Guerlain Rouge Automatique

Readers, I am very excited to discuss with you Guerlain’s newest lipstick: Rouge Automatique.

Any conversation about Rouge Automatique has to start with the packaging. The tube is a “one-hand” open. Instead of a removable cap, the top of the tube has a trap door, which — at the push of a lever — swings open and slides the lipstick up. The design was inspired by a 1936 Art Deco piece from Guerlain’s archives.

The design seems smart and purse-safe (there’s no cap to lose). The packaging is also (thankfully) much lighter than it looks. I don’t know if you’ve ever carried around a Rouge G, but it’s a form of weight training.

At $35, Rouge Automatique falls between Kiss Kiss ($31) and Rouge G ($46). I’m trying to remind myself that it’s still a $35 lipstick, but I can’t help comparing it to Rouge G and thinking, “It’s only $35!”

I’ve swatched the colors according to Guerlain’s shade groupings; let’s start with Les Beiges. Apres L’Ondee is mauve-rose. Voilette de Madame is muted peach-rose. Ne M’Oubliez Pas (“forget me not”) is warm nude; peach-brown. Chant D’Aromes is slightly shimmery, a brighter, peachier, peach-rose-natural. Jicky is a little deeper and a bit more brown (and rose). Vol de Nuit is red-brown.

I swatched Les Oranges and Les Rouges together. Mitsouko is a sheer, muted warm pink with gold sparkle. Quand Vient L’Ete is bright warm pink with gold sparkles. Fleur de Feu is coral with gold sparkles. Nahema is also a bright warm pink with gold sparkles, it’s lighter and brighter and more pink than Quand Vient L’Ete.

Coque D’Or is a warm, sheer, red strawberry/raspberry with gold sparkles. Rouge D’Enfer is a bold pink-red. Liu is a cooler, deeper, more red pink-red. Habit Rouge is a warm, tomato red (though the cooler shades on either side of it are distracting). Samsara is a beautiful berry red. Vega is a deeper, darker, redder berry.

And Les Roses! Bal de Mai is a deeper, muted (and slightly mauvey) rose. Cherry Blossom is ribbon pink with a slight shimmer. Bloom of Rose is brighter and more pink, with the same shimmer. Rose Bengale is more intense, more saturated than Bloom of Rose. Chamade is a bright, warmer, rose pink. Champs Elysees is bright and cool. Shalimar is cool medium pink with gold sparkle. Guet-Apens is violet plum. L’Heure Bleue is a red berry.

Rouge Automatique lipsticks smell like roses (though the scent doesn’t linger). They have a very enjoyable lightweight-jelly (or gel-creme) feel which is both moisturizing and comfortable to wear. I haven’t yet gotten to try on all the shades that piqued my interest, but I’m attracted to all of the Oranges (of course!), Violette de Madame, and Coque D’Or. And maybe also Chamade. Habit Rouge looks bold, but I still want to try it on.

Have you had the chance to try these yet? What do you think?