Guerlain Fall: the Palettes

I have always demurred to name a favorite brand — I love so many products from so many brands, how could I pick a favorite? But I’m ready to give up that position and declare Guerlain the winner, based on their new fall palettes. They are, in a word, exquisite. The compact is gorgeous, the texture of the powders is phenomenal, and the color combinations are stunning.

The palettes are basically neutral themes with a pop of color and a wet/dry powder liner. The palettes are reportedly $84 each, and if you hear on the news that I robbed a bank and passed the teller a note demanding $454.65, it’s only because I needed one of each.

My counter didn’t have actual product to sell yet, so I still have to confirm that $84 price tag. It also got stormy before I could get adequate pictures of the other items in the collection, so I thought we’d start with the palettes and I’ll post swatches of the other stuff as soon as possible. [EDIT: And here are those swatches.]

I have no shame: I’m starting with my favorite, 2 Place Vendome. Are you spazzing out with me? The shades are white satin, gorgeous grey-taupe satin, golden taupe shimmer, an almost-black charcoal, and sapphire satin. Since the liner can be used dry or wet, I swatched it both ways. Wet it becomes a darkly shimmery black-sapphire — though if you’re going to use it wet, I recommend confining your “wet usage” to one corner, as water can change a powder’s consistency.

My next favorite is 29 Rue de Sevres. I love that Guerlain made such excellent palettes focusing on matte and satin finishes (purely anecdotally, it seems easy to make a very smooth frosty shadow; mattes seem to be more difficult). There’s a slightly shimmery barely-pink white, a beautiful warm-grey satin, a deeper, browner taupe, an ever-so-slightly-blued grey satin, and a shimmery sky blue. The liner is dark, cool brown (more grey when wet).

Next, for the ladies who love their cooler greys: 68 Champs Elysees (the promotional product photos are of Champs Elysees). The shades are shimmery white, a matte grey on the cool side of taupe, cool dark brown satin, a satin blue-grey, and a gently shimmery royal purple. The liner is charcoal.

Then a warm palette: 10 Rue des Francs Bourgeois. The shades are yellow-beige matte, warm sand (it has just a touch of pink to it), red-brown, a darker warm brown, shimmery orange-gold. The liner is dark, cool brown.

And finally, the pinks: 93 Rue de Passy. The shades are matte dusty pink; dusty mauve; dusty violet; dusty, purpled grey; and shimmery pale pink. The liner, used wet, almost reminded me of Trish McEvoy’s Midnight Diamond (but Guerlain’s is a deeper color) — it’s a complex, reflective, blue and purple charcoal.