Lise Watier Expression Spring 2015 Collection

Press samples.

By the time it actually feels like Spring, it's time to bid the seasonal collections goodbye. (Oh, Canada.)

So here's one last hurrah for the Lise Watier Expression Spring Collection, as summer waits in the wings.

The packaging on this collection was a vivid splash of colour, a bit of playing around on an artists palette (and totally connecting with the desire to see some bold, beautiful shades after a grey, dreary, never-ending season).

Doesn't this blush look like something you'd see from a plane, flying over the southwest United States? So pretty and original, but still graphic and unexpected (read: non-floral) for Spring.

The three different shades of the Expression Blush Trio (38$ CAD) are a little tough to separate out, and I tend to either focus my brush on the right side for a more coral-peach look, or more on the left for a warm pink.

The texture is soft and velvety smooth, and actually a bit powdery when picked up with a brush, but it looks very natural and texture-less on the cheeks. It has some sparkle in the pan and a bit swatched, but comes up as gently glowing on the cheeks. Very flattering, and almost more of a summer type colour, at least for me. It can be built up very easily for a punchier look over (faux) tanned skin.

The Expression Eyeshadow Palette (42$ CAD) just delighted me as soon as I opened it. Combine teals and olive greens, and you've made me the happiest camper. That said, I don't think this palette actually works all that well by itself, unless you happen to like pastel eyes. But it's perfect for integrating some much-needed colour and pairs well with the embarrassment of neutral palettes I have in my collection.

The formulation here is the same not-quite-cream-not-quite-powder that has been featured in the last few limited collections. It feels really plush to the touch, and some of the shades swatch especially nice, but I find the application can be a little tricky, at least as far as blending the colours together goes. Sometimes they don't buff out or build up particularly well (the mint green was particularly troublesome in this respect, remaining sheer and almost chalky), but they do look amazing once on the lids, with a glow that's not overly metallic or shimmery.

The teal and the olive are by the far the standouts in the palette, and I would easily buy those as singles. The mint is the weakest, as I said, and the peach is almost a little dry and faded when applied. The gold is oddly chunky, kinda thick to apply, but is works as a highlight.

Lasting power is average/good, maybe 7 hours before I see some fading (over primer).

This is a fairly simple but bright look using the palette, and a barely-there application of the blush. I managed to use all the shades on the eyes, going from yellow on the inner corner, through mint and teal on the lid to the outer corner, with the olive deepening the crease and smudged into the lash lines. I used the peach very lightly as a transition shade.

The summer collection is coming out soon, but these guys are still available at Lise Watier counters. (And if not, keep an eye out for the online warehouse sale in the fall, as past collections tend to pop up regularly.)

(Items were provided by the brand. This post is not sponsored or otherwise compensated.)

Lise Watier Eden Tropical Collection - Summer 2014

I know the Lise Watier Eden Tropical Collection has been out for a little while now, but to be honest I wasn't inspired to use it until fairly recently. With the spate of blisteringly hot summer weather a few weeks ago, though, the tropical theme felt very appropriate.

This is a pretty massive collection, with mostly limited edition items, but it also includes some premiering additions to the regular line-up, as well as a limited item that feels like it might be a test run.

The major set piece is, of course, the Palette Eden Tropical (43$ CAD).This guy really is a stunner, from the vibrant and bold aesthetic of the packaging to the actual shades included within.

All the colours are evocative of tropical flora: a super-pale mint, a green that shifts between sage and forest, a lovely violet-pink, a burnished antique gold, a slightly "dirty" bronze, and a rich turquoise.

On the surface, this looks like a somewhat difficult palette to work with - the finish on every shadow is frosty, verging on metallic, with really only one true neutral included. (I wouldn't term the antique gold a neutral, especially with the highly reflective finish it boasts.) This is definitely not the kind of palette you can tuck into your travel bag to cover your basic needs. That said, you're not limited to cobbling together some crazy Bird of Paradise eye look either, especially if you combine them with those workhorse "transition" shades in your collection.

The texture is fairly uniform on these, with an almost cream-like consistency that applies with medium pigmentation but is super malleable - you can sheer out, build or blend as you wish. You do have to be careful not to over-blend, but in this case it's not because the texture is so powdery that it wisps away. The longevity is good too, but not ironclad unless you use a primer. (I found a bit of creasing after 6 hours otherwise.) Out of all the shades, the mint-white and the violet-pink had the softest pigmentation.

This collection also introduces a new (and, for now, limited) product, the 24 hrs Gel Liner (25$ CAD). It's curious that Lise Watier hasn't had this in their repertoire until now, actually. It's a nice formula, a matte black that reads rich but not too intense, applies very smoothly, and dries to a smudge proof finish after about a minute of playtime. I do get a bit of separation in the corner of my eye, but that's usual for me due to the war my eye creases. If you're prone to that with gel/cream liners, I would suggest passing on this and sticking to liquid, otherwise this should be exactly as expected.

I have to say I was a little less wowed by the new addition to the Ombre Soufflé Suprême range. One of four new shades, Sortilège (24$ CAD) looks like a gorgeous gold-flecked bronze in the pot, but applied to my eyes it reads a little murky and dirty. Applied more thickly, I get more of that pretty colour, but the whipped-mousse formula doesn't play too well on my eyes when applied heavily - it tends to crease and slide off. (Though applied over a primer, or as a base for powder eyeshadow, it fares much better.) If you have drier lids, it may be the perfect formula, especially now that it has the added antioxidant benefits of Labrador Tea extract.

The other major piece in the collection is the Eden Tropical Bronzing Powder (38$ CAD). It's a totally gorgeous looking bronzer with a raised leaf motif and a peach blush at its heart.

Both the bronzer and the blush have a very flattering satin finish, but both have a lighter pigmentation than I would expect. The bronzer is a dainty, yellow-toned gold, and the peach is barely perceptible on my skin. I really had to squish my brush in there to get any payoff, and I don't imagine it would be visible on any but the fairest skin. When they're swirled together, the effect is a gentle hint of sun on the skin. I personally wouldn't use this as either a bronzer or a blush, but I do like it for adding some warmth to overly cool blushes, or for a faintly sun-kissed effect across my face. If you're especially pale, this may actually work very well as a bronzer, without looking overly strong or muddy.

This collection also has two limited edition cream blushes - the Blush Creme Satin in Rose Eden and Coral Paradise (24$ CAD). I have the Coral Paradise, which is actually more of a warm pink than coral on me.

The formula is silicone heavy, going on dewy and drying down to a seamless, but not powdery, finish. It has a ton of slip, feeling almost greasy when you first your finger across it. It blends super easily, and is perfect for fingertip application. The colour can be built up, but it sheers easily for a natural look. The lasting power average for a product of this type, looking faded on me after about 8 hours or so.

The Hydra Kiss Colour Balms (22$ CAD) included in this collection are perhaps my favourite, surprisingly. These have a translucent, glossy finish that is perfect for the season, and look wonderfully juicy and fresh on the lips. They're nicely hydrating, and, of course, completely not long-lasting. That's ok, though, as the sheerness and pencil format makes them a breeze to re-apply. The shade I have is Rose Eden, which is cool-toned pink.

Though not part of the collection as such, the Rouge Gourmand Velours Lipsticks (22$ CAD) debuted alongside, and are an EXCELLENT addition to the permanent collection. They are ridiculously pigmented and opaque in one swipe, with a modern matte finish that still feels comfortable and rich on the lips. Compared with certain other matte lipsticks I've recently tried, the formula actually seems to soften lip lines instead of emphasizing them. The claim is that these will visibly increase the volume of your lips - I don't know about that, but between the show-stopping punch of the pigment and the smoothing effect, it can certainly create the appearance of a fuller mouth. My shade here is Cassis, an intense blue-based red, with an almost berry slant.

Overall, I think there are some excellent products that bear checking out, before the Fall collections start rolling in. From the permanent collection, I highly recommend taking a look at the new Rouge Gourmand Velours lipsticks. From the limited items, the major standouts for me are the Hydra Kiss balms and the eyeshadow palette. If you are pale, leaning towards a warmer skin tone and in search of a bronzer, the one here might be worth a look as well.

PS - I will have a video coming up shortly, featuring most of the items from this collection! Here is a preview of the look:

(This collection was provided to me by the brand/PR to be considered for review. All opinions are my own, this post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lise Watier tartantastique Fall 2013 Collection - Quatuor Eyeshadow Quartet in Les Mauves

The Tartantastique Fall Collection from Lise Watier features a limited edition palette, but also introduced a new permanent palette to the current line-up of Quatuor Eyeshadow Quartets: Les Mauves.

I find the name a little puzzling, as the shades call to mind fields of heather and lilac trees rather than anything resembling mauve. It's an absolutely gorgeous palette of cream, blue-leaning violet, icy lilac and cool, bittersweet chocolate. Beautiful shades that call to mind dusk and the darkening days of autumn.

All the shades in this palette have an intensely creamy texture. When you rub your finger over them, there is absolutely no powder kick-back, and they feel totally luxurious. They have beautiful pigmentation, and apply and blend like a dream. I especially appreciate the texture of the cream shade, as it can be difficult to find a white or cream that doesn't go a bit powdery or chalky, unless it's also a frost.

The cream and brown have a relatively matte finish, but due to that lovely texture they look anything but flat when applied.

The blue-violet shade is perhaps the sheerest of the bunch, but that's only if you want to be picky. It has a soft, duochrome-y shimmer.

The lilac is the most shimmery - almost metallic, actually - of the four and reads warmer or cooler depending on the way the light hits it. If you're looking for a nice alternative to the usual mauve-taupe shimmer (AKA Satin Taupe and all her clones), this is a great option.

I love the inclusion of that cool-toned brown, which can work as a liner, to deepen the crease and to generally wear the violet shades in a more neutral fashion.

The wear time on these was good - 10 hours easy over primer, no creasing or fading.

Left to right: Swatched clockwise from top right corner of the palette.

I thought this palette might be similar to the Les Vins palette I reviewed previously, but overall it is cooler, with a broader range of finishes, and with a creamier, more pigmented texture. Colour-wise, I found the closest similarity to be between the blue-violet in this palette and the indigo blue in the Les Vins palette, which is swatched below for comparison.

Violet from Les Mauves on the left, indigo from Les Vins on the right.

Availability: At Lise Watier counters at Pharmparix/SDM, Jean Coutu, The Bay (including www.thebay.com), as well as from www.lisewatier.com. Price is 32$ CAD/USD.

Pros: Intensely creamy texture, excellent payoff, superior blendability and great wear. Nice balance of textures, and more vivid and neutral shades.

Cons: Aside from it being more cool-toned and perhaps a bit more difficult to wear on very warm complexions, I can't think of one.

(This item was provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lise Watier Tartantastique Fall 2013 Collection - Haute Lumière Lip Gloss in Spotlight and Rouge Sublime Lipstick in Tartan

A berry-toned lip is a classic for Fall, and Lise Watier offers up a couple of interesting variations on this theme with two of the lip products in their Tartantastique Collection.

The Haute Lumière High Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Spotlight, and the Rouge Sublime Lipstick in the shade Tartan are both new additions to their respective product categories, debuting with this collection but not limited edition.

The packaging is sleek and elegant, as per the rest of the Lise Watier brand, with nice metallic casing. I really like the squared-off tubes for the lip gloss.

A particular feature of the Haute Lumière Lip Gloss is that it actually comes equipped with a light in the cap that is automatically activated when you twist it open. A little gimmicky, but surprisingly useful if you ever have to touch up your gloss at night, especially in a car.

And how gorgeous is that sparkle in the lip gloss tube??? It looks like a duochrome nail polish. LOVE IT.

Spotlight is a medium textured gloss, neither thick not overly thin, and it doesn't feel sticky on the lips. It has a relatively sheer base of violet-tinged mauve that looks more pink on my lips, and a golden shimmer throughout that looks subtle at first but becomes more apparent as the base colour settles on the lip.

It's a pretty gloss by itself, though less vibrant than it appears in the tube, but it's especially lovely when applied over a berry lipstick that amplifies the shade and allows the shimmer/sparkle to become more apparent. It wears about 2-3 hours on me before starting to fade down, though the sparkle hangs around longer and it does leave a faint stain behind.

I'm not as crazy about the wand applicator, which feels just a trifle too long and drags some of the product off as you swipe. Not a deal-breaker by any means, though. The scent is sweet and fruity, a little stronger than that of the lipstick.

Tartan is a Rouge Sublime Lipstick, which are supposed to soften and hydrate your lips as you wear it. It definitely has an emolliant feel, and a medium level of pigmentation. It's glossy and lush on the lips, and does hydrate and make them more full-looking as a result.

This shade swatches with a bit of a warm undertone, but on my lips it's a soft, mauve-y berry shade. Very fall-appropriate, without being vampy. This is the kind of shade that just looks pretty and elegant no matter the social situation.

It lasts about 4 hours on average, and has a pleasant, faintly sweet/fruity scent.

Top to bottom: Spotlight and Tartan

Haute Lumiere High Shine Lip Gloss in Spotlight

Rouge Sublime Lipstick in Tartan

Availability: At Lise Watier counters at The Bay and most Pharmaprix/SDM locations, as well as Jean Coutu. Also at www.lisewatier.com, which does ship to the US as well.  Price is 21$ CAD/USD for the lipstick and 22$ CAD/USD for the lip gloss.

Pros: Lipstick is hydrating and softening, very pleasant to wear, and the shade is passe-partout - appropriate for work or play. The lipgloss is surprisingly soft and pretty on its own, with a sparklier, more dynamic finish layered over a lipstick. It's a medium-weight, non tacky formula. The light feature is fun and functional.

Cons: The amazing colour visible in the lip gloss tube doesn't translate to the lip due to the product's sheerness. The applicator is a little too long for my personal liking, but YMMV.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lise Watier Tartantastique Fall 2013 - Ombre Soufflé Supreme in Tartan Magique

The Lise Watier Tartantastique collection for Fall features some really dreamy, fairytale-appropriate items - none more so than the Tartan Magique Ombre Soufflé. (I may have made a sound resembling a squeak when I opened the jar. Ok, yes, I definitely did.)

It's ALL kinds of gorgeous.

Tartan Magique is a deep teal, layered with fine golden iridescence, creating a wonderfully sparkly, dimensional look when applied to the eye. It's aethereal and beautiful, and the sort of thing I imagine an elven queen would be fond of.

The texture of the Ombre Soufflé range is interesting - basically a soft, squishy, whipped mousse that gives way easily and feels quite silicone-y to the touch. It actually reminds me a bit of the texture of the Flower Beauty Color Play Creme Shadows, though without the same degree of slip that made the latter so difficult to control, blend and build. I found this to apply easily, and sheer out and build up - to a point - without difficulty.

I found I needed a primer to make this last, however. Without one, it had all but disappeared from my crease area within 4 hours. With my Nars primer, it was still good after about 7 hours, but starting to look a little faded overall. Over a stickier cream base, like a paint pot, the intensity remained stronger throughout, with no fading or creasing past the 9 hour mark. This isn't a no-fuss product, but the effect is so pretty that it's worth the effort for me.

It may work also well as a base by itself for those with drier or otherwise less finicky lids. On mine I still had a bit of creasing when I used just the Ombre and a powder eyeshadow overtop, but none at all with a primer underneath the combo.

As a side benefit, the Ombre Soufflé also contain anti-oxidents and anti-aging ingredients, including Labrador Tea extract, so they do a bit of double-duty.

Regular swatch, and sheered out.

Slightly out of focus to capture the golden sparkle.

Availability: At The Bay and most Pharmaprix/SDM and Jean Coutu locations, as well as www.lisewatier.com. Price is 24$ CAD.

Pros: Beautiful shade with mesmerizing shimmer. Builds up and sheers out well, can be used as is or as a base. Has skin-care benefits.

Cons: Fades and creases within a few hours, at least on oily eyes like mine. Needs a primer for longevity, and a creamy textured base is best to maintain the intensity.

(This item was provided by the brand/PR, to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lise Watier Tartantastique Fall 2013 - Chic Tartan Light Cap Nail Lacquer

My husband is rarely impressed by anything makeup related, but I did manage to wow him with the Lise Watier Light Cap Nail Polish. Being the gadget-savvy guy that he is, he was appropriately delighted by the clever light source, activated by a click of the button at the top of the cap.

Myself, I was more enamoured of the actual nail polish, which was kindly sent to me to test out.

Chic Tartan Light Cap Nail Polish

The entire collection is a lovely play on the colours of heather fields and misty, verdant landscapes - all soft plums and mauves, and dusky greens. It evokes Scotland and Fall without being precious about either. 

This nail polish, Chic Tartan from the Fall Tartantastique Collection, is especially beautiful due to its liminal quality. It hovers, undecided, between pewter, dusty teal and smoky green. It just depends on how the light hits it. It is by far one of the most unique colours in my collection. The more I look at it, the more I love it.

Chic Tartan has a glossy cream finish and a fairly thick texture. I had the best luck doing a thin, somewhat streaky first coat and then a thicker second coat. The formula is very self-leveling, so after that weird first layer it spreads out beautifully. 

The brush is thinner and squared off at the tip, so it takes a little more effort to get a clean line if you have fairly rounded nail beds like mine. 

Availability: At most Pharmaprix/SDM and Jean Coutu locations, The Bay, and www.lisewatier.com. Price is 13$ CAD.

Pros: Fabulous colour that is fall-appropriate and veers between grey, green and teal. Naturally glossy cream finish and self-leveling texture. Neat light feature that probably isn't all that practical but seem cool regardless.

Cons: Thicker texture can make application a little tricky, as can the relatively thin, square-tipped brush.

(This item was sent to me by the brand/pr to consider for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lise Watier Sun Destination Summer 2013 - Sun Bronzing Powder, Sensationelle Dry Oil and Illuminating Bronzing Gel

I'm continuing in my mission to Pretend It's Summer, Dammit. I've been testing out some of the items from the Lise Watier Sun Destination Collection, which I received last week, and let me tell you, nothing lulls you into a blissful estival dream like sun-shaped bronzers, shimmery lotions and white-floral scented oils.

I love using a dry oil spray in the summer, as a lotion or cream can sometimes feel too sticky or uncomfortable on overheated skin. A dry oil feels lighter, and if the combination of oils used is well balanced, it will be both nourishing and protective.

The Sensationelle Dry Oil contains: Sweet Almond, Baobab, Argan, Cotton, Plum and Abyssinian oils. The first three especially are highly beneficial oils, and as a whole I found that this absorbed into the skin nicely, leaving behind a satiny finish that should look amazing on tanned skin, especially in the evening. The key for me is to apply on damp skin, massaging in to allow the water to emulsify with the oils. This allows the oils to work into the skin better, while "trapping" the hydration of the water within the surface of the skin.

This is recommended for the body, face and hair, and I have used it on my hair with nice results - a teeny bit on the ends of damp hair lends a lovely shine and controls the summer flyways. As with any oil product, don't over-apply or you'll have pond-water hair. I can't vouch for it for facial care, as I tend to break-out when I use argan oil or sweet almond oil on my face.

Sensationelle has a gorgeous, white-floral scent reminiscent of Tiaré blossoms. I was sure it contained Monoi oil, but it doesn't, so it must be an added perfume. Regardless, it's lush and tropical, yet still a bit breezy. Very appropriate. (Though if you do have sensitive skin, I would also be wary of using this on your face. Scented products tend to be more problematic in facial care.)

I wan't expecting to like the Illuminating Bronzing Gel as much as I do. When I first squeezed out a dollop, I had a big "Oh HELL no" moment, in fact. This came out looking opaque an waaayyyy too shimmery. I was picturing ABBA-esque 70s Glam cheekbones. Which is a look. Just not MY look.

Then I took the tiniest little drop and buffed it lightly over my cheekbones, and lo and behold, I was disco-free. Applied judiciously, the effect is a subtle, peachy-gold shimmer that should look especially beautiful on medium and olive skin, but is not at all overwhelming on lighter skin tones like mine.

If you're feeling especially wary, it can be mixed with a bit of foundation or moisturizer to diffuse the glow further. A little does go along way, so I can see a tube of this lasting for a while,even if you were to use it more liberally on areas like your collarbone or down your shins for some extra glow. (For extra Golden Goddess points, it can be mixed with the dry oil in the palm of your hand and applied all over.)

Pea-sized drop, spread out slightly.

Tiny drop, buffed out with a eyeshadow blending brush.

And then there's the Sun Bronzing Powder. Bronzers is something Lise Watier tends to do very well, and this is no exception. The packaging is simple and elegant, and the stylized sun design is pretty, though stunning in the way of Guerlain bronzers. As far as I can tell, the inner gold portion goes all the way down, and is not a gilded overspray.

The powder is soft, nicely pigmented, and easy to blend out on the skin. The inner gold portion is quite metallic, so I would be careful about using that by itself, but it has really nice payoff, and can easily be used as part of an eye look. 

The darker outer outer portion is a slightly reddish-toned bronze. It does have some shimmer, but buffed into the skin it reads more sheeny. I would personally use it lightly over the cheek, chin and forehead for a glowy, tanned effect rather than trying to use it as a contour.

The two shades blended together make for a light golden shimmer that is more yellow-toned and obvious on the skin than the shimmer from the Illuminating Bronzing Gel. It's something I would personally reserve for the evening, because the effect is more dramatic (and less flattering to my 35-year-old skin in the harsh light of day), but I love the combo dusted on the cheekbones, with a bit of the darker shade blended over the cheeks instead of blush. It's best paired with stiletto sandals and a long summer night.

Top: Interior portion of the bronzer.
Bottom: Exterior portion.

Both sections blended together and applied with a fluffy brush.

Availability: Currently at most Lise Watier counters, including those at The Bay and SDM/Pharmaprix. The Dry Oil is 42$, the Illuminating Bronzing Gel is 30$ and the Sun Bronzing Powder is 39$. All prices are CAD. The Lise Watier website does ship to the US, but this collection doesn't seem to be up just yet. The collection is limited until the end of July.

Pros: All the items have multiple uses - the oil can be used on the body, face and hair, and can be mixed with the gel to create a body glow. The gel can be used as is or mixed with foundation or moisturizer, applied lightly to highlight the face or more strongly to accent points on the body. The bronzer can be used as a bronzer and to highlight the cheekbones, or can be used as part of an eye look. The textures of all the products are lovely, and both the gel and the powder blend out on the skin without any problems, and can be used to surprisingly subtle effect.

Cons: As always, scent preferences are personal, so the white-floral fragrance of the oil may not appeal. If you're acne-prone, I would recommend testing the oil before applying it to your face. The shimmer in the bronzer makes it trickier to wear in the daytime.

(These items were provided by the brand, to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)