Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colour in Crystal Fantasy and Opal Fantasy from the White Magic Collection for Holiday 2013

Laura Mercier has placed a beautiful trio of Illuminating Eye Colours ($24) on her holiday display: Crystal Fantasy, Pearl Fantasy, and Opal Fantasy. I could easily have purchased all three. The one I left behind at the store is Pearl Fantasy, and it looks nothing like the lavender in the photo above (top right). What I saw was a pearly silver.

This season, Laura Mercier is celebrating inner goodness and bright spirits with illuminating shades to give you true holiday sparkle. Illuminating Eye Colour offers a multidimensional, luminous pearl finish with a soft, bouncy texture for excellent color pay-off and a smooth, easy application. "Be enchanted by a look that’s fresh and luminous, with light-diffused pastels for eyes and brilliant high-shine colors for lips." The two I purchased are beautiful on the lids.

When I first saw Crystal Fantasy, shown at left directly above, I thought it would be too green - too showy. It's not at all. It is beautiful worn alone and smashing when blended or layered with other shades. I had a similar reaction to Opal Fantasy. My first thought was, "Too pink." It's not at all. It leaves a natural-toned blush on the lids - very pretty. You can see in the photo below that the model is wearing Crystal Fantasy, and it's not at all gaudy.

I took swatch photos of both in full, morning sunlight. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and applied them heavily.

Crystal Fantasy is almost silver, except for that slightly green tint that gives it depth and brilliance. Opal Fantasy isn't too pink at all. It's an icy color that makes it work like an accent to any look. Both colors gleam. They shimmer, but in the most subtle way.

I'm very pleased with both shades. I find them full of possibilities I have not had time to discover. I spent a lot of time over this long weekend resting. The work schedule beings again tomorrow. Charlie will miss me when I'm at work.

I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. You can find the White Magic Collection at all Laura Mercier counters and online. The collection is worth a look-see.

Photo at top courtesy of Chic Profile; model photo courtesy of Laura Mercier; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Laura Mercier White Magic Collection for Holiday 2013: Rose Prism Brilliant Glacé

I stumbled upon Laura Mercier's White Magic Collection for the holidays at Neiman Marcus and was impressed enough with a few of the pretty pieces to pull out my wallet. Of the three Brilliant Glacés ($24) on the display, Rose Prism caught my eye. I think I was holding it when I snapped the photo of the display. It was placed right between Pink Prism and Nude Prism.

Brilliant Glacé is a sheer lip gloss with translucent color and brilliant prismatic shine. Non-sticky formula feels lightweight and comfortable on lips. Here are its qualities, according to Laura Mercier.

• Provides a brilliant shine with an iridescent pearl finish
• Gel-like texture melts onto lips and provides translucent colour with a high-shine finish
• Lightweight, cushiony formula, feels comfortable on lips
• Applies smoothly and evenly onto lips
• Enhances the look of lips without feathering or bleeding
• Provides long-lasting color and brilliant shine
• Moisturizing emollient formula conditions and soothes lips
• Creates the appearance of fuller lips
• Non-sticky, non-tacky, non-greasy formula
• Dermatologist tested
• Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive

All in all, I would say that's a good description. The color is Rose Prism is a beautiful, medium-toned rose that's transparent, but still offers enough pigment to impart a beautiful, shiny, eye-enhancing rose color. I love it.

I took swatch photos in full, morning sunlight, and I'm not happy with any of them. I think the color is prettier than my photos make it look. In the photo above, it looks too warm. The photo below is blurry, but the full sunlight makes the gloss look magical. The color is better in the second photo.

This is the only gloss of the three in the White Magic Collection that has enough color to be worn alone, without lipstick. I've been wearing it for a week, and I've found the color fantastic, the wear time average, and the feel moist. If I didn't have so many lip glosses (probably over 300), I'd buy another one.

I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. You can find the White Magic Collection at all Laura Mercier counters and online. I bought other pieces from the collection, and I'll show them to you very soon.

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

Clarins The Essentials Eye Palette for Holiday 2013

Look at this beautiful, limited-edition The Essentials Eye Palette ($45) for Holiday 2013! Does it remind you of Urban Decay's Naked Palettes? It does me, although I find it much more desirable than the original.

This holiday season, take your look from day to night with Clarins' gorgeous eye shadow palette that includes 10 harmonious neutral shades in matte, satin, and pearl finishes. By purchasing The Essentials Eye Palette, you will help support Clarins’ initiative to preserve the Brazilian Kuntanawa culture and ecosystem by planting 10,000 trees known for their medical and cosmetic properties.

Living in the Amazon rain forest, the Kuntanawa Indian community wants to return to its ancestral lands thanks, in particular, to the revenue generated by reforestation and sustainable forest management. However, they have extremely limited means for replanting trees on their land. This project - and those like it - will help bring immense environmental benefits in terms of biodiversity and the preservation of ecosystems. The objective is to plant thousands of forest trees that will enable the Indian community to diversify their sources of revenue, of course, but also to promote biodiversity and soil regeneration on their land. In this way, they will be able to revive their land while helping to protect the planet and combat global warming.

My eyes lit up when I saw this palette. I can't wait to purchase one, probably at Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom, my two best Clarins sources. I love it when beauty companies give back to the environment, and I applaud Clarins for the excellent philanthropic choice. I'd like to support it. I'm thinking of purchasing one for me and one for a holiday gift. Who wouldn't love to receive The Essentials?

Photo courtesy of Clarins

Tom Ford Lip Colors for Holiday 2013

It appears Tom Ford decided that a nude lip was the best accompaniment for his softly smoky eye for Holiday 2013. He has re-introduced two colors: Lip Color Shine in Bare (#05, $48) and Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Peach Absolut (#07, $45).

Bare Lip Color Shine is very sheer and shiny. It leans mauve on my lips, but it looks nude and natural because of its sheerness. It might be ghastly if it were opaque. My swatch photo below was taken in full sun.

Peach Absolu is an peach gloss that offers a warm contrast to a cool smoky eye. I took my photo below in full sun.

This lip gloss had much more pigment than Bare. It's a pretty shiny peach that will serve you year round.

I wanted to show you a photo of both shades together to emphasize the cool vs warm tones of the two. The photos above was also taken in full sun. I think it shows the contrast between the two shine-packed colors fairly well. Take your pick - warm or cool - there's a subdued shade for your holiday look.

If either interests you, call Dustin Lujan at the John Barrett Salon in New York City. I purchased them from him. You can reach Dustin at (212) 872-2714. They offer free shipping now too.

There is even more coming from Tom Ford for the holiday season. Stay tuned.

Update: I think Hillary Duff has the look down pat.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Tom Ford Ice Queen Collection for Holiday 2013

I just snapped this photo under total cloud cover. I'm amazed it turned out as well as it did.

Tom Ford's Ice Queen Collection has arrived. The Ice Queen Eyeshadow Quad is a study in silver and grey - perfect for winter. The two lip colors shown above are Bare Lip Color Shine on the left and Peach Absolut Ultra Shine Lip Gloss on the right.

I truly doubt I will have the weather to swatch and photograph this afternoon. I'm constrained by a doctor's appointment too. It's time for my annual physical. I will show you swatches as soon as humanly possible.

In the meantime, if you want to order from this collection, call Dustin Lujan at the John Barrett Salon in New York City. You can reach Dustin there at (212) 872-2714. They offer free shipping now too!

Update: The sun "sort of" came out for about a minute. I got one swatch photo before my camera battery died (argh!). For what's it's worth, here is a photo from the quad. Lots more to come.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick for Holiday 2013

I am a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick addict. There isn't one I haven't loved, and I've purchased every one of them - ever. I have a little museum of Shimmer Bricks at my home.

As you might imagine, I was thrilled when I saw the advance publicity for Bobbi Brown's limited-edition Nude Glow Shimmer Brick ($45) for Holiday 2013. It offers four distinct colors and the lure of a mixture of all four shades. While it doesn't offer the traditional stripes, it does offer great choices for individual colors - unlike the Party Shimmer Brick for 2011. It was nice, but can't hold a candle to this beauty. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus.

Give the gift of "glow" with this limited-edition Shimmer Brick - sure to make faces light up instantly. A shimmering quartet of pearlescent colors highlight the skin for lit-from-within luminescence (think of it as candlelight in a compact). Each shade also doubles up as an eye shadow.

I have to tell you upfront that this new Shimmer Brick is even more luscious than it looks in photos. I am smitten and fighting the urge to buy another, maybe two more. I want to break my "no back-up rule" so badly.

I took swatch photos of each shade, starting with the gold at the top left and moving clockwise. I swatched the individual shades with a sponge-tipped applicator. Then, using what was left of my arm below the elbow, I applied a large swatch of all four shades blended with a very dense blush brush. My photos were taken in very full sunlight.

I think every shade in Nude Glow is a shimmering treasure.  The burnished gold at the top of my arm is a perfect gold for the holiday season - or anytime you want to look like a golden goddess. What most surprised me was that the shade next to it in the top row, which appeared pink, is really rose gold. Holy moly, I hit the jackpot. I wasn't expecting rose gold, one of my very favorite shades, and I got it.

The next shade down on my arm is champagne in color. Perhaps a very light rose champagne. I mixed it with the rose gold shade and the result was magnificent. The hybrid brown-rose shade at the bottom of my arm is just as pretty as the other three. As I write, I'm "this close" to ordering my second Nude Glow. I'm on a slippery slope.

The photo above shows all four shades blended evenly together and applied heavily. The result is hard to describe. Is it a brown-toned rose gold? How would you describe it? Whatever words you use, it's really pretty.

Here are Bobbi Brown's tips for application...
Sweep the Face Blender Brush through all four shades of Shimmer Brick Compact and dust lightly on cheekbones after blush. Focus on applying shimmer on the top of cheekbones - where light naturally hits the face - for the most flattering look. To add a highlight to your eyes, use your fingertips to apply the lightest shade in the compact just under the brow bone.

Fingertips? Limited to the brow bone? How boring! Each of these shades looks fabulous on my lids below the crease.

I love the look of Bobbi Brown's compacts when this logo is used. It looks classy to me.

You can find the Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick for Holiday 2013 on Bobbi's Web site and at all Bobbi Brown counters. I'm sure it's available online at all corresponding online retailers, such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

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

Guerlain Crazy 68 Terracotta Healthy Glow Powder from the Holiday 2013 Crazy Paris Collection

I wasn't going to purchase Guerlain's Crazy 68 Terracotta Healthy Glow Powder ($69) from the holiday collection. I was going to be frugal, given that I have so many Guerlain bronzers. Frugal flew away with the wind when I was offered a 20% discount at Sephora. Now that I have this beautiful pressed powder compact, I think "frugal" could have led to a terrible mistake.

This matte bronzer is designed to revive dull winter skin. That's why it's special. It doesn't make me look brown; it makes me look healthy - as the name suggests.

Healthy Glow Powder warms the skin with a matte finish and creates a subtle, natural-looking glow complemented by winter light. The first-ever Holiday Terracotta, this powder features a delicate peach hue infused with invigorating bursts of pink. Apply it, and you'll experience a subtle, natural-looking glow that uplifts your lackluster or wan winter complexion.

I took swatch photos outdoors in full, mid-day sunshine. I applied a heavy swatch at the top of my arm with a sponge-tipped applicator, making sure that all colors in the compact were equally represented in my swatch. Then I used a kabuki brush to pick up all colors and apply a larger swatch below. When I applied the powder to my face, I swooned. It's one of the prettiest "bronzers" for my fair complexion I've ever used.

Look at the peach-toned beige shade! It's so natural when applied normally, it makes me look like me, but healthier. I could have made a huge mistake by not purchasing this powder. I'll wear it in every season - not just winter. If you have fair skin like I do, you'll find it a year-round blessing.

If your skin is darker than mine, perhaps you'll limit the use of Crazy 68 Terracotta Healthy Glow Powder to winter and switch to a browner powder bronzer when the cruise season starts - or later. Unless your complexion is very dark, I think you will find a lot to appreciate from Guerlain's holiday masterpiece.

Guerlain Crazy 68 Terracotta Healthy Glow Powder from the Holiday 2013 Crazy Paris Collection is available at all Guerlain counters and online at Sephora and other sites. If you had planned to skip it, I'd recommend you rethink that.

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

Chanel Ombres Matelassées Eyeshadow Palette in Charming from the Nuit Infini Collection for Holiday 2013

Chanel's Ombres Matelassées Eyeshadow Palette in Charming ($80) from the Nuit Infini Collection for Holiday 2013 finally made it to Chanel counters. My anticipation has been building for months. I was especially eager to see it since other pieces of the holiday collection had already arrived - weeks ago. I purchased Charming at Neiman Marcus.

This palette will delight neutral eye shadow lovers like me. Once I tested it, it was very clear to me that slightly smoky eyes, but not over-the-top smoky, would complement the holiday look of red lips and nails perfectly.

This limited-edition eyeshadow palette unveils a seductive shade spectrum for the season's most striking eye looks. From soft beige to rich, smoky purple, matte and pearlized shadows create glamorous effects and offer endless opportunities for custom blending. The emblematic quilted motif of CHANEL embosses the silky shadows for an added touch of elegance.

Let's go straight to the swatches, taken in full, mid-day sun. I applied the shadows from left to right in the compact, from top to bottom on my arm, using a sponge-tipped applicator.

The light beige at the top is a perfect base shade. It's fairly matte in finish. The shine you see on my arm is from the sun. The darker beige below it is also matte. These shades used together would create a beautiful, subtle daytime look.

We start to gain some pizazz with the shimmering medium brown in the center. This is a gorgeous shade that's guaranteed to compliment your eye color.  The deep brown is a cool-toned brown. It appears to my eyes to have a touch of grey in it.

The smoky eggplant shade offers the only "color" in the palette, so it will complement the other shades nicely - no matter which of them you wear. It's a beautiful shade, very blue-grey for a lavender so it will not make our eyes look red.

I suspect some will be disappointed in Charming because it's not flashy. Many women pull out all the stops during the holidays, aiming for wintertime glamour. I find Charming a beautiful respite from the palettes that offer a bit more color than I'm comfortable wearing. I'll be interested in your reactions.

It is available at Neiman Marcus, so I suspect the other stores have it too. I know Nordstrom has it because I found it available online.

Photo of the look courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Maestro from the Eccentrico Collection for Holiday 2013

There are three new Lip Maestro ($32) shades that were introduced with the Eccentrico Collection for Holiday 2013.

• #302, Clash
• #303, Dazzling
• #502, Eccentrico

Even though it was apparent they were very bright, I selected two, purchasing them without trying them, because I was in a super-hurry and I was unable to swatch them because the testers had not arrived. My new Lip Maestros are shown directly above. Dazzling is on the left, and Eccenterico is on the right.

I assumed that these colors would not be as bright on my lips as they are in the tubes. That was a really bad assumption! These colors are the brightest lip colors I have ever tried - and among the ugliest.

These Lip Maestros have already gone into my all-time big mistake bin. We all make mistakes, right? These two shades are beyond atrocious on me - so bad I wouldn't even give them to my friends.

Here's the evidence. My swatch photos were taken in full sun. The shades look very bright on my arm. That's because they are. The color is extremely saturated and very flashy. Unfortunately, they make me look like a clown. I can't find the words to tell you how bad they look on me. The only way I can wear them is as stains: apply, then wipe off as much color as I can.  The remaining color isn't half-bad if I apply gloss over it. That's not the way to enjoy your makeup.

I am conservative. I'll admit that. If you aren't, and you are used to wearing very bright colors on your lips, you may like these new shades. I don't. I don't plan to leave my house looking like a piñata.

I'm so surprised at my beloved Armani Beauty. In my humble opinion, these new holiday colors are a total miss. You can find them at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site and Armani counters if you are braver woman than I am.

Now I have to go off and figure out why Blogger is putting color on my arms (dark spots) that isn't there. I am not as mottled as my photos make it appear. The originals don't look this way. A new mystery I didn't need - to go with lip colors I didn't need.

Update: Many thanks to Appu! I turned off Google+ photo "enhancement," which I never set, and my photos look right now. The photo directly above is the same as one that looks mottled above. Rather than switch them both out, I wanted to show you how different they look. This was supposed to be helpful, Google?

Photo at top courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Eccentrico Palette from the Eccentrico Collection for Holiday 2013

The Eccentrico limited-edition collection was inspired by the Giorgio Armani Eccentrico touring exhibition: Milan 2012, Hong Kong 2013, and Rome June 2013. Mr. Armani showcased some of his most memorable and lavish couture designs throughout his career – a fusion of art, fashion, and design, unrestrained by a bizarre play of colors and wild fantasy. The Giorgio Armani woman is multifaceted and has an eccentric side that she wants to express. He gave her full rein.

Eccentricity was never so chic – Linda Cantello, International Makeup Artist for Giorgio Armani Beauty

The Eccentrico Palette ($88), shown above, is a 4-in-1 multi-illuminator with lavender, peach, white, and pink colors for a healthy, radiant complexion. This all-over highlighter makes a statement to light up the holidays with surrealism and festive colors.  The unexpected play of oranges, pinks, and iridescent white is a display of wild fantasy. A light dusting of silver pearls on top (overspray) of the compacted blush powder creates the ultimate glow.

I was able to purchase my palette at Neiman Marcus. It has also arrived at Saks Fifth Avenue - about a week earlier than I anticipated. I was thrilled. Here is how it looks with the overspray. Having seen the tester in the store, with no overspray, I knew to take a sponge-tipped applicator and "dig" to get down to the true look on 2/3 of the palette. You can see what I did below. The difference in color intensity is significant. It's like a different compact. By the way, there is a brush in the lower level.

Is it any less exciting once you remove the overspray? I don't think so. I love this beautifully designed compact with multicolored highlighters. Can you use one color at a time, as Armani suggests? Absolutely? Was I that patient? No - never. I love to mix colors to see the overall effect, so that's how I created my swatches for photos.

I took my photos in almost full sunshine. For the swatch directly below, I swatched very heavily at the top of my arm with a sponge-tipped applicator, making sure I got adequate, true color (not overspray).

The overall effect is a pastel pink - almost icy, but that peach in the mix adds a little warmth. Applied "normally," the powder provides a beautiful light pink glow to my face. I was smitten the moment I applied it.

Here is a lighter swatch. Could I jump up and down, please, and scream from the rooftops, "Armani's done it again?" Without being committed, that is - or falling off the roof. This powder has so many dimensions that are luxurious. The color is only part of the story. The luminous glow it leaves on the skin, the finish, the classy red compact - everything about it will light up my holiday season.

Apparently, the Eccentrico Palette was produced in very limited quantities. Neiman Marcus Tysons has only five left, and they just got it. I'd hurry to order if I were you. It's available at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site. I'd buy it from Armani. Today, the company published a 15% discount with the purchase of $75 or more. Use the code ARMANI13.

