Everything You Need to Know About the New Guerlain Rouge G

Fifteen years after its revolutionary debut, and six years after pioneering the customisation trend, the Guerlain Rouge G is back! The legendary jewel lipstick has undergone a massive makeover, improving on the major elements of skincare, luxury, and sustainability.

You probably know the history: Guerlain first launched Rouge G in 2009. It was an instant sell-out thanks to the iconic case with its flip-up mirror and that wonderfully rich, buttery formula. The 2018 relaunch leaned into customisation, letting us mix and match cases and refills. Now, Guerlain has completely surpassed itself. Here are the must-know changes for the new generation:

The update is a top-to-bottom overhaul, designed to improve both the product and the planet.

• A Solid Gold Upgrade: The original silver lipstick bullet and cases have been switched to a sophisticated gold finish. It feels immediately more luxe and aligns with Guerlain’s opulent French heritage.

• A Skincare Superstar Formula: The new lipstick boasts an impressive 89% skincare base of natural-origin ingredients. This formula is built around an exclusive complex of lily flower (known for its smoothing properties) and sweet almond oil (for hydration and plumping).

• The Sustainable Shine: Guerlain has committed to eco-design. The new cases are 19% lighter than before, which has resulted in a significant 30% reduction in CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.

• The Bigger Shade Range: There are now a total of 40 stunning shades available, ranging from perfect everyday nudes to 14 different reds! They come in two perfected finishes: Satin and Velvet Matte.

• A Final Word on the Old: Sadly, due to a complete mechanism redesign to achieve the new performance and eco goals, your older Rouge G refills will not fit in the new cases, and vice versa. It’s frustrating, but the new performance makes the change worthwhile.

• L’Art Deco: gold art deco design.
• L’Ecaille: brown and gold tortoise shell.
• Le Camel: brown-beige faux leather.
• Le Croco: red faux crocodile skin.
• Le Fauve: brown and nude leopard print.
• Le Marbre: white, grey and beige marble effect.
• Le Nude: nude-pink faux leather.
• Les Stud: Black and diamonte.
• Le Strasse: silver crystals.

The new lipstick formula truly delivers on its promise of comfort. That 89% skincare base, including the lily oleo extract, makes a tangible difference.

The Lipstick Finishes and Wear

The refill comes in two distinct options:

• Satin: Leaves the lips with a subtle, silky shine. As expected, it feels incredibly hydrating. I found I needed to top this up at lunchtime.

• Velvet Matte: Leaves the lips with a soft, sophisticated matte finish. This one surprised me! Despite being matte, it didn't make my lips feel tight or dry whatsoever. It felt cushioned and had great longevity; I managed all-day wear (around 6-8 hours) when I paired it with a liner.

The Rouge G Lipstick Refill comes in two finishes: satin, which leaves the lips with a subtle shine, and Velvet, which leaves the lips with a soft, matte finish. Both have great longevity; I found that the velvet lasted all day (I paired it with a lip liner), while the satin finish I needed to top-up at lunchtime.

The lip pencil has a soft kohl, creamy, and smooth formula thanks to ingredients like castor oil and botanical squalane. It’s comfortable and lightweight on the lips, plus it’s transfer proof, which helps to extend the wear time of your lip colour and helps prevent bleeding and smudging.

01 Le Bois de Rose: a light rosewood.
02 Le Beige Praline: a soft nude beige.
03 Le Brun Tonka: a timeless brown.
04 Le Rouge Feu: a vibrant bright red.
05 Le Rouge Rubis: an intense bluish-red.
06 Le Burgundy: a deep burgundy.