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

Using my Free Pass

Hi, beauties! I took a weekend off, but I missed talking to you. Glad to be back.

Over the weekend, I saw the Orly Cosmic FX collection again, and I've gotta say: I'm unimpressed.

The collection, in case you weren't aware, is currently the talk of the nail polish world. The polishes are shimmery and glittery and sparkly and some of them are even duo(tri)chromes. Several have dupes in the MAC Venomous Villains collection (does this tell you how "special" they are? But I digress...)

People are going nuts for these polishes, including the one "non-dupe" in the MAC collection. I mean selling-out, racing around, shopping like mad, hoarding style going nuts.

A few weeks ago, I got a chance to see them in person and I have to say, my main reaction was "Meh." A few days ago, I swatched the MAC versions on my fingers really quickly, and again: meh. Then, on Sunday, while waiting for a prescription to be filled at CVS, I found a display with all of the colors tucked away on the bottom of a shelf. Again, I swatched the Orly shades on my fingers, again I was unmoved. (Actually, the longer I looked at the bright green one, the more I liked it, but otherwise I was unimpressed).

I bought nothing.

I used my Free Pass.

Sometimes I buy because I really need something. Sometimes, I buy because I just want.  Sometimes I want but can't afford or can't find something. Other times, though, I give myself permission to not hoard, to not rave about, to not succumb to the hype, to not panic, or to not feel guilty for not collecting. I use my Free Pass.

When do you use your Free Pass?

Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Blackberry (swatches, pictures, review)

Lipstick day at BSB continues!

So it's time for another of the  new Clarins lipsticks. I reviewed the Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick formula, wear and packaging already (here). This article is just to show you the color and talk about it.

Previously: Mandarin ,  Dark Chocolate , Copper Brown, and Pretty Plum. 

In the same vein as Pretty Plum, but darker, is Blackberry.

 

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If you like berries and plums as much as I do, you're in luck! This is a great shade for Fall and Winter. It's dark enough to be slightly dramatic, but not so vampy as to take you into vampire territory.

In a word: stunning.

I want wear it all the time, even in sweats at the grocery store. I'm insane. I don't care!

Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Plum (swatches, pictures, review)

So it's time for another of the  new Clarins lipsticks. I reviewed the Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick formula, wear and packaging already (here). This article is just to show you the color and talk about it.

Previously: Mandarin ,  Dark Chocolate , Copper Brown. Let's switch it up a bit and try a plum, shall we? In fact, its name is Pretty Plum.

 

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I have already worn this on three different occassions. I don't know if you understand the import of that sentence. I have a gazillion lipsticks, many of them plums. (Are you like me? Do you consistently buy similar shades?) And this is my favorite because it's so comfy and wears so damn well.

This is a straight-up cream lipstick, and a mid-tone plum. It's perfection. I keep it in my bag at all times now.

J'adore!

 

 

ANOTHER brown lipstick? Yes, really! Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Copper Brown (swatches, pictures, review)

So it's time for another of the  new Clarins lipsticks. I reviewed the Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick formula, wear and packaging already (here). This article is just to show you the color and talk about it.

Previously: Mandarin and Dark Chocolate. Now another brown. Copper Brown!

 

 

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I am MAD for this shade. It's a beautiful bronzey brown with just enough plum in the base. I will wear the hell out of this!

 

There's a tiny bit of a shimmer to this, so I suppose it's a "frost"? Definitely not a cream, but not high-frost, either.

I'm a NW15 (pale with cool undertones) and it looks great. I imagine it will carry on to almost any skintone and look fine, though of course the darker your skin the more "nude" this will look. On me, it's definitely bronzey perfection.

Oh, wait! This would look hella good with that eyeshadow I reviewed the other day! ooooohhhhh....
 

 

Brown lipstick? Yes, really! Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Dark Chocolate (swatches, pictures, review)

Hey, beauties! How's your day treating you?

This is sort of weird, since I'm writing this in advance. It's like I'm in a paradox or something! But I'm working Thursday and Friday, all day, for Bobbi Brown. It's going to be fun! They're doing a Masters Class. Very exciting! I may even be working on Saturday for Smashbox. Whew! Talk about jumping back into the fray!

Anyway, do you remember me telling you about those amazing new Clarins lipsticks with the long name? They're called Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick. What a mouthful! But they're amazing. Amazing!

I have swatches of the rest of the ones I tested for you. I showed you Mandarin and now I'm showing you a brown called Dark Chocolate. In the original post, I reviewed these for wear (excellent) and feel (yummy!). This post is simply for the swatch and for my comments on the color itself.

So, take a look at Dark Chocolate:

 

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 This reads slightly more plummy in these pictures. In reality, it's quite a dark, creamy brown. Gorgeous! Not really my color, though I found various lipgloss combinations on top that work really well on me.

