The Friday Forum - January 25

I found this photo on Facebook. What do you think? I think that darling dog could sell more Chanel N°5 than Brad has.

Today is a very busy day for me. I just came home from a relatively early dentist appointment, will go out mid-day for an epidural (second in a series of three), and then have a 3:30 conference call - right about the time the heavens are predicted to open up and dump another one inch of snow on us. Snow and rush hour do not mix well in the DC area, so I'm glad I will be home, safe, and watching the traffic/accident reports with my purring cat.

You probably know that I love Kilian Hennessy's fragrances. This week, I read about his expansion plans in WWD. At the end of last year, By Kilian opened its first standalone store, a 756-square-foot space at the Crocus City Mall in Moscow. Hennessy confirmed his plans to open stores in Paris and New York and said he is currently hunting for space. That will make Kilian's fragrances more accessible across the world. Just a little trivia...the article also said that Rihanna pre-purchased two of the scents, In the City of Sin and Good Girl Gone Bad, at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. That plus the news that Tim Quinn (Giorgio Armani) did Dr. Jill Biden's makeup for the Inauguration was my celebrity news of the last few days.

Estée Lauder will have a spring promotion - a collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer. With their history rooted in both New York City and Palm Beach, Estée Lauder and Lilly Pulitzer share classic beauty and timeless luxury. Limited-edition gifts with purchase will bring together iconic Lilly Pulitzer prints and signature Estée Lauder products in one complete set. The spring gift collections feature retailer-exclusive Lilly Pulitzer print cosmetic bags filled with essential Estée Lauder skincare and makeup samples perfect for the spring season. They will be available at select department and specialty stores with a qualifying Estée Lauder purchase. The GWP shown above will be available at the Estée Lauder Web site. Other bags will be available at Lord & Taylor, Dillard's, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Belk, Nordstrom (really cute bag), and Bon Ton. Keep your eyes open if you're a Lilly gal.

It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. 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.

Don't forget this week's giveaway contest for Benefit's Ticket to Glossytown Lip Shine Set. I think it's a great set. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, Saturday, January 26, at midnight.

Top photo source unknown; other photo courtesy of Estée Lauder

Le Métier de Beauté Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss: New Shades for Spring 2013

Le Métier de Beauté has introduced two new shades of Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss ($32): Coral Rose and Pink-e Promise. They are shown above, with Coral Rose on the left.

Sheer Brilliance Lip Glosses drench the lips in total luxury. The sumptuous, punchy color saturates the lips in a unique, ultra-lightweight formula that's enriched with emollients and antioxidants to make your lips feel and look great.

• Elegant, semi-translucent, glossy color
• Universally wearable shades
• Vitamin E and lanolin for soft, supple lips
• Silky texture that glides on beautifully
• Never heavy, sticky, or gloppy

Wear one along for a sheer brilliant sheen or layer one over your favorite lip color to magnify color and shine.

I took my swatch photos in full, happy sunshine - that is now melting the snow on my driveway and walkway. It's nice to see the sun after waking this morning to an inch of snow.

I think both shades are glorious. Coral Rose, shown at the top of my arm, is coral through and through. It is said to have a touch of pink, but I am hard-pressed to see it. Pink-e Promise is a bright pink with saturated color and a spring-like punch.

These are beautiful glosses. They have enough color that I can wear them both without a lipstick underneath. Le Métier de Beauté's lip glosses are among my favorites. I'm thrilled to have two new shades.

As I mentioned earlier, these new Sheer Brilliance Lip Glosses and the Lip Crèmes are on their way to all Le Métier de Beauté counters. You can wait for them to arrive at your favorite counter (or online site) or give Michael Reinhardt at call at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, where I purchased mine. His phone number is (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 or 2236.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crème Lip Glosses: New for Spring 2013

Le Métier de Beauté has introduced three new Lip Crème ($36) shades, which are available now at my local Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie and will be available shortly at other  Le Métier de Beauté sources. It stopped snowing, and I was able to get photos just a few minutes ago. My photo above shows Dulce de Leche, Morrocan Sunset (yes, "Moroccan" is misspelled on the name on the tube - I will spell it correctly below), and Pink Berry Crème.

Lip Crème Lip Gloss is a hybrid of gloss and lipstick. The formula combines chic color, intense emollients, and antioxidents to soothe and nourish the lips. The effect is an alluring blend of rich shine and creamy texture that envelops the lips in a beautiful, feather-light sheen. Lip Crèmes are perfect for an intense color payoff with added shine and gloss. Everything Le Métier de Beauté attributes to their Lip Crèmes is true.

• Luxurious, highly pigmented color
• Lacquer sheen finish
• Trendy shades
• Creamy texture and easy application
• Vitamins and antioxidants to help you keep your lips supple and beautiful

I took my swatch photos in full, glorious sunshine - that is, hopefully, melting the snow on my driveway and walkway. I shoveled, but my efforts left a very thin layer that must melt with the sun. I don't believe in using salt; it's bad for the environment.

Dulce de Leche is shown at the top of my arm. It is a warm nude that is very light on the lips - a bit too light for my tastes. I can wear it, but it wouldn't be my first, second, or third choice. Moroccan Sunset is absolutely gorgeous. It is a brown rose on my skin. It's actually much prettier in person than it looks in the photos. Pink Berry Crème is a stunning rose, brilliant on the lips. I'll describe it as medium in coloration. I'd love it even more it it were just a tad darker, but I'm not complaining. I purchased two Pink Berry Crèmes.

With the glaring snow outside, it was a little bit difficult to get swatch photos that were color-true. These are pretty good, I think. I won't even show you the ones with the snowy backgrounds.

I'll be back in a few minutes to show you the new shades of Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss. I am sure that these new lip colors are on their way to all Le Métier de Beauté counters. You can wait for them to arrive at your favorite counter (or online site) or give Michael Reinhardt at call at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, where I purchased mine. His phone number is (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 or 2236.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Coming Soon: Le Métier de Beauté Lip Colors for Spring 2013

I mentioned recently that I was unable to get official photos of the spring lip colors from Le Métier de Beauté - the photos I've seen on the sheets sent to the counters. So a sweet company representative took photos of the testers that just arrived at her store. They are gorgeous.

There are two new Sheer Brilliance Lip Glosses ($32): Coral Rose and Pink-e Promise. Coral Rose was described to me as a sheer coral-pink; Pink-d Promise is said to be a bright, but sheer hot pink.

There are three new Lip Crèmes ($36): Pink Berry (a warm raspberry), Moroccan Sunset (a orange-copper-brown with a rose undertone), and Dulce de Leche (self-explanatory for caramel lovers).

My photo shows, top to bottom, Coral Rose (I know, it does not appear to have rose in it), Pink-e Promise, Moroccan Sunset, Dulce de Leche, and Pink Berry (I will have a meltdown if I cannot get my hands on Pink Berry very soon). These glosses are supposed to arrive before the Melange Palette I showed you last week.

Joey (Glowy Joey Bunny to those who know her) at Bergdorf Goodman told me they are only getting 48 of the palettes - probably in the second or third week of February. If you want any of the new colors, I'd suggest you pre-order now. With only 48 palettes going to most or all of the counters, they will sell out quickly. Trust me.

The best way to reach Joey is at her e-mail address: josiealycia.p@gmail.com. She always monitors her cell phone for e-mails.

I can also recommend another friend, Michael Reinhardt, at Neiman Marcus. You can reach him at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258 or 2236. As of yesterday, the testers had not arrived at his store.

Update 5:00 pm: These gorgeous lip colors arrived today at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. You can call Michael at the phone number directly above if you want to get your hands on them immediately. I just came back from picking up mine. If the sun is shining tomorrow, I will have swatch photos for you.

Contributed photo

Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Rose Favorite from the Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012-2013 Makeup Collection

Chanel's new, limited-edition Rose Favorite Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($28.50) from the Versailles de Chanel Cruise Collection is the kind of eye color that will provoke extreme reactions. You will either love it or leave it. Those who don't wear pink well on their eyes probably won't take a second look. Those who do will want it. I may wear it as a blush. I would need a very talented makeup artist to show me how to use it without the usual result: looking like an albino bunny.

I took my swatch photos in full sun. I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply it moderately at the top of my arm. My photos were taken in very late afternoon sun.

As you can see clearly, it's pink - very pink. There are no undertones of peach or brown. It's a clear pink that reinforces the theme for spring we are all seeing across the spring collections: pink.

It was so cold when I was taking these photos, I had my coat rolled up right below the swatch. I'm surprised I didn't have goosebumps. I can see the veins in my arm trying to deliver warmth to my fingertips. The eye shadow color wasn't warming me - or my heart. I wanted to snap the photos as quickly as possible and zoom back inside.

Rose Favorite is a matte eye shadow. If applied lightly, some women will find it a nice pop of color or even a base shade when combined with other, more neutral shades for a spring look.

The other items in the Versailles Collection are re-promotes. The Chanel boutique told me the Rouge Coco Shine shade is Boy, although I've seen blogs were it was identified as Evasion. Either way, rose pink. The Joues Contraste Powder Blush is Rose Pétale, a blush that's very similar in color to this Rose Favorite eye shadow. Les Vernis in Tendresse is a transparent pastel pink.

