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

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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Shu Uemura, I will miss you at Nordstrom, but we still have the internet / Summer '10

I'm sure you've heard, but Japanese brand Shu Uemura has pulled out of the US in all retail locations. I'm devastated. It's amazing to stand at a Shu counter and see the pretties. The colors and quality are stellar. You can still buy Shu Uemura online, though, which is some consolation. Take a look at the Summer offerings, called Gem Glams...

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I am drawn to the amazing sparkles of the shadow singles! The lippies and cream shadows look pretty, but peep that gemstone-inspired powder which can be used swirled together all over the face or taken in bits to highlight and contour the visage or eyes or whatever one wishes! Don't let the unusual colors scare you- they're there to balance the complexion!

Tried it; loved it | Shu Uemura's new liners

I'm a geek for Shu Uemura. The products are well-made, perform well, and are so pretty it's always hard to narrow your choices down to just one.  If you've been waiting to try this brand, I've got the perfect product to start with! Try the new liners I just got to sample. Let me tell you all about them:

The Painting Gel Liner:

·         This waterproof liner stays in place all day. The long-wear formula is perfect for the upcoming summer months!

·         Resistant to sebum, sweat and tears.

·         Three types of volatile agents give the liners a smooth and even glide across the skin.

·         Creamy texture allows time for adjustment and blendability.

·         Nine shades range from defining colors to vivid accents to glitter and shine.

·         Mix and match to create desired colors!

These are FANTASTIC. They are now tied with MAC Fluidlines for my favorite gel liners, though there are differences between them.

• PIGMENTATION/OPACITY: I found the Shu colors to be more pigmented than MAC's. (!)  These are terribly opaque, which ROCKS. Even the white and gold go on really well - no need to retrace or build the color. Do you know how impressive that is with the white!?
• BLENDABILITY: Both products are blendable, with the Shu product giving more time for blending before dry-down. This is good ---- and bad. Why bad? I found it took so long to dry that I managed to smudge. Once you know to expect them to need a few extra moments, it's fine, but don't be surprised that first time if you blink and get liner all over the place!
• APPLICATION: Boy, did these just glide right on! They're nice and smooth and creamy; easy to pick up with the brush and gentle on the eye. No skipping, no weirdness. Making a thin line or a thick line- both are easy-peasy. 
• WATERLINE: This longer dry-down feature is also why I don't love these for the waterline; my waterline gets...well, watery, so by the time had a few moments to dry they'd been nearly washed away. Fluidlines win for this application, though YMMV.
• LONGEVITY: They last really well! No smudging once set, and the colors stayed true. They lasted through a nap and all day long, and looked just as good when I took them off. Stupendous!

OVERALL OPINION: LOVE!!!!!!! My favorite is the green, mostly because it's such a true green and so nicely opaque. It's just a dream to apply! The white and the black are tied for second, for different reasons. The white because it's so intense - I've never seen anyone else pull off a non-wishy-washy white gel liner before; the black because it's so lovely and I use black liner all of the time. The gold comes in last place of the colors I tried, only because it's the one I'll use the least since I wear a lot of cool colors on my eyes. I expect gold to get more of a workout this Fall, though! By the way, this is an impressive true-gold and is quite wearable! It looks pretty versatile and isn't garish like some gold liners can be. I will be going to get the rest of the colors - trust me!

 
 
 
 

For the look above, I tried the black liner (on the top lashline and waterline)
and the gold (on the bottom lashline and waterline).


 

Also used:

MAC Paint Pot - Painterly
MAC eyeshadow - Mylar
MAC eyeshadow - Casette (VP) from Heatherette Palette 2 - deep purple pearl
MAC eyeshadow - Sunday Best -  a soft frosty peach from Royal Assets: 6 Warm Eyes
MAC eyeshadow - Star Violet - deep but soft burgundy metallic from Royal Assets: 6 Warm Eyes,also perm to the MAC collection
Clumpy eyelashes courtesy of Maybelline Lash Stiletto

To get the look:

1. Prep lid and lower lashline with primer/base. I used MAC Paint Pots in Painterly, a nude, creaseless cream-shadow.
2. Press a neutral color all across the eye, crease and up to brow. I used MAC Mylar. Note: This shade will automatically act as a highlight under the brow, so apply carefully there. Brush used: a flat eyeshadow brush; I used MAC #239.
3. Sweep a darker, slightly luminous burguundy/dark rose shade above the crease in a windshield-wiper motion. Make sure to blend it so there are no rough edges. I used MAC Star Violet shadow, and applied it with a soft and fluffy blending brush, in this case my MAC #224.
4. I then used my flat brush again to press a darker purple color into the outer corner of the lid itself and up into and past the crease (into the burgandy shade) towards the temple.
5. Blend the purple into the burgundy gently using the fluffy brush in small circles. If you need to soften the purple on the lid, use the flat brush to gently pat the line where this color meets the base color.
6. I went back and added a shimmery peach to the inner corner of the eye and lid with the flat brush. Again, if the edges need to be softened, use the flat brush to pat to pat them.
7. I lined with the gold liner on the lower lashline and waterline. My brush: the MAC 209, which is a round eye liner brush. Some people find using an angled liner or a flat brush to be easier to use; I use all of these depending on my mood. 
8. I lined the top lashline and waterline with the black liner. For the lashline, I made the line slightly thicker as it neared the outer corner of the lid, and flicked the very end up and out just a touch.
9. I decided to pat a little of the shimmery peach up under the brow. I used the flat brush to press a small amount on, then used the fluffy brush to pat it and gently blend it into the other colors.
10. Top with several coats of mascara. I used Lash Stiletto, but I found it too clumpy in retrospect.

