Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
I Want to Go to Paradise, But I Took a Wrong Turn
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder ($70.00 for 1.86 oz.) consists of six different colored pearls, ranging from pale pink, peachy-pink, icy pink, medium pink, dark pink, and silver. The mix of pearls is supposed to brighten, reflect, add radiance, and generally “light up” and “instantly awaken” the face. The pearls are violet-scented as well and larger than the regular-sized Meteorites. It comes with a pink pouf designed to be used for application.
Meteorites are regularly sized at 1.05 oz., so this is quite a bit more; to compare, they are regularly $55.24/oz. and this jumbo-sized version is $37.63/oz. Of course, at this price point, it may be more of a question of whether you will finish a tin at all! I’ve drank from the Guerlain-aid (or would that be Guerlinade?); I get Meteorites. I wear them, love them, and regularly incorporate them into my routine. I find myself being disappointed with this spring’s version–because I can’t see it at all. It’s not giving me the subtle radiance that looks natural, luminous, and effortless on the skin.
I used it all over the left side (your left, that is) of my face, and then concentrated it on the cheek bone as a highlighter. Even swatched on my arm, I could barely see anything; no sparkle, no shimmer, no barely-there sheen, until I layered it. You can see this past holiday’s Perles du Dragon–there is so much more going on there; you can see the little reflections from the ultra-fine shimmer as well as the larger sparkles. Only when I more heavily layered it was I able to get the effect. It is not the signature effortless radiance that has become associated with Guerlain’s Meteorites range (whether in pearl-form or pressed).
The pearls themselves are no doubt super soft. Where I was able to visibly see (and thus, measure) the Meteorites placed was on my cheek bone (like a highlighter), the subtle sheen lasted all day long–a full eight hours with no signs of fading. I had the best luck when I used a dense blush brush and patted in on in sections–when I used the pouf, I expected it to pack quite a wallop, but it didn’t seem to transfer much at all onto the skin.
I was also disappointed to discover that the container is made up of mostly cardboard–heavy duty, definitely–but not metal, which is what Guerlain switched to in the past year or so. There are bits of metal (maybe plastic?) that line the edge of the tin and it’s wrapped in shiny something-rather on the exterior, but at this price point, I anticipated something more in line with Guerlain’s luxury compacts (which are typically metal).
Perles du Paradis
LELimited Edition. $65.00.
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites / Illuminating Sparkling Powder (on [your] left side only)
While I’m glad they brought back the puff for once, I’d be hesitant to call this a Meteorite — Might as well get a translucent setting powder instead. :/ Thanks for saving me money (and the possible disappointment), Christine!
What a shame… 🙁
This is SUCH a disappointment.. Meteorites Perles are one of my favourite products and I always anticipate new LE additions.. but aside from looking beautiful inside the pot.. this is just a worthless product =( I hope this is not a sign of things to come from Guerlain
What a shame! They look stunning in the packaging (though that does look cheaper) and I hoped for a slightly lavender toned shimmer… The recession is hitting everywhere- even beautiful high end make-up lines it seems 🙁
I hope the larger size and lower-quality packaging are just for this collection. Hopefully Guerlain goes back to the usual for subsequent versions of meteorites!
I am completely wrong when I say that Guerlain is becoming cheaper and cheaper. Belongs to LVMH and it shows. So sad to say and thing that !
That’s interesting: this definitely shows up on my skintone, but I am a fair bit lighter than you are (NC 10/15). However, it didn’t give me the glow and airbrushed effect that I get from other meteorites.
Like you, a quick dusting on the face didn’t yield much in terms of colour other than a slight tint of pink and some silvery sparkly bits. In fact, this version of meteorites has more prominent sparkles than the previous ones. When I concentrate the powder on my cheeks and cheekbones, what I get is a pale pink with just a touch of lavender and silver colour. It does look a little ashy and powdery when I wear it this way.
All in all, I think it’s nice to have and certainly beautiful to look at, but it’s not as amazing as past meteorites.
I couldn’t even *get* the sparkles 🙁
Can’t decide if I’m disappointed or happy.
Buying it would use up all of my makeup money for a long while.
But when I saw the picture at the top, my face lit up because I’ve always wanted Meteorites and these would have been the perfect ones for me.
So dissapointed with this one, because at first glance it looks like this would have been a lovely plummy blusher/highlighter 🙁
Christine, I want to buy one of the loose meteorites but I don’t know which one. Can you recommend one (even if it was limited edition) that you really like?? Are the limited edition ones that much different from the ones in the permanent range?
