'Tis the season
It seems premature of the stores to be setting their sights on Christmas but, scarily, the festive season is only six or so weeks away. With the launch of their new colours for autumn/winter out of the way, beauty houses are focusing on Christmas and introducing potential gifts into stores. A slew of new perfumes is starting to grace the shelves including Carolina ($395 for 50ml), a 'contagiously delicious' fragrance from Carolina Herrera, Vetyver ($298 for 30ml) by Lanvin, a modern take on a classic men's scent, and the fruity-floral En Joy ($745 for 100ml) by Jean Patou Paris, which updates the fragrance house's 1920s signature perfume Joy.
Estee Lauder's latest offering is the tropical floral scent Beyond Paradise ($350 for 30ml, $450 for 50ml). The beauty powerhouse joined forces with the Eden Project, the world's largest nature conservatory in Cornwall, England, to capture and develop unique fragrances. Scents such as Crepe Jasmin, native to Madagascar, and Orange Flower Templar are used for the first time in perfumery. Complementing the Beyond Paradise perfumes is the Colours of Paradise limited-edition collection of a nail lacquer ($115) and lip gloss ($145). All new fragrances are available from department stores.
Christian Dior has gone for lots of in-your-face bling with its new Christmas ranges. Inspired by designer John Galliano's last ready-to-wear collection, Dior's Christmas New Look offers extravagant makeup packaged in gold compacts, emblazoned with logos and encrusted with faux diamonds.
A mini limited-edition Sparkling Lip Palette ($280), for example, comprising of two shades of either sophisticated rosewood or flashy pink and orange, is all gold and glitz on the end of a military-style chain; four shades of super luxurious Rouge Diorific lipstick ($165 each) - Rose Bubbly, Rose Fizz, Beige Bubbly and Beige Fizz - contain particles of real gold. Then there's the round Jewel Box ($480) containing an eau de toilette spray and a gilded metal travel-sized spray; a scarlet and gold compact makeup kit for girls on the go (So Dior Natural Makeup Palette: $470), which contains nine types of essential makeup, a mirror, sponges, applicators and brushes; and a Fahrenheit travel kit for men ($315), complete with eau de toilette, shower gel and spray deodorant in a more sober navy gabardine wash bag. On the perfume side is J'adore So Dior ($450 for 50ml), which is this year's limited-edition fragrance celebrating the anniversary of the star scent J'adore. All products are available from Dior counters.
While Dior is going for gold, Chanel fans will be sporting a silver-infused look. The limited-edition Holidays 2003 Makeup Creation looks as though the folks back at the lab have had a ball with a mountain of silver glitter and the result is fun and festive. Wannabe disco divas should go for Cils Reflecteurs ($160), a transparent eyelash gel, which coats lashes with mini silver particles and can be worn alone or over mascara.
The more layers that are applied the more dazzling the look becomes. Wear it with one of the new, more subtle Infrarouge lipsticks - Taffetas 53 (a coral shade) and Tulle 54 (a neutral beigey-pink) - or, for maximum dramatic effect, with new lilac gloss Brilliant Scintillant ($190). This striking lip lustre contains silver and blue particles and can be worn alone or over a regular lipstick. From the Chanel Fragrance and Beauty stores in The Landmark, Central, and Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, and Chanel counters in department stores.
