I just purchased a new lipstick from MAC called High Def which I find to be a nice my-lips-but-better pinky brown shade. I normally don’t post much about MAC since there are so many other great resources out there, but had to rave about this one because even though MAC has a wide variety of natural pinky-brown lipsticks, I find a lot look odd on me because they turn too brown or look really dark on my lips even though swatched on my hand or in the tube it’s gorgeous. For example MAC Twig pulls an ugly brown on my lips while in the tube and swatched on my hand it looks so sophisticated and gorgeous!
I’ve pulled a few of my “non-shimmer your lips but better” lipsticks ranging from a nude-pink to pinky-browns and here they are:
1. Bobbi Brown Brownie Pink 2. MAC Velvet Teddy (matte) 3. MAC Half ‘n Half (amplified cream) 4. MAC High Def (amplified cream) 5. MAC Fanfare (cremesheen) 6. MAC Cosmo (amplified cream) 7. Laura Mercier Nude Lips 8. Laura Mercier Bare Lips
(Same order, different view):
Swatches in natural light:
1. Bobbi Brown Brownie 2. Bobbi Brown Brownie Pink 3. MAC Velvet Teddy (matte) 4. MAC Half ‘n Half (amplified cream) 5. MAC High Def (amplified cream) 6. MAC Fanfare (cremesheen) 7. MAC Cosmo (amplified cream) 8. Laura Mercier Nude Lips 9. Laura Mercier Bare Lips
Swatches with flash (same order as above):
What are some of your favorite your-lips-but better non-shimmer lipsticks?
I think we’ve all experienced the “oh no!” panicked feeling from having discovered that a beloved product or shade was discontinued or limited edition. How do you feel about limited edition items or back-ups?
I have to admit I’ve been sucked in a number of times to products because of the limited edition factor, yet there are certain lines (which will remain un-named) that I now refuse to buy from because of so many product revamps, constant product discontinuations or because of overzealous sales associates pressure me to buy because “it’s limited edition, you have to buy it now.”
We all like new things, so I have to ask myself, why do I a back-up or duplicate of something I already have? My back-up obsession has gotten out of control as has it has exceeded capacity of my MAC Train Case and now filled up a drawer in my Ikea unit. I think I need an intervention to help get rid of my pack-rat tendencies.
(For example, I have a number of MAC Mineral Skin Finishes duplicates such as the So Ceylon released back from 2004, yet I have never come close to finishing a MSF! Why do I continue to buy backups of such items? I have no idea.)
I’m interested to know in how you all feel about “limited edition” collections. Especially when certain lines have been known to release monthly limited edition items. The pros are that they release a number of products with innovative colors or textures that are inline with seasonal trends. I value creativity and innovation. The downside is sometimes you will see a re-hash of similar colors when it seems that they have run out of ideas of what to release next.
Since I hate falling in love with something only to worry that it might be discontinued someday, I have come to appreciate lines like Nars which doesn’t release “limited edition” items unless it’s in the form of a palette or a set.
So, all that being said, what do you have back-ups of? What are your thoughts on limited edition items? What do you do when you are desperate to find something that is no longer available?
Perhaps your insight will help me avoid getting sucked into buying so many back ups. Especially when some cream-like products have a certain shelf life.
I’ve posted about some tidbits about a few exclusive sets from Bobbi Brown & Laura Mercier in the past month and they are now all available online with full details. I also wanted to let you know about upcoming events that you might be interested in as well.
Current or upcoming events I know about:
* September 16th to 19th? – Bergdorf Goodman $25 off $100 purchase event. * Now until September 20th – Neiman Marcus Beauty Event, receive a leopard-print tote with 5 samples inside, each line has their own individual gift with purchase. You can find the list online or POSTED HERE. (Note that some of the gifts have already been removed from the website, which I assume they have sold out.) * September 24 to ? – Saks Beauty Event, at this time I don’t know what the gifts are. * Mid October – Neiman Marcus Incircle Event, which is a double points event for Neiman Marcus Card Holders, but open to anyone they have gift with purchases at this time as well
First – I want to let you know that each store I’ve been to have told me they only received 6 sets of each item. I’m not really sure if this is actually true, but just be aware that stock is limited. They can always try and locate the item at another store and have it shipped to you. But those who prefer instant gratification might want to keep this in mind.
