Bobbi Brown Holiday Collection 2008

Bobbi Brown’s holiday palettes are always a must have for me. I was so excited to see what she had in store for us this year. Let me just tell you, she does not fail to deliver! There are so many things available that time does not allow me to comment on each of them. Below are highlights of some of my favorites, but you can go to BobbiBrown.com to see all that Bobbi has for us this holiday season.

Today at Macy’s I picked up my first piece from the Bobbi Brown holiday collection. How could I resist the Lip & Eye Palette? Packed with 4 new and exclusive Metallic Eye Shadows and 4 new and exclusive lip colors, this palette is definitely the star in the whole holiday line, well at least in my eyes! It also included a mini eye shadow brush and a mini lip brush. Everyone knows that I am absolutely in love with Bobbi’s Metallic Eye Shadows! If you loved the Brown Sugar palette from last year, you are going to love this palette! The eye colors include Champagne Quartz, Gold Dust, Golden Bronze, and Galaxy. All very shimmery, but very neutral and wearable. The lip colors include Berry Mauve, Pink Sequin, Dusty Mauve, and Ruby. Don’t let these shades fool you – they look very dark in the palette, but on they are very sheer and, just like the eye colors, wearable. As is expected, the lip colors and eye colors are perfectly paired. This palette is a limited edition and retails for $60.

Bobbi also released 2 eye shadow palettes each with 4 shadows: Velvet Plum and Basics. Both look very pretty, but I also think they have their own draw backs. First, while this may not be a problem for some, Velvet Plum only has one Metallic Eye Shadow, while Basics doesn’t have any. Second, reading the descriptions of the colors online, it states that all of the shades are “new, exclusive,” but I know for a fact that shades like Bone and Navajo were available in other collections. Third, with regards to Velvet Plum, while talking with one of the Bobbi Brown girls at the counter, she informed me that the Velvet Plum Metallic Eye Shadow is supposed to be the same as the solo Velvet Plum shadow that is currently available but isn’t. She stated that the color comes off much darker when applied than the original shade does and also is much more grittier than the Metallic Shadows usually are. Nothing is worse than gritty eye shadow! On the other hand, the plus sides of both of these palettes is the fact that there is a variety of shadow types in both, that is shimmers and mattes. I am personally going to pass on these palettes, but that is mainly because I have many Bobbi products that contain some of these shades already, and based on the fact that I did get the Lip & Eye Palette. Both of the Eye Palettes are limited editions and retail for $45.

The next palette from Bobbi’s holiday collection that I’m going to get is the Moon Rock Long-Wear Eye Palette. Bobbi gives us 2 Long-Wear Eye Palettes, Moon Rock and Night Sky. Both palettes contain 2 Long-Wear Cream Eye Shadows and 2 Long-Wear Gel Eye Liners. I think these palettes are more unique than anything else out there right now. I’m definitely eyeing the Moon Rock palette because I am a sucker for the grays, blacks, and whites (you can see I’m totally trying to avoid saying “smoky eye” yet again!). Bobbi’s Long-Wear products definitely are long wear so if you’re looking for something to wear to a holiday party where you don’t want to have to worry about sneaking away for touch ups, I definitely recommend these palettes. Both are limited editions and retail for $55.

Especially for the holiday season, Bobbi has taken her classic Lip Balms and infused them with glitter to create, Glitter Lip Balms (how clever). The Glitter Balms are just as moisturizing as the originals, but with an added touch of shimmer. The name “Glitter Lip Balms” is accurate in describing the shine and shimmer factor of these glosses, but is inaccurate in the sense that it would leave some to believe that the balm would be chunky and gritty due to the glitter. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Just like the original Lip Balms, the Glitter Balms go on smooth and feel creamy instantly. The Glitter Balms are available in 3 shades: Copper Diamond, Crystal Diamond, and Pink Crystal. The names are pretty self explanatory. These glosses are limited editions are retail for $19 each.

Finally, no Bobbi Brown collection would be complete without a Shimmer Brick! The Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick Compact contains 5 shades Candlelight, Gold, Copper, Beige and Sand and comes housed in a chic gold metallic compact. Brush it on your face, neck, shoulders, and décolletage for a beautiful golden glow. This Shimmer Brick is a limited edition and retails for $40.

So there you have it. Some of my favorite items from Bobbi Brown’s 2008 Holiday Collection. The collection is currently available online at BobbiBrown.com as well as at your local Bobbi Brown counter. You can also see the rest of the holiday collection at BobbiBrown.com. Happy Shopping!

Bare Escentuals Extreme Glitters

Everyone who knows me knows that I love shimmery, sparkly things. I love to put ting-ting in my flower arrangements and my Christmas tree. I prefer Swarovski crystal embellishments to pearl beading. Don't even ask about how sparkly my engagement ring is. Given this, of course I love sparkly make-up too! But there has to be a balance. I like sparkly and elegant, not sparkly and cheap.

I picked up Bare Escentuals Extreme Glimmers Kit about a month ago and have quickly deemed this my holiday season make-up. The kit contains three "extreme" eye shadows in silver, plum, and bronze, a starter size Prime Time Eyelid Primer, and an Extreme Glimmer Brush. The shimmer and sparkle are outrageous without being over the top. Does that even make sense? What I mean is that there is definately sparkle there, some of the best I have ever seen; but at the same time it doesn't look cheesy or cheap. Applied properly (try to hold back that heavy hand), your eyes pop with the sparkle of a movie star.

This kit does have the potential to lead to drag queen-esque eye make-up. The key to achieving the movie star look is to properly apply the eye make-up using the Bare Escentuals technique. First of all, USE THE PRIMER!!! It's in the kit for a reason! I've mentioned before that I am not a primer addict...I hardly use it. This is a situation where primer is a must. The pigment and glitter are loose thus allowing them to fly all over the place if not properly contained.

Secondly, you must use the "swirl, tap, buff" Bare Escentuals method. I am surprised by the number of people I talk to who love Bare Escentuals cosmetics but have never seen a demonstration on QVC nor have they watched the starter's DVD or read the instructions for application. I cannot recommend watching Leslie herself showing you how to properly use her products!!! I was also one of those who was like, "What's the deal with this swirl, tap, buff nonsense? Just dip the brush in and swipe it on!" So wrong! Every BE product should be applied with swirl, tap, buff.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here it is. Get just a dab of product in the lid of the container. One way to do it is to just skim the product with the brush and transfer it to the lid. What I like to do is flip the container over, tap the lid to "push" the excess back into the jar, unscrew the lid and, voila, just enough product in the lid. Next, take your brush and swirl it around in the lid to sweep up the product. Then tap the brush on the side of the lid to get rid of the excess. Finally, buff it on. Based on my experience, if you apply the Extreme Glimmers this way, you should have minimal glitter on your face and it should also cut back on the feeling of chunkiness that the glitter particles may create.

Photo Borrowed From BareEscentuals.com (Click picture to be taken there)

In the event that you do get some glitter on your face, don't worry. Simply take a face brush (an extra one that you don't use), spray a little bit of hair spray on it (don't saturate it), and gently sweep it over your face. That should get most of the loose product off.

Bare Escentuals Extreme Glimmers Kit is a limited edition kit that is only available at Sephora. It is priced at $32 with a $44 value. Happy Shopping!

Tarte Holiday Gift Sets

While I shouldn’t be surprised at all, Christmas items are popping up all over the place. Some people think that Christmas is rushed upon us, but I am not one of them. If it were up to me, I’d decorate for Christmas all year long. Christmas decorations just seem to make people happier. When I saw that my local Target and Menards had already had aisles with Christmas items in them, I knew it was only a matter of time before Holiday Gift Sets were going to be available from the beauty world. Today I found out that this is true.

Let’s start with Tarte Cosmetics. It’s no secret that I love Tarte Cosmetics. I look forward to Maureen Kelly’s collection of jam packed gift sets and unbelievably affordable prices each and every year. This year’s line continues to impress me.

Tarte Purse Your Lips Limited Edition Lipgloss Clutch is a lip gloss addicts dream come true. These glosses feature Tarte’s t5 super fruit complex™ making them packed full of antioxidants and vitamins that work to keep your skin looking young and gorgeous. This collection features nine (yes, 9) beautiful glosses in shades ranging from nudes to pinks to coppers to reds allowing you to create many versatile looks. The glosses come packaged in a gold clutch purse, perfect for the holiday season. The best part? The price! This $106 value is priced at only $39! That breaks the glosses down to a measly $4.33 each. Talk about a steal!

Year after year a favorite must have gift set is the Tarte Mini Cheek Stain set. This year they packaging is even jazzed up for the holidays. The Tres Cheek Limited Edition Mini Cheek Stain Set features 3 brand new shades of Tarte’s best known and most beloved product. Posh is a beautiful soft plum shade. Fierce is a light strawberry red. Chic is a golden coral peach. Just like the lip gloss set, I love this collection because the colors cover a wide range of shades. You can create countless looks with just these three shades. They are so sheer and blendable; don’t be afraid to combine shades to create a whole new look. The cheek stains also contain the t5 super fruit complex™ to keep you looking beautiful. The 3 cheek stains come packaged in a cute gold pouch (makes a great change purse or a small make-up case) and the tubes housing the cheek stains are gold for the holiday season too. This $50 value is priced at only $25.

Finally, The Vanity Limited Edition Palette is a must have for every make-up addict. I have the palette from last year and it still hasn’t run out! This year’s palette is chocked full of 16 BRAND NEW eye shadows, 16 BRAND NEW lip glosses, a deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara, a deluxe Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess, a deluxe luminizer, four powder blushes, and deluxe eyeshadow and eyelining brushes. I don’t even need to say anymore because this palette totally speaks for itself. This is the biggest value Tarte has to offer. It has a retail value of $494 and is a steal at the price of $52!

All of these gift sets are limited editions and are currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Bare Escentuals

There are a few things I wanted to talk about regarding Bare Escentuals. Instead of giving each one its own post, I figured I would just lump them all together.

First, I wanted to mention this awhile ago, I am so happy about the new Get Started Kits. I have given more of the original Get Started Kits as gifts than any other beauty product. It was always such a great way to introduce a friend to one of my favorite brands because they were super affordable and came with many products. That being said, most of the products were solely face products. Don't get me wrong, the Foundation and Mineral Veil put Bare Escentuals on the map, but what about eye shadows and lip colors??? That is why I love the new Get Started Kits. These new kits include 2 eye shadows, 1 eye liner, 1 blush, a Buxom lip gloss, a Heavenly Brush, a Double-Ended Contour & Define Brush, and a Angeled Blush Brush all for only $49. And just like the original Get Started Kits, these versions come in different sets for different skin tones.

Next, Bare Escentuals has created a new form of the Buxom Lips line. Buxom Lips Full Color is packed full of color for more full coverage than its Buxom Lips counterpart. The brush applicator (as opposed to the sponge tip applicator of the original Buxom Lips) allows you to pile on as much of the color as you desire. Although it is a gloss, it has the coverage ability of a lip stick.

I've tried this product and will say that it absolutely does deliver where full coverage color is concerned. However, I am disappointed because all of the colors available in this product are just too dark. Add Bare Escentuals to the list of cosmetics companies jumping on the dark lip band wagon. Perhaps they will introduce lighter colors in the Spring/Summer lines. Until then, I will pass. But I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a darker lip. You will not be disappointed.

Finally, if you are looking for some purplely eye shadows, the Face Fashion - The Look of Now Kit is a must have. This limited edition kit includes The limited-edition collection includes a Metallic Lavender Eyecolor (gray lavender), a Plush Purple Eyecolor (mulberry plum), a Smoky Sequins Liner Shadow (gunmetal gray), a Vintage Peach Blush (peach poppy), and a Mini Jessica Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish (copper pink). The eye colors make a beautiful smoky eye...much more subtler than the traditional black smokey eye, but just as powerful. The Jessica Buxom Lip Polish is a perfect compliment to the shadows as well. Just a hint of color so as not to distract from the eyes. This is a $55 value priced at just $34.

Don't forget to use coupon / promo code 10DAY to get a FREE 10 DAY SAMPLE OF BARE MINERALS SPF15 FOUNDATION AND BABY KABUKI BRUSH WITH ANY ORDER!!! Happy Shopping!

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow

***Blogger is being a pain right now and not letting me upload any pictures. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon and I can add some later!***

I am so excited to post about Bobbi Brown's new Metallic Eye Shadows. Anyone who has read this blog before knows that I became obsessed with Bobbi's Metallic Eye Shadows last Fall when her Metallic Eye Shadow Palettes were released. Since then, I have been hoping and praying that they would make their way into the full time line. Finally, they have arrived! These high-shimmer, high-pigmented shadows are now available in single compacts in a wide range of 18 different shades. Everything from pastels to bold colors are featured in this line. I am in love. It may take me a little while, but getting every color is my ultimate goal.

These shadows go on your eyelids like butter. They feel so smooth and creamy that you won't even believe that they are powder. And their staying power is outstanding. I put it on in the morning and at night when I go to wash my make-up off I am amazed that the color is still there and, even better, no creasing! These shadows are available at BobbiBrown.com and retail for $20 each.

Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette

The Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette has been out for a little while now, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. Nothing new or groundbreaking...same Stila eye shadow formula and no exclusive shades (all of them are available in invidual packaging). I thought I would pass on this palette...until I saw it in the store.

From Sephora.com - "The palette includes shades Ray, a perfect shadow to accent a healthy summer glow (shimmering golden copper), Mystic, a bold shade for summer soirees (shimmering aqua blue), Kitten, a Stila top-seller that works wonders as a base tone or a fresh highlight (shimmering nude pink), Wheat, a perfect base for a bronzed eye (pearlescent beige), Prize, a shade that can be paired with any shade in the palette as it adds a golden sheen (soft gold shimmer), and Sun, a sunny sparkle for day or night (shimmering golden peach)."

What is unique about this palette compared to most summer palettes from other brands is the wide spectrum range. While most palettes seem to offer a variant of one shade, Stila's Summer Palette goes across the spectrum. While a majority of the shades are in the gold and beige area (hey, it's summer...those are the best shades for summer after all!), we're also given a gorgeous shade of aqua (the hot color this summer) along with shades of pink and peach. The fact that there are so many different and versatile colors makes this palette a definate take it along on vacation palette. Really, who wants to take a ton of different pieces with them when they travel? Not me. But I also don't want to have to pick just one shade to use either.

Another benefit is the price. The palette retails for $40 which is a steal considering that individual Stila eye shadows retail for $18 each. You're getting six shades for roughly the cost of two (the pans of shadow are slightly smaller in the palette than the individual pans). This a great deal for any established Stila girl but it's even better for a new Stila girl who can't choose just one shadow to try.

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.

New Goodies From Benefit

Benefit Cosmetics has released three new products. Many of you may recall my last post about Benefit's new relase, Rush Hour, and how I was not at all impressed since it was nothing new, nothing original. So I have to admit that the new lipstick, cream blush, and and cream eye shadow/liner are nothing new, but the shades and packaging are so great I am willing to overlook that. The only thing that does bother me is that these products (especially the lipstick and the eyeliner) seem to be rip-offs of Stila products. Take a look and you decide.

I am generally not a lipstick girl, but I absolutely love the new Silky-Finish Lipstick from Benefit. The color spectrum runs from light neutrals to deep plums. The color is sheer, but buildable. Slick on one coat for barely there color or add multiple coats to give your lips deeper color. This product also moisturizes lips like you wouldn't believe. When I put this lipstick on, it felt like the color and the lipstick was just melting into my lips. It also serves as a great base if you want to layer some gloss on top. I skipped the lipliner and just threw some Silky-Finish Lipstick on my lips topped off with a gloss and I loved what I saw. And I know that we're not supposed to judge products based on their packaging, but I love the packaging for this product. The black lipstick tube embellished with the trademark Benefit logo and loop is just too cute.

On to eyes! With Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner, Benefit has taken two of my favorite Stila products (Shadow Pots and Cream Liners) and combined them into one convenient product. Apply a light layer all over your eyelid, and then apply multiple layers to line and contour your eyes. The best thing is that if you choose to only use one color, your shadow and liner is going to be an absolute perfect match because technically they are the same color. Of course you're not limited to one color, mix and match to create a dramatic effect. There are tons of shades to choose from, but I'm hoping that they will release some more lighter shades. I'm thinking white, silver, violet, light blue...I love wearing lighter shades in warmer weather. The fact that these shadows/liners are cream makes them so blendable. You know what I'm thinking...SMOKEY EYES!!! And again, I love the packaging!

Lastly, the product I'm least impressed with, Benefit's Sheer Cream Blusher. Benefit claims, "Give cheeks a perky pinch of natural color and cheer up your cheeks with one of these beautifully natural shades." Three shades are available in coral, rose, and berry. Okay, so the product is not bad, but it still doesn't give me the natural flush that I get from my Tarte Cheek Stain. I have yet to find a product that comes close to the natural look of Tarte. The other thing is that I love Benefit's powder blushes (especially Dallas) for when I want more of a dramatic color look. So basically, the new Sheer Cream Blusher just isn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure that tons of you will love it. It's still a great product, just one that I don't need.

New Products From Stila

This past weekend I headed over to Sephora just to browse. There wasn't anything that I needed, but I ended up finding some new products from Stila that I didn't even know about. I have quickly fallen in love with them and wanted to share.

Suprisingly enough, until now, Stila did not have a plumping lip gloss. It seems like they are the only cosmetic company that hasn't hopped on that bandwagon yet. But now, Stila has graced us with their new Plumping Lip Glaze. It comes in the same container as their cult classic Lip Glazes and is available in six shades. Now, all of the shades end with the word "mint" (e.g. berry mint, cherry mint, vanilla mint), so one might be expected to be greeted with a cool minty sensation. This is so not the case. However, unlike many other lip plumping glosses, you are not greeted with an intense tingling sensation either. The tingling sensation is very subtle, just enough to let you know that you have a plumping gloss on. For those of you who believe that DuWop Lip Venom is too much for you to handle, this product is for you. I would say that Stila's Lip Plumping Glaze has about 1/4th of the intensity of tingly-ness of DuWop. With regards to color, these colors are very sheer and light. I ended up purchasing the Cherry Mint shade and while the color looks rich and almost berry-ish in the tube, on my lips it's a barely there color but a ton of shine. It makes your lips look so natural. I know, I know, no one has naturally shiney lips, but these are the most naturally looking shiney lips I have ever had. I absolutely love it.

I also discovered that Stila has released it's new Stila Spring Eye Shadow Trios. Sephora had two versions of the latest must have from Stila: Pretty Pansy (a trio of greens) and Ravishing Rose (a trio of rose hues). I've always been a fan of Stila shadows and there trios are always fabulous. Each trio contains a highligher, a crease, and a liner shade in perfectly matched shades. The packaging is adorable too. Each shadow is housed in reusable mirrored satin box with a cute flower graphic on top. Both of these shades (greens and roses) are extremely hot spring shades right now and are flattering on every skin tone and for every eye color. Also, the green shades are perfect for St. Patrick's Day parties! I know I'll be wearing these shades while watching the Chicago River being dyed green.

Givenchy Arty Color Collection

Have you guys seen the new Givenchy Arty Color Collection? I had the opportunity to play with all of the new products today and was just blown away. Granted, I haven't really spoken about Givenchy products in the past, but I have been a fan of their cosmetic line for quite some time. The only problem that I had with it in the past (and the reason I have never really posted about it before) is the fact that they never really had any products that I found to be unique and awe-inspiring. Thanks to the new Arty Color Collection, I can no longer say that. Inspired by the art of graffiti, features an "explosion of colors." Just in time for spring, vibrant pinks, blues, greens, purples, yellows, and more are found in their eye shadows, lip glosses, masacaras and more. This collection is so unique in the way that they offer such a wide spectrum of colors. Unlike other lines that seem to feature variations of two or three shades, Givenchy takes a bold step forward and offers all of the colors of the rainbow. With all of these great color choices available, you will be able to create a million different looks.

My favorite piece from the new collection by far is the Givenchy Prismissime Eyes - 9-Colors Eyeshadow Arty Palette 53. These are 9 of the brightest colors I have ever seen. Now, don't be scared by the brightness. The nice thing about Givency shadows is that they can be applied as only a sheer hint of color by lightly coating the eye lid or they can be used to create a deep vibrant look by layering the shades. "Shades include: six vivid mat colors with pearly white inlays in pink, green, turquoise, yellow, purple, orange; and three very iridescent shades with an intense metallic finish in pure silver, pearly pink, and precious copper." The silver shade is out of this world.

Blue mascara seems to be a craze lately. Benefit just released Bad Girl Lashes in Blue and now Givenchy has released Givenchy Eyelashcolor Color Gloss For Highlighted Lashes in Blue as well as Green. "Highlighted" is the perfect word to describe this product because it does not give you heavy blue eyelashes but instead highlights your lashes giving you just a subtle hint of color that makes your eyes pop. Girls with blue eyes, you must try the blue shade. My blue eyes practically popped out of my head with this mascara. Not only is the color right, but the mascara wand is full of tiny fibers that are able to coat every nook and cranny of your lashes without creating clumps. If you haven't tried Givenchy mascara in the past, I highly recommend testing it out.

This collection also features two new Givenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil shades in Blue and Green. Both have a metallic tinge to them. While both shades are nice, they aren't anything too spectacular. I think that the cream liners available from Stila and Smashbox reign supreme in liners in terms of ease of application, look created, long lastingness, and colors. Now, if I received these as a gift I would definately use them, I'm just saying I personally would not go out and pick these up for myself.

The Prisme Again! Blush Quartet in Arty Pink is very interesting. Okay, I don't really get the name because more than pink is featured here. Glimmering Fuschia/ Glimmering Gold/ Glimmering Soft Orange/ Glimmering Vibrant Pink are all crammed into this palette. Use the colors individually or combine them all together. Believe it or not, all 4 compliment each other like I never would have guessed. The fact that the colors cover such a wide spectrum also allows you to create many looks. Go for the girly pink cheeks look or use the orange to get more the sun-kissed glow look. This palette is great for the girl who likes to mix it up and not wear the same color all of the time. Yes, that would be me!

I expect a lot of mixed reviews for the Pop Gloss Syrup Lip Glosses in Raspberry (a sheer watermelon pink shade) and Plum Syrup (a sheer fuscia purple shade). As far as the shades go, I love the Raspberry but was also drawn to the Plum Syrup. I think most will love the shades, but I think that some will not be too fond of the texture of the gloss. Syrup is the key word in the name. They definately have a syrupy/honey like texture in that they are some what thick. I have heard many complaints about thick lip glosses that tend to feel sticky. I personally do not mind lip glosses like that. In all honesty, it makes me more conscious of my lip gloss and I also know when I am in need of a touch up.

I should also mention that all of the products from the Givenchy Arty Color Collection are of course LIMITED EDITIONS. I highly recommend that the next time you are at a store that sells Givenchy cosmetics that you go over to the counter and try out this latest collection. It's tons-o-fun!

L'Oreal HiP (High Intensity Pigments)

For a few months now I have noticed the vibrant ads for L'Oreal's new HiP line on the pages and back covers of all of the fashion and beauty magazines. I definately have a bias against "drugstore cosmetics" being as for the most part they don't last as long as higher brands, nor are all of them made with as high quality ingredients. Don't get me wrong, there are definately a few drugstore winners, but usually they are few and far between. Nonetheless, I have been intrigued by the HiP line, mostly due to the fact that the shades are extremely bold and shocking. This week, when I ran to Ulta, I saw that they were on sale for half off. I took this as an opportunity to test them out and see just how much high pigment are in these babies.

I'll start with the Pure Pigment Shadow Stick because that is the one I ended up liking more. I chose the striking silver shade Dazzling 928. Since I've been on a metallics kick since my encounter with the Chanel Lumiere D'Artifices, I thought this might be just what I needed. My first complaint about this product is the shape of the stick. It is like trying to take a piece of chalk and using it to cover your eyelids. Trying to get it into the corners of my eyes without getting onto parts of my skin that were to remain eyeshadow free was quite a tast. The L'Oreal HiP website recommends that you use a sharpener to shade the pigment stick before you use it. Does anyone else think that this is an absurd waste of product? Much of the pigment will be wasted as shredding in order to shape the stick. Genius idea on L'Oreal's part in ensuring that consumers will go through the product quickly thus requiring them to purchase more. Anyways, as I applied the pigment to my eye (yes, eye...I decided to use the pigment stick on one eye and the loose pigment on the other to see which one had more staying power) I was very happy with what I saw. The color was extremely bold and vibrant. I applied this dry, yet it still had a very sheen metallic look to it. The color also made my blue eyes pop. Downside? It only lasted about 2 hours. And this was 2 hours of lounging around my apartment watching television and surfing the web. This was not 2 hours of running around, working up a sweat, rubbing my eyes, etc. After 2 hours it looked like I had simply rimmed my eye as opposed to covering the entire lid. Now, I am not the kind of girl who likes to touch up her make-up. I want to put it on in the morning and know that I won't have to look in the mirror for the next 10-12 hours. While I did like the look and feel of the Pure Pigment Stick immediately after I put it on, I cannot say that I will be using this product regularly in the future.

Next up, the Shocking Shadow Pigment. There weren't a lot of shades to choose from as most were sold out. I chose the Intrepid 914 shade. The shade is hard to describe. Looking at the swatches available online, it appears to be a reddish-pink shade. In person, it appears more reddish-brown. It was a nice looking shade, but since it was darker, it did not make my blue eyes pop the same way the silver shade did. It is clear that L'Oreal is trying to recreate the MAC Pigments in a drugstore cosmetic product. The name "pigments" as well as the container 100% resemble the MAC brand. Unfortunately, the staying power and the coverage do not match. L'Oreal is not even close to being comparable with MAC pigments. Not that I was expecting that. As I applied the shadow, I was suprised by how thin it was. The coverage was almost non-existant. After 5 coats (yes, FIVE), I was able to see enough of the product and left it at that. It did not come close to the coverage afforded by the Pure Pigment Stick. Even worse, this shadow only lasted for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The shadow was completely gone after that time. It didn't even look like I had rimmed my eye with the product like the pigment stick did. The only good thing I can say about this product was the "professional brush" that came with the product. Now, this was no way a "professional brush" in comparison with those from MAC, NARS, Bare Escentuals, Sephora, etc. However, as far as drugstore cosmetics go, this one is one of the best brushes I have ever seen. The brush hairs were extremely soft and did not fall off the handle. While I will not be using the shadow again (it's already been tossed), I will keep the brush on hand. It is about 3 or 4 inches long making it the perfect size to throw in my to-go cosmetic bag.

Anyone else have any opinions? Feel free to comment and let us all know. But as for me, I'll be sticking with MAC's pigment line from now on.

Chanel Lumiere D'Artifices

Ahhhh...Chanel. As soon as you hear that word you immediately think of high end, luxury items. Whether it's handbags, fragrances, shoes, or cosmetics, Chanel is definately tres chic. Of course, with luxury comes high prices. This is why I do not own many Chanel brand products. Knowing that I cannot afford such things, I try to stay as far away from the Chanel counters as possible. This is no easy task. Many a days as I'm standing on Washington and State, waiting for the CTA bus #60, I'm tempted and teased as the Chanel counter in Macy's tries to lure me in. As I watch all of the happy people playing with Chanel cosmetics and perfumes through the window on Washington, I can't help but want to run in and play too. Usually, I have enough will power to walk away. Today was not one of those days.

Today I went into Macy's and checked out the new Spring 2007 line from Chanel. Why, oh why did I do that!?!? I am now totally smitten with their new Lumiere D'Artifices. I mean, I had been seeing things about it online for about a month now, but had yet to see it in person. It contains three rows of metallic colors - cool silver, deep anthracite and warm bronze. Each can be worn alone, all together, as highlighters, as liners, you get the point. The pattern on the palette was created to resemble sequins on a Chanel dress. I am a huge lover of metallic looking shadows. They are so versatile and can be worn for day or night. When I put this on at the counter, I was amazed. Since it is Chanel, it was no suprise that the shadows just glided onto my eye lids. I was able to create the greatest "smokey eyes" look. So, did I pick this one up? NO! At $75, even I thought this was a bit pricey. I told the girl at the counter that I'll just have to come in every day and do my make-up at the counter! I know that this is a Chanel product and whatever, but $75??? The palette was not even that big. On top of it, I feel that the colors can be found in other collections at a fraction of the price.

Pink Eyes

Pink eye shadow is taking over the cosmetic world by storm. One of my friends was particularly taken with this look. She ran out and bought some new pink shadow to wear for a night out on the town. The results were not pretty. Instead of creating a soft and pure look, my friend created an Academy Award worthy looking eye disease. The pink shadow made her eyes look puffy and sickly. So, the question is, how do you pull off pink eye shadow without looking like your two steps away from death?

The problem that my friend had was that she used only one shade of shadow. By using only one color, she was unable to blend and create contours. Using multiple shades of pink is good, using pink with other colors is even better. The first time I was introduced to pink shadow was about three years ago when I tried Clinique's Strawberry Fudge. The duo included a shade of pink and a shade of brown. Now, I must admit, when the Clinique girl suggested the duo I thought she was nuts, but I quickly fell in love with the look. I used the pink shade to color my entire eyelid up to just above the crease. I never wear pink all the way up to the brow. If you are one of those girls who likes to wear shadow up to the brow at all times to highlight the area, for this look I suggest Bare Escentuals Nude Beach. It offers a neutral looking color with just the right amount of shimmer to catch and reflect the light. I then took the brown shade and used it almost as a liner, creating a thick line about my lashes that I then blended into the rest of my eye. The good thing is that many cosmetic companies realize the fantasticness of this pink and brown duo and have created palettes pairing the two together. And let's face it, it's so much easier to simply buy a palette that is made up of compatible colors.

My other suggestion with pink shadows is to not, I repeat NOT, use it under your eye. I know there are a lot of people out there who don't like using shadow under eyes to begin with, however, I believe that there are certain shades (silvers and whites) that really make your eyes pop when you do. Pink is not one of those shades. The reason being that by spreading the pink shadow out, both up to your brow and below your eye, you are creating the sickly look!

Oh, and another thing, when wearing pink eye shadow, particularly when you are using only various shades of pink, be aware of the shade of blush you are wearing. You do not want your shadow and your blush to be the same color because then your look will just blend right into each other, thus risking the sickly look again. My suggestion is to go with either a darker shade of pink, a shade of plum or a shade of peach on your cheeks. I recommend Benefit Georgia or Tarte Cheek Stain Blushing Bride.