H&M descended upon Paris in a big way this week. Staging its first-ever runway show here, with a production value, model casting, and after-party that fashion dreams are made of, the Swedish retail giant made it more than clear that it came to play among the City of Light’s heaviest hitters. And it’s not done yet. This spring, H&M will set up the first Paris location of & Other Stories, its upscale brand that will open its premier London outpost next week, as well as five other stores in Europe this year alone. The space will be on Rue Saint-Honoré, a stone’s throw from Colette, where the brand is currently previewing its beauty range through the end of March. Covering body care, facial care, and makeup, the line is incredibly extensive, albeit impressively curated and surprisingly affordable (lipsticks run around $12, while Body Soufflés ring in at about $16). Lip glosses, illuminators, eye pencils, requisite BB creams and nail polishes, body scrubs, and hand lotions are among the seemingly endless array of products on offer, of which I’ve procured a pretty decent sampling that will have to last me at least until word arrives of a New York flagship. In the meantime, please enjoy this haul report, below.

Face Contour Cream: I got pretty into face sculpting after first discovering Tom Ford’s Shade & Illuminate palette last year. I really honed my contouring craft, though, when it became the preferred look backstage at the Spring shows. Siding with cream over powder, I gravitated toward this clear compact that comes in a single universal shade. A little goes a long way, but it builds really well, so you can go for a little sunken-cheek effect, or a lot.

Eye Colour in Birrus Rust: This one was a no-brainer, as I have been obsessed with ruddy shadows since the Fall shows got under way earlier this month. It’s a bit more pearlized than I typically like, but the color is gorgeous and gives lids a natural rosy stain.

Lip Colour in Cordovan Wine: Since I accidentally left my preferred bordeaux bullet of MAC Lipstick in Media in New York, this was a necessity purchase more than anything else, as it is a near-identical color match. Luckily, dark pouts aren’t going anywhere, if the past few weeks are any indication, so I’m happy to add it to my arsenal. The pigment applies incredibly well and has a lustrous finish that can be matted down with powder, if you prefer that kind of thing (and I do).

Continue Reading “Beauty Haul Report: & Other Stories” »