Guerlain Magic

My sister once bought a small clay pot of a bronzing concoction called “Indian Earth”.  And what a mess we made with it.  Powdery and dry, we tried to create a natural tan look on our faces without the sun but ended up with Cheesz-It dust all over the white cloth on our dressing table and streaks of orange across our mini-dresses.  It was as dangerous as black copy machine toner.

I’ve always loved the iconic House of Guerlain – pure Parisian and elegant.  It began when a friend from high school started wearing Shalimar, Guerlain’s epochal perfume.  Suddenly, I found references to Guerlain in magazines and books and eventually received my own bottle of the scent for Christmas.  But it wasn’t until much later that I discovered Guerlain had created its own version of “Indian Earth”, in the form of a shiny tortoiseshell compact with an accompanying petite brush.  I was smitten but the prohibitive price tag made it an impossible buy at the time.

Eventually, I was able to try Terracotta thanks to my generous mother who treated me to an elegant compact and brush of my own when she took our family to Bermuda many years ago.  Upon discovering that the town of Hamilton had its very own Guerlain Boutique, I decided that was the place I wanted to visit even before the pink-sand beaches and blue seas of the gorgeous island.  I tested the bronzer colors and found the compacts to be irrisistably touchable, heavy in the palm, and polished.  The matching brushes were tame but soft, fluffy, and effective.  I had never shopped in a French boutique before and the experience was delightful, luxurious and at least for me, exciting.  My mother, having watched my undisguised longing bought me my first terracotta highlighter behind my back and handed me the wrapped package, compact AND brush, at the beach that afternoon which I later carried back to our hotel like a mystical oyster shell with a pearl inside.

Guerlain’s Terracotta Bronzer is far more subtle than the 1970’s clay bronzers.  It’s not dusty at all and is actually a bit moisturizing.  The colors look intimidating in the compact but actually impart a light sun-kissed glow about the face.  And it has a faint floral scent that enhances the experience of using it.

Since my trip to Bermuda so long ago, I make sure to use Guerlain’s brilliant sunshiny product every summer.  The one my mother bought has long been used up and I can’t afford to indulge each year even though Guerlain loves to tease me with new blends and colors.  I still find their simple compact in the “Light” tone is best for me although I’ve been sorely tempted by the compacts that contain highlighters swirled into flower patterns on the top.  I generally buy a new one every other year or so.

Whenever I turn out after using Guerlain’s Terracotta, I feel I look healthier…sunnier.  The gentle fragrance, the feathery brush, and the ample and smooth compact make me think of my sister and her bronzer, the wispy afternoon I spent at an official Guerlain boutique with my mother, her lovely gift to me, and the promise of the sunny days ahead.