Jouer Crème Eyeshadow - Organza for Taupe Lovers

If you saw this photo, would you think that Jouer's Crème Eyeshadow in Organza ($20) leans lavender? I would. Then, after reading its description, "shimmering lavender taupe," I'd be sure of it. I don't go out of my way to order lavender eye shadows, even though I love cream shadows. Why then did I order it? Honestly, I have no idea. It was months ago, and I was desperate to add another one of these beauties from Jouer to my makeup wardrobe. I had Cashmere, which is gorgeous, and I wanted to try a lighter shade.

Imagine my delight when it arrived. I saw lots of shimmering taupe, and almost no lavender. Even before trying it, I know I was going to love Organza.

Lightweight in texture with a velvety finish, Jouer's Crème Eyeshadows offer a subtle shimmer. They can be worn alone as a shadow, layered to illuminate the eye, or smudged along the lash line to create natural definition. The soft, exquisitely blendable formula ensures easy fingertip application if you wish, but out of habit, I use a cream shadow brush to apply my mine.

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sun because I wanted to show you the glory of Organza. I did use my finger to swatch. I was being lazy and didn't want to go back inside and up the stairs to get a cream shadow brush. Fingertip application works well.

Organza is a drop-dead gorgeous taupe. I suppose one could stretch and see some lavender in it, but it doesn't produce the eye-reddening that lavender does on me. I love everything about this shade: the color, the soft shimmer, and the wear time. It stays on. Remember, I use an eye primer below my eye makeup.

I positioned myself in front of a pink azalea, trying to see if I could make the shade look lavender. I think the photo directly above shows its taupe deliciousness even more - despite the sun drop-off on the left.

Do you see lavender, taupe, or a mix of both? By any chance, do you have Organza? How does it look on your skin? I'm thrilled to show you another not-new product you may have missed.

I don't write about Jouer often because we don't have a Jouer counter in the DC area. It's sad. I discovered the brand online and was delighted to visit the counter at Henri Bendel the last time I visited New York. I hope to go back to explore more of the line in person. In the meantime, I shop online. Now and then, there's a site-wide discount, and I love those opportunities.

You can purchase Jouer's lovely cream shadows and all of their products at the company's Web site and Henri Bendel (also Skin 6|2 in Las Vegas).

Photo at top courtesy of Jouer; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment

Last week, when I was browsing at Sephora, I saw that Fresh had a new lip product: Sugar Shine Lip Treatment ($18.50). As something of a Fresh groupie, I circled around it for a few hours, thinking, "Do I need another clear lip treatment?"

Sugar Shine Lip Treatment is a high-shine lip treatment that moisturizes, promotes suppleness, and improves lip definition.  It works to promote suppleness and improve the definition of the lip area while preserving moisture for up to six hours. The high-shine treatment enhances the natural color of the lips while offering essential nourishment. It can be worn alone or on top of your favorite Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment [really any lip color] for smooth, youthful-looking lips.

I parsed that marketing blurb and decided it would offer me shine and moisture. It was a go! The lure of the Fresh brand and my endless fascination with moist lips sealed the deal. I ordered it.

I am wearing for the fourth time it as I write. Although it appears to have a slight, light pink color in the tube, it's clear. There is absolutely no sense in taking a swatch photo. What you will see is clear lip gloss. I can make it shine with a direct hit of sunlight, but why bother? Is it shiny on my lips? Not particularly.

I can feel it on my lips; it's not weightless. It's not sticky either, but its feel on my lips is a clear reminder that I've applied it. Does it make my lips plump or youthful? Of course not. Most of those claims are silly - no matter which brand makes them. I know some of you don't like certain kinds of sunscreens, but this product offers none. I give it a demerit for that. Our lips are sensitive to sun exposure, and they burn just like the rest of our skin. SPF protection would have differentiated this new product.

Is it hydrating? Yes, for however long it lasts. Here are the major players in the ingredients.

