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Le Metier de Beaute

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Le Métier de Beauté Atlantis Sunset & Nadine (Neiman Marcus Northpark Exclusives)

November 3, 2011

Le Métier de Beauté has partnered with several artists to design exclusive products to various counters. It’s almost been like a mini treasure hunt trying to track down what’s been released where. I love the @metierbeaute tweets to help keep me updated but sometimes Twitter can be hard to follow consistently (I still love it though). Many thanks to Karla Sugar who gives us all the details & updates about the Neiman Marcus Northpark exclusives. She has swatched all the Sheer Brilliance Lip Glosses and Lip Crèmes (how awesome is she!?) and I’ve been drooling over these since this summer. As soon as the newest shade Nadine came out, I e-mailed her for the details as no pics or descriptions were to be found online. She told me it was pretty and understated and that she thought I’d love it. I was sold even though I had no idea what to expect. You can see her lovely swatches in her Le Métier de Beauté Fall Lips post. I ordered Atlantis Sunset (top peachy shade) and Nadine (coral pink sparkle) and here they are ($36 each from Neimans).

Atlantis Sunset is a Sheer Brilliance Lipgloss and is a sheer sparkly light iridescent peach with a pink & gold glowy sparkles. Le Métier de Beauté makes some of the most beautiful lipglosses I’ve ever seen in the tubes. The formula though is very sheer on some of the colors. Atlantis Sunset has the same sheerness as colors like Ibiza, Captiva and Cannes. Other shades like Bondi Beach, Summerland and Dubai have better color payoff for me. Initially I was disappointed with the color payoff of some shades (so pretty in the tube but go on clear on the lips) but soon learned these are best used to layer over lipsticks or even to use mixed with lip cremes. I loved the mixing tutorial by Messy Wands. Here is Atlantis Sunset on me over a bare lip. It’s practically clear but I still can’t resist a soft iridescent peach no matter how sheer it is.

Nadine is packaged and labeled as a Lip Crème but acts more like a Sheer Brilliance Gloss for me due to the sheerness. It’s a warm coral pink loaded with sparkles, but as Karla Sugar noted, very subdued. The lip swatch couldn’t capture the sparkle well, but here it is on me, also on a bare lip. I really adore it. It’s breathtakingly gorgeous in the tube.

How do they compare to other Le Métier shades? They’re quite different from the current lineup. Here are Atlantis Sunset & Nadine compared to Summerland, Ibiza and Bondi Beach in different lighting so you can see the sparkles. All gorgeous when swatched, none are overly frosty, these enhance the lip and work wonders when layered over Chanel Rouge Cocos.

Bottom line: I adore Nadine but I’m still undecided about Atlantis Sunset (although it’s a stunner in the tube). Have you tried Le Métier de Beauté Lip Glosses? What were your thoughts? Did you check out Nadine or any of the other Neiman Marcus Northpark Exclusives? (By the time I called, they were sold out of Emily’s Kisses and Sweet Abigail or else I would have ordered those too.)
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Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Skincare: Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Crème, Revive Eye Concentrate & Daily Renew Cleanser

November 1, 2011
I’ve been carefully testing a few new skincare items from Le Métier de Beauté, Koh Gen Do and Clé de Peau over the past few months. I’m not one who is adventurous when it comes to trying new things for my skin due to sensitivity. I think it’s a miracle that I’ve finally found some items that have dramatically improved my skin. I’ve been particularly impressed by Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Skincare, a surprise to me since my skin did not mesh well with their Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment (even though it’s worked like magic on most everyone else).
A bit of background on my skin: My skin is overall normal but sensitive, slightly oily in T-zone, small pores. I just turned 30 this year and I haven’t noticed any significant changes in my skin as I transitioned out of my 20’s except that my usual Clinique Foaming Cleanser/La Mer Toner daily ritual just wasn’t cutting it to keep my skin clear. I decided to try new things and this year I discovered Cleansing Waters from Lancome and Koh Gen Do and fell in love with the Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Face Mask. Le Métier’s Peau Vierge items have been incorporated into my daily routine now and has revitalized my skin. When it comes to skincare ingredients I’m at a complete loss. Anyone can give me a detailed lecture on various patented formulas, different ingredients and their benefits etc. but I get that glazed look after 4 words (literally). I highly recommend you read the review and commentary posted on Best Things in Beauty, her review is highly detailed and very informative. My attention is limited to three things: 1) is it safe? 2) does it really work? and 3) is this under $100. I don’t like to spend a lot on skincare items that work the same as something much cheaper. I have had some experience with expensive brands like Revive, La Prairie and La Mer, but unfortunately, most of the pricey creams don’t make a noticeable difference to justify the high price tag. Since I’m not well versed in ingredients, I’ll refer you to Neiman Marcus’s website for product information (linked below) and focus more on my experience and what these did for my skin. Now, for my experience with Le Métier Peau Vierge.

