Remember the Illuminating Powder Gelée from AW11 that everyone went ker-azy over? (If you need reminding, see this post and video here: Modern Mercury Illuminator)

Well, it’s back! Estée Lauder have returned with a new version for the summer, Topaz Chameleon, and it’s on the shelves now. I’m sure that it will sell out just as quickly – it’s the same beautiful, smooth texture that’s highly pigmented and gives a ‘lift’ to the skin without making it look overly glittery.

One huge difference though; the shade. Whereas the Modern Mercury version was an oystery-pinkish-gold, this one’s very definitely on the coppery side. Not quite so effortless to wear unless you have a darker or more olivey skin tone, but if you sweep it over the skin with a brush and a light hand, the effect is stunning. On tanned faces and shoulders, this is going to look incredible, and it makes for a much better eyeshadow shade than the Modern Mercury version – brilliant with blue or brown eyes!

Here’s a photograph (natural light) of both illuminating gelées for comparison purposes (MM top, TC bottom) :

AND, guess what, I’ve ‘done a swatch’. I think. Well, I’ve put some makeup on my hand in stripes, so I’m hoping that will be useful! My skin, as you may know, is fair/medium with a yellow undertone – the MM is to the left, as you surely must be able to tell by now!

So there we go. A coppery, warm illuminator for summer that can be used in a concentrated form (wet or dry) using fingertips or an eye brush, or brushed on with a light hand to give an all over warm glow. I really love it – what do you think? If you’re thinking ahead to summer already, then this is out now – as mentioned, the previous version sold out really fast, so if you know you want it, don’t wait too long!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée – Topaz Chameleon, £28 from Boots.com