Bobbi Brown Caviar and Oyster Palette for Holiday 2012

Strong and smoky or soft and pretty? There's no need to choose with Bobbi's beautifully-edited selection for the limited-edition Caviar and Oyster Palette ($75) for the holidays. Featuring eight eye shadows and a luminescent, glittering skin enhancer, this mirrored palette makes it easy to create plenty of party looks. Taking a cue from the look of something pretty against something edgy, the set includes rich caviar and pearlescent black shades. The standout star of the season, Ballet Sparkle, a shimmer highlighter, is so sheer it can be worn on both eyes and cheeks to shine your face with party lights.

Here is a description of the shades, straight from Bobbi Brown's Web site. Just click on the photo to enlarge it.

The palette is jazzy. Some of the shades are very sparkly. Surprisingly, I like most of the shades - a lot. The palette has two pull out drawers that hide the Ballet Sparkle highlighter. Pull them out to the side, and you'll see the full offering.

I swatched the left side of the palette first. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and applied the shades heavily. I took my photos in full mid-day sun. For each of the eye shadow "drawers," I swatched clockwise starting with the top left. However, I didn't bother with the White Eye Shadow. I couldn't see it on my arm, and I knew that if I couldn't see it, you wouldn't either.

Sandy Pearl Metallic Shadow at the top of my arm is an interesting shade. It's almost fluid in its appearance. I love it. In a take it or leave it contest, it would be one of my top two eye shades in Caviar and Oyster. The dove Grey Sly is matte and blends beautifully with the other shades. The sparkly light pink-white Pink Opal is pretty, but I have other shades just like it. Nevertheless, it's useful for nighttime.

I think three of the shades on the right are gorgeous. The Shimmering black Plum Steel (shown at the top of my arm) isn't plum at all. It's a beautiful shimmering charcoal. Pearl Oyster is a sheer ivory. It's a nice topper for other shades. If used alone, it doesn't offer much color. Rich Caviar makes a great liner. It's too dark for me to wear as an eye shadow. Heather Grey at the bottom of my arm is matte and unexciting.

Pink Ballet in the center of the palette is a stunner. I applied it heavily at the top of my arm and then used a brush to show you how it looks when applied lightly. Valerie Fleming, Bobbi Brown Product Specialist, gave me an interesting tip for using Pink Ballet. She said to apply it with the fingertips, patting it on the area you want to glow. I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect that will give you the color shown at the top of my arm. If you want to reach Valerie for Bobbi Brown makeup tips (or to order), call her at Neiman Marcus at (703) 761-1600, extension 3301.

Overall, I think Caviar and Oyster is a gorgeous palette for night life. It's too sparkly to use in the daytime, but I think it provides a stunning festive look for special events. Make sure to layer the sparkly shades over any other eye shadow if you need more color than the sheer shades provide.

I purchased my palette at Neiman Marcus. Nordstrom has it too. If you wish to order at Bobbi Brown's Web site, you'll have to wait until November. Figure that out.

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

Sunday This and That - Shopping and More

Where do you like to shop for beauty products? I have my favorite stores, and I'll bet you do too. I'll share if you will.

For fragrance, I have a couple of best sources. One is MiN New York, shown above. Established in 1999 by Chad Murawczyk and located in Soho, New York, MiN is a mecca for fragrance lovers. MiN features niche fragrances - the treasures you can't find anywhere else. MiN was featured, along with many of my fragrance friends, in this month's Elle in an article on the Goodsmellas (men who are really into fragrance). As you'll read, MiN is a great hang-out for fragrance lovers, and Chad and Mindy host events just about every week.

The West Coat equivalent, perhaps a bit larger than MiN, is LuckyScent. I've spent way more than my fragrance "budget" at these two retailers over the last year. I also love Beautyhabit and Bergdorf Goodman (which has a more exclusive stock than its sister store, Neiman Marcus). More than any other feature, I look for free shipping and shops that don't charge me tax. If you buy enough at Bergdorf Goodman, your SA will waive the shipping. Just ask.

I also shop online for fragrances you can't buy in a store. They might be discontinued or available only in Europe. Sometimes, I'm just looking for a sale/discount. I order from Parfum1, First in Fragrance, and eBay. Those are only the top three. I often buy directly from perfumer's own sites. One order that pleased me enormously last month was placed directly with April Aromatics. Tanja Bochnig's fragrances are amazing! I'm sure that the moment I click on Publish here, I will regret not naming another source. I've been buying a lot of fragrance.

For makeup, I have my regular sources: Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie and Tysons Galleria, Saks Fifth Avenue at Chevy Chase, and Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's at Tysons Corner Center. I purchase at least weekly from Sephora, but almost always online. I hate the dirty store near me, and I don't like to wait in line to part with my money. There's something offensive about asking customers about to spend $150 to wait in line. This customer who has spinal issues finds it painful as well as inconvenient.

Just as I do with fragrances, I often order from companies' Web sites. Bobbi Brown appears frequently on my credit card invoice, as does Chanel and Giorgio Armani Beauty.

Skin care? Take all my makeup sources and add a ditto. Additionally, I look online when I'm shopping. I like SkinCareRX, an advertiser here, and SkinStore (right now 20% off store-wide).

If there were a Bluemercury near me, I would shop there often. The boutiques are elegant, but I've never found one in Virginia. With traffic as bad as it is here, I seldom venture that far to buy beauty products.

Hair care? Almost always online - often from Beautorium. Of course, I purchase my AVEENO at drugstores.

I have to add Costco to my shopping list. You never know what you'll find. I can' leave the store without browsing the beauty department.

Where do you shop? Have you found a local retailer you love? Do you want to tell us about a local boutique we'd never find if it weren't for your recommendation? This shopper would love to know!

I'd also like to know how you feel about the sales representatives where you shop. I have my faves at every store and only shop with them. For example, I purchase everything at Neiman Marcus Tysons from Loula Ayoub. She is a professional, as well as a caring person. She is always busy, but once she's free, gives you her full attention. At Saks, I shop with Loyd and Georgia. At Nordstrom, I seek out Diron at Bobbi Brown. He shops the whole department with me. At Bloomies? I always find my friends at SPACE.NK.

Switching subjects, everyone is wondering how and why Chanel choose Brad Pitt as the newest face (spokesman) for Chanel N°5. The ludicrous short videos have drawn a lot of attention, but not good attention. Last night, the short advertisements were spoofed on Saturday Night Live. We know why Brad did it ($7 million), but why did Chanel? Not all notice is equally desirable.

Moving along again, La Prairie sponsored three awards for environmental action in London, with help from Prince Albert of Monaco. During an event at the Science Museum, the luxe Swiss beauty brand and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation handed a grand prize, worth $100,000, to the Monk Seal Conservation Project, which aims to save endangered animals in the Mediterranean Sea. The Kalabla Marine Conservation Education Program received $20,000, while the Toliara Reef Complex Project was awarded $10,000.

I read a quote in WWD [edited for brevity here] by Patrick Rasquinet, President and CEO of La Prairie Group. “Our ambition is to make progress in sustainability. We need to make sure we are producing and developing products in a sustainable way - step-by-step progress in this right direction." Rasquinet’s future plans include using recyclable materials and ingredients that are eco-friendly and ensuring animal-free testing. Kudos to La Prairie!

Photo of MiN by gq.com, walkingoffthebigapple.com. and La Prairie

Benefit High Flyin' Lip Glosses Set Giveaway Contest

When Benefit's Ultra Plush Lip Glosses were introduced a few months ago, I bought five of the six colors, planning to give one away. I love them! Now, Benefit has created a limited-edition set, High Flyin' Glosses ($26), containing all six of these gorgeous lip glosses in a "mini" size. They are nicely sized minis.

The set of glosses will keep you looking sexy at any altitude. It includes six irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks - all sheer and shiny. The luxuriously plush formula glides on perfectly smoothly, thanks to the easy-squeeze tube and custom tip.

The set includes six 0.22-oz Lip Glosses in Coralista, Dallas, Bellabamba, HOOLA, Sugarbomb, Dandelion - there isn't a dud among them. They match Benefit's amazingly popular blushes. To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, you can pair your favorite gloss with its complementing box o’ powder.

You can see my swatch of four of the shades at this link. You'll see that they are very sheer. That's what I like about them. I can apply them on the go, without a mirror, and end up with perfectly juicy lips in a hearbeat.

Now, one of you will get to experience the lovely look and feel of these Benefit glosses - in all the shades. I love them - hope you will too.

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 entrants 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, October 27, 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!

Photo courtesy of Sphora

Dior 5 Couleurs Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Fairy Golds from the Grand Bal Collection for Holiday 2012

Dior introduced the Grand Bal Collection for Holiday 2012 with a fairy tale. “Now that Cinderella’s fairy godmother no longer exists, the couturier must be the magician,” said Christian Dior. From Monsieur Dior’s extravagant parties in Granville, his childhood home (and the name of one of his Collection Privée fragrances, to the Parisian balls of the Roaring Twenties, the couturier was fascinated by the transformative qualities of ball gowns and the fantasy of a fabulous fête.

Now, Dior has introduced a makeup collection inspired by Dior’s love for entertaining, including the limited-edition Grand Bal Carnet de Maquillage Makeup Palette for Glowing Eyes and Lips, four intense new shades of Diorific (Dior’s haute couture lipstick), two shades of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss, and four new shades of Dior Vernis. There are also two new, limited-edition 5 Couleurs Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palettes ($59).  Today, let's take a look at one of the eye palettes, Fairy Golds.

I think it has an ever-so-slight edge over Night Golds for my affection. That's a tough call, but I think I have to make it. I'd be silly, though, if I told you I could be happy with just one. I am thrilled to have both.

I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply the Night Golds shades to my arm, working clockwise from the top left and ending with the center shade embossed with CD. I took my photos in bright sunlight.

Fairy Golds shimmers with an intensity that's perfect for the holidays. You can use the shades together for a dramatic party girl look, or you can single out one for a daytime look. I have worn the shimmering pink (second from bottom on my arm) alone on the lower lid) to work, and I've been perfectly comfortable with the look.

The light pink at the top of my arm (top left in the palette) is a gorgeous oyster pink. The gold is luscious. The brown is my kind of brown - cool and a medium tone that doesn't own my look. The darker pink I singled out above looks like a light pink-taupe blend on my eyelids. The white in the center with the CD embossed in the powder is as perfect as it gets. It applies quite well, unlike some Dior whites. All of the shades offer a pretty shimmer. Don't worry if you're my age. It's age-appropriate. Dior offers an ageless elegance.

The two palettes from the Grand Ball Collection are now my favorite Dior palettes. They have displaced their predecessors for my love. That was hard to do.

Dior's Grand Bal Collection has arrived at most of the counters in my area. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. If your Dior counters don't have the collection, they should soon. Nordstrom online also has the collection. Check out this link for the eye shadow palettes.

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

Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Red Hautes Collection

Estée Lauder has introduced a new collection of five ravishing red nail lacquers - four of which are new - in the Red Hautes Collection. The new shades are pictured here. Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director said, "This collection is my modern take on the most iconic color for nails: red. It includes a combination of classic elegance and naughty sensuality."

This season, coat nails in a racy range of deep to bright reds that provides a perfect match for every skin tone and every occasion. This latest shade statement pays homage to red - the most timeless, most identifiable shade of nail lacquer - with an alluring twist. These rich and saturated tones are inspired by the glamour, sophistication, and romance of red, while capturing the shade’s undeniable naughty and playful sex-appeal.

The luscious red tones in the Red Hautes Collection drench nails in highly pigmented color to make the perfect statement no matter what the occasion. “There are five types of red to answer every desire,” said Pecheux. “There are day reds, and there are night reds.” Either as a soft and subtle accent or a bold splash of color, these hot, sultry shades are the most coveted way to wear red, transforming nails into the ultimate high-fashion accessory.

 

All five luscious shades, including Pure Red (which is not new), are as shown below in an Estée Lauder photo (click on the swatch photo to enlarge it).

The larger photos in the bottles are, from top to bottom in this feature, Love Bite, Fallen Angel, Beautiful Liar, and Le Smoking. The Red Hautes Collection is available now at Estée Lauder counters and online.

Photos courtesy of Estée Lauder

The Friday Forum - October 19 - Plus Le Métier de Beauté Bauhaus Kaleidoscope Lip Kit

This is how I feel about my home phone. Between the political robocalls and pollsters (all allowed by law) and the marketing and sales calls that violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which authorized the Do Not Call Registry, I have had to stop answering my phone.

On any given day, I receive marketing calls from local businesses with whom I have no relationship - meaning, under the law, that I've never dealt with them. When I answer the phone (most calls go to voice mail), and they start their speil, I stop them and ask, "Excuse me, but I'm on the Do Not Call List. Are you aware that you are violating federal law?" They hang up in a hurry - like I don't know the phone number they used to call me, or even their company name.

Now, add to those unlawful calls the robocalls that are now the majority of the phone calls coming into my home. Congress made sure that political calls were exempt from the law that prohibits sales and marketing calls. They wanted to make sure they could intrude on us any time they wanted. I think most Americans think that's intrusive.

Some of these calls are coming in with the organization listed on my caller ID. I know not to answer them. Others are coming from polling companies. I know not to answer them. Most marketing calls come in as "Unavailable." I answer very few of them, but occasionally I get curious.

I'm currently getting about 15-20 unwanted calls/day. It's out of control. Add to the phone calls the relentless political ads that run when I'm tying to watch the news, and I've had it. Do they really think I'm stupid - that I believe the falsehoods being spouted in those television spots? That I don't know better? Could this election season please end? I want my quiet life back. Am I the only one getting grumpy about this?

Moving on to something pleasant, have you seen this? Le Métier de Beauté will introduce Kaleidoscope Lip Kit ($95) called Bauhaus. It will be exclusive to Neiman Marcus online. That may be a first.

A deviously divine mix of function, flame, and form, Le Métier de Beauté [I fixed their online name error] introduces the newest Holiday Kaleidoscope Lip Kit, "Bauhaus," exclusively for Neiman Marcus online. Each distinctive hue blends together effortlessly for a dimensional pout, mirroring the bold Bauhaus notion of combining unique parts for a collective whole. Lips will be left with a total package, mixing statement and sophistication.

The shades, from top to bottom, are:

• Linaire - a lustrous gold-infused rose petal,
• Criterion - a gilded amber-peach,
• Esthetique - a shimmering vintage rose,
• "Shilhouette" - a Cimmerian cloak of sheer amethyst, with a name that is probably spelled incorrectly.

"Cimmerian" means very dark or gloomy - not an attractive name for a lip color. I pre-ordered Bauahus - couldn't resist. I wish, though, it weren't an online exclusive, and I wish it were shipping before November 22.

 Let's talk about your week of beauty. It's time for the Friday Forum, our open chat. I love this part of our week. Have you selected your favorite holiday collection - and purchased a few new treasures? What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? 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 will have moved on.

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencils are some of the best eyeliners on the market. This week, I've got the latest boxed set to give away. To enter, just comment at this giveaway contest link by midnight tomorrow, October 20.

Update: I saw this heartwarming rescue of a baby elephant on the news this morning. Watch this video if you love elephants and want to see a happy ending.

Photos courtesy of moneytalksnews.com and Neiman Marcus

YSL Radiance Blush in #7 from the Northern Lights Holiday 2012 Collection

YSL launched two new, limited-edition Blush Radiances ($45, aka Radiant Blush) with the Northern Lights Holiday 2012 Collection. This is one of them, #7. I featured the other, #8, this morning. Just scroll down to see it.

YSL's Northern Lights is a small, carefully edited collection. As I mentioned this morning, only half of it appealed to me. Sadly, neither of the eye palettes did. The new Blush Radiances did appeal to me. I purchased them both.

I don't see any sense in repeating the description of Blush Radiance, so let's get straight to the swatch photos. I took swatch photos of #7 using a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and a blush brush below. Both swatches were applied moderately, and my photos were taken in very bright sunshine.

Blush #7 is even lighter and sheerer than #8. The color, a light peach, has just as much sparkle mixed in as #8. The color is buildable, so if my swatch photos look too light for your own complexion, just layer on more color.

The peach shade of #7 is gorgeous. My photos look way too light to me, but I took them right before I snapped the #8 swatches. There was no change in lighting conditions. I can't get more photos because it's dark outside.

I love these new Radiance Blush shades. I purchased my new YSL Northern Lights items at Neiman Marcus. I did not have time to check out the other stores to see if the collection is widely available yet. Make sure to stop at your favorite YSL counter to look at the collection.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty