The Friday Forum - January 29

This photo reminds me to today's weather. The wind is blowing. The snow has started to melt, but not enough. Everywhere you turn when driving, there are lanes still covered with snow, making many multi-lane roads one way. People are walking in the street - it's dangerous. It's cold outside, and much of our snow hasn't melted. The wind chill makes it feel in the single digits - and we are supposed to get flurries later. I really think I should go over to Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie today because Hylton Lea, Le Métier de Beauté's Global Director of Skincare, is there, but it's cold and miserable. I'm having trouble working up the energy to get dressed to go out.

I did go over to Neiman Marcus yesterday to get the 411 on all the upcoming Chanel collections. That was fun. I also picked up Armani's new Year of the Monkey compact. I really thought I had purchased it a week ago. It wasn't in my bag. The woman who was filling in for my regular product specialist didn't charge it to me after I made it clear I wanted to purchase it. At least they still had one.

I've been staying up much later than usual watching television (a very bad habit). Why do networks put all their great shows on between 9:00 and 11:00? I'm thoroughly hooked on the Blacklist, which I call a show for people who can think. I'm also enjoying Jennifer Lopez's new show, Shades of Blue. Those shows make me pump adrenaline, so it takes me until about 12:30 to calm down and go to sleep. It's so cute that Charlie stretches out on my legs while I watch television, and even he can't stay awake that late. Between 10:00 and 11:00, his head slowly drops as he falls asleep. I feel so guilty when I have to roll him over on his side to get up. His eyes say, "I was so comfy; why are you doing this to me?"

It's time for The Friday Forum. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. After a long delay, I hope you are ready to share.

I hope you are safe and well, especially if you were in the blizzard's patch. I'll probably post more Chanel news this weekend. I'm sure I'll be home a lot.

Photo courtesy of ncadvertiser.com

Chanel Spring 2016 Beauty Collection - Part 2 with Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Tissé Beverly Hills

At long last, the eye shadow quad from Chanel's Spring 2016 collection, Les 4 Ombres Tissé Beverly Hills (#262, $61) has arrived. Actually, it came over the weekend, but no one without a snow plow was out on our roads for days. I'm sure you will remember that the rest of the Spring 2016 collection arrived without it. Is it worth the wait? Your own preferences will answer that.

I took my photos in the store at Neiman Marcus, so they aren't as brilliant as I'd like. Indoor lighting is not ideal for the photos I take. Outside, there were no backgrounds without white snow (except my now salty car), and snow doesn't provide a nice background. Anyhow, the quad was difficult to remove from its slot on the display, and I didn't want to be a nuisance.

Between these two photos, I think you can see the four shades pretty well. These colors are vibrant. I am conservative. I don't think Chanel had me in mind when it designed these eye shadow shades. Pfew! Money I don't have saved!

I swatched the shades clockwise, starting at the upper left with little applicators that Neiman Marcus had on hand. Just yesterday, I took my own sponge-tipped applicators out of my handbag. I should know not to do that. I needed them, but you do what you have to do to get swatch photos.

My photo isn't very sharp. This is the best I could do indoors. I'm sorry. You can see that the bright violet at the top of my arm is a powerful, colorful highlighting shade. The beige shade has a bit less pigment and can also be used as a highlighting or brightening shade. I would apply it as a base color. You can blend these two shades together to bring down the violet tones. The next shade is a dark plum. I applied it relatively heavily to show you the shade. Given my fair skin, I could only use it as an eyeliner. The turquoise shade is a very pigmented, pretty spring and summer color. It reminds me of Mediterranean seaside photos.

When I purchase eye shadow quads, I want them to offer me at least three wearable shades out of four. Tissé Beverly Hills does not. There is nothing wrong with it - it's just not my "type." I believe these colors would be gorgeous on someone with olive-toned or dark skin. I'm sure a makeup artist could make these shades work on me, but I don't have one in my house when I'm getting ready for work. I'm a slap-dash kind of gal when I am pressed for time. Would I wear these shades in the evening? Probably not. I avoid lavenders and purples because they bring out the red in my eyes.

