Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil (5L, 20L)

The Make Up Forever display at Sephora is so big and engaging it makes me forget and ignore how much the store itself annoys me. It's all about the colors, and I've been in the mood for some interesting eyeliners. Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils come in 24 shades, from the classics to some that are really out there (metallic fuschia and yellow, if that's your thing).

The pencils are, indeed, waterfoof. Still, they glide on very smoothly without tugging or pulling and can be nicely smudged to shade the lid (see swatch). They maintain their texture in heat and humidity, don't melt even after a hot shower and require a good makeup remover when you want to take them off. I'd predict these Make Up Forever crayons are going to be my summer staple, especially for long days spent outdoors.

20L is a blue based dark green. I've been after this color for a while and this is perfect (use with sand or beige eyeshadows and blend with a little taupe or mocha color on the lid to keep it from looking too 80s). 5L is a golden khaki with a metallic finish. It's easy to wear and would look flattering on many a skin tone, tan (fake, please!) or not.

High Maintenance Products

In my dressing room in front of the mirror there's only room for one diva and it shouldn't be any of the products and item I'm using. One of my biggest makeup pet peeves are finicky products that require extra work and special accessories or conditions to function. This list includes:

• Nail polish colors or brands that do not work with most common base or top coats
• Foundations that refuse to cooperate with my favorite stippling brushes
• Primers that hate my foundation and show through,
   and the worst-
• Eye shadows and other products that leave so much fall out of glitter or pigment you can't leave the house without a serious cleanup job.

Outlaw Perfume: Daphne by Lord's Jester

*If you're new to the Outlaw Perfume Project, please read this first*

The first time I've smelled Daphne, the Outlaw creation of natural perfumer Adam Gottschalk of Lord's Jester, the lights dimmed and the room darkened. The intensity of this scent stunned me and for a brief second I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. But it is good. Most definitely.

Daphne, the perfume, was inspired by the story of Apollo and the nymph Daphne, but the first image my mind conjured was an old illustration  for Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Here was the Black Forest of centuries ago, looming and menacing, full of unspeakable evil and nameless creatures. Winnie the Pooh doesn't live here, for sure.

But this fairy tale by Lord's Jester has a happy ending. As the scent develops on skin it softens, opens up and sweetens considerably. The heavy branches move let some light in and you can see the velvet mossy forest floor under your feet. Soon enough Prince Charming will see the walls of the castle's gardens and smell the roses that grew wild and entangled for 100 years. And there inside there is a beautiful princess waiting, asleep, in all her sweetness. Daphne becomes honeyed and smooth, a rich oriental chypre that is a joy to wear.

Daphne by Lord's Jester Perfumes ($65, 10ml EDT) is available from lordjesters.com. The sample for this review was provided by the perfumer.

Art: Illustration for The Sleeping Beauty by Gustave Dore, 1867

Parfum d'Empire- Wazamba

Saying "Wazamba" is almost as fun as wearing this 2009 Parfum d'Empire creation. Almost. It was a love at first sniff for both the husband and me, probably because as The Blond has put it: "Wazamba is as good as something Uncle Serge could make, but he would have killed it with cumin". It's true, really. Thankfully, Parfum d'Empire already  got the cumin out of their system in Aziyade (I sort of like it in theory, just don't want to wear it. Never ever, not in a million years).

One could sum up Wazamba as a dark fruity incense, but then one would be oversimplifying a complex and very interesting perfume.Wazamba takes you on a journey to a faraway place, be it West Africa as Parfum d'Empire states as the inspiration for this scent or anywhere else where your mind wanders when wearing a woody sweet incense and myrrh. For me, Wazamba moves in circles- the warm and cool notes morph into one another, fade and reappear throughout the day (and night. The lasting power of this one is "until you shower or beyond). The sweetness comes from several sources- the incense itself smells resinous and dripping with honey at times, but there's also a dried fruit compote (probably why we're reminded of a Lutens/Sheldrake composition. Think Arabie without the dirty souk or Bois et Fruits with far less"bois" and a healthy shot of incense).

The complexity is achieved by an almost green fir balsam note that interjects itself just when you think the incense is about to burn itself into ashy embers. It's sweet(ish) and cool, a little piny with a young conifer or two thrown in for good measure. The result is delightful and perfect for this weather. Highly recommended for incense fans.

 Wazamba (had to say the name one more time) and the rest of Parfum d'Empire line can be found at MiN New York, BeautyHabit and LuckyScent.

Photo: Urban West-African fashion by John Atherton, Dakar, Senegal, 1967

The Fashionista Questionnaire

I don't think I qualify as a fashionista, since I have a preference for classics over trends, but this little survey (copied from Jack & Hill who took it from here) is fun.

What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?
A pair of platform knee-high Emilio Pucci boots. Black leather with a fabric leg shaft in a cream, green and wine print. They make jeans and a white t-shirt look fabulous and are traffic stoppers in the best possible way.

What is your fall-back outfit?
A black and camel DVF dress in one of her vintage prints. It's effortless, comfy and always looks perfectly put together.

What is your one piece of beauty advice?
Moisturize.

Biggest fashion faux pas?
The 80s. I was a teenager, but even that is not a good enough excuse.

What aspect of fashion do you hate the most?
When people don't stop to think if a certain style or trend actually makes them look good.

How do you think people perceive you from the way you dress?
I've really struggled with this question. My look is two polar opposites: a little boho (the hair and the prints) with mostly classic items. In the end of the day, I'm both, so perhaps that's how I'm also perceived.

If you could steal anyone's wardrobe, whose would it be and why?
Sophia Loren. Especially her vintage clothes. She's fabulous now, in her 70s, and has always looked like she was having fun.

If you could change one part of your body, which would it be?
Three or four extra inches would have done me a world of good.

What are your five desert-island staples?
A good cleanser, a rich moisturizer, sunscreen, lipgloss and perfume.

Parfum d'Empire- Osmanthus Interdite

I recently realized how much I love osmanthus as a summer perfume note. I adore it in Uncle Serge's Nuit de Cellophane, I skip the stairs two at a time wearing Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus and it looks like I might need a full bottle of Osmanthus Interdite by Parfum d'Empire because it has everything I love- from the tactile velvet of the honeyed apricot note to a very leathery musk dry-down.

An osmanthus flower doesn't look all that impressive. It grows in clusters of tiny white or yellow florets- cute but nothing more. I don't think I've come across a live osmanthus, so I can't comment on the way it smells other than in tea and in perfume. Harney & Sons (harney.com) have a wonderful Osmanthus Oolong tea that has a round and satisfying fruity aroma while still retaining the strength and richness of oolong. It's as far from a wimpy fruity non-tea as Osmanthus Interdite is from an apricot body spray.

Parfum d'Empire's collection was inspired by the empires of yore, some more questionable than others. While this is not my favorite theme (emperors are usually more Palpatine than the Childlike Empress), at least in the case of Osmanthus Interdite the Chinese connection is clear, even if it's China from a romantic westernized fantasy. A secret garden inside an imperial palace, flowers and fruit artfully engraved on vases and ornaments. It's very very pretty. I especially love how despite the very low sillage the perfume is warm and enveloping; the leather note is smooth and soft.

This Parfum d'Empire creation is very low-key compared to the more famous apricot and suede perfume Daim Blond (Lutens). The latter gets in your face and waves its iris note, making sure your nearest and dearest are aware of your superb taste in fragrance. Osmanthus Interdite is a lot more reserved which makes it easier to wear in summer. My only complaint is the lasting time- less than four hours is not my idea of perfection and the only reason I'm still living on samples and haven't succumbed to the allure of a full bottle (yet).

Osmanthus Interdite ($75, 50ml) is available from BeautyHabit.com. Luckyscent carries the 100ml bottles ($110) as does Aedes, though the price is inexplicably higher there ($130). Someone should clue the Aedes guys of this little issue.

Outlaw Perfume: Gypsy by Providence Perfume Co.

I remember now.

Perfume is an art. It creates pictures. It tells stories and stirs memories and emotions. Or, at least, it should.

Big corporations, focus groups, politics, marketing and mass marketing and most of all IFRA regulations have almost  taken it away from us and made us forget what it feels like to wear real perfume. But now, wearing Gypsy by perfumer Charna Ethier, I remember. And I don't want to let go.

Technically speaking, Gypsy is a dark amber with a touch of green fougere. If I were an abstract painter trying to capture Gypsy I'd paint my canvas black-based brown, maroon and brick red, let the colors bleed into each other and then incorporate some forest green veins. But Gypsy is only abstract if I let it be. It's a warm, breathing thing, human and personal and makes me think of the way other countries seemed to me as a child.

I go back to times before I had a clear map of the world in my head and was only discovering the wonder of foreign languages- people speaking in magical tones. My parents had guests from different corners of the world- long lost relatives and old friends coming from as far as South Africa and East Europe. They stayed up  late, drank mysterious and strong smelling liqueurs that had beautiful labels on their dark  bottles, wore strong perfumes and brought gifts that smelled of mystery.

Gypsy has all that and more. I consider it wearable by both men and women, though my husband's chemistry brings out something a little too sharp, while on me it's as soft and luxurious as I could have ever hoped. According to Charna Ethier "Most of the botanicals used in comprising Gypsy Eau de Parfum are posted on IFRA's list of banned/restricted ingredients".  The main notes are-

Top: galangal, lavender, lemon, petitgrain, and cardamom.

Heart: pink lotus absolute, Bulgarian lavender and green violet leaf.

Base: tonka, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, costus, and vanilla

But it's all about the blend- spicy, sensual, dark and sweet. It feels romantic and mysterious. It's incredibly long-lasting (easily more than 12 hours). A full bottle is now on my ever-growing wish list, a sentiment that seems to be shared by Ida from Ca Fleur Bon.

Parfum d'Empire- Ambre Russe

Ambre Russe by Parfum d'Empire is the kind of fragrance that can distract me form my perpetual angst over perfumes of yore, their reformulations and the raising price of vintage bottles. It has everything I love and nothing I don't, it's rich and strong in a way rarely smelled these days and is all about spice, leather and ambery goodness.

I'd suggest one avoids spraying Ambre Russe in the car, because there can be breathalyzer issues if stopped by police. But once the very boozy top notes run their course, this perfume actually smells imperial and I can see the Russian connection. From the slightly smoky black tea* to the touch of leather, churchy incense and lots and lots of sweet and spicy amber, as dark as old palace rooms.

Ambre Russe is sweet and has a nice dose of non-foody vanilla, but it never becomes cloying. It is perfectly unisex as long as one enjoys wearing other solemn and non-girly ambers (Josef Statkus, Ambre Sultan, Ambre Fetiche, Ambre Precieux or Ambre 114). This is a warm scent, almost smoldering, perfect for fall and winter (though I like it all year round). The fragrance has excellent sillage and tenacity, it draws people, husbands and pets to come closer and sniff. Most of them respond favorably.

Ambre Russe by Parfum d'Empire ($75, 50ml EDP) is available from luckyscent.

Art: Maria Feodorovona, Empress of Russia

*Still in this Russian tea mood, the lovely Jane of Daly Beauty just reviewed another favorite, Russian Caravan Tea by CB I Hate Perfume.

Nars Yachiyo Brush

Things I can't resist: kittens, fresh pasta, funky hats, figs, vintage Shalimar, handmade accessories, makeup brushes with a unique design. Nars Yachiyo brush falls under the last two categories. It's hand-spun and has an interesting handle made from black wisteria that wraps all around and feels very nice when you hold it.

One of the secrets of a really good blush brush is the amount of product is collects at one sweep and how much buffing and blending one needs to do after depositing the color on skin. That's what makes Nars Yachiyo the superb brush it is. There's something about the domed and tapered shape of the Yachio and its hair density that creates the magic- it makes even dark and very pigmented blushes almost fool-proof (as long as the color looks good on one's skin, that is).

The tapered shape makes the Yachiyo great for more delicate jobs like contouring, if you're so inclined. I played with a little and saw that it can be manipulated very well into small areas such as the sides of your nose. It's also good for touch highlighting either with the tip or sides, and some use it for cleanups, but personally, I prefer a simple fan brush for this purpose.

While this brush isn't the softest one I own, it feels pleasant enough. I've been using it for a little over a month, and while there was a little shading the first week, things are stable now. It survived its first washing (I wrapped the handle with a washcloth while doing it, to protect the black wisteria) and dried well. For such an expensive makeup brush I wish it came in nicer packaging (think Edward Bess brushes) or at least with a protective velvet pouch like Chanel or Guerlain, but that's my only complaint.

Nars Yachiyo Brush ($50) is available from narscosmetics.com and some deartment stores.

Photos by me.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics Eye Definer Beech Tree

Rosie Jane Johnston is an Australian makeup artist with a small line of products based around the idea of an effortless, beachy glowing look. I like the idea in theory, even if my twisted brain connects it to Australian surfing soaps such as Home and Away and everything blonde.

Rosie Jane's Eye Definer in Beech Tree was part of a previous BeautyFix kit. I liked the faceted rectangular shape of the pencil and the fact it allows for drawing a thin or a thick line. I admit I have yet to figure out how to get it close enough to the lash line- even using the thin edge is still not as efficient as a thin brush or pointy pencil, so this is a major issue. However Beech Tree is a medium bronzed brown that's too light for me to use as a liner anyway, so I have to supplement with black or espresso brown at the lash line.

The texture of Rosie Jane's liner is soft and pliable. If you're pale/blonde/blue eyed it would make a very flattering bronze smoky eye. It requires serious cementing with a primer underneath and a powder eye shadow over it, because it's almost as soft as a cream eye shadow, so while the look might be effortless it doesn't cut corners in application.

Bottom Line: Not my color, but has potential.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics Eye Definer ($15) is available from beautyhabit, b-glowing and rosiejanecosmetics.com. Mine came with a free BeautyFix press kit.

All photos are mine

All Eyes on Her

Forever new blazer, kookai dress, nina armando heels

The outfit worn to my dear friend Mateusz' 21st birthday this weekend. Nearly froze into an ice pole though.. rain and wind and cold really dont mix well together. Aside from the dreadful weather it was an excellent night! and of course Happy Birthday to the birthday boy!

Totally in love with this Josh Goot style dress. Totally comfortable and well fitted! and of course the colours are mesmerizing. Spent a long time in the store choosing the dress with the right mixture of colours.. chose the one with an abundance of purple =)

PS. I have also got a questions box now so feel free to ask me any questions you like guys!

Style Eyes by Taylor Chang

Style Eyes is the second book by makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian. Her first book, Asian Faces, focused on various makeup style and needs of Asian women. Now she's approaching women of all ethnicities but focusing on what might the most challenging part of makeup application: eyes.

The book covers everything from shaping your eye brows to applying false lashes. There are step-by-step instructions for every look and technique, explanations, definitions, tips and tricks. Ms. Chang-Babaian demystifies loose pigments, mineral products and tells you that when buying cream eye shadows you'd want a store with a good return policy. I especially loved the detailed how-tos for different eye shapes and lids. Those should give even the most inexperienced users a good idea how to create a polished look that really fits their features.

I wish there was a lot more discussion of color.  There's a casual mention that one can wear just about any color if done right, but not enough examples. It would have been great to see makeup looks focused on certain colors adapted to different faces, skin tones and occasions. Despite this flaw, Style Eyes offers enough useful information and inspiration even for those of us who are quite proficient with our liners and brushes. The photographs by Albert Sanchez are great- the models look human and you get a good idea of Taylor Chang Babaian's aesthetics. I plan to keep the book near my makeup dressers, so I can quickly refer to it when trying something new.

Butter London Nail Polish Yummy Mummy

My initial introduction to Butter London nail polish wasn't a big success, so I gave up on the brands for a very long time. Then I saw some of Amy's swatches on Cafe Makeup resulting in an online shopping spree. This time I was so thrilled with the outcome I was willing to forgive the annoying cap.

As much as I love my reds and purples, when it comes to nail color the right nudes and neutrals thrill me just as much. I'm on a never ending quest for the classiest, most perfect beige. Butter London's Yummy Mummy might be it, despite the annoying name.

Yummy Mummy is a somewhat cool toned beige with the most subtle shimmery finish. It's wedding appropriate, job interview friendly and very pretty. It works with anything and everything and would be the color I buy again and again. The texture is great: no complaints this time, two coats deliver the pretty and dry quickly.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick No.14 Rouge Feu

As promised, here's another YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick. This one is No. 14, Rouge Feu, which is a little more red and dramatic than Rouge Saadi (#3). You can see Rouge Feu is warmer, though it definitely doesn't have an orange undertone and isn't even tomato red. Fire red? I guess so, but maybe not quite. It's a great color anyway, one of those almost-universal reds that would look good on a wide range of skin tones.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture is part of the new generation of super-lipsticks. All have a wonderful texture- gentle on the lips and often moisturizing while providing an excellent coverage and lasting power. Rouge  Pur Couture has a more limited range of colors compared Chanel Rouge Coco, but lovers of red, fuchsia or orange have a good chance of finding at least one shade to rock their world.

Frederic Malle- Le Parfum de Thérèse

Yes, I know everyone is waiting for reviews of the new Frederic Malle, Portrait Of A Lady, but until I get my hands and nose on that one let's talk about one of the greatest beauties of all times, a perfume that in many ways shaped the Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums line.

While Le Parfum de Thérèse was launched by Malle in 2000 it was conceived decades before as one of the most romantic perfumes of all times. Master perfumer Edmond Roudnitska created Therese for his wife- how awesome is that? (I'm still fantasizing about Le Parfum de Gaia, the most perfect amber to ever be created)  It's wonderfully clear Roudnitska has put all of his creativity and love into this one. He composed a perfume that feels as though it could have been the crown jewel of his classic Dior perfumes- the haute couture version, perhaps.

On paper or in theory, I never expected to love Le Parfum de Thérèse- fruit notes (plum and the dreaded melon), an aquatic accord, assorted flowers- mostly jasmine and rose and a wood/leather base underneath it all. It sounds like a recipe for a spectacular hot mess, but then again, so does Roudnitska's Diorella, which I love (in its original pre-reformulation form). In reality, the beauty of the composition reaches me from the very beginning. The fruit is a lot more plum than anything else and the melon is not really melony- it's about the impression of sweet ripeness along with every sexual connotation of which you may think. The fruit alone could have made the perfume heavy and cloying, and combining it with big flower notes is one risky move. But the rose is quiet and thin and the jasmine is among the most gorgeous of its kind. Indolic? Not on my skin, but it is fleshy and sensual. Now, what is referred as the aquatic accord is woven carefully into the silky fabric of Therese. I don't get any of the stomach turning notes that usually accompany such a thing (hello, Un Jardin Apres la Mousson). It's light and cool air more than water- there's movement somewhere in there, which balances the other notes and opens them up.

The beauty of the top and heart notes is built on an exquisite base- it feels like a chypre but a modern one in the sense it doesn't poke you in the ribs with an oakmoss-patchouli stick. Don't get me wrong: I love the grand chypres of yore and few things irk me as labeling anything with patchouli as a modern chypre. But here in Therese, a 1950s composition, I've found the true meaning of that term. It's smooth, rich and obviously leans heavily on classic perfumery traditions, but the way the fragrance moves, breaths and develops doesn't suggest "vintage" at all.

Le Parfum de Thérèse is a glorious summer day but also wears amazingly well with tailored coats and knee-high stiletto boots. This Malle/Roudnitska marvel is always right. It's a celebration of optimism and love, and in my mind would make a wonderful wedding perfume for any gender.

Le Parfum de Thérèse ($95 3x10ml travel refills) is available at Barneys and Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums boutiques around the world.

Parfum d'Empire- Fougère Bengal

Fougère Bengal should probably come with a warning label for people who hate immortelle. The opening is very thick and sweet. It packs some heat and spice that can take away all the air in the room if not applied judiciously, and the entire first encounter is dense, exotic and very very lush. This 2007 Parfum d'Empire creation can feel like two big perfumes mixed together: a herbal fougere and a spicy oriental battling each other for attention. And, boy, do they give a good fight!

Fougères are traditionally masculine compositions. Green leaves and lavender that can be quite astringent and cool and give that vibe many women would describe as "men's cologne". Fougère Bengal is far from being the first to pair these notes with a sweet tonka bean-vanilla base- Jicky is the most classic example, of course. Parfum d'empire took this a lot farther, though, and created something that might not always be the easiest thing to wear, but is absolutely worth trying.

Once the scary sillage dies down I can relax and enjoy the ride. I always say that a good perfume is one that takes you places, and this is one great journey. Parfum d'Empire is good at this- they took the fictional romantic version of Colonial India- think A Passage to India or Far Pavillions- and forge them into a perfume. Greenery, tobacco, hey and the endless sweetness that promises all the temptations of the East. It's a beautiful fantasy that lingers on the skin for long hours, no matter how political incorrect the story behind this empire might be.

Burberry Midnight Blue (04) Eye Definer Eye Shaping Pencil

Since I'm obviously in denial about the holidays, holiday makeup collections and the existence of December, I thought I'd talk about items from permanent lines and maybe some unsung heroes. Like this one. Of course, I have several reviews brewing for more Burberry Beauty gorgeousness, but since the eyeliner pencils have yet to get much attention I figured it's a good place to start.

When I went shopping at Nordstrom in late August, an eyeliner pencil was not high on my list. But the Burberry rep who did my makeup used their Eye Definer in #04, Midnight Blue, and I loved the way it looked, especially coordinated with the subtle beige and taupe eye shadows from their line. I'm always surprised when hearing people with brown eyes who are afraid of blue. Yes, I also remember that late 1970s/early 1980s "rule" about brown makeup for brown eyes and blue for blue eyes, but it's wrong. There's nothing like a little blue cautiously applied to make brown eyes pop. And Burberry's Midnight Blue is the perfect color for that.

This pencil has a slight iridescent finish- not quite metallic and not obviously shiny, just a little light-reflecting. The texture is smooth, not very creamy but soft enough for an easy application with no tugging or skin-pulling (It's my biggest pet peeve about the pencils from some high-end brands. Paying nearly $30 to feel like I stabbed myself in the eye is not my idea of a good beauty moment). Burberry found a middle ground between  softness/blendability and precision/control in this pencil, and while I'd probably love it more had the texture been creamier, I still enjoy it a great deal.

Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Plum Mascara

The Benefit mini mascara duo of BADgal Lash and BADgal Plum was a GWP, which frankly, would have been the only way to get me to test them considering my huge disappointment with BADgal Blue a few years ago. I like several Benefit Cosmetics products, but their previous mascaras have never gotten on my good side.

Neither did BADgal Plum. Just like with its blue predecessor, the color never shows up on my lashes and doesn't contribute anything. Add to that sub-par performance, no extra definition and a propensity to smudging and you get an inferior mascara at an inflated price.

Laura Mercier Fall Favourites Face Palette Collection (Saks Exclusive)

One of the most beautiful and practical sets of the season comes from Laura Mercier. The Fall Favorites Face Palette Collection is centered around the color palette, but also includes a a full size black mascara and three brushes- cheek, lip and eye. The brushes have short travel size handles but are otherwise full size, high quality and help one get the most of the palette. I wish Bobbi Brown would take notice and do the same with some of her face palettes.

The colors are neutral, wearable and very flattering. I already have a full size pan of Coffee Ground, a matte taupe, which I use often and always pack for travel. As you can see, it coordinates well with the other shades Laura Mercier has included here- Bamboo, Rose and Stellar. The four eye shadows are versatile, perfectly coordinated and are truly great for a day-to-night look. I swatched them very lightly, but the colors can be built for more drama if needed. They have a soft texture and a luxurious finish that fits this set very well.

The blushes are quite universal. I can wear both and also like mixing and blending them together. I could have lived with less shimmer, but it's not too bad. I swatched the colors more heavily then I wear them, to make sure you can see the difference between Spice and Apricot Blossom. A lighter application gives the face a natural healthy glow.

Out of the three lip colors, Crystal is a sheer gloss with very little pigment. I don't wear it on its own, but it's great either mixed with the other two or topping a different lipstick. My favorite thing to do here is blending Black Currant and Orchid together for a juicy and rich neutral color that's dark enough to look sexy but isn't too bold.

The only issue here is the size of the pans. The eye shadows are quite narrow and cross contamination is very easy, especially when using good brushes (like the ones that came with this collection). Still, as long as one is mindful things can be kept fairly clean. I've been putting the palette to good use in the last few weeks and have a feeling I'm going to run out of several colors within 6 months or so.

Bottom Line: Between the pretty packaging, tools and the work horse colors, this is a big winner.

This particular Laura Mercier Fall Favourites Face Palette Collection ($125) is a limited edition and exclusive to Saks (in store and online). Other department stores have different sets for fall 2010 with other colors and products (Neiman's has no lip products but includes more eye shadows and a pencil liner).