8 Best Guerlain Products, From Iconic Lipsticks to Legendary Perfumes

12.09.2026, 15:33 allure.com

With nearly 200 years of beauty history behind them, the best Guerlain products are practically shorthand for very fancy French beauty. Founded in Paris in 1828, Guerlain began with perfume and eventually branched out into makeup and skin care, becoming one of the few beauty brands that have endured for generations while continuing to evolve with the times.

Case in point: Météorites, the pastel powder pearls that became a Guerlain signature in the ’80s and now come in a pressed powder format, and Rouge G, the refillable lipstick housed in a redesigned case that could easily pass for jewelry. Fragrance is still a huge part of Guerlain’s DNA, with historic scents like L’Heure Bleue finding new life through modern reinterpretations. Ahead, we’ve gathered the Guerlain icons—plus a few newer favorites—that prove nearly two centuries later, the brand still knows how to make beauty look, feel, and smell a little more special.

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Allure social director Kassidy Silva applying the Guerlain L'Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum

Why we love it: Guerlain isn’t simply pulling its 1912 classic out of the archives for the new L’Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum. This contemporary interpretation takes the original’s iris-and-vanilla pairing in a fresher, lighter direction, inspired by the fleeting “blue hour” when daylight fades but night hasn’t quite arrived. It starts off cool, clean, and airy, with hints of juicy pear and citrusy neroli, before becoming softer and more floral. At its heart is a custom-developed iris tincture—an aromatic extract made by soaking dried, powdered iris rhizomes, or the plant’s underground stems, in alcohol, almost like steeping tea. This gentler alternative to heat-based distillation gradually draws out the iris’s fresh, green, and subtly woody qualities, rather than emphasizing only the powderiness typically associated with the flower. As the fragrance settles on skin, vanilla, musk, and ambroxan add cozy warmth without making it overly sweet.

Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva

"This airy iris scent has become a staple in my fragrance rotation since I first tested it back in May. The majority of my collection is made up of gourmand fragrances, so I was taken by surprise in the lab when I got my first sniff of L'Heure Bleue and was immediately attached. Typically, I find iris fragrances to be too powdery for my tastes, but the ozonic accord brings a distinct lightness that really opens up the scent. Plus, when I get whiffs of the jasmine, vanilla, and pear, as I wear it throughout the day, I can't help but stop and sniff. During the day, I get an easy eight hours of wear time, but it lasts even longer when I spritz it on my clothes or pillows. I even gave my notebook a few spritzes four months ago, and the scent has barely faded from the pages!" —Kassidy Silva, social director

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Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum

Why we love it: Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum tackles multiple concerns for aging skin (like wrinkles and laxity) with two separate formulas, which are housed in a dual-chamber bottle and dispensed together with each pump. The “renew” side uses glycolic and lactic acids, plus the gentler PHA gluconolactone, to gradually whisk away dulling dead skin, while white honey extract adds another boost of radiance. The “repair” side of the serum helps skin look firmer and more resilient with the brand’s proprietary Blackbee Repair Technology and mineral-rich honeys sourced from remote islands known for their protected ecosystems. Guerlain ferments those honeys with 10 microorganisms—a controlled process involving hundreds of tiny biological reactions—to create additional compounds that the brand says give skin a tighter, more lifted appearance.

Even with exfoliating acids in the mix, the formula doesn’t skimp on moisture: Glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin, squalane and meadowfoam seed oil soften, and oat extract helps soothe. Together, the two formulas take a comprehensive approach to both early and more established signs of aging, targeting uneven texture, dullness, fine lines, and loss of firmness.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

“This isn’t my first rodeo with dual- (or even triple-) chamber serums, yet every time I always find the concept so genius. Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum is basically like getting two full serums in one, with the added bonus that it takes the guesswork out of figuring out which actives work well together. And while the video simply doesn’t capture the texture, trust me: It’s incredibly airy and lightweight. You can practically see it disappear into my skin the second I smooth it on, without leaving behind even a trace of stickiness. Still, my perpetually dry skin feels thoroughly pampered afterward. I’m also very sensitive-skin-prone, and nothing in the formula sets mine off, including the added fragrance, which I’m usually wary of (in this case, it smells subtly sweet and very chic). I’ll need more time to see what it can do for my skin’s resilience—mine has been feeling especially thin and vulnerable lately after a bout of inflammation from another product—but the luxe, weightless texture makes this the kind of serum I’ll have no trouble sticking with long enough to find out.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

