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

Open Letter to my Fairy Godmother

Dear Fairy Godmother,

I haven't asked you for anything before. At least,  I don't think I have. But now, you're needed.

Sookie's Fairy Godmother saves her from evil things and appears out of nowhere. I wouldn't burden you with that, especially seeing how that all worked out for Claudine.

Cinderella's Fairy Godmother whipped up a dress, changed some rodents into people, and gave her some rad shoes. Sure, there was a time-limit, but it was still a pretty neat trick. I don't even need that much of a commitment from you (just sayin', a pumpkin coach can't be cheap).

I just new laptop with Photoshop. It's got to have a decent amount of memory on it. I would love it if the battery kept a charge for more than 7 minutes (my current one falls short of this requirement and always has). Also, if all of the keys were actually attached to the keyboard, that would be rad. I know how to use Bendaroos to fake a missing key, but it's not the ideal working situation. And key (pun intended) would be a consistently functioning power cord.

Currently, my power cord is dead. The one we had to pay for today is the 7th (SEVENTH!) replacement cord.

I would love to have a Wacom tablet, so I could draw. I'd also love a scanner. But these things aren't the top of the list, as they are useless to me without a computer.

Please, Fairy Godmother, could you help me out? I promise I won't drag you into a fairy war and get you killed.

Oh, and could you also explain to my readers that until my new(est) power cord comes, I'll be posting from my phone. Any articles that go up will have minimal images associated with them, and will be brief, because typing with two fingers is tedious.

Thanks, FG!

xoxo

*jen

 

My only comment on Emmy fashions this year. Or, I know whose stylist needs a new job!

Apologies for not posting yesterday, in case anyone noticed. I was a touch under-the-weather with... I don't know what. I was freezing and tired exhausted. Today, that seems to have resolved, thankfully! How was your weekend and Monday? Otherwise, ours was pretty good.

Sunday was the Emmy's. I'm sure that didn't escape your notice, even if you didn't watch. I didn't either, by the way, so if you skipped it you're in good company. I just can't stand to listen to my dear hubby complain about how long the Red Carpet stuff takes. And I don't ever have the patience to watch awards ceremonies unfold. They remind me too much of sitting in a hot auditorium listening to graduation ceremonies!

Anyway, as is my usual habit, I skipped them. Instead, I perused the gossip and fashion websites yesterday via phone, since I never even turned on the computer yesterday. That's how you know a blogger is sick, by the way. ;)

Only one outfit really garnered my notice. Sure, some folks looked great (Lea Michele- WOOT!) and others bombed (Christina Hendricks and January Jones), but only one moved me enough to comment. Let's play a tiny little math game to find out which one, shall we?

It's time for some Emmy'S Math!

WHAT THE?

As far as I'm concerned, Rita Wilson's only good choice was showing up with hubby Tom Hanks.

I think it's clear to all what's wrong with the look, so there's no need for me to mention how the white shift and odd braiding/belt makes Rita look wider than she is. How wearing an open-weave over-dress (?) with chunky prisms hanging on it might not have been a great choice. You plainly see that the overall look makes this normally well-appointed woman appear sloppy, confused, and much older than she is. Nor do I have to point out that the severely pulled back hair doesn't do her favors or that the odd loop-de-loop in the back has nothing to do with anything. You can already tell that her eye makeup is a bit too icy, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one who figures that close-up this look didn't do her any favors in the accenting-the-wrinkles arena. And then there's the shoes. Good god... those shoes...

 

It doesn' help that the Google search term "tacky chandelier" brings up pictures of shoes just like this starting on page four.

Please, Rita, fire your stylist. A blind monkey could have done better. Didn't you have "veto" priveleges? Next time, please use them. You're a beautiful mature woman, but this look didn't showcase it at all. I need you to do better.

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Fergie back to blonde - is all right with the world again?

You've got to admire her commitment. Fergie stayed brunette a lot longer than I ever thought she would, especially considering it wasn't terribly flattering on her.

She's embracing the semi-ombre look with darker roots and an all over golden shade painted with pale highlights.

What do you think? What's Fergie's best shade?

And are you now convinced to try Avon's haircare line, Advanced Techniques? That's apparently why she's gone back to a paler shade.

 

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photo source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Bath & Body Works: Halloween!

I'm tragically bad at coming up with Halloween costume ideas. I'm quite artistic and enthusiastic, but lack the creative spark, I guess.

But Halloween is my favorite holiday, hands down, and one thing I can do to celebrate is to decorate!

