Marcelle Velvety Eye Shadow and Primer - Primer Rose

April 26, 2013, 6:47 pm

≫ Next: MAC Extra Dimension Blushes - Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute, Fiery Impact

≪ Previous: MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadows - Opalesse, Triple Impact, Smoky Mauve

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Like Alton Brown, I love an item that serves more than one function. The Marcelle Velvety Eye Shadow and Primer claims to do just that, all while providing creaseless, waterproof wear for 12 hours or more.

The packaging is sleek, simple and practical, with a doe-foot applicator to dap on the product where needed and a transparent tube to see exactly how much product is left.

This is truly both a primer and a liquid-to-powder eyeshadow. This particular shade is a pale, shimmery pink-beige that covers redness and discolouration while adding a natural blush tone and shimmer to the lid. It has a thinner, wetter texture compared to something like Urban Decay Primer Potion, which is more creamy-silicone. The Marcelle Eye Shadow and Primer feels more liquid initially, and seems to feel that way on the lid for a good 15 seconds, even though it's not actually fluid anymore. It's a little disconcerting, but it does dry to a perfectly set powder finish, no tackiness or budging. This wore the promised 12 hours without fading or creasing, both by itself and as a base under powder eyeshadow.

Using this all over the lid with just a touch of medium brown or taupe in the crease is also an incredibly fast and easy way to look polished and work-ready.

The swatches above show what it's like swiped directly from the tube and then sheered out a fair bit with a finger. The swatch below is a blended in but not sheered out, and you can see the gorgeous shimmer.

I'm really pleased by how well this performed and how flattering it looked. It reminds me a bit of the Vincent Longo Liquid Shadows, except that those crease tragically and need a separate primer to be useable. This particular shade was sent to me, but I will be picking up the Chameleon and Velvety Beige shades very soon!

Availability: At most drugstores, as well as from the Marcelle website. Price is 15.95$ CAD and USD.

Pros: Long-wearing without creasing or fading. Natural, flattering shade, works well as both a primer and an eyeshadow.

Cons: None that I can think of, aside from maybe that initial feeling as the product sets.

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

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MAC Extra Dimension Blushes - Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute, Fiery Impact

April 30, 2013, 4:34 pm

≫ Next: Revlon Pacific Coast Collection (Spring 2013) - Sea Mist Quad, Lip Butters in Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

≪ Previous: Marcelle Velvety Eye Shadow and Primer - Primer Rose

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Out of all the items I picked up from the MAC Extra Dimension Collection, my favourites by far are the blushes. I love that MAC did something different with the finish here, while staying true to the texture of the gelée formulation.

I wanted great colours for summer, so I opted to get Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute and Fiery Impact. And they are honestly all fantastic.

Top: Flaming Chic Bottom: Blazing Haute, Fiery Impact

 

I was delighted to see that these were all a satin finish, as I hadn't relished the thought of a super shimmery blush - despite my magpie love for all things shiny. All three have that dry to the touch feel, and are super smooth and blendable upon application, so no surprises there. They have a teeny amount of sheen that does what it does to make skin look healthy and radiant without adding any overt shine or glitz.

Flaming Chic is a beautifully bright but wearable blue-based pink. Blazing Haute comes on far less orange than I feared, more of a peachy tan. It should be perfect for the fair but warm-toned, for that sun-touched effect. Fiery Impact is also far more wearable than the terracotta tones might suggest. I suspect it would be stunning on those with medium, olive-toned skin. It is the most pigmented out of the bunch so should be applied softly at first, until you have layered to your satisfaction. All of them are buildable, and because of the soft, fine texture they don't get cakey or powdery on the skin.

Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute, Fiery Impact

One thing I did find odd was that Flaming Chic seemed to have some sort of very fine layer on top. It's very difficult to explain, as it wasn't something that was perceptible, but when I first tried to apply it, by brush picked up nothing at all. I thought I had gotten a dud, but then I remembered that something similar had plagued my Guerlain Terra Azzura Powder. I rubbed off the top layer with a tissue, and then had no problem getting payoff. Very strange. Ultimately it didn't affect the performance, but I thought I should mention it in case anyone else experienced the same thing.

In terms of wear, all of these had a slightly less than average wear for me - six hours, with a very small amount of fading after that.

Availability: Gone, pretty much, unless you luck out and find something in the store. Price is 29.50$ CAD.

Pros: Beautiful pigmentation that can be blended out and worn sheerly, or built up for high impact with no caking. Very blendable.

Cons: Not the longest wear overall. That bizarre hard layer on Flaming Chic.

(I purchased these items from MAC.)

Revlon Pacific Coast Collection (Spring 2013) - Sea Mist Quad, Lip Butters in Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

May 2, 2013, 3:44 pm

≫ Next: Off to The Makeup Show in New York!

≪ Previous: MAC Extra Dimension Blushes - Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute, Fiery Impact

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I'm a sucker for Emma Stone (Biggest. Girl Crush. EVER.), I dream of living in California, and I love the Revlon Lip Butter formula, so snagging the Pacific Coast spring collection by Gucci Westman was a no-brainer. Oceanic shades for the eyes and neon-ish lip shades? So terribly 80s in the wrong hands, but I had faith in Ms. Westman.

The collection features four lip butters, two quads, two blush sticks and four nail polishes, though I availed myself only of the Sea Mist quad and the Lip Butters.

The quad is a lovely selection of shades that seem geared toward creating a jewel-toned eye look: a pale peach, a misty turquoise, and smoky variants on a forest green and purple. They're an interesting set of colours in the pan, and the texture is nice enough, though not noteworthy. They are soft but not buttery, and not powdery either. They blend out without problems, though the purple does go a bit grey as it sheers out with blending.

Applied to bare skin.

They all have a shimmer finish, with sheer-to-medium pigmentation. The purple and green are the sheerest, especially when applied on bare skin. Over a creamy base, they can be built up quite nicely. (I used the green to layer over a black kohl liner in this review.) If you're wary of wearing non-neutral colours, this might be a good palette for you, as the sheerer payoff but good blendability means they can be worked into an overall design without becoming overwhelming or too difficult to manage. I can't say this is a palette that I would reach for on a regular basis, though I do think the turquoise is lovely.

I was overall much happier with the Lip Butters, as I found they took the classic, balmy formula and tweaked the pigment up a notch for a stained glass effect - high pigment in a sheer formula. Like several other brands have done recently, this makes a bright punch of colour eminently wearable. I can't remember the last time I wore a bright fuchsia without benefit of lipliner and meticulous application, but  these are SO easy. Just swipe or dab on and go out the door. DONE.

Left to right: Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

Sorbet and Lollipop are the most vibrant of the four, with the strongest layer of pigment visible on the lips. Lollipop leans more strongly blue, but on my lips, and because of the overall sheerness of the formula, they tend to look quite similar.

Wild Watermelon is a pink-based red that makes for a nice summer alternative to a defined red lip, and Juicy Papaya barely registers as a colour on my lips, just brings the natural coolness down a bit.

As with the regular collection Lip Butters, these have a balm-like feel and a hydrating quality. The wear is closer to a gloss than a lipstick on me, though the brighter colours leave a faint stain behind.

Availability: Check local drugstores and Wal-mart, as it varies by area. Prices vary as well, but the quad averages between 12-15$ CAD, and the Lip Butters tend to be around 9-10$ CAD at regular price.

Pros: The quad has some lovely colours, and can be a nice option for the colour-wary, as they have the kind of texture that makes blending fuss-free. The lip butters are all hydrating, the potential to be worn very softly or blown out to something very vibrant, yet are incredibly easy to wear.

Cons: The quad is definitely not the palette to get if you like your eyeshadows to have serious payoff. I don't really have anything negative about the Lip Butters, though the shade you prefer will depend on how much brightness you want and how much your lip tone tends to influence the overall colour of your lip product, as these ARE sheer, despite the vivid pigment.

(I purchase these items from Jean Coutu.)

Off to The Makeup Show in New York!

May 3, 2013, 3:14 am

≫ Next: The Makeup Show NYC 2013 - Recap and Pictures

≪ Previous: Revlon Pacific Coast Collection (Spring 2013) - Sea Mist Quad, Lip Butters in Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

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I'm so excited! I'm actually just packing right now for my trip to The Makeup Show, which takes place in New York over this weekend. I went a couple of years ago and it was an absolutely amazing experience - the shopping was insane, but the workshops with leading pros in the field were even better. Sadly, I don't have the funds to do the workshops this time around (my entire budget is going towards purchasing this year), but there will be a jillion free seminars and some incredible keynote addresses to sit in on as well.

To give you an idea, these are the brands that will be exhibiting:

AJ Crimson Cosmetics Alcone Company Armour Beauty Auraline Beauty Bad Ass Stencils Bdellium Tools Bite Beauty Blinc Inc Cailyn Cosmetics Cattiva Cosmetics Chic Studios Cinema Secrets Cosmix School Crown Brushes Crystal Wright Live Dante Disposables Dermalogica Dinair Airbrush Elementwo Elessa Jade Ellis Faas Embryolisse USA Eve Pearl Beauty Eye Kandy Cosmetics Face Atelier Frends Beauty Supply Glamcor Global Beauty Care G Body Art Pro Graftobian Makeup Grande Lash MD Hakuhodo USA I Make You Beautiful Inglot Cosmetics Kett Cosmetics Kevyn Aucoin Khuraira Cosmetics

Layla Cosmetics Lit Cosmetics London Brush Company MAC Cosmetics MAKE Colour Make Up For Ever Make Up For Ever Academy Mario Badescu Skin Care Marmag Beauty Products Mehron, Inc. MG Hair & Makeup Michael Marcus Cosmetics Model in a Bottle Nigels Beauty Emporium Naked Cosmetics NARS Cosmetics Nurturing Force Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ofra Cosmetics Pari Beauty Parian Spirit Pinnacle Cosmetics RCMA Senna Cosmetics Shabbos Brushups Smashbox Cosmetics Stila Cosmetics T3 Micro Tei Spa Temptu PRO Tizo by Fallene The Knot The Powder Group Tweezerman Veil Cosmetics What’s Hot Inc. Velour Lashes Yaby Cosmetics Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Z Palette Zuca

These are the free seminars available:

SUNDAY, May 5th TH       
Seminar A – 1st Floor10:00- 10:45    Learn How to Control the Shine but Keep The Glow- Bp Carmouché for Inglot Cosmetics

11:15- 12:00    Designing Brows from Realway to Runway- Eugenia Weston for Senna Cosmetics

12:30- 1:15      The Art of Contour-Jenny Rostami for Make Up For Ever

1:45- 2:30        Airbrushing the Beauty and the Beast for Beautiful Creatures – Fionagh Cush for Temptu Pro

3:00- 3:45        NARS: Modern, Audacious, Iconic – Cindy Rodriguez for Nars Cosmetics

4:15- 5:00        Creating the Flawless 15 Minute Face, does your kit have what it takes? Brandalyn Fulton for Face Atelier

5:00-5:45         Sexy Summer and The Youngblood Difference- Liliana Pennington for Youngblood Mineral   
      
Seminar Space B – 1st Floor           
9:45- 10:30      Makeup Not War- David Stella for Ellis Faas

11:00- 11:45    A/W 2013 Back Stage Trends - Courtney Tichman and Valerie P. Hernandez for OCC Makeup

12:15- 1:00      Era Reinterpreted – Keri Blair for MAC Cosmetics

1:30- 2:15        HD Makeup for the Modern Bride- Dani Fonseca for Mehron

2:45- 3:30        Forming Long Lasting Skin Preparations-Ofra Gaito for Ofra Cosmetics

4:00- 4:45        Brushes 101-Orlando Santiago for Crown Brush

Seminar C- 2nd Floor          
9:30- 10:15      Kit Focus – James Vincent, Orlando Santiago and Jon Hennessey for The Makeup Show

10:30- 11:15    Blending Italian Style-Stefania Ghidoni for Layla Cosmetics

12:00- 1:30      Red Carpet Revolution- Beau Nelson

2:00- 300         Building a Brand-Eve Pearl

3:15- 4:00        High Definition Bridal Flawless Finish- Buntricia Bastian for Pinnacle Cosmetics

MONDAY, MAY 6TH                   
Seminar A – 1st Floor          
9:45- 10:30      Tracking Trends- Fall 2013 – Kevin James Bennett for Naked Cosmetics

11:00- 11:45    Brow Blocking For Couture Creations – Sheila McKenna for Kett Cosmetics

12:15- 1:00      Studio Trend: Color Saturation-Lori Taylor for Smashbox

1:30- 2:15        Double Duty Beauty – Cory Bishop for Stila Cosmetics

2:45- 3:30        Runway & Red Carpet Trends -Dan Sharp for T3 Micro

4:00- 4:45       Alcone at Home- Alcone Company

Seminar B – 1st Floor          
9:30-10:15       Local 798- How to Get Into the Union? – Valerie Galdstone

10:45-11:30     Bridal Makeup, start with airbrush, finish with classic techniques – Renolyn Monteloyola for Graftobian Make-Up

12:00-12:45     Makeup Application for All Types of Skin Discolorations-Maurice Stein for Cinema Secrets

1:15-2:00         Celebrity Makeup Tricks of the Trade – Sher Salzman for Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry

2:30- 3:15        Vintage Beauty -Nikoletta Skarlatos for Julie Hewett Los Angeles at Nigel’s Beauty Emporium

3:45- 4:30        Makeup for Entrepreneurs – Erik Kaser for GlamCor    
             
Seminar C – 2nd Floor        
9:15-10:00    Bridal Bootcamp- Esterique Aidan for The Makeup Show

10:15-11:00  Advancing Your Makeup Career with Airbrushing – Nicky Posley for Temptu Pro

11:30-12:15   Creating Beauty: Color Impact -Jenn Karsten for Make Up For Ever

1:00-2:00      The Next Big Thing with Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellis

2:45-3:30       Student? Graduate? What’s next? – Danessa Myricks for The Makeup Show

And then these are the Keynote Forums:

Represent: Understanding the Relationship of Artist and Agent -Pati Dubroff & Brooke Wall
Sunday, May 5 2013- 10:30 – 12:00The relationship between an artist and their agent is one of the most important in the industry. In a business where deals are brokered daily and there are more artists working than ever before, it is crucial to sign with an agency that is in the know. In this first time keynote at The Makeup Show, Celebrity Makeup Artist Pati Dubroff and Brooke Wall, Founder and CEO of The Wall Group, give you insider information about the when, why, and how of finding an agent, getting signed, and building the best relationship possible. The Wall Group was founded in 1998 by Brooke and is now a fully integrated agency that focuses on providing its talent with the most effective and well-executed representation.  The Wall Group represents some of the biggest names in the business, including Pati Dubroff. In this session Brooke and Pati will discuss their thoughts on the relationship between artist and agent, and speak from their own experience in the fashion and beauty industries. They will share their insight on the industry today, and offer their expert advice to artists and assistants looking to be signed.

Iconic Artistry-Gina Brooke Sponsored by Make Up For Ever
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 1:00-2:30
Finding your muse, learning to research, and expressing inspiration are just a few essential parts to becoming a successful makeup artist. In this special session, renowned make up artist, Gina Brooke, offers her perspective on the do’s and don’ts of the make up industry as well as useful advice to help elevate any artist’s career to the next level. Gina’s diverse experience in the industry and her passion for creating iconic beauty over passing trend has cemented her as the go to artist for incomparable names in the industry like Madonna, Steven Klein, and David LaChapelle, to name a few. The stories and information that Gina has to share will allow you to see just how successful make up artists can be in so many different areas of the industry and will give you insight and incentive on developing your own makeup style and paving your own path to success.

An Artists Perspective- How to thrive in an always changing Fashion Industry
Brigitte Reiss-Andersen
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 3:30-5:00As one of the industry’s most respected makeup artists, Brigitte Reiss-Andersen works at the highest level in the worlds of fashion and celebrity. With over 200 magazine covers to her credit, Brigitte is known for her refinement, creative expression, range, and virtuosity of technique. Having worked with a who’s who of photographers including Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Patrick Demarchelier, Michael Thompson and Annie Leibovitz, Brigitte’s signature looks are regularly seen in Vogue, Numéro, Allure, Glamour and Marie-Claire. In her first time at The Makeup Show Brigitte will share with us the story of her career, let us in on some of her favorite tips and show us some of the techniques that have made her the makeup artist of choice. With her roster of luminaries and celebrity clients including twenty one Oscar winning actresses, Grammy winners and leading ladies like Michelle Pfeiffer, Tilda Swinton, Hilary Swank and Taylor Swift Brigitte is considered a true makeup master. Known for her experience, eloquence and passion Brigitte will inspire all artists to further develop their own skills and motivate them to find their own path to success in the makeup industry.

Humanizing Glamour: The Art of Transformation with Mathu Andersen - Sponsored by Make Up For Ever
Monday, May 6 2013 10:00-11:30This inspirational session will delve deep into the world of transformative make up. The concept of transforming a face is something that most make up artists have the opportunity to apply on some level, to every area of their work on a daily basis. Correcting an eye shape here, or placing that perfect contour there, to create your client’s ideal look. But not many artists have the opportunity to truly transform a face to the extent that Mathu Andersen has become legendary for doing. Known for his incredible work with celebrities like RuPaul, Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson, and Christina Aguilera, Mathu will to take you on an exciting journey, explaining and demonstrating what transformation in makeup means to him. He will help to push your creative boundaries, inspiring you to look at the human face in new ways and is sure to excite you about the potential and power of makeup.

Impact: Social Media and the Internet in the Beauty Business
Monday, May 6 2013 - 12:00-1:30
Changes driven by the internet have made an enormous impact on how we work in every area of our industry from education to promotion and above. Social media, speed of communication, and access to information have made building a personal business more simple and more complicated than ever before. In this keynote forum hosted by Ty Alexander of Gorgeous in Grey Internet and social media experts that have made their mark on the world of makeup offer an insiders expertise on the internet, insight on the power of online presence and an understanding of how it can help you to better build your artistry business while managing to hold onto integrity. Please join Nils Johnson technology whiz and Creator of Beautylish.com, On Air Beauty Expert and Publisher and Editor In Chief of TheMakeupGirl Lianne Farbes and Publisher and Editor in Chief for ThisThatBeauty and beauty/ style writer, Felicia Walker Benson as they give the real information on the internet and how it can help you to better build your artistry business.

Behind the Scenes – Dick PageMonday, May 6 2013 – 2:00-3:30With a resume that includes a who’s who of photographers such as Michael Thompson, Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for International publications including W, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Dick Page has achieved widespread recognition for his editorial and advertising work. His role as Artistic Director of Shiseido Makeup and his backstage presence as Key Artist for iconic designers runways including Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, and Marc by Marc Jacobs have solidified his place as a makeup master. His influence is felt internationally and he is an inspiration for artists everywhere. In his first time keynote at The Makeup Show, Dick will offer insight into the collaborative process and explain how his designs translate from inspiration to application and then on to become the must wear makeup trends of the season, although he insists that he “doesn’t believe in trends”, so he’ll have something to say about that too!. Dick will also offer invaluable insight and advice for the artist that wants to work in those coveted positions backstage and be behind the scenes at fashion weeks all over the world.

Kit Focus: The Makeup Show Artists: James Vincent, Jon Hennessy and Orlando SantiagoSunday, May 5 2013 – 9:30-10:15
The Makeup Shows Director of Artistry James Vincent presents his most popular seminar with a panel made up of The Makeup Show Artists team, some of the best in the business giving insight and ideas on building the best kit and offering the what, why and how of assembling the ideal makeup kit.  Whether you are a veteran in the industry or just starting out this seminar will save you money, time, and a bad back by exploring how to make the most out of what you have while bringing the least amount of makeup to set.

Red Carpet Revolution – Beau Nelson
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 12:00 – 1:30Award season shows us celebrities at their best and brings us trend for upcoming seasons but a lot of people are playing it safe. Makeup artist Beau Nelson brings you beyond the boring. Giving you insight into his makeup mind that has him pushing beyond the basic pretty makeup of other celebrities and giving his clients including Nicole Richie, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively some of the most talked about makeup looks of the season. In this keynote Beau shares with you his thought behind designing a daring makeup look and shows you how to incorporate these trends into your everyday makeup look.

Building a Brand – Eve PearlSunday, May 5 2013 – 2:00-3:00Makeup Master, Brand Owner, Celebrity Artist, Educator and 5 time Emmy Award winner Eve Pearl has made a name for herself as one of the best in the business. As Creator and Founder of EVE PEARL she has managed to make her eponymous line a must have for makeup artists and enthusiast everywhere. In this exciting presentation Eve will share the story of how she started the EVE PEARL brand from the ground up (out of her apartment, with NO investors) and offer insight into the pros and cons of starting a makeup line. Listen in as Eve details how to develop and choose products that look and feel unique with innovative packaging and reveals some tips to set you apart from the thousands of makeup lines on the market. Eve will also discuss the impact of social media on the makeup business; disclose the best practices in strategic marketing give you some ideas on developing your own brand to help build your name and business. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own makeup brand this presentation is one you should not miss.

The Next Big Thing – Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellisMonday, May 6 2013 – 1:00- 2:00In an industry that is always growing there are more artists competing for jobs than ever before. Understanding the professional aspects of the industry is more important than ever. The Makeup Show LA presents two industry titans, brought together to help you learn to take your career to a new echelon and better understand how your artistry must partner with a mastering of the career building side of the business. Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellis come together to take you through the basics of social media and on-line communication, the importance of business materials, an understanding of on set etiquette and how appropriately crafting and creating the right relationships can take you to the next level. Head to head, mano a mano these two industry heavyweights will answer your questions in the no nonsense manner they are known for. With many years of industry insider experience, Crystal Wright of Crystal Wright Live is known for her straight talking take on making it as a makeup artist. Her book Hair, Makeup and Fashion Styling Career Guide has become a bible for artists working today. As the owner of The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine, Michael is known for his development of education and resources for our artist’s community. Together they will tell you what you need to know to take control and set your career on the right path. They will be answering questions in a debate style format where they deliberate, examine, entertain and answer questions from a live audience and from previously received questions sent via social media.

DICK FREAKING PAGE Y'ALL. Ok, so maybe excited is an understatement. :P

If this interests you, it's not too late to get tickets at the door! You do need to show credentials as a professional in the industry.

Check out the details here: http://www.themakeupshow.com/makeupshow/NY/index.html. Or else take a look at the other Show dates in Chicago and Orlando later this year. (And if you look under the Education tab, you can see the paid workshops offered as well.)

See you guys next week!

The Makeup Show NYC 2013 - Recap and Pictures

May 8, 2013, 9:37 am

≫ Next: Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Blue Lagoon and Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes

≪ Previous: Off to The Makeup Show in New York!

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Aaaaaand we're back.

The Makeup Show was INSANE. And really, really fun. I'm so glad I was able to make it down this year. The seminars were wonderful - Dick Page was the single most inspiring speaker, so much so that I completely forgot to take any pictures or video!!!

The vendor list was incredible as well, with a good balance of big name or high-end brands (Nars, MAC, Ellis Faas), pro artist brands (Graftobian, Cinema Secrets, Mehron, Temptu) and start-ups or those new to the North American market (Layla, MAKE Color). The line-ups were particularly long for OCC, MUFE (which went around the room!) and Inglot, but well worth it for the discounts if you weren't already signed up.

The crowd was interesting. A lot of variety despite it being pro-restricted. You could easily spot the "celebrity" MUAs like Kevin James Bennett, Jon Hennessey and James Vincent, and then the industry workers (I overheard two ladies discussing their work on The Americans) mixing in with the small-scale freelancers and Sephora girls (like me), as well as a lot of students.

I will definitely be going back next year, and if you have a professional interest in makeup, I would highly encourage you to check out the closest show to you next time around. :)

This was the entrance to the show on the first day. It takes place at the Metropolitan Pavillion, which is a lovely and spacious building right near Union Square.

I really enjoyed seeing the random Canadian flag displayed proudly at the Face Atelier booth!

These were some of the vendors on the main floor. I have the say the Nars folks represented their brand most consistently, with their crisp white shirts and pristine makeup. I was really excited to see Ellis Faas there as well, since I had had such mixed experiences with their line and really wanted to give them another chance - and the discount made it easier. :P

Side note - get your shopping done on the first day if you are looking to stock up on certain things. By noon on the second day, a lot of the brands were sold out of the hotter items. (The first thing I snagged was the Nars Pierre Hardy Boys Don't Cry Blush. It was gone by the next morning.)

If you're looking to try things on, don't forget to bring a small mirror. Not all the brands are going to be as ready as the Bite Beauty booth guy was. (PS - Canada represent!)

Then there were the free seminars and demos. This was Keri Blair, one of the top trainers for MAC, teaching Era Reinterpreted, doing a modern take on a 1920s look. She focused on creating a diffused smoky, lamplit eye, perfect but minimal skin, and a vampy rosebud lip. She used a mix of Cyber, Blue Lipmix and Teal Reflects to create the lip, and I wish I had a closer picture to convey its pure awesomeness.

This was James Vincent, a veteran of the industry and the Director of Artistry and Education for The Powder Group and The Makeup Show. He introduced the Keynote speakers (and did the wonderful interview with Dick Page).

This was Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, another 30-year veteran of the industry, who has worked in Fashion, Editorial and as a celebrity makeup artist. Incredible body of work, and she demonstrated her tremendous speed and skill by doing three looks on one model in 15 minutes - 1) clean editorial 2) natural and 3) glamour. If you're inclined to watch, I posted the video I took here. 

There were also some fun body-painting demos throughout, particularly at the Kett, Mehron, Graftobian and MUFE booths.

You may recognize the artist in the picture above as Athena Z, from the second season of Face Off. :)

And, of course, there was the shopping....

I restrained myself to the items that I would normally have a harder time getting, especially at the pro discount price. And, of course, I HAD to get my first Hakuhodo brushes. They are, indeed, made of kittens and love.

So yes. That was my weekend, more or less. (Plus visiting with family and friends.) Imma go pass out now.

Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Blue Lagoon and Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes

May 29, 2013, 3:26 pm

≫ Next: Flower Beauty - Kiss Stick Lip Color and Shine On Lip Gloss

≪ Previous: The Makeup Show NYC 2013 - Recap and Pictures

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I generally adore Dior palettes. It's a rare collection that doesn't tempt me with at least one, and the Birds of Paradise collection was no exception. I stopped by the local Pharmaprix that has a Dior counter THE DAY it was launched, and was told they only had one each left in stock. I quickly swatched them in store and, my eyes filled with glorious blue-green visions of Piscean wonder, snapped them up right quick.

In retrospect, I should have taken more time.

They are not terrible, by any means (certainly nothing like last summer's chalky pastel mess), but they are a bit of a mixed bag.

Based on appearances alone, both Peacock and Blue Lagoon are stunners.

Left to right: Peacock and Blue Lagoon

I mean, aquas and smoky teals and golden-greens? That's my natural plumage, right there.

Dior Peacock 5-Couleurs Palette

Natural light. Clockwise from top left in the palette, with middle shade of the palette swatched last on the right.

Sunlight.

The best Dior shadows have a dense and creamy texture, with medium pigmentation that lends itself well to both soft washes and building up for intensity. Out of all of these, the golden-green from the top left and the middle shade - a pale aqua-cream - are examples of this formula, and the standout performers. Both apply easily and blend well, and last for an average workday without problems, especially over a primer.

The dusky teal shade (bottom left in the palette) seemed to have a touch of duochrome in the pan, but it doesn't quite come out swatched or applied on the eye. It has good pigmentation, though a slightly drier texture than the other two. It does best when patted on with a MAC 239 type brush if you're going for the same degree of intensity, though blended in the crease I found no issues in terms of application or wear.

The middle shade in the swatch line-up (bottom right in the palette) is more problematic. The colour is interesting - a pale golden green with a strong beige undertone, like pea soup with a ton of cream added. Unfortunately, it's one of the poorer shades. Sheerer and more powdery, it doesn't seem to show much when applied. It does better over a cream eyeshadow for a base, but even then, it looks sort of dull, in an unintended way. If it was more opaque, I think the murky but pale shade would be interesting. With more delicate colouring than mine, the effect might be more flattering, however it was still troublesome to work with. I found that application of this one definitely benefitted from a tightly-packed paddle brush like the 239, or a sponge applicator.

The second shade in the line-up (top right in the palette) was not good on any level. A warm cream, it is sheer and powdery, and didn't seem to do much when applied except drop down some of the glitter. Meh.

Dior Blue Lagoon 5-Couleurs Palette

Natural light. Clockwise, from top left in the palette, middle shade swatched at far right.

Sunlight.

The last three shades in the swatch line-up (and the lower two and the middle shade in the palette) are the best out of all, with that classic Dior texture, wear and colour payoff. The pale iridescent green applies whiter than I was expecting, but you can definitely still see that green flash. It is a gorgeous colour, and is stunning as an inner corner highlight. The medium turqouise shade again looks like it has some duochrome in the pan, but it's less obvious when applied, more of a fine golden sheen. The deep-sea blue of the middle shade is equally beautiful. All three apply well, blend without a hitch and look fantastic together. Had this been a trio, it would have been perfect.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the other two shades. The bright blue from the top left is actually quite pigmented, but the powdery nature makes it difficult to transfer to the skin. I found the best result was using a primer, and then a creamy white pencil (something like NYX Milk or Cottage Cheese), and layering it overtop of that. The result then is an opaque, wonderfully 60s pastel shade.

The second shade in the swatch line-up (top right in the palette) is just...a bummer really. It is ridiculously sheer, with next to no adherence to the skin. I'm at a loss to explain this one. Is it meant to be the barest wash of blueish shimmer imaginable? I don't know how anyone in RnD thought this was worthy of being included. At a stretch, it can be layered over a dark, matte cream eyeshadow to add a faintly metallic sheen.

Overall, my impression of these palettes skews more positive than negative. I can't say that I fully regret buying them, since they do have some lovely colours and I'm enraptured by the general feel of this collection as much as anything else. These are not un-dupable shades, and for 60$, the pretty colours may not be enough to overcome the shortcomings. That said, they are far from unworkable.

Eyes: Dior Peacock Palette, Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude,
YSL Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils in Jade Black, Pixi Mascara

Face: Guerlain Parure de Lumiere in Beige Clair, Dior Nude Tan Paradise in Coral Glow,
MUFE HD Concealer

Lips: Clarins Eclat Minute Lip Perfector in Candy Shimmer

Availability: At some Dior counters at The Bay, as well as online. Also at select SDM/Pharmaprix locations, and Nordstrom. Price is 60$ USD and CAD.

Pros: Three good to great shades in each palette, with creamy, dense textures, good pigmentation and easy application. Wear was about 8 hours for these shades over a primer. The colour range of the bottom three shades in the Blue Lagoon palette is particularly beautiful.

Cons: Each palette has one challenging but workable shade (or one that might be better on very pale skin tones) and one shade that is just poor - sheer, dusty, problematic on all levels.

(I purchased these items from the Dior counter at SDM/Pharmaprix.)

Flower Beauty - Kiss Stick Lip Color and Shine On Lip Gloss

May 30, 2013, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Cheapies and Freebies - A Roundup Haul

≪ Previous: Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Blue Lagoon and Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes

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Out of all the things I hauled from Flower Beauty a couple of months ago, I've liked the lip products the most, particularly the lipsticks. I also inadvertently picked out matching pairs in both lipstick and gloss - bright raspberry pinks and warm terracotta corals. It was a little hard to gauge the colour of the lipsticks, since there were no testers, and I just went by the shades shown in the bottom of the cap. (That's one thing I hope they do resolve in the future. On the other hand, I did like that the products were very well sealed and it was evident if an item had been tampered with, which is the major downside of shopping for drugstore items.)

The lipsticks come in two versions: the Kiss Stick High Shine, which has a very creamy, emollient, richly pigmented formula, and the Kiss Stick Velvet, which has a modern matte finish and not as much pigment punch. I purchased the former formula in the shade Ginger Lily (the terracotta coral) and the latter in Flamingo Flower (the hot pink).

The packaging probably inspires strong feelings either way, and for my part, I think it's just lovely. It has a lot of style and panache, and I like the practicality of being able to see the shade on the bottom.

Top: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily Bottom: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower

Top: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower Bottom: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily

Top: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower Bottom: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily

I really liked the formula of both of these, though the High Shine feels a lot more opulent on the lips. The Velvet formula has more silicone-slip, which can feel a bit dry to some people, though I didn't personally have an issue with that. With one pass it deposits a good amount of pigment, but is not completely opaque, whereas the High Shine formula has full coverage immediately. Both last about 6 hours with some light staining left behind, though I found the High Shine faded more evenly.

The Shine On Lip Glosses only come in one variety, and I don't know if this is the case with all of them, but I find they have really nice coverage for a gloss. I purchased Iris I Could Fly (the bright, raspberry pink) and Pretty in Petunia (the warm coral). By the way, can we have a moment to just enjoy the super-cute names?

Top: Shine On Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia Bottom: Shine on Lip Gloss in Iris I Could Fly

Top: Shine on Lip Gloss in Iris I Could Fly Bottom: Shine On Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia

These are smooth-feeling, non-sticky glosses with no discernible scent, and while they are not particularly hydrating, they are very comfortable to wear and last for about 4 hours, though they don't stay as shiny. I really quite like these, especially Iris, which has a lot of colour punch for a gloss.

This is a quick little picture of Iris I Could Fly over a blotted layer of Flamingo Flower:

Face: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Shell and Powder in Light, 

Flower Beauty Glow Baby Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo in Shimmering Goddess

Eyes: Guerlain Mascara Noir G, Flower Beauty On Your Mark Liquid Liner in Black,
Flower Shadow Play Quad in Smoke and Mirrors

Availability: Exclusive to Walmart. Price is 6.98$ USD for both the lipsticks and the lip glosses.

Pros: Great pigmentation overall, especially so for the High Shine lipstick and the Iris shade of the gloss. Good wear length and comfortable feeling, with the High Shine feeling especially creamy and smooth on the lips. Lip glosses are smooth and don't feel tacky. The brand is also cruelty-free and made in the USA, if those are concerns.

Cons: The silicone in the Velvet lipsticks may feel drying, and it does require two passes to achieve the coverage and depth of one pass from the High Shine lipstick.

(These items were purchased by me from a Walmart in the US.)

Cheapies and Freebies - A Roundup Haul

June 1, 2013, 11:43 am

≫ Next: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 - Batik Sun Palette

≪ Previous: Flower Beauty - Kiss Stick Lip Color and Shine On Lip Gloss

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Since I blew most of my seasonal budget on The Makeup Show, I've been trying to stay thrifty with my makeup spending in the last month. I did manage a small haul by taking advantage of GWP offers, Optimum points and some drugstore deals.

This is just a quick pull from my Instagram featuring some of these finds, more in-depth reviews (or at least swatches) forthcoming.

From my local Jean Coutu drugstore, I picked up these Jumbo Glossy Balms from Marcelle. They were discounted 50% off from 12.49$, so 6.25$ each. A little bit less than comparable stick glosses from Cover Girl and Revlon at full price, and I'd been eyeballing that display for weeks.

Also from that same Jean Coutu, I noticed a limited edition nail polish display from Maybelline. Half of the polishes were this polka dot type texture, and the other half were holos. (HOLOS, people. Though  they looked almost like a cross between duo chromes and holos.)

These weren't on sale, but at 3.49$, it was a nice option to temporarily curb my lemming for the Illamasqua speckled polishes. Because I desperately want nails that look like bird eggshells.

And from my local Pharmaprix drugstore, I hauled these goodies - for free, y'all. God bless their Optimum Points program, especially the Beauty Bonus Splurge days. I turned in my points for some lemmings  and impulse try-outs. I saw Caroline from beautymouth.com ardently recommending the Hydraluron Moisture Booster (which is like a super shot of hyaluronic acid to put under moisturizer), so when I spotted it I almost squealed. And I had to try some Shiseido after watching Dick Page's inspiring seminar.  So 90 000 points later, I had me some hooch!

The other day I received an email from Sephora, informing me that as a VIB I could get a free, full-size Bare Minerals duo (The Perfect Storm) with a 35$ purchase. Faster than you can "lunch break" I dashed across the street. I've been wanting to try the Bare Minerals concealer (especially since I'm on a concealer kick with the non-sleep I've been getting), and this gorgeous hot pink (what else??) lipstick also sucked me in.

The duo itself is very nice, with a satin-finish white and a grey-taupe matte, both pigmented like crazy, so it was 30 minutes and 50 bucks well spent. If you can't get to a store, use code VIBREADY to add the duo to your cart.

And also at Sephora, I raided the Charlotte Ronson end cap over the past month to get ALL THE PALETTES, as the whole line is now discounted. (These went from 26$ to 18$, though a few of them were 10-15$. Those the SA actually had to look for in the back, since they weren't even on display any more.)

So all in all, not a bad month for me in terms of getting the most out of my beauty dollar!

What about you guys? Did you come across any great savings or deals? Or conversely, did you haul big?

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Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 - Batik Sun Palette

June 3, 2013, 2:23 pm

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

≪ Previous: Cheapies and Freebies - A Roundup Haul

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With the seasons seemingly being a hit-and-miss affair this year, I'm pulling out every summer-themed makeup item in an attempt to invoke some kind of sympathetic magic. Luckily, there is an array to choose from, so though it may not feel like summer, it will darn well LOOK like summer.

The Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess collection offers up the usual suspects this year, with bronzers and burnished tones galore. And as usual, I gravitated to the golds and teals of the gorgeous limited edition Batik Sun palette.

In many ways this doesn't come across as a particularly unique palette. If you have the Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess palette from a couple of years ago, Bronze Sands from last year, or the Stila Sun palette from waaaayyy back when, you're probably in the ballpark of the kind of look that can be achieved with this. That said, there are some real standout shades here as well.

The pale wheat in the bottom left corner is a fairly common shade - medium pigmentation, soft and blendable. Not unique, but almost mandatory it seems.

The light, pumpkin orange is delightfully unexpected, and would looks absolutely killer with blue eyes. It has great pigmentation, a smooth texture and a satin/shimmer finish.

The gold shade is, again, standard, but boasts an incredibly buttery texture and fabulous pigmentation. It applies like a dream.

The Mediterranean teal shade is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It has a slightly drier texture, albeit not powdery. It takes more patting and layering to build to full intensity, and doesn't blend as smoothly, but for THAT COLOUR, I will make the extra effort.

The purple-tinged taupe (turple? paupe?) in the middle has the same dense, creamy, faultless texture as the gold, with similarly intense payoff. Stunning in the crease and as a liner.

Though this is not one of the gélée-texture palettes that I am so inordinately fond of, it's still a very strong outing from Estée Lauder on the eyeshadow front.

Availability: Still at some counters, and from The Bay online. Also at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Price is 50$ CAD and 48$ USD.

Pros: Textures range from good to excellent, with lovely payoff across the board. The orange and teal shades in particular are more unique. Range for creating a more subtle versus very vibrant eye look.

Cons: The teal shade requires a bit more care in applying and blending. The neutral shades are more easily duped, so depending on your collection this palette may not be cost-effective.

(I purchased this from the EL counter at The Bay.)

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

June 6, 2013, 5:53 pm

≫ Next: L'Oréal Summer 2013 Nail Collection - Colour Riche Nail Colour and Top Coats

≪ Previous: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 - Batik Sun Palette

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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 blowy, 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 sort of stunningly aggressive, and needs to be 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.)

L'Oréal Summer 2013 Nail Collection - Colour Riche Nail Colour and Top Coats

June 10, 2013, 5:31 pm

≫ Next: Charlotte Ronson Eyeshadow Palettes (Sephora Sale)

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

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The evolution of the nail polish industry is a fascinating thing to behold. I remember back when wearing a pastel blue was the height of transgressing the norm. (If you're curious, it was the early 90s, and the polish was by the original Hard Candy.)

In the last couple of year, it seems like nail polish has replaced lipstick as the item women will indulge themselves with during economic downturns, and the industry has exploded with options. It seems to have been fed by the what-the-hell experimental vibe of home frankening and the glitter-happy Etsy nail entrepreneurs in the same way that street style feeds into the fashion industry. I've never seen so many interesting textures and finishes and colour palettes coming not only from salon lines like OPI, but also from mass consumer brands. I love it!

L'Oréal, for example, is offering some really great options this summer, including transformational topcoats, nail lingerie (SERIOUSLY awesome) and a modern version of press-on nails. Some things are already showing up in stores, and I want to share a couple of the items I was sent to try.

For May, L'Oréal is releasing 9 new shades in deep tones that might seem counter-intuitive for summer - yet these are classics that are wearable year-round, and appropriate for all occasions. There are also several top coats available in smaller 8ml bottles, with a variety of glitter and special effect textures.

This is Greyt Expectations, a refined putty-mauve that leans more gray or more mauve depending on the light. It has a cream finish, and perfect application. There's no streaking, and it's opaque in two coats.

Greyt Expectations, two coats.

I added one layer of the Confetti Top Coat over the Greyt Expectations.

Confetti is a clear lacquer with mixture of small black and white hexagonal glitter, smaller round black and white glitter, and then the teeniest flecks of iridescent blue that are barely perceptible, but adds a touch of something whimsical. Two coats will give a more obviously effect, but I like the subtlety of one coat. It's almost like a spray of freckles over the nose - it's fresh and pretty, not overdone.

Confetti Top Coat over Greyt Expectations, one coat.

I also got to try Breaking Curfew, which is a near-black cream. It does have an undertone of burgundy, but it's almost impossible to tell indoors. It looks black, just a little warmer and softer somehow. It's not an original colour, but it is a great classic to have, especially as a base layer for the top coats. Application was pretty smooth, with none of the bleeding around the cuticles that some vampy shades are prone to. It definitely needs a second coat, and I personally prefer a third to make it really intense, but it is opaque at two.

Breaking Curfew, three coats.

The Gold Carat Top Coat is a fine but dense gold glitter in a clear base. You could conceivably layer it up to wear alone, but with one or two layers it gives a neat "gilded stone" effect. It was really easy to apply successive layers, without the brush dragging off the previous layers.

Gold Carat over Breaking Curfew, two coats.

I have to say, as a loyalist to the OPI Pro-wide brush, that I loooooove the brush on these. It's slimmer that the OPI, with a rounded tip that makes it really easy to follow the shape of the nail bed without getting the polish all over the cuticle. I didn't do any cleaning-up for these photos, and trust me, I am not neat about application.

I'm really glad I got a chance to try these - I was really impressed by the formula and the application. The top coats are a great way of expanding the current line, and I'm REALLY looking forward to trying more of them. There are a couple featured in the press release that look awesome. (The Shift Me and The Holographic, if you're keeping an eye out!)

I'll be reviewing one of the press-on nails and some of the nail lingerie shortly! So what about you guys - have you had a chance to check out any of the current offerings from the drugstore?

Availability: Due out in drugstores like SDM/Pharmaprix and Jean Coutu in May. I've seen the new nail polish shades on display already, as well as a few different top coats. More top coats are due out in July. Price is around 7$ CAD for the polishes, a little less for the top coats in the 8ml size.

Pros: Very easy to apply, great brush shape, especially if you have small to medium nail beds and normally find it difficult to apply "clean". Formula was close to perfect on these. The top coats are fun and dynamic and layer well. Confetti has a sparser concentration of glitter compared with Gold Carat.

Cons: The colour palette is for the nail colours is likely to be dupable if you already have a fair-sized collection. The size of the top coat bottles may be too small if you are an avid user of glitter and effect top coats.

Note: final coat of China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat applied to all swatches.

(These items were sent to me by the brand/PR to consider for review. This post is not compensated or sponsored.)

Charlotte Ronson Eyeshadow Palettes (Sephora Sale)

June 27, 2013, 6:03 pm

≫ Next: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder (Review and Swatches)

≪ Previous: L'Oréal Summer 2013 Nail Collection - Colour Riche Nail Colour and Top Coats

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Since I mentioned these in my Cheapies and Freebies post, I wanted to put up some quick pictures and swatches, in case any of you want to take advantage of their discounted pricing on Sephora. (They range between 10$ to 18$. A couple of them are no longer available, but I'm including all of them for reference.)

These are the palettes in their external packaging - I only wish the same design was printed on the actual case.

Top row: Henrietta, Angela, Dani Bottom row: Nicole, Drea, Lake

Henrietta

Henrietta is one of the better palettes, with only the peach shade to the left being a bit on the thin and sheer side. The other three shades have great texture and solid pigmentation, though all the shades are dupable.

Angela

Angela is ok - the warm, dirty grey and the heather shade have great texture and payoff, while the plum is thinner and drier, and the glittery violet black is patchy and blends poorly. (The glitter doesn't adhere well either.)

Dani

This one made me sad, because the shades were so pretty. The pink and the mauve on the left are really sheer, dry and patchy however, and blend away to nothing. The lilac shade is lovely however, with medium pigmentation and more shimmer than is evident in the swatch. The dirty plum on the right is also more sheer, but it actually blends out well on the skin - it's not going to be an intense shade, but it's a good shader/crease color, and in combination with the lilac it looks quite pretty.

Nicole

Nicole is probably the best out of the bunch, in terms of both pigmentation and texture. The shades are all dense, fairly creamy and have terrific payoff. The brown is perhaps a touch drier, but not in a way that has an impact on application.

Drea

Drea has a few drawbacks (the pale peach and especially the black would benefit from more pigment punch) but I am quite fond of the colour combination here. Maybe it's just my affection for the actress that inspired the palette? Either way, this makes for a nice smoky eye look, with the matte peach-tan shade working as a good gradation tone between the silver/black and natural skin (assuming your colouring is similar to mine).

Lake

Lake is a mixed bag. The melon shade is fairly sheer and can blend out to nothing. The silvery pink and the taupe are excellent, and the periwinkle blue is gorgeous - if you apply over a creamy primer and blend carefully, as it is pigmented but powdery, and will blow out too easily.

Overall I found that these palettes differed wildly in quality, which is unfortunate for such a small line. I suspect that if a customer purchased one of the more problematic palettes, they would be disinclined to investigate the brand further. Which is a shame, because the good shades are indeed very good, and I like many of the colour combinations. This is a co-branded line that Sephora did in conjunction with Charlotte Ronson, and it feels more like a vanity project than a serious attempt at creating a legitimate brand. Especially when compared with a brand like Kat Von D, which gets it really right most of the time.

So what about you guys - have you tried anything from this line? Or are you thinking of picking something up now that it is in the Sale section at Sephora?

(I purchased these items.)

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder (Review and Swatches)

July 23, 2013, 5:03 pm

≫ Next: L'Oréal Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner (Review and Swatches)

≪ Previous: Charlotte Ronson Eyeshadow Palettes (Sephora Sale)

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You guys know I'm a sucker for package deals right? Like a comedienne once said, it's a particular twist of the female brain that gets us to buy the thing we don't want in order to get the thing we don't need.

In this case, though, I really wanted to try the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, especially since I love the Revlon Colorstay and I has seen some reviews comparing this one to the YSL Teint Eclat (which I am lemming like cupcakes). When I saw the powder packaged with it in a BOGO deal at my local Jean Coutu, I snatched it right up.

Nearly Naked Foundation in 130 Shell. Nearly Naked Powder in Light.

Nearly Naked Powder in Light

There was a limited selection and I feared that the shade would be a touch too pink or peach for me, but it was in fact a little yellow-toned. Not enough to make a difference once it was blended, but these seem to run more yellow compared to the beige undertones of the Colorstay formulation.

The packaging is clean, fresh and precise, and again a marked counterpoint to the all-black packaging typical of the rest of the Revlon line. Two minor nitpicks - the foundation is screw-cap on a glass bottle, which I don't love for both hygiene and practical reasons, and the powder compact lacks a mirror, yet it made larger due to a largely extraneous puff.

Nearly Naked Foundation in 130 Shell, drop swatch above and blended in below.

The foundation is quite liquid, and applies lightly and easily. I opted to forgo the beauty blender, which soaked up too much of the lightweight texture, and experimented with using both fingers and buffer brush - both worked well, though I feel like I got the best level of coverage and the most natural look with my hands. I would consider this light coverage, not overly buildable. Maybe to a medium.

It gives natural satin finish and while it doesn't have the powerhouse wear of Colorstay (though few things do!), it will make it 8 hours with only minor breakdown around the nose if you have my typical combination skin. I've only tried the Teint Éclat in the store so I can't compare them in-depth, but Teint Éclat felt and look dewier and "cushier".

If you have slightly oily or slightly dry skin, and prefer a light, softly glowy-finish foundation, this is a very nice option at a decent price.

Nearly Naked Powder in Light, swatched.

I was a little less fond of the powder. The texture is incredibly smooth, finely-milled and silky - it feels like it should blend into the skin seamlessly. Instead it looks noticeably powdery when first applied, and for a while afterwards, even though it has a very faint sheen. As the powderiness fades as the natural oils come through, the powder melds better with the underlying foundation and complements it. I think dry skin might not like the initial powderiness, while oilier skin might have a problem with how little it actually ends up mattifying. However, if you just want something to set your makeup and prefer a natural glow to come through (and can deal with some initial texture issues) then this is fine.

To give you an idea of the coverage and finish, here is a comparison. I am only wearing the Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder as far as skin makeup is concerned.

Also wearing: Flower Beauty Smoke and Mirrors Quad on the eyes.

Availability: Most drugstores, including Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix/SDM. Prices vary, though I generally see the foundation for 15-18$ CAD. It is 9.99$ USD at Ulta.

Pros: Lightweight, natural/luminous finish foundation that generally wears well throughout the day. After some settling, the powder is a good complement to the finish of the foundation, and has a lovely texture to the touch. Decent range of colours for light to medium skin, especially if you run to the warmer, more yellow undertones.

Cons: Foundation is not particularly buildable, and packaging is not optimal for hygiene or function. Powder is...well, powdery, and obvious on the skin, though it does settle after a while.

(I purchased both of these items as a BOGO deal from Jean Coutu.)

L'Oréal Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner (Review and Swatches)

July 24, 2013, 5:02 pm

≫ Next: Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Nude Tan Paradise Coral Glow Blush and Bronzer Duo

≪ Previous: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder (Review and Swatches)

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My mom always laughed when I told her long it took me to do a winged eyeliner that I was happy with. Back in her day, apparently, they did it in 2 seconds flat. One perfect, free-handed woosh for that exquisitely done 60s cat eye.

Well her gloating days are over! Ahaha! With the Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner from l'Oréal, I have joined her esteemed ranks.

This is a nice, saturated, boot-polish black that doesn't require multiple passes to achieve opacity. It's not glossy or matte, looking like a cross between traditional liquid and gel liner. The tip is not the narrowest I've seen, but the 0.4 mm width gives a great level of control for fine-tuning the flick, and the full saturation along the entire length of the felt means that it's easy to thicken up the line.

The slightly curved and textured portion of the pen rests comfortably and solidly between your fingers, so it makes the lining process that much smoother.

Doing a wing with this guy is a snap. All I need to do is figure out where I wanted my end point, align the pen with the angle of my lower lashine at the outer corner of my eye, and then press down and sweep the pen lightly inwards. The fine point and saturated felt-tip do all the heavy lifting. Then it's just a matter of lining the rest of the eye and filling in the shape.

The picture below is from when I was testing it out the first time, and just wanted to do a quick line to see how it applied. (Hence the otherwise bare face and OMGHEATWAVE pigtails.)

In terms of wear, it did have a couple of issues. Overall, it wore on my right eye for close to 10 hours with no problems, showing a bit of breakdown at the bend of the flick after that. That's still pretty awesome, however, as my crease shape causes most gel or liquid liners to wear down in that spot.

On my left eye, I noticed smudging on the corners from where my eye watered from a stray lash, and some smudging of the flick where I rubbed it. So all things being equal it is long-wearing, but not water-resistant or smudge-proof. That's something to bear in mind if you have watery or oily eyelids, or wear contacts. I would personally love a waterproof version of this, because the application really is excellent.

Availability: At most drugstores, including Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix/SDM. Prices vary, but 10.99$ CAD is about average. It's 8.99$ USD at Ulta.

Pros: Incredibly easy to use, comfortable grip. Saturated black, with a finish balanced between glossy and matte. Fine tip makes it easy to get a precise point, but the felt-tip makes filling in a thinker line just as simple. Lasts most of the day without breaking down or fading.

Cons: Not as infallible as you might like, as it can smudge with moisture or pressure.

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

Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Nude Tan Paradise Coral Glow Blush and Bronzer Duo

July 25, 2013, 6:46 pm

≫ Next: My Makeup Room

≪ Previous: L'Oréal Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner (Review and Swatches)

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Wooosh. Posting this one under the wire, as the Dior Fall collection is almost upon us. The Dior Nude Tan Paradise Coral Glow is so pretty it deserves some ogling, no matter how belated.

I mean...LOOK AT THIS GORGEOUSNESS.

If you're a sucker for detail like I am, then you'll appreciate all the little touches that make this compact outstanding. Everything from the canage pattern on the exterior of the palette that is repeated in the raised pattern of the lettering, to the little (and perfectly usable!) brush that tags along. 

This is a beautiful blush/bronzer duo, and no less so on the skin than it is in the pan. One side is a light, golden-toned bronzer that looks supremely natural on light-to-medium skin like mine. It's not deep enough to work well as a contour, but with something as golden and luminous as this, you'd be doing it (and yourself) a disservice to use it as anything other than bronzer. It's meant to give your skin that lovely burnished glow. The effect is subtle and beautiful - very difficult to overdo.

Because of the very warm undertone, however, I would be wary of using on truly ivory skin, as it will tend to look sallow.

The blush, on the other hand, is easier to overdo. When I was testing this out in the store, the SA applied it and immediately reached for another brush to blend it out. We were NOT expecting the HI I'M CORAL WANT TO BE MY FRIEND levels of pigment. It was...intense. Applied with a soft brush, however, this is a very wearable, vibrant coral pink that is stunning on both lighter and tanned skin. In fact, it looks best when you apply the bronzer across the cheeks, and then add a pop of the coral right at the high point of the cheekbone and blend back. It gives the effect of having spent the day at the beach, without the actual sunburn.

Both sides have a wee bit of shimmer, which reads more like "sheen of good health" than "blinded by the light". The texture - like many Dior powders in my experience - is soft, silky, finely-milled and a dream to blend. The wear time is about average - some fading around hour 6, but not to a degree that needs touching up. (Though you'll take the excuse to whip out the beautiful compact anyway.)

Both shades blended together give a warmer, more apricot-leaning shade that is just made for warm-toned redheads.

Bronzer and blush sides separately, swatched more heavily.

Both sides blended and applied with a brush.

Availability: Still available on The Bay website, and possibly some Bay and Sephora locations. Price is 56$ CAD and USD.

Pros: Stunning packaging and luxurious detail. Brush is small, travel-friendly and usuable. Shades are perfect for light to medium complexions, though the bronzer is best on warmer undertones. Texture is fine-milled and very blendable. Great pigmentation.

Cons: Wear time is average, and there is shimmer, if that's a concern. But I'm nitpicking.

(I purchased this item from Pharmaprix/SDM.)

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My Makeup Room

July 26, 2013, 11:16 am

≫ Next: L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and Day/Night Cream

≪ Previous: Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Nude Tan Paradise Coral Glow Blush and Bronzer Duo

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It's taken nearly two years since the initial planning stages, but my ultimate dream boudoir is now complete. YOU GUYS. I am so happy I could fall over! I literally spent half an hour last weekend just sitting on the couch, absorbing how much I love it. :D

Kudos, as always, go to my man. He built the room from scratch, painted it, assembled all the furniture, hung all the fixtures, made the jewelry board and the nail polish racks, and generally bore all my insane demands with tremendous patience and good humour. He is literally the best guy out there. *smooshes*

I'll do some breakdown posts of the actual makeup storage/organization in the coming months, as part of my collection series. (There is also a video linked at the end of this post that goes into more detail.) For now, this is a general overview of how the room itself is set up.

Coming into the room from the office next door...

The door between the rooms is a sliding French door, so when it's closed it still lets a nice amount of light in. The frames above the couch contain some prints from one of my favourite artists, Alphonse Mucha. I really wanted to have a little nook in here, a place to escape the world and rest in a little bubble of pretty.

Immediately to the left of the couch...

This is a little book nook - not my entire book collection, just those on the topics of religions, spirituality and mythology, as well as some fun, trashy mass markets. My lovely vintage sewing machine has a place of honour below the jewelry board (which is a repurposed cover to the electrical panel). The knobs are all from Anthropologie.

And then on the right of the couch...

This is where the makeup area begins. Most of the storage furniture in this room comes from the Besta and Alex collections from Ikea, as they are the least expensive and most customizable systems I've found for storing and organizing a collection like this.

The lamp on the drawer unit by the sofa is a custom-built item that my mother got for me for my birthday a couple of years ago. She knew we were building this room, and wanted to get me something unique, that would fit the theme. The design is a stylized peacock done in a Tiffany-style lampshade, and it is just the most beautiful thing I own. She surprised me completely, and I literally burst into tears when I opened the box. LOVE IT.

And then the rest of the makeup storage...

Drawers full of makeup! Like binders! I'll do posts later on about how I organize those. There would be too many pictures in one post, otherwise.

Also another bookcase, this one for my makeup, fashion and perfumery books. Both sides have these custom nail polish racks attached.

And if you're interested, this is the video:

And so yes. Much happiness. :D

L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and Day/Night Cream

August 2, 2013, 6:54 pm

≫ Next: The week in samples - UD foundation, Guerlain and Dermalogica skin stuff, Biotherm BB cream, Bare Minerals (pressed!) foundation

≪ Previous: My Makeup Room

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When I was putting together my Current Skincare video a few months back, I realized that while my routine serves me well enough, it's not exactly mind-blowing. Due to my past skin issues, I've erred on the side of the safety by not straying far from my known and trusted products. While this has resulted in relatively good skin, I can't help feeling like I'm missing out on fabulous skin due to my less than experimental approach to skincare.

I've recently invested in a few different items in order to beef up my routine and, in an awesome bit of synchronicity, a couple of my favourite brands have treated me to some items from their recent/upcoming collections. The universe, clearly, agrees that I need to step up my skincare game. :P

One of the first things I had a chance to try out is this duo from L'Oréal: the Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and the Youth Code Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream.

These products are part of the Youth Code range, which aims to address textural issues: pores, fine lines, unevenness. 

The Serum Concentrate contains LR2412, which is supposed to aid the skin in its self-renewal process, and Perline-P, which is supposed to help the pores remain clear of accumulated cells and tighten the skin's elasticity.

It contains: Aqua/Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Tetrahydrojasmonate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dimethicone, BIS-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Dipropylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyl Tauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract/Lentil Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum/Fragrance. F.I.L #B55667/1. 

The Day/Night Cream is similarly supposed to boost skin's natural regeneration, refine the look the fine lines and pores, and generally improve overall skin quality.

It contains: Aqua/Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Talc, PTFE, Polyethylene, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract/Lentil Seed Extract, Dextrin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 16035/Red, CI 17200/Red 33, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol, Parfum/Fragrance. F.I.L #B159063/1.

I have to say that on a superficial level, I just love the packaging! I am a pink girl through and through, so the fuchsia containers delighted me. It's fun, youthful and feminine, which makes sense considering the demographic this line is aimed at - ladies in their 20s and early thirties who are taking skincare more seriously and looking to address those first signs of aging.

As cute as the packaging is, it's what's inside these jars that really counts.

Top: Youth Code Texture Perfector Cream Bottom: Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum

The serum has some wonderful and beneficial ingredients. Eperua Falcata Bark Extract and Adenosine are anti-inflammatory, so can potentially help with redness and irritation. Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerine are excellent humectants, and will plump up the skin (and fine lines!) with their moisture-retention. The Lentil Seed Extract is what helps refine the texture of pores, reducing their dilated appearance. The silicones present will also smooth the appearance of texture in the skin. All kinds of good stuff! The downside, ingredient-wise, is the prominent listing of alcohol, which can be drying and irritating. It always baffles me when I see it in serums and moisturizers, especially when they are otherwise full of awesomeness. 

Overall, though, I like the feel of this serum and what it does for my skin. It's very light and fresh, and immediately makes my skin look smoother. I find that the skin around my nose and over my cheeks (always the most textured on me) appears finer. It functions like good primer, but stepped up a notch. Because of the alcohol I wouldn't use this regularly, but the visual effect it creates is lovely, and so this is something I would incorporate into my "special evening out" routine. (It's actually incredibly similar to the Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector, so if you've been eyeing that but preferred not to indulge, then this might be a more budget-friendly option.)

The cream has many of the same beneficial ingredients as the serum, with more emollients for hydration and salicylic acid for some exfoliation. It's hard to tell how much exfoliation without a percentage or PH level, but I suspect it's one of the ingredients that helps to reduce the look of dilated pores. What's interesting about this cream is that it also contains a fair bit of silica and talc, which creates a slightly mattifying effect while the other ingredients are doing their hydrating and refining. I didn't find the matte finish to be long-lasting, so if you have serious oiliness you will still need whatever product you use for that. It's a good finish for skin types that need a moisturizer but find most to look too greasy on them.

Both of these have a light fragrance. It's pretty and I enjoy it, but just be aware if you're sensitive to such things.

Availability: Currently out in most drugstores, including Pharmaprix/Shoppers Drug Mart. Price for each item is 29.99$ CAD, 24.99$ USD.

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

The week in samples - UD foundation, Guerlain and Dermalogica skin stuff, Biotherm BB cream, Bare Minerals (pressed!) foundation

August 4, 2013, 12:41 pm

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

≪ Previous: L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and Day/Night Cream

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I've wanted to do one of these posts for a while now, but while I hoard samples like a manic squirrel, I can never seem to use them up. This last week was a perfect opportunity, however, as I had to fly out to Toronto for work. Since I prefer not to check my luggage, I stuffed that little plastic baggie from airline security full of little tubes and packets.

My skin tends to act up when I travel, so I grabbed these two acne-fighting packets from Dermalogica.

Dermalogica Clear Start Wash Off - This has nice mix of pimple-busting ingredients, including Tea Tree oil and salicylic acid, plus a variety of extracts. For a foaming wash aimed at acne-prone skin I found it surprisingly non-drying. It was refreshing, left my skin feeling smooth and soft, not tight. It has an herbal scent, which is pleasant. I'm not sure if it did anything extraordinary though, since the various extracts and other beneficial ingredients didn't stay on my skin for very long. At the very least it did nothing catastrophic. Won't be purchasing a full size.

Dermalogica Clear Start Hit The Spot - This one is chock-full of stuff. Extracts galore, plus zinc sulfate, sulfur and that Tea Tree again. The smell is FAR more pungent - the sulfur adds a certain egg-y odor that does NOT dissipate as the day wears on. It's unfortunate because this is actually an incredibly effective spot treatment. It reduces redness and swelling, somehow getting the spots to simmer down to less volcanic levels immediately, and renders them irrelevant within a couple of days.

Really awesome, and I will definitely be purchasing a full size - to use at night, when only my beloved can be tortured by my egg-salad-smelling face.

I also wanted to bring a cleanser option from Fresh that I knew would be gentle, in case the one above turned out to be too harsh. Since I wouldn't be packing by regular Hydraluron tube and Cerave lotion, I figured a serum/lotion from Guerlain would be fine.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - This was ok. I can't say anything more dramatic than that. It cleaned my skin, it was gentle, it smelled vaguely like cucumbers. It's good, not mind-blowing, and the full size is pricy. I'm sure I could find something comparable from the drugstore.

Guerlain Super Aqua-Serum Intense Hydration Wrinkle Plumper - Even though this is a serum, it has a milky-lotion texture and provides more hydration that a serum typically does. It also has hyaluronic acid, which is my jam these days. It did a fine job of moisturizing and keeping the fine lines around my eyes under control. Plump, even. :P

It also smells AMAZING. I know - fragrance in skincare isn't a selling point, but I'm not generally reactive to scent and this has that classic rose/violet/awesome smell that most Guerlain products do. But....I'm not ready to spend upwards of 100$ on one skincare item. Not yet anyway. I will treasure you always, Sample Guerlain Tube, but we are not meant to be.

I didn't want to pack a foundation bottle, so I tried to make do with a BB cream from Biotherm and the new pressed foundation from Bare Minerals.

Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream - This is really nice, though definitely heavier on the moisturizer than the coverage. I rubbed it in all over, and sort of tapped more on areas that were more red (thankfully my cheek area, which is the driest portion of my face). The coverage is about what I would expect for a tinted moisturizer, and the overall effect is natural, healthy and luminous. With a touch of concealer and powder, it would work beautifully for low-maintenance days. And it smells awesome too! Super fresh and yummy. I want a body cream that smells like that.

Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation - Urgh. I wanted to like this. I love pretty much everything I've tried from their Ready line, but this was just powdery and weird, and sat on top of the skin in a cake-y mess. I don't know if maybe I just got a bum sample, but I'm definitely not enticed into trying a full-sized version.

Motivated by this successful sampling program, I tested another foundation when I got home.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup - (Why with the endlessly long product names??) I mixed two shades because the 3.5 is a touch too pink and the 2.0 is a bit too light. The result still skewed a little too rosy on me, but wearable. I remember trying this foundation when it first came out, and being unimpressed. The coverage seemed poor and it got all caught up in the dry parts of my face. I was using a brush to apply it then, and I think that was part of the problem.

This time I used my hands, but not in a rubbing motion. For lack of a better term, I pretty much "slapped" this foundation on. Smeared a bit between my fingers and slapped it around my face, dabbing more precisely around my nose and over areas that needed extra coverage. I got medium coverage out of it that way, and it looked incredibly natural, neutralized the appearance of pores, and felt incredibly lightweight. The finish is satin, veering towards dewy on the nose about middway through the day, so I need some powder to set it and/or maybe a primer - but the finish is so nice, I'm considering a bottle purchase.

So I think that was a successful sample spree, no? Now I'm itching to make my way through more of my stash!

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

August 5, 2013, 7:57 am

≫ Next: L'Oréal "Les Pinks" Collection New Colour Riche Lipsticks - #135 Ballerina Shoes and #254 Everbloom

≪ Previous: The week in samples - UD foundation, Guerlain and Dermalogica skin stuff, Biotherm BB cream, Bare Minerals (pressed!) foundation

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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.

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, 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.)

L'Oréal "Les Pinks" Collection New Colour Riche Lipsticks - #135 Ballerina Shoes and #254 Everbloom

August 6, 2013, 5:30 am

≫ Next: Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Light Diffusing Foundation (Cream) - #02 Beige Clair

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

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Pink is in. Not that it was ever out, really, but the folks over at L'Oréal were especially in tune with the softly structured femininity evident on the Valentino runway when they created the "Les Pinks" collection for Fall.

These are 8 new shades of the Colour Riche Lipstick and 3 new shades of Le Gloss, ranging from the palest pink to the hottest fuchsia. I had the chance to try two of these: Ballerina Shoes and Everbloom.

Top: Ballerina Shoes Bottom: Everbloom

The Colour Riche Lipsticks are a drugstore classic, and for good reason. The brushed gold packaging, the great range of shades, the creamy texture and good pigmentation are like the lipstick equivalent of That Dress. The one that always looks good on you, no matter how many times you've worn it, that always looks well-put-together and elegant, even though it only cost a fraction of the price tag it conveys.

The only thing I can ever find to complain about is the scent - it's a little old-school, and could stand a revamp.

In terms of colour....

Top: Everbloom Bottom: Ballerina Shoes

Everbloom is a rich, warm pink that sits somewhere between watermelon and coral. It's a bit of an odd colour to plunk down in a Fall collection, but it's so pretty I can't complain.

In the tube, Ballerina Shoes looks like it might be something from a 60s beach party. It's not a universal shade, but it is far more wearable and flattering than a first swatch might indicate. It is a baby pink frost, but unlike many such shades, it doesn't leave the lips looking dried out and flaky. A finish like this can sometimes look like it's just sitting on top of the lip if it's applied straight from the tube, so I pat it on with my finger and find the result looks sweet and super chic. It can also be dabbed overtop a deeper pink to add some dimension.

Everbloom

Ballerina Shoes

Availability: These are a permanent addition to the line, currently out in most drugstores. Price is 10.99$ CAD, and 7.99$ USD.

Pros: Elegant packaging, creamy texture, good pigmentation. Everbloom feels hydrating. Everbloom is a great late summer colour and an unexpected one for fall. Ballerina Shoes is a nice modern interpretation of a paler pink lip. Both are very on-trend.

Cons: The scent is quite strong and particular - I don't like it, though YMMV on this one. It does dissipate after a while.

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