Rouge Bunny Rouge Raw Garden Eye Shadow Palette in Caliche

Last month, I was able to give you a preview of Rouge Bunny Rouge's magnificent Autumn Beauty Look, Rose Garden Melody. Now, after days of rain, wind, and generally miserable weather, I have photos of Caliche (#092, 49 euros) that I am happy to share with you.

Caliche is a nuanced harmony of muted silky purples (rosy ecru, dusky and earthy aubergine, rosewood, and mauve). This fall, you can step up your eye shadow game with this new Eye Shadow color quartet. With encapsulated hyaluronic acid and argan oil added to the formula, the texture is even more silky and luxurious, while deeply hydrating to the skin. Argan oil nourishes and regenerates, too.

The signature multi-dimensional quality of Rouge Bunny Rouge Eye Shadows is at its best here, with a 3D color effect, an extraordinary satin-matte finish, and the richest pigmentation with stunning color pay-off.

The Raw Garden high-tech formula delivers a sense of transparency despite the intense pigmentation and the pleasant silky, melting sensation during the effortless application. Having read that the Caliche combines wearable, muted shades of purple, I was a little afraid it might be too "red" for my eyes. Not!

The cream with slight pink undertones is a great base or highlighting color. Moving clockwise, the medium cool, dusky aubergine actually works on me, when blended over the cream. I love the soft rosewood laced with greige (so trendy!), and the soft, grey will work with any color scheme. The formula is free from parabens, D5, mineral oil, and nano-particles. You can always expect purity from Rouge Bunny Rouge.

There is a PDF brochure at this link if you'd like to take a look. It's on the European site. The U.S. site will follow shortly this month.

Rouge Bunny Rouge sent me the Autumn Collection over a week ago. I tried to take photos on a "mostly sunny" day, but I was unhappy with them. Finally, I have snapped photos that I believe accurately portray this beautiful palette. My photos were taken in full, early afternoon sun. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator. The sun added a bit of extra sheen to the shades.

The cream or ivory at the top of my arm is a radiant shade perfect for use with its sister shades or any other palette you have. The aubergine below it could be too red for some, but if you cleverly blend it with the other shades in the palette, it will give you the perfect fall look.

The taupe, which Rouge Bunny Rouge describes a a rosewood laced with greige, is absolutely gorgeous on the eyelids. I like to wear it alone, just swept over my lid below the crease. The grey is perfect for any look. You may want to try blending it in the outer corners with the taupe.

As always, the palette is presented in a black presentation box, safely nestled into a plastic insert. Although it takes up space, it's too elegant to discard.

Rouge Bunny Rouge has generously offered readers of Best Things in Beauty a discount code: RBR-BESTTHINGSINBEAUTY20. I believe you can use it on either their European or U.S. site. I haven't tried it, but if you have any trouble with it, please let me know.

As soon as I can, I will show you the other two beauties they sent me gratis: one of which is the new Skin Perfector. I think you're going to love it. For now, I must run off. I read The Girl on the Train all afternoon yesterday and finished it this morning. I'm a little behind on life management.

You can purchase Caliche right now at Rouge Bunny Rouge - or wait for the U.S. Web site to publish it. Either way, I think you'll be delighted with this unique palette.

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

Victoria Beckham Collection for Estée Lauder - Eye Foil

Yesterday was quite a day. Mid-afternoon, I went over to my mother's house to feed the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, and any other animals who might like what I served. As I went to get back into my car, I saw that my rear right tire was flat! I had driven over to her house with a flat tire. I decided to go to the nearest gas station with free air and pump air into my tire. Once I had finished that, I called the Audi dealer and asked if they could take a look at my tire. They said to bring it right away. So, off I went.

Thank God I bought the tire and wheel warranty when I leased my car. One hour after I arrived, I left with a new tire, which cost me nothing but the time I lost yesterday. When I got home, I realized I had very little good sunshine left to photograph Victoria Beckham's Eye Foil ($36), so I went straight for a swatch and walked far enough up my little street to "get sunshine." While I didn't get a picture of the product itself, it looks exactly as shown above in  Estée Lauder's photo.

This breakthrough liquid eye shadow delivers a high-shine, vinyl-like finish, even after it’s dried - and it dries quickly. Sparkling pearl pigments offer flecks of gold or charcoal foil for a liquid-metal effect.