Have you tried the Painting Gel Liners? What do you think?

Shu Uemura collection | Mirage

So here's the thing. I really like Shu Uemura. I love the concept behind the line, I love the colors, the textures, the feel, the way it performs.

I love everything about it! And this Spring they've got a gorgeous collection called Mirage. The concept: "an optical phenomenon that gently arises like a mirage. Enhancing the uniqueness of every woman's face, natural positions of light and shadow are accentuated using expertly chosen palettes of color and contrasting textures."

Monet's 'The Water-Lily Pond', 1899, courtesy of www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Using Mirage should be like an Impressionist painting, the company tells us, with colors that appear randomly placed when you look at them up close... but with a step back an image pulls together. So the collection is used this way - defining each feature just-so, playing with light to make every advantage your advantage.

Want to know more (and see the products)? Keep reading...

Fireworks - Shu Uemura's new collection HANA-BI

Fireworks! Shu Uemura's HANA-BI collection

June marks the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the first Shu Uemura boutique. The doors opened in the ritzy Omotesando area of Tokyo, June of 1983. Every single year, Shu Uemura creates a collection to celebrate the anniversary, and this year's collection is especially poignant coming months after the passing of Mr. Uemura.

HANA-BI, which means fireworks, which is apt for the lovely summer months. The name of the collection is a double-entendre of sorts, as the Japanese word HANA means flower and BI means beauty. The collection boasts product created with natural ingredients and packaging inspired by fireworks - perfect for summer!

The inspiration for the collection were three elements: terre/earth, flower/rose, and water/source.

The artwork for the packaging, which features a different burst of fireworks on item, was commissioned by Shu Uemura himself and created by Gwenael Nicolas, an industrial artist from Tokyo. Read more about Nicolas here.

Let's take a sneak peek, then you need to click on the link to keep reading past the jump!

The Fragrances:
The HANA-BI collection features three Limited Edition scents, all made from natural ingredients. Essential oils swirl in Deepsea water to create fragrances that, when worn by an woman, become as unique as the woman herself.

fleur de terre | fleur de rose | fleur de source

• fleur de terre | an energizing, luminous fragrance with fresh, floral, and woody notes. Essential oils include rosemary and bergamot, known to provide a revitalizing feel. | $50 USD

• fleur de rose | a sophisticated floral fragrance with a fresh amber note. Essential oils include ylang ylang and turkish rose, a rich floral note with a slightly spicy touch. | $50 USD

• fleur de source | a pure, serene and cool feeling fragrance with a floral, spicy note. Essential oils include corriander, papyrus, and basil, a sweet herbaceous note. | $50 USD

The Palettes:
Three delicious palettes are presented in the collection, too, again representing earth, flower and water...

• palette fleur de terre | energizing, luminous colors inspired by nature, full of energy. | $65 USD

• palette fleur de rose | sophisitcated, feminine colors inspired by the beauty of magnificent flowers including rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang.   | $65 USD

 

• palette fleur de source | colors found in water that showcase pure and serene beauty. |$65 USD

The Definition:
Check out the shimmer eye liner! Now that's hot!
It's longlasting, it's liquid, it's available in black and brown.
$33 USD

 

So, what's the scoop? Do you like? Do you not like? I personally can't wait to get my hands on this... and when I do, I'll get you some swatches and tell you how it feels and looks!

Makeup Artist and Cosmetics Creator Shu Uemura Dies

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Shu Uemura, the famed and beloved Japanese makeup artist and creator of the eponymous cosmetics line, died of acute pneumonia on December 29, 2007 at the age of 79. His funeral was in Tokyo last Friday; he is survived by his wife and son.

Uemura was the only male in his Japanese beauty school in the 1950s. From there, he went to Hollywood to become a makeup artist, which he did very successfully, working on the likes of Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. In fact, his major break in the industry happened when another artist got sick and Uemura stepped in to transform MacLaine into a geisha in the movie "My Geisha". His success in this venture reportedly gained him a standing ovation from the cast and crew, including Ms. MacLaine herself.

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In the 1960's, he opened his own studio in Tokyo, and it rapidly expanded to have international locations. He also created one of his signature products around that time: his cleansing oil, which is still a top-seller for the Shu Uemura company. Almost every artist (and many, many consumers) use his lash curlers on a daily basis, and his line of false lashes is breathtaking.

One of the world's renowned makeup artists, Uemura was influential worldwide and continues to inspire artists today.

I was as sad to hear this news as I was when Kevyn Aucoin died almost 6 years ago. My condolences to his family and friends, to the world of cosmetics, and all of us makeup artists who admired Mr. Uemura.

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