TATCHA Has Introduced a 23-Karat Gold Illuminated Lipstick in A Plum Blossom

I'm so excited, I can barely contain myself! TATCHA has introduced a brand new, limited-edition lipstick: A Plum Blossom ($55). It will be available this season only.

From TATCHA...2016 Limited-Edition Lipstick

What it is
This lipstick brings a youthful, cool plum pink blush to lips with a fine hint of 23-karat gold for a creamy, lustrous finish to flatter any complexion, day or night.

Why it’s different
Inspired by the iconic pink Japanese Plum Blossom peeking through a snowy Kyoto morning wrapped in golden light. Plum fruit and silk extracts richly hydrate lips.

Who it’s for
All skin tones. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested.

Formulated without
Mineral Oil, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, Pthalates, Urea, DEA, or TEA.

Who is it for? Me! I would guess most of us. Are you as excited as I am?

Just pop over to TATCHA to see the ingredients and order.

Photo courtesy of TATCHA

Chanel Les Sautoirs de Coco Collection for Spring 2016 - Part 1

Inspired by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel’s love of pearls, a glorious new makeup collection glimmers with iridescent and luminous shades of white, pink, and soft grey, while classic black elements bring an unexpected contrast to the soft color range. In short, the collection is stupendous.

How could you pass the display without stopping to play with the Perles et Fantaisies Highlighter ($70)? It stopped me in my tracks. Because my skin is so light, Rahman, the Chanel representative who has darker skin than mine, offered to model it in the store. He blended the pink and pearl shades, and you can see the results below. He applied the swatch very heavily with his finger. You could get a heavy application with your finger or a sponge-tipped applicator. Naturally, if you use a brush, you will achieve a more glowing, less colorful effect. I think I'm going to crawl in a hole and die if I can't find the money to purchase this palette.

The other piece in the collection that will shop enthusiasts in their tracks is #258 Les 4 Ombres Tissé Ombre de Lune ($61.00), an eye shadow quad that I want very much.

Because I was playing with color in the store, I used their small applicators to apply swatches to my arm, and I took my photos indoors - never optimal. Nevertheless, I think you can see that all four of the shades are beautiful. I started swatching at the top right with the silver shade, moved on to ivory, to the charcoal, and ending with the pretty peach. I hope you can see the shine in the silver, and the glow in the ivory and peach shades. The charcoal makes a perfect liner shade with the other colors. I need this quad too.

I will try to get better swatch photos later. I also want to swatch the two gorgeous, pigmented shades of lip gloss, so I have a great reason to go play with Rahman at Tysons Galleria or Nicki at Mazza Gallerie.

You can see the entire Les Sautoirs de Coco Collection at Chanel's Web site. I believe you will have a hard time resisting the urge to pull out your wallet. You can find this collection at Neiman Marcus, and (I believe) Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other select department stores.

Photos courtesy of Chanel and by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - January 29

This photo reminds me to today's weather. The wind is blowing. The snow has started to melt, but not enough. Everywhere you turn when driving, there are lanes still covered with snow, making many multi-lane roads one way. People are walking in the street - it's dangerous. It's cold outside, and much of our snow hasn't melted. The wind chill makes it feel in the single digits - and we are supposed to get flurries later. I really think I should go over to Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie today because Hylton Lea, Le Métier de Beauté's Global Director of Skincare, is there, but it's cold and miserable. I'm having trouble working up the energy to get dressed to go out.

I did go over to Neiman Marcus yesterday to get the 411 on all the upcoming Chanel collections. That was fun. I also picked up Armani's new Year of the Monkey compact. I really thought I had purchased it a week ago. It wasn't in my bag. The woman who was filling in for my regular product specialist didn't charge it to me after I made it clear I wanted to purchase it. At least they still had one.

I've been staying up much later than usual watching television (a very bad habit). Why do networks put all their great shows on between 9:00 and 11:00? I'm thoroughly hooked on the Blacklist, which I call a show for people who can think. I'm also enjoying Jennifer Lopez's new show, Shades of Blue. Those shows make me pump adrenaline, so it takes me until about 12:30 to calm down and go to sleep. It's so cute that Charlie stretches out on my legs while I watch television, and even he can't stay awake that late. Between 10:00 and 11:00, his head slowly drops as he falls asleep. I feel so guilty when I have to roll him over on his side to get up. His eyes say, "I was so comfy; why are you doing this to me?"

