Guerlain Dazzles at the Opera

Arguably, the most anticipated holiday makeup collection each year is that by Guerlain. The French luxury beauty brand is renowned for not only crafting the most beautiful limited edition packaging, but creating cutting edge formulas as well. For holiday 2014, Guerlain takes inspiration from an evening at the Opera. The striking ad campaign features supermodel Natalia Vodianova leaning over a private box in an opera house framed in red velvet drapes. She wears a chic black cocktail dress. The makeup collection itself pairs red and gold in a myriad of ways.

If you are new to the Guerlain brand, start with one of its most iconic products: the perfumed Shimmer Powder for face, body and hair. One pump of the atomizer and a cloud of featherlight loose powder creates a iridescent glow on skin and hair. It’s particularly flattering on decollete.  This particular product is so popular it sells out quickly. And it is only available at Christmas. For the first time since its creation in 1937, Guerlain has reproduced Coque d’Or’s original bottle and reinterpreted it in gold-lacquered glass. It is adorned for the occasion with a vibrant red bulb, evoking the opera’s velvet curtains. The golden powder is lightly scented  with Coque d’Or’s legendary chypre notes. Think of it as a sparkling veil for skin.

The star palette is named “The Petrouchka Palette” and boasts five iridescent shadows from champagne to copper along with four matte and pearlescent blushes. Nude coral and pink revive the cheekbones with rosewood and brown sculpt them to perfection. The elegant golden lacquered case is topped with a pink bow.

Of course, no Guerlain collection would be complete without Meteorites – the brand’s signature illuminating powder. This version boasts a new harmony of perles: correcting colours, light-enhancing colours and unifying colours. They come housed in a gold tin accompanied by a red powder puff.

Following the success of a pair of limited edition Rouge G lipsticks this summer, the holiday collection includes a red lacquered lipstick case housing a creamy lipstick in #820 Rouge Parade. It’s the perfect status lipstick to pull out of your clutch at a Christmas fete. Rounding out the collection is a pair of Fusion eyeshadows, a deep black cherry gloss and clear lip topcoat. And a pair of nail shades in gold. The gold leaf top coat will certainly sell out quickly. It’s stunning.