Le Metier de Beaute Le Petit Poudrier Eye Creme Kit (03)

As I promised yesterday, here's my chosen Le Petit Poudrier Eye Creme Kit from Le Metier de Beaute's limited edition Spring 2010 items. These palettes include cream eye shadows and a cream liner ready to create multiple looks.

The one you see here is Mediterranean Madness 03. The liner is an almost matte black-blue (it looks almost black on my skin) while the eye shadows have a shimmery finish. The neutral colors- a rich bronze and champagne- work beautifully with the bolder colors- a grayish aqua blue and an olive green. It's a perfect summery combination that can be applied with a light hand or layered dramatically.

The kit doesn't come with an applicator because part of the concept of these palettes is that they are tiny and super slim. The eyeliner works best with a narrow sponge applicator, so make sure to put one in your makeup bag. The eye shadows can be applied with anything from a synthetic brush to your finger, but use a sponge if you want more intensity.

The best part is the texture- it's silky smooth and holds onto your eyelid better than any cream eye shadow I currently own. They stay put with no creasing or fading and even resist rubbing (so once they're set and dry you can't really smudge them). At first I attributed it to using a primer, but it turned out these shadows work the same way without it. I tested it further after swatching on my wrist and the lines remained solid and vibrant for hours until I removed them. Unlike the lip kits, where you're likely to use it up fairly quickly, I'm guessing the eye palette would last a lot longer. There's no need to reapply throughout the day and you'd probably need a little less product for each application.

Le Metier de Beaute Le Petit Poudrier Eye Creme Kits ($36) are exclusive to Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman and at this time unavailable outside the US. They are a limited edition items and sell quickly, so some colors are already sold out online (local stores might still have them in stock). I bought mine from Neiman.

All photos are mine. Model: Lizzy (though the wrist is obviously mine).

Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier- Parfum d'Habit

According to most reviewers on Basenotes,  Parfum d'Habit by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier is a manly powerhouse storming on his horse into sunset. A vintage Clint Eastwood type of scent, perhaps. In reality, I don't find any cowboys in Parfum d'Habit, despite its strong jaw and all the leather and vetiver involved.

The opening notes are a bit sharp and nose-tickling. Online sources name them as blackcurrant buds, bergamot and petitgrain, and I certainly get the bitterness of the latter. But things soften significantly as soon as the leather comes into play. It's more of a vintage black coat than a buttery suede jacket, probably because the strong patchouli note keeps it dark and somewhat dirty. Still, the allover feel is warm, dry and woody. For the first couple of hours something is constantly happening on my skin. A green and herbal note peeks from under the wood, a hint of raw animalic sensuality that disappears as soon as I notice and try to catch more of it, and a lot of crisp vetiver.

Yes, these are some of the basics of masculine colognes, but when I wear it I don't feel like I'm putting on a costume or a false air. This Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier scent actually feels more refined than Racine or Route du Vetiver, maybe closer to Santal Noble. It's not flirty and doesn't try to please, but there's an air of easy confidence and effortless chic. That's a good thing no matter who you are.

After a long and unfortunate hiatus, Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier perfumes are back in the US and can be found at Henri Bendel and Luckyscent.

Photo: Lauren Bacall by Nina Leen, Life Magazine May 1945.

Cat Eye

I desperately need new sunglasses. I also hate actually shopping for them because 90% of what's out there makes me look ridiculous. I avoided the last couple of trends of huge aviators and even bigger vintage-style shades, but it's time to replace at least one of the pairs I'm wearing regularly.

The cat eye frame is back, and while I'm pretty sure I shouldn't even attempt this look, I love the idea of it. Here's Taylor Tomasi, style and accessories director for Marie-Claire magazine. She was photographed in Paris during Fashion Week wearing these Norma Kamali sunglasses.

Photo from French style blog Cafe Mode (blogs.lexpress.fr/cafe-mode/)