The Friday Forum - March 10

I was looking for my star magnolia photos because my tree is blooming now. I found this instead. It's definitely not a Magnolia Stellata blossom. Could it be an exotic Stokesia? No matter! It's a flower to brighten our day!

I've been in beauty heaven this week. I don't even know where to begin. I've been enjoying all of my Neiman Marcus Beauty Event purchases (including Sisley's amazing Palette Orchidée), I've been testing some new-to-me (and amazing) Natura Bissé skin care, and I've purchased enough fragrance to ensure that my bottles will survive me.

So why do I want more? MiN New York is having a sale this weekend (20% off), and they carry some of the most desirable fragrances on earth. It goes without saying that I've placed a pre-order. You might want to check out the MiN Web site to see if there's something that tempts you. Don't order online, though. You have to shop in the boutique or call to get the discount.

I had wanted - desperately wanted - Guerlain's Muguet (one of the prettiest lily of the valley fragrances I've ever tried. It normally costs about $500, and I had denied myself the treat. That's a lot of money. Sometimes eBay can push me over the edge. Muguet was priced at $400, and there was a Buy-it-Now option. You can guess what I did. I went on autopilot, forgot the price, and ordered it. It should have been shipped by Brinks. Instead, I had to sign for it, which meant a trip to the Post Office - the only drawback to the purchase. Now, I'll be smelling like May flowers all year.

Just as the solar flares have given folks in Canada and the northern states of the U.S. a Northern Lights display, I received the Northern Lights Eye and Lip Kaleidoscopes from Le Métier de Beauté. What perfect timing! I'm smitten by both kits and hope to get blended swatch photos for you this weekend. Sunshine is predicted to break out, so stay tuned.

It's time for The Friday Forum, our open chat. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

I'm a little crazy. I already had a Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder giveaway contest going when I decided to start another. I love Chantecaille's new Sunrise Lip Chic so much, I bought one for a quick contest. Make sure to enter to win the contest for this season's glorious Chantecaille color at this link. The Bobbi Brown contest ends Saturday night at midnight, and the Chantecaille contest ends Sunday evening at 5:00 pm. You enter the contests, and I'll go buy a lottery ticket. I plan to win someday, and when I do, we can have even more contests!

Update: I got my Mega Millions plays for tonight. Wish me luck!

Photo at top courtesy of Gery Singer via Flickr; Muguet photo courtesy of Guerlain

M∙A∙C Vera Pearlmatte Face Powder

Can you believe it? I bought two items from the M∙A∙C Vera Collection. I waited weeks to show them to you, and they are still available. It may be a miracle all around.

The limited-edition Vera Collection is characterized by flashy florals, butterfly brights, punchy patterns, and a light-as-air spirit inspired by the art of textile designer, Vera Neumann. Perhaps I was attracted to it because it was designed for fashion fanatics everywhere. I think I was smitten by the colors of the Vera Pearlmatte Face Powder ($28).

Embossed with Vera's signature ladybug, Flower Fantasy and Sunday Afternoon are beautiful blushes and dynamic highlighters. They offer shimmer with a gleam that's flattering. I'm extremely pleased I ordered them - sight unseen.

Here's a photo to show you why I'm so happy with these colors. I swatched Sunday Afternoon at the top of my arm and Flower Fantasy below. In order to pick up enough color for photos, I used a sponge and rolled it over all the colors in the pattern in each compact. The result? Glorious, highlighting color that glows. My photos were taken in full, late-afternoon sun, so the direct, low sunlight was bouncing off my arm.

I'm not sure how I could have chosen between these two gorgeous colors, and I'm glad I didn't have to choose. At $28 each, I felt I could have both. I am wearing both and will continue to wear these stunning highlighting blushes for a long time. The compacts are generous.

I have no idea how M∙A∙C selected the name for these gleaming face powders. There's nothing matte about them. Then again, I'm not a member of the M∙A∙C secret society, which probably has handshakes and nods and winks that members use to recognize one another. They speak about their skin in foundation shade codes. I'm usually clueless. As an outsider, I can verify that M∙A∙C's Vera Pearlmatte Face Powder is worth a look-see. Pretty in the pan and stunning on the face, both shades are attention-worthy.