• Sugar (Fresh signature): Attracts and seals in moisture. 
• Commiphora Extract: Promotes suppleness and helps smooth rough lips. 
• Cupuaçu and Mango Butters: Help nourish, soften, and restore suppleness.
• Hyaluronic Filling Spheres: Help make the lips appear fuller. 
• Black Currant Seed and Grapeseed Oils: Help hydrate and protect.

The only bone I can pick with Fresh's description of the ingredients is their description of hyaluronic filling spheres. Hyaluronic acid is nature's sponge. It gloms onto moisture and keeps it in the skin. Moist lips might be fuller lips, but in my case, that isn't often the case.

Fresh is really good about disclosing all ingredients, so there is the list...
Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Fragrance, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trihydroxystearin, Bht, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Propyl Gallate, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, and Phenoxyethanol.

The product has no overt scent - just a slightly fruity hint you have to purposely smell to notice - so the fragrance was probably added to mask one of the other ingredients - a common practice.

I'm not sure this new product offers any advantages over Fresh's Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment ($25). I like it's gloss-like formula and texture, but not enough to recommend that you run right out to buy it, especially if you already own the Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment, which I do. At $18.50, it is less expensive than the other. Regardless, I'll stick with Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment.

Fresh says Sugar Shine Lip Treatment is proven to preserve moisture for six hours. I have not experienced that, but I don't get that from any lip product during the day. After an independent consumer testing panel (of undisclosed size) used Sugar Shine Lip Treatment:

• 97% reported smoother lips;
• 94% felt their lips were softer, more supple, and healthier-looking;
• 84% said it conditioned and protected their lips;
• 84% immediately noticed their lips looked radiant;
• 81% felt it hydrated and moisturized their lips.

You be the judge. Lip products are so personal. You can purchase Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment at Sephora. Just don't expect miracles.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

The Tragedy in Oklahoma

I tried to write this post this morning, but couldn't. I sat and cried so hard I couldn't see the screen. I needed to detach for awhile and gain some composure. Although I knew no one affected by the tornado centered in Moore, Oklahoma, I felt like they were my neighbors and friends - and in a way, they were. We are all bound together by a force that transcends location. We are citizens of the United States and the world.

The photo above started my crying jag - one of several I saw online (click on the link for other photos). It was widely shared - a photo of a woman comforting a dying dog. I had already heard about the horse barns obliterated, with most of the horses killed. I had already seen the CBS video of the elderly woman reunited with her scraggly little darling during an interview. I had already cried as I watched the teacher who threw her body over six children - and the man who commented, "Good job, teach." I have watched hours of the news and scoured the Internet, and with each hour, I've become more emotional over the loss to so many in Oklahoma.

Last night, I suspended tweeting and posting on Facebook. It seemed like the only thing to do. I and others wondered on Twitter how anyone could tweet about makeup when so many were suffering.

I have so many questions. The children? Why was a school built with cinderblocks, rather than solid concrete walls, in tornado country? How could anyone live there without an underground storm shelter - even after FEMA offered to subsidize them after 1999? My questions will probably never be answered, but I still wonder if even one death could have been prevented. Despite being located in a region prone to tornadoes  and being devastated by one in 1999, the city of Moore, according to its Web site and The New York Times, has no ordinance requiring safe rooms in public or private facilities, and the city itself lacked a community storm shelter.

Our Fairfax County Search and Rescue Team was getting ready this morning, in case they were called. I'm always so proud of them when they represent us during disasters. I doubt they will be called to Oklahoma. The authorities have said they have said they are fairly confident they have accounted for most of the area's residents.

I'm even mourning for the trees. I started to write a poem this morning (not my strength), but the thoughts that poured from my brain weren't complete. I may try to finish it later. Trees that might have provided shade for generations of families are dead and dying, their limbs and leaves torn from their trunks in an instant.

