The Beauty Look Book

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner

2010-07-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'm normally a gel-liner type of girl because I find it easier to get an even line along my upper lashes with a fine-tipped brush (Bobbi Brown's Gel Liner brush is my favorite). However I also love the twist-up pencils that don't require any sharpening. Chanel has one called Stylo Yeux Waterproof ($28) in a variety of shades. These replaced a formula called Aqua Crayon (can't remember the exact year these were discontinued). I believe all the shades from the previous formula were discontinued except for the black and brown. The Chanel eyeliners (twist-up style) I own include:

Black Shimmer - dark cool grey (not really black)
Cassis - plum black-brown
Vert Bronze - complex, hard to describe, it has olive, bronze, gold tones
Marine - shimmering navy
Ébène - matte black
Tweed (Aqua Crayon formula) - warm golden taupe

The color strip on the end of the packaging gives you an accurate idea of what you will get on your eyes.

Swatched on bare skin in 3 different light settings. What I love about these is that they really stay put. I only line along the upper lash line though. I can't do waterline or underneath the eyes. I am like Rachel Green from Friends: extremely challenged when trying to put anything near the eyeball (eye drops included). So I can't say how well it lasts when applied those ways.

Note that Marine goes on the eyes a bit more subtle than when swatched on the arm. At least on me. If you want a brighter blue, check out Bobbi Brown's Denim Ink (new from her Denim & Rose collection).

No flash, natural light:

I normally am able to simply line and go. Occasionally I will take a small smudge brush (Laura Mercier's is my favorite) and smoke it out a bit and re-apply. They normally don't require blending/smoothing but those who don't have a super steady hand will find a brush will do the trick.

Although I don't own all the shades, I have tried every single color. The bright teal green color included. One of the national artists applied it on me and it was so gorgeous. But knowing myself all too well, knew I would never be brave enough to use it on my own.

I'm waiting for a pretty brown shimmer color to be released or a black gold. Their Black Shimmer isn't really black at all, it's really more grey.

I cannot swatch compare these to other brands as it is extremely time consuming and tedious. I have already done an extensive smokey eye series that I highly recommend you check out if you want more eyeliner options other than your basic black or brown. There is a black/grey post that will show you how many different variations of black eyeliners there are. Click on the Smokey label on the side bar for those posts. I do ask that you please do not republish those photos even though they haven't been watermarked. It can be extremely frustrating to put time and effort into something that gets stolen and put on other blogs and websites. All my work is copyrighted.

*Update* if you like these colors but want a gel formula instead I recommend checking out these options:

Black Shimmer - Bobbi Brown Granite or Graphite Shimmer Inks
Cassis - Bobbi Brown Black Plum
Vert Bronze - no dupe!
Marine - Bobbi Brown Denim Ink
Ébène - Bobbi Brown Caviar Ink
Tweed no dupe!

Loving Right Now

2010-07-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

A lot of repeats this month from recent features. Right now I'm loving ...

NARS Eyeshadow Duos - here are a few of my favorites that haven't been depotted yet (which I don't recommend, but did for the compacts that got too sticky, now stored in my Trish McEvoy planner pages)

Top: India Song, Cordura, Brumes
Middle: Rajasthan, Alhambra, Brousse
Bottom: Silk Road, Tzarine, Bohemian Gold

NARS Nourishing Eye Cream (previously reviewed here)

Urban Decay Naked Palette (previously featured here)

Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation and Natural Finish Loose Powder - No matter how many other foundations I try, I keep coming back to the Teint Innocence. Just recently tried their loose setting powder and love it as well. I use Shell in the foundation and Naturel in the powder.

Chanel Rouge Coco in Chintz & Rose Dentelle - A little bit more delicate than most of my other Chanel lipsticks. These came a bit dinged on the sides but everything else was in tact. They are really close in color, Chintz is more peach, while Rose Dentelle is more pink.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliners - Rich pigment and longlasting plus no sharpening required! Wish they would re-release that old shade Tweed (a lovely golden taupe).

Black Shimmer & Ebene swatched here
Cassis swatched here
Marine swatched here and here

Edward Bess All Over Seduction Cream Highlighters - Perfectly glowy (previously reviewed and swatched here)

Paul & Joe Lip Lacquers - Great pigment and shine. I had to get almost all of the colors. I'll get to lip swatches eventually.

Burberry Lipglosses are great . . . but I'm loving everything I purchased (click on the Burberry tag)

Quilted accessories, purses, makeup planners - dreaming of a quilted flap bag

Out of all the Trish planners I have, the quilted ones are my favorite.

Last but not least, my kitty, small but mighty fierce. This is the only photo I could get of him that makes him look non-evil. (I love my puppies too but they won't sit still for a picture - way too excited about my brother in-law visiting this week after having been gone to the east coast for several months)

What are you loving this month?

Closet Full of Nothing

2010-07-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel like I have a closet full of nothing, except for pretty purses and shoes. I need a wardrobe makeover - in my closet are too many jeans, mini skirts, black and grey tops. Yet I've searched through my usual go-to's BR, Jcrew and Anthro and nothing has really caught my eye lately. Have you found any good clothing finds? If so, please share where! Hopefully at a retail store that is in Southern California. Outfit + look from this past weekend.

Top: The Limited
Tank: Banana Republic (underneath)
Skirt: Jcrew
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Purse: Marc Jacobs Little Stam

For makeup I've been sticking to lazy neutrals, as usual.

Face:
Le Metier de Beaute Crème Fresh Tint in Tenné
NARS Powder Blush in Douceur
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in By Candlelight

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow in Shore
Burberry Eyeshadows in Gold Trench & Almond
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Bronze

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco in Perle

Nails of the Day: Dolce & Gabbana Nude and Chanel Golden Sand

2010-07-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

Nails of the day are Dolce & Gabbana Nude Nail Polish ($20) on fingers and Chanel Golden Sand Nail Polish ($23) on the toes. Nice neutrals for summer for a subtle polished look without drawing too much attention. Sandals photographed are from J.Crew (currently on sale).

D&G Nude is a nice neutral nude with slight peach tones. Probably easily dupeable in other lines - however I have a hard time finding a good nude for my skin. Most "nudes" turn pink or very greyish on my skin. I've previously featured and swatched it here. Chanel Golden Sand is a metallic warm gold. I believe it's been discontinued and I don't own any dupes but the color seems similar to various OPI and China Glaze shades I've seen swatched on other blogs.

Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush Peony

2010-07-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

When I saw the Burberry Beauty line at Nordstrom I was most surprised by the blushes, mainly because they were nothing like what I expected. Based on the online photos, I was expecting softer more nude and brown based colors. The actual product is very different - darker than I had anticipated, but the colors are still very pretty. The blushes are called Light Glow - Natural Blush $42, I find appropriately named, because they really give a glow. All the colors I looked at had a slight shimmer to medium shimmer. I tried on Cameo a lovely pink, but it went on too dark for my taste. The artist suggested Peony which looked extremely pale and powdery looking but I was pleasantly surprised.

