BSB: Beauty news, makeup swatches and pictures, nail polish articles, makeup tutorials, product reviews, and how-to's from a MAC-trained makeup artist.

Surf's Up | 6.5.10

Best of BSB and The Nail Ninja:

• Why OCC Lip Tars are crucial to my stash!
• Neiman Marcus may not be the greenest company in the world.
• Did you see the new StrangeBeautiful duos? So odd... so pretty!
• You no longer need to hide your makeup in those embarrassing store-bought plastic bags when you travel! Huzzah!
• Aromaleigh, a BSB favorite, has a new collection called Victoria's Revenge.
  

Best of Beauty:

• Chanel wants my money. Take a look at the lippies coming up for Fall 2010, focusing on shades of pink to red.
  
  
  
  
• Are you ready to get naked?!
  
  
• Yes, yes! Tom Ford lipstick is now available at Saks, Neiman Marcus and other fine establishments. Have you dropped $45 on a tube yet? Judging by the promo ads, you may need a cigarette afterward. Just sayin'...

• So it's not just us, huh? Have you ever avoided the pricier makeup and skincare lines --- just so you don't find something you like? We raise a guilty (but not totally broke) hand to this one.

• I can't explain it, but certain nude palettes hit me in That Spot. You know the one? The spot that makes you want to pull out your wallet! Gaia totally made me drool with her review of this Dior pretty!
  
  
  
  
• Karen over at MBB snagged the new Smashbox Eye Illusion trio. I've seen the quads before, and love the idea of this product!
  
• Illamasqua is looking for the new face for their brand. Contest details are here.
  
  
  
  
  
• Rolling on the floor is where you would have found me after I learned why The Muse will not be getting her Birthday Cake from Philosophy this year.
  
• I must have that new lipstick coming soon from Three Custom Color: Santorini. You can see the collection swatched on the famous arm of Karla Sugar.
  
• Oh my. I peeped the upcoming Lancome Tropiques Minerale Golden Criosette Illuminating Bronzing Palette over yonder at British Beauty Blogger and I likes what I sees. *leers and waggles eyebrows*
  
  
  
  
• Have you ogled MAC's upcoming In The Groove collection, yet? I admit: I'm eying the purple lipstick (great for putting under red and berry glosses to tweek the shades!) and the beige and silver-grey Creamsheen Glasses (how can you not?!). I'll also consider picking up another By Candlelight MSF (back-up worthy) and since I can't tun down the Mineralize Blushes, I'll take a closer look at those, too.
  

Best of the rest:

• Swoon, ladies (and gents, if that's Your Thang). Swoon when you read Lady in Red: The History of the Louboutin over at one of my favorite stops, Little Pink Book PR.
  
  
   

• If you love color as much as I do, you're aching to see the Pantone Hotel. I'll meet you in Belgium!
  (source for images)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Speaking of color, if you name a blog How About Orange, I'm going to find it and follow it. Just sayin'. Especially when it offers up posts like this link to a test that tells you what your color preferences mean, points to cute fonts like this (free!) Lobster font, and DIY tutorials for you crafty types (check out these mid-century clock-inspired magnets). I lost hours in the archives when I found this blog!
  
• Oy vey. Singer Joss Stone was smokin' the good stuff when she created these shoes for Nine West.
  
• Good news regarding good shoes, though: I have heard good things about Toms Shoes and now they're making kickin' wedge espadrilles- only $69 (more affordable than the quite spendy Louboutins we led with, non?). And since they're Toms, you know each pair you buy results in the company giving a pair to a child in need. How can you resist?  _via
  PS: Dude... the ones below are orange! *covets*
  
   
  
  
  
• While I like the green nature of this reclaimed wood table, I skipped the how-to completely to admire the cool swallow on the wall!
  
  
   
  

  
  
• I absolutely love the icon-inspired stationary below from Brigada Creativa! Though I kinda feel like I ought to be writing Wile E Coyote a note on it about the latest Acme bomb.  _via
  
  
  
  
  
• Why not join the Neighborhood Green Swap, inspired by RISD student Lindsay Kinkade's graduation project. The idea is to spur-on a sense of community and sharing, while introducing more nature into neighborhoods that need greening. _{via (in a roundabout way)}
  
  
• In case the above suggestion is too ambitious for you, why not engage in some guerrilla gardening? Toss a wildflower granade today! _{again via}
  
  
  
  
  
• I'm addicted to Nick Holmes' Tumblr. Here, a few of his recent offerings:
  
  
  Ray and Monte liked to come here together - no one knew them and it felt like magic.
  
  
  
  Nature had not found a way for them, but love had.  Though the smell was a problem.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This isn’t normal - but on meth it is.
  
  
  
  
  Worth doing.
  

_{all images appear courtesy of the blogs mentioned}

Aromaleigh look with Victoria's Revenge | Look 2

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More from the new shadows I just got. This time purples.
See my post on Aromaleigh's new group of hot colors, Victoria's Revenge.

If you like MAC's Cinderfella (LE) and Young Punk (LE) and other shades of that ilk, you'll love Aromaleigh's Poison Utopia.
If you like MAC's Violet Pigment but also like a bit of sparkle, you'll love Aromaleigh's Mourning's Whimsy.

Here's how the look breaks down:
Eyes are MAC Bare Canvas Paint as primer; Aromaleigh Poison Utopia (deepest purple with gorgeous shimmer) on the outer half of the lid; Mourning's Whimsy (violet on fire) on the inner half of the lid; MAC Emote blush (muted taupe) in the crease as a bridge.

Also making an appearance: MAC Full Coverage foundation; MAC Dame blush on cheeks; Bobbi Brown Medium Bronzer; Clinique High Lengths Mascara; Givenchy Phenom'Eyes - the funky-looking brush one, in purple; Bobbi Brown Black Pearl gloss (grey-taupe), MAC Smolder on the top waterline.

Aromaleigh look with Victoria's Revenge | Look 1

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Love this collection! See my post on Aromaleigh's new group of hot colors, Victoria's Revenge.

If you like MAC's Sumptious Olive shadow and Golden Olive Pigment, you'll want to add Private Lunacy to your stash.

If you like unusual colors, collect yellows, or are seeking the perfect mustard shade, you'll love Airy Ethos.

If you hoard red-browns, chocolates, or like MAC's Embark, Folie, and Cut to Fit (LE), you'll love Perpetual Motion. 

If you dig oranges or coppers, have blue eyes(!), or like MAC's Coppering, you'll flip for Braze & Bitter.

Here's how the look breaks down:
Eyes are MAC Painterly Paint Pot as primer; Aromaleigh Airy Ethos (mustard gold with shimmer) on inner corner; Brazen & Bitter (rusted coral with shimmer) in the middle of the lid and crease; Perpetual Motion (burnt chocolate with a hint of rust and shimmer) on the outer 1/3; Private Lunacy (shimmery moss green) along the lower lashline.

Also making an appearance: MAC Full Coverage foundation; MAC Improper Copper Cream Color Base on cheeks; Clinique High Lengths Mascara; Chanel Creme Gloss Lumiere (color unknown and besides they don't make this stuff anymore). Oh, and I tossed MAC Blacktrack on the waterlines, top and bottom. Not that it stayed in place for long. ;)

Since this look reminded me of the retro shades I've been loving lately, I put on my tie-dye t-shirt and spritzed on some patchouli (ok... it was Tom Ford White Patchouli, so not really the same as the hippies wore, but the spirit was there).

Aromaleigh's new collection "Victoria's Revenge"

Look deeply into my eyes and listen while I tell you a tale
of Aromaleigh's new collection, "Victoria's Revenge".

A stunning collection of deep, rich shades that suite your Gothic Lolita steampunk Victorian esthetic. A little secret: even if that's not your thing you can still wear these amazing colors! You guys... this collection is AMAZING.

Stay tuned for some looks done with these colors. The first one is coming later today.

See the collection here. See swatches here. Buy tons of makeup from the collection here.
Keep reading for the color descriptions and insight into the inspiration for the collection.

Why OCC Lip Tars are crucial to my stash

OCC is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. Lip Tars are their innovative satin-finish, super color-saturated liquid lip product that has the long lip life and pigmentation of a lipstick (the really long-lasting ones!) and the more liquid characteristics and tube typical of a gloss. You'll get soft, easy on the lips color that looks great in Hi-Def and in person - um, yes please! There are 24 shades (and counting!) that are meant to be combined for limitless possibilities.

I have a few, and am squirreling away the cold hard cash for more. I currently have Pageant (beauty queen fuchsia), Katricia (rich, creamy violet), Feathered (pure white).  They're $12.50 each, which is so ridiculously worthwhile, considering the eensey-weensey amount of product you use each time. There's a clear, too, so you can sheer out a color (often necessary!) or give a gloss finish to your concoction (it's cleverly named Clear).

On my radar: Hush (antique bridal pink), Grandma (clean, classic coral), Plum (dark, brandied plum), Vintage (deep, wine-red burgundy), NSFW (primary blue-based red), Tarred (true black), Uber (deep, cool taupe), Demure (rich, purplish fuchsia), Complex (pale, greyed violet)... aw, hell... I want them all! The full set is only $300, so I'm clinking that extra change into the old piggy bank!

These aren't the only reasons they're an absolutely critical part of my makeup wardrobe - for both my personal stash and my professional kit. You can use these suckers to amp-up, tone-down, or otherwise alter the shade of any other lipstick you own.

Demo after the cut.

Chiming in with my props to Dree Hemingway

Absolutely loved this Valentino dress. It's inspired, and Dree was genius to wear it. And those shoes with it? I can't even tell you...

Helly Kitty fans can now smell apple-tastic thanks to Demeter. Rush to Urban Outfitters!

That's right, Hello Kitty fans! Now, while you're slicking on your Hello Kitty makeup from earlier collaborations, and donning your Kitty clothes, stop and spritz on Demeter's new Hello Kitty scent. You can even spritz some on your big old hair bow, so you smell all appley, just like the kitty likes! That's right: it's a blend of 3 apples (red, yellow, green). Purchase the scent at Urban Outfitters for $20.

Keepin' it real

 

source

Overkill, thy name is Neiman Marcus

I took advantage of a free shipping code* I found and ordered two things from Neiman Marcus. One was a Bobbi Brown Corrector (for under eye darkness). You can tell a great product by the fact that a beauty blogger buys it on the regular!

At any rate, the other thing I ordered, a lip pencil, was "not currently available", so Neiman Marcus sent me the Corrector first (Saturday). And I got the pencil today (Tuesday). Please note that FedEx Home Delivery is closed on Sunday and Monday, so technically the second product was delivered the next day. So much for "not currently available". Had I know that "one of your products may not be delivered until June 1st" meant "it's on a shelf the short dude in shipping can't reach, so we'll get the tall dude to get it tomorrow when he comes to work", I wouldn't have ordered the "ship them separately" option, but with my dark circles I was eager to get the damn Corrector.

Anyway, I got the Corrector and was shocked that in this day and age any company would still pack products this way. What happened to minimal packaging, the "greening" of industry, common sense?

Keep reading to see a picture of how my itty bitty Corrector was packed...

*In case you were wondering, the code is NM SHIP,
and it's for free shipping on any order. I dunno,
maybe it's always available and ya'll are like "Um, DUH, Jen!"
but I didn't know, and since I was only ordering 2 things
I didn't feel like paying $3,953 for shipping and this helped out a lot.

Good stuff for feet...

I got some goodies from a company called PROFOOT a few weeks ago. Thought you might want to hear about them.

Shockingly, they are products for your feet (right? with that company name? unbelievable!)

I got to try some pads to slip into your shoes to keep your toes from hating you ("ballerina-approved"), this toe contraption you use to stretch your feet, and some goop that's meant to exfoliate your nasty feet.

Keep reading if you want to hear more.

*not really their motto, but what can I say? I'm on a roll!

I thought of a new endorsement idea for Sula Beauty

It's should come as no surprise that I enjoy Sula's Organic Shea Butter Balm.  C'mon! It's shea butter, so you know it's moisturizing. And is a shea butter balm, so you can use it anywhere you like: lips, face, knees, toes, elbows, sore noses, split ends, or even to smooth down and control your brows.

They're only $9 and have essentail oils mixed in, so they smell yummy.

I have the Neroli Blossom, which also has a touch of organic sweet orange oil in it.

Need to check it out: MUFE's Aqua Cream

I can't stand it. Look at those pots! What's inside? Get this: crease-proof, water-proof and budge-proof cream color that is meant for use on lips, cheeks, eyes and face.* They're super-intense colors and are long-lasting, too. I mean really. The potential for these products is endless.

The shadows contain a special blend of evaporating oils to transfer pigment spheres to skin with super strong hold, while filmogen polymers encase the pigments to seal moisture out and render them streak-proof. ^source

Make Up For Ever's new Aqua Cream Waterproof Cream Color comes in 22 shades, is only $22 and currently only available at Sephora, the MUFE store in NY.

I'd love to see them alone and as a shadow base! Can't wait to dip into the taupe, coral, peach, and purple. Have any of you tried them yet? How are they?

*Shades #5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are formulated for the Lips & Cheeks.
Shades #1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22 are formulated for the Eyes & Cheeks.

MAC goes mobile

  

http://m.maccosmetics.com

The MAC site link above is fully accessible by mobile device. Aside from the normal site features you'd expect (see products, collections, videos, email an artist, customer service, purchasing w/ order history retained, purchase gift cards) you'll also be able to search for store locations, map 'em, and click-to-call. A social sharing function will also allow you to share products via Facebook, Twitter, "and more".

I want this for my new office.

This is perfect for storing my makeup palettes, no?

Little Black Dresser by Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs

via

Currently...

 

I've been reaching for my fuchsia lipglosses and my purple shadows a lot more lately (I even grabbed a fuchsia polish because I just couldn't get enough!).  My stash is light on the fuchsia, which is depressing me, so I feel a lemming-driven visit to Sephora or Nordstrom to stock up on bright pink lippies coming on! Dabs of purple and hot pink on a basically-neutral eye can brighten up a look without taking it over-the-top - but of course a full-on pink & purple look is fun, too. And my complexion just loves a blue-pink or rose blush, which tops off these cool-toned shades nicely.

What are your recent inspirations?

China Glaze Sexy Silhouette: the perfect Summer pink?

Not for the faint of heart, Sexy Silhouette by China Glaze is a fuchsia pink with pink microshimmer. It definitely falls under the description "lit from within" and takes on an almost lass-like look in certain lights. Stunning.

Swatches are two coats. Wear is middlin' (tip wear after 24 hours as shown) but it's worth it. It applies like butter (that's a good thing) and really goes over the top beauty-wise once you put on a shiny topcoat.

Swatches and more after the jump.

Infusion Organique: Acai Rain

 

This isn't a fragrance blog (there are far better noses and descriptive writers out there!) but I surely have quite a few fragrances crossing my desk lately. Here's one that's come in lately. Let me tell you about it...

MAC announces Venomous Villains, a collab with Disney due in Sept. 2010

Via WWD today:

MAC Cosmetics is teaming up with Disney to create a limited edition color collection, intended to launch globally in late September in all MAC locations. The products will feature four Disney characters, on which the brand is keeping mum at the moment — although with a collection name of Venomous Villains, it is assumed that we’re not talking Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse here. Lipstick, powder, lip gloss and blush shades will be sold, ranging in price from $12 to $29.50.

Did you notice that this doesn't say "eyeshadows"? I find that hard to believe, so I just won't. ;)

Keep reading for more.

A tale of two Zia masks: 1 good, 1 great. Which one lands in my trashcan? And why would I still recommend it?

I think this post wins for "Longest BSB Title in the History of the Blog"!

I got to test two masks from a company called Zia Natural Skincare. Now that we're close likethis, I just call 'em Zia. You can find Zia products at many stores that carry organic and "health" foods- in fact my local grocery store has the line.

As the title suggests, I fell in love with one of the masks I tried, and the other one was pretty good, too. But surprisingly, the one I loved is in my trashcan. Keep reading to find out why.

Putting together a makeup look: Coral and turquoise inspiration

Where do you get your inspirations?

Image soures: painting, coral reef photo, yarn, girl w/ glasses, retro print