Metier de Beaute

This weekend I dove into the Metier de Beaute counter at my local Neiman Marcus.  I thought the products were flawless, albeit in the luxury price range.  My final look was polished and clean.  While there are some valuable and powerful active ingredients in some of the products, none irritated my sensitive skin. 

Metier Beaute Makeover

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment…
$125 – neimanmarcus.com

Le Metier de Beaute ‘Kaleidoscope’ Eye Kit
$95 – nordstrom.com

Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Concealer SPF 18
$55 – neimanmarcus.com

Le Metier de Beaute Precision Liquid Eyeliner
$42 – bergdorfgoodman.com

Le Metier de Beaute Visage de Soie Finishing Powder
$40 – neimanmarcus.com

Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme Lip Gloss
$36 – neimanmarcus.com

Le Metier de Beaute ‘Anamorphic Lash’ Mascara
$34 – nordstrom.com

Le Metier de Beaute ‘Colour Core’ Moisture Stain Lipstick
$32 – nordstrom.com

Kiehl’s Exclusive Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream

Still up in the air on the promise of more youthful skin, but I am smitten with this formula for hydration.  I wasn’t crazy about the smell, but decided to give it a try when it didn’t irritate my fragile, retinol-treated skin.  (I didn’t last long on the derm’s orders to stick to CeraVe).  Despite being a cream, it was really easy to apply.  It isn’t dense like some other anti-aging creams.  The hydration is pretty dramatic – my skin remains supple and doesn’t feel tight one bit.  Definitely makes me want to use it long enough to see if there are any anti-aging effects.

Moltobene Clay Esthe Reshtive Shampoo and Treatment

I was mildly scolded by my hair stylist when I complained about frizz and reported I was using drugstore shampoo and conditioner.  I never really bought into the salon hair treatment, and always opted to save some cash and buy at CVS.  Well, I was wrong.  Not dead wrong, but wrong.  If you are willing to spend (a little) extra dough, you will be handsomely rewarded.  I have been using the Moltobene Clay Esthe Reshtive products for a week and the difference in my hair is night and day.  I don’t even have to dry my hair and it is insanely soft – I mean insanely soft.  It have great bounce and my layers just have that skooch of a wave at the bottom.  I wear my hair in a top knot when I sleep and in the AM I have to make minimal effort.  The upgrade was incredibly worth it.

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara

At first, I was pleased with the way this mascara added texture and fullness to my lashes.  The brush gave that full look without being clumpy.  But I wasn’t too excited for long – the effect was short-lived.  After only two hours, my lashes looked naked again – not a trace of mascara.  I tried the second-coat trick and that disappeared just as quickly.  How disappointing that a beautiful effect was achieved but the product has no staying power whatsoever.

Dior RougeLiner Automatic Lip Liner

Sometimes with pigmented glosses, I need a little lip liner.  One of my mom’s golfing buddies recommended this pencil: “It stays on the whole 18 holes!” – translation: five hours of wear even in the hot sun.  I fill in my whole lip with these creamy liners and when the gloss wears off, I am left with a long-lasting neutral lip.  I also love traveling with these because you don’t need a sharpener.   Right now I am using Carmel but am tempted to pick up Spicy Pink for the spring.  A word of warning: I found mine at Sephora, but they are rarely in stock so be prepared to hunt around.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils

I am most certainly a lip gloss girl (rather than a lipstick girl).  And I loved the idea of delivering a gloss in pencil form.  NARS took a fan favorite Velvet Matte Lip Pencil and added luminosity – while the Velvet Matte are said to offer a lipstick look, I think the Velvet Gloss gives a gloss look with amazing staying power.  My hair doesn’t get stuck in the product (big issue for gloss-lovers with long hair).  Frivolous offers that pale pink that is big for the spring. And I love that the pencil format allows for tons of control in application.