365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to. As much as I love greens, I had to break the cycle and put on something the complete opposite. For me, that’s anything in the pink or red color families. I decided to combine them by choosing the reddish pink Lancôme Sarong from the Bronze Azure Summer 2011 collection. Bronze Azure captures beach chic with its palette of shimmering tans, cool blues and bright pops of pink. I’ve said it many times that I’m NOT a pink girl. And I don’t say that as though it’s a bad thing. It’s just not my aesthetic. Now when you mix pink with orange or red, I’m a little more apt to get on board. True corals and red corals, like Sarong, are like my gateway drug to pink. Every time I wear one I think, “I can do pink.” But it takes a rare pink bird, like Chanel Morning Rose, to make me believe.

Formula & Application: Lancôme nail polishes are 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin) and they do not contain camphor, which can be an irritant.  The flat brush is about the same length as OPI’s ProWide Brush but it’s more tapered, not as wide.  The bristles are flexible and spread easily across the nail.

Sarong applied very smooth for such a pigmented polish. And I’m talking high pigmentation. Like a second coat almost felt like too much. I feel like there is a shift in the way polish formulas are heading. It’s as if they are taking a page out of the RBL play book. Both Essie Coat Azure and Sarong have thick but pliable textures that are reminiscent of Rescue’s famous formula. Considering that both Lancôme and Essie are now under the same corporate umbrella, it isn’t too surprising.

Lancôme Sarong is a bright red coral with flecks of fuchsia and gold shimmer. The shimmer doesn’t pop as much on camera as it does in person but it’s what drew me in to this color. That and they way the gold shimmer formed a ribbon in the bottle. I know it doesn’t appear as a ribbon on the nail but I love when that happens. Something about it fascinates me. In the swatch image below you can see the two different colors of shimmer waving hello. They give the color a lot of depth and interest.

Bottom Line: The base color may not be the most unique on the planet but there’s something about the dual color shimmer and formula that stand out to me. Corals are always hot for summer and this season is no different. If you’re a Lancôme fan, you’ll definitely want to scoop up a bottle.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: What can I say? I’m smitten. STASH!

Lancôme Sarong and the rest of the Bronze Azure collection is available now at Lancôme counters nationwide. Online shoppers can head to Lancome-USA.com or the site to your favorite department store to order a bottle.  Lancôme Le Vernis retail for $19/ea for a .34oz bottle.

Thoughts on Sarong? Do you prefer pink corals, red corals or the more true orange based version? What’s your favorite coral nail polish?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by Lancôme. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Last September I had the pleasure of meeting famed Celebrity Manicurist Lisa Logan backstage at the Chris Benz fashion show in NYC. Lisa is Beyonce’s manicurist among others and I was geeked to meet her.  At the show Lisa was using a bold purple nail polish that caught my eye and I’ve been dying to get my hands on it ever since. The color is Violet Groove from the Lancôme Spring 2011 collection, Ultra-Lavande.  The collection of purples and pinks also includes Le 54, a sheer lavender glitter polish, and together they make one killer combo.  Keep reading to see for yourself.

Lancôme’s Daniel Martin was inspired by 60′s French pop singer Frances Gall to create a modern take on the mod look for the Chris Benz Spring 2011 presentation. He used the pale lavender shadow from the Cool Lavande Color Design Minerale Quad on the lid and placed tiny black dots along the lash line with Artliner. “From a distance it looks like a fuller lash,” explained Daniel, “but up close it’s just cool.”  Daniel is “just cool.”  Seriously he is one of my fave MUA’s to interview as he always has a fun makeup story to tell and is so down-to-earth and friendly.  He always has a smile on his face and that can be a rarity in the backstage world. Of course the nails were the star of the show for me.  A few days prior to the presentation I heard that Chris was debating between the two new Lancôme spring colors, a creamy violet and glittery lavender and even though I was hoping for some sparkle, using Violet Groove ended up being the right choice for this collection.  The bold pop of purple against Chris’ playful palette of color added a touch of fun and whimsy.

Formula & Application: Lancôme polishes are 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin).  The flat wide brush is about the same length as OPI’s ProWide Brush but it’s more tapered, not as wide.  The bristles are flexible and spread easily across the nail.

Both polishes applied with squishy, jelly-like texture and were easy to manipulate.  Violet Groove is high on pigmentation resulting in a perfectly opaque finish in two coats.  Le 54 on the other hand is very sheer best used as a top coat or for a simple wash of color.  I am showing it with three coats and you can still see my smile line.

Violet Groove is aptly named as it reminds me of my sorority’s official flower, Woodland Violets.  This color is gorgeous and just screams Spring.  Due to the jelly-ish texture it dries with a high shine gloss all its own.  It should be noted that I’m holding a mini bottle in my hand but the polish is sold in the full size bottle.

Though as soon as Violet Groove dried on my nails I couldn’t help but think it looked familiar.  I just happened to have my bottle of Rescue Beauty Lounge Purple Haze sitting on my desk and, ta da, a dupe was found.  I don’t use the word dupe often but in this case there is no other word.  I couldn’t tell these two colors apart if I tried.  They even look identical in the bottle.

Le 54 on its own is a sheer lavender packed with blue shimmer and micro-glitter.  On its own it does nothing for me.  This is the type of pale purple I say gives me “alien hands.”  It’s just not flattering to my skin tone.  The base color reminds me a lot of those old Revlon Glimmer Glosses.  I remember excitedly buying the purple from that set only to have it clash with my coloring.

However, put these two colors together and SHUT IT DOWN.  The sprinkling of blue glitter, the subtle shimmer and the vivid purple base make for one gorgeous layering combination.  I’ve been wearing it on my nails for a few days now and I don’t want to take it off.  These polishes were made to be worn together.

Bottom Line: Since I already own RBL Purple Haze this polish wouldn’t make my personal must-have list but if you haven’t been able to get your hands on the RBL version, this is an excellent substitute.  Le 54 is really best for sheer lovers (unlike me) and layering.  I can already think of so many colors that this would look great under it.

The Lancôme Ultra-Lavande nail polishes are available now at Lancôme counters nationwide and at Lancome-usa.com.  Nail polishes retail for $19/ea for a .34oz bottle.

Thoughts on Violet Groove and Le 54?  How many of you are sheer polish lovers?  Could you see yourself picking up Le 54 just for layering purposes?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by Lancôme.  For more information view my Disclosure Policy.

As you know I was in NYC for Halloween weekend with the boyfriend and per my usual travel ritual I was up late the night before we left. I did actually get five hours sleep with is a record for me. Baby steps… Anywho, as I tend to do, I gave myself a middle of the night manicure, procrastinating because I couldn’t decide on a color. Unlike my trips to NYC for Fashion Week, I wasn’t going to be changing my color daily so I wanted something that would not only last but go with every outfit I packed. Finally, around 2 am, I pulled out the polishes I bought the day before, determined to wear something new. Little did I know, the combination I ended up choosing would last me 7+ days with barely any tip wear. Read on to see my manicure with Lancôme Les Rouge L’Wren and Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow and check out some pics from my trip.

On my trip to the mall I picked up the new Lancôme L’Wren Scott Holiday Collection polishes and a few of the Sephora by OPI Holiday colors. When I pulled them out Friday night I fully expected to put on the slate grey, Le Gris L’Wren, and surprised myself by falling hard for the garnet red shimmer, Les Rouge L’Wren. This red kick I’m on seems to have no signs of stopping. Weird, I know!

If you haven’t seen the new Lancôme polish bottles, they’ve changed the size and brush on us. After releasing a mini set for Fall they’ve changed things up, opting for a bottle somewhere between the .185oz minis and the old .34oz bottles. This new slimmer bottle holds .21oz of polish and has a lower price point ($14.50).

My only point of contention is with the brush. I loved the old flat brush and this one has a similar shape and length, it’s just not as firm. The floppy bristles make the polish harder to control. I would suggest that Lancôme bring back the old bristles because they were the bomb.

Okay on to the color… Les Rouge L’Wren was created in collaboration with famed designer L’Wren Scott. Last February we saw the blue-grey color from this collection grace the tips of the models at L’Wren’s show and Les Rouge L’Wren hit the runway in September. The lush wine hue has a sprinkling of silver, gold and red micro-glitter that lights up the polish on the nail. I’m seriously infatuated with it.

