New NARS Concealer Giveaway Contest

You've seen the new NARS Concealer on all the blogs. Now you can enter to win one here! This lightweight, creamy, long-wearing concealer is the latest innovation from NARS. Many of the makeup artists I know want one.

NARS Concealer brilliantly obscures imperfections and dark spots with a creamy, vitamin-rich formula that nourishes the skin. Its long-wearing, crease-resistant, and ultra-light yet opaque formula ensures a flawless finish. Use it alone or over foundation, and it will give you that flawless look we all desire.

Here's what the NARS test participants reported.

• 97% agree that the concealer has a smooth texture and felt soft on the skin.
• 93% agree that the concealer stays in place all day.
• 90% agree that the concealer blends easily.

On top of superb test results, it's formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, GMOs, and triclosan. It does have the moisturizing and nourishing vitamin E. Who could resist?

I have one to give away, and the winner will be able to select the shade of her choice. There are 10 shades, from Chantilly (my shade) to the dark Cacao, so there's bound to be a perfect shade for your skin tone. Just visit NARS or Sephora to select your shade.

There are a few simple steps to enter this contest. First, all you really have to do is leave a comment on this feature telling us what shade you prefer. 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. I must be able to track this entry. One easy way is to follow by e-mail subscription or to ensure that Best Things in Beauty is on your blog list if you have a Google account.

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 24, 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. Lately, my shipping luck has improved significantly.

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

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NEST Fragrances - Tahiti Vanille and Pumpkin Chai Candles for Fall

I can't remember when I became a fragranced candle fanatic. It was a long time ago when I discovered the mood-altering properties of a great candle. Unlike air sprays or diffusers, candles bring the warmth of a flame that's comforting (as long as I'm in the same room). When I plan to park myself to read, watch television, write, or relax - stay in one spot - I love to burn a fragranced candle.

I have to admit that I collect them. Yes, I use them entirely, but I always keep a choice of fragranced candles at the ready - for myself and for gifts. I think they are lovely gifts and wonder why no one ever gives me candles. Maybe it's the cats. We do have to be careful that curious or frolicking kitties don't knock them over when they are burning.

NEST Fragrances, a leading luxury home fragrance company has added a new, fine vanilla fragrance, Tahiti Vanille ($32), to its FiFi Award-winning NEST Fragrances Collection. Debuting this fall, Tahiti Vanille joins other favorites Black Fig & Honey, Moroccan Amber, and Wild Oats & Bourbon in the company's sophisticated gourmand fragrance category. Gourmand fragrances are especially popular during the cooler fall and winter months because of their warm, reassuring, and comforting qualities. You can bring the kitchen to your bedroom without the crumbs!

“While traveling through the French Polynesian islands in the South Pacific last summer, I had the opportunity to visit a vanilla farm on the island of Tahaa,” said Laura Slatkin, founder and CEO of NEST Fragrances. “As I passed racks and racks of vanilla pods drying in the sun, the aroma was so alluring and intoxicating it inspired me to create a vanilla-scented candle, Tahiti Vanille.”

Slatkin took Tahitian vanilla bean, white chocolate, and cinnamon and blended them with caramel and a touch of white rum. The result is divine, with a scent that's literally scrumptious. With no one ingredient overpowering the others, it's a blend that telegraphs comfort. The candle definitely creates an "island ambiance," perfect for our transition from summer's glory to the autumn "nesting season." NEST sent mine to me, along with Pumpkin Chai (see below), and I've been burning Tahiti Vanille ever since. The Pumpkin Chai is waiting for cooler weather.

NEST's new Tahiti Vanille candle can be purchased exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and specialty stores nationwide beginning this month. I've seen it online (e.g., Candles off Main), but I haven't seen it on the shelves at Neiman Marcus yet.Pumpkin Chai ($32), with packaging evocative of falling leaves and Halloween, will create a cozy autumn ambience with a blend of wild pumpkin, spicy Masala chai, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. This special-edition candle is housed in a sophisticated brown translucent glass with a blush orange wax. Like all NEST candles, it would make a welcome hostess gift, if you could bear to part with it.

As long as you keep the wicks of NEST's candles trimmed to about 1/4 inch, the candles burn evenly and won't leave a grey residue on the glass container. The offer quality outside and in. They will burn for 50 hours, and in small increments, it takes me a long time to go through an entire candle. They are a great value.

