Lancôme La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full-Color Lipshine

While browsing Lancôme's Web site when I purchased the gorgeous Hydra-Balms, I saw La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full-Color Lipshine in Ô So Coral ($26.50). Into my bag it flew! It was introduced to ring in the Spring 2012 season.

This fabulous lip lacquer combines vibrant concentrated color and unprecedented shine in one stroke. From the moment of application, densely pixilated pearls deliver multi-dimensional shine that truly holds, so you’ll be touch up-free for eight hours, according to Lancôme. Nothing lasts eight hours on my lips, but I do get decent wear from Ô So Coral, and the color is luscious.

Described as a rosy-coral, it was an easy choice among the four shades featured for the season. The others vary in the orange family, from peachy coral to deep peachy coral. I liked the idea of some rose in my peach, although I don't see much rose in it. I'd call it a juicy, ripe peach.

It was so hot out when I took the photo above, I can now see my lens fogged. Now, the temperature is 103, and there isn't a chance I'm going outside for a re-do. I almost collapsed walking around the farmers' market looking for my pickle vendor this morning.

I took my swatch photos in full, morning sun. This delightful peach shade is perfect for this time of year. I love the color and shine. They mingle to yield a radiant effect on the lips. Pastel, peach, and perfect for July.

There is a newer set of La Laque Fever glosses that launched summer, the Argentine Tango Collection. The colors range from brown to bright coral-red - pretty, but this one suited me better. Whatever your coral tastes, Lancôme has a new lip gloss that will please you.

I purchase mine online at the Lancôme Web site. They should all be available at counters. I've seen them on the display.

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

Bobbi Brown Treatment Lip Shine - New Shades in the Miami Collection for Spring 2012

I have adored Bobbi Brown's Treatment Lip Shine ($23) since its introduction. It is a lightweight, soft-shine lipstick that doubles as a rejuvenating treatment. It instantly comforts dry, chapped lips and provides long-term moisture with natural cocoa and shea butters, jojoba, and apricot kernel and avocado oils. The formula also includes today's essential peptides, along with vitamin C and paracress, to help stimulate natural collagen production in order to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

The four new shades, just in time for summer, offer a beautiful spectrum of colors. I really wanted all four. Then I got real and decided to select two - just two. My choices were Pink Seashell (#19) and Sunset Beach (#17). The only thing that would have made me happier would have been to have had the wherewithal to buy all four. Sheer, shiny, hydrating lip colors are my favorite lipsticks. I also love the slimline cases of these. The colors in the Miami Collection are limited, so the day will come when I regret the "loss" of Peach Sorbet and Orchid Pink, the shades I didn't buy.

I took a few swatch photos in full sun to show you how gloriously pretty Pink Seashell and Sunset Beach are. Pink Seashell is shown at the top of my arm, with Sunset Beach below. Pink Seashell is a warm pink - actually a peachy pink. It translates consistently from the tube to the lips, meaning what you see in the tube is what you get. Sunset Beach is even better on the lips than it looks in the tube. While appearing to be a golden brown, which it is, the full impact of the gorgeous shade didn't hit me until I applied it. That happened at home because I never apply testers to my lips (unless it can be demonstrated to my satisfaction that the tester is brand new, just pulled out of the drawer).

My photos were taken in front of a Kousa Dogwood that has just started to bloom. The white flowers are so pretty. I wish I had enough land to plant a grove of these dogwoods. They are showy spring and fall - a fitting backdrop for Bobbi's glorious new Miami  Collection. The collection was inspired by the beach. It’s about sun-kissed skin and beautiful coral and nectar colors infused with gold. They look just as good in a Virginia springtime garden.

Treatment Lip Shines are not long-lasting lipsticks, but I don't mind reapplying at all. They are so narrow, they fit in a pocket easily. As long as I can maintain these beautiful colors, I'm extremely happy.

You can find the Miami Collection at Bobbi Brown's Web site and all online sources for Bobbi Brown, including her Web site.

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

Le Métier de Beauté Tickled Pinks Collection by Ken Downing for Spring 2012

Although they are not at all what I was expecting from the advance photos of Le Métier de Beauté's Tickled Pinks Collection by Ken Downing for Spring 2012 ($65), I think the two new shades of Lip Crème, which come packaged together, are even better!  In my photo above, Two Lips is shown on the left, and Mum's the Word is shown on the right. They are nestled into a pretty floral box.

Ken Downing has a gift for forecasting what women will want before we know it. Then he creates demand! In 2011, Downing chose "Koral," also known as tangerine, Pantone's selection for the 2012 Color of the Year, for Le Métier de Beauté's spring/summer collection. For Spring 2012, Ken Downing is thinking pink - "haute pink," for his Tickled Pinks Collection for Le Métier de Beauté. One of the Lip Crèmes is definitely pink - hot pink. The other? Pastel orange. Maybe nude peach as Sabrina dubbed it at The Beauty Look Book. There is no way I'd describe it as petal pink (see my original feature with information from PR here), although it looks that way in the tube.

Downing said, "My pink inspiration was a melding of the beautiful shades and chiffon floral prints that made a strong showing on the spring runways of [fashion designers] Christoper Kane, Erdem (stunning sun dress shown above), and Jonathan Saunders. London really was a spectacular fashion moment with the most gorgeous prints of the season curated in the eclectic and often eccentric way that only an English garden is curated."

These two saturated hues pack a punch in a polite way. Mum's the Word is shown at the top of my arm in my swatch photos, with Two Lips below. Although the advance information said that one would be a Lip Crème and the other a Sheer Brilliance Gloss, they are both marked as Lip Crèmes. Go figure.

Mum's the Word is fuchsia, as you can see. What color would you call Two Lips? I took my best shot above in calling it pastel orange. It's an extremely trendy shade. I like it; it looks very summery on my lips. However, I think Mr. Downing may have had a tangerine hangover when he selected it as a pink shade.

Lip Crèmes are like liquid lipsticks or saturated lip glosses. They are not extremely shiny, but they aren't matte or satin either. They do reflect light nicely as you can see in my photos. More pretty lip color from Le Métier de Beauté to tickle your fancy!

This limited-edition collection is available at Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com, and Bergdorf Goodman. Some stores have received it and are selling out. I got the last one available at the Neiman Marcus store where I purchased it. Other stores haven't seen it yet.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Sisley Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick for Spring 2012

The highly anticipated new shades of Sisley's Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick ($55) for Spring 2012 arrived. We knew they were coming. I had hoped to see them with the rest of the Tropical Orchid Look for Spring 2012, including the amazingly gorgeous Palette Orchidée Highlighter Blush. Maybe the staggered introductions give us a reason to keep checking back with Sisley!

The collection was inspired by the soft yet exuberant colors of Southeast Asian landscapes,combining warm and cool colors for a vibrant chiaroscuro effect. The four new shades of Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick bring the number of color options in the line to 25.

This soft, finely textured lipstick is a comfortable, full-coverage lipstick that offers protective, moisturizing benefits to the lips. It feels great on the lips, while offering:

• flawless, long lasting hold;
• full coverage thanks to a glide-on, satiny texture that does not bleed or settle into lines; and
• clean, precise definition with a unique beveled, spiral form of bullet.

Sisley recommends that you start your application by defining the lip contour using a matching shade of lip liner. I don't bother. For more voluptuous lips, apply a touch of lip gloss over the lipstick. I do bother - not for the moisture, but for the shine. The wonderful active ingredients of Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick include calendula to soften and vitamins C and E, antioxidants to protect against free radicals.

The new shades are Rose Fushia (L32 - can any makeup company spell this word correctly?), Rose Cashmere (L32), Rouge Passion (L33), and Rose Petunia (L34). You can see little color squares at this Neiman Marcus link. I tried all four and settled quickly on Rose Cashmere. I loved the warmth of the pink. The two other new rose shades are very bright, and the rouge red shade is way too dark for me.

You can see how pretty the shade looks in full sun - a warm pink that reflects light nicely. It is not this shiny in the shade or indoors. I really like this color, and I think it coordinates beautifully with Palette Orchidée.

Here's another full-sun photo directly above. On my lips, the shade is a warm coral-pink. It looks much less pink and much warmer than it appears in these photos. That's one reason I selected Rose Cashmere. I wanted to broaden my color wardrobe.

What do I improve it? I add a lip gloss. I like shine, and Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick, designed to last on your lips, is fairly devoid of shine. No problem there; I have at least four lip glosses with me any time I leave the house.

Next time you swing by your local Sisley counter, ask to see the new shades. Although they are pricey, like the La Prairie lip colors, they are beautiful.

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

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow from the Miami Collection for Spring 2012

Bobbi Brown introduced four new shades of Long-Wear Cream Shadow ($24) with the Miami Collection for Spring 2012. They are Copper, Bronze Sugar, Nude Beach, and Candlelight. I snapped up the two lightest shades, Candlelight and Nude Beach, at Nordstrom. I've been a Long-Wear Cream Shadow fan since it was introduced, and I couldn't wait to see them.

Candlelight is shown directly above, and Nude Beach is shown directly below. Both are fabulous neutral eye shadows.

Bobbi’s innovative cream shadows deliver saturated color with a soft, velvety finish. This blendable and buildable formula applies easily with fingers or a brush and maintains its true color without creasing for up to 12 hours. Just when you thought your makeup couldn’t stand up to the summer heat, now it can. The new shades from the Miami Collection will provide a pretty, naturally gleaming, fresh from the beach look.

I knew it would be difficult to get decent swatch photos of these light shades, and it was. I applied them very heavily with Bobbi Brown's Cream Shadow Brush and took my photos in full sun. You can see the beautiful shimmering gleam these shades offer. They are absolutely perfect for a swipe-and-go application. I often use Bobbi's cream shadows alone on the lid below the crease when I'm in a hurry. These two shades are perfect for that. They would also be perfect base shades for use with an accent color.

Candlelight is shown at the top of my arm, with Nude Beach below. Candlelight appears golden ivory to my eye. Nude Beach is golden beige. I think it's easier to see the actual shades in the pots than on my skin.

I'm tempted to go back and purchase the other two shades. I'm such a cream eye shadow addict, I'll probably surrender unless the collection sells out quickly. These shades are a gorgeous complement to the coral and peach lip colors that are so trendy.

The Miami Collection is available at all Bobbi Brown counters. These shades are also available at Bobbi Brown's Web site. Even though the collection hasn't been posted under "What's New," you'll find the new shades available at this page.

Update 4/30: This morning, I got an e-mail from Bobbi Brown with the announcement that the Miami Collection is now available at their Web site.

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

Bobbi Brown Miami Collection for Spring 2012 - Fresh from the Beach

Imagine the glow you get after a day at the beach - that’s the inspiration behind the Miami Collection. It’s about sun-kissed skin and beautiful coral and nectar colors infused with gold. And to really get you into a summer state of mind, there’s nothing like a spritz of Beach Fragrance (now in a modern, new bottle) and Shimmering Fragrance Oil.

This collection recreates the fresh, glowing look you get at the beach. - Bobbi Brown

The Collection has arrived at Bobbi Brown counters. This weekend, I saw it and made a conservative purchase of four items. Later today, or tomorrow at the latest, I'm headed back for more!

What grabbed my eye (and wallet)? The new, limited-edition Shimmer Cheek Glow ($39). Available in two shades, Miami and Gold, Bobbi’s new Shimmer Cheek Glow
is a sheer, very creamy powder formula that glides on smoothly and blends easily for a weightless feel and imparts a glow with soft shimmer or sparkle. If you can’t make it to Miami, you can still look like you were partying at the trendy night spots.

Miami looks pink to me, not the coral or nectar that characterizes the collection. The gold is definitely gold. I was surprised by these Shimmer Cheek Glows. I expected more color and less sparkle. I also expected more traditional powders.  When I applied them, I found creamy, sheer, suggestions of color and shine that's jazzy.

Look at how sheer they are! I applied both with a sponge-tipped applicator, and I applied them very heavily, trying to get good swatch photos. I kept building the color, but these photos are as good as I could get. Miami is shown at the top of my arm, with Gold below.

The effect of these Cheek Glows is transparent and sparkling, with just a suggestion of color. If you like to light up your face with a pink highlighter, you'll prefer Miami. If you want more warmth, try Gold. You can see that the sun's rays brought out the shine on my arm. You'll glow at the beach too with these new helpers. The powder is so fine and so creamy, I'll bet you could apply these highlighters with your fingertips.

I purchased my Shimmer Cheek Glows at Saks Fifth Avenue. Neiman Marcus has also received the Miami Collection, so I suspect it's available at all Bobbi Brown counters. It has not gone up at Bobbi Brown's Web site yet, but should soon. I'll show you my other Miami collection purchases as soon as I can get photos.

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

NARS Paramaribo Duo Eyeshadow from the Spring 2012 Color Collection

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Paramaribo ($34) for spring has earned its keep at my house - despite the fact that it doesn't look anything like what I expected. It's described as a metallic brass/metallic bronze duo, which is correct. It was the NARS photo, shown above, that threw me off. It looks like two green-toned shades, right? I wondered when the duo arrived it I had received the right product. The NARS photo at this link is more accurate, which reassured me.

My photo above was taken in full sun. It shows the two gorgeous shades in Paramaribo as my eye sees them. I had ordered Paramaribo the second it appeared on the NARS Web site - the same time I ordered Lhasa. I'm not sure why it took me so long to feature this pretty eye shadow duo here. Apparently, other things distracted me. Lhasa sure did; I adore it. Fast forward to this weekend, when I reached for Paramaribo to wear it, and it occurred to me that I had never posted it.

I swatched the duo shades heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full sun. The shade on the left in the compact is shown at the top of my arm. It's a metallic antique brass that has, depending on the light, an ever-so-slight khaki hue in it. The beautiful metallic brown, a bit toned down in shimmering impact from the other shade, is a gorgeous, pure brown that will flatter all skin tones.

These shadows are finely milled and have a beautiful texture and finish. Unlike some NARS eye shadow misses during the last few years, Paramaribo adheres to the skin perfectly, leaving exactly the level of coverage you wish to apply. I found that I can apply both shades with a very light hand for a gleaming wash of color, or use them more heavily for a splash of bold neutral color. The only thing potentially missing is the green shown in the NARS promotional photo. I don't miss it!

If you haven't already given Paramaribo a look-see, check it out. It's available everywhere NARS can be found: at the NARS Web site, select Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom stores, Sephora, and other sources. I love it and think you will too. The shades are seasonless. You won't feel constrained to wear it only during the spring.

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

Le Métier de Beauté Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope for Spring 2012

Micheal Reinhardt's Le Métier de Beauté limited-edition Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) arrived early, just as the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin did, prompted to bloom by warm days and nights. Michael Reinhardt, Le Métier de Beauté manager, artist, and all-around ambassador, works at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, and the Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope is exclusive to his counter. Michael is an industry veteran - one who "knows his stuff" and is an extraordinarily talented makeup artist.

Michael designed this gorgeous Kaleidoscope, with its luscious shades. Michael always strives to ensure that DC-area women can wear his creations. We're a conservative bunch.

Here's my simplistic description of the shades. The top-level shade is a lightly shimmering peach. The lightly shimmering mint green is a green you're going to love (and perfect for a St. Patrick's Day appearance). You can apply it sheerly for a hint of green. Michael's pink is also sheer - one we can wear without looking like albino bunnies. I played with it under my brow, and it looked fabulous. The brown is a deletable milk chocolate brown with a twist of lemon.

