Early this year Guerlain launched a new makeup line of lipsticks and nail polishes to complement their fragrance La Petite Robe Noire in Europe (US release will be in May/June). It certainly has a different vibe to it than the classic Guerlain line-up. Astrid and I both tested some lipsticks and want to share our impressions, swatches and comparisons to similar lipsticks with you below!
Claims
“Guerlain creates an absolutely essential and utterly irresistible La Petite Robe Noire Lipstick in deliciously shiny texture to dress up your style with colour!
Vibrant shades in an innovative texture:
– a light-weight texture reveals the lips’ natural radiance, leaving them supple and comfortable
– buildable coverage thanks to its thin film: one layer to offer a glimpse of the sensual texture of the lips, several for a more dense and sophisticated finish
– inspired by La Petite Robe Noire, the formula is deliciously perfumed and delicately flavoured for an unforgettable taste on your lips
– an ultra-shiny finish and pure & luminous colours thanks to a cocktail of fine oils and a selection of “POP” pigments coated in a specific shine-boosting resin
Thanks to a thin light-weight texture, La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour offers a made-to-measure coverage.” (Guerlain PR)
Packaging
When the whole thing launched, I remember die-hard Guerlain fans calling the packaging something you’d find at the dollar store. It’s made to resemble the LPRN perfume bottle (let’s just roll with the abbreviation from now on, ok?) and thankfully, the plastic feels quite sturdy. Think about the aesthetics what you will, it doesn’t scream cheap. The cap closes with a satisfying click, and you can throw the lipstick into your bag without having to fear loosing the cap and inviting accidents.
Line-up
There’s something for everybody in there – from nude to corals, pinks and reds to a very wearable purple, some with glitter, and some nearly chapstick-translucent. All in all you get 20 – 25 shades (some shades are Asia exclusives). There’s also a range on nail polish, but we won’t discuss them in this post. And, of course, there’s the fragrance that started it all – La Petite Robe Noire, and let it suffice to say that I think that there’re better Guerlain fragrances out there, and this is the most diplomatic I can get. (Do yourself a favour and try some iconic Guerlain fragrances instead. Jicky, Shalimar, Apres l’Onde, L’Heure Bleu, Mitsouko. ‘kay?)
Application, longevity, finish, colour(s)
The lipstick itself has a rounded, not slanted tip, but it’s nevertheless easy to apply. The formula is quite emollient with some slip. To get a true to tube result, you’ll very likely need more than one pass of lipstick.
Astrid and I got quite unusual colours for our respective tastes. I got the darkest shade in the line-up, 070 Plum-Brella, a grape-coloured purple, Astrid got the pinkish-mauve 068 Mauve Gloves. I’ve to admit that I got Plum-Brella just because it matches my purple hair. Totally legit reason and a first for me, too. *cough* Astrid went a bit more seasonally appropriate and got a very spring-y colour.
Both Astrid and I got shades that contain a bit of shimmer. It gives the respective shades a bit more depth and shine. Astrid mentioned that she can actually feel the slightly gritty glitter on her lips, while I haven’t experienced that with my shade. We both noticed that the formula has the tendency to get patchy quickly. I’ve noticed that I’ve to be really careful when applying the lipstick to slightly dry lips, because the formula tends to cling to the drier patches. That’s a big no for me – because why do you use a shiny lipstick like this, which also claims to be moisturizing? Right, when you’ve got drier lips. The patchiness issue somehow defeats the purpose for me.
Both our shades are buildable. Plum-Brella, as the deepest shade, needs about three passes to be as opaque as it gets. It’s moderately shiny, but not as glossy as MAC Huggables or a lipgloss would make my lips look and stains a bit, which is nice. Mauve Gloves, on the other hand, is quite glossy – Astrid especially likes that it’s not as sticky as a lipgloss, while it looks like one. Staying power is so-so, as can be expected with a more emollient formula. I need to re-apply frequently even without eating. Disappointingly, my lips don’t feel especially moisturized after wearing Plum-Brella, which is again a no for me.
While a lot of reviewers claim to love the most distinguishing feature of the LPRN lipsticks – the scent and taste – for me this was a reason nearly not to buy Plum-Brella. The line-up is marketed as having the same scent as the fragrance. I’m not really a fan of strong scents in lip products, and this one is definitely on the strong side. Astrid enjoys it (even if she claims that the tester smelled like caramel, and her’s doesn’t, so maybe the scent will change over time?), but while I can tolerate vanilla, this is borderline for me. It tastes sweet, and has (for me) the smell of a cloyingly sweet fruitchouli. Thankfully, the smell vanishes quite soon. I’m a bit wary with overly scented products in general – people can react to fragrance in products, and it’s generally considered as a possible irritant in makeup and skincare. But of course, it’s the Unique Selling Point of this line-up, so you’ll have to decide if it’s your thing or not. It definitely makes it more appealing for a younger audience (remember those lipglosses tasting of strawberry when you were 13?).
Conclusion
Overall, looking at other excellent lipsticks with similar claims (moisturizing properties, high shine, good colour pay-off), Astrid’s go-to formula would be Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shines, while mine would be (surprise!… Not.) Mac’s Huggables, especially for the price point. While both Astrid and I enjoy our shades, we both think that they’ll be the only ones from the line we’ll be buying. While they’re quite nice, they’re lacking the wow factor for both of us. There’re better ones out there for sure.
Where to get
The whole lipstick and nailpolish range has already launched in Europe, and will launch in the US in May/June. It’ll be available at all Guerlain counters and will be permanent. Price is 29,50€/£21,50.
This will work for you when
- you prefer lighter lipstick formulas
- you like a more glossy, sheer lip
- you like lipgloss, but would like a lipgloss look without the stickiness
- you have well-moisturized lips
- you don’t mind re-applying lipstick regularly
- you don’t mind scent and taste in a lipstick
- you don’t mind spending more on a single lipstick
- you like the LPRN fragrance
- you like an innovative packaging