There can only be two reasons these beautiful highlighting powders are still available. I suspect they didn't pass muster with the secret society. Otherwise, they would have sold out in a day (or less), an outcome that's far too common with M∙A∙C. Or perhaps the name "Pearlmatte" was misleading. If you are a member of the secret society, maybe you can offer an explanation.

I bought my M∙A∙C Vera Pearlmatte Face Powders at the M∙A∙C Web site. You can also find M∙A∙C in my area at the free-standing M∙A∙C boutiques and Nordstrom.

Photo with black background courtesy of M∙A∙C; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chantecaille Sunrise Lip Chic for Spring 2012 Giveaway Contest

Remember Monday? I showed you Chantcaille's new, exquisite Sunrise Lip Chic ($33) for Spring 2012. Check out my feature. I'm totally smitten with Sunrise, the perfect blend of coral, pink, orange, and gold that reminds me of nature's glorious sunrises.

I want to spread the joy I had when I first tried Sunrise, so I've decided to hold a quick giveaway contest to reward one lucky reader with her own Sunrise. How can you enter to win this contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Sunday, March 11, at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time). That doesn't leave you much time to enter, so do it now! Sunday night, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo at top courtesy of Chantecaille; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

BY TERRY Gloss Terrybly Shine Hydra-Lift Lip Lacquer for Spring 2012

Available in five new shades for Spring 2012, BY TERRY Gloss Terrybly Shine ($44, not inexpensive) is an ultra-shiny, lifting-firming, volumizing lip lacquer that will plump up your smile with a long-lasting radiance. An age-defense "Lumilip" technology combines "nutri-regenerating" ceramides, hyaluronic acid (for moisture), and a collagen-stimulating peptide Here's the rundown with more about the technology from BY TERRY.

• For a “Push-Up Effect,” kiss-me-quick extract (huh?) regenerates, nourishes, hydrates, and creates volume and redefines lip contours. I believe "kiss me quick" is a plant extract that offers wrinkle-blurring prisms of color.
  
• For a “Hydra-Lift Effect,” hyaluronic acid microspheres plump, fill the hollows in the lips, and add volume to the lips.
• For a “Lift-Firming Effect,” ceramides restructure, firm, redensify, and maintain the lips' hydration.
  

This sounds more like an undergarment than a a lip gloss. Unless you're in the market for a little cleavage enhancement, just ignore this marketing hype. Maybe something was lost in translation. What does all that mean? Who cares? These glosses are gorgeous.

Ultra-fine mother of pearl extracts and covering pigments provide intense, iridescent, long-lasting color. Polymer agents ensure extreme shine and radiant color.

I've been circling Gloss Terrybly Shine at the SPACE.NK boutique at Bloomingdale's at Tysons Corner Center for weeks. I finally jumped off the fence and purchased three. They are listed here as shown, left to right, in the photo above.

• #1, Diamond Dream, very light pink with tiny spheres of sparkling color
  
• #3, Gold Digger, peach with golden spheres that make it lively on my lips
  
• #4, Pink Lover, an intense pink that pops with spring's big shade
  

I snapped a few swatch photos in full sun last weekend. Each of these three lip lacquers has something special to offer.

The color, shine, and dimension of these lip glosses are the draw, no matter what skin-care benefits they may offer. I love the iridescent shades. Each has a beautiful sparkling tone that radiates light. The glosses have a light rose scent. It's a treat on application, and then it leaves quickly and silently, on cat's paws. The texture is good. It's not sticky, but you can "feel the gloss." I like that. It's mirror-free feedback that my gloss is still good to go.

I wish I had been able to get superb photos. No photo is going to portray all of the magnificent qualities of Gloss Terrybly Shine. I want to stand at Bloomingdale's with a signboard, pointing to the easy-to-miss BY TERRY section in our small SPACE.NK outpost, telling passersby, "Don't miss these beauties! Wear one, and you'll have a pretty day!" Can you see that now? Maybe I could make the evening news as wacko of the week.