I was introduced to Le Métier de Beauté Revive Eye Concentrate ($175 for 0.5 oz/15 ml) by Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills back in August and was told it was “the best on the market” in terms of eye creams. I’ve never been a regular user of eye cream even though everyone (grandmother, aunts, mother, friends etc.) tell me it’s an essential. I don’t use eye creams because I cannot see a visible difference when I use them. Still I decided to try it with an open mind. The Revive Eye Concentrate comes in a pale pink cream formula that is smooth and creamy but not too thick. It feels noticeably moisturizing and once it sets it feels weightless. I did not notice any fragrance. The Eye Concentrate works well to smooth the eye area and does improve the overall texture under the eye. I don’t have any wrinkles yet, except when I smile, under the eye shows some creasing. This cream has helped with dryness under the eye area to help the elasticity of the under eye area. At this time I can’t say this is a life-changer, but then most eye creams haven’t demonstrated a noticeable difference for me. This does help minimize the look of fine lines though.

During Beauty Week Le Métier counters handed out sample packets of the Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Crème. I decided to give it a try and found the sample packets useful to take with me while traveling (one packet lasted me an entire week with some still left over). I loved it so much I purchased the full size ($285 for 1.0 oz/30 ml) during beauty week. This is a lightweight cream that goes on a moisturizing lotion. There is a slight scent that is hard to describe, but it’s very faint and smells clean. A little goes a long way. The first few days of use resulted in a visible skin purge. Break outs surfaced and there was redness and I had peeling as it was working its way under the layers of skin to purge. Still there was no stinging or irritation, I decided to give it a few days since I was told this would renew the skin. After the first few days of ugliness, my skin was then transformed in an amazing way to be noticeably clearer and smoother and felt like it was glowing. Those tiny bumps on the cheeks from buildup are gone and the overall appearance is a 100x better. I don’t use this everyday because I think everyday use would be too strong for me but this cream has worked like nothing else I’ve tried. (It’s amazing!) I currently alternate with Koh Gen Do’s Royal Massage Milk (review to come soon) for daytime only (I don’t use anything at night). It’s worked wonders for my skin. If you can get a sample packet I highly recommend you try it out. (Update: Just to clarify, the surfacing breakouts was a good thing for me with this cream because it renewed my skin by drawing out all the buildup and then my skin started to peel a little bit for a short time period of 1-2 days as it almost rejuvenated my skin, this didn’t cause breakouts per se, but rather helped renew/revitalize/clarify my skin condition, hope I didn’t confuse anyone!)

My local counter kindly made me a small sample cup of the Daily Renew Cleanser (which lasted 3 uses) and I was hooked. It comes in a squeeze bottle ($50 for 4.0 oz). It’s a yellow-orange gel with orange and white beads. Gentle and effective, it’s almost a scrub-cleanser hybrid. I do not use this everyday but alternate with Cle de Peau’s Gentle Foaming cleanser but it works well to smooth the skin and exfoliate gently. It has a soft citrus-orange scent and lathers well to deep clean the skin. I find that it does renew radiance after use. I like this better than traditional scrubs which I find too harsh for my skin.
Overall, I really love what the Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge has done for my skin from using the day cream and cleanser. The eye cream feels pleasant but I haven’t noticed a visible difference from use yet. I did try the toner during a recent makeover but passed because it made my skin tingle (not in a good way). My local Le Metier artists did not recommend the night cream for me (said it would be too strong). The day cream has reached life-changing status for me but the hefty price tag has me wondering what I will do once I’ve used up one tub.
Have you tried the Peau Vierge line yet? What’s your skintype and what were your thoughts?
The Revive Eye Concentrate was provided courtesy of Neiman Marcus/Le Métier de Beauté free of charge for review. All other items were purchased by me.
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Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Lip Crèmes In the Know Bordeaux and Purple Haze

October 20, 2011

The latest from Le Métier de Beauté  includes two new Lip Crèmes named In the Know Bordeaux and Purple Haze. These are exclusive to Neiman Marcus and designed by Fashion Director Ken Downing to go in conjunction with his Bordeaux Lip/Nail duos that were released earlier this fall. The two new Lip Crèmes are all the rage right now, and rightly so. Bordeaux and plum are both key colors this year for fall. You can see raves on Messy Wands, Café Makeup, The Non-Blonde and swatches on Karla Sugar. While the price at $36 is rather steep for a lipgloss, Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crèmes are among the best in formula, color and quality that I’ve tried from all brands. There is full coverage with this hybrid lipstick/gloss formula and no color bleeding. Most lip cremes can be drying or too opaque because of the semi-matte finish. Not with Le Métier de Beauté. The shimmer and pigment give depth to the lips with full coverage.

The two colors from Ken Downing’s Bordeaux Collection:
  • In the Know Bordeaux is a deep wine red with shimmer, this one is highly pigmented and requires precise application, I needed a lip brush to evenly cover the edges of my lip
  • Purple Haze is a beautiful light mauve plum-pink shimmer, this shade is easier to apply and more forgiving with a less precise swipe, goof-proof and naturally flattering

Swatched:

Comparisons to other glosses:

Bottom line: I need a back up of Purple Haze, it’s such a lovely mauvey pink-plum. which I find very unique. I don’t own anything quite like it. In the Know Bordeaux is a color I find difficult to wear for everyday.  The intensity of the color made it difficult to apply in one quick swipe. As you can see from the lip swatch even with a lip brush I still smudged it a bit on the outside rim of my lips. It’s gorgeous for evenings or dates, but I’m still scared of highly pigmented red-plums. Most plums tend to pull more red on me, as you can see from the lip swatch, it’s quite bright on my lips/skintone. Darker-bright-reds tend to age me unless they have a more transparent glossy finish or some hint of pale shimmer. Still I found both stayed put relatively well for a gloss.
Have you checked these out at Neimans?
These glosses were kindly sent to me courtesy of  Le Métier de Beauté for review.
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Wearing Lately

October 1, 2011

I thought I’d shade what I’ve been wearing on my tips and toes lately. Here are a few pairings I’ve worn over the last month. I typically wear the lighter shade on the fingers and the darker ones on the toes.
Chanel Quartz and Le Métier de Beauté Midnight Rendezvous
Rococo Nail Apparel Lab Nude 3.0 and Chanel Coco Blue
Chanel Paradoxal and Chanel Steel

Chanel Quartz and Le Métier de Beauté Midnight Rendezvous

Rococo Nail Apparel Lab Nude 3.0 and Chanel Coco Blue

Chanel Paradoxal and Chanel Steel

With holiday collections trickling in I can’t wait for the reds, pinks and golds. What have you been wearing lately?
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Eyelash Curlers: Trish McEvoy, Chanel and Le Métier de Beauté

September 24, 2011

The first eyelash curler I ever tried was from Revlon back when I was in high school and unfortunately it didn’t do much for my straight lashes. I was scared that I would accidentally pull out all my lashes so I didn’t try using one again until my college days when I had a Trish McEvoy makeup lesson at Saks. My first high-end eyelash curler purchase was was from Trish McEvoy and I’ve loved it ever since. I’ve since tried curlers from Armani, Chanel, Le Métier de Beauté, Shiseido and Shu Uemura (original and the individual). I would say all are good, but my top three favorites include Trish McEvoy, Chanel and Le Métier de Beauté.

What I look for in an eyelash curler: I focus on the curve (how it fits my eye) and the density of the pads (I prefer something on the softer side but not too soft). I’m Asian without a crease in my lids. There is a curve to my lids but my eyes are not deepset. My lashes are very straight which makes them appear shorter than they are. I found Armani’s pad too stiff (making it difficult to get a good curl), Shiseido’s shape didn’t work with my eyeshape and pinched in the corners, Shu Uemura’s was good, I have no complaints yet I think there are better options. The individual eyelash curler was good in concept but impossible for me to hold in my fingers.

It can be a challenge to see how these all compare unless you find a retailer that carries all the brands. Right now, there are various Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom stores that should carry most of the above brands. For the three that I do love, here’s the breakdown and photos first, then detailed thoughts below:
  • Trish McEvoy wins for all around function, price and design (for me)
  • Le Métier de Beauté wins for having the most lightweight easy to use design with the softest pad
  • Chanel wins for aesthetics and has the thickest pad

