The fact that I’m sitting here at the crack of dawn on my laptop is testament to how very excited I am about these launches (and is, quite frankly, a little tragic, isn’t it?). But excitement-inducing they are; from the paean to neutral that is the Chanel collection to the shimmery magnificence of Tom Ford’s summer range, there’s something to cover every mood and occasion.
I’m not going to reiterate any of the press release mumbo jumbo that accompanied the ranges, partly because they’re a bit airy fairy for my liking, but mainly because I live in the hope of getting to the office early for once. So, my friends, here’s the skinniest of the skinny on some of the biggest luxury launches of the summer…
CHANEL LES BEIGES 2015 //
Summary / Beige boring? NEVER. If, like me, you believe that all good make-up starts on a polished base, you’ll find the thirteen products in this collection a delight. Below is a list of each and every new addition, but basically the aim of the collection is to achieve a sophisticated glow in the form of radiant cheeks, neat nude nails and slightly shiny lips; it’s about looking like you, but a touch better.
Must Have / Get your hands on one of the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks. They will make your life easier when you’re in a hurry to get ready: they only come in three colours (pinky, peachy, bronzy), can just be dabbed on cheeks on the go and I really believe each of the colours will suit any skin tone, depending on which way you want to tip your look. Swatches below. Otherwise, nab the beige nail polishes.
l to r: Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick in Blush No20, No21 and No22
Release Date / 19th June 2015
Collection Details / Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour in Mariniere No01 and No02 (Limited Edition), £44. Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick in Blush No20, No21 and No22, £32. Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder No25, £39. Les Beiges Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm, £25. Les Vernis in Beige Rose (limited edition), Lovely Beige (limited edition), Beige Pur and Precious Beige, £18. Levres Scintillantes in Rose Tendre and Beige Star, £22.
TOM FORD SOLEIL COLLECTION //
Summary / Oh, Tom. Do you know how to do anything that isn’t toe-curlingly amazing? A word, first, on the white and gold sleek packaging, which is beautiful and deserving of attention in itself. Inside lies a wealth of burnished bronzes and warming corals. There’s a touch of – sophisticated and wearable – shimmer. There’s a bronzer that warms pasty skin up realistically. There’s a divine sheer nude lipstick (quite the feat). Tom: it’s perfect.
Must Have / This is how I imagine contestants on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ feel when they’re on the final question and they think they know the answer, but really, really don’t want to commit. Chris Tarrant could not hassle me into answering this: buy it all. Remortgage your house and buy it all. P.s. If I really had to just choose just one, it’d be the bronzer. I’m joking, it’d obviously be the sparkly cream eyeshadows. No, no. Oh, I give up.
Release Date / April 2015
Collection Details / Tom Ford Shimmering Body Oil, £68. Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Cream in Midnight Sea, Black Oyster, Naked Bronze and Golden Peach, £46. Tom Ford Eye and Cheek Compact in Pink Glow, £68. Tom Ford Cream Cheek Colour in Pink Salad, £46. Tom Ford Lip Colour Sheer in Skinnydip, Rose Soleil, Paradiso and Sweet Spot, £37. Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Gold Dust, £56 for the smaller compact or £68 for the bigger one. Fleur de Portofino Eau de Parfum, £142 for 50ml or £330 for 250 ml.
GUCCI COSMETICS //
Summary / The face of the campaign is Charlotte Casiraghi, the collection curated by Pat McGrath: this is the good stuff. Primarily based on what Gucci call their ‘iconic six’ colours (gold, black, red, sea blue, bronze and copper) the eyeshadows are richly-pigmented, the powders finely-milled and the lipsticks creamy.
Must Have / If you are drawn to a palette, buy it; the shadows offer good payoff and the colours in the pan are fairly faithful to how they appear on the skin. Also, buy the make-up you like looking at and will want to display – it’s not often that you can get something stamped with those Gucci Gs out daily.
Release Date / 27th April 2015 into World Duty Free.
Collection Details / This is EXHAUSTIVE (and exhausting to type!)…
Face: Lustrous Glow Foundation SPF 25 – 18 shades, £43. Silk Priming Serum, £39. Luxe Finishing Powder – 6 shades, £39. Golden Glow Bronzer – 4 shades, £39. Luminous Perfecting Concealer – 6 shades, £30. Sheer Blushing Powder – 8 shades, £37.
Eye: Magnetic Color Shadow Mono – 19 shades, £27. Magnetic Color Shadow Duo – 8 palettes, £38. Magnetic Color Shadow Quad – 11 palettes, £48. Impact Longwear Eyepencil – 5 shades, £19. Sculpting Brow Pencil – 3 shades, £21. Power Liquid Liner, £29. Opulent Volume Mascara – 4 shades, £27.
Lip: Audacious Color-Intense Lipstick – 25 shades, £28. Luxurious Moisture-rich Lipstick – 25 shades, £28. Vibrant Demi-Glaze Lip Lacquer – 20 shades, £25. Sleek Contouring Lip Pencil – 8 shades, £20.
Nails: Bold High-Gloss Lacquer – 25 shades and base and top coat, £20.
Prep: Perfecting Lightweight Moisturizer, £49. Purifying Cleansing Water, £32. Refining Gentle Toner, £32.