Chantecaille Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio from the Holiday 2013 Collection

Today, I napped most of the day. Given the chance, I catch up on my "good sleep" on lazy Saturdays. I took a mid-day nap intermission, though, and visited Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, where Jeannine pulled out her testers of Chantecaille Holiday 2013. You may remember that I had featured my photos of color copies of the collection in September. Today, I got to see the real deal - and drooled. I pre-ordered two of the Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio ($60). What if I were to ever run out? It was worth breaking my "no back-ups rule."

The photo above was taken in the store. It shows a re-promoted compact, the exquisite Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio, the three Lipsticks featured in the collection (Agave [new], Cassia, and Cerise), and a beautiful red Lip Definer. I zeroed right in on those diamonds.

All three shades are exquisite. These shimmering beauties will be adorning my eyelids the second I get my hands on my own palette. I really wanted to swatch them and take photos, despite the fact that there was heavy cloud cover. I did take swatch photos outside Neiman Marcus, but the sun was not cooperating. So, I left the swatches on my arm and headed home. As soon as I got to Geico, one block away, a hazy sun started to pop out for seconds at a time. I swung a fast right, stopped in their massive parking lot, and starting snapping photos. I was going to do whatever it took to get photos.

I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator, starting with the light shade on the left, and working toward the right as I applied the shadows down my arm. Chantecaille covered each "diamond" shade with a unique twist. Even though these photos aren't perfectly bright, I hope they will give you the idea that the palette is a shimmering treasure.

At the top, you will see the slightly yellow, platinum shade. This yellow diamond will stun you. The taupe diamond is extraordinary. It's one of the prettiest shimmering taupes I've ever seen. The bronze/copper diamond is a perfect shade for everyone - and so trendy.

Because my photos aren't as bright as I'd like, you can't really see the extraordinary life in each shade. They radiate light, and you will too when you wear them.

The unique glistening hybrid formula feels like a silky cream and delivers pure color, which does not flake or stray. It adheres like a cream. Apply it, and it stays where you put it. That's always a pleasure with shimming shadows.

Jeannine Barnes at Neiman Marcus hopes to receive the new colors within the next two weeks. Give her a call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2289, if you would like to pre-order, as I did. The collection will be available on Chantecaille's Web site and at all Chantecaille counters. Are you as excited as I am?

Photos by Best Things in Beauty