Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler

I've been using the ubiquitous Shu Uemura eyelash curler ever since I got over my mortal fear of these contraptions. It was never the most comfortable thing in the world and required some maneuvering but the results were pretty. The Shu curler felt better in my hand than several others I've tried over the years, even if I'm quite sure its designer didn't have the shape of my eyes in mind when engineering it.

Now that Shu Uemura has left our shores, Le Metier de Beaute is stepping up and bringing us their own version of an eyelash curler, and like everything they do, it's excellent. Amy from Cafe Makeup has an extensive side-by-side comparison of the two curlers, so I won't repeat it here since I pretty much agree with every word. The Le Metier curler fits my eyes better and requires far less fiddling. The rubber padding is more cushy and feels gentler while providing excellent curling. Just as Amy said, it works exactly as an eyelash curler should. Funny how we (or I, at least) stopped expecting that ages ago.

I've been using mine for about a month now and it's the best one I've come across. It's important to remember that it's all about compatibility of the curler to an individual eye shape. I have roundish deep-set eyes and the Le Metier is the first eyelash curler that never causes me any pinching or pulling and gets most of my fringe in one attempt (that alone is golden).

Bottom Line: Shu who?

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler is available at Bergdorf Goodman. Other locations are due to have it in December. I received mine from Dustin, the rockstar of Bergdorf.

Top image of Uma Thurman curling her lashes from the now defunct Fabulon website.
All other photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Anamorphic Lash Mascara

One of the very first Le Metier de Beaute products I tested was their Anamorphic Mascara in Jade. Its quality caught my attention immediately, as did their use of color. Here was a black-based green that was dark enough to be a functional mascara and not make my lashes look weird and dusty (a problem with most mainstream brands colored mascaras), but still have enough green tint to brighten my eyes and bring out their color. Since then I've had my makeup done several times by Le Metier people who used Aubergine on my lashes (it's gorgeous and I really need to get one), so I had to add Midnight to my blue mascara quest.

Like the other Le Metier de Beaute colored mascaras, Midnight is black-based, so the lashes are darkened enough to stand out. The blue shade is beautiful and brightens the eye area without looking too obvious. It has a somewhat glossy finish, but again, the result is not overly done and works very well with a soft neutral eye. As far as quality goes, this mascara is top notch- it provides good volume, a little extra length, separation and definition with no clumps or smudges. It stays in place until I go after it with a makeup remover and doesn't require extra effort for cleanup.

Bottom Line: Yes, it's that good.

Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara ($34) in Midnight and other colors is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and now also Nordstrom Online. Overseas you can find it at Selfridges, among other locations.

All photos are mine.

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream

A couple of years ago someone came up with the idea to sell press-on makeup. It was mostly for eye shadows, I think, and contained stenciled pre-blended colors you had to press on your eye lids to transfer the color pattern. I couldn't get why one would want to use something like that- obviously these things weren't tailored to anyone's specific needs, face and individual features. My only guess was that some people were simply too lazy to do the brush work, and as such they deserved exactly what they got.

Obviously, Magic Luster Cream from Le Métier de Beauté is made for the exact opposite type of makeup user. Those who love to play with color and texture, blend and create new options from what they have on hand would absolutely love Magic.

What it does: Mixing Magic Luster Cream with any powder-based product turns it into a glossy substance. It means that you can turn blushes into lip glosses, eye shadows into cream blushes and bronzers and make your own cream/gel eye shadows.

How to do it: I practiced and played with it a while and decided I like best to put a drop of magic on my wrist or any washable surface and then drop the pigmented product next to it and bring them together gradually with a brush. In the photos above I used one of the shadows in  Le Metier De Beaute Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from last spring. It becomes a gorgeous lip color and stays on beautifully.

Dustin from  Le Metier De Beaute, who is quite magical by himself, suggests to use Magic Luster Cream straight on the face as a highlighter to give it a dewy finish.

Bottom Line: It should come in family size packaging (I'm already on my second pot).

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream ($24) is available from select department stores worldwide and nordstrom.com.

Photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish Fall 2010- La Belle Epoque,

The fall items from Le Metier de Beaute Fall 2010 collection are at the counters starting today. While the star is naturally the Le Cirque Eye Kit Kaleidoscope, this little gem of a nail polish is just marvelous. I know that some scoff at these mini bottles at full price. But so far the quality of every Le Metier de Beate nail polish I've bought or received has been top notch, and as someone who keeps changing nail colors and hasn't finished a bottle since 2005, I prefer the smaller amount.

Dynamique is one of four Le Metier de Beaute Le Belle Epoque shades for fall. The other ones are Noble Passion (a blushing nude),  High Wire (platinum), Magic at Dusk (blue, described in the press materials as "sophisticated"). This one is dark blood red, a bit on the goth side and as perfect as they come. I find that the first coat goes on too streaky, since the formula is thinner than I'm used to, but the second coat applies impeccably and when I have time and patience for a third one I get the full effect. Dynamique is an evening shade, and I have every intention to wear it next week for a couple of events.

Bottom Line: Not just for vamps.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish ($15) is available at Bergdorf Goodman and other select department stores worldwide. I received a press sample from the company.

Le Metier de Beaute at Nordstrom and Julie Hewett Sale- Online Shopping News

Enabling ahead!

Best news of the week: Le Metier de Beaute is now available online from Nordstrom. The color swatches are better than the ones on Neiman and Bergdorf sites, so that's a real upgrade. They have everything, from the miracle that is Peau Vierge to LMdB superb makeup brushes. Especially worth noting: the Face Kaleidoscope. It has everything you need- powder, highlighter, bronzer and the gorgeous Echo blush in one palette. I have most of these items separately, but having them in one kit is even better. I actually wish I had it right now- I have some traveling coming up and this would be perfect.

Many of you emailed me lately asking what was going on with Julie Hewett. The web site is back, everything seems to be in stock and there's quite a bit to explore. Julie Hewett has great red lipsticks for just about anyone- including those who are scared of red. I love her cream cheek colors and the Hue Colour in Newsprint Bleu has been a staple in my makeup wardrobe for ages. There's also a little sale going on until the 7th: 25% off on Bijou lipstick in Jacqueline (sheer fuchsia) and Duo Blush Palette in Carmine/Coral. Use code SSA2010 at checkout.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid

Let's start with the bad part. Peau Vierge, the magical tinted moisturizer from Le Metier de Beaute costs an arm, a leg and $125 (1 oz). Yes. Now, with that out of the way we can continue.

A few months ago in a meeting with the Le Metier de Beaute team it was hard not to notice all of them- office people and beauty specialists, men and women- were sporting a particularly great complexion. I asked what they were doing and wearing and the answer was the same- Peau Vierge. All of them had a story of what this treatment/tint has done for them, and I was impressed.

Peau Vierge sits on the line between makeup and skincare, and I guess that's why the price is so high. It has a high percentage of active ingredients including retinol, and uses a unique technology that claims to improve the efficiency of said active ingredients. I tend to be skeptical of the scientific babble on cosmetics boxes, but I do trust my eyes. My eyes are telling me that this stuff works.

According to Le Metier de Beaute's makeup artists you're not supposed to use a primer underneath Peau Vierge- it's an active skincare treatment, after all. Hearing that made me twitch a little. I've been priming my face religiously for years now and have come to expect my makeup to stay in place no matter what. But PV contains dimethicone, which is the main ingredient in many primers, so I guess they really thought about everything. It also contains SPF 20, which is a nice bonus.

