Tuesday 21 February 2012

The hunt for a dupe: Guerlain Beige Nude Lipstick

A reader got in touch recently to ask about a dupe for one of my favourite lipsticks: Guerlain Kiss Kiss lipstick in Beige Nude #550. She was unable to find this particular shade but keen to know if I considered something else to be a good alternative. I was actually quite dismayed when I realised the reason she wasn't able to find it was because it seems to have been discontinued. As you can see, I don't have much left myself so the hunt for a dupe seems even more pressing......

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.....well, until I pulled out half a dozen very similar looking colours from my stash. Ooops! Oh well, I've said before how much I'm drawn to such shades. This is probably a good moment to point out that this isn't a nude in this way that most people consider nudes. This applies as a beige-y rose on my lips: a touch more brown toned than a 'My Lips But Better' kind of shade.

The lipsticks pictured below are Rouge Bunny Rouge Irreverence and YSL Rouge Volupte in Spicy Pink #20 on the top row and Revlon Colorburst in Blush, Armani Shine lipstick in #5, Guerlain Kiss Kiss in Beige Nude, YSL Rouge Volupte in Ultimate Beige #3 and MAC Cosmo from left to right on the bottom row.

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I realise it's a little tricky to make the comparison from the product photographs as so much of the lipstick bullet has gone but hopefully the swatches are more illuminating.


Swatches left to right: Revlon Blush, Armani #5, Guerlain Beige Nude, YSL Rouge Volupte #3, MAC Cosmo, YSL Spicy Pink, RBR Irreverence

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with flash

Although most normal people would not require so many rosy nude shades, I have to say that none of these colours are an exact dupe for Guerlain Beige Nude. YSL Ultimate Beige is about the same depth of colour but more beige toned, Revlon Blush is very sheer in comparison and both YSL Spicy Pink and MAC Cosmo are darker than Beige Nude. From the swatches, I would say that Rouge Bunny Rouge Irreverence and Beige Nude look most similar but on my lips Irreverence looks more pink toned. On my lips, the closest in appearance is the Armani Shine lipstick in #5 and of all the lipsticks I would say this has the most comparable texture.

For that is the other part of the problem: Beige Nude is a favourite not simply because of the colour, it also has a lovely formula. It's creamy, very opaque and non-drying. The YSL Rouge Voluptes are similarly opaque but I dislike how they dry my lips so soon after application, so these are not a good dupe texture wise. At some point I should investigate the Guerlain Rouge Automatique range to see if I can find a comparable colour to Beige Nude.

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Left - Guerlain Beige Nude, Right - Kevyn Aucoin ThelmaDora

As I was putting away the lipsticks, I spotted another similar colour that I'd missed in my first forage. Above you can see Kevyn Aucoin Expert Lip Tint in ThelmaDora (right) compared to Beige Nude (left). The colours are quite similar but the Kevyn Aucoin has some shimmer and isn't quite as creamy or opaque as the Guerlain.

Although I don't think I really possess a proper dupe for Beige Nude, I do think that I would recommend the Armani Shine lipstick in #5 as a good alternative. I reach for this lipstick often and couldn't bring myself to part with it, even after the toddler-eating-lipstick disaster. However, I'm not sure that this is easily available either so, the hunt continues! If you have any suggestions for an alternative, please let me know.

18 comments:

  1. As someone who has bought her third Rouge Automatique, I'd say you should definitely try the formula (alas I don't have any nudes of that particular line). It feels almost like a lipbalm, but I find that all colors have a certain sheerness to them.

    For creaminess, opaqueness and really lovely nude shades, you can't go wrong with Edward Bess. The lipsticks are almost all variations of nude, so it's just a matter of finding your perfect shade.

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    1. Hi Patuxxa, it sounds like I would really like the Rouge Automatique. It's really interesting that you mentioned Edward Bess. I agree that the texture is comparable. Unfortunately none of the three shades I have is similar but I think one of the later additions to the collections might be a good alternative. Demi-Buff or Rose Demure might be just the thing - http://www.thebeautylookbook.com/2010/12/new-lip-items-from-edward-bess.html

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  2. Looks like your lipstick collection looks a lot like mine! I love these kind of colours :)

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  3. Jane you are the best! It is good to know there are others out there that "understand" that even though it might look like a dupe it's not! :)
    Never can have too many lipsticks!!
    Stacy

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    1. You are most welcome Stacy! Did you see Patuxxa's comment? I wonder if one of the Edward Bess colours like Demi Buff or Rose Demure might be a good alternative. The texture is certainly just as good. Have you tried any EB?

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    2. Hi Jane!
      I have tried those EB and they are still "off"... I know I'm nuts! :)
      Stacy

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  4. I also like beigy-pink lip colors so went searching to find something comparable for you. I have several of the Guerlain Rouge Automatique lipsticks,and, while it's a lovely formula, I don't seem to have a color similar to your lipstick. However, in the ridiculously overpriced Rouge G line and with the equally ridiculous heavy packaging, you might want to check out Gilian (#14). It's a lovely beige pink, a moisturizing formula and wears fairly well. Here are some links to blogs that reviewed Gilian: http://cafemakeup.com/2010/08/25/guerlain-rouge-g-gilian/; http://makeupmagpie.blogspot.com/2010/07/guerlain-rouge-g-fall-2010-gilian.html

    I really love this color. Hope this helps!

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    1. Thank you so much for the links and recommendation Fleur de Liz :). I suspect it's a little more nude that beige nude but it is a very pretty colour. I have wanted to try both the Rouge G and Rouge Automatique formula for quite a while. I think a trip to their counter is overdue!

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  5. I adore rosy beiges and your dupe list has me wanting all of them, especially the Armani and MAC cosmo.

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    1. Hi Jen! The Armani and MAC Cosmo are both really nice. Cosmo is a little darker than the others but I prefer all of these shades to the classic nude which just washes me out.

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  6. I notice more brown and purple tones with your lipsticks which I don't suit but loved this post! I'm so drawn to YSL Rouge Volupte #3 but in the original post about this it's much darker than here or is that just me? It looks peachy here but is darker on that post. The packaging draws me more lol ;) I bought a pinky nude lipstick at the weekend and it suited me that afternoon I tried it but in the cold light of morning I looked dead lol (felt dead too!). I'm drawn to peachy pinks so I'll have to see what other shades YSL do haha

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    1. Any difference in appearance are probably due to lighting. It's always hard work keeping it consistent and this time of year is especially hard work! YSL Rouge Volupte is a dark nude and it does have a more, dare I say it, orange undertone to it. My main problem with the Rouge Voluptes in their consistency. The packaging is lovely though and I love the fact that they stuck a mirror on the top of the lid!

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  7. mm I don't think I was so into make up this time last year, the lack of good light is really annoying me now! ooo a mirror on the lid now I like that part, do you mean consistency for pics or in general? x

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    1. The RV formula feels strange on the lips. It's quite slippery feeling but not in a moisturising sense as I find it dries my lips out. You have to keep it topped up otherwise your lips feel uncomfortable.

      If I haven't completely put you off yet, CheapSmells often have them for less than RRP x

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  8. And the discontinue monster strikes up and kills another beauty D: amazing attempt-at-dupe post though!

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  9. Death of a lipstick! Too cute and has put a smile on my face :-)

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