Le Métier de Beauté Les Artistes Kaleidoscope Lip Kit for Fall 2010

Le Métier de Beauté Les Artistes Kaleidoscope Lip Kit ($95) arrived at Neiman Marcus a few days ago. I was on the waiting list for it and claimed it quickly. I couldn't wait to see more new fall makeup from Le Métier de Beauté!

The unique Lip Kaleidoscope has a clever internal stacking system exclusive to Le Métier de Beauté. The rounded pans swivel out from its secretly hinged back. The long-lasting, moisture-rich formula is enriched with vitamins A, C, and E.

The Kaleidoscope Lip Kit's multidimensional layers can be mixed and matched to create your own look. Lisa Lingis at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie has shown me how Le Métier de Beauté encourages you to layer the colors, yielding endless possibilities by combining the shades to suit your mood or create your "look of the day." When I purchased my first Lip Kit, Enchantment, I thought each of the shades was stunning alone, but was mesmerized as Lisa started to demonstrate on my arm the layering that morphed the look with each new layer. She actually showed me the end result of layering all four colors, and I was sold! I couldn't purchase Enchantment fast enough.

Naturally, when Lisa told me a new Kaleidoscope Lip Kit would be arriving soon, I put my name on the waiting list. Now that I have it in my hands, I am thrilled! The shades are lovely, sheer - and even better, all of them work for me. These are year-round shades.

My swatches at shown at right. My photo was taken in full sun. I applied the lip colors with my fingers. They are shown from the top pull-out to bottom.

• Illusionists (nude)
• Acrobats (gold)
• Magicians (rose)
• Danseurs (red with golden flecks in the pan, but lighter and very sheer on skin - see bottom pull-out pan above)

With the exception of Danseurs, the shades on the lips (and skin) are exactly how they look in the pan. They offer a subtle shimmer with a nice light texture and feel. They will be particularly handy when worn with a more dramatic fall/winter eye look (for those who "do drama"). Magnifique!

I can't say enough nice things about Les Artistes. I believe Le Métier de Beauté has another hit on its hands.

You can purchase Les Artistes Kaleidoscope Lip Kit at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Nordstrom is now offering Le Métier de Beauté from its online site only. None of the sites have Les Artistes available online as I post this, but the kit should be available online soon. You can always call Lisa to order at (202) 966-9700, extension 2240, or visit your favorite Neiman Marcus.

I hope to show you La Belle Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss (the newest shade) tomorrow.

Photos by BTiB

Shu Uemura Fall Florescent Collection

Now that Shu Uemura has been pulled from counters in the U.S. and is available only online, there are discount promotions to tempt us. Through September 26, you can receive 20% off the purchase of any product from the company's Fall Florescent Collection (and free shipping on orders over $50). Use the code FLORESCENT at checkout from Shu Uemura.

I'm having trouble visualizing this "blooming" collection for fall. The shades don't strike me as typical fall shades, even though they're very pretty.

Of the two new palettes, the Dreamy Petal Palette ($65), shown at right, could suggest fall chrysanthemums. This limited edition eye and cheek palette contains "floral shades" formulated with 100% natural and mineral pigments. There are four pressed eye shadows, two cream eye shadow/eyeliners, and a cream cheek blush - as well as two applicator brushes.

Shu Uemura promotes the palette with this description.

The fusion of warm tones brings out the gentle affection of flowers and illuminates your eyes with its sunny sparkling metallic gold. Let your imagination bloom with endless feminine look possibilities.

The Graceful Bloom Palette (also $65) at left reminds me of a spring garden, brimming with irises and fresh green stems ready to burst into bloom. This palette also includes four pressed eye shadows, two cream eye shadow/eyeliners, a cream cheek blush, and two applicator brushes. Inspired by the elegance of flowers in full bloom, this palette features a chic floral gradation of lavender shades with an accent of green tints.

Graceful Bloom appears to be the palette featured on the model's eyes in the advertisement above.

What do you think? Do either of these palettes sing fall to you? Should we buy and hold until spring? Do you like what you see?

