Guerlain's KissKiss Liplift, KissKiss Matte & Intense Liquid Matte

Hello beauties! As I'm sure you recall, back in September I attended Dave Lackie's #GuerlainLover dinner (recap of the event can be found here). In classic Dave Lackie fashion, all the guests received an amazing gift bag. Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on the lip products we received.

Before I talk about the products, I thought I'd share a bit about the brand. Guerlain is a luxury French beauty brand founded in 1828. From the start and to this day, Guerlain produces all of their products in France. The Guerlain House has been awarded the "Living Heritage Company" label by the French Ministry for Economy and Industry, a testament to the rich history of the brand. I could go on about Guerlain's history, but I'm going to jump right into my reviews.

"The indispensable partner to lipstick, the KissKiss Liplift smoothing base in stick form redefines your lip contour, smoothes and prepares the lips for long-lasting make-up. With its creamy, rich and supple texture and neutral translucent shade, it preserves and enhances the colour of your lipstick.

Lips are smooth and silky soft. Their contour is more defined. Lipstick is easy to apply. It offers lasting hold for guaranteed high-fidelity make-up without feathering." /source/ 

The Guerlain KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer ($44, 1.85g) comes housed in an exquisite, golden bullet. As the name suggests, it's a primer for your lips. To maximize its efficacy, apply it on your lips (prior to lipstick) slightly beyond your lip contour and blend in with your fingertips.

KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer has a subtle vanilla-violet and berries scent, and it applies transparent. It feels smooth and balm like. I noticed it made my lipstick apply much smoother and it wore longer.

"Guerlain imagines KissKiss Matte, a hydrating and plumping matte lipstick, intense like a lipstick and comfortable like a balm! The subtle spice extract it contains gives the impression of voluminous lips while the precious oils and the hyaluronic acid smooth and hydrate them. KissKiss Matte offers 9 captivating shades for all special occasions. The iconic packaging is adorned with a golden matte veil."

Guerlain KissKiss Matte ($44, 3.5g) is housed in the same iconic tube as the original KissKiss, but it's matte (and gold). How fitting! There are 9 shades available and I was gifted the shade M330 Spicy Burgundy. This shade of red is universally flattering to most skin tones, plus it's literally the perfect shade for fall!

KissKiss Matte Lipstick applies smoothly and feels super comfortable on the lips. It's long-wearing, but not transfer proof. I can usually get about 6 hours of wear before I need to touch it up. It lasts longer when paired with the KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer.

"Guerlain invents Intense liquid Matte: a smoothing matte liquid lipstick that’s easy to apply: creamy like a gloss and pigmented like a lipstick, with a stunning matte finish. A smoothing texture, which gives to the lips a highly pigmented and long lasting plumping look. The formula based on hyaluronic acid and tiger grass ensures a soft and enjoyable sensation. Seven captivating shades have been created for every mood."

 /source/

Guerlain Intense Liquid Matte Creamy Velvet Lipcolour ($40, 7ml) is available in 7 hydrating shades. I was gifted M71 Exciting Pink and I love it! This liquid lipstick applies very much like a gloss, but opaque and (mostly) matte. The doe-foot applicator makes lining and filling the lips easy and the colour dries down true to the shade in the tube. If you're looking for a luxe liquid lipstick that not only looks pretty but wears beautifully, I highly recommend you check these out!

You can find these and other Guerlain products Canada wide at Hudson's Bay, Sephora and Nordstrom.

*These products were generously gifted to me at Dave Lackie's #GuerlainLover event ❤

Sothys Paris Fall-Winter Makeup Collection ~ Review + Swatches

Sothys Paris is a new-to-me Parisian brand that is exclusively available in spas. I've been testing out their fall makeup collection, and I have to admit, I'm quite impressed! This collection features the essentials (eyeshadow, blush, lipstick and nail polish) and there were a few stand out items for me.

The Smoky Eye Duo ($48.50) is a contour eye pencil set available in two shades - Zinc Grey and Plum. The pencils are pigmented, creamy, blendable and effortless to apply. I applied them without primer and they stayed put the whole day without any creasing. Amazing!

