I’m usually quite taken by Christmas or Holiday makeup releases, but this year, I’m feeling a little underwhelmed by most of the offerings. It almost feels like I’ve seen them all before and in a sense, I might have. After a few years, things do start repeating themselves. But there’s one item I always look out for – Guerlain Meteorites.
The simple reason is because I use them, and I collect them and no, I don’t expect everyone to understand 😀
It was quite a pain hunting these down, if I might just say so. Different department stores told me different things (most are only making them available in the 2nd week of November) but I managed to get my hands on the Guerlain Perles d’Etoiles Meteorites Illuminating Pearls and the limited edition Rouge G in Rouge Parade 820 at Parkson Pavilion KL. They don’t have the Petrouchka Eye and Cheek palette yet but I’m not planning to get it so I wasn’t fussed.
I got these yesterday and tested them on today so this will not be an in-depth review. I’ll just share my thoughts, swatches and whether they’re worth getting, because it will cost a pretty penny.
Guerlain Perles d’Etoiles Meteorites Illuminating Pearls – RM195
For the festive season, Guerlain has dressed up their signature Meteorites Illuminating Perles in a light gold case and a red interior. The sides are the usual fish scale design (Sorry, that’s how it looks like to me!) but the cover sports an embossed bow. Instead of the flat sponge that’s usually included, the Perles d’Etoiles come with a red puff with a bow on top. Very festive and very pretty.
The illuminating pearls however, don’t look as pretty in person as they do in the promotional picture. There are supposed to be 6 different coloured pearls in there, but I only really spotted 5 – bronze, beige, gold, pink and red. Like their regular Meteorites pearls, there is a mix of shimmer and matte and there’s absolutely no point swatching them because it is about the overall effect on your skin.
I wore these today and I find that due to the bronze and gold coloured powders in there, it tends towards looking a wee bit warm so those with warmer skintones may that you appreciate this more than some of the other earlier lighter offerings. It isn’t as dark as the permanent #4 Dore which I also own and wear like a bronzer. I’ll show you that one day.
This comes in the new Meteorites formula, so it is quite soft and you will notice that it looks quite dusty in the pot. This also means that it is very easy to pick up the product and dust it all over your skin but you can end up picking too much. I don’t find the Perles d’Etoiles to be as shimmery as the Perles de Nuit (which I love for giving an AMAZING glow to the skin in all conditions) and it isn’t as pink as the Crazy Meteorites from last year which I passed on because I thought the tin was awful. Perles du Dragon gives a whitish cast to the skin under the glow while Perles d’Etoiles adds warmth to the skin the way #3 Medium (Teint Beige) might, but with a bit more shimmer/glow.
For the collector, you need this in your collection. For those who can take it or leave it or who don’t understand these magic balls, I’d recommend you start off at the permanent collection to see what it’s all about because if you just go with the hype, these are just too expensive to have sitting on your dresser doing nothing. Or you can gift them to me of course 😀
Guerlain Rouge G Rouge Parade 820 – RM182
Guerlain Rouge G packaging – Rouge Parade (LE), Rose Grenat (LE) and regular silver packaging
I wasn’t planning to pick up anything else, and then I remembered that there was a new Rouge G lipstick released for the Holidays. Ok, so let’s just say that I fell hook line and sinker for the packaging. I already knew the formula would be amazing because I’m a huge huge fan of Rouge G lipsticks (which are, I swear, among the best in the world!) but encase that lovely bullet in red with a gold accent and I was going “Take my money!!”
The limited edition colour is Rouge Parade 820 which is a festive red, befitting that of the festive season. But here’s where rationality and practicality comes in. Because while I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, you don’t have to be 😛
You see, Rouge Parade 820 is almost exactly Garconne 25 which is a permanent shade! Garconne is one of my favourite red lipsticks so I didn’t mind that they were practically identical twins barring the packaging. But if you want to save your money and aren’t suckered in by the packaging, then get Garconne. It’s gorgeous.
Like all Rouge G, the formula of the lipstick is creamy, long lasting, not drying, beautifully pigmented and flattering. Few lipsticks can beat the luxurious creaminess, colour and texture of Guerlain Rouge G and those that do also cost a pretty penny so it’s in good company.
From the swatches, I think you can barely tell Garconne and Rouge Parade apart. I included Rose Grenat because it’s so pretty anyway 😀
Rouge Parade 820 (as is Garconne) is a pigmented red with a touch of warm undertones. Very slightly, and is a colour that is flattering on almost everyone I’ve seen it on. Wear this, and you don’t have to bother with putting on a lot of makeup because there’s little that needs to compete with a beautiful red lip 🙂
For completeness, here’s how Rouge Parade looks when I wear it.
I’m also wearing the Perles d’Etoiles in the picture but you can’t tell because I didn’t pile it on. All it does, as with all Meteorites pearls, is unify and finish my makeup and give my skin a lovely natural glow that I can safely tell you, I haven’t found in another product. It’s MAGIC BALLS! 😀
The Rouge G in Rouge Parade is an amazing red in an amazing looking packaging. The light gold accent complements the red case beautifully. But because it is almost exactly the same shade as an existing, permanent shade, I’m docking some points. Get it if you can’t resist the packaging and do not own Garconne. Or unless you’re a sucker like me, get it anyway even though you own Garconne LOL! 😀
So that’s it. All I plan to get from Guerlain’s Holiday collection this year. To be honest, I feel that it’s a bit of a take it or leave it situation, even with the 2 items I picked up. If you’re a collector and a sucker for pretty packaging, you’d get them the way I did. But I can’t say that everyone will get it.
Do you plan to pick up the Perles d’Etoiles? Are you eyeing anything else from Guerlain from their Holiday collection?
I wasn’t planning to hunt these down but I had to for scheduling reasons. Plus, if you were wondering if you should get them, I wanted to let you have the chance to decide ahead of them becoming more widely available in November 🙂 Now, tell me which you’d get and why! 😀
Paris B
Guerlain Perles d’Etoiles Meteorites Illuminating Pearls Price: RM195/25g | Guerlain Rouge G Rouge Parade 820 Price: RM182 Availability: Guerlain counters at Parkson KLCC, Pavilion KL, Isetan stores and selected Sephora stores
I just got my Perles d’Etoiles and I absolutely love it! So gorg, and being LE only makes the wanting worse.
One thing I did notice was the fact that the amount of balls we’re getting is very less. (lol) They used to have more, didnt they?
And now that I’m looking at the lippie, I’m wondering if I should have gotten it too. dang you for being an enabler Paris 😛
And dont get me started on how hard it was to hunt them down. Seems that only Pavilion has it, and the KLCC outlet doesnt have it in yet.
Does anyone know what is the missing 6th perle? I also counted 5 hehe!
PS:Rouge Parade looks so amazing on you! ?
YAY for getting the Perles d’Etoiles! Yes, it’s absolutely gorgeous and luxe and yes, the bloody LE thing does make us want it more. Damn cosmetic companies and their marketing techniques 😛 Oh and yes, we’re only getting 25g this time, same with the permanent range. Definitely a lot less than before and one day, all we’ll get is maybe 3 balls 😛 Or 6 since they always have 5-6 shades HAHA! If you like red lipstick, definitely get the lippie but even if you don’t, get Garconne instead. It’s permanent and the only thing that’s different is that it’s in silver instead of red and gold packaging!
this Guerlain sure knows how to suck money out of consumers. gosh, i feel like getting it because of the packaging ><
LOL Sucker for packaging! 😀 And yes, Guerlain are experts at this money sucking thing 😛
OOO shiny! I don’t even know when this collection will be available here, but I’m hoping soon! Wouldn’t say anything is a must-have for me, but everything would be a nice-to-have for sure!
