Guerlain

Unlike me at karaoke, Guerlain’s new Night at the Opera holiday collection hits all the right notes, tra-la-la-la-laaaaaaaa!

Please pardon my need to insert a vibrato on that last laaaaaaaa! It’s leftover trauma from living with a slightly overbearing opera singer in college. She regularly criticized my breathing technique when I sang around the house (Really, dude? It was just a little Alanis Morissette while I did my chem lab homework.) and held notes out for a beat too long when she covered pop songs.

I still can’t listen to I Still Believe by Brenda K. Starr without thinking of her take on the chorus…

At any rate, one does not have to enjoy opera, or to have lived with an overbearing opera singer, to derive great joy from the classic holiday reds and golds in this 10-piece limited edition collection for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails.

But an appreciation for opera may translate into a greater appreciation for the release’s finer details, like the bows on the packaging, which are supposed to represent the bows worn by men at big galas, or the bows worn by the ballerinas in their hair.

Me likes. I’m a sucker for strong themes and collections that tell a story. 🙂

I also like that when I’ve worn pieces from this collection over the past couple weeks, I’ve gotten pretty good feedback — both from El Hub, also known as “the man who never notices anything,” and from you guys, too.

I was wearing pieces from A Night at the Opera on my eyes, lips and cheeks in the Mia Bun Ease post last week and received a number of positive inquiries about the makeup I was wearing.

The fresh, glowing peachy golden cheeks, shimmery beige and copper eyes, and glossy golden lips — those are pure Guerlain, man. What I affectionately refer to as (in air quotes) “that magical Guerlain holiday glow.” It’s makeup that catches your eye but doesn’t SCREAM IN YOUR FACE.

In that way I think Guerlain totally got this collection right. Yes, it’s a holiday release, and it’s made to feel glamorous and indulgent, but the pieces are also versatile enough to wear during the workweek leading up to the big gala.

Typical for Guerlain, the products are hella expensive. Thankfully, they also exude quality. The eyeshadows, powders and blushes blend effortlessly, and everything — from the lipsticks to the glosses to the nail polishes and that to-die-for jar of golden pinkish peach highlighter (SWOON!) — looks high-end.

If you’re going to take a closer look at the collection on counter, don’t miss the Petrouchka Palette for Eyes and Cheeks, the Meteorites Pereles d’Etoiles Illuminating Pearls, Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shine Lipgloss in L’Oiseau de Feau, or the nail polishes, especially if you like subtly radiant golds, beiges and coppers.

Le sigh! I could happily wear these pieces every day for a year. With these colors and finishes, warmer skin tones will make out like bandits.

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I know you’re not supposed to stare at the sun, but in the case of Guerlain’s new summer 2014 collection, it can’t be helped.

The sun symbol on the new Celebration Powder Compact and the bottle of Terracotta Le Parfum is so mesmerizing that I keep losing myself in its golden glow…

While daydreaming about the many eco-adventures I could have while wearing the bronzer and blush compact on my face (I’ve been flirting with the idea of a trip to Costa Rica or Belize), Tabs hopped in my lap! It gave me such a start that I accidentally dug my nails into the pan.

Shoot.

Oh, well. Whatcha gonna do, right? #makeuploverproblems #bronzeraddictissues

This succinct six-piece limited edition collection basks in bronzy, sunny, summery shades of brown, orange and coral for lips and cheeks…and there’s also a gorgeous bottle of perfume.

Not much going on in terms of eye makeup this year — just a single waterproof mascara in Guerlain’s fabulous Cils D’Enfer Maxi Lash formula, which, no joke, makes my lashes look like Zac Efron’s.

I like what I see, but it would’ve been nice to also get some cool metallics or eye kolhs this year.

A few thoughts on the new collection, which is available now at Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Bergdorf Goodman stores and online…

Guerlain Terracotta Sun Celebration Powder Compact ($76): Two shades of matte bronzer to sculpt, and matte pink and coral blushes to brighten cheeks and skin. There’s also a touch of gold (it’s an overspray) for shimmer.

The bronzers apply sheer when I swatch them with my finger, but deposit more color on my skin when I apply them with a brush. Same goes for the blushes. The powders appear effortless and natural on the skin, and blend sans drama.

Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum ($73): My new favorite “summer in a bottle” scent, it has notes of bergamot, tiare flower, ylang ylang and vanilla.

This soft, summery fragrance is like a forbidden kiss on a tropical beach at sunset… I like to reapply after about 5-6 hours to keep the scent going.

Guerlain Gloss D’Enfer Maxi Shine in 940 Nahema Stack ($30): Non-sticky and smooth, this sheer bright orange gloss feels delightful on my lips, where it lasts about two hours. It tastes and smells a little like rose-flavored candy, too.

Mmm…

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