Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to Roshana!

Named InStyle's Best Bronzing Powder for 2011, Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzing Powder creates a natural-looking tan, whatever your complexion. Its unique texture has always been Guerlain's not-so-well-kept secret. It leaves no harsh lines of demarcation, only a sheer, natural, radiant, luminous tan. Its formula, enriched with moisturizing ingredients, doesn't dry out the skin. It will leave you with a sun-kissed glow.

"With tiny flecks of gold, peach, and a hint of rose swirled in, this powder gives skin a Bali (not Broadway) glow and won't muddy fair complexions," makeup artist Nick Barose told InStyle. I'd say that's a great description.

I hear #02 is the most popular shade because it's universally flattering. Courtesy of a friend in the industry, I have one to give away. I think that's pretty exciting. Let's have fun with this giveaway contest. You might want to tell us why you want/need this bronzer in the comments. I want it "just because" is a perfectly acceptable reason. I have the I-wants all the time.

How can you enter to win? Here's the "fine print."

There are a few simple steps. First, all you really have to do is leave a comment on this feature. After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com 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).

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. Only one tweet will be counted as an entry. I appreciate multiple tweets, but it's not necessary.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, July 30, at midnight. The next day, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday. 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 won't be able to replace it with another. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail services do right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior Blue Tie Collection Rouge Dior Lip Color for Fall 2011

Dior's Blue Tie Collection for Fall 2011 started to sell out the moment it hit the counters. One week after the collection arrived at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria, the dual-toned blushes were gone. While most of the attention has been focused on the Blue Tie Palette for eyes and lips, my eyes were instantly drawn by the lip colors. I came home with two Rouge Dior shades and two new Rouge Sérum shades.

Haute couture color and a new ultra-nourishing, long-wearing formula, luxuriously packaged in the House of Dior's signature cannage pattern with a jeweled emblem.

Four shades of Rouge Dior ($30) grace the fall display.

• Allegro Pink #741
• Angelique Beige #314
• Pasanelle Pink #428
• Tourbillon Pink #651

They are all pretty, but I had to exercise some self-restraint. Pasalelle Pink and Allegro Pink came home with me. Pasalelle Pink is shown at left, and Allegro Pink is shown below right.

I debated with myself in the store over their similarities. They appeared on my skin to be members of the same "warm rosewood" family, but with different intensities. I couldn't decide between them, so - you guessed it - I bought both. I need to become more decisive.

My in-store impression was correct. On my lips, they are both warm rose shades - much warmer than you might expect from their appearance in the tubes. My swatch photos were taken in sunlight filtered by high clouds.

Pasalelle Pink is shown at the top of my arm, with Allegro Pink below it. Now that I've had a chance to wear each, I think Pasalelle Pink is the best shade for me. I like it! It's cooler than Allegro Pink, which shows its coral hue clearly on my lips. I can wear that warmer tone, but not in an intense lipstick. Rouge Dior is opaque; I need a sheer look to pull off warmer shades. I'll have to trade Allegro Pink with one of my trading friends - or send it to one of my blogger buddies. I'm not sure I'll wear it.

Looks in the tube can be deceiving - as we all know. Normally, I test on my fingertips, which have color approximating my lip color, but I didn't the day I was shopping. I skipped that step because I was in a hurry. I also skipped my normal trip to a skylight to see the shades in a realistic light.

Don't let my preferences influence you, though. We all have our peculiarities (in opinion and looks!), and what's not perfect for me may be your holy grail. All four shades appear to have been designed to offset a dramatic eye perfectly.

Rouge Dior is long-lasting and does have a perfumy fragrance. The fragrance is not troublesome to my nose and dissipates quickly.

I purchased my new Dior shades for fall at Neiman Marcus. I'm sure all the Dior counters have the fall collection now. You can see it online at Nordstrom if you'd like to armchair shop.

Photos courtesy of Nordstrom and by Best Things in Beauty

Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 Duo for Fall 2011

Clinique's Black Honey Collection for Fall 2011 has arrived at a counter near you. I couldn't have been more excited to see it when I visited Neiman Marcus yesterday. I've been a Black Honey fan for more years than I can count and was thrilled to share a sneak peek of the fall collection with you last month. Yesterday, I was able to purchase a few pieces.

The dual-ended Black Honey ($21), with the Almost Lipstick at one end and a Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 at the other, is a Black Honey addict's dream! One side brings you the original, emollient-rich Almost Lipstick. The other features a coordinating Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 for extra shine.The shade has earned a cult following, and this two-for will speak to the legions of women, like me, who have worn the shade since 1971! The duo is a limited edition, so I'd suggest you buy yours now. I am contemplating a purchase of two more - that's how much I love Black Honey! One for my bathroom, one for my purse, and another just because. I suspect there are other Black Honey hoarders out there, so don't let us buy all the stock before you get to a Clinique counter.

I did purchase Black Honey lip gloss when it was offered a few years ago. If I remember correctly, it was a Sephora exclusive. I kid you not, I bought eight of them. The gloss tubes were much less convenient than this wand, though, so I'm in Black Honey paradise.

Just in case you are very young, have never experienced the joy of Black Honey, or have been living in a makeup-deprived world, I took a few swatch photos outdoors in full sun. The gloss is shown at the top of my arm, and the Almost Lipstick is below the little scratch on my arm (the result of removing wild raspberries from my garden, thorns and all). Both gleam, but they are not as shimmery as they appear in my photos.

The gloss and lipstick are different shades in the Black Honey "family." To my eye, the sheer gloss has more plum in it. The Black Honey lipstick is a universally flattering shade - and really nothing like it's deep, dark appearance in the tube. It's a super-sheer natural berry with a hint of brown and enough color to perk up my face without giving me a "lipstick look." It's also extremely hydrating.

I could gush. Instead, I'll suggest you Black Honey lovers get to a counter to buy yours. If there's really someone out there who has never experienced the joys of Clinique's iconic lip color, go see it! Chances are you'll love it.

The promo photo I showed you in June made the new eye shadow quad look too pink. I was seriously tempted to buy it when I saw it yesterday (and may still). The shades are fabulous neutrals. I did purchase the Gradient Powder Blush - also a more exciting shade than the press release made it appear. I'll show you a swatch soon.

For those who want to restock their Black Honey Almost Lipstick, it's also readily available in the fall collection, as is a Blush-on Cream Liner. Time to revisit Clinique! The Black Honey Collection is available at all Clinique counters and some store Web sites (see Nordstrom).

Photos courtesy of Nordstrom and by Best Things in Beauty

Weekend Roundup - July 23

It appears to be the perfect weekend to hole up indoors in air-conditioned comfort (or at water's edge) and read blogs! Here's our weekly beauty roundup to entice you.

Café Makeup had high praise for Burberry's new Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base, calling it a “best in class” primer.
Best Things in Beauty (yours truly) offered a sneak peek at Chanel's Aquillaries de Chanel Collection. It is expected to arrive in stores the first week in August.
The Beauty Look Book showed us why we need Le Métier de Beauté's True Romance Nail Lacquer, a Nordstrom Anniversary exclusive. Mine finally arrived!
Fab over Forty featured makeup application tips from Mickey Castillo, Le Métier de Beauté's makeup director.
The Non-Blonde fell for the gorgeous, new Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours. Want!
Karla Sugar swatched the Fall 2011 Color Collection from NARS. Scroll down to see the items I bought and am wearing now.
Perfect for this weather, Product Girl featured a guide to the obsessive nature of facial misting.
DivaDebbi achieved beauty bliss with the Bliss Fabulous Skin-Reviving Rubberizing Mask.
Gouldylox Reviews is enjoying Dove's Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo, Conditioner, and Treatment products.
BeautyXposé introduced us to the limited-edition eos Summer 2011 Collection of lip balm smooth spheres. Hmm...a lip balm I haven't tried?
Daly Beauty tested and loved Your Best Face's Restore serum.

Stay cool this weekend! I plan to stay inside and read a book.

NARS Pago Pago Sheer Lipstick and Oasis Lip Gloss for Fall 2011

The NARS Fall Color 2011 Collection hit all the stores in my area this week, so it's likely to be available for your perusal if you don't want to shop online as I did. As I played with the colors this week, I continued to be struck by how pretty this "anti-fall" collection is right now.

While nude-toned lip colors are perfect companions for fall's dramatic eye, particularly the theatrical, bright-blue Outremer shown in the NARS Fall Look, they are also perfect for wear now, as the daytime temperatures exceed 100 degrees. We want to look cooler than we feel, and these lip colors will help us look light and natural.

Pago Pago Sheer Lipstick ($24) is lighter than I envisioned when I inspected it online. It's sheer, though, which puts it in my favorite lip color type category. It's a peach-toned nude with a pink cast and a gleam. The intensity of the color is extremely close to the intensity of my natural lip color, so Pago Pago gives me a warmer tint without significant color. If you have a lot of pigment in your lips, you will probably find the shade to be too light.

Oasis Lip Gloss ($24) is a subtly shimmering mauve-toned pink that will look great on many of us. It offers medium color intensity (not too light and frosty, not dark) - just enough color so I can wear it without lipstick underneath.

My "helper" thinks this indoor photography is fun. He has been a rascal this week. This morning, I caught him with half his body in the bag of Purina Large-Dog Puppy Chow, munching away at the "fox food."

I had a hard time getting a swatch photo that would show you the shades accurately. My photos taken indoors portrayed the shades in a cool light, and they looked more cool in tone than they appear to my eye. You won't see those.

The outdoor photo at right represents the shades better than any indoor photo I snapped - even with the sun's reflection on my arm clear in the picture. Hopefully, you can see how warm the Pago Pago shade is and envision how Oasis Lip Gloss will cool it down and add a shine.

If you are looking for a "traditional" fall look, the NARS fall lip colors probably won't appeal to you. If you want a seasonless look - one you can enjoy now - you will love the collection. You should be able to find it at all NARS counters and at NARS online.

Photos courtesy of NARS and by Best Things in Beauty, with help from Charlie

The Friday Forum - July 22

The cleome - so delicate and so pretty! Unfortunately, it has been so hot here for the last few days, the cleomes close up in the afternoon to preserve and protect their moisture. Today is predicted to be the worst day of the week, with a heat index around 120 degrees. The heat wouldn't be that bad, except for the humidity, which lends a sticky, uncomfortable feeling to the skin in minutes. Time to bring out those wonderful, hydrating mist sprays! Please remember to leave out water for wildlife. I saw one of my foxes drinking early this morning - that made me happy.

This week was historic, but also sad. For years, I worked as a consultant to NASA and have memories I'll always cherish: seeing the Space Shuttle in a hanger, long before the first launch, experiencing the sheer energy and exhilaration of a launch up close - more than I can recount in a short blog post. Now, as the Shuttle program has ended, and we don't know where NASA is headed, I feel a loss. Even worse, though, I worry about all the people who worked on the program. They are losing their jobs, their lifelong passions, as NASA shuts down a program that has made the United States a leader in space. With the economy in tatters again, what will become of all those members of the NASA family? I know it's going to be hard for them to move on. From one blogger to all of them...Bravo, job well done!

Tonight, I plan to attend a Sisley event at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. It's a master class with Sisley's top trainer, accompanied by wine and nibbles. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening: in an air-conditioned room talking beauty. Since it's summer and so many head out of the DC area in July, there are spaces available (or there were yesterday). If you live nearby and would like to attend, call (703) 761-1600 and ask for Kathy Shoreman at extension 3268.

The fall beauty collections are filtering into the stores or making their debuts online, and I'm impressed. I've tried to give you sneak peeks as I've received the photos so that you can be as tempted as I am. My wish list is growing (Guerlain, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Le Métier de Beauté, and more). Not only that, the latest fragrance introductions, plus my exploration of scents and lines, have stunned me (and my wallet). I'm really enjoying the "trip." I did order Cartier's Baiser Volé Eau de Parfum (I asked for help on that purchase last week). I hope it arrives today, and I hope I love it as much as I love the company's baby big cat ads!

It's time for The Friday Forum, our open chat. Did you find any deals you couldn't resist this week? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers have moved on.

The giveaway contest for Kate Somerville's Daily Detox Cleanser ends tomorrow, July 23, at midnight. Make sure to enter before then!

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

NARS Trio Eyeshadow in Delphes for Fall 2011

The NARS Fall 2011 Collection is available. I was intrigued by a few pieces when I shopped online and am pleased that I ordered the Trio Eyeshadow in Delphes ($45). Was it named for Delphi in Greece, the site of a Panhellenic sanctuary, a place invested with sacred meaning and harmony with nature? Just a guess.

The collection doesn't sing "fall" to me, but with many fall collections arriving in summer and holiday scheduled to arrive with the first frost, our seasons don't always matter.

The Delphes trio offers a sheer, sparkling peach-toned pink, a muted, matte dove grey, and a frosted sage - perhaps an unusual mix of shades, but they play together nicely. If you compare my photo at right with the photo from the NARS Web site above, you'll see that the colors are portrayed fairly accurately on the NARS Web site.

As I started to play with the trio, I hoped that the shades would have a creamy texture that would adhere to the skin. They do! This trio should be better received than the Calanque Eyeshadow Trio that was introduced with the spring collection.

It is so hot and humid here that my camera's lens kept fogging up when I tried to snap photos of Delphes outside. As a result, I took all of my photos indoors in a sunlit window - with help.

Charlie would not leave me alone as I tried to get swatch photos to show you the NARS fall story. Apparently, Charlie wished to be the story. There was something about this Delphes trio he really liked. He hopped up next to me and rubbed his face against my arm each time he circled around my lap. His tail kept thwacking against my arm, right where I had swatched the shades. That was the ultimate eye shadow endurance test. I know the trio's shades will stay put because they survived so many swipes by Charlie's strong, furry tail.

Look past my fuzzy buddy, and you'll see a gleaming pink ("just this side" of warm), a muted grey that is a lovely shade - much less blue than it appears in the compact - and a lovely, shimmering green. These photos were the best I could do. Charlie stole the show, despite the gorgeous colors. I finally gave up on photos and gave him the attention he was demanding.

Delphes is another fall palette I'll be wearing now. It's a lovely addition to my collection. I also purchased the lip colors. I'll show you those soon. The NARS Fall 2011 Collection is available online. I have not seen it in a store yet.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS; other photos by Best Things in Beauty, assisted by Bengal Boy