Please do what you can to help. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Humane Society, and other established, reputable charities are on the ground and doing everything they can to help. Most news Web sites have lists of legitimate charities. Money will be needed to shelter those who are now homeless - and will be for a long time. Blood may be too; giving blood is giving the gift of life after tragedies like this one. Please remember the animals when you give. Many are still out there in the rubble of collapsed homes - or wandering the neighborhoods, looking for their families.

Tonight, hold your loved ones near, for you never know what they next day will bring. 

Photo courtesy of avaxnews.net

Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush for Love of Roses - Three New-to-Me Shades

My obsession with Rouge Bunny Rouge started two years ago (see this link). That's when I purchased my first two shades of Original Skin Blush for Love of Roses ($28): Delicata and Gracilis. When ordering sight unseen, I gravitate toward light, mistake-proof colors. Delicata and Gracilis turned out to be exactly that.

One day a few months ago, I got the itch to try some shades that might not be perfect for me, but would expand my knowledge of the blushes and possibly give me new blending options. Am I glad I did! I ordered Florita (#035), Habanera (#038), and Starina (#037). They are shown above in that order, from left to right. My photo was taken in bright light, but not full sun, so the colors look a bit flat.

An intricate and luxurious cosmetics brand, Rouge Bunny Rouge, twists opulence and beauty with embellished detailing to deliver a range of color makeup that embraces both romance and whimsy. Wearable, blendable, and adaptable formulas and shades are at the very heart of Rouge Bunny Rouge. The formulas are absolutely outstanding and have been sourced from the world's most sophisticated laboratories. 

Original Skin Blush blends with a sheer, silky touch for a naturally luminous glow. A medley of active ingredients, including Uhaloa from Hawaii, also known as velvet-leaf, and modern technologies impart a long-term brightening effect. Indian gooseberry fruit extract stands guard against free radicals. Sheer pearls amplify the creamy, soft touch and ensure a limpid glow. Innovative powders entwine with your skin to preserve perfection all day long. The result is your skin but better; you'll wonder how you blushed before.

Rouge Bunny Rouge is easily the most imaginative, inspirational, and addictive brand I’ve come across! The formulas are out of this world. They state online, "Be warned, once you fall down the rabbit hole and try this brand there is no going back."Truth!

The packaging of these "darling" compacts is whimsical - adorable, actually. From the box, which has a botanical theme on one side and the Rouge Bunny Rouge coat of arms, with bunnies, of course, on the other, it's enticing. The compacts have a pretty white-on-black floral design. The Rouge Bunny Rouge crest is shown on the inside insert that protects the powder blushes. The blushes themselves have an embossed design too.

I think I ordered these three shades from Beautyhabit. Florita is described as a natural, rich raspberry red with an illuminating radiance. It glides onto the skin imparting a warm rosy glow and is best suited for medium or olive skin tones, i.e., not me. Habanera was listed as a great shade for medium complexions, but I knew I could use it lightly for my pale face. It's described accurately as a medium, sun-warmed terracotta with a hint of rose. Starina is described as a good color for fair skin. It's a pale coral nude with an illuminating radiance.

I took swatch photos in fairly full mid-day sun. I swatched with a sponge-tipped applicator to show you the shades. No one will apply the colors as heavily as I did for these pictures. Florita is shown at the top of my arm, Habanera in the middle, and Starina at the bottom.

Don't you think Florita at the top of my arm is drop-dead gorgeous? Imagine this color applied with a brush, and you've got a medium pink that will look great on nearly everyone. The warm brown-toned Habanera does have rose in it. I hope you can see that. I have to apply it with a very light hand. It's a good contouring shade, as is Starina. Starina is the neutral shade here that's perfect for my skin.

After I took these swatch photos, I got cheeky and decided to play. I mixed Florita with Starina on a dense blending brush and applied the resulting shade to my arm. I got pretty excited when I saw the result - a warm rose pink that lights up my face. Shall I call it Florita-Starina? Can you believe this color (shown below)?

I'm very pleased with my experimental purchases. A blogger has to do what she's got to do, and sometimes that means wandering outside her comfort zone. I wandered right into the Enchanted Garden.

Deep inside a labyrinth of perfectly topiaried winding lanes in the Enchanted Garden lies the Rose Orchard. The sweet and tantalizing fragrance of the roses, combined with the sight of their intense pigments, provokes torturous visions of languorous beauty. The thorns of the flowers, so piercingly sharp, can slice through flesh as though it were air, and the elegant, gorgeous Floribunda-Elves are the only guardians that the roses, with their poisonous thorns, will allow to tend the orchard. The Floribundas perfectly preen and nurture each flower, and in return, they are gifted by the roses with the most effervescent and radiant faces in the whole of the Enchanted Garden, their cheeks exuding happiness and excitement, causing many a lover to fall to his knees. Rouge Bunny Rouge has recreated for you this radiant glow with six petal-soft colors to impart a splendorous bloom and captivate your heart's desires.

We have more options than ever for ordering Rouge Bunny Rouge. Rouge Bunny Rouge's own Web site, Zuneta, and Beautyhabit. Watch for specials on shipping or gifts with purchase, particularly at Rouge Bunny Rouge and Zuneta. You'll be glad you did.

Black and white photo courtesy of Zuneta; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Hedonist Eau de Parfum

Early last month, I received an e-mail from Viktoria Minya asking if I would like to try her new fragrance. Weeks later, I received a sample (from France) of Hedonist Eau de Parfum ($45 ml, $195). Viktoria is the first modern-day Hungarian to create a perfume brand, and she has demonstrated with Hedonist - her first fragrance - that she's an extraordinary perfumer. How does one come "out of the gate" with a fragrance as artistic as Hedonist?

How could I do it justice with words? I've labored over the challenge since my first whiff. This is a fragrance that speaks to me through its elegance. To my nose, it smells like it could be one of the most divine French fragrances ever created.

I learned from a Fragrantica link that Viktoria sent me that the presentation of the Hedonist perfume "calls upon the spirit of hedonism - the art of devotion to the pleasure of the senses. Indeed, this bold creation's aim is to provide a prolonged sense of indulgence to its wearer. The perfume is not only an enchanting olfactory experience, but an overall celebration of the infinite delight of the senses." The composition is brought to life with juicy fruits and intoxicating rich floral notes, anchored with warm, intense, and deep woody shades.

Who or what is a hedonist? Someone motivated by desires for or a devotion to sensual pleasures. What could please the senses more than Hedonist's first impression, with its luxurious presentation and bottle? A handmade wooden box with a snakeskin appearance opens to reveal a beautifully crafted bottle filled with hundreds of Bohemian crystals that sparkle in the champagne-colored liquid. The pleasure doesn't stop there, though. Hedonist is strikingly sensuous. Wearing it will make you feel gorgeous, confident, and undeniably enchanting. It's an extremely feminine and intense fragrance.

Hedonist's notes are rum, bergamot, peach, osmanthus absolute, jasmine absolute, orange flower absolute, tobacco, vanilla, cedarwood, and vetiver. That's a unique composition - one that delighted me at first whiff. It's a persistent fragrance, too; it's longevity is fabulous.

Viktoria had a dream: to create perfume. So she left her corporate job for training at the Grasse Institute of Perfume, which gave her the formal expertise to match her desire to create something luxurious and personal from the most beautiful raw materials, reminiscent of the golden age of perfumery.

It's hard for me to describe how deeply sensual Hedonist is (it makes me swoon), so I'll let Luckyscent take over here (edited, of course)...

Remember when Rossano Brazzi sang “Some Enchanted Evening, ” how he fell in love across a crowded room on a tropical Island? If you’ve ever wanted to be the girl who stops the party, this bold debut from Victoria Minya is your next must-have.

The hedonist who wears this intoxicatingly sweet floral, loaded with ripe peaches and rum extract, is unquestionable a pleasure seaker, but she's also a lady. She’s the center of attention without raising her voice. She enters the room, and heads turn.

