"I am a collector of everything"
Foreword
Ever since Alessandro Michele was appointed creative director of Gucci back in 2015, the brand did a full 180. This might have been one of the best fashion reinventions we have witnessed in decades. Thankfully the brand's original [and rather boring] 2014 beauty line was scrapped along the way, so that in May 2019 we could finally welcome a reinvented, one-of-a-kind makeup collection that spoke to Gucci's modern audience (and eventually exploded all over our Instagram feeds). In this post we will chat all about the brand's most coveted products. Buckle up!
Curious? Then please keep on scrolling.
Shade: 500 Odalie Red, Matte
Lipsticks
The very first thing that Gucci launched back in 2019 was a line of lipsticks called Rouge à Lèvres. 58 shades to begin with, all looking extra cute in their vintage-esque packaging. It is easy to distinguish between formulas just by looking at the lipstick bullet itself - different caps represent different finishes.
Currently there are about 100 shades available in 5 distinctive finishes:
Price: Gucci Rouge à Lèvres lipsticks and lip balms retail for 42/46 USD (Made in Italy)
Packaging: I absolutely love the look of these Gucci lipsticks - it almost feels like they have time-traveled from another era. They have a nice "high-end weight" to them and the brand's logo can be seen on both the cap and lipstick itself. Although the closure is not magnetic, I find that the craftsmanship on these is impeccable and you will not have problems with the cap coming off or anything like that.
Please click on images to zoom in
As always, all of my swatches are raw and unedited (I rely on natural daylight only)
Formula & Texture: so far I have tried three different formulas that Gucci have to offer. They are smooth, glide on with ease and appear true to color, offering sheer to semi-opaque/opaque coverage; it purely depends on the finish that you are going for. From my experience Lip Balm, Satin and Matte finishes feel equally weightless on the lips.
With the exception of Lip Balm formula, the other two had a very apparent, perfume-y touch to them (described by the brand as "floral fragrance with violet notes and a soft, fruity scent"). In my opinion it is extremely similar to YSL Rouge Pure Couture Lipstick or Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick, both of which I adore. I quite like the Gucci scent; despite being noticeable at first, it does fade away relatively fast. It is sophisticated and feminine. Naturally, if you do not enjoy perfumed makeup, it might not be your cup of tea.
Shade: 2 No More Orchids, Lip Balm
Application: while sheerer shades can be literally applied with your eyes closed, I do recommend using a lip brush with darker Satin or Matte shades. Plus a matching lip liner can take your pout to a whole new level. None of these Gucci lipsticks accentuated lip lines, dryness or texture. They felt and looked great all along.
Wear: as to be expected, Lip Balm wore off quicker (around 3 hours), whereas both Satin and Matte lasted much longer (around 6 and 8 hours respectively). All three formulas felt comfortable and incredibly airy, varying from hydrating (Lip Balm, Satin) to non-drying (Matte). Colors faded away gracefully.
Verdict: I am amazed by the high quality of these revamped Gucci lipsticks. They can't be compared [even remotely] to the rather mediocre formula that the brand offered back in 2014. I truly can't think of anything negative to say about these - the feel, the look, the experience all deserve A++. The only thing you need to pay attention to are the repetitive shade names; quite often the same color is represented in various finishes. So make sure you are getting exactly what you want, especially when shopping online.
Bronzers
Shades: 01 (left), 02 (right)
Gucci Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder
Gucci Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder (62 USD; Made in Italy) - is a brand new line of bronzers that is available in five shades, going from fair (01) to dark (05).
Packaging: this must be the most luxurious compact I have ever seen (and I have tried a lot of makeup in my blogging years). And I do not use my adjectives lightly - this product is the definition of what designer makeup lines should look like. I love vintage-inspired packaging, especially a combination of gold and turquoise. Seeing the two in one just makes me want to jump with joy.
To my delight, every bronzer comes in a protective baby-pink, velvety pouch. The craftsmanship is seriously out of this World amazing: a nicely weighted compact with high quality mirror and secret mini brush [with soft, I suppose synthetic bristles] hiding right underneath the powder. I would not necessarily use the brush to apply my bronzer with, but it might be nice for on-the-go touch ups.
I am sure if this was a 40s-50s movie, some silver screen vixen with a beauty mark on her cheek would probably hide a poison for her husband's happy hour drink in the lower section of this compact.
Formula & Texture: out of five bronzers, only one appears to be shimmer-free and that is the lightest shade 01 Fair. All other shades seem to have a soft, golden sparkle to them that can be seen in the pan, but not on the skin. Having said that, they all feel buttery soft to the touch, having the smoothest, silkiest - in other words extremely finely milled texture (described by the brand as "a combination of soft focus microspheres and biomimicry pigments"). This formula is also infused with Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid to provide a nourishing and comfortable feel.
Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil neither looks/feels powdery, nor has a lot of kick up to it. This is a lightly scented formula. Similarly to lipsticks, the fragrance used here has fresh floral (rose) notes to it. It reminds me a lot of my favorite scent by Dior called Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. I absolutely love it. I must add though - it pretty much disappears once the product is applied. However, if your skin is extremely sensitive to fragrance, you might want to consider other options. I have sensitive skin too, but it rarely reacts to fragrance, which is why I have experienced no issues with this Gucci guy.
