On warmer complexions, this will be incredibly complimentary. On cooler complexions, I think it will still work, but there’s a chance it might turn orange-y so you may want to try before you buy. It read true yellow gold without any orange/red tones when I swatched it and looked at it in the pan. The texture is similar to the Ready eyeshadows, though this felt not quite as dense/buttery.
It was very finely-milled, soft to the touch, and blended beautifully on the skin. It gave a glowing sheen, and it didn’t emphasize pores or the texture of the skin. The payoff was true-to-pan, so depending on your application, it could be applied heavily or lightly, because it would smooth and even out easily. It lasted nine hours without fading when I tested the wear. bareMinerals continues to impress me with their Ready range; the wear is impeccable, rich in pigmentation, and extremely blendable and easy to use.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Giorgio Armani Moonlight White Palette ($88.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a face palette that contains one highlighter, two eyeshadows, and one lip color. The shades are described as, “White shimmer highlighting powder is paired with a gradation of grey eyeshadows to create a wash of color, finish with the red lip wax for a sophisticated winter style.”
The highlighter is a pure snowy white with a silver-white shimmer. This one was a bit more sparkly compared to the Moonlight Beige palette. The texture, while finely-milled and soft to the touch, wasn’t as blendable–perhaps easier to notice given how stark this looked against my skin tone in particular. It will look best on very, very pale complexions. The closest dupe I could think of was Benefit High Beam, which is pinker.
The lip wax is a darkened pink-red with a natural sheen. On lips, it looks more red than pink and yielded semi-opaque color coverage. It has a thin consistency, so it looked a lot like a stain when applied to the lips. MAC Fire Sign is a little brighter, but it has a similar look and feel on. NARS Flamenco is also very similar, perhaps a touch more pigmented.
The second eyeshadow is a medium-dark, faded gray with a mostly matte finish, though it is sprinkled with sparkle–you just don’t see it show up or at a distance. The color payoff here was weak; it had a faded, almost dry quality to the end result. bareMinerals Chateau is more pigmented, more matte. MAC Scene is very similar, just more pigmented. Chanel Gris Exquis is similar but has no sparkle.
My biggest problem with this palette is in the composition, all quality comments aside. There’s simply not enough contrast between the two eyeshadows for a really great smoky eye. I felt like the colors together ended up looking so much like the other–instantly muddied (if mud was gray). I was originally interested to see how Giorgio Armani took a rather bold pairing (smoky eyes and red lips), but I can see now that the grays are subdued enough that the lips are more of a focal point.
The highlighter lasted just over seven hours, and after eight, there was some slight fading. The lip wax lasted four hours, but it was a little drying to wear. Both eyeshadows were prone to blending out and disappearing (the lighter shade did this in a particularly frustrating fashion!), but once applied, they didn’t seem to fade much more. The eyeshadows appeared a little faded after eight hours without a primer (but no fading with a primer).
At this price point, the quality needs to be upped quite a bit! Even if the quality was better, though, I don't think it's as versatile as it could be. Maybe with more pigmentation, you could achieve greater contrast between the two eyeshadows, but as is, they run together.
Product
7/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
8/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige Palette ($88.00 for 0.41 oz.) consists of a highlighter, two eyeshadows, and lip wax housed in a glossy black compact with a mirror and two sponge-tipped applicators. Giorgio Armani describes the shades as, “Beige shimmer powder joins taupe eyeshadows that intensify gradually, along with Beige lip wax for sheer, natural elegance.”
The highlighter is a pale white-beige with a silver-ish sparkle. There is definitely an overlay of silver glitter that dusts away within the first use (and likely, for the better, since the glitter particles are large). I removed this overlay before I swatched and applied the product. It has a shimmer-sheen finish where a little bit of shimmer is detectable, but it creates mostly a glow-y sheen on the skin. The texture was soft and finely-milled, so it blended easily and sat well on the skin without emphasizing pores or the natural texture. NARS Albatross has more of a golden sheen. MAC Lightscapade is similar but has a stronger sheen. MAC Truth & Light is a touch warmer. MAC Too Chic is frostier.
The second eyeshadow is a subdued medium-dark brown with just a hint of gray. It has a mostly matte finish with a touch of satiny sheen. The color payoff seemed so-so, but on the lid, it was better–good overall. MAC Omega is lighter. Chanel Premier Regard is a smidgen darker and grayer. MAC Camo is lighter.
The lip wax is sheer, as described; it is a warm peach-beige with a soft, frosted sheen. When applied, it really just lightened my natural lip color and added a soft, frosted sheen. As far as dupes go, any sheer beige lipstick will get you close, assuming you have a natural lip color similar to mine. It had more color than MAC Tropical Mist. RevlonC reme Brulee is comparable in color, though it is a bit more pigmented. I didn’t love the formula of this, as it is very unforgiving on the lips, since the texture is on the drier side.
The eyeshadows wore for eight hours without fading or creasing (without a primer). They were incredibly easy to apply and blended out beautifully. The highlighter lasted for eight hours with minor fading along the edges. The lip wax lasted two hours on me from what I could tell–something as sheer as this harder to determine!
Overall, I like the palette, but I’m not in love. The price point is heart-wrenching, and so I need to be in love with the entire palette to get excited about it. The eyeshadows performed better when I was applying them, and as they’re finely-milled and very, very soft, they can become sheer if blended out enough (which is what happened when I swatched them). The whole look this palette creates is soft and natural; very work-friendly and nearly foolproof to create.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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I reviewed Whisper of Gilt when it originally launched earlier this year in March. For a more in-depth review, I’d encourage you to read this post. I wanted to roll out improved photos, since I know this is a rather anticipated repromote. All of the photos and swatches are of the most recently released version (that came out with Glamour Daze), which is exactly the same as the originally released version. I also re-tested this shade for wear, and it wore for eight hours with some visible light fading along the edges.
If you love shimmery, high-shine highlighters, you'll like enjoy MAC's Extra Dimension Skinfinishes. They are comparable in formula to Estee Lauder's Illuminating Gelees as well.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
I reviewed Superb when it originally launched earlier this year in March. For a more in-depth review, I’d encourage you to read this post. I wanted to roll out improved photos, since I know this is a rather anticipated repromote. All of the photos and swatches are of the most recently released version (that came out with Glamour Daze), which is exactly the same as the originally released version. I re-tested the wear, and it lasted around eight hours with some minor fading along the edges (same as when I tested it before).
If you want to tone down the finish, I suggest using a stippling brush (like MAC’s 188) and lightly dusting it over the areas you want to highlight. There’s enough color that it can be used as a blusher or bronzer (depending on your skin tone), but you’ll definitely get a greater sheen that way. If you want a really metallic look, try applying it with a damp brush.
If you love shimmery, high-shine highlighters, you'll like enjoy MAC's Extra Dimension Skinfinishes. They are comparable in formula to Estee Lauder's Illuminating Gelees as well.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder ($170.00 for 0.26 oz.) is really meant to be the creme de la creme of luxury compacts and powders. This holiday’s refillable compact is a black lacquered metal case that has a lot of heft–the whole compact clocks in at just under 5 oz. The top of the compact is raised with Guerlain’s signature rosette, and the interior of the rosette is made up of gold mother-of-pearl.
Wulong is a sheer veil of warm, golden ivory glow. It’s glow in a compact, really, but in a subtle, barely-there way. According to Guerlain, the powder “combines six shades to ensure a pure, flawless and luminous complexion regardless of skin tone.” It is subtler compared to Perles du Dragon. I used it dusted all over my face as a finishing powder, though I also used it to set my makeup when I tested it (so you would only see the effect of this product). Without the powder, my foundation only lasts around eight hours, and while it’s good, it’s not pristine after eight hours. With the powder, my foundation lasted well into the tenth hour, and I didn’t get any afternoon or evening shininess on my t-zone.
The effect of Wulong is lightly mattifying but mostly softening and diffusing; it makes my pores (almost) disappear and softens lines. It’s kind of like real-life Photoshop for your skin. What it does is similar to what regular Meteorites do, but the compact version is more travel friendly. I applied it with a large tapered brush like MAC’s 184. The texture is softer than silk, smoother than butter; it’s finely-milled to the point where it melts against the skin. It never looks powdery or cakey, and on my medium skin tone, it’s not at all ashy.
I’m not certain that the actual shade of Wulong will be later available in a refill, but Mythic Voyage is at present and the refill is $55, to give you an idea of the cost of the product compared to the cost of the product and compact. I haven’t tried Mythic to my memory, so I don’t know how comparable it is. I would expect a similar effect overall, because the formula is so transparent and finely-milled. The back of Wulong says “Refillable with Mythic 01.” You might also consider Guerlain’s Illuminating & Mattifying Pressed Powders, which are also part of the Meteorites family, though those are more matte than Wulong.
There’s no planet where I would feel comfortable saying this is a must-have–not at $170–but it’s a lovely product that performs well by making my skin look 15-20% better than it is and extending the wear of my base. I’d be more apt to purchase a refill and skip the compact to save $115. The compact is gorgeous. It’s exactly what luxury beauty packaging should be. I’m just not that much of a packaging junkie, but I routinely use pressed Meteorites to finish my foundation. Wulong is one piece I’ll treasure and enjoy for years. It’s very much a collector’s item, and I can see why some Guerlain collectors make sure they’re first in line for these compacts.
There's no planet where I would feel comfortable saying this is a must-have--not at $170--but it's a lovely product that performs well by making my skin look 15-20% better than it is and extending the wear of my base.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