As a foundation alternative Peau Vierge is a serious overachiever. I'm rarely happy with tinted moisturizers, but this one is just as good as my holy grail Chanel Vitalumier. It evens out imperfections and gives a decent light-to-medium coverage. I was highly impressed with the way it looked from the very first use, and was very surprised to see how well it holds even without a primer, as long as I set it with a good finishing powder. Still, when facing hellish weather and high water I reach for a primer first, especially if I need my makeup to hold from morning to night. The finished look is not exactly luminous, because the face looks natural and there's no artificial shimmer or glow. That's why it's so male-friendly. I saw PV on a man and you'd never be able to tell he was wearing anything. Yet, the light diffusing pigments are doing something- everyone's skin looks brighter and very even.

Peau Vierge only comes in two colors- light/medium and medium/dark. I use the light/medium as does everyone I asked from the Le Metier team, despite the very wide range of skin tone and ethnicity. However, a makeup artist experimented a  little with my face and showed me how by blending a little of the darker shade with concealer you can get some serious coverage and a flawless skin. I often buy two sades of face products and blend them together to perfection. However, at $125 a pop I'm sticking to one shade. It's more than good enough.

After using Peau Vierge for several months I can see a difference. Of course, I'm also a skincare zealot and employ other big guns, so it's impossible to attribute everything to just one product. But even as "just" an incredible base for my daily makeup this is one of the best products I've ever used. I received my first bottle from the company but have bought another one since then, so if you ask me "Is it really worth it?", my answer is emphatically "yes". However, I definitely understand how the price would keep many far away, especially if their skin case concerns are different.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, online and in store.

Photo by Paul Robinson- myvintagevogue.com

Le Metier de Beaute Bella Bronzer Liquid Illuminator for Face & Body

I'm taking a short break from talking about fall collections in favor of a very summery product, Le Metier de Beaute Bella Bronzer Liquid Illuminator for Face & Body. It's a sheer bronzer in liquid form that adds both color and a shimmery glow, making Bella great choice for evening.

The bottle resided in my bronzer drawer for several weeks, mocking me and my fear of orange every time I reached for my safe comfort zone products. As you can see in the photos, it looks scarily dark until you actually spread the liquid and blend it into your skin and base makeup. It's a lot easier to control than I thought it would be and even the shimmer is not over the top, though I still consider it a night on the town look. The best thing: not a hint of orange. Le Metier de Beaute really knows skin and this bronzer works with my natural tone and enhances it. I look like I just got back from the most fabulous vacation, not as though I'm possessed by Dina Lohan.

The texture of Bella Bronzer is light and moisturizing. It has no greasiness and doesn't give me an oily shine. It contains coconut oil and definitely smells of it, so you need to take that into account if it can be an issue for you. I've found that the level of color can be built and also diluted if I mix it with a liquid moisturizer (so if you're very fair this might be something you'll need to do- Bella might be too brown for you right out of the bottle). I've experienced no skin issues, but I've only been using it two to three times a week, so I can't comment on the effects of constant heavy application.

Bella Bronzer looks very nice when used on the body. I like it on my décolleté but I'm always worried about staining my clothes, so my favorite use for Bella is on my pale green legs. Bronzed legs make cute little dresses that much cuter, so Bella has been earning its keep in that department. The moisturizing qualities (it also contains aloe vera and wild carrot extract) helped me go light with the lotion on some muggy nights, so that's a great bonus.  I wish the scent was lighter, though. I love coconut (as does my cat Peter who insists on trying to lick the bronzer), but it doesn't mix well with some of my favorite perfumes.

Bottom Line: Nice to have.

Le Metier de Beaute Bella Bronzer Liquid Illuminator for Face & Body ($85) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in store and online. I received a press sample from the PR team.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Le Cirque Kaleidoscope Eye Kit Fall 2010

As promised, here are the photos, swatches and reviews of one the best fall 2010 releases, Le Metier de Beaute Le Cirque Kaleidoscope Eye Kit. Is it the color combination? the finish? the way they all blend together to create a flattering and elegant look? It's all of the above, really, combined with high quality and Le Metier's way of creating pigments that are almost sheer but very visible and identifiable.

As always, the eye shadows can be used separately. However, applying them layered in the order they come (top to bottom), using smaller amounts of the darkest color while getting closer to the lash line and blending is what gives the prettiest and most polished results: no color screams at you, but there's a lot of depth and definition.

Flamboyantes, the shimmering stone color, is great for highlighting and dabbing in the inner corner of the eye. But I often skip it when going for a casual daytime look in favor of a simple nude eye shadow that opens up the eye area with less drama. The way to apply the other shades depends on the shape of your eye, crease and lid. It's impossible to give one-size-fits-all directions, because we all have different needs. My eyes are big, deep-set with a very visible upper lid. I apply Spectacle from the lashes up to just above the crease (in a half circle shape) and blend it upwards, then Enrichssant  in the crease and Dynamique just above the lash line and wing it a outwards. Because Spectacle and Enrichssant aren't too dark, the look is especially flattering for my eye shape. Those who need to darken things in the crease would blend more Dynamique into the other colors. That's exactly what makes Le Metier de Beaute's Kaleidoscopes so great- they work with minor adjustments for just about anyone.

Over an eye primer, the eye shadows hold without fading or losing vibrancy from morning to night. While the texture is very soft and tends to disintegrates a little in the pan (as you can see in the photos taken after some use), there's no fallout on the face and application is very clean.

Le Metier de Beaute Le Cirque Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) should already be available at Bergdorf Goodman and some Neiman Marcus locations, though not online yet. I'd suggest calling your nearest counter to inquire (Bergdorf also takes phone orders) and the rest of the Fall 2010 collection will be at Bergdorf and Neiman starting September 10th. I received the press sample from the company.

Le Metier de Beaute Le Cirque Fall 2010 Sneak Peek

I haven't swatched or tested these beauties, but wanted to give you a sneak peek into Le Metier de Beaute fall 2010 Le Cirque Collection, because it's so beautiful. I'll do my best to take better pictures for the full review, but in the meantime here are the Le Cirque Eye Kit Kaleidoscope (extra attention to Dynamique- the sapphire blue and Spectacle- the gray/taupe/mauve eye shadows) and Dynamic nail polish.

And here's another one, just because kittens make everything look even better. Giselle didn't let anything disrupt her afternoon nap.

The press samples were provided by the company. They should be available any day now at Bergdorf. Photos and cat are mine

Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss For Summer 2010- Manhattan

This Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Manhattan, a shimmery nude beige, is part of Le Metier de Beaute Endless Summer collection. Regular readers know I don't do beige lips. Ever. But Le Metier is on my shortlist of favorite makeup brands and I'm willing to try anything and everything they produce.

The quality of the Sheer Brilliance glosses is always outstanding. They are rich, hydrating and comfortable on the lips and have a beautiful finish. Manhattan is probably the most beautiful nude color I've come across but I still can't wear it alone. It makes my lips look milky. A good look for a kitten, not so much for a person. But I've been wearing Manhattan regularly over dark lipsticks that could use some toning down for summer. Let's face it, my favorite full coverage plums and burgundies can look a bit out of place on a hot summer morning, and apparently, a shimmery beige gloss was just what I needed.

The shimmer, by the way, is very fine and subtle. It's a little more noticeable over a dark lipstick, but still very office-friendly.

Bottom line: more useful than I expected.

Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss ($32) is available from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Manhattan isn't yet listed online, but that should happen any day now. My press sample was provided by the company.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Blushing Bronzed Duet- Traviata, Romeo & Juliet

It must be summer. Most brands have come up with new and improved bronzers to keep the color in our (well-sunscreened) cheeks. Le Metier de Beaute's latest offering is the multi-tasker Blushing Bronzed Duet. A two-sided and rather large compact that has a blush on one side and a bronzer on the other. They come in two versions, cool and warm, and are oddly named after tragic love stories- Traviata and Romeo & Juliet.

Traviata is the one that has Le Metier de Beaute's gorgeous Echo blush on one side and Sun Kissed bronzer on the other. Thet work well together or alone, and I've been experimenting both with layering them and with swirling the brush over both and using them as a single item that allows you to balance and tailor the color to your exact preference. While the pressed product has a light shimmer, once on skin the effect is more of a subtle sheen or glow, with no obvious shimmer particles.

Romeo & Juliet is the cool version. The blush is a blue-toned pink that looks fresh and natural. I can easily wear it with or without the bronzer, which speaks volumes about the quality of Le Metier de Beaute's pigments. So many of them are universally flattering, plus having such a silky and blendable texture that allows the color to meld with your skin. The intensity can be built up considerably, but I apply both Traviata and Romeo & Juliet with a light hand, blending the colors together just so.

As I said above, the compact is quite large (easy to work with a wide brush) and holds quite a bit of product. This makes the Duet a pretty good deal since the bronzer alone retails for $55 and the blush is priced at $30.

Bottom Line: true love.

Le Metier de Beaute Blushing Bronzed Duet ($65) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.   I received both from the company's PR team.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Radiance Powder Rouge- Echo

My first encounter with Le Metier de Beaute's Echo powder blush was several months ago when the uber-talented Dustin Lujan did my makeup at their Bergdorf Goodman counter and gave me a preview of some of the spring and summer colors. He made my face look naturally glowing, which was a welcome change for a dreary late winter day. After Dustin was done, I was surprised to see the blush he used. Echo looked mighty scary in the pan and much brighter and warmer than anything I'd usually pick. But the color blooming on my cheeks was actually delicate and pretty, so when Echo was finally back in stock I had to get it.

Like all Le Metier de Beaute makeup products, this powder blush is very finely milled and has a soft and blendable texture. The color is sheer when applied with a good brush and a light hand, but can be built if your skin tone is darker.

Echo is an interesting color. It's a very balanced pink/coral that at least on my skin doesn't look orange. The delicate golden shimmer adds warmth without looking shiny or glittery. I swatched using a tiny dense brush so the color would show better in the photos. A good face brush blends the blush better and gives more natural results.

Le Metier de Beaute Radiance Powder Rouge ($30) is available from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. I bought mine online.

All photos are mine. I get super cranky if I find them on other websites.

Le Metier de Beaute Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit

Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit is the star of the Le Metier de Beaute spring collection. It's built on the same principal of the other kaleidoscopes- layering the colors and blending them together until you get the desired effect. The shades featured in Devotion are quite bold and might look scary the first time you see them- mostly because of the contrast between the blue and the two warm ones. But the silky texture allows you to manipulate the pigments and create a very soft effect, which is the key to Le Metier de Beaute sophisticated look.

This video was posted on Le Metier de Beaute's Facebook page and shows how to use two of the colors together:


It might seem weird at first to layer intense colors- we usually blend a stronger shade into a soft neutral- but this is my third Kaleidoscope Eye Kit and it works every time. The result brings out the undertones in your skin and natural color flecks in your eyes and is a lot more flattering than splashes of paint across the lid.

These eye shadows have a very subtle shimmer. It can be intensified if you're piling up, but the palette's strength is in its ability to look understated with just a hint of the color you choose as the center of your look (I tend to go with the blue). Speaking of the blue, I used quite a bit for the swatch so you see just how rich it can be. But in normal application the pigment has a more navy-to-slate appearance because of my skin tone (my lid is significantly darker than my wrist).

I wear the eye shadows over a primer and it holds and looks fresh all day long. The texture is soft but fallout during application is minimal (more from the top two, none from the blue).

Devotion ($95) seems to be sold out online, but some Neiman Marcus stores still have them in stock, so I suggest giving them a call if you're interested. Your local store. I ordered mine online several weeks ago.

All photos by me.