You can purchase the Versailles Collection at Chanel boutiques. I purchased mine from Chanel on 57^th Street in New York. You can call any Chanel boutique in the United States (or Paris) to order it. I understand that one reader was unable to order from the boutique in Las Vegas because she had not previously been a customer. Although I have ordered from New York in the past, I was not asked the question when I ordered the two new pieces from this collection.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder from the Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012-2013 Makeup Collection

When I imagined how Chanel's Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder ($80) from Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012/13 Makeup Collection would look, I never imagined that it would be rose gold. I didn't see rose gold in Chanel's photo above. Imagine my excitement when I pulled it out of its FedEx box! It had the appearance in the compact of rose gold, and, sure enough, it's rose gold - at least on my skin.

The limited-edition Versailles Compact, called Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder, is the superstar of the collection. The embossed relief of an architectural detail from the famous Château de Versailles is worth the price of admission. Incidentally, the collection consists of two new pieces. All of the other pieces, such as Rouge Coco Shine in Boy, are re-promotes.

Here is a photo of the powder as it appears to my eye - and my camera's eye. It arrived with that odd "discoloration" on the right side of the design, but that "uneven overlay"  had no effect on the powder itself.

Isn't it gorgeous? Granted, that design will not stay with it forever, but it's certainly pretty to look at when new!

I took swatch photos in full, mid-afternoon sun. I swatched heavily at the top of my arm using a sponge-tipped applicator. Then I used a kabuki brush to apply a light touch below. Interestingly, the compact comes in a lovely velveteen pouch with its own applicator - a large flat sponge like the one that comes with Estée Lauder's Pure Color llluminating Powder Gelée Blush in Tease. The sponge is a fabulously effective applicator. The powder is not powdery. It seems to be a new formula from Chanel.

The color of this gold illuminating powder is nothing short of divine. The more you apply, the more rose gold the color appears. You can see that the light application on my arm shows the rose hue, but it's not as dramatic as the darker swatch above.

Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder is a limited edition that, reportedly, will only be available at Chanel boutiques. I purchased mine from Chanel on 57^th Street in New York. You can call any Chanel boutique in the United States (or Paris) to order it.

There is one other new piece in the collection: a vibrant pink eye shadow. If I can get photos, I will show it to you tomorrow.

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

Inauguration Fashion and Beauty

Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden looked gorgeous yesterday. So did everyone else in the two families. I was avidly watching the fashion choices, particularly proud of the First Lady's impeccable taste.

Except for one thing. What did you think of the belt? It was a J. Crew sash that Michelle Obama had converted to a belt. It added a decorative touch to the navy-silk, checkered-patterned coat and dress by Thom Browne that were inspired by a menswear necktie. The simplicity of the A-line coat and coordinating dress were perfect for her statuesque figure. The belt cut her in half. I'm on the fence about the belt because it occasionally disrupted the perfect line of her coat, but I think everything else she wore looked perfect.

She wore J. Crew shoes to the church service, but changed into boots for the ceremony and procession. During lunch at the Capitol, she added a cardigan by Reed Krakoff over her dress.

The President looked very conservative, with his blue tie, white shirt, dark suit, and overcoat. Isn't it funny? No one told us who designed his clothing. He coordinated nicely with Michelle in blue. The kids were adorable. Malia Obama had on a plum-colored J. Crew coat with the hemline of an electric-blue dress peeking out and a burgundy-colored scarf, Sasha had on a Kate Spade coat and dress in a similar purple shade. They clashed a bit, but who cares? They were adorable. Malia is growing up to be a stunner.

Jill Biden looked absolutely stunning in a blue-gray coat and dress by American designer Lela Rose.  Rose said that since the focus would be on the coat, she wanted to give it a flourish. Hence the large bow. Not clearly visible underneath her coat was a white embroidered, flower appliqué sheath, also by Lela Rose. Here it is below, shown on a model. I should note that I loved her hair style.

Jason Wu should be a very happy man today. At 30 years old, he has the accomplishment of dressing the First Lady for two inaugural balls, and the gowns will go to a museum. Michelle Obama looked as perfect as it gets in the flowing red gown.

I loved the way she changed her hair style from straight and sleek to a flippy style for the ball. Her choices were spot-on.

Jill Biden looked radiant in her Vera Wang gown. A blonde can't go wrong with blue. She wore black peep-toe shoes to go with the black sash on the gown. As with Mrs. Obama, I'm not sure the sash added anything to the look.

Wasn't Joe Biden the life of the party - all day? He is such a lovable guy. As I watched him during the toasts and later during the procession, I wanted to hug him.

Both Michelle Obama and Jill Biden had extraordinary hair styles - full of volume, they moved with the breeze, but never looked like they needed a refresh. I'd love to know who styled their hair and what products were used. Michelle Obama's enhanced eyelashes were also noteworthy.

That's my adoring wrap-up. I can find little (perhaps nothing) to criticize. It was a beauty-full day.

Photos courtesy of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other media