Photos courtesy of Shu Uemura

Bobbi Brown Black Velvet Collection - My Selections Swatched

Only 10 days ago, I gave you a preview of Bobbi Brown's new Black Velvet Collection for Fall and Winter 2010. Ladies, it's in the stores, and it's fabulous!

Today, I shopped at lunch with the beautiful Rachel Lagman, Bobbi Brown Product Specialist, at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. She helped me select the best shades for my pale skin and blonde hair. When I got home, I learned that Nordstrom Tysons Corner also has the collection. That means it's at a store near you. Bobbi has covered all the angles with this collection - there are shades (and looks) for every skin tone and every preference, from everyday color to nighttime drama.

There were two Metallic Lip Colors ($22) on display: Black Garnet and Black Maple. I selected Black Garnet, which is shown at the top of my arm photo to the right. Black Maple is very brown and better suited, I think, to someone with darker skin. There were also two Creamy Lip Colors ($22). My choice between Black Mahogany and Black Cherry was Black Cherry. Black Cherry is shown in the middle of my photo. Then there is a drop-dead gorgeous Sheer Color Gloss ($20) in Black Chocolate that is surprisingly sheer and light on my skin. It looks darker in the tube. I love it! Just "take in" this photo. All three lip colors are gorgeous!

Neiman Marcus did not have all of the new eye shadows in stock yet, but they did have one that caught my eye instantly: Black Cocoa Metallic Eye Shadow ($20). Don't let the name fool you. It's brown - a beautiful brown (and shown at left under clouds and below in sun). To go with it, I selected the brown-toned new Kohl Eye Liner ($20) in Black Chocolate. The Kohl Eye Liner is also available in Black Plum (a dark plum, so trendy for fall and modeled by Rachel today) and Black.

There were three shadows I didn't see today. I'm hoping they will be available at Nordstrom this weekend. I'm going to a Bobbi Brown Master Class at Tysons Corner Center (you can too!), led by Tia Hebron, Bobbi's Global Makeup Team Artist and Education Executive. I suspect I'll purchase more from this extraordinary collection - and possibly hoard Black Garnet Metallic Lip Color.

What do you think?

P.S. I bought one of the new Hydrating Skincare items too. I'll tell you about it later.

Update 8/21: Tea Hebron from Bobbi Brown did my eyes today with the new Black Velvet colors. I'll show you tomorrow. She made me "dramatic"! Very cool.

Update 8/28: You can see and purchase the whole collection now at Bobbi Brown's Web site.

Top photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Anais

Chantecaille introduced two new Lip Chic ($30) shades for fall: Anais and Capucine. I bought Anais. That brings my total of the current Lip Chic shades to eight. Do you think I like it?

Lip Chic is the perfect hybrid between lipstick and lip gloss. It provides a high-shine, even-coverage look, while giving lips a comfy plumping and firming boost with added collagen.

Anais coordinates perfectly with the alluring Tiger in the Wild look for Fall 2010, particularly the persimmon blush in the palette. If you missed it, see my swatches of Tiger in the Wild at this Best Things in Beauty link.

As you can see from my arm photo below, the shade is a rose-leaning neutral peach. It's very sheer, which makes me extraordinarily happy. I've probably used the word "sheer" to describe my favorite makeup more than any other word since I started this blog!

The other new shade of Lip Chic, Capucine, appears online to be too orange for me. Who knows? When I see it in person, I may change my mind. Because Lip Chic is sheer, it allows me to experiment with shades I might not wear if they had more pigment.

If Lip Chic isn't the right lipstick for you, you should consider one of the other sheers. Lip Sheer ($28) is a lightweight, emollient lipstick with radiant shine in transparent colors. Super Lip Sheer ($28) rounds out the sheer looks with a vitamin E-laden lip gloss with a lipstick look and feel. Chantecaille does have other lipsticks in three additional formulas for those who want more depth of color. There's one for everyone. That's before we get to the two lip glosses!

