Le Metier de Beaute - 3/7

Here’s Three Things I’m Obsessed With…

Apr 212012

Here’s what three things I’m obsessed with this week:

1. Le Metier de Beaute Limited Edition Kaléidoscope Palettes: With the rush of summer makeup releases upon us, Le Metier de Beaute just made our buying decisions more difficult. Three new Kaleidoscope palettes are about to be released:

On the Coast will be released to commemorate Le Metier de Beaute’s availability on Saks.com on April 23, 2012. This includes four eyeshadows–an effervescent beige champagne, a shimmering tan taupe, a soft satin brown and a deep champagne cobalt
Shades of Short Hills will be released at Saks Fifth Avenue in Short Hills, New Jersey. This one includes four shades–a champagne apricot, a matte tan-taupe, a shimmering rhubarb-brown, and noir (black) with flecks of white diamond
Golden Gate Girl will be available during a Saks San Francisco event on April 25-28. Le Metier artist Richard Marquez will be visiting. This one includes a satin rose petal pink, a pale amethyst, a warm rhubarb and a cinnamon gold.

Although my heart is in San Francisco, I must admit that On the Coast and Shades of Short Hills are also calling my name. What about you?

2. In the “I love an international beauty source” category, Vogue Paris now available in English. In fact, I’m thinking of getting the words “Vogue Paris is now available in English” stenciled backwards on the front hood of my car, so everyone looking in their review mirror can see. There are few events this life-changing and now we need to spread the word. Here’s a link to the site. I so appreciate having the forward edge of fashion available right there, right now. Here’s one story on current lip trends:

Another news item about Giorgio Armani designing for Lady Gaga’s tour using a transparent Plexiglas body, futurist hat, outsized epaulettes covered in pointy studs and latex tunics:

Vogue Paris is also set to release an app for iPhone and iPad (seriously, I’m going to have to quit my day job just to keep up. Just kidding!). In June, the magazine will begin offering an on-line version of its content, that promises to be more media rich than its paper counterpart.

3. Rose Gold trend: Earlier this year, Tiffany announced a new Rubedo series of jewelry. The rest of fashion appears to be latching onto a similar rose gold vibe, including Deborah Lippmann with her new polish Sugar Daddy (reviewed here by Scangie):

This color is different enough to be eye-catching, but still universally flattering (it seems to work with many warm and cool skin tones). You want to be careful picking your items to make sure they look modern. This rose gold color seems to have a cooler look than similar colors released in years past, which seemed much warmer and brassier like MAC Pink Bronze. I wonder who will make the first eyeshadow palette using these gorgeous tones?

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!!

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.

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.