Chanel Spring 2016 Beauty Collection - Part 1

Part of Chanel's 2016 makeup collection has arrived at Neiman Marcus. The eye shadow quad will not arrive until January, I'm told. You can see it here.

As you can see above, there is plenty to keep you occupied for now. The dazzling blush appears to be the centerpiece of the collection this month. There are three sheer lipsticks that drew my eyes immediately. I love, love, love Chanel's sheers!

I swatched the blush and three Rouge Coco Shine lip colors. The light outside was not ideal. The sun was struggling to emerge from behind the clouds. So my photos are not sharp (and really don't please me). I'm sorry, but since it's Christmas shopping season, I can't go back today. I might get crushed.

The sheer lip colors are shown above. Mighty, #116, is shown at the top of my arm. It's a pastel pink that leans blue-pink. The pretty coral Shipshape, #114, is shown in the middle, with the beautiful rose Energy, #118, shown at the bottom. I love them all, but have a preference for Shipshape and Energy because they are more pigmented or more colorful.

The blush, Sunkiss Ribbon, has a snazzy pattern (see above). I blended all of the colors together for my swatch, and a pretty peach resulted. The nice thing about the pattern is that you can easily choose to use the different shades alone or in combination for different color effects.

There is more in this collection for spring, and I will feature the rest of the items - most likely in January. All in all, I think it's a beautiful collection that will have something in it for each of us to think spring during the winter.

I apologize for my photos. They show what clouds will do, no matter how bright it is outside. I used them only to give you this quick look at the blossoming of a gorgeous spring collection.

If you need to order by phone, you can call Nicki at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie at (202) 966-9700 or Rahman at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria at (703) 761-1600. Ask the operator for Chanel Cosmetics.

In my next features, I will explain where I've been and show you the stunning NEST Fragrances collection for the holidays.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope - Swatched

I promised swatches of the Le Métier de Beauté Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope to Benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund when I featured the Kaleidoscope on October 11. It took me awhile to get back to Neiman Marcus to pick up the Kaleidoscope, despite my good intentions, because I learned I have a broken kneecap. What is it with my knees?

I finally made it there yesterday and came home with Stephanie in hand. The conditions for taking swatch photos weren't perfect, but I was determined to do the best I could and post the swatches.

The shades, top to bottom are Light, Hope Heart, and Live. Michael Reinhardt applied the shades to my eyes starting with Light and ending with the gorgeous grey-green Live. He used Light all over the lid. It is the perfect base color to blur any "unwanted colors," like redness, or imperfections. I will use Light with many other shadows. Then he applied Hope. Pastel Pink! I asked for a mirror because I wanted to see the cute little albino bunny that I feared I had become. Michael said, "Don't panic; it won't be pink in a few seconds." The third shade, Heart, is a gorgeous copper, and Michael applied it over the lid up to and slightly above the crease. I looked. The bunny was gone, and the color on my lids was warm and beautiful. He and I noticed that the pink would be a beautiful blush shade on my pale skin. The grey-green came last. He used it as a "thick liner" and brought a thin line around under the outer third of my lower lashes. The look was dynamite!

Now, for the swatches. My camera does not see green well. I have known that for over a year. I suppose I could play with the photos and make the bottom swatch appear more green, but I am not a fan of doctored photos on beauty blogs. The top swatch is Light. It's aptly named because it does add light to the eye area. I applied the pink heavily on my arm, but applied with an eye shadow brush, it is very light (I applied the swatches with a sponge-tipped applicator). The copper is a gorgeous shade. Last week, I watched Michael apply the copper heavily on Nancy, a beautiful woman with darker hair and skin than mine, and she looked fabulous. The bottom shade is the lovely grey-green Live.

Michael grabbed a blush brush and applied Hope to my cheeks. It was gorgeous! I love multitasking products.

The Kaleidoscope is available at Neiman Marcus stores now. If you don't have one near you, give Michael Reinhardt a call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258, or just ask for the Le Métier de Beauté counter. Stephanie was developed to Benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund. Named for a former Neiman Marcus employee, Stephanie Seban, (who I assume had breast cancer), the Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope sales will send 30% of the total (not net) to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund this month. That's unusually generous. During Breast Cancer month, most companies donate a small portion of the net proceeds. I am enamored with the new Le Métier de Beauté; they have gone back to their roots.

I think Stephanie is a fabulous Kaleidoscope for use every day. When I came home and looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a dressy look "for me," but one that wasn't over the top. A limited quantity of these Kaleidoscopes is available. When they are gone, they will be gone. If you are interested, give Michael a call. He will be back in the store on Thursday, October 29.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope to Benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund

Le Métier de Beauté's Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope ($95) was developed to Benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund for the month of October. Created specifically for a former Neiman Marcus employee, Stephanie Seban, (who I assume had breast cancer), the Stephanie BCA Kaleidoscope sales will send 30% of the total (not net) to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund this month. The limited-edition eye shadow palette was designed to flatter every complexion, with four shades: a neutral, soft pink, gold, and cool taupe that can be worn separately or blended together.

The shades, top to bottom are Light, Hope Heart, and Live. The Kaleidoscope is available at Neiman Marcus stores now. If you don't have one near you, give Michael Reinhardt a call at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258, or just ask for the Le Métier de Beauté counter. They quantities are limited, so don't wait too long. I think it's beautiful. I must hop over to the store this week (they just arrived a few days ago, and I have had sore legs for some reason). Once I get my hands on it, I will post swatches - probably as an update to this feature.

Photo courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté

Le Métier de Beauté Ultimate Hydrator

Any time I see a product name like "Ultimate Hydrator, Hydrate, Soothe, Calm and Repair" I get suspicious. Ultimate, of course, means the best achievable. Hydrator gives me the expectation that the product will make my skin less dry - much less dry. I told you last week that I would find out more information about this $225 product - primarily because I wanted to know what's in it that would live up to its billing.

I did, and I'm impressed. I had tried it in the store, but I put a very small amount on top of layers of product: moisturizer, foundation, blush - you get the picture. It wasn't a fair test, particularly since you are supposed to apply it right before your makeup.

Formulated to lock optimal moisture levels into the skin while delivering hydration deep below the surface to boost hydration levels, this luxuriously rich, gentle formula is safe for sensitive skin. It was designed to be comforting and to restore youthful hydration to dry skin immediately.

If you are good at reading ingredient lists, here they are. Water (Aqua), Squalan, Caprylic/Capric Triglyeride, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyle Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrosperum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Myristyle Myristate, Tocopheryl Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydroxyproline, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Proline, Glycine, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acylate/Sodium Acryloyldimenthyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, and Phenoxyethanol. I'm sure most of you would like a bit of interpretation.

Ultimate Hydrator provides super hydration, moisturizing, plumping Botox-like effects with TPM, Le Métier de Beauté's patented delivery system that increases potency. The hydrator helps with the early signs of aging, resulting in reduced depth of wrinkles, and firmer, supple, soft, smooth, youthful looking skin.

The product includes:

• Argirelene: SNAP 25 - Botox-like activity, will help reduce the depth of wrinkles caused by contraction of muscles of facial expression
• Epidermosil: silicium and small molecular weight hyaluronic acid with synergistic benefits will enhance the epidermis thickening, collagen production, density and architecture. Will improves skin hydration and firmness.
• Shea butter, grape seed oil: emolliency for soft, smooth skin
• Vital ET, a triple dose of vitamin E for soothing and healing the skin

Ultimate Hydrator is free of parabens and perfumes. It does have a slight smell of cucumber, a masking agent, which dissipates quickly. Some people don't smell it; I do. The product was made in the United States. I like the pump dispenser.

Ultimate Hydrator has been selling swiftly. I think that's because you can actually feel it working when you apply it. It's a pleasant feeling that reassures you that the active ingredients are working. After a few days of use, your skin should appear to have fewer expression lines and be more plump and youthful.

Yes, it's pricey. It seems like all of the really good skin care is pricey these days. That's why you need to learn as much as you can about ingredients to help you judge the potential for effectiveness. Hopefully, we have been learning together over the last few years.

You can purchase Ultimate Hydrator at Neiman Marcus. I'm sure my friend Michael Reinhardt would be happy to tell you about it and have one sent to you. You can reach him starting Thursday at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 (he is enjoying his days off). I wouldn't recommend that you talk to anyone else about Ultimate Hydrator. It's new, and I'm not sure they have been trained.

As you know, it's still Beauty Event at Neiman Marcus. With a $125 purchase, you will receive a tote with samples. If you spend $400 with Le Métier de Beauté, you will receive a full-sized Replenishing Daily Solution worth $225. That's my absolute favorite skin care from Le Métier de Beauté.

Photo courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté

How to Make Sure You Get My E-mail Notices of New Posts

Some of you are actually getting the e-mails, but they are being put in your spam folder by your own e-mail provider. This happens when the sender sends the same e-mail to many people at the same time. You can fix this.

Just add

feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com

to your contacts. I had to do it to get my own e-mails placed into my inbox.

I have written about this before. See my post on June 8, 2014 titled  A Word about FeedBlitz, AOL, and Yahoo.

