Lancôme In Love Spring 2013 Color Collection

For spring, Lancôme is featuring intense color "to capture and compliment every woman's inner vibrancy." I got the e-mail announcement, so I assume you did too.

The Blush in Love ($49) captured my attention. It is available in two shades: Péche Joue-Joue (peach toned) and Pommettes d'Amour (categorized as a red).

Péche Joue-Joue (#10) is shown directly above. Pommettes d'Amour ($20) is shown below. Because of their price, I want to see them in person.

They are available at Lancôme's Web site, along with the rest of the spring collection. Looks like I'm going to have to make a trip to the mall.

Photos courtesy of Lancôme

Estée Lauder Pretty Naughty Pure Color Spring 2013 Collection

"I wanted to create a collection for the woman who is sexy yet romantic. Pretty Naughty is very pastel, but also a little naughty in a gentle, discreet way," said Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director of Estée Lauder.

A deceptively sensual [and possibly hard to wear], limited-edition trend collection for 2013 has been launched: Estée Lauder Pure Color Pretty Naughty. Optimistic yet not overly sweet, the world of watercolor pastels is taken to new heights by infusing an urban synthetic vibe for a youthful and modern twist. Inspired by exquisitely delicate pastoral hues from the enchanting English gardens, mischievously dusky pigments add a flash of dramatic irony. With a youthful rebellious attitude, Estée Lauder Pure Color Pretty Naughty overcomes the paradox of being romantically sophisticated and playfully sexy.

Eyes are washed in a flight of fanciful soft tones and lined in discreet flashes of dark pigments to create dramatic emphasis and contrast, while cheeks are flushed with a tint of color for a naturally innocent and glowing finish. Lips are softly touched by vividly sheer shades in satin textures, and nails complete the look with a sultry new interpretation of lilac. Together, a wash of gentle tones infused with strokes of brilliant hues run against a radiant satin complexion, creating a beautifully feminine, sensually innocent, and playful look that any woman can fall in love with.

The Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Pretty Naughty ($48) is a playful palette of pastel watercolors rooted with a mischievous shimmering charcoal in the center. The light pink shade highlights innocent eyes, while the neutral taupe and soft violet create sensual depth. Aqua blue creates a veil of washed-out color on the eyelid, and charcoal frames the eyes for a brilliantly seductive final touch.

Luxuriously creamy and richly pigmented, the Pure Color Intense Kajal EyeLiner Duo in Black/Blue ($23) reveals the beauty of the eyes in one stroke. The creamy formula glides onto the eye creating a seductive flicker of light blue for a soft highlight, or basic black for bold definition.

Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée Blush in Tease ($40) [the piece that revs me - and the first of these limited-edition pieces that will sell out I'm sure] provides a sophisticated glow with a delicate luminescent finish to enhance cheeks. Featuring a diamond-cut pattern, the brilliance of the shade shines through revealing a silky smooth gelée that can be used to highlight, blush, or softly contour cheeks. A “tribrid” system of liquid, powder and gel, this first-of-a-kind, “multi-powder” formula creates a soft and subtle shimmer on the skin. The unique suspension of pigments and pearls float on top of the skin, resulting in a prismatic multi-reflective finish for skin that appears perfectly smooth, seductive, and glistening.

Envelop your lips in rich satin with new Pure Color Sheer Matte Lipsticks ($25) in four brilliantly refined naughty shades. The creamy, lightweight, matte formula exudes a sheer and satin finish, leaving lips feeling soft and supple. The ultra-slim modern silhouette hugs lips upon application, leaving lips infused with fruit extracts that add moisture and hydrate. Light-perfecting pearls radiate a flawless, satin-rich color that is sheer and stable. Highly pigmented shades range from a light pink to a bright coral adding a bright and vivid pop of color.

Complement demure eyes and satin lips with mischievous irony for the nails. Pure Color Nail Lacquer ($20) in Insatiable is an offbeat pastel that drenches nails in a subtle lilac deepened for a hint of rebellion.

All of these limited-edition pieces are available at Estée Lauder's Web site. I have not seen them at counters yet. The press release didn't even mention counters, which I found interesting. Given the rate at which the limited-edition Illuminating Powder Gelée Blushes sell out, I'll be ordering mine today. What do you think?

Photos courtesy of Estée Lauder

Maybelline New Color Whisper by Color Sensational for Spring 2013

Drugstore makeup displays don't usually stop me in my tracks, but the new Maybelline Color Whisper display did. I was at CVS and had zero extra time. Still I stopped. I think the 20 pretty colors and the promise of a sheer, gel formula piqued my curiosity just enough, and the buy one, get a second for 50% offer pushed me over the edge. Two came home with me.

With no way to test the colors, I guessed at two I might like. I selected one what looked cool-toned and one that looked warmer. Pin Up Peach (#30) is shown at left directly above, and Lust for Blush (#25) is shown at right. Both are really nice, although I would like for Lust to Blush to be just a bit darker.

Maybelline's pitch for these focuses on:

• Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel, 
• No heavy waxes or oils, and  
• Soft, sexy gel-color. 

I love them! I may have to go back and pick up a few more shades. I took swatch photos in full sun.

Pin Up Peach is shown at the top of my arm, with Lust for Blush below. Aren't they pretty? They offer beautiful sheer color and shine, and they feel fabulous on the lips - extremely hydrating.

They have no discernible fragrance or taste (a plus for me), and they compare perfectly to many luxury lipsticks I wear. They remind me of Revlon Lip Butters, a favorite of many women - myself included.

How can you beat the price? Look for a Revlon BOGO or other discount offer, and you won't even pay the retail price of that ranges from about $6.00 to $7.50, depending on store.

You know I don't feature many drugstore products. These lipsticks are worth your attention. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going up to CVS for more.

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

M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow from the Après Chic Collection

I light up when I see new mineralize products from M·A·C. The Après Chic Collection offered me a selection of five enticing shades of Mineralize Eye Shadow ($21). They were such a roll of the dice; I can't really tell from shopping online what shade they will be on the skin, but these two shades, Silver Birch on the left and Winter Pursuit on the right, won the coin toss.

These baked minerals refined into a powder formula provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. The colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. I can create a kapow eye with these shades - or one that's subtle and refined - giving me a choice for application and look.

Silver Birch is defined by M·A·C as a silver base with peach veining. Winter Pursuit is defined as a copper base with grey veining. What I received, particularly with Silver Birch, more than met my expectations. I like them so much I am featuring them only a week after receipt. Miraculously, they are from a M·A·C collection that has remained available more than four days.

I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply them heavily, and I took my swatch photos in full sunlight. I'm really disappointed that I could not capture the khaki that I can see in Silver Birch (at the top of my arm). It is drop-dead gorgeous.

The silver is a stunning shade. Not extra-shiny silver, it's a taupe-silver that shows me a touch of khaki in person. I think the copper is extremely pretty. You gals with blue or green eyes are going to love it.

Now that I've grown accustomed to "orange" shades on my eyelids, I have realized how flattering they can be. It took awhile, but I'm on board now.

I'd really like to see the rest of the shades in person. Who knows? I could buy another one. These two have delighted me. You can purchase them online or at any M·A·C counter or boutique. Just don't wait long.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in Rose Ballerine from the Chérie Bow Collection for Spring 2013

Dior's 5 Couleurs Couture Color Eye Shadow Palette in Rose Ballerine (#724, $61) from the Chérie Bow Collection for Spring 2013 is a pastel beauty. I found it at Nordstrom.

I usually can't wear pink eye shadows, but these variations of pink - the showcased color of the collection - have enough fleshy, warm tones in them that they work perfectly. There is another palette in the collection, Charmeuse, #854. It is way too pink for my tastes.

If the photo hasn't sold you on how pretty this five-color eye palette is, take a look at the swatch photos. I applied all of the shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator, starting at the upper left and moving clockwise, ending with the center white shade. I took my photos in full, mid-day sun.

The four shimmering shades that surround the centerpiece all apply beautifully - no crumbles, no stray sparklies, even color. I love them all. The pink at the top of my arm is the "pinkest" shade, offering a pop of pink that looks amazingly beautiful on the brow bone.  The ivory pink is a whisper pink with a touch of warmth, despite its icy appearance. The grey-toned taupe is one of those must-have shades. It complements the other shades in the palette beautifully.

The ivory pink is more nude than pink. It's an exquisite base color, and it looks special when paired with the grey-taupe. The center color is metallic. It appears to be liquid silver when applied. Save it for party time; it's too glitzy for daytime wear, but at night, you'll shine. I'm glad to own it because it has color; it's not one of those "overlay" shades that adds sparkle without color. It carries its own stunning silver-white.

As I mentioned a few days ago, the Chérie Bow Collection pays homage to the ribbons worn by the Duchesse de Fontanges, a French noblewoman and one of the many mistresses of Louis XIV of France. I'll bet she would have had his full attention the night she appeared at the ball wearing these colors.

I purchased my Rose Ballerine 5 Couleurs Couture Color Eye Shadow Palette at Nordstrom. It is available at all Dior counters and whether Dior is sold online.

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

Bobbi Brown Ultimate Party Collection Giveaway Contest

This Bobbi Brown's Ultimate Party Collection ($65) features everything you'll need to look party-ready. With eight matte, metallic, shimmer, and sparkle eyeshadows plus four glitter lip glosses, this palette will add a special touch of holiday fun to any look you create. The palette Includes a mini lip brush and mini eyeshadow brush. The colors are listed below.

• Southwestern Metallic Eye Shadow
• Chrome Patina Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
• Pewter Chrome Eye Shadow
• Plum Steel Metallic Eye Shadow
• Plum Navy Eye Shadow
• Crushed Granite Sparkle Eye Shadow
• Antique Gold Metallic Eye Shadow
• Black Topaz Metallic Eye Shadow
• Rave Glitter Lip Gloss
• Soiree Pink Glitter Lip Gloss
• Iced Lilac Glitter Lip Gloss
• Tinsel Glitter Lip Gloss

If you'd like to see a review and swatches, head over to Cute and Mundane. I like it. I think you will too. It's like a makeup counter - all in one palette.

How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)?  Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, January 12, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses lately.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Dior Cherie Bow Blush from the Chérie Bow Collection for Spring 2013

The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, adds a twist to this spring's look, which exudes femininity. Dior's Chérie Bow Blush ($43) will adorn your cheeks with fresh pink color and light! Dior is introducing this as its first blush that plays on color intensity and a variety of finishes to create a natural, healthy glow with a subtle sparkle.

The shaded color in the compact caught my eye. Now that I've used it, I can give it an unqualified recommendation. It's a stunning pink shade for spring. I thought the palette was "young," but no one's too old for this young, fresh color.

To swatch it, I applied a very heavy dose at the top of my arm with a sponge-tipped applicator. I used a kabuki brush to apply the swatch below. Thinking back, I may have applied the top swatch only from the left side of the palette. The larger swatch was applied from all of its sections. My photos were taken in full, mid-day sun.

Chérie Bow Blush is very pink. There are no nuances; there are no leanings toward other various hues - peach, brown, silver. It's pink with a capital "P." It's also sheer (as blush really should be. It will be hard to overdo. I had to apply it very heavily at the top of my arm to show you the color.

It also offers a very tiny amount of sparkle. Not enough to call it sparkly, but I saw it on my arm. You now how light can catch one sparkle on your cheek from a sparkling powder or even fallout from a sparkly eye shadow? Someone will ask you if you ran through a festive glitter parade? The sparkle in Chérie Bow won't cause that. It's too finely milled. It will only lighten up your face.

The color is beautiful on me. I can wear pink. Anyone who can should give Dior's Chérie Bow Blush a look-see. I think it's beautiful. I purchased mine in store at Nordstrom. It's available online too. I saw the spring collection at Macy's, so I'm sure it's everywhere by now. However, I read on a blog that there are pieces that will not be available at Sephora.

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