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.

Laura Mercier Riviera Eye Shadow Quad Summer 2011 Portofino Collection

This is a perfect day to dream about Portofino. The Italian Riviera is one of my favorite places in the world. It's among the very few destination that given the chance I'd drop everything and just go there. Laura Mercier took my fantasy and shaped it into this limited edition eye shadow quad for summer 2011. As I mentioned yesterday, the rest of the Portofino collection is underwhelming at best. Honestly, it looks like the creative team at Laura Mercier ran out of ideas and pigments but still insisted on releasing a "collection" instead of going with one stellar item, this Riviera eye shadow quad.

The texture of all four shadows is silky smooth, really top quality. The shades have  a satiny texture- neither matte nor shimmery, including the darkest blue (a deep sea shade) that looks a lot more shiny in the compact than it is on the lid (or arm). The other shades are an almost snowy white, a sunny golden beige and a silvery not quite sky blue. The beige is not light enough to serve as a highlighter on its own, so I use it as more of a base color or mix it with the lighter blue for the lid.

Speaking of this grayish blue, it's an excellent shade for olive skin and deep-set eyes. The color looks very flattering and brings out dark eyes while adding just enough brightness to my lids. I add a wash of the white where needed and love the result. It looks a lot more understated than you'd expect from a blue-centered eye shadow palette. The dark blue is of course an excellent liner/smoky eye color. I've been skipping an actual liquid/pencil liner when wearing it, which if you know me, it's almost inconceivable. I use the smallest pencil/smudge brushes or a smoky eye brush to apply this color with just a hint (it's very pigmented, so I use what left on the brush) under the lower lashes. A minimalistic mascara completes the look. I also add a little of Edward Bess cream highlighter where needed, because it brings all the colors together.

One gripe: the stripes for each color are quite narrow, so I need to use brushes with smaller heads even when a wide one would be a better choice (for an all over wash). Even then it's hard not to get a little of the wrong color on the brush.

All four shades in Laura Mercier's Riviera quad are very pigmented and stay put beautifully. I always use a primer, but even after the swatches on my arm rubbed against my shirt and various cats, they still remained very visible. As for the finger swatches, those required some serious hand scrubbing before they were gone.

Bottom Line: Excellent.

Laura Mercier Riviera Eye Shadow Quad Summer 2011 Portofino Collection ($40) is at Nordstrom, Neiman and other department stores as well as on lauramercier.com

All photos are mine. And, yes, that's my front door in the swatches a few seconds after I managed to lock myself out in the rain this morning.

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.

Laura Mercier Riviera Eye Shadow Quad Summer 2011 Portofino Collection Sneak Peek

Here's the quickest sneak peek of Laura Mercier Riviera Eye Shadow Quad from her  Summer 2011 Portofino Collection. I played with everything in this collection and didn't find another single item that worked for me (the Sheer Crème Glow especially didn't make any sense- neither a blush nor a highlighter and horribly sticky). But the Riviera palette was love at first sight, first swatch and first application. I still need to test it more for a full review, but since the quad is already at most Laura Mercier counters ($40) and online, I figured you might want to have a good look.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Pensee Glossimer Summer 2011

Chanel Glossimer in Pensee (277) is the third and last item I picked from Chanel Summer 2011, Collection les Fleurs d'Ete. Out of the three Glossimers offered in the summer collection, Pensee is the brightest and most color saturated. The other two, Aurore and Pink Peony, are very pretty but too light and pink for me. Pensee, with its bright fruit punch almost coral hues is enough of a departure from my normal comfort zone. But since it is a lip gloss and sheer enough I figured there won't be an issue pulling it of.

I was right. Pensee might be almost be guava-colored (sorry, I have guavas on my mind because of an upcoming perfume review), but it's also happy, wearable and adds just enough color and brightness to a summer makeup look. My lips are naturally almost purple in color, so they probably somewhat neutralize the gloss' brightness and make it into a lovely pop of color. Fans of Chanel Glossimer usual texture will not be disappointed- the gloss is soft, non-sticky and very moisturizing. The first time I used it I thought there was some grittiness from the shimmer particles (it's not really glitter, though). It was either my own lips or I just got used to it, because I no longer feel it.

Bottom Line: summer love.

Chanel Pensee Glossimer Summer 2011 ($28.50) is a limited edition color. Available now at the counters and from Chanel.com.

This concludes my Chanel Summer 2011 reviews, but if you're a member of The Non-Blonde Facebook group, you already know there's more Chanel coming up here- all approved by Sophie.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Bronze Corail 537 Soleil Tan de Chanel Summer 2011

At first glance the Corail part of the new Chanel Bronze Corail 537 Soleil Tan de Chanel for summer 2011 looks quite intimidating. I don't think I have anything quite bright and orange in my makeup collection and I doubt I ever would. But upon inspecting the entire compact you realize the other parts are very tame and barely bronzer-like. Since you're supposed to swipe and swirl your brush over the whole design you're not likely to turn  Snooki.

