A very pretty Guerlain Meteorites Pressed Powder Compact : Does it live up to its Illuminating and Mattifying claims?

I’m a huge huge fan of Guerlain Meteorites powders as regular readers will know, and I have a soft spot for the loose perles as well as the Pressed Illuminating Powders (Rose Frais, Mythic and Nacres des Mers) that both impart a beautiful ethereal glow to the skin unlike any other powder I have used.

I believe its been more than a year since Guerlain discontinued the Illuminating Pressed powders (with the bumpy surface) and replaced them with these – the Guerlain Meteorites Compact Illuminating and Mattifying Pressed Powder. Unlike the Pressed Illuminating Powders that come with different colours in the pan, these new compacts all have just 1 shade of powder although it comes in 3 different shades for different effects – 01 Teint Rose, 02 Teint Beige and 03 Teint Dore. Its sort of pre-mixed now where it was separate before.

I don’t know how long I’ve had this compact but its taken me a while to form an opinion on this. Funny eh? I thought I’d love it right off the bat!

I must remark first on the packaging. Visually, its a feast for the eyes. The compact is quite small, as you can tell, and sits very prettily in the palm of my hand. It is also very slim and very compact with a beautiful gardenia design on the cover, that mimics that of the cover of the tin of loose pearls. I like how they are standardizing their packaging. The packaging of the previous pressed powder was quite a let down, being brittle plastic and all. Unfortunately, they packaged the breathtakingly gorgeous Cruel Gardenia Meteorites powder in that packaging – sigh…

This time, it looks like a gunmetal metal case but is I believe coated because its too light to be metal. The case is super slim and fits a puff for touch ups inside so you can carry this around for touch ups on the go.

The powder is also embossed with the same design as that on the cover and I will tell you that although I’ve used mine quite regularly, the etching has not faded very much :)

But you want to know how I find it right? Well, I do like this powder. I use it as a finishing powder after I’ve put on my base makeup. In place of my loose Meteorites, I take a powder brush, dust it over the surface of the powder and then just dust it on my skin. It helps me set my makeup quite well without looking heavy.

However, I can’t say that I love it, because I feel that it makes my skin look too matte. I’d gotten to used to the idea of Meteorites giving me that “glow from within” that not seeing it makes me feel a bit let down. It isn’t chalky or pasty, but I just don’t see that sort of glow.

Teint Rose is the lightest shade meant for those who are fair skinned with pink tones. I feel personally, that it gives a whitish cast to the skin if I’m not careful. Once it sets into my skin (give it 15 minutes or so) its fine, but that initial application does give a white cast. There is also minimal oil control properties, which is bearable for me, because I am not prone to getting oily skin but if you have oily skin and are thinking of getting this one because it says “mattifying” then don’t.

Since I have it, I will use it up. I can get it to work as I’ve worked out just how heavy handed I should be with my brush, and how much powder I should pick up and deposit. However, I’d say that as a replacement for the Pressed Illuminating Powder, I’m a little disappointed. Those gave me a lovely glow – like the loose Meteorites but in pressed form. This one does not quite hit that mark.

In a nutshell

The Guerlain Meteorites Compact Illuminating and Mattifying Pressed Powder is a replacement for the Pressed Illuminating Powder that was previously in the Guerlain stable. This one comes in 3 shades and is meant to be used to set makeup although you could use it on its own if you have good skin, I guess. It is velvety soft and light on the skin but I feel that it looks too matte on my skin. I do not get the glow I associate with using Meteorites. Personally, I feel that even as a mattifying powder, it does not perform that well in our heat and humidity. Its a good powder, but perhaps not quite deserving of the Meteorites name.

Pros: Light textured smooth powder, Pretty and compact packaging, Helps set liquid foundation well

Cons: Pricey, Teint Rose gave me a slight white cast to my skin, Leaves my skin looking a bit too matte

I believe the Illuminating Pressed Powders were actually improved upon when they were reformulated, and I must say that in terms of texture, there is marked improvement. The powders feels so much finer and more velvety. But in the process, the illuminating effect that makes a Meteorites is lost, for me. One of those times, I wish that they could have just repackaged the pressed powder and be done with it.

If you are in the capacity to compare, which pressed Meteorites compact powder do you prefer – the older version or this newer compact? Have you used either before and have thoughts to share on them? If you’re in the market for a mattifying powder that gives a glow (sort of) I prefer the RMK Pressed Powder N for this purpose. It really works very well and although not as pretty to look at, at least its refillable.

Paris B

Guerlain Meteorites Compact Illuminating & Mattifying Pressed Powder comes in 3 shades Price: RM185 Availability: All Guerlain counters