Chanel Lumiere D'Artifices Beiges Illuminating Powder with Shimmer from Les Essentials de Chanel for Fall 2012

Here's the Chanel piece from Les Essentials de Chanel for Fall 2012 you've been anticipating. Lumiere D'Artifices Beiges Illuminating Powder with Shimmer (Poudre Illuminatrice Iridescente in French) ($75). I'll tell you right up front that I love it!

Lumiere D'Artifices Beiges is unlike many of Chanel's golden highlighters, which can be a little too shimmery or a little too sheer, making them hard to apply evenly. This one hit the spot. Yes, there's a shimmer overspray that gives it pizazz in the case, but you'll run right through that quickly. Then, you'll have a beautiful gleaming powder that adds a gorgeous golden glow to your face, eyes, or wherever you choose to use it for a little extra attention.

The sequin pattern is elegant, stamped into the top layer of the striped palette - so very Chanel. Do you remember the Lumiere D'Artifices Eyeshadow from Chanel (circa 2007), inspired by the countless dresses that adorn the shimmering sequins done by Chanel's master embroiderers? The sequins are back - but this time in this gorgeous illuminator.

For Fall 2012 Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld sent glitter-studded, sparkle-emblazoned, and mineral-inspired fashions down a crystal-adorned runway. The makeup collection isn't quite as bold. This sequin-imprinted palette may be the flashiest piece in Les Essentials de Chanel. Even the name of the collection has the reassuring connotation of makeup essentials.

Even though the stripes in the palette are light beige and a darker beige with a rosy hue, the overall effect is golden beige, with a wearable suggestion of peach or brown, depending on the lighting.

I snapped many swatch photos and will show you three here. I applied Lumiere D'Artifices Beiges very heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm, then I applied a larger swatch below with a dense blush brush (unevenly, it appears). For both swatches, I ran the applicator across the striped shades. I took my photos in full sun.

I hope you can see that this powder is not extra-glittery, as some recent Chanel highlighting powders have been. It leaves a shimmering, gleaming finish on my skin, and when applied lightly, makes me glow. It's near perfect to my eyes.

I like the golden tone. It has a touch of peachy-brown in it, making the shade appropriate for the darker shades of autumn, but that same tone will work beautifully now for suntanned beauties sporting their summer tans (hopefully created with self-tanning products, not the sun's rays). The palette comes with the usual velveteen pouch and a brush in its own pouch.

This one's a keeper. It won't sink to the bottom of the highlighter pile here. I'll be wearing it. Next up in my features? Lip colors! There are some fabulous shades in multiple formulas. I also purchased two of the new Soft Touch single eye shadows, and I love them! I may have skipped the quad, but I found plenty to love in this collection.

Today, Chanel.com doesn't appear to have the collection available online, but many Chanel counters have received it. Among them are Bergdorf Goodman (hopefully you won't get the dimwit who helped me - ask for Ivan if he's there) and certain Neiman Marcus stores. If you need a name and phone, I provided it to readers in the comments associated with the Rose Initiale Joues Contraste Powder Blush feature below (scroll down).

Photos by Best Things in Beauty