Absolutely, Sunny! Nothing is ever a must have although I think these Meteorites will work for you *tempts you* 😉
If I get the pearls, it’d definitely only be for the packaging. I understand how tempting it is for collectors though. Such gorgeous eye candy 🙂
Absolutely! It goes straight into the Meteorites drawer haha 😀 Are you getting it then, Lily?
Oh yes you got them balls! haha! safe to say that i’m glad i got the perles d’etoile too, it’s been in my wishlist like for these entire month! The sixth pearl’s shade looked terribly similar to the beigy-silverish one if you look closely lol.
and yep i think i’m gonna get that rouge g cause of you! haha i’m a sucker for fancy packaging! and not to mention i lost my LE rouge automatique in KLIA 🙁 few months ago so i guess there’s a space for a new lippy 😀
Oh yeah, definitely got them balls 😀 Hurrah for you getting them too! They’re just too pretty to pass up although I find them a wee bit warm but still wearable for me. The Rouge G is gorgeous but seriously, the colour is pretty much Garconne which is permanent so unless what you want is the red packaging…. then ’nuff said! Get thee to Guerlain! 😉
I love this year\’s pearls. What a great improvement from last year\’s. I still cringe at last year\’s attempt by Guerlain…. Whatever did they thinking? Hope I\’m not too late to get my hands on them next month. I love that festive red puff…. can almost smell Christmas in the air already. And your skin is looking so good these days! No pearls can help if the skin is not in a good condition. Whatever skincare routine/lifestyle you are adopting now is most likely so right! 😉
You said it Lisa! Last year’s looked pretty but the tin was a disaster. Fortunately they had the pressed version so at least I had SOMETHING from last year LOL 😀 I hope you’ll be able to get your hands on them. I thought I saw that the eye and blush palette is out in Singapore already but I haven’t seen pictures of anyone posting about the pearls so hopefully they don’t sell out too quickly! Oh and thanks for the compliment. You’re right, good skin is still the best makeup and while I don’t have the best, it’s probably at the best state it’s been in for a while. I credit facial oils and a diligent skincare routine because my sleeping patterns are still crap and my food too! So definitely not a lifestyle change 😀 Thanks for noticing!
I’d definitely buy that lipstick just for the packaging, it’s gorgeous! And so is the colour. Not sure about the Meteorites though, they look a bit boring.
Yep, the Meteorites are like a more shimmery and golden Teint Beige 🙂 The lipstick however would be gorgeous!
That lipstick on you… to die for! So gorgeous! I\’ll probably pick up the balls but not the lipstick as I\’m not a fan of Rouge G in general although both Garconne and Rouge Parade are beautiful.
Heh thanks Lyn 😀 And yes you need the balls to add to your collection 😉
That shade of red lipstick is so gorgeous on you, it’s actually a positive that you (effectively) have two now! Stealth backup!
haha Thank you! 😀 It must have been subliminal for me to get 2 JUST IN CASE 😉
Oh, what a beautiful color on you!
I will try out Garconne at the airport 🙂 But a purchase will have to wait until I use up a few red lipsticks first…
Thank you Kuri 🙂 Quick! Use red lipstick everyday! hehe… Gotta find you a reason to justify Garconne 😉
I picked the pearls coz of the beautiful packaging. Glad to know that its not shimmery or too dark for my NC20 skin
Nope, definitely not too dark although it is a touch warm. I was curious when I read someone said it could be used as a blush when there is too little colour for it to work that way. But then I suppose we all have different ideas on how to use it 😀
I am soooo tempted to get the pearls. Do you think it would suit my skin tone since you mentioned that its similar to Teint Beidge?
I think the short answer will be yes it will 🙂 The shade is like a more shimmery version of Teint Beige and the red and bronze balls in there definitely add more warmth. It isn’t super shimmery but it’ll be more shimmery than Teint Beige. Pretty either way 😀
That Rouge G packaging is gooooorgeous!
It’s a gorgeous lipstick colour too! 🙂
Sad to report, they are not available yet at KLIA, Changi Airport nor Zurich Airport…*le sighhhhh*
Did you eventually manage to get your hands on it? 🙂