By Terry is a line with which I haven't spent ample time. Creator Terry de Gunzburg built her line to center on luxury (and the prices reflect that). "Terry spins the richest textures and dynamic colors into wearable makeup laced with anti-aging benefits. Radiant skin is the brand's raison d'être, and a BY TERRY complexion is always dewy and fresh, no matter how tired the skin." The same day I purchased the gorgeous glosses, I bought a primer. I'll let you know what I think after I've worn it for a few days.

You know Gunzburg is the "Mistress of Light Reflection," right? She created YSL's Touche Éclat before she founded her own line. I hope her deal was good. With the number of units sold over the years, she could have retired on that one award-winning product. Light reflection is the quality that differentiates Gloss Terrybly Shine from the rest of the pack. If you have any counter options to visit these glosses, go! Have fun. See if you can purchase just one (my original intention).

If you didn't see my Rose De Rose Liquid Blush feature last fall, you can see it at this link. I wrote then that I feared I would become a BY TERRY addict. There's so much more I want to try. One nice thing about SPACE.NK is the N.dulge (loyalty) program. When you earn 100 points (by spending $100), you get a $5 credit that can be used in store or online. I used my first $5 credit when I bought my new glosses.

You can purchase BY TERRY products from SPACE.NK.apothecary online, at BY TERRY online, or at SPACE.NK counters in the United States. I think it's easier to find in France. in fact, I recently received a few beautiful BY TERRY products from a dear, sweet friend in France. I'll show you soon.

Photo at top courtesy of BY TERRY; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

New: Shiseido Shimmering Rouge in Venus from Spring 2012 Electric Blues Look by Dick Page

When I saw the Electric Blues Look by Dick Page for Shiseido's Spring 2012 introductions, I knew I had to have that lipstick. Bold and vivacious, the divine Shimmering Rouge in Venus (RS619) ($25) is a new shade. For the model's look, a lip liner was used for additional definition. Even without it, Venus would have popped her eyes.

I ordered Venus from Sephora, where it's only available online. When it arrived, I worried that it might be too dark for me (with my conservative fear of bold lip colors). It isn't too dark, but it is a special-occasion lipstick for me. I love the color, but I don't think I'll wear it to work. I don't feel comfortable leading with my lips.

Venus is a drop-dead gorgeous color, and because Shimmering Rouge is sheer, it doesn't scare me as much as it might in an opaque formulation. I've worn it in a single, lightly applied application.

The rosy fuchsia shade with a touch of plum is an attention getter. It offers color, shine, hydration, and long-lasting color. I took my photos in full sun, No amount of light could wash out Venus. I'm sure the inspiration was the Roman goddess of love and beauty - not the planet.

When I want to reach for a lipstick with pizazz, I'll reach for Venus. It gives my face much-needed color, and it makes my eyes pop blue. I love the shine that's inherent to Shiseido's Shimmering Rouge, but if you want to add a gloss topper, you'll have some fun options. I tried it with a silver-white gloss and loved it! It softened the look too.

You can find all of the new Shiseido products at Shiseido's Web site, where shipping is free with a purchase of $50 or more. You can also find the colors - new and "old" at Sephora. I bought a blush too. Hopefully, I'll be able to show it to you tomorrow.

Photos at top courtesy of Shiseido; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Sunshower from Dick Page's Deep Metallic Look for Spring 2012

Shiseido's Sunshower (OR313) Shimmering Cream Eye Color ($25) was featured in Dick Page's Metallic Look for Spring 2012. I wasn't sure what to expect, given Shiseido's product photo above and the orange look on the model's eyes. Trusting in Page, something I've learned to do, I ordered it. Am I glad!

Shimmering Cream Eye Color is a lightweight cream eye shadow with a radiant, lustrous finish that maintains a just-applied fresh look for 16 hours without smudging or creasing. It applies easily with your fingertip for a smooth, even finish - and even more easily with a shadow brush. True to Shiseido's philosophy, the shadow hydrates the skin with "Super Hydro-Wrap Vitalizing DE." Shiseido always makes sure we get a two-for in our makeup.

Here is what I saw in the pot when it arrived from Sephora. I still had no idea what color to expect. Would it be too red or orange for me? No! Once I applied it, I was thrilled. This is a versatile shade, not orange despite its OR313 moniker, and one that I think will delight you. This beautiful new shade expands the range of cream shadows available to us diehard cream shadow lovers.

Take a look at this lovely neutral shade. At a loss for words to describe the shade, I'll try by calling it a pastel copper or praline - a shade in the neutral family. I see toffee with a hint of rose. It's not flamboyant; it's simply flattering.

I applied Sunshower pretty heavily for these swatch photos. I used a cream shadow brush. I could have used my fingers or even a sponge-tipped applicator. Shiseido's forgiving formula moves from the pot to the eyelid easily.

I've always loved cream eye shadows. I've bought every Shiseido color I thought I could wear (that would exclude Magnolia). I was delighted to add Sunshower to my cream shadow wardrobe. I think the color is luscious - one that I hope grabs your eyes too. There's shimmer, but it's not ostentatious. It's lively and light-catching.

Dick Page calls the Deep Metallic look, shown above, a fun, rich, monochrome look with warm, deep metallic detail on both lips and eyes. Sunshower, featured on the model, is so much prettier in real life than it looks in the Shiseido photo. If you like cream eye shadows. you must see it! Don't forget Techno Gold (GD803), another beautiful shade.

You can find all of the new products at Shiseido's Web site, where shipping is free with a purchase of $50 or more. You can also find the colors - new and "old" at Sephora. I have more to show you from the new collections. Stay tuned.

Photos by Shiseido and Best Things in Beauty

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Eau de Toilette - A New Men's Fragrance

Remember when Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb stormed the world in 2005 and succeeding years? Now the company's new men's fragrance, Spicebomb ($95), has grabbed the spotlight.

Spicebomb offers the promise of a concentrate with an explosive personality…Deliberately powerful, exaggeratedly sensual, decidedly audacious…The bottle, a reworked custom-built grenade for a perfume made up of explosive scents, is encircled by a black band that cannot contain the force of the fragrance. An olfactory explosion is ineluctable.

An explosive encounter between two accords with detonating tones (these adjectives have me running for cover): the first burst fuses zesty, fresh notes (bergamot and grapefruit), while the cold spices (elemi and pink pepper) leave their icy bite. The second, addictive accord combines a middle note of incandescent spices (cinnamon, pimento, and saffron) with a wholly masculine combination of leather and tobacco as well as the brute force of vetiver.

The top notes are bergamot, grapefruit, cinnamon leaf, and pink pepper. The heart notes are lavandin, chili, saffron, and elemi. The base notes are vetiver, balsam fir, tobacco accord, and white leather accord.

Something tells me that Spicebomb will have unisex appeal and widespread popularity. Spicebomb was created by Olivier Polge, profiled in WWD's Beauty Inc this month. His "pedigree" is impeccable. Following in his perfumer father's footsteps (Jacques Polge is Chanel's in-house nose), Olivier works at International Flavors and Fragrances. He has created an all-star line up, including Guerlain Cuir Beluga, Balenciaga Paris, the infamous Flowerbomb, and Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men. He's a gorgeous man too (sorry, had to mention it). Why is it that these French guys who create perfumes are always so good looking?

Dutch Designer, Rolf Snoerun, remarked, "He [Olivier] has a complexity in his work that we find mysterious. We recognize his signature because of that. It's never a one-dimensional scent." Polge loves woody notes and enjoys working with certain spices. Like me, he loves bergamot. Unlike me, he loves patchouli. I love the fact that he has been contemplating the return of the chypre. "I have a hard time differentiating what is modern and what is not," he told WWD. "Often, modern things are a good revamping of something old" How true!

Right now, Spicebomb is a Nordstrom exclusive. I haven't been able to get over to smell it. The reactions on Facebook have been varied, with a lot of love by spice lovers. If you like spicy, woody fragrances on your guy, you'll need to check out Spicebomb. Father's Day isn't that far off - if you need an excuse.

Photo courtesy of Viktor & Rolf

Le Métier de Beauté Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from the Northern Lights Spring 2012 Collection

Spring is looking up, literally. For hues inspired by nature’s most mysterious phenomenon, the Aurora Borealis (aka the Northern Lights), look no further than the night skies of the north. The Aurora Borealis dazzles the skyline with a vivid light show only nature could create, a symphony of color, inspiring Le Métier de Beauté in its creation of th Northern Lights soft, colorful Kaleidoscope Eye Kit for Spring 2012 ($95).

Caused by a collision of naturally charged atomic particles in the atmosphere, the Aurora Borealis turns the sky from green to purple to blue. Magnetic color abounds. I saw it once from the air (our pilot made sure we didn't miss it), and it was amazing.

Beauty becomes a natural extension of nature with soft-focus, yet edgy hues, flattering every face. “I think of the Northern Lights like watercolors in the sky,” explained Mikey Castillo, Director of Color and Education for Le Métier de Beauté. “No matter what the color, the sheer background of the night sky grounds the look, creating a subtle color that looks amazing on every woman.”

The patina of golden neutral, silvery blue, bronze, and violet in the Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit will create your own collision of color for a prismatic finish. The unique shade combinations will give you many choices for your day and evening looks.

The Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95), shown above, contains Ionic, a satin/matte neutral sunset; Sky, a pale shimmering skyline blue; Magnetic, a blazing copper; and Equinox, a satin/matte twilight violet. Applied using Le Métier de Beauté’s signature Couche de Couleur layering format, the result will be multidimensional. Create your own combinations every day, and you will have a new wardrobe of color for spring.

The Northern Lights shades were hard for me to photograph early in the morning. It was my best option - better than dashing outside at lunchtime to an office parking garage rooftop. Please try to overlook the goosebumps on my arm. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and applied all shades heavily in the top to bottom order of the Kaleidoscope.

Ionic, shown at the top of my arm is a satin/matte neutral pink. It's warm enough that you won't resemble an albino bunny when you wear it near your eyes. Use it to top your look, as a base shade, or as a highlighter. It's an adult pink. It was hard to make it show in the photos because it's close to the color of my skin.

Sky, a pale shimmering sky blue, is a blue that works. Because it provides a veil of color, it's modern and pretty. Magnetic, a blazing copper, is trendy and flattering no matter what your skin tone. I can't get enough copper and rose gold this year! Want your eye color to pop? Wear copper. Equinox, a satin/matte twilight violet can be more intense than my photos suggest. It depends on the application. Apply it lightly, and it's a periwinkle shade. Layer on more, and you'll develop the deeper shade that competes with photos of the Aurora Borealis.

I will snap some layered photos for you later, demonstrating the many looks you'll be able to create with this gorgeous Kaleidoscope. The Northern Lights collection should arrive at Neiman Marcus, Neiman Marcus online, Nordstrom, Nordstrom online, and Bergdorf Goodman this month (my pieces are press samples). It's not a counter or store exclusive.

Photo at top courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté; Aurora Borealis photo from iStock; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Givenchy Le Prisme Blush Bucolique in Bucolic Poppy from the Instant Bucolique 2012 Spring-Summer Collection

Last week, I showed you Bucolic Rose from Givenchy's Instant Bucolique 2012 Spring-Summer Collection. I was holding out on you - mostly because of limited time. Today, I end the series featuring the Instant Bucolique Collection with Bucolic Poppy ($49), appropriately named for a poppy that blooms around Memorial Day.

When I ordered Bucolique Poppy at Sephora online, I assumed it would be red-toned, but I was clueless, given the little swatch of color online. I ordered on faith. My faith was rewarded.

Bucolic Poppy is a pigmented rose-colored blush. It's a gorgeous shade that is predominantly rose, but with just a hint of closet coral. With my fair skin, I have to apply Bucolic Poppy very lightly, but when I do, it's glorious.

It's interesting to me that the compact, shown above, with its expansive background of light pink, produces such an intense rose. For these swatch photos, taken in full sun, I applied Bucolic Poppy heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and with a dense blush brush below. As usual, I over-applied the blush to get good photos of the color, but I'd never wear Bucolic Poppy this intense. Someone with chocolate skin could - and would look heavenly.

I'm always smitten by rose blushes. This one is one of the prettiest of the new season. I love the color. Applied properly, it makes me look alive, it's flattering to my skin tone, and it reminds me of the saying that originated with Bobbi Brown or her super-rep Tia Hebron, "People are nicer to you when you wear blush." That has become one of my favorite lines. I've tested it and agree. Is it because we look happy with colorful cheeks?

Le Prisme Blush Bucoliques are produced through a new compaction process that allows a gradation in color harmony reinforced by a higher concentration of sparkling nuggets in the bottom of the pan. Honestly, I'm not sure I understand the sunken sparkling nuggets described at Sephora, but the blushes are so nice, I'm not sure I care.

The top level of the compact features the blush, and the pull-out bottom level houses a brush. Givenchy Le Prisme compacts aren't bargain priced, given their size. If you can get past that, I think you'll love them.

Sephora is the exclusive retailer for Givenchy these days. That's where I bought Le Prisme Blush Bucoliques. If Bucolic Rose looked too light/pastel for you, Bucolic Poppy is your shade. Try it!

Givenchy's Instant Bucolique 2012 Spring-Summer Collection is one of the most exciting Givenchy collections I've purchased in years. I'm revved. Check out the collection at Sephora, the exclusive retailer in the United States.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty, except for the poppy, courtesy of guardian.co.uk

Coming Attraction: Jo Malone Plum Blossom Cologne

Launching in May, Jo Malone's limited-edition Plum Blossom Cologne continues a new direction by Jo Malone. With limited-edition fragrances in beautiful bottles that express the theme of the fragrance, Plum Blossom is similar to the exquisite London Blooms Collection of three fragrances that launched recently. The PR shot for London Blooms is shown at the bottom of this feature.

I have all three London Blooms, luckily acquired a few months before their release date. White Lilac & Rhubarb is my favorite, followed closely by Iris & Lady Moore. While I like Peony & Moss, I don't reach for it as often as I wear the other two. All three are light, but with character - perfect for office wear.

The new Plum Blossom Cologne is similarly light and office-appropriate. Plum Blossoms are a beloved subject in the traditional paintings of East Asia - and a fitting inspiration for the beauty of Plum Blossom Cologne. In China, plum trees bloom much earlier than they do in the United States. In East Asia, plum blossoms are seen as a symbol of winter's end and a harbinger of spring - a symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of the adversity of harsh winter weather. They are early bloomers here too, although seldom with snow on the ground. Adding to the pink glory of early spring, plum trees are widely appreciated for their short seasonal displays. The white plum blossom design on the Plum Blossom Cologne bottle, shown above, could only have been prettier if it had been pink.

I've been wearing the fragrance for about a week. I'm not especially proficient at guessing notes, and no press information has been made available to me. I can tell you that Plum Blossom is a fresh, sweet, fruity-floral that delights me. I think I smell rose among its notes. I also smell something that grounds it. White musk perhaps? I suspect the fruit I can smell is plum; that would make sense, although I have no way to verify that. Actually, Jo Malone is seldom forthcoming with complete lists of notes. Instead of decomposing a fragrance to its notes, the company seems to prefer that we consider the sum of a scent's components - not a bad idea.

Plum Blossom Cologne should delight you too if you're not looking to make a statement with your fragrance. Plum Blossom has average longevity for a Jo Malone Cologne, and the drydown is relatively linear.

If you are a Jo Malone fan, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for Plum Blossom, which will be available for a limited time (like Sakura Cherry Blossom Cologne was last year). It's a pretty, exuberant fragrance that I'm extremely happy to be wearing as spring gets underway.

When I get more information about it, I'll let you know right away. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying a selection from the gorgeous London Blooms Collection.

Photo at bottom courtesy of Jo Malone; plum blossom photo courtesy of mooseyscountrygarden.com; top photo of Plum Blossom Cologne by Best Things in Beauty

Chantecaille Sunrise Lip Chic for Spring 2012

Chantecaille's new Sunrise Lip Chic ($33) for Spring 2012, a bright coral-pink shade, reflects the striking pink and peach petals of the multicolored Sunrise Rose. The highly emollient formula offers the even coverage of a lipstick with the high shine and plumping effects of a gloss. Added collagen gives the lips a boost, leaving them fuller and decidedly more youthful in appearance without any irritation. Then there's the glorious color.

