Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in Sun Blondes (04)

Guerlain has added new shades to its stupendous Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder ($50) collection. Sun Blondes (#04) is the latest addition for fair skin types - my selection. There's also a new Brunette shade, Sun Brunettes, naturally!

Sun Blondes is warmer and darker than the existing Blonde (#01) shade. The same is true for Sun Brunettes. I love Guerlain's Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powders. They seem tailor-made for me. They give me a sun-kissed glow that's appropriately tuned to my fair skin. The multiple bronze and rosy hues in the compact mix to create the perfect healthy, natural tint - one that looks like you just returned from a sunny locale. You'll see that there's a lot of copper and pink in Sun Blondes - perfect for the color we blondes tan.

With a unique combination of bronzing shades, vibrant colors, and fine pearlescent particles, Terracotta Light Bronzing Powder has been improved to more perfectly and more flawlessly match the colors we tan. The newest Terracotta Light Bronzing Powder has a lighter texture, the ideal formulation for the first rays of the summer sun, even if you have to hasten their appearance with makeup. Instead of using white pigments that create an opaque effect, Guerlain formulated this bronzer with a crystal pigment that "draws on its light and translucency to intensify a tan’s glow. It allows you to raise the tone repeatedly without worrying about losing its freshness."

Selecting items from the new Terracotta Light display at Neiman Marcus was difficult. It would have been easy, but wallet-busting, to say, "I'll take one of everything." Sun Blondes was my third selection and last (for now). Except...I've actually got my eye on Terracotta Teint d'Ailleurs in Blonde. I suspect I'll cave before the week is out. I'm in a faux tan kind of mood. I saw the gracious, beautiful, blonde Neiman Marcus PR rep at Mazza Gallerie last weekend, and in one week she had "acquired" a glorious tan. I wanted to be her (tall, blonde, gorgeous, and...tan).

I've digressed. Here are two swatch photos of Sun Blondes, applied ridiculously heavily. Terracotta Sheer Bronzing Powder provides a beautiful bronze glow when applied normally. It's definitely sheer as the name suggests. You'll find that Sun Blondes is darker and warmer than the original Blonde shade. It's intended to be used at the height of summer when your face has developed a natural tan due to sun exposure - or to boost your self-tanned look (the only way for me). I think it works perfectly now, as we celebrate our extra day in February, Leap Day.

I applied the strip at the top of my arm with a sponge-tipped applicator, something I wouldn't do if I were applying this powder bronzer to my face. Then I used a dense blush brush to apply the swatch below - again, too heavily. My photos were taken in full sun. They aren't the best color representations I've ever published. Unfortunately, it's a cloudy day and there's no opportunity for a do-over. Please keep in mind that I applied Sun Blondes way to heavily for the photos.

Sun Blondes looks fabulous on my face, with or without foundation. Even though I see shimmer in the mosaic, I don't see it on my face. It buffs into a warm glow that's sheer and natural. I'm wearing it as I write, and I keep stopping to admire my sun-kissed look in the mirror. Move over Blonde; you've got new competition in my house. Your sister Sun Blondes is vying for my attention.

You can find the new Guerlain Terracotta Sun in the City Collection starting in March (or possibly now) at select locations of Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Bloomingdale's and Bergdorf Goodman. If I were you, I'd go look. I've now featured three items from Sun in the City, and I'm smitten.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

16 comments:

Nemo said...

Ooh! A new comment format! Please advise on how to wear these Guerlain sun products: The tinted moisturizer (which you don't have yet), the Sunny Pink liquid blush, the compact you featured today, and the glimmer highlighter from earlier this week? Would you do all or some? Confused in Michigan.

Natalie said...

Wow, this one is so pretty! I have Brunette and love it. I'm definitely going to have to check these new ones out. Thank you for the heads up and the lovely swatch!

Clarisse said...

I have the "normal" Blonde which is lovely, so I won't go for this one now...but I can assure you, Charlestongirl, you will adore the Terracotta Teint d'Ailleurs for blondes....perfectly gorgeous:-)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Nemo! I wear this one as a bronzer. Low on cheekbones, on jaw bone, and on temples. I wear Sunny Pink as a blusher. The highlighter from earlier this week is trickier. I wear it on upper cheekbones and under my eyebrows. I'm pretty conservative. :) At night, I might apply it more liberally over the entire face.

Charlestongirl said...

Thanks, Natalie. Try them if you can. I don't think the shades equate to hair color as well as they correlate with skin tone.

Charlestongirl said...

Thanks, Clarisse! You just pushed me over that edge. I will order it. :)

Lena said...

Cgirl!
The LE powder sold out of NM in two days! Isn't it crazy?!

Charlestongirl said...

OMG, Lena! I can try to find it for you. Or ask your NM rep to Option 7 it for you. Call Bergdorf Goodman too.

Evelyn said...

I wonder if that would work for me. I'm not a blonde but a light brunette and that powder looks quite pretty. Time to plan a trip to the store. :)

Clarisse said...

Evelyn, I think it will: I'm a light brunette too and my skin is very pale (blond type)and it works very well. So if you are pale too, it should be perfect:-)I think CG will confirm it?

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Evelyn,

I really think these colors are designed for skin tone, which happens to match up with natural hair color. If you have skin that's on the fair side of the middle of the spectrum, you may find that the Blondes work perfectly for you, especially Sun Blondes. Clarisse is correct.

I wore Sun Blondes to work yesterday as a blush and bronzer, and I looked alive! I was very pleased.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Claisse,

It's so wonderful having friends in different time zones to answer questions. I crashed last night while watching American Idol. Was about 9:30 when my body said, "Enough!"

I had just finished invoicing my time for February. I hate doing administrative work, which is probably why I got so exhausted. :) Before that, I wrote blog posts, which never wears me out. That might be work, but it's fun work.

Eileen said...

Hi Nemo,

I'm late with this, but just on the off chance that you revisit this post, I'd like to add a bit about how to use the gold powder. It is also meant to be used on the décolleté. Use a fluffy brush to lightly dust it over your shoulders and chest for a gilded summer glow. It's a multi-purpose product. That's why Guerlain made it available in such a generous size--it's not just for highlighting the face.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Eileen!

That's a hoot. I never want to draw attention to my flat chest. :)

Cleavage? What's that?

Eileen said...

Oh, Charlestongirl, you are too funny, but I hear what youre saying. When it comes to cleavage (or rather the lack of it!), I'm just one of the guys :-D

Unknown said...

Unfortunately I find this too orangey for me, but I love the original Blonde one.