Chantecaille Summer in St. Barth's - Poudre de Perle

Brand new, but anticipated for months, Chantecaille's Poudre de Perle ($55) is everything I expected - and more. Before I tell you about it, I want to share an anecdote.

I introduced a friend at my office to Chantecaille. I had invited her to Alex Chantecaille's event at Neiman Marcus - the time Chantecaille offered a lovely drawing for Best Things in Beauty readers. Since then, she has been using Chantecaille skin care and makeup, and she looks fabulous. She tells me often that her husband, friends, and colleagues have commented on how good she's been looking lately. The only thing she changed? You guessed it! She is now a Chantecaille devotee.

Poudre de Perle builds on the unparalleled success of Protection Naturelle, Chantecaille's excellent powder that delivers full-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Poudre de Perle's innovative blush formula is contained with its own brush and delivers the perfect amount of color. It's available in one shade, Biwa, a pearly warm pink shade with golden peach highlights. It's perfect for most skin tones and skin types. Not only is the blush convenient to apply, it's refillable. I like the re-use concept. Less waste will help us be better stewards of our planet.

Olivia Chantecaille modeled Poudre de Perle in Chantecaille's Summer in St. Barth's look. It doesn't get any prettier! For the photo, it was applied to her cheeks, starting at the inner edge of the cheek bones and softly blended out toward the temples.

Here are a couple of photos of the product. The brush has a protective plastic sleeve that slides up and down. In the photo at right, the sleeve is down. I think this photo, taken in outdoor morning sunlight represents the shade in the tube pretty well. The photo at left is a close-up of the powder blush.

It was a challenge for me to get half-decent swatch photos of Biwa on my skin. It's beautifully sheer. I finally applied moisturizer and a light coat of foundation to my arm to get the photos here. My swatch photos were taken in late morning sunlight, and I applied Poudre de Perle with its own brush.


This blush makes my heart race - in a good way! I hope you can see that it's warm pink and has a shimmer that will make you look glowing (this is "adult makeup," made for women, not teenagers hoping to drive their mothers over the edge). There is some extra shimmer on my arm from the sunlight.

You can find Poudre de Perle at Chantecaille's Web site. It should be at your favorite Chantecaille counter in a few days, if it's not already on display. For information about Chantecaille online specials and Neiman Marcus events, please scroll down to my other Chantecaille features.

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

Sneak Peek: Ken's Korals by Le Métier de Beauté

I've been waiting to get my hands on a photo of a Neiman Marcus exclusive: Ken's Korals by Le Métier de Beauté. It popped up yesterday on the NMdaily. The title of this limited-edition, two-piece collection may be a little corny, but there's nothing corny about the bold colors.

Fashion Director Ken Downing, the definitive taste maker for Neiman Marcus, collaborated with Le Métier de Beauté to create two limited-edition products inspired by the bold, uplifting colors seen on runways. The result was Ken’s Korals. The coral red lip and nail shades were chosen to be universally flattering.

Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Ken’s Kissable Koral ($32) is an innovative lip stain and moisturizer in one. Jojoba, lanolin, and shea butter will keep your lips soft, while a shot of rich coral on the lips will adds some drama to the classic sun-soaked summer look. The Nail Lacquer in Ken’s Kontagious Koral ($18) will be available in a new, larger size, .40 ounces.

Both items will be available exclusively at Neiman Marcus and neimanmarcus.com in June. If you are interested, you should get on the waiting list. These are bound to sell out.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette Availability and Online Special News

While you can still find Chantecaille's Sea Turtle Palette ($79) at some of the department stores, it has been sold out online. Now, in a rare stroke of luck, Chantecaille expects to have 25 Sea Turtle Palettes available tomorrow. It was just "put back" online with a Notify Me message. If you want it, go to this Chantecaille link NOW and fill out your contact information. See update below.

Don't wait on this one.

If you are waiting for a Chantecaille online special, your day will come on June 5. Chantecaille loves you - and the world's oceans. Online only, from June 5-12, in honor of World Ocean Day, Chantecaille will offer a free Amaretto Lip Gloss with the purchase of any La Baleine compact. Use code WHALES at checkout.

Update 5:05 pm - The 25 Sea Turtle Palettes are available. Go for it if you didn't get one - or three - when they were introduced.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Chantecaille Summer in St. Barth's - Compact Soleil in St. Barth's

Want to look this good? You can with a little help from Chantecaille! Perfect skin and teeth won't hurt, but the elegant makeup is all Chantecaille. The Summer in St. Barth's shades have launched.

Over the next few days, I'll be showing you how to duplicate the eyes, cheeks, and lips from the Summer in St. Barth's look. Today, let's take a look St. Barth's Compact Soleil ($45) bronzer. Olivia Chantecaille (above) is wearing St. Barth's, which imparts a beautiful, sun-kissed look that's light and perfect for those who fear bronzers. St. Barth's is a sheer brown that will leave us pale faces with a natural look, one that doesn't scream, "Bronzer!" The shade was inspired by Chantecaille's Le Tigre Bronzer.

St. Barth's was lightly dusted on the highest points of Olivia's face with Chantecaille's Face Brush - on her cheekbones, chin, and forehead. She's also wearing BIWA Poudre de Perle, which I will show you as soon as I can get good photos.

Don't let the look of this bronzer in the compact - or its photo online - influence your impression of the shade. It's one of the most wearable bronzers I have ever purchased. No special technique, such as a very fluffy brush and light hand, is needed to get the right touch with St. Barth's. It's goof-proof.

Compact Soleil captures the wonderful effects of the sun without any of the harmful effects of UV rays. This incredibly natural-looking bronzer is the result of the latest micronizing technology that creates an ultra-fine powder with a silky, glowing finish. Gingko biloba and wild rose work together to heal and protect the skin, leaving it smooth and radiant. It's cruelty-free, with no animal derivatives, paraben-free, and fragrance-free.

I took my photos outdoors in sunlight. You can see the reflections on the pretty silver-toned compact in the photo above. St. Barth's is sheer and flattering. I decided to use a sponge to apply swatches for my photos. There's a heavy application at the top of my arm and a lighter one below. Keep in mind that I applied both more heavily than I would normally apply the bronzer. I hope you can see that this shade is divine. There isn't even a smidgen of orange in it.

I can see some tiny sparkles in the compact, but St. Barth's applies a gleam - an indescribable glow - no fireworks. That's fabulous for convincing your admirers that the sun-kissed glow is natural.

The texture is the fine, creamy powder we expect from Chantecaille. It adheres perfectly. It has definitely joined the "wear me" pile among the best bronzers in my life. Compact Soleil in Capri had already gone there. St. Barth's has joined it!

After having so many makeup artists apply bronzer to my face, making me look healthy, helping my cheekbones pop, and making my square jawline recede a bit, I've become a bronzer convert over the last year. When you find the right one, you'll join me.

You can find Compact Soleil at Chantecaille's Web site. It arrived at Neiman Macus (where I bought mine) within the last few days, so I'm sure your Chantecaille counter will have it soon. This bronzer is a must-try for anyone with fair skin. Try it; if it's too light for you, one of the other Compact Soleil shades should be perfect. I'm looking forward to the next Chantecaille event at Neiman Marcus!

Update: There will be a Chantecaille event on June 11 at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria with Eddie Hernandez (call Kathy Shoreman at 703-761-1600, extension 3282).

There will be a gift with purchase for Camp Gorgeous, Sunday, June 5, through June 12 at all Neiman Marcus stores.

Photo of Olivia Chantecaille courtesy of Chantecaille; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Gloss d'Armani - Live and In Person

Ooh la la...it's love! The new Giorgio Armani Beauty Gloss d'Armani ($28) lip glosses arrived at Saks, and I had my choice of all the shades. I purchased "only" four - on this first round. I'm sure I will select additional shades. I even loved a pastel tangerine one - can you believe it?

What do you do when you are faced with 18 colors you could love? I could have purchased every one of the new Gloss d'Armani shades. Maybe one darker coral shade didn't appeal to me. I haven't had time yet to test, wear, and determine the length of wear. No matter to me. I wanted to show you my initial selections. There will definitely be a Part 2 to this feature and maybe a Part 3.

"My first four," in order left to right in the photo at left, were Beige #100, Pink #501, Plum #600, and Plum #601. You can see that I selected a range of shades, from the lightest to dark shades so that I could evaluate all of their qualities.

Beige #100 is extremely light. It's close to the color of my skin tone. My skin doesn't gleam like the Gloss d'Armani does. It's a gorgeous topper. It's shown at the top of my swatch photo, barely.

Pink #501 was the last of the four shades I selected (for now). It's a pretty, sheer warm pink. There are several cooler pinks from which to select. I'm sure I'll purchase some of those too.

The plums always draw my eye. I chose Plum #600 and Plum #601 first. I love gloss with color. I don't have to wear lipstick underneath it. Plum #600 is rosier then Plum #601 and is shown above it on my arm. I'd be hard pressed to choose between them. I think they are both exquisite.

My swatch photo was taken quickly. I'll get more photos later - probably when I go back for more shades. I didn't have enough time to try each of the available shades at Saks, but given my love for Giorgio Armani Beauty lip glosses, I will.

To find out more about their properties, check out my sneak peek from earlier this week. Just hop over to this link.

Gloss d'Armani has not arrived at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site yet. It was available at my favorite Saks Fifth Avenue this week. As far as I know, it has not landed at Neiman Marcus, but all of their stores have different delivery dates. Ask your favorite Armani Beauty counter for an arrival date.

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

Dr.Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++

If you are anything like me, a product will catch your eye at Sephora, and you've added it to your cart before you "lose the idea." That was how I came to own Dr.Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++ ($32).

A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, this all-in-one product that also hides imperfections because it has a light tint. Made with 50% water, Dr.Jart's Advanced Water Bead Technology helps hydrate and maintain healthy moisture for a dewy, fresh look. Like a drink for your skin, once applied, tiny droplets of water appear before being quickly absorbed, generating an instant soothing and cooling effect. They must be really tiny, because I don't see those little beads of water. What I see is even skin, while I feel a nice level of hydration. I know that sunscreen is offering protection too.

It's a great tinted moisturizer for summer. The oil-free "balm," which is really a light cream, includes sunscreen ingredients that protect the skin from a broad range of UVA and UVB radiation. After a quick application, my skin is left looking smooth, perfect, and natural. The tint is almost imperceptible, but it does even my skin tone. It won't cover stubborn marks, like dark sun spots or active acne.

I love makeup-free days on the weekends, but I'll always make an exception for a tinted moisturizer. I've purchased three for this summer, and I'm slowly testing them. Water Fuse Beauty Balm is the first I put to the test, and it passed. It did everything I expected. Feels good too - moisture without any oil slick that would be too heavy on a warm day.

Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++ has nice ingredients. The sun-protection comes from relatively high concentrations of octinoxate, octisalate, and titanium dioxide. The other good-for-you ingredients include hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, aloe, portulaca extract, and sea water.

Dr. Jart, a dermatologist, offers a line of cosmeceuticals. The doctor's approach to product development is based on use of scientifically certified ingredients. Each formula is tried and tested to ensure safety for all skin types - even hypersensitive skin - so everyone can experience the "art of skincare with Dr. Jart." So far, I'm pleased.

Next time you browse at Sephora, see what you think.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

YSL Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadow for Summer 2011 - #20

Through the magic of water and a revolutionary new technology, YSL Beauté introduced Pure Chromatics, its latest generation of eye shadows, in March. You can create "makeup artist magic" with any of the eight harmonies for the eyes. There are two palettes (quads) featured in the Summer Look for 2011.

Depending on how you use Pure Chromatics 4 Wet & Dry Eyeshadows ($48), you can achieve subtle or intense metallic looks. Used dry, they are nicely shimmering shadows. Used wet? YSL says to expect the unexpected. When used wet, the water rehydrates the powder eye shadows and is said to give full intensity to their pigments. YSL says the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream, while pearls shine with a metallic finish. Conservative, moderate, or bold in your approach to makeup, you're likely to be pleased by Pure Chromatics.

I purchased both of the new quads at Neiman Marcus. Today, I'm featuring #20, with four shades that are all delightful. My photo of the compact is at left. My swatch photo is below.

I applied the shadows for the swatch photo with a dry sponge-tipped applicator, and I took my photo in full, afternoon sun. I swatched clockwise, starting at the top left of the quad.

The top shade is a peachy gold to my eye. Some might call it pure gold. The white shade could best be described as platinum or metallic white. Unlike some white shadows from this season, it applies evenly and isn't at all crumbly (a pet peeve I have with some recent whites from other lines). The plum-brown is a fabulous eyeliner shade for me - not too plummy. Others with darker skin may find it a great accent or contouring shade. I could use it that way, but probably will restrict its use to liner. The bottom gold shade is pure gold to my eye, lighter than the other gold - and equally gorgeous.

Interestingly, I did give the shadows a go with a damp brush and didn't like them as much. Whether I didn't use enough water or I made some other mistake, I found them to be superior when applied with a dry shadow brush - even with my sponge-tipped applicator! I'll check in with the YSL product specialists about that, but I can wholeheartedly recommend them for dry application. They apply easily and evenly, and the look is shimmering without being glittery.

For my feature on Pure Chromatics in #6, see this link. It was my favorite of the quads from the earlier introductions.

The beautiful new Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadows are available at YSL's Web site and Neiman Marcus. I'm sure the other stores received them too - or will soon. Call ahead if you plan a trip to see them. I'll show you #19 if I can get a swatch photo tomorrow. It's been hit or miss here for sunshine.

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