Le Metier de Beaute Blush Kaleidoscope

 Blush, Le Metier de Beaute  9 Responses »
Dec 312011
 

Le Metier de Beaute has released a Blush Kaleidoscope ($95/ Neimans in Troy, Michigan), which includes a combination of colors made with a high-quality, beautifully milled powder. The Best Things In Beauty has been tracking the line’s limited releases this season, and most of them I’ve skipped. With this exception. I find that very high-quality blush palettes are rare, so I called to order one when this was released. Because I don’t own any of Le Metier’s powder blushes (typically sold for $30 each), this seems a safe introduction to this aspect of the line.

Other than The Best Things In Beauty’s review, there is a helpful write-up by Le Metier de Beaute’s Mikey Castillo (here), there is another review at The Beauty Info Zone, who says that more will be available in January. I thought it useful to take a few moments to write up some thoughts.

Overall, I’m incredibly pleased with the palette. The blushes can be layered beautifully. The power is finely milled, so that one can layer without the color blocking up or caking (I wore the top three levels layered and loved the pink-peach-gold effect). The pigmentation is excellent-a dense brush lays down significant color and a soft brush just a bit. There is a range of textures from matte to shimmer. Le Metier de Beaute has included a “shimmer” shade that can be layered with the matte shades to add versatility. I’m very glad that I’ve ordered it, and I know I’ll get significant use from it.

First, the basics. The packaging:

The label:

The ingredients (click to enlarge):

As with other Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscopes, the packaging is extremely compact and seems quite strong. It has a flip-top mirror and swing-out pans.  The pans are unnamed:

The top pan (I’ve called it “Level 1″) is a soft matte honey apricot:

The Level 2 is a matte pink rose, in the same family as Chanel Rose Ecrin:

Level 3 is a honey gold shimmer that can be used alone as a warm shimmer or layered over the other colors.  Unsurprisingly, this shade is not entirely transparent–so when you lay down this color over another, it knocks down the pigmentation a bit. In other words, it adds a touch of gold nude in addition to the shimmer. If you like, you can limit this layer to the upper cheekbones:

Layer 4 is a gorgeously shimmery cool pink:

Swatches of all shades:

Here’s a quick attempt to put the gold Layer 3 over the two matte layers:

Here’s Liz wearing Layer 4 alone. She’s also wearing Chanel Rouge Allure in Super (because she loves that one):

Overall, Le Metier has a winner here.  The price works out to about $25 per blush. If you care, the box lists the total weight as 0.49 ozs. The colors are highly wear-able, on trend, beautifully made, and the packaging is modern and travel-friendly. Yes, yes, yes!!

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Le Metier de Beaute Gift Sets Preview

 Le Metier de Beaute  1 Response »
Nov 082011
 

Le Metier de Beaute will soon be selling gift sets of its nail colors exclusively for Neiman Marcus.  There are two sets– the All that Glitters set (with a gold toned leaf) is pictured above.  This includes

  • Spruce it Up, a shimmering evergreen
  • Hot to Trot, a red with silver undertones
  • Midnight Heron, a shimmering blue sapphire
  • All that Glitters, a metallic gold

The Merry Metallics set (with the silver toned leaf), is pictured below and includes:

  • Plum Puddin’, a rich plum with sheer silver sparkle
  • Red-E and Waiting, a sheer red with metallic gold undertones
  • Tarnished Silver, a platinum
  • Lame Entertain You, a shimmering copper with silver undertones

The items are boxed with a metal-coated aspen leaf that looks like a pretty ornament on its own.  These are designed by Neiman’s Ken Downing.  I haven’t purchased these (I don’t believe these are out quite yet), but expect them to be sold at Neimans for $32 a set.  These seem to me to a be a highly giftable set, so if I end up with them I’m likely to give them away to friends.

The lovely thing about these sets is that they are luxe gift for someone that you know loves fine things, but you aren’t sure what she already has.  A woman who enjoys nail polish is someone that you can spot right away–hello, she’s wearing really cool nail polish. The colors are on-trend and seem to have a universal appeal. Because its Le Metier de Beaute, she likely either loves the line or will love you for introducing her to it.  Although I haven’t tried these, the quality of the other polishes in Le Metier’s line has been very positive.

Le Metier de Beaute Fresh Creme Tint in Coral Nymph Review

 Blush, Le Metier de Beaute  7 Responses »
Oct 242011
 

Le Metier de Beaute’s Creme Fresh Tint in Coral Nymph ($28) is a light, fresh color that is geared to look very natural.  Here are comparison swatches next to Bobbi Brown’s Cabo Coral and Bobbi Brown’s Calypso Coral.  There’s a natural tone to Coral Nymph that is more of a very soft whisper, even when heavily applied.

If you think that Coral Nymph is still too strong, the comparatively nude Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Ginger Lilly and Poppy are softer still:

If you are pale, or prefer very subtle color, Le Metier’s Creme Fresh Tints are well worth a look.  Here is Coral Nymph on Liz:

 Le Metier de Beaute sent both Creme Fresh Tint in Coral Nymph and Ginger Lily to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

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Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Mystique

 Blush, Le Metier de Beaute  13 Responses »
Oct 202011
 

Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Mystique ($28/.17 oz.) is a lilac-pink cream blush that gives a subtle wash of cool color.  The texture is very light and breathable, you cannot feel anything heavy on your skin.  The cream is in a small, easily packable twist jar and can be applied easily with fingers or a foundation brush.

The color is a very cool pink:

The color is very light and cool.  Here is a comparison of Le Metier’s Mystique (on the left) next to Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Pale Pink (on the right):

On Liz paired with Chanel Rouge Allure in Kensington:    

Liz is wearing Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation in Beige Rose 32 and Benefit They’re Real Mascara.

Le Metier de Beaute’s Mystique applies very sheerly at first, and can be built up to more intense color with added layers. If you prefer a subtle blush, it’s perfect with a single layer.  If you like a more pronounced look, just add more.  The pigment and texture of the creme is very fresh and light.  We were unable to make this look too cakey or overdone, even though we tried.  The color stayed very fresh and natural.  It looks like glowing skin.

Le Metier’s Fresh Creme Tints (including Mystique) are currently for sale at Nordstrom.com and Neiman Marcus and at Le Metier counters.

 Le Metier de Beaute sent Creme Fresh Tint in Mystique to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration. 

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Le Metier de Beaute Bordeaux Lip Creme

 Le Metier de Beaute, Lipgloss, Lipstick  22 Responses »
Oct 052011
 

Le Metier de Beaute is releasing The Bordeaux Collection, which includes two limited edition Lip Cremes–Purple Haze and In the Know Bordeaux ($36 each).  These are currently up for sale on Neiman Marcus website.  Neiman’s Le Metier counters should have them soon, if they do not already.  Given that these colors were designed by Neiman Marcus genius and Creative Director Ken Downing, it’s no surprise that Neiman’s is the exclusive source for these.

I’ve begun to notice that Le Metier has begun a trend of enabling design by its artists, and one Neiman’s event even allowed customers to create their own Kaleidoscopes.  I love that.  Rather than pushing out colors by nameless designers, it feels so much more…personal.

The texture of both Lip Cremes in this collection is a shiny, glossy liquid lipstick.  They are rich with pigment, have gorgeous coverage and the colors are designed to suit a wide variety of skin tones.  Given that both of these appear in The Bordeaux Collection, these two lip creams have a very slight mauve undertone.

Although Le Metier de Beaute’s Lip Creme in Purple Haze looks rather demure and unassuming in the tube, I was shocked at how beautifully it applies on the lips.  This is a flattering soft pink–in truth, this is the color that I wish my lips were naturally.  This almost covers my naturally pigmented lip color, leaving a very fresh gorgeous color behind.  It’s a bit lighter and less peach (read–”cooler”) than Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Ming (reviewed here).

I really loved the texture of Purple Haze the minute that I applied it.  There is a very slight scent, which is remarkably pleasant and fades after several minutes.  The liquid easily fills in little lines, and makes my lips look really very moisturized. The shine is perfect–it’s not too shiny, but rather it gives enough glow to look polished and appropriate.  Purple Haze has now replaced a Chanel glossimer as a go-to in my everyday purse (this is a shocker, I realize!).  Good work, Ken Downing!

In the Know Bordeaux brings it.  This deep mauve-red is infused with shimmer and drama.  A single coat of In the Know Bordeaux looks like liquid ruby, covers the natural pigmentation and has an incredible dimension.  This color is a true wine and would work for business formal, dramatic day or any evening event. It’s an amazing Fall color, very chic.

 Here are some comparisons.  On the top row is Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in Purple Haze, compared with three Chanel Rouge Allure Laque liquid lipsticks– the peachy Chanel Santal, the soft pink Chanel Ming and the mauve creme Chanel Stunt.

On the bottom is Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in In the Know Bordeaux, compared with Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Fatale and Emoi, as well as Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon.

The two lip cremes from Le Metier de Beaute’s The Bordeaux Collection blew me away.  They more than exceeded my expectations.  Seriously, check them out.

Le Metier de Beaute provided these two Lip Cremes to Cafe Makeup for consideration for review.  But seriously, I was shocked at how much I liked them.

 

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