Unexpected Beauty Deals

Image via Gilt

I used to think of sites like Hautelook and Gilt as a nuisance (too zealous with the email newsletters), but since stumbling across the now-ended Tatcha sale on Gilt City, I now peruse the site in hopes that similar treasure can be found. Lo and behold, I found two beauty deals to be had! First is a $30 off $80 credit to BobbiBrown.com, whose shimmer bricks remain one of my favorite illuminating products.

Image via Gilt

Who can resist this bombshell of an image (from the Clarins Fall 2014 Ladylike collection)? Those eyes! The perfectly sculpted cheeks! The cozy knit! Clarins is offering a $30 savings for purchases over $75 at ClarinsUSA.com. I say get whatever you need to get to recreate the look above, because swoon.

I also liked reading this piece about beauty ideals written by Liu Wen, published on Vogue.com. It was really great that Estee Lauder named Liu Wen as their global spokesmodel. They effectively expanded what it means to be "normally beautiful" to the public consciousness.

Have you seen or read anything interesting lately? Do share!

That Brown Smokey Eye

As promised, here's the complete breakdown of the look I wore with Dior Vernis Poison, with complete product list at the bottom of the post.

L-R: GA Eyes to Kill Intense #15, Burberry Eyeshadow in Taupe Brown and Porcelain

By Terry Blush Terrybly Exotic Pink #2

Bobbi Brown 24 Karat Shimmer Brick

This smokey eye is particularly easy to achieve. I applied Burberry Taupe Brown with the LMdB Eye Crease Brush all over my eyelid, blending it outward toward my brow bone, then with my ring finger (use your ring finger when handling sensitive areas because it applies the least pressure!), I patted Giorgio Armani ETK #15 over my eyelid. I applied Porcelain under the brows and blended it into the brow bone. A flick of liner close to the upper lashes and a couple coats of mascara, then I smoked out the lower lash line with Taupe Brown to balance the heavy eye.

For cheeks: Chanel Notorious under cheekbones, By Terry Exotic Pink on apples, and Bobbi Brown 24 Karat Shimmer Brick above cheekbones. A slick of Chanel Troublant on lips.

And that's all there is to it!

Shop The Products:

Face -

Chantecaille Future Skin in Camomile

RMS "Un" Cover Up #22

Chanel Notorious Sculpting Veil for Eyes and Cheeks

By Terry Blush Terrybly Exotic Pink #2

Bobbi Brown 24 Karat Shimmer Brick Compact (new for holiday)

Le Métier de Beauté Blush Brush

Chanel Foundation Brush

Eyes -

Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown (not available in the US)

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 03 Porcelain and No. 07 Taupe Brown

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense #15

Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liner in Noir

Guerlain Noir G Mascara

Shu Uemura 20H

Le Métier de Beauté Eye Crease Brush

Shu Uemura Kolinsky Brush 10F

Lips -

Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Troublant #68

Upcoming Fall Stuff: Paul & Joe and Le Métier de Beauté

A few days ago I asked on Facebook and Twitter what everyone's preference is regarding press releases and I received a unanimous "skip." I personally barely glance at press info when they're on a blog as well, though they're really useful when I need to fact-check for a post. That said, I still think these photos are probably worthwhile to post so you'll have an inkling of what's coming out for Le Métier de Beauté and Paul & Joe fall. 

Le Métier de Beauté

Cocoa Crazed nail collection

Four brown-toned polishes in:

• Cocoa Me Crazy – vanilla bean cream with cocoa flecks
• Hottie Choco-latte – creamy, shiny chocolate brown
• Cocoa Cabana – bodacious brown with a hit of shine
• Hot n’ Saucy – deep cocoa infused with cherry red under-tones

Breathless Kaleidoscope Lip Kit

Shade descriptions from top to bottom:

• Cinema - a velvety, ultra-rich true red
• Existential - sparkling mauve with rose effervescence
• Beau - deep berry crimson with matte finish 
• Celluloid - a glimmering, creamy flushed red

Nouvelle Vague Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, previewed here

On top of the regular fall collection, Le Métier de Beauté will once again collaborate with Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing to produce the Coromandel Collection, where they will debut a new matte Velvet Crème Lip Color.

The fall collection will roll out to counters nationwide mid-October.

Paul & Joe

Clutch your hearts because these are adorable. Paul & Joe, like many Japanese brands before it, is revamping the way you buy their lipsticks. Now you can customize your purchase by choosing your preferred case and a separate lipstick bullet ($17 each for the bullet alone), where you can pick the texture (comes in sheer, natural and full coverage) and color. 

Other fall offerings include what I call the lovebird blushes and limited edition lipstick shades:

Color Powder CS in True Love, Inseparables and Les Tourtereaux ($30 each)

Paul & Joe fall will be available at BeautyHabit.com and Bergdorf Goodman. The blushes are already listed on the site and sold at the BG counter. If you need a contact, my friends Caroline (212.872.8648) and Alex (212.872.2759) would love to help you!

Le Métier de Beauté Spring 2012: Northern Lights (The Auroras) Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

Le Métier de Beauté's spring collection has finally hit counters! This is the last of my spring wants, and now that I have it I can move on to obsessing over summer (have you seen Dior? Guerlain? NARS? Ugh, so pretty). 

The Le Métier de Beauté Northern Lights (The Auroras) Kaleidoscope Eye Kit feels different compared to all the others I own. I won't say it's less pigmented (just take a look at the hand swatch below), but it does produce a more subtle effect on the eyes compared to previous kits. Since the Le Métier spring lip features a bolder shade of pink, I think Northern Lights is made to be worn hand in hand with the Aurora Lip Kit.

L-R: Ionic, Sky, Magnetic, Equinox, all four shades blended together

I'm sure most of you are tired of hearing me rave about the brand, so I won't add any spluttering exultations to this review. The textures, colors, formula, and lasting power of the shadows are on par with previous releases, so if these are colors you think you'll wear, I say go for it! 

For those interested (this was the look featured on St. Patrick's Day), here is the bevy of products I used to create the look in this post:

• Skin: Chantecaille 'Just Skin' Tinted Moisturizer in Nude, Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Shade 2, Cle de Peau Concealer in Ochre, Guerlain Cruel Gardenia, Le Métier de Beauté Classic Flawless Finish Loose Powder 1
• Eyes: Le Métier de Beauté Northern Lights Eye Kit, Le Métier de Beauté Noir Precision Eye Liner, Guerlain Noir G Mascara, Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow 01 Moss Green
• Cheeks: Burberry Earthy Blush, Burberry Cameo Blush, Bobbi Brown Rose Gold Shimmer Brick Compact, Guerlain Terracotta Blush 02 Sunny Pink
• Lips: Le Métier de Beauté Rouge Lip Liner, Le Métier de Beauté Aurora Lip Kit

I mixed a pump of Peau Vierge with Chantecaille 'Just Skin' to add radiance to the skin. Using Guerlain Cruel Gardenia, I highlighted the area above my cheekbones, down the nose, and above my cupid's bow. Finally, I set with loose powder. 

I applied all four shades of Northern Lights on my eyes using the company's signature couches de couleurs method (explained here), and added more of Equinox on the crease for definition. I then lined my eyes with liquid liner, and layered a generous amount of mascara on my lashes. 

The cheeks are a little complicated, and I don't know why I did what I did (I'm sure there is a simpler way to create the same effect), but I like how it turned out. First, I contoured below the cheeks and along the jaw line with Burberry Earthy Blush, then  I applied Guerlain Cruel Gardenia on my cheeks and patted Burberry Cameo Blush over it. I topped that off with Guerlain Sunny Pink Terracotta Blush, and went over everything with Bobbi Brown Rose Gold Shimmer Brick. It's more products than I think was necessary (though they really didn't weigh a thing), but my cheeks were glowing all night long.

Le Métier de Beauté Northern Lights (The Auroras) Kaleidoscope Eye Kit retails for $95 and is available at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. As usual, if you don't have a counter near you, please do not hesitate to contact Dustin Lujan of Bergdorf's at 212-872-8612 and tell him I sent you. Everything from the spring collection is limited edition, so don't wait too long!

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose Gold

Despite its various incarnations throughout the years and ubiquity in Beauty Must-Have lists, I never really thought much about Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks in the past. I didn't know what it was for. It was too frosty (in my opinion) to be a highlighter but not pigmented enough to be a blush. In addition, my perception of the brand was colored by bad experiences at counters and gritting my teeth at unfriendly sales assistants, so I always walked away without purchasing anything.

My indifference has never really been challenged until the Rose Gold collection came around. Dustin was by my side as we rifled through the beauty counters at Bergdorf's, and we stopped at the Bobbi Brown counter. I confessed I didn't understand them as highlighters, and he explained, "well, those are luminizers. You're supposed to put them on top of your blush."

Somewhere in my head a gong (of understanding) was struck, and I left the counter holding my very first Shimmer Brick. 

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose Gold contains five shades of rose, pinks, and golds. Swirled together, the resulting hue is its namesake. While it looks frightening in the swatch, it becomes altogether magical when layered over another color on the cheeks. Case in point:

Cle de Peau Cheek Color Duo in 02

Bobbi Brown Rose Gold Shimmer Brick layered over CdP Cheek Color Duo in 02

What is the word for it? A glow? A luminescence? A sultry flush? (Ha!) However you want to call it, I think it looks fetching on the skin, and especially great for drawing attention to your cheeks.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose Gold retails for $39 and is available at Bobbi Brown counters nationwide and bobbibrown.com. Like all good things, it is unfortunately limited edition.