour sleeve. The darker red-toned hue has the word ‘smile’ embossed on the surface, that also acts as a reminder of how to apply the blush (literally, just smile and swoosh along the apples of the cheeks), while the lighter side is a soft pink hue with the Guerlain logo embossed on its surface. Both lean more to the warm than cool side and when combined, create a beautiful shade of coral-rose (which reminds me of NARS’ iconic Orgasm blush, but not as peach-tinted or shimmery).

Each portion is large enough that you can grab either shade with your brush easily enough, although the real magic happens when you combine them together. The texture of the powder is finely-milled (no surprise there; this is Guerlain after all) and bears the brand’s signature violet-freesia fragrance, and while noticeable, seems to dissipate relatively quickly after application. The shimmer in this blush is of the fine variety and melds beautifully along the skin, serving to add a gorgeous overall luminosity. Staying power is impressive, lasting without fading or creasing and seeming to become even more beautiful as it fuses with your skin’s warmth and natural oils.

TIP: swirl the two shades together to create a beautiful fusion of colour along the cheeks then go in with the lighter hue and apply to the tops of cheekbones for a subtle highlighting touch.

Guerlain | N°17 Smile Blush Duo swatches

Guerlain | N°17 Smile Blush Duo swatches (alternate light)

N°13 Enjoy Long-Lasting Eyeshadow, Limited Edition (CAN $39.00) | A buttercup yellow eyeshadow shade that is meant to provide a brightening effect to eyes, housed in a coppery/champagne metallic compact. The finely milled texture helps it glide smoothly along lids, while its subtle intensity means it can be worn alone as a wash of colour (which is the easiest way to wear this shade, topped with mascara for that perfect ‘wide-awake’ look), or applied as a base to help provide depth of tone to other shades worn on top.

Upon first viewing this shade, I confess to being a little thrown by the colour; with the golden undertones in my skin, I was sure it would come across as too sallow for me to successfully pull off, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The soft yellow tone of Enjoy coupled with its slight transparency, is excellent for injecting some [much-needed] sunshine to your look.

Guerlain | N°13 Enjoy Long-Lasting Eyeshadow swatch

Guerlain | N°13 Enjoy Long-Lasting Eyeshadow swatch (alternate light)

Knowing that spring is around the corner makes me want to break out of my ‘nude comfort zone’ and indulge in colour … but in well-curated small doses, of course. Both Smile and Enjoy, while each unique in its own right, also prove that even a venerable luxury beauty brand such as Guerlain is not above taking itself too seriously, but is instead embracing the pure joy of playing with makeup. For blush aficionados, I’d have to say that Smile is a must-have and well worth the steep price tag; one way to look at it, is that you’re basically getting two shades in one compact. Sounds so reasonable when put that way, no?

The Guerlain Spring Glow Collection is available now through The Bay, The Guerlain Boutique & Institute and select counters across Canada

Press samples kindly provided by the Guerlain team for my unbiased consideration

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Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour

February 14, 2016

Several weeks ago I was invited to attend a very special event: an advance look at the latest Spring launches from one of my favourite brands, Guerlain. Having heard the rumours for months about a new makeup range, I absolutely could not wait to set eyes on the new La Petite Robe Noire nail lacquers and lipsticks (review forthcoming on the latter), and trust me when I say that this collection is everything I hoped for … and more.

After the incredible success of Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire fragrance launch, several more iterations of this unique scent were to follow with the next logical step being to create a colour cosmetics range that embodies the many facets of the Guerlain ‘La Petite Robe Noire‘ woman. First out of the gate, are the Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour (CAN $27.00), and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with these stunning heart-adorned little beauties.

Guerlain nail polish ranks as one of my absolute favourite formulations and in my opinion, also has one of the best brushes out there (the other being Dior, hands down) and so when I learned that this new collection would be replacing the existing range, my heart literally stopped for a second; thankfully, the powers that be at Guerlain definitely understand not to mess with a good thing, unless it’s to make it better. Which they most definitely managed to do.

