“En Français,” as my high school French teacher used to say! The name of Guerlain’s new spring eyeshadow palette, Les Nuées, means “The Clouds,” and when I wear it I feel like I’m floating in a blue sky surrounded by puffs of white cotton candy clouds…
Les Nuées is what I like to call a “glisten-y” eye palette, because when I buff any of the three lightest shades — the frosty white, the pale pink or the baby blue, which, truth be told, all look pretty similar on my NC42 skin — on my lids with a fluffy eye brush, I end up with glowing, almost glossy, lids.
Then I line my lash lines with the fourth shade, a deep blue, and pat it in the outer corner for depth before cleaning up any fallout (because there is a little) and finishing with mascara.
It’s kinda hard to think of clouds as anything but effortless, and Les Nuées is effortless, too. It’s an easy way to wear fresh spring blues without having to work too hard.
PRICE: $65 for a 0.25-oz. palette with four eyeshadows
AVAILABILITY: Available now online and at Guerlain counters
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Debra says
Very pretty!
But what is with these small French palettes that are sheer? I guess that’s the look but it’s a lot to pay for glossy.
I bought the new YSL Desir de Jour palette from the Belle de Jour collection – online, without reviews cause I felt like giving in to a whim and being brave. But now I’ve read 2 online customer reviews that doom the thing. However, the palette is selling out! I’ll wait and see for myself.
I don’t expect NARS pigment with Guerlain or YSL. Maybe atmosphere is pricey.
The pink lipstick is sweet and chic.
Karen says
I think it might be a spring trend thang. I’m seeing a lot of sheer, which I dunno… I think it can be a good thing sometimes. It really depends on what you’re going for!
Debra says
Yes, I see that the Laura Mercier “Watercolour Mist” eye & cheek palette is not getting much love online. I’d considered this one too! But I really wanted the Mondrian-design YSL palette.
I don’t have anything that gives a “watercolour” effect so I’ll have to see how the quality is of Belle de Jour/Desir de Jour. I’ll let you know!
Debra says
The Dior Desir de Jour palette came and I applied it on bare skin – the ultimate test!
Very pigmented and very little fallout. The black can be used as liner or for a smoky eye. The pink is tonal — much better than the Dior 540 Pure Dreams pinks which I rarely use (pinkeye). (It was my first Dior palette!)
I don’t understand the very hostile online reviews!
My skin tone is NW20. The camel beige and golden brown are not too warm and they definitely show up! I think the “intense” pink is very wearable and might be used to accent the tops of cheekbones.
LindaLibraLoca says
Too much money, too sheer. I am oldfashioned: The more I pay, the more I expect.
How long did you study French? And do you still speak it sometimes?
Karen says
Three years in high school. I got decent grades in class (apparently my accent was good!) but forgot most of it. When I went to France 8 years ago I still knew enough to get by, which was good! Although, I do have to say it was very hard to buy and umbrella, lol.
Tu parles français?
Kiss & Make-up says
That blue looks GREAT but the other shades are just too pale and similar to each other I’m afraid.
Karen says
I think that’s what this quad was going for. It’s more a water color look. Or, you could use it for highlighting!
Lancy says
I am not much into pale, lighter shades however this looks great on you Karen! Loved the look.
Karen says
Thanks, Lancy!
Estefania says
I like it, but I think I wouldn’t mind the colors blending in together so much if it were a little cheaper :/
Karen says
LOL, yeah, Guerlain is kinda like Tom Ford in that it isn’t exactly budget!
Jenny says
This looks like a very beautiful palette! I love the look of it in the pan, and on you, but I doooooooon’t so much love that price. =/
Karen says
Hi Jenny,
It’s typical of Guerlain palettes! I think this one’s more for the hard core fans.
Kim says
You always look great in blues! You’re right about the 3 pale colors looking really similar in your swatches but they still give a pretty sheen. 🙂
5 years of French here and you should have heard me trying to buy Christmas ornaments in Quebec a couple of years ago. I was grateful that the sales woman didn’t laugh me out of the store. HAHA!
LindaLibraLoca says
Oui, je parle français.
My parents own a house there, where they spend half the year, so I go there for some sun and sea (and Croissants) quite often.
Erin says
I think this is a great quad for brown eyed babes like yourself!
kwmechelle says
The dark blue shade is quite lovely. Don’t know why, but I have a thang for blue shadows, perhaps because blue is my favorite color. The other shades aren’t my cup of tea, though I do like the notion of white cotton candy clouds. You know, because, duh, it’s candy 🙂
Genevieve says
Hmm – I love Guerlein’s blues generally but the other 3 shades look far too alike to render the palette buy worthy. For that price anyway.
Guerlain’s Les Gris is another matter – that blue is stunning and the other colours in the quad are also very different.
Blues like this really suit you Karen.
I saw your review on Guerlain’s Two Stylish and that blue is fabulous too.
Fancie says
The navy shadow is absolutely stunning!