Bronzers Archives - Perilously Pale

Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer in Medium for Summer 2013 ~ Photos, Swatches, and Review

March 28, 2013 By Christa 1 Comment

Estée Lauder always knocks it out of the park with their Summer collections. They always have me dreaming of being a tanned beach babe. Something I am so totally NOT! We can always turn to bronzers thought to bring some sun kissed colour to our look and this year Estée Lauder brings us an extended line of four shades of their Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer ($40 CAD) housed in an elegant tortoise shell compact. The bronzer contains a subtle shimmer that reflects light with buildable coverage to subtly warm your complexion or provide for dramatic facial contouring. Sweep it onto your face, shoulders or décolletage to enhance skin with a beautiful, year round glow.

The above photograph represents how this bronzer appears on my skin. Very warm and sun kissed. The photograph below is the best I could do at capturing how it looks in the pan. It actually comes off as fairly neutral in the compact. I think this would be an excellent bronzer for anyone with a light, warm toned complexion and beyond. Even though this is in the shade medium it worked well pigment wise on my fair skin. It wasn’t too intense and the silky powder blends in beautifully. The coolness of my colouring however, did not work well with the warm tones. It brought out the orange undertones. Of course Medium is not meant for my skintone. I am sure the new Light shade would work much better! I am curious to see if it is a cooler toned shade. If you’ve seen it I would love to hear from you.

You can see in the swatch below that the shimmer is very delicate. It gives the skin a healthy radiance in a very discreet way. The shimmer is the most gorgeous copper colour. Such a refreshing alternative to the usual gold shimmer in bronzers. There is no chalkiness to the powder at all. The enclosed brush is a nice size and shape for touchups.

The Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 Collection will be available for a limited time at Estée Lauder counters across Canada and www.esteelauder.ca beginning in March 2013.

Product provided for my consideration. All reviews are always my own honest and unbiased opinions.

Filed Under: Bronzers, Estee Lauder, Summer 2013

AERIN Shell Color Summer 2013 Summer Style Palette ~ Photos, Swatches, and Review

March 26, 2013 By Christa 3 Comments

Ever since I first heard about the cosmetics line by Estée Lauder’s granddaughter Aerin Lauder back in August 2012 I have been anxious to see what the products would be like. I am finally able to share my thoughts with you.

Inspired by the natural ease of a vacation spent at the beach, AERIN introduces Shell Color for a fresh spin on Summertime essentials. The Shell Color collection includes everything from a gorgeous all-in-one palette to a unique on-the-go bronzer. The look is relaxed, the feeling is recharged.

I have the beautiful AERIN Summer Style Palette ($78 CAD) to show you from the AERIN Shell Color collection for Summer 2013 today. This beautifully, and might I say space efficiently, designed gold palette houses almost everything you need to create an effortlessly stylish look in little time.

The palette includes 2 Lipsticks in Dune Rose (sheer coral rose) and Bronzed (deep warm caramel), 2 Lip Glosses in Peal (sheer pink with fine golden shimmer) and Nacre (sheer copper with fine gold shimmer), and 2 Eyeshadows in Driftwood (deep warm shimmery brown) , Golden Sand (a fairly neutral shimmery sand beige), and Shell Bronze blush/bronzer (a soft peachy bronze). Shade descriptions provided are my own.

All three powder products are nicely pigmented, smooth, and a pleasure to work with. The eye look created with the two eyeshadows is something that would be flattering to almost anyone. The two lip glosses are very soft in the pan and offer a sheer amount of colour. They have a slight amount of stickiness and a very subtle floral (I believe) scent. The two lipsticks are also on the sheer side but they offer a lovely glossy finish and are comfortable to wear. I am not a fan of mixed lip/cream and powder product palettes but this is very well executed. I can see it becoming a weekend and summer travel favourite of many women.