The new range comes in black boxes with silver as opposed to gold lettering, and while the price has remained the same, the quantity has dropped somewhat (from 10 ml to 8.8 ml), not significant but still worth mentioning. The shape of the bottle has gone from rectangular to more square, and comes dressed with a removable upside-down heart cap echoing that of its namesake fragrance bottle. The wand is commensurate to the bottle size (and therefore shorter than before) although the brush remains similar in dimension to its predecessor but without the bevelled and chiseled shape of before, being somewhat more splayed out instead – but application is effortless just the same. The biggest change, however, is that this formula is now scented; when the solvents evaporate after application the ‘sweet gourmand fragrance with accents of red berries and petals‘ is in line with La Petite Robe Noire’s original accord, and can linger for about 24 hours but can be refreshed anew with a layer of top coat. The specific resin in the formula provides a suppleness and elasticity to the film, delivering a gloriously shiny and long-lasting, chip-free finish.

La Petite Robe Noire, illustration by Florence Deygas for Guerlain

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour (brush comparisons)

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | Deliciously Shiny Nail Colour (heart caps)

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #001 My First Nail Polish

#001 My First Nail Polish | A ballerina pink sheer base filled with pink and iridescent micro-glitter in a formula that is the thickest of the four shown with an absolutely perfect density and flow. Self levelling, naturally glossy & never opaque, this shade gives a dainty sheer wash of colour to nails, but in a totally sophisticated way. Can also be layered over any other shade for a touch of subtle sparkle.

Swatch above: 2 coats (no top coat)

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #001 My First Nail Polish swatch (3 coats + top coat)

#002 Pink Tie | A colour drenched hot cerise pink crème hue in a formula that is somewhat thinner than My First Nail Polish, but which defines perfection: falling in a self-levelling way, can almost be a one-coater, and comes to a super glossy finish. The vivid colour straddles neon territory in its intensity, but manages to stay adultly wearable just the same. Bonus: non-staining upon removal

Swatch above: 2 coats, plus top coat

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #002 Pink Tie & #001 My First Nail Polish swatch

#003 Red Heels | A saturated red hue with an excellent combination of both cool and warm tones (and thus wearable by basically all skin tones across the board), in yet another STELLAR formula: buttery smooth application, über-glossy finish, and so pigment rich that you can basically get away with one coat for full opacity. Bonus: non-staining upon removal (for a red? consider me IMPRESSED).

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #003 Red Heels swatch

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #007 Black Perfecto

#007 Black Perfecto | Definitely the most complex and unique of the group, this shade is going to disappear off the shelves, believe me. A charcoal semi-sheer base filled with ultra fine burgundy shimmer in a perfectly balanced formula. Self-levelling like the rest and with a brilliant shine at the finish, perfect opacity is reached by the second coat. Appearing near-black in low light (or rather, more like a blackened cherry hue), this shade really comes into its own once sunlight hits it and picks up all the shimmery bits. Drop. Dead. GORGEOUS.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #007 Black Perfecto swatch (detail)

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire | #007 Black Perfecto swatch (alternate light)

Guerlain is a brand that takes pride in every single aspect of their products and formulations, and it shows. With the release of the La Petite Robe Noire collection of nail colour, they have set the bar incredibly high for other brands to follow, and after having played with these shades for several weeks now, I can sum it up in one word: WOW. The shorter wand of the brush takes a bit of getting used to and even with the bristles differently shaped than before, application is still ridiculously effortless. With eight available shades (there are 2 that are exclusives to Asia and/or International), I sincerely hope that more are already in the planning. Verdict: you will so need to dress up your nails with La Petite Robe Noire.

Not shown in the post, is the new base and top coats (which are now verging on Holy Grail status for me).

Available April 1st at Guerlain counters and select boutiques across Canada. Find more information via guerlain.com