Friday, September 12, 2008

Perfect, Glowing Skin

Guerlain Meteorites in "Mythic" were my very first high-end cosmetic purchase. I read about them in multiple magazines and was certain that they held the key to perfecting my complexion despite the fact that I'd neither seen nor tested them in person. When the box arrived, the gorgeousness of it all left me awestruck. The box was hidden away for the perfect occasion only to emerge several months later.

I swooshed a big, fluffy brush into the shimmery, powdery pearls only to be overwhelmed with a very strong scent of rose. I applied the powder to my skin, cloistering scent be damned, and noticed nothing at all. And then my Guerlain Meteorites were relegated to the junk drawer of my collection.

I decided to give Meteorites one last chance, this time applying on top of foundation, before getting rid of them entirely and the results were infinitely better; the red remnant of my teenage acne was nearly all gone and my face looked healthy but not fake or "made up." My beautiful Meteorites, please forgive me. How could I ever have dismissed your glowing balls of perfection?

I've concluded that while some may come very close, beauty products cannot work complete miracles. It is important to know the optimal use for a product in order to experience the maximum benefit. Perhaps those with a complexion superior to my own will be able to get great results using a Highlighter/Complexion Corrector on its own.

Now that I've provided you with a brief overview of my life story, I will hurry up and get to the point: Physician's Formula Highlighter achieves a remarkably similar result for approximately 1/5 of Guerlain's price. I purchased the powder for daily use, my Meteorites feel too special for the drudgery of daily wear, and have been using it somewhat regularly ever since. It would surprise you to know that the main ingredient in both products is Talc but the Physician's Formula version contains no fragrance so it may be best for those who are allergic (or just hate a strong rose perfume). Both items use a palette of multiple shades to even out discoloration while the white, pearlescent pieces add a subtle glow to the skin. The Physician's Formula powder is preferable for travel; Meteorites are extremely fragile and turn into powder at the slightest provocation.

I apologize that I was unable to get effective swatches or pictures of the product on my face because it is too faint for my cheapo camera. If you are considering purchasing Guerlain Meteorites and don't know whether it will be a worthwhile investment for you, experiment with the Physician's Formula Highlighter to determine if this is something that will improve the appearance of your complexion.

I still adore my Meteorites and will continue to use them when I want to feel special but I may reconsider spending another $51 when it is time to repurchase. May that day never come!

6 comments:

Anastasia said...

I think one of the upsides of pearls is that they tend to last for AGES, whereas I personally wear compacts down pretty quickly.

I agree that the Meteorites look absolutely stunning - like skittles - I'd have bought them just for that.

I love the way you write, you cheered me up today when I'm feeling all sick. "Glowing balls of perfection" is a phrase that will stay with me forever. ~_^

A Gal On A Budget said...

Hahaha thanks =D. Do you use Meteorites the same way you use your compacted products, though? It probably lasts you longer because you use less of it and use it less often.

For me, it can be somewhat difficult to get a good amount of powder on my brush because The Balls move around. There's a ton of powder emitted from the container whenever I open it, on the other hand, as well as a good amount underneath the balls because any bit of movement can crush them.

I do love Meteorites but the Physician's Formula powder is faster and easier to use when I'm on the go and don't want to inhale a powdery, white cloud of rose fragrance.

Connie De Alwis said...

That's such a lovely entry. I've always wondered how the balls were used. lol. now I know! You make the Physician's Formula powder look very tempting! Can it be used as a compact powder or is it a compact powder itself?

A Gal On A Budget said...

Connie: Could you please rephrase your question? I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "Can it be used as a compact powder or is it a compact powder itself."

If you're wondering whether it can be used in lieu of a foundation, in my opinion, it cannot (unless you have great skin to begin with). It is more of a finishing powder; while it does help even out skin tone, it lacks the coverage to be used instead of a foundation on all but the best of skin days.

Connie De Alwis said...

sorry for the vague question. i use compact (or pressed powder) powders as touch ups and blot off excess shine on the nose. I also use it to set foundation when I travel since it's too troublesome to bring an entire jar of loose powder. I was wondering if i could do the same with this physician's formula powder.

hope that's clearer. Thanks :)

A Gal On A Budget said...

Connie: No need to apologize! It was I who misunderstood.

Yes, the Physician's Formula powder does effectively blot away excess oil and sets my foundation well. Can I suggest another option? I find that reapplying powder throughout the day makes my foundation (and face) look very cakey. Have you tried blotting sheets? Those eliminate oil without adding another layer of makeup on top of what you've got.

Hope that helps!