The Chicest French Women I Know All Consider This 197-Year-Old Makeup Brand the Best Ever

When you think of Guerlain makeup, you'll likely think of the iconic lipstick cases that you've seen all over your For You Page, which are both beautifully functional and a luxurious keepsake. It won't come as a surprise that this refillable lipstick case was actually created by a jewellery designer, and you can tell from all the thoughtful details.

Firstly, the golden casing is beautifully weighty in your hands, but when you open up the lipstick, a double mirror pops open. The designer, Lorenz Baumer, said it was officially designed so you can easily top up your lipstick without a separate mirror. But unofficially, he reveals in a TikTok video that it's also useful to check someone dashing behind you. I have to admit, pulling it out of your bag does make you feel like a stylish undercover spy.

The cases come in an array of colourways and finishes (think tortoiseshell and leather effect textures, as well as limited-edition designs), which you can pair with different colours and lipstick finishes from satin to matte. If you need a gift for a beauty lover, then this will always make them swoon.

When you've made the tough decision of choosing between the cases, the next step is choosing your lipstick colour and finish. I tested The Customisable Ultra-Care Satin Lipstick in the shade Beige Praline (a neutral beige-pink, which is my usual go-to hue), which has a buttery satin finish that feels more like a lip balm on the lips. A lot of lipsticks irritate or dry out my lips, but not this one. It left my lips feeling soft and nourished long after it had worn away. If you prefer a matte finish, then you can also use any of the Velvet Lipsticks (£35), which drench lips in a petal-like finish. Once you buy the Rouge G lipstick case, it's endlessly refillable, and you can easily swap out the lipstick shades and finishes depending on your look.

The Terracotta Bronzer is another industry icon from Guerlain. It was the first product I ever tried from the brand after I saved up money to buy it at duty-free as a teenager. And it's still as brilliant now as it was then. These soft bronzing powders deliver a sheer veil of tan, bringing a sunlit glow wherever you dust them. They do have a slight hint of shimmery particles in them, so you may want to pass if you want a fully matte bronzer.

But, I have to say that the overall effect is glowy rather than glitzy, which helps to prevent your bronzer from looking flat and lifeless. The hint of pearl particles creates a subtle, lit-from-within glow—without any hint of glitter or sparkle. They also come in cool and warm undertones, so you can find one that best suits your complexion. However, there is definitely room for Guerlain to add more shades for deep complexions here.

I really thought I didn't need this product in my routine until I tried it. If you're not a fan of bronzers, but you still want a healthy-looking glow, then this is the non-bronzing bronzer your makeup bag needs. Both lighter in tone and texture than the original Terracotta bronzer, it gives your skin a subtle, luminous finish. It's the perfect middle ground between a bronzer and a luminous setting powder. Think the healthy glow you get from an afternoon in the sun, rather than an intense two-weeks-abroad tan.

It has a satiny bronzing shade, a lighter matte shade, a pink blush shade and a luminising shimmer mosaicked in the pan, which, when you swirl together with a brush, bestows a healthy radiance upon skin that is never glittery—just glowy, but with a matte finish. You can sweep it all over for a healthy glow, or place it in targeted places, such as the cheeks, for subtle radiance. It's great if you're someone who has oily skin, but still wants a glowing finish from their makeup without sparkle or dewiness.

I know we've largely left bronzing and highlighting pearls firmly in the '00s, but hear me out. Météorites were the original luminising pearls, which launched in the '80s and will forever have a legendary spot in makeup history. Each pearl comes in a different colour (which will depend on which of the four shades you choose from), designed to colour correct, highlight and add radiance all in one.

You swirl your makeup brush amongst the pearls to capture a mix of the pigments before sweeping all over your skin to set your makeup and add a glow. You can also use them with the included powder puff for a more mattified finish, or apply it with a smaller brush to delicately highlight smaller areas like the cheekbones and bridge of the nose. The result is so pretty, delivering an ethereal glow wherever you place them. Plus, the pearls themselves are such a delight to look at, while the scent smells like expensive violet-scented French bonbons. They're almost good enough to eat.

Aside from the Rouge G lipstick, this may be one of the chicest cases I've ever seen. But it's not just about looks. This tinted lip balm is a sensorial experience on the lips. It bestows a sheer tint of colour to the lips while wrapping them in a balmy texture that is the perfect consistency. It's not too heavy—but it doesn't disappear after a sip of your drink, either—and leaves your lips with a subtle gleam and a honeyed tint of colour. It contains beeswax, honey and shea butter that leave your lips feeling comfortable. I tried the shade Blossom Glow, a sheer rosewood hue that makes my lip colour look like my own, just a little more elevated and plump.

If you prefer a more glossy finish on your lips, then this lip oil will undoubtedly become a new favourite in your makeup bag. To me, it feels more like a lip gloss (expect a touch of stickiness) compared to other lip oils. But, because of this, this lip oil has a lovely plumping effect on the lips, leaving them looking full and glassy. The formula reacts to the pH of your lips, so after the glossiness has worn away, you're still left with a subtle lip stain for a hint of colour.

I tried the shade Rose Glow, a sheer, soft pink, and it left my lips with a glossy hue that left behind a gentle veil of pink on my lips. The formula smells deliciously of honey (a key ingredient that makes it so nourishing, alongside propolis, royal jelly and hyaluronic acid), and the doe-foot applicator is large, so it hugs the lips as you swipe it on.

This is Guerlain's best-selling foundation, so I was curious to try it out. As someone with oily skin, most matte foundations scare me (they're either too mattifying and make my skin look flat, or they're not enough to control shine). This, however, pleasantly surprised me. It leans more to a satin finish on the skin, but has the long-wearing power of a matte foundation.

The result is a gentle radiance, but without the stickiness of a dewy foundation—this isn't going to slide around. It offers medium to full coverage, depending on how much you build it, and I loved the finish. It has a non-shimmery glow to it that really captures the light (FYI, it photographs amazingly well on camera), so I'd recommend reaching for this when you require more coverage and a flawless-looking finish.

One thing that always amazes me about Guerlain is that all of its makeup smells good. Maybe that's unsurprising for a fragrance house, but it even goes for this mascara, which also has a delicate honeyed-floral scent. The mascara itself is great if you want a curling mascara that keeps your eyelashes lifted throughout the day. It delivers a fanned-out effect that lengthens and separates each eyelash beautifully, while the curved brush makes it easy to reach the base of the lashes for maximum lift, curl and hold as you sweep it through. When I tested this, I found it held the curl in place all day, without smudging or flaking either.