Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope ($95.00 for 0.56 oz.) includes four shades: Oyster (satin shimmer dust), Sapphire (midnight blue with jewel tones), Autumn Rust (deep and rustic topaz), and Matte Plum (bodacious, bright purple).

Per readers’ requests, I’m posting this quick post that features photos and swatches of the Kaleidoscope, but I’m not writing a full review unless it is re-released and becomes available again I will say it is up to par with Le Metier de Beaute’s eyeshadow quality and what I’ve experienced in the past, so you can read previous reviews here. All of the swatches have been put into the Swatch Gallery, so you can compare and look for similar shades based on what interests you!

• Oyster is a cool-toned, almost pewter-gray with a hint of beige-champagne shimmer. ISuper complex; looks different all the time. Compare here in the Swatch Gallery.
• Sapphire is a copper and violet-shimmered navy blue with purplish edging. Another complex shade. Best applied wet–a little drier than other shades I’ve tried. Compare here in the Swatch Gallery.
• Autumn Rust is a medium-dark golden brown with a frosted finish. Compare here in the Swatch Gallery.
• Matte Plum is a medium-dark red-toned purple with a satiny finish (doesn’t look matte to me). Compare here in the Swatch Gallery.

Also, since we’re on the subject of Le Metier de Beaute… They’ll be doing online auctions starting tonight on their website featuring last-of-a-kind in their Kaleidoscopes for the next six days that are paired with gifts from partners (like Oscar de la Renta, GlossyBox, etc.) to benefit ALS Awareness Month and the ALS Association. 100% (!!) of the proceeds earned from the auctions will go the ALS Association, and Le Metier de Beaute will be donating 10% to the ALS Association for every sale made on their website between 5/5 and 5/12. And then, anyone who donates $100+ through the ALSA.org Le Metier de Beaute Tribute Fund Page, Le Metier de Beaute will send a thank you package of beauty goodies.

What is ALS? The Facts

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.
• Upon diagnosis, the life expectancy of an ALS patient ranges from 2 to 5 years.
• Only 10% will survive more than 10 years
• For the vast majority, their mind and thoughts are not impaired and remain sharp despite the progressive degenerating condition of the body.
• ALS can strike anyone. There is currently no cure.

The Glossover

	Femme Fatale A
	The palette was up-to-par with Le Metier de Beaute's eyeshadow range except for Sapphire, which was a little dry in texture and needed to be applied wet to achieve really smooth, intense color.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Femme Fatale Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Oyster Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Oyster Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Sapphire Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Sapphire Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Autumn Rust Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Autumn Rust Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Matte Plum Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Matte Plum Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Eyeshadows: Oyster (inner lid/brow), Autumn Rust (middle of lid),Sapphire (outer lid), Matte Plum (crease)

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope ($95.00 for 0.56 oz. includes four eyeshadows: Axiom (sublime bronzed umber), Graphic (silver liquid metal), Crucible (rich pomegranate), and Genre (deep gunmetal).

Axiom is a warmed-up, bronze-shimmered, medium-dark brown with orange-tan undertones. It has full pigmentation both wet and dry, and when used damp, the metallic sheen becomes more pronounced. Chanel Intuition #4 is darker, redder-toned. Tarte Brilliant Bronze is less warm-toned. Clarins Enchanted Summer #3 is is very similar. Buxom Golden Retriever is more frosted and less orange-y. Giorgio Armani Gold Blitz #5 is very similar–more metallic in finish.

Graphic is a soft, cool-toned gray with a silver shimmer and sheen. When applied dry, it has decent color payoff but feels a touch powdery. When applied damp, it becomes more metallic and, as a result, looks lighter. L’Oreal Primped & Precious is similar in color but more metallic. Giorgio Armani #22 is slightly lighter.

Crucible is a darkened cranberry red with red-brown undertones and a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation when applied dry and wet, but it was better applied wet. It was a smidgen powdery dry, and the damp application made it perfectly smooth. Cinderella Rococo is browner. MAC Star Violet is very similar. Maybelline Pomegranate Punk is a bit purpler and a cream product.

Genre is a deep, rich, blackened gray with a soft, pearly finish. The color payoff is excellent both wet and dry, and I didn’t notice much (if any) difference between either application. Tarte Intergalactic is lighter. Urban Decay Black Market is a warmer gray. Bobbi Brown Gunmetal is a smidgen lighter.

While buying an Eye Kaleidoscope is no doubt painful at $95 in a single go, at least you’re getting half an ounce worth of eyeshadow. I purchased mine from Nordstrom, which is sold out, but it’s still available at counters and at other online retailers like Saks. Each eyeshadow is 0.14 oz. in size, which is nearly triple the average full-sized eyeshadow–it’s only $169/oz. (whereas brands like MAC and Urban Decay are $300/oz. and $380/oz., respectively), but some of that is offset by the fact that many of us are unlikely to finish the majority of eyeshadows we own. If you are, though, it’s superb deal!

I’m a big fan of Le Metier de Beaute’s eyeshadow formula, because they’re incredibly soft, finely-milled, and buttery–super dense and richly pigmented–and they can be used wet or dry.  They’re also designed to be layered over each other, too, so they don’t turn muddy.  The soft textures make every shade a cinch to blend and diffuse around the edges, but the pigmentation means you can get rich color without having to pack it on.  Graphic and Crucible felt just a smidgen powdery but not to a degree that it impacted application–I didn’t have any fall out during application despite applying all of the eyeshadows dry.  I wore Bauhaus and had it last a full nine hours without creasing or fading (no primer).

The Glossover

	Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope Review, Photos, Swatches A
	I'm a big fan of Le Metier de Beaute's eyeshadow formula, because they're incredibly soft, finely-milled, and buttery--super dense and richly pigmented--and they can be used wet or dry.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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See more photos & swatches!

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Le Metier de Beaute Axiom Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Graphic Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Crucible Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Genre Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Axiom Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Graphic Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Crucible Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Genre Eyeshadow

Le Metier de Beaute Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

Top 10 of 2012: Makeup Palettes

There were actually a lot of fantastic palettes released this year! I already pulled up twenty that to consider for the top ten, and I had only reached August (I go backwards).  So here are my picks–and I tried to include a variety of brands that were all excellent, but full disclosure: could have easily included more bareMinerals, Guerlain, and another Tom Ford (Enchanted).

• Chanel Harmonie du Soir — absolutely loved the formula
• Guerlain Turandot — one of my favorite products of the year
• Urban Decay Naked Basics — I like the way it complements N1 & N2
• Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty — beautiful textures, rich pigmentation
• Estee Lauder Violet Underground — bright pops of color
• Tom Ford Emerald Lust — rich, buttery textures and shades
• Disney Cinderella Storylook — fantastic value and overall quality
• bareMinerals The Star Treatment — beautiful warm-toned palette
• Guerlain Calligraphy — buttery and pigmented
• Le Metier de Beaute Nouvelle Vague — great pigmentation and texture

What was your favorite makeup palette from 2012?

Quick Review: Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is described as a “rich chocolate plum with golden effervescence.” It’s a dark, reddened chocolate brown with copper and teal micro-shimmer. Urban Decay Barlust is very similar, just not quite as red-toned.

This was nearly opaque in one coat, but I’d still recommend two for full opacity.  It had a very nice consistency that allowed the polish to apply fluidly without streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the sides. Le Metier de Beaute, generally, has a lovely formula and interesting shades.  Now, they have full-sized bottles, but in the past, they released small bottles.  These smaller bottles can make for a more challenging application if you have longer fingers or larger hands, since the caps are so small.  It contains just over a fourth of a full-sized polish (average size of full-sized polish is 0.50 fl. oz.) but is priced at $10, which is more palatable than say Dior or Chanel’s $20+ price tags (and you get around 0.34 to 0.40 fl. oz. with those).  I typically get a week of wear out of the brand’s formula with no chipping and very minor tip wear.

** A Note on Quick Reviews: In an effort to be more on-the-ball for 2013, I’m digging through my photo folders and getting as much posted as I can. These are not full-length, in-depth reviews, and instead, I’m writing brief reviews. For dupes, I highly suggest checking out The Swatch Gallery; it’s my first stop whenever I am looking for possible dupes. All of the swatches in this post are automatically added to the gallery, so you can compare them for yourself.

The Glossover

	Urban Dweller A+
	It had a very nice consistency that allowed the polish to apply fluidly without streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the sides.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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See more photos & swatches!

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller Nail Lacquer

Quick Review: Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is described as a “metallic, bronzed copper.” It’s a rich, darkened copper with coppery-orange shimmer and a metallic finish. When I quickly looked for a good dupe, I came up empty-handed, because the majority of copper shades I’ve reviewed in the past are brighter, less brown-based.

Silk Road is fully opaque after two coats, and the consistency was naturally thin but not watery.  This one had threads of metallic shimmer that ran through it, which look a bit like brush strokes under brighter light (like flash), but they’re very subtle and barely-there.  For a metallic finish? particularly minimal visible brush strokes.  Le Metier de Beaute, generally, has a lovely formula and interesting shades.  Now, they have full-sized bottles, but in the past, they released small bottles.  These smaller bottles can make for a more challenging application if you have longer fingers or larger hands, since the caps are so small.  It contains just over a fourth of a full-sized polish (average size of full-sized polish is 0.50 fl. oz.) but is priced at $10, which is more palatable than say Dior or Chanel’s $20+ price tags (and you get around 0.34 to 0.40 fl. oz. with those).  I typically get a week of wear out of the brand’s formula with no chipping and very minor tip wear.

** A Note on Quick Reviews: In an effort to be more on-the-ball for 2013, I’m digging through my photo folders and getting as much posted as I can. These are not full-length, in-depth reviews, and instead, I’m writing brief reviews. For dupes, I highly suggest checking out The Swatch Gallery; it’s my first stop whenever I am looking for possible dupes. All of the swatches in this post are automatically added to the gallery, so you can compare them for yourself.

The Glossover

	Silk Road A
	This one had threads of metallic shimmer that ran through it, which look a bit like brush strokes under brighter light (like flash), but they're very subtle and barely-there.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Silk Road Nail Lacquer

Quick Review: Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep, shimmering fuchsia.” It’s a rich, deepened ruby red with darker, ruby red shimmer–very fine shimmer that’s still noticeable in natural light but has a thread-like appearance. Illamasqua Charisma is very similar–perhaps a little darker, less red. Zoya Karina is brighter, redder.

It’s fully opaque in two coats, and it dries down to a naturally shiny finish–you don’t need a top coat. I didn’t have any problems with application or the consistency, and it really applied quite nicely. Le Metier de Beaute, generally, has a lovely formula and interesting shades.  Now, they have full-sized bottles, but in the past, they released small bottles.  These smaller bottles can make for a more challenging application if you have longer fingers or larger hands, since the caps are so small.  It contains just over a fourth of a full-sized polish (average size of full-sized polish is 0.50 fl. oz.) but is priced at $10, which is more palatable than say Dior or Chanel’s $20+ price tags (and you get around 0.34 to 0.40 fl. oz. with those).  I typically get a week of wear out of the brand’s formula with no chipping and very minor tip wear.

** A Note on Quick Reviews: In an effort to be more on-the-ball for 2013, I’m digging through my photo folders and getting as much posted as I can. These are not full-length, in-depth reviews, and instead, I’m writing brief reviews. For dupes, I highly suggest checking out The Swatch Gallery; it’s my first stop whenever I am looking for possible dupes. All of the swatches in this post are automatically added to the gallery, so you can compare them for yourself.

The Glossover

	Dynasty A+
	It's fully opaque in two coats, and it dries down to a naturally shiny finish--you don't need a top coat. I didn't have any problems with application or the consistency, and it really applied quite nicely.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer

Le Metier de Beaute Dynasty Nail Lacquer