Hi everyone! I’m not sure if anyone noticed (since I’ve queued up a few posts), but I’ve been in the USA since the 13th of September. I haven’t had much time to sit down and make new posts, reply to comments or read blogs, but I’m trying, I’m trying!

I haven’t bought a lot of makeup yet—just a few pieces, and skin care—but I have 4 cities in 2 more states to explore. So far, we’ve been to New York, Boston and Stockbridge in Massachusetts, and now we’re nestled in New Jersey. If you’re interested in following our American exploits, I’ve been posting a lot on my Instagram, @presidents. Let me know if you want to see a supremely tiny haul, too. 🙂

Anyway, here are a few bits I’ve gotten from the second round of Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP subs. I had this specific box shipped to my friend Barby’s place since there was a shipping mix-up and it first ended up at a dead address (my fault). Unfortunately, I hadn’t gotten around to checking it until much later, and had to address the problem without them even informing me that there was a shipping problem (their fault).

The item for this month’s sub is a “Total Look” Kaleidoscope called After Dark, which is a full look kit, made up of two eyeshadows, a blush, and a bronzer. This is a sneak peek of the item, which is slated for release at Neiman Marcus in late September.

The shipment also included a “bonus gift” for last year’s subscribers who renewed their sub: the Classic Flawless Finish Loose Translucent Powder, which I’ve yet to try.

The first pair of pans are eyeshadows—a rich patina shade with a strong khaki tone, and a medium cool plum flecked with a cool icy blue. The next pair of pans are a shimmering mauve blush and a matte warm-toned brown, which is intended to be used as a bronzer.

Swatched, L-R: patina eyeshadow, plum eyeshadow, mauve blush, matte bronzer; no primer

The quality of the shades in this Kaleidoscope is so good, and pretty much what I expect from LMdB eyeshadows, when they’re at their best. Some shades do underperform at times, but these ones belong to the stellar triple-milled camp that Le Métier de Beauté is known for.

For the uninitiated, the Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP subscription is a year-long sub to LMdB. At $348/year (plus tax, S&H), a subscriber gets LMdB products—old, new, faves, or LE items—each month or 12 months. Each month’s cost is roughly around $30. This month’s totals to $145, with the Kaleidoscopes often retailing for $95 and the Classic Flawless Finish Loose Translucent Powder for $50. The $95 total for new subs is also quite worth it, especially since this is a new item that they will actually be launching at retail price. Sign ups for the subs open up every July.

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