It's smooth and even and perfect for anyone wanting to rock the Fall '10 brown lipstick trend (yes, that's a real thing!). It's also perfect for darker-complected women looking for a nude lip (if they're trying to get close to their skin color).

It's simply gorgeous. Gorgeous!

Perfume review: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude

My favorite thing to do in the Fall and Winter is to put a pot of soup on to simmer, get some fresh bread going, light some candles, start a fire in the fireplace, grab a book, and wrap up in a throw on the couch.

That's what Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude (released this month) reminds me of, only with more expensive versions of my kitchen, candles, and throw plus a nice bath and a glass of good wine.

This is what we call "a flanker scent". Meaning, it's a companion scent to another perfume. You're more than likely familiar with Donna Karan Cashmere Mist? I had heard of it, but not smelled it. Apparently this flanker, Liquid Nude, is softer and more powdery than the original.

At any rate, here's what we know about DKCMLN...

Packaging:
A tall, slender, undulating peachy-beige glass flacon.
Note: I tried a mini-sample, so can't speak to anything else about the bottle.

Scent Family:
Floral.

Description:
"Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude eau de parfum spray: a fragrance to seduce the senses. Soft and sensuous. Wrap yourself in luxury with the new scent from Donna Karan. Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude eau de parfum spray has been reinterpreted to provoke the sense of second skin with smooth, warm musks and creamy woods...caressing the skin in a veil of sensuous indulgence."


Review:
Impressions: Soft and sensuous indeed. It's cozy, but not warm. It's not cool, either, but suited for cool weather. It whispers and nuzzles. To me, it's all musk and jasmine, but neither are harsh or sharp. Again, "soft" is the key word here. It's not really a romantic or overtly sexy scent, even with the jasmine, but that's not to say a cozy moment couldn't turn...
Wear:  Excellent. Hours after applying it, I catch whiffs of it sometimes when I turn quickly and run itno my own wake. I also noticed it hanging quite nicely on the sleeves of a sweater I toss on. A pleasant surprise! Naturally, when I nuzzle my wrist (I do this often with this perfume), it smells great.
Throw: Minimal. It's a close-to-the-skin scent.

Price/Value:
$72 US for 1.7oz. Pricey.

Final thoughts:
For me, this is worth a full-bottle buy.

Have you tried this scent, or the original? What are your favorite cozy hobbies? Scents?
What the heck is "liquid nude"?

Does this ever happen to you?

That's my Illamasqua Furore loose pigment all over the bottom of my makeup bag.  I have no idea why A) it was even in there (I don't usually tote it around) and B) why the top wasn't on it solidly (not a packaging issue, it's a Jen issue).

I scooped it up and will mix it with a lotion or oil. What do you do when this happens to you? What's the last product that spilled or broke on you?

 

Would you wear it? Dior Spring Fashion Show makeup.

I love the pin-up meets Crayola look created for the Dior ready-to-wear show for Spring '11.

I have to say, I think I would wear my makeup like this. How 'bout you?

 

 

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So, would you or wouldn't you?

 

 

The perfect Autumn color for lips and cheeks? Three Custom Color - Caramel Rose Lip & Cheek Stain (pictures, swatches, review)

I was looking around to figure out if I had any products that I could use in my transition from Summer makeup to Fall makeup. I mean, something new. lol

Luckily, my gaze landed on the package I got from the other day from Three Custom Color Specialists. I already showed you The Best Brown Eye Shadow Ever that I got (and keep wearing to the exclusion of all other shadows). Well, right next to it was another little compact with that signature swooping "3".

Promising, isn't it? But does it have the answer to my Fall conundrum? Does it house something spectacular? Something warm but wearable on my cool skin? Something soft but colorful? Something that wouldn't add insult to injury when it comes to my already drying-in-the-air skin?

Keep reading and I'll let you know.

LUSH. Day of the Dead. I am dying with joy!

I'm sure you know by now that I'm a huge fan of the Day of the Dead. And I'm a huge fan of LUSH. And now, I can have both! No, seriously... you have no idea. I'm over the moon! I feel like I overdosed on sugar skulls. I'm delirious with the imagined heady scent of marigolds. I'm dancing through the cemetery!

Calaveras are skulls, a popular symbol of the holiday. I love them! If you love fizzy bath ballistics, this lime-scented, marigold-stuffed flower-bomb will probably drive you wild!

Lady Catrina has become a common image seen hovering around the Day of the Dead. She's got a beautiful wide-brimmed hat with gorgeous flowers and yummy fruit on it. This soap is scented with agave nectar, and promises to be sweet and citrusy.

 

Calacas are sugar skulls, a sculptural treat and tribute, all wrapped into one. These jellies are shaped like skulls and colored in shades inpired by the colorful flags seen decorating homes and businesses for this holiday. As for the jellies, they are filled with aloe vera and have a citrus scent.


I'm in love!

 

Best brown shadow ever! Three Custom Color exclusively at Urban Outfitters: Party All the Time. (swatches, pictures, review)

My love affair with Three Custom Color Specialists continues.  I am so excited about this eyeshadow I can't sit still. I know, I know... but it's really pretty!

Here's the thing: don't go looking for this one at Three Custom. Nope. You'll find it only at Urban Outfitters. And only online. But listen, I had a hard time finding it on the website, so here's the link.

So, before I show you the money eye shadow, let me tell you why I'm so crazy about this gem. I've got a handy little list:

1. It's brown.
   I'm really into neutrals right now.
2. It's in the Three Custom Wet/Dry formula.
   Sure, you can use any shadow wet or dry, but sometimes it ruins the pan or just doesn't work well wet (clumps, chalkiness, or streaking). Not here. These glide on and stay put. Dry they're pretty, wet they're insane!
3. It's going to rock equally well on any skintone.
   No, really. It's got enough going on that I can't see it falling flat on anyone.
4. It's sparkly!
   I'm such a magpie. I adore sparkle. This is just right, too. Fun, light-catching, and shimmery but not OTT or chunky or "young".
5. It's versatile.
   I have paired it with a few dark colors and vaious shades of gold and it's pretty darn good with all of them.
6. It's buildable.
   I can put this on sheerly, pack a bit on top to get a medium depth of color, or really layer it and get a deep glow. This also allows me to go from day to night easily!

Here ya go...

I included two shots of each thing (pan, on eye, swatches). The first of each item is in indirect lighting, the second is in direct lighting. You can see how natural this looks, but how radiant it can be, too. For the swatches, it's shown applied dry (the sheerer version), wet (nex tto it), and then with Teddy eye liner from MAC (thinner stripe) and Woodwinked eye shadow (again, from MAC, running perpendicular to the three other swatches).

I also showed a full-face picture with the shadow on so you can see it's not over-the-top. I wore it to pick up my daughter at school and it was totally appropriate (unlike some looks I wear there!).

Today a woman at Ara's school said "You always look so.... [gestured wildly at her face with a puzzled expression]... [long moment of silence] ... radiant." Um... thanks! lol

 

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To Summarize my review:
Color:
I'd call this a deep warm bronze. It's nearly chocolate, in fact. It is by no means a matte (flat) shade; it's chock-full of tiny soft glitter specks in a million different colors.

Packaging:
It's in the typical (pretty) Three Custom gunmetal palette. It's a bit smaller in diameter than a MAC blush and much thinner (along the lines of a Rock and Republic case, though not as heavy). It's a sturdy but chic package that doesn't grab fingerprints (yay!) and slips nicely into even the smallest cosmetics bag. Also, it's got a mirror inside, which is always appreciated.

Application:
As soon as I opened it, my heart sank. I just knew it was going to be scratchy and I hate writing negative reviews (especially for brands I adore!). I was relieved to find out that it's really smooth and easy to apply. Wet, dry - it goes on well. There is fall-out though (minor but noticable), so you may want to consider doing your eyes before your face and cleaning up in between. It was not scratchy at all, and it was simple to remove and didn't leave little glitter bits behind.

Wear:
Excellent. Applied wet, I get all-day wear. Over a primer, same deal. It does rub off easily without a primer when applied dry, but what doesn't?

Price/Value:
$22.50. I think this is an excellent value. It's definitely a high-end quality product. Thanks to its versatility and unique shade (I have nothing like it in my kit and I've got a lot of browns!), I think it's a must have. It's pigmented, which helps its value, because you don't have to load tons of product on to get color pay-off.

 

Final Thoughts
Party All the Time is a party, but not a crazy one that leaves you hungover and confused about what happened and whose phone number is written on your forearm. Nope.
In a word: Back-up-worthy

Remember: You want this, but you must order it from Urban Outfitters online only.
Pick up a purse and a cute lamp while you're at it!

What do you think of this shadow? What are your favorite browns? Do you have a sparkly brown like this? Are you as addicted to putting shadows on wet, like I am? Do you want some hot chocolate?

_{This product was furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or a representative thereof. Please read our review policy on our About tab for more information.}

Getting that Bobbi Brown look!

I mentioned before that I was freelancing for Bobbi Brown. What fun! It's such a nice line and works on any skintone or skintype and (yay!) skin color. While you can create any look you desire with Bobbi Brown makeup, there is a certain look that typifies "a Bobbi woman".

Let's take a look...

What do you see? 

1. Glowing skin (not foundation)
2. Flushed, pink cheeks
3. A natural but healthy lip color
4. Eyeliner
   

Most importantly, you see what is unique and beautiful about each woman.

Those are the keys to the Bobbi look. Sure, you can go super-natural or sexy and dramatic,  but whatever look you choose, these are the keys to "being Bobbi". Well, except the lipstick thing -- a dramatic lip is ok from time to time. ;)

Learn how to craft the look! Keep reading.