Top 10 of 2012: Blushes & Highlighters

Asking me to choose my favorite highlighter, by the way, is akin to making me choose favorites between (fur) children (if I had more than one). There were some seriously ga-ga-glowing highlighters launched this year, too! On the blush front, there were some great shades and formulas I tried and tested, but it was easier to narrow those down.

• bareMinerals Luminizer — two shades of shimmery bliss
• Burberry Earthy — beautiful brown
• NARS Gina — soft orange
• Tom Ford Lovelust — go-to coral blush
• Guerlain Wulong — glowy goodness
• Chanel Rose Initiale — easy pink
• Illamasqua Naked Rose — neutral pink
• Estee Lauder Sensuous Rose — pink-beige
• MAC Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders — beautiful texture
• Chantecaille Les Petales de Rose — lit-from-within glow

What was your favorite blush/highlighter from 2012?

If You’d Like a Little Luxury in Your Makeup Bag…

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.

The Glossover

LE	Wulong A+
	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
	Where to Buy
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Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Before Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

After Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder

Before / After Guerlain Wulong Meteorites Pressed Powder