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Silva applying the Guerlain Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21

Why we love it: You might assume the “21” in Guerlain’s L’Art & La Matière Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 refers to its concentration or launch year, but it’s actually the number of days for which the house cold-soaks vanilla pods in alcohol to create its signature tincture. That extra time draws out sides of vanilla you won’t find in your average gourmand perfume: It’s still creamy and sweet, but also spicy, woody, faintly smoky, and even a little leathery.

The fragrance is an extrait made with a potent 30% fragrance concentrate. (For comparison, an eau de parfum typically contains around 10% to 20%, so this higher concentration gives the scent a richer feel and lasts longer on skin.) The fragrance celebrates vanilla’s place in Guerlinade, the house’s olfactory signature: a recurring palette of bergamot, rose, jasmine, iris, vanilla, and tonka bean that gives many Guerlain scents their recognizable warmth and soft sweetness. Here, vanilla takes the lead, while warm spices keep it from feeling overly saccharine. Opoponax—a balsamic resin—adds ambery depth, and musk leaves it feeling soft and skin-like. If you love vanilla, this is the polished, grown-up version you’re looking for.

Tester feedback from Silva

“Guerlain's Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 is a vanilla fragrance like no other. The musky gourmand is a sexy, mysterious confection that turns heads no matter what room you're in. But the unique blend isn't even the most standout element; it's wear time. Fragrances typically don't last long on my skin; I usually get between 4 and 5 hours before needing to reapply, but I get at least 12 hours with this scent. I'll apply two spritzes to my wrist that I dab on my neck and a few to my clothes and hair, which last all day. I'll catch a whiff from my wrist every so often, and it adds a little bounce in my step. Not to mention, the bottle's intricate craftsmanship makes it a standout in any perfume cabinet. The woven golden rope on the bottle's neck and the brand's signature G and bees around the bottle are my favorites. Each bottle is fully customizable, moving it into heirloom status in my eyes. It's certainly a splurge, but if it's in your budget and you love compliments, this one is for you.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director

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Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Kiss Kiss Honey-Infused Refillable Lipstick

Why we love it: Since launching in the ’90s, Guerlain’s KissKiss lipstick has had a few makeovers, but this year’s version may be its most practical yet: The gold case is slimmer and, for the first time, refillable. The formula got an update, too, pairing rich color and a softly blurred matte finish with minimal transfer—without leaving lips feeling dried out. That comfort comes courtesy of honey, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly, plus shea butter, ceramides, sunflower oil, and rosehip oil, which help lips stay smooth and soft. Alongside the honey scent, notes of orange blossom and vanilla leave behind a subtle fragrance with every swipe—a small touch that makes application feel that much more luxurious.

Pai before applying the Kiss Kiss Honey-Infused Refillable Lipstick

Pai after applying the Kiss Kiss Honey-Infused Refillable Lipstick

Tester feedback from Pai

"I'll start with the first impression: The packaging is sleek and chic, and slim enough that I can throw it into the tiniest bag if needed. But the lipstick itself is—not to be dramatic—a revelation. I usually reach for tinted lip balms for the sheer convenience (pun intended) but have found that a brighter, more pigmented color better brightens my face and makes me look pulled together. And dang, does this give me everything I want: It has a balmy feel that lasts for hours, and the color makes me look polished without feeling fussy. I haven't put it to the kiss-proof test just yet, but I don't even care: It's good enough to become a regular in my lip rotation." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

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Allure associate social media manager Katie Gunderman applying the Guerlain Météorites Compact Mattifying & Setting Pressed Powder

Why we love it: Guerlain’s candy-colored Météorites spheres have been setting, correcting, and illuminating complexions since 1987; now, the iconic multicolored pearls come in a more travel-friendly compact. Each palette includes

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