[unpaid/sample] I had mixed feelings about trying out the new Guerlain Parure Gold Matte Foundation – I’m not a matte fan at all and tend to assume that matte equals flat looking complexions with no light bounce or luminosity. This foundation puts paid to those assumptions although I am not certain I love the texture on my skin as much as I love non-mattes – stuck in my ways? Me?

My shade is 2N which will be perfect once the last of summer leaves my complexion – it’s so nearly perfect now but I can see that in a few weeks it will be exact. I’d class Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation as full coverage – you can mix it with serum or moisturiser if you want it to be a bit more sheer although you’ll lose the matte aspect. The surprising thing is the golden aspect to this foundation – it gives the skin an illuminated look that’s super-subtle but absolutely there.

I think mother-of-pearl is probably responsible for this – gold is listed on the ingredient list so perhaps a mix of both because it’s low down on the INCI. No matter, the effect is delicious on the skin. It’s skin care before it’s make-up, containing white peony extracts but the pigment is plenty. I’d expect, having my own skin creases, that it would exacerbate somehow which it doesn’t.

In this picture I have the foundation on one side (right) and nothing on the left – there’s a little more light bounce on my right side so you can see that the base doesn’t eliminate all glow. You can also see the coverage is good – the natural redness is covered. Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation is £65 so a very considered purchase but it’s got winter coverage written all over it if matte is your jam. If you don’t like a velvet feel and finish, it’s not for you. There are 16 shades and you can find it HERE (there’s also a non-matte version – less shade options though).