Chanel Collection Libre Synthetic de Chanel for Holiday 2016

Chanel's Collection Libre is an unexpected holiday collection that celebrates the modern yet sophisticated elements of beauty. Chanel Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica experiments with striking contrasts - a clash of colors, textures, intensities, and light - to capture a contemporary edge and thrilling moment in time.

Here are the product highlights.

Les 5 Ombres Eyeshadow Palette ($80), a limited-edition palette called Architectonic inspired by urban architecture, a modern palette that gives structure to the eyes with mirror-like silver, concrete grey, and gunmetal blue eye shadows in matte to shimmery textures.

Joues Contraste Powder Blush ($45) is the staple blush in a bright pink shade called Hyperfresh that can be used lightly for a soft accent of color or built up to make a statement.

Calligraphie de Chanel Waterproof Intense Cream Eyeliner in Hyperblack ($35) is a modern way to line the eyes. This long-lasting gel liner creates a super-black, vinyl finish for a striking look. It has a a specially developed brush for precise application.

Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour ($37) will impart fresh, bright shades of burgundy pink and strawberry red to the lips for the season. The shades are called Ultraberry and Ultrarose.

Rouge Allure Gloss Colour and Shine Lipgloss in One Click ($34) offers softer Super Nude and Super Coral tones to create the look of polished brilliance.

Rouge Double Intensité Ultra Wear Lip Colour ($37) is the best-loved, long-wearing lip color in a shocking Curious Orange that pops on the lips.

There are four featured nail shades: Les Vernis is Liquid Mirror (silver) and Hyperrose Glass (transparant pink), and Pink Rubber (a powdery pink). All are $28.00.

I took other photos of the holiday shades in the Neiman Marcus Café, but I cannot find them right now. If I can dig them up, I'll add them to this feature. I know there has been much conversation about this holiday collection, so I wanted to show you what I had as soon as possible.

The collection will be available in department stores, specialty stores, and at Chanel's Web site (now) in November 2016.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty (lip photos are from lab samples)

Coming Soon: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Matte Liquid Lip Color

Months ago, the day I sat in the Neiman Marcus Café taking photos of the upcoming introductions, I snapped this photo of five of the eight Rouge Allure Ink Matte Lip Colors ($37). This is certainly the year of the lipstick!

The mark of your allure. Smooth gloss meets intense lipstick in an innovative new formula from Rouge Allure.

Chanel calls Rouge Allure Ink Matte Liquid Lip Color perfection in just one stroke. A long-lasting liquid lipstick that glides on like a gloss and dries with a luminous, velvet-like finish. Polymers, waxes, and plant oils smooth and nourish the lips, while jojoba oil and a unique antioxidant complex offer hydration and protective benefits. A sponge-tip applicator allows for comfortable and easy application.

The Rouge Allure Inks are available in a "provocative" range of shades, from tart pink to brown noir. They look intense to me.

I have read that they are starting to appear at Chanel counters. Officially, they are supposed to be on counter and at Chanel.com in October. Keep your eyes open. They are, apparently, arriving early.

Everywhere I turn, there are new lipsticks - full collections of new lipsticks. The Dior display of Rouge Dior is almost too full of new colors in a new formula. Matte lipsticks are everywhere. I was struck this weekend as I perused the Saks Beauty catalog (in advance of their Beauty Event) by the full-face photos of models, all wearing perfectly applied matte lips. Did they strike me as pretty? No. Alluring? No. I really hope Chanel "did it better." I'm looking forward to seeing and playing with these new Rouge Allure Inks.

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Ingénue from Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1

Do you remember when I showed you this coming attraction photo I took in the Neiman Marcus Café of the fall Chanel lipstick lineup before it was released? It emphasized red, the theme of Le Rouge Collection N°1 for Fall 2016 - with one exception. Look at that nude lipstick, Rouge Ingénue ($37), that snuck in there (second from left). It looked a bit out of place. It's a Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour (#168), and I'm wearing it as I write.

This next-generation Rouge Allure dresses lips with unmistakable attitude. A new formula with concentrated, ultra-thin pigments offers radically intense, long-wearing color with full coverage and a satin finish. It leaves the lips supple and protected with lasting comfort.