Cue Bath & Body Works' seasonal collection, Halloween Spook-tacular Boo-tique. It's all available now, so be sure to snap it up!

I'm pretty sure I could find an end table the baby can't reach and plop the Haunted House Luminary ($35) on it. The glow-in-the-dark hand soap is  scented in B&BW fan fave Warm Vanilla Sugar. That would work well in the upstairs bathroom.  Currently the store is having a 4-for-$10 special on Anti-bacterial products, which is great, because I'm running low on my beloved anti-bac handwashes! Speaking of anti-bac, I'll probably need one of those glow-in-the-dark handi-bac holders!

I love the scent of Fall goodies, and that's a ton better than smelling bathroom or diapers in the trashcan, so I'll get room sprays in several scents! But do I pick Caramel Apple (golden apple, brown sugar, creamy caramel, anjou pear, nutmeg, and vanilla), Creamy Pumpkin (creamy caramel, gingered pumpkin, vanilla, golden amber, and warm cream), or Pumpkin Patch (fresh pumpkin, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla cream), or Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (spicy pumpkin puree, sweet butter, vanilla cream)? All of those scents are also available in candles and other room-scenting products.

I know the kids would get a kick out of the Ghost Hand Soap pump ($10) (also Warm Vanilla Sugar) and the expandable pumpkin towel ($2.50), but the Skull & Crossbones Tote ($40) is all for Mama!

All that said, how freakin' adorable is that Bat SCENTBUG Home Fragrance Fan ($14.50)?  Since I am a Halloween collector, I have no problem putting one in my office year-round. PS: Did you know that the SCENTBUG was the winner of The Fragrance Foundation’s 2010 FiFi Award for Interior Scent Collection? High praises!

 

 

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Feel like tossing a bunch of these in your cart? Hate the kitschy stuff? Does anyone else think it odd that the "Caramel Apple" scent doesn't have any apple notes in it?

 

The Nail Ninja: Butter London Fall/Winter '10

Seasonal polish collections often reflect the trends of said season. Fall/Winter  '10 is about texture, layering, and depth. Clothes will be delightfully layered (though isn't this always the way in Fall and Winter?). Texture played a large part of the FW shows, especially in my favorite way: chunky knits over sheer fabrics paired with slick leather. Those things really create that feeling of "depth", as also can be seen in the recent hair trend of ombre locks (they fade gradually from a light root to a darker end, or vice versa). These are all some of my favorite things!

Now... how does those translate into nail polish trends? The Ninja suspects we'll be seeing quite a bit of shimmer, interplay between different textures in one mani, and delicious jelly polishes.

Nonie Creme, head of Big-3 free polish brand Butter London, interpreted this Fall's trends into 4 shades:

1. Bumster This unusual shade is mustard, ochre, yellow-brown. It's named after a style of pants designed by Alexander McQueen in 1996 in which the waistband slung low and showed off the wearers' bums.
2. Marrow We know that purple is huge this Fall, and the shimmer in Marrow adds intriguing depth. The original version of this dark purple shade was custom-mixed for the AW10 Vena Cava show. It reminded the designers of bone marrow. By many accounts, though, the color being sold isn't the same as that spotted backstage, which was more greyed-out and murky.
3. All Hail McQueen This is "the tribute polish" in honor of Alexander McQueen. The opaque beige version of Yummy Mummy (a Butter London top seller) is heavily doused with holographic glitter. Note: this is not "a holo polish"; it's a holo glitter. The former would give off a uniform holographic rainbow effect all over the nail. All Hail McQueen has holo glitter, each particle of which shines like a holographic prism.
4. Victoriana The Victorian Age, in color. A "textured vintage blue", to be exact, which apparently is a blue with green tones. Again, shimmering particles add depth and texture hee.

Take a looksie:

I'm sad I didn't get samples to try - they look bangin'! I'm especially intruiged by All Hail McQueen because I'm obsessed with holo glitter, though you know I'm a purple addict so Marrow also calls to me. I'd like to check out Bumster, because though it's not technically a neutral (too warm!), it's an unusual color that will compliment Fall nicely. I'm gradually getting addicted to the all-to-trendy (in the nail world) greens and blues, with my favorites being a mix of the two shades that is particularly flattering on my cool skin. Will Victoriana fit the bill? All Lacquered Up got this collection to review, that lucky Michele; swatches are here.

