Le Metier de Beaute Penelope Kaleidoscope Eye Kit Summer 2011

Every new Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope Eye Kit gets LMdB devoted fans and other makeup-obsessed minds very excited. Each one brings new colors and layering combinations, which for those of us who enjoy playing with color is the best thing about makeup. Of course, it also sets the bar higher and higher with every new release. How on Earth can the last one be topped? Apparently, it's possible, because Penelope, the summer 2011 offering from the Mediterranean Holiday collection is nothing short of stunning.

Penelope and I have been spending a lot of quality time together over the last week. I've worked with each shadow individually, with all of them layered together and in many other combinations. Like all Le Metier de Beaute eye shadows, these four new ones are a pleasure to apply- the fine texture is silky on the brush and on your lid. You can pat them on, pack the color, do light washes, intense lines or outer V and admire the way the satin finish with subtle shimmer works on your skin. The colors in Penelope Kaleidoscope are a great addition to Le Metier de Beaute collection. I have many, both neutral shades and colorful ones, and these four new ones fit right in. Here's what we have, from top to bottom:

Blonde Amber- golden sand. A reader expressed concern that it's too warm a color (i.e. yellow or orange) but at least on my skin it's not and can be used all over the lid up to the brow. If a color is truly yellow I only use it in the inner corner (a trick I learned from Le Metier de Beaute artist and wizard Dustin Lujan) for subtle brightening. But in this case it's just light enough that I don't even need to add a touch of white under the brow unless I really want.
Pale Satin Amethyst-aka a color I would never purchase on its own- a delicate lavender that proves one should never say never. While this is not a color I can or should wear on its own, when applied over a warmer base, Pale Satin Amethyst brings light and youthfulness even to a very tired eye. See more below.
Bronze Topaz- a somewhat muted and browned bronze. It's a classic color, very elegant and plays well with just about everything. Adds a lot of depth to any color combination.
Black Emerald- exactly as the name implies. Deep, blackened shimmery emerald green. Before you ask, it's darker than the green in Chanel Lillium quad.

Now, Le Metier de Beaute fans know that Kaleidoscope colors are especially composed to be layered using the Couches de Couleur technique. Basically, you start with the top shade all over the lid and bone and add the other colors one on top of the other to create the desired eye shape. The result creates depth and contrast that enhances the eye and doesn't look very obvious- it's all blended together and you don't appear to be sporting a green or a purple eye shadow. This method requires minimal practice, especially since the texture is so user friendly. Most of the effort goes into figuring out how much of each shade would give you the perfect look.

In the case of Penelope, Black Emerald used intensely on the upper lash line and very lightly diffused under the bottom lashes is one gorgeous option. But the real surprise for me is how much I enjoy Pale Satin Amethyst as part of the look. Some of you might have watched the Lisa Eldrdige tutorial about a quick pick-me-up look where she used a pale lilac color to give her eyes a lift. I didn't love the color Lisa used, but couldn't deny it really did the job. Now, Pale Satin Amethyst works in a similar way and what I've discovered  is that as long as I layer it over a neutral base that mutes it a little, this eye shadow adds luminosity to the eye in a very natural way. It works so well that I usually go back and add a little more in the middle of my lid to finish the look.

You can adjust how much you use of each shade and exactly where you apply them according to the desired effect. I've used Penelope on a weekend morning as well as to go out- each time the look was a little different, casual or elegant. I played with creating a very dramatic dark green smoky eye that was a lot more wearable than what I expected. I can see these color as both beachy and a night out on town thing, depending on the balance you choose, making Penelope a lot more versatile than you may think for a green and purple palette.

Bottom Line: Gorgeous.

Le Metier de Beaute Penelope Kaleidoscope Eye Kit Summer 2011 ($95) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus (call your counter to verify they've got it). A press sample was sent for my consideration by the company.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Summer 2011 Nail Lacquer- The Gods and Goddesses

You can tell I had fun taking these photos of Le Metier de Beaute Summer 2011 The Gods and Goddesses nail lacquer collection. The little bottles and pretty colors were instant mood lifters even before I started wearing them. Of course, now that I have been sporting them for nearly five days I love them even more (Hera is on my left hand, Athena on the right. I'm either starting a new trend or proving that beauty bloggers are an utterly insane bunch).

Le Metier de Beaute named the collection after Greek gods and goddesses which is such a beautiful (not to mention refreshing) idea that somehow corresponds with what this fabulous brand is all about. There's no dumbing down, cheap gimmicks or Bieberism of any kind. Le Metier de Beaute always makes me feel like they respect their clients and what they're about. But back to the gods and goddesses of nail polish...

There are four nail colors in this summer collection:
Dionysus - a deep dark tealish turquoise. It's so pretty and Mediterranean in feel I have every intention to use up the bottle, and I'm not normally a blue polish person.
Eris- warm bronze. Classic and rich.
Athena- sea foam or a very light pearly olive. It brings out the warmth in my skin and is muted and elegant enough for day wear even in a more conservative environment.
Hera- light sand in bright sunshine. It's a wonderful summer nude, works with everything from a sexy summer dress to bridal gowns and doesn't clash with big bold jewelry.