Originally, I thought this shade didn't look like a natural for me, I was so wrong. I'm always reminded to test. Forget photos, descriptions, and first impressions. Here's a photo of Modern Sunrise Rose. You can see the inspiration!

When I tested Sunrise in the store, first at Bloomingdale's and then at Neiman Marcus, I was smitten. The shade isn't nearly as coral as I had expected. It's a coral pink, with the emphasis on pink. It nabbed me faster than I could pull out my credit card.

Even this photo of the tube won't convince coral phobes that this shade is ultra-wearable. It looks coral, doesn't it? Visions of orange passed through my eyes, a shade that hasn't moved me since I lived with an orange shag carpet in the early 60s.

The moment of truth came when I tested it, first on my arm and then on my finger pad, a much better representation of my lip color than my arm. Oh my! I was swept away.

Sunrise isn't coral, and it's not pink. Instead, it's a blend of coral, pink, orange, and gold that reminds me of nature's glory each morning the sun rises in the East. This photo, taken at Sunrise Beach, reminded me of Sunrise Lip Chic. No two sunrises are exactly the same - a great reason to arise early each morning for a short reminder of nature's glory.

I've already made good on my vow to purchase two Coral Reefs Palettes. I've also purchased two Sunrise Lip Chics. This shade is enormously flattering. I'll have one in my handbag and one in my bathroom, and I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with a third when one starts to wear down to a nub.

If you can resist this shade, you're a stronger person than I am. Lip Chic is a revolutionary hybrid that combines the high shine and plumping effects of a gloss with the rich, even coverage of a lipstick. It goes on with an incredibly soft, lightweight texture as it helps to smooth and firm the lips. This exceptionally comfortable formula is easy to apply in an even finish that is shiny, but never sticky. Lip Chic is one of my feel-good lipsticks. Combine all its fabulous features with a divine shade, and you've got a winner. I like the narrow tube too.

Sunrise Lip Chic has arrived at all of the Chantecaille counters and online sources and at Chantecaille's Web site. I bought my two at Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus.

Photos courtesy of Chantecaille, cityofsunrisebeach.org, justourpictures.com, and by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain, the newest lip wear collection from YSL, is a lipstick, lip gloss, and lip stain all in one. After a preview at Sephora, Glossy Stain has gained legions of fans.

YSL is pleased to share a magical (and fun) short animated film with you. The modern fairytale tells of the quest for a magic product that will do everything a lipstick, a gloss, and stain can do, all at the same time. The result? A narrative format and an enchanting story honed as finely as the technology used in Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain.

Check out the darling film at this link. Like the technology of film? You can see a short video showing how the animated film was created - almost as interesting as the film itself.

How to create three products in one led the way to a unique, revolutionary product. The Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres formula is based on an all-new system called “Lifeproof Color Emulsion.” For the very first time, ethylcellulose, an ultra-resistant polymer, used in the agri-food sector to coat food and give it a tempting shine, has been blended with a perfectly matched emollient oil and a silicone oil and emulsified in an aqueous base.

On application, there’s an incomparable feeling of softness and comfort on the lips. Then, the water evaporates to make way for a few drops of the silicones to rise to the surface and form a glossy film of shine without any oily or sticky feeling. The lips radiate a new kind of shine. The evaporation process continues and gathers the drops of oil together like a beehive, ensuring a truly resilient structure that is absolutely unique. It creates a long-lasting film that provides genuine suppleness, comfort, and hold. Thanks to the subtle dose of pigments and coloring agents, the formula provides rich intensity with no overload. The result? The sophistication of radiant color that truly fuses the lips with a new shine - the feeling of a new glossy stain.

There's a shade for everyone. I've been wearing the shades I purchased at Sephora, and I've softened my original view. I do wear a balm under mine, but with that, I'm good to go. Maybe my lips won't be so dry come summer. I'm not sure my own need for ultra-hydration should influence you because I love the long-lasting color. The variety of colors is phenomenal.

Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain will be available at all YSL counters by April 2012. No. 13, Rose Tempera, is exclusive to Nordstrom, and No. 20, Rouge Enamel, is exclusive to Sephora.

Photos courtesy of YSL Beauté