Each polish retails for $14 (well worth it if these are like the rest of the polishes in the line). Buy them online at ButterLondon.com or check the site for other retailers.

YOUR TURN:
Have you tried Butter London? Like it? Leave it? Do these colors entice you? Are you excited for Fall? Are your pants falling off, or are they securely in place?

Is cute packaging enough? (Paul & Joe holiday '10)

I've long said I'm a marketers dream. I am the one who picks up at least one thing from the display at the register. I am easily lured by the words "Limited Edition". Two big brands collaborating makes me sweat a bit (sheer joy). I'm embrrassed to admit I believe most of what I'm told in advertising copy.  I fear I am also the type to thrill at the words "special packaging".  In fact, scratch that. All a product needs to catch my eye is pretty packaging.

But is it enough?

Take a look at Paul & Joe's holiday '10 nail polishes. I want them. But do I really, or am I just lusting after the pretty floral handles?

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Odds are the pink and beige-y polishes will be fairly sheer, which isn't my thing. I need another red with pink  shimmer like a hole in the head. The gold-brown will likely be unflattering and possibly also on the sheer side. I have some black shimmers, though that one may be promising.

See some more of the Paul & Joe holiday collection after the cut. Also there, some lovely shots of the Fall collection (cats!).

___

PS: Did you know Paul & Joe (who always has amazing packaging!) is now available at b-glowing? I can't remember if I've mentioned that or not.

BPAL: Vampires Don't Sleep Alone - the look back

I've just finished reviewing the final scent in the recent release from  Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL): Vampires Don't Sleep Alone. Now I'm kind of sad it's over. I need more BPAL!

The series is based on the book "Vampires Don't Sleep Alone"*, a vampire dating how-to written by  BPAL founder Elizabeth Barrial and  D.H. Altair (of Dark Delicacies). If you're not familiar with BPAL, you may find this post helpful. Other BSB reviews of BPAL perfume oils can be found here, and if you feel like losing yourself in myriad reviews, take a look at BPAL.org, a the BPAL fan forum.

On a whole, this is a great collection of perfume oils. I enjoyed testing them all, as usual, and there were no overt "fails" for me here. On each review, I've taken pictures of each bottle so you can see the beautiful artwork done by Julie Dillon.

You can order from this page, though at this point you'll have to scroll down quite a bit to find them (so many new releases!).

The scents are as follows (click the scent name to see the review):

CICUTA
Dry, dusty rose petals, candle smoke, frankincense, and saffron.

INTERFECTOR
Ruthless, unfeeling, and inhumanly violent: tobacco, sharp woods, frankincense, and bunn.

TOMBEUR
Deadly and seductive: vanilla-infused sandalwood, blood musk, antique patchouli, vetiver, lavender, bitter almond, amber, and a trickle of Snake Oil.

SILENTI
Grave beauty: Spanish moss, lilac, wisteria, myrrh, and olibanum.

TRANSEO
GA cologne that (almost) blends well into human society: benzoin, orange blossom, cumin, King mandarin, gaiac wood, juniper berry, Calabrian bergamot, Ceylon cinnamon, and blood camouflaged by wine.

MISERICORDIA
Eons of grief and unending hunger: magnolia, black currant, castoreum accord, lavender, labdanum, amber, rose otto, and opoponax.

PHILOLOGUS
Ancient books, crackled parchment, faded incense, and candle wax.

VESPILLO
A grounded, earthy scent, evocative of the soul’s finer qualities: patchouli, clove, neroli, night-blooming jasmine, sage, and iris.

SANCTUS
Diabolically otherworldly: golden osmanthus, lily of the valley, celestial musk, and frankincense.

VILF
Because isn’t that what this book is really about? Vampire smut: patchouli-infused honey, red musk, red sandalwood, red ginger, pink pepper, Peru balsam, dark Eastern florals, Himalayan cedar, smoky vanilla, bitter clove, and leather.

________

Did you find any lemmings here? Have you already tried some of these? If so, what were your thoughts? And does anyone else have the urge to re-watch all of the True Bloods with me?

BPAL: Vampires Don't Sleep Alone - VILF

Yes, kids, it's the one you've been waiting for!

VILF
Vampire smut: patchouli-infused honey, red musk, red sandalwood, red ginger, pink pepper, Peru balsam, dark Eastern florals, Himalayan cedar, smoky vanilla, bitter clove, and leather.

Keep reading for the review...

Buy Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL) perfume oils here.

Body painting promotes breast cancer awareness (possibly NSFW?)

