Chantecaille Les Fêtes Trio for Holiday 2012 - Swatched

Finally, I have my hands on Chantecaille's limited-edition Les Fêtes Trio ($74). I'll tell you a confessional story about it below. For now, focus on the festive shades.

Chantecaille characterizes these eye shadows as having a high percentage of pearls and micronized pigments that create pure color and eye-catching shimmer. They provide liquid-like shine and light to instantly brighten the eye area. With their weightless, oil-absorbing and easily buildable formula, they should suit everyone.

The mirrored, limited-edition palete contains a tiny dual-ended sponge applicator for times when you don't have a brush handy. The outside of the gunmetal grey case has a snazzy pattern that will make your new palette stand out among the others in your collection.

The shades are all illuminating on the eyelids. They capture and reflect light, and will be perfect for your holiday parties. Moonstone on the left is described as a soft pearl color with hints of pink and gold. Diamond is called a silvery slate hue infused with diamond-dust sparkle. Pink Sapphire is a radiant, effervescent rose that can be used on lids or cheekbones.

I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full, afternoon sunshine. On my arm, you'll see Moonstone at the top, Diamond in the middle, and Pink Sapphire on the bottom.

On my skin, Moonstone is an icy pink. It provides a sheen that can be worn with the other shades in the palette or many other eye shadows in your makeup bag. Diamond is a chameleon. In bright lighting conditions, Diamond appears to be a super-sparkly grey-brown. In other conditions, you can see a hint of lavender or mauve, giving the shade a complexity that's stunning. My camera picked that up - even in bright sunshine. I'm surprised. To my eyes while I was snapping these photos, the shade looked more grey.

Pink Sapphire is a medium-toned, ever-so-slightly warm pink. Although pinks can be hard for me to wear, this one looks good. It's brightening on my eyes and glorious on my cheeks. I've even tried Moonstone at the top of my cheekbones, using it as a highlighter, and it's stunning.

One more thing about the shades. I find Diamond's glittery "look out of character" for Chantecaille. It successfully pushes the boundaries I expect from the company's makeup - colors that will take you anywhere. You'll find you have to build the color to realize its promise. On the first pass with a brush, you may see only tinted glitter. Continue to build the shadow, and you'll achieve the color that makes it so pretty.

Here's my ditzy confession. I thought I had ordered Les Fêtes Trio from Chantecaille's Web site. My box came, and I didn't open it until I could get outdoor photos. Was I surprised when I opened it, expecting to dash outside with it! Inside the box was my third Les Pétales de Rose. I must have been multitasking when I ordered. I quickly called my favorite stores and found that the entire new holiday collection had arrived at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, so I bounded over there to buy it. I had little spare time, but I was not going to go without Les Fêtes Trio another day. Am I disappointed to have three Les Pétales de Rose compacts? Not a bit! I adore it.

You can purchase Chantecaille's Les Fêtes Trio for Holiday 2012 at Chantecaille's Web site, and it should be at all Chantecaille counters soon. I believe it's available at select Saks stores, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales - all in addition to Neiman Marcus.

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