I didn’t originally intend to wear it layered but considering that I barely held my eyes open long enough to polish my nails, it was no surprise when I woke up to see sheet marks wrecking my mani. So in a quick rush before heading to the airport I threw on a layer of Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow, the gold Holiday Collection counterpart to Today Was A Fairytale, which I showed you back in August.  Boom Boom Pow contains 24K gold dust, gold micro-glitter and gold hexagonal sequins in a clear base.

These shots were all taken after SEVEN DAYS of wear. That’s right, we’re talking seven full days that included hauling luggage, schlepping all over NYC, multiple subway rides and constant hand washing (NYC is a germaphobe’s nightmare). I used Dermelect Launchpad Anti-Aging Base Coat and Olan Quick & Slick Top Coat but you would think I used glue.

The only casualty was my right thumb and that didn’t happen until I went to bowling on the Thursday following our trip.  Yep, I’m in a bowling league with the boyfriend.  It’s a beer league and a lot of fun.  The only downside is that my thumb nail always takes a hit.

Halloween Weekend in NYC

I wasn’t sure what to expect being in the city for Halloween. I’m not a fan of the holiday so we avoided the famous NYC Village Halloween Parade but it was a lot of fun seeing people with the outrageous costumes riding the subway or walking the streets with everyone else in their street clothes.  Though I could have done without seeing the drunk girls wearing little more than a bandage and dental floss barely keeping it together in Times Square.  It was way too cold for that.

Since we were staying in midtown near Rockefeller Center we wandered through Times Square and around the shops on 5th Avenue on Saturday, ending the evening at Aroma Kitchen, a restaurant I visited during a NYC beauty tour a few years back.  The food at Aroma Kitchen was fabulous and not much of a strain on the wallet.

Sunday Funday found us venturing out to Brooklyn for brunch with my pal, StyleIt’s Sarah Conley.  Silly me, I thought that since the restaurant was in Brooklyn, where Sarah lives, it would be an easy trip for her.  Little did I know it was a shorter trip for us than it was for her.  Shows what I know about NYC transporation.

Anywho, I chose Seersucker after hearing about it from co-owner, Lancome VP of PR Kerry Diamond.  Kerry and her boyfriend, Chef Robert Newton, opened the Southern comfort food spot this past summer and I’ve been wanting to check it out.  Fashion Week is usually too crazy for a trek out to Brooklyn so this trip proved to be the perfect time.  Seersucker more than lived up to my expectations.  The boyfriend loves biscuits and sausage gravy and said it was one of the best he’s had.  I just wish we would have been in town on Tuesday to experience the fried chicken I’ve read so much about.

As if we needed more food, Sarah took us to her favorite cupcake shop, Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea where I got to intro the boyfriend to Sarah’s FW partner-in-crime, LesleyKat. After all that, a walk was definitely in order so we continued our NYC tour with a stroll through Central Park to see the Bethesda Fountain.  It was a brisk, sunny day, perfect to take in the fall foliage.  We finished the night with drinks in Union Square with Sarah and Heather Park and dinner at Dos Caminos.  Their homemade guacamole is SOOO good.

Monday was all about the boyfriend.  When we planned the trip he asked to see three things; The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Ground Zero and a Ranger’s hockey game at Madison Square Garden.

We started out bright and early to catch the ferry to Liberty Island and arrived to find out that Monday is school group day.  Kill me now!  Despite the throngs of noisy children, seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was amazing.  Emotional even.  We climbed the 156 steps to the pedestal of Lady Liberty and the view was stunning, learning the history of the statue along the way.  You can climb a full 315 steps to the crown but neither of us were up for that.

On our way to to the hotel to recoup before the hockey game we stopped to pay our respects at Ground Zero and visited the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site and that’s where I lost it.  I fully admit that I’m a sap but I can’t imagine anyone can visit the site and not get teary-eyed.

Later that night we met up with a friend of the boyfriend’s for drinks at The Flying Puck, a hockey bar.  Yes, in a foodie town like NYC I went to a hockey bar but like I said, it was the boyfriend’s day.  He was in his glory watching the Rangers take on the Chicago Blackhawks and I was excited to see the Garden.  It was a lot smaller than I expected and the color scheme threw me for a loop.  Barney purple and turquoise? Who was in charge of that??

