Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss: Breeze and Rose Glisten

I don't write about Jouer often because we don't have a Jouer counter in the DC area. It's sad. I discovered the brand online and was delighted to visit the counter at Henri Bendel the last time I visited New York. I hope to go back soon.

In the meantime, I've been shopping online. Last week, I took advantage of a site-wide discount and ordered some nice new makeup. I had never tried the Moisturizing Lip Gloss ($20), so two went into my shopping cart.

These lip glosses are irresistibly sheer shades loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, shea butter, jojoba oil, and pomegranate seed oil to moisturize, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate, and protect your lips. There's no question Jouer's glosses will keep your lips smooth and hydrated. It took me one day to figure that out.

Available in Jouer's signature vial that connects to any Jouer custom palette, the glosses are perfectly useable on their own. I purchased Breeze and the limited edition Rose Glisten (shown in Jouer's photo at left and mine above right).

Breeze is described as a sheer berry with gold shimmer. It's shown in the tube in my photo above on the left side. Rose Glisten (shown at right above) is described as a sheer sparkling rose. I purposely selected two shades that showed me some color online. Neither is particularly pigmented - my only disappointment. These glosses feel fabulous on my lips and stay put a reasonable amount of time for a lip gloss - without feeling at all heavy or sticky.

Here are two swatch photos, both taken in full sun. Breeze is shown at the top of my arm, and Rose Glisten is shown below. Remember to simply click on the photos if you want to see an enlarged view. Breeze is definitely the darker of the two shades, so it's my favorite. Rose Glisten is very, very light. It reminds me of Bobbi Brown's new Pink Tulle High Shimmer Lip Gloss. It's a pretty topper and will add a baby pink shine to your lipstick. It can be used as a lip conditioner if you want a little natural color.

There are 23 shades of Moisturizing Lip Gloss. I do want more of them, so next time I will order the darkest shades available. You can find the colors at the Jouer Web site. Mirage looks like it's calling my name.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty or Jouer

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Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glacé Set Giveaway Contest

This limited-edition, now sold-out collection of four mini lip glacés offers a quartet of super-flattering shiny shades. The high-shine lip glosses provide rich, long-lasting color and a brilliant glaze finish that creates the appearance of fuller lips. It was a $55 value that sold for $38.



Anyone who wants a variety of wearable and flattering shades in one collection will love the set. The shades are beautiful; they don't feel sticky or heavy; and they won't feather or bleed. These are Laura Mercier's lip glosses at their best.



The formula captures the glassy, light-reflecting sheen that we all love in a lip gloss. It also features the Laura Mercier Lip Complex, a unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, and antioxidant ingredients to hydrate and protect the lips and leave a wonderfully smooth surface. The shades in this collection are Rose, Sparkling, Baby Doll, and Ambre Rose - all desirable.



There are a few simple steps to enter this contest. First, all you really have to do is leave a comment on this feature. After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).



You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers.



You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet and mention the giveaway title. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. Only one tweet will be counted as an entry. I appreciate multiple tweets, but it's not necessary.



The deadline for entries will be Saturday, September 10, at midnight. The next day, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.



This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.



Good luck!



Update: I really do use random.org to select winners. I know some of you enter over and over again and haven't won a contest here yet. I wish I could afford to change that. Please keep entering. Odds are that someday random.org will call your number. Also, we have another contest starting tomorrow for Neiman Marcus Beauty Week, so come on back!

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New Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss

New from Bobbi Brown, High Shimmer Lip Gloss ($23) "combines gorgeous, light-catching shimmer with lasting, non-sticky shine. Made with fine pearls and clear pigments, High Shimmer Lip Gloss gives lips beautiful, brilliant dimension, and it’s enriched with emollients and vitamins C and E to moisturize, condition, and protect lips, so they feel as good as they look."