The Velvet Effect Lipstick ($35.95) is a beautiful classic red. The packaging is understated, however, the lipstick is embossed with Sothys which makes it look very chic. It also comes in a cute velvet pouch which adds a nice touch. The lipstick applies smoothly and has opaque coverage with two swipes. It has a velvet feel and a matte finish that stays put on my lips for around 3-4 hours before I need to touch it up (sooner if I eat) and it's non-drying.

The Nail Lacquer ($18.50) is a show-stopping red that matches the Velvet Effect Lipstick perfectly. It's easy to apply and opaque - one coat is doable, but two coats looks best. I found it to dry rather quickly and it has a beautiful high-shine finish. What impressed me most about this nail polish is how durable it is and how long it lasts.

I typically don't get much more than a day out of polish before it starts to chip - my hands go through a lot in a day (kids, dishes, cleaning, etc). With Sothys Nail Lacquer, I was able to go 2 (almost 3) days before it started to wear off. That might not sound like a long time, but for me it is. I highly recommend this nail polish!

Sothys Paris is available in Institute and Spas throughout Canada. To find a location closest to you, call this toll-free number 1-800-361-3004

*Press samples were kindly provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.

#GuerlainLover Event Recap

I recently had the pleasure of attending one of Dave Lackie's famous VIP Followers Events and today I'm sharing a quick recap of the event. The #GuerlainLover dinner was held in celebration of the launch of Guerlain's newest lipstick,  Kiss Kiss Matte. This was Dave's first ever VIP follower event with Guerlain and we had not one, but two special guests in attendance!

The dinner was held at the Arcadian Court in a beautiful room modeled after the great palaces of Europe. The room was adorned with fragrant flowers and luxurious Guerlain product displays. We were greeted with a signature cocktail aptly named Kiss Kiss. The drink consisted of Ketel Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, pink grapefruit & lemon juice and it was garnished with a vibrant (and edible) Violet flower. Unfortunately, I arrived a bit late and totally drank my drink before taking a photo.

The room was abuzz with excited conversation, photo taking and lots of hugs! Dave has brought so many of us beauty lovers, bloggers and artists together. Thanks to Dave and these events, many friendships have formed. We all posed for a group photo and I love how it turned out. I'm sitting in the front row with the pink skirt!

📷 Credit : Dave Lackie @davelackie

After our photo we were seated at a large table that ran down the center of the room. Each seat had a Guerlain gift bag (more on that later 😍) and the table setting was very chic. We ate a delicious three course meal prepared by Oliver & Bonaci and drank perfectly paired wine.

During dinner, Sandrine (VP of Guerlain Canada Marketing) spoke with us about her fascinating career in the beauty industry and how she came to be part of the Guerlain family. Sandrine was a student in Shanghai and after having difficulty finding work, decided to move to Europe. While in Paris she scored an interview at Guerlain.  The woman who hired Sandrine did so because she had spent time in Shanghai herself. The best piece of advice Sandrine gave was to be dedicated to what you do. What stuck out in my mind was when she said that you need to be you, because authenticity is what gets you noticed. Another really important topic she touched on was how with success comes failure. You can't be perfect all the time and not everyone will like what you do (especially in the world of beauty). What's important is being yourself and never giving up. Success will come!

During dessert, our second guest of honour spoke with us about his career. Maxime Poulin is Guerlain's International Makeup Artist and one of the nicest people you could ever meet! His approach to makeup is easy to follow and combines both art and functionality. Maxime believes that all women can wear red lipstick (so do I) and he suggests trying it on at home first to build confidence and to become comfortable wearing it.

The beautiful @WhatsupLiz finding her perfect red lipstick

Another fabulous tip he gave was to avoid harsh lip lines and texture (this can 'age' you) by lightly applying lipstick, pushing your lips together and gently blurring the edge.

As I mentioned earlier, all guests received a very generous gift bag with 5 amazing Guerlain products, 3 of which are new. I will be reviewing all of the items we received in a separate post so stay tuned for that!

Thank you so much to Dave Lackie, Cookie Gigan, Beth and the Guerlain Canada team for this incredible opportunity.


If you're not already following Dave on Twitter, I highly recommend you do! He offers daily pro-tips, luxe giveaways and so much more! and don't forget to check out beautytheguide.com for the latest and greatest in beauty!


