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

The Twelve Days of Christmas, BPAL-style. Day 7 - SNOW WHITE (a fragrance review)

A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers.

Here's the thing: I am completely and utterly confused about this scent.

I have the 2008 version, which smells the same  as this one, to my nose.

This means I've been confused for two years and counting...

I expect ozone and flowers. Maybe that's what I'm getting? If so, I apparently don't know what ozone smells like. I have no idea what flowers bloom at night, but this isn't what I would have guessed.

I don't smell "plastic" or lily (which I don't believe bloom at night), or play doh or - and this is wishful thinking - coconut or vanilla.

Actually, typing this I finally had an epiphany! I know what this smells like: ice on a metal railing.

Er... I'm still confused. I can't stop sniffing it. Well-played, BPAL. Well-played.

 

 

MAC & Marcel Wanders Collection '10 ("Couture" collection) (pics, info)

Marcel Wanders, Dutch designer, has created a unique collaboration with MAC. It's coming out this month, November, and is, essentially, what MAC fans refer to as "the Couture collection" (after a collection with that name several years ago).

Traditionally, the Couture collection is different packaging and products at a higher price point than the basic line.

As with Couture collections past, we are presented with lipglosses, lipsticks, Sheer Mystery Powder (Which someone must be buying or they wouldn't keep bringing it back. Who are you?!), and a brush and bag. Again we have MAC fragrance Air of Style, this time in solid form as a pendant. The brush loolks to he a #188, and the "bag" is a brush roll. All have Marcel Wanders' special designs/packaging.

 

Tell me what you think! Will you be buying?
I may check out Aleydis, Gertruyd, Digna, and Martha, mostly for the exquisite packaging rather than for the colors. Most likely I'll haul the Air of Style pendant, since I enjoy the scent and it will double as my MAC jewelry item that I'm required to wear when freelancing for the line.
As much as I love my #188, and like the unique handle on this version, there's no way I'm forking over $75 for it or the brush roll! And I've never been impressed with the Sheer Mystery Powders, nor heard a convincing argument in their favor. The mystery is why they keep coming back!

xoxo,
*jen

See more pics and details after the cut.

LUSH. Gorilla. (fragrance review, pics)

I am of the opinion that there are two types of people. The first kind enjoys natural perfumes and perfume oils. The second does not, and prefers more standard fragrances. And the third is good at math. ;)

I break my own rule, actually, because I enjoy conventional fragrances and natural ones. But many who prefer the former think the latter either all smell the same or all smell like hippies. Sometimes both.

If you don't love natural fragrances, you're probably already not a fan of LUSH. And you may not like the new perfume line, Gorilla Perfume, created by LUSH founder Mark Constantine and his son Simon.

If you're open-minded about natural fragrances, though, you're going to want to check these out!

I got to try a few that came in a sampler set, which is what you're seeing in these pictures.
Minor annoyance alert: check out how the labels are placed differently on the vials! If you're an OCD stash organizer, that will drive you batty!
Another bummer: I got two Orange Blossom vials and no Tuca Tuca. Nor did I receive Smell of Freedom. Damn.

Let's take a look at these scents:

Vanilliary
They say: sweet and sensual real vanilla and jasmine absolutes; tonka bean; "a grown-up gourmand"; sandalwood.
I say: deliciously sexy. Despite the jasmine, which I normally dislike, this is probably my favorite of the bunch (Or maybe Orange Blossom. Don't make me choose!). It's got a nice throw that's noticeable but not invasive. It lasts for hours and hours, even making a soft appearance the next morning when I wake up. It's comforting and sexy all at once. It's certainly caramel-tinged vanilla but escapes being a super foody scent on me, somehow.

Imogen Rose
They say: the Scent of authentic Damask roses; uses the finest rose absolute with orris butter; a tribute to Simon's daughter, Imogen Rose.
I say: breathtaking. It's a gorgeous rose that doesn't get heady, pushy, or sweet on the skin. THIS IS THE ROSE SCENT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! If you'vd been around BSB for awhile, you know I'm mostly dissatisfied with rose notes, but not this. This is stellar! Thank you, Simon!!! Full bottle-worthy and then some.

Lust
They say: unadulterated, intense jasmine; "dirty jasmine"; lasts for hours and hours.
I say: holy mother of jasmine! Wow. A quote from the LUSH site says "Mark firmly believes that the problem with jasmine fragrances is the temptation to dress them up in a frock and take away the power." Well, I firmly believe Mark needs to take this naked, unadulterated jasmine and put some damn clothes on it! If you like jasmine, buy this. If you don't, stay far away from Lust. Here's how it develops on me: seconds after I aply it we've gone from zero to one hundred on the intensity scale. That's where it stays, with impressive (read: pushy) sillage, for about an hour, at which point it's simply... gone. Not a trace remains if you don't count my migraine. It has been confirmed: I am not a jasmine girl. No thank you.

Karma
They say: time-warping scent; trippy; retro yet ageless; fresh, uplifting, complex and earthy; smells different on everyone; citrus, patchouli, and pine oil.
I say: a perfume I love from the LUSH stable! Here's your hippie scent, folks. I don't love the dirty hippie patchouli that I used to smell at Grateful Dead concerts, bit my exploration of the fragrance world has taught me not to assume all patchouli is that of an unshowered Jerry Garcia wannabe. I quite like it, in fact, and will try most scents listing patchouli as a note. Here, the orangey citrus blends with the patchouli, resulting in a layered scent that I just love. My favorite form is the Karma soap, but the perfume is lovely, too!

Orange Blossom
They say: the scent of summer sweetness; fresh orangle blossom and neroli; "smells like a distilled Mediterranean moment"; with honeyed and woody notes.
I say: I love, love, love this perfume. Love it. Thought I'd hate it, though. But I love it! If this is a distilled Mediterranean moment, I'm moving to the Mediterranean, STAT! Subtle orangey floral with a sweet and rich base that lasts for eons. Nice sillage and throw, but not overwhelming.

Tuca Tuca
They say: flirtatious violet exuberence; the scent of a bright pop song; whimsical; "a fantasy violet accord...hints of jasmine and vanilla, too."
I say: ????

Smell of Freedom
They say: woody and spicy; "...a landscape of complex, woody and spicy notes that portrays a masterpiece of profundity and beauty."
I say: I probably would like this, but who knows?

I can't wait to try the other scents at Gorilla Perfumes. The ones mentioned here are available through LUSH.

PS: "Gorilla?" Basenotes called the Constantines  "guerrilla perfumers" once. Mark sometimes refers to LUSH as 'guerrilla cosmetics'. It got tweaked to "gorilla", though. Cute!

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"?

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.

The Nail Ninja: Jessica's Victorian Crush + CND Copper Shimmer

Yesterday, The Nail Ninja showed you Jessica's Victorian Crush nail polish. Well, even though she didn't want to take it off she needed to. There were more polishes to swatch. A package in the mail added to the swatch pile. In it: CND Copper Shimmer top coat from their Colour + Effects line of polishes. (Plus a few other things --- stay tuned!)

So naturally The Ninja swatched the Effect over her Jessica mani.

It gave a neat orange-y tinted overlay that just whispers "Fall!"  Gorgeous. A can't-take-my-eyes-off-of-it mani.

Take a look at Victorian Crush + Copper Shimmer:

 

This combo will be swatched again once the sun comes out.

 

PS: Baby Ninja had to get in the picture! The light is terrible because of the rain, so swatching was at the window. Baby Ninja thought The Ninja was looking out at something and had to be a nosey-pants.

_{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.}

Grab a few of these before the cool weather sets in! Carmex Moisture Plus now comes with a hint of color!

I guess it's the weather changing here in the East, but I have noticed that my lips are starting to get a bit dry. Not cool, because I love the Fall  in part for the gorgeous lipsticks! Plus, now that Ara is back in school we've already had a cold go through Meade Manse. Twice. More chapped lips.

I am addicted (ADDICTED) to Carmex Moisture Plus (see my previous review), which is a lovely little moisturizer with that familiar Carmex tingle. The sheen it leaves on the lips is so nice, too...