We capped off the night with a visit to the Empire State Building.  It was FREEZING but the view was incredible.  Someone on Twitter mentioned that there’s a better view from Rockefeller Center but we had purchased our tickets in advance and it just seemed like “the” place to see the city.

More than one person recommended we hit up Katz’s Deli so we headed there on Tuesday for lunch. I’m sure you remember the scene from When Harry Met Sally that was filmed there. “I’ll have what she’s having.”  The corned beef and matzo ball soup were delish!

We also went on the NBC Studio Tour that day but we weren’t allowed to take pics inside 30 Rock.  Due to my Sex & The City obsession we stopped at Magnolia Bakery and holy overrated Batman!  Their red velvet is beyond terrible. Flavorless and covered in lard frosting.  GROSS!  Don’t. Do. It!  At least we ended the trip on a high note, hanging with Keri Blair at a local organic eatery, FreeFoods.  I had a yummy green juice that energized me for the journey home.

Lancôme Les Rouge L’Wren retails for $14.50/ea for a .21oz bottle and is available now on Lancome-USA.com and at Lancôme counters nationwide. Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow retails for $20/ea for a .5oz bottle and is available now at DeborahLippmann.com, Nordstrom.com, Beauty.com and at Barneys NY.

I hope you enjoyed my little (or not so little) recap of my NYC trip.  What do you think of my Lancôme/Lippmann manicure?  Have you fallen for a color family recently that you normally shy away from?  What’s the longest you’ve worn a manicure before it started showing serious signs of wear?  What was that magical product combo?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by Deborah Lippmann and Dermelect, all other products and services mentioned were purchased by me. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

image credit: Seersucker image from Becoming Brooklyn.

It’s time for another installment of As Amazing As Polish, my opportunity to gush about the products that I feel truly are as AH-MAZING as nail polish.

Long time readers, I’m sure you have noticed how sporadic these posts are.  It’s not out of laziness or forgetfulness, it’s just that as beauty junkie who is constantly testing new products it takes a rare flower to get a rave from me. Lancôme Flash Bronzer Oil-Free Tinted Self Tanning Face Lotion (what a mouthful!) definitely deserves that kind of praise.

You may or may not remember that I’m a reformed indoor tanner.  After having a couple suspicious moles removed a few years back I gave up the habit but have been seriously missing the golden brown color ever since.  I can’t help it, I like how I look with a tan.  I think a lot of people that aren’t blessed with flawless, porcelain skin would agree.

Since I gave up the fake & bake I’ve been on the hunt for a self-tanner I can fall in love with and it’s been one massive fail. I’ve tried gradual self-tanners but hated smelling like ass every night to look barely sun-kissed.  I’ve used traditional self-tanners only to end up with streaks or Oompa Loompa feet. Embarrassing!  I’ve tried spray booths, lotions, creams, mists, tanning mitts, etc. and like Goldilocks I never found the right fit until now.

With the exception of the summer months I had pretty much resigned myself to being the pale girl my parents created.  Without indoor tanning, I just couldn’t stomach the process of self tanning.  Exfoliating, dealing with the stench DHA (dihydroxyacetone) causes when it reacts with your skin, avoiding orange palms and streaks.  It’s all too much.  But if I could find a product that smells pleasant, is mistake-proof in its application and gives noticeable results without requiring daily maintenance I would reconsider my stance.  Enter the newest product in the Lancôme Flash Bronzer lineup, their Oil-Free Tinted Self Tanning Face Lotion.

When I was in New York for The Makeup Show I was invited to a press event for Lancôme’s new mascara, Définicils Precious Cells, and the Flash Bronzer Face Lotion was one of the items I was sent home with to try.  Now for the past couple years I’ve been relying on Jergens Natural Glow Face simply because it is cheap and none of the more expensive products I bought had impressed me.  They either broke me out, made me look orange or did nothing for me color-wise.  The Jergens smells horrible but didn’t upset my skin.  The color is pretty light though and I hated using it every night instead of my usual anti-aging creams.

Long story short, I packed the the Lancôme Flash Bronzer when I went to Put-In-Bay for my birthday.  I applied it the night before we sailed over to the island and was a bit shocked by how muddy brown the lotion appears.  It even looked a bit odd when I first applied it on my face.  But once I started to rub it in the lotion gave my skin a noticeable, even glow.  Even being the key word here.  The tint definitely helped ensure an even application.  The product promises results in thirty minutes but since I apply it before bed I can’t attest to that.

What I can tell you is that I woke up the next morning a glowing, bronzed goddess.  I was seriously amazed plus I didn’t have the BF complaining about self-tanner smell or any marks on my pillowcase.  The best part, my golden tan lasted the five days the package promises.  I just moisturized as normal and the color held its own then gradually faded away.

To give you an idea of how fantastic the color is, let’s look at a Before & After. The picture on the right of me and the lovely Paula from Older Girl Beauty was taken the weekend of The Makeup Show in May. I’m all pale, pasty and red. No bueno. To the left is a shot of me and my BFF, not to be confused with the BF, at Put-In-Bay in late June. Much better!

Ever since that weekend in May, I’ve been addicted to Flash Bronzer.  I’ve been using it regularly for over a month now and haven’t had a single skin issue or bit of patchiness.  It’s like I’m back to my blissful days of UV tanning, minus the skin cancer risk and sun damage.

As those of you who follow me on Twitter & Facebook know, I’m heading to Vegas for the Cosmoprof show again and you better believe I’ll be breaking out the Flash Bronzer.  In fact I’m so impressed with the face version, I’m heading to my Lancôme counter to pick up a bottle of Flash Bronzer Body Gel to tan the rest of me and a backup bottle of Flash Bronzer Face.  I had been using Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess and it gave good color but was streaky, smelly and took forever to dry.

Lancôme Flash Bronzer Oil-Free Tinted Self Tanning Face Lotion is available now on Lancôme-USA.com and at Lancôme counters nationwide.  It retails for $30 for a 1.7 fl oz bottle.  I’ve been using my bottle religiously for the past month and a half and it’s still going strong.

Who else has tried the Flash Bronzer line?  What are your favorite self-tanners?  I had hoped to find a comparable product from L’Oreal since they have the same parent company but the Sublime Bronze line just doesn’t work as well for me.  Anyone have an affordable self-tanning option that doesn’t smell, clog pores or streak?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished by Lancôme. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

image credit: Heather Park & All Lacquered Up

A little birdie tweeted in my ear that the blue-grey custom blend polish Lancôme created exclusively for the L’Wren Scott Fall 2010 runway will make its way to counters by the end of this year.  The shade, that looks to be a metallic, worked perfectly with the sexy smokey eye Aaron De Mey created.  I only wish I could have been backstage to see it in person.

Full details on the look from Lancôme:

Lancôme Artistic Director for Makeup Aaron De Mey once again teamed up with L’Wren Scott, designer and stylist extraordinaire, to do the makeup for her seasonal presentation at the all-white Gagosian Gallery on Manhattan’s West Side. The makeup look Aaron created was decidedly glam rock and complemented Serge Normant’s cotton candy brands and L’Wren’s sexy, structured silhouette.

After prepping the skin, Aaron applied a layer of Teinte Idole foundation with his fingers, then added a layer of Shu Uemura loose powder for a matte finish. Aaron used Blush Subtil in Shimmer Mocha Havana on the apples of the cheeks and along the cheekbone, all the way to the hairline. The result was a major cheek.

Next came the eyes, the most dramatic part of L’Wren’s makeup look. Aaron used Ombre Magnétique in Black from his upcoming Fall 2010 collection all over the lid and all the way up to the brow bone. Then he used the silver Ombre shade around the tear duct to catch the light and add impact. Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony was used along the waterline. Multiple coats of the new Hypnôse Drama mascara on upper and lower lashes completed the look.

Aaron kept the lip color neutral so as not to distract from the hypnotic eyes. He used L’Absolu Rouge in Rich Cashmere over which he put La Lacque Fever in Sensation, a glossy nude shade coming this fall.

The most fun part of the look was the models’ blue-grey manicures with a special color that Lancôme customized just for L’Wren.

So we didn’t get Pop Petrol in the US but we are definitely getting this standout shade.  Though wouldn’t it be amazing if Lancôme brought Pop Petrol to our shores and paired it with this polish as special set?  Lancôme are you listening??  Hmm, what would it be called?  What would you name this color?

Fanatics, take a second and glare at the bottle of green Lancôme gorgeousness on the left.  That’s right, I said glare! Why?  Because for some inexplicable reason Lancôme has decided to NOT release Pop Petrol from the Spring Ô My Rose collection in the US. You see, I got all sorts of giddy when I saw promo pics of this collection popping up on beauty blogs left and right.  I raced to get more details from the reps at Lancôme only to find out that Pop Petrol would not grace us with its presence.  Oh the humanity!  So, you lucky, lucky European Fanatics, this time you win! However, thanks to my friends at Lancôme I not only have the chance to tease share this baby’s beauty with you, I am able to send a bottle of Pop Petrol to live with one lucky Fanatic.  Find out more after the jump!

Pop Petrol (aka Deep Water Green) is a mysterious lass.  A murky, shimmery shade of blue-green, this deep, luscious lacquer has a chameleon-like appearance.  When I first pulled it from the box I was a tad disappointed.  Where was the vivid green from the teaser pics?  It looked like a steely teal blue.  It’s not until applied that you really appreciate the color.  In warmer indirect lighting (a sunny day) you really see the forest green come alive.  Like a greener Lippmann Don’t Tell Mama.

But in cool (shade) lighting the teal takes the stage with a bit of charcoal undertones.  In this light I actually thought it might be a dupe for the discontinued CoverGirl NailSlicks Mystic Peacock but no dice. btw, CoverGirl BRING THAT BACK!

Under artificial light, you see that deep jewel-toned emerald the promo pics promised.

The application of Pop Petrol is perfection. The wide flat brush is a little too rigid for my taste but the formula glides on with ease, covering the nail in two thin coats.

Like I said above, Pop Petrol is only available overseas. So swappers, it’s time to start working your European connections.

Or just enter my giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a bottle of Pop Petrol to call your own. You have from now until Sunday January 17th at 11:55pm EST to enter. One entry per person.

US RESIDENTS ONLY!

Tell me what you think of Pop Petrol in the comments!

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by Lancôme. For further information view my Disclosure Policy.

Lancôme’s La Collection Lollipop was previewed at the Chris Benz presentation during NYFW in September. I got my first glimpse of this charity inspired collection when two of the polishes graced the models’ fingers and toes at the show. Created to benefit the Lollipop Theater Network, the collection consists of three sets of Color Fever Gloss and Le Vernis in matching shades. Learn more about the Lollipop Theater Network and check out these adorable gloss & polish sets after the jump!

This November, Lancôme will introduce La Collection Lollipop, three limited-edition gloss and nail polish sets created to help raise funds and awareness for the Lollipop Theater Network. This nonprofit organization brings current-run movies to children and teenagers hospitalized due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Lancôme ambassador Anne Hathaway, who has made several hospital visits on behalf of Lollipop, brought the organization to Lancôme’s attention and asked if there was anything the brand could do to help support the charity.Each set is packaged in a box donning a piece of artwork created by children in hospitals in New York and California. Inside you’ll find a black velvet pouch containing a lip gloss and nail lacquer. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Lollipop Theater Network. The candy colored collection comes in three yummy flavors; Bon Bon Strawberry, Mademoiselle Grape and Ma Cherie Cherry.

Bon Bon Strawberry is a bright, fun pink creme resembling a high gloss gumball. The polish was well pigmented, covering the nail in just two coats. The matching gloss is a bit sheer so it doesn’t appear as bold on the lips.

Mademoiselle Grape is more of a red plum than grape but just as delicious. It’s not a shade I would normally choose for myself but it’s much more flattering than I expected. The gloss is really well pigmented and I love the doe foot applicator but it didn’t work with my skin tone.
Ma Cherie Cherry is surprisingly my favorite set of the three. I’m not normally a red girl but there’s something about the slight berry undertone that I love in both the polish and the gloss.

La Collection Lollipop sets retail for $35/ea (an $8 savings). The collection is set to launch in November and will be carried exclusively at Nordstrom stores. It is already online at Nordstrom.com and coming soon to Lancome-usa.com.

What do you think Fanatics? Aren’t these sets adorable? I’m such a sucker for packaging that I got excited just looking at them.

Known for his love of color, Chris Benz’s Spring 2010 show did not disappoint. His collection included bright pops of yellow, pink, purple and blue in shapes both feminine and strong. To compliment the clothes the teams from Lancome and Redken were on hand to create the makeup, hair and nail looks. Find out how it all came together and get a real life look at the next Lancome Pout-A-Porter lipstick after the jump!

Lancome Makeup Artist Daniel Martin created the doll-like face on the models. He likened it to Raggedy Ann minus the flaming red hair. He wanted to create a neutral palette to balance against Chris’s colorful collection. Pale, hydrated skin paired with pumped up lashes and a single pop of color on the lips are the essentials to this doll-face. The key products to creating the look are Shu Uemura Nobara Foundation, Lancome Ageless Minerale Translucent Powder, Lancome Pop ‘N Cheeks in Coral Flirt (launching Spring 2010), Lancome Hypnose Mascara and Lancome L’Absolu Rouge lipstick in Chris & Tell.

John Ruidant for Redken is a man that knows how to wield a curling iron and as a curl challenged girl, I LOVE that about him. John said that because Chris’s collection has a lot of texture and color, he played off that idea creating a very textured hairstyle. He began by spraying Fabricate 03 and power drying it into the hair. After creating a side part he curled the entire head with a 1 1/4 inch iron, spraying each section with Hot Sets 22 and slightly backcombing the piece to set in some roughness. John said it wasn’t about creating a perfect, smooth curl. That he wanted disheveled, haphazard sporadic waves with no brushes or combs involved. Finally, he mixed Outshine 01 & Glass 01 together and ran his fingers through the hair. On the girls wearing low-cut tops he added a side twist to show off the shape of the clothes. He noted that it’s a very user friendly style that we can all replicate at home.

On the nail front, Editorial Manicurist Sheril Bailey tended to the models tips and toes. She created a flattering round nail shape which follows the theory from her book, The Sheril Bailey Complete Manicuring and Nail Care Handbook, of mimicking the cuticle line. She feels that a rounded nail is more feminine than a flat square.

In terms of polish, instead of a matchy-matchy look, which I rarely do, she opted for a coordinated color combo with a lighter bright hue on the hands and a deeper, bold shade on the feet. The lacquers, launching this November, are called Bon Bon Strawberry (fingers) and Mademoiselle Grape (toes). They are part of a very special Lancome project that I can’t wait to tell you about.

The biggest beauty news of the day was the unveiling of Chris & Tell, the 5th lipstick in Lancome’s Pout-A-Porter series. Chris & Tell is a collaboration between Chris and Daniel that came about after many hours of brainstorming in Chris’s studio. Daniel told me, “we initially wanted to do something that was beige but being that we are both from Seattle, we wanted color. We were drawn to this orange, this coral and it just manifested itself.”

The year before, Chris designed Elettra Rossellini-Wiedemann’s dress for The Met’s “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” gala and Daniel custom mixed a lipstick for her that ended up becoming the springboard for Chris & Tell.

According to Daniel, even though the shade is bold, it has a pink undertone that makes it very wearable. And the L’Absolu Rouge formula allows you to wear it as a stain or a full color lipstick. I put my sample of Chris & Tell to the test the very next day and received many compliments. Here are my swatches of the shade.

FYI, the waiting list for Chris & Tell is now open so if you want a tube of this limited edition lipstick when it launches next Spring, I suggest you call the Lancome Boutique at (212) 362-4858.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the lipstick and the overall look. I’m definitely going to try to replicate the hair. I’m obsessed with how beautifully messy it is. What about you?

The biggest news on the lipstick front is the collaboration between Lancome and designer Chris Benz. It’s the fifth installment of the Pout-A-Porter series and I’ve got the scoop. Following in the footsteps of innovative designers like Thakoon, Peter Som, Benhaz Sarafpour and Proenza Schouler, Chris worked with makeup artist Daniel Martin to create a gorgeous shade that does total justice to the P-A-P series.

In a true stroke of genius, Lancome and Chris Benz involved their fans in the launch with a Facebook contest on Chris’s fan page to name the shade. The winner receives five of the lipsticks and a $500 Lancome gift card!

You may remember that I broke the news of this collaboration in my review of Declaring Indigo. Now, thanks to my friends at Lancome, I have the privilege of sharing the name and first look of this amazing lippie with all of you before its debut at New York Fashion Week.

Chris & Tell is the name Chris chose for the opaque peach color. Isn’t that adorable? Such a fun play on words. They used the color for the first time last week during the hair and makeup test as shown on model Elettra wearing one of Chris’s Spring 2010 dresses.
If you want your own tube of Lancome Chris & Tell, and why wouldn’t you, you better hop to it. The waiting list opened last Thursday during Fashion’s Night Out. Call the Lancome Boutique at 212-362-4858 to make sure you don’t miss out!

Lancôme’s fall collection, Declaring Indigo, includes three shades of their Le Vernis nail polish including a bold, electric blue. I got my first peek at the new colors backstage at the Chris Benz F/W 09 show during New York Fashion Week. Deborah Lippmann was working “undercover” tending to the models’ nails alongside Lancôme makeup artist Daniel Martin and Redken lead stylist John Ruidant. Get your first look at Indigo Paris and some insider scoop on Lancôme’s Pout-à-Porter lipstick series after the jump!

The look at the show was that of a late 70s/early 80s uptown girl heading downtown to the clubs. The gorgeous hair creation is the brainchild of John Ruidant who is not only a genius but very 90s-Seattle-coffee-house chill every time I see him. Madness ensues all around and he’s just working the hair, doing his thing all the while intricately describing his masterpiece. I can’t even begin to go into what it took to create this style but it involved a 1 inch curling iron, Redken Fabricate and a whole mess of backcombing and pins. Definitely a do not try this at home type situation. Daniel Martin referenced Danceteria circa 1982 in describing the makeup. The models’ skin was given a blown out, overexposed matte finish using a foundation two shades lighter than their skintone. The lip was a flat beige giving the perfect set-up for a dramatic eye. Three colors, a cream eyeliner and black eyeshadow (both from Declaring Indigo) and Piha Black lipgloss went into creating the look. Daniel used his fingers to apply the gloss on the lid to give texture. Because the hair was so intricate, Chris wanted the makeup to be like fingerpaints, very DIY.

While talking to Daniel, he revealed for the first time (yay scoop!) that he is working with Chris to create the next shade in Lancôme’s Pout-à-Porter series. Daniel and Chris were introduced through a mutual friend from their hometown of Seattle and formed a fast friendship and working relationship over the past four years that will now spawn a lipstick.

The expected launch is Spring 2010 so look for this new shade to pop up on the Spring runways come September. In asking for deets on the color Daniel stated, “[Chris's] whole theory is color and saturation so it will be a nice, fun lipstick.” Based on his use of primary colors I’m expecting something bold.

Of course the ultimate treat of the day was when Lancôme VP of PR Kerry Diamond pulled me aside to introduce me to the one and only Deborah Lippmann! Talk about an unexpected thrill.

Deb said this was Chris’s first time making a nail statement. That it was about finishing the look with the nails and she was so excited to see designers shying away from sheer pink and embracing color. She applied the three shades from the Declaring Indigo collection, a bright electric blue shimmer, a classic red creme and a metallic gold using her Ridge Filler base coat and Addicted To Speed top coat.

She also mentioned nail shapes getting a little longer for Fall. That they’re Mad Men influenced, a little more almond shaped. That we no longer need to be strong women with a squared off nail, we need to be more feminine with a slight almond shape. A shape that elongates and flatters the hands.

So let’s talk about this electric blue, shall we? Indigo Paris is a richly pigmented, shimmering jewel. The polish just flows on the nail and becomes perfectly opaque in two coats. The tonal shimmer gives it depth and brilliance like it’s lit from within.
The color really comes alive in the sun, even more so in person.
Declaring Indigo launches in August and the Le Vernis lacquers retail for $18. You can buy them online at Lancome-USA.com or at Lancôme counters nationwide.

product image credit:British Beauty Blogger