Are you obsessed with the right things?

When you have a monster zit, it can preoccupy you. Buying jeans can be stressful and throw your day into a spiral (so can lying on the bed to wriggle into a too-small pair!). Bad hair can ruin a whole day.

Are those the things women should be focused on? The Breast Cancer Foundation of Singapore urges you to put it all in perspective with the following series of ads that compares trivial beauty complaints to the serious issue of breast cancer.

Now... is that bad hair day really all that bad?

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This campaign was developed DDB Worldwide, Singapore . Illustrator Andy Yang Soo Kit did the body painting.

_{source 1, 2}

Best Illamasqua contest yet?

I've had my sights set on going to London for quite awhile. Is it my time? Is it yours? Illamasqua is running a new contest, and the prize is a doozy!

They're offering a hotel stay (2 nights), in-town transportation, and (this is the biggie!) a 3 day makeup course (part of the new Illamasqua School of Makeup Art). If you're in the UK already, they'll also pay for travel.*

The winner will get to select a session in October, November or December. The course is worth over £575 (that's more than $890!). Oh, and winning also means you also get an impressive 20% discount off of Illamasqua products.

So what do you have to do?

I'll quote, so I don't misrepesent anything.

"Simply download the face chart and produce a design under the theme of 'UNPREDICTABLE' by clicking below or from the Illamasqua SOMUA facebook page. You can use make-up, paint, materials... the more creative and daring the better. Tell us all about your influences and why your design is considered 'Unpredictable' and you could be in with the chance of winning this amazing prize.

Please submit your Face Chart design entry by Competition closing date: Monday September 13th 2010."

The small print:
UK Only entry*
Minimum entry age of 16 years
Be sure to put your contact details on
We cannot return face charts

* I will update this on Monday when, I'm sure, we'll get some more clarification on this. Someone has posted that the contest is indeed open internationally with the caveat that the winner would have to pay for travel if he/she resides outside of the UK.


How to submit
Please send entries to:

Illamasqua School of Make-up Art Competition
Illamasqua
6-8 Amwell St
London
EC1R 1UQ

Or you can scan in your entry and send it to [email protected]

When Illamasqua posts a better (hi-res) version of the face chart, I'll update this post.

Celeb Beauty: Rihanna loses a battle with a curling iron (plus pics of her new 'do)

I'm surprised my earlobes aren't permanently disfigured after the (multiple) times I burned them while trying to curl my hair while wearing hoope earrings. Don't ask; it was the 90's.

I've also burned my neck (It looked like a hickey. Which is worse!?) and my forehead. I always chalked it up to being a total goofball, which is probably true, but at least it sems I'm in good company. Rihanna Tweeted this the other day:  "New hair....new curling iron BURN......damn 5head always in the way" accompanied by the picture to the right.

Have you ever done this?
And meanwhile, what do you think of Rihanna's semi-new red hair and newer extensions (or wig?)?


More pics after the cut

BPAL: Vampires Don't Sleep Alone - Sanctus

The Sanctus are considered by some pious vampires to be the saints of their kind, and from what we have gleaned, they are very likely the stuff of myth.

SANCTUS
Diabolically otherworldly: golden osmanthus, lily of the valley, celestial musk, and frankincense.

Keep reading for the review...

Buy Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL) perfume oils here.

NARS Vintage Polish coming to a fingernail near you?

Officially, NARS doesn't have anything to say (yet) about their Vintage Nail Collection for Fall '10, but I've spotted a few tidbits here and there. I can't tell you prices (though usually BNAS polishes are $16) but I was told October 1st is the date we can expect to see them in the US.

What I do know:

That's hot.

The shades:
Mash army green infused with gold
King Kong copper brown infused with gold
Midnight Express deep navy
Zulu forest green
Full Metal Jacket gunmetal gray

 

I will own Zulu, which is a cult classic, much-hyped, well-loved green. I must have it. I don't care what it takes.
I'm pretty sure Mash will come home with me, too. Er... King Kong is also pretty rad.

What do you think, ya'll? Are you lemming Zulu? Going to climb a building for King Kong? Jumping on a train for Midnight Express? Is anyone concerned that I've mentioned gorillas twice in one day?

UKers: Gorilla Perfume @ LUSH. US: We can only be jealous, for now!

Are you a LUSH Lover? You know I am! Are you a fragrance Lover? Um-- I am! If you are like me, then, the idea of Gorilla Perfumes -an all new line of scents from the makers of LUSH - is super exciting!

We're still waiting to hear about when this is going to hit US shores, but the info is too good not to share. Plus, there may be a few of my readers who are in the UK and who haven't heard about these yet (and can grab some, the lucky ducks), so I wanted to make sure I shared the info. I've already begged asked the PR rep I work with for LUSH to keep me updated, so as soon as I hear more I'll pass it along to you, my favorite ladies and gents!

So lets' get on to the details, shall we?

It seems we can expect high quality perfumes in a simple, unassuming black package. Scents are marked either "vegetarian" or "vegan" on the line's website and it looks to me like every effort has been made to use sustainable sources (not surprising considering the LUSH mentality).

FOURTEEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT GORILLA PERFUMES:

1. Scentologists Mark (co-founder of LUSH) and Simon (his son) Constatine (who produce some of the yummy smells at LUSH) are the noses behind Gorilla Perfume.
2. Gorilla Perfume is meant to be "an antidote to boring mass-market scents and a movement to get people excited about good quality perfume."
3. Simon is quite good with a pencil, too! (see right)
4. The Smell of Weather Turning is made with ingredients that would have been available to perfumers 5,000 years ago.
5. Tuca Tuca is inspired by a song to which LUSH staffers were dancing... and couldn't get away from!
6. Simon created Imogen Rose as a tribute to his infant daughter. He aimed to do better than most rose scents, which he says are disappointing and are "too granny-ish or seem so synthetic that I'm sure a rose has never been anywhere near them".
7. Apparently Imogen Rose (the scent, not the kid) smells better on the skin than the scent strip, so be sure to give it a real test drive!
8. The Smell of Freedom is one of quite a few scents inspired by people the Constantines enounter. In this case, three people Simon met who had survived unnamed hardships.
9. Orange Blossom was going to be used as a candle, but OOPS! They liked it so much it became a perfume.
10. The promo shot for Lust features Edward Cullen!
11. Gorilla Perfumes also makes candles, which are free-standing and coated with black cheese wax.
12. If you miss some of your favorite B Never Too Busy to Be Beautiful scents, you may just find them at Gorilla!
13. Lush scents Karma and Vanillary are also being marketed though Gorilla Perfumes, too.
14. Ooh! They sell samples!
    
    

Keep up with Gorilla Perfumes on Facebook and on Twitter to stay on top of the news!

Meanwhile, let me know if you see anything you like. UK readers, have you checked these out yet? Non-UK folk, have you ordered anything and had it shipped? Looking forward to this? Don't think it sounds interesting? How do you feel about the packaging? Anyone else craving a banana?

Things you need to know...

Hi, guys. I'm visiting the folks with the girls for a few days. Thought we'd get a trip in before school starts. I've been trying to work out (walking a lot) because I don't have gym privileges up here. On our walk today, we took some great pictures. If you want to see a few, let me know. I'd love to post them!

How is your Wednesday treating you? I hope the week is sailing by when you're at work, but taking its time when you're doing your own thing!

OK, I've got a slew of things I want to tell you about, and rather than do a post per item, I'm going to hit you up, list-style. Hang onto your hats!

1. The Body Shop is having their Friends & Family sale from this Thursday, August 26th, to Sunday, August 29th. Enjoy 20% off all regular and sale priced items. If you order over $50, have some free shipping. :)
   The Body Shop Friends & Family Event: 20% Off - Online Only. Use code: FF10. Hurry, Event ends 8/29! Click here to shop mow>
   _{*I am a The Body Shop affiliate, so I will make a few pennies if you order through this link. Just lettin' ya know, all disclosure-like.}
   
   
   
2. Model and business woman, Josie Maran (that's her on the right), has a fabulous line of argan-oil-based cosmetics that are nice and good for the environment and for you. Recently, she conducted a "Day of Makeovers" at City of Hope hospital (a top cancer research and treatment facility). Not only did it promote her product, GOGO Natural Volume Argan Mascara (which is 80% natural, 50% organic), but it helped lift the spirits of the women being treated there. You go, Josie! People, if you want to try a new mascara, give this one a go, will ya? It's $22 at Sephora, is water-resistant, "blacker than black", and free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals and other nasties. Plus, the Argan Oil will make your lashes nicely conditioned and healthy.
   “GOGO” stands for “Get One, Give One” and for every mascara purchased, another one gets donated to a woman coping with cancer from City of Hope.  Then, after the first 5,000 sales, Josie will continue to donate $1.00 from every purchase to support women’s cancer research.
   
   
   
3. Are you a QVC regular? Or just a beautyaholic? Tune in to QVC on August 27th after 10PM ET and keep watching all day on the 28th for their Beauty's Best series. They're featuring Clarisonic, Laura Geller, Elemis, Tarina Tarantino, Supersmile, and Smashbox products. It's a can't miss!
   QVC - 8.27 PM through 8.28 - Beauty's Best
   
   
4. Have you seen the palette Stila is doing for Holiday '10? The Muse featured it here, so go take a look for more details. I think I need this.
   PS: Stila redid their website according to consumer wishes. Take a look: StilaCosmetics.com
   
   
   
   
   
5. Are you a Laura Mercier fan? I know a lot of you are. I don't know too much about the line, but I do know that they have introduced a new campagin called "What is Flawless?". It's a conversation-starter (that's what they're calling it) to get your brain going. Do you think Fall weather is flawless? Your husband's laugh? Submit your answer here.
   For every answer submitted to www.lauramercier.com, Laura Mercier will make a donation to the Gulf Relief Foundation.
   
   
   
6. If you're an AHAVA lover and a mineral makeup groupie, now you can have your AHAVA cake and eat it, too. Or something like that...
   AHAVA is introducing their new mineral makeup line that, of course, has wonderful minerals right out of the Dead Sea. They've got Light Foundation (matte, medium-coverage, liquid, all skin-types); Rich Foundation (full-coverage, "glossy finish", liquid, normal-to-dry skin types); Compact Powder (natural finish, light coverage, pressed powder, all skin types); and Loose Powder (weightless, medium-to-full coverage, semi-matte, all skin types). The liquid products are $28, and the powders are $35. Look for them Sept. 1st on www.ahava.com.
   
   
   
7. MAC is releasing two new Viva Glam lipglasses: Viva Glam Gaga (light blue-pink) and Viva Glam Cyndi (midtone dirty coral). Naturally, they are LE and go on sale Sept. 2nd for $14.50 each. Karla Sugar swatched them here.
   Also making an appearance (again) are the "autographed" lip bag things that apparently sold out like nothing else the last time. Get yours ASAP if you want one ($28 each).
   Learn about Viva Glam (in which 100% of the proceeds from Viva Glam items goes to support people affected by HIV and AIDS), skedaddle to this link.
   
   
   
8. Bath & Body Works has introduced another new scent. This one is called Dark Kiss and it's being billed as "daring and seductive". Here's the poetic nonsense used to describe what may actually be a great scent: It is a "daring, seductive blend fusing passion and temptation, illustrated in an oriental vanilla amber scent that sparkles with flirty forbidden fruits... The innocent obsession begins with a caress of sparkling Mirabelle plum and wild berries. Perilous dark blooms of peony and burgundy rose dance with forbidden amber, providing a feminine thread of sensuality. The exotic fragrance is cradled in a kiss of warm incense and vetiver, providing depth and mystery as tempting vanilla bean, rich woods and primal musks complete the provocative rendez-vous.”
   Bottom line: oriental vanilla amber; plum and wild berries; peony; burgundy rose; incense; vetiver; vanilla bean; woods; musk. Could be great! Shop for it here.
   
   
   
   
   
9. LUSH has made a delicious-sounding soap called Summer Pudding. Um, yum! Based on the English dessert (fruit and layered bread pudding), this soap is full of cherries and berries and lemon oil and ground almonds (scrubby!). It's also got a bit of juniper oil, which is deep-cleansing and will smooth and soften your skin. It's $5.95 for 3.5oz.
   _{Disclaimer: I'm a LUSH affiliate, which means if you buy using my link here, I get a few pennies.}
   
   
   
   
   
10. Le Metier de Beaute is a line I haven't tried yet. (My wallet is grateful) Their new collection, Le Cirque, looks gorgeous. I'm especially eyeing up that pretty taupe-and-related-shades shadow palette. You can read more about the collection at British Beauty Blogger.
    
    
    
    
11. Chantecaille. Just the name makes my heart go pitter pat. Their Fall '10 collection is centered around a 3-shadow, 1 blush palette that features tigers ($5 of the $78 pricetag goes to a charity geared towards tigers). Take a look, but keep in mind according to Karla Sugar, she of the famous swatching arm, the promo pics don't look like the colors actually do, so visit her site to see swatches.
    
    
    
    
    
12. Gabourey Sidibe is rumored to be in negotiations with Bobbi Brown to create a collaborated collection. Interesting! I don't think Bobbi has done that before. Can't wait to hear more details. Meanwhile, isn't this the most fun picture (below)?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Emilio Pucci's newest scent, Miss Pucci, is not something I think I'd like, but the bottle is to die for, no?
    Notes: Sicilian winter lemon, Turkish rose, Comoros ylang-ylang, Tunisian orange blossom, Arabian jasmine, Texas cedar, Florentine powdered iris. You can get it at Sephora; $53 for 1oz, $74 for 1.7oz, $89 for 3.4oz.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    And that about does it, for now. What are you looking forward to and what will you skip? What buzz did I miss? And who else wishes that orange in the Chantecaille was the real color, and an eyeshadow?!
    
    *jen
    
    
    
    

Beauty Blogs Backstage: Helen from Just Nice Things

I'd like to officially introduce you to Helen, as in HelenAndSheenie, as in Helen from Just Nice Things, a fabulous blog that is full of, well, just a lot of nice things! Those things include makeup of almost any kind and of course, nail polish. The Ninja, by the way, is a huge fan of Helen's. While ninja life doesn't allow for really long talons, Then Ninja is quite jealous of Helen's nails.

Anyway, as part of Beauty Blogs Backstage I had the opportunity to interview Helen, and she interviewed me (you can read that here). I was totally stoked, natch, because Helen is a huge presence in the blogging world. What a treat to pick her brain! Plus, I'm hoping we can become BFFs and swap overseas items. ;)

Anyway, Helen, I'd like to introduce you to my fabulous readers. Folks, this is Helen. Please make her feel welcome! Here are the seven questions I asked Helen:

1. Q: Recently you said you don't have "the green gene" that other nail bloggers and fans seem to have (referring to the nail underground's obsession with the shade). Me either. What genes do you have and are you missing any others?
   
   A: Greens just don’t excite me. I don’t know why as  see them on other people and think “ooh that looks nice” but when I get them on me it just seems wrong. Put it this way, if I had the elusive Chanel Jade, I’d be whacking that baby up on eBay faster than you can say “rip-off”. However, I have a definite mushroom gene (that sounds painful). I like the sludgy, grubby shades the best, anything like OPI’s You Don’t Know Jacques or similar. Purple is a dominant gene, and I have a real magpie-esque predisposal towards anything holographic too. Am I missing any other genes? Well, oranges and yellows don’t really do it for me. And when  sifting through my untrieds, I generally gravitate towards most of my other colours before opting to use a pink or a red.
   
   
   
2. Q: What is the worst experience you've had with an animal?
   
   A: Ha! Not as in a Catherine the Great “experience”, I take it! (eww). Nothing specific comes to mind but it would have to be anything to do with spiders or dogs. Spiders freak me out to the point that I feel physically sick if one goes anywhere near me. And I am resolutely not a dog person *braces self for loss of readers* I don’t like the way that dogs sniff your crotch, jump up at you, and generally smell icky.
   
   _{Editor's Note: I am totally with you on spiders. I have hyperventilated before, and generally stay away from anywhere a spider may feel cozy.} *j
   
   
3. Q: I'm always coveting the brands I can't get here in the US. What brands are you wishing were available to you in the UK?
   
   A: Easy peasy. China Glaze. I love their stuff but have to pay a heinous retail / eBay price for them. It makes me sad as I don’t have anywhere near as much of their stuff as I’d like. Ditto Zoya, Color Club and some of the bonkers cheap-yet-awesome drugstore finds that I see on a lot of US blogs. And Make-Up Forever. In fact, sod it, just bring Sephora back to London, pleeeeease?
   
   
4. Q: You ask others this one all of the time in your Twenty Questions series, so turnabouts is fair play. How many bottles of nail polish do you own?
   
   A: I’m not going to answer with the exact number as I’m thinking about using it as a qualifying question in my next giveaway but it is somewhere between 600 and 800. Definitely less than 1,000. Although if it’s my husband asking, it’s about 14. The massive stash he thinks he sees in our spare room is a pure optical illusion.
   
   
5. Q: Halloween, role play, acting gigs - have you ever dressed up and  if so what's your favorite costume?
   
   A: We don’t really go in for Halloween in the UK, certainly not as much as the USA does. However, I’ve done a lot of plays in my time, as was a member of the local youth theatre. My favourite costume though as probably the theme we set for my hen party earlier in the year. Everyone (including the people who were seven months pregnant) had to dress up as Motley Crue. My friend made me the most awesome veil as well, all red and black net and I had a fab 80s rock chick outfit on with studded leggings and ripped denim and all sorts. I still wear it round the house sometimes when no-one’s looking.
   
   
   
   
6. Q: You prefer to wear your nails quite long. What are your top 3 tips to keep those tips?
   
   A: They’re getting much shorter actually, although you probably won’t see this til later in the year as I have posts scheduled quite a long way in advance. Although probably still longer than the average. I look back on some of my photos from when I first started out and I cringe. Too long and bendy. But as far as three top tips to have ten top tips goes, I would say: 1) OPI Nail Envy. I’ve been using it for years and it never ever lets me down.
   2) Get a glass or crystal nail file. No more sawing backwards and forwards with an emery board or piece of sandpaper, please ladies.
   3) Avoid manual labour where possible, refuse to do the washing up, and always wear rubber gloves when  being forced to do any housework. Trust me, it’s a win-win.
   
   
7. Q: If you could only drink one beverage for the rest of your life, what would it be?
   
   A: I have to be really, really boring and say sparkling water. Is that club soda to you guys? If it was an alcoholic one, probably gin and tonic, with a hefty wedge of lime. However, that might gain me a few odd looks on the train in the morning…maybe if it was in a Starbucks cup it might be ok, but that’s a scary, scary thought that I am even sitting here considering the practicalities of smuggling gin onto an early morning commuter train.

 

So, wonderful readers, that's Helen. If you're not already a fan and loyal reader of Just Nice Things, scurry over to her great blog and read! (Just make sure you come back!) ;)

Polish lovers: I bet I can make you spend $75 in the blink of an eye!

Les Khakis De Chanel, three takes on "griege chic", were created for Fashion's Night Out. Available Sept. 10th, they'll set you back $25 bucks a piece.

What say you?

_{I say someone better book a makeover ASAP so I can pick these bad boys up! ;)}

UDPP. Super-size me (updated)

Take a look at this monster mumba jumba:


According to the Urban Decay Facebook page, this "Professional Size" Primer Potion (in a squeeze bottle!) will be available for Holiday '10 is available now! I need two: one for me, one for the kit.

More details when I get them...

It's $29 and you can get it here. Check out the sweet needle-nose dispensing cap that lets you get 100% of the 25% larger container:

Pretty Purples (makeup look)

I am working on some swatches for some green shadows, and man did I need a break from greens! I've done green looks every day for a week. Zoiks.

Here's a purple look I did today...

Items used:
- Eye primer; medium purple, matte shadow pressed on the lids; a darker, more blue purple on the outer corner of the lid and out a bit towards the temple and also pulled through the crease; a white with gold pearl pressed onto the inner corner (tearduct) and as a brow highlight; then since it didn't pop enough I pressed a pinky-purple shimmer on the center of the lid.

- Face is a new foundation I'm testing by L'Oreal, a pink blush, and a bit of bronzer to keep myself from looking dead.

- Lips were a pinky brown liner and lipstick topped with a sheer shimmery lavender lipstick

- Clearly, I did nothing with my hair. ;)

 

More pics and product names are after the cut.

Sephora's Power Plums look - what do you think?

I was browsing around today on Facebook, and found myself looking at the Sephora page. Specifically, I was looking at their Power Plums video. That's the look, above (here's a written breakdown/how-to).When I got the Fall catalog from Sephora I really loved this look, with all of those those scrumptious purples. I mean, I'm not going to wear the look to the grocery store, of course, but I'm still a fan of the look and think it shows off the products beautifully.

You really have to see the video, in which the makeup looks a bit more intense. I suppose some of that was because of lighting, though other explanations for the "softer" look in the publicity still probably involve the word "Photoshop".

What surprised me were the comments. At the time I scrolled through, they were roughly 98% negative. Is that surprsing considering the darkness of the video? Surely that screenshot above looks very 80's with the intense eyes, blush, lipstick, and cheeks - not to mentoin the brows. And the lighting really makes the lipstick look like it clashes with the rest of the look, doesn't it? It's an optical illusion of some sort, due to the lighting I guess, that make the lips look really purple-brown.



Did Sephora do themselves a diservice by posting this video? Or is the look just completely over-the-top no matter how you look at it? Maybe it's not very everyday-woman-friendly, but are there tings you can pick up from it and apply to the makeup looks you use this Fall? And am I the only one hungry for a plum now?