I know some of you have been waiting to see this eye shadow quad, so here it is. Chanel's Tissé Ombre de Lune quad that just arrived is much more pleasing to my eyes. I swatched it and will show it to you very soon.

You can purchase Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Tissé Beverly Hills from Chanel.com, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, or wherever you shop Chanel.

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

Giorgio Armani Beauty Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup with SPF30

Giorgio Armani has introduced a new foundation in its award-winning foundation stable. In full, it's called Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup Bi-phase Elixir Octinoxate Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF30 ($64). It is formulated with nourishing oils to make your skin look perfect and feel nude and supple to the touch.

I was smitten from the moment I saw it online. I usually wear one of the Armani foundations. I've been wearing the Maestro Cream Foundation lately. However, I am borderline between a #2 and a #4 in Armani foundations, so I had to wait for it to arrive in stores and test it on my face near my jawline. In this foundation, I'm a #4, which I learned at Neiman Marcus where I purchased it. It appears that there are nine shades in all.

Armani's newest liquid foundation is leading us toward Mr. Armani's Invisible Glow Revolution. The advertising says that it has a sheer glow finish. Maestro Glow is the first "bi-phase makeup elixir." It contains skin-care oils infused with pure pigments and provides a nourishing comfort and lasting glow to the skin. Each drop is said to perfect the complexion. It is inspired by Maestro Fluid in its lightness and silkiness, and it gives an instant and lasting glow due to the blend of pigments and oils. These oils make the texture comfortable, easy to apply, and nourishing for women with drier skin like me.

I found the application to be easy. It has a nice slip on the skin, especially when worn over a treatment or moisturizer. I find the coverage to be medium - not totally sheer because it covers my center redness and sun spots nicely. If you need more coverage, you might want to try another foundation from Armani.

The model in the advertisement has flawless skin. I can see a slight glow where the light hits her skin, but her skin is so perfect, it's hard to know how much coverage this foundation will provide for everyone. Some of us like a little more to cover our imperfections, some less. This foundation is called light, airy, and transparent.

I applied it to one side of my face over moisturizer. I can definitely see a difference between the two sides. I also see a very slight glow. Not a shine, per se, but a subtle brilliance that's flattering. I think it's a beautiful foundation.

I took a swatch photo of #4 on my inner arm, which is a bit lighter than the center of my face. I took it in full sun, but I was unable to get a great background for the photo. I ended up using my car for a background. I shook the bottle well to mix the two phases, applied a drop of Maestro Glow to my palm, and then applied and blended it lightly with my fingers.

I think you'll agree that it's a pretty close match to my skin color. Can you even see it in this swatch? You may be able to see a slight glow in the center of my arm.

I will get a lot of use out of this new foundation. It provides the coverage and finish I like. If you would like to try it, I'd recommend that you do so at an Armani counter if you can. That way, you will be sure to get the right shade.

I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. It is available wherever Giorgio Armani Beauty products are sold, as well as at the Armani Beauty Web site. 

Photos at top courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

I've Been Scammed with a Beauty Product

You may have seen it on the right panel of advertisements on Facebook. It is endorsed by Dr. Oz, which should have been my first clue that it wasn't on the up and up. The ingredient list was impressive, and I wanted to test the product for you. However, their advertisement nabbed a relatively savvy beauty shopper. Here was the deal: pay for postage, and the company, which I have discovered to be Beauty & Truth, sent me a 30-day supply. I could send it back within 30 days if I wasn't completely satisfied.

Nowhere did I see that I was signing up for a subscription service, with a monthly charge of $98 and change. Suddenly, that charge showed up on my credit card yesterday, about 15 days after I ordered the "sample." Additionally, I was charged an international transaction fee!

I called my bank first, and they cancelled my card so that this company can never use it again. I got a temporary card today, and a permanent replacement will show up in about 10 days. Inconvenient much? I will have to notify all parties with whom I have a debit agreement or those who have my card on file, like Sephora, that my card has changed.

Then I called this company. The man with whom I spoke told me the "fine print" on the second page of the agreement I signed gave them the right to bill me the $98+ charge every month until I cancelled, and that that charge would occur at 15 days. Of course, there is no way to get back to that agreement to read it again.

I had to go to the Post Office today to send their sample back. Then I had to find a bank branch that had someone who could issue me a temporary card (the snow here has left banks short staffed). I don't know how they will refund me because my card in their file is dead. The whole experience has been a disaster.

If I were you, I would shun any beauty company associated with Dr. Oz and especially this one. I'm not proud of being fooled, but they got me.

P.S. Today, I saw a beautiful red fox in my back yard looking for peanuts where I used to leave them. I had to be my fox! I quickly and quietly went to the driveway and left dog food, but he came around the corner and saw me. He ran. I hope he comes back. I left him a good meal.

Photo courtesy of Beauty & Truth

Coming Attraction: Bobbi Brown Valentine's Day Collection for Spring 2016

Bobbi Brown is introducing a new enticing red and pink collection this spring. I remember her pink and red collection from 2013. Now, three years later, we can celebrate these stunning colors once again.

Bobbi's new collection, inspired by Valentine's Day, presents an unconventional approach to the traditional color palette with a collection that isn't about matching your lips and nails, but rather deliberately mismatching them. These pinks and hot reds are a modern mix for a look that's wearable and "kissable." The new collection presents shades of Rich Lip Color, Lip Gloss, and Nail Polish.

The Rich Lip Color ($27), a lightweight, full-color lipstick, delivers bold color and rich hydration with a smooth feel. Two colors are available in the collection: Blazing Red and Ibira Pink.

The Lip Gloss ($26) will sweeten your lips with a high-shine dose of pink or red. Bobbi's lip gloss treats your lips to soothing botanical extracts, including avocado and jojoba, to keep them looking soft and supple. The new shades are Pink Lily and Hollywood Red.

The Nail Polish ($15) will add a splash of flirty colors to your fingers and toes. The shades in this collection are Pink Peony and Cherry Tomato.

The Valentine's Day Collection will be available at Bobbi Brown's Web site beginning next month. I assume it will also be available at Bobbi Brown's Department and Specialty Store counters too.

Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown

The Friday Forum - January 22

This is what we are expecting, with snow starting within the hour and turning into a blizzard overnight. The forecasters have predicted two feet of snow, but some have said we may get closer to three feet. With high winds, many are expected to lose power. It will be disastrous for many - even after the snow ends Saturday night. They are calling the impending snow historic.

I have a full tank of gas (had to go to three stations to get it). There's nothing I can do if my power goes out and I can't get out of here by car. Charlie and I will have to hunker down under the covers. My mother and her caregiver are moving out of her house. It's in a wooded area, and it doesn't take much to lose power there.

FYI: The Chanel Spring 2016 eye shadow quad has arrived in stores. I have not had time to get to one to swatch it. Yesterday, I had to make several trips to Mom's house, and I had a doctor's appointment. I promise to swatch it as soon as the roads are safe.

It's time for The Friday Forum. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. After a long delay, I hope you are ready to share.

If you don't hear from me during the weekend, you will know I have no power and no Internet. Wish us luck in the DC area, please. Good luck to you if you are also in the path of this storm.

Photo courtesy of weatherbook.com

Guerlain Rose aux Joues Blush Duo in SMILE for Spring 2016, Limited Edition

I mentioned Guerlain's limited-edition Rose aux Joues Blush Duo in SMILE for Spring 2016 when I reported on my session with Marcus Monson, Guerlain's Celebrity and National Makeup Artist. I promised to show you swatches, which I got today in bright sun with an air temperature of 25 and a wind chill of 9 degrees. I took my photos very quickly because I was not wearing a coat when I swatched the blush. My photos are not as good as they might have been had I not been shivering. When you rely on sunshine, you have to take it when you can get it.

Here is how Guerlain presents it [with slight edits]...
Discover spring limited-edition Rose aux Joues, a Blush Duo is offered two colors: a satiny red and an extremely delicate pink to express your joy in this new season. In its new shiny metallic red pack, the word SMILE appears in the powder: SMILE is an invitation to use this new Duo Blush to reveal your joyful face.