This is a pretty flexible product. It can be used alone for a stunning pearl effect. It can be used under one of Beckham's Eye Metal Eyeshadows to add an entirely different dimension to the shadows. Or it can be used in the inner corners of the lids. I like it. It adds some pizazz to my eye shadow collection.

I got a kick out of something I read on the Internet the other day crediting Pat McGrath for her "new technique" of using a white or silver shadow or liner on the inner corner. I was stunned. This technique has been used by makeup artists for more years than I can count. It opens up the eyes, and everyone who knows makeup knows that. The article left me wondering if it was written by an intern.

Anyhow, Eye Foil is available (when it's not sold out) in two shades: Blonde Gold, which I purchased, and a dark shade that is also currently sold out. I can't even find the name right now, but I will later. I just got a call from Neiman Marcus that the Guerlain Holiday Collection arrived, and I have to hurry over there to have first choice of my I-wants.

As I mentioned yesterday, the preview products sold out almost instantly. The collection will be officially launched on October 1. Only one store in my area will have it, Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. If you are interested in pre-ordering from them, give Rahman Malik a call at (703) 861-4673. Naturally, you will also be able to order from  Estée Lauder and Bergdorf Goodman once they restock.

Photo at top courtesy of  Estée Lauder; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Runway Fall/Winter 2016 Collection

Giorgio Armani is launching backstage makeup developed for his runway show - a look every woman can wear. Each new season for the past two years, the Armani Runway Lab has given Linda Cantello, Giorgio Armani International Makeup Artist, the tools to create the new colors imagined by Mr. Armani backstage. The following information came from the Armani press release.

An exclusive and limited makeup collection, directly inspired by the fashion show, is being made available to women so they can make the latest runway makeup their own. This season, every woman will be able to wear the look from the Armani Runway.

Bohemian Chic and Timeless Velvet
The Giorgio Armani Fall/Winter 2016 collection features black velvet heightened with floral prints. This soft, delicate and durable fabric, matte and iridescent at once, captures the light like none other and offers a multitude of highly inspiring facets. New shapes combine precise lines with the bohemian feel of fabrics swarming with jacquard brushstrokes, splashes of color, gradations of tone, and stylized flowers.

Makeup as seen on the catwalk is naturally soft and luminous. The pure complexion enhances mysterious eyes accentuated by lids that cast endless reflections of light. Lips are subtly tinged with an irresistible lavender nude that complements the perfectly elegant fleshy beige color of nails.
The Armani Runway Fall/Winter 2016 collection is composed of three products: 1) a palette with a sheer powder and a trio of eye shadows; 2) an Eye Tint liquid eye shadow; and 3) a Rouge d’Armani lipstick.

The Runway Palette ($120)
Featuring fabric hot off the runway, this season's eye and face palette is wrapped in silk muslin with floral prints stylized in nude, lavender, and black, as shown above.

This precious collector's palette has two tiers. The first tier reveals a silky and luminous universal sheer powder to mattify the complexion and highlight facial features. The second tier contains a trio of eye shadows in deep, delicate shades, ranging from matte velvet black to shimmering champagne and satiny mauve greige. Applied on the lids and below the eyes, they brighten and bring out the eyes.

Eye Tint – A Source of Light ($40)
Layered with the eye shadows from the Runway Palette, Eye Tint leaves an illuminating veil of iridescent champagne on the eyes. It can also be applied beneath the brow arch and in the inner corner of the eye for a heightened illuminating effect.

Inspired by MAESTRO Fusion Makeup, Eye Tint blends onto the skin smoothly for a "no-makeup" feel. Its pure, intense, and indefinable color guarantees long wear (16 hours), while retaining a light, fresh "bare lid" effect. Its extra-thin "Smart Eye Color Film" ensures flawless adherence to the eyelid. Its highly workable texture is easy to blend before drying and provides a cream-like sensation of comfort.

Rouge d'Armani ($40)
Lips are given a sensual touch of mauve beige to enhance their natural color. Rouge d'Armani lipstick deposits just the right subtly delectable tone of lavender nude on the lips.

Used every day by makeup artists around the world, this couture lipstick is now a must-have for even the most demanding women. Its gentle, lightweight formula promises exceptional color hold and comfort for six hours straight.

A Fashionable Case
Strengthening the unique ties between fashion and this exclusive makeup line, the Armani Runway products slip into a precious and elegant pouch made with the fabric of the Giorgio Armani Fall/Winter 2016 collection. It's really pretty! The pouch for the palette is the same as those shown above with the lipstick and Eye Tint.

Linda Cantello, Giorgio Armani International Makeup Artist, said, "For this collection, I took the fabric and was inspired by the colors; there is a blend of grey, lavender colors. The advantage of having the Runway Lab backstage is that we created a very shiny wet-looking Eye Tint that we didn’t have before."

The Runway Collection should have been available at Armani Beauty counters and online in mid-August. I've been checking every week because I want it. I'll let you know when I find it.

Update 9/21: The collection is in-store at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria and Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase.

Photos courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Rose Garden Melody - Coming Attraction at Rouge Bunny Rouge for Fall 2016

Rouge Bunny Rouge has enticing Enchanted Garden news for you. Today their Autumn Beauty Look, Rose Garden Melody, launches and presents the two latest novelties, Skin Perfector and an Eye Shadow Palette called Caliche, for the new season.

Celebrating 10 years in the service of beauty, Rouge Bunny Rouge's Neo-Victorian Festival honors what customers love most about the company: individuality, excellent quality, and extraordinary results achieved with great ease.

The new looks, euphony of lace, summer night symphony, rose garden melody, and rebel princess, were designed to be expressions of modern beauty. Rose Garden Melody presents the lush abundance of pinks from the softest pearlescent cream-rose to sheer hot pink to dusty mauve and anything in between that creates the flattering harmony of Rouge Bunny Rouge's Autumn Beauty Look. There is a short video that presents the collection.

Skin Perfector looks like a must-have to me. I think I have one on the way. Weightless and velvety-soft, this lightly tinted primer dramatically enhances the appearance of your complexion with innovative particles called Diamond Core Powder. The formula transforms invisible UV light into blue and green light, an effect natural to young and healthy skin. Discoloration, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and imperfections nearly disappear.

Its delicate, rosy tint further flatters one's skin tone, making the skin look more radiant and fresh without any visible coverage. It is packed with antioxidents and plant-derived actives, and the combined ingredients contribute to protecting the skin.

The new Eye Shadow Palette Caliche is a nuanced harmony of muted silky purples (rosy ecru, dusky and earthy aubergine, rosewood, and mauve). This fall, you can step up your eye shadow game with this new Eye Shadow Palette color quartet. With encapsulated hyaluronic acid and argan oil added to the formula, the texture is even more silky and luxurious, while deeply hydrating to the skin. Argan oil nourishes and regenerates, too.

Rouge Bunny Rouge is quintessentially British. The company's makeup and skin care embody efficient and ground-breaking formulas, active ingredients, rich and complex colors, and unmatched signature textures with a lightweight second-skin feel. Rouge Bunny Rouge is constantly scouring the latest state-of-the-art solutions from the best international manufacturers. Rouge Bunny Rouge is also renowned (for good reason) for its fantastic world of storytelling. Elements of magic, whimsy, and mystery are playfully reflected in the names of their products, endearingly romantic or charming and mischievous.

As a counterbalance to massively trend-driven or conceptual, ritual-based cosmetics, Rouge Bunny Rouge stands for quality and effortless results - beauty that is quick and easy to achieve, with no complicated techniques that must be mastered. How perfect for modern, busy women!

Caliche will be available in the U.S. in October (you can purchase online or from Beautyhabit) and in Rouge Bunny Rouge's international and German Web Boutique at the end of this week. Check out the company's Web site.

Photos courtesy of Rouge Bunny Rouge

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2016 Runway Collection - Introduced Today

The mystery collection, used on all of the models at Tom Ford's runway show yesterday, became available for sale today. We couldn't even see it until after the show! I purchased my new pieces at Neiman Marcus from Debbie O'Malley. She had them ready for me this morning, and I came home quickly to take photos before any afternoon clouds rolled in.

Here is how Allure described the small collection...
The makeup look for the show was fresh and natural with an emphasis on shine. The foundation was kept as sheer as possible, and cheekbones were highlighted with a glossy mixture that was a blend of Tom Ford Illuminating Primer and foundation, and then tapped on with a finger to give skin a dewy, rather than shimmery, quality. The eyes, which appeared to be glossy and slightly shaded on the runway, were actually coated with a mixture of two shadows - one a shimmery golden-beige, the other a glittery chocolate brown - both of which come from the Eye Colour Duo in AW16 (short for Autumn/Winter 2016) that will go on sale September 8 at tomford.com and Tom Ford counters. The lip shade (Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo in AW16) is also brand new, created just for the show. "It's a sheer nude with a bit of peach and a bit of pink, so it looks like your natural lip color, but with a beautiful texture," Tom Ford Beauty's Director of Product Development, Philippe Chansel, said backstage at the show. "And we formulated it so it can be used on every model at the show.

The Eye Color Duo in 04 AW16 ($60) is a beauty. It provides two beautifully neutral shades that can be used traditionally, layered, or blended. I am sure I'll get a lot of wear out of this duo. I took my photos in full, early afternoon sun. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator.

The Lip Contour Duo in 09 AW16 ($53) is a very light peachy nude. It is brand new, created just for the show. I am going to have to play with the shades to make sure they give me enough color. I can always put a more colorful gloss over them to brighten my face.

There is a photo of one of the models wearing these shades below. They look good on her.

My swatch photos were taken in full sun and show how the lip colors look without any lip pigment to enhance the colors.

The peachy nude is pretty. If I don't use it this fall, I'm sure I'll wear it in the spring.

The Cheek Color shown at the top of this feature is a re-promote, Love Lust.

What do you think? Tom Ford cleverly made us wait until his runway show had ended to see and purchase these colors. Was that a clever marketing trick? It worked for me!

You can purchase them at Tom Ford Beauty online and at Tom Ford counters. If you would like help, give Debbie O'Malley a call at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie at (202) 966-9700. Ask for the Tom Ford counter.

Photos at top and of model courtesy of Allure; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Skyline for Fall 2016

Peter Philips, once Chanel's makeup guru, is now Dior's makeup maestro (he joined Dior in 2014), orchestrating the company's color cosmetics strategy as Creative and Image Director of Christian Dior Makeup. His collection for Fall 2016 has imagined a beauty look that plays with shadow and light as he celebrates the daring Dior woman driven to experiment; a woman enhanced by the Skyline collection featuring eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks, and brow pencils inspired by the techniques of professional makeup artists. Facial contours are naturally sculpted, eye shadows in autumnal colors bring out the eyes, while lips and nails take on shades of daring that evoke the bold lines of the Eiffel Tower, the timeless icon that inspired Peter Philips to create the Skyline Collection.

I purchased a few pieces from the collection at Neiman Marcus. Today, I'll feature its namesake Skyline 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette ($63).

I had not seen it when I purchased it, but I relied on Debbie O'Malley to assure me that the colors would work for me.

Inspired by the iconic architecture of the Eiffel Tower, Dior revisits its star 5 Couleurs Palette with two limited editions featuring deep, luminous and richly contrasting colors. The other palette is called Capital of Light, and one of the shades is definitely burgundy - not me.

I took my photos in full, early afternoon sunshine. I swatched relatively heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator, starting at the top left and moving around the palette clockwise, ending with the shade in the middle at the bottom of my arm.

The light copper color at the top of my arm is much more attractive than it appears in the compact. The compact photo worried me; I was afraid the color might be muddy. Not so! The beautiful slightly shimmering light beige at the top right of the compact is a wonderful base shade for use with all of these colors. The deep brown is a perfect eyeliner or contour shade for me. I applied it heavily for the photo above, but you can use a much lighter hand and brush to use it as a contour shade.

I've always loved blue with brown, and Peter Philips selected two gorgeous blues to "pair" with the browns in this palette. The icy blue brightens the eyes and erases any redness in the eye area. The grey blue is simply gorgeous. What else can I say?

The formula offers an ultra-pigmented texture without a chalky effect for a smooth, even application. I think I will get a lot of wear from Skyline, starting now.

The Dior Makeup Web site shows both fall palettes as being out of stock, but they are available at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. Just call Debbie. Stock is limited (as is always the case with Dior for some reason), so if you are interested, call soon. I'm sure the Dior Web site will catch up and stock it before long.

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

Guerlain 5 Couleurs Eye Palettes for Fall 2016

In early August,I was privileged to show you a coming attraction of Guerlain's Fall 2016 Collection. Today, I am thrilled to show you my first purchases from the collection, two eye shadow palettes. I purchased them at Nordstrom online.

The new eye shadows, Guerlain's 5 Couleurs Eye Palette ($69) offer six new, trend-setting and comprehensive eye palettes that allow us to be as daring as our moods. Each compact contains five perfectly graduated shades to enhance your eyes with just one swipe to create the desired look - from natural to bold. This easy-to-use range of shades contains a base to even and illuminate, two nude tones to subtly enhance, and two smoky sophisticated shades that intensify every look. Applied separately or layered, the shades deliver unfailingly chic results. Each palette comes with a plastic overlay that labels the shadows base, nude, and smoky.

