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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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

15 comments:

  1. Hi Charlestongirl, I really enjoy
    your reviews. I am 60 and my eyes are in pretty good shape for my age, but most of the coppers are too metallic and look awful with my lid wrinkles. Would this copper work for me or do you have any other suggestions?

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  2. When I first saw promos of this Kaliedoscope, I was particularly struck by how off the mark it was from the standpoint of inspiration. It focuses more on the sunset juxtaposed against the midnight blue and violet of the nighttime sky than on the magnificent aurora borealis themselves. Back in the day, when I used to do a lot of backpacking, I was treated to a number of these incredible light shows. Sitting out in the crisp, clear mountain air, marveling at the incredible Northern Lights, was a transcendent experience. But, I digress.

    I'm not saying this LMdB creation isn't a lovely Kaliedoscope. It is, although definitely not my kind of colors. And I do like Mikey's reference to watercolors. I saw a similar color palette used in a watercolor of a fishing boat being pulled up onto the sand at dusk. It just seems that this Kaliedoscope was misnamed.

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  3. Oh, Love it, love it! Hubba Hubba, as they say down south!

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  4. Sue Devitt makes a fantastic copper eye pencil called Tanzania. It is a perfect liner or smudge for this copper.

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  5. Hi AnneR!

    I think this copper will work. Apply it sheerly. It's not overly metallic. May be right up your alley. :)

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  6. Eileen,

    I'll admit I had trouble finding an Aurora Borealis photo that approximated the shades. Who's to say what inspires artists? I'm such a left-brainer, I am always appreciative of what they come up with, even if I can't visualize it myself.

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  7. From the press photos this palette did not appeal to me at all. Now that I see your swatches this is definitely something I could really love. Love love love the last color, Equinox makes my heart go pitter patter! Love the name also. Thank you Charleston girl.

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  8. Nemo, did you get the Armani Copper eye pencil (recent)? That looks great with this shade too!

    Hubba hubba is so funny. We always heard it, but it was usually regarding some sexy young thing. :)

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  9. Thanks, cytaormina!

    The Equinox color can be applied very sheerly or as heavily as I applied it to my arm for the photo, and it's lovely either way. I'm pretty smitten with Magnetic, and Iconic is a great all-round shade.

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  10. I was really looking forward to the Kaleidoscope but after seeing your swatches I'm not so sure they will flatter my skin tone, especially that light blue. Will have to see it in person.

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  11. The bottom two shades of this kaleidoscope look almost identical to the last two in the Le Cirque kaleidoscope. Do you have Le Cirque? If so, would you mind doing a comparison?

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  12. Interesting combination. I'm really curious to see photos of them done on the eye, minus the couche, to be honest ;-)

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  13. This is so gorgeous! I especially love the purple. I agree with you on coppers and rose gold, especially rose gold! Rose gold is my absolute favorite nail color at the moment.

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  14. Tati, it takes no special incentive to make me buy rose gold. I love it!

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