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

Mr. Armani, what are you trying to do?! Your Fall shadows are killin' me!

I'll be honest with you, Mr. Armani. Your shadows are amazing. And when British Beauty Blogger posted these pictures, I nearly passed out. The glowing, velvety-looking texture... the cozy-but sexy neutrals... the deep and sultry accent colors at the bottom... Well, they're pretty damned brilliant, Sir. Like BBB, I love that you've put these colors in one pan. Well, two pans. But not 8 pans, like you could have! Two compact sets of complimentary shades in just-right doses of trendtastic brillance. What else should I have expected from such a stellar line?! Can't wait to see what else you've got planned for us this Fall and Winter...

Five Things 11.16.10

Lady Gaga is getting a fragrance. Of course. It may or may not be called "Monster;" that's unconfirmed - not to mention predictable. Coty, who will be producing the scent, says the ad campaign will be "unprecedented and groundbreaking". Doubtless.  The packaging will apparently reflect the singer's "artistic sensibility". I can't wait... for the trainwreck.





Angel. The scent puts fear into the hearts of many. But many others disagree, which is why you smell it everywhere. Those of you in the latter group can rejoice! Thierry Mugler has dressed up the controversial scent in various wrappings as a present to fans. Collectors will want to snap up the solid perfume in a star-shaped, Swarovski-bedecked ring, a leatheresque-dressed star flacon, and a Swarovski-clad oversized perfume extrait (13oz of gourmand goodies). That last one, the Deluxe Superstar, will hurt the wallet, though (nearly 3k!).  (Shh... I kinda want that ring!!)

Oh, Gio. You're killin' me here with these amazing new mottled eyeshadows. You say they give 24-hour wear, which is perfect for hanging out all night with international men of mystery (or hitting up the company holiday party). I don't even mind your choice of spokeswhore (much).



Wake me when it's over. Essie isn't actually working the shock and awe angle with their Winter collection. I just can't get excited about a green (looks like a darker version of Fall's Sew Psyched, which was gorgeous but geez!); a brown; a plummy-brown; a dark reddish-brown; a red; and a grey. At least it's not all sheer pinks...






Like many girls, I always loved those little dolls within dolls. Lush has released a holiday Matryoshka Nesting Doll that Will let us play like a kid on Christmas morning! Unwrap the doll to get your hands on a So White Soap, a Cinders Bath Bomb, and a So White Bath Bomb. Adorable!! (get it)

Really huge round-up (very picture heavy!)

Ya'll, I'm so sorry for not keeping it rolling in here at BSB. I'm still trying to get my new computer (!!! Thanks fairy godparents!!) off the ground and finally got Photoshop back (!!! Thanks, Patrick!!), so we should be business as usual next week. For now, a really huge round-up of stuff you need to know. Keep your eyes peeled on this site for some amazing reviews coming your way!

PS: All pics are tiny, but click 'em and you can see the larger version!

Let's begin...

 

MAKEUP- MAC

Just out from MAC, of course, is the Fabulous Felines collection. And coming at the end of the week is Venomous Villains. I am actually afraid to see that collection in person, because I am dead broke. I think I will cry. Did you see my post about the collection? Are you planning to haul?

But there's another collection that blew past without much hoopla. Did you hear about the Prolongwear extension? There's a foundation that's supposed to last 15 hours, a corresponding concealer with the same wear time, and Prolongwear Lip Creme, which is a new lipstick formula that is "full-coverage and breathable" with a spectacular 12 hour wear. The lipsticks really intrigue me, and I may try out the foundation/concealer, though I always have to hit my knees and pray it won't clog my pores like the rest of the MAC foundations. Anyway, that's the collection down below (the bottles), and the promo pic here to the right.

MAC - upcoming collections news! _{via and via}

-The Boxing Day collection (always my favorite!) is rumored to be called Stylishly Yours. LOVE this day-after-Christmas release, traditionally, as it's typically very cool, wintery colors.

-MAC is collaborating with Dutch designer Marcel Wanders in an upcoming release. Sounds like this will probably be "the Couture collection" but I don't know about that ... we've never had a collab as the couture collection, before, and the packaging doesn't really look like his style.  Sounds like the name of this collection is "Luxe Couture" which, again, means to me it's not a collab, because usually those include the collaborator's name. Anyway, the picture on the right is of either Marcel Wanders or Couture...  or both, if they surprise me!

More: these are apparently the names of some (all?) products for the Marcel Wanders collaboration:
Lipstick - Catharina, Martha, Digna, Gesina
Lipglass - Gertruyd, Mary, Aleydis, Beatrix
The perfume is a solid, called Air of Style Concentrate. I'm assuming it's the same scent as the previously releasesd Air of Style.
 
-Charm Pale, also releasing on Boxing Day (Dec 26th), is a two-part collection: Skincare & Color.  It will have a new product called Special Reserve Highlight Powder. As soon as I get more info on that, I'll let you know. Sounds like this will have a lot of nude and highlighting products - think runway looks lately. Here's the blurb on the collection:
"Bleached or stridently bold brows. Skin that’s under-refined yet ultra alive. A bare lip and lash. Summer’s nude face is about grooming on the verge of grunge – tough, urban and sensually androgynous. She doesn’t care a lot, but she cares enough. Think shine-enhancing textures for a skincare-effect makeup that’s hydrated and bathed in light…"

More: product info from Cham Pale _via
Lipgelee- Sin-tillation, Luxure, Bubble Lounge, Straight to the Heat;
Lipstick- Fluster; Quiet, Please (repromote)
Special Reserve Highlight Powder- Chez Chez Lame, Rose Ole
Chromagraphic Pencil- NW 25/NC 30, NC 15/NW 20 (both repromotes)
Eye Kohl- I get no kick
Eye Shadow Quad- Caviar Dreams
Kohl Power Eye Pencil- Feline (repromote)

If you missed it, be sure to check out our pictures of the holiday sets: A Tartan Tale.

MAKEUP- non-MAC

Now that we got that out of the way, we can talk about some other brands. ;)

Possibly the biggest news for many: Bobbi Brown is coming to Sephora. What other words need there be besides "Where do I start?!"

Do you love Shu Uemura? Sadly, the line isn't with us in the states anymore, but we can still order online. And you'll want to when you see these palettes:

_via

 

Did you see The Muse's review of the Stila Eye for Color eye shadow palette? I had been dying to see it. If you usually stick to neutrals but are looking for an easy way to add a bunch of wearable color to your aresnal, this seems like a good bet. Seems like the colors are tiny, but good. I may have to add it to the stash! Take a look and then go read the review. Thirteen colors for $18 isn't bad!





Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) just keeps blowing me away. Their newest products make me swoon. There are five new Loose Color Concentrates ($11.50 ea)...


... and their amazing, incredible, you-gotta-try-'em Lip Tars have 6 new shades that promise to be as amazing as their predecessors! $12.50 each or buy them all for $400. There are a zillion and one combinations you can make with these suckers.


... and then there's nail polish. See below!


Illamasqua. The name makes my heart race! Have you heard about their new collection, Art of Darkness?  The theme is a fantasy banquet with imaginary (?) beings trying to find immortality. Click on the pic to see the characters at the table, then go get some of the glorious products: a 4-color Liquid Metal Palette; 4 nail lacquers (see below); some amazing feathered lashes; a lipgloss in darkest wine (I die!), a blue lipstick; green, red, and blue Liquid Metals; a pale golden shimmer powder called Ether; a gold and a black liquid liner; and two Pure Pigments- Ore, a bronze, and Alluvim, iridescent midnight blue.

NAILS

The gorgeous blog Lacquerized is showing swatches of the equally gorgeous Misa collection, Spark My Interest. While it doesn't seem all that "wintery" to me, the colors are lovely nonetheless.

Scrangie shared info on the Zoya Fire and Ice collection. Like sparkles? You'll love this!


Deborah Lippmann, manicurist to the stars, is on a roll. She's got some ah-maze-ing glitters rolling out of her already stunning polish line. Did you see the most recent ones, Across the Universe and Bad Romance (shown below, left)? And now we get a sneak peek of one coming up, called Glitter in the Air (below, right). It looks like it's going to be a great layering polish, don't you think? It's sheer baby blue with pink and blue glitter chunks.


Sonia Kashuk is coming out with a bunch of stuff this Fall. Naturally, you can get it at Target. Yada, yada, yada. The point? NAIL POLISH! Meh, it's not all that creative, but it's accessible and only $4.99 a piece. And there's a nice mousey brown! _via

So I told you there were new OCC polishes ($8), and here's a way to take a peek at them.  Vampy Varnish has swatches for ya. Here's one to take a peek at, then scurry over to see them. I don't know if you've heard about their polishes, but they wear like iron, man!




 

PERFUME

Armani is visiting the Middle East
...with his next two (and counting) scents, that is. The line of Middle Eastern-inspired perfumes, part of the amazing Armani Prive collection, will be called 1001 Nights. The first two scents are Rose d'Arabie and Oud Royal. Sadly, you've got to go to Harrods (London) to get your hands on them, as things stand now.  _via

And to finish it all off, I can't let you go any further in your life without seeing Katy Perry's VMA Minx mani. That's her husband/fiance's picture on those nails... Would you do that?!

_via




Whew! I'm exhausted!

What have I missed? What news can you share with us? Did I pique your interest over any of these? And how was your weekend?  (We saw Inception. It blew my mind! Have you seen it?!)

Like this post? Sharing this article helps support BSB and helps us grow (which helps YOU by getting us more access to other brands and events - to share with you!). Can you spare a moment to share?

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Aw, crap. There goes my money...

Four Words: Tom Ford nail polish.

via the illustrious Sophy Robson

I introduce you to Tom Ford's Black Orchid!

NYFW - Fashion's Night Out - Giorgio Armani on 9.10.09- Tim Quinn speaks + a new lippie!

 

Gorgeous.

I'm so sad I'm not going to NY Fashion Week, but it's not in the stars for me, again. But if you're going, or you're going to be in the NY area, you need to go to this Fashion's Night Out event for me and take tons of pics, all right? If one or two goodies slips into your pocket and heads my way, I won't be mad at ya! ;)

Giorgio Armani Beauty's "Our Lips Are Sealed" Saks NY bonanza

When: Sept. 10th, 5pm-8pm

Where: Saks Fifth Ave

Who: Tim Quinn, National Artistic Director and Celebrity Face Designer

What: Mr. Quinn discusses fall trends and debuts a new 8-hour wearing lippie!

You can see the new Rouge d'Armani lipstick more than a month before it's released on-counter (due in the middle of October). Shades available during those 3 hours: #400 rouge and #600 plum. Snap 'em up then - they won't be back 'til 10.15.09*.

*can't swing 'em on the 10th? you can get on a wait-list for immediate access when they hit counter.

Tim Quinn

 

News shorts... | Armani Sheers, Prescriptives You Pick, Shiseido LE lipstick at Nordies

• Giorgio Armani Beauty introduces the Armani Sheers Collection 2009 | "A new color story of a harmonious spectrum of ten tone-on-tone, easy to wear translucent blush-hued shades in the unprecedented Armani sheer and shine lipsticks."
  
  "Inspiration of the shades comes from the different nuances of the light through out the day from sunrise to sunset.An exclusive range of sheers from muted to intense, varying from shades of luminous sunrise beige, soft pale pinks, coral, purple pink to sensuous vibrant sunset pinks."
  
  
  
  
  
  The Armani Sheer shine formula: unique blend of pigments and mother of pearl, sheer enough to show the natural lip shade, luminous, emollient, Microfil™ polymer, fine waxes to create shiny and silky lips.
  
  
  

• Prescriptives releases a new collection that gives YOU exactly what you want in a palette. The You Pick palette system allows you to "Pick It, Wear It, Refill It". 
  
  Small, medium, and large palettes are available, allowing you to customize your eyeshadow and/or cheek products into the palette you've been waiting for!
  
  
  • Small - fits 1 shadow
  • Medium - fits 2 shadows and a cheek color, 2 cheek colors, or 4 shadows
  • Large -  fits 3 cheek colors, 6 shadows, 4 eyes and 1 cheek, or 2 cheeks and 2 eyes

• Dick Page, extraordinary artist and Shiseido Artistic Director, has created a brilliant color to feature exclusively at Nordstrom:  Perfect Rouge lipstick in Rose Bronze (RS799) [shown right]. The shade is "soft" and "rose-toned" and features a "delicate metallic pearl". You can pick yours up March (now!) through June of 2009 - only at Nordstrom. Expect to drop $25, and also expect not to regret it!
  
  
  
  
  
  PS: here are some quick tips from Dick Page on how to get the look featured on the face chart above, called Bronze Beauty...
  1. Glimmering Bronze Smokey Eyes |
     1. Hydro Powder Shadow in Tiger Eye (H3) from lash to brow.
     2. On the back of the hand, mix Tiger Eye (H3) with a dab of Accentuating Cream Eyeliner in Dark Brown (2) to create a deeper, lustrous shadow.
     3. Apply and blend from upper lashline to the crease and to lower lashline.
     4. Apply Accentuating Cream Eyeliner in Dark Brown (2) to the top and bottom lash lines to elegantly define.
     5. Apply Lasting Lift Mascara in Black (LL1) to upper and lower lashes to create maximum curl and volume. 
  2. Flushed Cheeks | Pat and blend the Accentuating Color Stick in Bronze Flush (S1) for brilliantly flush cheeks.
     
  3. Rose Bronze lips | Apply the New Smoothing Lip Pencil in Rosewood (BR706) to the entire lip area, following the natural lip line and shape, then apply the NEW EXCLUSIVE Perfect Rouge Rose Bronze (RS799) lipstick to the entire lip area to give lips a plump look.

          

So what do YOU think? Do you "need" any of these? Gonna pass? Share with the class!

I am all over these Armani lipsticks, kids. I love that line and am making a trek over to Saks soon to pick up a Lip Wax (finally) and one or two (or more?) of these sheer lippies. Look for a review soon!

I personally LOVE the customizable palettes that are popping up all over the place. First, I think, Trish McEvoy had her planner system that I think is so amazingly convenient and brilliant. Recently, we've seen Bobbi Brown do it, allowing Bobbi fans to organize cheek, eye and lip colors at will. And MAC always has their pro palettes for shadows and blushes, though they don't really have a nifty combo carry-along type of system (HINT, HINT, MAC gods!). And now Prescriptives is giving their fans a chance to further customize an already lovely and customizable product line! YAY!

Shiseido's Perfect Rouge lipsticks are phenomenol. Look for a reveiw of a few other shades soon. I'd check this out if you're near a Nordies!

Pink Illumination | Armani | Spring '09

 

I loves me some Armani. I really do. I just caught wind of their new Spring collection, Pink Illumination, courtesy of Lipstick Powder N Paint. It's thanks to them that I am sharing the details and the above image.

The Highlights:

• Light Master Make-up Primer
• Blending Blush Duo Compact
• Pink Micro-fil Loose Powder
• Pink Light eye shadow palette
• Lip Wax #7
• 3 Armanisilk lipsticks
• Fluidshine Nail Polish in #30 

For more details and some pics, please keep reading...