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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NARS Hopelessly Devoted Set Giveaway Contest

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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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NARS Trio Eyeshadow in Delphes for Fall 2011

The NARS Fall 2011 Collection is available. I was intrigued by a few pieces when I shopped online and am pleased that I ordered the Trio Eyeshadow in Delphes ($45). Was it named for Delphi in Greece, the site of a Panhellenic sanctuary, a place invested with sacred meaning and harmony with nature? Just a guess.

The collection doesn't sing "fall" to me, but with many fall collections arriving in summer and holiday scheduled to arrive with the first frost, our seasons don't always matter.

The Delphes trio offers a sheer, sparkling peach-toned pink, a muted, matte dove grey, and a frosted sage - perhaps an unusual mix of shades, but they play together nicely. If you compare my photo at right with the photo from the NARS Web site above, you'll see that the colors are portrayed fairly accurately on the NARS Web site.

As I started to play with the trio, I hoped that the shades would have a creamy texture that would adhere to the skin. They do! This trio should be better received than the Calanque Eyeshadow Trio that was introduced with the spring collection.

It is so hot and humid here that my camera's lens kept fogging up when I tried to snap photos of Delphes outside. As a result, I took all of my photos indoors in a sunlit window - with help.

Charlie would not leave me alone as I tried to get swatch photos to show you the NARS fall story. Apparently, Charlie wished to be the story. There was something about this Delphes trio he really liked. He hopped up next to me and rubbed his face against my arm each time he circled around my lap. His tail kept thwacking against my arm, right where I had swatched the shades. That was the ultimate eye shadow endurance test. I know the trio's shades will stay put because they survived so many swipes by Charlie's strong, furry tail.

Look past my fuzzy buddy, and you'll see a gleaming pink ("just this side" of warm), a muted grey that is a lovely shade - much less blue than it appears in the compact - and a lovely, shimmering green. These photos were the best I could do. Charlie stole the show, despite the gorgeous colors. I finally gave up on photos and gave him the attention he was demanding.

Delphes is another fall palette I'll be wearing now. It's a lovely addition to my collection. I also purchased the lip colors. I'll show you those soon. The NARS Fall 2011 Collection is available online. I have not seen it in a store yet.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS; other photos by Best Things in Beauty, assisted by Bengal Boy

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NARS Sweet Disposition Mini Multiple Set Giveaway Contest

During our last holiday season, NARS released a fabulous collection of three mini Multiples for eyes, lips, and cheeks in shades that shimmer, highlight, and sculpt. The Sweet Disposition Holiday Mini Multiple Set ($40) has three fabulous shades: Orgasm, Luxor, and Malibu. I must have purchased four sets (extreme love), and I have one set to give away.

I love NARS Multiples, and the mini sizes are perfect for throwing in my handbag. Essential for your year-round glow, the cult-favorite and iconic Multiple is ideal for creating shimmering accents and dynamic highlights for all skin tones, and the creamy formula blends effortlessly. These multitasking masters are a must-have for on-the-go glamour and glow. These three shades give you everything - a highlighter, a pretty peachy pink shade that's a perfect blusher, and a bronze shade that you can use for many purposes. Just perfect!

Last year, I took a swatch photo to show you how pretty the shades are. From top to bottom, Malibu (pink-toned brown), Luxor (iridescent pink), and the world-famous Orgasm (peachy pink with shimmer). I applied each without blending (yes, I got a little messy there at the bottom), and my photo was taken in full sun. Aren't these nice?

How can you enter to win? Here's the "fine print."

There are a few simple steps. First, 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). That's all you have to do to be entered.

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) or my Twitter account, @BTiBeauty. That will earn a second entry.

You can earn a third 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. 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, July 9, 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. 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 services do right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good luck!

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom

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NARS Laguna Multiple Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Dlori! She won the NARS Laguna Multiple and has been notified by e-mail. Random.org smiled on Dlori.

From your comments, it appears that many of you haven't tried a Multiple. You must! There is at least one shade out there for everyone. I think I own most of them - they are that good!

It's always bittersweet to see where random.org lands. I love you all and always wish I could send something to each one of you. Many of you enter my contests week after week, and I appreciate it. Keep entering; eventually you will win one. I appreciate all the follows too. Sometimes after contests, I lose Twitter and blog followers who followed just for the contest. I wish you would stay, but understand.