Trish McEvoy’s Eyelash Curler ($18) is a silver colored curler that comes with 1 replaceable pad and is made in Japan. If this came with refills available for purchase separately this would be holy grail material. The Trish Curler has the best feel in my hands. I have small fingers and while most eyelash curlers are virtually identical in shape and size, I sometimes find it difficult to hold some because of the angles or size of the handles. The pad has a medium density which I find ideal for getting a consistently even curl on both eyes by applying slight pressure. The pads last quite a long time and clean easily. I’ve repurchased numerous times. I find the Trish method of application to be helpful (although it might seem like common sense to most): “Position the Eyelash Curler as close to the base of the lashes as possible. Gently squeeze for 10 seconds, then ‘walk’ the curler out along the length of the lashes, squeezing as you go.” I typically only squeeze for 4 seconds before releasing and moving the curler. I find curling the lashes in 3 sections helps get an even natural curl.
Chanel’s Eyelash Curler ($34) is one of the newest on the market for the US. It was released in Asia a year ago, is made in Japan, and comes with 2 replacement pads. The Chanel curler comes in all black and out of all the curlers I’ve seen, the Chanel has the sleekest most sophisticated look. It has a very similar feel to the Trish McEvoy with an almost identical curve. The Chanel pad is thicker and stiffer but not too stiff. The curler gives a very good curl. For me, there is just one problem. Having black lashes with a black eyelash curler makes it very difficult to see exactly what I’m curling. The dark color of my lashes blends with the curler no matter what lighting I use. This requires a magnified mirror for me to see what I’m curling. This isn’t too big of a problem though – if I start at the base of my lashes, I can see where to place the first curl and then work my way to the tips in three evenly spaced squeezes. Still I wouldn’t use this if I were in a rush, the Trish and Le Métier work just as well and I don’t have to look super closely to know what I’m curling.

Le Métier de Beauté’s Eyelash Curler ($18) is finally available for sale at Neiman Marcus stores. For a while it was only available as a gift with purchase at various locations. This curler has the most curve out of all three that I’m reviewing in this post. It also has the softest most cushy pad I’ve ever tried. This was something I was not used to when I first tried it. Being softer I found that my first attempts gave me an uneven curl on both eyes as I was not able to apply consistent pressure. I was able to achieve a nice curl easier than ones with stiffer pads, but the result was uneven. After a bit of practice I was able to get used to the softer pad and have fallen in love since. A softer pad means that this curler doesn’t last quite as long. I believe a replacement pad is included.

My general eyelash curler thoughts: I’ve been told that one needs to replace pads every 3-4 months and the actual curler every 9 months. I find the pads do wear down but am not always good about replacing consistently. I do clean after every 2-3 uses with makeup remover. For the actual curler, I’m equally bad about replacing. I’ve been told that the alignment of the hinges goes out after use which is why replacement pads are not sold for a number of brands. I always thought this seemed like a marketing scheme, but have noticed that replacing the curlers about once a year does make a difference when you compare a used one to a brand new one.

For more resources, tips and insights, I recommend these:

  • The Non-Blonde’s review on Le Métier de Beauté’s Eyelash Curler
  • Café Makeup’s beautiful review and comparisons on Chanel and Le Metier (these are a must-read!)
  • Thoughts on replacement frequency, cleaning tips, brand comparisons see the Q&A at Sephora.com

What’s your favorite eyelash curler?

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Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing’s Bodacious Bordeaux Lip and Nail Duo

September 11, 2011

This fall Neiman Marcus Senior Vice President and Fashion Director Ken Downing worked with Le Métier de Beauté to create three matching lip and nail sets in rich, bold and romantic shades ($49 each). I was hoping to be able to purchase the nail polishes separately since I rarely wear reds or dark shades on the lips but decided to try something new and picked out the Bordacious Bordeaux/Wine on the Vine duo which has the softest lip color out of all three sets.


Bordacious Bordeaux Nail Lacquer is a deep wine magenta that layers into a deep wine cream. The texture is fairly thin making the color slightly transparent. It required three coats for full coverage. I love that Bordacious Bordeaux is the perfect medium wine shade – not too vampy, not too red, not too brown. The thin texture took a bit of work for me to get an even application. Three coats evens out everything nicely.

Wine on the Vine Moisture Lipstain is a shimmering reddish pink stain. The texture is that of a soft lipstain and molds well to the lips so you can barely feel anything on. On the hands it looks like a soft red without any visible shimmer. On the lips it goes on quite a bit brighter for me. I don’t know that it will look this red on most women, anything with fuschia or bright red shimmer tends to pull very bright on me for some reason. Being a stain formula I find these last longer than the average lipstick. Here it is softly swiped on my lips.

Here they are swatched on the arm side by side.

All three sets are beautiful and classic for fall. Even neutral lovers like myself will find that they are fun and nice for something different. The lips are all darker than I’m used to but the colors are lovely for evenings out or special occasions. Best Things in Beauty has a few other shades swatched and reviewed that I recommend you check out as well. I like these sets but my heart still belongs to their eyeshadows and lipglosses which I feel have some of the most gorgeous complex eye-catching shimmers that are wonderful for layering. The upside of these lip/nail duos is that they require little tweaking. They work well just as they are.
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