"Gorgeous and super-sparkly, this gloss is full fun." - Bobbi Brown

Indeed, High Shimmer Lip Gloss offers a melange of shimmering hues in each tube, with multidimensional sparkles that contribute to each gorgeous shade. See if you can select just one.

Whether you wear Bobbi Brown's new gloss on its own or on top of your favorite lipstick, the new tapered applicator will allow you to apply it easily. No more struggling to put those little brushes back into the tube without irrevocably splaying them!

I saw the new display yesterday at Neiman Marcus. I could have brought home one of each shade - they were that pretty! Instead, I decided to select no more than three, so I stood and tested and agonized for awhile before selecting three shades, all for different reasons.

Canary (#5) is pure gold with golden sparkles. It's a fabulous topper. I'm sure it will come in handy. Naked Plum (#7) is a mauve-leaning pink (not plum really) that's a drop-dead perfect shade for me. Plum Gold (#9), burgundy-plum with a bronze sparkle, will be my dark shade - the one I can toss on without any lipstick and have magnificent color. In fact, I can't imagine needing lip color under Plum Gold; it's extremely pigmented. There are a few more shades that are still calling my name today, so I suspect I'll go back for more someday.

I took my swatch photos in direct morning sunshine, hoping that you would be able to see the sparkling loveliness of the shades, with the sun's rays bouncing off the colors. Canary is at the top; Naked Plum is in the middle; and Plum Gold is shown at the bottom of my arm. In the first photo, I turned my arm away from the sun so that the left side of each swatch shows the reflection, but the right is less direct. In my second photo below right, my arm directly faced the sun.

Look at the beautiful shimmer! These are must-have lip glosses. They have what I will call a heavy texture - not sticky, but you can feel them on your lips. As with most long-lasting glosses these days, if you can feel them, you're likely to have some color left a half-hour after you apply them. Many of the light-as-air glosses are gone in minutes. I'm sure that challenges cosmetics companies.

Bobbi Brown sent out an e-mail about the new High Shimmer Lip Glosses this morning, and you can see them online at the Bobbi Brown Web site. They arrived at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria yesterday. That's where I bought mine. If they are not at other Bobbi Brown counters, they will be very soon. Call before you go.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 Duo for Fall 2011

Clinique's Black Honey Collection for Fall 2011 has arrived at a counter near you. I couldn't have been more excited to see it when I visited Neiman Marcus yesterday. I've been a Black Honey fan for more years than I can count and was thrilled to share a sneak peek of the fall collection with you last month. Yesterday, I was able to purchase a few pieces.

The dual-ended Black Honey ($21), with the Almost Lipstick at one end and a Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 at the other, is a Black Honey addict's dream! One side brings you the original, emollient-rich Almost Lipstick. The other features a coordinating Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 for extra shine.The shade has earned a cult following, and this two-for will speak to the legions of women, like me, who have worn the shade since 1971! The duo is a limited edition, so I'd suggest you buy yours now. I am contemplating a purchase of two more - that's how much I love Black Honey! One for my bathroom, one for my purse, and another just because. I suspect there are other Black Honey hoarders out there, so don't let us buy all the stock before you get to a Clinique counter.

I did purchase Black Honey lip gloss when it was offered a few years ago. If I remember correctly, it was a Sephora exclusive. I kid you not, I bought eight of them. The gloss tubes were much less convenient than this wand, though, so I'm in Black Honey paradise.

Just in case you are very young, have never experienced the joy of Black Honey, or have been living in a makeup-deprived world, I took a few swatch photos outdoors in full sun. The gloss is shown at the top of my arm, and the Almost Lipstick is below the little scratch on my arm (the result of removing wild raspberries from my garden, thorns and all). Both gleam, but they are not as shimmery as they appear in my photos.

The gloss and lipstick are different shades in the Black Honey "family." To my eye, the sheer gloss has more plum in it. The Black Honey lipstick is a universally flattering shade - and really nothing like it's deep, dark appearance in the tube. It's a super-sheer natural berry with a hint of brown and enough color to perk up my face without giving me a "lipstick look." It's also extremely hydrating.

