The Summer 2019 makeup collections roundup: including all infos, pics and swatches in one place to make your decision easier on what (and what not) to splurge. Spoiler: Bronzes and nudes are BIG this summer!
Chanel – Lumiere et Contraste/ Les Beiges
While Luca Pica claims her inspiration for the summer collex comes (again) from East Asia and its ‘vibrancy’, we get the most boring nude collection ever. Sigh. Whither the vibrancy, Luca?!?!??! On top of that, there’s the all-yearly ‘Les Beiges’ collection (swatches at Bubbly Michelle). It’s beige-central, basically. I hated my Les Beiges powder from back then, so don’t expect an objective review.
For: the off-duty model
Either you have model skin, or you can forget the ultra-sheer new foundation formula with the cool popping pigments (the Beautygeeks investigate). I’d be interested to see the staying power of that in East Asia’s tropical climate. For lesser mortals, sure, you could go for the absolute most basic of all basic eye shadow palettes, or the double-sided bronzing powder with an included highlighter (swatch at Dailydoseofmkup). I can’t see something tempting for the life of me (product pics at hairmake_Muro). (I can say, though, stay away from eye glazes/glosses/topcoats ALWAYS. They’re good for photo shoots, nothing else. See above, for whom this might be. Sigh.) The pastel nail polishes look nice and unusual?
Dior – Wild Earth
Whenever I’m bored at airports, I wander through the duty-free stores, and inevitably, peruse all the makeup limited editions. Don’t fall into the trap of buying out of boredom – and I’ve the feeling that Dior might want to do exactly that. They’re doing their thing, business as usual – throw a humongous collection at us, with about anything included that you might use in a full look. Does it get better (read: more innovative)? No, it doesn’t.
For: The frequent traveller
If you’re in desperate need for a beige-y eyeshadow palette or bronzing powder (swatches at vocemagazine) at the airport, you’re in luck. You also might go for one of the double-ended eyeliners, because how practical! Lip products (swatches at vocemagazine) now have to come in different formulas in one collection; no matter they’re all the same colour range anyways. So we have mattes, balms, and shiny lacquers. I don’t care for either of them. Where’s the wild, Dior?
Lancome – Parisian Glow
Sure, why not concentrate on the French-ness of the brand, throw a cutesy motto on it, and make it about the easy chic of the Parisienne. I’m not mad at it.
For: the Breton-shirt wearer
While I find the motto sliiiiiightly tacky (I don’t know if we need beliefs people used to die for embossed on makeup), but, well. ‘Liberte, egalite, feminite’ isn’t the worst, and I can live with it (swatches of the powder at Chicprofile). Packaging is cute and playful, and you’ll look summery and playful in your white jeans, Breton-striped shirt, red lip and easy-breezy bronzer.
YSL – Luxuriant Haven
In the eighties I used to browse through my mom’s Vogues and Elles and dream of a time when I could wear a beige full skirt and a safari jacket with a lot of pockets and a dramatic smokey eye. In times when Melania wears an actual safari head to Africa and people find that’s a good idea, I’m starting to doubt that aesthetic. (This is the first time that the roundup has gotten political. Sorry guys.) Thankfully, there’s not a safari hat in sight in the promo picture, but the worst attempt of a graphic eye I’ve seen in a long time. Tom, are you drunk?!?
For: the 80s kid
I don’t remember a YSL eyeshadow palette that didn’t disappoint me, so please skip this green and tan one. The bronzing powder comes in two shades in gorgeous packaging of sand dunes and palms, and I’d love to own one. Paired with a nude lip, I kinda get the appeal.
Tom Ford – Soleil
Quick, give me the first thought that popped into your head when hearing the words Tom Ford and summer! Quick!
Here’re mine: white and gold packaging, a bronzer/blush combo, glossy, pouty lips and some absolutely useless and over the top products. Annnd bingo! The price for the most useless single product goes to Tom: for both a clear lipstick and clear nailpolish with added 24k gold leaf.
For: the socialite
Christine ripped this collex a new one (swatches and reviews of all products), so stay clear of the liquid eyeshadows and Sheer Lip Colors (swatch vid at Michelle Wang). If you’ve got the moolah, sure, why not go for the bronzing powders and face palette with three shimmery highlighting and bronzing powders, knowing you’re the fairest queen bee of the all (literally, because darker than medium skintones can’t wear those).
Guerlain – Endless Love
And here we are, arriving at something so visually appealing and pretty that it’s hard for me to bitch about. (I’ll try my hardest anyways.) Forget the Terracotta collection (some swatches at BBB), although the vaguely Roman laurel decoration is awfully pretty. But: Look at the paisley pattern all over the Endless Love pieces – and tell me you don’t want to buy the Meteorites (product pics at Sugakokondo) and bronzing powder housed in a wooden compact with the most beautiful and tasteful embossing I’ve seen in a long time (all the official promo pics at MacKarrie).
For: the collector
You wanna sit there and stare at a pristine powder? This is your collection, because I honestly don’t think I could destroy the embossing. The other products are just meh: I recently came to the conclusion that both the meteorites and the lipsticks aren’t really a purchase you should make, and I still stand by that.
Charlotte Tilbury – Glowgasm Collection
From the queen of glow comes a collection whose name made me cringe a bit: Glowgasm (swatches at Really Ree). Really? Okay, if you want to douse your whole face in different shades of shimmer and glitter, this will be your thing. A blush/highlighter/bronzer palette in two different shades (swatches), two gold-ish shimmery cream eyeshadows, a shimmery gold-ish eyeshadow palette, and some metallic liquid cheek and lip products (a look with the products on a slighter darker skintone at Getthegloss).
For: The Benefit graduate
I mean, don’t you get Benefit vibes from the cheek palette alone? So, if you’ve outgrown the California surfer girl chic from Benefit, but still like to bathe in liquid metals, this one’s for you.
Nars – Orgasm Collection 2019
I used to like Nars better when they came out with about four seasonal collections. Also, will you get off my lawn! Kids these days…
The thing is: yeah, I totally get that Orgasm is an iconic shade, and the whole Nars company will love the team responsible for that forever and ever. It’s one of the most-bought cheek products ever, but bringing out a whole colletion centred around that rosegold and punny blush might be both a step to far and not enough, if you know what I mean.
For: the instagrammer
You like rosegold and marble, and you own fluffy white pillows and succulents, and you don’t want to change that one bit. Then this collection will be for you: the rosegold packaging will look beautiful on your vanity, and all the shades of pearly rose will suit a wide variety of skintones (swatches on very fair skin here). Nothing wrong with that.
