Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs Long Lasting Eyeshadow from the Spring 2013 Color Collection

Two new, limited-edition Écrin 4 Couleurs Long Lasting Eyeshadows ($59) have been introduced with the Spring 2013 Color Collection.

• #501 Attrape-Coeur, a dazzling palette in which mauve, violet, and white illuminate the prima donna purple (shown below)
• #502 Coup de Foudre, exquisite shades of green, silvery patina, and bronze-khaki team up with vibrant coral (shown above)

I purchased Coup de Foudre. I cannot resist greens. Attrape-Coeur is very pretty, but unfortunately, lavenders bring out the red in my eyes. The look of recent tears is not a pretty sight. For those who can wear these shades, #501 is going to be a sold-out palette before too long.

The two exciting, colorful new harmonies dress up the eyelids like never before. The four silky powders in each case can be freely mixed and matched, without worrying about applying them in any particular order. [Is that a dig at another company? Probably not. Guerlain is way above that kind of thing, but it did tickle my funny bone]. In a subtle play of light and shadow, of contrast and graduated intensity, each hue has just the right texture and nuance - velvety and delicate, slightly iridescent, or downright metallic - so they can be blended or layered to perfection, creating incomparable radiance under the unique springtime light.

I am thoroughly delighted with Coup de Foudre (#502). Green is one of my favorite colors, and when any makeup line offers me new greens, I jump. When I received Coup de Foudre, I realized how appropriately named it is. The French term is translated as "bolt of lightning" or "love at first sight." How did they know?

I took swatch photos in full, morning sun to show you how gorgeous these four shades will be on your eyelids. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator, as I usually do - in this case heavily, but not markedly so. I started at the top left and swatched clockwise.

I nearly hyperventilated when I saw the colors. Quick, get me a vat of the shimmering bronze-hued khaki shade at the top. (Please, Guerlain. Let's talk. There must be something I could do in trade. Edit press releases? Sell makeup?) I think that shade may be one of the prettiest greens I own. Think it looks good on my arm? You should see it on my eyelids!

The coral is a bit strange. It reminds me of the beautiful blush in Chantecaille's Tiger in the Wild, which is my everyday go-to palette. After playing with this palette, I can see that I'll have two uses for it: 1) applied ever-so-lightly as a base shade on the lid below the crease (it looks stunning with the greens), or 2) using it as a blush. I must use an eyeshadow brush that deposits a minimum amount of coral pigment on my lids.

The deep-dark green looks green in bright lighting or a green-hued charcoal in darker settings. It will serve as the perfect liner with these shades or, if applied properly, as an accent shade. If you want to add drama at night, use it as your primary color for a smoky eye. You will attract admiring glances, I'm sure.

The spring-like shimmering, silvery mint green is beauticious (I looked it up; it means viciously beautiful). That sums it up. Combining it with the dark shade above it on my arm yields a very pretty "I'm special" look.

I'm so excited about Coup de Foudre, I'd love to have another one. However, I've spent so much on beauty products this fall, I would have to hit the street corner with a cup and a sign that would read something like, "Help a makeup addict maintain her addiction." While that might draw a few chuckles, I doubt it would raise much money.

I purchased my Guerlain Spring 2013 Color Collection items from the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas, and I highly recommend them for extraordinary service. Beauty Advisor Rhonda Hethcoat at the boutique has earned my loyalty. Give her a call at (702) 732-7008 if any of the spring collection interests you. How could it not?

Photos at top courtesy of Guerlain; other photos by Best Things in Beauty