Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation ($59.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is supposed to be moisturizing, light-diffusing, and have medium coverage with a “sheer satin” finish. It’s available in a mere eight shades (which continues to be Guerlain’s biggest weakness with their foundations–a lack of shade range). It is recommended for normal, dry, and combination skin types (note, oily was not listed).

I’m usually between 02 Beige Clair and 03 Beige Naturel in Guerlain’s foundations, and it was no different with Parure de Lumiere. I used one pump of each shade for light-medium coverage all-over on my normal-to-dry skin. To get more medium coverage, I used one and a half pumps of each shade. 02 Beige Clair is mostly neutral with beige undertones, whereas 03 Beige Naturel has moderately strong yellow undertones. When 02 Beige Clair is blended out on my skin, it actually looks almost pink-toned. I really wish the shade range was larger, but I don’t expect so (their newest foundation just popped up on Nordstrom with only six shades!).

Parure de Lumiere is a lightweight, long-wearing, skin-smoothing foundation that makes skin appear natural, radiant, and luminous without looking oily or greasy. The coverage is buildable from sheer to medium, though it lends itself naturally to a light-medium to medium application. For sheer coverage, I spritz my brush with a little water, and then I work the foundation across the skin; this enables me to get the sheerest coverage all-over and then build up coverage in the areas I need it most. I’ve been using this foundation on and off since November 2012, so I’ve had ample opportunity to use it under various skin conditions, seasons (though “seasons” in California are obviously less meaningful), and with many tools. I like applying it with fingertips quite a bit, and sponges work well, too. I really liked using Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush with this, as well as Hourglass #2 Foundation Brush. There hasn’t been a brush I’ve used with this that hasn’t done an admirable job of applying it, really; it’s not a tricky product to apply at all.

The consistency isn’t too thick or too thin, and it spreads well across the skin and looks very natural when it dries down. It’s not so dewy that it looks oily or wet, but it is definitely a more luminous finish, which is why I can see it not being recommended for oilier skin types. It is also somewhat hydrating, but it certainly wouldn’t replace your full-time moisturizer; it is one of the more forgiving foundations on dry patches and flakiness–especially after a half hour or so, as it absorbs into the skin. It lasts eight and a half hours well on my skin, but if I set with powder, I get closer to ten hours of wear.  The only downside (which isn’t that bad) is that it takes a little longer to dry down on its own if you don’t apply powder.

Ingredients

Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 2.37%, Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) 5.49%

Aqua (water), isododecane, glycerin, hydrogenated polyisobutene, methyl trimethicone, pentylene glycol, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, disteardimonium hectorite, butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, maris aqua (sea water), phenoxyethanol, chondrus crispus (carrageenan), polyglyceryl-2 isostearate, silica, dimethicone, calcium sodium borosilicate, PEG-10 dimethicone, stearic acid, sodium myristoyl glutamate, parfum (fragrance), alumina, silica silylate, propylene carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, citronellol, BYHT, alpha-isomethyl ionone, benzyl benzoate, geraniol, tropaeolum majus extract, tocopherol, limonene, citral, ethylhexylglycerin, [may contain: ci 77891 (titanium dioxide), ci 77492, ci 77491, ci 77499(iron oxides)]

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation