Guerlain Terracotta - Café Makeup

Guerlain Ombre Fusion Havana Review and Swatches

May 102011

Guerlain Summer 2011 Terracotta line includes the Ombre Fusion Water-Resistant creme eyeshadow in 02 Havana ($35) a browned-khaki cream with bronze shimmer. How did this green-eyed girl wind up with another khaki eyeshadow? Fortunately, this is one of the prettiest. I only wish I’d known that before purchasing the others!

As with Maya and Bahia, Havana is a gorgeously-textured cream. If you look closely at the swatch, above, you’ll see a fair amount of bronze shimmer and undertone which sets this one apart. If you like this color, you’ll love this shadow.

Here are some comparisons:

The brownish tones of Havana really show with the light swatch, far left. Havana is creamier than the liquid Chanel Ombre D’eau in Torrent in the middle, but similar in color tone. The powder single Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Khaki is a softer, powder finish. Also pictured at the far right is Bobbi Brown’s Shimmerwash in Golden Leaf (limited edition and no longer available).

Generally, I think that this trio from Guerlain (Bahia, Maya and Havana) are the best summer trio since the Tajine metals (although the smoky pigment set that included Holy Smoke were pretty nice too). These types of special, star products are well worth a look. Unlike some makeup companies that have flash limited editions that sell out in days, I expect that Guerlain’s Ombre Fusion will be on counter at least for several more weeks. These are easy, no fuss summer shades. Most days, a swipe or two of Maya and I’m out the door. They will look awesome with summer tans or a bronzed look, together with a nice clear summer lip (a coral, shimmer peach of pink). Highly recommended.

Guerlain Ombre Fusion Bahia Review and Swatches

Eyeshadow, Guerlain 1 Response »

May 102011

Guerlain’s limited edition Terracotta collection for Summer 2011 includes Ombre Fusion in Bahia ($35), a creamy light multi-dimensional light peachy pink shadow.

Unless this color is applied sheerly, it does not work well as an overall lid color unless you are going for a retro-60′s beach look. Rather, it’s best to use with a deeper color, such as Guerlain’s Ombre Fusion in Maya (or Havana) layered on the outer 1/2 of the eye or a deeper powder shadow. It’s a pretty highlighting color on the browbone, again with a sheer touch. Here’s a comparison with the light and dark swatch:

You can see how lightly the creme skates over the texture of the skin. This next picture really drives this point home. Here is a comparison between this Guerlain Ombre Fusion with my pink Chanel Ombre D’eau in River #87. You can see how different the texture of these products are. Bahia sits nicely on the skin, filling ridges, where the Chanel looks dry. I must admit that this comparison is a bit unfair. This is because this particular Chanel River does not have a good texture and seems flat compared to the other Chanel Ombre D’eau line (many of which are much nicer than River). But you can certainly see that Guerlain Bahia has a much nicer texture and richer tone.

Decoding Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer Shades

Bronzers, Guerlain 4 Responses »

Mar 072011

I love the quality of Guerlain Terracotta bronzers, but I find the variety confusing. With 8 shades in their standard Moisturizing line, plus the variations such as the 4 Seasons, Mineral Flawless, loose Bronzing Powder, Tan Booster and Tan Booster, plus the limited edition shades, there is a lot to track.

I just received this brochure from Neiman Marcus, which helps decode the color system from the standard Terracotta Moisturizing and Long Lasting line:

Even better, I found Guerlain has set up a site that helps you choose your perfect bronzer from their entire range, located here. You put in your hair and skin tone, then choose the level of shimmer or matte that you prefer. Pretty cool, right? I’m feeling so bronzer-empowered.

Guerlain Terracotta 2011

Bronzers, Guerlain, Powder, Skin care 9 Responses »

Feb 282011

Here are few items set to launch from those lovely geniuses at Guerlain, from their Terracotta 2011 collection, due out March 15, 2011. As background, Guerlain annually launches several products to anticipate the bronzed looks of Spring and Summer, and several have been show-stopping excellent.

Guerlain Moisturizing and Long-Lasting Bronzing Powder ($49), available in eight shades. Between us, Guerlain is one of the few companies that understands the relationship between powder, the skin, and a truly glamorous bronzed look.

This is not marked “limited edition,” and are the same as Guerlain’s standard Terracotta line with new packaging.

Terracotta Skin ($49) is a healthy glow foundation that have a matte and velvety finish. This has a sheer bronzing color of the Terracotta powder, plus the perfecting action of a foundation. This is intended to blur imperfections, and provide a matte, velvety finish. This product includes:

Spherical powder mixed within, to reflect light;
Volatile oils that evaporate on application, leaving a “second skin” on the face
Elastomer gel, for a creamy and comfortable fee.

It looks like Terracotta Skin is this year’s version of the Teint D´Ailleurs Tinted Moisturizer (reviewed here). The lighter version was probably a bit too dark on my NC15/Chanel Cameo-Ivoire skintone to wear alone particularly in winter, but turned into awesome magic mixed with foundation (the glow and skin care properties, plus a dose of natural color). I’ve actually used up about half of mine, so I’ll be looking for this one. By the way, the press release does not mark this as “limited edition,” so I am hopeful that this will become a standard in their line.

Terracotta Jambes de Gazelles ($59) (limited edition) is a spray mist for legs, for temporary color. According to Guerlain, Jambes de Gazelle has a tan booster to prolong a natural tan, and is enriched with Sweet Orange Extract “for a relaxing and cooling effect.” It sounds like heaven, actually.

Terracotta Serum ($59) (limited edition). For those who tan, a few drops of this tan booster into your normal skincare product is said to extend your tan and moisturize your skin. It’s recommended that you use two drops for face products, and four for body products.

Fragrance free
Clear honey color, that does not add any tint
Formulated to prepare, activate and prolong your natural tan.
Includes a soothing ingredient to soften skin

Also, I’m hopeful that Guerlain will release the Terracotta Inca collection, featured here at the British Beauty Blogger, that features intriguing-looking powders and glosses.

Guerlain Terracotta Light Bronzer in Blondes Hâlées: The Reformulation

Bobbi Brown, Bronzers, Guerlain 3 Responses »

Jun 242010

Guerlain’s Terracotta Light Summer Bronzing Powder in Blondes Hâlées ($50) is a reformulation of its formerly-released Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder. Although the products look similar at first glance, the formula, color and tone of the products are quite different.

As both versions are still being sold, and it is worth a pause so that we can tell the difference.

The packaging of both is nearly identical. There are two differences to look for: First, the older versions are called “Blondes” and “Brunettes.” The new versions are called “Blondes Hâlées” and “Brunettes Hâlées.” Second, the limited edition version for Summer 201 uses the phrase “Summer Bronzing Powder” on the packaging and compact. The older version does not. Also, the new Hâlées have a slight pebbled look to the ornate embedded logo on the compact. The older version is simpler, without the dotted texture that surrounds the swirling, embedded “G’s.”

This review focuses on Blondes Hâlées, which I recently purchased and compared to my former Blondes.

The primary differences are:

The texture of Blondes Hâlées is much softer and easier to pick up on the brush. The older Blondes seems quite hard by comparison.
Blondes Hâlées is a deeper, darker color.
Blondes Hâlées is a more intense, more dramatic bronzer.
Blondes Hâlées has redder undertones, which is more akin to a tiny pink-red that looks more like sun-exposed “tan with a touch of red”.
The older Blondes has a sheerer golden tone.

Hare side-by-side swatches:

I prefer the new formulation. Blondes Hâlées has a beautiful natural tone with a pretty golden shimmer. I had to beat the pigment out of the former Blondes to get sheer coverage. Blondes Hâlées gives a more natural look and is much easier to work with.

Here is a comparison — on the left, no bronzer. On the right, Blondes Hâlées: