Elizabeth Arden | Sunset Bronze Summer 2016 Collection, Limited Edition

For Summer 2016, Elizabeth Arden has released the Sunset Bronze Collection, a well-curated group with swoon-worthy packaging and a strong tropical vibe. I’ve stated often enough that this is a brand which flies under most people’s radar, but one quick swipe of any of these gorgeous pieces will have you convinced that there’s something here … something really special, in fact.

Elizabeth Arden | Sunset Bronze Summer 2016 Collection

01 Summer Seduction Prismatic Eye Shadow Palette (CAN $50.00) | Inspired by the flash of colours seen by the setting sun, this palette holds five complimentary shimmery hues to create looks that can easily take you from day to night. Key ingredients include:

Color Enriched Pigments – ultra fine pigments coated with waxes and polymers to act like a magnet to eyelids, providing a thin creamy veil of long-lasting colour
Mica Based Pearls – mineral pearls of mica and titanium dioxide reflect light and diffuse sparkle to create a multidimensional effect on eyes
Utrafine Powders – silica and mica minerals provide a smooth, silky application to help soften skin’s texture for an even application

The texture is incredibly smooth and feels almost creamy to the touch, which makes blending a total breeze. While not overly pigmented colour-wise, there’s still a good saturation of colour that makes it easy to create the perfect plum smokey eye with the shimmer giving off a gorgeous radiance (and no obnoxious sparkle). Staying power over primer is excellent, lasting until removed without any significant fading. The only thing I would change is to remove the space for the applicator and thus make the size of each eyeshadow larger – but that’s a design flaw I’ve seen with countless brands.

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Summer Seduction Prismatic Eye Shadow Palette

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Summer Seduction Prismatic Eye Shadow Palette swatches

01 Warm Bronze Prismatic Bronzing Powder (CAN $48.00) | One of my go-to bronzers is from this brand which dates back to a few years ago and that I still constantly reach for to this day; that being said, this year’s version (apparently there are actually 2, although only this shade was released in the Canadian market) is a warm-leaning tan hue that comes to prominence once the golden overspray is wiped off. The three complimentary hues in the pan are designed to be swirled together and provide skin with a sun-kissed radiance and multi-tonal effect. Key ingredients include:

Ultrafine Powders – silica and mica minerals provide a smooth , silky application to soften the sun’s texture creating a natural bronzed look
Illuminating Microlight Minerals – this blend of spherical silica and nylon acts as an optical diffuser to help blur imperfections, scatter light and soften the look of fine lines
Vitamin E – works to keep skin looking and feeling moisturized
Argan Oil – rich in beneficial fatty acids including Vitamin E, it helps skin to feel soft and nourished

The texture is incredibly fine milled and very buttery smooth to the touch, easily buffed into the skin for a seamless-looking sun kissed effect. I actually do wish the gold wasn’t an overspray, as I find no one does shimmery bronzers better than Elizabeth Arden, but for those who prefer a more luminous glow (not quite matte, but not too shimmery either), then this is spot-on perfect. The colour itself is cooler-leaning than I normally use but it surprisingly doesn’t clash against my skin (which is light-medium with a golden undertone) and will certainly suit those with cooler complexions even more. Staying power over foundation is easily 9+ hours without any oxidizing. I should mention that it also comes with an included demi-lune brush, although I personally would like to see it left out of the equation altogether since I prefer using my own brushes for application.

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Warm Bronze Prismatic Bronzing Powder

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Warm Bronze Prismatic Bronzing Powder swatches

01 Eclipse Prismatic Highlighter (CAN $34.50) | A cream highlighter in a conveniently portable chubby stick format, in a soft rose-gold shade that has an excellent balance of both cool and warm tones, making it suitable for a broad range of complexions. Key ingredients include:

Aloe Vera, Zinc PCA & Vitamin E – this cocktail of humectants provides a soft, moisturized skin feel
Mica Based Pearls – mineral pearls of mica and titanium dioxide reflect light and impart sparkle to create a multidimensional effect

Cream based highlighters are incredibly easy to work with, as you can blend them into the skin for that absolutely perfect ‘natural’ radiance and this one stands head and shoulders above several I’ve tried, by virtue of the fact that it manages to give glow without emphasizing pores. The texture is ridiculously creamy and feels somewhat cool to the touch upon initial application, a sensation which does dissipate fairly quickly after that. Not only gorgeous along the upper cheekbone area, this highlighter also works well under the brow bone, along the cupid’s bow, inner eye corner (you’ll need to use a small brush, obviously) and even along the décolleté. Staying power is surprisingly good even without primer or foundation underneath, but performance when applied over foundation becomes stellar.

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Eclipse Prismatic Highlighter

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Eclipse Prismatic Highlighter swatches

Prismatic Lip Gloss (CAN $25.00) | Three utterly DAZZLING lip glosses with what has to be the most complex shimmer I’ve ever seen in this format. The texture initially feels somewhat sticky but still lightweight, levelling out across lips in a very smooth way. There is a strong sugary-sweet scent that does fade quickly after application, but still worth noting for those with sensitivities. Key ingredients include:

Aloe Vera – this botanical soothes lips while providing comfort and a moisturized feel
Multidimensional Pearls – the pearls provide a prismatic effect and colour-changing capabilities created by light reflecting off the lips
Vitamins A, C & E – these environmental protectants help keep lips looking moisturized and healthy

The shade breakdown:

01 Moonlight Kiss – clear base with complex shimmer and a lavender reflect, cool leaning
02 Midnight Kiss – clear base with complex shimmer and a magenta reflect, both cool and warm leaning
03 Sunset Kiss – clear base with complex shimmer and a soft gold reflect, warm leaning

Considering that all three glosses come in a clear base, there is a surprisingly good amount of colour saturation and coverage, most likely due to the densely packed prismatic shimmer. Staying power is impressive for light shades such as these, with Midnight Kiss showing the most longevity and Moonlight Kiss packing the most eye-catching colour. Sunset Kiss is the best golden gloss I probably have in my collection, as the shade is soft without being too yellow-based, making it eminently wearable. Long after all traces of brilliance has faded, you will be left with shimmery bits along the lips (which are smooth laying and not gritty) and in the event you wipe off the gloss beforehand, be prepared for some shimmer spread as well.

Elizabeth Arden | Prismatic Lip Gloss

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Moonlight Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss

Elizabeth Arden | 01 Moonlight Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss swatch

Elizabeth Arden | 02 Midnight Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss

Elizabeth Arden | 02 Midnight Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss swatch

Elizabeth Arden | 03 Sunset Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss

Elizabeth Arden | 03 Sunset Kiss Prismatic Lip Gloss swatch

What makes this collection stand out for me is the incredible quality and performance of each product. As someone who has a weakness for packaging details, the compacts of both the bronzer and eyeshadow palette do not disappoint and make you almost want to pull them out in public. In general, I’m not a fan of the makeup brushes some brands feel they need to include and that’s something I hope Elizabeth Arden phases out of their products, and while the fragrance of the lip glosses isn’t a deal-breaker for me, I would have preferred for them to be unscented – they’re already visually stunning and don’t need any more stimulation than that. Final verdict? A summer collection that’s most definitely worth your time to look into.

Kudos to my incredibly talented friend and Global Makeup Artist for Elizabeth Arden, Rebecca Restrepo, on creating another masterpiece collection!

Available now at The Bay & ElizabethArden.ca