The next contest starts later today. I like the set for this week's contest and hope you will too.

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom

More about → NARS Laguna Multiple Giveaway Winner

NARS Body Illuminator in Laguna from Portrait of Paradise for Summer 2011

I'm sure NARS created the new, limited-edition Body Illuminator ($45) in Laguna for me. Well, maybe for everyone like me, sun phobes who look too white to wear a sun dress. I don't miss the sun - and the damage that came with it - but I do hate my pasty appearance in tank tops and shorts when I "go ultra-casual."

The NARS Body Illuminator will give you fair-skinned beauties a golden glow from head to toe - or wherever you want it. Laguna Body Illuminator imparts a bronze (but not too bronze, more like sun-kissed) radiance. It also deliciously scents the skin with the exotic, tropical Monoï de Tahiti oil. In short, it looks great and smells great - and it washes off. There's no weeks-long commitment.

After the success of their award-winning, light-reflecting illuminators for the face, NARS created this illuminator for body application. The color dries quickly, stays put, and does not transfer onto clothing. It's perfect for arms, legs, neck, and décolleté, and you can use it year-round.

This product contains bisabolol, obtained from the chamomile plant, and used to soothe and care for dry skin. Bisabolol has a weak, sweet floral aroma and is used in various fragrances. It has been used for hundreds of years in cosmetics because of its perceived skin healing, anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It also has açaí oil, polar berries, and sodium hyaluronate - all good things for your skin. In addition to those ingredients, there's Indian Frankincense, believed to have soothing and comforting properties. As a rule, I don't like the smell of frankincense, but I don't smell it in this body tint. I smell its luscious tropical scent.

NARS had another product a year or two ago (I still have it), scented with French Polynesian Monoï de Tahiti oil. NARS Monoï Body Glow II is/was a body oil that captures the fragrance of the native Taire flower soaked in coconut oil. Body Glow II is so intoxicating, I still have it. I ration my use of it because I never want to run out.

The shade of the Laguna Body Illuminator is subtle, which is why I love it. For my swatch photo, I applied it on my arm as I would apply it naturally. It blends easily and leaves behind a pretty tan color - not muddy or surreal. I've seen it on Kathy Shoreman hours after application. I thought she had used a self-tanner on her arms. It's a perfect shade for both of us. It is not, in my opinion, a perfect shade for those with dark skin, but dark-skinned beauties probably aren't worried about looking pasty. You could wear it as a light illuminator.

The finish is slightly shimmering - pleasantly so. It will jazz up your appearance without shouting fake. The shimmer you see on the left side of my photo is the sun's reflection. The finish is closer to what you can see on the right side of my arm. I turned my arm away from the sun while taking the photo to try to reduce the glare.

You can purchase the NARS Body Illuminator at NARS online or at NARS counters at Neiman Marcus and other department stores - Sephora too. NARS is offering free shipping with a purchase from Portrait of Paradise, so it would be a good time to order it if you can't get to a NARS counter.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora

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NARS Laguna Multiple Giveaway Contest

I like the new NARS Laguna Multiple ($39) so much, I decided to give one away this week. A beautiful, shimmering golden brown that makes a perfect, highlighting bronzer, Laguna is part of a limited-edition, tropical collection for summer called Portrait of Paradise. I purchased every piece of the collection.

You must know that the Multiples are multi-purpose sticks for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. Their unique, lightweight, cream-to-powder formula blends effortlessly to provide sheer color, shimmering accents, contours, and dynamic highlights for all skin tones.

For the first time, NARS has introduced its existing shade Laguna as a Multiple – perfect for highlighting, lightly contouring, or all-over bronzing. Since Laguna tilts neither warm nor cool, but straddles the middle with its shimmering neutral tone, it's going to work for many women.

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 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 14, 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 Nordstrom

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NARS Exotic Dance Duo Eye Shadow for Summer 2011

I'm a pushover for neutrals, which is why I was intrigued with Exotic Dance Duo Eye Shadow ($33). Not only do I love neutrals, I adore golden shades. You can imagine my reaction when I read this...

A pairing of metallic white with silver sheen and metallic gold, creates a dazzling duo eyeshadow. The shimmering hues can each be worn alone or layered.

I ordered Exotic Dance the minute I saw the collection at the NARS Web site. I did not purchase the peacock of the summer collection, the Cap Ferrat Trio. It looked too bright for me.

Am I happy with Exotic Dance? A qualified yes! The golden shade is beautiful. So is the shimmering white, with one caveat. It takes some work to get an even application of the white shade. I don't know whether my issue - and I can only know if it's my issue or a more general problem - seems symptomatic of a quality control or production issue with some of the newest NARS powder eye shadows. I have to work pretty hard to get an even application of the white shade. At least I can, and when I do, I'm a happy gal! I need to have a heart-to-heart with a trusted NARS representative.

Here is a swatch photo of the duo. Taken in full sun, it shows the gorgeous golden glow of the shimmering gold shade. It's worth the price of admission. If you have ever taken a swatch photo, you can probably see that I worked hard to get a decent, even swatch of the shimmering white. I painted and painted with my sponge-tipped applicator, and I succeeded. My arm had no primer on it, just a tiny bit of moisturizer, but it was a little harder than it should have been. The white is easier to use when it's layered over the gold, which brings me to Hayley Reinhart.

Did you see American Idol last night? Haley Reinhart sang a version of "House of the Rising Sun" that won her the night. She's currently my choice to win the whole competition. She was rocking a gold eye. She could have created it with Exotic Dance. Her whole lid (lower and crease) was a sexy gold that was highlighted in the center. She also wore a darker brown in the outer crease. Her eye makeup was exquisite. If you apply the gold in this duo in the same way, use any golden brown in the crease from center to the outer corner and swept onto the outer lower lid, and them layer the silvery white over the gold in the center of the lid, you too will have Hayley's look. It was stunning. I love her talent, but last night, I was just as impressed with her eye makeup. Just click on her photo to enlarge it.

You can purchase the latest NARS makeup, including Exotic Dance, at the NARS Web site and NARS counters. I bought mine online.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS; Hayley's photo courtesy of Frank Micelotta/Fox

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NARS Portrait of Paradise Blush Bronzer Trio

The new, limited-edition Blush Bronzer Trio ($55) from NARS is delightful in many ways. The three cheek shades are gorgeous, and the little zip-up case is handy for anyone who wants to take it along. The trio is part of the Portrait of Paradise Collection - radiant, tropical riches for eyes, lips, cheeks, and body.

Laguna Bronzing Powder, Orgasm Blush, and Albatross Highlighter complement each other beautifully. They will make you beautiful too. Laguna has become my go-to brown. The Laguna powder shade is in this compact. The Albatross Highlighter is a nice highlighter - there's not much product here in the small stripe, but you wouldn't want to apply much at any given time. The surprise to me in the compact is the Orgasm Blush. I would swear it's a different color from the "regular" shade.

I don't have easy access to my Orgasm Blush. It's packed away with almost everything that was in my bathroom before my surgery. I still haven't unpacked that makeup! I wanted to do a comparison the second I swatched the blush in this trio because I could swear this shade is pinker. You know that Orgasm Blush is a pinky-peach - or peachy-pink. The shade in this trio - my trio - is more pink, and it's an exquisite pink. I am in love with it.

The three shades are swatched on my arm at right and below. I applied all three with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full sun. You can see that Laguna is a nice brown - more golden than the new Laguna Multiple (in my humble opinion). The pretty highlighter is Albatross. At the top is the drop-dead gorgeous Orgasm Blush - if that's what it really is. What do you think? Am I crazy to think that this shade looks different?

I like this blush shade so much, I'm now motivated to dig out my regular one and compare. I knew I had to dig out eventually, but I've been lazy. Now, I need to figure it out to know whether I need to hoard this trio.

I bought mine online from NARS. You can also purchase this trio at Neiman Marcus. Nordstrom has it, so it's probably available at all NARS counters. Definitely check it out. Please let me know if you think I'm losing my eyesight.

Update 5/3 at 5:00 am: I awakened this morning to find a photo from beautiful reader Beth. It proves I am not crazy, which certainly makes me feel better about my eyesight and my memory. Beth had her regular compact and the new trio at the ready, and she sent me the photo below. Additionally, Eileen commented that the color was different, and I trust her eye completely. That's two trusty friends who were able to solve the riddle for me.

So, there you have it, and a photo from Beth - so considerate! Keep in mind that the shades in the compact do appear as shown in the photo at the top of this post. Beth may have taken her photo in the warm, artificial light inside her house at night. The pink "Orgasm" appears very orange in the photo below. Lighting will do that. Your eye should make the same adjustment for the regular Orgasm. Add color.


Photo at top courtesy of NARS; photo immediately above courtesy of the beautiful Beth

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NARS Laguna Multiple from Portrait of Paradise

I have been a Multiples fan for more years than I can count. I've purchased just about every color. I remember one evening when I clicked on the NARS Web site and ordered duplicates of just about every shade so that I wouldn't run out. Is that OCD?

I just bought the latest, limited-edition Laguna Multiple ($39), and it's everything I expected - and more. A beautiful, shimmering golden brown that makes a perfect bronzer, Laguna may soon have a twin at my house. How could I take the chance that it will go away forever? The shade is perfect for me - and it's part of a limited-edition, tropical collection called Portrait of Paradise. I purchased every piece of the collection.

You must know that the Multiples are multi-purpose sticks for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. Their unique, lightweight, cream-to-powder formula blends effortlessly to provide sheer color, shimmering accents, contours, and dynamic highlights for all skin tones.

For the first time, NARS has introduced its existing shade Laguna as a Multiple – perfect for highlighting, lightly contouring, or all-over bronzing. Since Laguna tilts neither warm nor cool, but straddles the middle with its neutral tone, it's going to work for many women.

My swatch photo was taken in full outdoor sun. I applied Laguna very heavily to show you the golden brown shade. Blended, it's the same shade, but much lighter. This is a multiple without pink that I can actually wear on my eyelids. It is stunning.

Does it shimmer? Yes, but not too much. I can even modulate the shimmer by applying it with a brush and blending well. The effects are glamorous. Laguna imparts that Jennifer Lopez gleam.

You can purchase the Laguna Multiple at the NARS Web site, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or wherever you buy NARS. Buy it while you can. We hoarders will be out there helping it sell out.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS

More about → NARS Laguna Multiple from Portrait of Paradise

NARS Queen Soft Touch Shadow Pencil for Summer 2011

The queen would die. NARS Queen Soft Touch Eye Pencil ($24) is a glitter bomb. I don't know how NARS can put out so many incredibly great products, but then introduce an occasional bomb. The Calanque Eyeshadow Trio, introduced with the Spring 2011 Collection, was a washout. Unfortunately, the "gold-infused platinum" in that trio was fairly useless. It had no color. It laid down a sheer sparkle and nothing else. The same is true with the Queen Soft Touch Eye Pencil. It lays down glitter with almost no color.

This smooth and creamy soft touch shadow pencil, in a majestic and modern citrus gold glitter, can be swiped on lids and blended with a fingertip.

The NARS online description of Queen is partially correct. It is smooth and creamy. It's not majestic. Can you find the modern citrus? I tried - I really tried - to get an even application of this pencil shadow. Here are the results on my arm - in bright sun at right above (mostly sunshine) and left, but with a different tilt of my arm vs the sun. I was unsuccessful in applying this shadow, but my photos show the results accurately - uneven, gold glitter, accompanied by almost no green.

Because I have Soft Touch Shadow Pencils I adore, I'm very disappointed. Normally, I don't tell you about products that don't have any characteristic I like. I had to tell you about Queen to prevent you from making the same mistake I did. Do not order this pencil online, sight unseen, thinking you will receive a shimmering parrot green. Go to an arts store and purchase glitter if that's what you want on your eyelids. It will cost a lot less than $24.

Better yet, if you want a shadow pencil, buy the Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in one of the other shades. If you read the word "glitter," though, click away quickly.

Should you like this look, you can purchase the Queen at the NARS Web site and NARS counters, where you will find some exquisite products for Summer 2011. This isn't one of them - in my humble opinion. Fortunately, I'll be telling you about a few I love very soon. The new Multiple - like all the rest of the Multiples - is lust-worthy.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS

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NARS Lose Yourself Blush/Bronzing Powder Duo & Lip Gloss Set

Just in case you are a Sephora VIB and still trying to decide what to purchase (by midnight) with your CHICWEEK 15% discount, may I suggest the NARS Lose Yourself Blush/Bronzing Powder Duo & Lip Gloss Set ($49). I bought one, and I wore it two days in a row this week. You may laugh, but I try so many products, a two-day run in one week is remarkable.

The limited-edition set is exclusive to Sephora. It pairs Angelika Blush with Laguna Bronzer and a large mini-sized Angelika Lip Gloss. With its bright and bronze shades, it summons the spirit of spring and summer. The subtly sparkling cotton-candy pink Angelika Blush and Lip Gloss provide a breezy, ready-to-wear look. There are gold flecks in the blush and gold and silver sparkles in the gloss, but neither is over-the-top glittery. I apply with blush with a fluffy brush so that I don't look "too pink." The Laguna Bronzer is the perfect contouring shade to go with the pretty-in-pink look.

I love the set and meant to tell you about it earlier. You have a few hours left to get yours at a 15% discount in the United States.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

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New NARS Illuminators

I have always felt like one of the top cheerleaders for NARS Orgasm Illuminator. I adore it. It's a highlighter, a blush, and a foundation enhancer - all in one tube! I bought three Orgasm Illuminators when they launched, two for myself and one for a giveaway.

You can imagine my excitement when I learned that NARS would be introducing a Copacabana Illuminator. I use the Copacabana Multiple, and I love it. I was thrilled to think that the same quality and characteristics that NARS brought us with Orgasm Illuminator would be extended to Copacabana. What I didn't realize at first was that the treat would be multiplied. NARS also launched Super Orgasm and Laguna Illuminators, which I saw (and ordered) when I went online to purchase Copacabana.

NARS Illuminators light the skin from within (that is not just marketing hype). With the addition of new shades, this collection of light-reflecting liquids gives you multiple ways to shine. The Illuminators glide on to refresh and enhance the complexion to create a shimmering incandescence. Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fluid Sheers are among my holy grail beauty products. I have every shade. NARS Illuminators ($29) will take their place alongside my Fluid Sheers.

You can go gorgeously nude with the original peachy pink Orgasm or up the ante with Super Orgasm’s extra glow. Super Orgasm is so much nicer than its namesake blusher. I'm too old to use Super Orgasm on my cheeks. It's a sparkle fest, so I gave it away to a teenager. Super Orgasm Illuminator is sheer perfection. I love the color, and the shimmer level is flattering. The pearlescent Copacabana Illuminator is a beautiful highlighter or foundation enhancer for fair skin. The shade is white, with a hint of pink on my skin. I can't anticipate until I try it on a friend how it will look on chocolate skin. It might be too bright and white. Or, I might be surprised; it's possible it will blend into a sunbeam. Laguna Illuminator is a perfect bronzing shade, and as with the other Illuminators, you can mix it lightly with your foundation to add a summer glow or use it as a fast-application bronzer. Laguna can turn me into the bronze goddess I'll never be naturally.

I've had totally miserable weather for photography since these arrived. Even today, when I got this swatch photo, it's very cloudy. Earlier, I noticed that the sky had brightened - still cloudy, but more high overcast than the low-hanging clouds we've had for the last two days. I applied each Illuminator with my finger, and I blended them only slightly, hoping to get a decent representation of each shade. While this photo isn't great, it's the best I got out of nine.

Super Orgasm is shown at the top. Hopefully, you can see that its peach with a perfect shimmer - so much prettier than its namesake. Copacabana is white - very light. I'm not sure whether the hint of pink is my arm or the product. It's perfect for me; will it be for you? Laguna, shown at the bottom of the photo, has much less shimmer, making it ideal for a natural bronzer. I would describe the shade as a light, golden bronze. I'm happy to report that it does not leave an orange look on my skin.

If you would like to see additional swatches, head over to Café Makeup, where Amy did a nice job showing comparisons to other brands and products. Looks like Amy's a Fluid Sheer fan too.

The multipurpose nature of these Illuminators is magical. I lust after makeup that serves more than one purpose - all the better to lighten my overburdened handbag. These are great for on-the-go pick-me-ups. The flip cap is a secure one, and the hole through which you squeeze the product is small and ideal for dispensing buildable color. You are unlikely to waste these with a liquid spill on your vanity or in your bathroom or purse.

NARS advertises that the colors are deceptively sheer and decidedly luminous. That says it all. I can't wait to see what colors they have in store for us next! Isn't that funny? I have three new goodies, and I'm already anticipating the next lust-worthy shades, the sign of a true addict.

You can purchase the new Illuminators, as well as the original, at the NARS Web site. NARS counters also have them available. They arrived at Neiman Marcus about a week ago. I couldn't wait; I purchased mine from NARS. If you purchase at Neiman Marcus now, though, you might score a Beauty Event gift.

Photos at top courtesy of NARS

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NARS Nouveau Monde Duo Eyeshadow for Spring 2011

I was pleased to find a NARS eye shadow for spring that I really like! After the debacle of the Calanque Trio Eyeshadow, I was hopeful that the Nouveau Monde Duo Eyeshdow ($33) would be everything I expected. It was - and more! The two colors are gorgeous, and the texture is perfect.

A rich brown-olive gold is highlighted by a shimmering silver lilac. Wear each shade solo or use one as a base and the other as an accent or highlight - the combination is striking. I was wary of the silver lilac. I have a difficult relationship with lavender-toned shadows. This one is an ice blue-lavender - in a class of its own among the "lavender" shadows I have purchased in the last year or two.

Here is a swatch photo of both shades, taken indoors in morning sunlight. I applied the silver lilac shade unevenly. Have no fear (after Calanque), it's a nice shadow that applies evenly and with ease, leaving shimmering color, not just shimmer. No crumbles, no fallout! I think the base shade of Calanque was an aberration. I really don't know what happened with NARS' production, but I was pleased to see that Nouveau Monde's texture was perfect.

Isn't the silver lilac color beautiful? When you apply it over the whole lid below the crease and use the deep brown-toned olive as an accent or in the crease, the combination creates a stunning look. The olive shade is no slouch itself. It has warmth, depth, and a subtle shimmer that makes it light up the eyes. I am very happy with both shades in this duo.

You can purchase Nouveau Monde by itself at NARS counters, the NARS Web site, or Sephora. Or, you can buy Sephora's Front Row Set, which includes it, along with three other nice pieces: an Eyeliner Stylo in Nuits Blanches, an Orgasm Lip Gloss, and a mini-Multiple in Palm Springs. I recommend the set, which I purchased. It costs $59, but gives you $97 worth of makeup.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS

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NARS Tainted Love Set

NARS has made some fabulous sets this season, none nicer than the Tainted Love Set ($59). A $78 value, Tained Love will ignite your passion for pink. Angelika Lip Gloss pairs with a new, limited-edition Angelika Multiple to enliven your eyes, lips, and cheeks in a cotton candy hue with shimmering silver and gold sparkles. To coordinate, your nails make a statement with vibrant, shocking pink Schiap. An $80 value, Tained Love was irresistible - for me - and I don't usually wear nail polish. The Nail Polish going to a good home. I had to add the Angelika Multiple to my collection.

At left is a photo of each piece nestled in the packaging - before I pulled them out and started to play. These aren't mingy little samples - you get a lot for your money.

The Angelika Multiple and Lip Gloss are shown on my arm below right. My photo was taken in sunlight indoors. I applied both products directly from their tubes, and I did not blend out the Multiple.

You can see the pretty sparkles in the Angelika Multiple swatch at right. You also see some brilliance from the sunlight gleaming on arm, but there are definitely micro-sparkles in the color. Not too many - not enough to make you look like a disco ball - but they are visible. The Angelika Lip Gloss, part of the Spring 2011 Collection, is a gorgeous, cool-toned candy pink. It has a lot of pigment, which will give you color without lipstick underneath. Nice pinks!

I doubt I need to tell beauty mavens about the Multiple or NARS Lip Gloss. The Multiple is François Nars' original multipurpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips, and body. I have just about every color. The Lip Gloss is an acquired taste. Once you acquire it, you'll find yourself acquiring a lot of pretty glosses!

Here's another shot (at left) with much less sunlight on my arm. Hopefully, you can see the richness of the girly-girl pinks. They are extremely flattering.

The Nail Polish coordinates beautifully with the Multiple and Lip Gloss. NARS Nail Polish is free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP. It still gave me a jolt of scent when I applied it, but that "unpleasantness" went away very quickly.

It's been a long time since I applied polish. I didn't stop because of the fragrance; I stopped because wearing nail polish was incompatible with gardening. NARS Nail Polish offers a long-wearing formula that provides a tough, durable chip-resistant finish and has added ultraviolet protection to prevent polish discoloration. Who knows? Maybe if I had tried it while I was actively gardening, I wouldn't have sworn off polish, which usually chipped on the first day I wore it.

