Eyes: Le Metier de Beaute Capitol Kaleidoscope

I was born and raised practically inside the Beltway, so I've always been a DC girl at heart. Le Metier de Beaute Capitol Kaleidoscope, designed by Michael Reinhardt of Neiman Mazza to celebrate the city's savoir faire, just might be the new centerpiece of my makeup collection.

The colors are fresh and sophisticated at the same time. Michael was at the counter when I came in to pick up my preorder, and he demonstrated how he would layer the kaleidoscope on me.

First he applied the top shade over my eyelid. The result was a soft pink matte that instantly brightened up my face. The second shade, a peachy rose champagne with a slight shimmer, went over this. The real star of this kaleidoscope is the third shade -- a glorious shimmering copper-gold taupe.

Michael applied a bit to the eyelid and inner corner, then swept a thick arc along the orbit. This created a pronounced shadow effect, even though the shade itself is so bold and shimmery. The final shade looks like a scary aubergine in the pan, but becomes very subtle on the skin. Perhaps too subtle, as I found myself peering into the mirror in an attempt to find the purple. The overall effect was pitch perfect, though. Michael applied the fourth shade loosely to the bottom half of my eyelid, and along the outer half of the lower lash line.

He finished the look off with Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Aubergine. And . . . that was it. No eye liner. No primer. Nothing along the brow bone, or on the brow for that matter. He took his fresh and sophisticated colors, and created a fresh and sophisticated eye.

For my cheeks, he used Radiance Powder Rouge in Whisper. The pale, luminous pink looked almost invisible in the pan, but on my face it turns into a lovely, just-right blush and highlighter. Whisper is next on my must-get list.

Also on the list now is Sheer Brilliance Gloss in Cap D'Antibes. I came in wearing Guerlain Rouge G in Gisele on my lips, and instead of removing it Michael simply swiped the frosty pearl-pink gloss across the center of my lips. It cooled down Gisele and transformed it into a stunning pearlescent rose. Unfortunately, I went shopping and dining afterward and the color mostly faded, so I didn't bother taking a close-up for you.

Back to the Capitol Kaleidoscope: both Best Things in Beauty and When a Door Closes ... have excellent, and in fact superior, swatches.

I love the approach Michael took with his kaleidoscope. He brought out the gold-green in my eyes beautifully. I'm going to have a lot of fun experimenting with the gorgeous colors of the Capitol Kaleidoscope.

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