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

Bobbi Brown wants to help you streamline your life...

“The Customize.Simplify.Organize system is designed for women to customize their makeup and be their own makeup artists. It’s an easy way to take less, but have more.” – Bobbi Brown

Beginning in April, Bobbi introduces her new Customize.Simplify.Organize Collection which is designed to work with her customizable palette system. For the first time ever, take your personalized foundation, blush, eye shadow and lip products with you wherever you go in a convenient compact!

 

Add:

• Foundation Stick; available for a limited-time in compact form for $22.00. Available in Bobbi’s full range of tones and the three new shades (Cool Beige, Natural Tan and Warm Honey. These foundation pans can be popped out of their compacts and inserted into customizable palettes or taken as is for on-the-go touchups.
• New limited-edition Lip Quad. Perfect for the woman who wants to take her entire lip wardrobe with her, each compact features four complementary shade combinations handpicked by Bobbi herself. These quads can also be popped out of their compacts and inserted into Bobbi’s customizable palettes and will retail for $20 each.
• Shimmer Blush Collection - this gets an additional two shades (Pink Coral and Plum Wine). Shimmer Blush is a perfect way to give cheeks a soft, shimmering glow. These blushes can also be stored individually or popped into customizable compacts.

Foundation shades:

Lip palettes:



 

Also coming:

• A Lip Crayon Trio, featuring three of her popular Lip Crayons in Naked Pink, Pink Raspberry, A new shade of Sugar Blush and a custom size sharpener. The perfect gift for the woman on the go, Bobbi’s Lip Crayons offer the luxurious feel of a lipstick and the ease and convenience of a pencil. Each set will retail for $50.00 for a limited time.

All of these products will be available from Bobbi Brown counters nationwide and www.bobbibrown.com beginning April 2009. 

 

Interested in this? Feeling "meh..."? A fan of Bobbi? Share with the class!

I haven't tried too much Bobbi that I don't like, but I don't live at the counter, for some reason. That's odd! I really think the palette system is great - the video has me interested. And what is it about a lip palette I find so intriguing? I never use them, but they look so damned tempting!

8 tips for Springing out of Winter!

Spring is here, originally uploaded by Lord Ivan.

Yesterday was the first day of Spring! YAY! I love Winter, don't get me wrong. It's my favorite season, in fact. But here in Richmond, VA, it's lost some of its luster. It was a mild Winter, and only snowed once. So I'm ready for Spring!

Here are some great ways to get prepared:

1. Soften up
2. Get your (safe) flow on with moisture
3. Color it up!
4. Brighten your locks
5. Pamper the tootsies
6. Follow (or start!) a trend
7. Get flowery
8. Change textures

Read on for the details...

The Colour Ready post has been updated with official info and pics

Take a look here!

Updated MAC collection posts - links here

The Grand Duos and Sugarsweet posts have been updated with official info and promo pics.

New in Nails | 3.12.09

• Miss Mismas at All Lacquered Up wants to share some Chanel. Well, I don't think she's buying for all of us, but she's got some nice preview pics of Chanel's Summer collection. Please be sure to go read the details on All Lacquered Up.  Below, from left: Golden Sand, Orange Fizz:
  
  
  

• Despite a temporary "mystery collection" speed bump, we don't want you to get blue. Well, maybe we do! Essie goes a little crazy with their new Summer collection, North Fork. Take a look at Scrangie's find, and read the post for more info! 
  
  
  

• All Lacquered Up shares a sneak peek at another great China Glaze collection. (Can that company put out a dud? Hopefully: never)  Introducing: Spring / Summer's Kicks! Visit to learn more.
  
  
  

That's it for nails today. Got anything else for us?

Any of these catch the eye? Are you too busy yawning to care? Share with the class!

Naturally, being a China Glaze junkie, I want to get my hands on Kicks! I can't wait to see that purple-y pink one, and the lighter blue. Essie has shocked me with the blues, and I'll peep those but I'm not that into blues - I just want to see 'em and prove to myself they're real! And you know I love orange, so I'll scope out the Chanel Orange Fizz, but it looks a little pale to interest me. Ya never know, though!

MAC | Viva Glam VI Special Edition, and line repromote | Press op for Fergie, MAC | pics of VGVI SE lipstick

MAC's Viva Glam Special Edition lipstick - set to launch soon.
 Here's a little news about it, including pics!

Available soon (April '09)
the Limited Edition, Special Edition Viva Glam VI lipstick:

Described as a
"soft blue-pink" [Lustre formula]




Here's the already-on-counter
Limited Edition, Special Edition Viva Glam VI lipglass:

Described as a
"soft pink-tinged mauve" [Frost formula]


And here are the original Viva Glam VI products:


VG VI lipstick: warm terracotta plum with subtle pearl [Lustre formula]
VG VI lipglass: Warm plum with multireflective, multidimensional pearl [Frost formula]


 

On March 5th, Fergie, the spokesperson for the VG SE collection,
visited Project Angel Food in LA and then the MAC Store on North Robertson Blvd.

Why?

To fight AIDS and plug Viva Glam.

Project Angel Food is an organization that provides prepared meals
and nutritional counseling to people living with HIV and AIDS.

Viva Glam, of course, has raised over $130 million to fight AIDS globally.





 

How do you feel about Fergie as a spokesperson? Are you eagerly awaiting the VG VI SE lipstick? Already have the lipglass? Not interested? Never tried MAC or Viva Glam? Share with the class!

I personally can't wait for this lipstick! Not only is this a great way to contribute to a great cause (100% of the proceeds goes to the MAC AIDS Fund!), the colors looks lovely, too. I adore VG VI Lipglass - it's a staple in my bag, and the SE version is lovely, too. I use VG VI lipstick on a lot of people, but don't love it for myself (I prefer VG V). But I really believe in the program, so I encourage you to try Viva Glam, even if these colors aren't for you - there are more to try and they're PERM.

I do, however, wonder why Fergie isn't wearing the new products during her trip? That seems WRONG.

Taking it to a whole 'nother level | Urban Decay's Pocket Rocket

Yes. Pocket Rocket.

Never ones to shy away from a double entendre, Urban Decay strikes again with a new product called "Pocket Rocket". It's shaped ergonomically, so you won't get hurt if you use it a lot, and it's been created specifically to glide right on. One little rub and spirits and libidos fly! Guaranteed to get things plump. And it's just the perfect size so you can slip it in your pocket and sit on it if you must.

And it's not what you think.

Keep reading to find out more...

BPAL | New Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab scents! Beware the Ides of March!

(image source)

BPAL has a great new set of delicious scents for us to hoard. In celebration of The Ides of March, The Lab has released new scents that celebrate that fateful day and great Irish writers. Sweet.

As a personal note, I do not fear the Ides of March because it's on March 15th that I was given the gift of my lovely niece! And an Irish name she has. Huzzah, Clare!

The Bards of Ireland: Irish bards were members of a hereditary caste of learned poets. They were officials of the courts of their chieftains and kings, and served as historians, storytellers, and satirists. They were immersed in the rich history of their clan and country, and learned the intricacies of their craft from birth. Their words held so much power that it was believed that a glam dicing, or satirical incantation, spoken by a bard held the magic of a curse.

The High Notes:

• The Ides of March '09
• Bards of Ireland: The Deserted Village
• Bards of Ireland: The Dole of the King's Daughter
• Bards of Ireland: Eanach Dhúin
• Bards of Ireland: The Host of the Air   

Read on for the details...

 

(source)

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...

Review: 3 Custom Color Specialists | Whisper Lipstick!

 

I tried a new company recently, and I want to tell you about my experience. I have written about my interest in 3 Custom Color Specialists (here) and was lucky enough to get a sample of their new lippie called Whisper. It actually comes in lipstick and lipgloss formula, but I chose to test the lipstick. Here's how it went...

But first, some background on the color:

Trae Bodge, makeup artist and co-founder of 3 Custom Color Specialists (that's her on the right!), loved Spring '09's runway looks for their soft, smoldering goodness and glowing bronziness. Inspired, she created Whisper, a creamy shimmering nude shade for lips that helps you achieve that look from the runways.

Use Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream to sculpt the face and bring out the best of your bone structure, giving a sexy highlight. Here are more tips for that glowy, healthy look from Trae:

• Bronze your skin wtih On Fire Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream, concentrating on the areas where the sun kisses you: forehead, chin, cheeks, nose, and the crease of the eye (create a "V").
•  Highlight these areas with Radiance Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream to give radiance: brow bone, upper cheek bones, eye lids and inner corner of the eyes. 
• Line eyes with Dark Brown Eye Liner and soften by buffing. Two coats of Black Mascara will finish the eyes, but you can perfect them futher with a dose of Light Clarifier Pencil on the inner rims of lids!
• Use Whisper on lips - either the lipstick, the lipgloss, or BOTH!

Keep reading to find out about Whisper lipstick!

MAC Collection: A Rose Romance | 4.23.09 | Preliminary Info

Suggesting Sonnets celebrated for centuries:

“Come into my garden, I would like my roses to see you!”

poet Sir Richard Brinsley Sheridan once said,

and what lady could resist such flattery?

*updated on 3.5.09 to add a few product images

Highlights:

• 3 lipsticks [1 repromote of perm item]
• 3 Lipglasses [1 repromote of an LE item]
  
• 3 See-Thru Lip Colors
• 2 Pigments [both repromotes of LE items]
  
• 5 eyeshadows [2 perm repromotes]
• New! 1 Gel Blush
• 2 Beauty Powders
• 1 nail polish
• 1 fragrance [repromote of LE scent]
• 1 new twist on Fix+

For more info, plus pics and swatches as they are unearthed, keep reading!

Grand Duos post has been updated with swatches and images

Take a look here for the goodies!

 

Do you love the mineralized blushes? Do you think the duo thing is cool, or a pain in the butt? Waiting? Skipping? Share with the class!

More MAC Sugarsweet. (it's coming soon: 3.10.09!)

We've updated the Sugarsweet post, here.

And we'll keep searching for swatches the closer it gets to hitting counter. I'm so excited!

Are you psyched for Sugarsweet?  Do you not care? Is there another collection you're waiting for more eagerly?  Share with the class!

Bobbi Brown | Platinum Collection | Spring '09

Bobbi Brown wants us to feel like we're lavishly dressed, even if platinum jewelry isn't quite in the budget. Take a look at her newest collection: Platinum Collection, dubbed as "a necessary indulgence".

The high notes:

• A new LE Shimmer Brick!
• 4 new Longwear Cream Eyeshadows
• A new LE Shimmering Body Oil
• 3 Lipglosses (2 Shimmers, 1 Cream)

For more details and images, keep on reading.

Guerlain | Paradis Exotique | Spring '09

(image courtesy of mischo beauty)

Isn't this a GORGEOUS eye look!? I may have to do a version of it soon!

The look is from Paradis Exotique, the Spring collection from Guerlain. This image comes from a post on Mischo Beauty, which is a great blog, so if you want to see the (fabulous!) products, take a look over there.