Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia: The One That Almost Got Away- Still Available!

Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia was definitely the one that got away for me. I waited too long to decide and before I knew it they were all gone (it was released in January 2012 as part of the Guerlain Spring Color Collection). Then when my friend Bellyhead had a giveaway featuring this beauty I started getting twitchy wanting it again. I had seen that Izzy's Perfume & Beauty Shoppe had them in stock, and I knew that I couldn't let Cruel Gardenia be the one that got away a second time. For years Izzy's has been my go-to place for limited edition collections and Europe and Asia exclusives that don't make it into the U.S. marketplace other than by extraordinary means and ridiculous pricing (eBay). I also am unwilling to resort to places like eBay for these items because it's often difficult to know if what you are getting is authentic.

Press Sample Courtesy of Izzy's Perfume & Beauty Shoppe

Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia (Limited Edition) comes with a Guerlain brush and is, "packaged in the legendary Meteorites Perles case, a stunning pink flower is revealed. Create a radiant complexion with a subtly iridescent veil with Meteorites Cruel Gardenia by applying all over the face or cheekbones for an instant touch of radiance."

This is the most gorgeous makeup product that I have ever seen. It is so gorgeous, in fact, that the first swipe across the surface of the stunning rosette pattern was a bit painful. However, the product itself is so gorgeous and finely milled that one gets over any feelings of remorse for marring the surface fairly quickly. Cruel Gardenia is a beautiful light pink highlighter that imparts an ethereal glow to the surface of the skin. The finish is definitely more of a refined shimmer or sheen, rather than a profusion of glitter- making it suitable for daytime wear. Often times highlighters have the tendency to highlight or accentuate pores and settle into fine lines, but that is not the case with Cruel Gardenia. It is unmitigated perfection.

The consistency of the product in the compact is surprisingly firm in order to maintain its shape without crumbling to pieces, but those brilliant people at the house of Guerlain figured out how to make it retain its consistency in the compact while simultaneously being unbelievably soft and smooth on the skin. Pure genius.

The color is a soft pink that pulls cooler toned on my cool toned skin, but I know people with warm complexions who find that it warms up on them.

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the brush that comes in the set- prejudging that it lacks the same softness of my beloved Hakuhodo brushes, but then I put my initial misgivings aside and actually tried it. Lesson learned- the brush works perfectly with Cruel Gardenia. It is firm and tapered just enough to grab the right amount of product from the multi-tiered compact without disturbing the surface, and it lays down the perfect amount of product to produce an enviable sheen.

I realize that I went a bit overboard in taking pictures, but this is such an extraordinary piece of art that I wanted to share as much of it as possible. Admittedly I also want to preserve what it looked like before- since it will never look like this again. A while ago I forced myself to stop buying back-ups, but I am actually allowing myself to entertain the possibility- not just because it is extraordinarily gorgeous to look at, but because it is unbelievably beautiful on the skin- and I suspect that there is a good chance that I will hit the pan on Cruel Gardenia.

You could lightly dust this on your whole face, or just choose to highlight certain features (cheekbones, nose, or whatever strikes your fancy), but wherever you dust it you will be awe struck by the extent of Cruel Gardenia's beauty.

There was no detectable scent- unlike many of the Guerlain products that are often too fragrant for those sensitive to fragrance in their makeup.

Is this not the perfect flower?

While Cruel Gardenia is often compared with the Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous Highlighter, I do not have the latter in my stash to show you comparison swatches.

                Look at the unbelievable gleam in the compact when the light captures the glorious sheen.

The top swatch was applied with a lighter hand (though heavier handed than you would likely use when applying it to your face) and the bottom swatch is heavier handed.

This also looks outstanding gently brushed onto the décolleté as well as onto the collar bones.

The shimmer is just extraordinary, but not at all overdone when applied to the face.

I thought that it would be helpful to swatch it against a couple of other recently launched highlighters to illustrate where to locate the hue and sheen of Cruel Gardenia comparatively.

Left to Right: Tom Ford Blush Guilt, Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia & Chanel Poudre Signée de Chanel (still available at Izzy's!!)

I was rather surprised by how warm the Tom Ford Blush Guilt is compared to Cruel Gardenia. Blush Guilt comparatively becomes a warm peachy pink, whereas Cruel Gardenia appears decidedly cool. Not surprisingly, Chanel Poudre Signée de Chanel is a warmer golden yellow in the face of Cruel Gardenia. 

I am actually thrilled that the three are markedly different- because it definitely justifies my insistence on having and wearing all three!

While I love and use all three of these highlighters- if I had to choose just one of them it would be Cruel Gardenia. The gorgeous design coupled with the gorgeous luminous and refined glow makes this so extraordinary to use. I am completely transfixed by the beauty of Cruel Gardenia, and truly covet it!

 Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia Ingredients:

Overall assessment: Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia is without question the most beautiful item in my entire makeup collection. I was one of those people who scoffed at the price when it was released and missed my chance since it sold out before I made the move. Remorseful limited edition non-purchases are almost worse than remorseful limited edition purchases. I am elated to have this gorgeous flower in my collection, and as much as it pains me to mar the surface, the true glory is in wearing this piece of art.

Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia available at Izzy's Perfume & Beauty Shoppe Regular price:  $112.10, but Izzy's has generously offered 15%off for Lola's Secret Beauty Blog Readers from August 5-August 19, 2013 at 12:00AM Pacific Standard Time! Use Code: LOLA15 (only redeemable for Guerlain Météorites Cruel Gardenia), and this special offer includes free shipping to the US & Canada! 

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own. Unaffiliated links provided for your convenience.

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