DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss

I think I first heard about DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss through a magazine. It was listed as one of the hot new beauty products for the summer. The author of the piece just kept gushing about how cute the names of the shades were and made reference to the tag line "Cocktails, anyone?" like it was the most unique thing ever. Hello??? Had this supposed beauty guru not heard of Lorac Mocktails??? But let's be honest, even Lorac was not the first cosmetics company to have a line inspired by fruity cocktails. While this has nothing to do with the actual product itself, I just wanted to vent a little bit about authors who gush about how new and unique products are when in fact they really aren't so. Even more so is the fact that the writer in this scenario was going on and on about the names of the shades and not the gloss itself.

Anyhoo, turning to the product at hand. DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss is fabulous! It is a new and improved update on the original DiorKiss line. The first thing you notice about this is the new and improved tube. Gone is the horrible, harsh flat sloped plastic applicator that was present on the original DiorKiss. Replacing it is a unique curved applicator tip "that fits perfectly in the contours of the lip for ultimate precision." And let me just tell you, it is so very precise. The thing I hate most about the original plastic tip is that the gloss just kind of glops on all over the place. The plastic tip is like ice, allowing the gloss to slip all over the place, inevitably falling outside your lip lines. The curve tip on the new DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss hugs your lips allowing for a more precise application.

If you loved the original DiorKiss, you'll love the new formula. It is still packed with shine and pigment. The sheer, transparent consistency and the not-so-sticky formula still remain. I personally think that the lip-plumping capability is more prominent with the new formula. It's still as long lasting as ever. There is a slight price difference between the two. The new DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss is priced 50 cents higher at $19.50. It's available in 8 shades (I'm loving Hawaii Coco at the moment).

One bad thing if you were a huge fan of the original DiorKiss line, it's being discontinued! DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss will be replacing the original line. So if you are obsessed with a particular shade and think you can't live without it, you better stock up. A lot of places are already sold out of the original line. Sephora.com only has Blueberry Muffin available as of today.

Waterproof Make-Up

I grew up with a pool in my backyard. My parents still have a pool, my apartment building has a pool, and I live right on Lake Shore Drive so the beach is just footsteps away. As much as I love the water, if I'm not wearing waterproof make-up then forget it. Now, obviously when I'm at my parents house or even my apartment and just feel like spending the day lounging around in the pool, I don't even bother with make-up. As much as I love make-up, I'm not one of those people who refuse to leave the house without it. But what about those times when your going to a party at a friend's who has a pool...like there's not a chance someone will got tossed in the pool unexpectedly??? If that someone is me, I don't want to go into the pool looking totally normal and come out looking like Alice Cooper with runny eye make-up. In these situations, water proof make-up is a must.

A few people have been emailing and asking me for some suggestions for waterproof make-up. In my opinion, eye make-up is what you really need to be concerned with when thinking water-proof. Blush and lipgloss usually just wash off and don't leave you with a streaky mess. Mascara and eyeliner, on the other hand, can leave you looking like an extra in a horror movie. A lot of make-up brands offer much of their eye mak-up in both regular and water-proof varities. If you have a favorite brand of eye make-up that you just couldn't live without, just check and see if they offer a water-proof version. If you are looking for something new and waterproof, check out some of my latest finds.

CARGO Swimmables Summer Beach Collection - I came across this set on HSN.com earlier this week. This is an HSN exclusive. This kit is just too cute. I love the name...Swimmables! You get water-proof mascara and eyeliner as well as a lip tint in a handy sports case making it easy to toss into your beach bag. Both the mascara and eyeliner are in shades of black and the lip tint is a berry shade. I just bought this kit for a friend of mine getting married in July (she's a 7-7-07 Bride) who is honeymooning in Hawaii and plans on spending a lot of time on the beach. This kit is available for only $25 with FREE SHIPPING!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Waterproof Mascara Black - I first tried Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! about a year ago and fell in love with it. I was overjoyed when about two months ago I learned that Tarte had finally come out with a water-proof version. The mascara brush has tons of tiny "lashes" that are able to get in between each and every eyelash and give them a nice even layer. The packaging is adorable too...a very chic denim wrap is adorned with a little anchor patch. Available for $18.

Dior Eye Show - If you're looking for a waterproof eye shadow, Dior Eye Show is your best bet. This cream shadow packs a lot of punch in its color contains just the right amount of shimmer. It's texture is smooth and feels so lightweight you won't even realize you have it on. Available in 6 great shades for $30.

Bourjois Intensely Luminous Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow - This is another great choice for water-proof shadow, especially if the $30 price tag on the Dior Eye Show is just too much for your wallet. These shadows are packed full of pigment, but appear irredescent when applied to your lids. These shadows also stay put without creasing. I absolutely love the Electric Beige shade. It also serves as a great base for layering shadows. Available in five shades for only $13.

Another thing to keep in mind as summer approaches, water-proof make-up is also helpful for those who tend to sweat a lot...especially, obviously, on your face. Now I know most women do not want to admit that they sweat a lot, but come on, we all sweat. In Chicago, where the summers are full of 90 plus degree heat and 1000% humidity, I sometimes sweat just sitting in the shade! Don't be afraid to reach for water-proof make-up when you're off to a BBQ or a fundraiser walk.

Dior 1-Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow

According to the media, metallics are all the rage right now. They're popping up everywhere; on celebrities, on the runways, on cover models, and so on. Good thing for me that I have always loved metallics. In fact, one of my first posts was on the foiling shades of Bare Escentuals. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the new Dior 1-Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow at Sephora last week. Every shade is packed full of rich pigment and metallic shimmer. I selected Icy White (a shimmering white) and Silver Dust (a shimmering gun metal grey). Absolutely stunning. The smokey eyes I create with these eyeshadows are the best I have every seen. The shadows go on so smoothly that it feels, and looks, like I am applying a cream shadow. The color and intensity last all day. It offers the perfect amount of shimmer without looking like you spilled a container of glitter on yourself. And the range of colors that Dior offers in this line. The full spectrum of the rainbow is represented. This is definately a must have product for your Spring make-up bag.

Sephora Coupon Codes

Just wanted to share the latest Sephora.com coupon / promo code I received. Enter "FUTURE28" upon check-out and receive the free deluxe sample of your choice. Choose from Care by Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Moisturising Cream, Dior J'Adore, Lorac Mocktail in Lava Flow, or Cosmedicine Medi-Morphosis Self-Adjusting Exfoliator. Great choices, but I think everyone knows that I'm going with the Lorac Mocktail. Happy Shopping!

Dior Exhibit At The Chicago History Museum

Not only am I a make-up and fashion geek, but I am also a history geek. I was so excited to finally get to see the Dior Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum this past week. The exhibit on the legendary Parisian designer Christian Dior highlights his influential 1947 New Look collection. This collection featured clothing with narrow shoulders, nipped waist and emphasised bust. The CHM houses one of the largest costume and textile collections in existence. Since their new renovations (and name change; they used to be the Chicago Historical Society) more of these costumes have been able to be displayed. You may ask what the connection with Dior and Chicago is. All of the dresses on display were owned by Chicago socialites. It also focuses on Dior's relationship with Chicago department stores, namely Marshall Field's. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this exhibit. The dresses were absolutely breathtaking. The Dior exhibit runs through May 27, 2007. Click Here for more information. I'm looking forward to what other fashion exhibits will be displayed in the future. The new renovations have included a massive 1300 square foot gallery exclusively for costume and textile exhibits.