Guerlain Météorites Luminizing Face Powder

I purchased these little pearls collection back  in early April last year but I’ve been neglecting to write a review because I couldn’t decide exactly what I thought about these. Do you sometimes have these products in your cupboard that you don’t know if you love or hate..? Now that I’ve experienced a few months of using this powder, I feel I can give an honest review, at last.

What it is:
An illuminating powder that delivers pure radiance.

What it does:
Inspired by light and created by Guerlain, Météorites Pearls employ the technology of white light, which is used in photography and film to erase imperfections and soften features. A constellation of 6 multi-colored pearls blend together for a flawless, radiant complexion. These pearls-with-a-purpose have now been reinvented in 3 color harmonies that are adapted to each skintone.

It took me a long time to decide exactly which color to get. After much consideration, speaking with helpful Douglas staff, and looking it up online, I finally decided to go with the lightest shade (there are only 3 in total, by the way). As others have stated, this finishing-finishing powder is pretty sheer, so you really could just go with whichever one is your heart’s desire… but:

• Rose 01 = fair gals with pink undertones;
• Beige 02 = fair to medium gals, neutral undertones;
• Dore 03 = fair gals with yellow undertones.

The packaging is pretty luxurious, but to be perfectly honest, I was initially disappointed with this product. I used these every day as a setting powder over Dior’s Forever liquid foundation, but even after 4 months of continuous usage, it barely looks used. The metal container comes with a sponge in the top, which I assume is meant more for holding the Météorites in place than application of product, but sometimes powder accumulates on it and I can use it to “puff” powder onto my face. I prefer not to use it for much direct application because I think oil/product already on my skin would contaminate the product in the tin. There is some sparkle/spangle/shimmer effect in play here, but it’s very subtle in artificial lighting. It’s somewhat more noticeable in natural light but not so much to be distracting or unpleasant. I’m guessing gals who are seeing too much sparkle are trying to put a lot on in the hopes that it will provide more than sheer coverage.

Unless you want to glitter in the sun (in a serious way), a little goes a long way. I’m going to have this for years, I think. Another potential issue would be the fragrance. This product is scented to smell like violets—I guess; I’ve never really taken the time to smell or appreciate that particular flower, so I’ll take their word for it. It is a strong scent but it’s neither unpleasant nor lingering. Typically, I don’t smell it at all about 15 minutes later, whether that’s my getting used to it or it dissipating is anyone’s guess, but it isn’t an issue for me. Finally, you really ought to spring for an appropriate brush for this. If your brush isn’t a little stiff or coarse, there’s no way it’s going to pull any product from the Meteorites.

You’ll be reduced to crushing the little Meteorites by hand so that your soft, floppy brush can pick it up. Tell me that very idea doesn’t make you sad right now.

Bottom line: It adds a little bit of sheer shimmer, and to be perfectly honest — a hardly visible, yet overly advertised effect. I can get the same shimmer with my Dior Diorsnow White Reveal compact makeup, without paying an extra $60 for it. The product is so transparent and subtle that it is not noticeable in the skin, it has no effect on it rather than remove some of it natural shine, yet it’s definitely not a “matifying” powder.
No relationship between price and quality. It only presents a very nice packaging, original presentation of powder and lovely “meteorites” concept.

Ingredients:

All shades contain:
Talc, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Distarch Phosphate, Magnesium Carbonate, Hydrated Silica, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch, Silica, Parfum (fragrance), Meteorite Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Sorbic Acid, Aplha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Amyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geranoil, Cinnamyl Alcohol, [+/- Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 73360 (Red 30 Lake), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), CI 77742 (Magnesium Violet)].

Have you tried it? Did you like it? I would be curious to hear reviews of those who found it useful.