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Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder ($32.00 for 0.24 oz.) is described as a “glowing, otherworldly” powder with a “burst of pure light.” It’s a brightened, golden champagne with a frosted, metallic sheen. Tarte Champagne (LE) is slightly lighter. Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is darker. Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is a smidgen lighter. theBalm Mary Lou-manizer (P, $24.00) is slightly darker. Bobbi Brown 24 Karat (P, $42.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Sephora gave early access to VIB Rouges to the new collaboration collection between Estee Lauder and Courreges, and this particularly product went very quickly (it’s not even listed on the site any more, but I’m hoping that it’ll reappear when the collection is fully launched as well as be available at other retailers and at counters). The texture is a lot like a baked powder product (think MAC Mineralize products) with a soft, smooth, but almost dry, feeling to the touch, though it doesn’t look dry on the skin. It had good color coverage that was easily blended and diffused on the skin, and for a really ethereal look, could be applied with a feathery touch and fan brush for a mere dusting of sheen. Applied with a more traditional highlighting brush, the finish can veer too metallic and emphasize pores slightly, but for as high-shine as it is, I was surprised that it didn’t make pores look glaringly obvious. It lasted for seven hours on me before fading.

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder
Estee Lauder x Courreges Illuminations Face Powder

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • NARS Colombo
  • Jezebel
  • Brousse
  • All About Eve Eyeshadows
  • Sephora Sun Tan Eyeliner
On lips:
  • Estee Lauder Rosy Future Lipgloss

61 Comments

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Dana Avatar

I wanted to buy this…it really does look gorgeous! and i actually dig the packaging even though it’s simple. I heard quite a few ppl say it was on the sheer side. What skin tones do u feel this is best suited for?

Katherine T. Avatar

I’m VIB Rouge, and the only good thing about not getting those notification emails anymore is I’m saving money. Bad for Sephora’s bottom line, but good for my wallet.

Mariella Avatar

I stopped getting them a while ago and checked all the info in my profile. It’s all correct but no emails (even about the VIB Rouge 20% off events). I emailed them to ask why/try to clear this up and got a reply that had practically nothing to do with my problem. I’ll try emailing again one of these days when I’ve nothing better to do but at the last event (November?), I had to mooch around to try to find a paper that would entitle me to the discount (I might actually have found it here at Temptalia or found a link to it…can’t recall but I was mightily annoyed). I guess I’m not the only one who isn’t receiving these (and I’ve check my junk mail and bulk mail folders – nothing).

Terri Avatar

Mariella,
The same exact thing happened to me last year. I stopped getting any emails from Sephora unless they were purchase confirmations. I tried for MONTHS to get this resolved. I sent email after email, made phone calls and then resorted to leaving complaining comments on their Facebook page. Finally, one day, for no apparent reason I started getting them again. I don’t know if my obnoxiousness paid off or if it was a fluke but just wanted to let you know you are not alone in this!!! cheers 🙂

Nicole Avatar

Unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to catch any of the shows live..maybe 7pm. I hope I don’t miss any super duper deals that are like that second,lol. I never have shopped on QVC prior to the Josie Maran powder which i bought online. I still haven’t received that. This just reminded me that maybe I should track that!. :)I am really interested in the CC cream after hearing you talk about it, I watched the videos. i really don’t generally like a heavy coverage makeup. But if it works like it says without sitting in lines, I would be hooked. And I am still wanting that illuminating powder and I saw they have it with the ball wand brush which intrigues me for some reason. So, if it goes on a special, I will try to get it. 🙂

Michelle Avatar

This is like the first product I’ve ever gotten before you’ve done a review on it! It was still in stock a few days ago and I randomly grabbed it. It’s so gorgeous! I really hope Sephora restocks it or it is eventually available on other department store websites.

Jessica T Avatar

I must be getting old because shimmery products are just a huge turnoff for me lately. It still looks great on you, just a little too shimmery for my likes when swatched. The packaging just looks a little clunky to me as well.

Nicole Avatar

Am I seeing specs of glitter or something in there? I have had Mary and Cindy lou-manizer both on my wish list forever and I could get them both for probably $15 more. Plus, I have both Opal and Moonstone.. This probably will be a pass with the LE status and it’s pretty . But, I’m not seeing anything above the average highlighter here in my personal opinion.

