As a Guerlain KissKiss devotee, I couldn't wait to see the three new KissKiss glosses introduced with the Spring 2011 Sur mes Levres Collection. Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus had done a great job of describing the colors on the phone, but she couldn't capture the richness and complexity of the shades with words like "peach" and "brown." Guerlain's lip colors always have something extra that makes them special, and I looked forward to my "special delivery" knowing that. The three spring shades are as enchanting as I had hoped.KissKiss Glosses ($30.50) drench the lips in shimmering color, with a moisturizing formula that offers water-resistance, along with magnifying esters to ensure a long-lasting boost of volume. They have a flat, smooth brush for easy application. While I prefer doe-foot applicators, I have no problems at all using the well-behaved Guerlain brushes. Each gloss is infused with "little fireworks," sparkling bursts of color that light up the lips, providing depth and intensity to each shade.
The three new shades provide a full range of color and intensity for spring. Fizzy Mango (#849) is a sparkling pink-peach, Moka Shake (#850) is brown with a touch of rose, and Rosy Plum (#867) is described well by its name. I was able to get swatches in bright, indoor morning sun and have provided two photos so that you can see the shades from "every angle."
The first photo at right shows the shades in direct sunlight. The second photo at left below shows the shades in strong light, but without direct sun. I think the photo below captures the nuances of the colors better than the full-sun photo.
Fizzy Mango is peach, in the tube and on the lips, but it has a tender pink cast that's perfect for spring. Moka Shake's brown tone leans mauve or rose to my eye, and with the rose of natural lip coloring underneath, the rose is even more apparent. Rosy Plum is an intense fuschia, blue-toned rose. While all three shades can be worn without lipstick underneath, Rosy Plum would be my first choice to wear alone.
I'll have fun with these new glosses - probably long before spring. To my eye, they are year-round colors. I'm pleased that I selected all three - sight unseen. You can see the shades and choose your favorite(s) at Guerlain counters at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks, Bloomingdale's, and other department stores, I'm sure.
Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom