New Year's Eve Face with Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Kaleidoscope

It's not New Year's Eve makeup unless it's shiny and metallic. Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Kaleidoscope might be the kit for the ultimate metallic smoky eye.

All four shades in this limited-edition palette are intensely pigmented with a beautiful burnished finish. The Beauty Look Book has spectacular swatches alongside comparisons. Here I'm going to focus on my replication/interpretation of the video tutorial by Mikey Castillo on Zuneta. Pulling the look into a more dramatic direction ended in a captivating face perfect for evening parties where you want to outshine everyone in the dim, crowded room.

I followed most of the video tutorial's steps, tweaking a couple of them. First I drew Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eye Pencil in Noir along the waterline and the upper lash line, then used a fingertip to smear the black over the lower half of the eyelid. From that point on, it was simply a matter of layering all four shades, top to bottom, onto the eyelid. I was careful not to go beyond the crease since these colors really are pigmented. Layered, they morph into a refined, grown-up metallic brown.

The video tutorial suggested softening the black-lined waterline by also applying some shades along the bottom lash line. I applied all four, and the compression meant a darker color. So I went back and added more of the final shade, a deep gunmetal color, along the outer edge of the eye. I was pleased by the resulting gradient. In doing the eyes, my goal was to keep everything close to the lash lines and not to let anything migrate upward. In other words, stay horizontal: there's enough drama going on already with the metallics.

My upper lashes received definition from Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Black, then I moved on to the rest of the face. I tried out RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Promise along the cheekbones, and instantly fell in love with the shimmering salmon shade. It brings so much light and warmth, it's positively luminous.

My lips turned out unnecessarily complicated, for I lacked the medium rose shade shown in the video tutorial. I did have NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Transeurope Express, though, which is a deep almost-red rose. I applied a couple of layers, blotted, and then layered on top Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in Creme Caramel. The latter's frosty finish was too metallic, so I had to throw on a third layer: Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Cannes. Phew.

  

This look can easily be turned up or down by intensifying or de-intensifying the Bauhaus eye shades, and by switching around lip and cheek colors. My own interpretation is admittedly over the top, but I figure I have the bone structure to pull it off. And the little black dress, and the heels . . .

Have a wonderful Happy New Year's Eve, everyone.

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Face, featuring Le Metier de Beaute On the Coast Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute On the Coast Kaleidoscope, a limited edition made exclusively for Saks, has been the object of a great deal of drama, but at the end of the day it creates a lovely look for the eyes.

Applying the shades, I followed Perilously Pale's recommendation: first shade on lid, brow bone, and inner corner; second shade on lid only; third shade in crease; and fourth shade on lashline, blended upward, and extended into a V at the outer corner (the final move, I didn't quite pull off). Before all of that, I lined my eyes and inner rim with Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eye Pencil in Champagne, as well as smudging it on the lid as a base. I also lined the outer bottom half of my eyes with the first two shades, then with the blue shade. I restricted the third, rust-colored shade to the crease because using the "couches de couleur" method would have resulted in a violet color (swatches). As beautiful as this would have been, I wanted to see how I would look in a straight-up blue eye. It turns out that I've been avoiding blue eyeshadow for nothing.

This is the artistry and genius of Le Metier de Beaute. Their colors look good on anyone, anywhere, anytime. The look I did resulted in a elegant yet vibrant mix of cool blue and warm wheat.

For the rest of my face, I decided to create some contrast by going with coral. After all, blue and orange are opposite one another on the color wheel, are they not? Guerlain Terracotta Blush Sun Shimmer in Spicy Coral warmed up my cheeks beautifully. Contrary to appearances, this shade is not too orange for the fair-skinned. In fact, Guerlain specifically designated Spicy Coral for brunettes, while the Sunny Pink shade is meant for blondes (the latter can be seen in my look for the Devotion Kaleidoscope).

My lips gained a pop of color from NARS Sheer Lipstick in Beautiful Liar, an amazing deep shimmery red-coral. It is hardly sheer, however, and I had to blot the color down before applying Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lipgloss in Orange Juiced.

My lashes received Dior Diorshow Mascara in Mitzah, and I kept my face base light by simply layering Rodin Olio Lusso under Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer in 04 Agent. I think the final look would be perfect for a warm summer evening. (Ignore my wool sweater, we had a frost advisory last weekend.)

I did not take photos, but I found that I really liked wearing On the Coast with glasses. The eyeshadows reflect so much light that they grab attention even from behind dark frames. This is a versatile palette that can go all the way from barely-there nude to a deep gleaming smoky look. Drama aside, On the Coast is a wonderful all-around kaleidoscope.

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NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick

Scores of women have declared NARS Dolce Vita their MLBB (My Lips But Better) shade, and I'm one of them.

As a lipstick, Dolce Vita is such a simple concept. It's a sheer dusty rose that instantly pulls together any look.

For comparison, below are my bare lips.

My lips naturally contain very little pigment, and I can't leave the house without putting a bit of color on them first. Dolce Vita is perfect for when I want to look warm and polished without being too obvious about wearing lipstick.

Another comparison, the first one bare and the second one with Dolce Vita. A big difference, isn't it?

I have a very large lipstick wardrobe, and this shade sees the most use. It's always in my bag.

NARS Dolce Vita is like a classic neutral cashmere sweater: lovely and timeless.

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Lips: NARS Niagara

I despise Daylight Savings Time, but I must admit today does feel like the first day of spring. The sun was out, the air was mild and fresh, and I was able to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. To mark the occasion, I tried out NARS Niagara. It's definitely a spring/summer color.

A bright, deep pink with a dash of coral, Niagara makes your lips pop. It's a bit too warm for me, actually, at least right after my winter hibernation. I imagine it would look gorgeous with a summer tan and a bit of bronzer.

Direct sunlight.

The formula is one of the smoothest and most emollient from NARS that I've tried: it is a delight to swipe across the lips. Lasting power is good, and it fades to a strong stain. Despite its boldness, Niagara is a low-maintenance color. Again, perfect for those summer days at the beach.

In the shade, because I kept squinting in the sunlight..

NARS Niagara is an easy, happy lip color.

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Lips: NARS Rouge Basque

I got NARS Rouge Basque just for the name, and was delighted to find that it straddles both of my favorite red families: wine and brick.

The wine in this shade makes Rouge Basque dramatic, while the brick undertone makes it daytime. It's a pretty nifty balancing act. Part of the trick is the satin finish, which gives the dark color a lustrous softness.

There is absolutely no slip to Rouge Basque, and it applies easily.

You may have to root around a bit to dig up a tube of this limited-edition shade, but in my view NARS Rouge Basque is quite worth it.

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Lips: NARS Casablanca

The Pantone color of spring 2012 is tangerine, so this seems like a good time to pull out my swatches of NARS Casablanca.

I took these last summer, when it felt appropriate to walk around with orange lips. And NARS Casablanca certainly is orange, or more accurately and according to the website, a "classic, full-bodied coral." The saturated shade contains a hint of peach to make it more wearable by fairer gals like myself. I can see this color being stunning on darker skin.

Pardon the shadow.

Strangely, I feel like Casablanca could almost work as a bright neutral on me. It's a look-at-me color, no doubt about it, but NARS lipsticks seem to be formulated with a lightness that prevents even the most dramatic shades from taking over the face completely. This particular shade belongs to the satin finish family, so it is moisturizing and has a sheen, though it still is very opaque. After several hours, Casablanca fades to a pretty stain. I like it bold, however.

NARS Casablanca is a gorgeous retro coral.

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Lips: NARS Bilbao

NARS Bilbao totally strokes my sweet spot for edgy neutrals.

Described as a "shimmering topaz," Bilbao is a warm mauve-beige in the brown family with a frosty finish. As odd as that sounds, it works.

I think Bilbao would be amazing with spring's Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic, incidentally.

Plus, I'm a huge Frank Gehry fangirl.

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Lips: NARS Mayflower

Yesterday I said NARS Funny Face was the first swatch I posted. It wasn't the first swatch I took, however. That honor goes to NARS Mayflower.

Something you need to know about me first. I am a dramatic lipstick sort of gal. Nudes and pinks leave me unmoved while I salivate over difficult orange-reds and impractical fuchsias. Yet Mayflower was one of the first lipsticks I picked up from NARS (after, true to form, Heat Wave and Schiap). Being a history geek, I chose it more for its name than its color, but I turned out to be pleasantly surprised.

Mayflower is a pretty, girlish, and easy but not shallow, pink: it has hints of mauve and loads of gold shimmer. Because the color is so subtle, it can be repurposed as a nude. At the same time, the gold flecks warm up the lips and light up the face. Sheer and unfussy, Mayflower is the quintessential lipstick for spring and summer.

One especially lovely feature of NARS Mayflower is the gorgeous, fresh sheen it lends to the lips. It's best seen in natural lighting, as below:

This second close-up, taken in partial shade, also demonstrates the blue-leaning cool pinkness of Mayflower. The gold shimmer works as a counterbalance, making this lipstick a very versatile color. On me, it's nearly MLBB.

In my book, most nudes and pinks are boring. NARS Mayflower, on the other hand, most certainly is not.

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Lips: NARS Afghan Red

Christmas for my family is a low-key affair in which we just open gifts and hang around the house, so yesterday I wore comfortable black leggings under a voluminous white sweater. I had to dress up my lips, however, and I went with one of my favorite standbys, NARS Afghan Red.

Yes, that is a gray streak in my hair. It appeared in college!

I don't know why this lipstick doesn't get more love from bloggers. The only full review and swatch (titled "Unsung Heroes," incidentally) I can find is on the Makeup and Beauty Blog. Other bloggers are missing out, as Afghan Red is a beautiful and effortless garnet.

The finish is a creamy satin, and it goes on like a dream. Afghan Red is not a true red, but a very pink-leaning cherry, which makes it extremely flattering on a wide range of skin tones. It's a classy-casual red that you can dress either up or down.

Easy, versatile, and gorgeous, NARS Afghan Red has earned a place as my workhorse red lipstick.

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Lips: NARS Russian Doll

NARS Russian Doll is precisely the sort of lipstick I imagine on pale Slavic models marching down the runway of a moody fashion show, blond hair slicked back in severe buns.

The color is hard to describe. One wants to call it a plum-brown, even though it's too dark for a plum and actually contains no brown tones at all. A plum-wine, perhaps. NARS calls it a "true boysenberry," which works as well as anything else.

Russian Doll is not as unforgiving as it could be due to its satin finish. The slightly pale sheen and the intense dark color creates an intriguing tension. I continued the theme by pairing the lip with a white sweater, which made it wearable as a daytime winter look. I can see it also being a rather stunning lip color to wear out to a nightclub with an Ann Demeulemeester ensemble.

Russian Doll has good lasting power, though like most NARS lipsticks I have tried, it has no chance against a meal. Because the finish is satin, it has some slip and you have to take some care not to let it migrate beyond the lip edge, especially around the corners of the mouth. You can fade out the center of the mouth and darken the edges to create a beautiful ombre effect.

NARS Russian Doll may appear impossible in the tube, but it turns out to be an attractive avant-garde plum.

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