Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Satisfaction and Mutine from Chanel's Collection Variation

Chanel's 2014 Lip Color Collection is called Collection Variation. It provides a range of intriguing plums, soft reds, and elegant beiges to pamper our lips. A spectrum of textures and finishes lets each of us declare our own style on a whim . . . with a kiss of color that speaks volumes to others.

The collection offers each type of Chanel lip color. I was drawn to the Rouge Coco Shines ($35) and Lèvres Scintillantes lip glosses. Yesterday, I got home from work and discovered enough sunshine to take some photos. It was very late in the afternoon - 5:00 pm to be exact - so my photos aren't as bright as I prefer - but they will have to do.

Today, I'm featuring Rouge Coco Shine in Satisfaction (#89) and the limited-edition Mutine (#90). Satisfaction is shown at left above, with Mutine at right. I quickly took swatch photos to show you the pastel colors and plentiful shine.

The peach Satisfaction, which looks nude in the tube, is swatched at the top of my arm. Mutine, a light pink, is shown below Satisfaction. You can see that both shades are sheer - one of the things I love about Rouge Coco Shine, which pays homage to Coco Chanel, the visionary for whom modernity was a sixth sense.

Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine - the official name - provides lasting moisturizing shine in a water-light texture. The formula glides on for quick and easy application, and a unique Hydratendre complex hydrates and softens lips, giving them a healthier and fuller appearance. This lipstick is not new and is available in a complete range of shades - all with a glossy finish. The finish is noteworthy because it is lightly shiny - not metallic, reflective, glittery, or mirror-like. It gleams in a delightful way.

I love my two new shades, which I purchased from Chanel.com. I ordered one more from Nordstrom because it was sold out at Chanel. I will show it to you soon. What do you think of these?

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

April Arrivals

Look at what I have waiting for me at Neiman Marcus. The limited-edition Tom Ford Eye & Cheek Compact ($95). Tom Ford’s limited-edition eye and cheek color palette for summer imbues a sultry, effortless summer look with a refreshing twist of color. Eyes are enveloped in a blend of soft pearl and satin finish neutrals and a bold accent of cobalt. Cheeks are illuminated with light rose and peach coral shades for a warm and sexy glow. It's packaged in a retro-chic, ivory- and gold-colored Tom Ford case. Reminds me of Estée Lauder, I have to admit.

I also purchased Solar Gold, a champagne Lip Shimmer. All I need to do is get off work on time so that I can zip over to Tysons Corner and pick them up.

I also have the Guerlain Summer 3014 Collections on the way from the Guerlain Boutiue in Las Vegas. Only part of it has arrived, but I've settled on the Terracotta Sun Celebration, a new, limited must-have powder; Rouge Automatique in Tonka Impériale, and the limited-edition Gloss D'Enfer in Namhema Smack. Guerlain has brought out the perfume titles again.

The fragrance is named Terracotta. I hear it smells divinely beachy. I can't wait for it to arrive at my door.

Consider this a sneak peek. I'm tired, it's past my bedtime, but I wanted to tempt you with what revved me in the last few days. You with me? There's much more about these collections to come here.

Photos courtesy of Guerlain and Chic Profile

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Magic Lipstick in Noir Révélateur

I might as well finish up this spring's Givenchy experiments today. At the same time I purchased the Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow, I rolled the dice and ordered Rouge Interdit Magic Lipstick ($32) in Noir Révélateur (#62) - called a sheer berry pink. Why not? I like berries, and I like pink. Plus the funky black color fascinated me.

This "magic lipstick" is said to enhance the natural color of the lips. I'd agree. It's a color-enhancer that brings a touch of "dark mystery for feminine and romantic lips." Its pigments react with the skin’s pH, so its color evolves differently on each woman. The stick looks black, but leaves a transparent bitten effect.

The blinding photo above proves it was taken in very bright mid-day sun. As you can see, the lipstick really looks black in the tube. The tube? It's a little weird, but that doesn't disturb me. I just can't imagine throwing it on a key ring.

Rouge Interdit Magic Lipstick in Noir Révélateur is most definitely transparent on the lips. It's extremely sheer. On my own lips, the color leans toward grape. It reminds me of Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, one of my old favorites.

The color is a blue pink on my arm and on my lips. Despite its sheerness, it does show on my lips. It looks very natural - my lips but better.

It offers a very subtle shine in the light. It does not sparkle as one of my swatch photos above emphasizes. That was full sun. It has an almost imperceptible taste that dissipates in seconds. It feels nicely hydrating on my lips. All in all, good features!