I knew I wouldn't be purchasing Chanel's intense red lipsticks, and I really didn't expect to purchase Rouge Ingénue either. However, as I played with the collection with Nicki Hashemi at Neiman Marcus, I swatched Rouge Ingénue. Suddenly I was looking at a nude with a touch of peach that looked like it belonged on my face. I was stunned. I'm not a big fan of nude lipsticks (although I decided recently to become more open-minded and try a few new ones). They often wash out my coloring - or at least add nothing flattering to it.

I zoomed outside this morning and took a picture of it before the clouds move in for the day. I believe you can see the pretty peach tone in the lipstick bullet (I hate that term!). It applied exactly as it looks in the photo. I hope you can see in my swatch photo below that the peach is a distinguishing characteristic.

Chanel calls it a dusty beige. I wouldn't. I see nothing dusty about this pretty color. Does that term "dusty" imply muted, heathery, or even dirty to you? The satin finish has a slight sheen to it. I prefer more shine, but I can always add some with a nude gloss.

I'm sure you Chanel fans know that Rouge Allure feels great on the lips. It's creamy and lasts a moderate amount of time (there are few truly long-lasting lipsticks on me).

If you want to stray from fall's red pack, try out Rouge Ingénue. It is a perfect lipstick to offset your very fancy eyes pained in Candeur et Expérience.

Le Rouge Collection N°1 has arrived at Chanel counters. For those of you who don't have easy access to one, please call Nicky Hashemi at (202) 966-9700. Use my name. Ask for the Chanel counter. If you want to order online, just hop over to this Chanel link.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience from Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1

Chanel's Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience (#268, $61) from the Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1 was not designed for the timid. When I first saw it in print, I thought there was no way I would purchase it. Then, after a professional application, avoiding the red shade on my eyes, I was sold. Amazing how those things happen to beauty mavens.

Because this quad isn't your everyday palette, Chanel offers suggestions for how to use it.

A is supposed to be your highlighting shade, allied over the entire lid. B should be used to shade and contour. C, the brick red, is also suggested for shading and contouring. D is a shade you can use to intensify. On me, we used it as an eyeliner.

As usual, my photo taken in full sunshine is displays the colors more accurately than Chanel's photo above. The shades have more life in them than Chanel would leave you thinking on their Web site.

I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full late-morning sunshine. I swatched clockwise, starting with the upper left warm brown and finishing with the dark red.

All three browns are warm. I especially like the two on the top level. They are vibrant. The red, when layered with the browns gives you the effect shown on the model (Kristen Stewart) at the top of this feature. It blends to produce a copper shade.

My eyelids are particularly sensitive to red dyes, so we applied the red shade as a blush on me - very lightly. Our application was much lighter than I was able to achieve with a sponge-tipped applicator, but it was hot outside, and I didn't feel like running into wash the oily eye makeup remover off my arm and start again with a thin layer of moisturizer. So what you see is an uneven application. I hope you get the idea of an intense color that can be moderated with your blush or powder brush for a lovely autumnal shade.

It's actually pretty on the face, but I think I'd opt for Rouge Profond when given the choice. I hope you can see that the colors - no matter how you use them - coordinate nicely to produce the avant garde effect for which Ms. Pica had aimed. If you want to watch a film on application, hop over to this link and click on the tutorial. It appears my computer still isn't entirely ready to roll. I can't get it to play (ARGH!).

Le Rouge Collection N°1 has arrived at Chanel counters. For those of you who don't have easy access to one, please call Nicky Hashemi at (202) 966-9700. Use my name. Ask for the Chanel counter. If you want to order online, just hop over to this Chanel link.

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

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rouge Profond from Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1

Chanel's Fall 2016  Le Rouge Collection N°1 has a mantra, "Let Red Rule." Indeed it does, Chanel's Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica gave free reign to the power of red in her debut collection for face, eyes, lips, nails, and cheeks. At first I cringed, but as I started to play with the colors, I became smitten with their flexibility and expression of the perfect color for fall and winter.

The display will grab you. It shows red (mostly) in all of its incarnations. Red has an association with power, desirability, and femininity - something it has always had and never lost. Those with my fair coloring have to be careful with it. Although makeup artists disagree, I always feel like I'm a few degrees off kilter when I wear it on my face. Nevertheless, Nicky, the Chanel Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, talked me into trying the blush, and as she applied it lightly on my cheeks, it was an instant hit. Without the tryout, you never could have convinced me I could wear this shade of red on my face.

