Le Métier de Beauté Culte du Solaire Kaleidoscope Face Kit

Le Métier de Beauté's Culte du Solaire Kaleidoscope Face Kit is drop-dead gorgeous. It showed up via UPS yesterday, and I had no idea why. I had to write the president - who kindly answered me on a holiday - to find out it was the last part of the subscription series I had purchased last December. I am beyond delighted. I'm nearly breathless.

I have no information on the colors, like names and descriptions, but my eyes told me they are exquisite. They are intended to be eye shadows, highlighters, bronzers, and/or blushes.

I took swatch photos so that we could admire them together. I used a sponge-tipped applicator, applied the shades heavily, and took the photos in the early afternoon.

I started swatching at the top pull-out drawer. The deep rose gold made my heart skip a beat. The bronze below it is also exciting. It offers a beautiful gleam to my eyelids, and I like it as a bronzer too.

The coral/apricot shade must be intended to be a blush, but I can see how I could use it lightly on my eyelids. The color leaps off my skin, leaving a lasting impression in my brain. I would really love to have all three of these shades in a vat, please.

The last color is cinnamon. I'm not sure how it is intended to be used. I would guess as an eyeliner or contour shade, but applied lightly it could also serve as a bronzer, particularly for those with darker skin tones. I don't like the spice cinnamon; it makes me gag. It's weird, but even the look of cinnamon leaves me a bit squeamish. I have played with it, applying it properly and lightly, and have sees how I can best use it: on my eyes as a crease shade. It looks wildly better than my swatch above. It definitely has red in it, but it's a color I can neutralize with another shade.

This Culte du Solaire Face Kaleidoscope has me doing mental cartwheels (I can't do physical ones anymore - which is another story). I hope that Le Métier de Beauté will reconsider its exclusivity to the subscription program and make it available at Neiman Marcus counters. Everyone needs one of these Kaleidoscopes. If you feel the same way, please leave a comment, and I will forward your requests to the company. I think this beauty deserves a campaign.

Update 7/8: Today, I received an e-mail with recommendations for use of Culte du Solaire. Here are the instructions, basically unedited.

Top Tier: "Dune" (Best tool - The Kabuki Brush)
- A neutral bronzer, the color of sand, this hue can be used to diffuse any redness on the skin. On deeper tans, use as highlighter to bring radiance.

Apply liberally over complexion to enhance radiance or create a subtle glow. Also, this is a very pretty highlighter for the highest points of the face (temples, cheekbones and for under the eyebrow) as well as for contouring along the jaw, nose, and chin.

2nd Tier: "Solaire" (Best tool - The Kabuki Brush or Blush Brush)
- A golden highlighter to brighten a burgeoning tan, add warmth and enhance a summer glow. Perfect for diminishing any tonal dullness on the skin.

Apply over existing blush color, or simply to bring radiance to natural cheeks. The formula is gorgeous to use as an eye shadow and works beautifully as an all over golden highlighter.

3rd Tier: "Horizon" (Best tool - The Blush Brush or Kabuki Brush)
- A modern take on summer blush color. Vibrant in tone, but soft and natural on the skin. The hue is a warm coral, with a golden undertone.

The most fashionable application for a modern appearance is to gently place the color on the highest point of your cheekbones to create the optical illusion of a lifted complexion.

Bottom Tier: "Umbra" (Best tool - The Kabuki Brush)
- A deep bronzer with coral undertones to mimic the effects of a natural sun-tan.

Begin by lightly applying around the perimeters of the face (the temples, above the cheeks, and under the jaw. When this is completed, apply the remainder on the brush liberally over the entire complexion to deepen a natural tan. 

Photos by Best Things in Beauty