Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder Review, Photos, Swatches (02, 03)

Reviews


Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder — #02 and #03

Quick Review:  Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a long-time favorite bronzing powder of mine, but for summer, Guerlain tweaked and expanded the range to bring out eight shades. Three shades (00, 02, 04) are designed for lighter, pink complexions, while four shades (01, 03, 05, 07) were designed for more golden tones. For darker skin, #08 was created to add a touch of copper.

Guerlain’s Terracotta Bronzing Powder is lightweight, finely milled, and has a soft glowy sheen–no heavy shimmer here. It can be applied lightly with ease, but for a richer, deeper bronzed look, the color can be built. #02 is is a medium, reddish-tan with a soft sheen. #03 is a warm, medium golden tan with a soft, golden sheen. #02 actually seems a hair darker on me, and side-by-side, it’s clear that #03 leans yellow, while #02 has a reddened undertone.

I love these bronzers for their soft, natural look. They darken the skin in a way that suits your natural skin tone, so you don’t look orange or overdone. The texture of these is so refined and smooth, which allows it to apply and blend out easily, as well as contributes to giving it a natural finish once applied.  These wear a solid eight hours on me.

Quick note: for those sensitive to scent, the powder is scented with Guerlain’s signature violet notes, though it also reminds me of baby powder.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder Review, Photos, Swatches (02, 03)

A+
10
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
10
Longevity
4.5
Application
99%
Total
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Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder — #02 and #03


Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder


Guerlain #02 Terracotta Bronzing Powder


Guerlain #03 Terracotta Bronzing Powder


Guerlain #02 Terracotta Bronzing Powder


Guerlain #03 Terracotta Bronzing Powder


Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder — #02, #03

We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!
Sephora Beautylish Ulta Nordstrom More

About the Reviewer

Reviewer

Christine has normal-to-dry skin with areas of dryness (cheeks, nose, and under the eyes). She has a light-medium skintone with subtle, warmer yellow undertones. Her best foundation matches include: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea in Light-Medium Neutral (best match), Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in Desert Beige 2N1, Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow in 4.0, Hourglass Warm Ivory Vanish Seamless Finish, Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous in Dusk, MAC NC20/NC25, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid in Y305 (140). For more matches, please read our full Foundation FAQ. For more information on our review process, please read our Review FAQ.

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40 Comments

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Pawsha

Beauty expert Jamie Krell said yesterday that the Terracotta light sheer bronzer powder (the mosaic one)was the #1 bronzing powder in the country and one was sold every 25 seconds around the world. Pretty good numbers and I love that particular one, have never found one that adds up to it!

Roo

“for most of us, one bronzing powder will do”

LOL, maybe not most of us tempalia readers:)

Really, nobody does bronze like Guerlain. Heavy swatches show the colour but don’t do them justice. They make the texture of my skin look better which is especially useful if I’m not wearing foundation.

egon

Hi Christine , I bought the lush light bronze from the surf baby collection based on your review & I LOVE it =) totally HG formula & like you said it never looks powdery or dry so I want to ask U how this formula compares to the careblend pressed powder? Thanks

CatherineM

I have been using the old 02 for years and still think its the best bronzer on the market. I love how it makes my skin look.

John

I have tried about 20 bronzers, and my favorite is Nars Laguna! However, some of the few that I have not tried are from the Guerlain permanent line. I do have the Four Seasons one for brunettes, and I love it, but I just reach for the NARS much more often. It’s too bad I don’t have a Guerlain counter near me, I mean, I could order them online from Sephora but I want to get matched to the right shade. Actually, I’d like to swatch all of them, so I can see which one is best suited for my skin tone and undertone.

Christine, how similar are the bronzers in the permanent range when compared to the Four Seasons LE one in terms of texture, color, pigmentation, etc…?

By the way, I can’t wait for the decisions to come out. I think you know what I mean. :]

Christine
Light-Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. »

I don’t have any of the Four Season bronzers myself, but I imagine the texture of both are very comparable – and likely pigmentation!

Roo

The regular ones softer vs. the Four Seasons hard-baked feel. I think the brush picks up more because of the texture but it blends out really nicely. They’re very natural looking if you get the right colour and the selection is good. I’m sure you can phone a counter for some shade help. I’ve done that before and had really good service if I call when they shouldn’t be busy.

John

Thank you Christine, that’s definitely a logical train of thought!

Roo, I do agree that the Four Seasons is rather hard. It’s still very silky and easy to apply, but yeah, it’s not very soft, which is good I guess because there isn’t a chance for it to be too chalky/crumbly. I haven’t had great experiences with phone assistance; probably because I’m so picky, but I’ll give it a try. Maybe the Guerlain counter at South Coast will be good. Hopefully.

baby in a corner

I use no 20 in these (they may have changed the numbering recently). Most bronzing powders are really dark but these are lovely and natural looking.

Nina

after wanting this for soo long, I finally splurged a couple of weeks ago… absolutely love it!! … but still need to get used to the smell.

Diane

I bought this in the beginning of the summer (shade 01) and was pretty disappointed in this considering what I paid for it. For $50, this turns me orange and fades out by the end of the day. I am NW20 in MAC Studio Fix Fluid. I find Nars Laguna, Laura Mercier’s Dune Bronzer, and MAC’s Gold-Go-Lightly Careblend Pressed Powder to be far superior in performance. And I believe they are ALL much cheaper, too!

grace

thanks for doing this christine! was asking questions on temptalia about these.. im still a bit clueless what to choose though!
im NC20 and have just purchased Mac Bronzer in bronze (its quite dark, but i apply it lightly), and NARS Irresistiblement and have napoleon perdis bronzers.
Do u think, and you subbies think i stil should purchase this?
x

Christine
Light-Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. »

Unless you wear bronzer all the time, I think if you already have a few, I’d use those for awhile 🙂

Amy

hi christine, you mentioned that you wear #3 in this and my skin is around NC42 at the moment. do you think i should stick with #3 or go with #5? thanks.

MARI

hi dear!
If u could compare terracotta 02 (which is my fav bronze for all times, just love warm/red undertones) with Nars IRRESISTIBLEMENT what would u say about?
are those similar for haveing red undertone? or nars is lighter?
I was also wondering if TOO FACED SUN BUNNY and LAURA MERCIER BRONZING DUO in CORAL BRONZE and/or PINK BRONZE are similar to terracotta 02, very warm, not light and not dark but definity noticeable…Just like whe a light sking got rosy/red bronze fron a sunny day on the beach!
love your blog!
thanks

Rae

Hi Christine, I have to buy these blind so I hope I could get some advice 🙂 I’m around the NC40 shade with yellow undertones. What shade would u recommend I go for? Thanks!

Ursula

I agree that these are very nice and a great start, I use it every day as well, I use 00 sort of as a basic all over powder/bronzer. I do think this color is way too light for me though but the artist there convinced me to get this. It is ok but looks like I am wearing nothing, another artist there thought I could pull of No. 3 and I do agree, I have fair skin but with yellow undertones and think that 3 would be a better fit, color can be a bit tricky with the Guerlain bronzers just like with their foundations; I always find that I am in between two colors but their formulas are really wonderful. I too agree that 2 is a tadbit darker than 3 and 2 is too red for my skin, I think that 3 is a really nice color for many medium-fair skins.

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