Chantecaille Spring 2016 Collection

Chantecaille's Spring 2016 Collection is all about the beauty of nature. It channels the grounding feeling of serenity when you are truly lost in the beauty of nature. Inspired by blooming fields of wildflowers, the look is romantic, bohemian, and effortless. 

Imperfections are blurred, and cheeks are glowing with a flattering flush of coral. Eyes are effortlessly enhanced with a wash of pale, silvery sage anchored by earthy browns. A delicate touch of shimmering cream puts focus on the eyes and plays against a burst of bold, juicy color on the lips for a youthful look that is modern and refreshing. - Chantecaille

If you've been reading Best Things in Beauty in prior seasons, you know I am a total Chantecaille devotee. I purchase just about everything the company introduces, and I wear Chantecaille makeup of one kind or another almost every day. I predict now that I'll need a backup of the new Le Magnolia Eye and Cheek Palette ($83, refillable) shown immediately below.

Chantecaille uses botanicals sourced from around the world. It's important to the company that the natural ingredients they use are harvested in socially and ecological ways. The beauty and health-care industries demand for wild plant ingredients is increasing. Unfortunately, some plants are being harvested in a non-sustainable manner. Houpu Magnolia is one such example. Once, thousands of magnolia trees grew wild all over China. Demands for the trees bark, prized for its anti-inflammatory properties and used abundantly in Chinese medicine as well as the cosmetic industry has contributed to the plant being extremely rare in its native habitats in China.

Chantecaille has created Le Magnolia Eye and Cheek Palette to increase awareness of TRAFFIC's work to improve the outlook for wild plant species and the livelihoods of people around the world through supporting the widespread adoption of the FairWild Standard. Embossed with a magnolia, this limited-edition complements the delicate watercolor hues seen on the 2016 runways. Five percent of the proceeds of each palette sold will be donated to TRAFFIC to support their wild plant conservation work.

The shades in the palette are Leaf, a unique, pale, pearly sage green that instantly brightens the eye area on the lid or lash line; Magnolia, a delicate and slightly iridescent pearl white; Bark, a semi-matte rich gentle brown to define and contour; and Wild, a fun, playful coral that adds a flush to the cheeks.

The Luster Glide Silk Infused Eye Liner ($34) is a perfect complement to the palette. It has a groundbreaking formula that captures the ultra-gliding, even application of a liquid liner in an easily controlled pencil that can be sharpened. You will want Earth, a deep espresso brown to wear with your Magnolia eye shadows.

Three Lip Chics ($36) round out the collection. Lip Chic is a lightweight, glossy lipstick that has a rich, soft texture with the shine and subtle plumping effects of a gloss. Available in three new shades for spring, the cushiony formula leaves lips feeling ultra-soft and looking shiny without any sticky feeling.

Gaia (was it named after The Non-Blonde?) is a soft, shimmering earthy caramel. Red Juniper is a classic and sophisticated berry red. Wild Poppy is a sheer, vibrant poppy red with a touch of coral. I must try Gaia as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Many thanks to Chantecaille for giving us this beautiful introduction. The Spring 2016 Collection will be available this month at Barney's New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Frederick Fekkai Salons, Neiman Marcus, Space NK, select Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's locations. You can already purchase it at Chantecaille's Web site.

Photos courtesy of Chantecaille

Clé de Peau Beauté Enchanted Winter Garden Eye & Lip Pencil Bouquet for Holiday 2013

Clé de Peau Beauté's beautiful Bouquet Floral Wintry Eye & Lip Pencils from the Enchanted Winter Garden Collection for Holiday 2013 ($95) feature three eye pencils and two lip pencils for endless makeup possibilities. I thought the set was beyond clever when I first saw it. I loved the mix of lip, eye, and highlighting pencils. Now that I've used the pencils, I think the set is magnificent.

From an unknown place comes a call to exquisite beauty, and along the path appears an enchanting winter garden. In a moment of awe, colorful flowers bloom in ice. Sparkling and gem-like, each precious petal reflects a drama all its own. With formulations that mirror the brilliance of a new beginning, and a revelation of the splendor that is yours.

This limited-edition of eye and lip pencils was inspired by the allure of flowers glistening in ice. Each pencil provides a distinct light-reflecting finish to enhance your desired look. Since it's Clé de Peau, it looks good. From the packaging to the graduated color on the pencils themselves, to the choice of colors, these pencils look special.

I was told that the pretty floral box was cut from a very large sheet of paper - almost like a giant print - so each design is unique. I didn't inspect boxes to verify that, but it sounds plausible. I like the design. However, the action starts inside the box.

I love these colors. The taupe pencil on the left is worth its weight in gold. Both lip pencils work for me, giving me a light option and a dark one. Right now, I have the darker one applied all over my lips, with a gloss on top. The look is really pretty. I like all of them.

Let's take a closer look. I drew lines on my arm - too thin, I can now see - moving in the same order in which the pencils are shown above. I took my swatch photos in full, mid-day sun.

The top three eye shades provide a unique trio. Even though it looks lavender at the top of my arm, the top shade is very taupe. I'd call it 3/4 taupe and 1/4 lavender. The best news is that it looks fabulous on my eyes. I've been wearing it as an eye shadow over the whole lid up to the crease.

