Le Métier de Beauté Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick - Palm Springs Review & Swatches

In my recent whirlwind introduction into the world of Le Métier de Beauté, I decided on what to buy while on the phone talking to the celebrated LMdB National Makeup Artist, Erin Lockard who was texting me swatches as we spoke on the phone. I described the colors that I loved and wore, and this supremely gifted artist picked the perfect assortment of colors for me, I mean the perfect colors for me!! Among the lipstick colors that Erin selected was Palm Springs- which is part of the Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick range.

Le Métier de Beauté describes their Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick range as, " A unique combination of vibrant color lip stain and healthful moisturizer in one. Creates that coveted “just-bitten” natural flush of a lip-stain, while the unique emollient-rich, hydrating, moisture-stain formula delivers essential replenishment and voluptuous full coverage color to lips. It’s non-cracking and long-wearing, with the lasting power of color stain, and won’t bleed or feather into fine lines around the lips. Lip-loving moisturizers include jojoba, lanolin and shea butter to keep lips soft and supple—for a velvety lip texture, with a silky finish." I really couldn't have described it better myself.

Palm Springs is a gorgeous light blue-based pink with just the faintest tinge of a mauvey purple hue at the base. What makes it really sparkle is that it includes a very subtle golden shimmer that really gives the lips a gorgeous complexity, and an unmistakable glow. The coverage is opaque with an understated frost finish, but it is subtle and elegant thereby befitting a pink-loving adult instead of a 9th grader (though this would be beautiful on a makeup-loving teenager as well).

In keeping with the subtlety found in this formula, it sits rather quietly on the lips without lots of flash and fanfare, and it imparts a healthy glow rather than a less-than-subtle shine. The formula is long-lasting and moisturizing, and it has the requisite amount of cushion that makes it irresistibly comfortable on the lips. There is a certain updated 1960s kittenish pink aspect to Palm Springs that makes me want to wear a pronounced winged black liner with this gorgeous shade. While that combination is immensely flattering, it should be noted that this color is very versatile and is just as happy with a smokey eye, or no makeup at all!

The packaging itself is a very modern and chic ribbed lipstick tube that is rubberized much like the packaging from NARS. It is easily gripped and feels very comfortable in the hand, and as nice as it is-- the real star is what's inside the tube.

I did have a malfunction with this particular tube- in that the lid was a little too snug, and when I opened it my lipstick, which must have been loose to begin with, shot out of the tube like a cannonball and made a bit of a mess when it landed on my desk. This explains why the lipstick looks a little worse for wear in my close-up pictures.

Overall assessment: A fantastic formula and the color offers the perfect pink pout! Erin definitely picked the perfect pink for me!

$32.00 0.13 oz. From Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman and Cusp. (Affiliate links)

Youngblood Lipstick in Blushing Nude (Fall 2012 Pre-Release)- Swatches & Review

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics posits, "Get gorgeous lips with our colorful range of luxurious lipsticks. The lanolin-free formula contains a special blend of natural oils and vitamins. Stays fresh-looking for hours." Youngblood points out that while their lipstick formulas are long-wearing that they are not color-stay lipsticks because "Currently, color-stay ingredients can be drying and have not met Youngblood's formulary requirements. However, select shades of our Lipstick are highly pigmented to provide a staining effect." (source)

About Youngblood and their noble beliefs: "Health for the sake of beauty" is undoubtedly their motto, and caring about the health of their customers without sacrificing the luxury of high-end cosmetics is a goal that they have amply achieved.  Youngblood suggests that, "All mineral cosmetics are not created equal. Since Youngblood was originally developed with leading doctors and for use in a medical setting, you can trust our formulations are the very finest available."

All photographs taken outside in varying degrees of sun.

Blushing Nude Lipstick is part of the new Fall 2012 Collection that is about to launch, and let me just say that the nude lip lovers among you will want to get your hands on this beautiful lipstick. It is a gorgeous pink caramel beige nude that can be sheered out to a barely there tint of color, but it is a buildable formula that easily offers more opaque coverage. It has a very creamy consistency and the perfect amount of cushion to make your lips feel comfortable and moist. I like wearing this all by itself, however the color is sufficiently complex that a cool pink lip liner pulls out the cooler hues, whereas a warmer honey-toned lip liner warms causes it to pull warm. While I'm not a proponent one size shade fits all, generally, I do think that this particular color morphs itself sufficiently to appeal to both warmer and cooler skin tones. The level of pigmentation naturally occurring in your lips will certainly determine the extent to which this lovely shade imparts the highly sought after natural nude effect, but I do think that this color will appeal to a wide variety of people. One thing that I am particularly pleased about is that this is a fragrance free lipstick with no detectable taste or smell. Fragrance in lipsticks often make cough- so this is a welcome relief! I also have found that I get about 3-4 hours of wear time with normal use (talking, drinking, eating non-oily/greasy foods). According to Youngblood, "rich, creamy color conditions lips with a blend of natural oils and minerals" which sums it up perfectly.

Paraben Free, Lanolin Free & Cruelty Free!
Overall assessment: This is a fantastic formula, a gorgeous color, and a healthy line that is Paraben Free, Lanolin Free, and Cruelty Free. What's not to love!! If you are looking for a healthier alternative to some of the other lipsticks in your stash, then I urge you to take the time to investigate this line. If this isn't a "you" color then click here to see the other shades available.
$19.00 (.14 oz/4 g) from Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics. Click here to locate a Youngblood retailer near you.
*PR Sample provided for review. As always, opinions are 100% my  own.

Swatch Art: A Postomodern Indulgence Part III

Untitled (Tweezerman Eyelash Curler) (2012)

As I have noted before, this series was born out of happy accidents created by overzealous editing of large high resolution files. This particular image is, to date, the happiest accident that I have encountered in this realm.  These "accidents" appear to be getting more and more conceptual, and often are arguably more interesting looking than what they originally represented. That this image began it's representational life as an eyelash curler is nothing short of miraculous, and any part that I played in its making is merely incidental. Now arguably you can't curl your eyelashes with it, but frankly you weren't able to achieve that task with the two-dimensional approximation that bore a resemblance to real eyelash curler either! 

The Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup for the Week Ending 7/27/12

Here are our favorite posts from this week. Enjoy them, and have a wonderful weekend!

• Bailey, from Making Up the Midwest, isn't done with summer brights and decides to explore some new color launches from the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow collection!
• Retrodiva at Retrodiva's Beauty learns how to take a busted up old palette and salvage it with the help of cute pink Unii case.
• Phyrra gets smoky with the Urban Decay Smoked Palette. Check out her looks!
• BeautyTidbits reviews the new Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus with Antioxidant Complex, a dual-benefit, high performance skincare range for luxurious hydration and antioxidant protection against environmental damage.
• Ashley from Peek Ponder Publish shares her likes and dislikes of the products from this month's Birchbox.
• Join Nancy to see what her favorite and least favorite products are from Illamasqua. She shows us all her Illamasqua products, along with swatches.
• Have you seen the new American Apparel Sheer Nail Lacquers yet? Check out how Jessika from polish insomniac uses them in her latest Syrup Mani!
• New brand alert! Oh So Lacquered reviews a few polishes from an exciting new brand, Pomegranate Lacquer.
• Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shows us another installment of Taupe-Tastic Tuesday. Cargo Yukon is the definition of taupe.
• Emily Hudspeth is Bringing the Beauty to You! This week's styling tutorial shows how I style my hair with hot rollers and how creates a different look from last week's video on styling with a curling iron.
• Midnight Manicures brings you the Zoya NYFW 2012 Diva Collection. Six metallic polishes that are sure to turn a few heads!
• There are nice brands, and there are those she continues to patronize. TheFabZilla shares her Top 3 Liquid Foundations.
• Miss L from Beauty by Miss L tried Garnier BB cream and now shares her thoughts about it.
• Hello Dollface wants you to sun worship the healthy way...with a good sunscreen like this one from Pevonia!
• MixedMama will help bring out the inner animal in you with a simple step by step tutorial on how to achieve gorgeous and fun leopard print nails.
• The Foundation Fairy Series Continues! Pammy Blogs Beauty finds her perfect foundation stick with Pixi's Flawless Beauty Stick!
• Sapphire Kharyzma takes on the ultimate beauty challenge to show readers how to achieve that flawless Golden Goddess Glow.
• Destany from Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom brings coverage from Cosmoprof North America, which was held in Las Vegas earlier this week!
• Can't get enough of holos? Me either. Cosmetics Aficionado reviews Jade Fascinio Violeta, a gorgeous purple holo.
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has made the discovery that Rouge Bunny Rouge's As If It Were Summer Still…Bronzing Glow Liquid Bronzer does not Oxidize or Turn Orange on the Skin- Making it a Delightful Choice for Those with Cool-Toned Skin!
• The Beauty Professor shares her pre-surfing skincare and makeup routine!
• BlushingNoir shows you how to be royal this Fall with the NARS High Society Trio Eyeshadow.
• Geniabeme has a fun blue and purple gradient NOTD using Cult Nails and Sation!
• Blue eyeshadow isn't just an 80's thing with Rouge Bunny Rouge Long-lasting Eye Shadow in Mysterious Tinamou. Swatched by The Stepford Witch.
• Polarbelle talks about what CosmoProf North America is and why she went.
• Beauty Info Zone along with 14 other blogs had a Makeup War. Find out what these lady's picked for their favorite summer lippy.
• Always a sucker for hair products, Christina from Curls N Pearls tried the Puffy Pony this week. Check out her review to see how her Puffy Pony experience panned out.
• French, organic beauty pioneer Melvita has the goods to pamper your whole family from head to toe! Mama Fashionista shares her All Star picks!
• It's holographic polish week at Lit from Within! Check out what she calls the best bang for your buck - holos full of rainbows, with saturated colors, and none of the finickiness!
• Ready for bold summer lips? The Lacquered Lady shows off her favorite summer beauty look.

