Though I certainly didn’t need another bronzer, I couldn’t resist the unusual allure of Givenchy’s Bonne Mine powder in Premiére Croisiére
(first cruise). I’m very pale and try as I might I cannot get a natural
tan. When I’ve spent a great deal of time outside during the summer I
tend to develop a soft golden peach glow on the tops of my shoulders,
legs, cheek bones and nose. Though I love most standard bronzers, they
don’t exactly mimic the effect of a natural sun kissed glow for me.
Enter Givenchy Première Croisière. This “bonne mine” or healthy
glow powder boasts the new gel/powder hybrid formulation and comes in
four different shades ranging from a soft golden peach to darker, more
conventional bronze.
I
will admit that this product was a bit of a splurge. Though I love the
aesthetic and quality of Givenchy’s products, I often don’t purchase
them as the price simply doesn’t seem reasonable given the small amount
of product. In the case of this Bonne Mine powder is USD $50 for 0.24 oz. As a point of comparison, Guerlain’s Terracotta Bronzing Powder which is also USD $50 contains 0.35 oz.
Despite
the fact that Givenchy’s powder isn’t the best high-end bronzer in
terms of value, I couldn’t resist because this color specifically is
just so different from everything else on the market at the moment.
To begin with, the packaging is absolutely stunning. I’ve always loved
Givenchy’s logo, and I adore the way the shape of the compact itself
mirrors the dimensions of their iconic geometric shape. The packaging is
quite compact and very sturdy making it ideal for travel. Unlike many
more delicate compacts that I’m afraid to throw in an on-the-go makeup
or beach bag, Givenchy’s Bonne Mine seems capable of handling the jostling.
The interior of the compact contains an immense mirror (at least in
proportion to the overall packaging itself), and the pattern on the
powder is stunning to say the least. Though I’m certain continued use
would wear it down, I’ve been using this product daily for about three
weeks without noticeably diminishing the pattern at all.
Here’s where the magic happens. As you can see in the swatch below Première Croisière isn’t
that much darker than my natural skin color. Rather than the swatch of a
bronzer that would either appear orange or brown on my skin (often
times even after blending) this adds a golden warmth and appears far
more natural. When I apply, I brush Première Croisière across my
cheek bones, on the top of my nose, and carefully around my forehead. I
don’t have to blend as vigilantly as I would with a brown bronzer, and
apply my blush and highlighter right on top.
The effect? See for yourself. In my opinion Première Croisière adds just the right amount of summer sunny glow to my face, and wouldn’t look out of place during the winter.
Excuse the post work makeup.
Face
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NW30
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer Light
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Finland
Eyes
MAC Brow Pencil Lingering
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
L'Orèal Superliner Black
Benefit They're Real Mascara
Lips
Nothing (*shock horror*)
Though it’s expensive, for my particular complexion this bronzer is indispensable. Givenchy’s powder in Première Croisière certainly
won’t prevent me from wearing standard, deep toned bronzers, but it
offers a lovely and far more natural look. The texture is touted as new
technology, and though it’s silky smooth the formulation isn’t the real
selling point of this powder for me. Though I can’t speak to how the
darker bronzers will work for deeper skin tones, Givenchy’s Bonne Mine is worth checking out (despite the hefty price tag) if you find standard bronzers a bit “too much.”
Have you tried anything from Givenchy’s cosmetic line?
