Julep Ciara is a packed blue/purple duochrome shimmer.
I'm ready for November's collection!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
NOTD: Julep Ciara
Today's NOTD is my final selection from Julep October 2013 that I'll be showing. I also picked up the glow in the dark topcoat, but it's just a shimmer.
Julep Ciara is a packed blue/purple duochrome shimmer.
I'm ready for November's collection!
Julep Ciara is a packed blue/purple duochrome shimmer.
I'm ready for November's collection!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Coming Attractions
Just a quick note on some coming attractions:
I had a major swatch-fest last weekend, so I have photos for a number of posts ready. I just need to finish up the text. This includes one of the Dior holiday sets!
I went on a bit of a shopping spree yesterday, so get ready to see some new brands on this blog!
And I've fallen in love with one of the new lippies I picked up yesterday- look for that to jump the queue above all else. I've got some errands to finish today, but tomorrow is my blogging day.
I had a major swatch-fest last weekend, so I have photos for a number of posts ready. I just need to finish up the text. This includes one of the Dior holiday sets!
I went on a bit of a shopping spree yesterday, so get ready to see some new brands on this blog!
And I've fallen in love with one of the new lippies I picked up yesterday- look for that to jump the queue above all else. I've got some errands to finish today, but tomorrow is my blogging day.
NOTD: Julep Beatrix
Today's NOTD is Julep Beatrix. This is a packed glitter.
I've swatched it on the nail with 3 coats, and then over yesterday's NOTD, Cleopatra. It's stunning either way.
Pricing/Availability: $14, via Julep.
I've swatched it on the nail with 3 coats, and then over yesterday's NOTD, Cleopatra. It's stunning either way.
Pricing/Availability: $14, via Julep.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil- Mushroom
Today's look at an eyeshadow pencil comes from Urban Decay, known for their shadows. I started with one of the classic eyeshadow shades- Mushroom.
Mushroom is a beautiful metallic taupe. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeshadow pencils weigh in at 0.10oz/2.8g. They are not twist-up or automatically sharpening; they fit in the larger side of the Grindhouse sharpener.
I can get 12+ hours of wear with primer. This is a great shade to sample the line. Admittedly, I think I prefer the powder version in terms of color payoff.
Like most Urban Decay products, this has fantastic color payoff, and plays nicely with primer. I can get 10-12 hours of wear with primer, as long as I don't rub my eyes.
Bottom Line: I prefer UD's powder shadows to their shadow stick line, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a nice product. I highly recommend trying only one shade out to see if the formula is for you or you'd rather stay with UD powder shadows. At $20, this is a moderate priced eyeshadow stick.
Pricing/Availability: $20, via Urban Decay's website, Sephora, or Ulta.
Mushroom is a beautiful metallic taupe. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeshadow pencils weigh in at 0.10oz/2.8g. They are not twist-up or automatically sharpening; they fit in the larger side of the Grindhouse sharpener.
I can get 12+ hours of wear with primer. This is a great shade to sample the line. Admittedly, I think I prefer the powder version in terms of color payoff.
 | |
| Outside, in natural light |
 |
| Inside, no flash |
 |
| Inside, with flash |
Bottom Line: I prefer UD's powder shadows to their shadow stick line, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a nice product. I highly recommend trying only one shade out to see if the formula is for you or you'd rather stay with UD powder shadows. At $20, this is a moderate priced eyeshadow stick.
Pricing/Availability: $20, via Urban Decay's website, Sephora, or Ulta.
NOTD: Julep Cleopatra
Today's NOTD is a finish I haven't yet featured on this blog: latex creme. Julep Cleopatra is a stunning jet black latex creme. This is the first time I've played with this finish, and I love it.
Pricing/Availability: $14, via Julep.
Pricing/Availability: $14, via Julep.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Caudalie Vinotherapy Hand and Nail Cream
A bit of a detour for this afternoon's post. Now that the temperatures are lower, my skin is crying for more moisture. I recently bought a full size of the Caudalie Vinotherapy Hand and Nail Cream after finishing the smaller tube that came in the Caudalie Favorites kit I purchased a couple of months ago.
Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream retails for $15 and comes in a 2.5 fl oz squeeze tube. For those worried about buying in-store, the tube is sealed under the cap.
Like all Vinoperfect products, this has a pleasant, light grape leaf/grapevine scent. It is a white lotion:
In terms of moisturizing ability, I'd rate it as moderately moisturizing. It does a great job and the moisture lasts for a few hours. However, it's not a shea cream and therefore isn't the heavy lifter that the best shea creams are.
One of the best features of this lotion is that it's moisturizing without leaving a greasy residue. It's clean, and leaves a perfumed kick.
Bottom Line: I find this to be a pleasant addition to the rotation of lotions on my bedside table and find it perfect for this time of year.
Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream retails for $15 and comes in a 2.5 fl oz squeeze tube. For those worried about buying in-store, the tube is sealed under the cap.
Like all Vinoperfect products, this has a pleasant, light grape leaf/grapevine scent. It is a white lotion:
In terms of moisturizing ability, I'd rate it as moderately moisturizing. It does a great job and the moisture lasts for a few hours. However, it's not a shea cream and therefore isn't the heavy lifter that the best shea creams are.
One of the best features of this lotion is that it's moisturizing without leaving a greasy residue. It's clean, and leaves a perfumed kick.
Bottom Line: I find this to be a pleasant addition to the rotation of lotions on my bedside table and find it perfect for this time of year.
Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow- 17 Cool Gold
Today's eyeshadow stick is one of my favorites. Although it's a limited edition product, I'm holding out hope that Chanel will bring these back from time to time. I purposely chose a shade that's still available on Chanel's website and on Nordstrom's site. I don't believe in showing items that are drool-worthy but gone for the most part (hence no Aqualillies review, no Moon River in this line, etc).
Chanel jumped on the eyeshadow stick trend with the Summer 2013 collection, introducing the world to the Stylo Eyeshadow Stick. It originally came in 6 shades (a glittering taupe, jade, pink, smoke, blue, and this gold), and over half of the collection is still available at retail price.
The Stylo Eyeshadow Stick is one of the most unique products I've tried in awhile. First, make sure to wear a good eyeshadow primer or you will get slipping and collecting in lines. That's never a chic look. With NARS primer, I regularly average 8-10 hours of wear.
These are, by nature, very sheer and glittery. It's the classic Chanel shimmer in an eyeshadow stick form.
Cool Gold is a neutral-toned gold (it doesn't pull extremely warm or cool in person). It's very wearable, and the Stylo Eyeshadow sticks can be used either as a true shadow or as an eyeliner, making it a very versatile product.
One of the coolest (ha ha) features of this line is that they cool upon contact. I loathe plumping, heating glosses. This is the opposite- a mini gel pack on your eyes, a true treat first thing in the morning.
I highly recommend taking the Stylo Sticks out for a spin. Hopefully they'll be back soon!
Pricing/Availability: $34, at Chanel counters.
Chanel jumped on the eyeshadow stick trend with the Summer 2013 collection, introducing the world to the Stylo Eyeshadow Stick. It originally came in 6 shades (a glittering taupe, jade, pink, smoke, blue, and this gold), and over half of the collection is still available at retail price.
The Stylo Eyeshadow Stick is one of the most unique products I've tried in awhile. First, make sure to wear a good eyeshadow primer or you will get slipping and collecting in lines. That's never a chic look. With NARS primer, I regularly average 8-10 hours of wear.
These are, by nature, very sheer and glittery. It's the classic Chanel shimmer in an eyeshadow stick form.
Cool Gold is a neutral-toned gold (it doesn't pull extremely warm or cool in person). It's very wearable, and the Stylo Eyeshadow sticks can be used either as a true shadow or as an eyeliner, making it a very versatile product.
 |
| Outside, in natural light |
 |
| Inside, no flash |
 |
| Inside, with flash |
One of the coolest (ha ha) features of this line is that they cool upon contact. I loathe plumping, heating glosses. This is the opposite- a mini gel pack on your eyes, a true treat first thing in the morning.
I highly recommend taking the Stylo Sticks out for a spin. Hopefully they'll be back soon!
Pricing/Availability: $34, at Chanel counters.
NOTD: Julep Kendra
Today's NOTD is Julep Kendra, a army green shimmer. It's unique in my stash, believe it or not.
This is so dark on the nails that I had a hard time identifying the photo! It's very chic.
This was a part of the October 2013 monthly collection for Julep, and is available at their website.
This is so dark on the nails that I had a hard time identifying the photo! It's very chic.
This was a part of the October 2013 monthly collection for Julep, and is available at their website.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Clinique Sheer Shaper for Lips- Black Honey
Today's dose of Black Honey comes in the form of a discontinued lipliner.
Clinique Sheer Shaper for Lips is the absolute perfect twin to the classic Black Honey Almost Lipstick. I'm not sure why this product was discontinued- I'm sad that I didn't discover it until recently. I don't know of another product like this on the market- a truly sheer lipliner with a wash of color.
A swatch should help illustrate what I mean:
Actually, I think you need to see it with Almost Lipstick in Black Honey to get just how genius this lipliner is:
It is stunning and so perfectly matched. Why would they get rid of such a unique and perfect product? I'm going to be a one-woman campaign for the re-introduction of this product. Dear readers- did this come in any other shades? I'd love to know!
Clinique Sheer Shaper for Lips is the absolute perfect twin to the classic Black Honey Almost Lipstick. I'm not sure why this product was discontinued- I'm sad that I didn't discover it until recently. I don't know of another product like this on the market- a truly sheer lipliner with a wash of color.
A swatch should help illustrate what I mean:
 | ||
| Outside, natural light |
Actually, I think you need to see it with Almost Lipstick in Black Honey to get just how genius this lipliner is:
It is stunning and so perfectly matched. Why would they get rid of such a unique and perfect product? I'm going to be a one-woman campaign for the re-introduction of this product. Dear readers- did this come in any other shades? I'd love to know!
NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil- Hollywoodland
Next up on the parade of eyeshadow sticks is the NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland. Whereas its sister Palladium was bold and overwhelming, Hollywoodland is calming, steady, and always accommodating to a makeup look. Palladium may be the BMW, but Hollywoodland is the steady Toyota Camry. You need both in your life for balance.
NARS Soft Touch Pencils contain 0.14oz of product and are not self-sharpening. They fit in the larger end of the NARS pencil sharpeners. With NARS eye primer, I get 8-10 hours of wear as an all-over color wash, and about 12 hours as an eyeshadow base.
Hollywoodland is a soft gold. Most eyeshadow pencil ranges contain a color like this. NARS manages to give the soft lighting effect in a pencil form- and it's beautiful. The color doesn't jump off of my hands in the swatch, but it's a beautiful neutral pencil. I find it incredibly useful and versatile. It also doubles as a highlighter, like many of the other pencils in similar colors.
Some swatches:
Bottom Line: I find this to be a go-to shade. If you're curious about the line, this might be the place to start.
Pricing/Availability: $24, via NARS, Sephora, or your local NARS counter.
NARS Soft Touch Pencils contain 0.14oz of product and are not self-sharpening. They fit in the larger end of the NARS pencil sharpeners. With NARS eye primer, I get 8-10 hours of wear as an all-over color wash, and about 12 hours as an eyeshadow base.
Hollywoodland is a soft gold. Most eyeshadow pencil ranges contain a color like this. NARS manages to give the soft lighting effect in a pencil form- and it's beautiful. The color doesn't jump off of my hands in the swatch, but it's a beautiful neutral pencil. I find it incredibly useful and versatile. It also doubles as a highlighter, like many of the other pencils in similar colors.
Some swatches:
 |
| Outside, in indirect light |
 |
| Inside, no flash |
 |
| Inside, with flash |
Bottom Line: I find this to be a go-to shade. If you're curious about the line, this might be the place to start.
Pricing/Availability: $24, via NARS, Sephora, or your local NARS counter.
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