I was able to get some swatch photos this afternoon. I swatched the colors with a sponge-tipped applicator, and I snapped several batches of photos - with the shades applied heavily, moderately, and lightly, the last closest to the way we'll apply them on our eyelids. My photos were taken in full sun.

Let's start with a heavy application photo, shown immediately above. The colors evoke all of the shades you'll see at the Tidal Basin this week - signs of spring, with pink blossoms, green springing to life, the peach that shows in the water, enlivened by the reflection of the blossoms, and the brown of the stone seawall.

The photo directly above is a moderate application - still heavy enough to show the colors clearly in a swatch photo. The photo directly below is a light application. For the light application photo, I did have to apply the pink shade fairly heavily, otherwise it would have blended right into my skin.

The light dances off the peach and green shades. They were the first shades I applied on my eyelids. I love their gleam on my skin. They brighten my face and make me look alive and ready for spring. I could wear the peach shade every day - all by itself. I'd like to have a vat of it. I haven't had enough time to play with the pink and brown shades as fully as I'd like. I wanted to show you the swatches quickly so that you would be able to call Michael to order your own Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope - and play with the pretty colors.

You can reach Michael Reinhardt at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258. Make sure to ask for him because anyone in beauty might answer that extension. He's the best one to help you. Tell him I sent you (not that it matters - he treats everyone well).

The Cherry Blossom Collection will also have a brown liquid eyeliner and lip gloss, but they haven't arrived yet. Michael told me today that it might be another two weeks before they arrive. I'll be back soon with more swatch photos - layered and in combinations that grab me.

Update 3/28: I got a question about Michael's background, and I decided everyone might enjoy reading about the many companies he has represented over the years. They include Elizabeth Arden Spas, Guerlain, YSL, Chanel, Shu Uermura, fashion and design houses, and now Le Métier de Beauté. Now you see why I call him a veteran of the industry.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty, with the exception of the Tidal Basin photo, courtesy of easternshorevablog.com

Dior Addict Extrême Lipstick - New Shades for Spring 2012

Dior Addict Extrême Lipstick ($30) is billed as an extremely long-wearing lipstick that provides radiant shine. Tyen, Artistic Director of Dior Makeup and a photographer (who apparently uses only one name), has a passion for color. With Dior Addict Extrême, he created a "dynamic, fashion-inspired color palette" with a formula that promises striking hold and a radiant finish. Put Kate Moss in your ad campaign, and buyers will follow.

As soon as I saw the pretty new shades at Sephora, I decided to try two. I'm glad I did. These lipsticks provide a beautiful, shiny shot of color in a creamy formula that feels great on my lips. What follows is an edited version of the marketing speak.

Dior Addict Extrême Lipstick "goes the distance," combining vibrant color with the perfection of serious shine. The formula combines dazzling pure pigments, four special waxes, radiant oils, and hyaluronic acid microspheres for ultimate creamy comfort. The waxes at the heart of the soft texture act in a targeted manner to combine hold, comfort, and shine in an astonishingly fine film.

After wearing them, I can't tell you they are long-wearing. I don't see any wear difference between Dior Addict Extrême and any other lipsticks I like. I don't really care about wear time. I want color and shine. Dior didn't disappoint me.

Sephora offers 16 shades, four of which are exclusive to Sephora (and Dior online). There are also Saks-exclusive shades. The exclusive shade swatches at Sephora online enticed me. I purchased Holiday (#479) and Cruise (#486). I decided to start with the exclusives. I can always buy more - from any Dior source. They are available at all Dior counters.

As is often the case, when I popped outside to take photos, clouds were moving in. I had to hurry. The tubes were rolling off my backdrop, so I let them roll where they wanted to go. I wanted to get to the swatch photos - more important, I thought, than the shades in the tubes, which don't show you what to expect anyhow. Sorry about the goofy placement in the photo below. That wasn't even my biggest error.

I think Holiday is shown on the left, with Cruise on the right. Why do I say "I think"? As they were rolling, I lost track of the elegant Dior caps (which cap belonged with which lipstick), and that's the only place where you'll find the shade names. I could have placed Holiday back in the Cruise case or vice versa. Big mistake! Terribly embarrassing!