In this perfect orchestration of notes, peach melds with vanilla, osmanthus, jasmine and soft tobacco [I usually dislike tobacco notes, but barely detect any in Hedonist] in a classic example of feminine flirtation, a beguiling expression of skin that wants to be touched.

Hedonist belongs in my seductive, night-out collection, which I'll admit is thin. Wear it to work at your own risk. You'll attract new admirers, but the outcome could be totally inappropriate for the workplace. I need a full bottle. I absolutely love Hedonist. I have nothing even remotely like it.

If Hedonist is indicative of things to come from Viktoria Minya, she will have a long, successful career as a perfumer. Get in on the ground floor, and one day you'll be telling your friends, "Oh yes, I purchased her first fragrance. Divine!" You can keep up with Viktoria on her Facebook page. If you are in the United States, the best place to find Hedonist Eau de Parfum is Luckyscent.

Photos courtesy of Viktoria Minya and Luckyscent

Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lip Color

The last, perhaps, in my random series on colors you might have missed features Tom Ford's Cherry Lush Lip Color ($48). For me, Cherry Lush came in a deluxe mini size as a gift with purchase. I'm so pale and feel so uncomfortable in dark lipstick colors, I could not have invested $48 in it - no matter how trendy red is.

To Tom Ford, who himself is a fashion icon, there is no more dramatic accessory than a perfect lip. It is the focus of the face, and it has the power to define a woman's whole look. Each Lip Color is Tom Ford's modern ideal of an essential makeup shade. Rare and exotic ingredients, including soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomile flower oil, create an ultra-creamy texture with an incredibly smooth application. Specially treated color pigments are blended to deliver pure color with just the right balance of luminosity. The result is a creamy, luxurious lipstick with dramatic color.

I took swatch photos of this red shade in full, late-afternoon sunshine. The lush, opaque color displays the sexy glamour of red - cherry red, but red nonetheless.

This is a color one must apply precisely, and I'd advise a lip pencil to keep it in bounds, preventing bleeding. Make sure to put a clean finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, and pull it out to remove excess color and avoid ending up with red teeth - a look that's far from sexy.

I can bring the color of Cherry Lush down by blotting it, treating it like a stain, and applying a light lip gloss over it. I'm not sure, given the number of lipstick I own, that I need to go to that much trouble to wear it, even if the color is gorgeous. It's long-lasting - the best reason I might find for bothering. If you can wear red, though, this is one of the prettiest I've seen in the last year.

Cherry Lush reminds me of an old friend who religiously followed her mother's advice. "No matter where you're going, never leave the house without lipstick." Marianne would have worn Cherry Lush.

You can find Tom Ford's Lip Color at Tom Ford counters, including the one at the John Barrett Salon in New York City, and online at stores where Tom Ford Beauty is sold.

Photo at top courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chantecaille Retinol Hand Cream

Not long ago, and for reasons I don't understand, Chantecaille promoted its Retinol Hand Cream ($75) to the New Products section of its Web site. I mentioned here that it was new, but learned that it wasn't. I asked my contact there why it had been listed as "new," but never received an answer.

I ordered it anyhow and have been very happy with it. Retinol Hand Cream is a healing treatment - specially developed for the hands - that clarifies, softens, and restructures the skin. Marine collagen-wrapped nanospheres of retinol are delivered to the deepest layers of the epidermis, re-texturizing skin from within and reducing hyper-pigmentation. The result is renewed, refreshed, and rejuvenated extremities.

As with many Chantecaille products, Retinol Hand Cream is filled with botanicals. Retinol Hand Cream is 92% natural and includes a healing base of pure rosewater; it's paraben-free and vegan-friendly.