All the colors have a delicate pearly/borderline metallic finish that maintains its shine for at least five days. I've tested all four colors and found that each one takes only two coats for a full coverage and depth that's true to the bottle. The quality is what I've come to expect from Le Metier de Beaute nail polish- dries quickly and  wears through thick and thin and all the abuse I usually put upon my nails. I've applied Hera five days ago and there's no sign of wear even without a top coat.  The bottles are what other brands call mini. I know some people aren't happy with the small amount of product, but for a nail polish fiend this is wonderful: they don't take up too much space, are ideal for travel and don't stand there mocking you for years because no matter what you'll never finish a bottle. Le Metier de Beaute nail polish is formulated as 3-Free.

Bottom Line: my favorite colors this summer.

Le Metier de Beaute Summer 2011 Nail Lacquer- The Gods and Goddesses ($10 each) is now available at the counters (Bergdorf and Neiman Marcus). The collection was sent to me for review by the company.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Summer 2011 Sneak Peek

It's a day of sneak peeks. Le Metier de Beaute Summer 2011Mediterranean Holiday  is nothing short of breathtaking. It includes Penelope Kaleidoscope Eye Kit and four new nail polish colors, The Gods and Goddesses. I'll have more details, photos, swatches and impressions in the coming days, but for now I will say that even with the already high standards and expectations from Le Metier de Beaute, the new collection is even better than I expected.

All the products you see above were sent for my consideration by the company.

Le Metier de Beaute Angled Foundation Brush

I only have a couple of flat paddle-shaped foundation brushes and I don't use them for foundation- only to apply and blend concealer. It's a personal preference, of course, and has a lot more to do with the formulas I prefer and my application technique than with the brushes themselves. I like to buff my foundation (and sometimes stipple) rather than do a thin even coat. That said, I like the angled foundation brush from Le Metier de Beaute and find it indispensable, because no other brush has its flexibility and precision when it comes to narrow and hard-to-reach areas (mainly along the nose).

Le Metier de Beaute Angled Foundation Brush is flat, synthetic, super-soft and has a lot of give, to the point of floppiness. That's why I prefer not to use it on areas like my forehead,  but love the way it curves and adjusts to apply foundation around the nose and chin. The brush works best with liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers. The angled bristles are also good for fixing and blending is you have a patchy heavier area and is great for mixing two or more formulas.

Like all Le Metier de Beaute brushes, the foundation brush has a shortish handle that makes it travel friendly. It feels sturdy in the hand and has yet to shed even one hair on my face. It's obviously well-made and quite original, so those who're past the basic stage of brush collecting would most likely find it unique and useful.

Bottom Line: good brush, very nice to have.

Le Metier de Beaute Angled Foundation Brush ($50) is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom (online only, but currently out of stock).

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute China Beach Lipstick

I don't know about you, but I'm in a dire need of some serious color right now. Enter Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain lipstick in China Beach. It's a big bold red with a serious vintage vibe- something between Joan Holloway and an art deco red glazed enamel.

China Beach is one of the warmest reds in my personal collection and I wasn't even sure at first that I could wear it. But I can and do. This Le Metier de Beaute lipstick doesn't have any orange in it, just true red. Take note that the swatches on Nordstrom's website aren't even in the ballpark and don't get me started on Neiman Marcus. what's the point of the new design if they didn't improve the actual browsing and shopping experience? In any case, this is what the beautiful lipstick looks like in reality and different lights.

Like all Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core lipsticks, China Beach is soft, creamy and wears beautifully for hours. Touch-ups are needed to maintain the satiny finish, but there's a significant stain left even after a snack. The lipstick never makes my lips feel dry; it's actually quite moisturizing and feels as luxurious as it looks.

Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain lipsticks ($32) are available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and also online from nordstrom.com.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Palm Beach Colour Core Lipstick

Palm Beach, one of the Colour Core lipsticks from Le Metier de Beaute is an easy to wear, go-to daytime red. It's not a simple shade- Palm Beach has both brown and rose undertones. On my arm it appears to be on the warm side, but since it's not-quite a full coverage lipstick (compare to the swatch of another Le Metier lipstick, China Beach that I'll review soon), some of my natural lip color shows through and the result is very balanced (though still a warmish red).

The full name of Le Metier de Beaute's line of lipsticks is "Color Core Moisture Stain". You get it when you wear them- they offer serious pigments that give the lips a long lasting stain, but are also very moisturizing (ingredients include lanolin, jojoba oil and shea butter). The result is soft lips that wear the colors very well. The finish is satiny with medium level of shine. The color doesn't transfer to my tea cup and survives as a stain after a snack, but you do need to touch up to maintain the finish and enhance the shade.

Bottom Line: One of many Le Metier loves.

Le Metier de Beaute Palm Beach Colour Core Lipstick ($32) is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and also online from nordstrom.com.

Photos by Sophie and me.

Le Metier de Beaute Poppy Creme Fresh Tint

I was saving the photos and review of Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Poppy for a future date, but it appears we need to talk about this now, as Charleston Girl from Best Things In Beauty brought us some news about Le Metier de Beaute's fabulous line of cream blushes. There are three new shades (I already know I'll need the two deeper ones) that you can see in her swatches, but the two older ones, Tenne and Poppy will be phased out soon.

I bought Tenne almost the second it was released and I wear it enough to almost consider a backup, though I don't believe in stocking up on makeup- there's so much of it out there and new gorgeous items keep coming out almost daily, so why get stuck with yesteryear's colors? Poppy scared me at first- look how bright it is in the pan, but since both Nikki and Dustin from Le Metier de Beaute's Bergdorf counter used it on me repeatedly and showed me how pretty and natural it can look with the right application I ended up succumbing and buying it. They were right, of course (seriously, never doubt Dustin).

Poppy is a warm pink with something of a peach undertone and can be sheered to your heart desire or worn more heavily if you have the skin tone to support it. The Creme Fresh Tints are not sticky or tacky, feel feather-light and stay put the whole day over a prepped, primed and foundationed skin. As far as application goes, I've tried everything and it works no matter what- fingers, flat top brush, skunks, small round natural bristles, synthetic ones- you name it. This blush is one of the very best you can find.

Bottom Line: Get it while you still can.

Le Metier de Beaute Poppy Creme Fresh Tint ($28) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom locations as well as online.

Photos and veiny wrists are all mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Smoldering Embarkment Eye Kaleidoscope- Photos, Swatches, Impression

I only got my hands on the newest Le Metier de Beaute Eye Kaleidoscope, Smoldering Embarkment, yesterday afternoon, but I actually got to wear it for a full day on Tuesday, after Dustin The Magnificent did my makeup using it. I loved the effect he created and the elegance  of this look- Smoldering Embarkment is based on neutral colors but has a twist, thanks to the rich shimmery purple in the third tier and its the warmth it gives to the other shades.

Those already familiar with Le Metier de Beaute and the Kaleidoscope concept don't need much of an introduction. If you're new to the brand, I'll tell you that these are top level finely milled eye shadows with an incredible depth and satin texture/finish. The colors in the Kaleioscope can be worn alone or in any combination, but their secret is that they're meant to be layered one on top of the other. You start at the top and often use it as a base, going down the tiers, the bottom often used as a liner along the lashes. You can and should play and adjust the amounts you use of each according to the look and effect you wish to achieve and even change the order of the colors- it's all about creativity and making the look your own.

Smoldering Embarkment was meant as a Valentine's Day special, but the counter at Bergdorf didn't get it on time (which is why I had to leave the counter empty-handed on Tuesday and had to wait for the FedEx guy). The colors in this Kaleidoscope are not too out there, and would compliment and thrill most faces. I have a feeling this combination (created by Dustin Lujan) is going to be a true classic and highly popular- it's that pretty.

So, what do we have here?

At the top there's the satin First Love. It's a perfect base and highlighter that brightens the area under the brow. You can see it compared to the single (matte) Naked- First Love is decidedly yellower.

Love Struck looks deceivingly simple in the pan. What's so special about a medium brown? Well, it has some khaki and gold undertones and it's absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't find even a distant cousin among my Le Metier herd, and actually, even in a color wardrobe rich with neutrals as I have, none looked or swatched  exactly like Love Struck (some Shiseido and Edward Bess colors are close, though).

In Love, the beautiful purple was the one that looked very familiar. A quick rummage through my eye shadow drawers produced Le Metier de Beaute's Devotion Kaleidoscope . The color in the second tier, Mon Amour looks identical to In Love. The funny thing is that when swatching I actually see a difference- I played with them extensively, swatching on my other arm, moving from room to room and stepping outside for a change in light, but they never looked quite the same. Either they are truly not the same or I'm going nuts (it's possible. I have some upper respiratory crud that's making me miserable and cold meds aren't exactly sanity-friendly). In any case, the difference is very subtle and if these were single eye shadows you'd never buy both.
(By the way, Devotion still seems to be available on Nordtrom website, but if you look closely at their photo this is actually the Holiday Kaleidoscope which they were not even supposed to have. Just an FYI)

Lovelorn is a soft charcoal satin with the finest micro-shimmer in multiple colors. It's a lot more subtle when swatched and looks identical to the single Thunder. I actually have two pans of Thunder, one much older than the other and they're not 100% identical in the pan, but the swatches are completely interchangeable between all three.

So to sum it up- two completely new shades, two existing one (though one is a limited edition and only appears in another Kaleidoscope), a spectacular combination. The universality of the looks one can get from Smoldering Embarkment makes it a great choice to carry in a makeup bag for various occasions- it's one of the "you can't go wrong with this" palettes. To complete the look, Dustin used Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic mascara in Jade- it's a soft almost-green shade that I've always loved. It goes perfectly with these eye shadows.

Bottom Line: Do you even need to ask?

Le Metier de Beaute Smoldering Embarkment Eye Kaleidoscope ($95) is a limited edition and available from Bergdorf Goodman. It's not online yet, so you'll need to call the counter (212-872-8612).

All photos are mine.