Rouge Profond (#320, $45) offers buildable coverage, from natural to dramatic, and imparts a flattering radiance to the cheeks. It has a remarkably silky texture that ensures easy application of seamless color. Applied high on the cheekbone, or near the eyes (but not too close), it instantly lifts and softens the face for a more youthful look. Immediately after Nicki applied it to my face, I got a compliment from a shopper at another counter on how good I looked. That certainly sealed the deal.

As you can see in my photo immediately above, the color is intense. As usual, my photo, taken in full sun, shows the true color of the blush. Chanel's photo, right above, is too coral.

I took my swatch photo, applying the blush heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator in a stripe at the top of my arm, and then smudging what was left on the applicator into a circle below. I can achieve a much lighter look with a blush brush, but I wanted you to see a heavy application to understand the true color of Rouge Profond.

The red tone is hard for me to describe. I'd say it's neutral - neither cool nor warm - with a tiny touch of brick in dark lighting scenarios. The lighter swatch above shows that the blush actually makes you look like you pinched your cheeks to draw out your own coloring. It's a beautiful shade for fall and will accentuate your wardrobe choices.

Had you told me I would purchase Rouge Profond, I would have scoffed. In Nicki's expert hands, it looked like it was made for me. I am thrilled with it. I also purchased the nude lipstick and the eye shadow quad. I'll show you both when I can get photos.

Le Rouge Collection N°1 has arrived at Chanel counters. For those of you who don't have easy access to one, please call Nicky Hashemi at (202) 966-9700. Ask for the Chanel counter. If you want to order online, just hop over to this Chanel link.

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

The Friday Forum - July 15 Plus Chanel for Fall 2016

Before I "talk" about Chanel, I want to express my tearful horror at what one man did in Nice last night. On an occasion when the French were celebrating a national holiday, he purposely killed 84 people (I'm sure that number will rise, given the number of critically injured in hospitals). Will the police find some screed - some written explanation for his actions, or will ISIS claim responsibility? I have watched television since I arose at 5:30, and I've cried for every man, woman, and child killed or injured by an evil person. How can the civilized world stop such violence?

Chanel, one of our very favorite beauty companies, French to the core, introduced its Le Rouge Collection N°1 for Fall 2016 yesterday only on its Web site. It was an early surprise. I wasn't expecting it until the end of July. Last weekend, I had taken photos of some of the items in the Neiman Marcus Café. If you click on the photo above, you may be able to read them. They are from left to right: Rouge Audace Rouge Allure Velvet deep chocolate burgundy; Rouge Ingénue Rouge Allure dusty beige; Rouge Vie Rouge Allure Velvet deep rosebud; Rouge Tentation Rouge Allure intense red; Rouge Charnel Rouge Allure Velvet fire red; the unknown lab sample I will have to identify through the account executive who has been wearing it; and Rouge Feu Rouge Allure Velvet lumimous orange.

I know you can enlarge and read the Illusion d'Ombre Velvet in Rouge Contraste (called Rouge Diable on my product sheet). It's a very deep, dark, red-tinged chocolate brown.

The top eye pencils shown below are Eros and Agapé. I probably have the blush photo at home (I am at work now), and I will add it to this forum later today. I swatched Eros; it's really red. I had hoped it would be copper.

The collection is not for everyone. There are a few pieces I'd love to have, but it's a bit edgy for me. "Reinterpreted by Lucia Pica, red upsets the codes. Through the depth of a nail polish, the frankness of a lipstick, and the intensity of an eye shadow, makeup gives women a new power." I've seen upcoming collections, and I'll be saving my money for them.

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. I hope to see you in the comments.

A note to e-mail subscribers - If you do not wish to receive a daily e-mail from the blog, you can switch to weekly. Every so often, someone unsubscribes saying they receive too many e-mails from Best Things in Beauty. At the bottom of each e-mail, there is a link to change your preferences.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Le Rouge Collection N°1 for Fall 2016

I had planned to show you the photos I took of Chanel's Le Rouge Collection N°1 for Fall 2016. I will add them to The Friday Forum. However, the collection just went up online today at Chanel's Web site, so hop over there to see all of the red and coordinating items in Chanel Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer Lucia Pica's new collection.

Photo courtesy of Chanel

Chanel N°5 L'Eau Eau de Toilette Spray

Not more than a week ago, I received an e-mail from Chanel.com telling me that the new N°5 L'Eau Spray ($132) was available early to its special customers. I ordered it immediately. I had sprayed some of my account executive's lab sample on my wrist last weekend, and I swooned.

It will be available to all (in limited quantities) on Chanel's Web site on July 15. Once those limited quantities are sold, customers who want to purchase it will have to wait for its September launch (in the U.S.).

Here is what Chanel has to say about this new fragrance...
Timeless and audacious, instant and infinite. A modern, fresh and vibrant embodiment of the now and forever scent, N°5 L’Eau is the N°5 of today. [I've read that it was developed for today's young women who want lighter scents than the original N°5.]

Composed by Chanel perfumer Olivier Polge, crisp, dynamic top notes of lemon, mandarin, and orange reveal lightheartedness and transparency. The heart of the bouquet unfolds with may rose, oxygenated jasmine, and a new fraction of ylang ylang, more modern than ever. Behind this floral whirlwind lies an unprecedented sense of liveliness: the echo of vetiver and cedar, accompanied by soft and cottony musk notes. The Eau de Toilette allows for more generous use, with easy application on skin or clothing.

The classic bottle features a new continuous misting spray, while the beveled glass appears crystal clear like pure water - an expression of simplicity and elegance.

How can I improve upon this description? It describes almost perfectly the essence of L'Eau - except for one thing. The aura of N°5 remains. To my nose, it's the base of this beautiful fragrance, a reminder why N°5 is a classic and has been enormously popular since its introduction the 1920's. L'Eau isn't characterized by aldehydes, which young people call powdery and attribute to their mother's perfume. It is light, fresh, and lively, a "flanker" designed to appeal to the modern woman. I love it. It's a perfect fragrance for summer.

You can order it at Chanel's Web site now or wait until September when it launches officially.

Photo courtesy of Chanel

Test Drive of Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience for Fall 2016

I didn't have the best lighting for makeup photos in the Neiman Marcus Café, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting photos of the Le Rouge Collection N°1. The eye shadow quad shown directly above is the one that has drawn all the buzz. The entire collection is eliciting attention because of its emphasis on red.

Chanel's new Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, Lucia Pica, calls it more than a color, it's a statement of life. Red inspired her passionate debut with Chanel. "I am obsessed by the color red," she said. "For me, there is strength and emotion, warmth and disruption in the color red." There is an idea of the symbolism of red and a red undertone that runs through the entire fall collection.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience ($61) scared me at first glance. I was immediately smitten by the three neutral brown shades, light brown, deep brown, and warm brown. However, because my eye allergies have been patch tested, and I'm allergic to red dye, and I don't know which one, red scares me.

Freba Slimanzada, Chanel's makeup artist at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, immediately suggested we use it as a blush. I jumped onboard. I thought that was a superb idea.

The lighting in the store is abysmal for close-up photos. Just as well. I had just washed my hair, and when I stepped out of the house to go over to Neiman Marcus in 95 degree heat with humidity to match, my hair decided to frizz. Nevertheless, I wanted a photo to show you how her creativity in using the quad looked. I guess I could have smiled, but I was concentrating on looking down so you could see the eye shadows.

Freba used the light brown all over the lid. Then she applied deep brown in a "V" shape in the outer corners of my lids, bringing the V up toward my eyebrows much higher and darker than I usually do (made for a better photo). She used the warm brown, the darkest brown, as an eyeliner on my upper and lower lash lines. Then she used the deep brick red shade as a blush. It looked like a perfect fall shade. We didn't fool with mascara or other makeup. We just focused on my eye shadow and blush, using this new quad. My friend and Chanel account executive brought the quad over especially for this test drive, so it was our centerpiece for the day.

I thought the "finished product" looked really good - edgier than I usually wear, but it certainly put a focus on my eyes. I hope you can see that at least one of those browns has a slight red tinge in it. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but after studying it in different lighting scenarios yesterday afternoon, I was sure. I think you can see it in the photo above.

Over the next week, I'll be showing you other photos of the Fall 2016 Collection, which will be available by August. I know you have been waiting to see the first Chanel collection by Lucia Pica. Her coming out party is drawing compliments from all over the globe.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

BOY CHANEL Les Exclusifs de Chanel Eau de Parfum

This may sound corny, but my first thought when I sprayed BOY CHANEL ($325 for 6.8 oz) was "Boy, oh boy, this is fabulous!" Boy is the newest of Chanel's Les Exclusifs. It arrived at counters in early June. I had gone to Saks in Chevy Chase in May, specifically to try and buy, but it had not arrived at that point. So I waited. I finally ordered it blind, something I hadn't planned to do, but I needed a lift.

About a week ago, I ordered it from Chanel online. I wasn't up for a car ride to Chevy Chase in weekend traffic, and I love the way Chanel's online site sends my purchases (beautifully packaged in a heavy reusable Chanel box, with samples - always sent overnight).

Gabrielle Chanel considered Arthur "Boy" Capel as more than her soul mate; he was her double and her alter ego. Inspired by their love, BOY CHANEL is a vibrant, perfectly balanced scent that challenges tradition and definitely transcends gender. Boy was developed by house perfumer Olivier Polge, who, interestingly, called it masculine, but said he wanted to show how it could be worn by a woman.

Chanel describes Boy as an exceptional fresh aromatic fragrance infused with the timeless elegance of lavender and Grasse rose geranium, lemon, grapefruit, rose, orange blossom, and a warm, woody base of sandalwood mingled with notes of heliotrope, vanilla, and musk. I think it's more than the sum of its notes.

I find it to be unisex - definitely neither totally masculine nor feminine - and very green and fresh. My nose doesn't pick out the lavender, which I love, and it doesn't smell any of the other notes as standing out above the others. The blend is unique and gorgeous. The notes mingle, yielding a fragrance unlike any I own - and I'm something of a fragrance hoarder. I can often classify my favorites as floral or by note. Not this one! It is as elegant and distinctive as Gabrielle Chanel herself.

The top notes are masculine. Not knock-me-out masculine, but definitely not feminine. The middle notes yield a fragrance that either a man or woman would be equally delighted wearing. The base notes do lean masculine, but not to an overwhelming extent. Boy is a chameleon, changing its presentation over its life on the skin like chameleons change their skin coloration. Nicely, also, it has great longevity, sticking with me all day at work.

I know that many of you have expressed a desire to try BOY CHANEL before you buy. If you like unisex fragrances that are so distinctive (and fresh) they are hard to characterize, you will be delighted if you blind-buy. I am. If you don't want to make the leap to $325, there is a 2.5 ounce size for $185.

Photo courtesy of Chanel

Chanel Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été - Stylo Yeux Waterproof

What is the perfect complement to your new Les 4 Ombres Multi-effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte du Désert? Chanel's beautiful, limited-edition Stylo Yeux Waterproof eye pencils ($33) in Oasis (#817) and Sable (#827). These two colors, which I purchased at Neiman Marcus, are glorious. Oasis is the perfect spring grass green (I don't see it as khaki, the way Chanel describes it). Sable is copper.

Chanel's waterproof, smudge-proof eyeliner delivers long-lasting definition with a twist of the wrist. Color winds up when you need it, winds down when you don't. The gentle, soft, silicone-enriched formula delivers smooth, even lining. A built-in sharpener at the opposite end detaches for quick refreshes. How much better does it get?

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sunshine. My camera didn't do a bad job of  portraying the green, but I still edited the green swatch just a tad - to make it look as pretty as it is. It is grass green, not grey-green as my camera saw it. I drew little squares like you see online. I figured that was safer than trying to draw a straight line with no guide rails, like eyelashes.

Picture either one of these shades with the new eye shadow quad and, if you're like me, you'll see eye makeup perfection. These liners apply with ease, whether you prefer a thin line nestled into your lash line or a larger smudgy line for a real pop of color. I also find that they apply easily and lightly for a pretty smudge under the outer third of my lower lash line. They are creamy, so don't press too hard when you apply them.

I purchased these two eye liners from Rahman Malik at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. You can also find them at Chanel's Web site or any Chanel counter. My favorite Nordstrom Chanel product manager at Nordstrom told me the summer collection arrived there today. I suspect you can find the exquisite Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été at your favorite counter now.

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

Chanel Aqua Glossimer (Lèvres Scintillantes) from Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été

The best-loved Chanel gloss returns with a lighter, water-like texture for a splash of shine. I'm thrilled!

Chanel's new Aqua Glossimer (Lèvres Scintillantes) ($30), a brand new gloss on Chanel's Summer 2016 Dans la Lumière de L'Été display, is reminiscent of my old-time favorite Aqualumière Gloss. This new Aqua Glossimer is available in six new shades.

I purchased three and then came home to find that I have a fourth, Sahara - a gift from Chanel. I will have to get photos of Sahara next weekend. Today, I have photos to show you of #606, Rouge Désert; #608, Dzhari; and #612, Adenium. All of the shades are limited editions.

I took photos of the three I purchased in full, mid-day sunshine. They are shown in numerical order directly above: #606 at left, #608 in the middle, and #612 at right. I swatched them in the same order, starting with #606 at the top of my arm.

I usually select the glosses with the most pigment because I use them instead of lipstick. I love these three - one of which was a surprise. #606, Rouge Désert, is shown at the top of my arm. I describe it as a beautifully pigmented rose. Not too warm and not too cool, it's an exquisite shade for all of us. Don't pass on it because it looks orange in the tube. It's not.

The middle shade, #608, Dzhari, appears to be a very dark purple-red in the tube. On the skin and lips, it's more red than purple, and it's stunning. This is the way I can wear red!

The shade at the bottom of my arm, #612, Adenium, is less pigmented than the other two, but has enough color to give my lips a pretty pop of pink. Sahara (#610 and not pictured here) is a lovely peach shade. I promise to get Sahara photos this coming weekend, the first time we may see the sun this week. We are back in a cloud after a pretty Mother's Day.

I love the way these glosses apply evenly and without special effort. The new wand tip is shaped in such a way that you can paint the peaks of your lips with a narrow tip, while fully covering the the rest of your lips with the wider base. Apply these glosses and you'll achieve long-lasting, shining color, with or without lipstick underneath. The feel? Like a dose of your favorite lip balm. I detect no discernible fragrance.

You can purchase these beautiful Aqua Glossimers at Neiman Marcus, as I did, or at Chanel's Web site now. If they are not at your favorite Chanel counter yet, they will be soon. I called Nordstrom today to find out when they will arrive in store. I was told they had shipped and would be at the counter in 1-2 weeks.

Update 5/10: The collection arrived today at our Tysons Corner Nordstrom store. If you call there and order from Diron Carr at Chanel, he will send you a GWP.

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

Chanel Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été - Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour

Two gorgeous color combinations, at least one for everyone! Chanel's Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour ($65) palettes create a desert-rose glow with either shade. These limited-edition duos are versatile, lightweight powders with two shades in each to offer a contouring or highlighting effect with a sheer, natural finish.

I'm lucky to have both palettes. I purchased one at Neiman Marcus. The other was a gift from Chanel. I can go pink and pretty or tan and summery, depending on my mood and wardrobe for the day.

Each compact comes with a plastic lift-out brush pan holding a nice brush as shown above. I took my photos in full, mid-day sunshine.

Duo N°02 is shown at left directly above. It's a warm pink blush with a light pink highlighter. Duo N°01, shown t right above, is peach and tan. The duos offer different levels of pigmentation, and you'd be wise to choose your applicator based on the duo you select.

To show you maximum pigmentation, I applied all four shades with a sponge-tipped applicator. I started with Duo N°02. You can see that the light shade is a highlighter - perfect for brighten your cheekbones or eyes. Buff it into your skin, and you will glow. The warm pink - some might say coral - is a beauty. When applied with a blush brush, it's a stunning, cheerful color.

The two brown-toned shades in Duo N°01 provide an instant, believable touch of sun-kissed color. I love the slight peach tint in the lighter color, and the darker brown shade is absolutely perfect for sculpting or contouring your cheekbones. You can also blend the shades (or use them individually) and sweep them over your temples, across your cheekbones and down the hairline to the outer jaw line for a bronze look. I've had fun playing with Duo N°01 in the short time I've had with it.

Want to get Chanel's summer look and application tips for using these treats? Check out Chanel's video at this link.

I purchased the one I bought from Rahman Malik at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. You can also find these new Healthy Glow Multi-Colours at Chanel's Web site or any Chanel counter.

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

Chanel Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été - Les 4 Ombres Multi-effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte du Désert

Inspired by a shimmering desert oasis, Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été reveals luminous new colors for face, eyes, nails, and lips. Brilliant coppers and sandy browns give soft intensity to the eyes, while pinks and oranges sparkle on the lips. The entire collection is gorgeous! I will be showing it to you this week.

Where to start? Let's focus on the exquisite, limited-edition Les 4 Ombres Multi-effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte du Désert (#9501, $65). This exclusive creation offers a palette of earth-toned shadows, each embossed with a desert-inspired design. Copper and green shades are styled alongside sepia and brown hues for soft dimension. There are so many combinations of colors we can use with this palette, it could take us through the entire summer and into fall.

The illusion of an oasis in the desert is portrayed in each eye shadow. The neutral shades, with a touch of inviting green, are gorgeous. I could not have selected more beautiful colors. The shades are all "creamy" powders too - so nice that there is absolutely no fallout.

My photos were taken in mid-day sunshine. I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator. As some of you know, my camera does not capture green accurately. The green shade on the skin is exactly as it appears in the quad in real life. Unfortunately, on my arm directly below, it appears to be grey-green.

I couldn't leave you with that impression, so I did something I never do. I edited the photo so that the green color would look more true/accurate. Many bloggers do this regularly. I don't. I want you to see the colors as my camera sees them. I never trust my eyes, but with greens, I know my camera gets goofy. The edited photo is below. The green shade is much closer to true below than it is in the photo above. I had to do it justice!

The shades all shine like I'm sure an oasis would look in a desert. They have some sparkle, but it's not too glitzy. I will wear all four shades during the day, and I'm conservative about what I wear to work.

I purchased this Empreinte du Désert eye shadow quad from Rahman Malik at the Chanel counter at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. You can reach him at (703) 761-1600. Ask for Chanel Cosmetics. He is a total sweetheart, and we need to keep our great product specialists in business. Online shopping is killing them. Now that Neiman Marcus offers free shipping and returns, you can shop by phone without an added cost for shipping.

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

Chanel N°5 The Body Oil

My limited-edition Chanel N°5 The Body Oil ($85) arrived, and it's everything I imagined and more. If you order from Chanel's Web site, your new body oil will be presented in a heavy black and white box with Chanel printed prominently on the top. The box alone is a keepsake. Then, your first impression as you remove the box containing the bottle from the shredded, environmentally safe and recyclable white paper will be, "Wow, this bottle is heavy - luxurious!"

The 6.8 fluid ounces of body oil are packaged in a glass bottle with a sprayer under the pop-off black top; hence the weight. N°5 is such an iconic fragrance, Chanel doesn't have to promote it heavily. If you love N°5, you will love this body oil - and I do.

The now and forever fragrance in a body oil spray. This luxurious emollient easily absorbs into the skin, leaving a soft, silky finish.

That's it. Chanel, confident in its iconic fragrance, needs to say no more to tempt those who love N°5 or body oils in general.

The scent, spray for spray, is a little softer than the perfume, and that's a great thing for those of us who must work in an office. I want to smell pretty to those in close proximity, but I certainly do not want to leave a trail of sillage as I roam the aisles. It is extremely hydrating, making my skin feel soft and moisturized - and not oily. Even better, the oil has excellent longevity. I can still smell it on my arm after a full day of work.

N°5 was created by Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel to be the ultimate in femininity. The scent is imbued with jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and vanilla, with a heavy dose of aldehyde. N°5 has cast a spell on millions of people around the world. Inimitably luxurious and infinitely seductive, its legend lives, each year adding to its mystery, depth, and desirability. Although some fragrance snobs might call it old fashioned, I think it's ageless. If it weren't $2100, I would buy a bottle of the perfume for myself. That price is way beyond what I can afford (unless I win the lottery - then it will be high on my list). Actually, it has been written recently that Chanel may be tinkering with the N°5 formula to "modernize" it. If they are, I hope that they leave the original alone and release a flanker, like Eau Première.

If you are interested in the origins of this 90-year-old fragrance, you can read an excellent history of N°5 at this link. If you already know and love N°5, you can order The Body Oil at Chanel's Web site.  They will not charge shipping, and you can select two free samples with an order.

Photo courtesy of Chanel

New Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine

Whether you will be checking out new products at the stores during the beauty events or holing up inside and shopping online to avoid the cold, you must check out Chanel's new Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine ($37). I was extremely grateful when a friend in the beauty industry gave me a gift of one at Christmas time (it was an advance preview). I had my choice of shades, and I chose #218, Script. I could just have easily selected Article, Lettre - all of the shades are gorgeous, but I didn't want to be greedy. I chose one. Even better than the extraordinary color of this Lipshine, I love the formula.

Here's how Chanel describes it...
The intensity of a lipstick, the shine of a lip gloss, and the comfort of a lip balm - all in one creamy yet lightweight formula. This innovative formula is enriched with nourishing Apple seed extract and hydrating jojoba oil and coconut oil. Silk powder, beeswax, and special ingredients help visibly smooth, plump, and add brilliant 3D shine to the lips. Stylo Complete Lipshine is available in a spectrum of eight irresistible shades, featuring pinks, reds, nudes, and corals. In a convenient, twist-up "stylo" form to write your color signature.

This new Lipshine offers everything I love in a lip color. It looks great, feels great, hydrates, applies evenly (much better on my lips than over my arm tendon), is a hybrid between transparent and rich (depending on how you apply it), and provides pretty and lasting color. I took a swatch photo of Script just a few minutes ago.

I would describe Script as a cool coral. Combined with the pink in my lips, it's a great color on me - even with my cool-toned skin. It warms my appearance. It is much prettier than it looks online in that little square color representation.

You can see all of the colors at Chanel's Web site. Even better, though, visit a Chanel counter in the next few weeks. You might be surprised at the shade you choose, and you'll want to spend enough to bring home a pretty tote. If you need help on the phone, please call one of my buddies: Nicki at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258, or Rahman at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria at (703) 761-1600. Ask for the Chanel counter.

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

Chanel Les Sautoirs de Coco Collection for Spring 2016 - Part 1

Inspired by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel’s love of pearls, a glorious new makeup collection glimmers with iridescent and luminous shades of white, pink, and soft grey, while classic black elements bring an unexpected contrast to the soft color range. In short, the collection is stupendous.

How could you pass the display without stopping to play with the Perles et Fantaisies Highlighter ($70)? It stopped me in my tracks. Because my skin is so light, Rahman, the Chanel representative who has darker skin than mine, offered to model it in the store. He blended the pink and pearl shades, and you can see the results below. He applied the swatch very heavily with his finger. You could get a heavy application with your finger or a sponge-tipped applicator. Naturally, if you use a brush, you will achieve a more glowing, less colorful effect. I think I'm going to crawl in a hole and die if I can't find the money to purchase this palette.

The other piece in the collection that will shop enthusiasts in their tracks is #258 Les 4 Ombres Tissé Ombre de Lune ($61.00), an eye shadow quad that I want very much.

Because I was playing with color in the store, I used their small applicators to apply swatches to my arm, and I took my photos indoors - never optimal. Nevertheless, I think you can see that all four of the shades are beautiful. I started swatching at the top right with the silver shade, moved on to ivory, to the charcoal, and ending with the pretty peach. I hope you can see the shine in the silver, and the glow in the ivory and peach shades. The charcoal makes a perfect liner shade with the other colors. I need this quad too.

I will try to get better swatch photos later. I also want to swatch the two gorgeous, pigmented shades of lip gloss, so I have a great reason to go play with Rahman at Tysons Galleria or Nicki at Mazza Gallerie.

You can see the entire Les Sautoirs de Coco Collection at Chanel's Web site. I believe you will have a hard time resisting the urge to pull out your wallet. You can find this collection at Neiman Marcus, and (I believe) Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other select department stores.

Photos courtesy of Chanel and by Best Things in Beauty