I'm sorry that many of you did not get last week's e-mail. It's a symptom of the new age of e-mail "cheaters."

Photo courtesy of spamemailsexchange.wordpress.com

Le Métier de Beauté is Pulling out All the Stops with New Products for Neiman Marcus Beauty Event

Four new Kaleidoscopes ($95 each), eight new Liquid Eye Prisms ($38) that left me drooling, five new lip pencils ($36), five new eye pencils ($36), and new skin care! All in one introduction later this week. Beauty Event at Neiman Marcus starts Thursday, September 10. I will be at the Mazza store as soon as they open. Not only will they be offering free facials, Dustin Lujan will be there with Michael and Chae. I spent two hours playing with all the new testers on Saturday and left gobsmacked.

The Kaleidoscopes have travel-related names. All have a translucent pressed powder (very much like an HD powder) on the top level, a blush immediately below, and two coordinating eye shadow shades at the bottom. See update below. The Kaleidoscope above may be called Full Stream, but it's also possible I can't read my own scrawl. I was writing on Michael's business card - around the print.

I'm sure the bus Kaleidoscope is called All Aboard. It's gorgeous - one of my two favorites. Directly below, you'll see Lift Off, the one I pre-ordered. You will note that the blush is softer than the one in All Aboard, better for my pale skin.

The fourth was in a display case, and we couldn't get it out. The photo has a yellow cast. Sorry, that was unavoidable. It's called Luxury Liner. Shown below, it appears to be one I'm going to want.

Now, to the drop-dead, I need them all Liquid Eye Prisms. It's a trend now to release liquid eye shadows - it seems like every line has them - but almost all of them are intensely colored. These aren't. They offer maximum control. They can be used as eye shadow bases or as shadows. You can build the color as you please. They are beyond gorgeous.

The new pencils are shown in the next two photos. The lip pencils have a new coral color that will be useful for many, and there's a deep red that will serve all shades of red lipstick.

The eye pencils are soft (not breakable soft) and apply like a dream. I'm smitten with the green one.

Michael drew them all on his hand. The eyes are at the top, with the lip colors below. There's also a smudge of one of the new eye shadows (drool!).

I don't know much about the new skin care yet - aside from the fact that it will hydrate and plump your skin. I'll find out more and let you know later. I do know that it costs $225 for 1.7 oz.

There will be a gift with a purchase of $400 during Beauty Event: a full-sized skin care product! My favorite too.

The two big days at Mazza will be Thursday and Saturday if you want to see Dustin there. Call and make an appointment. You know how popular he is. You can reach Michael Reinhardt at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258. I think Dustin will be with the new rep at Tysons on Friday (can't confirm).

I don't ever remember a time when Le Métier de Beauté introduced so much new color at one time, and it's all gorgeous. How, with no job, am I going to acquire all these new beauties?

Update 9/10: I got the true scoop on the Kaleidoscopes today. The third shade down is either a bronzer or highlighter, not an eye shadow. On the train and plane, the shade is a bronzer. On the Luxury Liner and helicopter, it's a highlighter.

Additional information: 1) the lip liners are a new formula that is waterproof; 2) the eye liners are a new gel formula that is water resistant. Dustin Lujan supplied all of this update information.

All photos by Best Things in Beauty, taken in store

Where Have I Been?

Just as I started blogging again earlier this year, I scheduled a right knee replacement for July 15. In order to make my house "walker-ready," I took off from work and spent over a month doing nothing but cleaning, which really meant discarding stuff. I gave away at least five huge bags of beauty products and stashed away twice that - all to get them out of my way. I didn't want to trip over my hobby, harming my knew knee, or worse, injuring another body part.

Last week, I finished physical therapy, and I can say that my knee feels good! I'm pleased. Thursday I got an epidural to help my aging spine. So far the results have been a little disappointing. I'm taking it easy today.

I know many of you thought I had deserted you, leaving the blog behind and easing into retirement.  I've certainly considered it, but there is a part of me that won't let go. I have pictures of new Chanel to show you, and I've purchased plenty of beautiful things to feature. I'm being careful not to buy more than I can wear, which is difficult. I am such an addict. Nevertheless, I hope to start taking new photos soon and get this blog moving again.

Thank you for your loyalty and love. You are wonderful readers to wait for me for a year, and I appreciate it very much.

The photo at the top is me with my friend Dustin Lujan. Fortunately, now that he has rejoined Le Métier de Beauté as its director of color development, I'll see him often now.

I hope to be back later this week with some goodies to show you. The new Chantecaille is gorgeous!

Photo by Best Things in Beauty