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.

fin

RMS Beauty lip2cheek in Rapture

RMS Beauty lip2cheek in Rapture is aptly named. I'm in raptures over it.

This was my first taste of the ultra-organic makeup line by Rose-Marie Swift, and I'm kicking myself only for waiting so long. I had to order sight and touch unseen.

The product is packaged in a sturdy squat glass jar that comes inside a charming white cardboard box. On the back of both the box and the jar itself is the complete ingredient list, of which Xiao from Messy Wands has an excellent close-up.

Touching my finger for the first time to the surface of the cream, I was not quite sure what to expect. Would I have to dig in? Just what would the texture be like? How much of a color payoff would there be? The answers turned out to be: not at all, smooth and creamy, and intense. I felt like I was applying a rich lip balm, the way the color glided easily onto my lips, but the cream also gave me the control and precision of a lip stain. A little goes an extremely long way. I pressed my finger to the surface three times (you can see the slight indentation I made in the jar shot above) and built up thick layers of saturated red. And what a saturated red it is. 

Rapture is described as a "rich deep brown based red suitable for all skin tones." This is spot on. Rapture leans toward brick red, but still can function as a true red. While bold red lipsticks are notorious for being temperamental, RMS Beauty has come out with a product that makes it almost effortless for you to apply and maintain a dramatic red lip. There is absolutely no bleeding or feathering, and over the hours Rapture mellows down to more of a stained red. I was able to wear this dramatic color on a bare face without any other makeup. I test-drove Rapture through a full dinner, and it faded evenly while avoiding both chapped lip lines and that dreaded "ring of death." I have only one caveat to give: as long as it's layered up on your lips, Rapture will transfer to anything and everything. The necks of water bottles, white mugs, napkins, other people's lips, your fingers. But you'll continue to look great, and isn't that the important part?

  
Rapture is called a lip2cheek, but I have yet to test it on my cheekbones. I'm having a hard time imagining how I'd pull off a brick-red blush. Perhaps I could take Xiao's cue and do an ironic china doll face, but I don't think I have the bone structure for that! RMS Beauty also suggests that, "used sparingly," Rapture "intensifies one's natural lip color." That sounds perfect for me and my ghastly pale lips; a smidgen of product should bring a healthy flush to my lips for the winter.

Xiao also sadly reports that RMS Beauty plans to discontinue Rapture. What? I need to stockpile backups, and you need to try this color before it goes away.

fin

Sunday's Mask: Honey Girl Organics Rejuvenating Mask

Sunday night often finds me indulging in an at-home facial. It's how I mark the end of the weekend while tricking myself into relaxing for the dreaded Monday morning. But then I also like to do a couple of masks in the middle of the week. Really, I'm just addicted to facials. Of course I ought to start a weekly feature on my favorite masks.

The star of this inaugural post is Honey Girl Organics Rejuvenating Mask.

A honey mask? was my first reaction when I saw this jar on the shelves of my co-op. Well, it makes sense. Honey is good for you when eaten, and royal jelly has long been recognized for its rich skin-boosting nutrients. Indeed, I've used moisturizers that contain royal jelly; I just never thought of slathering it on my face as a mask. I picked the jar up for a bit over $25.

Honey Girl Organics is a line that utilizes organic raw honey and other bee-based products from Hawaii. According to its copy, the Rejuvenating Mask enhances collagen production and stimulates new cell growth. It softens and moisturizes while providing the skin with the nutrition it needs to look and feel its best. The ingredient list almost fits on the fingers of one hand: organic raw honey, French green clay, organic diatomaceous earth, Hawaiian blue green algae, royal jelly, propolis.

I gave the mask a try last week, and was delighted.

First, the mask is a bit tricky to apply. The directions advise you to leave your skin slightly moist, because the consistency of the product itself is so sticky. I over-dried my face slightly, and found it difficult to spread the product evenly all over. Eventually, I managed it.

The stuff looks like something out of a green smoothie, doesn't it? The smell is very strong: a sickly-sweet mixture of honey and algae, but after a couple of minutes it dries down to a pleasant honey scent. Following the directions, I left the mask on for fifteen minutes (and marveled at how horrifying I looked with slick green goop on my face) then washed it off with lukewarm water. The mask came off easily, and I could feel granules rubbing against my skin.

The result was clear, soft, plump skin. My pores were cleared out, and that slight wrinkle above my left eyebrow had utterly vanished. Most amazingly, my naso-labial folds appeared significantly shallower. It was as if someone had come along and filled them in. I can name perhaps only two other products that have accomplished such a thing, and both cost considerably more than $25.

The next day, my skin felt and looked even better. Honey Girl Organics has made a convert out of me. Their Rejuvenating Mask is one of the best facials I have come across, dollar for dollar. Honey truly is a miracle ingredient from nature.

fin