Peony is a soft natural pink. The blushes are all very pigmented but the texture is soft making them easy to blend and layer for that natural blush finish.

No flash:

Compared to a few other pinks, they look strikingly similar to Edward Bess's Soft Orchid and Chanel Narcisse. The difference is noticeable once on the skin. EB Soft Orchid is cooler toned and I also find this one softer/sheerer in finish. Chanel Narcisse has a more powdery-looking finish because of the shimmer in it. I would say that Burberry's Blush finish seems similar to that of Chanel Narcisse (the US version). Out of all my Chanel blushes, for some reason I find Narcisse the softest. All are swatched over a mixture of MAC Prep & Prime, Armani Lasting Silk 5.5+6.5.

How I swatch my blushes on my arm:

I also had my eye on Russet and Blossom. They were sold out of Russet and I decided to wait on Blossom. Diane from Orange To LA has an amazing photo of Blossom which has me drooling with slight regret that I didn't buy it too.

At $42 these are fairly pricey. I'm not sure how I feel about the price. At this time, it's cheaper than Armani ($43) and D&G ($44) the same as Chanel ($42). More than Dior ($40) which I'm not a huge fan of because they are so sheer. Prices keep going up which I'm not really happy about. I guess it's something we all have to deal with. In my mind, I think ideally a blush should be $35-ish maximum.

In my mind I still feel like skincare, foundation, brushes and powder should be the only items that exceed $45. Still doesn't stop me. Personally I would love to have less fancy packaging with no brush in the compact for a lower price. I never end up using those brushes anyways. One reason I love Bobbi Brown individual blushes and eyeshadows, along with NARS.

NARS Tzarine Eyeshadow Duo (Grey Side) vs. MAC Smoke & Diamonds Eyeshadow

2010-07-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

For Estelle: How does NARS Tzarine Eyeshadow Duo compare to MAC Smoke & Diamonds Starflash Eyeshadow?

My take: It's very different and unique for a greyish eyeshadow. I don't have any shade that compares to NARS Tzarine - it's difficult to describe because it's a very complex cool grey with steel blue tones and gold flecks which reflect a golden-ish sheen depending on how the light hits. For me there is no comparison - at least among all the greys I have. Most other greys are either very black, taupe or silvery. The only two in my collection that I find similar in undertone are Urban Decay Gunmetal which isn't nearly as pretty, is more of your basic silvery grey frost with silver sparkles (see swatch here), also NARS Notorious is in the same family which is significantly lighter and a more powdery dove grey (see here for dove grey eyeshadow pics). Scroll down for more comparisons.

Therefore my answer is: It doesn't really compare. I normally can't do cool blueish greys but NARS Tzarine is just so gorgeous. Photos don't do it justice. The gold flecks give it that extra special finish that can't be duped (in my opinion). I hope this helps!

Close up where you can see the tiny gold flecks in the NARS duo (grey side):

Swatched on bare skin:

Swatched in natural light, no flash:

Swatched with high flash:

*Updated per request* Compared to Urban Decay Gunmetal & NARS Notorious (note that UD Gunmetal pulls really blueish on my skin as with most greys, it may not be as blue on you):

The original photos from my NARS Fall 2010 Picks (from here):

Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog also has amazing swatches of NARS fall (her article is linked for your convenience). I highly recommend you check it out as well.

Burberry Lip Glow Natural Lipgloss: Tea Rose #05, Cameo Pink #07 and Nude Beige #09

2010-07-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Burberry Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss ($27) comes in 12 different shades ranging from pale mauve, beige, tan, pink and red. These are packaged in a clear tube with a sponge tip applicator. The formula is smooth and pigmented, although I will say the testers at the counter had their tips cut off for sanitary reasons and the disposable wands at the counter did not pick up the color like the actual product tip does. Therefore, if you try these at the counter and find them sheer it is most likely the tester tip that is affecting the application. They have a soft almost powdery scent that isn't too strong. Lasting power is medium as with most glosses. I like that these are non-sticky. They have enough pigment to wear alone, but are lovely over the Burberry Lipsticks to enhance the color of your lips.

The beautiful packaging:

I picked up three shades in 05 Tea Rose (creamy cool pink, no shimmer), 07 Cameo Pink (shimmery warm pink with slight coral tones) and 09 Nude Beige (nude beige-peach with a very slight sparkle). I reviewed Cameo Pink Lipgloss compared to the Lipstick yesterday. I can't recall what Tea Rose Lipstick looked like exactly, but I believe it was even more blue-based and cooler toned than the Tea Rose Lipgloss. Nude Beige Lipstick is significantly paler than the Lipgloss version. I found the Nude Beige lipstick too pale for my skin, but the lipgloss version is very wearable.

L to R: Tea Rose, Cameo Pink, Nude Beige

Close up, top to bottom: Tea Rose, Cameo Pink, Nude Beige

The lipstick and lipgloss line up, L to R:
Lipsticks - Cameo, Cameo Pink, Rosewood, Antique Rose
Lipglosses - Tea Rose, Cameo Pink, Nude Beige

I found these at Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza.

EdwardBess.com Promotion on Ultra Slick Lipsticks, July 22nd

2010-07-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

I was notified by Susan from Edward Bess that the Ultra Slick lipsticks are featured in the August Issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and that they are running a promotion for 40% off Edward Bess lipsticks tomorrow, July 22nd from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm on EdwardBess.com. Check out the link to The O List - Magazine Deals and Special Offers here.

The code to provide at checkout is OPRAH as listed on the deals website and magazine. The offer is good online only at EdwardBess.com and runs for one day. As a disclaimer, I am in no way affiliated with this promotion, nor do I benefit from this in any way.

Those wondering about the shades, I have written a number of articles about his line. There a number of other great blogs out there such as The Non-Blonde and London Makeup Girl who love his products as well. I hope these links will be helpful to you:

See Eternal Passion on Josie's blog, The Eyes Have It
See Midnight Bloom on London Makeup Girl

And of course, the best resource of all, Karlasugar has the lipsticks swatched on her arm here Edward Bess Lipstick on Karlasugar

Happy Shopping!

Burberry Cameo Pink Lipstick #03 and Lipgloss #07

2010-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Cameo Pink Lipstick #03 and Lipgloss #07 are probably my two favorites lip colors out of all the shades I tried from the new Burberry Beauty line. Both are warm pinks with just the right amount of brightness to bring a pretty pink glow. Cameo Pink Lipstick #03 has subtle microsparkles but is more of a cream than a shimmer. The Lipgloss Cameo Pink #07 has an iridescent frost to it. Looks like it would be frosty from the tube and swatch on the back of my hand, but on the lips it blends out more naturally. Combine the two (lipstick + lipgloss) and you get a more intensified look. Still natural but just with a bit more kick.

Both have a subtle scent which I am still trying to put my finger on. It's noticeable when you apply but fades shortly after. I reviewed the lipsticks already - creamy, lightweight, moisturizing with medium coverage. The lipglosses are also creamy with a medium thickness. They come with a sponge tip applicator and have a smooth non-tacky texture. I'm still testing out the other two I purchased, but Cameo Pink is definitely a winner. The gloss has a similar texture to Dior Addicts, but with a tad less slip and more pigment.

Just the lipstick Cameo Pink #03 (also wearing Burberry's Foundation in #5 which I am testing out this week, the verdict is still out on this one):

I couldn't capture a good photo with the Cameo Pink lipstick + gloss, this is the best I could do. Lip swatches are hard to photograph!

Casual Dinner Summer Outfit: J.Crew Rose Vines Bandaged Dress

2010-07-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

Dress: J.Crew Rose Vines Bandaged Dress
Sweater: J.Crew Featherweight Cotton Ruffle Cardigan
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Purse: LV Epi Jasmin

I went out for a casual dinner last weekend for a birthday celebration. The outfit was easy to put together. J.Crew makes the prettiest strapless summer dresses that are easy to dress up or down. Two favorites are the Rose Vines Bandaged Dress (was available instore only) and the Ginny Dress. Applying the makeup, however, was a disaster as I had to re-do the eyes three times. I guess it was just one of those nights. I was going for a soft smokey-eye with MAC Later Pigment and pinkish lips + cheeks. I found the new pigment from the Alice and Olivia + MAC Collaboration a bit difficult to use but eventually figured it out.

Face:
Edward Bess Daydream Bronzer
Laura Mercier Barely Pink Blush
Laura Mercier Lotus Pink Blush (on top because Barely Pink was too light)

Eyes:
Benefit RSVP Cream Eyeshadow (mini)
NARS Silk Road Eyeshadow Duo
Edward Bess Night Eyeshadow
Chanel Marine Eyeliner + MAC Later Pigment (applied wet)

Lips:
D&G Soft Lipliner
Chanel Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco
Chanel Sesame Glossimer

Later Pigment is a dusty blackish-blue. The unique purpley-blue color shows up only when applied wet. Amy at Café Makeup did a wonderful review (check out her blog here). I found it more difficult to work with - it left me looking like I had a black eye and I had to redo the eyemakeup several times. I got it to work after applying it last aver all the other eye colors as a liner smudged. After I did this look, I realized the result was strikingly similar to the feature I did with NARS Brumes (see here). Other than various shades of pink for the lips (nude pink, bright pink, rosey pink, pale pink etc.) what other lips/cheeks do you like to do with a smokey black-blueish smoldery eye? I feel like red or berry would be too overpowering. Peach doesn't really seem to go well. Perhaps a straight beige-nude? I need inspiration! What works for you?

Burberry Beauty Soft Satin Lip Cover Lipsticks

2010-07-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

The Soft Satin Lipsticks ($30) from the Burberry Beauty are luxurious with rich pigment, beautiful packaging, moisturizing yet lightweight feel and have a medium coverage finish. I found the colors to be unique and with a diverse range from neutral to medium to dark colors. All seemed to be classic but natural wearable lip colors in shades of pink, rose, plum, brown, red. There was a subtle scent but neither Diane nor I could identify what it was. The sales associate mentioned the lipsticks were infused with a number of natural oils which could account for what we smelled.

I was naturally drawn to the neutrals: pinks, peaches and brown-rosey colors. There were a number of beautiful deeper reds and plums but it was a hot day outside, neither of us were really in the fall mode for lips. While the colors I picked out might not seem all that unique, I have to reiterate that these are much better in person than in photos. The natural colors are very wearable and don't require any tweaking with lipliner or lipgloss to make them work, at least for me.

The four I picked out:

Cameo #02 - nude peachy color
Cameo Pink #03 - similar to Cameo, a brighter version with pink
Rosewood #04 - complex combination of brown-rose, slightly shimmery
Antique Rose #11 - natural cream pink

Many have already e-mailed me asking how these lipsticks compare to other brands such as Bobbi Brown, Edward Bess, Armani and various luxury brands. It is difficult to compare - I find the Burberry Beauty Lipsticks just different. The colors are very natural and polished. The texture is smooth, lightweight, creamy, medium-full coverage. The colors definitely show up on the lips. I have to say I was surprised by the fact that they felt creamy but lightweight at the same time.

There are a number of lipstick shades that have a corresponding lipgloss with the same name and number. I found that the colors were not identical but it appears they are meant to compliment each other. For example Rosewood Lipgloss is a pale dusty mauve cream which is very different from the Rosewood Lipstick. Cameo Lipstick is a natural peach-nude while the Cameo Lipgloss is a shimmery apricot. Here is the difference between Cameo Pink Lipstick and Lipgloss:

The lipglosses will be reviewed soon. Overall the lipsticks are excellent. Worth every penny in my opinion. The lid shuts with a magnetic snap. I can't wait to try more.

NARS Blushes: Douceur, Madly, Ninotchka, Zen

2010-07-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

I already posted a few comparisons of the new NARS Douceur Blush for fall, (see my comparisons here) but many of you are curious for even more comparisons to Zen and Madly. Here are pics of the blush comparisons you requested. They are all different in my opinion. Douceur is a dusty pink-brown. Madly is a beige with slight shimmer and pink tones (on my face at least). Zen is a straight nude-beige-brown. Ninotchka goes on me a brownish color.

Swatched heavily over Chanel Teint Innocence Liquid Formula in Shell 1.5 to pick up the color more: Douceur, Madly, Zen, Ninotchka.

YSL Rouge Volupté Perle: Beige Caress 101

2010-07-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not the biggest YSL fan but I do love their Rouge Volupté Lipsticks (see previous review here) and Golden Glosses (see review here and here). YSL has released a collection of 6 new Rouge Volupté Perle Lipsticks ($34) and they are literally to-die-for. The colors are gorgeous and are easier to wear on the lips than the regular non-shimmer colors. As much as I love the regular YSL RVs, I find the lighter colors high maintenance. I need to do a lot of tweaking in order for them to not look like concealer on my lips. Do note that the swatches on the YSL website are horribly off so don't let that deter you from checking them out. I picked up 101 Beige Caress (a soft pinky-beige shimmer). At $34 these are pricey! Also those familiar with the Rouge Volupté formula know they are super creamy and soft. I wanted to test out one of the new Rouge Volupté Perles to see how it felt with the shimmer etc. The lipstick is slightly textured with the shimmer but not gritty. The finish is glossy with a super creamy moist finish.

Peach lip lovers will love 102 Coral Sun. It's not nearly as bright as the website swatch shows, but is a soft pale coral shimmer. 103 Sparkling Pink and 104 Stellar Pink were also pretty and unique in my opinion. If you like shades like MAC Lame, Sequin and Chic but found them too frosty and/or slightly off key on your lips, you will love the 103 and 104.

After testing 101 out for a day, I think it's just too glossy for my taste with this warm weather. In the heat it feels like it will just melt right off. I know it will last longer if I blotted my lips with a dusting of powder first. Of course these are new for "fall" even though it's mid-summer. I think once the fall season officially arrives and the weather cools down these will be perfect.

I found these at Nordstrom.

Burberry Beauty Sheer Eyeshadows (But Not Really All That Sheer)

2010-07-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Diane from OrangeToLA and I met up at Nordstrom South Coast Plaza to check out the new Burberry Beauty line. Ever since we saw the previews in magazines and reviews start to pop up on various blogs, we knew were interested, but weren't sure what to expect. We were however ecstatic to find that South Coast Plaza was one of the few launch locations for the new beauty line. For me, Karen's preview (Makeup and Beauty Blog) had me uber-excited. Lisa's video tutorial (Lisa Eldridge Makeup) added to my anticipation. Amy's review (Café Makeup) of Rosewood Lipstick had me sold.

*Please do not republish or hotlink photos.*

*All work is copyrighted.*

Still, we were just not sure what to expect. The products definitely looked natural, very much along the lines of what I love. But was it going to be too natural? We discussed the prices: $29 for a "sheer" eyeshadow? We were a bit skeptical. The promotional images I had seen in magazines left me thinking "boring." However, after an morning of swatching, testing, comparing and browsing, I'm pleased to report that the line exceeded my expectations (especially the eyeshadows). The packaging is simply stunning. Classic and modern both at the same time. The etching of the Burberry print on the packaging and the actual product is done with exquisite detail. I like that the lipsticks have a magnetic click to keep them shut. We each did some major damage and had so much fun. The products are definitely more special and pretty in person than what you see in photos (mine included).

I'll separate my reviews into different sections, starting with the eyeshadows. We were not brave enough to go in and out of the store to swatch & photograph everything, but both verbally acknowledged and admired Karla's bravery for doing so every week. How amazing is she?

The Sheer Eyeshadows come in 20 different shades and appeared to have 3 different types of finishes from what we looked at: full matte (such as Taupe Brown), glowy (semi-matte and semi-iridescent such as Trench, Almond, Gold Trench), and iridescent (such as Rosewood, Midnight Blue and Midnight Plum). NOTE that these are my own observations. There was no distinguishing label on any of the colors.

The gorgeous packaging:

The colors are a bit deceiving in two ways:

1) First they look incredibly boring and ordinary in the compact. But don't be deceived by what you see in the testers or the compact. When you swipe the colors on your skin, you will see a beautiful glow. It's hard to describe, but they are all very beautiful. Even the matte shades glow on the skin. Even photographs cannot capture the true gorgeousness. On the skin the colors transform into stunners with a soft but complex iridescent glow.

2) The name "Sheer Eyeshadow" is not really descriptive of these eyeshadows. Both Diane and I were surprised. I didn't expect to be wowed, but one swipe and you get full pigment. They blend beautifully for a soft but not-too-natural eye. They are truely eye enhancers. There are some beautiful blues, rose colors and plums. All have amazing pigment. Don't let the name fool you. Even the pale shades are very pigmented. I had my eye on Trench which appeared to be a boring eggshell-nude color. It was absolutely stunning on my skin.

I wanted to get virtually every color but limited myself to pick out 3 shades and came home with Porcelain 03, Gold Trench 04 and Almond 06. Yes, I picked boring neutrals, but it was so hard to decide. I wanted to try out a few safety colors to experiment. Also, the line is so new to Nordstrom at this time they didn't have any information on possible launch events or GWPs. I decided to wait and save more purchases for later dates.

I haven't had a chance to wear these for a full day to see how long they last. They are incredibly smooth and soft, but not too powdery like some soft shadows can be (like NYX in my experience, which I love, but tend to break easily on me). In my experience, Urban Decay has the smoothest most pigmented shadows out of all the brands I've tried. The Burberry has a similar texture and pigment. They're just a lot more natural and less frosty.

Swatches don't do these shadows justice:

Are the eyeshadows worth $29 + tax? In my opinion, most definitely yes. I think there is a color for everyone. Even girls who don't like neutrals will find one shade that will suit their likes. I will say the line is more for the woman who prefers natural and polished makeup. But there are pretty non-neutral colors that are still very wearable. In addition, there are shades that darker-skinned ladies will like. The lipstick range is pretty diverse from light to bright to dark in my opinion - but all classic types of colors.

What else did we get? I got a few lipsticks, glosses and a blush which will be reviewed soon. Check out Diane's blog Orange2LA.com for her take. Her review is now up on her blog here. After our Burberry adventure, we went to look for the new Guerlain Fall palettes. Some of you have already asked me if I'll be getting one. We found them at Saks and our wallets are extremely happy to report that we both passed and weren't the slightest bit tempted. They are pretty. Just not worth the price. We both agreed there's a limit, even for beauty junkies like us. $84 could be stretched a lot farther with other brands. We would both rather buy more Paul & Joe or Burberry instead.

*Please do not republish or hotlink photos.*
*All work is copyrighted.*

Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Bronzers: Daydream & Desert Sun

2010-07-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

You've heard me sing praises about Edward Bess's Bronzer in Daydream. It's the most versatile and natural bronzer I have that gives a soft tanned luminous glow. Many have wondered about the other Ultra Luminous Bronzer shade offered called Desert Sun. I too was curious about it and recently acquired this so I can now give you a comparison.

The girls from the Edward Bess counter at Bergdorf Goodman suggested using Daydream and then layering Desert Sun on the apples of the cheeks to intensify the bronzed look. They assured me that it wouldn't be too dark. I don't mind a more dramatic bronzer (such as NARS Casino, the darker counterpart to NARS Laguna) so I decided to give it a try. Both have a soft natural and blendable texture. The finish is in-between a matte and shimmer which gives a luminous tanned finish. They also have that signature Edward Bess fig scent which is subtle.

Left to Right: Daydream & Desert Sun

The difference between the two shades is noticeable but not drastic. Depending on the lighting, the difference between the colors in the compact is subtle. Daydream and Desert Sun are both brown-based without orange tones and give an effect that mimics a natural tan. Daydream gives me a luminous tanned glow. Desert Sun is more dramatic, borderline too dark on me. I can pull both off, but right now Daydream is perfect for me.

Swatches are done heavily. They don't apply this way on the face, I don't think anyone should apply blush or bronzer the same way most of us swatch items. This should give you a good idea of the color comparison so take it with a grain of salt. The colors are similar, the difference is in how dark they are. I highly recommend checking out KarlaSugar's swatch comparison too (see her review here).

Left to Right: Daydream & Desert Sun

After testing both, I have to say my heart still belongs to Daydream. I can't emphasize enough how versatile it is. I wear it alone, layered with different blushes, layered with cream highlighters, etc. To recap about Daydream, you can read about how I've used it in the following posts:

* First reviewed here
* Last Monday's Look: Jcrew Ginny Dress + Banana ...
* Today's Cry Baby Lips + Nails ...
* Two Look-Of-The-Day Features ...

Those not familiar with the line, Edward Bess is a cosmetic line currently exclusive in the U.S. to Bergdorf Goodman in New York and his website. The products are designed by Edward Bess and you can read more about him on his website EdwardBess.com.