The recent Perles du Dragon (holiday) Meteorites are nice! 🙂
The first thing that came to mind was “Where is it?” when I looked at your arm. I thought this could pass off as a blush, but no. 🙁
Oh… I am shocked 🙁 I have Meteorites from previous editions, and they are amazing. What happened this time? I’ve already ordered mine at Nordstrom. Well, gonna try by myself. So sad to know, it is not gonna be as good as others 🙁
SHOCKED!!! How disheartening, I thought Guerlain had these sort of products down pat! Couldn’t believe when I scrolled down and saw the grade! Wow.
You & me both, Cat. I was like, “Really? Wait, no… *swatches again five times* NOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Actually, I could totally dig them as a finishing powder! I have the old Mythic version of the loose Meteorite and this look like it would be a more “pinkish” version of it. I suspect it shows a little more on paler skins, so it could work for me!
I find the Perles du Dragon version, on the other hand, too sparkly.
Have never bought meteorites…by far the most expensive beauty item I own is perfume. After that we go to blushes, lipstick alot of it and lipgloss. Something so subtle as meteorites I´m not willigng to spend so much for right now. I guess thats a good thing 😛
Christine, those earrings are so pretty!
Thanks, Jennie! They’re from http://www.etsy.com/shop/SihayaDesigns
That’s sad, because these are really beautiful and fun to look at in the pan. I have the Pucci Meteorites (my first Meteorites ever) and love them.
Oh, bummer. I was really looking forward to these, but now I’ll skip. I may get the regular Meteorites instead.
Every once in awhile a dud rolls out of even the best brands. :/ I never buy something now without swatching it and looking at lots of reviews.
Aww! That is so disappointing. The packaging looks so pretty. I can’t believe it. Christine, your skin looks luminous! What foundation are you wearing?
Dior’s BB cream + Dior Nude powder!
Darn it! When I saw the first photo I was like I’M ALREADY IN LOVE! How disappointing, but even great brands are allowed to have a few duds 🙁
Boo, that’s really disappointing, Guerlain. Good thing I wasn’t attracted by those in the first place- the bigger size makes them somewhat scary!
But the Perles du Dragon are tempted me… What kind of brush do you use with your Météorites, Christine?
I like MAC’s 188 or 165!
Another question if you don’t mind: I stumble upon the Pucci Météorites while I was in town, and now I’m torn. If you own the Pucci Météorites, which one do you prefer between the Pucci and the Perles du Dragon?
Perles du Dragon 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks, Christine!
that’s too bad about these perles…could it be an undertone thing?
the other perles are pretty great, but some worked better on me than others…
I’m curious as to why you would give it a C+ when it almost entirely doesn’t function as a product…? Given your description the Glossover doesn’t seem to make much sense.
Hi Maggie,
You have to layer a ton on, and you can finally get it to show up – so the major (and really the only) problem here is the pigmentation, sheer as they are, this really needs a lot of layering to achieve the desired effect. You can get there, it just takes 3-5x more product than other Meteorites. The texture of the pearls is as fine and as soft as ever, and when it is applied, it wears all day like other variations and extends the wear of my base.
Thanks for explaining 🙂 That makes a bit more sense, although since you have to work so hard to get anything to show up I would have expected the pigmentation grade to be much lower than 6/10, and the application grade to be a bit lower as well. Do you mind explaining why you have it a 6/10 on pigmentation? I swear I’m not trying to be snarky, I’m honestly just curious about how you decide these things!
Hi Maggie,
It’s lacking pigmentation (or really “effect” in this case, since the pigmentation of this product is more judged by the resulting effect on the skin than of a particular color showing up) but isn’t as if it has zero. I don’t have to crush up an entire pearl to yield the desired effect or anything. There have been many sheer eyeshadows and blushes where I’ve had to scrape product out of the pan with a spatula to get enough product to have it even show up on me. This doesn’t reach that level sheerness or general difficulty in usage. Meteorites are already a very, very sheer product – mostly a near-invisible/translucent finishing powder with a few sparkles/shimmers – so we are talking about very, very minute degrees of sheerness already.
Meteorites aren’t as well-suited to having a pigmentation rating as other products, because they’re more of a finishing/translucent powder, so you’re not supposed to really *see* them like you would a traditional highlighter – they’re supposed to diffuse skin imperfections, increase radiance (brightening), etc., so judging pigmentation, for me, is really looking at whether it’s created a veil that diffuses/enhances radiance on the skin. It is, unfortunately, not an exact science, but I do the best that I can and fully explain all pros and cons within the review.
Thanks for explaining 🙂
So bummed it’s just a C+. But since I just ordered it and very likely still keep it; in a way since it’s not as fantastic as the Perles du Dragon, I can stash away my Dragon and I can “go to town” with this considering its size and not feeling I’m using up something so exquisitely divine. There’s my aha moment! ★
Guerlain, let this be just a hiccup. Because I had just fallen in love with you not too long ago.
I can only imagine your reaction on the first swatch Christine! Thanks for taking the “1st hit”. 🙂
Didn’t like even before the bad reveiw, this looks like blush! I think Chanel or Lancome’s pink pretty glowy stuff is the better bet.
Guerlains own Meteorites brush is like a stiff bronzing brush; The MAC 188 isn’t the same. That might have helped, but it still looks like blush to me. Too Pink.
I used the pouf as well as a regular blush brush (116) for this one but no dice! Normally, poufs that come with these kinds of products deposit wayyy too much product for the face (great for body), but this was an odd one.
Although I don’t wear MAC foundation, I have been matched to NC15. Perles du Paradis show up on my skin as a cool, crystalline glow that is quite becoming. They actually do give my fair complexion a hint of soft berry color and, if I pass over my cheeks twice, I don’t need any other blusher. The larger size, pretty body puff, and cute boudoir packaging make it pretty obvious that these are not just meant for the face. Swept atop the shoulders and across the décolletté, they give a subtle luminous glow. I’ve been using my Tom Ford Bronzer (large powder) brush with these and it works perfectly. Guerlain has actually made the larger sized Météorites before in limited edition; so I think it is safe to say that this was done only for this particular collection and does not represent a decline in Guerlain’s overall quality. Those of you with fair complexions might find much to like about Perles du Paradis.
Oo I’m a NC/NW (neutral) 5-10 so I might check it out from your description! Even though I tend to like stronger highlights 🙂
the description had me all excited… “awaken” and the pink pouf… too bad.
@Maggie: thank you for asking your questions. I was wondering the same thing but wasn’t sure how to ask without offending Christine because I too, was really curious about the 6/10 score on the pigmentation. Thanks to you Christine for really good explanation. 🙂
Funny but I think this is the most beautiful of all the Meteorites! I like the larger size, it seems easier to get the powder onto a brush and I think the packaging is a cute light-hearted change that is appropriate for Spring. I have no trouble with the application and it shows up beautifully on my skin. I am pale also so maybe this works better on fair skin than warmer complexions. I am thrilled with mine!
Cardboard? Oh dear. I was prepared that you will rave about it, and I will go out and buy it. But cardboard is no way. The summer Perles D’ Azur is metal (with plastic inside).
What a goddamn rip off
From your 1st picture above, it looks like your box of meteorites is filled up to the very top.
However, Best Things In Beauty has just recently posted that the box she has gotten is only half full.
Christine, can you confirm if yours is indeed completely full ?
No, there is space – remember, there is a giant pouf that sits on top! 🙂 My guess is the space is really there for the pouf.
I was just going to ask as I’ve received mine and it’s only half full (with two rows of pearls). Is that how yours is Christine? Many thanks.
Mine is 2/3rds full – the pouf takes up the rest of the space. You’d have the weigh the pearls themselves to see if that’s exactly the weight it should be, since it would be filled by weight, not volume.
OMG Im a meteorites tramp and I will have to pass on these. They seem like the old ‘pink fresh’ with even more pink! The silver balls look like they are left-overs from the disco silver spheres from De Nuit meteorites. Still the collectors will go Crazeeee!!
Did you use a brush or a poof to apply the product? It looks so nice in the container it’s such a shame you can’t actually see anything though!
I tried both!
UPDATE: It finally came in the mail. I felt it was *ok that the packaging was cardboard. Maybe as a *spring-y packaging. However, I wish they kept the lid like how it was with the other meteorites (or like in Perles du Dragon). I found there’s more of a tendency to spill the balls, until you get used to it.
I first tried it on my arm and the sparkles (not shimmer) were pretty evident but it fades away very easily. On the face is totally different. Christine’s review here is pretty on point. You know it’s there (I can see it on my brush) but you can’t *see it off the bat, on the skin, on the face.
I find I still like it though, as a setting powder. So I’m still pretty happy about it. It’s very, very subtle.
I can’t believe they didn’t show up on you! 🙁 I have to say though that with my skin tone NC15 or in Guerlain Beige Pale 01 they show up really well on me. I wear them as both an allover highlighter and also with a heavier application as blush. I will say though the batch that I have seems way more sparkly than yours so maybe that makes a difference.