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.