Whenever Guerlain releases a new quad, I go crazy over it. I love the heavy metal packaging and their very finely milled long lasting formula. Most of the time this combination comes with interesting and flattering shade combinations. All of the three quads they have released with Kiss Kiss Fall Collection were superb. There were mattes and shimmers combined in best ways, and I fell especially in love with Les Violines.
Talking about Spring, Guerlain happened to release my favorite quads with 2013 and 2014 Spring Collections, just to name a few, #503 Les Tendres, #502 Coup de Foudre and #501 Attrape-Coeur. Looking at the trend here, 501, 502 and 503, I had to add Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux to my stash, and see if it would knock me off my feet as much as the other three did...
 |
| Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux is a palette of bronze and green combination with warm undertones. When I took it out of its box to take photos, I placed it under the lights and I thought "Is this one a shimmery quad?". Under light you can see the lustre on each of the shades and the first impression of having soft shimmery shades is confirmed right after you dip your fingers into it. If you know me, you can tell that I was not impressed, as "soft shimmery eye lid" is not one of my go-to looks. Nevertheless, I am going to try my best to review Les Précieux as fair as possible, trying my best to put my personal preferences aside.
 |
| Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux consists if the following shades:
Left: A deep moss green base with medium green shimmer. This shade has a good color pay-off. The shimmer is not very complex but doesn't look frosty nor cheap.
Up: A very light, almost white pink with semi sheer opacity and almost frosty shimmer. It was hard to do anything with this shade. I am still trying to find an eye look to use it. The very light yellow shade underneath looks almost the same on the eyes and has a better opacity/color pay off.
Down: Very pale yellow green which appear like a cream shade. This shade has a better color pay off than the light pink and it is very soft to touch. This is why after a few usage the pattern on it gets erased for good. I like applying this one on the inner lid for a soft gradient look
Right: My favorite shade in the palette, a mid-toned warm bronze with gorgeous shimmer. Don't be fooled by how deep it looks in the pan though because once applied it is rather soft. I can see myself wearing just this shade for an effortless day make-up
 |
| Close-up: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
 |
| Swatch: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
Now on my eyes, as I have previously mentioned, I was a little clueless since the shades doesn't have finishes which I usually go for. I applied the light yellow on the inner half of the lid, then blended it with the bronze on the outer half. I have then defined my crease and outer third with the green shade, which appeared to be the deepest shade of the quad. Blended moss green does look muddy on my complexion at times and you can see the effect below. All in all those shades do blend effortlessly and they have a tendency to blend a little too much.
 |
| In-action: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
Here are two of the green palettes of Spring 2015 side by side. There is also House of Greens by Dior which I (currently) managed to skip. From the swatches you can see that Chanel #236 Tissé Fantaisie is more playful with a coral thrown in there and all in all cooler with more color pay-off. Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux on the other hand gives a softer less defined and more shimmery look if this is what you would prefer for Spring.Both of the palettes have a frosty white/pink shade which I am still experimenting with ;-)
 |
| Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux vs. Chanel Les 4 Ombres #236 Tissé Fantaisie |
 |
| Swatch: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux vs. Chanel Les 4 Ombres #236 Tissé Fantaisie |
Gosh, it is time to do something with my hair! It became the wildest and ugliest looking thing on my head (together with my brows ugh!). Back to subject, here is the look in context using Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux on the eyes, Guerlain Météorites Perles de Blush Éclat Angélique (reviewed here) on cheeks and Tom Ford Michael on lips. It is so cold here at the moment, so I am wearing my warmest cashmere sweater and a scarf of to add some color in the mix.
 |
| FOTD: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux |
Although it is not particularly announced as limited edition, I believe Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs #504 Les Précieux is not permanent because of the numbering system, 500s were all limited. The blue quad from Spring Collection on the other hand should be added to the Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs line, again just judging by the number.
Final thoughts: Green, soft & shimmery, if that is what you would like this Spring, Guerlain got you covered. If you like more interesting color combinations and palettes which mix matte and shimmery, keep on searching.
Have you checked Guerlain Spring Collection yet? Anything catching your eye?
