Few brands elevate festive glamour with the same artistry as Guerlain. In 2023, Guerlain introduced the Fantasy Bestiary Collection. It is a limited-edition makeup release inspired by the animal kingdom and Guerlain’s rich heritage. Under the creative direction of Violette Serrat, the collection blends sophisticated color stories with fantastical animal motifs. It has animal-motif packaging that feels elegant, playful, and collectible.
This deep dive explores the artistry behind the Fantasy Bestiary collection. It also goes into the inspiration and color stories that shaped it. From bold eyeshadow palettes to sculpting bronzers and collectible lip cases. There are placeholders throughout for embedding video content, including Allison Chase’s YouTube demo of two full looks using the eyeshadow palette, Rouge G shade Flamingo Pink, and the gold-accented bronzer.
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The Heritage of Guerlain: Craft and Elegance
Founded in 1828, Guerlain stands as one of the oldest and most revered names in luxury beauty. The Maison has built a legacy rooted in craftsmanship, artistic innovation, and timeless elegance. Its creations — from iconic fragrances like Shalimar to the Meteorites powders loved by generations — balance sensory richness with refined design. They turn beauty rituals into personal moments of splendor, where artistry and functionality coexist.
Behind the Guerlain Collaboration: Art, Craft, and Vision
Guerlain collaborated with Turkish jeweler Begüm Khan to create select packaging elements for this collection. Khan’s work brings exotic motifs and precious materials to the collection, infusing it with artistry usually found in fine jewelry.
“For me, nature is an unending source of inspiration,” says Violette Serrat, Guerlain’s Make-Up Creative Director. “For this Christmas collection, I drew from Guerlain’s archives and wanted to pay homage to the incredible beasts I discovered there. I wanted to give them a decorative, festive twist, blending opulent rhinestones, velvet, daring colors, and leopard print…Chic yet audaciously playful.”
She was featured on CNA Luxury, where they follow her around for the day and you get to see behind the scenes of her jewelry making. She also mentions working on Guerlain’s Bee perfume bottle (which is gorgeous) and hand made. I will be doing a whole other blog post on that so, keep an eye out.
Guerlain Fantasy Bestiary Inspiration and Design
The Fantasy Bestiary embodies this vision: mythical animals, jewel tones, and luxurious textures converge, creating a festive collection that feels both collectible and wearable. Every piece tells a story, celebrating the Maison’s creativity and holiday magic. The collection highlights bold patterns, from glittery tiger stripes to green leopard motifs, and finishes that encourage creativity. They transform each product into a miniature work of art, bridging the line between collectible object and everyday beauty tool.
The color palette is deliberate with jewel tones that evoke opulence and metallic finishes that add luminosity. Each design element reflects the Maison’s commitment to luxury, imagination, and timeless holiday glamour.
Eyeshadow Palette: Ombres G 879 Glittery Tiger
The Ombres G 879 Glittery Tiger Eyeshadow Palette blends four distinct shades: intense matte purple, pearly satin pink, gold-flecked metallic green, and shimmering metallic gold. Each shade delivers depth, contrast, and luminosity.
The Guerlain Ombres G 879 Glittery Tiger is the kind of limited‑edition palette that earns its place on a vanity. The compact’s black velour and subtle holographic striping nod to the collection’s animal‑inspired theme without tipping into novelty, while the four‑shade harmony inside delivers the multi‑effect formula Guerlain is known for—intense pigment, refined texture, and a finish that stays polished from morning to after‑hours.
Each shade blends with the ease of a cream and the precision of a powder, making it a versatile edit for sculpted neutrals, metallic definition, or a clean wash of shimmer. Created for the holidays but designed with the kind of versatility that never goes out of rotation.
Benefits
- Exceptional texture composed of intense pigments
- Provides long‑lasting colour with unparalleled depth
- Features multi‑effect finishes (matte, satin, metallic, glitter depending on harmony)
- Delivers high colour payoff
- Designed for long wear and seamless blending
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- Images belong to Guerlain
Rouge G Lipstick: Jewel Cases and Shades
Guerlain’s Rouge G line is iconic for its customizable jewel cases. The Fantasy Bestiary introduces Glittery Tiger with velvet tiger stripes and Feline Fantasy green and black leopard print.
The Guerlain Rouge G Fantasy Bestiary lipsticks bring a fresh, polished energy to the collection. The limited‑edition jewel cases — the black Glittery Tiger and the green Feline Fantasy — update the classic Rouge G silhouette with sharper detailing and a more contemporary finish. Inside, the formula delivers smooth, saturated colour with a comfortable texture that wears well throughout the day. The coordinating holiday shades transition easily from everyday routines to evening looks, making this release a practical yet elevated addition to the Rouge G lineup.