The burnt orange shade will make your blue or green eyes pop. I've grown much less afraid of these shades as I've seen the results. I like this one as a liner. The champagne shade is utterly fabulous for the inner corner to highlight the eyes and open them. Of course, you can use this shade anywhere on your face. That's why it's so handy.

The two lip pencils, one rose and one warm pink, give you options - whether you choose to use them as lip pencils or lip colors. The darker one goes on my lips with a fall look, like a stain. I add the effect of flowers on ice with a sheer, sparkly lip gloss.

These pencils are all very long-lasting on my eyelids and lips. They apply like a creamy dream, but stay put once they set. Someone with very oily eyelids may have a different experience. That's why you'll need to try them, if possible, before you buy. My dry skin grabs on and holds on.

I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. I have found the holiday collection online at Nordstrom. I suspect you will be able to find it at all Clé de Peau Beauté sources soon. If you stop by the counter, you can see the rest of the items in the collection. The blush and these pencils were all I could afford for now.

Photo at top courtesy of Clé de Peau Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow

I'm always drawn to new products at Sephora, so I decided to try the new MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow ($20) shades. I perused the options and chose two that looked very similar online, 20E and 28E. I was hoping that they weren't variations on a single color. Now that I have them, I know that the two shades are different - and they work well together - making me feel good about purchasing them both.

Aqua Shadow is a pencil eye shadow that is smudge-proof, long-lasting (they will stand up to the heat of summer), and easy to apply. I love pencils that work well, so I was intrigued. I think the 12 shades in both matte and pearl finishes offer something for everyone. While that rich, matte green may appeal to some, it's too bold for me.

Aqua Shadow’s intensely pigmented, waterproof formula provides immediate, rich color that will not smudge, crease, or fade. Created with silica powder, its ultra creamy texture glides effortlessly on the eyelid and blends easily for an even result. Incredibly simple to use, Aqua Shadow quickly creates a multitude of dynamic and colorful looks.

Shade 20E (on left directly above) is described online as a pearly taupe. It is shown at the top of my arm. Shade 28E (at right) is called pearly beige, although I'd call it a golden beige. I took my swatch photos in full, direct sunlight, and they show more much shine than you'll see indoors. These are radiant shades, something I love. They draw attention to the eyes, but do so in an office-appropriate manner. You won't look like a disco ball, I promise - at least in these two shades.

I really love my new pencil shadows. They apply easily. A single sweep over the lid deposits creamy color that stays put after it sets. No creasing (on me), and no powder to fall anywhere on my face. It's love. I wish there were more shades I could order. Some of them are too "artistic" for my taste. A pearly copper, 22E, may be the only other shade I order in the future.

The Aqua Pencils remind me of MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Cream shadows in pots. Those combined high-quality pigments with mother of pearl particles to give immediate, rich color payoff with a luminous finish in just one application. MAKE UP FOR EVER says its long-lasting eye shadow formulas will not crease or smudge under the most extreme conditions, and their creamy and elastic texture allows for easy blending. I've found that to be true.

Sephora is the exclusive retailer for MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow pencils. That's where I purchased mine.

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

New Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils

Urban Decay has introduced its next generation of 24/7 pencils for the eyes: 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils ($20). They’re crease-proof and waterproof, and the color is extremely long-lasting.

The Shadow Pencils deliver saturated, creamy color payout with a lightweight feel. The new fat shape allows you to cover large areas more quickly. Use the thin tip as eyeliner or the side of the tip as a generous swipe of eyeshadow. Luscious shades, with shimmer, cream, and sparkle finishes, give you lots of choices. You can skip the shadows you apply with brushes when you are on the go. Urban Decay's pencils make it easier than ever to change up your eye shadow after you've left the house.

Once the color from the pencils sets, it stays put. I was surprised at how long-lasting the color is. Even better, all shades are free of paraffin, mineral oil, and paraben.

I purchased two 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils from Sephora. I had to try Midnight Cowboy, one of Urban Decay's most popular shades. I wanted to see how the company had translated the beige with silver sparkle into this pencil. Turns out it's better, in my opinion, than the original. I also purchased Lit, a golden bronze - more gold than bronze. I wasn't up for trying some of the brighter, more colorful shades, like Morphine (pale lavender), Clash (bright turquoise), or Narc (mossy green), although I did develop an appreciation for morphine while I was in the hospital [wink].

Here is a swatch photo that was taken indoors. I did not blend the shadows at all after I applied them heavily with the pencils. I took the photo in full sun. Midnight Cowboy at the top is a rose gold on my skin. I think it's gorgeous. Lit, below, is almost antique gold. It has bronze in it, but not enough to make it look "dirty." I love both shades; they are shimmering, full-color treats.

It took quite a bit of scrubbing and long-wear makeup remover to get the swatches off my arm. That bodes well for all-day wear on the eyelid. I haven't worn either outside the house yet. I think I might look strange in physical therapy in full makeup. It's an "athletic" environment.

If you like vibrant color and easy application, I think you're going to love these Urban Decay pencils. They are available at both Urban Decay online and Sephora.

Photo at top courtesy of Urban Decay