You can find Guerlain products at Hudson's Bay, Sephora and Beauty Boutique.

Incoming! Dior Rouge Liquid & Double Rouge ~ Review + Swatches

Peter Philips (Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup) has revamped Dior's Iconic Dior Rouge lipstick in a big huge way and it's everything you've dreamed of and more! Meet Dior Rouge Liquid Lipstain and Dior Double Rouge 😍

"Laced with featherweight pigments that produce intense, vibrant colour that lasts up to 12 hours. Dior's first liquid lipstick is the next generation of liquid lipstick. A combination of wax, moisturizing oils, and setting agents make for a seamless, second-skin finish in one swipe."

Dior Rouge Liquid Lipstain ($43 CAD) is available in 29 shades (3 of which are Sephora exclusives) and three finishes (Rock Matte, Pop Satin and Electric Metal). Each shade boasts high impact colour, staying power and comfort. Optimum pigment dispersion reinforces colour intensity and each finish is formulated as follows:

- Matte effect: 2 to 7% pigments

- Satin effect: 1 to 3% pigments + 4 to 7% iridescence

- Metallic effect: 17 to 20% iridescence

When it comes to luxury packaging, Dior takes the cake. The sleek, navy tube has a vertical window that allows you to quickly view the shade as well as product usage. The wand is comfortable to hold and the doe foot applicator is by far the best I've ever used. There's a bowl shaped reservoir that holds just the right amount of lipstick and the tapered doe foot shape allows for precision lining and filling of the lips.

I have three shades (one from each finish category) and they are all very similar in formulation. They're definitely liquid lipstick, not a lipstain as the name suggests. It's important to note that they don't dry down completely which means that they will transfer. Having said that, they can hold their own when it comes to drinking and light snacking.

375 Spicy Metal is a stunning pink lipstick with a high-shine, metallic finish. It feels light on my lips and wears similar to a satin lipstick. Out of the three finishes I've tried, this one is the most pigmented, opaque and dries down the most (aka less transfer).

427 Delicate Satin is a light, peachy brown lipstick with a beautiful satin finish. It's incredibly comfortable to wear and gives off that 'my lips but better look'. From first application to end of the evening, this lipstick feels (and looks!) great.

424 Hypnotic Matte is a light, beige-brown nude with a pink undertone. It applies evenly, opaque and doesn't crack on my lips. It feels hydrating initially, but after extended wear it starts to feel a bit dry. Having said that, I don't feel the need to bathe in lip balm after wearing it.

Dior's Double Rouge ($43 CAD) is a dual-textured lipstick that has a highly pigmented matte outer ring with a metallic core. The concept is that the matte and metallic lipstick combine upon application to create a subtle ombré effect and an optical illusion of volume. It took up to 16 attempts to find the perfect balance for certain shades and 4 months to adjust the formula and perfect each stick.

Peter Philips created 4 colour families: fun and sophisticated reds, cheerful corals, electric purple pinks, and nudes. It's important to note that Double Rouge will not be available at Sephora.

Double Rouge is enclosed in the traditional Dior bullet packaging which is absolutely gorgeous. I was expecting these lipsticks to have a stark contrast when applied but thankfully they don't - the ombré effect is quite subtle and pretty. If you don't align the matte outer ring with the edges of your lips you won't get the ombré effect. Both of the shades I have feel very luxurious and comfortable on my lips.

429 Coup de Chic has a matte, rosy-nude outer ring with a soft pink mettalic inner core. When applied, the two combine to create a pinkish nude shade with a pearlescent finish. This shade is very light and feminine - I love it!

590 Dressed to Kill has a deep, matte burgundy outer ring with a champagne hued metallic core. When applied, the two combine to create a stunning wine red shade with a satin finish. I did find that when I tried to accentuate the ombré effect my lips looked a bit patchy as you can see in the photo. I had much better results when I forgo trying to ombré and just blended the two shades together.

You can find Dior's Double Rouge at Hudson's Bay, Beauty BOUTIQUE and Nordstrom or online at thebay.com and beautyBOUTIQUE.ca


You can find Dior's Rouge Liquid at Sephora, Hudson's Bay, Beauty BOUTIQUE and Nordstrom. Also available online at thebay.com, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and sephora.com




*Press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.