Givenchy,'s Spring/Summer collection (called Naivement Couture) can post several marks in the Win Column.
Aside from the last item in the list (you can find said hyperbole after the cut), the collection is breathtaking. That is, unless you dislike orange.
I got to play with the shadow palette and eyeliner. For my review, swatches, and more pics, keep reading.
The Ninja had thought it was impossible. She hasn't really seen a great black glitter polish. She's seen some good ones, but for the most part black pigments seem to eat glitter. Especially fine glitter.
Enter stage right: Nfu-oh GS-14
An inky black lacquer with gobs of fine holographic glitter.
She is understated in that dark polish way, yet once the spotlight hits her she simply lights up!
Let The Ninja be clear: this is not a holo polish. It is not solid hologram. It's definitely a black polish with small (eensey!) holo bits.
Let's take a look:
Application is, as with all Nfu-oh enamels, flawless. Since The Ninja can't just pick them up at Ulta (they are an Asian brand; she purchases from Fabuloustreet) she tends to hoard them.
In order to extend the life of this one, she applied it over a black cream, Illamasqua Boosh. The swatches are one coat of GS-14 over 1 coat of Boosh. She tried Gs-14 on its own and two layers were opaque.
A tale of two mascaras. Or, more accurately, a tale of a two-sided mascara, Guerlain's le 2 de Guerlain Volume mascara Or 2 Nuit 13, to be exact.
In the 2010 Holiday version, one side of the graceful and unique tube houses a sleek lengthening mascara in darkest black. The other side hides a sponge-tipped applicator delivering holiday cheer by way of creamy yellow gold goodness.
Which side will prevail?
My bets are on the defining, non-flaky ink that actually imparts (not just promises) curl and volume along with length. But the shimmering metallic does a great job of highlighting lashes and as a touch of shimmer in the center of the lid - a mighty contender indeed!
The curl you see here is only from the mascara. I didn't use a curler!
While it looks pretty intense wet, the gold dries down to a subtle and flattering shimmering gold accent.
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.
The other day, as I slipped on my diamond stud earrings, I thought about those things that are just perfect, no matter the occasion. They're usually classics, often simple in their beauty, and always tasteful. Maybe you have something perfect and versatile in your life?
As I slicked on my lipstick, Guerlain Kiss Kiss Strass in Rose de le Reine, I realized I'd found another perfect item!
This lipstick, my first Guerlain, is always at-hand right now. In fact, I am ready to grant it my highest honor: Back-Up Worthy. (That should probably also set off some alarm bells. It is, sadly, a limited edition item. Boo hiss!!)
Rose de la Reine is described by Guerlain as a "luminous rosy beige". I'd say "sheer, glossy, pinky-nude", but hey, they're not too different, are they? It's probaby important to point out that this is a bit on the cool side, even showing some subtle blue shimmer in the right light.
Alone, this shade is a simple and understated sheen on the lips. It adds a hint of natural pink that's complimentary without changing the lips' color too much (or much at all).
While I can count on this shade as a perfect choice alone, I tend to prefer it as a layering tool. It's lovely over a lip filled-in with lip pencil, and spectacular used on top of another lipstick in leiu of gloss or to add dimension. I've worn it over a nude, a pink, a coral, a plum, a burgundy and a red, all to great effect.
The only downside, and there is one, is not the $31 pricetag, as I think it's worth it. Nope. The downside is that mine broke. Smooshed. It looks terrible. This is particularly depressing as the gracefully undulating gold case is so pretty, and a pleasure to bring out of my purse. I have had to resort to using a lip brush exclusively, which is kind of irksome. I'm pretty sure this breakage is an anomaly, despite the soft and sheer nature of the product, since I haven't seen anyone else complain about theirs breaking. Still, it's worth noting, as $31 is high for a lipstick that's going to break.
At any rate, I'm happy to have this lipstick in my arsenal of pretty, dependable, always-appropriate items.
What are your always-perfect and versatile iems? The just-right handbag? The necklace you can wear anywhere? That never-the-wrong-choice coat? Tell us in the comments...
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.
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:
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!
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.
Continue reading "Why OCC Lip Tars are crucial to my stash" »
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.
Continue reading "I thought of a new endorsement idea for Sula Beauty" »
I told you about Urban Decay's new perfume oil already. It's called Revolver and it's a roller ball-applied perfume oil. Notes include: lychee, pineapple leaf, fig, amber, and Egyptian musk. It's going to be available only through UrbanDecay.com and is only $26.
But now I have tested it. Wanna know how it is? Keep reading for the review.
More Givenchy, because like Depeche Mode I just can't get enough. Here, the Parad'Eyes Liners in two shades: Mauve Impression and Nude Impression. These liquid liners contain mother-of-pearl bits to render them ultra-shimmery. I love the metallic mauve shade (which leans a touch towards a nearly-pink lilac) but the stand-out is the peachy-gold "nude". I love to put it under the lower lash line then smudge it a bit with my finger for a subtle glow that really makes the green, gold, and brown in my eyes sparkle! The wear is good; they last many hours-- though not through rain, sleet, snow or dark of night. But hey, even the Post Office doesn't go by that anymore!
Clinique has had a whirlwind of releases lately, and I've tested two of their new offerings. I loved one, and was only moderately impressed with the other. Let me tell you about them...
A new fave for me: Givenchy's Le Prisme Yeux Mono. One color, four textures, one package. Use it all swirled into one, or separate the 4 corners to make a monochromatic but textured look.I love the traditional pillowy shape of the colors and the soft, blendable pigment lasts for ages. There are 16 shades (this one is Smart Nude, a shade lovers of Shroom and Kitten and the like will simply adore!). By the way, thank you, Givenchy, for putting a mirror in your tiny, pretty compact; it comes in handy!
This is one of those lipglosses where I don't know if it would have drawn my eye on-counter. OK, let's face it: it wouldn't have, and it hasn't. But once I opened the wand I heard that heavenly choir in my head.
Continue reading "Smashbox: Lip Enhancing Gloss, Full Color - Capture" »