Weekly Roundup November 20th

Flawless skin is the most important aspect of a good makeup look and the hardest one to achieve. Many are curious about  the Luminess Air system. Kari at Fab over Forty has some answers.

Mineral pigments scare me- klutzy tendencies, colorful loose powder that gets everywhere and a bunch of cats who gets into everything- just think of the purple paw prints! But Alima Pure made Charlestongirl feel like a princess. Check out Best Things in Beauty to find out how well she fared using Once Upon a Time, the Holiday 2010 collection.

I know many are wary of silicone-based primers and avoid them altogether. Jane found a new primer she loves: Exuberance Silicone-Free Primer. You have to read more at Daly Beauty. It sounds fabulous and might save your makeup.

At BeautyXposé, Anne was smitten with holiday collections of mineral shadows, liners, and glosses. Bare Escentuals may have created the perfect gift sets - if you can bear to give them away.

Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book is golden. YSL's Touche d'Or Highlighter and Colorama Palette gave her a glow for the holidays and made her reconsider her stance on YSL.

Kelly added some glitz to her life with a little sparkle on her lashes! Pop over to Gouldylox Reviews to find out how Hard Candy's Lash Tinsel could light up your eyes for a special event.

Debbi at DivaDebbi has a  love affair with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation and I can't blame her. She's also considering the Armani's blender brush which I have just started testing. Read her review and stay tuned to mine.

Smoky eyes are a staple for of holiday parties. Carla at Product Girl  is loving the newest kit from Smashbox. Kits are making everything easier.

Dane at Pere de Pierre is exploring a perfume classic: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. It makes me nostalgic.

On Ars Aromatica, Dain gives as a thorough lesson in highlighting and contouring. It's a must-read as she explains the technique and products as well as the theory behind it.

The biggest news of the week was the royal engagement. This article on CNN's Opinion section, is optimistic about William and Kate's chances to make it work.

Have a beautiful weekend!

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

Leighton Meester For Harry Winston

It took me a while to figure out why I'm not completely sold on Leighton Meester's look, and it's not the black lace Marchesa jumpsuit(!). I get what she was going for and there is something ethereal about the pale face and delicate hairstyle. But the frosted finish of her lipstick is killing the vibe. It's just off.

Photo of Leighton Meester attending the Court of Jewels Recreation launch at the Harry Winston NYC store- Just Jared