I used to think about how nice it would be if it had just a touch of tint.

Carmex must be bugging my mind, because guess what they just introduced? Yup. You got it: Carmex Moisture Plus Peach Tint and Pink Tint.

If you're like me, then you're thinking "Sure, I bet it's a weird orangey color and a strange, non-wearable pink." You're a little pessimist, aren't you, you silly thing?!

Take a look at the swatches below. The shades are sheer, pretty, and have just a hint of tint that keeps you looking pretty. They'll work on any skintone, I wager.

Look for them in your drugstores now, and stock up. They're Carmex's first color products, and I'd say they hit the ball out of the park!

PS: They have an SPF of 15, so put them on all of the time and especially before sun exposure.

These puppies aren't going to leave my purse all Fall and Winter!

 

 

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_{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.}

Clarins - Rouge Prodige True Colour Hold & Shine lipstick in Mandarin

So, yesterday I swatched and reviewed a handful of the new Rouge Prodige lipsticks from Clarins. Today, I want to show you a swatch of Mandarin, a glorious orange.

Gotta say, I probably won't wear this often because of my skin tone, but it looked pretty cool so I may eat my own words. I was surprised that it didn't make my teeth look uber-yellow, which is good. Many oranges do.

I will definitely put this in my kit and it's going to come in handy. It's a ridiculously pretty shade of orange, one of my favorite colors. Definitely a full-on orange. As long as we're clear here: it's very orange. ;)

 

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Who might like it:
Bold lipstick lovers, people who adore MAC's Morange lipstick, darker complected women, people who want to rock 2010's orange lipstick trend (yes, it's a real thing).

Who might not like it:
Neutral-lovers, people afraid of orange, those with uber-pink skin, the timid, and folks with really non-white teeth.

 

 

_{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.}

New and Awesome: Clarins - Rouge Prodige True Colour Hold & Shine Lipstick (picture heavy)

I have long adored Clarins skincare, but their color products were, oddly, not something I'd tried! Color me impressed with their new lipstick formula, which I just got a chance to sample.

About Rouge Prodige True Colour Hold & Shine Lipstick

Based on the premise that lipstick is supposed to be shiny and colorful and stay that way, Rouge Prodige is being referred to as a "high performance formula". The next priority for making the product: comfort. This is not your typical drying lipstick. And to that, I say "yay, finally!"

The high notes:

• Long-lasting and color intense thanks to High Fidelity Pearl (a polymer)
• Enhanced shine thanks to vegetail oils that leave a transparent film on the lip to keep the color where you put it, and shiny
• A "lip-perfecting base" containing brittany algae extract (moisturizing and soothing) and ceramides and waxes (smooth the lips and prevent dehydration)

This new formula comes in 16 shades, of which I got to test 5 (in bold below). Here's the list:

• Pinks and Plums: Lilac Pink, Rosewood, Litchi, Raspberry Sorbet, Pretty Plum, Mystic Plum, Blackberry
• Corals and Reds: Coral Tulip, Sunset, Clementine (swatch), Fusion red, Red Prodige
• Beiges and Browns: Nude, Redwood, Copper Brown, Dark Chocolate

Each lipstick will set you back $24, but it's worth it. 

Packaging
Did I mention that each lippie comes in a beautiful gold(-like) case. It's square with beveled edges. I love that the part that holds the lipstick says "Clarins". On the depression on one side is a charming little "C". Inside the case? Clasic Clarins red. There's also a depression along one of the outside edges, one presumes as a place to rest the finger when opening the case. 

The lipstick bullet itself isn't your typical shape, which might be off-putting to traditionalists. It's round, with a slight bevel. The lipstick opens easily, and rolls up and down smoothly.

Application
When applied, these lipsticks are fairly glossy and fall about halfway between sheer and full-coverage (medium, then, right?).  They're comfortable on the lips: medium weight, not slick or tacky, breathable. I wore these and they didn't slide into lip lines. (Not like I have any.) (OK. I do.) They also left a gentle stain on the lips once they wore off (about 6 hours later). In fact, click on the last picture in the slideshow below* and you'll see what happened after I scrubbed my swatches off. As in, scrubbed with a papertowel and dish washing detergent. I think it's going to stand up to your bottled water and coffee!

_{*That picture also has my assistant, Pippa, making an appearance in the bottom left corner.}

Final Thoughts
I am in love with this lipstick formula. I plan on getting a few more of these as soon as cash permits. It's not drying on the lips, which is great. It's not particularly hydrating, though, so don't mistake it for a lip balm. The color is just on the glossy side of satin, but not terribly shiny. The color wears and wears, which I love. They are pigment-rich and slightly buildable, and don't slide all around the lips. In all, a great product.

Who might like it:
Women who enjoy a pigmented lipstick, those who want a product that lasts without drying the lips, those concerned with lipstick migration, Clarins fans.

Who might not like it:
Budget shoppers, those who prefer a highly moisturizing lipstick.

Take a look...
PS: I'll be showing you lip swatches over the course of this week. Stay tuned!

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Have you tried Clarins Lip Prodige True Colour Hold & Shine Lipstick, yet? Will you give it a shot? What's your favorite lipstick? Do you prefer gloss?

_{These lipsticks were provided for consideration.
My review policy can be found on my About tab at the top of the page.}

The Nail Ninja: Jessica Cosmetics - Victorian Crush nail polish (pictures, swatches, review)

Wow. Beauty is indeed where you find it (and not always where you expect it)! The Nail Ninja is pleased to introduce you to another (surprisingly) pretty polish from Jessica Cosmetics' Fall '10 collection, Muse. Let's just say The Ninja wasn't exactly looking forward to this color...

Earlier today, The Ninja showed you how to rock the ladylike trend for Fall with Scarlet. While you're placing that order, toss Victorian Crush into your shopping cart so you can bust out the military trend, too.

Application wasn't quite as smooth for Victorian Crush (as compared to Scarlet). It was a little thick and sticky. However, it should be noted that The Ninja was applying this polish outside in high humidity. That's probably why it was gloppy, but keep some thinner around just in case.

One coat was probably opaque, but since the application was weird, what you're seeing is two fairly thick coats.

Wear is pretty much the same, though, which is to say somewhere above average and hovering around "good".

The color is olive. It's an olive cream, in fact. Some might call it "khaki". The Ninja would not. In the bottle it was a threatening shade of yellow-green, but on the nail it's much more attractive. The green has enough yellow to be considered olive, but not enough to resemble something in Baby Ninja's diaper. And it even looks pretty good on cool-toned ninja skin. This color will get lots of wear this Fall!

The finish is nice. Swatches are with Poshe topcoat, though. The Ninja will probably have to try a matte topcoat over this to see if it's extra rad that way!

Where Scarlet stood up and made you take notice, Victorian Crush speaks quietly but confidently. Perfect for wearing on ninja missions.

Here are the pics:

 

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Only three more colors left for The Ninja to swatch from this collection. Coming up: a gregie/mushroom, a blue, and a mustard yellow.

You may want to request that The Ninja's send you copies of her posts so you don't miss anything! Don't worry - she'll keep your info private. She's a ninja!

The Nail Ninja: Jessica Cosmetics- Scarlet nail polish from their Muse collection (swatches, pictures, review)

Why are so many bloggers and nail polish collectors not a fan of red nail lacquers?

Don't look at The Ninja, she's got no idea why. That's why she's asking you!

Here's a red polish that's hard to resist. It's Scarlet, from the Muse collection by Jessica Cosmetics. Sure, The Ninja thought it was just another red... but when she slicked it on, she fell in love.

Two coats to opacity; smooth application (no drag, no pooling, no brush strokes or uneven appearance); great wear (four days and counting with only tip wear); and a crystal clear, shiningly bright cherry red creamy appearance that's simply beautiful.

Take a look...

 

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Final thoughts:
If you're looking for a classic red cream polish that's perfect for holiday manis, retro looks, or any time you want to be sophisticated and classy, then Jessica's Scarlet is for you. It's highly recommended by The Ninja for all skin tones, but especially cool-toned fair-skinned beauties!

There are six shades in the Muse collection. The Ninja only got 5 of the 6 to review (weird!). Sadly, she won't be reviewing Crimson Reflections, the other red. That's the one that was missing. Stay tuned for the others, though, and they're all quirky colors, so if you're a red hater you'll want to check it out. ;)

xoxo

The Nail Ninja

 

How do you feel about red polishes? Are you a lover or a hater? What's your favorite red? What's your favorite polish color?

Five Days, Five Ways: MAC Melon Pigment - Melon Mushroom

 Hi, beauties!

Here's Day 1, Way 1 for our pretty peach Pigment from MAC: Melon. Read the rest of the days & ways by visiting the hub post, here.



MAC Melon +  MAC Subtle Pigment = Melon Mushroom

Clever name for a look? Maybe not, but the color combo is genius! Golden cantelope meets glowing taupe.

Perfect for: Cool, fair complexions (like mine!); blue eyed beauties; almost any fair-to-medium complexion and many darker tones. I see no reason to limit this to a particular age group, though very crepey eyes will show their lines with all of the shimmer (but who cares?!).

Wear it: Just about anywhere. The peach isn't screaming "ORANGE" so she's not too bright to pull off in quieter arenas. The taupe does a good job of grounding her to keep her from looking too young or silly.

Take a look at how they swatch. The inner swatches were applied dry and the outer two were applied iwth a dampened brush.

There's more on the next page, so keep reading!

Five Days, Five Ways: MAC Melon Pigment

Beauties,

Are you having a good Monday? I know, I know. "Good Monday" is an oxymoron. And to add insult to injury, it's even raining where I am. Well, at least the weekend was good! We went antiquing on Saturday and just had a cozy day yesterday. What did you do?

To cheer us up from the Monday thing, I'm introducing a new BSB feature called Five Days, Five Ways. It's going to run pediodically and give us a chance to look at one product used a few different ways. I am going to keep this to permanent products, rather than Limited Edition items (at least, I am most of the time). I thought that way we can have more of a chance to all play together!

Please let me know how you'd use the Five Days, Five Ways products when you see this feature. You're always welcome to submit your own looks, comments, or thoughts!

Without further ado...

 

 

 

MAC Melon Pigment

This Pigment is one of my favorites. In fact, it's on of my favorite products in the whole wide world.  :)  Since it's being repromoted in this week's Venomous Villains collection (it's part of the Dr. Facilier portion of the set), I thought it was place to start our Five Days, Five Ways series. Plus, if you buy it as part of the Villains collection, you get special packaging. Cool!

Pigments, for those of you not familiar with the product, are loose color powders that can be used in an astounding number of ways. Other companies make similar loose powder products, but the MAC brand calls theirs "Pigments". They're quite, well, pigmented. You can apply them to skin, hair, lips, mix them in lotion, make them into nail polishes, or a few other things. Of course, not all are eye-safe or lip-safe, so be sure to check the recommendations on the item before you get too creative!

Melon is a soft orange shade that makes me think of cantelope. MAC describes it as "bright golden peach". Below are some pictures and swatches of my Melon pigment, which is in the older style of packaging. The new jar is a bit more narrow and tall.

Stay tuned for the first look I came up with for Melon. It's on its way, soon. I'll link all of the Five Days, Five Ways for Melon to this post as they publish, so you may want to bookmark this if you're curious about this awesome Pigment!

1. Melon Mushroom
2. Melon Sunrise
3. Melon nails
4. Melon Sunset
5. Bronzed Melon

Do you have Melon Pigment? Like it? Love it? Hate it? How do you like to wear it, or what would you pair with it?
Do you use loose pigment products, or prefer the pressed?

The Nail Ninja says: Green nail polish lovers, rejoice! Ginger + Liz made Blowin' Money Fast just for you! (swatches, pictures, review)

The Ninja will start with a pictures because they're worth more than a lot of cheap talk.

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The review is after the jump.

New in Fragrance | 9.5.10

 
The other day I was standing in front of my vanity and trying to pick a perfume to wear. Usually when I want to pick a scent, I "just know" what I want. Or as soon as I look at the selection, something jumps out at me. On that day, though, as I stared at my shelf, the bottles all just stared back at me. I wasn't in the mood to wear one of my BPALs; I knew that. I looked at a few of my "Summer scents" and they just seemed too light or fruity or sparkly for my mood. My "Fall scents" didn't move me, either. They felt too heavy or too dark or too murky.

It's an in-between season - not quite Summer anymore, and not quite Fall. Maybe I need a new scent for this time of year? Or maybe I just need a new perfume, period!

Here are some of the newest perfumes on the market (or about to hit the stores). I have by no means listed them all - just the ones that "spoke to me". Wonder if one will hit that spot?

Love, Chloé
Tagline: "A halo of grace"
Genre: Floral, woody musk
Perfumers: Louise Turner and Nathalie Cetto-Gracia, Givaudan.
Top Notes: Orange blossom and pink pepper
Heart Notes: Lilac, hyacinth, wisteria, heliotrope, "woodsy notes"
Base Notes: Rice powder, talcum powder accord, iris, musks
About: This scent is meant to evoke a woman "in the private sphere of applying makeup", hence the powdery notes (inspired by the scent of vintage Chloé face powder).
Release Date: ?

Guilty by Gucci
Tagline: "The Scent of Defiance"
Genre: Floriental
Perfumers:  ?  / Developed by Frida Giannini
Notes: Mandarin, pink pepper, peach, lilac, geranium, amber and patchouli.
 About: This scent was inspired by the Barbara Streisand song, "Guilty".  The bottle features the famous "interlocking Gs" of Gucci. A film promoting the scent was created by Frank Miller, of Sin City fame. See it here.
Release Date: Sept. '10

  Outspoken by Fergie (Avon)
Tagline: "Say It Like You Mean It"
Perfumer: Laurent Le Guernec
Genre: Fruity, floral
Top Notes: star fruit, berry, saffron
Middle Notes: tuberose, passion flower, jasmine
Bottom Notes: black leather note, ebony wood, vetiver
About: A combination of Fergie's favorite notes and scents from her past.
Cost: $28 for 1.7oz
Release Date: I believe this came out in June?

Forbbidden Affair, Anna Sui
Tagline: Discover hidden passions you never knew existed
Perfumer: ?
Genre: fruity floral
Top Notes: zesty lemon, red currant, blackcurrant and raspberry
Middle Notes: wild violet, rose petal accords, pomegranate
Bottom Notes: cedar and musk
About: "the fragrance incorporates, for the first time, Cyclodextrin Technology. This allows the immediate first fresh topnote impression to 're-burst' over and over again for an ongoing sparkling fresh fragrance experience!"
Cost: ?
Release: Sept '10

Twirl by Kate Spade
(via Musings of a Muse) 
Tagline: ?
Perfumer: ?
Genre: fruity floral gourmand
Top Notes: pink watermelon mingles with blackberry and red currant
Middle Notes: fresh flowers including orange blossom, star jasmine, tiare flower and sweet magnolia
Bottom Notes: luminous musks and a touch of french macaron
About: I don't know about you, but I adore this bottle and package and concept. So fun and spunky and pretty! It's perfect for Kate Spade. I dont know that I've seen a more appropriate celeb-fragrance pairing before. I think this begs a test run from me!
Cost: $80 for 3.4oz and the line also contains body lotions, body cream, a shower gel, and the uber-trendy rollerball.
Release: Sept '10

Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude by Donna Karan
 Perfumer: ?
Genre: nude floriental? ;)
Top: Orange Blossom, Cyclamen, Lily of the Valley
Middle: Sandalwood, Ylang-Ylang, Labdanum, Moroccan & Indian Jasmine
Bottom: Benzoin, Tonka, White Amber, Suede, Skin Musk
About: This takes the iconic Cashmere Mist a step forward. Rather than celebrating the glorious feeling of cashmere on skin, Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude celebrates sensual bare skin. Va-va-voom!
Cost: $72 for 1.7oz
Release: already on shelves
*REVIEW PENDING*

Washington Square by Bond No. 9
Perfumer: Laurent Le Guernec
 Top: bergamot, geranium, tarragon
Middle: purple rose,  honey
Bottom: vintage amber, leather accord, vetiver, musk
About: This unisex-leaning-towards-feminine fragrance inspired by the newly refurbished Washington Square, which is depitced on the bottle. The scent is described by Bond No. 9 as "assertively dissident."
Cost: $230 for 100ml; $170 for 50ml
Release: Nov. 1
*REVIEW PENDING*


Cooper Square by Bond No. 9
Perfumer: Laurent Le Guernec
Top: cognac,  juniper berry 
Middle: lavender, myrrh, olibanum, patchouli
Bottom:  cashmere wood, musk, vetiver, ciste labdanum, timber wood.
About: Where Washington Square leaned towards women, Cooper Square leans towards men. "Downtown in future mode" is represented by the laser etched bottle as well as the scent.
Cost: $230 for 100ml; $170 for 50ml
Release: Sept. 1st
*REVIEW PENDING*

 
Naughty Alice, Vivenne Westwood
Genre: Powdery, musky floriental
Perfumer: Bruno Jovanovic
Notes: black rose, carnal violet and ylang ylang
About: Yes, that Alice, but here a bit on the bad side! It may be worth it just for the pretty bottle.
Image credit: ozmoz.com - drawing by Maly Siri
Cost: ?
Release: October


S by Shakira
Genre: floriental with woods
Perfumer: ?
Top Notes: Exotic fruits, jasmine, gardenia
Middle Notes: floral bouquet
Bottom Notes: vanilla bean, sandalwood and warm amber.
About: Yes, I would like Shakira! A curvy bottle and curvy scent, both befitting the Brazilian beauty. “Layering notes is like adding instruments to compositions,” she said. Apparently she was quite present in the making of this scent. Gotta say: I love the "Om" charm on the bottle.
Cost: $35 for 1.7oz
Release: Already out
*REVIEW PENDING*


Minuit Noir, Lolita Lempicka
Genre: Woody Oriental
Perfumer:  ?
Top: liquorice flower
Middle: iris, violet
Bottom: sweet patchouli
About: This Limited Edition is a deeper, darker flanker to the original Lolita Lempicka scent. Warning: apparently all of the other Minuits have a reputation for being the same - will this one prove different? I used to like the original, back when I was working at Nordstrom, but that was before I was "into" perfume (please take that with a grain of salt, I'm no pro!). Wonder if my tastes have changed, and if I should bother with this or the other flanker scents?
Cost: ?
Release: October

I may have to check a few of these out and see if they hit that Indian Summer spot. Do any sound like they may be hits for you? Any turn you off immediately? Have you sniffed any of these? How do you select the perfume you want to wear each day?

*blink* Did you miss it?

You've gotta be quick around here if you want to snap up the latest and greatest! Urban Decay's newest palette, Book of Shadows III, went online today! And then promptly sold out in under 10 minutes.  Sweet mother of makeup!

Strap on your running shoes, ladies. We'll hear soon when the next batch goes up. Follow Urban Decay on Facebook or sign up for their newsletter for the latest news.

I'll race ya to the shopping cart! ;)

$54 buys you:

• Bordello Purpley-pink with gold shift
• Kush Bright green
• Loaded Deep emerald/black
• Money Silvery pale green
• Radium Bright blue
• Rockstar Deep eggplant with metallic base
• Suspect Oyster with dimensional shift
• Haight Shimmering, mermaid blue
• Psychedelic Sister Purple amethyst 
• Snatch Peachy-pink with glitter
• Last Call Plum punch
• Maui Wowie Medium gold with silver glitter
• Midnight Cowboy Rides Again Golden beige with bronze, gold, and silver glitter
• Smog Deep coppery bronze
• Perversion Matte jet black
• Uzi Metallic silver with big iridescent sparkles

With a little sumpin' sumpin' thrown in:

• Ransom 24/7 Eye Pencil
• Zero 24/7 Eye Pencil
• Eyeshadow Primer Potion travel-size