The blue box isn't a mistake; the silver cap was acting like a mirror!
Monday, February 24, 2014
NOTD: Dior Princess
Think of today's NOTD as an appetizer for my other post for today. Today's NOTD is Dior Princess, a limited-edition polish from the Spring 2013 collection. It's a sparkling carnation pink. Swatches are with 2 coats, no topcoat.
The blue box isn't a mistake; the silver cap was acting like a mirror!
The blue box isn't a mistake; the silver cap was acting like a mirror!
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday Dreaming
It's time for that whimsical post each week- Sunday Dreaming. These are some of the items I'm currently obsessing over.
1. Laura Mercier Luster Eyeshadow- African Violet ($23)
Reading other blog reviews of the new Laura Mercier Artist's Palette and standout shade African Violet has my heart fluttering. It sent me on a Google-spree to find as many photos as I can. What can I say, I'm just glad that I don't pass by Nordstrom or a full Sephora on my daily commute. Otherwise I'd have it in my life already! I had enough drama with shipping companies this past week to last for a bit, hence the reluctance to buy online.
2. Burberry Beauty Sheer Eyeshadow- Midnight Brown ($29)
Spoiler alert: I got my hands on my first Burberry eye product this week, and I'm currently testing it before writing up a review. I have limited access to this brand (Burberry boutiques carry a subset of the current collection) despite living in one of the largest metro areas in the country. This has frustrated me to no end, since I demand to see a formula before I buy. I feel like Burberry has missed the mark by only being available in one location on the East Coast. Midnight Brown is a beautiful shade that appears to be perfect for any occasion. I'll let you read my review in a couple of days to decide if I'm likely to order this soon.
3. Burberry Beauty Eye Brush- Socket Line No. 9 ($38)
Good brushes are worth tracking down, and although my brush collection is rather large, many of them are inferior quality. I'm in the slow process of buying brushes from high-end brands to round out my collection and compare. I finally got the Dior brush I've been coveting for almost a year this past Tuesday, so adding some Burberry to my collection sounds like a great idea.
1. Laura Mercier Luster Eyeshadow- African Violet ($23)
Reading other blog reviews of the new Laura Mercier Artist's Palette and standout shade African Violet has my heart fluttering. It sent me on a Google-spree to find as many photos as I can. What can I say, I'm just glad that I don't pass by Nordstrom or a full Sephora on my daily commute. Otherwise I'd have it in my life already! I had enough drama with shipping companies this past week to last for a bit, hence the reluctance to buy online.
2. Burberry Beauty Sheer Eyeshadow- Midnight Brown ($29)
Spoiler alert: I got my hands on my first Burberry eye product this week, and I'm currently testing it before writing up a review. I have limited access to this brand (Burberry boutiques carry a subset of the current collection) despite living in one of the largest metro areas in the country. This has frustrated me to no end, since I demand to see a formula before I buy. I feel like Burberry has missed the mark by only being available in one location on the East Coast. Midnight Brown is a beautiful shade that appears to be perfect for any occasion. I'll let you read my review in a couple of days to decide if I'm likely to order this soon.
3. Burberry Beauty Eye Brush- Socket Line No. 9 ($38)
Good brushes are worth tracking down, and although my brush collection is rather large, many of them are inferior quality. I'm in the slow process of buying brushes from high-end brands to round out my collection and compare. I finally got the Dior brush I've been coveting for almost a year this past Tuesday, so adding some Burberry to my collection sounds like a great idea.
FOTD: Weekend Testing Casual
It's been quite awhile since I've done one of these posts, and they always seem to go over well.
This is what I've been wearing the past couple of days (my weekend). I'm testing a new eyeshadow, which will be revealed in two days on the blog.
Face:
Eyes:
Lips:
That's it- a quick and dirty Face of the Day/Weekend! When I'm testing a product (usually on the weekend), I try to keep the rest of my face close to my usual look. For me, the biggest departure is the switch back to my HG (d/c'ed) foundation. When I went to review the Sephora foundation pen, I discovered that I was essentially out of the foundation I've been using! (I was waiting until I had a good feeling on the foundation before reviewing. I guess I do, one bottle in! Oops!)
This is what I've been wearing the past couple of days (my weekend). I'm testing a new eyeshadow, which will be revealed in two days on the blog.
Face:
- Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF15- Alabaster (discontinued, my old HG)
- Benefit Boi-ing Concealer- 01 Light
- NARS Creamy Concealer- Chantilly
- Chanel Les Beiges- No 10
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo- Caramel
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel
- Bobbi Brown blush- Pale Pink (in mini palette from an old Sephora 500 pt perk)
Eyes:
- NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Lavish Palette- Cream (discontinued)
- Estee Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow- Roseberry Duo (long since discontinued), I used the lighter of the two in my crease
- Marc Jacobs Magic Marc'er Liquid Eyeliner
- Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes #0L
- Lorac PRO Mascara
- To be revealed Burberry Beauty product (what I've been testing)
Lips:
- Bite Beauty Fruit Scrub Whipped Cherry (winter has been killing my lips and I've had to exfoliate daily these days!)
- Shiseido Benefiance Full Correction Lip Treatment (on its last legs, but I hate to replenish any earlier than necessary due to the price!)
- Le Metier de Beaute Hydra Creme Lipstick- Rose Garnet (I also swapped this with a Dior Serum de Rouge I'll be sharing with you later in the week)
That's it- a quick and dirty Face of the Day/Weekend! When I'm testing a product (usually on the weekend), I try to keep the rest of my face close to my usual look. For me, the biggest departure is the switch back to my HG (d/c'ed) foundation. When I went to review the Sephora foundation pen, I discovered that I was essentially out of the foundation I've been using! (I was waiting until I had a good feeling on the foundation before reviewing. I guess I do, one bottle in! Oops!)
Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen
When I first spotted the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen, I knew I had to have it in my life. I've side-eyed Bobbi Brown's Foundation Touch-Up Sticks for years but had never pulled the trigger due to the price. At $16, this seemed to be a decent compromise.
Here's the basic info: the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen is a synthetic fiber, fillable pen with a click mechanism that pushes the foundation/BB/CC of your choice through a thin tube into the brush head. You can then use the brush head to blend out the foundation. This is touted as the perfect tool for mid-day touch-ups. For us ladies with 16+ hour days between leaving and coming home, perhaps an economical way to make mid-day touch-ups.
After a few days of testing it, I'm left with a distinct mix of emotions when it comes to the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen.
First, the good.
At $16, it's affordable. If one wanted to invest in several of these with different liquid makeup products in each, it's not rough on the wallet.
It's customizable. Whereas I drooled over the Bobbi Brown stick that matched my old HG foundation, not everyone has a perfect color match in that line or particularly likes a stick foundation. This allows you to take your favorite product with you.
Each click dispenses a small amount, which is excellent. This is truly meant for touch-ups. You don't get a face-sized amount with one click, you get enough to cover about half a hand.
This photo shows the width of the line of foundation you get with one click:
Here's the dispensing mechanism:
The synthetic brush is shockingly effective as a blending tool. I wouldn't want to do my entire face with it, but it would work well in a small area- just as designed. I'm a huge brush snob, so for me to enjoy this inexpensive synthetic brush is a bit out of character.
A close-up of the brush head:
Now, the not-so-good.
Look carefully at the size of that reservoir. The fill line (which is essentially required in order to get it to function properly, as I learned from testing) is about 90% up. It's a foundation hog! If you're not sure if this product really will work for you, it could be an expensive endeavor. In that photo, the ends that fit into each other are both facing the bottom of the image.
The refillable reservoir is also held in place by screwing it into the body of the pen. It doesn't feel substantial to the touch, and I can easily envision a scenario where those small plastic grooves become stripped with usage and the two pieces separate in your bag. The grooves are inside of the main body; the reservoir is smooth.
Speaking of the plastic body, there's no "hard click" with the lid. I didn't attempt to break it, but I have my reservations about this will hold up in a purse. If one of the major upsides to this product is portability, how much is lost if it needs to be within (preferably) a plastic bag or something else that you wouldn't mind getting foundation on.
Overall, I like the concept. At $16, it's not hard on the wallet and worth a try. However, I'm still cautious about the durability of the product and protect my handbag and makeup cases accordingly.
The Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen retails for $16, and is available exclusively at Sephora.
Here's the basic info: the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen is a synthetic fiber, fillable pen with a click mechanism that pushes the foundation/BB/CC of your choice through a thin tube into the brush head. You can then use the brush head to blend out the foundation. This is touted as the perfect tool for mid-day touch-ups. For us ladies with 16+ hour days between leaving and coming home, perhaps an economical way to make mid-day touch-ups.
After a few days of testing it, I'm left with a distinct mix of emotions when it comes to the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen.
First, the good.
At $16, it's affordable. If one wanted to invest in several of these with different liquid makeup products in each, it's not rough on the wallet.
It's customizable. Whereas I drooled over the Bobbi Brown stick that matched my old HG foundation, not everyone has a perfect color match in that line or particularly likes a stick foundation. This allows you to take your favorite product with you.
Each click dispenses a small amount, which is excellent. This is truly meant for touch-ups. You don't get a face-sized amount with one click, you get enough to cover about half a hand.
This photo shows the width of the line of foundation you get with one click:
Here's the dispensing mechanism:
The synthetic brush is shockingly effective as a blending tool. I wouldn't want to do my entire face with it, but it would work well in a small area- just as designed. I'm a huge brush snob, so for me to enjoy this inexpensive synthetic brush is a bit out of character.
A close-up of the brush head:
Now, the not-so-good.
Look carefully at the size of that reservoir. The fill line (which is essentially required in order to get it to function properly, as I learned from testing) is about 90% up. It's a foundation hog! If you're not sure if this product really will work for you, it could be an expensive endeavor. In that photo, the ends that fit into each other are both facing the bottom of the image.
The refillable reservoir is also held in place by screwing it into the body of the pen. It doesn't feel substantial to the touch, and I can easily envision a scenario where those small plastic grooves become stripped with usage and the two pieces separate in your bag. The grooves are inside of the main body; the reservoir is smooth.
Speaking of the plastic body, there's no "hard click" with the lid. I didn't attempt to break it, but I have my reservations about this will hold up in a purse. If one of the major upsides to this product is portability, how much is lost if it needs to be within (preferably) a plastic bag or something else that you wouldn't mind getting foundation on.
Overall, I like the concept. At $16, it's not hard on the wallet and worth a try. However, I'm still cautious about the durability of the product and protect my handbag and makeup cases accordingly.
The Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen retails for $16, and is available exclusively at Sephora.
NOTD: Essie Hide & Go Chic
Today is the Great American Race! Woo! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're missing out. In honor, I've pulled out one of my appropriately-hued polishes to correspond with my favorite race team (usually).
Today's NOTD is Essie Hide & Go Chic, a beautiful blue that makes my heart skip a beat. This has a great formula, and this is two coats, no topcoat.
Today's NOTD is Essie Hide & Go Chic, a beautiful blue that makes my heart skip a beat. This has a great formula, and this is two coats, no topcoat.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Guerlain Meteorites Blossom Collection- Star Dust Nail Lacquer
Continuing the week of Spring 2014 collections, I present my second-ever purchase from Guerlain's Spring 2014 Collection: Meteorites Blossom. Admittedly, I've not explored this brand much, although this purchase has already sent me in pursuit of additional colors from the La Laque Couleur line.
The Spring 2014 collection is designed to reflect the brilliance of stardust and the luminosity of the re-formulated Meteorites. There is a limited-edition La Laque Couleur and matching lipgloss in the Star Dust shade. I selected the nail polish after looking long and hard at the matching lipgloss.
Star Dust (#862) retails for $25 and is a limited-edition shade. I got mine at Nordstrom, but Sephora also has it listed on the website. It is a sheer white with multi-colored reflections and shimmer. It's hard to explain without seeing it in person. The shimmer is far more obvious than, say Chanel Intermezzo.
These swatches are with three coats, and indoors, with flash. They don't do it justice. Please see Temptalia and The Beauty Look Book for better photos.
Next up: Essie Spring 2014 collection.
The Spring 2014 collection is designed to reflect the brilliance of stardust and the luminosity of the re-formulated Meteorites. There is a limited-edition La Laque Couleur and matching lipgloss in the Star Dust shade. I selected the nail polish after looking long and hard at the matching lipgloss.
Star Dust (#862) retails for $25 and is a limited-edition shade. I got mine at Nordstrom, but Sephora also has it listed on the website. It is a sheer white with multi-colored reflections and shimmer. It's hard to explain without seeing it in person. The shimmer is far more obvious than, say Chanel Intermezzo.
These swatches are with three coats, and indoors, with flash. They don't do it justice. Please see Temptalia and The Beauty Look Book for better photos.
Next up: Essie Spring 2014 collection.
NOTD: Zoya Dove
Today's NOTD is a classic Zoya grey. Dove is a grey creme. This is 2 coats, no top coat.
NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Flowers in Her Hair
Today's NOTD is another Spring 2014 gem, Deborah Lippmann Flowers in Her Hair. This is two coats, no topcoat.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Essie Spring 2014 Hide & Go Chic Collection
Today I have my selections from the newly-released Essie Spring 2014 Hide & Go Chic Collection. I have been eagerly awaiting this collection since I saw a promo image for the collection and immediately went in search of its namesake.
I settled on the set of 4 minis: Hide and Go Chic, Fashion Playground, Romper Room, and Style Hunter.
This set covers the range of the Spring 2014 collection nicely. It's got bold colors, pastels, neutrals, and pop colors. I'm not really sure what the theme is, but there's something for everyone.
Today's post is meant to serve as a quick overview; I'll do full manis and NOTD posts for these shades over the next month or so.
Moving from left to right (and below, pinky-index fingers):
Romper Room is a light candy pink creme. I found this to have surprisingly good coverage, and achieved full opacity in two coats. It had a quick drying time, and leveled nicely.
Style Hunter is a pink/red creme that reminds me of Chanel Tapage. It took two thin coats to cover the nail.
Fashion Playground is a mint creme with hidden silver glitter/shimmer that's present in the bottle but not on the nail, much like some of the recent light blues in recent collections. It only took two coats to cover the nail. It's slightly muted compared to most of the other mints in my collection.
Hide and Go Chic is a knockout blue creme. This color literally made me stop and stare when I saw a print ad, and go look for the collection's release date. Like the others, it only required two coats.
Using my fingers as a nail wheel:
I know it's a messy paint job, but I just wanted to show them on the nails before I get wheels in.
I found this set at Ulta, but the official release date for the collection is in March.
I settled on the set of 4 minis: Hide and Go Chic, Fashion Playground, Romper Room, and Style Hunter.
This set covers the range of the Spring 2014 collection nicely. It's got bold colors, pastels, neutrals, and pop colors. I'm not really sure what the theme is, but there's something for everyone.
Moving from left to right (and below, pinky-index fingers):
Romper Room is a light candy pink creme. I found this to have surprisingly good coverage, and achieved full opacity in two coats. It had a quick drying time, and leveled nicely.
Style Hunter is a pink/red creme that reminds me of Chanel Tapage. It took two thin coats to cover the nail.
Fashion Playground is a mint creme with hidden silver glitter/shimmer that's present in the bottle but not on the nail, much like some of the recent light blues in recent collections. It only took two coats to cover the nail. It's slightly muted compared to most of the other mints in my collection.
Hide and Go Chic is a knockout blue creme. This color literally made me stop and stare when I saw a print ad, and go look for the collection's release date. Like the others, it only required two coats.
Using my fingers as a nail wheel:
I know it's a messy paint job, but I just wanted to show them on the nails before I get wheels in.
I found this set at Ulta, but the official release date for the collection is in March.
NOTD: Dior Bouquet
Today's NOTD is Dior Bouquet, from the Spring 2014 Trianon Collection. I previewed this color earlier in the week when I did my collection overview. Bouquet is a creamy light coral creme. Although it's not as fabulous as Bloom, the formula is still nice.
I'm wearing two coats, with no topcoat.
I'm wearing two coats, with no topcoat.
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