Zeus, The Strange

Changing the bed linens is always a challenge in our household. It reads as an express invitation to jump, play, wrestle, and sleep on the bare mattress. So we have to try to handle it swiftly like a SWAT Tactical Operation of sorts. Of course our attempts are almost always thwarted by any one of our domestic feline thugs, but this is one of the funnier episodes. As you all surely know by now, Zeus is a kitty contortionist who really needs to join Cirque du Soleil in order for his true talents to be fully realized- one would swear that he hasn't a bone in his body by the way that he continually folds over on himself. This position is so comfortable for him that he often actually sleeps this way. He is a very odd, yet wildly amusing and infinitely lovable, guy.

Swatch Art: A Postmodern Indulgence Part II

Untitled (Rouge Bunny Rouge Cherry Clafoutis) (2012)

As noted in my first installment of my Swatch Art Series, sometimes while editing huge high resolution files happy mistakes come about. The resultant images clearly aren't suitable for the purposes of featuring or reviewing products, but their capacity to morph into what looks like Postmodern art is something that I would naturally find interesting. I now embrace them as happy accidents- rather than frustrating events that slow down the editing process. This is what became of the tube of Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss in Cherry Clafoutis- it seems to be the Deconstruction of the lip gloss-- though I'm sure that Jacques Derrida would not have thought it worthy of contemplation (nor the use of his complex philosophical model to describe a scrambled image of a lip gloss)!

The Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup for the Week Ending 7/27/12- Here are Our Top Picks For This Week!!

• Pinked Polish: Wanna see a fabulous Glitter Gradient look no further!!!!
• Makeup Chronicles:Take advantage of some great deals that ULTA has on Chi Irons, Philosophy, and Bare Minerals...oh and you can save 20% on your entire order!
• Baking Beauty:Does Maybelline's SuperStay Stain gloss really last 10 hours? Click to find out!
• Mama Fashionista: Mama Fashionista shares some great lines from Sally Hansen that will make your nails and your wallet happy!
• Shades Of Beauty, Inc.: PREVIEW: Dickinson's Witch Hazel Skin Care Line
• adore-a-polish: A neat little trick to get more out of your next bath bomb purchase.
• My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura talks about another one of her favorite products on Taupe-tastic Tuesdays. Cargo Yukon is the definition of taupe.
• GlitterPukee: Glitterpukee reviews one of the more interestingly named hair care brands. The sexually charged name of LAID hair care uses Phero-attract technology to keep you on the top of your game and seem more attractive to men. Six pheronomes are at work but..does it work?
• Midnight Manicures: Join Midnight Manicures as Jeanie brings you the latest collections and products through the Tweezerman Ambassador program!
• A Little Polish: Stephanie shows off her Thirst Quenching Pink Lemonade inspried Mani, a great way to cool off this summer!
• Beauty Product Review: Getting tired of having a messy looking Makeup/skincare area? Clean it up with some beauty do-it-yourself tricks and beautify your beauty counter!
• A Frugal Beauty: A Frugal Beauty shows you just how BOLD the I *heart* matte palette from Wet N Wild can be in her The Bold and Beautiful Series: The Bold Look
• Sincerely Stephanie: Wanting to get your hands on Clarins 230 but don't want to pay the price? Check out Darling Diva Polish Ringer instead!
• Très Beau Glamour: Did you know that Piña Coladas are great way to obtain beautiful skin? Nay Denise shares a new beauty secret of hers that will give your complexion a glow, give you a boost of energy and deliver a ton of hydration.
• Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Want a sneak peak of Color Club's upcoming collections? Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom has a preview from Cosmoprof North America 2012!
• Beauty Info Zone: Here's a chance to win two of the great products from Reviva Labs - Light Skin Peel and Seaweed Soap. Learn all about them and enter to win if you are in the US.
• Mani Curiously: Dom tries to go On Safari with China Glaze's newest collection with these beautiful swatches and review!
• Spontaneous Chick: If you're looking for a fuller pout check out my Jane Iredale review to see if her plumper is right for you.
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has finally found the perfect must-have nude lipstick! True Love from Susan Thompson Cosmetics is gorgeous with a remarkable formula, and it's Cruelty Free.
• Beauty by Miss L: Miss L from Beauty by Miss L has reached to 1000+ followers on her blog and to celebrate that she did a small "Thank you giveaway" to all her lovely old & new followers.
• Beauty Binge: Beauty Binge Highlights her Top 5 Drugstore Skincare Buys!
• Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor tries Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation...will it pass the test?
• The Glossy Pages: A Beautiful World, Changemakers in Beauty | Meet Joshua Onysko, Founder of Pangea Organics
• Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: So grateful to have been chosen to receive the Influenster's Summer Beauty Voxbox. Check out what I got!
• Captivating Claws: Captivating Claws has some gorgeous polishes from Enkelini to share with you.. plus a sweet GIVEAWAY!
• Lacquered Lover: Lacquered Lover had the chance to check out Layla's ENTIRE new line of polishes including Hologram, Magnetic, Soft Touch and a Christmas Collection!
• Lisa's Nail Obsession: I love the new Robin's Egg Nail Design. You will to...come and see it!
• Gorgeousskin: Loving Giorgio Armani's Rusted Gold #25. See it in action here on my FOTD!
• Cosmetics Aficionado: Cling wrap isn't just for the kitchen. Try this cute cling wrap manicure with my step by step tutorial.
• Geniabeme Beauty Blog: Gradient nails are so pretty and easy! Take a look at Genia's pink and blue graident nails!

Barneys New York Haul Teaser: Kai, Sponge, Chantecaille, Malin+Goetz, Tatcha, & Rodin! Reviews to Come!!

For me, "The Happiest Place on Earth" isn't Disneyland, but it might just be Barneys!

Liebster Award #2!

Thank you to the The Beauty Satchel for nominating me for my second Liebster Award!

Source

The Rules

1. Post 11 facts about yourself.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and create 11 questions for people you've nominated to answer.

3. Choose 11 people to give this award to (with fewer than 200 followers) and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them.

5. Remember, no tag backs!

11 Facts about me

1. Dusk is my favorite time of the day.

2. A few years ago I sat alone for almost 2 hours looking at Leonardo da Vinci's Burlington House Cartoon in that small room in the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. It was an unreal and transformative experience being able to soak it in without anyone else present. Time basically stopped.

Source

3. I have a penchant for lip glosses, and have over 100 of them.

4. The older that I get the more that I understand the importance of nurturing friendships.

5. I don't like umbrellas, and still like jumping in puddles- rather than avoiding them.

6. My sister is my best friend. She has more pairs of shoes than I have lip glosses. 

7. Generally speaking, I spend more money on skincare than I do on makeup.

8. I have WAY too many pink blushes and lip products, but I really love them all.

9. I try to live in an environmentally responsible way. I really try to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Sometimes it's not easy being Green. For instance I drive a hybrid, but I realize that disposing of their batteries is anything but green!

10. Continually learning new things excites me.

11.The most impressive famous person that I have ever met and spoken with is Elie Wiesel- it was a life changing event for me.

Questions from The Beauty Satchel

1. What is your all time favourite perfume? Right now it's definitely Kai Perfume Oil.

2. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, frizzy straight or somewhere in between? Naturally very curly!

3. Do you have any hobbies? Beauty blogging!

4. If on a desert island, what beauty product would you NEED to have? (Original, I know..) A very effective high SPF moisturizer/sunscreen!