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- Images belong to Guerlain
The collection houses three exclusive shades:
N°234 Roaring Red – rich matte red
N°521 Flamingo Pink – soft velvet pink
N°38 Dreamy Garnet – deep cherry-black satin
These jewel cases transform lipsticks into luxury collectibles. The Flamingo Pink shade adds warmth without being overly sweet.
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- Images belong to Guerlain
If you would like to read about other beautifully decorated lipsticks, you can read my blog post Florasis Lipstick Review.
Terracotta Golden Leopard Bronzer
The Terracotta Bronzing Powder features a limited-edition Golden Leopard design with a delicate leopard print and golden mother-of-pearl.
The bronzer adds a warm, sculpted glow, complementing both the eyeshadow palette and Rouge G shades. Its silky texture blends effortlessly, providing a luminous holiday-ready finish.
The Guerlain Terracotta Golden Leopard bronzer brings a refined, sun‑lit dimension to the Fantasy Bestiary collection. The compact features an animal motif that reads polished and sophisticated, giving the powder a striking presence from the first glance. Inside, the Terracotta formula blends with the ease and softness the line is known for, creating a natural warmth that builds without streaking or settling.
The golden accents add a subtle radiance that lifts the complexion without tipping into shimmer, making it an easy choice for both everyday definition and evening polish. It’s a holiday release with a finish that feels effortless, wearable, and beautifully timeless.
How to use
To apply the Guerlain Terracotta Golden Leopard bronzer, sweep a large, fluffy brush across the powder to pick up both the warm bronze tones and the soft golden accents. Dust the colour onto the areas where the sun naturally hits — the cheeks, temples, and bridge of the nose — then blend in gentle circular motions for a seamless, natural finish.
The formula builds easily, so you can layer it for deeper definition without creating harsh edges. For a more sculpted look, use a smaller brush to add targeted warmth along the jawline or even through the eye crease, creating a cohesive, sun‑lit effect that ties the whole look together.
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- Images belong to Guerlain
Météorites Fierce Glow Powder
The Météorites Fierce Glow Powder arrives in a tortoiseshell-inspired case echoing the bestiary motif.
The Guerlain Météorites Fierce Glow Powder takes a lighter, more luminous approach within the Fantasy Bestiary lineup, offering radiance rather than intensity. Its compact carries the collection’s animal‑inspired detailing with a soft, refined touch that frames the powder’s signature mosaic of brightening tones. On the skin, the formula creates a diffused glow that smooths and subtly lifts the complexion without emphasizing texture.
The finish feels airy and polished, adding just enough light to enhance any look without overpowering it. It’s a holiday release that brings clarity and brightness to the face in a way that feels effortless and quietly sophisticated.
How to use
To apply the Météorites Fierce Glow Powder, swirl a soft, fluffy brush over the mosaic to pick up a balanced mix of the brightening tones. Dust the powder lightly across the high points of the face — the cheekbones, temples, and bridge of the nose — to create a soft, diffused glow. For an all‑over brightening effect, sweep a small amount across the forehead and chin, keeping the pressure light to maintain the powder’s airy finish. The formula layers effortlessly, allowing you to build radiance without emphasizing texture, making it an easy final step for bringing light and refinement to any makeup look.
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- Images belong to Guerlain
How to Wear Fantasy Bestiary
This collection is both collectible and wearable. Pair the Glittery Tiger eyeshadow with Flamingo Pink Rouge G for a sophisticated, playful look. Purple and green shades can blend for a modern take on a smokey eye. For daytime elegance, use satin pink with Golden Leopard bronzer to add warmth and contour. Allison Chase has a great review demo video on her YouTube channel of this collection called GUERLAIN Holiday 2023: The Animal Fantasy Collection. You can watch her play with the makeup and see if you like it for yourself, or if you just want to watch out of curiosity-like I did.
Guerlain Collection You Can Still Wear
Holiday collections often feel fleeting, but Guerlain’s Fantasy Bestiary remains timeless. These eyeshadows, lipsticks, and bronzers allow for editorial, holiday-ready looks that feel modern and sophisticated — perfect for gifting or personal indulgence. While this collection is no longer available, you can still shop Herod’s and find Guerlain makeup and more.
Join the Conversation
Guerlain’s Fantasy Bestiary sets a high bar for holiday makeup. I’ll share highlights from upcoming seasonal collections as they release. Which pieces from this collection captured your attention? Do you have favorite makeup combinations or color stories you’d pair with these products? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
