La Prairie Quiet Berry Cellular Luxe Lip Colour

It's really unfortunate that out of my entire arsenal of makeup, the everyday lipstick I'm most likely to finish and have to replace first is one that's going to seriously hurt my pocket. Then again it's my fault for even going the La Prairie route in the first place.

La Prairie Quiet Berry Cellular Luxe Lip Colour feels like a luxurious lip balm, looks like something a princess would wear and has a beautiful satin finish that complements and never competes with my eye makeup. Quiet Berry is not that berry-ish, but it is more red than La Prairie Midnight Plum. It's one of those colors that blend perfectly with my lips- they're naturally dark, but I'm guessing would look great (though more dramatic) on paler skin tones. As long as you can pull of mauve and dark rose, Quiet Berry would be very  flattering.

I bought this La Prairie lipstick two or three months ago and I've been wearing it several times a week- day and night. I find that I can make it last for very long hours if I apply two coats: first one with a lip brush and the second straight from the bullet and only do a quick touch up after I eat or drink, mostly for the finish than for the stain. I don't know about the "cellular" treatment claims, but when the result is happy and hydrated lips for days I don't argue (much) with the science.

Bottom Line: Adore.

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Colour ($55) is available from Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

All photos are mine.

La Prairie Hematite Eye Shadow Cellular Treatment Eye Colour

It was the color that caught my eye. La Prairie Hematite eye shadow from their Cellular Treatment Eye Colour range is a gorgeous cadet blue with the finest silvery micro-shimmer. Then, of course, there's the silky texture combined with an intense pigment that can be blended, sheered or used as is for lining and/or the poshest looking blue smoky eye. I was a goner.

Like all La Prairie products, the eye shadows come in a heavy, well-crafted compact that is as beautiful and detailed as the product inside. There's the usual velvet pouch we find in most high-end luxury makeup items and unfortunately the ubiquitous sponge applicators that would do in a pinch, but seriously, when will these company learn? If one is a La Prairie customer, chances are she's also cultivating a really nice brush collection, so why not work with that and offer a real full-size brush worthy of the eye shadow for every purchase of two products or something along these lines?

The first time I tried Hematite in a makeup look I used a semi-dense crease brush that picked so much product I spent the next couple of minutes blending frantically. It was just two much for a casual day look. Since then I learned to adjust- Hematite can be as dark or as sheer as you like it and even work as a light wash of color over the lead (I use Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep brush and then blend well into a nude base with Chanel #12 or Edward Bess). It also makes a gorgeous liner that needs very little to complement the look and stays in place over a primer until you go after it with a makeup remover. The shimmer in this eye shadow is very subtle and not really a factor- it adds some light, but looks polished and elegant, worthy of the most professional work environment.

As for the "Cellular Treatment Eye Colour", I don't know. I expect my makeup to look beautiful and not damage my skin. I'm happy when the formulas are chock-full of anti-oxidants, but I don't expect color products to give me a "cellular treatment", whatever that means. I try to choose items that are dazzling and irresistible. Skin care is held to other standards of performance and results.

Bottom Line: unfortunately,  there are several other La Prairie colors in my near future.

La Prairie Cellular Treatment Eye Colour ($45) is available from top department stores as well as online.

All photos are mine.