Guerlain Christmas Collection 2011: First Look & Pictures

I know, I know. Sorry.

CHRISTMAS. In September.

But as Guerlain's Christmas 2011 collection actually launches next month, on the 16th of October to be precise, I think we're justified in showing it to you now. And oh god I actually couldn't sit on the images any longer.  It's gorgeous, with an Art Deco-inspired theme and iridescent, teal and peacock shades abounding.

There are a couple of stars of the show here, like this. It's Parure de Nuit pressed powder and blush, €55.  A skin-enhancing feller with a peacock pattern, there's a brush in the base of the compact and you can use it as a complexion highlighter by swirling a brush through all four colours or diagonally down the feathers if you want to use this for a blusher. Ooh - smart.

The other knock-out is this: Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder for Face and Body, €72, is a Guerlain Christmas staple.  Usually we see it in a more upright, vial-like presentation but I am loving the Deco-dramatics of this. Gorgeous. Containing loose pearlised powder with pink, blue-green and silver pearlescent particles, you spray it over skin for a sophisticated hit of adult lady sparkle. It's scented, too, containing a chypre packed with vanilla notes true to those of the original Vol de Nuit perfume, apparently.

Back to makeup: eyes get a look in with the peacocky Les Ombres de Nuit 4 Colour Palette, €51. Three iridescent colours and one matte make up the offering. G-g-gawjus.

Christmas also always features a new take on the brand's famous Meteorites, and this time we're getting Meteorites Perles de Nuit, €47.  These are best kept for home use because carting the pearls about shatters them I've found - the Voyage compacts, which are pressed, are the handbag-friendly ones. Five spherical shades add flattering - and subtle - radiance and highlighting to skin. You can lightly dust these across the high points of the face or use them to set liquid foundation.

And lastly, of course there are lip products: two shades of the new Rouge Automatique (check this out for an in-depth look at 'em and a video)  in Flirt d'in jour, a pink and Nuir d'amour, above left. They're €33 each. A duo of the James Bond-tastic Rouge G de Guerlain launch as well.  Gardner, a brick red and Bianca, a pinky red; each is €39.50.

Like the look of anything?