Is it worth the difference in price if you compare it to Black Honey? No. It's nice, though, if you enjoy a little magic, want to astonish your friends, and are willing to buy a "luxury" lipstick. You can find both (Clinique and Givenchy) at Sephora. Sephora is the exclusive retailer for Givenchy in the United States.

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

Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow

Normally, I don't feature products I don't like. I was chatting about that online this weekend with other bloggers. It's not fun to criticize poorly marketed or manufactured products when there are so many good ones. Nevertheless, because Givenchy's new Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow ($23) has received some favorable press, I'll tell you about my experience.

Called a new generation of creamy, waterproof, long-lasting eye shadow, these shadows are anything but creamy. They dry down to a powdery finish (Sephora should have said matte) and are said to last for up to 16 hours of long-wearing, waterproof color. The saturated shades can be layered or mixed to create your own unique signature color or ombre combination. Normally, I adore cream eye shadows, so an offering of new ones caught my attention immediately.

I used the little squares of color at Sephora to select my two shades: Beige Mousseline (#2) and Gris Organza (#7). Neither shade resembles the color online.

For reference, I have copied the color representations from Sephora below, starting with Beige Mousseline.

In the Sephora photo, Beige Mousseline appears to have some gold and peach in it. In my photo with the blue background above, taken in full, mid-day sun, it looks like mud. Sephora's photo of Gris Organza is shown directly below. To me, it looks grey, not the charcoal color you see in my photo. It's a closer representation than Beige Mousseline is, though.

Gris Organza came with its own surprise. I noticed the moment I took it out of the box that it had separated from the pot/jar all the way around. The moment I saw that the product had shrunk, I wondered if it would be fine (like Chanel's creams) or dried out. Unfortunately, it was very dry. See the close-up below. It is going back to Sephora. The product is defective. I might send the beige one back along with it - simply because it looks like mud on my eyelids - not what I expected. The color on Sephora's Web site is much prettier than the real thing.

I decided to show you a swatch photo. Sephora cannot resell the products anyway. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator even though Givenchy recommends you use your fingertips.

I found both shades fairly dry. However, the defective Gris Organza was so dry, it was hard to get enough color out of the pot to make an even swatch. I finally gave up. You can see that one side of my swatch is lighter than the other. You wouldn't believe how hard I worked to get pigment to part from the dry little plug of Gris Organza. Beige Mousseline wasn't that much creamier.

Any sparkles you see in my swatch photo are apparently left over from a product I swatched before these eye shadows.  They are definitely matte. The Non-Blonde, who selected a better shade than I did, says they are waterproof (I can attest to their stubborn refusal to wash off) and long-lasting.

There you have it. I am terribly unimpressed. I almost never return makeup. I think it's fairly unethical to blind-buy and then return an item because I don't like the color. Sephora isn't in the business of selling testers for my convenience. In this case, I think the color misrepresentations and the defective/dry product warrant a return. What do you think?

The Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadows are Sephora exclusives.

Photos courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Aqualumière Gloss in Eau de Rose and Pink Pivoine from the Jardin de Camélias Collection

I went back to the well at Chanel, ordering a few things from the Jardin de Camélias Collection that I had not ordered on my first round. These two beautiful Aqualumière Glosses (29.50), Eau de Rose (#86) and Pink Pivoine (#88) - both shades are limited editions - have been here for what sees like forever waiting for a sunny day when I was home to take their photos. I believe I can finally say goodbye to winter and hello to spring and more frequent sunshine.

Eau de Rose shines on the left in my photo above; Pink Pivoine is shown on the right. All the photos in this feature were taken in full, mid-day sun.

Brush on the exquisite, water-light look of Aqualumière, an ingenious lip gloss, and discover perfect comfort with a sheer wash of color. Chanel has brought back Aqualumière, which was always, in my opinion, a must-have for every lip gloss lover. The mirror-like shine gives the lips a fuller, more sensual look with the precision and ease of an excellent built-in brush applicator.

I had to show off Eau de Rose in front of my blooming star magnolia. The shade surprised me. When I looked at its photo on Chanel.com, I really expected a totally colorless gloss. It offers an icy pink color that looks best, I think, over another lip color. When I wear it alone, I see more of my own lip color, brightened with a hint of pink and a beacon of iridescent shine. The pink makes my eyes pop blue.

Pink Pivoine, though subtly shiny, offers less shine and does not have the iridescence of Eau de Rose. It gives the lips a lot more color. I would describe it as a transparent watermelon rose - in other words, a gorgeous pink.