The special offers at Chantecaille are phenomenal. Right now, if you spend $225 at the Web site, you will receive a free White Tiger Poudre Délicate. Check out the link. He's gorgeous. Any time you purchase one of Chantecaille's special products (I just ordered the Bengali Bronzer), you help a good cause. The deep concern of the Chantecaille family for our endangered environment and the many animals at risk aligns with my favorite causes. That makes me feel good. I'm doing my part. In addition to the bronzer, I just purchased a second Tiger in the Wild and a Protected Paradise! I'll tell you about Protected Paradise later in the week.

Photos courtesy of Chantecaille and by BTiB

Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trios for Fall 2010

Shiseido introduced a new set of Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trios ($33) for Fall 2010. Inspired by Shiseido Makeup Artistic Director Dick Page's travels around the globe, the new palettes offer alluring combinations and endless variety. Each palette of three colors can be used to create a multitude of looks.

Last week, Kelly, author of Gouldylox Reviews, one of my favorite blogs, published a review of the Fall 2010 collection. The minute I saw her swatches and photograph of GD804, shown at left immediately below, I knew I had to have it!

Off I went to Nordstrom, where the Shiseido temptations were like a gravitational pull. I had gone specifically to purchase GD804, Opera. I did that, but I also purchased BR307, Strata, which reached out and grabbed me. I almost purchased GD901, Snow Shadow. Although I resisted last weekend, I fear that Snow Shadow is going to reel me in too, shattering any illusion that I might reduce my spending.

All seven trios feature Shiseido's advanced "color and light technology" for true color and all-day wear. I love that term, "true color." I've become a Shiseido true color believer!

Opera (GD804) was inspired by the golden statuary on the roof of the Opera Garnier in Paris, set against a blue springtime sky. Strata (BR307), inspired by a rock face in Chaco, New Mexico, is composed with neutrals, with an unusual (and delightful) addition of a luminous light pink. Pinks and browns go beautifully together, and I think Page was brilliant to use the pink shade in this trio, rather than a more predictable light beige shade.

My arm photos to the left show Strata at top and Opera below. The photos were taken outside right before a storm, so they are darker than I would prefer. I have to grab photos after work when I can (how I would love to be independently wealthy and not have to hold a "real job"!). I applied each shade lightly, using the sponge-tipped applicators that are provided with the compacts. In "real life," I use my own eye shadow brush, and the application is sheer, buildable, and beautiful.

These shades are much prettier on the skin than they appear in the palette photos. If you look at Shiseido's photo at top right, the colors appear larger than life, highly pigmented, and intense. In the three palettes that lured me, the only shade that I could describe that way is the blue in Opera. It is bright, and a little goes a long way. Blended out, though, in the center of the lid above the lash line, it erases the appearance of any redness in the whites of my eyes.

I wore the Opera gold and khaki/taupe shades to work today, with just a touch of the blue in the center of the lower lid, applied sheerly and blended well, and the look was subdued and flattering. Head over and see how they looked on Kelly's eyes! She's much braver than I am (and younger too). The neutrals in Strata are so easy to use, you could brush and go - on the run - and they would still look great.

When I was at Nordstrom, the Shiseido rep was not there. I would love to have been able to identify the new lip colors and try them too. Maybe next time. For now, I'm loving my new eye shadows.

You can purchase Shiseido's Fall 2010 Collection from at Shiseido counters at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Lord & Taylor and some Sephora stores. Lots of stores, so you have to stop and play with these pretty new colors!

Photos courtesy of Shiseido and by BTiB

Givenchy Fall 2010 Exclusive at Sephora

Another pretty collection from Givenchy for Fall 2010 - and a few items you should definitely consider! The collection is available online only at Sephora, the exclusive retailer for these limited-edition beauties.

Here's the scoop on the items I purchased: Le Prisme Blush - Blooming ($48.50), Le Prisme Visage - Blooming ($48.50), and Le Prisme Eyeshadow Quartet ($56).

Le Prisme Blush in Blooming Fuchsias is shown at left. This is the only shade of the blush available in the fall collection. At top left is Sephora's professional photo, and under it is my photo taken in full sun. While Sephora's photo shows incredible detail, mine shows how the compact looked unused at my house - equally beautiful in color, but with a pattern that is not as precisely defined. That won't matter now that I have used it.