Schiap is shown on my nail at right. This photo was also taken indoors in bright light. I didn't have any Scotch tape handy, so I painted a stripe on my nail (and removed it with Deborah Lippmann's The Stripper). That's one pass on my nail. It covers well, but you could add a second coat for more vibrant color. The polish is an elegant, glossy pink - guaranteed to draw attention to your hands - or toes!

What do you think? I love this set - even the polish (I have to remember to give it to its promised recipient). I bought my Tainted Love Set at Neiman Marcus, where it sold out the instant it arrived. It's also available at the NARS Web site and Nordstrom.



Photo at top courtesy of NARS

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NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils - Part 2

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils ($24) have been the talk of Twitter, and they have been featured on many blogs, including mine and The Beauty Look Book (Sabrina wrote a three-part series; click here for Part 1). The buzz over these glorious lip "sticks" has been intense, with beauty mavens lusting for them or sharing the shades they purchased. In my original order, I bought two. Then when my Neiman Marcus got them in stock, I bought two more. Today, I will update my original feature by showing you my newest shades.

First, a recap. These are glossy lip pencils with a smooth, buttery texture. They coat the lips with stunning, glossy, nicely pigmented color and moisturizing ingredients, including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid spheres, and phytosterol esthers. They don't contain the bad actors we all like to avoid, like phthalates, sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, and synthetic fragrances. They are so much nicer - in my opinion - than the matte pencils that NARS introduced previously. I like a little shine, so I'm definitely biased toward the Velvet Gloss Pencils.

My first two were Baroque and New Lover. You can see swatches here. My second two are Frivolous and Club Mix. I'm thrilled with them; they are very different shades from my earlier selections.

Frivolous is shown at the top of my arm, with Club Mix below. My photo was taken indoors in sunlight. Frivolous is a very natural peachy-pink-nude shade. It may be the lightest of all of them. It's perfect for a casual look. Club Mix is a plum-grape-rose mix. On the lips, which have a little color, it's slightly darker.

I think all four of the shades I purchased are fabulous. I would recommend these lip pencils to everyone. They are gorgeous colors, have a perfect amount of shine, and feel great on my lips. Their color is long-lasting too.

You can purchase them at the NARS Web site, Sephora, and at your NARS counter now. I bought my first two at Sephora and my second two at Neiman Marcus.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS

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NARS Calanque Eyeshadow Trio

I was prepared to love the NARS Calanque Eyeshadow Trio ($45), introduced with the Spring 2011 Collection. It's a trio of sun-washed, neutral shades that NARS told us could be mixed and matched to supply a limitless range of sophisticated eye looks. "Each is rich and blends effortlessly."

I ordered it the moment it was available, and I admired it when it arrived. It wasn't until I started playing with it that I realized it wasn't love.

NARS describes the three shades this way. On the left, there's a gold-infused platinum with silver flecks. In the center is a light, matte caramel. On the right, a rich, antique bronze completes the look. My photo at right is truer to the shades than the NARS photo above. Forget the little NARS color swatches.

The bronze and caramel shades in the trio are very pretty. Had this been a duo, I would be raving about it. I like the two shades. You can see them on my arm below - the top two shades.

Unfortunately, the "gold-infused platinum" is fairly useless. It has no color. It lays down a sheer sparkle and nothing else. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator, and I took my photo indoors in morning sun. The sponge-tipped applicator should have punched up the color. It didn't. So, I swiped my finger across the platinum shade, and what I learned was disappointing. There is no color, just an uneven, crumbly sparkle - seriously uneven. I couldn't even get a finger pad photo. Then I went and got a shadow brush. It was worse. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the platinum shadow to leave an even application of color on my skin (and it was even harder on my eyelid). That means that 40% of the trio is relatively useless, unless you want to struggle to apply a sparkly sheen evenly on your eyelid. I have better uses for my time.

So, as much as I love NARS, the Calanque Eyeshadow Trio gets a mediocre grade from me. I know it's hot, but I can't recommend that you purchase it. Definitely don't do it sight unseen. There are so many gorgeous neutral shadows available, why spend $45 on one that doesn't please?

Don't take my word for it. Wait for it to arrive at NARS counters and take a look. Please let me know what you think.

Photo at top courtesy of NARS

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