Beauty Review: Guerlain Meteorites Powder Pink Fresh

Packaging:
The powder box is made of cardboard which disappointed me at first. From the photos I saw online I was under impression the package will be incredibly beautiful – a combination of plastic or metal) with glass decorations. Well, it’s just carton. The only consolation is that it was inspired by Marie Antoinette and that such packaging is actually more eco friendly.


Shade:
Pink Fresh
It includes pearls of peach, light pink, dark pink (close to lavender), beige, gold, colors

Scent:
Meteorites Powder has quite strong sweet scent which most people like but not me. The good news (for me) is that it wears off almost immediately.


Stay-on Power:
It seems to last forever!

Texture and Finish:
Meteorites Powder comes in little multi-colored balls and is something between loose and pressed powder…
Gives glowy somewhat shimmery finish with a touch of color. The effect is buildable.

Experience:
I’ve been dreaming about this product for a long time and had to go through the agony of choice about the shade (read my Beauty Buy post) before I finally got it. It is one of the best investments in makeup I’ve made.

This magnificent powder makes your skin look glowing. It reflects and attracts light to the skin and makes it look simply gorgeous: supple, smooth, healthy and glowing.


Meteorites Powder comes with a puffy sponge which I don’t recommend to use. Not only it is inconvenient, the effect is worse and not so natural. I use my fluffy powder brush to apply Meteorites Powder. I just swirl the brush around the box and let it pick up enough powder. Be careful powder balls tend to stuck on brush bristles occasionally. Then I swipe it lightly all over my face. It has to be mentioned that from the very beginning I was concerned that Meteorites could be too shimmery for an all-over-face powder. However what I discovered after I played with it a couple times is that the effect of the glow is buildable. So if you give your face one or maximum two light swipes with your powder brush, it looks natural. However if you apply more, you will start seeing some color and more shimmer. That’s why I apply it once all over face and then several times on the apples of my cheeks and a finishing touch on the nose bridge. So Meteorites Powder in Pink Fresh can be used as a blush and believe me you do see the color. Some people when reviewing Meteorites say that Pink Fresh leaves almost no color on the skin, it is not completely true. I think it depends on your skin tone if the color is noticeable or not.

I also read in one of the reviews that Meteorites powder is good to use under your eyes to set the concealer. I tried it and think it looks good! Draws some light to the area.


Bottom Line:
Love the product. It is excellent quality, very versatile and allows to perfect the look of your skin. I would not recommend Meteorites Powder instead of a foundation or pressed powder as it is not made for covering skin flaws. But I would definitely recommend it to take your skin look to another level.

Price Tag:
$60-65

Beauty Buzz: Estee Lauder Holiday Collection 2008

Holiday Collection 2008 from Estee Lauder was inspired by vintage jewels: Amethyst, Sapphire and Emerald. There are three corresponding looks and beautiful makeup products to achieve them.



Sapphire Eyes:


Estée Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo with Faceted Design in Sapphire Limited Edition)
Smoked Eye Pencil in Smoked Sapphire

Sapphire Lips and Nails:


Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Faceted Design in Ruby
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Ruby



Amethyst Eyes:


Estée Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo with Faceted Design in Amethyst
Smoked Eye Pencil in Smoked Amethyst

Amethyst Lips and Nails:


Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Faceted Design in Black Cherry
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Black Berry




Emerald Eyes:


Estée Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo with Faceted Design in Emerald
Smoked Eye Pencil in Smoked Emerald

Emerald Lips and Nails:


Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Faceted Design in Rich Red
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Red Tango



Shimmering Jewel Powder - adds a final glamorous touch to the Holiday Look 2008 and lights up your skin with "a warm, luminous radiance".


Related Posts:

Beauty Buzz:Lancome Holiday Look 2008

Beauty Buzz:Guerlain Holiday Look 2008

Beauty Buzz:YSL Holiday Look 2008

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008 Part 1

In this post: Chanel and Lancome
Chanel

Autumn 2008 Chanel style is very gold and... very Chanel.

Image: Chanel.com

The man behind the idea -Peter Phillips, Chanel's Creative Director for Makeup, was inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel's appartment "a unique place with golden covered walls and warm tones"

I love this new makeup collection!