Lemon extract, white lily bulb, bearberry leaf extract, and mulberry root all help to clarify skin and lighten hyper-pigmentation. Vitamin C (from fresh oranges) and ascorbic acid protect the skin from free-radical damage and aid in cellular repair. Magnesium, shea butter and carob fruit extract work together to regenerate the skin's cells. Grape seed oil, olive leaf extract, and vitamin E are an effective combination of natural antioxidants for healing damage created by exposure to the sun. Edelweiss extract, derived from a wild mountain flower, provides a natural UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 6-8. Since I've been using it at night, the sunscreen is largely irrelevant to me. I can't use treatment products on my hands during the day because I wash them to often.

It offers beautiful aromatherapy benefits, with a rose scent that "soothes and centers, opening the heart and imparting a sense of well-being."  That's a nice way to go to sleep at night.

As a rule, I cannot use products containing retinol. You've read that here before. I have been successful with a small number of products in which the retinol is encapsulated, which Chantecaille does. Relatively recent industry claims have been made that the encapsulation delivers the retinol to deeper layers of the skin to prevent the surface irritation and burning I experience from the chemical. Based on this product and Le Métier de Beauté's skin care, I have to conclude there's something to that claim.

After 10 continuous days of use, Retinol Hand Cream has started to improve the look of my hands. For years I've used a glycolic-acid-based product at night, especially in the winter, but now I have a new option. I like the idea of lighter sun spots and fewer wrinkles around my knuckles. While I'm not ready for cosmetic surgery (see The Future of Anti-Aging for Hands), I would like to intervene before it's too late.

Chantecaille's Retinol Hand Cream can be found at Chantecaille counters and the company's Web site.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Sunday This and That - New Fragrances Abound

It many be slow on the makeup front, but new fragrances are popping up every day. Even though I have enough perfume to take me to the grave, I want so many new (and old) fragrances, I think I qualify for the word "addiction."

ME is a new fragrance from Lanvin. A completely original creation designed by Alber Elbaz, ME is a Lanvin accessory - refined and sophisticated in every detail. Created for the self-confident and empowered woman (no meek gals need apply, I guess), the sheer gourmand eau de parfum opens with notes of sparkling blueberry "for a bright and addictive sensuality. The voluptuous white floral heart is hyper-feminine and elegant, while magnetic liquorice black wood leaves a sensual and addictive trail." That description attracts me, so I'll have to dash into Nordstrom this week to catch a whiff.

Diptyque's latest is Eau Moheli is a unisex floral woody musk fragrance I'd like to try, although the presence of patchouli scares me. The nose behind this fragrance is Olivier Pescheux. The fragrance features floral notes, ylang-ylang, patchouli, pink pepper, ginger, vetiver, benzoin, and incense. I'd like a sample, which I might be able to get from SPACE NK or Beautyhabit.

Tom Ford's anticipated Sahara Noir has arrived at counters. As I expected, it's not a fragrance for me (I have a very nice sample, courtesy of Dustin Lujan), but I'll bet it's amazing on men. Inspired by the mystery and luxury of the Middle East,Sahara Noir evokes the untamed beauty of the Arabian Peninsula - Tom Ford’s ode to the enchanting power of one of the land’s most ancient and treasured ingredients: frankincense, a precious desert resin. If you want to think about fragrance for Father's Day, your dad might like this. The guys who are into fragrance sure do.

I need to get my hands on Tommi Sooni's new Passerelle, sold at Luckyscent. "There are perfumes that smell like flowers, and then there is Passerelle, a gorgeous, plush fragrance that captures the incandescent bouquet of an entire summer garden. With the exotic aromas of Australian blossoms artfully interwoven with the more familiar scents of jasmine, rose, mimosa, and honeysuckle, this perfume weaves an entrancing spell from the moment it is applied. The delicate flowers bloom in the heat of the Australian sun, their aromas visibly shimmering, perfuming the air we breathe. The flowers are there, yes; but also the underlying scents of stems and leaves to remind us of how those blooms are born."

Passerelle has its roots firmly planted in French perfumery, and we're told it shows in the richness of its composition. It is elegant, feminine, exceptionally beautiful, and provides the full sensory experience that only truly masterful perfumes can accomplish. Wit h notes of jasmine, tea tree, myrtle, boronia, silver wattle (mimosa), yellow rose, honeysuckle, wintersweet, golden trumpet, Australian sandalwood, and petigrain, I'm so there. I love Tommi Sooni's fragrances, and Passarelle has gone on my buy list.

I'd also like to get a whiff of Mona di Orio's new Eau Absolue. As you know, she tragically died, but her house lives on, and this new fragrance has attracted lots of attention.

Eau Absolue is a memoir steeped in her love for the Mediterranean. Composed in her signature olfactory chiaroscuro construction, the scent envelopes with warmth, bringing a summer breeze with a zesty bouquet of bergamot, mandarin, clementine, and petitgrain. The cirtruses splash against the epicurean spice of pink peppercorn.

The scent dries down with earth, but softly floral, with whispers of geranium, dry vetiver, and balsamic St. Thomas bay leaf. "The nocturnal shade intensifies, arching ever deeper, until plunging directly into a caress of cistus labdanum, the ambry smell of the Mediterranean, and sensual musk, an elegant and intoxicating denouement. Eau Absolue - Les Nombres d’Or Notes." Mona's fragrances have always been complex, and I'm sure Eau Absolue is too. Still, I want to try it.

I'm making my way through the Luckyscent sample pack of an exciting new niche house is based in Argentina. Fueguia 1833 Patagonia Laboratorio de Perfumes was founded in 2010 by Julian Bedel and Amalia Amoedo. Bedel, the in-house perfumer, comes from a line of naturalists and has continued the tradition by identifying new native species to use in his art. One of the aspects that makes Fueguia 1833 so special is its use of ingredients native to South America. While Bedel does use classic components from the European tradition, he combines them with native species sourced in South America, harvested by local communities under sustainable projects and distilled under his supervision. In addition to unusual ingredients, Fueguia 1833 has a unique sensibility, drawing inspiration from the culture and history of Patagonia (as the territory including Argentina and Chile was dubbed by early explorers). Bedel has developed scents inspired by the music, literature, and history of the region, and is especially fascinated by the voyage of Charles Darwin and the time he spent in Patagonia.

Bedel describes his scents using the concept of the atom, as opposed to the model of a pyramid. Instead of referring to top, middle, and bottom notes, Bedel envisions the primary note as the nucleus and other prominent notes as electrons, orbiting around the nucleus. Although there may be as many as a hundred components in a particular formula, Bedel limits his descriptions to three major notes. The first note listed will be the central “nucleus” of the fragrance. Each fragrance comes in a recyclable glass bottle in a hand-made wooden box, crafted from wood from fallen trees. So far, I've put several on my buy list.

What's enticing you these days? Do you wear and enjoy fragrances? If you do, you  might want to join one of the Facebook groups dedicated to our love of fragrance. The largest one to which I belong is Facebook Fragrance Friends. You can go there and request membership.

Photos and some descriptions courtesy of the makers or Luckyscent

YSL Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner Giveaway Contest (Jade Black)

This little pot of heaven found an instant fan base when it was introduced. YSL's Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner ($28) intensifies the eye with a spectacular, long-lasting line. The soft and silky texture applies smoothly without skipping and lasts on the lid all day without flaking or creasing. It's smudgeproof, waterproof, and provides 24-hour wear.

There were two colors in this collection that made everyone's must-have list: Jade Black (No. 6) and Cherry Black (No. 5). I have one Jade Black to give away - one of the prettiest green eyeliners I've ever seen. I purchased it for a giveaway and then forgot about it. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to keep it, but I've still got plenty left in my own jar. I featured it at this link, with photos taken at Neiman Marcus. You might also want to check out The Non-Blonde's love note to her favorite green eyeliner.

How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

You can earn a fourth entry if you have posted a comment here in the last two weeks. Don't worry about telling me. I'll know.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, May 25, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of YSL Beauté - I had to enlarge it, which accounts for the fuzzy appearance