Coming Soon: Le Métier de Beauté After Dark Total Look Kaleidoscope

Scheduled to arrive at Neiman Marcus about the first of September, the After Dark Total Look Kaleidoscope ($95) is being called the "everything evening Kaleidoscope." Given the description below, I suspect the press photo above is inaccurate colorwise.

This collection was designed as an evening glamour makeover for eyes cheeks, and face. It's perfect for the woman on the go. This portable collection is said to contain two eye shadows, a shimmering patina, and a burnished sapphire. A universal evening blush in shimmering mauve, and a face-sculpting contour powder. Flattering and elegant, it's bound to be popular.

Since I don't see sapphire - granted sapphires are available in blue, pink, white, and other shades - I'm assuming the Kaleidoscope will be much prettier than the advance photo. As a rule, the term sapphire is used in the beauty industry to refer to blue.

I won't ask you what you think until we get a good photo. Until then, I'm excited that the pipeline is starting to fill again. If you want to pre-order or reserve one, give  Michael Reinhardt at call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258.

Photo courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté

Le Métier de Beauté Culte du Solaire Kaleidoscope Face Kit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté The Total Look Kaleidoscope Face Kit for Holiday 2013

As usual, The Total Look Kaleidoscope Face Kit ($95) for Holiday 2013 is much prettier than the press photos depict. I was intrigued when I saw the photo above, but wowed when I saw the real thing. It's a limited edition. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus the second I could.

Look at the difference! Le Métier de Beauté's photo is dark. Mine was taken in full sun and not modified even a smidge. You can see that the face colors in this palette are totally wearable by all.

Because it's late (for me), let's get straight to the swatches. I went to work today, am sore, and definitely ready for a night's sleep. Besides that, apparently I dropped my keys last night when I came in from Mom's house. It took me two hours this morning to dig through months' worth of junk mail near the door to find them - under everything I had piled up. How did they get there?

I swatched all shades with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full, late-morning sun. I started at the top with Nico and worked down the Kaleidoscope, ending with Sunkissed at the bottom of my arm.

Nico, a bronze eye shadow, is as gorgeous as it gets. It gleams on my eyelids. Chelsea Girl below is a soft, slightly shimmering pink highlighter that can be used on the eyes. Think Chanel peach for spring. It's gorgeous.

Divina is a light rose blush with a touch of peach. It's an everyone shade, so I think you will love it.  Sunkissed is a gorgeous blonde bronzer. It's the perfect bronzer for fair skins or wintertime. It is ever-so-slightly warming and a great contour shade.

What else can I say? You can see how pretty the shades are, and I know you'll find this a wonderful addition to your Kaleidoscope collection. The Total Look will be available at Le Métier de Beauté counters until it sells out. If you'd like help, give Michael or Chae a call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 or 2236.

Still waiting for The Countess to arrive. Big smile! In the meantime, I have new Chanel to scratch my itch for new treasures. There will be more Spring 2014 Chanel to come here tomorrow.

Photo at top courtesy of  Le Métier de Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Coming Attractions: Le Métier de Beauté New Kaleidoscope Face Kit II and Chauvet Pont d'Arc Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

There are two dynamite Kaleidoscopes coming soon to Le Métier de Beauté counters. I got a sneak peek at them, but only had my iPhone with me (no other camera). These photos of photos, taken inside, are grainy and not up to par with what my camera would have produced.  They will have to do for now - until I can get better ones, either from Le Métier de Beauté or with my camera later this week.

The Chauvet Pont d'Arc Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, ($95, shown above), for Summer 2012 was inspired by the Chauvet Cave Paintings in France, the oldest in the world, I've read. The cave paintings, found in Chauvet Pont d'Arc, which is located in the south of France, are among the most significant prehistoric art sites known to mankind. The hues are richly pigmented - beautiful and intense. Painted by ancient artists wielding extraordinary skills, the images evoke the burgeoning life of centuries long past and, with protection, will last and be enjoyed for eternity.

The shades in Chauvet Pont d'Arc are all gorgeous. I hope I got their names right.

• Umber - umber-toned satin mauve
• Ocher - sandstone ocher
• Madder - shimmering terracotta
• Crystalline - silky matte desert teal

You can bet I'm on the waiting list for this Kaleidoscope, which will be a limited edition, like most of them.

The new Kaleidoscope Face Kit II ($95) looks equally exquisite (even if someone left greasy fingerprints on its photo). It was designed to create a flawless complexion during the warmer months. The four new shades will help you finish your look effortlessly, with blush and a shade that will finish your face or eyes with a luminous glow and delicate sheen.

The face powder will leave a radiant, soft, matte finish. It's a universal shade and enriched with vitamin E to protect our skin. The rest of the shades will produce a naturally sun-kissed look, with their silky, light powder pigments.

Both of these Kaleidoscopes are scheduled to arrive very soon. You'll want to call your favorite Le Métier de Beauté representative to reserve yours. That's why I'm jumping the gun on my receipt of the press photos. I don't want any of you to miss out and be disappointed.

If you need help, call Michael Reinhardt at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 or 2236. He and his team members are wonderful! I had a complimentary facial there yesterday, followed by a gorgeous makeup application with the GWP, and left feeling very glamorous.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty