Filed In: Guerlain

Guerlain | Terracotta 2015 Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Blondes

June 1, 2015

Guardian’s cult-fave Terracotta Bronzing Powder has been given a fashionable new outfit; created specifically for the limited edition Summer 2015 Collection (see preview), the bronzing powders now come with a silicone removable outer sleeve (CAN $62.00) – Riviera Turquoise for 02 Natural Blondes and Sunny Coral for 03 Natural Brunettes (not shown). Often duplicated but never imitated, Guerlain was the first to launch a beauty bronzing powder in 1984 and quickly gained a well-deserved reputation for its ultra finely-milled texture – one that imparts the most incredibly stunning faux glow you can achieve with a powdered product. Seriously.

Terracotta Moisturizing Bronzing Powder in 02 Natural Blondes – Housed in the brand’s signature tortoiseshell-like case, this limited edition version comes with a silicone removable ‘Riviera Turquoise’ outer shell – perfect for transport/travel, as it adds a whole other level of protection (as well as looking very Summery and FUN!). The colour is a rich, almost russet-appearing bronzer shade that leans warm, suiting basically all complexions across the spectrum. Quite pigmented, a little goes a long way and as with all bronzers, Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes will ‘develop’ upon application; what that means, is that the colour will deepen within minutes of initial application as it mergers with your skin’s warmth and natural oils, and so I strongly suggest first applying with a light hand, then waiting about 5 minutes before going back in with more. The result you achieve is also dependant on the tool you use, with a large fluffy brush giving a more diffused look, while a denser-headed brush will provide a more intense, detailed appearance. I actually prefer to use both types of brushes per application, in order to achieve a more realistic and 3D effect upon the skin. With regards to staying power, it’s a little hard to determine an exact amount, as the product evolves over time and becomes a part of your made-up face; what I can say, is that after an entire day of wearing, I can still see colour upon my face, albeit slightly faded.

This moisturizing powder is meant to provide a natural feel to the skin, without any oxidation or settling into fine lines, merging subtly with your natural oils over time. The texture is the secret to its success: so finely milled as to fuse perfectly with the skin, without ever sitting at just the surface level. Then there’s that heavenly scent…

‘The top notes reveal a joyful and cheerful accord of bergamot and mandarin. The heart takes over with the sunny, feminine notes of gardenia, jasmine and ylang-ylang, which play off the lightness of honeysuckle. In the dry-down, vanilla, blended with woody notes, gives this legendary scent all of its character and mystery’ – Guerlain

To my nose, this fragrance is THE very essence of Summer which calls to mind the ocean, walking through the waves lapping along the shore & surrounded by the heady scent of suntan lotion (what can I say? I’m a total beach bunny) and while I personally love it, those with sensitivities should take note and try it at counter first.

For the record, the regular price of this bronzing powder is CAN $60.00 so basically you’re paying CAN $2.00 more for the outer silicone sleeve – an investment that’s actually not bad, considering you can reuse the sleeve on any other similar Guerlain powder, all while providing some extra padding to your compact case.

Guerlain | Terracotta Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Blondes (detail)

Guerlain | Terracotta Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Blondes swatches (in sunlight)

Guerlain | Terracotta Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Blondes swatches (alternate light)

Guerlain | Terracotta Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Blondes

I’m not really sure why Guerlain chooses to group their bronzers as either ‘blonde’ or ‘brunette’ – especially when one considers how many varieties of hair colour exist – but I’m sure they have their reasons. Nothing says Summer quite like a tan, and the easiest (not to mention safest) way to embrace this seasonal shift, is with any of Guerlain’s Terracotta bronzers – products which provide not only that coveted faux glow, but do so without any of the harmful effects of too much sun exposure. On my recent holiday, I had an entire arsenal of bronzing products with me and while all the varieties I brought along have their individual merits, I loved using the Terracotta 02 Natural Blondes Bronzing Powder for an effortless swipe of finishing colour to my skin. Then again, it could be the addictive fragrance … either way, it’s a win-win.

Available through The Bay store & thebay.com, Sephora stores & sephora.com, as well as Holt Renfrew stores across Canada – links provided for your convenience. Find more information via guerlain.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration/post contains affiliate links

Guerlain | Summer 2015 Colour Collection

May 28, 2015

Of all the Summer beauty offerings I’ve seen thus far, Guerlain has somehow managed to perfectly capture the essence of the season with their Summer 2015 Colour Collection. Calling to mind azure skies, sun-bronzed limbs, and turquoise seas, the pieces feel fun and carefree; the brand’s signature Terracotta Bronzing Powder now sports a removable neoprene sleeve (aqua for the Blonde version, coral for the Brunette option) along with the heady beachy scent of its tiare flower-infused powder, while the lipstick pops up at the push of your thumb. For the first time, Guerlain introduces a waterproof cream eyeshadow formula with a unique new airy-light texture while nails get their vibe on with a shimmery new aqua hue.

Enjoy the following preview – individual reviews of all pieces forthcoming. Note that the entire Guerlain Summer 2015 Colour Collection is limited edition (while the Terracotta Bronzing Powders are permanent, the neoprene sleeves are limited).

Guardian Summer 2015 Collection | Terracotta 02 Natural – Blondes Bronzing Powder

Guardian Summer 2015 Collection | Rouge Automatique 603 Yellow It-Stick

Guardian Summer 2015 Collection | Summer Shadow in Blue Ocean

Guardian Summer 2015 Collection | Colour Lacquer in Blue Ocean

Press samples kindly provided for my unbiased consideration/post contains affiliate links

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

March 17, 2015

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Recently launched at counters nationwide, Guerlain has added Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo (CAN $60.00/available in 4 shades) to their cult-fave Terracotta range of products. Created to provide you with ‘a healthy glow, as thought you have just returned from a weekend in the sun‘, this superfine face powder teams up with a sliver of blusher along one side so that when the two are swirled together, it imparts an instant shot of radiance … something that’s always welcome, in my book.

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo (ingredients)

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo 00 Light – Blondes | An ultra finely-milled and tinted pressed face powder in combination with a touch of blush, that is meant to be swirled together to provide the skin with a flush of colour — or that coveted ‘bonne mine’ effect. The pearlized and champagne coloured clamshell-shaped compact has a super thin profile, making it perfect for travel and to slip easily into one’s makeup bag, while the full-size mirror on the inner lid is great for on-the-go touch ups. This powder is strongly scented with Guerlain’s signature violet fragrance, which does lessen and dissipate with the wearing – but still worth noting for those with sensitivities.

The Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo should be thought of as more of a finishing product, although that doesn’t necessarily exclude it from being worn in several other ways as well – it all depends on your preferences and any complexion issues you wish to address. The shade I was kindly provided to try, 00 Light – Blondes, is the lightest of the 4 hues available and is quite close to my present skin tone, but will definitely be much too pale once my skin is lightly tanned. Nevertheless, I have found several ways to wear this product – from a light dusting on my bare & moisturized face (great for a quick complexion perk, as well as to create the illusion of a more even skin tone), over a BB or CC cream for a touch more coverage + hint of sun-kissed colour, or over foundation and buffed into the skin for a totally flawless finish.

The accompanying sliver of blush compliments the face powder colour and will not overpower the overall tone, but serves to add depth and dimension instead. Still, you can easily avoid the blush section, as the tanned portion is large enough to be applied on its own with a variety of brushes (although the opposite isn’t true & you’d need a rather thin brush to apply only the blush part – which basically defeats the entire purpose of this product anyway). Even though the Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo isn’t touted as being a mattifying product, an extra bonus is how well it managed to keep my skin’s natural oils to a minimum. With regards to longevity, I am able to get easily 8-9 hours of wear, a little less when applied on bare skin. The best part for me, however, is that this powder never seems cloying along my skin and the silky texture is so incredibly lightweight that I don’t even feel it being applied, but the finished result always amazes me – you know, where you can’t put your finger on it, but your skin just looks so good.

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo swatches

I am a huge fan of Guerlain’s face powders, in particular the Terracotta range of products, and I maintain that this brand has basically perfected the art of the finely-milled powder. And while I’m not fond of floral fragrances, I actually look forward to this unique scent which I’ve come to associate with the Guerlain name. The absolute genius of the Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo, is that depending on the shade selected, you basically have 1 product that can work as either: a face/finishing powder, bronzer, or blush even – and all in a texture that is the very definition of lightweight. Then there’s that chic little compact … yes, I’m a total sucker for details like that #sorrynotsorry

Available now at Guerlain counters across Canada. Find more information via guerlain.com

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! 01 Noir

March 4, 2015

Founded in 1828, Guerlain is one of the oldest and most respected brands in the beauty industry – a brand that also consistently produces up-to-the-minute cosmetics utilizing the latest technological & scientific breakthroughs, without ever losing sight of its venerable history or compromising on its world-renown quality. The latest such product to join the lineup, is the upcoming Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Volume Creating, Curl Sculpting Mascara (CAN $34.00/launching April 1st) and the mascara fiend in me couldn’t be happier, as this is the one beauty product I can become quite obsessive about.

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir (ingredients list)

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir

Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir | Housed in an easy t0 hold & manipulate black lacquered case with a golden band along the length, embossed with the brand’s name on one side, this is a deep black mascara that is meant to provide major volume as well as serious curl hold to the lashes. Unlike other mascaras that have a rubbery/chemical scent, Maxi Lash So Volume! has a lovely rose fragrance – although that becomes unnoticeable upon application, but still worth noting for those with sensitivities. The relatively slim-profile brush bears tiny nylon spikes instead of traditional bristles, and is meant to grip lashes securely while enabling you to get as close to the roots as possible for product placement.

My criteria for what makes a great mascara are that it must:

provide volume
add length
not flake, smudge, smear, or leave ‘crescent moon shadows’ under the eyes
be removed fairly easily at the end of the day without excessive tugging on my lashes

As I usually buy black mascara, I also want it to be the darkest, most deepest black hue possible (forget Fifty Shades of Grey; there’s about a billion shades of black). Curl-enhancing has never been on my priority list, as my lashes have a fairly decent curl on their own and since I always use a lash curler prior to mascara application anyway, that last point is moot (at least for me). In the past, how my mascara was scented was never an issue, but having a pleasant fragrance is a welcome bonus nonetheless.

I have been testing Maxi Lash So Volume! for a few weeks now, and am happy to report that it has easily met all my requirements. I tend to prefer bristles to nylon/rubber brush heads, but the downside to bristles is that they have the potential for smears, especially if the head is oversized. The little ‘barbs’ of this mascara brush have excellent gripping properties – or what I like to call “the burr effect”; I remember taking my Golden Retriever, Jagger, for walks through the woods, only to return home and find he had all these burrs stuck to his fur – which would then take me HOURS to remove, swearing all the while. Happily, you only get the positive aspects of this effect with Maxi Lash So Volume!, i.e.: the last-coating part … and none of the swearing. As far as colour goes, this is an exceptionally lush and intense black hue, while the formula is on the wet side, meaning it has a tendency to clump slightly (nothing that a lash-combing can’t solve), but again, I don’t have an issue with clumps – as long as they’re not blobs – since they can also give the illusion of extra fullness to lashes. Staying power is excellent, without any of the above-stated flakes, smears, or smudges, without any crunchy feel to the lashes either. While not water-proof, you will need a dual-phase makeup remover to effectively take all traces off.

{bare lashes}

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir (1 coat)

Guerlain | Cils d’Enfer – Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara 01 Noir (2 coats)

Mascara is the one product I refuse to comprise on; either it meets my requirements, or it’s gone. Guerlain’s Maxi Lash So Volume! has passed all my criteria with flying colours and has now earned itself a permanent spot in my beauty arsenal – and even with the steep price tag (which is actually comparable to other luxury brand mascaras), I find it’s well worth the investment, especially if you want the best for your lashes. Highly, highly recommend.

Available as of April 1st at all Guerlain counters across Canada. Find more information on the brand via guerlain.com

Kindly provided by Guerlain for my unbiased consideration

Guerlain | 400 Coque d’Or & 901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat

January 29, 2015

Guerlain’s Christmas 2014 Collection included two new limited edition nail products, 400 Coque d’Or Colour Lacquer and 901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat (CAN $27.00 each). Gold may be a ubiquitous and almost mandatory colour for the holidays, but it also translates well into other seasons. Then again, you don’t really need a reason to bring a little bling to your nails, am I right?

Guerlain | 400 Coque d’Or & 901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat

Guerlain | 400 Coque d’Or & 901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat (outer caps removed)

Guerlain | L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat brush

400 Coque d’Or | Metallic polishes can be quite fussy to work with, but Coque d’Or is nothing short of spectacular. This is a cool-leaning pale gold shimmery hue (although there does seem to be enough to a darker golden tint in the base to make it wearable against warmer skin tones as well) in a formula that displays a perfect flow & density i.e.: stays exactly where placed without migrating. Self-levelling, ultra glossy, and utterly brilliant in every light, Coque d’Or almost seems to gain in shine as it dries/sets, with hardly any noticeable brush strokes. Absolute golden luxury. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

I need to take a second and talk about the brush (shown in closeup detail above): tapered, slightly rounded and with excellent density, it splays so perfectly along the nail that you really only need to apply the lightest pressure when placed on the nail – the brush seems to almost do all the work on its own.

Guerlain | 400 Coque d’Or

901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat | Made of irregularly shaped shards of golden flakes suspended in a [thick-ish] clear base, which helps in keeping the glitter pieces from sinking, while preventing too many from building up on the brush. Here’s where things get a little tricky, however; the shards are on the large side – which in itself is not an issue – but some may need to be nudged into place along the nail, while others have a tendency to not want to cooperate by staying flat (and may need a rather thick top coat to keep them down). Meant to be layered over another polish, I was surprised to find that I actually like the tone-on-tone effect when worn over Coque d’Or, and even though L’Oiseau de Feu may be somewhat finicky to work with, I can’t deny how insanely brilliant the gold shards are – highly reflective.

The swatches show 1 coat of L’Oiseau de Feu over 2 coats of Coque d’Or. What I love? How the shards provide a studded effect to the look, giving a rough and harder edge to the daintier gold which in turn makes this a more modern way to wear a metallic. What I don’t love? How some of the shards refuse to lay flat and catch on hair, clothing, etc. and as a result, can be easily ripped off – and take some of the underlying polish with them. Sigh.

Guerlain | 901 L’Oiseau de Feu Gold Top Coat (over 400 Coque d’Or)

Both of these lacquers were my first foray with Guerlain (surprising, right? I can’t figure out why I don’t own more) and while I absolutely adore Coque d’Or as one of the most amazing gold foil/metallic polishes I’ve ever worn, L’Oiseau de Feu definitely fell short in the performance department. Yes, the shards give a unique look and are seriously some of the most brilliant I’ve seen with regards to these types of top coats, but just know going in that you’ll need to put in a bit more of an effort. The final look of the two together is killer, however (dammit).

Still available at Guerlain counters (in Canada – The Bay, Sephora) although the Spring 2015 Collection has already started trickling onto counters. Find more info on the brand at www.guerlain.com