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

Chantecaille Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio from the Holiday 2013 Collection

Today, I napped most of the day. Given the chance, I catch up on my "good sleep" on lazy Saturdays. I took a mid-day nap intermission, though, and visited Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, where Jeannine pulled out her testers of Chantecaille Holiday 2013. You may remember that I had featured my photos of color copies of the collection in September. Today, I got to see the real deal - and drooled. I pre-ordered two of the Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio ($60). What if I were to ever run out? It was worth breaking my "no back-ups rule."

The photo above was taken in the store. It shows a re-promoted compact, the exquisite Diamonds Eye Shadow Trio, the three Lipsticks featured in the collection (Agave [new], Cassia, and Cerise), and a beautiful red Lip Definer. I zeroed right in on those diamonds.

All three shades are exquisite. These shimmering beauties will be adorning my eyelids the second I get my hands on my own palette. I really wanted to swatch them and take photos, despite the fact that there was heavy cloud cover. I did take swatch photos outside Neiman Marcus, but the sun was not cooperating. So, I left the swatches on my arm and headed home. As soon as I got to Geico, one block away, a hazy sun started to pop out for seconds at a time. I swung a fast right, stopped in their massive parking lot, and starting snapping photos. I was going to do whatever it took to get photos.

I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator, starting with the light shade on the left, and working toward the right as I applied the shadows down my arm. Chantecaille covered each "diamond" shade with a unique twist. Even though these photos aren't perfectly bright, I hope they will give you the idea that the palette is a shimmering treasure.

At the top, you will see the slightly yellow, platinum shade. This yellow diamond will stun you. The taupe diamond is extraordinary. It's one of the prettiest shimmering taupes I've ever seen. The bronze/copper diamond is a perfect shade for everyone - and so trendy.

Because my photos aren't as bright as I'd like, you can't really see the extraordinary life in each shade. They radiate light, and you will too when you wear them.

The unique glistening hybrid formula feels like a silky cream and delivers pure color, which does not flake or stray. It adheres like a cream. Apply it, and it stays where you put it. That's always a pleasure with shimming shadows.

Jeannine Barnes at Neiman Marcus hopes to receive the new colors within the next two weeks. Give her a call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2289, if you would like to pre-order, as I did. The collection will be available on Chantecaille's Web site and at all Chantecaille counters. Are you as excited as I am?

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Coming Attraction: Giorgio Armani Beauty Eccentrico Collection for Holiday 2013

The Eccentrico Limited Edition collection was inspired by the Giorgio Armani Eccentrico touring exhibition: Milan 2012, Hong Kong 2013, and Rome June 2013. Mr. Armani showcased some of his most memorable and lavish couture designs throughout his career – a fusion of art, fashion, and design, unrestrained by a bizarre play of colors and wild fantasy. The Giorgio Armani woman is multifaceted and has an eccentric side that she wants to express. He gave her full rein.

Eccentricity was never so chic – Linda Cantello, International Makeup Artist for Giorgio Armani Beauty

The Eccentrico Palette, shown above, is a 4-in-1 multi-illuminator with poppy blush colors for a healthy, radiant complexion. A light dusting of silver pearls on top of the compacted blush powder creates the ultimate glow. The tip for use? Use each color like an eyeshadow to highlight your gaze! If I can't own this, I'm going to cry.

New Shades of Lip Maestro and Nail Lacquer are being introduced. The Lip Maestro shades intrigue me. I'm betting they are gorgeous on the lips.

The first luminous matte lacquer in Armani's new Nail Lacquer will be available in three new bright shades. Mix and match with corresponding shades on lips and nail.

• 302 Clash
• 303 Dazzling
• 505 Eccentrico

There will be very limited availability of these items. I must get on a pre-sale list. They are scheduled to be available in November at Giorgio Armani Beauty's Web site and Armani counters.

Photos courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty