Jok Tekamok: Guerlain

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer

I first encountered Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer during a makeover and was quite taken with its sophistication. It wasn't just the beautiful appearance of the heavy pump bottle with the delicate pearls suspended in clear liquid; the performance of this primer is just as impressive.

I was a bit worried that the light pink cast of the pearls might show up on my skin and clash with my olive undertones, but it doesn't. As you pump out the primer, the pearls get smooshed and mix with the serum-like liquid (without ever contaminating what's left in the bottle. Don't ask me how). The product applies very sheer with a very subtle glow- it's far less obvious than a regular liquid highlighter (Becca, Rouge Bunny Rouge), though until everything sets and dries down you will see the occasional tiny particle.

Speaking of drying- it's highly recommended you give Meteorite Perles a couple of minutes to fully set before applying foundation on top. This primer has a wet consistency at first, though it's not tacky. Once dry, foundations and tinted moisturizers go beautifully smooth over it. The glow is more apparent the thinner your foundation is. I find that compact foundations cover it up completely and you don't see any special effects. However, you can also mix a little of this Guerlain Meteorites Perles with your foundation to add luminosity.

As far as cementing foundation into place, Guerlain Meteorites Perles is adequate but not the longest lasting one on the market. It holds makeup nicely and prevent it from slipping and sliding, but it was not made to keep makeup alive for 12 hours, at least not in the summer. I've experienced fading occasionally, but have noticed that topping my face with Meteorites powder (pearls or pressed, it didn't matter) definitely helps.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles has the familiar Gurelain violet scent. I love it and its classic makeupy feel, but the sensitive of nose or skin should take it into consideration.

Bottom Line: a real luxury.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer ($69, 1oz) is available from most decent department stores and Sephora, including online.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Flora Nerolia

When Gueralin released Aqua Allegoria Flora Nerolia in 2000, the ad campaign said something about "The New Emotion". Someone who's only familiar with the newer part of the Aqua Allegoria line would probably raise an eyebrow, as very few of these perfumes seem to have any emotion going on, let alone a new one. But Flora Nerolia, a Mathilde Laurent creation (later attributed to Jean Paul Guerlain), has enough personality and, yes, even emotion to offer.

Flora Nerolia opens with a nice and rich neroli note. It's not quite as thick and sweet as the legendary one from L'Occitane, but enough to be both sunny, honeyed and satisfying. But soon things change in unexpected directions. Full bodied (and then some) jasmine, heady and more than a little indolic. It's a heat of the night kind of thing; quite voluptuous. However, if you think you know where Flora Nerolia is going, think again. There's a bunch of ideas going on there all at once- from honeysuckle and vintage French soap to incense, cold and churchy. All that, while there's still a lot of naughty jasmine playing its game on warm skin.

So, what is the new emotion promised by Guerlain (and am I the only one who wonders if they took this line from Here Comes The Rain Again by Eurythmics)? Actually, I'm not sure if the emotion is so new. The playful battle between sacred and profane, pure and filthy was not invented by Guerlain perfumers. But they did give it a fun and wearable interpretation, that was sadly discontinued by the Powers That Be several years ago.

For another review of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Flora Nerolia see Perfume Shrine.

Photos of Madonna from her Like A Virgin video, found somewhere on the web. The Eurythmycs clip is from a 2007 live show. I think its phenomenal . The original that rocked my 13 year old world is here.