Most of my experience with Guerlain makeup has been with their lipsticks, which, while hella expensive, are some of my favorites among any brand I’ve ever tried. The Rouge G’s, in particular, are wonderful ways to splurge in the makeup department. Smooth, rich, long-lasting color, and that exquisite packaging with the hidden mirror in the cap?
TO. DIE. 
I haven’t spent as much time playing with the other products in the line, but since I love the lipsticks so much, I couldn’t wait to see what the company’s new line of eyeshadows had to offer.
Each of the nine new Ecrin 4 Couleurs palettes ($59 each) comes with four shadows — one each in matte, satin, metallic and iridescent finishes — in varying levels of coverage. Like the lippies, the sleek gold compacts come dressed to thrill. Everything about the presentation here, from the etched Guerlain logo on the front, to the heft of the palette in the hand, feels like luxury.
Based on the two palettes I’ve tried, Les Bleus and Les Noirs, I find myself being drawn to the iridescent shades, with their opalescent particles that gently illuminate my skin when the light hits them just right. The effect reminds me of a powder-puff lens filter or the light from a soft-white bulb. Generally, all of the shadows in each of the palettes are solid, finely milled and have a downy soft texture that effortlessly blends.
Even so, the price ($59) is quite high, even when you consider that the colors work out to $14.75 per pan — just 25 cents more than the cost of a MAC eyeshadow single. It would also be easier to accept if it weren’t for one thing…
Les Bleus
Les Noirs
Swatches of Les Noirs (four shades on the left) and Les Bleus (four shades on the right)
Wearing Les Noirs on eyes
Creasing. Even with the help of my current favorite primer, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, these crease after only a few hours on me. Granted, it’s far from bad — just a bit on the inner part of my lids — but still. I can’t help feeling that it shouldn’t be an issue at all for products as pricey as these. Also, the lighter colors in the palettes appear to fade a little after a few hours of wear. It doesn’t seem to be an issue with the darker shades, though.
Additional makeup worn in this look…
- FACE — MAC Strobe Cream, MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC42, MAC Studio Careblends Powders in Light Plus, Medium Dark and Dark and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW30
- EYES — NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Benefit Instant Brow, Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara and Buxom Amplified Mascara
- CHEEKS — MAC Semi Precious Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flushed and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Rose Quartz
- LIPS — MAC Lipstick in Gem of Roses and MAC Lipglass in Evolution Revolution
I still think there’s a lot to love about these, and Chanel and Dior had better watch out. They combine Chanel’s soft, elegant texture with Dior’s fashion-forward colors, and if Guerlain can just iron out a couple of minor issues with performance, I’d have a new reason to obsess. 🙂
PRICE: $59 each
AVAILABILITY: Coming this August to Guerlain counters
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Wow these look gorgeous! Definitely on my to-buy list for fall.
Hey! I wore Gem Of Roses with Evolution Revolution yesterday too!!! 🙂 It’s my new favourite combo! So pretty!!
oh wow, i love les bleus that is high but so beautiful!
Les bleus is gorgeous but I’m not sure I could bring myself to pay $59 for it. It would have to be only makeup purchase for like the next 4 months! Maybe some day…
Well now I want Gem of Roses because it looks amazing with Ev Rev!!
Woah, your eyes look gorgeous!! I love that look!
These colors are gorgeous, but I wish there was more of a shade variation (instead of a color gradient, especially in Les Bleus). I really love Guerlain packaging though, it’s about as luxe as you can get.
It’s a shame something so pricey, still creases. Beautiful colors though!
That looks nice but I can’t bring myself to pay $59 for a B+ product.
oh, those palettes are STUNNING! the creasing is a definite deal-breaker, though!
p.s.
your necklace is gorgeous =).
I totally agree, shadows this pricey shouldn’t crease at all. I love the necklace, by the way…
Quite expensive but Les Bleus are beautiful. Love, love, love your necklace! Is it a long length that you just doubled up?
you’re beautiful karen! love your look!
Les Noirs is gorgeous! 🙂
love the look, Karen! its so pretty!
Do you know if Guerlain is cruelty free?
ahh these are so pretty. one thing though (unrelated) every time I have come on your blog today (I didn’t have anything to do, so…5 times…) this Pantene survey came up. So I took it the first time, but every time I went back to the blog, it popped up again 🙁 I didn’t click on anything to make it come up. (haha, when I typed make…i automatically typed makeup instead. Maybe 5 visits are too many…) soo what’s up?
I’m really looking forward to this release from Guerlain. I own one of their older quads that looks like chocolates in a box 🙂 But the creasing bit does worry me. Hopefully they stay put on my lids. Thanks and looking beautiful as always!
I agree, creasing is bad–creasing for expensive products, generally unforgivable. This disappointment reminds me of how even Mat Lumiere foundation makes my face a greaseball in three hours flat…what a waste of money. 🙁
Les Blues is gorgeous! Expensive eyeshadows like these shouldn’t crease at all though.
Their permanent palettes cost $80, and LE cost $100 here in Croatia so I really think these shouldn’t crease AT ALL. But they do look beautiful, indeed. How much do they contain in grams? 🙂
7.2 grams of product
Love Les Noirs!
This colors are gorgeous and you can be creative to do the mix or do the combination.
I love the blues, but I can’t justify paying $59 for shadows… much less for shadows that crease. 🙁
I’m kinda dying for Les Noirs… maybe I’ll test it out at a counter and see how the creasing goes! I haven’t had a perfect palette of grays since high school!
Thanks for the honest post! I have only read extremely positive reviews about Guerlain eye colors so far. I bought 2 sets for myself from an online retailer (no Guerlain where I live) based on these and had the same problem with creasing and fading. Even primer doesnt work
I wish you had reviewed these before … wuld have saved a BIG bundle 🙁
I’m not a blue shadow person but these are stunning. Les Noirs looks amazing on you, too. Very nice looking palettes! 🙂
Wow, those palettes look amazing! But the creasing is a bit of a bummer though 🙁 Love your photography skills and Gem of Roses looks fabulous on you!
The lip combo is gorg! 🙂
Lately, shimmer has begun to make me look tired, so given that these quads are 75% shimmer – and that they crease at the very, very dear price of $59 – no thanks. It’s time for me to leave the luxury makeup brands to folks with luxury-level income, too.
Though it looks gorgious in the pan and on you, Guerlain e/s just do not get me to spend the money, not even for beautybloggers curiosity.
They are somehow dry?! and do not feel really soft, also poorly pigmented. I should try them out for sure, but I am spoiled with Shiseido quality (too bad they donot have many colours…) and this is what I am looking for in e/s. NOT packaging only!
I actually have four of these, and I really really love them! I have tried Dior quints and Chanel quads, but they just dont do it for me, I keep coming back to these! They last all day on my eyelids without primer, and they crease like after 12 hours. Of course, each person has a different experience and skin, but I guess I just have to stand by my favorite brand and disagree with you on this one 😀 However, your application of Les Noirs is so gorgeous, I think I just have to get this quad as well!