I'm glad I went back to the well. I love Aqualumière Gloss, and I know I'll get a lot of wear from these two shades. They feel great on my lips and provide average wear. One - I haven't decided which yet - is going in the makeup bag I lug around with me.

The Jardin de Camélias Collection is exclusive to Chanel online, and these are both limited-edition shades - so far. I think they are worth a purchase if you look pretty in pink. They are still available.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - April 4

As I predicted, my star magnolia burst forth today with blooms that look like the ones above. It's pretty. I'm hoping we don't have a late freeze that ruins the flowers. I wasn't able to take my own photo today; it was miserably cloudy all day.

I had planned to write The Friday Forum early this morning. I started working at 7:00 and finished an action-packed day at 3:30. Finally, I forced myself to get up from my chair and go get breakfast and lunch together: huevos rancheros. Now, deliciously full, I am finally able to throw a few words together.

Many popular fragrances spawn what are called flankers - sequels that capitalize on their parent's success and, from the perspective of the brand, come with a built-in audience. Prada is set to launch the third addition to its Candy franchise, called Florale, next week. I happen to like Prada Candy, so I'm anxious to get my hands on the Prada Candy Florale fragrance. A mix of floral notes and honey comprise Florale. Interested?

Despite how tragic it is, I have to recognize the pain of the Ford Hood community. According to the father of a victim, the shooter opened fire after he tried to pick up a form to request time off and was told to come back later. On Tuesday, for the first time since 2002, no U.S. serviceman or woman had died at war during the previous month. Then, on Wednesday, a 34-year-old Iraq veteran named Ivan Lopez opened fired on his colleagues at Fort Hood, killing three soldiers, wounding 15, and then killing himself.

I'm afraid Americans are becoming numb to senseless shootings occurring in our country. They are happening too often, too regularly. Whether in movie theaters, schools, or on military bases, fathers, mothers, children, family members and friends are being slain. Why? Primarily because the mentally ill are not being diagnosed and treated. Our libertarian roots are so strong that no one will deny guns to those who are or have been treated for behavior problems. No one considers eccentric or odd behaviors as potential precursors to violence. I don't know how to fix this problem, but I cry for the victims and their families and friends. Here today, gone in an instant. All because someone snapped - over time or in an instant.

It seems to me that no other country shares this level of random, unpredictable violence. Am I wrong? Why does the United States suffer have such a structural issue? It makes me very sad.

It's hard to jump to beauty products after such thoughts, but I will. For you DC-area friends, next Saturday, there will be a Beauty Event at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. You must pay a $25 entrance fee, but you will receive a $25 credit if you purchase something costing over $25. I hear that editors from Elle will be in attendance, so it might be the must-attend event of April! If you would like to reserve a space, call Michael Reinhardt or Chae Edwards at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258.

It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

Photo courtesy of wikipedia

Rouge G de Guerlain in Galiane and Géraldine - New and Pretty

We had a few minutes today when the sun made an attempt to break through the clouds. I grabbed two new Rouge G de Guerlain's, my camera, and darted outside. While my photos aren't as bright as I would prefer, it was clear that they were as good as I would be able to get today. Galiane is shown at left above, and Géraldine is shown at right.

I blind-purchased Galiane (#15) and Géraldine (#77) - both $54 - from the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas when they arrived. I selected two that sounded nice, as Jonathan described them, and knew I could purchase additional shades once they arrived at our local counters.

I told you about the new Rouge Gs on Monday. Please see that feature for the history of Rouge G, along with the features and ingredients that make it special. Since then, I had a Verizon service problem and couldn't reliably blog - sorry!

There are five new permanent shades. They are listed below, with Guerlain's descriptions.

• 15 Galiane, nude beige
• 16 Gaëtane, deep brown
• 77 Géraldine, luminous pink
• 78 Gladys, vibrant fuchsia
• 48 Geneva, blood orange

I took swatch photos in the same cloudy but bright light. Galiane is shown at the top of my arm, with Géraldine below. I held my arm in front of a star magnolia that is just starting to bloom. If the weather stays warm, the tree will be glorious in a day or two.

I hope you can see that Galiane is a gorgeous nude. It has enough pink in it to make it look fabulous on my lips. It's a beautiful natural shade.

Géraldine is a bright cool-toned pink. It's a pretty pick-me-up for spring.

These Rouge Gs have excellent, long-wear and feel hydrating on my lips. They offer a subtle shine to the lips.

The new Rouge Gs have arrived at the Guerlain Boutiques and will arrive at select locations of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Dillards, Sepora, and at Bergdorf Goodman in April - this month!

Photos by Best Things in Beauty