It would be cruel not to fall in love with the Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites powder

Of all the Spring releases to hit us in 2012, I will have to hand it to Dior for an overall beautifully executed collection. Their lovely 5 couleur eyeshadow palettes in particular deserve mention for the delicate and impressive eye for detail, as does their clutch. But if there is one item Guerlain pipped them at, it is in the powder.

It is no secret I’m a HUGE fan of the Guerlain illuminating powders and I think I’m going to be really silly and collect all of them as they come out. Guerlain releases new illuminating powders periodically in pressed and loose ball version and the Cruel Gardenia Meteorites illuminating pressed powder is the offering for Spring 2012.

Just look at that piece of art!

The Cruel Gardenia Illuminating Powder has a 3D flower rising up from the tub – absolutely breathtaking to view.

Whichever angle you look at it from, the powder is gorgeous. It is made like an intricate flower in bloom, and Guerlain has made it 3D so when viewed from the side, it literally pops out at you from the tub.

I must confess to a slight disappointment when I first removed the tub from the box. It is the black plastic tub that houses the previous Meteorites Pressed Illuminating Powders that I wasn’t quite enamoured by. It feels brittle and, if I might be forgiven to say this, cheap. I honestly do think Guerlain could have packaged this one powder in a prettier case, considering the Pressed Illuminating Powders have been discontinued – maybe they had spare cases floating around 😛

But packaging aside, the powder is a beauty to behold. In the tub, it is a pink-beige coloured powder with noticeable shimmer.

Left: swatched heavily twice Right: Lightly swatched once

A gentle swipe on a flower petal yields shimmer. Yes it is a shimmery powder, but hearteningly, not one that shows up overly shimmery on the skin. I ran a large fluffy brush over the surface and when applied to cheeks, you get a very subtle sort of highlight – but you will notice it. The shimmer is there. Just not chunky not overly sparkly. I prefer to keep it just on my cheekbones. However, if my skin is looking a bit dull as it is recently, a gentle dusting of it all over my face perks up the visage without me going “Oh look at me! I’m like a sparkly vampire!”

In many ways, this powder is unlike the regular Guerlain Meteroites powders, because it is more shimmery and more obvious on the skin. Regular Meteorites pressed powders are more matte. I had the opportunity to swatch the Chanel Poudre Universelle in Jasmin recently, and it is substantially more sparkly and shimmery compared to this one. So for a pressed powder, I’d prefer using this Guerlain version. Its also prettier 🙂

In a nutshell

An illuminating pressed powder in a breathtaking 3D flower design in the tub. The tub is plastic, and the cover screws on which I can forsee may result in accidents or chips on the flower. The powder itself is a pink-beige with shimmer. It is more shimmery than regular Guerlain Meteorites pressed powders. It works well as a highlighter and with a gentle hand, perks up the complexion…. provided you have steeled yourself enough to use it 😉

Pros: Beautiful design, Powder illuminates the skin if used gently dusted all over the face, The powder also can highlight if used slightly more on the cheeks

Cons: Limited edition, Plastic tub feels brittle

Oh the scent is much lighter than the violets scent in the regular Guerlain Meteorites powders. I read that the scent used is that of the Cruel Gardenia scent, which is one of Guerlain’s perfumes. I must go and take a sniff of the fragrance when I’m at the counter next!

If I were to compare the Cruel Gardenia Meteorites to the Christmas Belle de Nuit Meteorites, I’d say the Cruel Gardenia is more pink and less shimmery than the Belle de Nuit. On the skin, there isn’t much of a difference either way, because really, the colours are too sheer to make much of a difference and shimmer can be controlled.

This one releases mid-January at all Guerlain counters (next week eeks!!) but I will urge you to make a reservation because I’m told that stocks are very limited and I forsee them flying off the shelves. Oh wait, I don’t think they’ll have time to put them ON the shelves 😛 I had someone pick this up for me recently because I just couldn’t wait 😛

Are you eyeing the Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites powder too? Would you be able to steel yourself to actually use this? I suggest you do, because its as beautiful on the skin as it is to look at 😉

Paris B

Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites Illuminating Pressed Powder Price: RM185 Availability: Guerlain counters Limited Edition: Yes