1. Tom Ford’s Private Blend Fragrances – I’m slowly transitioning from my usual light airy scents to ones that are a bit darker and more complex. I’ve been lusting over Santal Blush for ages (see Temptalia’s review here) but also received a small sample at the counter of Tobacco Vanille (which made The Non-Blonde’s top vanilla perfumes list). I can’t decide!
2. Burberry Hydrangea Pink Blush – this is new for spring and on its way to me 🙂 It’s online now at Nordstrom.com. See it swatched on Gummy Vision.
3. Deborah Lippmann has some lovely spring nail colors coming out soon. I’m really curious about Moon Rendezvous (available for pre-sale on Neimans).
4. Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille – sweet smokey vanilla perfection in a bottle. I’ve never been able to pull the trigger on purchasing this one. Perhaps this year will be the year! I see a trip to Barneys in my near future. Details online at Barneys.com.
5. NARS Cythere Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil – gorgeous swatch on Makeup and Beauty Blog and also listed as being used for Helmut Lang’s Spring 2013 show, beauty breakdown listed on 15 Minute Beauty.
Last year YSL reformulated and repackaged their nail lacquers into their La Laque Couture. I haven’t had a chance to play much with the new formulas (although I do own three). They come in a lovely square-shaped bottle with a removable cap. The brush is wider than most brands, but also skinny (flat). I normally prefer brushes that are not quite as wide, but the YSL applies very easily with the shape of the brush. Bronze Pyrite #35 is the first YSL nail lacquer (in the new formula) that I’ve tried and so far I’m impressed. It’s part of the spring 2013 line ($25 for 0.34 fl oz./10 ml).
As you can see Bronze Pyrite is a beautiful metallic. It’s a true metallic in the sense that it goes on with a metal finish (rather than sparkle or shimmer). There is a lot of color mixed in. On the nails I would describe it as a pewter. Depending on the lighting, sometimes there is a very slight khaki/greenish glimmer. I was pleased that it applied with minimal visible brush strokes. The pigment is rich and only needed one coat, however 2 coats was best for me.
At an angle you can see a bit of the khaki glow:
Here are a few views of the packaging and brush:
Here it is swatched on me:
Compared to other metallic/high shimmers, YSL Bronze Pyrite is the most foiled/metallic looking compared to other similar metallics. Chanel’s Graphite has a more complex finish with larger sparkles, Tom Ford’s Silver Smoke is lighter and more neutral with a finely milled shimmer, Dior Timeless Gold has a more sophisticated shimmer and Chanel Diwali has more dimension.
Overall a huge thumbs up. I did get some tip wear on day 3, and on day 5 it started to chip a little. I found it lasted quite well throughout the week.
There is one more shade from YSL spring, a gorgeous seafoam green called Jade Imperial #34. I passed since it seemed so similar to one of the shades from last year’s OPI Holland collection but I didn’t try them side by side to compare.
Edward Bess Cosmic Bliss Prismette Eyeshadow Quad is every taupe-lover’s dream come true ($68 for 0.25 oz/7g). Some have chosen this one as their favorite of the three quads that Edward has released (I agree too). I particularly loved the reviews, reader comments and swatches on Best Things in Beauty and Café Makeup.
Cosmic Bliss has four beautiful neutrals: a creamy all-over-base shade, a soft shimmery beige taupe (same as his Intimate single shadow), a darker taupe shimmer with a very slight hint of mauve, and a dark chocolatey taupe shimmer with reddish tones. The palette is effortless and gives a gorgeous polished look. The shades are shimmery but on the eyes it applied more subtle – it has a luminous glow rather than a shimmery frost. Those who are scared of shimmer need not worry about this one. It’s very natural (but not too natural).
I love that it’s extremely versatile. The texture of the shades is amazing. The colors themselves are very pigmented but texture is soft and easy to blend. Each color is layerable and easy to control so you can create a soft subtle look or a more intense neutral smokey eye.
At first glance it reminded me of a less-frosty version of Dior’s long-discontinued Iridescent Leather (at least discontinued in the US). I pulled it out to compare along with Intimate and Burberry’s Pale Barley. You can see below some similar qualities but that the Edward Bess Cosmic Bliss has a more subdued finish.
Swatches, two views: top without flash, bottom with flash + sunlight
I find Edward Bess’s Cosmic Bliss beautiful and a must-have staple. It’s easy to apply and versatile enough to incorporate into any look. I used it with the following items recently:
I purchased mine from Bergdorf Goodman. It is also available online at Bergdorfs, Neimans and Sephora.com along with a few select locations such as Sephora in NYC and Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills.
Happy New Year to all! I love this time of year. Each new year I’m filled with hope and excitement – it feels like we all get a fresh new start. Beauty-wise, Café Makeup has a lovely list of what she’s looking forward to this year. For me, here are 5 things I’m looking forward to:
No. 1 Burberry Beauty and Tom Ford
Both Burberry Beauty and Tom Ford Beauty are among the newer luxury brands to enter the market. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the new year. Burberry Beauty has released a number of consistently amazing products, all with high quality and naturally flattering shades. They ended the year with the release of some new beautiful quads. Recent changes between the Burberry Beauty and Interparfums relationship has me wondering what will be in store for the future. I hope they continue to release more beautiful items as they transition (keeps fingers crossed for their brushes).
There are mixed feelings among beauty fans about the Tom Ford Beauty line. His lipsticks and blushes are among the best in the market, but the rest of the line didn’t match the quality or pigment (in my opinion). However, the Tom Ford Beauty brand significantly improved the quality of his nail polishes and eyeshadows with the fall 2012 collection. I hope they continue this trend.
No. 2 Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscopes
Le Métier de Beauté’s eyeshadows are breathtakingly beautiful. I know I’m not alone when I say the quality and texture is among the best of all luxury brands. I do hope 2013 brings us more eye kaleidoscopes, but ones that are more widely available to all Le Métier counters or online. There were at least 3 kaleidoscopes plus a number of glosses released this year that I wanted, however they were released in very limited quantities to a few select stores. I did not have the time to call around to track them down. I love that the brand encourages their artists’ creativity to design beautiful creations. I also understand that Le Metier is a smaller brand focused on quality. Yet at the same time, as an avid fan, it can be a bit frustrating to have items so challenging to find.
No. 3 More try-before-you-buy sampler sets for foundations and fragrances
I feel brands should be more creative and generous with their samples. I feel samples are scarce these days but they are essential to assist us with testing, in particular with foundations and fragrances. Both items require longer testing time than testing out a lipstick or eyeshadow at the counter. For foundations, we need to see how it wears throughout the day, make sure the color matches well, and also check that our skin doesn’t react with the formula. For fragrances, we definitely need to wear a sample for an extended period to see how it reacts with our body chemistry. I thought the Frédéric Malle Fragrance Coffret collection at Barneys was genius (although I did not purchase). I wish perfume companies would release mini versions at affordable prices. I love that Le Labo allows purchase of samples directly from the company online. I hope more brands offer these sampling options.
No. 4 Transitioning from PC to MAC
For Christmas, I received a MacBook Air. I’ve had so much fun transitioning but have so much to learn. I look forward to learning more!
No. 5 More artist features, how-to’s, videos, tutorials
Tutorials are invaluable for all of us. Clear, concise, well-edited videos such as those from Lisa Eldridge for Chanel and Uzo from NARS are easy to follow, inspirational and actually ones we can replicate (as in they aren’t edited too much). Professional videos from brand artists are immensely helpful. I hope Chanel and NARS release more and that others follow. As brands increase their social media efforts, I feel these video tutorials are a way to help connect with consumers like us. I personally would like them linked on the brand website rather than having to search through YouTube or magazine websites.
There is a long list of new discoveries I’ve fallen in love with this year. Many were thanks to other bloggers (thank you for your inspiration). It’s been a challenging year for me in my non-blogging work life. Thanks to many of you for keeping me inspired and for your never ending support. For my top picks, this year’s favorites include the following:
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No. 1 – Best Splurge – Tom Ford Beauty Brushes
After reading numerous raves, I decided to purchase the Tom Ford Brush Set. It was a hefty investment but the brushes are well designed with an ultra-soft luxurious feel. The performance is simply amazing with makeup application. You have to try it to believe it. I have a detailed review on the Eye Contour Brush #12. The two others eye brushes I’ve acquired since then are equally amazing and while they were insanely expensive, the performance of these cannot be matched. I would say start with the Eye Shadow Brush #11, Eye Contour Brush #12 and Blush Brush #06 if you’re new to his brush line.
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No. 2 Best Beauty Collection – Tom Ford Fall 2012
Since Tom Ford launched his beauty line, I mainly fell in love with his lipsticks and blushes. I felt the rest of the line was just ok. The quads were either too glitzy or glittery, nail polishes were thin and inconsistent in formula/pigment, liners seemed basic. However something happened with the fall line. I saw a significant improvement in texture and pigment with the metallic nail polishes in Dominatrix and Minx along with the Enchanted quad. Narcissist blush was as amazing as expected – a gorgeous hot pink.
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No. 3 Best Cheek Products – Chanel Rose Initiale and Lumière d’Artifices Beiges
The prettiest neutrals for cheeks this year (for me) came from Chanel’s Fall 2012 collection. Rose Initiale is a soft yet healthy neutral pink. The Beiges highlighter gave my complexion a natural glow. A more detailed review linked here.
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No. 4 Best Lipsticks – Burberry Beauty
The best and most-used lipsticks for me this year were from Burberry Beauty. They have the most naturally flattering colors. It’s nearly impossible for me to pick out favorites as I adore most of the colors. My top three most-used were Rosewood, Cameo Pink and Field Rose (a few swatches here and here). I also tried a few of their lip velvets but did not have time to review. The colors are richly pigmented and texture is smooth but not dry like the name “velvet” might imply. (Great swatches on Café Makeup and Kais Obsessions.)
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No. 5 Best Eye Base – Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Base
I was lucky to test a prototype of Edward’s Eye Base at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills in April 2011. I waited a year before I was able to buy the actual product. Edward Bess’s Illuminating Eye Base is by far the best eye base I’ve tried. I alternate between two shades in Dune (lighter matte) and Suede (a darker satiny color). They help shadows stay put. They even out the lids. And the best for me is that they don’t dry my lids like most other bases do. They are swatched here.
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No. 6 Favorite Palettes – Le Métier de Beauté
As time goes by, I fall more and more in love with Le Métier de Beauté’s Eyeshadow Formula. Their Eye Kaleidoscopes are just breathtaking and the color combinations pure genius. I love the smooth pigmented formula that layers and blends so well. Nouvelle Vague is unique and the delicate pink shades combined with the darkest black creates a sultry eye. Bauhaus is yet another beauty that I love. I hope more kits come out and that they are made more widely available.
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No. 7 Favorite Home Fragrance – Diptyque Candles
There a number of candles I love, but this year Diptyque won my heart. I love that their candles double as lovely brush or pen holders once finished. See them here too.
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No. 8 Favorite Color Theme – Coral
The most-frequently worn color for me this year was coral. My favorite coral was Chanel Distraction. See the color focus series here.
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No. 9 Nail Polishes – Chanel
Chanel still wins best nail polish category for me in terms of color selection, pigment, consistency and quality. My favorite colors this year (swatches linked): Island, Distraction, Malice, Accessoire and Delight.
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No. 10 Top Three Favorite Staples – NARS, Dolce and Gabbana and Edward Bess
The top three beauty things I couldn’t live without this year: Edward Bess’s Daydream Bronzing Powder (the original one, already hit pan on one), Dolce and Gabbana’s Powder Foundation in Warm 100, and NARS Volumizing Mascara. These are things I’ve repurchased.
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In addition, a few reflections I’ve enjoyed reading that I wanted to share:
Le Métier de Beauté’s latest is the Bauhaus Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95, limited-edition). It’s a stunning palette of rich shimmers in both warm and cool shades. Initial thoughts were that this was an odd combination, but knowing the genius of Le Métier de Beauté’s creations, I decided to order anyways. I ordered sight unseen from Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills thanks to a tutorial/preview featured online at Zuneta (thanks Café Makeup for sending the link).
The shades are not individually named in the palette, although names are listed online:
Level 1 is called Axiom: sublime bronzed umber. It’s a warm bronzey-golden shimmer.
Level 2 is called Graphic: silver liquid metal. This is a frosted pale silver metallic.
Level 3 is called Crucible: rich pomegranate. This shade is a warm metallic wine.
Level 4 is called Genre: deep gunmetal. This a frosted silvery gunmetal.
Individual close ups of each layer below.
The only shade that really appealed to me was the top golden bronze, however using the Le Métier layering technique gives a truly stunning smokey eye. It’s perfect for a sultry night time look. Blending the shades will make it suitable for day as well, but to me, this has more of a night-time feel.
In comparing other shades and kits, I do believe you can achieve a similar effect with existing shades. There are very close similarities between Bauhaus and Bordeaux, Thunder, Silk Road kit, and Antiquite Poupee kit. I wouldn’t say there are exact dupes – but shades that are indeed very close.
Level 1, Axiom has more warmth/red than Spicy (which is more golden)
Level 2, Graphic, I suspect is similar to other silvers (I don’t own any silvers from Le Metier)
Level 3, Crucible is a mix between Silk Road’s Level 3 and Bordeaux
Level 4, Genre is a more intense/deeper/metallic version of Thunder (more satiny) and Antique Poupee (has more of a blueish/silvery sheen)
Le Métier de Beauté Bauhaus is a stunning palette. I have to say I’m very impressed with the color combinations since they aren’t anything I would have imagined to try on my own. Be sure to check out a few other reviews and eye looks:
Bauhaus is fairly versatile. I used it with a soft pink cheek (Chanel’s Rose Intiale) and nude-pink lips (Tom Ford Pink Dusk + Le Metier Sweet Creme Lip Gloss). On another occasion it worked well with a soft bronzey-nude blush (MAC Tenderling over Laguna Multiple) and nude-pink perle lips (Chanel Perle Rouge Coco). Bottom line love.