As you can see from the swatches (I also swatched each color separately, just to give you an idea), Chanel was really careful with these shades. They have a golden cast, a satin-like shimmer and are just a little punched up with the coral stripe. I use it in two ways- with a dense face/bronzer brush (Sephora bronzer brush or Edward Bess face brush) for a true but subtle bronzed look, or with the huge Louise Young fan brush for the just the lightest golden touch that's more appropriate on this rainy April week.

The texture and feel of Bronze Corail  Soleil Tan de Chanel is very fine and light. The simple stripes in the compact look far less elaborate and impressive than other summer bronzers we've seen lately (Estee Lauder Sea Star, Dior and that sunny Guerlain one), but the product itself is pretty and very effective, so I'm happy.

Chanel Bronze Corail 537 Soleil Tan de Chanel for Summer 2011 ($50) is available from most department stores and chanel.com.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Lilium Eye Shadow Quad Summer 2011

I don't remember ever being so excited about so many summer collections and items in one season, but Summer 2011 is shaping up to be very much my season. This isn't the first time we see a green eye shadow quad from Chanel: Murano has been a favorite since it came out, and before it there was Garden Party (I didn't buy that one). But Lilium is different enough, pretty enough and offers several interesting look options, from a dramatic green smoky eye to a soft summer garden.

As a long-time Chanel fan, I'm thrilled with the evolution of the eye shadow quads texture and quality. Lilium feels softer and smoother than ever before, all shades blend easily and the results make me a little too proud of my application skills. I doubt the credit belongs to me, though.

The four colors (clockwise)  are a very (very!) light milky peach, deep green, taupe and a yellowish green/greenish yellow that has turned out to be the a real star. All four shades have a shimmery finish but none of the glitter or fall-out that have plagued too many of Chanel's eye shadow sets over the last year. As you can see in the arm swatch, the peach is barely there, though on my brow bone it's a perfect highlighter that's low-key enough to look natural but better. The taupe is of medium intensity. It's a great lid/crease color, requires no effort and stands out even among other Chanel classics such as Safari and the newer Taupe Grise. The taupe from Lilium is a tiny bit more brown than both singles- it doesn't have Taupe Grise mauve cast or Safari's khaki leanings. The rich emerald green is  a mid shade between the two greens of Murano. It makes a gorgeous dramatic lid color or a liner. I consider it an evening shade, but it's a personal choice.

The big surprise of this quad is that greenish yellow eye shadow. Had it been released as a single I doubt I would have picked it, which would have been a shame, because apparently this color is actually very flattering on my equally weird skin tone. I wear it in the inner corner and/or the inner part of the lid and it brightens, lightens and emphasizes all that's good about dark brown eyes. I wear it with the peach and taupe together (with just a hint of brown liquid liner and a little mascara), and it makes me feel almost summery and definitely pretty.

Bottom Line; even better than I expected.

Chanel Lilium Eye Shadow Quad Summer 2011 ($57) is available from Chanel counters everywhere as well as online.

All photos are mine.

Estee Lauder Sea Star Bronzing Blush Bronze Goddess Collection Summer 2011

As promised here's the star (sorry, cheesy pun) of Estee Lauder Goddess Collection for Summer 2011, Sea Star Bronzing Blush Bronze. So, is it a blush? a bronzer? It's both, I guess, depending on your natural color, taste and the look you're trying to achieve. As far as I'm concerned, the finish is too shimmery to be a daytime all-over bronzer, but talk to me on a sultry summer night and I might be wearing this Estee Lauder star with abandon.

The Sea Star Bronzing Blush is made of two parts- the bright salmon pink star (the fuchsia decoration is just an overspray, it's gone the first time you use it) and the lovely golden bronzer of the background. The star itself is raised and I'm not sure how deep it's embedded into the bronzer (i.e. how much of this color you actually get). You can use either one separately if you're into compact/brush engineering, but most of us would swirl our brush lightly over the design to collect both colors in a single application for a peachy bronzed shimmery look.

This Estee Lauder products is quite pigmented and I'm not sure how flattering it would look on the very fair. Karen of M&BB recommended using a fan brush if you're pale. I've played with a Yachio, a standard blush brush by Hakuhodo and a Guerlain duo-fiber, and so far the regular brush worked just fine, though I had to tone down the shimmer with a good finishing powder and a flat top brush. I'm just not a super shimmery person, at least not on a 30 F degree day in March. Still, I really like the finish of the Sea Star blush/bronzer. It's summery and the shimmer is very fine and looks luxurious.

The thing that doesn't look so high end is the plastic compact itself. I think Estee Lauder could have done a better job at choosing a packaging. It's not the plastic itself that I find objectionable- after all Guerlain Terracotta powder comes in a similar format. It's something about the color and opaqueness that reminds me some drugstore compacts of yore.

Bottom Line: June cannot be here soon enough.

Estee Lauder Sea Star Bronzing Blush ($34) Bronze Goddess Collection Summer 2011is available from your Lauder counters and esteelauder.com.

All photos are mine.