Guerlain's gorgeous Terra Inca Collection for Summer 2011 is an enticing complement to the Terracotta Collection for 2011. With different items, but also a summer theme, the Terra Inca Collection is extremely appealing. I purchased several pieces, and I'm starting my series with the Terra Inca Ombré Fusion Cream Eyeshadow ($35).Guerlain's first cream eye shadows specially created for summer, the three Ombré Fusion Cream Eyeshadows are unique, offering the softness of a powder, the richness of a cream, and the lightness of water. They apply like a creamy liquid, which dries quickly. The shadows offer a spectacular lightly metallic effect - really a subtle shimmer that's appropriate for glamorous outdoor wear. The effect of the shadows on the skin is striking. Guerlain says the coverage will last from dawn to dusk, and I believe it. These shadows don't wash off with ease. They're designed to resist heat and dips in the ocean.
The shadows are housed in a lip gloss-like tube, right down to the dot-foot applicator. There are three shades: Bahia (01), Havana (02), and Maya (03) - all places with coastlines. I purchased all three at Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center, mostly so that I could play with them at home. I had a feeling that Havana might be dark from its appearance in the tester, but I've already found a way to lighten it on the skin.
The shades are swatched on my arm, with Bahia at the top, Havana in the middle, and Maya at the bottom. My photo was taken in weak sunlight (you take what you can get!). I started to show you the shadows entirely unblended, but I realized they needed a bit of a blend. I spread them - didn't really blend them well - with my fingertip. Havana had started to dry when I tried to blend it, so it looks very dark (and it is if not blended).
Bahia is a stunning summer peach. You will find it pretty on its own or combined with other shades. Havana is brown, probably better suited to dark skins, not mine. The trick for me is to put it on my palm, pick up the color quickly with a cream shadow brush, and apply it to the outer corner of the lid and crease with haste. Once it dries, it's going to stay put. You may think this is a lot of trouble for a brown shadow, and you would be right. I wanted it, though, so I had to find a way to use it. I love its pure brown color; it's a perfect shade for my skin tone, once blended. The more "adaptable" or wearable shade of brown is Maya. It has a bit of copper in it, which tempers the color. In my photo above, you'll see that I was more successful in finger-blending it. By the time I got to the third swatch, I was ready with my "technique." Maya is a shade that's easier to use. I think it will be the first choice for many.
These are beautiful shadows, and their long-lasting quality will be perfect for lazy days at the pool or beach. For those of us who want that look, but won't be hanging out by the water, they evoke the summer mood. Once you get the hang of blending them on your eyelid, you'll find that they give you a stunning beach-side look. Who doesn't like that?
I have seen the Terra Inca Collection at Nordstrom, and I understand Saks has it too. I waited a long time to find it at Neiman Marcus, but never did. I am wondering, as I've read, if it's exclusive to certain stores (Nordstrom and Saks). If that's the case, a certain Guerlain rep should have known (blogger says ruefully). The collection is gorgeous.
Photos courtesy of Nordstrom
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16 comments:
I love this small Guerlain collection. Lovely colours I think you will get a lot of different looks with them.
I agree, pinkribbons! Very cool little collection. :)
I'm afraid I don't have great makeup application technique so I'd be afraid of the darker colours. The Bahia looks beautiful, though!
Hey Lovethescents! Practice! You can learn. Watch makeup artists as they work. I have learned so much from Loyd Cassler, who always puts the color on the fleshy part of his palm before he puts it on my face. It works! You can do it too. Try it with confidence. :)
I adore these cream eye shadows. I had originally purchased Maya, but after playing with it for a couple of days, I went back for Bahia (love!) and Havana. These are actually very easy to apply. I use Bobbi Brown's Cream Shadow brush which has synthetic fibers. It's a generous sized flat brush which enables me to cover my rather large eyelids in just a couple of strokes. Forget about using the doe foot applicator or blending with your fingers. Use a good cream shadow brush and you'll be amazed at how easily these shadows go on. I particularly love having a bit more shimmer near the lashes and then blending it out as I move upward. For those of you who haven't worked much
with cream long wear shadows, don't be intimidated. Applied with a brush, these shadows blend like a dream and provide smooth and even coverage whether you're going for a dramatic swatch of metallic color on the lid or just a delicate veil of shimmer. They can be worn as a base for other shadows, they can add a bit of sparkle on top of other shades, they can be used as an eyeliner, or they can be the star attraction. I sincerely hope Guerlain releases this formula in other shades as new seasonal collections come out.
Hi, so nothing to do with this post, but since I didn't see your comment asking about which Chandler Burr books about perfume I'd read, I thought I'd mention them in your most recent post so you could see. :-)
Chandler Burr wrote two books about perfume, both excellent. The title of one is
"The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York"
and the other is
"The Emperor of Scent: A True Story of Perfume and Obsession."
:-) Check them out when you have the time.
Thanks, Eileen!
That's exactly the cream shadow brush I'm using! I have about four of them - they are that good.
Sometimes, because of feature length, I don't provide all the details I might. I'm so glad you encouraged everyone. These shadows are easy to use once you get your technique in the groove. :)
Thanks, Sooj! I need to pick up some of these.
Yesterday, I placed an Amazon order for the new Ines book and the new Nars book.
Eileen, would you please e-mail me? bestthingsinbeauty@gmail.com
I think it's high time we ask you to write a guest post!
Charlestongirl, thank you for the encouragement. I need to have the time to have my makeup done by an artist...not always easy with a 3 year old and 5 month old in tow! I really should, though :-)
Eileen, thank you for posting those tips. Must get a cream shadow brush!
Pretty shadows, especially Bahia. A lot of concealer brushes are made of synthetic fibers nowadays (taklon usually), and depending on the size and shape I think they make good cream shadow brushes, especially if you don't have a specialized cream shadow brush (I've also used my taklon foundation brush to apply cream blush and highlighter since I don't have a specific cream blush brush). I think brush titles are more guidelines anyway, since everyone has different shaped and sized eyes, faces, cheeks, etc. So I just use whatever brush works best for my face/eyes with whatever product I am using at the time. :-)
Yep, Bonnie - smart gal! Always look for a synthetic brush for creams - AND make sure your brush was sourced ethically if it's not synthetic. I don't want any animals dying for my makeup. This is hard information to get, but I persist in trying.
Going point too about using whatever works for you, Goddaughter!
For those who don't get the "Goddaughter" joke, Bonnie dubbed me her fairy godmother last year. She's a sweetie, and I accepted the name with honor and love.
Oh beauty fairy godmother, I'm so glad that I did you proud!!! Thank you for having this great site, for being such a wonderful person, and for bringing me (and all your readers:-) the best things in beauty!!! :-)
Love you, Goddaughter!
Thanks for the great post. I saw these at my local Nordstrom, (and had the same initial reaction as you) immediately picked up Bahia and Maya, but felt a bit intimidated by the darkness of Havana. Eileen, I like your suggestion of its use as an eyeliner... great idea.
Hi Cynthia!
I have found I can wear the shade, applied lightly, as an accent. Those with darker coloring, like Gaia at The Non-Blonde, think it's perfect.
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