Just in case you don't know, NEST Fragrances was founded and is owned by Laura Slatkin. NEST is a specialized home fragrance company that emerged from its parent company, Slatkin & Co., after an acquisition. I can't even count the number of Slatkin-developed candles I've purchased over the years.

Laura Slatkin has a long-standing reputation as a leader in the home fragrance industry and is well-known for her luxurious scented candles, room sprays, diffusers, and other essentials for rooms and environments. NEST’s client list currently includes more than 50 prestige companies in the fashion, beauty, and home fragrance industries - all of whom turned to NEST to develop their exclusive lines of home fragrance products.

In 2008, Laura launched her own home fragrance collection, NEST Fragrances, which won the 2009 FiFi Award for Interior Scent Collection of the Year. In 2010, Laura launched her second and third fragrance collections, Sprig Fragrances and Project Art by NEST Fragrances. NEST draws on decades of experience in the home fragrance industry with a special expertise in designing, developing, producing, distributing, and marketing home fragrance collections that capture each client’s unique brand image and style. For more information, visit NEST's Web site. NEST can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos courtesy of NEST Fragrances

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Quick Peek: Clé de Peau Beauté Palette Vintage III for Holiday/Winter 2011

My photo of Clé de Peau Beauté's Palette Vintage III highlighter ($125) for Holiday/Winter 2011 was taken quickly at Neiman Marcus yesterday. There will be no swatching today because the sky is heavily overcast and it has even drizzled (when we were out in the woods saving wild animals and plants from a developer - more on that later).

Inspired by the timeless allure of vintage jewelry, the face powder in this palette will provide a glow to your skin with its elegant, lustrous colors. The yellow gold, rose gold, pearly white, and golden nude shades combine to make a beautiful, sparkling highlighter for your festive events.

The double-decker palette has the silky cream powder with pearl pigments at the top, a mirror in the cover, and a brush in the lower level. The brush is wide, perfect for sweeping across the powder to pick up all the shades and deposit them where you want to glow.

Last year's Vintage Palette had rays of color. This year we celebrate the holidays with a modernistic color block pattern. As always, Clé de Peau Beauté has introduced a limited-supply collector's piece. It's gorgeous. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus.

Update 4:50 pm: The sun came out, and I got a swatch photo. As you can see, the powder is very light when all shades are blended together. It's going to be hard for you to see on my arm. The swatch in the middle has a pearly, light pink hue. That's the highlighter.

If you purchase one of these beautiful palettes, do not apply too much pressure to the raised surface. It started to crumble under the sponge-tipped applicator I used to swatch.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

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The Friday Forum - September 16

The crepe myrtles are still blooming as the weather has signaled its intent to change. I awakened cold this morning. I had intended to turn on the heater for the morning period when temperatures were predicted to be in the high 40's, and I forgot. It feels chilly outside, but it's not cold enough inside to turn on the heat. Glad I forgot.

This was quite a week - for many reasons. I received a lot of new beauty products, many of which I haven't had time to show you. I'll get to them. I also spent a lot of time arranging to go out and rescue wildlife tomorrow. It's a long story, but I've been doing land preservation work for many years. Our land trust has a conservation easement on a major stream valley in McLean, Virginia. The land abutting our easement is about the be developed, and there are box turtles, snakes, salamanders, squirrels, deer - just about all the critters who live in the woods - on the building lots. We need to move those who can't escape the bulldozers.

I spent a full day arranging for help, and the wildlife rescue and plant rescue volunteers in our area responded. I'm pleased to tell you that on Saturday, a bunch of us will be trudging though the woods and thick understory growth saving everything we can find, including rare wildflowers or seeds. I can't stand the thought of turtles, who have been there longer than man, being bulldozed to death. If we find active squirrel nests, we'll get someone to climb the trees and save any babies sure to be orphaned and killed.

Later today, I have one of those superb Kate Somerville Dermal Quench treatments scheduled at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. If you don't know about the miracle treatments, click on this link. I'm excited. If you happen to live in our area, call the store to see if you can get an appointment today.

It's time for The Friday Forum, our open chat. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist this week? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers have moved on.

Don't forget that we have two fabulous giveaway contests running, and both end this weekend. First, the Le Métier de Beauté contest for a brand new Revive Eye Concentrate ends Sunday, September 18. All you have to do to enter is purchase Le Métier de Beauté at Neiman Marcus Beauty Week by Sunday, September 18 - online or in store - and then comment. Make sure to save your receipt. Check out the fine print at this link.

The second contest is our weekly giveaway contest. This week, you might win the NARS Hopelessly Devoted Gift Set giveaway. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, September 17, at midnight. It's worth a try, right?

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

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Quick Peek: Le Métier de Beauté Oscar de la Renta Kaleidoscope

It's a happy week when two new Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscopes arrive! This afternoon before the rains came, my limited-edition Oscar de la Renta Kaleidoscope arrived. You may know that it was available only at Bergdorf Goodman and the Oscar de la Renta boutique in New York. Introduced for Fashion's Night Out, it was a huge hit.

Mine came "zooming" in this afternoon, delivered by the FedEx guy I'm getting to know. One day earlier in the week he asked me why I was sitting in my driveway taking photos of makeup. I guess he had never seen me out there.

The Kaleidoscope is very snazzy. Even before I got to the colors, I found that it has its own blue pouch for storage. The velveteen pouch is larger than the Kaleidoscope, so I can even store my Artemis Liquid Eyeliner in it. The box in which the makeup and pouch came is red, white, and black, and it contains a message from Oscar de la Renta that says...

Color has always been an extremely important part of who I am as a designer. It is wonderful to work with cosmetics because they are such an important part of a woman's sense of femininity. The colors in my palette are meant to compliment a woman and enhance her natural beauty. I have chosen shades that are indispensible [sic], like a good red lip and a neutral highlighter for the cheekbones.

Open the fancy box, and you'll find the magnificent palette shown above and below. The Lip Crème is a gorgeous shade of red. I'll get swatches for you as soon as the sun shines again. The champagne Radiance Powder Rouge, a new shade, is perfect - absolutely perfect. The two True Color Eye Shadows will coordinate beautifully to create a beautiful look for any season. This is an incredible palette, made even more so by its association with a designer whose creations are always elegant.

I don't know if Bergdorf Goodman has any of the Kaleidoscopes left. I suspect they don't, but you could always call the Le Métier de Beauté counter at Bergdorf Goodman at (212) 872-8612. I'm sure that if there's a way to find you one, Dustin Lujan will do his best. I have not checked with the Oscar de la Renta boutique in New York to find out if they sold out there. If you know, please leave a comment.

As soon as I can get swatches of this beauty, I will publish them. For now, I'm enjoying just looking at it.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Jouer Highlighter in Tiare

I'm sure you know the feeling. You're browsing online at a site like Jouer Cosmetics, and you spot a product type you can't resist. There are three shades available. You don't know which one to order, so you select one randomly. That's how I chose Tiare Highlighter ($20) at Jouer Cosmetics. I could just have easily selected one - or two - of the other shades, and I now think I need them too.

My choice, Tiare, is described as a shimmering gold. That's a simple, but perfectly accurate description. I'm sure I could wear the other two shades. Camellia is a shimmering pearl white (shown above), and Champagne is a shimmering pink. The three available shades are designed to complement all skin tones.

These lightweight cream highlighters instantly illuminate cheekbones, eyes, and décolleté, providing a stunning luminescence with a sheer, sheen finish. It gleams, not shines, for a sophisticated look.
Our sunlight had disappeared for the day, and by the time I got out to get a swatch photo or two, it was pretty dark. I'm sorry my photos are dark. I applied the highlighter with a cream shadow brush in a fairly large area to show you the Tiare shade.

I used the rose as a backdrop for one of the photos to show you that the color isn't pink. Against my skin in the second photo at left, the shade "leans" rose. It shows as a more golden shade in the last swatch photo here.

I try not to get hung up on shade descriptions because skin tone makes a huge difference. What might look one color on me may look another on you. I would describe Tiare as a gold with just a tiny hint of rose in it on my skin (which has pink undertones) in certain lighting. How's that for hedging? It's definitely not rose gold, though, and I don't want to mislead you.

One adjective I will use in describing it is gorgeous. The color gleams, and it adds a polished look on the high points of my face - the perfect highlighter.

The small compact is designed to connects to any Jouer custom palette. I like to store my products individually, and this one went straight to my bathroom. Now I'm waiting for another online special. I want the other two!

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

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Le Métier de Beauté Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

It was an exciting day yesterday when my Le Métier de Beauté Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) arrived via UPS. Modernist Merlot was launched last week at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island at Newport Center, California, for Fashion's Night Out. I was lucky. Erin Lockard works in that area, and she was visiting our Neiman Marcus stores last weekend. You'll remember that she did a masterful job on my makeup last Wednesday. If you didn't see that feature, just click on this link. Erin and Kathy Shoreman helped me ensure that I would get one of the palettes the next day when they became available. Mine was sent from the store in California.

A total Le Métier de Beauté devotee, I ordered the Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope sight unseen. I hadn't even seen a photo at that point. That made it all the more exciting when it arrived.

I was able to get a few swatch photos for you this morning. I wanted to show them to you so that you too could ask your Neiman Marcus sales associate or Le Métier de Beauté product specialist to "option 7" (order) one for you. You could always call the store directly to order too (949-759-1900, extension 2149). I have to admit I don't know if there are any left as I write on Thursday morning, one week after FNO.

I swatched from the top of the palette (near my wrist) to the bottom. I applied each shade heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator for these photos. The shades are much more refined when applied properly with a brush, and, like all Le Métier de Beauté eye shadows, they are perfect for layering.

The shade at the top in the Kaleidoscope is a drop-dead gorgeous silvery mauve-taupe. It's a complex shade that's resisting my efforts to describe it. It has a subtle shimmer. The peach shade is a matte peach. It's a perfect foil for the other shades on the eyes, and it is also an exquisite blush shade. The third shade is another complex shade that's hard to pin down in words. It is a subtly shimmering mauve tone with brown, lavender, and almost a hint of copper in it. I hope you can put words on it because I'm having trouble limiting the gorgeous shade to words other than "wow." The bottom shade is merlot - a matte blue lavender that is flattering because it isn't a red tone that might bring out the red on our eyes. Merlot is a dark blue-colored wine grape, and it's a perfect representation of that color.

If I can get shade names for the four shades, I will add them to this feature. Perhaps the names themselves can better describe the colors. For now, we'll let our eyes name the shades.

If you are interested in purchasing the Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, don't let any grass grow under your feet. Order one today!

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Quick Peek: Le Métier de Beauté Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

Le Métier de Beauté's Modernist Merlot Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) was launched last week at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island at Newport Center in California. I just got it and haven't had time to swatch it for you. Isn't it pretty?

Yes, it arrived from its cross-country trip damaged, but it's too much trouble to send it back. I don't even know if there are any still available. I'll have to get over the little hunk out of the top shade. I'm sure I can clean up the eye shadow powder that's all over the kit.

Assuming I can get decent lighting tomorrow, I'll show you swatch photos. Modernist Merlot is everything I expected - and more!

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

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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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New: Clinique Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder

New and exclusive to Sephora, Clinique's limited-edition Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder ($29.50) was a must-have for me. I love everything Black Honey!

Long a cult favorite, Black Honey shimmers in this beautifully blended powder. It instantly creates a sheer, subtle radiance that will look fabulous on everyone, just like the classic that inspired it.

The checkerboard pressed powder is presented in a fun black honey colored compact, rather than the usual Clinique silver. It will be easy to spot in my makeup pile-up.

The powder itself thrilled me. It offers three colors that, when blended (the only way to use them effectively), provides a gleaming, unique rosy brown mauve shade. The shade is so hard to define I had to string together three color terms. All of you makeup lovers know Black Honey, so I'm fairly confident you'll understand.

You can see the three shades in the compact photos above. One is a fleshy pink, the second is a light plummy mauve, and third is a deeper plummy mauve with a lot of brown in it. I suppose you could use the shades individually with an eye shadow brush if you want to, but that wasn't the purpose of the powder.

I took a few swatch photos in full sun to attempt to show you the shade. I applied the powder very heavily with a dense blush brush at the top of my arm and very lightly below. The powder gleams. It shimmers, but not in a sparkly way. If you swipe your fingers across the colors, you'll see that the shimmer must come from micro-fine powders - so fine that there's no single sparkle within the effect. It gleams like sunlight's reflection on water. Lightly applied, it's perfectly daytime-appropriate.

Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder is enormously flattering. Black Honey has always been "every woman's color." There's something about the rosy brown that mimics our skin tones, blush tones, lip colors - no matter what our coloring. If you've never tried Black Honey, you have a new opportunity. You can find this beauty online at Sephora.

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

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Target Tanks on Missoni Madness

Surely they knew it would be popular! Target's pop-up site in New York sold out in hours. Perhaps that should have been the first clue? Target spent megabucks on advertising the special line created by Missoni for Target: clothing, accessories, even a bicycle. When Missoni launched yesterday, Target failed.

It surprises me that lines formed outside the doors of Target stores before they opened. I didn't realize the general public knew the Italian brand that well. There they were, lined up at the doors, waiting to scoop armsfull of anything they could get their hands on in the first few minutes. From the photos, they didn't resemble the svelte Missoni customer.

Then potential customers crashed Target's site. Within seconds, the "grand opening" became not so grand as target.com went down - and stayed down. It was up and down all day. Did Target make a wise decision when it recently moved its e-commerce site away from Amazon onto its own platform?

I went over to the Target store nearest me at 11:00 am, after failing to get a look-see online. There wasn't a single piece of women's clothing left. Not one! I came home and tried again to see the line online. Some time in the early afternoon, I got a message that said something like, "Woof, stay here, don't refresh your page, and you'll stay in line to get in." Seriously? By that point, it had become a challenge, so I waited. About 15 minutes later, I was given my pass to view the limited-edition Missoni Collection. At that point, very few items were entirely sold out, so I ordered a few. It was my only way to see them: pay, wait to receive them, and then return what I can't wear, which might be everything, given Target's failure to put informative size details on the site.

Now, however, I know that those not-so-svelte customers were instead eBay sellers. All of the items from Target are available at eBay - some at many times their Target price. There are almost 30,000 of them! Current bid on a dress for which I paid $65? $210 at this second. Maybe it's time for Target to limit buyers to one SKU per customer when they launch a blockbuster. This is insane. I'm not sure I want to be seen in the clothing at this point. I'll decide when it arrives.

Did you participate in Missoni Madness?

Update: This phenomenon made the Today Show. I just saw a segment describing "Missoni Mahem" at the pop-up site, the crowds, the crash, and the madness. They didn't mention eBay.

Photo courtesy of Target

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Bobbi Brown Marrakesh Chic Collection: New Lip Shades

There's a lot to love in Bobbi Brown's new Marrakesh Chic Collection for Fall 2011. I discovered three new lip shades, in three different lipstick formulas, that I like for fall even more than my first purchase, Violet Glaze Metallic Lip Color.

There were two new Metallic Lip Colors. I fell in love with Jewel Red ($23). For red phobes, let me say up front that it's not exactly red on the lips. Jewel Red (#26) is a glorious rose with gold shimmer. It may be the prettiest of the beautiful bunch. Metallic Lip Color combines high-shine emollients and light-reflective pearls for multidimensional shimmer that has a soft and creamy feel as it provides medium coverage.

Bobbi Brown's newest lipstick formula is Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($23). I purchased Desert Rose (#25). The "heather rose" is extremely pretty on my lips. Rich Lip Color combines lip color pigments with a clear base to deliver pure, crisp color with just one swipe. It's a creamy long-lasting formula that provides medium-to-full coverage.

There are two "very new" shades in my "old favorite" Creamy Lip Color ($23): Pale Plum and Pink Blossom. I purchased Pale Plum (#63). Creamy Lip Color delivers rich color with comfortable, long-lasting wear, a soft, creamy shine, and medium coverage. With emollient shea butter and plant-derived skin conditioners, this fabulous lipstick provides softness and moisture as advertised.

I think all three of my newest Bobbi Brown lip colors are stunning. I took my swatch photos in full sun to show you the shades. Granted, the sun adds some shimmer to the colors, but they all shine without help.

I swatched in numeric order, so Desert Rose is shown at the top of my arm, Jewel Red in the middle, and Pale Plum at the bottom. I applied each shade heavily. Color-wise, my photo at right may be just a tad too warm.

Desert Rose is a stunning mauve-rose shade that complements all the new eye colors extremely well. Jewel Red may look red on my arm, but on my lips it's a rich, red-toned rose. It's semi-sheer, which makes it beautifully wearable for me. Pale Plum isn't all that pale - or all that plum. I'd describe it as a medium rose that should work for everyone, working its creamy magic when you wear it.

These new shades are a fabulous addition to Bobbi Brown's already-expansive collection of lip colors. With lipsticks available in multiple formulas, there's bound to be at least one that excites you. They are available at Bobbi Brown counters now, and you can also see them at the Bobbi Brown Web site. There's a nice Bobbi Brown gift with purchase during Beauty Week at Neiman Marcus.

I purchased a few of the new Rich Color Eye Shadows. I'll show them to you soon.

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

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Fragrance Fragments: Dahlia Noir, Prada Candy, and Bottega Veneta

Since I was showered with fragrance samples for Neiman Marcus Beauty Week, I thought it might be fun to give you a quick description of three that are among the samples in the Beauty Week tote.

Givenchy Dahlia Noir Eau de Parfum

A fantasy flower - the first fragrance developed under the creative direction of Riccardo Tisci, Dahlia Noir embodies the mysterious, singular radiance of a woman's graceful power. Dahlia Noir is both feminine and sensual thanks to its floral and powdery facets, but also powerful and captivating with its woody base notes. A couture fragrance all in pure lines, a return to supreme luxury. The quintessence of the Givenchy style.

By most accounts, I should like Givenchy's Dahlia Noir ($90 to $110). I'm not smitten. It's a powdery, dusty, chypre floral. With top notes of mandarin, pink pepper, and mimosa, heart notes of rose, iris, and patchouli, and base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, and tonka bean, it had potential. I had strolled by a free-standing exhibit at the store a few weeks ago, smelled a lovely floral, and asked for a sample. At that point, I should have realized that if I could smell the display that vividly, it might be a strong scent.

To my nose, it opens heavy and stays heavy for hours. I can smell the rose. I can smell the vanilla on dry-down. The patchouli isn't obnoxious, and the pepper makes it lively. What I don't "get" from Dahlia Noir is the opening of citrus/fruit notes. The mandarin and mimosa are missing in action for me.

It's too heavy for my tastes during its first two hours. It smells like an old-fashioned, heavy floral. In its third hour, it becomes rather pleasant, but I can't get past the first few acts of the production. All in all, it's nice enough, but I don't feel any need to buy it.

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum

Prada Candy ($80 to $108) is a different story! I wasn't expecting to like Prada Candy, but I do.

Prada Candy, the new feminine fragrance of Prada, enriches the Prada brand's fragrance universe with another vision: colorful, pop, and explosive. Prada Candy incarnates the new Prada woman: she's daring, sensual, full of life, and implosive. The perfume is named after this seductive and joyful girl who is running wild.

The top notes explode with caramel. Prada Candy is a gourmand delight. As it drys down, the heart, a powdery cocktail of musks delights with its softness. It smells like skin, only better. The base notes consist of vanilla and a "benzoin" overdose (if it's really a 12% concentration as reported, it's definitely a heavy dose).

Created by Daniela Andrier, Prada Candy is perfectly named. It opens with a flush of caramel candy. I envision a caramel chocolate (Fran's salted caramels to be specific), and I want to nibble on my arm . It's a luscious, edible fragrance. Who could resist? As it dries down, it becomes a soft, powdery, sensual fragrance - one that's extremely comfortable. Think hot chocolate. There's nothing particularly unique about it, but it's eminently likeable. That may read like a contradiction, but I can't detect anything about Prada Candy that's precedent-setting, as Prada's fashion often is. Despite that, I would purchase Prada Candy, if I had some extra money lying around.

Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum

I've already raved about Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum ($65 to $475). I adore it.

A complex and abstract mix of raw materials woven harmoniously. It is in the way of the weaving technique "intrecciato" associated with the brand Bottega Veneta, that master perfumers Michel Almairac and Amandine Marie have composed a singular, characterful fragrance.

From the very start, the olfactive identity of the brand appears through the original cross combination of plum and pink pepper, which brings brightness and depth. A strong and charismatic note of Sambac jasmine (variety of jasmine less animal and more floral), reflects in the heart the elegance of the "BV" woman. Harmonious contrast between modernity and tradition, this fragrance continues to radiate through its specific leather accord, symbol, and signature of Bottega Veneta fashion design.

I could live in Bottega Veneta's new fragrance. The scent is very feminine. Whether it's the association with fine leathers or by design, I smell a floral leather in the fragrance. It opens with a spicy note - the pepper, I'm sure - that departs the stage within seconds, leaving behind a soft floral. The floral notes dominate and remain with the fragrance until it fades into the skin. A leathery softness develops in the mid-notes and lasts for hours. I smell harmonious and pleasant memories. The scent is sensuous, soft, comfortable, and romantic. Never too assertive, just as Bottega Veneta's leather bags are conservatively elegant, Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum is a scent I could wear to sleep, one that relaxes me and make me dream of life's simple pleasures.

It's nice that the Beauty Week tote offers three entirely different samples. I'll bet one of them will strike your fancy. Have you tried them? Did you get your tote with samples? What did you think?

Ph0tos courtesy of Neiman Marcus

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Dior Smoky Nude 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palette for Fall 2011

Dior's new 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palettes ($48) offer gorgeous eye color choices for fall. In addition to Smoky Khaki, which I featured this morning, I purchased Smoky Nude. There are six of the new color trios. If I had been feeling rich, I could have purchased all six. They are stunning.

Just like Smoky Khaki, Smoky Nude isn't what you might expect from its name. It's not a wallflower. The trio of shades offers a warm, neutral look for the eyes. The only thing nude about the palette is the ivory base shade. Like all of the new trios, Smoky Nude offers a one satin-finish shadow, one shimmering shadow, and a base shade that differs in its finish from palette to palette.

Ordinarily, I prefer cooler brown tones on my face. Interestingly, makeup artists would rather warm me up by blending in shades like these. I have one of those blank canvas faces; I can wear warm or cool tones. I'm not sure whether that's good or bad.

I applied the shades heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator, and I took these swatch photos in full, morning sun - finally! I've been trying for two weeks to get half-decent swatch photos of these palettes.

The satin-finish cocoa brown shade in this palette is incredibly useful. While the word "useful" sounds like a boring warning, it's not meant to be. When applied with a brush, it can be sheer and subtle for day or smoky and sultry for night. It's all about the application. We can use it on the outer lid, in the crease, or blended.

The shimmering neutral is a warm taupe. It's drop-dead gorgeous and should make @Glowyjoeybunny's heart sing. It makes me extremely happy. It looks fabulous swept over the lower (moveable) lid. The ivory base shade is perfect for my coloring. It lights up my eyes with its subtle shimmer. It will do that for yours too - no matter what your skin tone - although you may use it differently if your skin is significantly darker than mine.

I love the new compacts from Dior. Slide back the top of the case, and a mirror flips up, exposing the three eye shadows (and two tiny brush and sponge applicators). I love the look and feel almost as much as I love the colors. It realize it's a novelty, but it's a fun novelty - classy!

You can purchase Dior's new 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palettes at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks - probably anywhere with a Dior counter. If money were no concern, I would purchase Smoky Brown and Smoky Navy, the latter just for the incredible shimmering blue shade that I'd find a way to wear. These new eye palettes should be on your "go see" list.

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

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Dior Smoky Khaki 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palette for Fall 2011

Dior's new 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palettes ($48) offer gorgeous eye color choices for fall. I purchased Smoky Khaki and Smoky Nude weeks ago - the second they became available. I held off on showing them to you for multiple reasons - camera troubles, bad weather, you name it. Now, I'm ready to start with Smoky Khaki.

A breakthrough makeup innovation introduced by Dior: an unparalleled sliding palette that reveals a three-color eye shadow harmony to get catwalk-smoky eyes in three easy steps. This smart palette features soft, powdery textures for an effortless and made-to-measure smoky-eye effect. The extremely bendable base perfectly preps and colors the eyelid, while the eyeshadow duo offers different effects: more matte for a natural ready-to-wear style or more shiny for a glamorous couture style. A collection of trend-setting, sultry harmonies.

Khaki is one of my favorite eye shades. Dior has given it an unusual twist in Smoky Khaki. All three shades in the trio have a khaki cast. No single shade is pure khaki. You might think a khaki lover would find that distressing. Not me! I love this palette.

The khaki cast to each color is subtle. My swatch photos were taken in morning sunshine. I have nearly 50 other swatch photos, taken in various lighting conditions, but they didn't work to my satisfaction. I applied each shade heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator.

At the top, there's a brown shade that "leans khaki." You can see the khaki hue in person, but in the photos, the shade looks brown. You'll have to trust me; that Dior brown leans khaki. There's khaki in the sparkling grey shade too. I hope you get a hint from the swatches. The gold is an antique gold base shade, and I think it's easiest to see the khaki in the gold.

This is a palette you have to go see. You will love the slide-flip compact, with its pop-up mirror. The Beauty Look Book has a feature on Smoky Khaki, so make sure to check that out. You'll see the three shades on a different skin tone.

You can purchase Dior's new 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palettes at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom - probably anywhere with a Dior counter. I'll keep working with that new camera until I get it right.

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

More about → Dior Smoky Khaki 3 Couleurs Smoky Eye Palette for Fall 2011

NARS Hopelessly Devoted Set Giveaway Contest

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September 11, 2001

It's hard to believe it happened. It's even harder to believe that such evil and hatred exist, that a few extremists can hate us - a people, a country, an ideal - so much. The unimaginable horrors of the morning of September 11, 2001 did happen, forever changing us in ways we hadn't envisioned when we awakened that beautiful September morning. The terrorists created victims, but they also created heroes, people who summoned courage they didn't know they had, and they renewed the spirit, compassion, and unity that characterize the United States of America.

I was working from home that day. My phone rang earlier than usual, and my friend Susan asked urgently if my television was on. I said no, and Susan told me to turn it on. I asked what channel. She told me it didn't matter. I turned on NBC to become yet another witness to the tragedy at the World Trade Center after the first plane had slammed into it. The anchors improvised, giving voice to our thoughts, trying desperately to figure out what was happening - before the second plane crashed in New York and before the World Trade Center towers crumbled.

Everything unfolded over just a few hours, and we knew our country was being attacked. Innocent citizens were dying at their office desks, in stairwells, getting breakfast - doing the normal things we do every day. Men and women were saying goodbye to their loved ones; they knew they were going to die. To this day, it breaks my heart to imagine those phone calls, to imagine making a choice of jumping to avoid burning to death. To struggle to breathe, to struggle to live. People were dying in New York; they were dying at the Pentagon; and they died in Pennsylvania.

We cried. Most of us could do little but watch and wait. We were sad - our grief was palpable. We were afraid and angry. We didn't understand such hatred, and we still don't. As we realized the full impact of what had happened, we were inspired by the many acts of heroism that day. To this day, every time I see a firefighter, I think about September 11. First responders ran toward the fire, not away. Many of them perished.

Locally, we watched as the horrific events unfolded in New York. Suddenly, Northern Virginia became part of a tragic mosaic when the Pentagon was attacked. In McLean, Virginia, Isaac Ho'opi'i and his German Shepherd Vito received the report that American Airlines Flight 77 had crashed into the Pentagon. He raced to the scene. He was one of the first rescue officers onsite, beginning what would be a grueling, 72-hour, round-the-clock search and rescue mission through the wreckage of the plane and building. Isaac led people to safety that day. He and Vito saved lives. He also saw unspeakable things. Isaac was just one of many who put others first on September 11 and for days and weeks after.

Our country was being attacked. We listened to the news as word of scrambled jets and shoot-to-kill orders circulated. We were scared. One of my friends living near the CIA spent her day fearing death. I spent hours on the phone, trying to assure her that her house was far enough away - that she would live even if there were more victims. I was lying. I had no idea what would happen. None of us did.

We were inspired by the heroes that day, that week. Later we honored the dead. We tried to help the injured. We gave money, blood, food - whatever we could do - to help families in need of help. We would have turned back the clock if it had been possible, but it wasn't. It was unbelievable. We went to war - a war that seems detached today from its original purpose - dividing us instead of uniting us in our desire to end terrorism, to ensure that our citizens - and citizens of the world - cannot be attacked with such brutality ever again.

Today, we will stop and remember the day everything changed. There will be formal ceremonies in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville. Most of us won't attend a formal ceremony, but all of us will observe the day and remember. We will watch television, go to church, read and watch the news, or quietly reflect on the day, the victims, the heroes, the courage, the families, the loss, the symbols. We will renew our resolve. It will be emotional as we relive the horror of September 11, 2001. Although 10 years have passed, it seems like yesterday.

Today, my hope for our country is that we can renew the compassion, community, and unity that characterized us in the days and weeks after September 11, 2001. In our darkest hours, we saw the best America had to offer. Wouldn't it be a beautiful world if every day we, every American citizen, every citizen of the world, were the best we can be? That resolve for unity must come from within, but we can make it an expectation - for ourselves and our leaders. It may be our best way to honor those who perished on September 11.

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