The other products being released with this collection are:

Capturing the warmth of the sun in a unique bronzer-and-brush combo, AERIN’s Pretty Bronze Portable Illuminating Powder ($60 CAD) dusts skin with a healthy, natural glow. Available in two shades – a golden highlighter to accentuate features or a matte bronzer to add subtle depth – the perfectly portable bronzers can also be layered for an extra bronzy glow.
Complete the fresh-faced Summer beauty routine with two seasonal favorites, AERIN’s Lip Gloss ($34 CAD) and Lipstick ($34 CAD). The AERIN Lip Gloss is available in two new natural, high gloss shades for an easy finishing touch to every Summer pout. AERIN’s natural looking, wear-with-anything Lipstick adds relaxed, casual glamour and a kiss of color to any look. The AERIN Lip Gloss and Lipstick both include the AERIN floral infusion to help condition lips and add a breath of cooling calm with every touch-up.
AERIN’S multi-purpose Beach Cream ($50 CAD) gives a day at the beach an effortless touch of subtle luxury. The richly conditioning, subtly shimmering formula is perfect for skin and hair dried from the sun, wind and surf. Skin looks radiantly healthy, touched with a bronze glow while the sun’s warming rays activate a deep conditioning treatment for hair. Plus, AERIN’s floral infusion imparts a luxurious floral scent to promote relaxation.

“For me, summer has always been about the beach; it’s where I’m the happiest. Whether taking a morning walk or an afternoon swim, I am endlessly inspired by the sea and the shells along the shore. This collection, with its natural colors and a multi-purpose cream, give a day at the beach an effortless touch of subtle luxury.” – Aerin Lauder, Founder and Creative Director, AERIN

AERIN SHELL COLOR collection will be available for a limited time beginning April 2013 at Holt Renfrew Toronto Bloor Street, Yorkdale, Calgary, Vancouver and online at esteelauder.ca. Twitter: @AERIN, Tumblr: aerin.tumblr.com, Pinterest: pinterest.com/worldofaerin, Facebook: facebook.com/AERIN

Product provided for my consideration. All reviews are always my own honest and unbiased opinions.

Filed Under: AERIN, Blushes, Bronzers, Eyeshadows, Lip Glosses, Lipsticks

benefit Dallas An Outdoor Glow for an Indoor Gal Face Powder ~ Photos, Swatches, Review

December 5, 2012 By Christa 5 Comments

I had heard wonderful things about the benefit Dallas bronzer and finally decided to pick it up when I was in Sephora a month ago. This is what benefit has to say about Dallas:

Give your complexion a natural-looking glow that will leave you looking younger, healthier and more vibrant. This sheer wash of color dusted across your cheeks, forehead and chin gives any complexion a healthy looking radiance… it’s a glow that defies even Mother Nature. Complete with soft, natural-bristle cheek brush.

Dallas comes packaged in the same deep, cardboard box packaging as their other blushes and bronzers. This happened to make it very difficult to photograph so I apologize. The product comes with a cute, what appears to be goat hair, brush with a wooden handle and a mirror in the lid.

When I first saw Dallas in Sephora under the overhead lights I was surprised at how shimmery it looked. I typically like my bronzers to be matte. I decided that I loved the colour too much to not take a risk on the finish. I’m so happy I took the chance because I am in LOVE with Dallas. Not only is it the perfect pink toned bronzer shade I’ve been searching for, but the finish is also lovely. It is not glittery at all but rather a very fine shimmer that on the skin just adds to the healthy glow and radiant effect of the powder. It is quite subtle when used on the face compared to how I imagined it from it’s appearance in the pan. The powder is pigmented, smooth. and a pleasure to use.

Heavy swatch:

I have been reaching for benefit Dallas An Outdoor Glow for an Indoor Gal Face Powder (gotta love that very appropriate name!) on a regular basis. I love it as a bronzer and also on lazy days when I want something quick that will function as both a bronzer and blush to liven up my face. I’m kicking myself for not picking this up sooner! I think it’s time I explore more of benefit’s boxed beauties.

benefit Dallas ($28 US/$36 CAD) is available at Sephora, and of course their own website.

Filed Under: benefit, Blushes, Bronzers