Anyone who's studied Charles Darwin knows that evolution--the process of gradual, generational change--largely boils down to natural selection. Over time, the fittest of the species survive, while the weaker ones tend to fall by the wayside. The same theory holds true in the world of cosmetics, where even the most popular products can swiftly be rendered extinct unless they adapt to a changing consumer landscape. In the world of makeup, evolutionary fitness means creating formulas that are versatile, easy to apply, long lasting, and skin flattering. And Laura Mercier's latest collection, Evolution of Color, offers three knockout products that are guaranteed to satisfy all of those basic Darwinian drives.

Evolution of Color for Eyes ($36; lauramercier.com) boasts four silky shadows in your choice of three neutral palettes (my favorite is Brown Velvet, a rich golden and brown quad). No less appealing is Evolution of Color for Lips ($28), a suite of creamy colors that takes a similar approach but kicks up the shimmer and pigment a notch (Pink Suede, a lush set of roses and plums, is especially addictive), and Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic ($38), which strikes just the right skin-brightening balance (lustrous but not too blingy). Because each compact comes with a spectrum of paler and more intense hues, the collection makes transitioning from day to night or summer to fall a cinch--adaptability that, if Darwin was right, means that Evolution of Color will be around for a long time to come. --Tara Mattarazzo

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