Guerlain | Météorites Perles d’Étoile, Un Soir À L’Opéra Christmas 2014 Collection

Today marks the 4th year since I began my blog, and to celebrate this milestone, I bring you something so very special: your first look at the Météorites Perles d’Étoile, Limited Edition from the Guerlain Un Soir À L’Opéra Christmas 2014 Collection (more details about the entire collection here). With luxurious golden touches and hints of rich ruby throughout, the collection is inspired by the opulence, glamour, and slightly wicked decadence of Imperial Russia.

The pièce de résistance of this collection (at least, for me), is without a doubt this year’s limited edition Météorites release – Perles d’Étoile (star pearls), individual spheres of illuminating face powder in tones of alabaster, pearl, petal, light gold, pale bronze and a few plum added for depth & slight colour. According to the the company, the 6 individual tones of the Perles d’Étoile (NOTE: I’m showing only 5 in my photo below) have ‘three targeted benefits; correcting, light-enhancing, and unifying colours for a healthy looking complexion‘. The pearls bear the signature violet Guerlain scent – quite redolent upon first opening the tin, but which fades from the senses rather quickly upon application. The container is a golden metal tin with hammered detail all around, calling to mind the exquisite work seen on legendary Fabergé Eggs, while the lid bears a raised bow on top with touches of red in the loops/lining to match the satin bow of the red powder puff included within.

Trying to properly express the effect of any Météorites face powder on the skin, is a challenge; Guerlain calls these powders “illuminating” and they most definitely are that, but so much more as well. So finely milled that it applies like a gossamer veil to the skin, the Perles d’Étoile is generally a warmer leaning face powder, but again, by shifting the contents in the container and focusing more on the lighter hues found within, one can easily alter the composition so that it appears slightly cooler. In using more of the darker pearls, you can apply even turn this powder into a subtle, glowy type of flush along the cheeks – not quite a bronzer nor a blush, but something that almost appears to radiate from within. A bonus side-effect to wearing Perles d’Étoile on my oily/combination skin, is that it appears to fuse with my skin’s natural oils to create a gorgeous subtle glow, all while keeping excess shine away.

A light dusting all over the face (don’t leave out the neck and collarbone, for a unifyingly seamless finish), gives skin the perfect finishing touch but it’s something you really can’t put your finger on; it’s an effect that needs to be seen to be properly understood – you will literally say “wow, my makeup looks so amazing today”. As if I needed further proof, after application when even my husband remarks how lovely my face looks, that’s the icing on the cake – along with the only confirmation I need to hear.

Odessa Opera House, Ukraine (source)

Guerlain | Météorites Perles D’Étoile (LE), Un Soir À L’Opéra Christmas 2014 Collection

For years, I had been hearing fellow beauty enthusiasts rave about these miracle powders from Guerlain, but every time I tested one at the counter, I always walked away unimpressed. THAT, was my mistake. To see/understand how this face powder functions, a better test would be to visit a Guerlain counter, and have it applied to half your face and then look in the mirror. Better still, wear it that way for several hours and then look in the mirror again. Trust me, only then will you be convinced. For warmer complexions, the Météorites Perles d’Étoile is truly spectacular, although as I said earlier, cooler complexions can still make this work beautifully as well. All I know, is that every time I apply this powder (which I’ve been doing constantly since it arrived), I feel like a princess. A Russian princess.

The Météorites Perles d’Étoile (CAN $67.00) is part of the limited edition Guerlain Un Soir À L’Opéra Christmas 2014 Collection and will become available at counters as of November 1st. Follow Guerlain via: