Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Gems

At first glance, Dolce & Gabbana's Smooth Eye Color Duo ($26) in Gems might not appear to be an ideal color combination for me. I'm not a lavender gal. So when I looked at the colors in the compact, my first thought was "50-50 chance I could wear it." Of course, knowing my favorite rep, the colors on my skin said "nice"!

Dolce & Gabbana grouped their color duo palettes using the same philosophy they apply when selecting fabrics for a collection - seeking contrasts that produce harmony. The quad and duo combinations range from striking - like theatrical evening wear fabrics - to classic, subtle at times, and very adaptable.

The marketing blurb is actually spot on with Gems. What isn't is the online swatch for it at Saks. There is no resemblance between the light blue and medium blue shown online and the violet and lavender-taupe that you'll see when you flip open the compact. It amazes me. How do companies expect women to shop online when they can't provide a somewhat accurate swatch photo?

Anyhow, the texture, wear, and finish of Gems is absolutely lovely. The violet shade leans blue, which means I can wear it. What appears to be lavender-taupe in the compact is actually more taupe and less lavender on my skin, which suits me fine. I love the two shades together. They remind me of one of my favorite color combinations, blue and brown, but with a twist.

I took swatch photos in full sun - in the cold - last week. I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply the swatches relatively heavily. As you can see, neither or the shades is sparkly. The violet leaves a subtle sheen, and the taupe has a satin finish. I won't call it matte because it doesn't look lifeless on my skin. I wish I had thought to take fingertip photos last week, and, unfortunately, I can't take them today. It is very grey outside, as the storm moves in from the west - the storm that is dumping rain and churning tornadoes in January.

My friend sees more lavender in the taupe shade than I do. I can see it in the compact, but I don't see more than a slight hue on my skin. I think both shades are beautiful when used alone, and they are special when combined.

My friend sent me the duo for consideration for review. Once I tried it, I knew why he selected it. He always finds a way to show me how I can wear colors I tend to avoid. He's done it again.

You can order this, or anything else from Dolce & Gabbana or from Saks. If you have a Saks credit card, shipping will be free. Otherwise, there is a $7 shipping charge. If you order $150 or more, use code JANSF when you order online (with any credit card), and your shipping will be free.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Stromboli

I'm so happy now that I know an insider at Dolce & Gabbana. Finally I have a connection, and although he's in New York, I can buy safely. He will know the "real color" of the items (the online swatches are inadequate) and can recommend makeup colors I will love vs colors that were designed "for someone else."

My friend sent me a GWP with the first order I placed with him at Saks Fifth Avenue, a mini Crayon Intense Eyeliner ($29 for the regular product) in #1, Stromboli. Stromboli is a perfect shade for me.

I have no idea how it was named because stromboli is a type of turnover filled with various cheeses, Italian meats, or vegetables. The dough traditionally used is Italian bread dough. How that translates into this glorious sparking charcoal-toned liner is a mystery to me. Stromboli is also an active volcano on a small island off the northern coast of Sicily, the more likely suspect for the name. It's dark, perfect for a liner, but not deep black. I guess that makes it charcoal.

Dolce & Gabbana is a company with sparse product descriptions. This one doesn't tell me much about the product - just about the image the designers hoped to create. It's also a bit out of date.

Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Coffee was a Best Splurge in Allure magazine's "Best of Beauty" October 2009. Intensity and sensuality are dually expressed with the various shades of eyeliner. A precisely defined line conveys modern elegance; while a smudged smoky eye incites intrigue and desire.

The marketing blub doesn't matter, though, since the eyeliner is gorgeous. I love the texture and the ease with which I can draw a thin line at the base of my lashes. I like my eyeliner worn with a thin line, and this one is perfect for a thin, even application.

I took swatch photos in full sunlight. I drew my D&G without breaking the liner (no matter how hard I try to use a light touch, liners that are too soft break when I take swatch photos). Points were scored immediately for surviving my photo session with a sharp tip.

The shade is so pretty - natural - on me. Because it's not harsh, it works nicely for day - even with the teeny tiny gold sparkles in it. They are micro-fine, so they leave behind a flattering radiance.

The gold sparkles, combined with the "charcoal" liner are a natural for anyone who doesn't want a harsh black look during the day, but does like a little pizazz. It applies with ease - no tugging required. My mini didn't have the smudge brush on the end, but I seldom use them. However, those who love a smoky or soft eye will find that tool useful.

I like this liner so much that I will order more shades as soon as my friend gets some new products and I place my second order. That should be the lip glosses, expected around the second week in February, or Desire, a new Dolce & Gabbana fragrance that has luscious notes.

You can order this or anything else from Dolce & Gabbana at Saks. A Saks credit card, shipping will be free. If you order $150 or more, use code JANSF when you order online (with any credit card), and your shipping will be free.

Photo at top courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer

In case you didn't know, one of my favorite friends in the beauty industry (and a superb makeup artist) changed companies recently and is now with Dolce & Gabbana at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store in New York. I'll be shopping there a lot more now that I have someone inside the company who knows my face and what will look good on me. Like I need a new obsession.

I called my friend last week, and we talked about items I might like. He recommended the Animalier Bronzer ($57). He said that many had incorrectly described it as a re-promote, but it's new. It has been tweaked from D& G's first incarnation with an animal print.

The Animalier Bronzer incorporates opulent shades for the eyes and complexion, encased in specially created leopard print packaging, and adding a new dimension to the irresistible luxury of Dolce & Gabbana makeup. The palette is inspired by the colors of the original leopard print, "while touches of glistening gold and fiery red [red?] provide the perfect dramatic accents." A nice touch, it is made in France - not China or Taiwan. Not that I have anything against China and Taiwan, but I prefer to have my luxury makeup made in Europe or the United States.

You can tell the moment you pick up this bronzer that it was made to feel luxurious. It's heavy. The animal print is replicated on the box as well as on an insert with application instructions (placed in a leopard print envelope). The velveteen pouch holds the compact and has its own compartment for the flat brush that will do in a pinch. Actually, some may carry this in their handbags and will find the brush useful. I'm all about lightening the load in my purse (given the state of my spine), so I am sure I'll be leaving it at home.

My friend shared with me a little secret that I found fun. As D&G admits in the application instructions, the animal print is an overspray. He said to use it as an eye shadow while it's intact. Darn, was he right! It's a gorgeous shade on the eyes. The bronzer is pretty nice too. [This is the point at which I resist adding a little smiley face.]

I accidentally rubbed my finger across the lower-right corner of the "virgin" palette when I opened it to take this photograph. You can see how easily the overspray starts to blur and then come off. That means your new eye shadow will be temporary, but it was an extra-added benefit anyhow, right?

I took swatch photos using a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and a kabuki brush below. The shade at the top has some of the overspray print in it, while the larger swatch below is pure bronzer. My photos were taken in full sun - something that has been scarce here for almost a week.

The top shade is a really pretty brown eye shadow. The overspray is too dark for a bronzer on my skin, but the cool brown is gorgeous. The bronzer shade (apparent after you easily break through the overspray) is a medium brown - not too warm, not too cool - which is why, I'm sure, D&G portrays it as perfect for all complexions. It looks natural, when applied lightly, on my super-pale skin.

The finely milled powder applies like a dream and blends beautifully with blush or highlighter. I can't find anything not to love.

I think you will find this bronzer a superstar. Give it a try. It's exclusive to Saks. You can call the New York store at (212) 940-4949. I'll be showing you more from the line as soon as the sun returns. I have an eye shadow duo and liner that are pretty.

Look at this pretty travel brush set D& G is offering.

Photos courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick - My Latest Selections

I really didn't want to fall in love with a new lipstick - much less one from a line that I can't buy in the DC area or one that's a little pricey. I did fall in love, though, the moment my Saks Fifth Avenue order arrived last fall with four of Dolce & Gabbana's Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks ($34). The description online reads like marketing hype on steroids.

A collision of rich cream color and satin gloss in a thrilling encounter of impeccable contrast, in a way that no one else has done before. Resplendent with contrasting texture, it offers a layer of rich, creamy lip color elevated by a playful burst of gloss. Luxuriant cream bullet and smooth gloss prove the ultimate partners in crime; a collision of two powerful forces in an explosion of vibrancy and excellence.

I was originally intrigued with the inner core design because I like Estée Lauder's Pure Color Sensuous Rouge LipColors very much. When I had seen in WWD that Dolce & Gabbana would be launching a lipstick with a similar concept, I felt the lure. Take two elements I value - color combined with magnificent, hydrating shine - and combine them into one lip color. It's genius. There was no question. I had to try Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick. My first four selections were achingly beautiful.

I recently returned to Saks online to order more and agonized over the colors I would order. I love having options - there are 26 shades - but those online representations aren't the most helpful for determining the actual "live and in-person" colors. So, I relied on my instincts and selected four new ones. I fully expected the shades to be sheer and shiny, like the first four I had purchased. I was shocked at the intensity of the color of three of the four.

Here are my new colors: Exotic, Fatale, Natural, and Vivid, shown from left to right in my photo above. I swatched in the same order, top to bottom, on my arm.

I think I must have accidentally hit some filter or setting on my camera (you won't see those psychedelic photos). I usually set it for portrait (close-up) mode, but I leave everything else on "auto-pilot." The colors on my arm were so vivid, they looked otherworldly. I went outside yesterday for a do-over, and sure enough, some weird setting had been applied on my first set of swatch photos.

Here are how the lipsticks really look - vivid, but not otherworldly. My photos were taken in full, late-afternoon sunshine. With the exception of Natural (the sheer peach-toned nude third down), these Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks are seriously saturated. They aren't what I expected after the first four I purchased last fall, and if I had been selecting the shades in person, I would not have selected three of these four. I'm not really sure I would have selected the fourth (Natural).

Exotic and Fatale, at the top, of my arm are too dark and bright for my face - in my opinion. The fuchsia Exotic is wearable, but it's terribly saturated and bright. The red Fatale is totally outside my comfort zone. If you like red lipstick, though, it's a beautiful true red.

The Natural? It's a nice nude shade on the lips - my lips contribute the rose to make the shade look fairly normal. The rose-toned brown, Vivid, is pretty. Like the two at the top of my arm, it is extremely saturated in color, so I have to apply it with a light hand - or give it to a friend. It looks like "late autumn" on my lips - very rusty.

This turn of events - from sheer and shiny to saturated and shiny - was a surprise to me. It left me wondering if customers had complained that the first batch was too sheer. The Dolce & Gabbana customer would, I suspect, be looking for glamour with an edge.

What do you think of these shades? If you like shiny saturated lipsticks, they should appeal to you. I'm disappointed. If they had been the first four I ordered, I would not have gone back for more.

Update: You can see more at The Non-Blonde.

Photo at top courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Shine Lipstick in Drama

Some "blind purchases" are so exciting you want to do cartwheels. I was that excited when I opened and tried Dolce & Gabbana's Shine Lipstick in Drama ($30). I had decided to order a Shine Lipstick when I placed the rest of my Dolce & Gabbana Beauty order online with Saks Fifth Avenue. I had the same dilemma with Shine Lipstick I had had with the Ultra-Shine Lip Glosses. There were 25 shades. Without ever seeing the display of Dolce & Gabbana Beauty lip colors, how would I select one shade that would be absolutely perfect? I turned the wheel of Jeopardy, and I landed on a divine selection.

Shine Lipstick imparts a look of ethereal sensuality, with a nod to ultra-feminine glamour. The semi-sheer color high-shine lipsticks adds lustre and volume to the lips.

The description of Shine Lipstick enticed me, and the shade, Drama (#90), where the wheel landed, is even prettier than it looked online. It had appeared to be a mauve-rose-brown shade in the online swatch - more brown than it is in person. It is a rose-mauve-brown hybrid shade, but in person it's much more rose than brown. It's the kind of color that instantly attracts me when I'm lip color shopping.

My swatches show Drama on my arm in full sun. I think it's drop-dead gorgeous. As you can see, it shines, as promised. I don't think I need to describe the color. It speaks for itself. I'd call it a mauve-leaning rose, slightly on the cool side of the spectrum.

When I was outside taking photos, I saw a magnolia blossom - a very confused bud on my star magnolia. For some reason, it had decided to bloom, about six months early. I feel so badly that it was frosted this past weekend. Imagine how pretty it would be if it were to open fully? It probably froze in place. What you see in the photo at right will probably be the full extent of its November glory.

Shine Lipstick feels lightweight on my lips, but offers very nice staying-power. The shine can be seen indoors and out; it's extremely flattering. You probably know that a little shine can give your lips a fuller appearance. Shine Lipstick does have a fragrance, a "feature" I could do without. Fortunately, it dissipates quickly.

If you like mauve-rose lip colors, you are going to like Shine Lipstick in Drama as much as I do. It's a stunning shade. What color should I try next? Shimmer looks almost the same online, but I'll bet it's not. I think Ruby or Dahlia may be my next selections.

You can purchase Dolce & Gabbana color, brushes, and fragrance at Saks Fifth Avenue (online and select stores), as I did, or at Dolce & Gabbana's Web site. For a store locator, click here.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss

When I ordered my Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks, I decided to try a couple of lip glosses at the same time. I may have needed to spend a little more to get free shipping, and any gloss called "ultra-shine" would have drawn my attention. When I clicked on the link for the Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss ($29), I was faced with a spectacular array of shades - 24 in all. I settled in to read, and I was enchanted.

Sensual and tempting, Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss imparts a dewy glass look for the lips. The professional brush ensures perfect application. When paired with lipstick or liner, intensity abounds.

Dewy glass look? Sold! I decided to order Magic (#145) and Dahlia (#150), based on the little rectangular online swatches. I could have ordered any of the shades. They all looked beautiful. Charm, Baby, Innocence, and Tender were also calling my name. I expanded the swatch for Magic, and the photo at right is what I saw.

Here's where online shopping gets tricky. Although I really like both of the shades that arrived, neither is what I had expected. Maybe Dolce & Gabbana should add shade descriptions to the information online. In my photo at left, Magic is shown on the left, and Dahlia is shown on the right.

In my photo immediately below, Magic is shown at the top, with Dahlia below. Online, Magic appeared to me to be rose, and Dahlia appeared to be a brown-grape-rose hybrid.

The colors in the tube were close approximations to my descriptions above, and they look that way on my lips too. Imagine my surprise when I applied them to my arm for swatch photos. The colors on my blank-canvas arm are very different. Rosy lips make quite a difference! There's no way Magic is the color represented in the swatch photo above.

I'm not sure how Magic can appear to be a warm rose on my lips, but look so coral on my arm. Dahlia is also a color surprise. It appears to be very grape on my arm, but loses some of the purple and is a grape-toned rose on my lips. Does any of that make sense?

I like them both very much. I am not criticizing them, just pointing out the shade anomalies. I'm very happy that they are extremely pigmented, meaning I don't have to wear lipstick underneath. I can swipe and go.

Another surprise was the finish. I don't find them ultra-shiny. I'd call them subtly shiny. They shine, but not like a beacon. I took my swatch photos in full sun, and they had a chance to reflect the sun's rays. I hope you can see that they did, but not in the way YSL's Golden Gloss does.

The texture feels just a little heavy, but that's what gives them some staying power. That's always a trade-off. They don't feel sticky - just "there."

Will I purchase more of them? I'm not sure. I like them - I really do - but I would prefer to see them in person before I select additional shades. There's also my Passion Duo Gloss Fusion love affair. I want so many more of those, I'm not sure where to start. Maybe I'll purchase additional gloss shades once my passion for the duos subsides from a full boil to a simmer.

You can purchase Dolce & Gabbana color, brushes, and fragrance at Saks Fifth Avenue (online and select stores) or at Dolce & Gabbana's Web site. For a store locator, click here.

Photos at top courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick

I really didn't want to fall in love with a new lipstick - much less one from a line that I can't buy in the DC area or one that's just a little pricey. I did fall in love, though, the moment my Saks Fifth Avenue order arrived with four of Dolce & Gabbana's new Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks ($34).

The description online read like marketing hype on steroids. Thrilling? Explosions? Mercy!

A collision of rich cream color and satin gloss in a thrilling encounter of impeccable contrast, in a way that no one else has done before. Resplendent with contrasting texture, it offers a layer of rich, creamy lip color elevated by a playful burst of gloss. Luxuriant cream bullet and smooth gloss prove the ultimate partners in crime; a collision of two powerful forces in an explosion of vibrancy and excellence.

I was intrigued with the design because I like Estée Lauder's Pure Color Sensuous Rouge LipColors very much. When I had seen in WWD that Dolce & Gabbana would be launching a lipstick with a similar concept, I felt the lure. Take two elements I value - color combined with magnificent, hydrating shine - and combine them into one lip color. It's genius. There was no question. I had to try Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick.

I agonized over the colors I would order. Never having seen these lipsticks in person, and with little familiarity with Dolce & Gabbana's makeup, I found myself facing 20 shade options online. I love having options, but those little rectangles aren't the most helpful for determining the actual "live and in-person" shades. So, I relied on my instincts and selected two, then three, and finally cut myself off at four. I fully expected that one might be a "throw away," given my method of selection. I was OK with that. The throw-away makeup I've purchased always makes someone else very happy.

When they arrived, I unwrapped them eagerly and popped one shade out of the box at random and applied it. Wow! My heart started racing. I couldn't believe how gorgeous it was. I couldn't help myself, I just had to try it. That's why you might see a little nick in one shade below. Before I could take a photograph, I had already messed up one of my new lipsticks a tiny bit.

In the photo directly above, the shades are, left to right, Rose (04), Darling (10), Sensation (20), and Devotion (220). I think all four shades I ordered are drop-dead stunning, and now I'm close to buying more. I may be fickle, but I've got a new love.

I swatched in numeric order, with Rose at the top of my arm, followed by Darling, Sensation, and Devotion. My photos were taken in full sun. I applied each shade relatively heavily (3-4 swipes). I tried to get two angles against the sun.

Rose is just that - rose at its prettiest. Darling is peach, with a very slight hint of pink. Sensation is a warm pink - one of those instant-attraction shades. Devotion offers more intensity than the other three and is a rose-brown-plum hybrid. I think these colors will look great on everyone. I'd describe the finish as semi-sheer (or semi-opaque), with a gorgeous gleam. Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks are not easy to categorize.

I love the slender, fashionable, gold cases. The Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks feel hydrating on my lips and offer an impressive length of wear. They do have a very slight fragrance - almost too slight to mention - and no taste. I'll admit there are at least four more in my future. Once I fall in love, I fall hard.

You can purchase Dolce & Gabbana color, brushes, and fragrance at Saks Fifth Avenue (online and select stores) or at Dolce & Gabbana's Web site. For a store locator, click here.

Photo at top courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Mandorla

Can you believe I have never purchased a single piece of Dolce & Gabbana makeup? As a beauty addict and a lover of D&G leopard silk-lined jackets (I have a nice collection of them), you would think D&G would be a natural for me. Fortunately or not, there is nowhere to see and purchase D&G makeup in the DC area. When I see the ads for the collections in the magazines, I am not drawn to the colors. It has been easy to do without.

Then Sabrina tempted me. Her features on the D&G Italian Summertime Collection were intriguing. Check out this The Beauty Look Book link to one of her three fabulous posts. I wanted to try Mandorla Classic Cream Lipstick ($30). It looked like a nude I might wear, so a friend helped me get it.

Sabrina and I have very different coloring - meaning she has some color. She's a gorgeous gal with shiny hair to die for! Mandorla looked like a pretty and interesting nude pink, one that might actually look good on me. Most nudes are too light for me. While my lips have some color, if I wear a nude, truly beige lipstick, I can look ghastly. I need some color. On Sabrina's beautiful skin tone, Mandorla appeared to have enough pink to work for me, although she noted that the shade is extremely pale on her lips. She was so right!

Mandorla doesn't work for me. Even on my arm, it looks like it should work, but it's too pale on my lips. I can wear it, but I have to apply a fairly colorful gloss over it to give it (and me) some color. My reaction is, "Why bother?"

I've included a few swatches on my skin. They were taken outdoors in sunlight of various intensities.

Mandorla is nice and creamy on my lips, but so are many other lip colors. It has a gleam, but it does not shimmer. As I usually tell you, my skin reflects light, so it shines (that may be good or bad - I do like the idea of glowing). Mandorla is definitely a nude on my lips, but it appears to have no pink (or peach) on my lips. It's just beige. It is fragranced. Because the fragrance dissipates quickly, the scent is not a distraction. The finish has a glow, or radiance, but definitely not a shimmer. Any shimmer you see on my arm is from the sun's reflection.

Mandorla is not long-lasting. Just to make sure I was right about my initial impressions, I applied it yesterday morning and checked my lips when I got to work (about 45 minutes after I left home, with stops for gas and groceries on the way). It was still there when I got to my office. Then I ate a cherry turnover and drank some orange juice. After that, there wasn't a trace of the lipstick left. Most long-lasting lipsticks would have left some stain after eating a light meal. Mandorla didn't.

D&G's Classic Cream Lipstick is available at Saks.com in a wide variety of shades. Online, they don't excite me. I need to see them in person to find a shade I might love. It was still fun giving the lipstick a go. You always win some and lose some when trying new things - sight unseen. Experimentation is part of the joy of makeup, and my search for a great nude lipstick for myself continues.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dolce & Gabbana's New Fragrance Anthology

Jane Makowka started it all - Dolce love! Jane is the best personal shopper/designer guru I have ever met. She hooked me on Dolce & Gabbana clothing, leaving me with the credit card bill from hell and enormously happy. Jane works at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner in Virginia, and if you ever need help with your wardrobe, she's your one-stop source. Jane introduced me to Dolce & Gabbana jackets - those fabulously fitting and, yes, corporate jackets with the incredible signature leopard print lining.

Despite the naughty Dolce advertisements in the magazines, which I do find distasteful (I'm more of a Ralph Lauren ad gal), the clothing speaks for itself. The new fragrances are advertised by models - this time celebrity models - in the buff. Nothing about the ads in this month's magazines would have enticed me to try these fragrances.

If it weren't for Christopher Coles at Nordstrom, I would have passed by the new display. He stopped me and raved over #3 L'Imperatrice ($65), a fruity floral that we sprayed onto one of those white test strips. Divine! It was so good, I had to spritz it on myself - rare that I do that since there are so many scents used in today's perfumes that make me sneeze, gag, or run from the room. Sometimes the reaction takes a few minutes as the base notes reveal themselves. Instead, with #3 L'Imperatrice, my nose kept wandering to my arm - for hours! This Eau de Toilette is beautiful.

There are five new fragrances in the anthology, inspired by tarot cards and all very different. Since I prefer fruity and floral scents, #3 I'mperatrice was right up my alley. I've read online that it is composed of red currant, grapefruit, jasmine, nectarine, kiwi, rose, and lily of the valley, cyclamen, watermelon, musk - who knows what? Christopher showed me the fact sheet, and I should have copied down the top, middle, and base notes. I'm pretty sure about the grapefruit (the scent is unmistakable), red currant, watermelon, kiwi, and jasmine, along with a soft musk base.

You can read about this new fragrance on Nordstrom's Web site or get your own whiff at the store. At the moment, they are exclusive to Nordstrom. I won't try to describe the others since I didn't sample them. There may be one with your name on it!

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom.