La Prairie Skin Caviar Foundation

Dearest readers, allow me to introduce you to a product worthy of gracing one of the pillars in my personal beauty hall of fame. La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Concealer and Foundation is pure, unadulterated cosmetic luxury that packs quality skincare ingredients with flawless coverage, all in some very luxe packaging.

La Prairie Whisper Shades Review and Swatches

As promised, here is a closer look at the "Whisper Shades" collection La Prairie.

Whispers of spring in the warm gentle breeze

Delicate dewdrops and a fine morning mist

Blooms emerge shyly, almost a tease

Warm flirts with cool in a delicate spring tryst

The key item in La Prairie's Spring and Summer Range, the Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensemble in  Les Lignes Et Lumieres is a stunning departure from your typical eyeshadow palette. Housed in a sleek and chic silver package, Les Lignes features 4 shades of softly delicate pastel shadows with a contrasting strip of matte black shadow to line and intensify the eyes.

Each powdery pastel captures light most beautifully, giving off a fine sheen that is shimmer in big girl's clothing. The shades all apply softly and blend like a dream, wearing well on their own for a soft look or playing with the matte black and other darker shades to create unique looks.

The shades included are a matte black liner color, a buttery yellow gold, a cool lilac with a hint of pink, a soft seafoam green, and a bright ivory.

Swatched without a base, you can see how delicate the colors truly are. I only wish the dimension tranferred well on camera. Over a more emollient base, these definitely stand out.

The morning chill gives way

To a bright golden sun in the sky

Tropical beaches a playground by day

Summer flights of fancy pass me on by

Cellular Lip Colour Effects in Breezy Coral is one of the limited edition colors for the lips, and the embodiment of the lip color philosophy for this collection. In contrast to the softer shades we see for the eyes, the lip colors bring brilliantly bold pops of color that don't whisper, but shout summer.

Breezy Coral is a warm mid-toned pink with flecks of golden sparkle. As with all of the La Prairie Cellular Lip Colour Effects, Breezy Coral is very high on the shimmer and shine scale, in a sophisticated sort of way. This lipgloss is neither tacky nor watered down, but a blissful state in the middle that gives it the ability to adhere to the lips without gluing them together. Lightly fragranced and infused with light reflecting pigments, this lipgloss makes lips look plump and feel pillowy.

La Prairie's Whisper Shades collection for Spring and Summer is a journey into the joyful days of spring and summer. For my fellow lovers of luxury cosmetics, this collection is full of must-haves.


*Product provided for consideration

La Prairie Whisper Shades

Soft wisps of color for the eyes
Blossoming petal shades for the lips
We sing, wear, and embody the spirit of the changing season
Abandoning the cold vice of winter,
embracing sunshine, warmth, and the spring.

Spring has sprung, bringing sunshine, fresh blooms, and a definite spring in all of our steps. Capturing the essence of my favorite part of the year, the newest collection from La Prairie called "Whisper Shades" is a color collection that simultaneously brings soft accents and brilliant pops of color to cheeks, eyes, and lips. We are shedding our cloaks of darker winter colors in favor of shades that are as light and delicate as the petals that bloom so prolifically in the spring and summer months.

For the full collection information, as well as for event details, read on!

Beauty Adventures, and a Sneak Peek of What's To Come

So last Tuesday, I had the opportunity to do a bit of beauty touring in this fair city of mine. As a result, here is what you can expect in the coming weeks here at Krasey Beauty.

La Prairie's Whisper Shades for Spring and Summer

The Henri Bendel Fragrance Bar Experience, and Discovering Boadicea The Victorious Fragrances

And completely unrelated to beauty but just as fun, here is a dessert that I enjoyed over at the China Grill in NYC. Say hello to the gut busting deliciousness that is the Great Wall ice cream sundae.

What beauty adventures have you been on lately?

La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Système

Those of you that know me, know that I cannot stop raving about how utterly amazing La Prairie's Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is. I live in it, I slather myself in it, and honestly, my obsession is reaching a level of epic proportions.

It is for that very reason that I am beyond excited for La Prairie's newest skincare collection, the White Caviar Illuminating Système. Designed to combat the signs of aging, this three part treatment system targets lines, wrinkles, and age spots.

To read the full details on the launch, take the jump

Winter Skin Woes and the Miracles of Dermalogica and La Prairie

Winter has kicked in full-scale here in NYC, as temperatures in the 20's and teens are unfortunately becoming commonplace. You know you are in a bad way when 40 degree temps sound like a heatwave. Anywho, try as I might to counteract polar bear weather conditions, my skin is still unfortunately starting to act up on me. One week of falling off the bandwagon, and this is what I get...

Shame on me, but I slacked off on my routine for all of a week. What months of diligent skincare wrought was undone, as I found myself with a dry and bumpy situation on my forehead that needed timely intervention. In desperate need of some relief, I turned to what is sure to become a new staple, along with a tried-and-true favorite.

To find out what got me back on track, take the jump!

Holiday Beauty Gift Guide- La Prairie's Life Threads Fragrance, Skincare Gift Sets, and an Event!

Luxurious, decadent, and just plain delicious. All 3 of those adjectives describe my current fragrance obsession, Life Threads Silver by La Prairie.

La Prairie Anti-Aging Concealer, A Review

Always on the quest for the ingredients to achieve a flawless face, I knew that I could count on a brand known for its exceptional skincare. La Prairie's newest concealer offers up excellent coverage, with lots of wonderful bonuses. Anti-Aging Concealer with SPF 20 hides flaws while offering both skincare, and sun protection. Think of it as your cosmetic friend with benefits.

Most concealers effectively cover up blemishes and discoloration, with varying degrees of success. The problem is not necessarily in the performance, but in formulations that only address half of the problem. It is like sweeping dust under a rug, you may fool others, but you are ultimately only fooling yourself.

Source

La Prairie's concealer acts as both cover-up and treatment. With an ingredient list that includes peptides and plant extracts, the silicone-based formula is as beneficial as it is effective. With ingredients that support collagen production, this concealer helps to keep skin firm. The formula moisturizes as well; and as the concealer acts to blur the appearance of surface imperfections, you can rest assured that it is also treating the areas of application.

I found the texture to be the perfect consistency- liquid, but not runny. Viscosity is always something to consider as harder, cream concealers don't always blend well, and thinner, runny concealers don't usually cover well enough. Migration can be an issue with a lot of concealers too, as your cover up can draw attention to imperfections by settling into fine lines, or traveling halfway across your face. Blissfully, La Prairie stands up to both the test of coverage, and the test of longevity. Upon application, with the convenient built-in doe foot applicator, this concealer easily lasted from 7 in the morning to 9 at night.

Swatch of Shade 10

Standard before and after, so you can see this wanded wonder perform its magic.

Eye, without concealer:
Light application of concealer.

As yet another added bonus, this concealer also has an SPF of 20, protecting delicate areas from the harsh UVA and UVB rays in the atmosphere. Suffice it to say, you can think of this as the Jill-of-all-trades of the concealer world.

La Prairie Anti-Aging Concealer stands up to the tests of wear and tear, and performs beautifully. It is available online, and at most fine retail stores.

La Prairie Releases the Life Threads Fragrance Collection

In a fragrance release that is as sumptuous and luxurious as the iconic house that is releasing it, the Life Threads Fragrance collection from La Prairie takes perfumery one step further with a full-on sensory experience that combines smell, sight, touch, and sound. The fragrances themselves unfold to reveal distinct notes that call to the senses, progressing much like the important stages in a woman's life. Having had the ultimate pleasure of sampling the scents at a recent event, I must say that it was love at first sniff.

Known for it's exceptionally innovative skincare and stunning color collections, La Prairie sought to take the existing line one step further with a trio of fragrances that goes places fragrance doesn't traditionally venture to. The Life Threads experience goes beyond scent, stimulating other senses such as sight (with video), touch (with beautiful bottles encircled with their namesake threads), and sound (with a distinctively beautiful soundtrack). As for the scents themselves, each one is unique and beautifully crafted. I think of the fragrance trio as a progressive series, with notes in each that call to distinct, fundamental elements of the feminine personality.
My absolute favorite of the bunch, Life Threads Silver is a sweet floral that is both warm and flirtatious. To me Silver is your twenties. The scent represents that stage in your life where you are simply enjoying life and all of the pleasures it has to offer. You aren't sure where you are headed, but you are definitely enjoying the ride. The citrus notes provide a burst of energy, while the strong floral notes lend a hint of flirtation. I happily wore this scent all weekend, and received dozens of compliments.
The second fragrance, Life Threads Gold is a spicy floral scent that instantly draws you in and wraps you in its silken embrace. A twist on the traditional citrus floral, the spicy notes add just the right amount of intrigue and mystery. Gold is your thirties, representing that time in your life where you are comfortable with yourself, and confident in your abilities. The Gold woman is ambitious, strong, powerful, and fiercely feminine.
The third fragrance of the collection, Life Threads Platinum is a musky floral. The fragrance personifies assertiveness, sophistication, and elegance. The leather and musk provide the 'strength' of the scent, giving the otherwise sweet floral a bit of a kick. This is a scent for a powerful woman, both radiant and confident. To me, this scent was a bit more mature than all the others, yet nonetheless beautiful in both execution and tone.

To compliment the release of the fragrances, La Prairie is launching a website on October 1st, appropriately titled lifethreads.com. Providing the visual backdrop of the launch, the life threads site will house a total of nine featurettes that embody and exhibit the very essence of each scent. The first video to launch will be 'Top of the World', the embodiment of the Platinum fragrance.

The voice of this launch is none other than soulful songstress Lucy Kaplansky, whose beautiful ballad "Life Threads" provides the auditory backdrop for the launch. Lucy will be touring starting next month, so be sure to check her out at a La Prairie counter near you. Her first appearance will be on October 1st, at Bloomingdales SOHO (504 Broadway) from 5pm-7pm, so don't miss it! Visitors will receive an autographed CD and the chance to meet Lucy herself with the purchase of any Life Threads fragrance.

For tour dates and more information, be sure to check out Lucy's tour schedule here. I have listened to her album, Red Thread, and it is truly something special.

The full Life Threads Fragrance Collection officially launches in October, and will be available at Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and LaPrairie.com

La Prairie Plumage de Nuit Fall Color Story, Review, & Swatches

Have you ever come across a product line that emanates luxury from every gilded crevice? I have experienced indulgent cosmetic bliss by way of the La Prairie "Plumage de Nuit" (feathers of the night) Fall 2009 colour collection. While La Prairie as a whole is a luxury cosmetics brand that has for the most part slipped past the radar, I knew as soon as I saw Plumage that I would never be the same.

Housed in elegant silver packaging that is chic but not bulky or heavy, Plumage de Nuit features shades of plum, brown, and copper. Colors range from neutral to bold, making the final look very customizable. The color palette reminds me of the rainforest meets African safari, simply stunning.

Plumage de Nuit includes:

Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensembles (Limited Edition):
• Les Sandpipers – a quad of warm golden colors
• Les Doves – a quad of cool silver and platinum hues

Cellular Luxe Lip Colours:
• Molten – copper
• Cardinal – rouge
• Velvet – plum

Cellular Lip Colour Effects:
• Maribou Glace – pink
• Firefly Glace – peachy copper

Cellular Treatment Powder Blush Duo (Limited Edition):
• Rosy Lovebirds – rose / pink duo
• Peachy Lovebirds – peach / bronze duo

Cellular Treatment Illuminating Face Powder:
• Soft Glow

You all know how I do it here on Krasey Beauty, here is a detailed review of some of the pieces, with photos for you to ogle.
Cellular Luxe Lipcolor in Velvet. Velvet is a gorgeous shade of plum, bordering on red with very strong pink notes. This lipstick glissades (slides) across the lips, enveloping them in rich, moist, pigmented color. Lasting power is phenomenal, and these lipsticks have a slight fragrance, but no taste that I can discern.

Swatches: On hand, then on lips.
Cellular Treatment Powder Blush Duo in Peachy Lovebirds. A duo of peach and bronze, this compact provides you with silky, smooth, soft focus color. You won't get intense pigmentation or clown cheeks with these powders, but rather a soft, lit-from-within glow. I love using the peach on the apples of my cheeks, with a bit of the bronze in the hollows of my cheeks for contour.
Last, but certainly not least,

Cellular Lip Colour Effects in Maribou Glace. A medium pastel pink, this lipgloss is very high on the shimmer and shine scale, in a sophisticated sort of way. This lipgloss is neither tacky nor watered down, but a blissful state in the middle that gives it the ability to adhere to the lips without gluing them together. Lightly fragranced and infused with light reflecting pigments, this lipgloss makes lips look plump and feel pillowy. This is what grown up shimmer looks like.
This collection is truly a feast for the high-end cosmetics lover. Plumage de Nuit is available now, both on the website and in major fine department stores.