For the past few years I've been mildly obsessed with visiting the desert. Not so much the far-flung deserts of Africa but more the American Southwest. I have this urge to wander through cacti, canyons and feel the dry heat and intense sun. Perhaps my yearning has been encouraged by desert-inspired collections, like Smashbox's Desert Chic (2008), Armani's Sienna Minerals palette (2009), Paul & Joe's Sahara collection (2010), Laura Mercier's Canyon Sunset collection (2011) and Maybelline's Summer Glow bronzers and Bobbi Brown's Desert Twilight collection this year. And that's only the tip of the iceberg (canyon?). So many products take their design cue from the desert's sun-drenched, wind-swept sands or the patterns in rock formations.
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(image sources contained in links)
- Vanessa Blake Desert Storm Pressed Powders
- Laura Mercier Bronzed Pressed Powder
- Lancôme Star Bronzer
- Stephanie Johnson Palm Desert makeup bag
- Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Powder
- Pupa Desert Bronzing Powder
- Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Powder
- Stila Sahara Sand makeup set
- Estée Lauder Illuminating Powder Gelee
- Rimmel Match Perfection bronzer
If I were doing a real-life exhibition, I'd include all of these objects. I'd also try to get some of the amazing photographs by David Benjamin Sherry from his 2012 Astral Desert series on loan. 🙂
Breaking Blue Dune Walls, Arizona:
Sand v (Citrine, California):
Sand xii (Violet, New Mexico):
Tangerine Sweep, Death Valley:
(images from davidbenjaminsherry.com)
Wouldn't these look great next to all those desert-y compacts?