Its Pink Booster pigments capture natural light and enhance your complexion's natural pink hue in perfect affinity with your skin. Rosy cheeks with a delicate glow, as if you had just spent a day in the fresh air [I did], with a lightweight imperceptible finish. A feat made possible by the Duo Blush Rose aux Joues which brings a pink flush to your cheeks with a single sweep of the brush.

So true, with no exaggeration! It is a beautiful color to make your cheeks look naturally pretty. To apply, smile and apply Rose aux Joues with the little pink-bristled brush that comes with it or your own blush brush. Make sure to smile when you apply blush to know where to put it. Apply the blush evenly on the rounded part of your cheekbones, extending to the temples. When Marcus applied it on me, he blended the two shades together on his brush and applied them over my smile. Then he took a narrower brush and applied just the light pink shade over my smile along my cheekbones - where you would normally apply a highlighter. The result was glorious.

I was absolutely frozen when I took my swatch photo. I will apologize for my goose bumps. I should have come inside to apply the swatches to my arm. I did it as quickly as I could. The wind today is brutal. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and applied each color individually in strips at the top of my arm. Then I used another applicator and blended the two shades evenly. The resulting color is shown in the larger swatch at  the bottom in the picture.

It's a conservative blush - the way I like my blushes to be. However, you can layer on more color or use the darker shade more heavily it you want it to pop. This powder blush is all about the application.

I am thoroughly delighted with SMILE, and yes, it does make me smile. I think of winter as the season of death, and this winter has given us way too many deaths already: David Bowie, Glenn Frey of The Eagles, Alan Rickman, Celine Dion's husband René Angélil, Natalie Cole, Craig Strickland, and Lemmy Kilmister among them. I am sure that we will be hearing about the homeless dying outdoors soon. It's nice that one of our favorite cosmetics companies has given us a reason to smile and be positive. Spring will come.

Don't forget, this blush is a limited edition. If you want one, try to purchase it soon wherever Guerlain is carried. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus. You can also shop online at Guerlain's site or your favorite online source.

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

Rouge Bunny Rouge SKIN SOUL DROPS Foundation Essence

Rouge Bunny Rouge's SKIN SOUL DROPS Foundation Essence ($63) is a creative face foundation that beauty mavens will adore. Highly saturated with pigment and enriched with uniquely processed silica and mica, this concentrated formula with beautiful adjustable coverage will blend to match  most skin tones perfectly (as long as you don't have very dark skin) and is designed to work well with all kinds of moisturizing, serum, dry oil, and primer products to achieve the perfect degree of seamless, picture-perfect coverage.

Rouge Bunny Rouge sent me all three shades, and I've had fun playing with them. I will show you "my shade" below.

The texture is fluid and sheer if you apply it lightly; however, it can be applied more heavily for more coverage. Here's how Rouge Bunny Rouge describes its texture.

• Lightweight, silky-soft, moisturizing liquid formula
• High percentage of pigment, perfect color purity (approximately 36%)
• Blendable with skin-care products to create a custom result - Each shade can flawlessly
• match with up to four skin tones
• Demi-matte finish with buildable coverage
• Minimizes the appearance of pores and imperfections
• Absorbs excess sebum and melts seamlessly onto the skin

It has unique ingredients.

• Anhydrous silicones: for extended wear and ultimate comfort
• Jojoba esters: superior emoliency, soft with no greasy film
• Silicone elastomer: a highly engineered sililcone gel for enhanced smoothness of texture, diffuses light
• Unique mica: highest skin adhesion, supreme softness
• Special silica: absorbs sebum, gives skin an even finish and look
• Lecithin-coated pigments: extended wear; excellent skin protection, highest skin-affinity and
• moisturizing effect
• Plant-derived (jojoba, mimosa, sunflower) waxes
• Natural moisturizing texturizing agent: provides for unique blendability and product versatility, combines functionality with sensorial liquid emollient advantages

The formula is free of cyclomethicone, fragrance and preservatives.

