Whether you’re new to Guerlain or the Parisian powerhouse’s number one fan, we have a sneaky suspicion that you'll have heard about at least one of its covetable cosmetic creations – does the Parure Gold collection ring a bell? We thought so.
Fusing the old with the new, Guerlain is renowned worldwide for its innovative formulas and one-of-a-kind designs. With that in mind, here at Cult Beauty we’re celebrating the brand in all its glory with a round-up of everything you need to know about the magnificent maison – from the best Guerlain products to what Guerlain is known for and more.
So, without further ado, it’s time to get up close and personal with your newest beauty obsession…
WHAT IS GUERLAIN KNOWN FOR
A Parisian alchemist on a quest to pursue the wonders of beauty, Guerlain has been pioneering fragrances, skin care, make up and hair care since 1828. Inspired by mythical creations with timeless savoir-faire, the brand celebrates nature and art by cultivating craftmanship through its covetable collaborations – we’re talking everything from the artisans who dreamt up the Météorites marvel to the Dames de Table who decorate its iconic bottles. Blurring the lines between tradition and innovation, Guerlain has dreamt up over 1,100 olfactory offerings and sells at least one of its signature Terracotta powders every 30 seconds… Now that’s what we call a beauty icon!
THE STORY BEHIND GUERLAIN
Guerlain’s story began when perfumer, chemist, inventor and researcher, Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain founded the brand’s first boutique in 1828. Located in the heart of Paris (42, rue de Rivoli, to be exact), the emporium instantly became a go-to destination for dandies across the continent. However, the maison’s reputation peaked in 1853, when the founder gifted his Eau de Cologne Impériale to Empress Eugénie to wear when marrying Napoleon III. Fast-forward to today, and Guerlain continues to be a family-run business that has seen five generations at the helm of the house.
THE BEST GUERLAIN PRODUCTS
Where do we begin? Trying to pick out the best Guerlain products is like looking for a needle in a haystack – pretty much impossible! With so many iconic creations to choose from, we’ve rounded up the very best of each category from skin and hair care to make up and fragrances…
THE BEST GUERLAIN FRAGRANCES
Crafted in 2017 and flourishing with its fusion of four raw ingredients; French lavender, sambac jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla Tahitensis, Guerlain’s Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum is renowned for its decadent amber aroma. Honouring its heritage through its iconic quatrefoil bottle, it pays homage to the classic design created in 1908. So, not only is it a treat for your skin and senses, but it also deserves centre stage on your vanity station too!
How to use: Spray on pulse points.
Transporting you to the sunny shores of southern Italy, Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria Eau de Toilette offers a sense of wanderlust, no matter where you are in the world. Composed by perfumer-explorers, who travelled around the globe, the scent takes inspiration from Mother Nature. Fusing Calabrian green gold with the zesty, botanical air of petitgrain lemon, this fan-favourite fragrance is just as uplifting as it is inspiring. A trip to the Amalfi Coast, anybody?
How to use: Spray on pulse points.
First released back in 2014, Guerlain’s L'Homme Idéal Eau de Parfum is the ultimate triple threat – combining three ingredients and three accords. Captivating, enigmatic and oh so enticing, it’s designed to awaken the senses of those around you. What’s more, breaking the mould of colognes, its olfactory offering was the first ever to centre around almond notes…
How to use: Spray on pulse points.
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THE BEST GUERLAIN SKIN CARE
Powered by the brand’s not-so-secret ingredient – pure black bee honey – Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Daily Repair Serum is your answer to smoother skin. Rich in amino acids and fructose, the famed formula features jelly microbeads to nourish your complexion with its natural source of protein, lipids and vitamins. But that’s not all, this skin care saviour offers a lifted finish too, courtesy of its ultra-concentrated cocktail.
How to use: Apply the Daily Repair Serum, morning and evening. With the pad of your fingers, slowly and firmly press along the jaw line. Next, lift your fingers off rather than sliding, place them 2cm higher and continue as before. Carry on as far as the hairline.
Suffering from lacklustre skin? No problem… Cue: Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale The Imperial Oil. Working hard to deeply nourish for a silky complexion, this featherweight formula is designed to offer equilibrium and an even skin tone with its unique blend of fatty acids. Revealing a visibly firmer complexion – without feeling greasy – once you try this treasure, you won’t want to go back.