It's time for The Friday Forum. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. After a long delay, I hope you are ready to share.

I hope you are safe and well, especially if you were in the blizzard's patch. I'll probably post more Chanel news this weekend. I'm sure I'll be home a lot.

Photo courtesy of ncadvertiser.com

Chanel Spring 2016 Beauty Collection - Part 2 with Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Tissé Beverly Hills

At long last, the eye shadow quad from Chanel's Spring 2016 collection, Les 4 Ombres Tissé Beverly Hills (#262, $61) has arrived. Actually, it came over the weekend, but no one without a snow plow was out on our roads for days. I'm sure you will remember that the rest of the Spring 2016 collection arrived without it. Is it worth the wait? Your own preferences will answer that.

I took my photos in the store at Neiman Marcus, so they aren't as brilliant as I'd like. Indoor lighting is not ideal for the photos I take. Outside, there were no backgrounds without white snow (except my now salty car), and snow doesn't provide a nice background. Anyhow, the quad was difficult to remove from its slot on the display, and I didn't want to be a nuisance.

Between these two photos, I think you can see the four shades pretty well. These colors are vibrant. I am conservative. I don't think Chanel had me in mind when it designed these eye shadow shades. Pfew! Money I don't have saved!

I swatched the shades clockwise, starting at the upper left with little applicators that Neiman Marcus had on hand. Just yesterday, I took my own sponge-tipped applicators out of my handbag. I should know not to do that. I needed them, but you do what you have to do to get swatch photos.

My photo isn't very sharp. This is the best I could do indoors. I'm sorry. You can see that the bright violet at the top of my arm is a powerful, colorful highlighting shade. The beige shade has a bit less pigment and can also be used as a highlighting or brightening shade. I would apply it as a base color. You can blend these two shades together to bring down the violet tones. The next shade is a dark plum. I applied it relatively heavily to show you the shade. Given my fair skin, I could only use it as an eyeliner. The turquoise shade is a very pigmented, pretty spring and summer color. It reminds me of Mediterranean seaside photos.

When I purchase eye shadow quads, I want them to offer me at least three wearable shades out of four. Tissé Beverly Hills does not. There is nothing wrong with it - it's just not my "type." I believe these colors would be gorgeous on someone with olive-toned or dark skin. I'm sure a makeup artist could make these shades work on me, but I don't have one in my house when I'm getting ready for work. I'm a slap-dash kind of gal when I am pressed for time. Would I wear these shades in the evening? Probably not. I avoid lavenders and purples because they bring out the red in my eyes.

I know some of you have been waiting to see this eye shadow quad, so here it is. Chanel's Tissé Ombre de Lune quad that just arrived is much more pleasing to my eyes. I swatched it and will show it to you very soon.

You can purchase Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Tissé Beverly Hills from Chanel.com, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, or wherever you shop Chanel.

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

Giorgio Armani Beauty Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup with SPF30

Giorgio Armani has introduced a new foundation in its award-winning foundation stable. In full, it's called Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup Bi-phase Elixir Octinoxate Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF30 ($64). It is formulated with nourishing oils to make your skin look perfect and feel nude and supple to the touch.

I was smitten from the moment I saw it online. I usually wear one of the Armani foundations. I've been wearing the Maestro Cream Foundation lately. However, I am borderline between a #2 and a #4 in Armani foundations, so I had to wait for it to arrive in stores and test it on my face near my jawline. In this foundation, I'm a #4, which I learned at Neiman Marcus where I purchased it. It appears that there are nine shades in all.

Armani's newest liquid foundation is leading us toward Mr. Armani's Invisible Glow Revolution. The advertising says that it has a sheer glow finish. Maestro Glow is the first "bi-phase makeup elixir." It contains skin-care oils infused with pure pigments and provides a nourishing comfort and lasting glow to the skin. Each drop is said to perfect the complexion. It is inspired by Maestro Fluid in its lightness and silkiness, and it gives an instant and lasting glow due to the blend of pigments and oils. These oils make the texture comfortable, easy to apply, and nourishing for women with drier skin like me.

I found the application to be easy. It has a nice slip on the skin, especially when worn over a treatment or moisturizer. I find the coverage to be medium - not totally sheer because it covers my center redness and sun spots nicely. If you need more coverage, you might want to try another foundation from Armani.

The model in the advertisement has flawless skin. I can see a slight glow where the light hits her skin, but her skin is so perfect, it's hard to know how much coverage this foundation will provide for everyone. Some of us like a little more to cover our imperfections, some less. This foundation is called light, airy, and transparent.

I applied it to one side of my face over moisturizer. I can definitely see a difference between the two sides. I also see a very slight glow. Not a shine, per se, but a subtle brilliance that's flattering. I think it's a beautiful foundation.

I took a swatch photo of #4 on my inner arm, which is a bit lighter than the center of my face. I took it in full sun, but I was unable to get a great background for the photo. I ended up using my car for a background. I shook the bottle well to mix the two phases, applied a drop of Maestro Glow to my palm, and then applied and blended it lightly with my fingers.

I think you'll agree that it's a pretty close match to my skin color. Can you even see it in this swatch? You may be able to see a slight glow in the center of my arm.

I will get a lot of use out of this new foundation. It provides the coverage and finish I like. If you would like to try it, I'd recommend that you do so at an Armani counter if you can. That way, you will be sure to get the right shade.

I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. It is available wherever Giorgio Armani Beauty products are sold, as well as at the Armani Beauty Web site. 

Photos at top courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

I've Been Scammed with a Beauty Product

You may have seen it on the right panel of advertisements on Facebook. It is endorsed by Dr. Oz, which should have been my first clue that it wasn't on the up and up. The ingredient list was impressive, and I wanted to test the product for you. However, their advertisement nabbed a relatively savvy beauty shopper. Here was the deal: pay for postage, and the company, which I have discovered to be Beauty & Truth, sent me a 30-day supply. I could send it back within 30 days if I wasn't completely satisfied.

Nowhere did I see that I was signing up for a subscription service, with a monthly charge of $98 and change. Suddenly, that charge showed up on my credit card yesterday, about 15 days after I ordered the "sample." Additionally, I was charged an international transaction fee!

I called my bank first, and they cancelled my card so that this company can never use it again. I got a temporary card today, and a permanent replacement will show up in about 10 days. Inconvenient much? I will have to notify all parties with whom I have a debit agreement or those who have my card on file, like Sephora, that my card has changed.

Then I called this company. The man with whom I spoke told me the "fine print" on the second page of the agreement I signed gave them the right to bill me the $98+ charge every month until I cancelled, and that that charge would occur at 15 days. Of course, there is no way to get back to that agreement to read it again.

I had to go to the Post Office today to send their sample back. Then I had to find a bank branch that had someone who could issue me a temporary card (the snow here has left banks short staffed). I don't know how they will refund me because my card in their file is dead. The whole experience has been a disaster.

If I were you, I would shun any beauty company associated with Dr. Oz and especially this one. I'm not proud of being fooled, but they got me.

P.S. Today, I saw a beautiful red fox in my back yard looking for peanuts where I used to leave them. I had to be my fox! I quickly and quietly went to the driveway and left dog food, but he came around the corner and saw me. He ran. I hope he comes back. I left him a good meal.

Photo courtesy of Beauty & Truth

Coming Attraction: Bobbi Brown Valentine's Day Collection for Spring 2016

Bobbi Brown is introducing a new enticing red and pink collection this spring. I remember her pink and red collection from 2013. Now, three years later, we can celebrate these stunning colors once again.

Bobbi's new collection, inspired by Valentine's Day, presents an unconventional approach to the traditional color palette with a collection that isn't about matching your lips and nails, but rather deliberately mismatching them. These pinks and hot reds are a modern mix for a look that's wearable and "kissable." The new collection presents shades of Rich Lip Color, Lip Gloss, and Nail Polish.

The Rich Lip Color ($27), a lightweight, full-color lipstick, delivers bold color and rich hydration with a smooth feel. Two colors are available in the collection: Blazing Red and Ibira Pink.

The Lip Gloss ($26) will sweeten your lips with a high-shine dose of pink or red. Bobbi's lip gloss treats your lips to soothing botanical extracts, including avocado and jojoba, to keep them looking soft and supple. The new shades are Pink Lily and Hollywood Red.

The Nail Polish ($15) will add a splash of flirty colors to your fingers and toes. The shades in this collection are Pink Peony and Cherry Tomato.

The Valentine's Day Collection will be available at Bobbi Brown's Web site beginning next month. I assume it will also be available at Bobbi Brown's Department and Specialty Store counters too.

Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown