Alima Pure Limited-Edition Holiday 2011 Collections: Cold Outside and Warm Inside

I love Alima Pure! They have two limited-edition Holiday Collections that are definitely worth your immediate attention. Cold Outside (shown above) and Warm Inside are $36 each, and $2 of that price goes to The Global Fund for Women.

I've mentioned before that I'm not the world's biggest fan of loose mineral pigments. Many of them are hard for me to apply evenly and use correctly. I'm often a slap-dash makeup artist. Alima Pure's powders are glorious. They apply evenly with ease with a brush, and they don't travel on my face. The Alima Pure colors always light up my face. Who could ask for more?

When Alima Pure sent me samples of the holiday colors, I was so excited, I put them someplace special, drawing in my breath with delight. The package had a message, Baby, it's Cold Outside. But lucky you, it's Warm Inside." It certainly was. Unfortunately, I stowed the collections so safely I "lost them." Seriously, I've been looking for them for at least two weeks so that I could swatch them and show you. As I mentioned Friday, I need a "system." Anyhow, without further ado, let's look at these gorgeous colors. Whether you are inspired by strolling through the snow or snuggling by the fire, Alima Pure's got you covered.

Cold Outside features three full-sized eye shadows and a full-sized blush in crisp, cool colors just right for a winter party. Warm Inside is filled with three stunning, sparkling eye shadows and a full-sized shimmer powder in warm shades perfect for a dinner by candlelight. Both sets come in a gorgeous white gift box. My photos show my sample pots.

Cold Outside offers the following icy-cool colors.

• Snowdrift, off-white shimmer with a hint of silvery blue
• Snow Angel, light-to-medium blue with silver sparkle
• Jack Frost, deep blue-toned purple shimmer
• Rosy Cheeks, a "just-in-from-the-cold" matte pink blush
  

Warm Inside offers these knock-em-dead colors every neutral lover is going to adore.

• Candlelight, pale gold shimmer
• Mulled Cider, medium rose-gold sparkle
• Hot Toddy, deep, shimmering bronze
• Firelight, warm gold luminous shimmer powder

The shades are going to wow you. I applied each with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full sun. I applied them relatively heavily - in the case of the Rosy Cheeks blush, much too heavily (sorry).

The Cool Outside swatches are shown above. Even though I thought I had applied Snowdrift (second down on my arm) fairly evenly, I didn't: user error. You get the idea, I'm sure, that it's a semi-transparent, shimmering white. Snow Angel and Jack Frost literally jump off the skin and shout, "Look at me, I'm gorgeous!" The matte blush is pretty on the cheeks. It's a warm color that counterbalances the icy shades for the eyes.

Here's a look Alima Pure used to illustrate Cool Outside. Snowdrift was applied from crease to brow. Snow Angel was applied with a dry brush on the outer 2/3 of the lid and with a damp brush to line the lower lash line. Jack Frost was overlaid on the outer 1/3 of the lid and lightly blended into the crease. Rosy Cheeks was lightly swirled on the cheeks. The lips were finished with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry.

Warm Inside is swatched above. These are colors to make a neutral lover's day. Candlelight is shown at the top, with Firelight, the shimmer powder, below it. Actually, you could use either as a shimmer powder.

The Alima Pure look features Candlelight from lash to brow. Mulled Cider was added to the lid. Hot Toddy was applied into the crease and at the outer corner of the lid. It was also applied with a damp brush as a liner. The cheekbones and temples were accented with Firelight. You can use any blush. Rosy Cheeks was used for this look, and it was also finished with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry.

It doesn't get much prettier! Alima Pure's Holiday Collections are available at the Alima Pure Web site. The sets include full-sized products, not the little pots I showed you. Even if you don't need more eye shadow for yourself, these sets make fantastic gifts. I can't wait to wear the golds!

Photos courtesy of Alima Pure and by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill Intense - Madre Perla for Holiday 2011

Giorgio Armani Beauty's Eyes to Kill Intense ($32) is perfectly named. The three shades in the Madre Perla Collection for Holiday 2011 are not your wear-to-work eye shadows. They offer something extra for your evening events - and it's intense.

Holidays are a time to celebrate, and the three shades in Madre Perla will make your your eyes dazzle for your festive events and romantic dinners. They say there's nothing more flattering than candlelight. Apply one of these holiday shades and smile across the table with confidence that you look eyes will be magnetic - like molten metal.

During the recent Giorgio Armani Beauty Friends & Family event, I took advantage of the discount and ordered two of the three new, limited shades for holiday. You can still get a discount at the site, but these two shades are currently sold out. Just check out the codes at this link.

I ordered #18, Gold, and #19, Gold and Silver (Note: the Armani Beauty Web site calls these shades #2 and #3 - figure that out). I'm always smitten with gold eye shadows, so they were a natural for me. The third shade, #17, Silver, was nagging me, but I was able to resist. I don't go out at night enough to warrant a purchase. Plus, I already own numbers 11, 12, and 16 - all of which are silvery.

These were difficult to photograph without a shadow. I needed to turn them toward the sun, and that didn't work well on the ground in my driveway. So I propped them up in the window well of my car's back window and managed to get a wide expanse of color, with the shadows from the sides of the pots showing only on the left side of each. The blended Gold and Silver, #19, is shown at the left in the photo directly above, and Gold, #18, is on the right. Both look very light when illuminated by full sunshine.

They were even harder to swatch! The shades dazzle in sunlight. To me, they are metallic. One could definitely call them sparkling. Gold is swatched at the top of my arm, and Gold and Silver is shown below. I swatched them with a sponge-tipped applicator (fairly heavily) and took my photos in full sun. I might have been more successful in achieving an even application using a brush.

The shade called Gold is a pure gold. Gold and Silver, a blend, is an interesting shade. It looks like a subdued gold to my eye, but the camera picks up the silver in the blend. It's a great hybrid of the gold and silver. You can see both shades running through the pot.

Eyes to Kill Intense has a unique, high-tech approach to color with these new shadows. The innovative hybrid texture, which is not a powder, nor a cream, acts like a smooth, lasting color film. The formula is composed of an unprecedented association between binder elements and pearls that creates exceptional luminosity, depth, and intensity of color. A high-resistance bi-polymer enables the formula to perfectly fit the contour of the eyelid, with cushiony suppleness.

Armani says you can apply these shadows dry or wet to obtain any finish from satin to lacquer, subtle to dramatic. I'm working to achieve subtle. Offering 24-hour wear, the Eyes to Kill Intense shadows are waterproof and sweat-proof. They slide on and stay on. You can apply them with fingers or a brush, although I think a brush gives me more control. Armani's Color-Fil color matrix formula blends and layers without creasing or flaking, and these shadows are extremely long-lasting. Even their shine sticks around. With the holiday shades, the shine won't fade until you're ready to remove it.

If you want to light up your holiday look, these Eyes to Kill Intense shadows are a perfect option. Just don't buy them for everyday wear (unless you party a lot!). Plan to look like a celebrity when you wear them.

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

Givenchy Le Prisme Yeux Mono from Nuit Celeste Collection for Holiday 2011

During the Sephora Friends & Family Sale, I purchased Givenchy's Le Prisme Yeux Mono in Or Céleste ($29) from the Nuit Celeste Collection for Holiday 2011. The signature piece, L'Ombre Noire, a black eye shadow, was "not me." While the L'Or Céleste Starry Loose Powder looked very interesting, I opted for something safer: the limited-edition gold Le Prisme for eyes in Or Céleste.

I'm sure you already know that each Le Prisme is an innovative monochromatic powder eyeshadow that provides four finishes in one compact - in this case four golds. I was pretty sure gold would make me happy.

Givenchy's Le Prisme Mono creates made-to-measure results that range from natural to couture or simple to sophisticated. The formula contains atomized pigments that provide vibrant, stay-true color. Blend the four domes together for a single refined shade or use each one separately for a personalized result.

I photographed all four shades of Or Céleste in individual swatches, hoping to capture the differences among the four finishes. I was only partially successful. Part of the problem was mine, but I think I can attribute part of the problem to one of the shades.

I swatched in clockwise order, starting with the shade at the top left in the compact. You can see on my arm that three of the four golds sparkle. The third one down on my arm (bottom right in the compact) doesn't adhere well. I worked fairly hard to get even swatches with a sponge-tipped applicator, and still the third shade (the softest in the compact) left a bit more sparkle than color on my arm. The matte shade in the compact, shown at the bottom of my arm, bores me, but it may be just the thing if you are missing a matte gold in your eye shadow wardrobe.

The top two golds are slightly different in tone, with one offering a touch of antique gold to the pure gold. Are they different enough to warrant a purchase as individual shades? Not to my eye.

Swirl all four shades together, and you'll achieve a pretty, sparkling gold for your eyelids. The "deficiencies" of two of the shades are outweighed by the overall effect, and Or Céleste earns its keep. Should you purchase it? Only if you are looking for one new gold powder eye shadow - not four. If you already have one - or more - I'm not sure you'll find Or Céleste to be groundbreaking. I'm glad I got a discount.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Estée Lauder The Color Stylist for Holiday 2011

Each year, Estée Lauder releases a fabulous gift set for the holidays. I love these sets, packed with goodies and only $57.50 with any Estée Lauder fragrance purchase. I'll admit I buy them for myself - one of my rewards for shopping!

This year's Color Stylist set comes with 30 colors, brushes, and more - plus tips on creating makeup looks for day or night. The chic red cosmetics traveler is great for makeup or brush storage (that's how I use cases). The set also comes with an elegant clutch companion bag and travel mirror.

Here's what you get in this year's set. The color choices this year are particularly nice.

• Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 18 coordinating shades (Summer Linen, Amazing Grey, Amethyst Spark, Flirty Lilac, Pink Flash, Purple Passion, Nude Fresco, Tranquil Moon, Peacock Blue, Smokey Ember, Berry Burst, Tempting Mocha, Ivy Envy, Chocolate Bliss, Ivory Slipper, Sandbar Beige, Hot Cinnamon, and Riviera Rose)
• Deluxe All-Over Face Compact (Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Nude Rose, Radiant Peach, and Pink Kiss, plus Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer - particularly appealing to me
  
• Three Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks (full-size, in Barely Nude, Candy, and Exotic Orchid)
• Pure Color Gloss (Orchid Passion and Electric Ginger
• Two Artist's Eye Pencils (SoftSmudge Black and SoftSmudge Brown)
• Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara (deluxe travel size)
• Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (full-size) - I can't count the number of years I've been using this wonderful product
  
• Four Deluxe Makeup Brushes (Powder, Blush, Lip, and Eye) - I always love the brushes
  
• Look Book with tips on creating a makeup look for day or night
• Travel Mirror
• Chic Red Cosmetic Traveler
• Elegant clutch companion bag

I saw the set today at Neiman Marcus and plan to buy one as soon as I can determine whether I'm buying Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia for myself or replenishing my mother's White Linen stock. The Color Stylist is available at Estée Lauder's Web site and at counters.

Photo courtesy of Estée Lauder

La Prairie Cellular Treatment Liquid Soft Glow from Winter Wonders for Holiday 2011

The unique product in La Prairie's new Winter Wonders Collection for Holiday 2011 is Cellular Treatment Liquid Soft Glow ($60), and it's even a great value. While we are accustomed to seeing lipsticks, lip glosses, and eye shadows in makeup collections, how often do we see a new product like Liquid Soft Glow?

This air-light, silky formula is a creamy liquid that enhances the natural skin tone with a brightened luminosity. It's designed to create radiant accents to contour and highlight any area of the face - or the whole face. Said to be flattering on all skin tones (although I think those with very oily skin might want to try it first), Liquid Soft Glow is an invisible light diffuser that creates a “soft-focus” effect to blur the look of lines, wrinkles, and other imperfections. Formulated with La Prairie’s legendary Cellular Complex, this innovative product helps skin feel and look flawless, with a firmer, more lifted appearance, and a radiance befitting a special occasion.

You can apply Liquid Soft Glow directly to the skin or blend it with any foundation (a bit like Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fluid Sheer in that respect) to give your skin brightened luminosity. You can also apply it only to the areas of your skin you wish to enhance.

The product was clearly designed to give a glow without color. You can see in my swatch photo that it comes out of the convenient pump as a light, soft pink. Blended on a large swath of my arm below, it leaves only a radiant glow - a glow that reflects light and makes its presence known with hydration and radiance. Since a shell pink comes out of the pump, it's clear to me that it has a pink, pearlized base. Beyond that? When blended, I don't see color on my skin at all - just smooth, radiant skin. The pink is so amazingly subtle and sheer that it should be compatible with most skin tones.

I love products like Liquid Soft Glow. I can wear them under or over my foundation or mixed with it. When mixed, they enliven foundation, making your skin glow with good health. When used under foundation, their effect is less pronounced. When applied over foundation, they serve to subtly highlight the skin.

La Prairie's exclusive Cellular Complex, an ingredient in Liquid Soft Glow, helps stimulate the skin's natural regeneration process - moisturizing and energizing with nutrients that encourage optimal functioning. I'm not sure how it does that or what's in it, given its "secret formula." I do know that La Prairie boasts legions of happy customers, with a majority of them rating the products at the top of their skin-care treatment lists. From the ingredient list on Liquid Soft Glow, I can report that it includes hydrators and botanicals. To my mind, the skin-care properties are just an extra-added benefit to a very pretty radiance booster.

You can find the entire Winter Wonders Collection at La Prairie's Web site and La Prairie counters now. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. Because it's limited, go have a look quickly if you're interested.

Photo at top courtesy of La Prairie; other photo by Best Things in Beauty

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Colour in Champagne Kiss from Winter Wonders Collection for Holiday 2011

I'm continuing my mini-series on La Prairie's Winter Wonders Collection today with Cellular Luxe Lip Colour in Champagne Kiss ($55), a limited-edition shade that coordinates perfectly with the rest of the shades in the collection - as does the darker shade, Winterberry. I selected Champagne Kiss in my never-ending search for nice neutral colors that add some life to my face.

This luxurious La Prairie lipstick is "for the woman who wants it all: exquisite color, a truly restorative lip treatment, and an elegant beauty accessory. In addition to nourishing, moisturizing, and conditioning delicate lip tissues, it features firming Caviar Extracts, line-diminishing optical diffusers, and a unique Plumping Complex that helps your lips reclaim their youthful lush contours. Specially treated pigments and natural oils enhance the color intensity and produce a long-lasting sheen." Sounds good, right?

It is. Champagne Kiss is luxury in a tube. Everything about it is exquisite - the color, the shine, the feel on the lips, the look. I am smitten. It's a good thing too because it has a somewhat dear price.

This is what I call "a perfect neutral" for me. It leaves my lips with color, but not too much. It complements most shades of makeup and clothing. It's the kind of lipstick I can throw in my handbag (in its little velveteen pouch, of course) and pull out when my lips need a moisture fix with color.

I took some swatch photos for you on a glorious, chilly autumn day. The sun was shining, but it was cold. Look carefully, and you might see goosebumps.

Champagne Kiss is a warm rosy pink. What you see in the tube is what you get on the skin and lips. On my lips, it's a neutral pink. This lipstick shines without sparkle. It reflects light beautifully, giving the lips a neutral pink punch. The photo below left shows that it reflects light, but it's more subdued inside or without direct exposure to the sun.

The creamy feel on the lips sets Champagne Kiss apart from many other lipstick formulas. Add the glorious color to snazzy packaging, and you have a model for a luxury lipstick.

You can find Champagne Kiss and Winterberry, its sister from Winter Wonders, at La Prairie's Web site and La Prairie counters now. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. Because it's limited, go have a look quickly if you're interested.

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

Coming Attraction: Le Métier de Beauté Antiquité Poupée Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

On December 1, Le Métier de Beauté's Antiquité Poupée Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) will be available at Bergdorf Goodman - only at Bergdorf Goodman. There will only be 100 Antiquité Poupée Kaleidoscopes available, and the pre-sale list is growing. If you want one, I'd recommend you call Dustin Lujan, the talented designer of this Kaleidoscope, as soon as humanly possible. His phone is at the bottom of this feature.

Dustin keeps a cork board with photos and copies of pictures that inspire him. This antique doll, which he had seen in an auction, attracted his attention. He was browsing the Web for antique dolls because his sister collects them. He loved the warm, dusty hues (and no, he didn't purchase the doll). A photo of the little beauty was enough to serve as the inspiration for Antiquité Poupée.

The four shades sound droll-worthy. A few lucky gals in the Northeast have had an opportunity to play with the colors with Dustin. The rest of us are going to have to wait. That's killing me!

The shades in Antiquité Poupée are shades that Dustin says are perfect for every skin tone. Here is how he describes them.

• The Dusty Rose on the top looks similar to Champagne, but it’s not the same shade. There's almost a little grey tone to it. It's pearlized for a special glow.
• Burlap Sorrel is a dusty brown, a multi-toned brown and grey actually, that's slightly luminous.
• Tarnished Russet, the shade Dustin says "makes" the Kaleidoscope, is matte. He wanted it to be flat, but not lifeless. It's a flat rust tone that's warming. Rust embodies antiques (and the doll). You can use it with the other shades in the Kaleidoscope, or use alone by using Refresh Eye Brightening and Setting Powder and gently dusting the color on lid.
• Ember Ash at the bottom is a blue-based charcoal, with slight radiance, but no glitter or pearl to the finish.

With all dusty and ashy tones, you can’t overdo it with Antiquité Poupée. Even if you apply a lot, building the color, you'll be left with a beautiful, smouldering look. Dustin prefers to apply the shades with the Crease Brush for a light touch. When pairing Antiquité Poupée, Dustin recommends the following colors.

Use Noir Precision Liquid Eyeliner and Aubergine Anamorphic Lash Mascara. The est blush would be Rumor Radiance Powder Rouge. Rumor may surprise you. It can be worn on light or deep skins. Give it a try! Dustin also recommends Bali Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick, a berry tone, applied with your finger as a stain. Then finish the look with a sheer, clear Brilliant Lip Gloss to add a candy look. Use the gloss as a lipstick sealant and a treatment. When you finish, you'll have a look reminiscent of an antique doll.

Because the antique doll is a keepsake, Dustin wanted his new Kaleidoscope to be a keepsake too. It's packaged in a gold box with an Aspen leaf, electroplated with 24K gold, sterling silver, or bronze. The leaf is protected by a velvet pouch. Remove the ribbon (or not) and wear it on a chain or pearls.

Dustin Lujan has an art background. No wonder he has such a keen eye for color! He majored in art in college (with a minor in science, explaining his ingredient expertise), after receiving a scholarship. He told me he "fell into the beauty industry" when he was recruited to work for a forward fashion house doing face and body painting. Later, he worked with Miss America and Miss Teen America clients before he surrendered his career entirely to beauty. Even though he still paints, you'll find him representing Le Métier de Beauté "during work hours."

If you want to secure an Antiquité Poupée Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, call Dustin at the Le Métier de Beauté counter at Bergdorf Goodman at (212) 872-8612. Don't waste any time.

As soon as I can get my hands on the Antiquité Poupée Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, I'll show you swatches. Anything that Dustin creates becomes a treasure to me. I'm sure Antiquité Poupée will be no different.

Update 11/14: the Bergdorf Goodman team sent me a swatch photo today, swatching top to bottom in the palette. The photo appears to have been taken indoors.

Update 11/15: Seventy have been reserved. If you want one, don't let any grass grow under your feet!

Photos courtesy of Dustin Lujan and Le Métier de Beauté

La Prairie Cellular Lip Color Effects in Winter Cinnaberry

There are two beautiful Cellular Lip Color Effects shades in La Pairie's new Winter Wonders Collection: Winter Cinnaberry ($40) was my choice because it offered more color than its light pink sister. Winter Wonders is a limited-edition color collection that features elegant and luminescent shades for eyes, lips, cheeks, and face.

This irresistible "semi-gloss transparent glaze with lip-plumping properties helps restore youthful fullness while producing a natural luminosity that lasts and lasts." I can't tell you it plumps my lips, and I'm very glad it's not one of those bee-stinging plumpers that makes you miserable. The plumping effects come from its many conditioning and moisturizing ingredients.

Fortified with vitamins and botanicals, Cellular Lip Colour Effects soothes, conditions, and hydrates the lips. It is luxuriously smooth and easy to apply, with its nice doe-foot applicator. I love the windows on the tubes. It's easy to see the color when you are reaching for just the right La Prairie lip gloss.

You can wear Winter Cinnaberry alone, over lip liner for a natural luminous effect, or over lipstick for a luxurious and glossy effect. The shade appears to be shimmering red in the tube. It is rosy-red on the wand. On the skin it seems to work its magic and adopt to an individual's own skin tone.

On my arm, it looks rose - definitely not red - a pretty warm rose that gleams in sunshine. I took photos in two sun exposures. The photo at right was taken just as the sun started to emerge from behind a cloud. The photo below was taken in full sun, which tended to "bleach" the color on my arm. Maybe I didn't apply enough for the swatch photos.

On my lips, the shade is a stunning rose. It darkens my lips with their own color and adds a beautiful gloss. Do you see a touch of warmth in my swatch photo on my arm - or in my tube photo? I do. On my lips, it's simply perfect and balanced in tone. I suspect, but haven't been able to test my suspicion, that Winter Cinnaberry might lean warm on those with warm skin. On my cool-toned skin, it stays true to rose. I love the shade!

The entire Winter Wonders Collection, including Winter Cinnaberry, is available at La Prairie's Web site (which isn't loading at this second) and La Prairie counters now. Because it's limited, go have a look quickly if you're interested. I purchased my Winter Wonders colors at Neiman Marcus.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

La Prairie Les Wonders Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensemble for Holiday 2011

Discover the true beauty and essence of winter with La Prairie's newest holiday color story, Winter Wonders - a limited-edition color collection featuring elegant and luminescent shades for eyes, lips, cheeks, and face.

Discover I did! I went to Neiman Marcus specifically to see the collection, after seeing a La Prairie tweet a few days ago. The collection is stunning. I wanted everything, but had to limit myself to about half of the new colors. Today, we'll focus on the Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensemble in Les Wonders ($70).

Cellular Treatment Eye Colour, La Prairie's eye makeup classic, with its winning combination of color and skin care, offers the option of wet or dry application, depending on the effect you wish to achieve. As an ultra-fine powder eye shadow, it produces a subtle natural wash of color. Applied with a damp sponge or brush applicator, it saturates the lid with a more intense tone. Either way, it produces a luxurious, silky-smooth finish and radiant color that retains its clarity and finish throughout the day.

La Prairie color, while pricey, is proven makeup at my house. The texture of the powder eye shadows is luscious, creamy, and long-lasting. The colors have a subtle radiance that flatters the eyes. This is what I like to call "adult makeup." It's made for elegant women who want makeup to enhance their beauty. They wear their makeup, not vice versa.

The pretty silver compact comes swaddled in a dark blue velveteen pouch, inside the La Prairie silver box. It has the "usual" dual-ended sponge-tipped applicator inside, along with a large mirror. All very nice, but the colors of Les Wonders are the real draw.

I swatched in clockwise order, starting with the light pink at the top left in the compact and ending with the charcoal at the bottom left. I swatched all four colors in the store to ensure that I could wear all four shades. I can. From the La Prairie photo, I had feared that the top-level shades might be too pink or too red for my eyes. They are much prettier than they look in the pan. At home, I swatched the colors heavily (and dry) with a sponge-tipped applicator for these photos, which were taken in full sun.

The pink at the top of my arm is very light. It has enough pink in it that it shows on my skin. I'd call the finish satin. It's not flat matte. It's a perfect base shade for the other colors in the palette or to combine with other shadows you already own. It reminds me of the pink in Raychel Wade's Les Calla Lilies ensemble. I must pull that out and get a comparison photo. If I can put my hands on Raychel's palette this week, without digging through too many boxes, I'll add it to this feature.

The warm chestnut brown shade shimmers with luxury. It pops on the eyes, even when used lightly. The copper shade, also subtly shimmering, complements the chestnut brown perfectly. I see that right side of the palette as a perfect duo - and the same is true of the left side of the palette. You don't have to figure out how to use or blend all four shades in Les Wonders. You get a quad when you buy it, but you also get two obvious duos. I wonder if La Prairie arranged the shades in the compact purposefully.

The fourth shade is interesting and a little hard to characterize. In the pan, it appears to be touched with plum. If you look hard, you might even see a plum tinge to the overall appearance of charcoal grey on my arm. You decide. Skin tone may determine the actual shade. I had to go back outside to get a photo of the same shade, applied at the top with a sponge-tipped applicator, and below with an eye shadow brush. It's a color you can build, from an everyday grey to a glam evening shade. Whatever its color, it's very pretty!

The entire Winter Wonders Collection, including Les Wonders, is available at La Prairie's Web site and La Prairie counters now. Because it's limited, go have a look quickly if you're interested. I purchased this eye shadow palette and other colors from the collection (to be featured here soon) at Neiman Marcus.

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

Laura Mercier Limited-Edition Mini Lip Glacé Set for Holiday 2011

Every year, Laura Mercier creates fabulous limited-edition color sets and palettes. This year, the selections are too gorgeous to resist. I purchased the Limited-Edition Mini Lip Glacé Set ($48) because it's packed with great colors. There's not a dud in the bunch.

Laura Mercier Lip Glacé is a high-shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long-lasting color and brilliant shine that creates the appearance of fuller lips. With the unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, antioxidant, and plumping ingredients provided by the "Laura Mercier Lip Complex," the non-sticky gloss formula applies smoothly without feathering or bleeding.

Always available in a variety of coverages and finishes, this year's set features Rose, Blush, After Hours, Sparkling, and Quartz. That's the order, left to right, in which they are displayed in my photo above - and on my arm, top to bottom, in my swatch photos.

I took my photos in full sun. Rose, shown at the top of my arm, is a brilliant watermelon rose. Blush is apricot, sheer and wearable by all (even those of us who don't gravitate toward apricot shades). After Hours is the lightest of the set. It's a warm, fleshy pink. Sparkling does just that! It enlivens the lips with a peachy gold sparkle. It's fabulous over any lip color. Quartz is brown. It looks brown in the tube, and it's brown on my arm. It looks brown on my lips too, when worn alone. It's a fabulous color to pair with fall fashion.

Laura Mercier lip glosses are packed with good-for-you ingredients. They do contain retinol palmitate, my nemesis, but it doesn't bother me in these glosses. That probably means the concentration is very low. The glosses do have some fragrance/flavor that I could do without. It's not obnoxious, fortunately, because I really like the colors. It also dissipates quickly.

You can find this Mini Lip Glacé Set on Laura Mercier's Web site and at Laura Mercier counters. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. If you're a Sephora V.I.B., you might want to consider the four-piece set that's available there. The 20% V.I.B. discount starts tomorrow. The Nudes Mini Lip Glacé Set has four pieces and will cost just $30.40 after the discount is applied. Don't forget Laura Mercier's new Face Illuminator while you're shopping.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Rouge 404 Gloss d'Armani from the Madre Perla Collection for Holiday 2011

Three of the four anticipated Giorgio Armani Beauty Gloss d'Armani shades for Holiday 2011 arrived at Neiman Marcus. If you checked out my sneak peek, you'll remember the following description.

Lips will be adorned in vibrant lacquered shades. A real weave of color, Gloss d’Armani ($28) offers comfortable, long-lasting hold, expressed in four limited-edition shades: a barely iridescent rosewood will enhance the natural color of the lips, while a velvety “amaranth” red and sienna will intensely emphasize their shape. An unexpected choice, a bold amethyst, is vivid - yet so translucent on application that it will match any skin tone.

The shades that arrived - so far - are Rouge 404, pictured above right, and the sienna and amethyst shades. I'm trying to find out when the rosewood shade will arrive. I'm sorry the color in the tube photo above looks so dark. That's how it looks in the tube. Apply it, and you'll be delighted with the color.

Gloss d'Armani in Rouge 404 is a stunning Bordeaux shade, perfect for the season. It shines in direct sun and gleams in indirect light. It's a light wine or deep rose, not nearly as dark on the lips as it looks in the tube. It does have enough color to be worn alone, without lipstick underneath. It's an incredibly fabulous shade - one I'm thrilled to own.

I took my swatch photos in full sun, trying to get different backgrounds and different angles to the sun to show you the shade's various looks. Any turn toward the sun made the gloss shine with luscious reflections.

In the photo above right, taken in front of a Kousa dogwood with vibrant orange leaves, the photo shows exactly how Rouge 404 looks on my arm in direct sunlight. The photo at left shows my arm turned away from direct sun. Rouge 404 shows more color and less shine.

Imagine it with the pigment of your lips underneath. The shade is even more gorgeous on the lips than it is on my arm. I'm tempted to hoard it. Any lip color that can force me to look into a mirror repeatedly is a winner in my eyes. Add the long-lasting quality of Rouge d'Armani to its color, and I could live in it.

Rouge 404 could be described as rosewood, but I'm fairly sure that description was reserved for the shade shown at the left in Giorgio Armani's color strips above. Rouge 404 is absolutely perfect for my coloring. I expect a lot of women are going to feel that way.

The amethyst shade is an avant-garde purple. The sienna is a burnt orange-brown, the color of cognac. Both are interesting and will have their admirers. I'm holding out to see the rosewood shade.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Madre Perla Collection is filled with limited editions, so I'd recommend you call your favorite Armani Beauty counter to buy what catches your eye - or reserve - now. I showed you the palettes yesterday. The collection should be available at the Armani Beauty Web site soon. I checked this morning; it's still not showing there.

If you need help, give Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus a call. They take VISA and Master Card now too, an enabler for those who don't use the store's card or American Express. Kathy can be reached at (703) 761-1600, extension 3282. She's off today, so if you need her, try her cell phone at (571) 212-8399 in the late afternoon.

Color strip photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Madre Perla Eye Palette for Holiday 2011

The second of my new Giorgio Armani Beauty treasures is this Madre Perla Eye Palette ($59 and labeled #2). It is every bit as gorgeous as the Madre Perla Face and Eye Palette I featured this morning. I love Giorgio Armani Beauty makeup, and I 'm excited about these elegant new palettes.

The Eye Palette offers a color harmony enhanced with a touch of iridescence. The smoky eye can go pastel, taking on a satiny, luminous sheen with the softness of this shimmering ivory, lavender, and taupe trio. Micronized pigments incorporated into a translucent base cloak the eyelids in a veil of color.

Here's a photo of this gorgeous eye palette, taken in full sun at my house. Each shade is exquisite. At the top, the shimmering ivory adds a sophisticated base or highlighting shade to the eyes. The large swath of gold in the center is emblazoned with Giorgio Armani's iconic logo. It's a stunning shade - just as pretty as the golds in the Face and Eye Palette, but different from them. I'd describe it as a pastel golden taupe. The lavender at the bottom is a cool, icy, shimmering pink to my eye - maybe with a touch of lavender in it.

My swatch photos were taken in full, mid-day sun. I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator, using a very heavy hand to get the ivory shade to reveal all its gleaming color on my arm.

When applied with an eye shadow brush, these shades offer a transparent veil of color, as promised. They are enormously flattering, lighting up my eyes with colors that look great on my fair skin.

I'd guess that as skin tones darken, these shades will offer even more of a luminous punch than they do on very fair skin like mine. I'd love to see them on dark skin. I may have to drag one of my chocolate-skinned friends over to the store just to play.

Even with all of the Giorgio Armani Beauty makeup I already have (and there's a lot here since it's one of my favorite lines), I'm deliriously happy with my new palettes. They will be great to use alone and just as much fun blended with other Armani eye shadows. I have a lot of experimentation ahead to me so that I can discover blends and combinations I haven't yet considered.

The Madre Perla Eye Palette is a limited edition, so I'd recommend you call your favorite Armani Beauty counter to buy one - or reserve one - now. I'd recommend that you purchase the Face and Eye Palette at the same time. If you wait, it may be sold out. Both should be available at the Armani Beauty Web site soon. If you need help, give Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus a call. They take VISA and Master Card now too, an enabler for those who don't use the store's card or American Express. Kathy can be reached at 703-761-1600, extension 3282.

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

Giorgio Armani Beauty Face and Eye Palette from the Madre Perla Collection for Holiday 2011

Giorgio Armani Beauty's Face and Eye Palette ($98 and exclusive to Saks Fifth Avenue and the Armani Beauty Web site) will be irresistible, I'm sure. Inspired by Art Deco style, Giorgio Armani’s famous black case is decorated in real Madre Perla, with precision work done entirely by hand in the purest tradition of luxury craftsmanship. Utterly refined, a silver logo adorns this exclusive limited-edition case, which just 3,000 women in the world will have the privilege of owning.

Fortunately, I was able to purchase the same palette, in Giorgio Armani’s iconic black lacquer case ($59) at Neiman Marcus last week. Inside the decidedly unique Face and Eye Palette shown above, there are three luminous, satiny powders in sand, champagne, and ivory - silky shadows that combine a featherlight texture with radiant color. Blended over the eye area, the three shades will sculpt and illuminate the eyes. Lightly dabbed onto the facial contours, the sand and champagne tones will catch the light to increase the radiance of the complexion. Used as a highlighter, the blended shades will add a golden glow to your skin.

The shades in this gorgeous palette are a very lightly toned golden pink-ivory, pure gold, and antique gold. The colors pop better in Armani's photo at the top of this feature than they do in mine. My first impression was definitely a wow. There will be so many ways for me to use these shades, alone or blended.

Because the shades in the Face and Eye Palette are light, they were very hard for me to photograph, given my very light skin. At the top of my arm, I applied all three shimmering shades, starting with the golden pink-ivory and ending with the antique gold. Those swatches were applied with a sponge-tipped applicator. A blended shade is shown at the bottom of my arm. I used a dense blush brush and swirled it around all three shades. You should be able to see that it left a pretty golden glow on my skin.

Here's a closer look at the three individual shades on my arm. I hope you can see that they offer a subtle shimmer - no clunky metallic particles here. The shades are stunning. I can't wait to have an event to attend. I want to wear the antique gold shade swept across my eyelids.

The subtlety of these shades is what makes them so attractive - and useful. While they may not jump off my arm in these photos, they add a beautiful gleam to my face and eyes. The blended shades are shown at left.

This is an exquisite palette from Giorgio Armani, maker of exquisite color for the face. If I can get better photos today, I'll update this feature.

This Face and Eye Palette is a limited edition, so I'd recommend you call your favorite Armani Beauty counter to buy one - or reserve one - now. It should be available at the Armani Beauty Web site soon.

Update: One more photo. I'm not sure it's much better, but may be a little more vivid.

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