I could gush. Instead, I'll suggest you Black Honey lovers get to a counter to buy yours. If there's really someone out there who has never experienced the joys of Clinique's iconic lip color, go see it! Chances are you'll love it.

The promo photo I showed you in June made the new eye shadow quad look too pink. I was seriously tempted to buy it when I saw it yesterday (and may still). The shades are fabulous neutrals. I did purchase the Gradient Powder Blush - also a more exciting shade than the press release made it appear. I'll show you a swatch soon.

For those who want to restock their Black Honey Almost Lipstick, it's also readily available in the fall collection, as is a Blush-on Cream Liner. Time to revisit Clinique! The Black Honey Collection is available at all Clinique counters and some store Web sites (see Nordstrom).

Photos courtesy of Nordstrom and by Best Things in Beauty

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NARS Pago Pago Sheer Lipstick and Oasis Lip Gloss for Fall 2011

The NARS Fall Color 2011 Collection hit all the stores in my area this week, so it's likely to be available for your perusal if you don't want to shop online as I did. As I played with the colors this week, I continued to be struck by how pretty this "anti-fall" collection is right now.

While nude-toned lip colors are perfect companions for fall's dramatic eye, particularly the theatrical, bright-blue Outremer shown in the NARS Fall Look, they are also perfect for wear now, as the daytime temperatures exceed 100 degrees. We want to look cooler than we feel, and these lip colors will help us look light and natural.

Pago Pago Sheer Lipstick ($24) is lighter than I envisioned when I inspected it online. It's sheer, though, which puts it in my favorite lip color type category. It's a peach-toned nude with a pink cast and a gleam. The intensity of the color is extremely close to the intensity of my natural lip color, so Pago Pago gives me a warmer tint without significant color. If you have a lot of pigment in your lips, you will probably find the shade to be too light.

Oasis Lip Gloss ($24) is a subtly shimmering mauve-toned pink that will look great on many of us. It offers medium color intensity (not too light and frosty, not dark) - just enough color so I can wear it without lipstick underneath.

My "helper" thinks this indoor photography is fun. He has been a rascal this week. This morning, I caught him with half his body in the bag of Purina Large-Dog Puppy Chow, munching away at the "fox food."

I had a hard time getting a swatch photo that would show you the shades accurately. My photos taken indoors portrayed the shades in a cool light, and they looked more cool in tone than they appear to my eye. You won't see those.

The outdoor photo at right represents the shades better than any indoor photo I snapped - even with the sun's reflection on my arm clear in the picture. Hopefully, you can see how warm the Pago Pago shade is and envision how Oasis Lip Gloss will cool it down and add a shine.

If you are looking for a "traditional" fall look, the NARS fall lip colors probably won't appeal to you. If you want a seasonless look - one you can enjoy now - you will love the collection. You should be able to find it at all NARS counters and at NARS online.

Photos courtesy of NARS and by Best Things in Beauty, with help from Charlie

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Three Custom Color Specialists Perfectly Pink Lip Gloss Palette

Three Custom Color Specialists, the company that can make any lost lipstick treasure with just a tiny dab of a sample, has been asked to reinvent virtually every shade of lipstick and lip gloss under the sun. Years ago, when my favorite Mirage was discontinued by Chanel, I toyed with the idea of having Three Custom Color Specialists replicate it. I couldn't find a smidgen of it left, so I went to their data base. Sure enough - there it was! I only needed to order it. That was so reassuring.

Recently, Hautelook had a Three Custom Color flash sale, and I lept. Five beauties arrived at my doorstep a few weeks later. The Perfectly Pink Lip Gloss Palette ($53.50 at Three Custom Color) was among them. Ten lip glosses, all gorgeous pink tones, are housed in a thin palette perfectly sized to take along. There's even a functional lip brush included.

It arrived with the brilliant pink shade on the lower level smudged on the mirror in the top of the compact. I used the brush to put the gloss back where it belonged, but there was no way to make it look smooth and new again. Perhaps it was "treated" to brutally hot conditions in transit.

Here are the luscious shades in this lovely palette.

Bubble Gum - creamy electric pin
Mai Tai - rich, iridescent fuchsia
Gum Drop - vibrant sheer pink ablaze with golden sparkles
Meringue - silver-flecked rose stain with a touch of blood orange
Jelly Bean - sheer, plum gloss with giant sparkles
Pink Champagne - beautifully light and airy; true ballet-slipper pink
Pink Diamonds - luxurious, rose pink infused with multifaceted sparkles
Taffy - carnation-pink gloss with a dusting of gold
Cashmere - gorgeous mauve-pink alight with smooth sparkles
Sugar Plum - effervescent flesh-toned pink

Rather than swatch all 10 shades, I grabbed a few swatch photos of three, starting with the pink that was splattered on the mirror because I had to move it anyhow. The middle shade on my arm is the one at the bottom right corner in the palette. The lower one appears red in the palette, but is one of the prettiest watermelon gloss shades I own! I need to decipher the color names. I think they are listed above from left to right, starting with the top row, then moving onto the bottom row. That would make these shades, top to bottom, Pink Diamonds, Sugar Plum, and Meringue. I think that's correct.

The different angles toward the sun account for the appearance of the shades in my photos. Sugar Plum is plum, like you see in the photo below, taken at an angle to the bright summer sun.

Whatever your mood or look, there's a shade to love! These glosses are nicely pigmented, with even the sheerest among them imparting nice color. You won't need to wear lipstick underneath them for color.

They feel good on the lips and have no taste or fragrance. Perfect in my opinion!

I purchased other pieces - it was a great sale. I'll show them to you over the coming weeks. You can shop Three Custom Color Specialists online (and recover your long-lost favorite). Just head over to the Web site.

Photo at top courtesy of Three Custom Color Specialists; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Rouge Bunny Rouge Joys & Desires Decadent Duos

Rouge Bunny Rouge created a unique product. I've never had anything like it. There are many products that do double (or triple) duty, providing color for the eyes, lips, and cheeks. The Joys & Desires Decadent Duos ($43.43) combine a coordinating blush and lip gloss in one wand.

When I first glanced at the Decadent Duos, I assumed they were simply dual-ended lip colors, with a lipstick on one end and a gloss on the other. When I actually read about them at Zuneta, I had one of those "Wow!" moments, right before I ordered two.

The shades I ordered were Samba Enredo (#021) and Tango Argentino (#022). There are two other duos available. Samba Enredo is described at Zuneta as a delicate, pale lavender-pink base, suffused with the finest coppery-red and gold, pearly lip gloss, paired with a silky, illuminating, pale rose-petal pink blush. That description hooked me! Samba Enredo is described as a creamy, sheer coral-pink gloss, shimmering with pink and lilac pearls, paired with a silky, delicate, illuminating medium terracotta blush. I had to see that. I took a photo showing Samba Enredo at the top, with Tango Argentino below. I really wish I had ordered Rumba Cubana too. Rosewood shades delight me.

Let's pick up where we left off in the Enchanted Garden...no bunnies or butterflies, but a charming description nonetheless.

The night flowers in the Enchanted Garden open secretly in the dead of night. When all is quiet, they uproot and dance, weightlessly swaying in dangerously compelling movements, to mesmerize their prey into a devoted stupor. Joys & Desires were thus inspired as divinely fashioned beauty weapons, bestowing you with the secret of traveling light and to arrive still looking delectable.

Ideally bijou-sized, this travel accessory contains a piquantly delicate liquid blush to enliven your cheeks with a natural flush of a soft watercolor, with a glitzy gloss to luminize your lips with a flash of jaunty pearlized shine. Supremely blendable, they need only one quick application to keep you sublimely captivating. The two dance together for you, light yet complex, in steps of seduction and mystery from a fairy tale that could have been spun by Scheherazade herself. It's the one you'll reach for, time and time again, winter or summer, work or play.

The liquid blush is an oil-in-water emulsion - to water your cheeks with bare color and to impart an extremely natural and even finish. A high water content and rosewater provide a cooling and toning effect for your skin and mind. A complex of moisturizing actives and a highly dermo-compatible formula leaves your cheeks as soft as rose petals. The lip gloss has a soothing blend of lotus flower extract and yummy mango butter and speaks of wild freshness - naturally. Antioxidant and anti-aging, the formula also contains green tea and gingko biloba to hydrate and revitalize.

Both products are supremely blendable and need only one quick application with the fingertips to keep you comfortable and dashing.

As with every Rouge Bunny Rouge item I have ordered, the Joys & Desires Decadent Duos jumped right into my favorites corner on the bathroom counter. If you watch the Product Application Guide at Zuneta, you will see that the blush color of the duos should be applied lightly and blended. I applied it heavily so that you could see the shade well in my swatch photos. On the skin? Sheer majesty. Both lip gloss shades are sheer and shimmering.

My photos were taken in full sun, and I applied each swatch directly with its applicator. The swatches of Samba Enredo are shown at the top of my arm. The lip gloss is a gorgeous plum-pink. It's very sheer and will enliven your lips with light. The blush is one of the prettiest cream blushes I have ever used. The rose shade blends to a naturally flattering shade on my cheeks. I might have to hoard this duo. The shades coordinate perfectly.

Tango Argentino also has two lovely shades that coordinate nicely, but not perfectly, on my skin. The pink gloss is a medium-intensity, cool-toned pink that isn't a natural neighbor to a terracotta blush. When I blend the blush on my cheeks, it loses the orange tone to a large extent and results in a pretty peachy look. I like the pairing of the gloss from this duo with the blush from Samba Enredo much more. Good thing I have both!

The duos are relatively small, making them ideal for travel or your handbag. With a few swipes, you can refresh your makeup and look pretty on the go. I've been using the duos in my bathroom, which is why I think I need a third for my handbag. These may become carry-along essentials - even though I'm trying to tote fewer products around with me.

I like them so much, I'm overlooking the propylene glycol in the blush and gloss ingredients. I would rather it weren't present. I know industry experts consider propylene glycol harmless in low concentrations, but I'm trying to avoid it.

You can purchase Rouge Bunny Rouge at Zuneta. They offer free international shipping with orders over £65. As I mentioned earlier this week, I never have any trouble achieving the free shipping level. If anything, I have to restrain myself from ordering one of everything. Zuneta, where shopping is a delight.

Photo at top courtesy of Zuneta; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss

I had been contemplating a long weekend with no makeup deliveries - agony for a makeup addict. No UPS, no FedEx, no Postal Service after Saturday (when they typically deliver nothing of importance - sometimes I think there's a strategy to convince us we don't need Saturday delivery). Then, I got lucky on Friday. My Zuneta box arrived filled with Rouge Bunny Rouge treasures. I've been doling them out to myself one at a time. I think I can stretch them though the weekend's makeup drought.

There are six shades available in Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss ($34.12).

• Jungle Fudge
• Fleur Parfait
• Frappe Forever
• Sweet Souffle
• Trifle Rich
• Crisp Sorbet

While imagining the sweet treats after which they are named, I selected Crisp Sorbet (#055) and Fleur Parfait (#056). Those are two of the desserts I would have ordered in a restaurant. It was a tough selection process. Each of the shades looked delicious.

If you've been reading my odyssey through Rouge Bunny Rouge, you'll know there's a story to go with each item. With this story, there are fewer butterflies and bunnies. The Enchanted Garden must have a dessert bar!

This line of glosses is an exceptionally tempting interpretation of the ambrosial table of sweets in the Enchanted Garden. Naughty, but oh-so-nice!

Think of lusciously ripe fruit dipped in the shiniest of honeys. Your lips will be optically plumped to a mouth-watering fullness and a lavish dream-star shine. Irresistible. Like a scrumptious dessert that cheers you to the bones just by inhaling it, these glassy glosses radiate spicy sweetness and utter intoxicating decadence.

All of these candy drops of color are heaped with exotic ingredients, and some abound with minute pearlized particles to sparkle your lips with glittering bejeweled effects. People will gaze at you with shiny-eyed infatuation, longing that you will possibly get ... a ... little ... bit ... closer.

Ultra-glossy finish with a soothing and protective blend of paper birch extract and woodland figwort speaks of the wild freshness, naturally. Antioxidant and anti-aging, our formula also contains cotton tree fruit extract to hydrate and revitalize.

What unusual ingredients! The boxes, as all Rouge Bunny Rouge boxes, are delightful. I hate to recycle them! So far, I've kept each, but know that at some point they will have to go. The glosses? Here was my first view taken through a camera's lens. I immediately saw that the two shades had a different look in the tube. I quickly learned that they did on my lips too.

Crisp Sorbet is described as a cushiony soft sheer coconut ice pink, with coral and gold opalescence. Fleur Parfait is described as a cushiony soft semi-opaque mauve pink with subtle silver highlights. That offers my clue for selecting my next shade. It will be "sheer." I prefer that look in this gloss.

My swatch photo was taken in full sun. Even with the sun's reflection, I think you will be able to detect the difference in formula. Crisp Sorbet sparkles with a sheer wash of fireworks. Fleur Parfait offers more color and a less flamboyant shine. Both colors are delicious, as their titles suggested.

The sheer Crisp Sorbet has an overall effect of peach, with a ripe fruity flavor that is fleeting. Fleur Parfait is light on my lips. I might not have selected it in person, but it's a delightful blue-pink gloss that will be fabulous over the brown-toned lipsticks I adore. The shades have some substance on my lips, meaning they last beyond the first hour of wear.

I am batting 100% with my Rouge Bunny Rouge orders. I have a few more treasures from this shipment. As I experience them over the next few days, I'll share them.

You can purchase Rouge Bunny Rouge at Zuneta, a fabulous online boutique for beauty addicts.

Photo at top courtesy of Zuneta; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Chanel Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Giggle for Fall 2011

It's back! Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Giggle ($28.50) is being re-promoted with Chanel's Fall 2011 Collection. Giggle is a beloved Glossimer shade that has had its share of appearances and has earned a lot of love. It's perfect for fall - in my opinion any time of year - so I'm not surprised Chanel rolled it out with the fall color collection.

An alternative to the sparkly, shimmering Pampille and Braise, Giggle (#46) offers a more subdued glossy look. Its mauve-rose color is perfect for me, and I suspect it's perfect for many because it straddles the line between warm and cool.

I like it. I can't claim it's the snazziest gloss in the recent parade, but it's a staple, a gloss you will grab when you want some color and want to look good, but don't want to sizzle.

Here are some swatch photos I grabbed when the sun made a quick appearance yesterday. You can see that the color isn't even close to the the little rectangle on Chanel's Web site rendering above. It's definitely not grape or plum - on my arm or lips (or in the tube for that matter). What color would you call this pretty warm rose? It's hard to characterize, but not hard to love.

You can see that my arm sparkles from the sunlight, but Giggle doesn't. It has a nice, glossy finish that's perfect on its own or for use in transforming a lipstick's finish and shade.

I didn't purchase Pampille. It's extremely light, and I didn't need another ultra-sheer, ultra-light, shimmering gloss. It's pretty, but I gravitate toward colors that are unique. I think that adjective fits Giggle.

You can purchase Chanel's fall colors at Chanel's Web site or your favorite Chanel counter. I bought my Chanel Fall 2011 Collection pieces online and at Neiman Marcus. I'm sure Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, and the rest of the counters have or will have the collection. Although it was scheduled to launch at counters in July, it arrived here a week early. From Twitter, I know that many of you are still waiting for the collection. Be patient. I'll bet it shows up this week.

Update 11:20 am - I got a question and decided to answer for all of you. This Giggle is not the Asian and European version, which is called Praline Giggle. That shade is rosier and darker.

Photo at top courtesy of Chanel; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Chanel Rouge Coco in Plumetis and Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise for Fall 2011

The lip colors in Chanel's Fall 2011 Collection seem to be overshadowed by the nail colors and Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows! I decided to try two new lip colors, selecting both in person at Neiman Marcus: Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour in Plumetis (#79) and Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise (#158).

Rouge Coco in Plumetis ($32), featured in Chanel's promotional photo above and shown on the model at right, is a lovely peach/pink-toned nude shade - just the right intensity to make the lips look pretty, while ensuring the eyes remain the focal point of the look.

It's one of those shades that will have a different appearance on every woman, depending on the shade of her lips. I tested it in the store on my arm (I never apply used testers to my lips) and saw more pink than it appears to have on my lips. The first time I wore it, I felt I needed a topper and reached for a plum-rose gloss. It was just a little too light for the outdoor evening event I was attending.

The shade in the tube appears to be a pink nude. On my skin, it's either a peachy nude or very warm pink nude, depending on your perspective. Swatched, it's definitely peach nude on my skin.

Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise (28.50), which appears to be a sparkly red in the tube in the promotional photos, is really a warm, rosy coral. Again, I caution that our skin tones may make a huge difference with these shades.

I decided to skip Chanel's photo of Braise. It's way too red and way too cool. Here's how it appears to my camera and my eye - dark and sparkling. Lovely, but a surprise on the skin! This "dark" gloss shade is a medium-toned gloss, more coral than rose, but still entirely wearable for my cool skin. It adds a lovely glow to Plumetis, and it's pretty when worn alone. The micro-sparkles in this gorgeous gloss will make your lips glow.

Check out the combo in my swatch photos, which were taken outdoors in sunlight. Would you have expected these shades from the promotional photos? They are gorgeous, but I'm glad I waited to see them before I purchased them. At least I knew what I was buying!

I don't want to leave you with the impression that these new lip colors are not beautiful. They are. They aren't "revolutionary." They are pretty, and, actually, they are absolutely perfect for summer. There must be a method to the early fall collection strategy. Wear these now with a smile on your face.

There are other new lip colors. There is another Rouge Coco in Etole, a second Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Pampille, and a Rouge Double Intensité in Rose Morganite. I'm still on the fence with Rose Morganite.

You can purchase these lovely lip colors and the rest of the fall collection at Chanel's Web site or your favorite Chanel counter. I bought my Chanel Fall 2011 Collection pieces online and at Neiman Marcus. I'm sure Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, and the rest of the counters have or will have the collection. Although it was scheduled to launch at counters in July, it arrived a week early.

Top photo courtesy of Chanel; model photo by Vincent Lappartient; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

More about → Chanel Rouge Coco in Plumetis and Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise for Fall 2011

Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection for Fall 2011 - Beach High Shimmer Lip Gloss

Even though Bobbi Brown's new Tortoise Shell Collection focuses on the eyes, what better way to draw in others' eyes than with a pretty lip? Bobbi has just the thing for you! From two new limited-edition shades of Rich Lip Color SPF 12 to three shades of High Shimmer Lip Gloss, you'll have a tough choice to make if you're in a frugal mood. Not only that, there is a snazzy set of mini brushes to tempt you. What's a gal to do? Cave!


I was tempted to purchase this Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set ($55) even though I have enough Bobbi Brown brushes to last for life. It's so pretty! The tortoise shell case and brown handles lend a special touch to Bobbi's fabulous brushes.

When Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($22) was introduced earlier this year, I bought a lot of shades. Last weekend, I had to tell myself, "You don't need more of them!" Oh, how I wanted at least one. I think I will purchase one of the two (Soft Nude or Twig) in early July. I wasn't as strong when it came to the High Shimmer Lip Glosses ($22). Bare Sparkle, Beach, and Citrus beckoned. Citrus is a pre-existing shade. Bare Sparkle and Beach are new.

Bobbi’s new lip gloss combines gorgeous, light-catching shimmer with lasting, non-sticky shine. Made with fine pearls and clear pigments, High Shimmer Lip Gloss stays color-true and gives lips beautiful, brilliant dimension. Plus it’s enriched with emollients and vitamins C and E to moisturize, condition, and protect lips - so they feel as good as they look. Whether you wear it on its own or on top of your favorite lipstick, the new tapered sponge applicator lets you apply it like a pro. I am quite pleased with Bobbi's new applicators. I found the old brushes difficult. They always got splayed after a few uses. It was too much trouble, sometimes impossible, to precisely aim the wand into the tube to ensure that the brush would stay in pristine shape. This is a marvelous change!

I selected Beach (#16), a beautiful, shimmering brown shade with a hint of mauve on the skin. It's got personality. It was also the darkest of the two new shades, and I like a little color in my gloss.

Look at these swatch photos and tell me Beach doesn't have a personality. It adapts to light and its surroundings, pulling first one tint, then another, to draw attention to your lips. The finish is a glossy shimmer, reflecting light with a liquid gleam. To see it is to want it. The hydrangeas are lovely too. They will be making frequent appearances here.

I applied Beach straight from its wand and tried to paint an even square on my arm. The photos were taken in sunlight, although I tried to vary the sun's angle in the photos. The shade and the shine are exquisite, whether in full-on or indirect sunlight. I may need to buy a second tube of this gloss. I want one for my bathroom, but I'm sure I'll feel compelled to keep one in my makeup bag.

Yesterday, I promised to show you a press photo of the Sand Tortoise Shell Eye Palette - the one I didn't buy. Like its sister in Bronze, which I swatched yesterday for you (gleefully), Sand is filled with neutrals, four of which are new and exclusive to the palette. Anyone who is drawn to matte neutrals (there are two metallic shades in Sand), will be thrilled with this wardrobe of neutrals for the eyes.
The Tortoise Shell Collection is available at Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center and Pentagon City. It's probably available at other Nordstrom stores now. It will have its grand opening on July 1 at Bobbi Brown online and Bobbi Brown counters. You'll be able to armchair shop or visit your favorite counter to purchase. Many of the pieces in the collection are limited editions.

Press photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

More about → Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection for Fall 2011 - Beach High Shimmer Lip Gloss

Lancôme Juicy Tubes Sparking Pinks Gift Set Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to Amber Ehrlich! She won this fab set.

Who doesn't love pink? Lancôme created this gorgeous set of pink Juicy Tubes for the holidays, but they are all-season glosses. The range of sparkling shades will leave you with six shades of pink to look pretty in pink.

Here are the six shades in the set. Every one, from the lightest pink to a dark mauve pink, will enhance your gloss wardrobe - and your look. The set comes packed in a gift box, just in case you can bear to part with them.

• Butterflies
• Sweetheart
• Pink Bling
• Raspberry Ice
• Miracle
• Dreamsicle

How can you enter to win this contest? Easy! Just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest later today, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point, but you can save me time by telling me you're a follower in your comment). I can't track followers through a third-party service, so you need to be on Google's list for me to verify the entry.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, June 25, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest will be open to anyone anywhere in the world. I will ship the prize uninsured (the insurance costs way too much). I will also provide proof of shipping, if necessary. I will take a chance that both mail systems - the winner's and mine - will deliver the box without loss, theft, or destruction!

My contests are a way to give back to you for all the friendship you bring me. Thank you - and good luck!

Photo courtesy of Lancôme

More about → Lancôme Juicy Tubes Sparking Pinks Gift Set Giveaway Contest