NARS Fall 2010: Rajasthan, Tzarine & Douceur

2010-07-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

I've been excited about NARS Fall ever since Karen at Makeup & Beauty Blog featured a sneak peek of the collection. Imagine my surprise to see the collection display up today when I went to Nordstrom to pick up my pre-sale items from the Anniversary Sale. The NARS summer collection left me unimpressed but the fall collection seems to be right on track for the typical stunning, inspirational and unique releases they normally do. I picked up three items:

Rajastan Eyeshadow Duo - shimmering sandy beige & deep smokey blue-green
Tzarine Eyeshadow Duo - lovely cool sparkley champagne & cool-toned dove grey with gold microglitter sparkles
Douceur Blush - a neutral dusty pink with slight brownish tones

Top: Rajasthan & Tzarine Eyeshadow Duos

Bottom: Douceur Blush

* Labels corrected, thanks Stephanie!

I couldn't find any dupes for Tzarine Eyeshadow Duo. For Rajastan, I couldn't find any dupes either, but the golden shade is similar to Cyprus Single Eyeshadow. I compared the smokey blue-green to MAC Club and Forest Green Pigment (discontinued) and Rajastan has more blueish tones. For Douceur Blush, I thought in my mind "perhaps it's a powder version of Penny Lane." I was way off. It is pink, but has more brown and is darker. Douceur seems most similar in finish to Cubic. Compared to Blushbaby, Douceur has more dusty pink where Blushbaby is more brownish. I haven't tried them on the face to see how the colors look though. Below are the close ups, comparisons and more swatches.

NARS Tzarine

NARS Rajasthan

Compared to NARS Cyprus, MAC Club, MAC Forest Green Pigment (discontinued, pro)

NARS Douceur Blush (Limited Edition)

Comparisons to NARS Penny Lane, MAC Blushbaby, MAC Cubic

These were the three standouts to me. I didn't check the lip products or single shadows. I have to say I was extremely surprised to find Douceur Blush is limited edition. I didn't ask the specialist about the other items in the collection, but I one of the things I love about NARS is that he typically doesn't do "limited edition" colors. I have noticed that in the past couple years a number of beautiful shades such as Mogambo Duo, Galaxy Girl Lipstick, Cannes Multiple, Antibes Multiple have been discontinued and retired to the "vintage" section of the NARS website. I have found similar colors for these and understand they probably can't keep everything, but still am very sad about Cannes being discontinued.

Summer Guide To My Bronzer Favorites

2010-07-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is the California girl in me that is obsessed with bronzers, but I've always been one who prefers to be tan rather than fair. Right now I am a Chanel Teint Innocence Shell (equivalent to what's in between MAC NC30 and NC35, neither is an exact match for me), hardly "tan" but luckily I have bronzers to help me feel not-so-pale since I have little patience for tanning in the sun.

There are so many different effects one can achieve with bronzers. One's skintone and skintype will also affect one's preference for formula and finish. A bit of information about my skin & personal bronzer preferences: I have normal skin with olive tones. I get a bit oily in the T-zone only when it's really humid. I prefer something that gives noticeable tanned look. My top 3 requirements for bronzer:

Don't turn orangey as my skin
Don't make me look dirty/muddy
Too much shimmer = copper bronze statue

Powder Bronzers:

Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Bronzer - Daydream $48 This is my favorite bronzer ever! Not being able to see this in person, I purchased it based on the recommendations of Leslie (see her guest review on the EB line here). Her description was right on. It's neither shimmery nor matte but somewhere in between. It's a goof-proof bronzer that I can never go wrong with and makes the skin glow. I like it alone or layered over a luminizer like NARS Multiples or Edward Bess's All Over Seduction. I recently bought the other bronzer shade shade from EB, Desert Sun, and will be reviewing it soon.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder - Bali Brown $33 Part of her Illuminating Bronzer formula, I don't find this one all that "illuminating" even though there are sparkles in this one. For some reason it applies more matte and I find the sparkle/shimmers don't show up on my skin. This one is more pigmented so I have to apply it with a light hand in layers or else I get an intense brown streak across my face. I would say this gives a more earthy-brown look rather than illuminating glow.

NARS Bronzing Powder - Laguna & Irresistiblement $32 NARS Laguna has achieved cult status as the most well-known and popular bronzer. It was one of my first bronzers and I used it every single day while I was in college because I found it so versatile. It worked well alone and when layered with other blushes. Irresistiblement is the newest powder bronzer from NARS. It looks rather orange in the compact and when I saw it I immediately wrote it off. However, I saw it featured on Em from Too Much Blush and it looked so good on her pale skin I had to try it. See her review here. See it on her lovely face here. She's done a few looks with it and her review is extremely helpful. I highly recommend searching through her archives for inspiration on how to use this. I tried this at Nordstrom and fell in love.

MAC Bronzing Powder - Golden & Bronze $22 I find these to be the most natural and sheer bronzing powders. Golden is very subtle on me because it's close to my natural skintone (when applied) so I like to use it as a contouring powder or over powder blushes to add a bit of warmth. I've hit pan on this one twice. Bronze is similar just a few shades darker and warmer. These give a soft bronzed glow. I like the simple mirrored compact. If you find these too sheer, try MAC's Refined Golden instead.

Armani Sheer Bronzer #1 & #5 $49 #1 is the most brown-based bronzer I have. Looks like it would be too brown in the compact but goes on a nice tanned bronze. I would call #5 my most glowy bronzer. It on the shimmery side but doesn't apply frosty. It's a warm golden bronze that makes the skin glow. Darker skinned girls will find this less dramatic and more glowy than bronzey.

Cream Bronzers:

Chanel Soleil de Tan Bronzing Makeup Base $48 This replaced the Bronze Universel de Chanel Sun Illuminator. Comes in the same tub and compact. Looks virtually identical to the original. I believe it was simply reformulated and given a new name. My favorite cream bronzer for a natural contour. The tub is huge and lasts forever. This is my second tub. Looks brown but blends out naturally.

Armani Fluid Sheer #11 $59 This is more of a peachy bronze shade. I like Fluid Sheer #3 as well but find it extremely sheer. The Fluid Sheer #11 is one of the shades that shows up better. It has enough color on me to wear alone as a blush. I apply this over powder and foundation with a foundation brush and it doesn't cake or get greasy.

NARS Multiple - South Beach $38 Another pretty peachy-bronze shimmer. More shimmery than the Armani. I like this with a powder bronzer (like MAC Golden or Bronze) layered on top. Love how this can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks. The challenge for me with this is making it last. It's so emollient I find it hard to make last throughout the day. Still, the color is so pretty, the non-existent lasting power won't stop me from wearing it.

MAC To the Beach Cream Bronzer - Weekend $25 I didn't think I would like this because it looked so reddish in the container, but it works well as a subtle bronzer with warmth. Fair skinned girls will probably find this too red. If I were slightly paler this would turn orangey on me.

Discontinued Loves:

Chanel Irreelle Soleil Silky Bronzing Powder in Sierra 22 This was the best bronzer Chanel made. Then they discontinued the formula and came out with something I feel is chalky which just sits on the skin instead of blending in with it.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - So Ceylon, Sunny by Nature, Global Glow I find these can be a bit intense so I like these with a skunk brush.

Shu Uemura Loose Powder in Luster Bronze I don't remember which year this came out, I think back in the summer of 2005? I got this at Bergdorf Goodman when I was in New York summers ago. I use it only for special occasions because I love the color so much I'm afraid to use this up.

Tools:

I like brushes that are more on the fluffy side for bronzer to get a sheerer application. These are my most frequently used brushes. For the creams, most of the time I use my fingers but my staple is the Prescriptives Foundation brush which is no longer available. Listed left to right:

Prescriptives Foundation Brush
MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush $34
MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush $42
MAC 138 Tapered $52
Bobbi Brown Bronzer Brush $50

My Top Bronzer Picks:

Best Bronzer Hands Down - Edward Bess Daydream

Best Bronzer For the Price - MAC Golden or Bronze

Most Natural Bronzer - MAC Golden & Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base

Best Bronzer Brush - MAC 129 (because it's the most versatile)

A Side Note: I do have a number of other bronzers from the same brands listed above and other brands like Guerlain, Laura Mercier, Le Metier de Beaute, Dolce & Gabbana, Becca and Dior. The ones listed above are just my favorites for the formula and price. Also, I just got a new computer which I am trying to get used to. You may see a slight difference in the photos from my normal posting. Please bear with me as I am trying to figure out all the new settings with a new version of photoshop as well.

A Note About These Swatches: Please take these with a grain of salt. These were swatched on a bare arm without primer or moisturizer. Bronzers apply better over foundation + powder for me, so these swatches aren't really true to life. I put as many as I could fit on my arm. There might be a few missing. Please don't be alarmed by the furry thing at the bottom, he's my kitty.

Chanel Fall 2010 National Artist Event

2010-07-10T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Nordstrom near me recently had a National Artist Event for Chanel and they used a mix of the new fall 2010 shades with a couple other items from the regular line. There were two different artists who worked with me. Typically with the National Artist events one makeup artist from the Chanel team will cleanse and prep the skin with moisturizers, primers, foundation, concealer and powder. Once the face is prepped, then the National Artist will come by to apply the makeup and work their magic. I would say about 1/2 the events I've been to, the National Artist has been able to do my makeup. The other 1/2 were so busy the artist never made it to my chair (in that case one of the regular artists will do your makeup).

I brought in a photo of one of the latest Burberry Beauty ads and asked them to recreate the look using Chanel products. The final result didn't really resemble the look but I was still pleased with the look and the items they picked out.

Face:
Teint Innocence Compact in Shell 30
Poudre Universelle Libre in Naturel 30
Pink Explosion 64 Blush

Eyes:
Cristal-Dusk 77 Irreelle Duo
Cassis 83 Stylo Yeux Waterproof
Smoky Violine Exceptionnel Mascara

Lips:
Nude Lipliner
Rose Dentelle 37 Rouge Coco
Rose Dilemma 144 Glossimer

Products are linked to the Chanel & Nordstrom websites for your convenience in case you want to read more about the products through their descriptions, check prices, see other color options etc.

Cristal-Dusk Duo + Cassis Eyeliner

L to R: Nude Lipliner, Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco,
Rose Dilemma Glossimer, Pink Explosion Blush

Skin: Skin was cleansed and then prepped with the Ultra Correction Lift line. For the skin the focus was on preventing the effects of aging. Looking at my skin, they said they thought I would have the type of skin that would sag instead of wrinkle as I aged. I'm not sure which one is better, lol. They used the Sculpting Firming Concentrate, Lifing Firming Day Fluid, and the Total Eye Life Eye Cream. I've never really liked Chanel skincare (except their Age Delay line which has long been discontinued) but they gave me samples to try.

Face: The artist who prepped my skin had done my makeup before on numerous occasions, so she used my regular foundation in Teint Innocence in Shell 30. I asked to try the loose powder, and she applied the Poudre Universelle Libre in Naturel 30. I was surprised no concealer was used since they almost always push their concealers during these events. However, the Teint Innocence Compact Foundation is a heavier coverage foundation on my skin, so perhaps that is why they skipped it (much to my delight).

Cheeks: This is where the National Artist stepped in and picked out Pink Explosion 64 Joues Contraste (previously reviewed here). Much to his surprise, I mentioned that I noticed the formulas for the fall collection were different and came in the baked formula like the European and Asian releases. His face just lit up as he said, "I'm so proud you know that, half of these ladies (waved his hand at the team) don't even know that and they should." I asked if he by chance knew if they were going to change the formula going forward. He wasn't sure but thought it would be for certain collections only, not all, but couldn't confirm.

Eyes: He gave me a more subtle eye look than what was on the Burberry photo and used Cristal-Dusk Irreelle Duo 77 which will soon be discontinued. The white side was applied with the finger and smudged on the eyes. The taupe-grey was blended over with a brush. The goal was a subtle smokey eye. Next he applied the new Cassis Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner 83 (a deep plum) along the waterline on upper and lower lash lines and finished with the Smoky Violine Exceptionnel Mascara.

Lips: He did a soft pink using the Nude Lipliner, Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco 37 and Rose Dilemma Glossimer 144.

Close up of the lips, but this is a few hours after the event so it's a bit faded. Also within a few hours, my skin felt extremely greasy despite the cloudy-cool and slightly windy weather we've been having here in Southern California. I think the skincare items I tried will be a no-go. I hate to admit this, but for the eyes, I took the makeup off as soon as I got home. I liked the colors they used, they just applied way too much. Even my husband asked, "why do you have so much makeup on today?"

There wasn't a gift with purchase offered. I feel this is sometimes better because then there is less pressure to spend a lot of money. They did however give out samples to everyone who attended: A mini look-card, mini perfume sample, eyemakeup remover, Rouge Coco sample card.

Those new to my blog, you can click the "Makeover" tag below to see other products used at past events I've attended (including Chanel, MAC and NARS). My last one from Chanel was back in March (click here).

Chanel Quatuor Boutons de Chanel (Nordstrom Anniversary 2010)

2010-07-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

Ever since I saw the Chanel Quatuor Boutons de Chane l $65 swatched on KarlaSugar (see here for her review) I knew I had to have it. I didn't even need to see the tester even though it was of the round-pan design - that's how good Karla Sugar is.

It seems like Nordstrom has been sending out their pre-sales early this year because UPS arrived with a package from Nordstrom today. (I hear from my local store associates that you can pick up your pre-sale items as early as the 13th. Let's keep our fingers crossed that what happened with SR doesn't happen with the other "pre-sales.") I was even more pleased to find out that while these shadows come in the round pan, they are not the baked variety! Yay! I'm not sure if where it's made makes a difference, but these ones were made in Italy. This quad seems very similar in texture to the Les Folies Noires from the Noirs Obscurs collection.

This quad has four neutral shades in a soft ivory, light brownish-red clay color, soft fleshy peach and a sheer cool-mauve-brownish color. All have the gold Chanel logo as an overspray which disappears after one swipe. The quad seems to be more on the sheerer side for me, perhaps the color doesn't show up as well as they do on Karla because I'm darker than her, hence the shades seem to blend in with my skin better. I will say that this quad swatches better on the fingers and apply better on the eyes with brush. Once I put them on my arm the color seemed to disappear a little.

The gold overspray disappears:

In natural light, no flash (still cloudy here in Southern California):

Swatched on bare skin, NOTE they swatched sheer on my arm,
but on my fingers and eyes the color shows up better:

I will say I had no idea these were $65 when I did my pre-sale. Regular quads are $56 which is still highway robbery. At that price, I can't say it's a must-have. Pretty, but the price is pretty steep for what you get considering it's on the sheer side. It seems to have a similar texture/pigment to the Noirs Obscurs quad which was something I was tempted by but passed on because I found it too sheer for the price.

My Hunt For MAC Stereo Rose MSF

2010-07-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

I rarely write about bad shopping experiences, but finding the re-released version of MAC Stereo Rose was such a hassle I am making a pact with myself not to do this again. At the end of the day, I have my new Stereo Rose, but sometimes the ends do not justify the means. As a customer I am frustrated. Frustrated with poor inventory management, over-sold pre-sales and the limited-edition-factor of these "hot today, forgotten tomorrow" items.

The most helpful part of this post will be a comparison of the original 2005 Stereo Rose to the new re-released version of the 2010 Stereo Rose. I will save my rantings for the end. Here they are photographed together, side by side (per Lakshmi's request).

The new 2010 version is very similar to the original 2005 version but not quite the same. The difference is subtle. This is what I see in comparing the two:

Original 2005: slightly lighter in the compact, more pink on the skin
New 2010: slightly darker in the compact, more orangey-peach on the skin

I prefer the original version. When applied with a light hand it just glows. The new one is very similar - I know some of you won't be able to tell the difference from the photos. It's just slightly different in the undertone. It's more peachy-orange, still lovely, but not different enough to justify owning both. (Update: the new one I just bought is being re-gifted to a friend who was also searching for this.)

A disclaimer for what you read below: this is my own personal experience and opinion. I do not expect anything to be done about this, it's just an expression of what I feel as a customer.

I arrived at Nordstrom today to pick up my pre-sale items from In The Groove (Stereo Rose MSF, Soften The Mood Trio and Happy Together Blush) and was shocked to find out that they did not have my Stereo Rose. Shocked because I had done my pre-sale with my sales associate a week before the release date. As we were on the phone she said, "tell me what you want and I will grab them as you list them because I know if I don't grab them now, someone will take them." She ended our phone conversation by telling me she had "grabbed and bagged" all my items and that they were "safe" for me to pick up on Thursday.

Yet when I arrived today I was told many of the pre-sales were not fulfilled because of something that "happened" and they were not sure what had occurred. Not the fault of my sales associate though. I saw on the handwritten pre-sale slip in big letters, "DO NOT TOUCH," bless her heart. I heard that someone went through all the pre-sales and removed the Stereo Roses but it was kept a bit hushed and nobody could confirm.

They called the MAC Store for me and they luckily still had some. They did say over the phone, "we can only hold it if you literally run up here right away." So run I did. When I got to the MAC store, I went to the cashier and said "I have Stereo Rose on hold, Nordstrom just called seconds ago." I received a shocked look followed by, "What? We don't hold the new collection items anymore for anyone ..." but she saw the box with my name on it to her right and said, "Oh, HERE it is, good thing a manager didn't see this." I did thank her for making an exception. I explained my situation with my pre-sale and she said, "you know, you are the 4th customer who has come here and said that is what happened to them too."

So at the end of the day I have my new Stereo Rose. Why I went through the extra effort to call ahead of time to do a pre-sale and run to 2 different stores to get it - I have no idea. Makeup just not worth this kind of "tracking down". Chances are MAC will re-release this again. It won't stop me from shopping at Nordstrom and MAC. I value Nordstrom for their excellent customer service. Especially the women I shop with personally. I know this wasn't necessarily their fault. But the fact that it did occur is bothersome.

I realize the limited edition factor creates buzz and attention, but I feel bad for those women who couldn't get this. I don't know the reasoning behind why Nordstrom counters were sent such a limited supply. It could be for a variety of factors, economic downturn/struggles, loss of profit from unsold inventory (hence decreasing the supply) or something entirely different. I just heard they only received 6 pieces of Stereo Rose which I think is poor inventory management/forecasting.

If you are desperate to find one, I recommend checking out MAC stores, Macy's and Bloomingdales as they might have more inventory than online distributors.

Undecided: J.Crew Castillo Eyelet Cami

2010-07-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm undecided on the J.Crew Castillo Eyelet Cami and need your help! Yay or nay? I was drawn to this top because of the pretty lace detail at the collar, but unfortunately, there is no shape to the rest of the top and it just hangs. Even with the tie at the waist it still has no form. It's one of those tops I feel look better with a sweater or jacket. It's a Size 0, so there's no going smaller.

I love the color and the details but I feel like it makes me look heavy. I tried it by removing the belt/sash and tucking it in. Since it's not fitted, it kinda bulges out of my jeans. I think I've answered my own question by saying "meh" but wanted to get your opinions first. *Sigh* so pretty on the hanger. Not so flattering on me. I'm torn.

See it on Gigi at Gigi's Gone Shopping here too.

* Update * Thanks ladies for your input, you helped me decide. I decided it's going back. I just know I'm not going to feel comfortable wearing it a lot :)

Urban Decay Naked Palette

2010-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

I was one of those who jumped on the Naked bandwagon the day this palette was released on UrbanDecay.com. It contains 12 eyeshadows + 1 double ended eyeliner, retails for $44 and measures about 8 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall. I've been eagerly waiting for this ever since I saw it on Twitter and Facebook and it exceeds my expectations.

Here it is for size reference:

This is my first palette from Urban Decay. I've been intrigued by the Book of Shadows series, but unfortunately I won't buy a palette unless I feel it's at least 50% wearable for me. I was so excited to discover that all the colors in this palette are wearable. I already have a few of the shades in single format (Toasted, Sin and Naked), but couldn't resist. There's a good mixture of existing + new shades. Also, I hate to say this, but I haven't been a fan of the Book of Shadows packaging. I like palettes to be sleek and simple. I found the BOS a bit bulky and just not my style. Plus I don't dig glitter.

The Naked Palette comes in a soft velvety brown case with a small mirror. I love that it comes with a mini eye primer (I'm excited to try this).

L to R: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked,
Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Close ups:

Swatches in the same order as palette, on bare skin:

I am one of those girls who doesn't like to buy palettes with over 5 shades because there is usually at least 1 shade I don't like. I still cave occasionally. This one I feel is wearable for a wide variety of skintones. As a neutral lover, I find this very wearable.

Without flash:

I've been a huge fan of Urban Decay Eyeshadows since I was in high school (in the 90's), but this is my first Urban Decay palette. I've loved the Urban Decay line back when it was the edgier counterpart to Hard Candy (pre-walmart days). I can't say that I love all their shades (especially the glitter ones) but they are one brand I feel has revamp packaging and expanded their distribution to a wider variety of retail channels yet has remained consistent in quality and focus. I have to say, as a brand, Urban Decay is continuously true to their brand values. This is something I appreciate as a customer who panics when I hear the word "revamp" (since revamping isn't always good). Even though I'm not the biggest fan of their packaging, I think for the most part, it still works. I find their matte and shimmer eyeshadows rank among the top in terms of quality. Now if they would only release a non-glitter version of Maui Wowie and Mushroom as a single/individual shadow and bring back their lip gunk I would be forever happy :)

Here is the old eyeshadow packaging for YDK compared to the new,
one might consider this from 1999 "vintage":

I hope Urban Decay will release more palettes in this same style/format/theme. I find the name "Naked" a bit misleading, but it works for me. Perhaps it is naked for Urban Decay, considering they have some really bright shades. I hope they release more versions of this like they did the BOS (1, 2, AIW and soon 3?). A smokey palette (with Mushroom please!) would be divine. One can dream, but I will be very busy with this one until then.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour Collection

2010-07-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

This post is for one of my readers Jo Ann, a fellow Chanel Nail Polish collector, she was kind enough to search for shades I did not have from Asia during her recent business travels. I apologize to her, but this has been a few months delayed. She hoped I would feature an updated post on my Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish collection in order to try and figure out which shades she was missing. Upon returning from her trip, I heard she brought back over 20 bottles (Chanel + Dior) :) Many were for her friends. One was for me. I was ecstatic (it was Magnolia Rose which I had missed out on years ago).

I never thought this would happen, but I've recently run out of space for my Chanel Nail Polishes in my nail polish rack. There are now four lone bottles without their own space. I need an intervention, but don't really want one. Most of these shades were limited edition from past seasons. Chanel is the brand that set off my interest in nail polishes. The formulas weren't always great quality (in my opinion). I can't remember the exact year, perhaps it was the early 2000's was the time Chanel revamped their formulas. My first two were Le Perle (see dupes here) and Vamp (see swatches here). Some of the shades are from Canada, Europe and Asia, so US girls might not recognize or remember all the shades being released here in the US. This is definitely not comprehensive of all the shades that have been released in the US.

* Blanc Petale & White Satin swatched here

* Django swatched here
* Jasmine & Inattendu swatched here

* Jade Rose swatched here
* Perle Rosee swatched here

* Tendresse swatched here
* Pink Satin swatched here

* Mistral swatched here
* Cry Baby swatched here

* Rose Paradise swatched here

* Violette & Lilac Sky swatched here
* Paradoxal swatched here
* Vendetta & Feu de Russie swatched here

* Diabolic, Forbidden, Rouge Noir & Vamp here

* Blue Satin & Nuit de Russie swatched here

* Antilope & Trapeze swatched here
* Particuliere swatched here

* Illusion D'Or, Gold Lame & Golden Sand swatched here

* Riviera & Nouvelle Vague swatched here
* Riviera dupes here
* Orange Blossom swatched here

* Dragon swatched here
* Coromandel swatched here

* Tokyo Happening Collection

I may have missed a few swatch links. Also, I haven't always photographed every mani/pedi I've had in the past year. I'll try to include more in the future. Do you have any favorite Chanel Nail Colors?

Dior Misty Mauve Quint 844 & Tailored Mauve Addict Ultra-Gloss 692

2010-07-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

Dior Fall 2010 has arrived in Nordstroms although the full tester unit wasn't up yet, the counter did have the testers scattered in the regular tester unit. I picked up the Misty Mauve Quint $58 and Tailored Mauve Lipgloss $26.50 - both stunning colors for fall. I probably won't be wearing this for a few months until fall arrives, they seem a bit too cool-toned for summer wear.

In direct sunlight:

The Misty Mauve quint has a good mix of mauve shades which will allow you to achieve a diverse range of looks from neutral to smokey. It does appear more mauve and a bit more subdued compared to the promotional photos released by Dior, but is still pretty in my opinion. While the colors in this palette might not be the most original, I love the texture and finish of these particular shades and they are well coordinated. As a lover of neutral shades, I think this is a good palette for those who want something smokey but not too dramatic. I call it a natural-smokey eye palette with a bit of attitude.

I've had a little debate with a fellow makeup fan of mine about this new quint. She thought it unoriginal and something Dior has done a million times before. It's possibly similar to the purple palette Nordstrom released last year for their anniversary sale (which I do not have), but in terms of the quints I own, it seems quite different. I will say the lighter shades definitely seem familiar. Looking back on past quints, it appears that I have neglected them. I need to use these more often. In the past year I find myself using Chanel, Edward Bess, D&G and Paul & Joe more frequently.

Per reader request from the comments, you can see it's very different from Chanel Kaska Beige. Here it is also compared to Chanel Enigma.

Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Tailored Mauve 692:

Tailored Mauve is a pretty purple-pink gloss. I was worried it would be too purple on the lips and I normally don't try out tester glosses on my lips, but my SA pulled out a brand new tester so I felt safe trying it out. It was surprisingly wearable and I normally can't pull off purpley shades. I need a smidge of pink or red in my purple-tones. This will look good with a classic smokey bronze eye (like NARS Cordura) or even a classic smokey eye (like Chanel Enigma or Mystic Eyes). I find that it goes extremely well with the Misty Mauve quint and isn't overly purple when worn together. It's semi-sheer to medium with a lovely glossy finish. No detectable scent. Lasting power isn't the greatest, but I don't mind reapplying lipgloss regularly throughout the day.

L to R: Chanel Imaginaire, MAC Cultured, Dior Tailored Mauve,
Laura Mercier Violet, Chanel Delight

I checked out the other items. There are a number of new gorgeous Serum de Rouge shades in bright pinks, plums and mauves. Nordstrom is doing a GWP for their Anniversary Sale, so I had my sales associate put aside a couple to qualify for the gift later in the month. I'm also testing out samples of their new Hydra Life skincare line. So far, so good and it's surprisingly well priced. Will be writing a review once I feel I've tested it long enough to get a good feel for how it works on my skin.

Swatches of my Dior Fall Picks (Serum de Rouges not included b/c they are being held for the Anniversary Sale):

Edward Bess Forbidden Flower Lipstick

2010-07-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

*FYI, this swatch photo looks a tad washed out,
the lipstick is the slightest bit brighter in real life

Forbidden Flower is a peachy cream color. It's rich and creamy with a soft fig scent. It looks orangey in the tube sometimes, but doesn't go on orangey at all. It's a soft peachy-coral. I find it works best when applied from the tube directly on the lips, blotted, then reapplied. Otherwise it can look a bit streaky. Blending with a lip brush helps too. Still love it. I got mine from Bergdorf Goodman in NY. The ladies there are fabulous and very helpful. So is Edward :)

See my other Edward Bess Lipsticks here. I've done a few other lip swatches with Pure Impulse + Soft Whisper, Bare Rose Lipgloss and Forever Yours. You can get a better idea of my skintone by checking my foundation swatches (see sidebar). I'm a Chanel Shell Teint Innocence in the liquid formula.

Edward Bess products can also be purchased on EdwardBess.com.