Guerlain's Holiday 2010 Les Ors Collection had to grow on me. At first glance, I was delighted that I didn't have to spend a fortune, as I did with the to-die-for fall collection. Slowly, though, I sampled and purchased a few things. I'll tell you up front the eye shadow quad did nothing for me. I don't like red plums, and I don't need any more charcoal, a shade that has limited usefulness (liner only) for me. That left me feeling free to sample the other items in the collection.I showed you the fabulous KissKiss Strass Rose de la Reine (#363) a few days ago. I think I need another one! I did purchase the other new KissKiss Strass shade, Rose Imperiale (#323), during Saks Friends & Family. I'll show you that this week.
While I was studying the Les Ors display, I tried the new Rouge G in Bee (B64, $46), shown on the right-hand side of the photo above. It's a beautiful, vibrant plum-leaning rose. Guerlain also placed a previously introduced Rouge G shade on the new display. That usually annoys me, particularly when the product representative can't tell me whether the shade is actually new or not. In this case, I liked the previously introduced shade Betsy (B62) better, so I came home it. By all appearances in the tube, Betsy is a plum-leaning, cool rose, much lighter than Bee. I love it! In my humble opinion, it looks great on me.
My swatch of Be
tsy was taken in full sun. It shows the beauty of the shade pretty well. It's a perfect shade for day and will be much more useful for me than the darker Bee.I've never been fond of the razzle dazzle of the Rouge G container, with its mirror and heavy weight. The whole lipstick is too heavy to carry around with me, so I will be limited in where I can use it. I have decided to keep Betsy in my d
esk at work, where the mirror will actually come in handy. I try to minimize the weight of my handbag, so every ounce counts. Suggestion, Guerlain marketing folks, provide a regular lipstick top to fit over the product for those of us who love the lipstick but don't want the extra weight. Let us choose. I'd be happy with a plastic cap. I would even pay extra for it! I may cannibalize another lipstick in my house if I can find a top that fits.If you don't care that your lipstick was introduced last winter, you'll love Betsy! If you do want the latest thing, try Bee, keeping in mind that it packs a color punch.
What else did I purchase? Meteorites Perles d’Or, filled with gold and plum spheres, and Midnight Star, a lifting, smoothing, radiance-enhancing treatment/primer in a case that's gorgeous. Later! There is an exquisite pressed powder compact with a powder that's fairly nondescript on the face, but you have to be willing to spend a makeup museum price ($170) to buy it. The compact is refillable.
You can find Guerlain at Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Sephora. I don't think Sephora has Les Ors yet.
Lipstick photos courtesy of Guerlain