Beauty Without Fuss

Friday 27 April 2012

Le Metier Aurora Lip Kaleidoscope


I've been waiting for Le Metier de Beaute to come back to the UK for what feels like a very, very, very long time!  So, when Zuneta announced they were going to be their exclusive UK stockist from now on, I was very excited!  Then, when Zuneta initially put the products on the website, I was devastated, as the prices were astronomical.  Always a super-premium brand, I thought that Zuneta and Le Metier were taking the mickey with the price increases - the Kaleidoscopes had increased in price from around £55-65 and were now selling for £90! When I queried this with Zuneta, I was assured that this was an error, and the prices were immediately changed by around 20%, so the kaleidoscopes (when they're in stock) now retail for around £75.  Whilst I'm loath to cast aspersions, I can't help being sceptical that no one had thought to double-check both the prices on the website and on the email that was sent out before they were released to customers, to be honest.

But then, I am both deeply sceptical and an accountant, and double/triple/quadruple checking the numbers before information goes to people is what I do ... I'll get back to talking about quality control shortly though.  Yes, I pick nits, it's my job.


I was sent this lip Kaleidoscope in Aurora a few weeks ago, and it's taken me a while to write about it because, well, I'm disappointed with it.   You'll see why in a minute.  It is, in all actuality, very beautiful, and I love that it was inspired by the Northern Lights.  As always in a Le Metier Kaleidoscope, there are four shades, designed to be used either individually, or layered in the brand's trademark "couches de couleur" technique.

The shades are, from top to bottom:

Illuminate - a sheer, shimmery pink:


Second down is Voltaic - a rosey mauve in a cream finish:

Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed my problem by now
Then there is Dynamos, a sheer coral shot through with golden shimmer:


And finally, at the bottom, there is Eos, a creme fuchsia shade:


Two sheer shimmers, and two creme shades in one palette, there's a lot of scope for mixing and matching these pretty colours. 

Here's how they look in swatches:

 L-R Illuminate, Voltaic, Dynamos, Eos.

But, let's go back and take another look at shade number two (Voltaic) again, shall we?


That's a lovely thumbprint, isn't it?  It's not mine, by the way, this is how the palette arrived from Le Metier HQ in New York, and I'll be honest, it made me very disappointed with the palette.  It also, I don't mind adding, made me feel a bit sick.

When a brand is as super-premium as Le Metier, then I don't really expect massive thumbprints in the products.  And, sadly, it's not the first time I've had a problem with this sort of thing with Le Metier palettes, in my le Cirq kaleidoscope there was a damaged eyeshadow, and in last year's Penelope Kaleidoscope that I was sent, there was an entire eyeshadow missing!  And, in spite of me mentioning it to the brand on several occasions, they never did anything about it, which is why you didn't see it on the blog.   Something appears to be seriously amiss with Le Metier quality control - I own three of their palettes, and every single one has something wrong - one has 25% of the product missing, and the company didn't really care about my concerns.

So, on the one hand, I'm very glad to see Le Metier back. thumbprints, dinged shadows, and missing parts and all.  Then, on the other hand, I'm extremely unlikely to buy anything from them till I'm assured they they're really pulled their socks up over their quality control.  At these (newly reduced, but still extremely expensive) prices, there is less than no excuse not to provide perfection.

 The Fine Print: PR Sample.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.
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21 comments

  1. Thanks - that's totally made my mind up then. Poor quality, but even worse, poor service.

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    Replies
    1. I'd salt it was "poor quality CONTROL"

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    2. Not "poor quality", the products are, generally, fabulous. But, at these prices, there is no excuse for damaged goods, dirty goods, or missing parts, I'm afraid.

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  2. That's just awful that on three occasions you have had a fault with the product. When you pay such a lot for something, you expect the best of the best - and this just isn't up to par. Thanks for posting!
    http://lipsticksunshine.blogspot.co.uk

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  3. oh that thumbprint is just disturbing

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    1. Isn't it? I check *everything* from Le Métier very carefully these days, and my heart sank when I saw this.

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  4. Ewww lord knows where that thumb had been! :s bleagh!
    Also appalling customer service!! Will avoid like the plague!

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    Replies
    1. Well, to be fair, I haven't kicked up much of a fuss to be honest, because, in the last two cases, the products were free (I bought Le Cirq), but, a thumbprint? GROSS!!!

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  5. I have yet to try these, great colors. I do like LMDB lip glosses a lot.

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    Replies
    1. Me too. They're lovely. If you get them pristine!

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  6. Dear Lippie, that thumb print would be funny if it were not so yucky and the product so expensive...meanwhile I have put together a little make up tutorial you might like over at mine...

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  7. You should get that print dusted and reveal the culprit! Like a beauty "who dunnit"!
    I'm partial to a bit of luxury but WOW. Not sure about this. I think it's because it's not portable, and lippie is one of those things that inevitably needs reapplying..
    xx

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  8. Did my last, very witty comment publish or do I have to write it again, through my wine-fug? Oh GOD.
    I basically said you should dust the print and we'll do a "whodunnit". It sounded funny the first time around.
    *Slinks off.*

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  9. Thats disgusting. Very bad PR and customer service. I wont be purchasing anything from them. Certainly not at that price! x

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  10. So they sent you a pre used PR sample.
    This is happening a lot I believe.
    Maybe it was a 'Princess and the Pea' type test?
    Maybe the PR budget has been so incredibly deflated and the bubble has finally burst. Have they responded at all to this post?

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    Replies
    1. No, not at all, Claire, even though I tweeted at the president of the company!

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  11. Don't know why this comment from Bare Faced Chic won't show up here, but I'm posting it regardless:

    Bare Faced Chic has left a new comment on your post "Le Metier Aurora Lip Kaleidoscope":

    OK, let's get the quality control issues discussed. They suck. This is not just expensive make up, it's ridiculously expensive. It should be delivered in hermetically sealed pods for the amount it costs. But even so, mistakes and accidents happen. But if it happens once you grovel and you rectify! You do that with any customer when they've been sold a faulty product. You especially do it with a blogger who is going to post to the world that she's had crappy service. But the thing is, if it happens once, it's an accident. Twice, it's a coincidence. Three times and you have a serious issue. So they have a pretty hefty quality control issue and probably more seriously, a mega customer service issue, because let's face it, if they'd sorted it out you'd mention it but not be too fussed as they had rectified their mistake. Or I would.

    As for the pricing structure from Zuneta, I'm FAR more cynical than you! My opinion is very much thaat they knew they were the single stockist, they knew that a lot of people were waiting for Le Metier to return to the UK, they thought they could charge what they wanted. But they released everything, there were a lot of rumblings on Twitter about the price increases (30% is taking the p*** as far as I'm concerned) and they thought "oops, not a good move, we'll say it was a mistake". There was no error that I can see, there was a calculated decision aimed at maximising revenue. They did make a big mistake. It's just not the one they're admitting to!

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  12. Prob been sacked then.
    For sticking their thumb in the products.
    Ooh, suddenly they're (the thumb sticker) my hero!
    Anarchy from within.
    A post ironic statement on having to pimp out £60 lipsticks?

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    Replies
    1. I have no idea. However, I will say this, they are very NICE lipsticks. But it's a bit odd that every palette I've had has been damaged. I think they just hate my blog ;)

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  13. I think they hate themselves.

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    Replies
    1. Well, you're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I disagree.

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