Le Prisme Blush - Blooming's harmony is made of four shades blended together, like a deconstructed version of the regular Le Prisme Blush. The four shades are blended in a way that makes each Le Prisme Blush - Blooming unique. The cheek color is a sheer neutral-toned pink once you blend across the quadrants of the compact and apply it.

Le Prisme Visage - Blooming (shown at right) was a surprise to me. I had expected a bit more color - not sure why. The powder comes in two shades: Blooming Pink and Blooming Apricots. I ordered Blooming Pink. There is very little color in it. If you are looking for a slightly tinted face powder, you may love one of these. I wasn't, so I am disappointed. I think Blooming Pink is blah.

To the rescue came Le Prisme Eyeshadow Quartet, available in six color families. I ordered Khaki Egerie, shown at left. I love all four shades.

My arm photo shows the four eye shadow shades above the Blooming Fuchsias blush. I applied the Khaki Egerie shades starting at the top left of the quad and rotating clockwise - shown on my arm top to bottom. Below the four eye shadow shades is the blush.

I hope you can see that the two greens and the gold shade are exciting, and the taupe shade is sheer and perfect for everyday wear. The taupe and gold are very pretty combined on my eyelids, with the gold over the entire lower lid and the taupe applied over it on the outside corner and in the crease above. I haven't worn the greens yet, but I'm sure I will soon. There are a few two-shade combinations I'm eager to try.

Although the blush, Blooming Fuchsias, appears to be a blue-pink in the compact, it applies as a neutral pink. I think that makes it wearable by women with cool or warm-toned skin. It's a flattering cheek color.

The packaging of Le Prisme Blush - Blooming and Le Prisme Visage - Blooming is quite fancy. There are slits in the two-layer cut-out floral design, and the flower pieces slip into each other to open or close the "envelope" that houses the compacts. It's shown at left. The intricate packaging must have cost Givenchy more than regular packaging, which I'm sure was added to the price of the items. I don't know about you, but I recycle most cosmetics boxes - I don't keep them - and I would rather have paid $1-2 less for the items and skipped the fancy "gimmick" packaging.

To sum up, I ordered three pieces from the collection, and I'm delighted with two: the eye shadow and the blush. I will probably return Le Prisme Visage - Blooming Pink. Take a look at its photo at right and let me know what you think.

The Givenchy Fall 2010 items I've shown you are available exclusively at Sephora.

Photos courtesy of Sephora or by BTiB

Chantecaille Tiger in the Wild Palette - Swatched

The palette I've been waiting for - the swatches you've been waiting for! Chantecaille's Tiger in the Wild palette arrived yesterday. It's everything I had imagined and more.

Tiger in the Wild ($78), a limited-edition palette, was created to celebrate and raise awareness for the wild tiger. The selection of easy-to-wear cheek and eye shades with an elegant tiger embossing should be attractive on everyone. Five percent of each purchase benefits TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring organization to help save the last tigers in the wild.

I wanted to show you how these gorgeous tigers look on skin. They are very sheer! That delights me. The "blush tiger" is a fabulous color on my skin, even though it looks rather orange in the photo. On my skin, it has a lot of pink in it.

The three eye shadows are shown at right. I had to moisten my eye shadow brush to make them show in a photograph taken in sun. My first set of photos, with the shadows applied dry, were "wash outs." That's good, though. The color is buildable. You can paint your look however you desire.

The shadows top to bottom on my arm are the palette shades starting at top left and rotating clockwise: Cream, Pewter, and Indigo. Cream and Pewter are - in my humble opinion - totally gorgeous. The blue shade is a very grey-blue color. When applied dry, it's very grey. When you moisten your brush, you get more of the indigo cast. I love having the option!

The blush, called "a flattering, sheer persimmon cheek shade" by Chantecaille, is very sheer, very flattering, and deserves more love than I had anticipated. Shown at left in sun, you can see how sheer it is on the pale underside of my arm. On my cheeks, it's divine.

You can click on this link for Chantecaille's application instructions. The look by Chantecaille is shown below. I don't need the instructions. I know exactly how I'll be wearing Tiger in the Wild.

This palette should be on your wish list. While I often rave about makeup - there's so much to love - I don't often say you really need something. I'm sticking my neck out now. You need Tiger in the Wild! As usual, Chantecaille has delighted me.


Update: I just got an e-mail from Chantecaille with a great offer. Spend $225, and you will receive a free White Tiger Poudre Délicate!

Photos by Chantecaille and BTiB

Bobbi Brown Black Velvet Collection Plus Nordstrom Tysons Master Class

Very soon, Bobbi Brown's new Black Velvet Collection for Fall and Winter 2010 will make its appearance in a department store near you. Bobbi "goes noir" with this bold new collection. Bobbi's customers have been requesting the smokey eye look they have seen on runways and red carpets. Bobbi created the Black Velvet colors to provide a strong look, but one that's pretty too. Not only will Black Velvet be perfect for women who want a little drama, it will be fabulous for women with dark skin who need a break from pastel pinks and peaches.

Black Velvet is "the new black" - shimmering and infused with color. Despite their runway trendiness, the shades have been designed to be wearable. The shadows are easy to blend because they diffuse on the skin. Black Charcoal and Black Chocolate will be perfect for making a smokey eye.

The dark lipsticks and glosses are similarly "decadent." Think luscious dark chocolate-covered pomegranates (which you can buy at Costco, as I do)! Women with chocolate skin have been looking for colors that would be perfect for them. On us pale faces, they will add a dramatic dimension to our look.

I haven't seen the collection yet; these are scanned photos. I am looking forward to its arrival at Nordstrom and on Bobbi Brown's Web site. I plan to attend a very special Bobbi Brown master class at Nordstrom Tysons Corner, and I'm hoping the collection arrives by then. You can attend too! Read on for more details.

The Black Velvet Collection is a set of unique pieces from Bobbi Brown that will help us conjure black and chocolate gems, ready to be adored.

Black Mahogany and Black Cherry Creamy Lip Colors will work as a stain for me when applied lightly and blotted. My friends with dark skin will find them the "it" colors for fall and may want to use them for an everyday look. Add the Sheer Lip Gloss in Black Chocolate, and you will have a deep lip that's wearable no matter what your coloring.

The eye shadows will give us a choice of regular, metallic, and sparkle finishes - shown below. Bobbi Brown's eye shadows are super-wearable. I recently bought the New Denim shade from Bobbi's Denim & Rose Collection. When I first saw it, I was sure it would be too dramatic for me. Not! It's gorgeous.

I am really looking forward to playing with the Black Velvet Collection. I'm hoping that it arrives at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner in time for the master class the Bobbi Brown pros have planned. No matter, the master class will be fun - with or without the latest collection.

Live near Washington, DC?

Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center is accepting appointments for a fabulous Bobbi Brown master class with Tia Hebron, Global Makeup Team Makeup Artist and Education Executive for Bobbi Brown - assisted by the talented Diron Carr and the rest of the Tysons team. The dates are August 20 and 21. There will be three sessions on Friday (11:00 to 1:00, 2:00 to 4:00, and 6:00 to 8:00) and two on Saturday (11:00 to 1:00 and 3:00 to 5:00). I'm going on Saturday. Even this jaded blogger is looking forward to learning something new!

To make a reservation, call (703) 761-1121 extension 1086. There is a charge, but it's fully redeemable in products. You couldn't make a better investment for fall.

Scanned photos scanned courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Giorgio Armani Beauty Night Viper Collection for Fall 2010

At last, I got my hands on the collection! Loyd Cassler and I swatched at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland today. He's good at it!

Let's start with the Maestro Eye Shadow Quad ($59) with icy brown, inky blue, dark brown, and silver shades - all inspired by the deep tones of night. We had to wet the shadow brush to get a good picture of these shades. As a result, the colors here appear concentrated. Applied dry, they are very sheer. That's something I love about Armani eye shadows. I can easily control how they appear on my eyelids. When I apply them dry (most of the time), I can build the color to the level I prefer.

As we started to swatch, I was instantly smitten. I would purchase the palette for the icy brown shade alone! Fortunately, all the shades are beautiful. I know I'll have fun with the combos I can create with the palette. When I'm not on my lunch hour, I'll go back and play with the shades with Loyd.

The shadows are swatched in two photos, top to bottom as they appear in the compact. The photos were taken in strong indoor light in the store. The blue shade appears to have some lavender in it in this photo. It's more purely blue than it appears here.

Loyd is so clever! Look at how he chose to show you the new #7 Eyes to Kill Palette ($59 and swatched below right)! There are rings of pure mauve (satin finish), ink black (satin finish), and aubergine purple (metallic finish). We knew that we would have to wet the shades if we used a brush, so he created this "artwork" swatch with his finger - in one fell swoop. Isn't this cool? I zoomed in on the pretty swatch. It was in focus in our photo, but the close-up blurred it a bit. No matter! You can see the shades perfectly.

The new Rouge d'Armani Lipstick ($30) colors for fall, as shown top to bottom below are: #602 - soft pink, #603 - black purple, and #604 - deep ruby. My personal favorite is #602, and I do plan to purchase it. I had to give my credit card a rest this week! As you can see in the photo at left, #603 isn't all that "black," despite the Web site description, and #604 has a lot of blue in it. I would even call it fuchsia.

The limited-edition Blending Blush Duo in Shimmering Pale and Dark Raspberry (note: $49) is drop-dead gorgeous. Loyd had to finger paint it onto my arm - literally - for the swatch photo. Picked up with a blush brush, it was just too light to show up in a photo. Naturally, you can blend the two shades when you apply these soft colors - or you can use them individually. Your choice!

I need to tell you that there was a significant error on the Armani Web site, and I notified them. The Blending Blush Duo is not $85! It's $49. Remember when I gave you a sneak peek at this collection, and I mentioned my sticker shock? I'm happy to report that you can purchase this blush duo for a lot less today at Saks, and I'm sure my friends at Armani Beauty will correct the Web site soon. They have already tried, actually. The $49 price comes up, but if you wait a few seconds, it oddly flips to $60 - right before your eyes. Glad I don't have to fix that one! Hopefully, by the time you read this, it will be OK.

To the right is the new Eyes to Kill Mascara ($30) in Blue Grey Night, a very attractive greyed navy. Both Loyd and I thought the swatch on my arm appeared to have a slight purple cast (same issue with the blue tone of the eye shadow above). I don't know why. The color is actually very close to Armani's little square swatch on the Web site. I didn't think I would purchase this (I'm not really "into" colored mascaras), but it was too pretty to pass up. It came home with me. Eyes to Kill is an award-winning mascara for good reason, so I decided to be less conservative for a change.

Along with plums, deep blues for the eyes are clearly a fall trend! Armani, Guerlain, Chantecaille, Estée Lauder - to name just a few of the beauty companies featuring midnight blue - have all made the shade a centerpiece. I think we will be seeing a lot of it. The new blue smoky eye will be very trendy! You can create it with the Maestro Eye Shadow Quad and the new Eyes to Kill Mascara. Magnifique!

You can purchase the items from the Night Viper Collection at Saks. The other department stores that carry Armani Beauty should have the collection soon, if they don't already. You can also purchase at the Armani Beauty Web site, but wait for the price correction if you want the Blending Blush Duo. When my $85 version arrives in the mail, I will have to return it. Glad I bought one at Saks today! I'll be wearing it tomorrow.

Some photos courtesy of UrCosme
Swatches courtesy of BTiB and Loyd Cassler

YSL Rouge Volupté Perle for Fall 2010

Rouge Volupté Perle ($34), a new formula of YSL's Rouge Volupté has been introduced in six shades for fall. Called a Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick with SPF 15, Rouge Volupté Perle is going to be just as popular as its award-winning sister, Rouge Volupté.

Early in July, I showed you a sneak peek at the fall collection. It's in stores now and definitely worth your consideration. What follows in italics is YSL's description of this new Rouge Volupté.

An object of every woman's desires, Rouge Volupté's luxurious...outer packaging reveals a creamy lipstick that leaves your lips nourished, feeling smooth and soft, and looking glossy and irresistible. Presented in a romantic and elegant golden metallic case, with a mirror on top for quick and easy application throughout the day, and an intricate carving of the Yves Saint Laurent logo.

