YSL Beauté Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner for Fall 2011 - Two More Shades

After I showed you YSL Beauté Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner for Fall 2011 ($35) in Sea Black this past weekend, I decided I loved it so much I need more shades. I purchased No 3 Bronze Black, shown at right above, and No 6 Jade Black, shown at left above. They are both exquisite.

These liners apply like the best gel liners - smoothly and easily - almost magically. They will stay on your lids until you're ready to remove them - and then some. While the new liners are not marked waterproof, I have to remove them with an oil-based long-wear eye makeup remover.

I wanted to show you my latest treasures, but we've had the remnants of a tropical storm hanging around for days. Because I was at Neiman Marcus today, I took in-store photos of the two shades I purchased in my second round and some swatch photos. I'll show you one of the swatch photos (it's so hard to get great light in a department store). I applied the three shades in a thick line with a liner brush.

Jade Black is shown at the top of my arm. Look at the magnificent emerald color! Bronze Black is amazing. It's bronze, but it has a khaki cast that won my heart. I also swatched Cherry Black because it's popular and pretty. I could even be convinced to wear a red tone on my eyelids with that one - almost.

I purchased my new YSL Beauté Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliners at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. I'm sure they will be available at all YSL counters soon. For now, I can tell you with certainty that Neiman Marcus Tysons received them. You are going to love everything about them.

Update: I caved and bought Cherry Black. It's really gorgeous. Next, I guess I'll buy the rest of them.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

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YSL Beauté Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner for Fall 2011

YSL Beauté's brand new Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner ($35) intensifies the eye with a spectacular long-lasting look. I saw the liners for the first time at a media event, and I fell in love with No 4, Sea Black, which is really blue. The moment the liners arrived at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, I pounced by phone.



Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner is available in six shades. The shade name on my box differs from the shade name in the promotional literature. I've included the box name in parentheses in the list below after the promotional name. I like the box names best.

• No 1 Pure Black (Deep Black)
  
  
• No 2 Black Grey (Ashy Black)
  
  
• No 3 Black Bronze (Bronze Black)
  
  
• No 4 Black Blue (Sea Black)
• No 5 Black Burgundy (Cherry Black)
  
  
• No 6 Black Green (Jade Black)
  
  

Here are a couple of swatch photos taken in sunshine - and one taken with a light overcast. I am finally using my new camera, but I'm not proficient with it yet. Please bear with me as I find the rhythm I need to get a sharp focus with the zoom lens set for close-up shots. What looks perfect in the viewfinder isn't.



As you can see in my swatch photos - regardless of my skills - the shade of Sea Black is indigo blue. It reminds me of this beautiful art shot of dandelion seed heads that you can find at redbubble.com (and purchase for greeting cards).



Its name, Sea Black, is something of a misnomer to me. It's blue through and through. On the lids, it looks blue - a gorgeous deep blue that catches the light, but does not shimmer on its own. I hope you can see that from the different light exposures of my swatch photos.



My photos show a thin line and a thick one, both drawn with an eyeliner brush. This cream liner applies like the best gel liners - smoothly and easily. It will stay on your lids until you're ready to remove it - and then some. While it's not marked waterproof, I have to remove it with an oil-based long-wear eye makeup remover.



I need to get over to the store to see the green, grey, and bronze shades. I am very pleased with YSL's new eyeliner. I know already I need a few more shades. I'm sure it will be available at all YSL counters soon. For now, I can tell you with certainty that Neiman Marcus Tysons received it.



Liner photos by Best Things in Beauty; dandelion photo courtesy of redbubble.com

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Chantecaille Gel Liner Pencil - New for Fall 2011

Chantecaille's breakthrough "extrusion technology" makes the Gel Liner Pencil ($32) the first gel eyeliner housed in a sustainable wooden pencil. Previously, gel liners were only available in composite wood or plastic material or in glass jars. This gel liner in a pencil is the real deal. The dual-ended pencil features the liner on one end and a brilliant, multipurpose angled brush on the other. Use the brush to draw, clean, and define and the perfect line at the lash line - or smudge the liner if you wish. The smooth gel formula is comprised of natural waxes and adherent film formers.



The Gel Liner Pencil is water-resistant and long-wearing for immediate, smudge-proof definition that will last all day on me. If I weren't so fastidious about removing every last trace of makeup before bed, it would probably last all night too.



The Gel Liner Pencil is available in two shades: Black (shown on the top right in this photo) and Hermatite (charcoal grey, shown at left in the photo). They are both fabulous liner shades.



I swatched the two shades in sunlight. The sun's reflection makes Hermatite look shimmery. It's not, but it reflects light - even indoor light - more than the black shade. That makes sense because pure black doesn't reflect light.



I love this liner! It glides on easily and can be used to create the thin line I prefer, but will smudge perfectly before it sets. It can also be used to creates a thicker line with ease - or the once-again-fashionable cat's eye.



The angled brush can be used to give it less definition in a precise way, if that makes sense. One nifty thing I figured out right away (no grass growing here) is that if you buy both colors, you can use the brush from one to pick up the color from the other, applying it entirely with the angled brush. The brushes are also useful for applying any other liners or eye shadows you own.



I love my new liners and will start "working on" Chantecaille to introduce a dark blue one. I want more shades! I also need to find out whether the company will introduce a sharpener for the new pencils or if their existing Pencil Sharpener Duo ($10) will work with them. I suspect it will, but I don't own that sharpener.



You can purchase the Gel Liner Pencils today at Chantecaille.com, where I purchased mine. I'm sure it will arrive at Chantecaille counters this month. My friends at Neiman Marcus are checking the boxes every day, hoping for the arrival of all of Chantecaille's gorgeous fall makeup.



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

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Sneak Peek: Chantecaille Fall 2011 about Eyes

Achieve timeless glamour with Chantecaille's new Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara ($70) and Gel Liner Pencil ($32).

This new mascara isn't just about a pretty face or a chic and dynamic look. After two weeks of regular use, Chantecaille says your lashes will be 25% longer and thicker. Unlike other lash growth products, Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara features SymPeptide 17, which will prevent irritation and discoloration (the reason I won't use the prescription product). I'm game to try Longest Lash! Peptides are great for lashes (and skin).

Chantecaille is also introducing the first gel liner housed in an easily sharpened pencil! The Gel Liner Pencil's dual-effect brush can be used to create precisely defined eyes or a sultry, smoky look. Oh my...I want one...now!

Both products will be available in September at Chantcaille.com. Additionally, they will be available at Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, and select Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Saks locations. Chantecaille is also sold at Space NK and Frédéric Fekkai Salons.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

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Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine for Fall 2011

There's Khaki Platine, placed unobtrusively at the bottom of this Chanel Fall 2011 Collection photo - a superstar seemingly overshadowed by flashier celebrities. If you can purchase only one item from this collection, Chanel's Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29) is the one I would recommend. It's an eyeliner like no other.

Here's the first one I purchased, worn almost down to a nub just from playing with it this week. Fortunately, the liner comes with its own sharpener, so I'll make it as good as new tomorrow. I'm saving the second one I bought as a back-up. Maybe it will even go in my makeup museum. It's worthy of preservation.

You don't want to see this creamy pencil, which applies with seamless ease, in its "house." I know you want to see swatch photos. I took them over several days, trying to snap a few that would show you this amazing shade on my skin. It's green; it's silver; it shimmers; it reflects light. In certain light, it has a mint cast. In other settings, it's shimmering khaki through and through.

Unlike Rose Platine, which I found best as a liner for use under my lower lashes, Khaki Platine is gorgeous circling the entire eye. On the model's eyes in the feature below, I am sure it was used to enhance the inner corner. I think the shade will work no matter what your eye color or skin tone. It's a pick-me-up shade, one that will catch your eyes in the mirror and make you think, "I look pretty good today!" What a difference an eyeliner can make!

Be assured that Khaki Platine offers the control to apply a thin line, which I prefer, or go with a more intense, bold look. It can even smudged to serve as a shadow.

It's clearly the companion to Illusion D'Ombre in Épitant, an eye shadow in the fall collection that will make your heart race. Illusion D'Ombre in Épitant was designed for a self-confident woman. Khaki Platine will please those of us who long for a touch of glamour, but don't want to shout.

I'll leave you with one more photo. Now, hop online at Chanel.com or rush to your nearest Chanel counter and buy the limited-edition Khaki Platine! If you don't, you'll regret it. Put another way, how can you resist?

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

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Tarte emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner

Tarte has a striking new line-up in its Summer 2011 Collection. Their emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner ($22), available in six shades, is a hit! From the blackest black to a lush khaki, there will be at least two shades that will speak to you. Not only that, you'll get three products in one - a budge-proof cream shadow and eyeliner with a fabulous brush that gives you the tool you to create both looks.

Infused with micronized clay and reinforced by a natural waterproofing agent, these plush shadow/liners are a must for creating intense and long-lasting high-definition eyes. Tarte's natural Amazonian clay is one of nature's perfect ingredients, lending deep color pigments while nourishing the skin, reducing surface oil and improving overall texture for smooth application. The botanical waterproofing agent is "earth engineered" from a blend of natural plant waxes to form an impermeable layer that protects against rain, sweat, tears, and creasing. This fusion of nature and technology results in an intense, smooth cream that can be smudged onto lids as an allover shadow or used as a high-definition liner. The double-ended brush makes that your choice.

Each emphasEYES shadow/liner is housed in an airtight jar to keep the product's cushiony texture intact. Some cream/gel shadows and liners dry out fairly quickly. They start life dry, and they get worse over time. Not this one! When you dip its companion brush into the product, you'll see why. It's like a fine cream, and it blends like a dream.

Here are four of the shades. I left the black one out of this photo (it's shown above), but you'll see swatches below. I had to brighten this photo a tad because it was cloudy outside when I took it.

From the lop left, moving clockwise, are brown, bronze, plum, and green. Those titles are much too humble - much simpler than these gorgeous shades. There's something special about each one. The brown is a deep, dark brown - in some lights almost indistinguishable from black. It's the perfect shade for those who don't find full-on jet black flattering by day. The green is a trendy khaki - as pretty as it gets. It's my personal favorite among favorites. I consider it a must-have.

The swatch photo at right shows all the shades Tarte sent me, except for black. For the top three, I used the shadow end of the companion brush, and at the bottom, I used the perfect, thin liner end. Green is at the top of my arm (my arm is not naturally yellow, but the bruise is healing from my tumble). Bronze is below, and Plum is shown below the bronze. At the bottom in this photo is Brown. You can see how dark and rich the shade is.

I wanted to attempt to show you the difference between the rich, deep Brown and Black shades. At the top of the photo at left I painted Brown. Black is below. If you look very carefully, you'll see the difference. The photo was taken in indirect sunlight. It was fairly bright out, but the sun wasn't shining.

The photo at right shows all five shades I have. I don't have Indigo, although I'd like to. Navy liners are among my favorites. Green is similar to the new Khaki Platine, but without as much shimmer. I'm not sure how it gets any better! Would it be appropriate for me to gush now?

Bronze is a rich shade, one that will flatter any complexion. The Plum is among the trendy shades for 2011. It may not be my best shade, but I'll bet it will work for so many gals. Black and Brown? Who can't use them forever?

It's so generous that Tarte provides a brush with each of these emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners - as if their skinvigorating ingredients weren't enough! When Tarte named these liners waterproof, they weren't overstating that feature. When used as either a shadow or liner, they won't move once they set - and they set quickly. They are perfect for summer, when moisture attacks from all angles.

These shadow/liners apply with a creamy ease that will surprise you. You won't struggle, and you won't have to fuss and start over. If you have sensitive eyes, like I do, you will find Tarte's liners perfect. Make sure to screw the caps on tightly after you use them, and these liners will make you glamorous and happy for a very long time.

You can purchase emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner from Tarte, Sephora, Ulta, QVC, and beauty.com. You really need to try at least one.

Photos at top courtesy of Tarte; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Ultraflesh Black Magic - The Ultimate Jet Black Eyeliner Collection

Imagine five black eyeliners in one collection. That's the new Ultraflesh Black Magic - The Ultimate Jet Black Eyeliner Collection ($39).

Black is back in force with this eyeliner set that provides multiple choices for creating sophisticated eye looks at home or on the go. Lecithin and amino acid-derived formulas apply smoothly, providing vibrant color and long wear. Plant-derived squalane adds both application and skin-conditioning benefits. That's important. No animals were harmed to produce the squalane. Spherical-shaped powder lends a long-wearing, smudge-resistant, and creamy texture.

This set is unique. It provides two powder liners, one cream liner, and two pencils in one swivel-out compact. You'll find every permutation of black in Black Magic.

• Wet/Dry Black Liner (matte)
  
• Wet/Dry Black Shimmer Liner
• Black Smudge Liner (cream)
  
• Black Kohl Pencil
• Black Shimmer Pencil
• Mini Pro Angle Liner Brush

I used the mini angled liner brush in the collection to apply each liner, thinking you could see how the brush works. I drew lines thicker than I would draw on my eyelids. I prefer thin liners, but I wanted to get enough pigment for the photo. Even so, I found the little brush to be much less effective than the eyeliner brushes I normally use. The mini brush is great to use on the go, but I wouldn't recommend you rely in it when you are home.

You can apply the top two powder liner shades lightly and dry, as I did, or wet your brush for a more defined look. The line at the top of my arm is the matte powder, and the next one down has a shimmer finish. Although they don't look terribly different in my photo, the shimmer is more obvious when you use a damp brush for application.

The next level (middle) of the compact holds a cream "smudge" liner that I adore. I don't smudge it (too much black for my fair skin), but it would be easy to do so with the creamy texture. The middle level also holds the mini brush.

The bottom level of the compact has the two mini pencils, one Black Kohl and one Black Shimmer. Like the other pencils from Ultraflesh collections, these are gorgeous - and so easy to apply. I will wear them out before I go through the powder liners in the kit. The pencil liners are extremely long-lasting - longer than the others. That's good for anyone who has trouble with liner fade during the day. I hope Ultraflesh starts making their pencils available as individual items for purchase.

I tried to get another swatch photo that would show more clearly the differences among liners, particularly between the two powders. By that point, the sun was low in the sky, and my photos were useless. I will append one to this feature when I can get one worth posting.

This is a fun collection. I just got mine and need more time to play with it before I decide how I feel about the powder liners. I can tell you already, though, that I adore the cream and two pencils - worth the price of admission.

You can purchase Black Magic and all Ultraflesh makeup at Sephora, the exclusive source.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

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Ultraflesh Bronze Metalika Bronze and Glow Collection

Wow! I am not sure how I could be more impressed with a sight-unseen purchase. I discovered Ultraflesh while browsing Sephora online. I knew nothing about it. Somehow, I had overlooked the publicity about the line launching at Sephora last fall. Now, I have purchased nearly everything. Here is what Sephora has to say about the brand.

High fashion, function, and performance come together in Ultraflesh. Inspired by the desire to elevate mundane beauty routines, founders Nicole Ostoya and Robin Coe Hutshing created this high-fashion collection of beauty products, which are made with innovative designs and infused with even more innovative technology. Packaged in unique, memorable designs, their panther-inspired mascara tube is just one beautiful example that Ultraflesh is not just a brand, it's a movement.

Ultraflesh debuted at Sephora with a mascara. I haven't tried it. The new items, exclusive to Sephora, are incredible.

The Bronze Metalika Bronze and Glow Collection ($39) is a multipurpose five-piece compact that has everything you need to achieve the ultimate bronze glow. I was jumping-for-joy pleased when it arrived. I had already read that the mineral-based, talc-free, non-comedogenic formulas offered cream-to-powder color that can be used all over the face, with a long-wearing and non-creasing shimmer effect. I also knew that the formulas were free of most of the nasty ingredients we are all trying to avoid. What I didn't know before my new collections arrived was how incredible and luxuriously creamy the textures of the components are. Each item in a collection rivals the most expensive makeup, but without the luxury price.

This Bronze Metalika Bronze and Glow Collection contains:

• One Allover Enhancer,
• Two Allover Shimmers,
• Two Allover Highlighting Pencils.

They could not be nicer. Even more exciting, the shades worked for me - no mud, no overwhelming heavy colors - just skin-enhancing beauty. How good does it get?