Rouge Bunny Rouge suggests these makeup artist tips and tricks. Apply SKIN SOUL DROPS with your favorite treatment product(s). Apply between a pea to coin-sized amount of treatment product and mix it with Foundation Essence (one to four drops, depending on your preferred coverage level) in your palm. Swirl the mixture using a foundation brush or your fingertips. Then apply to your complexion beginning along the center T-zone of the face, brushing down and outward. To spot treat areas around your nose, the orbital bone, or around the edges of the lips, use a concealer or touch-up brush. You can apply a finishing powder to add a velvet or shimmery finish - whichever you prefer.

Directly above, I've provided Rouge Bunny Rouge's snapshot of the three SKIN SOUL DROPS shades: Miriam, Lalla, and Yeshe. I swatched them on my arm in full sun, and I did not blend them. The results are shown below.

I would definitely wear Miriam, shown at the top. The other shades, as you can see on my arm, are much darker. Miriam, when blended in my palm and applied over my moisturizer, provides a lovely, even finish to my face. It is slightly yellow-toned on me, which is good. It hides my winter red, cold, wind-burned skin well. In the summer, I probably would blend it with my moisturizer for a sheer finish.

I like it! You might too. Right now, you can find SKIN SOUL DROPS at the Rouge Bunny Rouge Web site. Although it says "Coming Soon," I think that will be flipped to available very soon. Before too long, you will be able to find it at Beautyhabit.

P.S. It comes in a lovely black box, with a base that nestles the bottle and a tall top that's black with white lettering and shiney black designs. I will photograph it for you when it's not 17 degrees outside.

Photos courtesy of Rouge Bunny Rouge; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum and Guerlain's Marcus Monson

It's Friday, so it must be time for The Friday Forum. First, though, let me tell you briefly about my visit with Marcus Monson, Guerlain's Celebrity and National Makeup Artist. He is shown above consulting with a long-time customer whose makeup he did after mine. Some of you, Eileen in particular, have been singing his praises for years, and now I can join the choir. My session with him was fun, and his expertise as a makeup artist drew many compliments as I left the store. I will tell you the products he used in another post. It's ashamed I had nowhere to go last night.

Right now, I want to thank Karen Somers at Neiman Marcus for inviting me to the event. I understand Marcus is at the Mazza Gallerie store today, so if you are in the DC area, I'd recommend that you call the store to see if there are any open appointments. He is a master of his art.

As you know, the Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum.

Just a few of the features coming up here in the next few days (I need bright sunlight for photos to use in makeup features): Chanel, Guerlain, and Moroccan Oil. Hope to see you in the comments.

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

Diorskin Nude Air Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink for Spring 2016

When Dior says "limited edition," they really mean it. At every store where I have asked, I was told they received three of each limited-edition item in the collection. Three! That's exclusive, but crazy. They are leaving money on the table. I went last weekend to the Dior counter at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie and purchased the last Glowing Pink Illuminating Powder ($58) they had. The gold one on display had already sold out.

To describe the full collection, Dior offered this...
Dior cultivates the art of a beautiful glow in what are now considered must-haves, inspired by the techniques of professional makeup artists and the products they use backstage, like Lip Glow, the Colour Reviver Lip Balm. This spring, Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, reinterprets the art of a gorgeous glow with a luminous makeup collection that teams new Backstage Pros essentials with eyeshadows and lipsticks in colours inspired by the flower gardens of Granville.

If I had had unlimited resources, I would have come away with more from the collection. There is a beautiful eye shadow and liner duo. I forced myself to select only one piece, and this was it.

The compact comes with the kabuki brush shown above. The two pieces sit in a moulded plastic case inside the blue Dior box. I took my photos for this feature in full, frigid sun.

The powder itself is not as pink as it appears on Dior's Web site. That's one reason why I really love it. There is a lot of beige in Glowing Pink.

On my skin in full sun, the powder does show its girly pink face, and it sparkles a tiny bit. However, inside, it looks like a beautiful sheen on my skin. I applied it heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator to take the swatch photo below. If you apply it softly with a powder brush, you will achieve a beautiful pink glow.

I think this powder is stunning. If you are interested in it, call before you go to a store. Most of them have sold out. I see it on Dior's Web site, but it's shown as "momentarily unavailable." I have no idea whether that means they intend to produce more of it, or whether that's French for sold out.

If you like a glowing pink finish on your skin, you really should try to find it. I think you will love the  gorgeous glow it provides.

Photos at top courtesy of Dior; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Orris & Sandalwood Cologne Intense by Jo Malone of London

Presented in the black bottle Jo Malone of London reserves for its Cologne Intense scents, Orris and Sandalwood ($170 for 100 ml) is a captivating fragrance. If you think of most Jo Malone fragrances, you often think floral or fruity. This one is unique - and stunningly beautiful. I purchased mine the moment I smelled it at Neiman Marcus.

The copy on the Jo Malone Web site describes Orris and Sandalwood as, "The surprising duality of orris. Woody and floral. Powdery and deep. The scent of Tuscan hillsides with irises in bloom. Orris’ woody intensity wrapped in creamy sandalwood and sensual amber. Steeped in sunshine."

That's all true, but it doesn't completely describe it. Orris root (rhizoma iridis) is a term used for the roots of Iris germanica and Iris pallida. These are the irises that most of you visualize when thinking iris. Clumps of irises often grow around older homes. They are glorious in the spring. Fabienne Pavia, in her book L'univers des Parfums (1995, ed. Solar), states that in the manufacturing of perfumes using orris, the scent of the iris root differs from that of the flower. After preparation, the scent is reminiscent of the smell of violets. Hence the duality of irises and violets that grace this fragrance.

Sandalwood is the name of a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. You will find sandalwood in many perfumes - old and new. It's a wonderful dry base note.

It was our wish to create a fragrance with orris, because that is one of the most desirable raw materials in the world of perfumes. It was cultivated by monks for centuries, and even today each orris is dried during a period of three years, so that its scent can radiate with two unique nuances: woody-floral and intense-powdery. - a description from perfumer of the new Jo Malone edition, Pierre Negrin.

When you first spray on Orris & Sandalwood, you will smell a dry floral, without a hint of sweetness. Then, as the fragrance matures on the skin, it develops a dry, powdery, luscious scent that lasts on my skin for about seven hours. When I spray some on my arm, my nose seeks it out continuously.

I'm excited about this fragrance. If it intrigues you, you can find it anywhere Jo Malone of London is sold, for example, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and the Jo Malone Web site linked above.

Photos courtesy of Jo Malone, words4it.com, and homescentscandlecompany.com

The Friday Forum - January 8

We are back in a fog. It looks a bit like the picture above here. At least it's not terribly cold.

By popular demand, The Friday Forum has returned. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. After a long delay, I hope you are ready to share.

I wasn't able to get to counters this week. I hope to go tomorrow, in the rain. If I see something special, I will chime in within the comments section.

Just a few of the features coming up here in the next few days (I need sun for photos to use in makeup features): Chanel, Jo Malone, and Moroccan Oil.

Photo courtesy of beingwoven.org

Chantecaille Happy Cheek Gelée

Chantecaille Happy Cheek Gelée ($39) was introduced in stores with the Holiday 2015 Collection. Online at Chantecaille, it was available earlier. My product specialist was stunned that I had it before the collection was introduced at Neiman Marcus. I feel sorry for store representatives when their new products aren't so new to online shoppers. However, I have no regrets for purchasing Happy the moment it was offered.

Cheek Gelée is a hydrating gel-cream blush that combines the freshness of an emulsion with the lasting power of a stain. Sheer yet vibrant pigments add instant color and luminosity for a radiant, youthful glow.  Happy is described by Chantecaille as a soft rose petal pink that creates a youthful, windswept glow. That's pretty accurate, but they failed to mention the beautiful sheen that it imparts.

I love this color. It's pink, but not a blue pink that might make you look ghastly in the winter. It is long-wearing, although the sheen fades over time. It will brighten your face, but not compete with your gorgeous eyes wearing winter colors.

You can purchase Happy at Neiman Marcus, where shipping is free. Jeannine Barnes at (202) 966-9700, extension 2289, would be happy to help you. You can also find it at some Nordstrom sites, and, of course, you can purchase it directly from Chantecaille's Web site.

Photo at top courtesy of Chantecaille; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I wish all of my readers a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2016.

Photo courtesy of unknown