Guerlain discussion
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Anitacska
Well-known member
Mine hasn't arrived yet (well it did on Friday but I wasn't in, so DHL is coming back on Monday), but I will swatch it when I have it, if I can get myself to touch it that is. I have a few other bronzers on the go, so not sure I will touch this just yet. (This is my sickness, lol, buying pretty things to just keep untouched.)
Dominique33
Well-known member
I don't have swatches but it's not so pretty as it looks. Packaging is low cost and the powder itself is disappointed ( golden superficial coat a beautiful sun it seems and then the bronzing powder under neath ), nothing new in fact and certainly not worth buying ). If you want a Guerlain bronzer, I suggest Sun in the City but not Terra Soleia.
Anitacska
Well-known member
Oh no, don't say that! I don't mind the plastic Terracotta packaging, I have a few Terracotta bronzers and they're fine, wouldn't say cheap looking, just regular plastic compacts. I knew the gold was overspray, but just couldn't resist buying it. I want to add though, Sun In The City is definitely NOT a bronzer, it's a golden highlighter powder.
Anitacska
Well-known member
My Sephora order has arrived with Terra Soleia and it's gorgeous! It's massive too, 27g, same size compact as the Sun In The City highlighter, but obviously more dense as TS almost twice its weight. Haven't swatched it yet, first I need to take pictures for my blog first (which won't be today), then I'll see if I'm brave enough to swatch it, lol.
katred
Specktra Bestie
Yes, I actually like the plastic clam shells I've seen on other terracotta products, so I don't think this alone would dissuade me.
The cat in the photo his Simon. He's a Tonkinese, which is similar to a Siamese, but the points aren't as defined. I always call him my supermodel, because he loves having his picture taken. I figured he was a good match for a beauty forum...
Dominique33
Well-known member
In fact, Guerlain is the most expensive brand here ( we don't have Chantecaille except in the Bon Marché in Paris, we have Chanel, YSL, Dior, Lancôme, Givenchy, Clarins and of course Guerlain ), to me Guerlain is getting more and more " cheap ", perfumes as well ( the Guerlain dynasty doesn't exist any longer, Thierry Wasser is the official nose of Guerlain, that is LVMH). Some products are high end ones ( lipsticks, original bronzers and météorites, loose powder Les Voilettes and foundation Lingerie de Peau ), others are not ! If you don't mind the plastic packaging then it's ok but everyone here does agree with me, Guerlain summer 2012 is not classy enough and prices are too high. I don't know if you have the 2 nail polishes Guerlain/Pucci, well...
Of course powders look great, but honestly I prefer buying a Benefit or a Two Faced bronzer, why not a Dior bronzer Croisette collection.
Of course powders look great, but honestly I prefer buying a Benefit or a Two Faced bronzer, why not a Dior bronzer Croisette collection.
Ikram
Well-known member
I agree that some of the Guerlain packaging is dissapointing especially due to the price point. For example Cruel Gardenia, not only it is plain plastic but it is also not very suitable for 3D powder desing, i need to take extra care not to damage the design when Im closing it. For me, also Terra Azzura could be better-love the material but would prefer the compact to open with the lid staying attached to the bottom. I did not buy Sun in the City but agree the packaking was not impressing at all. But same goes for most of the Chanel compacts and Dior quints I have. I love Burberry packaging of anything, it is not cheap looking by any means as well as Guerlains eye quads, i dont know what those are but probably not plastic. And im looking forward for new fall blushes in those gorgeous golden compacts.
katred
Specktra Bestie
Interesting points! I agree that Guerlain has somewhat undermined their status as a high-end perfume house by releasing a few mass market fragrances, but over here, those fragrances are actually around the same price as others available in the same channels. As for their more exclusive perfumes, I find that they're cheaper than other high end options like Tom Ford, Armani Prive, By Kilian, etc.
I've honestly never been disappointed with Guerlain's quality, although I haven't come close to trying all their products. Compared to YSL, I don't find their packaging cheap at all (YSL drives me nuts with their packaging- it drags their products down!), but I think that a certain amount of that is subjective. Certainly, they're more expensive than most other prestige brands, although I find that as they've introduced new products like the Rouge Automatiques and the eye shadow quads (which work out to $16/ shade in Canada) that the difference is getting smaller. Their highest price items (at least over here) tend to be products that don't easily compare to other brands.
I was kind of puzzled by the Pucci nail polishes. Guerlain doesn't normally do those and I don't know why they'd want to try with this collection. I haven't tried the polishes, so I can't speak to their quality. The bottles look HUGE compared to other ones that I have. Made me wonder if I could ever finish one before it started to go off.
Miss QQ
Well-known member
katred - You must love your cats! I find them very entertaining to watch too! Do you talk about your cats at your blog? Perhaps I can read more about them. Just saying that the Cruel Gardenia packaging didn't bother me at first, until one day while opening it, I realized that when I was closing it the previous time, I had accidentally scrapped the lid against the edge of the powder and a small lump came off. So yeah, the packaging isn't suitable for the 3D powder.
Dominique33
Well-known member
Thanks for your opinion about Guerlain, they do have an exclusive collection in Paris ( like Cartier, Dior, Chanel, Hermès ), ancient perfumes not available at Sephora and prices are high. By Killian or Tom Ford are expensive too but variously appreciated by perfume lovers. Heeley or Floris are considered as niche perfumes, Serge Lutens too of course except for one or two perfumes.
Why a Guerlain/Pucci - make-up this time - association ? Simply and mainly because they both belong to LVMH. Benefit also belongs to LVMH I think, the nose behind all Benefit perfumes is... Dior ! But Benefit has not changed so far, products and packagings are funny and unique ( many women here see Benefit as being cheap, quite the opposite it's a fantastic brand ! ) Guerlain did change although Thierry Wasser created many good perfumes and before him Maurice Roucel with Insolence, a very bold perfume indeed !
As far as make-up is concerned Guerlain is not so good as before, it used to be so classy.
A rouge G costs 36 € here, I think it's the most expensive lipstick at Sephora ( with Armani ), the Rouge Automatique is 30 €, I haven't tried the Pucci nail polishes ( 20 € )
YSL is worse I agree with you, golden packagings well, poor taste I would say except for their amazing nail polish collection which is great. Everyone here wants to have the Bleu Majorelle inspired by YSL's house in Morocco. Certainly dupable but very pretty blue though. Pigments and colours are pretty good too for the other products, some are mythical like the Touche Eclat. Perfumes have now become bad ( Parisienne is horrible ) once again YSL perfumes would be just great some years ago ( Paris 1983, Opium a few years before, Rive Gauche and some men's perfumes are considered as masterpieces or really beautiful perfumes ).
Chanel make-up is still classy, perfumes are not all that good, a brand new woman's perfume is expected for Fall... and Brad Pitt will be the new image for Chanel N°5 ! Chanel chose Kathryn Bigelow for the Allure Sport Extrême clip, clearly Chanel makes bold choices and it works very well !
MACina
Well-known member
Anitacska
Well-known member
I don't mind the plastic packaging or the YSL gold to be honest. I agree about Parisienne though, it's vile. However, Paris is one of my all time favourite fragrances and I love YSL's Golden Glosses.
I have swatched the Terra Soleia bronzer, but it's hard to get the real colour because of the gold overspray. I didn't want to wipe off too much of the overspray, so it swatched mostly gold. But it's very pretty. One thing I don't like is the lack of mirror in the lid. Don't know why they didn't include one.
I have swatched the Terra Soleia bronzer, but it's hard to get the real colour because of the gold overspray. I didn't want to wipe off too much of the overspray, so it swatched mostly gold. But it's very pretty. One thing I don't like is the lack of mirror in the lid. Don't know why they didn't include one.
katred
Specktra Bestie
Oh yes, my cats are like my kids... I do talk about them sometimes on my blog. I post photos of at least one of them every Friday. I figure everyone could use a kitty to start off their weekend...
I understand what you mean about the Cruel Gardenia now. I remember thinking it was quite soft when I first touched it. Someone as clumsy as me would have crushed it for sure.
Anitacska
Well-known member
I went shopping today to check out a department store's sale and OMG, Guerlain had so many things half price! They even had some Cruel Gardenia and Parure de Nuit (the highlighter with the peacock feather pattern). I was so tempted to pick up another Cruel Gardenia, but I already have two, lol. I did pick up a Parure de Nuit as I didn't want to mess up the one i have, so now I have a back up/one to use. I also got a Parure Aqua foundation in 03 Beige Naturel which is my summer shade, a Rouge G in 75 Rose Barbare, and two Terracotta Blush & Sun bronzing blushes, all half price! They had loads of Terracotta glosses, bronzers, the holiday Meteorites, eyeshadows, Vol de Nuit (the shimmer powder spray), Rouge G lipsticks, some of the 4 colour blushes, etc., all half price. I love Guerlain for this, there is no other high end brand that has sales like this.
By the way, I'm wearing the coral nail polish today and it's really nice. Very bright, almost neon, a perfect summer shade. The formula's lovely, applies really well, although unfortunately it has already chipped on me. I have to say, the base coat was already a day old when I applied the nail polish on top, so maybe that's why. Everything chips on me within 48 hours sadly.
By the way, I'm wearing the coral nail polish today and it's really nice. Very bright, almost neon, a perfect summer shade. The formula's lovely, applies really well, although unfortunately it has already chipped on me. I have to say, the base coat was already a day old when I applied the nail polish on top, so maybe that's why. Everything chips on me within 48 hours sadly.
