Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder ($65.00 for 0.28 oz.) is described as a “golden-bronze powder.” It’s a softened, medium-dark brown with lightly warm, yellow undertones and a luminous finish. MAC Golden Rinse (LE, $35.50) is pinker-toned. Guerlain #03 (P, $53.00) is darker, redder. Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $65.00) is darker. Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light (P, $50.00) is warmer. Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light (P, $50.00) is lighter. NARS Craving (Right) (P) is more shimmery, darker, redder. NYX Beach Babe (P, $6.50) is more shimmery, warmer. Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is less shimmery. Urban Decay Naked on the Run Bronzer (LE) is less shimmery. Tarte Park Ave. Princess #2 (LE) is lighter. MAC Delphic (LE, $33.00) is very similar. NARS Laguna (P, $36.00) is slightly darker, browner. MAC Sun Dipped (LE, $30.00) is browner. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

For summer, Chanel’s released a limited edition bronzing version of their Illuminating Powder. This version feels like those gel-powder hybrids like MAC Extra Dimension, NARS Dual-Intensity, Estee Lauder Gelee, etc., where the texture is soft, smooth but firm, and the color payoff is more buildable from medium to full coverage. Here, Chanel’s powder had mostly opaque pigmentation that was easily sheered out or built up to fully opaque coverage. The powder was smooth and silky to the touch, but I had no trouble getting product onto my brush (the included brush is usable in a pinch, but it’s not my preference). The texture is satiny with a luminous sheen that gives a real glow to the skin without emphasizing pores. It blends effortlessly on the skin, and on me, the bronzer wore well for eight hours before fading slightly.

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder
Chanel Lumiere d’Ete Illuminating Powder

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Charlotte Tilbury Marie Antoinette
  • Veruschka Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadows
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty In the Buff & Midnight in Paris Eyeliners
On lips:
  • Bite Beauty Shade 005 Lipstick

51 Comments

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M Avatar

Hooray for a good rating! I’m glad I decided to get this. Picking it up today at Nordstrom, along with some other items during their triple points event. I’m fair in skin tone, but I think if I use a light hand, I should be ok. I just couldn’t resist this with the camellia embossing, since I passed on their highlighter during the winter.

Nicole Avatar

I bought this and then went back later in the week and bought a second! I think I will need a couple of heavy layers when I get color ( as I do too easy in the summer).So, I probably will then stash it away since it is a LE, But, for right now and in the winter I can see this being an HG for me.I often use it and then use another deeper bronzer over for more of a bronzed look. This is more of a tan highlighter to me. I think it is just perfect. It’s just enough to warm up my skin. I don’t find it overly warm. I use a pretty dense brush with it. So, I can see me actually hitting pan on this! I really wish they would bring it into their permanent collection! Now, I really wan to try some Chanel regular highlighters!

Katherine T. Avatar

This is SO pretty to look at. Thank goodness this is too warm for me (99% of bronzers are), otherwise my wallet would be a lot lighter.

Ana Avatar

I <3 this product on you and am thinking of getting it now. On another note, I'm in love with with the CT products on your eyes. Can't wait to see full reviews. I really am fond of her line but it's pricey : /

miekogirlie99 Avatar

omg…i’ve been eyeing this since before it came out. i was trying NOT to love it but its so gorgeous!! i need to go on a no-buy…

MELISA Avatar

Christine, I need your help please, I already have Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light . Do you think that I need this? Thank you so much for your answer.

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

Just beautiful both in color and presentation. out of my price range right now us I don’t think I couldn’t bear to disturb the flower.
Beautiful on you. Great finish too.

Jill Avatar

I’ve been using this for a week. Love it! Missed the holiday LE powder, so i didn’t want to miss this one! Chanel does great powder!

Lotus Avatar

This is beautifully attractive. I especially like the compact casing, yet it is a pass for my coloring and wallet. It looks really natural on you, Christine! Lovely. Do you think the flowers will continue to decrease in size as price goes up? Haha.. Like I said, great for my wallet, yet I’d love to see some spring/summer inspired carvings in cooler tones, perhaps as an ombré flower that works as both highlighter and blush. 🙂 005 looks well in you in this picture also!

Christina Avatar

I am glad that I purchased this for my NC10 skin, but I do get flushed red in the summer, so I hope it will be okay.

Christine, the Chanel SA showed me the next makeup series to come out for this summer. It is the blue series. They have this one blue single shadow and a quad, two beautiful blue polishes and this lip plump.

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