* Bobbi Brown Black Plum Set $245 – Exclusive Navajo Eye Shadow, Ash Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Exclusive Deep Plum Shadow, Natural Bronzing Powder, Washed Rose Shimmer Blush, Plum Blush, Brown Lip Color, Rose Petal Lip Color, and Pink Chandelier Glitter Lip Gloss + 5 Brushes.
Scan from Bergdorf’s Magazine which I feel is more accurate in showing the product colors, while the image from online shows a better picture of the brushes:
* Laura Mercier Essential Organizer $125 – 12 Eyeshadow Celestial, African Violet and Bamboo Luster Eye Colours, Black Plum, Buttercream, Cashmere and Coffee Ground Matte Eye Colours, and Sandstone, Baroque, Haze, Stellar and Sable Sateen Eye Colours + 3 double ended brushes, details a few posts below + more real pictures.
* Bobbi Brown Black Fawn Set $100 – “ Chrome 4 Pan palette filled with two neutral shades of Eye Shadow, exclusive Shimmer Lip Gloss (with protective cover), and for the first time ever, Bobbi’s Pot Rouge in customizable form (with protective cover). Also includes three mini brushes-Eye Shadow, Lip, and Eye Shader – and a Chrome faux-leather organizer.”
Not disclosed online, but it contains: * 4 pan palette with full sized Ivory Eyeshadow, Fawn Shimmerwash, Powder Pink Pot Rouge, and exclusive Paisley Rose Lipgloss * 3 mini brushes: eyeshader, eyeshadow, and lip
* Laura Mercier Gemstone Eye Collection $125– “A first for Laura, five perfectly paired jewel tone baked eye colours that can be used wet or dry create endless looks. Contour and define eyes with three expertly chosen double-ended brushes. The Gemstone Eye Collection contains the following mini Baked Eye Colours: Pearl, Tiger’s Eye, Deep Amethyst, Tourmaline and Malachite. A Black Thickening and Building Mascara and Black Violet Kohl Eye Pencil provide a final touch of drama. Various looks can be achieved using the double-ended All Over Eye Colour Brush and Eye Crease Brush, double-ended Smudge and Corner Eye Colour Brush or the double-ended Crème Eye Colour Brush and Crème Eye Detail Brush.”
* Eyes & Cheeks To Go Set $60 – Warm Eye Quad includes Bone Shimmer Wash, Copper Sand Shimmer Wash, and Gold Dust Metallic and Espresso eyeshadows. Pot Rouge in shade Blushed Rose. Cool Eye Quad includes Navajo Metallic, Gunmetal Shimmer Wash, Rockstar Metallic and Navy eyeshadows.
I’ve heard that for the holidays Nordstrom will have some exclusive items for Laura Mercier, but don’t have details at the moment.
Also if you shop at Bloomingdales, they will have their Beauty Benefits Event mid-october, but at this time I don’t think they will have any Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier Exclusives – but they will have gifts with purchases. Perhaps for the holiday collections they will though.
I first saw the new Cle de Peau Eyeshadows in the Saks Beverly Hills back a couple months ago and immediately fell in love with a cool medium dark taupey shimmer #106. I have been eyeing it since then and finally caved in and bought it from my local Neimans. I did not realize until after I got home that the eyeshadow cost $45 for 2.0g/.07 oz. The Extra Silky Lipstick #124 retails for $50 – which is a cool natural pink with slight shimmer.
Here is one of the magazine scans of the other shades:
Overall thoughts: I had tested these out at the counter and the eyeshadow was on the sheer-medium side for pigmentation. It can be layered for more color. I am actually a fan of the Extra Silky Lipsticks for their great nude your lips but better shades which give me pretty shiny lips and flattering colors that make you look refreshed. After coming home with my goodies, I did question my sanity for spending $95 + tax on only two cosmetic items – I don’t usually splurge on Cle de Peau and from now on, I will seriously need to resist temptation and weigh in the costs/benefits more carefully.
For comparison purposes: * Chanel’s single eyeshadows are also 2.0 g/.07 oz and retail for $28.50 * Giorgio Armani Maestro singles are 1.3 g/.04 oz and retail for $28 * Dior’s New Smoothing Singles are .07 oz and retail for $27.50
I picked up the Laura Mercier Essential Orgainzer from Neimans yesterday for their Fall Beauty Event yesterday. The department store gift was fairly disappointing in my opinion, which is usually the case but I still manage to get sucked in because of the gifts within each individual line. The store was packed with lots of customers which I always find suprising because the gifts aren’t really that great yet always manage to draw in a lot of sales.
Anyways, here are pictures of the set and some close ups.
To recap from my previous post, the set retails for $125 and is a Neiman Marcus Exclusive. It contains:
* 12 eyeshadows in the following colors:
Celestial, African Violet and Bamboo Luster Eye Colours Black Plum, Buttercream, Cashmere and Coffee Ground Matte Eye Colours Sandstone, Baroque, Haze, Stellar and Sable Sateen Eye Colours
(The box says that the weight of each shade is .09oz/.2.6g which I find questionable because that is the size/weight of a full sized eyeshadow from Laura Mercier – perhaps the colors in this set are deeper than wide?) * 3 double ended brushes:
Double-ended Eye Color and All Over Eye Color Brush Double-ended Eye Crease and Ponytail Brush Double-ended Smudge and Corner Eye Color Brush
Close up of the top half:
Close up of the bottom half:
Whole set compared to a full sized Laura Mercier Eyeshadow (Primrose shown):
Size comparison of case to a Trish McEvoy Petite Planner & Louis Vuitton Small Agenda:
Neimans gift with purchase: Full sized Mulberry Lip Stain, minis of Flawless Cream, Pistache Cream, lip brush and Candlelight Mineral Shimmer Powder
Left to right: #1 Steel Black, #2 Brown Copper, #3 Gunmetal Grey
The Eyes to Kill Palettes have finally arrived at my local Saks and Neimans and have been selling fast because of Saks Double Points & Neimans’s Beauty Week. Luckily my favorite Saks associate knew I had been asking about these since June so she and the Armani reps put one of each aside for me as soon as they came in.
These should be trickling in online very soon, but so far are currently available at GiorgioArmaniBeauty.com. Here are the product & color descriptions, each palette retails for $58 (for 8 g/.28 oz):
For more pictures and scans from magazines, check out this post Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Preview. I have yet to try the Eyes to Kill Mascara, but am planning to pick one up soon so I should be able to report back within the next few weeks about it!
I came home with #1 (taupe/ivory/black), #2 (coppery brown/gold/chocolate), and #3 (dark violet/cool grey/charcoal).
Here are the pictures and swatches:
Close up of #1:
Close up of #2:
Close up of #3:
Overall thoughts: My counter didn’t have testers of these so I had to buy them without trying. Luckily thanks to some other boards, I was able to see swatches before buying. Before I write the rest of my review, I have to say that in addition to being a die-hard Chanel fan, I am also a huge fan of Armani.
I haven’t been able to try these out on the eyes yet, but so far, the pigmentation seems on par with other armani shadows and palettes. Each palette has a good range of finish in the eyeshadow ranging from a high shimmer finish to satin/finish. Those looking for a matte eyeshadow palette might not like these, but the shades aren’t too shimmery or frosty (with the exception of #1). The middle darkest shades are the least shimmery but not completely matte – these seem to be on the sheerer side.
Overall I’m really happy with the palettes. I have been into a major shimmer eyeshadow kick but these are nice because they aren’t overly shimmery or matte. Pigmentation is decent in my opinion. Even though $58 is steep, I am happy with my purchases.
With the exception of the middle shades which are basic black, chocolate and charcoals, the palettes were unique enough that I don’t think I have comparable shades in my current collection.
I highly recommend you call your local Neimans to take advantage of their gift with purchase. The qualifier isn’t too high. Check the neimanmarcus.com website for a picture of their gift which includes a full size shine lipstick, a mini eyes to kill mascara and more. Even if your local neimans doesn’t have these palettes, there are plenty of other fabulous things to try out!
Hi everyone, I want to thank each one of you for your support and kind comments over the past few months since I started this blog! I am so glad I have been able to help some of you get a better idea of what some products look like and hopefully have been able to provide some ideas on new things to try out!
If you could take a couple minutes to fill out a survey for me I would greatly appreciate it. Any feedback would be awesome – I want to hear everything, what you love, like, hate, or don’t care for.
Just a disclaimer, there isn’t any marketing material gathered here – I simply would like some feedback on this blog 🙂
I just purchased a new lipstick from MAC called High Def which I find to be a nice my-lips-but-better pinky brown shade. I normally don’t post much about MAC since there are so many other great resources out there, but had to rave about this one because even though MAC has a wide variety of natural pinky-brown lipsticks, I find a lot look odd on me because they turn too brown or look really dark on my lips even though swatched on my hand or in the tube it’s gorgeous. For example MAC Twig pulls an ugly brown on my lips while in the tube and swatched on my hand it looks so sophisticated and gorgeous!
