Dark Colors Define Fall Make-Up
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
An occasional leaf falling off still-verdant trees is one sign that fall is nearing. The presence of fall collections at department store cosmetics counters is another sign. Fall make-up is usually defined by dark colors and subdued palettes to match the season.
Lancome is going for the mysterious effect with its fall collection ``Mystery Game." Lancome international artistic director Gucci Westman said she was inspired after receiving an 18th century lacquered chest that reminded her of the classic Agatha Christie novel ``Murder on the Orient Express."
``I was inspired by its opulence right away. Then I had the idea of creating a collection that would pay tribute to the type of woman who is totally at ease with her femininity, a beauty-lover who spends time on her make-up, turning it into an almost mystical ritual," she said.
Lancome introduced the Destiny Cube, an elegantly-designed cube which features two eye shadow shades, as well as a lipstick and gloss.
Bouzouk, Lancome's make-up artist for Asia, offers some tips for Asian women who will use the Mystery Game collection. ``(Asian) women tend to prefer subtle, harmonious colors. The extremely soft Destiny Cube Charisma shades in mauve and rose make the complexion look wonderful. And the Kohl Oriental Duo is perfect for making (Asian) women's eyes appear wider: using the color, I draw a line along the base of the eyelashes on the upper lid which I extend a little beyond the eye to lift the eyelid and give an impression of depth," Bouzouk said.
Lancome also introduced its new mascara Virtuose, which combines a revolutionary formula and high-tech brush to create ideally curved lashes for anyone. It manages to tame the lashes, and creates a lash curve that lasts up to 12 hours. The mascara wand features an asymmetric brush with square cut, inverted bristles.
Clinique's fall collection, ``Play in the Darks," is described as ``classic, sleek, polished and deeply alluring." Key colors are black, deep purple, blue and gray, with a hint of metallic shine.