Giorgio Armani Scarabeo Kaleidoscope Face & Eye Palette in Venemous Green for Fall 2013

I purchased Giorgio Armani Beauty's Scarabeo Kaleidoscope Face & Eye Palette in Venemous Green (#2, $88) for Fall 2013, and I have fallen in love. I purchased it at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase after I was alerted this week that it had arrived. I knew it would be my favorite of the two new palettes, and it is - by a long shot.

Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fall 2013 Kaleidoscope Collection is stunning. The collection is called a play of light, nuances, and reflections. "Feminine/masculine duality. Multifaceted cool tones on the eyes, contrasted by berry-toned lips. Subtle femininity softens the garçonne look for autumn."

I started my love affair with the chic magnetic case, which conceals two tiers - one for the face and one for the eyes. Then, the love grew as I studied the pink face powder, The shade is sprinkled with pearls for a very subtle shimmer. The jazzy eye shadow harmonies of green tones, like a scarab beetle, are unique and perfect for a fall glow. Venemous Green is the full package.

I took photos yesterday in full sunshine. The photo directly below is the face palette - a gorgeous and sheer pink - in the top tier.

The eye shadows are shown directly below. Like a kaleidoscope, the center shade morphs with use and the light. You'll see below.

The eye colors are, left to right, Copper Wood, Iridescent Jade, and Sea Green. Copper Wood is a chameleon - brown with a touch of green and a touch of charcoal. I don't see copper anywhere. It is accompanied by Iridescent Jade, an iridescent light green, and Sea Green, which is turquoise blue to my eyes. As usual, the gorgeous colors are accompanied by relatively useless sponge-tipped applicators that take up space, but you'd only use them in a pinch. I'd rather have more eye shadow.

Copper Wood and Sea Green are not matte, as Armani's publicity described. Both shades offer a subtle shimmer. You can see it in my palette photos. Armani has provided both day and evening look directions with the palette. Basically, if you want to wear the colors during the day, keep them below the crease. My shimmering secret!

I took swatch photos in full, mid-afternoon sun, starting at the top of my arm with Copper Wood, followed by Iridescent Green, See Green, and the beautiful sheer face powder/blush.

There are two things you should note in my swatch photos. Copper Wood is very hard to photograph. Even though it has a teeny tiny hint of green in it, I can't see it in my photos. I applied all of the shadows relatively heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator. I applied the pink face powder/blush almost normally. I wanted you to see how it will look on your face. It is not very sparkly, so even if you find sparkle unnatural during the day, give it a try. You may find it to be as lovely as I do.

Eileen mentioned that the center, illuminating shade, morphs as you use it. I wanted to show you how. Check out my photo below of the shade after its first use.

I can't wait to see how it looks on my next application! As I peel back the layers, I'll be thinking about that beetle's iridescent colors.

I think Venemous Green is drop-dead gorgeous. I'm so pleased to have it, and I know I'll turn to it often as summer wanes and hints of fall can be seen in nature.

Giorgio Armani's Fall 2013 Collection should be available at all Giorgio Armani Beauty counters soon, if not now. In the DC area, it has arrived at both Saks and Neiman Marcus. It is available online at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site. It's the best $88 palette I've purchased in months.

Photo at top courtesy of Giorgio Aramani Beauty; scarab beetle photo courtesy of tattoopins.com; other photos by Best Things in Beauty