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......

.....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.

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

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.

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.

YSL Rouge Volupte #3 (Ultimate Beige)

I had a few questions about the lipstick I was wearing in yesterday's face of the day picture so I thought it might be useful to do some swatches and compare to some other colours that I already have.

I actually find it a little difficult to describe this colour. The Sephora website describe Ultimate Beige as a mauve taupe. As hilarious as that is for a known mauve taupe obsessive like me, I'm inclined to disagree a little. I would say this is a dark, peach toned nude. In fact I might go so far as to use the word orange but I think peach sounds less scary! However you choose to describe it, I think it looks much nicer on the lips than it might sound. I'm not sure it would suit all skin tones though and in fact this was a gift from a like-minded make fiend friend who found it didn't work for her.

It's a relatively unique colour in my collection but I thought it would be useful to compare to some other darker nude and flesh pink shades. I'm sorry I haven't labelled the pictures themselves but I was on a tight deadline! You can click on the pictures to enlarge.

From L-R: Hourglass Fresco, YSL Spicy Pink, Revlon Blush, MAC Blankety, MAC Cosmo, MAC Hug Me, YSL Ultimate Beige, Illamasqua Test

From L-R: Hourglass Fresco, YSL Spicy Pink, Revlon Blush, MAC Blankety, MAC Cosmo, MAC Hug Me, YSL Ultimate Beige, Illamasqua Test

From L-R: Hourglass Fresco, YSL Spicy Pink, Revlon Blush, MAC Blankety, MAC Cosmo, MAC Hug Me, YSL Ultimate Beige, Illamasqua Test

From L-R: Hourglass Fresco, YSL Spicy Pink, Revlon Blush, MAC Blankety, MAC Cosmo, MAC Hug Me, YSL Ultimate Beige, Illamasqua Test

Ultimate Beige has the usual Rouge Volupte texture and scent. If you haven't tried one before, they are pigmented and quite slippy/slick feeling. Despite how creamy they feel, they can dry my lips a little after a day of wear. The Rouge Volupte lipsticks cost £22 and you can get them from anywhere that stocks YSL. For those of you after a bargain, you can get this particular shade for a more purse friendly £15.90 from CheapSmells which I believe includes UK delivery (yes it is an awful name for a website but I've bought from them before with no problem).

Rouge Volupte bargains and a Thank you!

I spotted today that Cheapsmells.com had increased the shades of YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks that they stock. They are priced £14.95 and they currently have No.1, No.2 and No.7 (Lingerie Pink) to name but a few. It's an ideal way to try one if you have been put off by the usual £21 price tag. They also have a number of the Rouge Pur lipsticks too.

I also wanted to say a big Thank you to all my followers. I never really expected anyone to be interested in my rambling so it's been a real delight to get subscribers. I value all of your comments and I hope that you will continue to enjoy my blog. As a little thank you I am planning a giveaway. Shopping for the prizes is great fun but as a naturally indecisive person it's taking longer than I'd hoped! Fingers crossed I'll be able to post the details in a couple of days so watch this space.


Jane x

I give in! I'm obviously not iron willed enough for P10P!

I just can't stop buying at the moment. I'm convinced it's because I'm not supposed to be buying that the urge becomes irrisistable. The flipping Debenhams vouchers are just enablers too!

So, this is a bit of a combined haul, it's a mix of a couple of Debenhams trips, an online shop and a trip to the CCO at Bicester. Here's a picture of everything...

From left to right across the back:
Illamasqua eyeshadow in Cancan
Illamasqua lipstick in Wanton
Mini Marvala nail varnish
YSL rouge volupte no.20 (spicy pink)
MAC eyeshadow in Fig.1

Pencils etc. from top down:
MAC Greaspaint stick in Dirty
MAC Pearlglide liner in Petrol Blue
MAC Pearlglide liner in Miss Fortune
MAC Lash brush

(L - Cancan R - Fig. 1)
Cancan is really beautiful, you have to pack on quite a bit to get it to show up on the lid but it's worth it. I picked up Fig. 1 at the Bicester CCO, I was really pleased to see it there. I've passed it up before and really regretted it. I'm a huge fan of purples!

These are probably the most representative swatches of the shadows

(L - Cancan R - Fig. 1)

(L- YSL Spicy Pink, R - Illamasqua Wanton)

(Top- YSL Spicy Pink, Bottom - Illamasqua Wanton)

I'm in love with both of these lipsticks, very 'me' sort of shades!

Lastly are the Greasepaint and Pearlglide swatches

L-R: Dirty, Petrol blue, Miss Fortune

Dirty Greasepaint stick is gorgeous! I'd swatched in on my hand the following week. It didn't look so great in the shops lights so I didn't get it but I regretted it as soon as I stepped outside. It has such a lovely sheen in daylight. Petrol blue liner in lovely too, I've been wearing it a lot with purple shadows. I picked up Miss Fortune at Bicester, I'd been considering either Almost Noir or UD's Rockstar so this seemed like a bargainous alternative. It still doesn't make up for my disappointment at Designer Purple being sold out though!

I've got another haul post to come as my ASOS delivery arrived this morning and I've been making use of my Revlon/L'oreal vouchers at Boots. Watch this space!