Guerlain Perles Collection for Summer 2010

I wasn't expecting to see Guerlain's latest Perles Collection for Summer 2010 in stores until May. For many reasons, I'm glad I limped over to Bloomingdale's at Tysons Corner Center last night to the "what's new in the department" class Beauty Department Manager Tarsha Jones had set up. The knee pain was worth it when I found the Guerlain collection in stock (mostly) and ready for me!

Guerlain makes some of the most elaborate eye palettes available. Each collection gives us pretty colors with a theme, and the new Pearles Collection continues the tradition. The Ombre Éclat 4 Shades Eyeshadow ($59) is a tad darker than it appears in this photograph. The sheer neutral shades, encased in a matte silver, mirrored compact, are eminently wearable. The more you wear them, the more you'll lose the design, but that's the only downside of these beauties.

While the directions that come in the box show you how to create a "look" by using the shades in a traditional way (one for the entire lid, one for the crease, etc.), you will find these colors to be extremely flexible. Play at will!

The texture is as luxurious as we've come to expect from Guerlain eye shadows - a creamy powder that stays put. With long-lasting wear, they are must-haves.

There are also four new Ombre Éclat 1 Shade Eyeshadows - all in neutral shades, and all gorgeous. I'll tell you about them in a subsequent post because I have to rave now about other pieces in the new collection.

A Météorites Perles Illuminating Powder ($56) in #03, Teint Doré, is the perfect, warm melange for summer. Housed in elegant silver metal packaging with a floral design on the top, the little pearls of robin's egg blue, beige, and taupe-brown pigments create the perfect glow. There's also a new brush for this powder if you need a brush - or just want one!

There are two Kiss Kiss Baby SPF 10 Nourishing Lip Balms ($31) in "Delicate Nudes." The also are housed in matte silver containers, so don't be shy about touching up in public with these lip-quenching beauties. The two limited-edition shades are shown here. I purchased #262, the pink-toned shade on the left. The other, #242, has a coral tone. Both are extremely sheer, so most of us could wear either. One for every mood?

The collection wasn't scheduled to be at Guerlain counters until May, so I'm not sure whether my find was just lucky timing or an early launch. Either way, I'm sure glad I went to Bloomingdale's!

Be on the lookout for the new collection!

Photo sources: urcosme.com, chicprofile.com, and BTiB

Dauget Huile Seche pour le Corps - My Favorite Olive Oil for the Skin

This is one of my secrets - secret because Dauget's Huile Seche pour le Corps is incredibly hard to find! Made by the French company, Dauget, the spray body oil is made with 100% organic extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, arnica oil (good for sore muscles!), marigold oil, vitamin E, and St. John's Wort oil. It has a heavenly scent and melts on the skin. I spritz with it almost every night before bed.

The use of olive oil in skin care dates back to ancient times. Cleopatra was known to take baths in olive oil. The Greeks and the Romans slathered their bodies with olive oil after a bath to hydrate their skin and protect against the acidity of water. Olive oil was also used for hair treatments.

Dauget points out olive oil's unique properties for skin care.

• It's a pure fruit extract, an elixir of youth, and a fruit juice! In fact, olive oil is the only oil made from a fruit. All other oils are made from grains or seeds of fruit, but not from the fruit itself.
• Olive oil is rich in vitamins A a E, antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the body.
• It's rich in chlorophyll, a natural anti-aging substance, with notable nutritional and medicinal qualities known to stimulate wound healing and cell renewal.It's also rich in squalene, a natural organic compound and rich emollient that penetrates extremely well into the skin. Squalene is usually found in the liver of cartilaginous fishes, such as sharks. Since we don't approve of using squalene from animals, olive is the best source.
• Olive oil also helps regulate the secretion of sebum, which maintains and restores moisture in the skin and hair.

Do you know the olive oil basics?

• Olive is a fall/winter fruit.
• Out of twenty delicate flowers, only one olive will form.
• An olive contains 15 to 25% oil.
• The olive harvest in the south of France is called “Olivade,” and olives are harvested from October to February by “Oliveuses” (olive pickers).
• In Provence, the ritual of Olivade today is no different from that practiced at the beginning of the century due to the commitment of olive associations that demand excellence in their produce.
• The hand-picking of olives one by one is considered ideal because it respects the integrity and purity of the olive.
• Olive oil is the only oil that does not foam. Consequently, you can test the authenticity of olive oil by shaking it. If it foams it means that it has been mixed with another type of oil.

If you can find this luxurious Dauget Huile Seche pour le Corps, I highly recommend that you try it. There are a few spas and boutiques in the Washington, D.C. area that carry it. Their distributor even has two Virginia phone numbers: (703) 534-9021 and (703) 992-4072. I left messages at both trying to find you more sources. When I hear back, I'll post an update.

Photo courtesy of Dauget

Makeup Giveaway Contest for Followers

Congratulations to our three winners, who were selected by Random.org! Laurie, you won the Stila items plus some cool samples I will include in your box. Nelsby, you won the Tarte Natural Eye Shadows. BeautyBug, you won the LORAC sampler set. Thanks to everyone for entering - and reading! We'll do another contest like this one in a few months, so make sure to follow now.

A few months ago, I made a promise to reward my Twitter followers. I can't do that without also rewarding my blog followers. This contest is for you! You know who you are.

I have three makeup sets to give away. If you were a Twitter follower on April 18, 2010, or you were a blog follower (via the RSS feed or e-mail) as of April 19, you are eligible to enter the contest. Just comment here and let me know which of the three items listed below you would prefer to win. You can always identify yourself at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com if you want to make it easy for me to find you, but you shouldn't have to.

I can't guarantee you will receive your first choice, but if you are one of the three winners, you will receive one of these great prizes. I will verify the "follows" Sunday morning and then use a random number generator to select the winners.

For each of the three items included in this makeup giveaway contest, click on the link to see the product(s).

1. Tarte Femme Naturale Refillable Natural Eye Shadow Palette (with deluxe sample of Lifted)
   
2. LORAC Shining Star Summer Sampler Set
3. Stila duo of Lip Shine in Rosey Shine, Convertible Color in Magnolia (brown for summer, not rose as it appears at the link), and assorted samples from other lines
   

The deadline for posting a comment to enter is Saturday, April 24, at midnight.

Good luck, friends, and thanks for reading Best Things in Beauty!

We will have future contests like this. To be eligible, simply follow this blog via the RSS feed for posts or the daily e-mail subscription - or follow me on Twitter @BTiBeauty. I'm very loyal to my loyal followers!

Photos courtesy of LORAC and Tarte

Giorgio Armani Beauty Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir

Even the photo has a magical connotation! I see a serum that exists high above the rest, almost other-worldly, emanating light. Giorgio Armani Beauty's newest member of the Crema Nera family of skin-care products is Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir ($150). It is designed to correct the texture of our skin; make it smooth, firm, and radiant; and repair age and ultraviolet-induced imperfections. The elixir is in pre-sale at Saks Fifth Avenue Armani counters. Knowing it would be an instant "must-have," the Saks decided to take advance orders. I've paid for mine, and I expect to have it in my hands and on my face the first week in May. Saks will receive it almost a month before other retailers.

What will the magical elixir do? Based on tests, Armani Beauty says that after six weeks of use, 98% of women will see smoother skin, 83% will see dark spots corrected, 90% will find their skin more radiant, and 93% will report firmer skin. It feels firming. The little dab I was able to try had a few seconds of a firming feel and left my skin smooth.

How does it work?

• Armani's OMC³ restructures the skin matrix and prevents slacking, one of the horrors of aging. It also promises a three-fold increase in collagen production.
• Extrema (Armani's antioxidant blend) helps detoxify (by 80%) and protects the skin's DNA from ultraviolet-induced oxidation. The company says that Extrema is 200% more effective than vitamin E, a widely used antioxidant.
• Crystal Complex is comprised of vitamins C and G and palmaria palmata (a red algae that binds water and doubles as an antioxidant). It inhibits and regulates melanin production, helping to "retrain" damaged skin cells to reproduce as healthy cells.

Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir should be used as your night serum - all over the face and neck - before moisturizer. Our skin regenerates at night, so the serum will be most effective if applied then. I can't wait to get my hands on my very own elixir!

If you want to be one of the first to try the newest member of the Crema Nera family, you can pre-order it from your Saks Armani representative - or from the members of the Armani Beauty Team at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland by calling (240) 497-5206. You can also ring through the switchboard by calling (301) 657-9000. They will take good care of you.

Photo courtesy of Armani Beauty

Interview with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Tim Quinn, Celebrity Face Designer

Tim Quinn, Celebrity Face Designer for Giorgio Armani Beauty, graciously spent some time with me today to talk beauty. As always, I enjoyed my time with Tim.

It's no wonder that he's hailed as one of the world's top makeup artists. Not only is Tim extraordinarily talented, he's one of the nicest guys in the beauty industry. If I were a celebrity, I would want Tim to make sure I was camera-ready - looking good and feeling confident!

I was curious about the most recent awards season and the looks his celebrity clients requested. It turns out that celebrities are just like the rest of us. They want to look younger - flawless - but don't want to look "made up." Check! They are nervous about how their photographs will appear. Check! They want a much cleaner makeup look these days. Check!

Armani Beauty cosmetics have always created perfection for the high-definition lens, so Tim aims for the dewy finish that makes us all look younger. That's dewy, not matte! There's nothing worse than too much powder. It's aging - and blah.

Although we saw smokey eyes on the red carpet, this year the focus was on lips, and the hot look was bright. After Rihanna wore Rouge D'Armani ($30) in shade #401 (red with a touch of orange), it sold out in a heartbeat. Not to worry - it's available again. Bright pinks made the season, and the plum colors, #600 and #601, have been surprise hits.

This fall, it's certain that Armani Beauty will build on the #600 range plum look with new lip colors. More immediate for summer will be some new product launches.

The newest skin care product in Armani's amazing Crema Nera family (and it's in pre-sale at Armani counters now) is Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir. The new serum is designed to correct texture, tone the skin, and repair sun damage. It's firming too - it feels amazing on application. I'll tell you more about it this week.

Armani's super-hit Eyes to Kill Mascara ($30) will be available in a waterproof formulation. Perfect for poolside beauties, brides, others who cry at weddings, and women who can't make their mascara stay on their eyelashes, the waterproof version is sure to be a big seller.

The waterproof Eyes to Kill will arrive in stores about the same time as the new Eyes to Kill Palettes - hopefully in May. Two new shadow palettes will join the relaunch of #1, Steel Black (shown here), and #3, Gun Metal Gray (which combined shades of plum with gray). Tim described one of the new palettes as including a really light robin's egg blue and pink, a departure from the prototypical "Armani shades," and the other as including royal navy and peach shades with a chinchilla color. Given his descriptions, both will be finding their way to my house.

We can also anticipate a new bronzer palette that sounds gorgeous! This year, the bronzer will be on top and the eye shadows will be on the bottom layer. Imagine metallic copper, sea green, pale chiffon, and deep teal. Want it? I sure do!

Also in the pipeline is a new Luminous Silk Powder Foundation. When Armani's cosmetics launched, there was a fabulous powder foundation that I still keep in my desk drawer at work for touch-ups. It was discontinued. After perfecting the formula to create that "Armani look," the company will release a new formula. You gals with oily or combination skin are going to love this product!

Tim and I talked about some of the newest products in stores, including Face Fabric Radiance ($48) and Blushing Fabric ($38). If you are having a hard time selecting only one color, Tim believes the lightest shade of Blushing Fabric, #3 Pink Chiffon, is the most "universally wearable." All three shades are popular, though, because they add such a sheer pop of healthy color. Remember, a little goes a very long way! I was delighted to hear that Face Fabric Radiance has received such a great reception that it might become a permanent part of the line. I love it.

I asked Tim what Armani Beauty products every woman should have on a desert island, and I only let him choose two. His selections? Crema Nera Reviving Eye Compact ($150) and Luminous Silk Foundation ($59). If you have to edit carefully, he said to skip the trends and put your money into the products that will make your skin glow.

Naturally, I asked Tim for some tips for women over 40! He said to learn how to balance your makeup. Less is often more. Except...as we age, we often lose pigment in our lips and even our skin. That nude look that's so beautiful on our young friends may not be our best friend. Try a brighter lip than you wore 10 years ago. Add a pop of color to one feature on your face, and you'll be radiant.

Tim's advice is to learn what's appropriate for you as an individual. The old rules of beauty have flown out the window. While we used to have preconceived notions of how women should look in certain age groups, those rules are history. Instead, as it gets harder and harder to judge someone's age, it also gets harder to define the right look for an age group. Tim said that beauty is about how you feel. If you look good, you will feel good.

Beauty products can provide instant gratification. When he works with women at events, Tim wants to show them how to look their best. Often they know what they want; today's customers are well-educated. They just need help with techniques or affirmation that their color choices work for them. I can assure you, leave Tim's chair, and your day will be transformed!

DC-area gals will have a chance to sit in Tim's chair in May! He will spend two days at our Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland on May 21 and 22. Why not book an appointment while you can? Just call the Armani counter at (240) 497-5206. Or you can ring through the switchboard by calling (301) 657-9000. He's in great demand at these events, so make sure to book early! Tell them you're a Best Things in Beauty reader. You might just get a few extra minutes with Tim!

If you don't have an Armani counter near you, check the Armani Web site for Tim's event schedule. No way to make it to one of the events? Make sure to watch Tim's videos at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site. His techniques, along with Armani's superb makeup, will show you how to look your best.

Photos courtesy of Armani Beauty

Chantecaille Frangipane Perfume

Did you know that Chantecaille makes fragrances to complement its gorgeous makeup? My favorites Chantecaille fragrance is Frangipane ($58 or $95, depending on size). It's not new, but it continues to have a place on my dresser.

Frangipani is the common name for plumeria, a fragrant, night-blooming tropical flower that blooms on shrubs. Plumeria flowers range from white to yellow and pink, depending on the cultivar.

Frangipani was used as an offering to the gods in some Asian temples, and on several Pacific islands, the flowers are used for making leis. They are the essence of warm climes.

Sylvie Chantecaille was inspired to create the fragrance by the gardens of a 12th-century palace in Udaipur, the City of Lakes in western India. It's also a city of palaces, dating back to 1559 - and gardens.

The top notes of Chantecaille's Frangipane are water hyacinth, violet leaf, and orange, so the first rush is immediately pleasurable to me. The middle notes are jasmine, incense, ylang-ylang, and frangipani. It's a good thing I don't smell the incense. Going to church, with priests launching that stuff out toward the congregants, used to make me gag and cough. The lingering base notes are vetiver, musk, and vanilla (and some have suggested amber). Despite the "rogue" scents, the notes blend to create a unique, full, sensuous floral with a sultry, powdery finish.

This is a soft, sweet fragrance. I love wearing it to work. It's not as heady as pure plumeria can be (I love that too!). While I'm not a big vanilla fan, the vanilla in this scent does not make me smell like a cupcake. It seems like I've told you about every note in the fragrance I don't like, but I do like the integrated result. Those Chantecaille ladies sure have it together!

Frangipane is available in perfume, bath and shower gel, a heavenly body cream, and a scented candle that will turn your room into a tropical paradise. The Frangipane Body Cream ($60) is enriched with vitamin E and tocotrienols, wedelia essential oil, and extracts of grape seed, algae, rosemary, and aloe to heal and protect the skin. Layered under the perfume, it's a treat.

Check out Frangipane at the Chantecaille Web site or a Chantecaille counter near you. Let me know what you think!

Photos courtesy of Chantecaille and wikipedia.com

Sue Devitt's Southern Seas Sojourn Collection

I've bought and worn Sue Devitt's fabulous makeup in the past, but nothing prepared me for the excitement I have for her Southern Seas Sojourn Collection! The collection is special. Sue Devitt's experience in the Solomon Islands and her resolve to contribute to environmental preservation in the South Pacific is inspiring. I'll let her tell you about it.

Unspoiled landscapes, uncharted reefs, an unbelievably beautiful, natural environment. This is the only way to describe the stunning raw beauty of the South Pacific, Solomon Islands.

It’s astonishing and inspiring to explore a place in the world today where the most common form of transportation is the canoe, painstakingly carved out of a single tree by an entire family over a 10-year period. A place where the majestic coral reefs are still undiscovered by tourists, the Discovery Channel, and even Google Earth.

Here, between dives and lagoon swims, playful dolphins come right up to the boat to swim alongside me, joyfully unafraid. I was also taken by the friendliness of the island children who, unacquainted with Game Boys and electronics, fished with hook and wire and played happily with toys of their own making: home-made stilts and guitars! Their innocence and friendly, open demeanor was a reminder of how easy it is to find happiness and tranquility in the natural beauty of our planet.

The pristine underwater palette of the South Pacific reefs inspired the Southern Seas Sojourn Collection. Exploring the underwater beauty here has made me so much more appreciative and highly aware of the millions of people who depend upon the reefs and the oceans for their food and their livelihood. More inspired than ever to help protect these endangered ecosystems, my company will donate proceeds from the Destination Eye & Cheek Palette in Solomon Islands to Coral Reefs in the South Pacific (CRISP), a non-profit organization that will specifically fund a project in the Solomon Islands to help preserve the stunning beauty of this unique region. The beauty of nature inspires generosity; we can follow its example in creating beauty through generosity.

The Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye & Cheek Palette in Solomon Islands ($37.50) is exquisite. I wore it to work Friday and got compliments on my fresh, springy look. Don't be confused when you follow the link to Devitt's site - as I did. It's featured with the eye palettes. The benefits of purchasing this gorgeous compact are twofold: you will look great and help preserve the beauty of the South Pacific at the same time.

Swipe your brush across the tropical color family, and you will have a pinky-peach blush that will impart a seasonal glow. Use a smaller brush to pick up individual colors, and you can create your own customized eye look. The unique formulation offers the extraordinary hydrating and refreshing properties of the sea, encapsulated in a proprietary delivery system that increases the skin's moisture level and vitality. The blush contains a synergistic complex of biotechnological marine and botanical substances, such as sea butter, shea butter, ceramide 2, and hyaluronic acid, in addition to vitamins, minerals, and proteins that work in tandem to help skin absorb water from the air while restoring elasticity. I have to admit I have no idea what sea butter is. From Google searches, it appears to be related to shea butter. I'll have to find out more.

The Sojourn Lip Intensifier Pencils ($22), inspired by the best-selling Eye Intensifier Pencils, feature a unique formulation that moisturizes while intensifying natural color to maximize and enhance the appearance of the lips. The pencils offer a soft, velvety texture with aloe vera that binds moisture to the skin while locking in natural, beautiful color. Marine Filling Spheres smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while hibiscus extract offers antioxidant properties. Makeup that's good for you! You can use these lip pencils to fill in your entire lip. They are as hydrating as lipstick and are available in four colors: Bellona, Kirakira, Malaita, and Tinakula. One of them will be perfect for you.

The Lip Enhancing Gloss ($22) in Telina completes the Sojourn look. This luxurious lip-enhancing formula creates a visibly fuller look. Marine Filling Spheres smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and work in tandem with peptides to promote collagen production. Designed to impart a flattering shine and sheer wash of color for healthy and hydrated lips, Lip Enhancing Gloss is available in four shades.

I loved shopping at Sue Devitt's Web site last week. As I added items to my order, full-sized gifts and samples popped into my basket. It's unlikely I'll buy her products from other sites again - the experience at SueDevittBeauty.com was too good! Not only that, my purchases arrived exceptionally quickly. I'm impressed. Make sure to read Sue's beauty tips at this link when you visit her site.

Photos courtesy of Sue Devitt