When a brand trips you up by doing something at odds with expections, it can take you byt surprise. To me, Guerlain is all about St Tropez, South of France – in fact, anywhere France with maybe a little push into Italy. I don’t want them tripping off to South Beach, Miami! No, no, no! But the Guerlain Summer 2015 collection is all about seaside cities – all over the world. I kind of get it, but I’d like them just to come back to Cap Ferrat please! Guerlain Terracotta, I know, is a worldwide brand, but I’m experiencing the kind of imprinting that brands can do that you’re barely aware of until you’re challenged. That’s not to say that Guerlain Summer 2015 isn’t gorgeous – it truly, truly is. But, I liked the bronzed, white-kaftan’d woman with her flat gold gladiators and a woven beach bag full of Evian and a baguette. I can’t make her Miami!
Guerlain Summer 2015So, first up, the colours! Guerlain have selected two feature shades; turquoise and coral and enveloped not only Terracotta Powder in either or in the form of a removable silicone dress, but also the sleeve of the new Compact Foundation. It’s an interesting, melty texture – very light in feel and has a kick of hyaluronic as well as SPF20. It’s also waterproof which I guess is kind of handy for looking like you stepped out of Vogue after a splash in the sea. The shade I have here is the darker colour, Bronze (the lighter shade is Sand), but once it’s on the skin it isn’t as deep as it looks. There are two Gloss d’Enfer shades – Tangerine Vlam and a nude colour called Browny Clap (back to product naming school for someone, there I think).
Guerlain Summer 2015Nail shades are Blue Ocean or 143Nahema – an orange red with hints of tomato.
As you’d expect, colours are properly ramped up for lips – Rouge Automatique is seen here in Fluo Stiletto, but I’ve got to warn you that there’s a yellow one as well, called Yellow-it Stick. I don’t know…. yellow lipstick….
The Summer Shadows are in a waterproof cream formula (again, perfect for your synchronised swimming class!) – seen here is Blue Ocean, a vivid, saturated turquoise and the other, not shown, is White Sand, a kind of sandy shade!
My favourites from the Guerlain Summer 2015 collection are easily the colour wrapped Terracottas followed by the nail colours.
Above is the Terracotta Powder in Natural Brunettes, swatched next to the new compact foundation and Gloss d’Infer in Tangerine Vlam.
Guerlain Summer 2015Oh, and I should mention that Cils d’Enfer is now in a waterproof version. Actually, the wand on this is all kinds of good for creating spiky, grab-every-last-one lashes.
So, finally, you need to know that the Guerlain Summer 2015 collection hits stores in June – right on target for sun-soaked, vermillion skies, hot sand and something with ice and a slice. In France.
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