Nicole Avatar

I was leaning that way..my wallet needs a breath after these past two weeks anyway and TheBalm is permanent. I love the packaging too! Thanks! My wallet wants to give you a big hug! xo! Hope you have a relaxing weekend Christine!

Tayva Avatar

I give it an A. This is the first product of this nature that did t give me a greasy, big pore (when I don’t have any on my cheek bones) metallic look. I’m not using it all over. Even though it wouldn’t look bad this way, I’m just not into that. I love how sheer the powder is!
I couldn’t pass it up. LOVE Courrèges! I also got the lip gloss… But I think I need some of the other stuff, too.

kellly Avatar

Ooooh,that is really pretty! I use stuff like that as eye shadow sometimes, because I like to have shiny natural color eyelids. I’ll have to check this out! Especially since it doesn’t list carmine as one of the ingredients! (Thanks for posting that photo of the ingredients list!)

Rachel R. Avatar

Wow, that’s more shimmery than it looked in the pan photo. It’s a lovely peachy-champagne, though. I have good old Mary Lou, though, so I’ll pass.

Elysia Avatar

Christine, could you do a review of Scott Barnes Body Bling? I wanna see how it looks in swatches and compare it to other highlighters/bronzers!

Vikki Avatar

I saw the email…so I bought Eye Amplifier in Black Silver and Aqua Silver. I only tried the Aqua Silver and it seems fine but I want to read your review on them! Please tell me you got them and is planning on reviewing them! I don’t know if I should open the Black Silver and get disappointed or what…XD

Chelsea Avatar

This face powder/highlight is by far the most beautiful highlighter I have ever used. I am obsessed with it!! I wish I had bought two…and then a couple for a friends 🙂 It goes on like a dream and looks so natural and pretty. Great Job, Estee Lauder!

Celia Avatar

I got one of the shadows (the one in Aqua Silver). It’s a very pretty color but I thought the texture would be creamier. Sounds like the highlighter has the same texture going on. While the shadow is not as spongy as anticipated, it looks like lovely cream shadow on. I’ve mixed it with the big-hitters like Tom Ford, NARS, Shiseido, Christian Dior, etc eye creams and it looks and wears great. So for anyone thinking of picking one of the shadows or the highlighter up, don’t be discouraged by it’s less creamy/more dry texture. While it really does feel like a baked powder and nothing creamy, it applies very much like a cream (and can be applied successfully with fingers as well like any good gel-inspired formula should). Plus, the color is EXACTLY as described and is truly a silvered aqua.

Also, I never updated on the Tom Ford mascaras! I’m really trying with them but the new colors are not working for me. I like the formula but there is extremely minimal color output. As I previously mentioned, my lashes are double, extra black, thick, and extremely long so colored mascaras can be tricky on me. My favorite ever is NYX’s Jade shade as that truly imparts a gorgeous minty green regardless of what’s on underneath. But usually, I get no color payoff from most. Tom Ford’s had shockingly little payoff. If I didn’t like the formula and wasn’t willing to keep trying everything to make it work, I’d return Black Plum. I am constantly searching for good plums and purples of all stripes and figured this would be a subtle one, but the plum bit doesn’t show on me at all. It doesn’t lighten my lashes either, though so that’s good. While Intense Teal is definitely NOT intense, I do actually like it. They look NOTHING like they were advertised as, but Intense Teal does give a nice subtle tint of green that functions mostly to make my eye color pop a little more than pure black would. But it’s dark. You will not get advertisement-levels of color here. I have tried white base (Lancome), black bases of all kinds, no base, and even tried coating my lashes in white gel liner to try and get a good result but alas nothing has made either color full of impact. Great formula but no point in purchasing the color versions if color is what you’re really seeking. Great on length and volume, though!

Missy Avatar

I really like this, so much as in I’m getting a back-up when they’re available again. I, too, found out from reading elsewhere. No sephora email as always, but I was lucky to get it before it was sold out. Also got the ball highlighter. Curious what you think on that. I know it’s not pigmented, but it looks nice, especially for the day.

Marie-E. Avatar

It looks really beautiful on you!

It finally arrived in europe… I am very tempted but I wonder if it would look as nice on a fair skin with cool undertone. I’d love to try the becca ones but they do not sell them here (or it becomes extremely pricy to get them haha) :'(.

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