The collection has levels, much like a Kaleidoscope. Here is a photo at right of the enhancer, taken outdoors in sunshine. Below at left is a photo of the second level of the palette, containing the cream shimmers. I was amazed with how nice these products are, even before I pulled out the lowest level, containing two mini-pencils for highlighting or lining the eyes.

Because these are sheer, wearable shades, they were extremely hard to photograph. I took my swatch photo in full, outdoor sun, and I swatched the enhancer and shimmers with a sponge-tipped applicator. I applied the pencils as-is. You will see the enhancer at the top of my arm, the shimmers below (barely), and the two pencils at the bottom.

There isn't a shade in the bunch I don't love. The rosy copper-bronze is the darkest, but remember that I applied it very heavily for the photo. It is gorgeous on the skin when applied with a brush. It leaves my face with a soft glow, radiant and illuminated with a neutral bronze shade. I can't find enough superlatives to describe it. The enhancer alone is worth the price of the collection, but it gets more exciting.

The creamy shimmers offer a light pure gold and rose gold touch. They can be used anywhere. The pencils are intended to be eyeliners, but they are fabulous highlighters when applied lightly and blended. One is a white gold, and the other rose gold. I'm not sure how this collection could get any prettier. I'm gushing.

I haven't had the collection long enough to know how long the shades "wear," but my intuition tells me that they will be shades that stay with me all day. Their textures give away their quality.

I have quickly become an Ultraflesh addict. I also purchased the Highlight and Shimmer Collection and two UltraGloss Luminous High-Shine Lip Glosses, which I hope to show you this week if the sun shines again.

You can find Ultraflesh at Sephora.

Top photo courtesy of Sephora

More about → Ultraflesh Bronze Metalika Bronze and Glow Collection

Sephora Collection The Hot 10 Nano Eyeliner Set Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to MrsIvan2004! She won this set!

A $50 value, Sephora's new, limited-edition The Hot 10 Nano Eyeliner Set contains 10 highly pigmented eye pencils in an array of shades. Each of these Nano Eyeliners glides on smoothly and comfortably to create a bold line of color that lasts all day. Shea butter and rosemary extracts make the pencils incredibly smooth and easy to apply.

The shades offer a beautiful array of looks.

• Midnight Black
• Wild Spirit
• Azure Blue
• Lagoon
• Silver Green
• Chocolate
• Golden Sand
• Khaki Green
• Iced Brown
• Pure White

Customers reviewing the set at Sephora have given it a five-star rating. I liked the shades, with some of my favorites in the set.

How can you enter to win? 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 this evening, 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, May 7, 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 am going to take a chance that both mail systems will deliver the box - yours and mine - without loss, theft, or destruction! Let's see how it works if we have an "international winner." So far, my luck with international shipping hasn't been very good. I want to keep trying because there are so many of you out there reading my blog (and I'm grateful).

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

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Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Rose Platine for Summer 2011

Chanel introduced an inspiring waterproof eyeliner for summer. When I first saw a swatch photo of Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Rose Platine ($29), I wasn't sold. Kathy Shoreman had applied the liner swatch heavily for the photo, and, it appeared to have too much glimmer for my taste. Silly me! When I got my hands on this beauty, I was thrilled. I had to have it.

Chanel describes its waterproof, smudge-proof eyeliner as delivering long-lasting definition with a twist of the wrist: Color winds up when you need it, winds down when you don't. The gentle, soft, silicone-enriched formula delivers smooth, even lining. A built-in sharpener at the opposite end detaches for quick refreshes of the tip.

Two talented women, the Chanel representative, Janine Greenberg, and Kathy Shoreman, at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria suggested wearing Rose Platine as a fabulous liner under the lower lashes. Were they right!

The photo at right, taken in full sun, shows the shade well. It's a shimmering - but not too shiny - pencil. Remember, sunshine adds its own dose of shimmer to my skin. The name of Rose Platine would lead me to believe the color is a platinum rose. It does not appear to be rose in the tube or on my skin. I'm not sure how its name was derived. It's taupe.

Makeup artists often select a shadow to gently line my eyes on the outer corner under the lower lashes. That's how I've been wearing Rose Platine. It's a knockout. It's not a "look at me" shade. It's a "look at her eyes" shade. It has just enough star power to add definition and a neutral shade that flatters my eye color. It's love!

It's hard to wax poetic about an eyeliner. How much can one say? This one's extremely pretty and worthy of a look-see. You can find it at any Chanel counter. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus.

Photos by BTiB

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New: YSL Beauté Metal Eyes Collection Waterproof Eye Pencil

YSL Beauté has a new eyeliner that deserves your attention. The Waterproof Eye Pencil ($25) is available in six colors. There are the usual black (Black Ink) and brown (Patent Leather) shades, but there are some enticing, colorful shades too.

No 3, Ultramarine, is the one that sang to me. I was equally enticed by #6, Amazon Green, but I have resisted - so far. There is a lovely lighter green, #7, Absinthe Green, and a violet shade, #5, oddly called Simmering Burgundy. I can't figure out how Simmering Burgundy got its name.

These pencils apply like a dream and then stay put - for a very long time. YSL says they hold for 16 hours. I think they would stick around for days if you didn't remove them. Seriously waterproof and long-lasting, they don't budge once set. These pencils offer the look of a liquid or gel, but with the convenient precision of a pencil for application.

There is not much more to say about an eyeliner pencil, except that this one, with the long-lasting and easy-to-apply jewel tones, is worthy of a look-see. I purchased Ultramarine. I love dark blue eyeliners, and they aren't as easy to find as black and brown. Here is a swatch photo of Ultramarine, taken in outdoor sunlight.

Look at how pretty the blue shade is! It is lighter than navy, but not cobalt. I even see a slight tinge of periwinkle in it and perhaps a tilt toward iris. I had to have it. I am still being tempted by Amazon Green. On the eyelid, it appears teal to me (another shade I love). When you visit your YSL counter to see the new Metal Eyes Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palettes, make sure to look for these.

You can purchase the Metal Eyes Collection at the YSL Web site, Neiman Marcus, and, I suspect, all YSL counters now.

Photo at top courtesy of YSL Beauté

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New from Revlon: CustomEyes Shadow & Liner - Part 2

Finding a new mass market beauty product I really like is exciting, so I couldn't wait to tell you about Revlon's CustomEyes Shadow & Liner ($8.99). I rushed the first feature into print two days ago. Just scroll down to read it.

I received three CustomEyes color palettes to test. The verdict? Very nice and definitely worth a look-see! Party Pop, shown here at left, is designed for lavender lovers. With contrasting pops of peach and green, it's a pretty palette for many women, but not me. Sweet Innocence is the second of the three palettes that does work with my coloring. It's very pretty - and discreet.

Sweet Innocence was made for taupe and mauve lovers everywhere. Shown at right, it features four neutral shadows and one brown liner. The looks you'll create with Sweet Innocence will be soft. It's a great palette to wear to work.

I swatched it, but the results were unsatisfactory because two of the shades blend into my arm color. I applied the shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator (to get a lot of pigment on my arm), and I snapped my photo outdoors in sunlight. I could see the lightest shades on my arm, but my camera couldn't.

The top shade is the liner, a medium brown with just a hint of mauve. You could certainly wear this as an accent shadow. The peach shade disappears into my arm below the liner. The ivory shade does show; it's light enough to provide highlighting contrast to my skin. The mauve-taupe is below. It coordinates perfectly with the liner. You can barely see the pink shadow at the bottom. It's very neutral and only slightly pinker than my arm.

All of the shadows (liner included) have a nice texture. They glide onto the lids easily, and there's no fallout. They are long-lasting. They stay with me all day; they should for you too.

I haven't seen a better bargain this season. The CustomEyes Shadow & Liner Palettes are definitely worth trying. A few of my friends ask me often,"What's a good drugstore beauty product I can try?" I would recommend Revlon's latest palettes to them.

You can find CustomEyes at your local drugstore (or Ulta) to see these new palettes for yourself. They are also available at Amazon and Drugstore.com.

Photo at top courtesy of Revlon; Sweet Innocence photo courtesy of Amazon

More about → New from Revlon: CustomEyes Shadow & Liner - Part 2

Tarte emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener

You need this! Tarte's emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener ($18) is an unassuming beauty product at first glance. Use this pencil once, and you will consider it a necessity.

I have frequent redness in my waterline. Right now, as I write, there's not a trace. If I were wearing my contact lenses; running around exposed to environmental assaults; working at the computer for long hours; or suffering from seasonal allergies (most of the time) or sleep failure, I would have varying degrees of redness. Even when I don't "see" the redness, it will show up in photographs, as Loyd Cassler and I discovered one day when he was taking pictures of me at Saks. He finally took Giorgio Armani's white eyeliner and applied it on my lower waterline to banish the red.

Tarte has introduced a better shade than white, a much more natural shade, to brighten your eyes and make you look peppy. The soft, fine tip of Tarte's Inner Rim brightener gently and easily glides along the lower inner rim (waterline) and inner corner of the eyes to instantly brighten the eyes for a wide-awake look. Use it, and your eyes will grow in size instantly! This multitasking pencil can even be used to highlight the brow bone for an even more eye-opening experience.

I was privileged to receive one from Tarte. Previously available in a set, emphasEYES natural Inner Rim Brightener is now sold on its own. Like all Tarte makeup, it is formulated with none of the nasty stuff. It is formulated with skinvigorating ingredients.

• Aloe leaf extract to help create a moisturizing formula
• Beeswax to create a natural protective barrier between the skin and the environment
• Mineral pigments, colors and dyes derived from natural minerals that are known to soothe and soften the skin
• Vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps remove free radicals, promote collagen production, and retain moisture
• Vitamin E, a natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radicals

It's a simple product, but so incredibly effective, useful, and flattering. Everyone should own one of these pencils!

You can purchase Tarte's emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener at Tarte's Web site, Sephora, Ulta, Beauty.com, Henri Bendel, and QVC. It's available now.

Photo courtesy of Tarte

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Lancôme Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palette in Bronze Amour

Earlier today, I featured 10 new eye shadow/eyeliner palettes by Lancôme. Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palettes ($48) offer everything you need to create a color-coordinated eye look. It's like paint by numbers!

Please check out my earlier feature to find out more about "my new palettes." Since I posted it this morning, there's not much sense in repeating all the nice characteristics of these lovely new eye shadows (and liners) in this feature.

I purchased six of them. I wanted to show you Bronze Amour before my feed went out today. I am a pushover for bronze and gold shades, and this palette "had me" at first sight.

I was able to get a swatch photo of the all-over base color in Bronze Amour, so this photo shows all five shades. I took the picture outdoors in full morning sun, and I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator.

The all-over base shade is a shimmering pinky-peachy nude. You can see at the top of my arm how pretty it is. I will not be limiting the use of this shade to the occasions when I wear the rest of the shades in the palette. It's so gorgeous, I'll reach for it often. Good thing the shade in the pan is nicely sized! Plea to Lancôme: release this shade in a single!

The copper lid shade is shimmering copper with just a hint of orange to my eye. The brown crease shade is a nice one, but the highlighting shade, like the base, is rave-worthy. A shimmering gold, it's extremely appealing. The liner shade, which has a bit of sparkle itself, is a beautiful dark, coppery brown. Bronze Amour is a winner!

You can purchase these lovely new palettes from Lancôme's Web site, Neiman Marcus (where I purchased mine), Sephora, and, I assume, any other Lancôme counter.

Photo at top courtesy of Lancôme

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Lancôme Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palette

Lancôme has introduced 10 new eye shadow/eyeliner palettes, and I found most of them irresistible. Although its name is unwieldy, Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palette ($48) offers everything you need to create a snazzy eye look. [Did some marketing person run amok trying to be too descriptive with the title?] One look at these beautiful palettes will sell them.

I received an iPhone photo of the new display from Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. It's shown at right. Immediately, I selected six of them - yes, six! I had hoped to write one big feature about them, but the sun has conspired against me. Today, I will show you one, and I'll follow up with the rest of my new shadows very soon.

The first one I selected was Taupe Craze (#100), shown below left. I'm a neutral lover, and taupe is one of my favorite shades. It was meant to be. Of course, I rattled off the others I wanted with alarming speed.

Each palette has a schematic on the box and on a plastic overlay within the compact to ensure you know how Lancôme intended the colors to be used. At the top, there is an all-over-base. Below, there are three color blocks, from left to right, lid color, crease color, and highlighter. At the bottom of each palette, there's a liner shade that coordinates with the other colors. The compacts include two sponge-tipped applicators, nicely wrapped in plastic to ensure you receive a "clean" product. Each has a mirror too.

Lancôme says its new palettes provide five simple steps to contour, sculpt, and brighten your eyes. "From day to night, or soft to dramatic," you'll have what you need to customize your perfect eye look. These shadows present Lancôme's newest generation of silky luster powders for smooth application and pure, luminous color. They are said to wear for eight hours, without creasing or fading. I found that to be true.

My swatch photo of Taupe Craze, taken in outdoor sunlight, shows how lovely Taupe Craze is. I didn't bother to try to get a photo of the base shade. It's very close to my skin tone and doesn't photograph well. My arm shows, top the bottom, the shimmering lid shade, the matte crease shade, the shimmering highlighter shade, and the liner. The matte crease shade doesn't make my heart race, but the others do! They are definitely worth the price of admission.

Later today, I will show you more of the palettes I purchased. The sun is shining, so I should be able to get photos (something that was impossible for most of the weekend). Stay tuned!

You can purchase these lovely new palettes from Lancôme's Web site, Neiman Marcus (where I purchased mine), Sephora, and, I assume, any other Lancôme counter.

Photo at top courtesy of Lancôme

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Bobbi Brown Tibi Peony & Python Beauty Kit - Neiman Marcus Exclusive

Finally, something new from Bobbi Brown that isn't a palette! I don't know how you feel about palettes, but I'm on palette overload. I purchased so many Bobbi Brown palettes for holiday, I couldn't look at another one. I skipped the Pretty Powerful palettes that launched in January. I have been anxiously awaiting single items from Bobbi Brown - new ones, exciting ones. I can't wait to get my hands on her new lip color, which hasn't arrived yet at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom.

When I learned that there was a new set available at Neiman Marcus, my first reaction wasn't overly enthusiastic. Then I saw the contents and decided I had to have the Tibi Peony & Python Beauty Kit ($95). I'm glad I purchased it! The kit is a preview into Bobbi Brown's Spring 2011 Tibi Peony & Python Collection, a zippered beauty case filled with pretty colors and tools to update your look for spring.

Inspired by lush peonies and the playful, feminine chic of cult label Tibi, Bobbi created Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer for a fresh, healthy glow. The kit also includes Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Mauve and Brightening Lip Gloss in Pink Lilac, plus two mini brushes so you can apply everything like a pro. One of the mini brushes is one of my favorite Bobbi Brown brushes: the Face Blender Brush. I can't get enough of them. The other mini brush is a liner brush for you to use to apply the Black Mauve gel eyeliner.

The Peony Illuminating Bronzer is more of a blusher than a bronzer. It's rosy - and gorgeous. I'm not sure why Bobbi named it a bronzer, but it doesn't matter what it's called. It's a stunning shade.

Don't let the "Black Mauve" name of the gel eyeliner fool you. It's not black - just a darkened mauve that's a luscious liner. Pink Lilac is one of Bobbi's Brightening Lip Glosses. The sheer, reflective formula wakes up your face and helps create the illusion of fuller lips. The Pink Lilac shade works perfectly with the set.

Here's my swatch photo of all three shades. It was taken indoors in sunlight. I applied the "bronzer" with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm - much darker than you'll apply it "in real life." The gloss is in the center, and a light application of the Black Mauve gel eyeliner is shown below. These shades coordinate so nicely, I'll be tempted to wear them together - something I don't often feel bound to do.

I had a hard time photographing the Peony shade in the compact. In every photo I took, it appeared just a bit pinker than it looks to my eye. In the compact, it looks exactly like the photo at the top of this feature - the one I snagged off the Neiman Marcus Web site. On my arm, it looks like my swatch. It's rosy pink.

This set is a beauty. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves pink and wants something new. At this time, the only place you can purchase the Tibi Peony & Python Beauty Kit is Neiman Marcus. It's available in stores and online. I purchased mine from Kathy Shoreman and Christina Curbelo at the store at Tysons Galleria. Christina's new there, so if you drop by, make sure to say hello.

Photo at top courtesy of Neiman Marcus

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