The technology of these palettes offers ultra-fine, light-reflecting pigments for brighter, illuminating color that can create numerous effects. Depending on the shade, the finish may be matte, satin, or metallic with a luminous finish so that eyes appear more lively and vibrant. 

Of the two I purchased, Coque d'Or (#03, $69) is my favorite. With shades ranging from ivory to green (yes, that shade on the far right is green, but you know my camera has a green deficiency), this palette is swoon-worthy.

I took my photos in early afternoon full, very bright sunlight. I swatched each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator, starting at the left in the palette at the top of my arm and moving toward the right as I moved down my arm. Coque d'Or is swatched below.

The base shade is a yellow gold. The next shade is a shimmering gold, followed by a shimmering copper. The two shades paired at the right are a brown-copper hybrid and green.

Every one of these shades looks fabulous on my eyes. My only regret? That Guerlain did not make the last two colors on the right full-sized.

Bois des Indes (#06) is a gorgeous set of neutrals. As you can see in my swatches below, the palette is extremely flexible for everyday use.

The base shade is so light (at the top of my arm), I accidentally cut off the top of my swatch. The next shade down is a warm peachy-pink, also with shimmer. The next shade is a matte mauve. The taupe below is a gorgeous shade. I'll wear it often. The charcoal at the far right is a dark grey-brown when applied dry. I imagine it will provide more oomph when applied with a damp brush.

For a nude look, apply the illuminating base shade #1 to the eyelid (each is numbered on the plastic insert), arch of the eyebrow, and inner corner of the eye. Layer shade #2 over the eyelid. Blend in shade #3 as an accent in the outer corner, one of my favorite techniques.

For a bold look, sweep the illuminating shade #1 over the eyelid, arch of the eyebrow, and inner corner of the eye. Layer shade #4 over the eyelid. Then apply shade #5 at the lash line on the outer corner. Blend as an accent in the same corner to smudge - another of my favorite techniques.

I'm anxious to see the rest of the palettes in person. I'm sure I'll "fall for" at least one more. I suspect it will be Tonka Impérial. I'll wait for the palettes to arrive at a local store.

I know you can order these new Guerlain palettes from Nordstrom. They will be available at Guerlain Boutiques, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Saks, Bloomingdale's, Dillard's, Sephora, and online.

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

The Friday Forum - August 19 Plus Chantecaille Protect the Lions Eye Palette Live and In Person

Thank God for FedEx! My guy showed up with Chantecaille's Protect the Lions Eye Palette just as I was moving toward my computer to write the Friday Forum.

Look at that beautiful blue sky reflecting in the silver-rimmed case! It puts that exquisite lion in the perfect context of blue sky and Mother Nature.

I featured this palette last week as a coming attraction. Hop over to the link for all the information on Chantecaille's Fall 2016 Collection. At the time I featured it, several of us worried about the description of Amboseli, a glistening shade "inspired by the beautiful, rich burgundy color of the earth in Amboseli National Park." Worry no more! The shade is a gorgeous, rich brown.

I'll name the shades again, starting at top left and moving clockwise. Also, someone asked if there is an overspray on the colors. The answer is yes.

• Sand, a creamy beige infused with flecks of gold African Topaz;
• African Topaz, a glistening copper; 
• Rock: a silky, matte, neutral grey; and
• Amboseli, a glistening shade inspired by the beautiful, rich burgundy color of the earth in Amboseli National Park (this mesmerizing shade enhances all eye colors). 

I immediately took swatch photos, using a sponge-tipped applicator, starting at the top of my arm with Sand, and moving down until I ended with Amboseli.

As you can see, Amboseli is not burgundy. It's brown - just as I suspected from its appearance in the compact. All four shades coordinate beautifully - even the grey, which doesn't always look like it belongs with brown tones.

I purchased my Protect the Lions Eye Palette from Chantecaille. It arrived in one day. The palette is also available at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. Jeannine Barnes is the product specialist there. You can reach her at (202) 966-9700. Just ask for Chantecaille. I have most of the rest of the collection and will be showing it to you over the coming days.

Don't forget that five percent of your purchase will go to Lion Guardians. That's important 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. I hope to see you in the comments.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Coming Soon: Chantecaille Protect the Lions Collection for Fall 2016

Chantecaille's Fall 2016 collection is a love letter to the majestic nature of lions. Watching a lion move through the bush is an electric experience. Their gorgeous coats gleaming in the sun, their easy, languid power. Exuding pride and confidence, these creatures are truly the rulers, responsible for the balance within the animal kingdom.

Chantecaille's recent trip to Africa inspired the season’s palette: the red earth, shimmering sand, and matte, rocky terrain became an elegant suite of rich, earthy hues that enhance the eyes, lips, and cheeks and reflect the natural beauty of the captivating landscape. The color story also synchronizes with the fiercely feminine, understated chic earth tones seen on many Fall 2016 runways.

Each season, Chantecaille's philanthropic relationships broaden our eyes to a changing world, one where humans encroach on the natural habitats of animals. Our impact is felt worldwide, and we find so much inspiration  in the impassioned people who seek to reverse this damage. A true passion for lions led Stephanie Dolrenry and Leela Hazzah to leave their homes in the Midwest and Egypt and settle in Kenya. Both have devoted their careers to lion conservation, and their perseverance with groundbreaking conservation methods in Kenya’s Amboseli National  Park and the foundation of The Lion Guardians are proof of their true love for these animals.

After immersing themselves in the local Maasai culture, where young men are traditionally raised to be lion hunters, Dolreny and Hazzah have redirected the focus of the tribe to understand the nuances of living in harmony with the lions. By teaching the Maasai youth to speak Swahili and English and employing them to use GPS technology to track the local lion population, they have showed the tribes that attuning themselves to the animals and respecting their patterns and habits is the only way to live together with the majestic creatures. What has resulted is a cherished relationship between the Maasai and the lions and an empowered generation of tribes people, who, with the resources of education and technology, have evolved from lion hunters to become lion guardians.

The Protect The Lions Eye Palette ($85) was inspired by the African landscape and their beautiful lions. Eyes are softly sculpted with washes of creamy beiges and velvety grays. Flecks of shimmering copper anchored by majestic burgundies set the eyes aglow. Skin is left luminous with a slight flush of demure pink on the cheeks.

The shades are...

• Sand, a creamy beige infused with flecks of gold African Topaz;
• African Topaz, a glistening copper;
• Amboseli, a glistening shade inspired by the beautiful, rich burgundy color of the earth in Amboseli National Park (this mesmerizing shade enhances all eye colors); and
• Rock: a silky, matte, neutral grey.

Pride Cheek Shade ($40) is a silky smooth powder formula that adds the perfect hint of natural looking color. Of course, it's embossed with an exquisite lion face.

The shade? What more natural name could it have than Pride? It's a soft, demure pink that adds a natural flush of color to all skin tones.

I should stop here and tell you that five percent of the proceeds of each eye palette and cheek shade sold will be donated to the Lion Guardians to help them continue their work to save the lions, among the most majestic creatures on Earth.

Full color release combined with a delightfully creamy texture makes Chantecaille Lip Stick ($36) both glamorous and incredibly comfortable. It's infused with natural beeswax, vitamins A and C, and emollient amino acids. The new shades are, left to right, Mirage, the perfect beigy nude; African Violet, a dramatic berry with subtle, cool undertones; and Sunset, a warm, sophisticated coral.

The Luster Glide Silk Infused  Eye Liner ($29) is an innovative, long-lasting eye liner that combines the effortless application of a pencil with the dramatic definition of a liquid liner. Falls brings us a new shade: Amethyst, a silky smooth, burgundy infused with light-catching pearl that adds instant drama and definition to the lash line. It coordinates perfectly with the eye palette.

Many of you know that I live in Chantecaille makeup. More often than not, the eye shadow I apply in the morning was made by Chantecaille. Today, I'm wearing the Sharks. The colors work well for me, and they last all day. I'm more than a fan. I'm obsessed with Chantecaille. I can't wait to get my hands on these new colors.

The good news? We don't have to wait long for this gorgeous collection to arrive at counters! It will be available in August 2016 at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Frédéric Fekkai Salons, Neiman Marcus, Space NK, select Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom locations and Chantecaille.com.

Photos courtesy of Chantecaille

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience from Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1

Chanel's Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience (#268, $61) from the Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1 was not designed for the timid. When I first saw it in print, I thought there was no way I would purchase it. Then, after a professional application, avoiding the red shade on my eyes, I was sold. Amazing how those things happen to beauty mavens.

Because this quad isn't your everyday palette, Chanel offers suggestions for how to use it.

A is supposed to be your highlighting shade, allied over the entire lid. B should be used to shade and contour. C, the brick red, is also suggested for shading and contouring. D is a shade you can use to intensify. On me, we used it as an eyeliner.

As usual, my photo taken in full sunshine is displays the colors more accurately than Chanel's photo above. The shades have more life in them than Chanel would leave you thinking on their Web site.

I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full late-morning sunshine. I swatched clockwise, starting with the upper left warm brown and finishing with the dark red.

All three browns are warm. I especially like the two on the top level. They are vibrant. The red, when layered with the browns gives you the effect shown on the model (Kristen Stewart) at the top of this feature. It blends to produce a copper shade.

My eyelids are particularly sensitive to red dyes, so we applied the red shade as a blush on me - very lightly. Our application was much lighter than I was able to achieve with a sponge-tipped applicator, but it was hot outside, and I didn't feel like running into wash the oily eye makeup remover off my arm and start again with a thin layer of moisturizer. So what you see is an uneven application. I hope you get the idea of an intense color that can be moderated with your blush or powder brush for a lovely autumnal shade.

It's actually pretty on the face, but I think I'd opt for Rouge Profond when given the choice. I hope you can see that the colors - no matter how you use them - coordinate nicely to produce the avant garde effect for which Ms. Pica had aimed. If you want to watch a film on application, hop over to this link and click on the tutorial. It appears my computer still isn't entirely ready to roll. I can't get it to play (ARGH!).

Le Rouge Collection N°1 has arrived at Chanel counters. For those of you who don't have easy access to one, please call Nicky Hashemi at (202) 966-9700. Use my name. Ask for the Chanel counter. If you want to order online, just hop over to this Chanel link.

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

Test Drive of Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience for Fall 2016

I didn't have the best lighting for makeup photos in the Neiman Marcus Café, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting photos of the Le Rouge Collection N°1. The eye shadow quad shown directly above is the one that has drawn all the buzz. The entire collection is eliciting attention because of its emphasis on red.

Chanel's new Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, Lucia Pica, calls it more than a color, it's a statement of life. Red inspired her passionate debut with Chanel. "I am obsessed by the color red," she said. "For me, there is strength and emotion, warmth and disruption in the color red." There is an idea of the symbolism of red and a red undertone that runs through the entire fall collection.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Candeur et Expérience ($61) scared me at first glance. I was immediately smitten by the three neutral brown shades, light brown, deep brown, and warm brown. However, because my eye allergies have been patch tested, and I'm allergic to red dye, and I don't know which one, red scares me.

Freba Slimanzada, Chanel's makeup artist at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, immediately suggested we use it as a blush. I jumped onboard. I thought that was a superb idea.

The lighting in the store is abysmal for close-up photos. Just as well. I had just washed my hair, and when I stepped out of the house to go over to Neiman Marcus in 95 degree heat with humidity to match, my hair decided to frizz. Nevertheless, I wanted a photo to show you how her creativity in using the quad looked. I guess I could have smiled, but I was concentrating on looking down so you could see the eye shadows.

Freba used the light brown all over the lid. Then she applied deep brown in a "V" shape in the outer corners of my lids, bringing the V up toward my eyebrows much higher and darker than I usually do (made for a better photo). She used the warm brown, the darkest brown, as an eyeliner on my upper and lower lash lines. Then she used the deep brick red shade as a blush. It looked like a perfect fall shade. We didn't fool with mascara or other makeup. We just focused on my eye shadow and blush, using this new quad. My friend and Chanel account executive brought the quad over especially for this test drive, so it was our centerpiece for the day.

I thought the "finished product" looked really good - edgier than I usually wear, but it certainly put a focus on my eyes. I hope you can see that at least one of those browns has a slight red tinge in it. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but after studying it in different lighting scenarios yesterday afternoon, I was sure. I think you can see it in the photo above.

Over the next week, I'll be showing you other photos of the Fall 2016 Collection, which will be available by August. I know you have been waiting to see the first Chanel collection by Lucia Pica. Her coming out party is drawing compliments from all over the globe.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Summer 2016 Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été - Les 4 Ombres Multi-effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte du Désert

Inspired by a shimmering desert oasis, Collection Dans la Lumière de L'Été reveals luminous new colors for face, eyes, nails, and lips. Brilliant coppers and sandy browns give soft intensity to the eyes, while pinks and oranges sparkle on the lips. The entire collection is gorgeous! I will be showing it to you this week.

Where to start? Let's focus on the exquisite, limited-edition Les 4 Ombres Multi-effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte du Désert (#9501, $65). This exclusive creation offers a palette of earth-toned shadows, each embossed with a desert-inspired design. Copper and green shades are styled alongside sepia and brown hues for soft dimension. There are so many combinations of colors we can use with this palette, it could take us through the entire summer and into fall.

The illusion of an oasis in the desert is portrayed in each eye shadow. The neutral shades, with a touch of inviting green, are gorgeous. I could not have selected more beautiful colors. The shades are all "creamy" powders too - so nice that there is absolutely no fallout.

My photos were taken in mid-day sunshine. I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator. As some of you know, my camera does not capture green accurately. The green shade on the skin is exactly as it appears in the quad in real life. Unfortunately, on my arm directly below, it appears to be grey-green.

I couldn't leave you with that impression, so I did something I never do. I edited the photo so that the green color would look more true/accurate. Many bloggers do this regularly. I don't. I want you to see the colors as my camera sees them. I never trust my eyes, but with greens, I know my camera gets goofy. The edited photo is below. The green shade is much closer to true below than it is in the photo above. I had to do it justice!

The shades all shine like I'm sure an oasis would look in a desert. They have some sparkle, but it's not too glitzy. I will wear all four shades during the day, and I'm conservative about what I wear to work.

I purchased this Empreinte du Désert eye shadow quad from Rahman Malik at the Chanel counter at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. You can reach him at (703) 761-1600. Ask for Chanel Cosmetics. He is a total sweetheart, and we need to keep our great product specialists in business. Online shopping is killing them. Now that Neiman Marcus offers free shipping and returns, you can shop by phone without an added cost for shipping.

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

Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow Collection, Summer 2016

I first saw Dior's new Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows ($29.50), part of Dior's Summer 2016 Collection at Chic Profile. Tavia, my online friend, is astounding. She always has advance looks at new collections. Naturally, I was intrigued when I saw the new Mono Eyeshadows, which had just arrived at Neiman Marcus, last Saturday. They are shown on the left side of the display above.

I started playing, swatching them on my arm in the store, and I fell in love with three of them - out of eight. I was in the danger zone, but threw caution to the wind and selected those three right away. Then I may have erred with the fourth, and I'll show you why below. It is a beautiful eye shadow, just not for my coloring in bright light.

I wish I had a press release to tell you Dior's concept for these new eye shadows, but I don't think Dior's PR knows Best Things in Beauty exists. So, I'll tell you what I think. The texture of these powder eye shadows is smooth and creamy. The shadows adhere to my eyelids without any fallout. They stay where I apply them. They gleam, but don't sparkle - a plus to my eyes.

The shades are neutrals for the most part. I thought I was avoiding the shades with red in them, but I failed - mostly because of store lighting. Without further ado, here are my four selections.

Gallery (#530) is shown at top left. Minimalism (#554) is shown at top right. is shown at bottom right. Front Row (#756) is shown at bottom left. Mineral (#573) is shown at bottom right. They are swatched in the same order on my arm. I took the photos in full, mid-day sun. My swatches were applied with a sponge-tipped applicator, but I could have used the double-ended little applicators that come with them nested into a plastic overlay. One end is a sponge-tipped applicator, and the other is a brush.

Gallery, shown at the top of my arm is an exquisite, soft gold. The stone Minimalism is a gorgeous light grey. The next shade, Front Row is a chameleon. In the store, it looked taupe. On my finger as I write, it looks taupe. In full sun, it looks mauve. It's strange because I had doubts about it in the store. I could see the red pigment in the compact, but on my arm and Alex's arm, it looked taupe. I love taupe, so I purchased it. That may have been a mistake. I will need time this weekend to play with it in different lighting scenarios to decide if I will keep it or give it away. The last shade down on my arm is a beautiful copper-gold called Mineral.

Alex helped me (and I'm embarrassed, thinking I might have called her Eva (a long-time Dior rep)) - senile yet? I've known and loved Alex forever. My bad. If you are interested in Dior's new collection, give Alex a call at (703) 761-1600, extension 3304. She will be great describing all the shades and helping you with a purchase.

You can see little square online swatches at Dior's Web site. These eye shadows are extremely nice, and I suspect I'll wear Gallery and Minimalism down to the pan.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty