T. LeClerc WINTER COLLECTION | Divine Compact Powder, Divine Chubby Lip Balm, Divine Cream Eyeshadow

Rekindled love. That's how I can best describe my current emotion towards T. LeClerc, a brand I used to patronize when I was in my mid to late 20s. I am more than certain that I was introduced to it during a Parisian trip, back when I was still working at a multinational pharmaceutical company. While my colleagues were busy checking out streetside souvenirs, you bet I won't leave France without makeups in tow, haha! Many moons forward, I am glad to have been reintroduced to this brand while browsing Beautyhabit (online luxe apothecary) last month.

T. LeClerc's claim to fame is its banana powder (great for setting makeup!), plus its unadulterated approach in cosmetics. The packaging of its standard line has never changed as far as I can remember (matte silver sans the frou frou) so I was pleasantly surprised to see a more upbeat design of its winter limited edition collection (black and circus-ish). I initially purchased three items and it won't stop from there!

The price point of T. LeClerc falls on the high-end/prestige side; think Burberry, NARS, Dior, Hourglass to name a few. Let's start with my number one favorite from the collection, the Ombre Divine Cream Eyeshadow in Brun Caravage ($28, 4g/0.14 oz).

Brun Caravage is a shimmery brown-taupe must have! It beats Givenchy, Dior and Chanel in terms of creaminess, ease of application and longevity. It's a close second after Tom Ford and that's saying a lot considering my devotion to TF's cream eyeshadows. While you can use eyeshadow brush to apply, I prefer swiping it directly over the lid using my ring finger. Girl, it blends and sets like a dream, you can finish your eye makeup in two minutes or less! There are two more shades available from the line and as of this writing, my order shipped!

Another must-have is T. LeClerc's twist-up type Divine Chubby Lip Balm ($27, 1.8g). There are four shades in total, I have Pourpre Velours, it's a berry red with sublime hydration. I thought it will just give me sheer wash of color considering it's a lip balm but lo, color payoff is akin to a lipstick: pigmented and luminous! The formula is similar to butterLondon's bloody brilliant lip crayon, in particular Ruby Murray (review here).

Finally, let's cover T. LeClerc Divine Compact Powder ($55, 9.5g). As the name suggests, it's a pressed powder featuring three shades which you can use individually or as a whole for a more cohesive look.

The concept and design of the compact remind me of Guerlain (background photo). It comes in only one variant so while it is said to be universally appealing, it will not work for darker skin tone. There are three shades in the pan: beige, beige rose and cannelle. The lightest is good for setting concealer and foundation, the darker ones for contouring. Swirled together, it does warm up the face. The finish is more on velvety matte so if you have oily to combination skin, this maybe right up your alley.

I like my purchases overall, I just wish the distribution level or point of sales of this brand will improve in the US. Right now, this limited edition collection is only sold via Beautyhabit. Barney's carries the brand but to a limited extent. Or shall we just fly to Paris to hoard? valid excuse eh?

what do you think of T. LeClerc?