Rouge Volupté Perle is available in six new pearly, perfect-for-fall shades: #101 Beige Caress, #102 Coral Sun, #103 Sparking Pink, #104 Stellar Pink, #105 Insolent Beige, and #106 Mesmerizing Purple.

I thought all of them were pretty. Coral Sun, #102, isn't my personal best shade, but anyone with warm-toned skin will love it. Mesmerizing Purple, #106, is very dark. It's seasonal and trendy. I'll bet it earns a large, cult following.

The two I purchased Friday at Saks are Insolent Beige, #105, shown at the top of my arm photo, and Stellar Pink, #104. Look at the difference between the YSL Web site swatch shade above and the actual color of Insolent Beige! I wish beauty companies could figure out a better way to display the colors of their makeup online. I know that display settings account for part of the difference, but not all of it.

Both of these shades are perfect for me - love them! Insolent Beige isn't beige; it's a complex shade with rose, mauve, and brown in it. Stellar Pink has just enough warmth that it doesn't scream "pink." It does earn "extra credits" for brightening my face. Rouge Volupté Perle is hydrating and feels great on my lips. I could have purchased more of the shades, but instead I came away with the new blusher and one of the eye shadow duos. I'll show them to you within the next day or two.

You can purchase Rouge Volupté Perle at YSL Beauty's Web site and at all the department stores, such as Saks, that offer YSL's fabulous makeup.

Top photos courtesy of YSL Beauty

Sneak Peek at Giorgio Armani Beauty's Night Viper Collection for Fall 2010

Giorgio Armani will be rolling out several phases of new color for fall. I got the scoop on all of it yesterday. One phase has made an appearance at the Armani Beauty Web site, but is not available at Saks in Chevy Chase - not yet, at least. Night Viper is all about "nocturnal chic." The small collection includes a Maestro Eye Shadow Quad, an Eyes to Kill Palette, a new shade of Eyes to Kill Mascara, a Blending Blush Duo, and three new shades of Rouge d'Armani Lipstick.

The Maestro Eye Shadow Quad ($59) has shades of inky blue, the Armani star shade, along with dark brown, icy brown, and silver - inspired by the deep tones of night. This looks pretty, wearable, and like something I would purchase. So I did!

The #7 Eyes to Kill Palette ($59) is all about plum, with pure mauve (satin finish), ink black (satin finish), and aubergine purple (metallic finish). Seen below left, it appears to be rather daring - certainly not quite as wearable.




Of the two shadow palettes, I'm sure I will prefer the Maestro Quad. I don't look very good with red-toned plum on my eyelids. It gives me either a recently crying look - or one of extreme fatigue. Neither is flattering.

On the other hand, the Blending Blush Duo in Shimmering Pale and Dark Raspberry ($85) looks like it was made for me! I love these shades, shown at right. Blending Blush Duo was created with Armani's Micro-fil cream texture that allows the blush to morph into fluid color on contact with the skin. The result is soft, flushed color and subtle highlighting that sculpts the face very nicely. It's easy to apply and blend. This one is a must-have for me, even though it is $25 more than the other Blending Blush duos! That was shocking. My order, with two items, tallied to $144!

The new Rouge d'Armani Lipstick ($30) fall colors are:

• 602 - soft pink,
• 603 - black purple,
• 604 - deep ruby.
  

All are dark and dramatic. Even #602 is a very pigmented pink. I need to see these before I spend.

Rounding out the collection is an Eyes to Kill Mascara ($30) in Blue Grey Night, a very attractive greyed navy.

I had wanted to see the shades at Saks before I purchased. Since they didn't have them and don't expect to before next month, I ordered the quad and blush from Armani's Web site today. Other than the price shock, I'm excited.

Through today, Armani is offering free shipping if you order any item from Night Viper. If you can't wait - like me - head over now.

Update 8/5: The price of the Blending Blush Duo is $49, not $85. The Web site was incorrect. See my 8/5 post for more details and swatches.

Photos courtesy of UrCosme