I'll stick with my delusions and show you my swatch photos. By the time I took them, the clouds had obscured the sun, so they aren't as bright as I'd like. What you will see is that these two shades are so similar, despite how they look in the tubes, you don't need both (although I'm pretty happy to have both).

They are both gorgeous pinks. One is much cooler than the other. I think it's Holiday at the top of my arm, with Cruise, a warmer shade, below. Check out Sephora's color representations above. Think I got it right?

I only had enough sunlight to pick up the glorious shine in my top swatch photo. I love the shine, and I love the transparency of the colors, a feature I wasn't expecting. I need more of the new shades. I'll try to keep them straight next time.

Many bloggers have featured the new Addict Extrême Lipstick shades. If you feel like blog hopping, you'll find swatches of at least half of the shades.

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

Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Crème Lipstick in Tangerine Tango

I can't believe how nice the limited-edition Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Crème Lipstick is - in every way. This is luxury lipstick is only $18. If you'd like to try a Tangerine Tango Crème Lipstick and wear the color of the season, what do you have to lose?

Get a seductive, stylish smile with the vibrant color packed into this lip formula. Proven to smooth, protect, and hydrate, this créme leaves lips luscious to the touch without compromising brilliance. Glistening pearls beautify lips with a lightweight texture you'll love to wear day into night. Inspired by the Color of the Year, the exclusive shade Tangerine Tango Cream (PANTONE #17-1463), comes in a sleek, white component with unique, 3D embossing.

That Sephora description doesn't tell you half of it. I published a coming attraction feature last weekend. Sephora had offered V.I.B.'s an advance purchase, and I took advantage of the offer, even though brilliant tangerine isn't an obvious shade for me.

My first surprise came when I pulled the Tangerine Tango package out of the Sephora shipping box. I saw packaging that itself was worth $18. The exterior of the box is beyond cool, and when you open it, you'll be greeted by a hefty tube of lipstick nestled into a custom-fitted insert. This is Sephora? You know I don't usually get carried away by packaging. That's why I don't often show it to you. I recycle most of it, so it's often out of sight pretty quickly. Not this time! I had to show you the exterior. I'll leave the interior to surprise you as much as it delighted me when Tangerine Tango arrived.

The tube, which has a square base and angular pull-off cover, is hefty. When I pulled it out of the inner packaging, I felt like I had a serious lipstick in my hand. The color scared me a bit. It looked very orange. How would it look on me, a cool-skinned blonde? Very nice, it turned out. It's bright, but because it offers shine and isn't entirely opaque, I can wear it. It makes my blue eyes blaze.

I took my swatch photos in late-afternoon sun. You can see saturated orange, and I hope you can see some shine. That shine isn't all sunlight.

My three photos all had different backgrounds and were taken in slightly different light exposures, which accounts for the differences in my skin color. Nevertheless, Tangerine Tango pops in every photo. You should know that it feels great on the lips. It's lightweight and has a very creamy feel - perfect in all respects.

If I want to tone it down, I can top it with a cool-toned lip gloss. I also discovered pretty quickly that I can use it as a stain by applying it, blotting, and then topping it with a peach gloss.

I think I'm going to wear it out of the house "straight up" and see what kind of reaction I get. I'm anticipating compliments. I often get them when I step outside my comfort zone. This time, I'll be stepping way outside the zone. I hate feeling "loud," but I'm betting that the look will work as the weather warms.

Whether tangerine is in your plans for the season or it's an experiment, you should consider this partnership between Sephora and Pantone. Tangerine Tango Crème Lipstick is gorgeous. Check it out at Sephora. The preview period has ended, so you can purchase it now. I'm still waiting for the other items in the collection to be available for sale.

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

New: Shiseido Tea Rose Luminizing Satin Face Color

Even though I didn't order the blue eye shadow that marked the Electric Blues Look (click on link to see) by Dick Page for Shiseido Spring 2012, I did order multiple pieces from the look.

The beautiful Luminizing Satin Face Color is a new shade, Tea Rose ($30), shown above, one of my purchases. Tea Rose (RS302) is described perfectly as a muted, neutral rose.

Luminizing Satin Face Color offers lasting, true color with a silky-smooth finish. Tea Rose has a satin finish, so it won't add shine to your cheeks, just a lovely subdued rose shade that looks natural. It's not bright rose, another plus. You can apply it easily with just a quick swirl and no fear that you'll have to "erase" some before you leave home.

I applied Tea Rose two ways for my swatch photos. Using a sponge-tipped applicator, I applied it heavily in a stripe at the top of my arm for my photos, which were taken in full sun. Below, I applied it moderately heavily with a dense blush brush. The backdrop for this first photo is my star magnolia, which is blooming, but appears to have been lightly frosted Saturday night. Our nights were cool, and our days warm this short weekend.

Tea Rose is a workhorse shade. It's not one of those colors that's likely to send hundreds of you streaming into the stores to pick up the last piece. It's one you should consider if you need a new blush and you find this shade attractive on your skin. I didn't need more blush (I won't "need" more blush for the rest of my life, but that won't stop me from buying the best of the best), but I'm thrilled to own Tea Rose. It's a beautiful, natural color on me, and because it has a satin finish, I'll never look like a glitter victim when I'm wearing it.

You can find all of the new Shiseido products at Shiseido's Web site, where shipping is free with a purchase of $50 or more. You can also find the colors - new and "old" - at Sephora online, where I had my spring Shiseido spree.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from the Northern Lights Spring 2012 Collection - More Swatches

I was privileged to feature the Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95), shown above, last week. At that time, I promised more swatch photos, and today, I'm delivering.

The Northern Lights Kaleidoscope Eye Kit contains Ionic, a satin/matte neutral sunset, at the top level; Sky, a pale shimmering skyline blue, immediately below; Magnetic, a blazing copper; and Equinox, a satin/matte twilight violet in the bottom swing-out pan. Applied using Le Métier de Beauté’s signature Couche de Couleur layering format, the result will be multidimensional, as you'll see below. Create your own combinations every day, and you will have a new wardrobe of color for spring.

I decided to swatch three combinations. I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply the swatches for the photos, and I snapped the photos in bright, full sunlight.

At the top of my arm, I applied two complimentary shades side by side: Sky and Magnetic. There's something about the color theory that opposites attract that really works with these two Northern Lights shades.

The blended swatch of all four colors is shown in the middle of my arm. I applied the shades from the bottom of the Kaleidoscope, working up, starting with Equinox, and ending with Ionic. The blended result (please ignore the edges, unless you'd like to consider using Equinox as a liner - a lovely idea) is a complex, subdued (read wearable) blue violet that is perfect for spring.

The bottom swatch on my arm is another favorite combination. I applied Ionic for a base, topped it with Equinox, and then I applied a tiny bit of Ionic again on top for good measure. The result is a pretty peach shade that's warm and perfect for a summer look. I love the result of layering those two shades. The top swatch photo shows the depth of tone better than the lighter photo directly above.

The lesson from this feature is that "the sky's the limit," particularly appropriate for a Northern Lights Collection. As I mentioned earlier today, you can pre-order the Northern Lights Collection at Neiman Marcus.com if you want to skip the "fuss" of shopping. Use code FSMAR for free shipping. The items are expected to ship March 23.

If you want the experience of a Le Métier de Beauté consultation, I'd recommend any of these wonderful Le Métier de Beauté representatives (I know and can personally recommend all of them). You can't go wrong with their help!

• Dustin Lujan at Bergdorf Goodman, (212) 872-8612
• Michael Reinhardt at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie (202) 966-9700, extension 2258
• Lisa Corsino at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, (703) 761-1600, extension 3286
• Sara Wren at Neiman Marcus King of Prussia, (610) 354-0500, extension 2504

Photos by Best Things in Beauty