Guerlain Summer 2013: Fard Métal Loose Iridescent Eyeshadow in Bronze Ora No. 02 (LE): This is Not a Swatch (Ceci n'est pas une swatch) Swatches & Review

Magritte. The Treachery of Images (Ceci n'est pas une pipe or This is Not a Pipe) (1929) Source.

Purchased by me

The moment that I saw Charleston Girl's swatch and review of this beauty, I knew that I had to have it. I also had the feeling that it was going to look a bit different on me than it does on her- so rather than ordering it online while I was out of town, and nowhere near my local Guerlain counter, I decided to wait and swatch it first. It was so stunning that I purchased it immediately after swatching it.

The secret for beautiful eyes this Summer? Guerlain loose iridescent eye shadow in Bronze Ora or Cuirve gives an immediate metallic result with only one light application.

No. 02 Bronze Ora, while described as a bronzed brown, is actually what I would describe as a stunning taupe. As I was contemplating this pretty eyeshadow, I kept thinking back to Pink Sith's brilliant post entitled "The Trouble with Taupes" where she demonstrates the extent to which taupes morph into very different hues depending on the skin tone of the wearer. The truth of this became all the more evident when I swatched this Guerlain beauty- only to discover that it wasn't quite the color that I had envisioned once applied to my skin. 

In fact, it got me thinking about the bigger construct of representation generally. It immediately brought to mind Magritte's commentary made manifest in his Treachery of Images (Ceci n'est  pas une pipe or This is not a pipe)- which caused me to think in terms of "This is not a Swatch." The point is, this is no more an actual swatch on my arm than Magritte's painting is an actual pipe. The pipe is a two-dimensional representation of a pipe from which tobacco cannot be smoked, and the swatch is likewise a two-dimensional representation of the original swatch applied to my arm. 

Furthermore, this isn't even Magritte's painting, but instead a JPEG from a photo of the painting itself (and likely many times removed)- that was then uploaded to my website and then projected on your computer monitor. Add to this Pink Sith's observation that taupe tends to be prone to metamorphoses, and what you are likely to end up with is a different shade. Therefore, swatches seen online generally function as a road map, but should not be taken as the final word on what this shade will look like on you. Differences in the monitors also influence how you see what you are viewing- therefore whenever possible try to see the actual product in person.

That said, this is a gorgeous finely milled exquisite quality loose eyeshadow. I like the packaging because it promotes easy application, and the built-in sponge tip applicator is quite convenient. I either apply it directly to my lid, or to my hand- from which I either use my finger or a brush. I urge you to remove the wand slowly in order to avoid the extraction of too much product at a time. This is not a matter of flawed packaging, but a preemptive move to avoid wasted product because of an overzealous hand. This lovely shadow has a gorgeous sheen that will make taupe-fanatics swoon.

To further contextualize this shade I included a few other taupes from my collection below.

Left to right: Burberry Rosewood, Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon, Chantecaille Sel, NARS 413 BLKR, and NARS Lhasa.

In the midst of my ponderings, it occurred to me that Guerlain No. 02 Bronze Ora (bottom swatch) bore a striking resemblance to Rouge Bunny Rouge Loose Glitter Pigment Fire Drops in Caress of Mink (top swatch, reviewed here), and it was definitely the case. I will feature this comparison in a dedicated upcoming post.

Overall assessment: A true thing of beauty. I highly recommend this beautiful taupe, but be advised that it may look a bit different on you!

$35.00 for .02 oz. from Neiman Marcus and where Guerlain is sold. Stock photo from Neiman Marcus.