Chanel Deauville Rouge Coco Shine 67

Another week, another Chanel Rouge Coco Shine to love.

This one is #67, Deaville, which is a decidedly brown-based pink. It's not as summery as some other colors in the range like Fetiche or Monte Carlo, but very wearable all year around. Deauville is a very neutral color and lets just enough of my natural lip color through, like all the other Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks I have, so the result is a twist on the "my lips but better idea", only with a shine and elegant color.

It's a good question why Chanel's marketing focused on the most fleeting aspect of these lipsticks, the glossy finish that fades within an hour. After all, their main strength is leaving a long-lasting but subtle stain that doesn't need any touch ups for the better part of the day other than topping it with a gloss. I love Deauville paired with YSL Glden Gloss in Praline, Burberry Sepia or Hourglass Eden. The low-key color is great as it is, and especially on days I go all out on the eye front (aka green eye shadow days). I'm having a hard time thinking about a complexion that would clash with this color, but I'm sure it's out there. The rest of us can consider it a favorite.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks ($32) are available at the counters and on Chanel.com.

All photos are mine.

NARS India Song Eye Shadow Duo

With all the hype about NARS summer collection(s) it's sometimes easy to forget the hardworking constants in the permanent line. The eye shadow duo in India Song is a good example. Yes, I admit it's not exactly the most exciting or innovative color combination-  a matte vanilla and a satin low-shimmer rich brown. It's a classic, something that everyone needs for minimalistic days and the quality and finish are exactly the reason NARS eye shadows have earned a cult of collectors who rely on them to deliver every time.

The matte ivory color is an excellent base. Unlike many similar shades (Bobbi Brown Navajo, Bone, Banana and several others) it actually has a color and a texture that makes it more than just a base. This eye shadow subtly lightens the lid and opens up the eye without looking too made up. I find that NARS matte formula often requires a good primer both for longevity and for even application, and India Song's lighter half is no different. It's also a bit crumbly, but a good brush is enough to keep things under control and I have no real issue applying and making the color look pretty. The walnut brown with its shimmery texture is superb. The color can be packed and intensified or applied lightly. It's easy to blend and has a surprising depth and dimension for such a simple shade.

Bottom Line: Have I said a classic already?

NARS India Song Eye Shadow Duo ($33) is available from narscosmetics.com.

All photos are mine.

Trish McEvoy Beauty Emergency Card For Eyes

I picked Trish McEvoy Beauty Emergency Card For Eyes as an afterthought two or three months ago, because the colors and size looked right. I'm usually having a hard time finding good color matches in Trish McEvoy's line, but here we have a bunch of classic neutrals that are easy to combine and look flattering and effortless, which is exactly what one needs on the go and for makeup emergencies. Like the previous Beauty Emergency Card, this eye palette is, indeed pocket-size and very thin. Still, there's enough product there for months of use, and even more if you save it for travel.

The 8 pan palette includes: (sorry for the inconsistent numbering)
1. Eye Definer Deep Aubergine (it pulls more brown on my skin)
2. Brow Definer Natural (I wish it were just a hair darker, but I can still use it on my brows)
3. Glaze Eye Shadow Rose Quartz (a shimmery rosy skin color. I use it as a highlighter)
4.  Eye Shadow Peach Shell (matte and completely invisible on my skin and lid. Might as well be a translucent powder.
5. Glaze Eye Shadow Gilded Bronze (a light sandy bronze with shimmer, very wearable and not too warm)
6. Glaze Eye Shadow Gilded Taupe (do I need it in full size?)
7. Glaze Eye Shadow Sugar Plum ( a shimmery plum. A bit too purple for my taste when on its own but blends well with the other colors and I actually use it quite a bit)
8. Glaze Eye Shadow White Peach (a beautiful highlighter, somewhere between ivory and sand)

The texture of these eye shadows is really nice, the shimmer is polite and well-behaved and the combination one can create are many. For me, the matte peach color is utterly useless; if I were a craftier person I'd replace its pan with a same size navy shadow/liner or even an eye primer. Those of you with lighter skin tone might actually like this color, so don't take my word for this one.

Bottom Line: Very good.

Trish McEvoy Beauty Emergency Card For Eyes ($38) is available at the counters and on trishmcevoy.com.

All photos are mine. If by any chance you're reading this post or seeing the photos on any site other than thenonblonde.blogspot.com or thenonblonde.com it means someone has been lifting my content. Please tell them they suck.

