Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler

I've been using the ubiquitous Shu Uemura eyelash curler ever since I got over my mortal fear of these contraptions. It was never the most comfortable thing in the world and required some maneuvering but the results were pretty. The Shu curler felt better in my hand than several others I've tried over the years, even if I'm quite sure its designer didn't have the shape of my eyes in mind when engineering it.

Now that Shu Uemura has left our shores, Le Metier de Beaute is stepping up and bringing us their own version of an eyelash curler, and like everything they do, it's excellent. Amy from Cafe Makeup has an extensive side-by-side comparison of the two curlers, so I won't repeat it here since I pretty much agree with every word. The Le Metier curler fits my eyes better and requires far less fiddling. The rubber padding is more cushy and feels gentler while providing excellent curling. Just as Amy said, it works exactly as an eyelash curler should. Funny how we (or I, at least) stopped expecting that ages ago.

I've been using mine for about a month now and it's the best one I've come across. It's important to remember that it's all about compatibility of the curler to an individual eye shape. I have roundish deep-set eyes and the Le Metier is the first eyelash curler that never causes me any pinching or pulling and gets most of my fringe in one attempt (that alone is golden).

Bottom Line: Shu who?

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler is available at Bergdorf Goodman. Other locations are due to have it in December. I received mine from Dustin, the rockstar of Bergdorf.

Top image of Uma Thurman curling her lashes from the now defunct Fabulon website.
All other photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler

I've been using the ubiquitous Shu Uemura eyelash curler ever since I got over my mortal fear of these contraptions. It was never the most comfortable thing in the world and required some maneuvering but the results were pretty. The Shu curler felt better in my hand than several others I've tried over the years, even if I'm quite sure its designer didn't have the shape of my eyes in mind when engineering it.

Now that Shu Uemura has left our shores, Le Metier de Beaute is stepping up and bringing us their own version of an eyelash curler, and like everything they do, it's excellent. Amy from Cafe Makeup has an extensive side-by-side comparison of the two curlers, so I won't repeat it here since I pretty much agree with every word. The Le Metier curler fits my eyes better and requires far less fiddling. The rubber padding is more cushy and feels gentler while providing excellent curling. Just as Amy said, it works exactly as an eyelash curler should. Funny how we (or I, at least) stopped expecting that ages ago.

I've been using mine for about a month now and it's the best one I've come across. It's important to remember that it's all about compatibility of the curler to an individual eye shape. I have roundish deep-set eyes and the Le Metier is the first eyelash curler that never causes me any pinching or pulling and gets most of my fringe in one attempt (that alone is golden).

Bottom Line: Shu who?

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler is available at Bergdorf Goodman. Other locations are due to have it in December. I received mine from Dustin, the rockstar of Bergdorf.

Top image of Uma Thurman curling her lashes from the now defunct Fabulon website.
All other photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler

I've been using the ubiquitous Shu Uemura eyelash curler ever since I got over my mortal fear of these contraptions. It was never the most comfortable thing in the world and required some maneuvering but the results were pretty. The Shu curler felt better in my hand than several others I've tried over the years, even if I'm quite sure its designer didn't have the shape of my eyes in mind when engineering it.

Now that Shu Uemura has left our shores, Le Metier de Beaute is stepping up and bringing us their own version of an eyelash curler, and like everything they do, it's excellent. Amy from Cafe Makeup has an extensive side-by-side comparison of the two curlers, so I won't repeat it here since I pretty much agree with every word. The Le Metier curler fits my eyes better and requires far less fiddling. The rubber padding is more cushy and feels gentler while providing excellent curling. Just as Amy said, it works exactly as an eyelash curler should. Funny how we (or I, at least) stopped expecting that ages ago.

I've been using mine for about a month now and it's the best one I've come across. It's important to remember that it's all about compatibility of the curler to an individual eye shape. I have roundish deep-set eyes and the Le Metier is the first eyelash curler that never causes me any pinching or pulling and gets most of my fringe in one attempt (that alone is golden).

Bottom Line: Shu who?

Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Eyelash Curler is available at Bergdorf Goodman. Other locations are due to have it in December. I received mine from Dustin, the rockstar of Bergdorf.