Please click on images to zoom in
As always, all of my swatches are raw and unedited (I rely on natural daylight only)
Application: working with this bronzer is pure magic. Since this powder is so nicely pigmented and soft, I do recommend using a brush with softer bristles rather than one that is densely packed (as it might pick up too much product at once). Even the lightest shade here has a lot of pigment to it. Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil applies with extreme ease and is buildable. No patches! Color applies evenly and looks uber smooth on the skin (never dry or chalky). I swear, at times it feels like this bronzer just blends itself.
Wear: semi-opaque/opaque (depends on how you layer it) and long-lasting (up to 8-10 hours); feels just like your skin.
Verdict: if you are in the mood to spend some money on the highest quality bronzer, go the Gucci route. As much as I love the brands I am about to mention, but Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford, YSL don't even hold the tiniest candle to Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil. The experience of using this product, from holding the compact all the way to applying the powder, is indescribable. Although I do think they could add a couple more shades, I will be definitely re-purchasing this bronzer once I run out of it. It deserves all the praise in the World. I think it is time to add a new grade: A f*cking +++
Gloss
Gucci Éclat De Beauté Effet Lumière All Over Face & Lip Gloss (33 USD; Made in Italy) - is a multi-purpose gel gloss for eyes, lips and face.
Packaging: truth be told, I will have a hard time getting rid of any of the Gucci compacts, tubes and pots once I use them up. This gloss comes in the cutest little pale pink, mattified glass pot and a color-matching lid with the golden logo on top of it. Really dainty and portable.
Formula & Texture: this is probably the only product in the brand's beauty line that is scent-free and (as a matter of fact) vegan🍃. It has a very balmy, clear gel texture that feels quite cushiony and smooth. Neither sticky, nor greasy (it is oil-free). The formula reminded me a lot of Becca Cosmetics Zero No Pigment Glass Highlighter For Face + Lip (more about it here) and since both are made in Italy, I couldn't help but compare them.
While both virtually give you the same glossy results, Becca's formula is a touch more liquidy and high-shine and Gucci is a lot more balmy and not as glass-like. Having said that, I really like both and would still call them dupes.
Application & Wear: best applied with fingers, this All Over Face & Lip Gloss will give you that editorial (no pigment) highlight of your dreams. It doesn't feel heavy in the slightest. When used on top of an eyeshadow, it does crease (then again - any eye gloss will). The shine lasts all day long, starting to fade around 5-6th hour mark on the face and in about 1-2 hours on the lips. Feels incredibly nourishing as a lip balm and can be used on top of any lipstick to add "vinyl" shine and extra volume.
Verdict: an excellent, universally flattering gloss for boys and girls of all ages. While it is not a total necessity, if you want a multi-purpose gloss that can be used as a hydrating lip balm, occasional eyeshadow topper or glass (no color) skin highlight - by all means go for it. Expensive, but quality is 100% there. I give it A
Mascara
Gucci Mascara L'Obscur (35 USD; Made it Italy) - promises to "grip the lashes for distinct results", all while adding volume, length, lift, definition and curl. Some very bold claims if you ask me.
Packaging: I do not think there is a better mascara packaging out there, correct me if I am wrong. Baby pink enamel, gold cap and synthetic wand with little spiky bristles that [thankfully] won't poke your eye out. They feel quite soft and I appreciate this reasonably sized brush. I really see no point in creating massive mascara brushes that are larger than an average person's eyes.
Formula & Application: this is a decently pigmented, black mascara that has that nice "neither too dry nor too wet" formula. The wand picks up just enough product, which speeds up application. Once Mascara L'Obscur is on, it feels quite lightweight and soft to the touch. I was able to add a second layer with ease and experienced little to no clumps. Every lash was defined and lifted, however, it did not give me as much volume as I usually look for in a mascara.
Wear: luckily, I did not notice any smudging or flaking going on during the day. Mascara L'Obscur wears really well and feels just as weightless as when it is freshly applied. It is a tough one to remove though, so I do recommend going in with a cleansing oil or bi-phase makeup remover. Micellar water alone won't cut the mustard here.
Verdict: this is a nice formula, but... it didn't wow me. My lashes lack in the volume department and I am currently using a five dollar drugstore mascara that does a far better job than Gucci. Hodor. On the other hand, I personally know people with naturally thick and long lashes, who swear by it. In other words, Mascara L'Obscur is lovely but not for me (or for anyone who craves volume). While I do not see myself repurchasing it, I still think it is a good product that many beauty lovers will adore, which is why I give it B
Final Thoughts
If you want high-quality, designer makeup - you are going to absolutely loooove this line. Not only does it look good, but unlike with many other luxury brands, you are actually getting exactly what you are paying for. Judging by my experience with everything I have tried so far, I think they are doing an excellent work and am really looking forward to all of the brand's upcoming collections. I only wish Gucci considered becoming cruelty-free. They already do an amazing job working with sustainable materials and featuring models of all ethnicities, ages, genders (and let's not forget about hiring a beautiful and very special model Ellie Goldstein for their new campaign). The only way to become even cooler would be going cruelty-free.
What do you guys think about these products? Let's chat some more in the comments!
Available online: sephora.com / net-a-porter.com / saksfifthavenue.com / selfridges.com
Purchased products; full disclaimer here