5. Why did you become a blogger? As a pleasant diversion from academic research and writing.

6. What is your favourite high street clothing store? I don't really have a favorite.

7. Is there a certain beauty product you use, that you refuse to change?  E.G. Certain moisturiser. Rouge Bunny Rouge Eye Shadows and Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Lipsticks.

8. What is your favourite chain restaurant? I don't really have one.

9. What mascara are you currently using? MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Lash Mascara in Black.

10. What is the most expensive beauty product you have ever bought? Sunday Riley Stimulant Serums.

11. Where in the world is your favourite place? It's between London and Paris. It's really too hard to choose!

My questions for the people I nominated

1.What compels you to blog? Why did you start a beauty blog?

2. If you could pursue any profession other than your own, what would it be and why?

3. What's is your very favorite luxury brand for eye shadows? lipstick? blush?

4. Your greatest drugstore brand discovery (makeup or skincare) and why?

5. What is your idea of the perfect lipstick?

6. If you could sit and have a conversation with any person of historical significance (living or dead) who would it be and why?

7. What brings you the greatest pleasure in life?

8. What is your one Holy Grail skincare product?

9. Foundation or tinted moisturizer?

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be (other than where you live)?

11.What luxury brand do you find to be overrated? What luxury brand do you find to be underrated?

Who I have nominated
All the Pretty Jars
Aucuparia-brumalis
Beauty Professor 
Cinnamon and Zoey Kisses
Elyssian Beauty
Gummy Vision
The Beauty Sample
The Black Panties
The Stepford Witch
Valens per voi
Vintage Gulab

Le Métier de Beauté Haul Teaser!! Heaven, I'm in Heaven...

Le Métier de Beauté+Me=Happy

Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50+++ Anti-Glycation Primer Review

I must say, as a new member of the I love Chantecaille club- I approach each new product with considerable excitement. I have yet to be disappointed, and my initiation into the world of their Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50 PA+++ Anti-Glycation Primer was no exception. What a mouthful, try saying that three times fast. I was quite generously given enough samples of this primer to be able to use it for a full month, and after using it for that length of time I can tell you that the formula is amazing.  The texture is like crushed silk and it feels as good on the face as a Hakuhodo brush! It has the wonderful and pleasant smell of roses, but that fades very quickly once applied. I immediately noticed how flawlessly that my foundation or tinted moisturizer applied, and there was no need for reapplication or touch up of my foundation throughout the day (of course it is important to note that sunscreen must be reapplied in order to remain protected from the sun). The thing that I was most worried about was not using another sunscreen in order to test the merits of the sun protection factor of this primer- this seems risky given that we are in the midst of a Los Angeles summer. I am pleased to report that I had nothing to be concerned about- as it turns out it boasts a pretty magnificent sunscreen.

According to Chantecaille: "The oil-free texture beautifully smooths skin and controls oil-breakthrough and shine throughout the day. Chantecaille make up artists find that the fluid perfectly preps skin and extends the wear of Future Skin Foundation. Water and humidity-resistant, it is perfect daily protection for outdoor activities and humid climates."

		This truly invisible shield delivers comprehensive UV protection: SPF 50 for UVB and PA+++ for UVA.
-		The formula contains a combination of three highly effective, broad spectrum UV filters.
-		Cherry blossom, lemon balm, and white tea extracts deliver powerful anti-inflammatory properties, protecting DNA from free radicals
-		Carnosine, an effective and well-known anti-glycation ingredient, ensures that skin is protected from the internal threat of sugar glycation (a process that breaks down collagen)
-		Paraben-free

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE 7.5% (OCTINOXATE), ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE 5% (OCTISALATE), BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE 3% (AVOBENZONE)
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, GLYCERIN, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-6 POLYRICINOLEATE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHEROL, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE, CARNOSINE, LECITHIN, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CYCLODEXTRIN, [CITRONELLOL, GERANIOL, EUGENOL, CITRAL, FARNESOL, LINALOOL]

Application: Apply daily over moisturizer and before makeup application for smooth, protected skin.

Overall assessment: This is a very lovely primer, and I can think of nothing negative to say about the product itself. However, the price will understandably be prohibitively expensive for most people. That said, it is one of the loveliest primers that I have ever tried! I would most definitely suggest getting a sample and trying it before making the investment. Before I commit to buying the full sized tube I will try my generous samples of Peau Vierge (LMdB)- then I will come to a decision.

$85.00 1.3 oz (40 ml) Where Chantecaille is sold.
Stock photo from Nordstrom