Top image of Uma Thurman curling her lashes from the now defunct Fabulon website.
All other photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Anamorphic Lash Mascara

One of the very first Le Metier de Beaute products I tested was their Anamorphic Mascara in Jade. Its quality caught my attention immediately, as did their use of color. Here was a black-based green that was dark enough to be a functional mascara and not make my lashes look weird and dusty (a problem with most mainstream brands colored mascaras), but still have enough green tint to brighten my eyes and bring out their color. Since then I've had my makeup done several times by Le Metier people who used Aubergine on my lashes (it's gorgeous and I really need to get one), so I had to add Midnight to my blue mascara quest.

Like the other Le Metier de Beaute colored mascaras, Midnight is black-based, so the lashes are darkened enough to stand out. The blue shade is beautiful and brightens the eye area without looking too obvious. It has a somewhat glossy finish, but again, the result is not overly done and works very well with a soft neutral eye. As far as quality goes, this mascara is top notch- it provides good volume, a little extra length, separation and definition with no clumps or smudges. It stays in place until I go after it with a makeup remover and doesn't require extra effort for cleanup.

Bottom Line: Yes, it's that good.

Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara ($34) in Midnight and other colors is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and now also Nordstrom Online. Overseas you can find it at Selfridges, among other locations.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Anamorphic Lash Mascara

One of the very first Le Metier de Beaute products I tested was their Anamorphic Mascara in Jade. Its quality caught my attention immediately, as did their use of color. Here was a black-based green that was dark enough to be a functional mascara and not make my lashes look weird and dusty (a problem with most mainstream brands colored mascaras), but still have enough green tint to brighten my eyes and bring out their color. Since then I've had my makeup done several times by Le Metier people who used Aubergine on my lashes (it's gorgeous and I really need to get one), so I had to add Midnight to my blue mascara quest.

Like the other Le Metier de Beaute colored mascaras, Midnight is black-based, so the lashes are darkened enough to stand out. The blue shade is beautiful and brightens the eye area without looking too obvious. It has a somewhat glossy finish, but again, the result is not overly done and works very well with a soft neutral eye. As far as quality goes, this mascara is top notch- it provides good volume, a little extra length, separation and definition with no clumps or smudges. It stays in place until I go after it with a makeup remover and doesn't require extra effort for cleanup.

Bottom Line: Yes, it's that good.

Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara ($34) in Midnight and other colors is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and now also Nordstrom Online. Overseas you can find it at Selfridges, among other locations.

All photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Anamorphic Lash Mascara

One of the very first Le Metier de Beaute products I tested was their Anamorphic Mascara in Jade. Its quality caught my attention immediately, as did their use of color. Here was a black-based green that was dark enough to be a functional mascara and not make my lashes look weird and dusty (a problem with most mainstream brands colored mascaras), but still have enough green tint to brighten my eyes and bring out their color. Since then I've had my makeup done several times by Le Metier people who used Aubergine on my lashes (it's gorgeous and I really need to get one), so I had to add Midnight to my blue mascara quest.

Like the other Le Metier de Beaute colored mascaras, Midnight is black-based, so the lashes are darkened enough to stand out. The blue shade is beautiful and brightens the eye area without looking too obvious. It has a somewhat glossy finish, but again, the result is not overly done and works very well with a soft neutral eye. As far as quality goes, this mascara is top notch- it provides good volume, a little extra length, separation and definition with no clumps or smudges. It stays in place until I go after it with a makeup remover and doesn't require extra effort for cleanup.

Bottom Line: Yes, it's that good.

Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara ($34) in Midnight and other colors is available from Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and now also Nordstrom Online. Overseas you can find it at Selfridges, among other locations.

All photos are mine.

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream

A couple of years ago someone came up with the idea to sell press-on makeup. It was mostly for eye shadows, I think, and contained stenciled pre-blended colors you had to press on your eye lids to transfer the color pattern. I couldn't get why one would want to use something like that- obviously these things weren't tailored to anyone's specific needs, face and individual features. My only guess was that some people were simply too lazy to do the brush work, and as such they deserved exactly what they got.

Obviously, Magic Luster Cream from Le Métier de Beauté is made for the exact opposite type of makeup user. Those who love to play with color and texture, blend and create new options from what they have on hand would absolutely love Magic.

What it does: Mixing Magic Luster Cream with any powder-based product turns it into a glossy substance. It means that you can turn blushes into lip glosses, eye shadows into cream blushes and bronzers and make your own cream/gel eye shadows.

How to do it: I practiced and played with it a while and decided I like best to put a drop of magic on my wrist or any washable surface and then drop the pigmented product next to it and bring them together gradually with a brush. In the photos above I used one of the shadows in  Le Metier De Beaute Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from last spring. It becomes a gorgeous lip color and stays on beautifully.

Dustin from  Le Metier De Beaute, who is quite magical by himself, suggests to use Magic Luster Cream straight on the face as a highlighter to give it a dewy finish.

Bottom Line: It should come in family size packaging (I'm already on my second pot).

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream ($24) is available from select department stores worldwide and nordstrom.com.

Photos are mine.

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream

A couple of years ago someone came up with the idea to sell press-on makeup. It was mostly for eye shadows, I think, and contained stenciled pre-blended colors you had to press on your eye lids to transfer the color pattern. I couldn't get why one would want to use something like that- obviously these things weren't tailored to anyone's specific needs, face and individual features. My only guess was that some people were simply too lazy to do the brush work, and as such they deserved exactly what they got.

Obviously, Magic Luster Cream from Le Métier de Beauté is made for the exact opposite type of makeup user. Those who love to play with color and texture, blend and create new options from what they have on hand would absolutely love Magic.

What it does: Mixing Magic Luster Cream with any powder-based product turns it into a glossy substance. It means that you can turn blushes into lip glosses, eye shadows into cream blushes and bronzers and make your own cream/gel eye shadows.

How to do it: I practiced and played with it a while and decided I like best to put a drop of magic on my wrist or any washable surface and then drop the pigmented product next to it and bring them together gradually with a brush. In the photos above I used one of the shadows in  Le Metier De Beaute Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from last spring. It becomes a gorgeous lip color and stays on beautifully.

Dustin from  Le Metier De Beaute, who is quite magical by himself, suggests to use Magic Luster Cream straight on the face as a highlighter to give it a dewy finish.

Bottom Line: It should come in family size packaging (I'm already on my second pot).

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream ($24) is available from select department stores worldwide and nordstrom.com.

Photos are mine.

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream

A couple of years ago someone came up with the idea to sell press-on makeup. It was mostly for eye shadows, I think, and contained stenciled pre-blended colors you had to press on your eye lids to transfer the color pattern. I couldn't get why one would want to use something like that- obviously these things weren't tailored to anyone's specific needs, face and individual features. My only guess was that some people were simply too lazy to do the brush work, and as such they deserved exactly what they got.

Obviously, Magic Luster Cream from Le Métier de Beauté is made for the exact opposite type of makeup user. Those who love to play with color and texture, blend and create new options from what they have on hand would absolutely love Magic.

What it does: Mixing Magic Luster Cream with any powder-based product turns it into a glossy substance. It means that you can turn blushes into lip glosses, eye shadows into cream blushes and bronzers and make your own cream/gel eye shadows.

How to do it: I practiced and played with it a while and decided I like best to put a drop of magic on my wrist or any washable surface and then drop the pigmented product next to it and bring them together gradually with a brush. In the photos above I used one of the shadows in  Le Metier De Beaute Devotion Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from last spring. It becomes a gorgeous lip color and stays on beautifully.

Dustin from  Le Metier De Beaute, who is quite magical by himself, suggests to use Magic Luster Cream straight on the face as a highlighter to give it a dewy finish.

Bottom Line: It should come in family size packaging (I'm already on my second pot).

The Magic Of Le Metier De Beaute Magic Luster Cream ($24) is available from select department stores worldwide and nordstrom.com.

Photos are mine.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish Fall 2010- La Belle Epoque,

The fall items from Le Metier de Beaute Fall 2010 collection are at the counters starting today. While the star is naturally the Le Cirque Eye Kit Kaleidoscope, this little gem of a nail polish is just marvelous. I know that some scoff at these mini bottles at full price. But so far the quality of every Le Metier de Beate nail polish I've bought or received has been top notch, and as someone who keeps changing nail colors and hasn't finished a bottle since 2005, I prefer the smaller amount.

Dynamique is one of four Le Metier de Beaute Le Belle Epoque shades for fall. The other ones are Noble Passion (a blushing nude),  High Wire (platinum), Magic at Dusk (blue, described in the press materials as "sophisticated"). This one is dark blood red, a bit on the goth side and as perfect as they come. I find that the first coat goes on too streaky, since the formula is thinner than I'm used to, but the second coat applies impeccably and when I have time and patience for a third one I get the full effect. Dynamique is an evening shade, and I have every intention to wear it next week for a couple of events.

Bottom Line: Not just for vamps.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish ($15) is available at Bergdorf Goodman and other select department stores worldwide. I received a press sample from the company.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish Fall 2010- La Belle Epoque,

The fall items from Le Metier de Beaute Fall 2010 collection are at the counters starting today. While the star is naturally the Le Cirque Eye Kit Kaleidoscope, this little gem of a nail polish is just marvelous. I know that some scoff at these mini bottles at full price. But so far the quality of every Le Metier de Beate nail polish I've bought or received has been top notch, and as someone who keeps changing nail colors and hasn't finished a bottle since 2005, I prefer the smaller amount.

Dynamique is one of four Le Metier de Beaute Le Belle Epoque shades for fall. The other ones are Noble Passion (a blushing nude),  High Wire (platinum), Magic at Dusk (blue, described in the press materials as "sophisticated"). This one is dark blood red, a bit on the goth side and as perfect as they come. I find that the first coat goes on too streaky, since the formula is thinner than I'm used to, but the second coat applies impeccably and when I have time and patience for a third one I get the full effect. Dynamique is an evening shade, and I have every intention to wear it next week for a couple of events.

Bottom Line: Not just for vamps.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish ($15) is available at Bergdorf Goodman and other select department stores worldwide. I received a press sample from the company.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish Fall 2010- La Belle Epoque,

The fall items from Le Metier de Beaute Fall 2010 collection are at the counters starting today. While the star is naturally the Le Cirque Eye Kit Kaleidoscope, this little gem of a nail polish is just marvelous. I know that some scoff at these mini bottles at full price. But so far the quality of every Le Metier de Beate nail polish I've bought or received has been top notch, and as someone who keeps changing nail colors and hasn't finished a bottle since 2005, I prefer the smaller amount.

Dynamique is one of four Le Metier de Beaute Le Belle Epoque shades for fall. The other ones are Noble Passion (a blushing nude),  High Wire (platinum), Magic at Dusk (blue, described in the press materials as "sophisticated"). This one is dark blood red, a bit on the goth side and as perfect as they come. I find that the first coat goes on too streaky, since the formula is thinner than I'm used to, but the second coat applies impeccably and when I have time and patience for a third one I get the full effect. Dynamique is an evening shade, and I have every intention to wear it next week for a couple of events.

Bottom Line: Not just for vamps.

Le Metier de Beaute Dynamique Nail Polish ($15) is available at Bergdorf Goodman and other select department stores worldwide. I received a press sample from the company.

Le Metier de Beaute at Nordstrom and Julie Hewett Sale- Online Shopping News

Enabling ahead!

Best news of the week: Le Metier de Beaute is now available online from Nordstrom. The color swatches are better than the ones on Neiman and Bergdorf sites, so that's a real upgrade. They have everything, from the miracle that is Peau Vierge to LMdB superb makeup brushes. Especially worth noting: the Face Kaleidoscope. It has everything you need- powder, highlighter, bronzer and the gorgeous Echo blush in one palette. I have most of these items separately, but having them in one kit is even better. I actually wish I had it right now- I have some traveling coming up and this would be perfect.

Many of you emailed me lately asking what was going on with Julie Hewett. The web site is back, everything seems to be in stock and there's quite a bit to explore. Julie Hewett has great red lipsticks for just about anyone- including those who are scared of red. I love her cream cheek colors and the Hue Colour in Newsprint Bleu has been a staple in my makeup wardrobe for ages. There's also a little sale going on until the 7th: 25% off on Bijou lipstick in Jacqueline (sheer fuchsia) and Duo Blush Palette in Carmine/Coral. Use code SSA2010 at checkout.

Le Metier de Beaute at Nordstrom and Julie Hewett Sale- Online Shopping News

Enabling ahead!

Best news of the week: Le Metier de Beaute is now available online from Nordstrom. The color swatches are better than the ones on Neiman and Bergdorf sites, so that's a real upgrade. They have everything, from the miracle that is Peau Vierge to LMdB superb makeup brushes. Especially worth noting: the Face Kaleidoscope. It has everything you need- powder, highlighter, bronzer and the gorgeous Echo blush in one palette. I have most of these items separately, but having them in one kit is even better. I actually wish I had it right now- I have some traveling coming up and this would be perfect.

Many of you emailed me lately asking what was going on with Julie Hewett. The web site is back, everything seems to be in stock and there's quite a bit to explore. Julie Hewett has great red lipsticks for just about anyone- including those who are scared of red. I love her cream cheek colors and the Hue Colour in Newsprint Bleu has been a staple in my makeup wardrobe for ages. There's also a little sale going on until the 7th: 25% off on Bijou lipstick in Jacqueline (sheer fuchsia) and Duo Blush Palette in Carmine/Coral. Use code SSA2010 at checkout.

Le Metier de Beaute at Nordstrom and Julie Hewett Sale- Online Shopping News

Enabling ahead!

Best news of the week: Le Metier de Beaute is now available online from Nordstrom. The color swatches are better than the ones on Neiman and Bergdorf sites, so that's a real upgrade. They have everything, from the miracle that is Peau Vierge to LMdB superb makeup brushes. Especially worth noting: the Face Kaleidoscope. It has everything you need- powder, highlighter, bronzer and the gorgeous Echo blush in one palette. I have most of these items separately, but having them in one kit is even better. I actually wish I had it right now- I have some traveling coming up and this would be perfect.

Many of you emailed me lately asking what was going on with Julie Hewett. The web site is back, everything seems to be in stock and there's quite a bit to explore. Julie Hewett has great red lipsticks for just about anyone- including those who are scared of red. I love her cream cheek colors and the Hue Colour in Newsprint Bleu has been a staple in my makeup wardrobe for ages. There's also a little sale going on until the 7th: 25% off on Bijou lipstick in Jacqueline (sheer fuchsia) and Duo Blush Palette in Carmine/Coral. Use code SSA2010 at checkout.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid

Let's start with the bad part. Peau Vierge, the magical tinted moisturizer from Le Metier de Beaute costs an arm, a leg and $125 (1 oz). Yes. Now, with that out of the way we can continue.

A few months ago in a meeting with the Le Metier de Beaute team it was hard not to notice all of them- office people and beauty specialists, men and women- were sporting a particularly great complexion. I asked what they were doing and wearing and the answer was the same- Peau Vierge. All of them had a story of what this treatment/tint has done for them, and I was impressed.

Peau Vierge sits on the line between makeup and skincare, and I guess that's why the price is so high. It has a high percentage of active ingredients including retinol, and uses a unique technology that claims to improve the efficiency of said active ingredients. I tend to be skeptical of the scientific babble on cosmetics boxes, but I do trust my eyes. My eyes are telling me that this stuff works.

According to Le Metier de Beaute's makeup artists you're not supposed to use a primer underneath Peau Vierge- it's an active skincare treatment, after all. Hearing that made me twitch a little. I've been priming my face religiously for years now and have come to expect my makeup to stay in place no matter what. But PV contains dimethicone, which is the main ingredient in many primers, so I guess they really thought about everything. It also contains SPF 20, which is a nice bonus.

As a foundation alternative Peau Vierge is a serious overachiever. I'm rarely happy with tinted moisturizers, but this one is just as good as my holy grail Chanel Vitalumier. It evens out imperfections and gives a decent light-to-medium coverage. I was highly impressed with the way it looked from the very first use, and was very surprised to see how well it holds even without a primer, as long as I set it with a good finishing powder. Still, when facing hellish weather and high water I reach for a primer first, especially if I need my makeup to hold from morning to night. The finished look is not exactly luminous, because the face looks natural and there's no artificial shimmer or glow. That's why it's so male-friendly. I saw PV on a man and you'd never be able to tell he was wearing anything. Yet, the light diffusing pigments are doing something- everyone's skin looks brighter and very even.

Peau Vierge only comes in two colors- light/medium and medium/dark. I use the light/medium as does everyone I asked from the Le Metier team, despite the very wide range of skin tone and ethnicity. However, a makeup artist experimented a  little with my face and showed me how by blending a little of the darker shade with concealer you can get some serious coverage and a flawless skin. I often buy two sades of face products and blend them together to perfection. However, at $125 a pop I'm sticking to one shade. It's more than good enough.

After using Peau Vierge for several months I can see a difference. Of course, I'm also a skincare zealot and employ other big guns, so it's impossible to attribute everything to just one product. But even as "just" an incredible base for my daily makeup this is one of the best products I've ever used. I received my first bottle from the company but have bought another one since then, so if you ask me "Is it really worth it?", my answer is emphatically "yes". However, I definitely understand how the price would keep many far away, especially if their skin case concerns are different.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, online and in store.

Photo by Paul Robinson- myvintagevogue.com

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid

Let's start with the bad part. Peau Vierge, the magical tinted moisturizer from Le Metier de Beaute costs an arm, a leg and $125 (1 oz). Yes. Now, with that out of the way we can continue.

A few months ago in a meeting with the Le Metier de Beaute team it was hard not to notice all of them- office people and beauty specialists, men and women- were sporting a particularly great complexion. I asked what they were doing and wearing and the answer was the same- Peau Vierge. All of them had a story of what this treatment/tint has done for them, and I was impressed.

Peau Vierge sits on the line between makeup and skincare, and I guess that's why the price is so high. It has a high percentage of active ingredients including retinol, and uses a unique technology that claims to improve the efficiency of said active ingredients. I tend to be skeptical of the scientific babble on cosmetics boxes, but I do trust my eyes. My eyes are telling me that this stuff works.

According to Le Metier de Beaute's makeup artists you're not supposed to use a primer underneath Peau Vierge- it's an active skincare treatment, after all. Hearing that made me twitch a little. I've been priming my face religiously for years now and have come to expect my makeup to stay in place no matter what. But PV contains dimethicone, which is the main ingredient in many primers, so I guess they really thought about everything. It also contains SPF 20, which is a nice bonus.

As a foundation alternative Peau Vierge is a serious overachiever. I'm rarely happy with tinted moisturizers, but this one is just as good as my holy grail Chanel Vitalumier. It evens out imperfections and gives a decent light-to-medium coverage. I was highly impressed with the way it looked from the very first use, and was very surprised to see how well it holds even without a primer, as long as I set it with a good finishing powder. Still, when facing hellish weather and high water I reach for a primer first, especially if I need my makeup to hold from morning to night. The finished look is not exactly luminous, because the face looks natural and there's no artificial shimmer or glow. That's why it's so male-friendly. I saw PV on a man and you'd never be able to tell he was wearing anything. Yet, the light diffusing pigments are doing something- everyone's skin looks brighter and very even.

Peau Vierge only comes in two colors- light/medium and medium/dark. I use the light/medium as does everyone I asked from the Le Metier team, despite the very wide range of skin tone and ethnicity. However, a makeup artist experimented a  little with my face and showed me how by blending a little of the darker shade with concealer you can get some serious coverage and a flawless skin. I often buy two sades of face products and blend them together to perfection. However, at $125 a pop I'm sticking to one shade. It's more than good enough.

After using Peau Vierge for several months I can see a difference. Of course, I'm also a skincare zealot and employ other big guns, so it's impossible to attribute everything to just one product. But even as "just" an incredible base for my daily makeup this is one of the best products I've ever used. I received my first bottle from the company but have bought another one since then, so if you ask me "Is it really worth it?", my answer is emphatically "yes". However, I definitely understand how the price would keep many far away, especially if their skin case concerns are different.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, online and in store.

Photo by Paul Robinson- myvintagevogue.com