How to use: Use in the morning and evening before serums. Apply to the face and press with your hands on the cheeks and forehead. Next, place your fingers on your jaw, slide upwards and press down for three seconds. Repeat this step upwards over the forehead. Then, place your index finger on your upper lip and your middle finger under the lip. Press for three seconds, release and slide your fingers towards your ears.
Optimising your beauty sleep, Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Night Cream is here to add a little radiance to your bedtime regime. Stimulated by clinical honey bandages, this refillable formula is supercharged with advanced Dynamic BlackBee Repair technology and uses a combination of four restoring honeys and an exclusive royal jelly. Quenching your skin’s thirst as you enjoy some shut eye, this blend has you waking up looking (and feeling) refreshed, rejuvenated and rejoiced – without having to hit snooze!
How to use: Apply in the evening, from the middle of the face outwards.
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SHOP ALL GUERLAIN CREAMS >>>THE BEST GUERLAIN MAKE UP
Pioneering personalised lip make up, Guerlain’s Rouge G Lipstick collection holds prime position in the brand’s hall of fame. Not only is it powerfully pigmented and shaped for precise application, but its refillable case can be mixed and matched to complement your outfit – with a whole range of designs to choose from. Combining supreme softness with long-lasting 16-hour wear, this velvety formula glides effortlessly over the lips for a pout that’s hard to resist.
How to use: Using the double mirror, apply the edge of the lipstick directly to your lips. Its ergonomic design allows precise application.
Boosting a golden glow all year round, Guerlain’s Terracotta Bronzing Powder showcases sun-soaked radiance – even when it’s grey outside! Enlivening your complexion, this true-to-skin formula features nourishing Moroccan argan oil to ensure long-wearing luminosity and added comfort. Highlighting the contours of your face with light-reflecting shimmers, this buttery bronzer blends easily for a finish with no filter… or passport needed!
How to use: Apply the bronzing powder with a brush to the raised areas of the face by drawing a figure of 'three' on each side, from the forehead to the cheekbones, then from the cheekbones to the chin, finishing with a stroke down the neck.
Deemed as the first cosmetic product to incorporate coloured pearls for luminosity and an even skin tone, Guerlain’s Meteorites Light Revealing Pearls Of Powder is yet another industry first for the brand! Handcrafted by three trained artisans (who undertake a minimum of six months training before they can produce them), the loose powder’s base mixes colour-correcting shades – ranging from yellow to counteract dullness and mauve to catch the light – and uses Stardust technology to create a soft-focus halo on the skin.
How to use:Use a brush to apply evenly to the entire face to fix make up and improve hold. For a greater boost of radiance, highlight the cheekbones and other prominent parts of the face: trace a ‘G’ from the centre of the forehead, towards the top of the cheekbone, then from the bridge of the nose towards the chin.
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Strengthen your scalp and boost shiny strands within 10 minutes, thanks to Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Double R Radiance & Repair Mask. Combining the powers of not one, but two, high-performing treatments, this treasure for your tresses does exactly what it says on the tin (read: bottle). Made with naturally derived ingredients (including the brand’s signature black bee honey, of course), this potent potion fortifies your lengths while protecting their colour and overall health.
How to use:Mix the two textures in the palm of the hand. On previously washed and damp hair, spread from root to tip. Leave on for 10 minutes.
In exclusive collaboration with S.Heart.S (a specialist in professional hair care tools), Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Scalp and Hair Care Brush is inspired by Japanese shiatsu techniques to uncover your best locks yet. Ergonomically designed, this multi-functional must have stimulates your scalp to promote your hair’s vitality while boosting shine with every stroke. Formed from 376 fibres and wrapped in waterproof resin, it can be used both in and out of the shower – or even during a downpour. Oh, and did we mention it’s gleaming with golden hues to stand out on your vanity table too?
How to use:When using on dry hair, brush with small downward strokes, start by detangling the ends and gradually move up towards the scalp. As a final step, brush one last time all along the hair from root to tip. On wet hair, make circular movements over the scalp, working from the top of the forehead to the back of the head, lingering on the temples.
Looking to transform your tresses for the better? Well, we come baring good news, your search is over… Enter: Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth-Oil-In Serum. Strengthened by Dynamic Blackbee Repair technology and intensified with black bee honey from Ouessant Island in France, this nourishing serum triples the scalp's vitality while repairing, thickening and adding some serious shine to your strands.
How to use: Apply 1 to 2 pipettes all over the scalp, working section by section, from the forehead to the crown of the head. Run your fingers under your hair so that the fingertips are in contact with your skin. Make small circles from the forehead to the back to evenly distribute the serum.
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