Lancome
Lancome takes inspiration for Autumn 2008 look in India.

Image: Lancome-usa.com

Some other launches from Lancome include limited edition palette called Lotus Splendor which contains two shades of eye shadow and two shades of lipstick

Image: Lancome.de

Also, check out this nail polish!

Image: Lancome.fr

I’ve never seen anything like this before. It is Lancome’s innovation – the texture and applicator are patented. This nail polish comes in a glass jar and is in the form of a cream! I could find it only on the French and German
Lancome site.

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- Shiseido Makeup for Autumn 2008
- Clinique Look and Collection for Autumn 2008
- YSL Collection Autumn 2008
-Dior Makeup for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

Beauty and Makeup: ArtDeco Eyeshadow Eye Designer # 50

I think I found the best (for now) eyeshadow tone to create Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” look! It is Long-Lasting Eyeshadow powder by ArtDeco # 50 in the Eye Designer line (photo above: on the left #50 on the right #49). To use this shadow you have to buy a special applicator as well– see the photo.
ArtDeco, founded in 1985, is a Germany company that manufactures skin care and makeup products.
ArtDeco is available in more than 50 countries in Europe as well as in Brazil, South and Middle America and some other lands.
www.artdeco.de



Color:
#50 - I love the color! Hard to describe it though – it is something like dark earth color with green/brown tones. It also has tiny gold sparkles. Ladies who have green eyes (and Leona does) will be amazed by how this shadow brings out the green color of your eyes without actually looking green…

Applicator:
Love the applicator. On one end it is rounded - which is good for blending (or blending in another color), on the other end is pointed for more accurate targeted application. You can use the pointed end to apply shadow close to eyelashes and in the inner corner. Found this applicator very convenient for doing both a dramatic eye and a more reserved eye makeup.

Texture:
Smooth and silky. Easy to apply and correct mistakes. However you won’t get VERY intensive color. For a more dramatic look I use eyeliner pencil under the shadow and a liquid eyeliner over it. I also noticed that if you apply a lot of ArtDeco shadow to achieve maximum intensity, it becomes hard to blend in another shade. The shadow kind of gets wiped away by the next tone I am trying to blend in. And you do need to blend in case you want to create a smoky eye. (Sorry, but the color looks a bit different in the photo)

Lasting Time and Smudginess:
It does last. I should say it will easily last the whole night out or a day in the office but with some touch ups, the color will fade a bit but eyes will still look made up. It stays in place but it leaves an imprint on the upper lead.

Bottom Line:
I really like the color, how it makes my eyes stand out and how it brings out the green of my eyes. Even though this eye shadow has some room for improvement (e.g.: I wish it had better blending properties), I already bought another refill #50 and another applicator with a golden shadow.

Price:
Applicator approximately 20$
Refill approximately 10$

PS: ArtDeco has a perfect Eyeliner Soft Kajal Liner 86 to match Eye Designer Eyeshadow # 50. It is very soft and easy to apply - like it a lot!

Best Beauty: Eve Reveals Best Beauty Buys 2008

UK beauty magazine EVE revealed a list of best beauty buys for 2008 in their February issue. The products have been selected by readers as well as a panel of judges which included Eve's experts as well as make-up artist, stylist, beauty experts from Harrods/Selfridges etc.
Curious? Well, I thought I will go through the list of the the best ones. For the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in each category look up Eve's February Issue!


Eve’s Superhero of the year 2008 was selected to be SK-II Air Touch Foundation: “it leaves your skin looking as if it’s been professionally air-brushed.”

The product described at SK II website sounds really hi-tech. it comes with a build in “ionisation technology” for “a most precise and natural coverage”. - I am almost sold - … “no mess, caking or streaking” and it contains “miraculous ingredient, Pitera, and moisturising agents to provide skin caring benefits and hydrate skin”” – Pitera appears to be a liquid that is extracted during the yeast fermentation process when making sake -… the skin “appears smooth, translucent and radiant - much like a baby’s skin”

Here is a video I found on YoutTube explaining in detail how Air Touch Foundation works magic and how to apply it.

Wow! I’m sold!... only need to come to terms with the price tag… 85GBP = 166.294 USD = 112.570 EUR

Women’s Skin Care Hero: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate
This product won a couple awards from beauty magazines already in 2007.
When used for 21 consequtive nights, promises to restore your skin and “boost your skin's natural ability to repair” the everyday damage


Women’s Fragrance Hero: Tom Ford Black Orchid

Hairstyling Hero: Redken Urban Experiment 7 Velvet Gelatine
“.. gives your hair bounce and shine without any stickiness” Zoe Irwin, Headmasters

Men’s Skin Care Hero: Liz Earle Naturally Active Cream and Hot Cloth Kit
“a really gentle shaving cream” Tom Dunmore, Stuff magazine

Men’s Fragrance Hero: Gucci Pour Homme II

Body Hero: Dior Plasticity Body Beautifying Micro-Peel
Combines exfoliating and anti-cellulite effects and promises “refined and smoothed” skin

Self-Tan Hero: Olay Total Effects 7X Touch of Sunshine
Allows gradual build up of color and leaves your skin feeling pleasantly moisturized.

Eye Hero (Make-Up): Guerlain Eye Shadow Duo and Liner
“Great Texture, colours and packaging” Mary Greenwell, make-up artist

Lip Hero (Make-Up): Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick

Face Hero Make-Up: SK-II Air Touch Foundation

Bath and Shower Hero: Olay Body Wash Plus Cream Ribbons
Comes with almond extract and “is so creamy and hydrating, you don’t need to use a body lotion afterwards” Joanne King, Urban Retreat, Harrods

Haircare Hero: Kerastase Ciment Thermique
Gives volume and shine to weakened hair.

Beauty Review: Double Wear Makeup by Estee Lauder

Those who have a combination skin type with visible pores, an oily T-zone and prone to break outs are always in search of the best product that would solve these imperfections… or at least would cover them up!
One of the powder foundations for combination skin I tried out recently and used to even out my skin tone for an Autumn inspired photoshoot is Double Wear Makeup by Estee Lauder.

Double Wear
Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup

Promise: Provides “medium semi-matte coverage”, is a “worry-free powder makeup” that “looks natural for up to 8 hours, even through nonstop activity”. It is also promised that you will have “a continuously flawless look without touch-ups”.
I especially liked the phrase “through nonstop activity”. I got an image of me working out in a gym and still having a flawless skin tone and “semi-matte coverage” :-)

Well, though I am quite happy (for now!) with my powder choice and I have never had a better powder foundation, it did not work as well for me as it was promised and as I hoped for.

My Review:

The sales girl recommended Estee Lauder’s Double Wear as having one of the best (and thickest) coverage. “Very good for your type of skin” – she ensured me.

Matte-finish, oil absorbing: Well, most of the powders for combination/oily skin I have tried before including the ones by Maybelline and Max Factor kind of let me down. They never really provided the long term “matte finish” as promised. The same unfortunately happened with Estee Lauder Double Wear. In a couple hours my resistant to oil-absorbing inredients T-Zone was shiny again.

Color: The promise that Double Wear “won’t change its color” is very true. It gives an amazing even color to the skin and it looks as if powder actually blends with your skin. Very very nice but of course only till the oiliness starts to show in the T-Zone.

Smooth application: The fact that it “Glides on silky smooth” is completely true. It gives the skin a very natural even look covering up minor imperfections and minimizing the appearance of pores. However, since it turned out to be not oil-absorbent enough for me, I had to reapply it and do some touch-ups much sooner than 8 hours. I found it looked smothered and unnatural when I did it though. The reason is that it does give you a very thick Double Wear that when mixed with oil and covered with another layer of Double Wear just looks like a mask. So I changed the application strategy and applied it with a brush instead of the applicator-sponge provided with the powder. It works excellent and allows a couple natural looking retouches (before those it is advisable to use a blotting paper on the shiny areas).

What I would Recommend: I think this makeup is ideal for an even tone, matte look and coverage of imperfections for medium oily skin and normal skin.
If you have oily skin:

use mattifying/oil absorbing moisturizer on the T-Zone

keep a pack of blotting paper with you (I love the ones by Clinique)

apply the powder using a brush to allow natural looking touch-ups when needed.