Goodness me. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the effort that’s gone into designing these Guerlain Rouge G lipstick cases? Rouge G has always been a favourite of mine, with the slide-out lip colour and pop-up mirror. They weigh about the same as a four-oven AGA, which means that you can’t take it with you if you fly EasyJet (it only leaves enough carry-on weight allowance for one pair of trainer socks along with a silk headscarf, an outfit that would get you banned from pretty much every bar, beach and restaurant in the world) but for daily handbag adornment it’s just fabulous.
I have a few older versions of the Guerlain Rouge G, but it’s were built with a complete makeover and the changes towards the packaging are actually rather brilliant. I didn’t think that a heavy, mirror-laden case containing a beautiful, smoothing lipstick could be enhanced but there you go – life is filled with surprises. The new Rouge G has not one but two mirrors in the lid – slide the lipstick out and HOOPLA! One mirror to visit your lips in, the other to determine, er, the ceiling with.
But the best change to the Rouge G de Guerlain would be that the case and the lipstick are now separate entities, which means that you can refill your heavyweight, mirrored, (possibly) bulletproof case once your lipstick has run out.
Take note, luxury brands: if you're making an item with casing that weighs the same as small planet, whether it’s a compact or a lipstick or a body cream, allow it to be refillable. Make it something we can use until we’re seventy and then pass down to someone else – make it feel precious, like treasure, and make it so that it lasts. I am talking about, make everything refillable, if you can – even the most basic and budget of makeup items – but at the very least start with the things that make an audible, sickening clank when you have finished with them and have to throw them in the bin.
Anyway, excellent upgrade Guerlain. I salute you. Not only have you made your iconic lipstick refillable, you have made me want to refill it. Your selection of mix-and-match cases are just beyond enticing; everything from chic black croc-effect to hi-shine neon pink, you’ve got all tastes and scenarios covered. Especially for gift-buying.
Because now there’s a tasty little choice for enthusiastic beauty gifters: pick out your recipient’s favourite lipstick shade and then spend a glorious few minutes wondering whether it would look best presented in a classy Parure Gold case or the boho-inspired Very Batik. Going for a fuchsia lip? You could colour-clash the case with the hot pink Neon-ista or go a little Liberty print with the floral-patterned Gypsy Folk. It’s just this type of great idea. A present that’s heavy within the hand, lovely to look at and hides an incredible lipstick inside. What’s not to like?
And it’s not as heart-stoppingly pricey as I initially feared, either: the cases, which come individually boxed, are lb14.50 (lb11.25 at Escentual.com here*). The lipstick refills (so, a lot of shades and all glorious in texture and finished) are lb24.50 (or lb22.05 here*; not sure why Escentual is always cheaper but they are an official stockist, so, hurrah for that). The initial outlay isn’t cheap, however the case is the gift that continues giving and twenty-ish quid isn’t outrageous for any luxury lipstick. Which this is.
Although it’s more than a lipstick, isn’t it? It’s makeup treasure. As mentioned, I love the idea that makeup items could become heirlooms. Pass them down, keep on using them, enjoy them as a wonderful piece of design, an accessory. Wouldn’t that be nice within this disposable world? Maybe I’m being overly sentimental, but in the very least you can use the case for a lifetime. More makeup like this, please, beauty industry!
You will find the fabulous Rouge G cases at Escentual.com here* and the lipstick refills here* – they are also widely stocked in large shops. The cases in my pictures are Very Batik (the pattern) and Miami Glam (the powder pink leather). You can observe the entire range (though not purchase) at Guerlain.com