Three Looks From Cannes Film Festival

Gwen Stefani went where she's rarely gone before with a shocking pink lipstick. I like it, as well as the rest of her fearless makeup look. But is it just me who wishes she'd go a couple of shades darker with her hair? I think she'd look much more sophisticated with a little less bleach.

Beautiful actress Fan Bing Bing experimented with this Southern Belle look. The dress is Scarlett O'Hara but the hair is Melanie Hamilton. The orange lipstick looks fabulous on her (and such flawless skin!).

One lipstick I'm not loving is the one Zoe Saldana chose for the same Tree Of Life premier. It's not just a fluke of a photo as I've searched for other ones. I think it's the lipstick's finish- it's too dry and unflattering. The same color might have looked considerable better in a creamier texture.

Photos of Gwen Stefani, Fan Bing Bing and Zoe Saldana at the Cannes Festival Tree Of Life premier and after-party from Getty Images.

Shiseido Desert Rose 02 Medium Oil-Free Bronzer

I think I'm all set for a bronzed summer look in every finish and intensity, from shimmery summer night looks to a delicate "just took a walk in the garden to smell the roses" day. Of course, all this feels a bit weird considering we're in the middle of a week-long rain and thunderstorm weather and I'm fully snuggled in a gray sweater, but wearing a pretty bronzer brightens things up considerably.

Shiseido Oil-Free bronzer in Medium 02/ Desert Rose belongs to natural, just a little sun-kissed school of bronzing. It has no shimmer and doesn't try to make you even a tiny bit orange, just a little flushed and tan. The texture is as fine as it gets, smooth and soft, on the same level with the other top quality bronzers I swatched above. Shiseido Desert Rose (medium 02) is close to Edward Bess Daydream, though Shiseido is rosier while Edward Bess is decidedly more brown, thus on my skin it looks like a real full tan, "just got back from the coast" kind of color.

I also compared to other favorites, Guerlain Terracotta in Brunette, which is more of a shimmery glow (I also have the Blonde version which is among my favorite winter complexion fixers) and Burberry, the most intense bronzer I own. I didn't bother comparing to the limited edition Chanel and Estee Lauder Sea Star because the Lauder is quite shimmery and the Chanel can be applied in different ways by mixing the various shades. All the swatches here are relatively heavy and were done with my fingers for the sake of taking a reasonably decent photo. When actually applying Shiseido Desert Rose 02 to my face I prefer a dense bronzer brush- this color can use a confident hand as it's delicate enough and doesn't need to be carefully diffused.

Bottom Line: bring on the sun.

Shiseido Desert Rose 02 Medium Oil-Free Bronzer ($35) is available from Sephora (online only) and most department stores.

All photos are mine.

Hourglass Script Precision Liquid Liner

When Hourglass said that their Hourglass Script Precision Liquid Liner is "a micro-fine, easy-glide felt tip liquid liner for the ultimate in precision lining" they meant every word. I've been a devoted user of felt tip eyeliners since the 80s (I also love cream and gels liners, but at any given point I also have a couple of pens in my collection). These products were the first ones I managed to use and actually be able to leave the house wearing them- it took me years before I figured out traditional liquid liners. So I've been through the vast majority of pen liners on the market, past and present, and didn't expect to be surprised by the new Hourglass pen.  I was wrong.

Hourglass Script Precision Liquid Liner has the finest, easiest to control tip I've come across. I can draw the thinnest, most natural line that almost melds with my lashes or create a dramatic 60s inspired cat eye and everything in between. I'm not a morning person and not exactly at the top of my game when I need to wake up early (any time before 8 am is considered before dawn here). But I've discovered that I can use the Hourglass liner even when I'm half asleep and extra grumpy. The result in the mirror is enough to improve my morning disposition on the spot. The color, Jett, is a very glossy and true black, on par with the other very black liners I have (Smashbox and Lancome Artliner). The ease of use and the way the pen glides is similar to my other big love from Le Metier de Beaute (you can see Amy's excellent comparison on Cafe Makeup).

I tried to show just how cooperative and versatile Hourglass Script Precision Liquid Liner can be in my ridiculous swatch. Karen has done a better job by actually scripting on her hand. My handwriting is pretty atrocious these days as other than checks and the occasional birthday card I never actually write anything. Apparently my drawing skills aren't that god, either, but it's all about intentions.

Bottom Line: a must have for liquid liner enthusiasts.

Hourglass Script Precision Liquid Liner ($32) is available from Barneys and Sephora. The product was sent for my consideration by the company.

All photos are mine.

Burberry 206 Blueberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipstick

I'm not ready yet to do a comprehensive summary of this season's sheer lipstick trend, and definitely not going to pick a favorite just yet (basically, I like them all for different reasons). But I have a feeling that if I ever get to that point, Burberry Lip Mist sheer lipsticks are going to be pretty high there. I still need a day or so with no. 205, Rosy Red, so more on that tomorrow, but I can tell you that Blueberry, no. 206, is a winner.

Blueberry is probably not the best name for this Burberry lipstick, because it's almost exactly the color of red grapes. On my arm it leans brown, but since my lips are naturally a very dark rose, a lot of it comes through and the result is an easy to wear, daytime and office-friendly plummish color. It's pretty, goes with just about everything (though I admit I haven't worn it with an orange dress and I'm not likely to do it) and is simply a great lipstick.

The texture is different than any of the other ones I've collected so far (Laura Mercier, Dior, Chanel and I'm probably forgetting a few). Burberry Lip Mist has a very low-key glossy finish and it applies like a regular lipstick (vs. the gel-like texture of Laura Mercier). The lasting time is less than Burberry's regular lipsticks but better than most glosses. The main difference between Burberry Mist and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine is that Chanel dark colors leave a very long lasting stain on the lips while the shine is quick to disappear. Burberry Lip Mist has a lot more pigment on application, but it goes away almost completely after the first cup of tea or gradually wears off in about two hours. The level of coverage and pigmentation can be built- there's a distinct difference between one coat and two. I prefer not to do more than two- If I want lots of coverage I'd rather use a hard core lipstick.

Before I forget- those who object to the scent of Burberry regular lipsticks would probably want to stay away from the Mists as well. They smell the same: perfumy and makeup (which I kind of like, and find that it disappears quickly after application).

Bottom Line: As nice as it looks.

Burberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipsticks ($30) are a Nordstrom exclusive, online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

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.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Florita Blush

Florita, a Rouge Bunny Rouge blush from their For Love Of Roses line, is probably the scariest makeup item I own (not counting eyelash curlers). The first time I looked at this shade it gave me Coulrophobia. But I trusted the Zuneta team, said a quick prayer to patron saint of makeup addicts and dipped a brush in the pan. The result was a pretty (and  sane) rosy cheek.

Florita is a true rose shade with a delicate satin glow but absolutely no shimmer. It has depth and complexity that come into life on my skin. I can't even begin to guess what it would look like on faces with pink undertones, pale blondes or redheads, but I can tell you that my medium olive skin this Rouge Bunny Rouge blush is flattering and wearable. I use the smallest Hakuhodo Yachio brushes for this, because I prefer to apply the pigment very precisely and then blend it, often with a fluffier brush. The texture of Florita, like all Rouge Bunny Rouge products I've tried so far, is superbly fine and very easy to manipulate into the preferred intensity and shape. I reach for it often when I'm sporting very neutral eyes and for a quick pick-me-up.

This blush is true to the quality I've come to expect from Rouge Bunny Rouge. Finely milled textures that are easy to blend and give professional looking results- no chalkiness, shiny particles or anything that detracts or distracts. It stays put and lasts all day without losing the finish, intensity or changing color. Since Rouge Bunny Rouge is only available online, it takes a lot of faith in a brand to go for such an intimidating color, but every time I wear Florita I'm very glad I did.

Bottom Line: yes, it's that pretty.

 For Love Of Roses blushes (around $39 in the current exchange rate) and the rest of Rouge Bunny Rouge products are exclusive to zuneta.com. They ship internationally.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 59 Elise

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Elise (no. 59) is a cheerful berry color, a sheer raspberry with medium level shimmer. It's a touch lighter and more pink than Unique and Bonheur, but still adds quite a bit of color to my lips. It's even more visible once the shiny finish fades, so I can pair Elise with just about any medium plum gloss or even a clear one.

For some reason I find Elise to be a bit more dry than the other Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks I have. It means I have to make sure my lips are nicely prepped before applying it in the morning and use a hydrating gloss on top later. I'm not sure what causes the difference between this one and other shades (I hear Elise is not the only one), but my guess is its the pigmented base as the shine looks and feels the same in all the RCSs.

The rouge Coco Shine series is a great choice for summer. It's good for a quick application on the go  and doesn't require a liner. The dark colors have a long-lasting pigmented base that stays on for several hours and survive a drink or a snack. I know it's not the case with all shades and the light ones did nothing for me, but I only picked plum, berry and red colors and have been wearing them constantly.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks are available from most department stores and chanel.com.

All photos are mine,  lovely assistant is Buffy.