I just checked out the new Paul & Joe Beaute website and noticed it has been redesigned and updated with the fall collection.
I haven’t found the new face colors on the site yet, hopefully they will come out soon! Check out their website for more fall pictures and descriptions as well.
I have to admit, when it comes to beauty products, I’m a high-end snob 99% of the time, but as soon as I saw Karla Sugar’s review, “New Brush Discovery!” featuring Studio Tools, I ran right away to Target to track down this steal.
What I came home with, from top to bottom:
* Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Pink #14 – $8.99
* Sonia Kasuk Eye Definer in Iced Coffee #24 – $5.99
* Studio Tools Crease Brush – $1.99
* Studio Tools Smudge Brush – $2.49
Sonia Kashuk Eye Liner in Iced Coffee Swatch & Pink Blush Swatch (can barely see it on the right but goes on better than it photographs):
So far I’m really happy with the brushes. You can’t beat that price. Bristles are full enough so they aren’t flimsy, but still soft enough to move them easily over the eye for blending.
I’m always on the search for crease brushes like this one. I have so many already (from MAC, Stila, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier and Chanel), but some are too big, not full enough (making them flimsy), some are too tightly packed, and some are too short. Before finding this Studio Tools Crease Brush, my favorite was the Stila Double Ended #30, but in recent years I’ve found Stila’s quality to have changed somewhat, especially with their brushes. The double-ended factor also makes storage a pain as one side will always end up somewhat smashed from storing them in various cans and containers.
For Sonia Kashuk, I was really impressed with the items she has! She has a great range of neutral eyeshadows. Unfortunately, the downside of drug-store beauty is that there are rarely testers of products. To me $8.99 for a drugstore blush isn’t exactly “cheap.” I decided to try and find reviews first of other products before purchasing more items.
The texture of the blush is very nice though, soft and powdery. The eyeliner is gorgeous, especially for all taupe-fans.
I placed an order from Saks NY for their Brushes with Greatness Event and received a cute Stephanie Johnson makeup bag filled with tons of little samples and goodies. Also with Dolce & Gabbana, they were having a gift of their Eyeliner Pencil in Black and a mini Body Cream.
What I ordered:
* Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Nude
* Luminous Cheek Color in Nude
* Classic Cream Lipstick in Charm
* Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Coffee
Left to right: Coffee Eyeliner, Black Eyeliner, Charm Lipstick
Nude Eyeshadow Quad & Nude Blush with Flash:
Close Up of the Nude Eyeshadow Quad:
Close Up of the Nude Blush:
D&G gift with purchase:
Saks Gift with Purchase:
Haven’t had a chance to play with anything yet, but after my first haul back in May, I’ve come to really like the texture of the eyeshadows. Overall, I feel the line is still overpriced but I do like the colors I have purchased. The only thing I don’t love is the Stromboli eyeliner, but I had to get Coffee because I’m a huge fan of shimmery browns. I will try and do some comparison pictures of the lipstick with the others I ordered before in the next week or so.
Interested in more Dolce & Gabbana? Check out this link to see pictures of more eyeshadow quads, lipsticks, and eyeliner:
First Look: Dolce & Gabbana Makeup
Includes pictures of Champagne Quad, Contrasts Quad, Perfection, Naked, Soiree, Velvet Lipsticks (Shine & Classic Cream Formulas).
For swatch of Stromboli Eyeliner, check out the Smokey Series:
Color Focus: Smokey Eyes Part 3 (Black Golds)
Bobbi Brown’s newest Ivy League collection is centered around a green-colored theme for fall. Today I picked up 2 items: the new Forest Shimmer Ink Gel Liner and Honeysuckle Lip Crayon. Other items in the collection included a new angled eyeshadow brush, a new eyeshadow and 5 other lip crayons.
The other lip crayons were on the brighter/more intense side. If you’re a fan of bright rich pinks, you will love Wild Rose and Posey. If you’re into nudes, then you’ll like Honeysuckle (for a peachy nude) and Dusty Nude (for a nude brown with slight pink). This first round I passed on Dusty Nude because it seemed similar to some other colors I already own but I will be checking back on it again later.
The new e/s brush was nice, but not a must have in my opinion.
Pics, swatches, and comparisons!
Forest Shimmer Ink & Honeysuckle:
Forest Shimmer Ink versus Ivy Shimmer Ink and Clinique Egyptian:
Swatch comparisons:
1. Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner Ivy Shimmer Ink
2. Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner Forest Shimmer Ink
3. Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner Egyptian (now only available in the pencil cream shaper form)
4. MAC Kohl Power Black Karat
5. Nars Eyeliner Kyoto
6. Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil Black Jade
7. Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon Honeysuckle
8. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Belle du Jour
9. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Café Con Leche
10. MAC Cremestick Liner Honey B. (this was recently put on the MAC Goodbyes List, still might be available at local MAC stores and Nordstrom counters – happens to be my HG ylbb nude)
11. MAC Cremestick Liner Summerfruit
12. Bobbi Brown Lip Liner Beige
Like greenish shades? Here are some other green shadows:
1. MAC Lustre Eyeshadow Greensmoke
2. MAC Starflash Eyeshadow Mink & Sable (discontinued, but similar to MAC Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow)
3. MAC Eyeshadow Saturnal
4. Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner Ivy Shimmer Ink
5. Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner Forest Shimmer Ink
6. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Rush (has a khaki slight greenish tinge)
7. Bobbi Brown Metallics Trio in Forest Metallics: Sage, Basalm, Forest (note Sage & Forest are available individually)
More green eyeliner swatches:
Color Focus: Smokey Eyes Part 5 (Blues & Greens)
Here is a series on some taupe eyeshadows. For me there are numerous shades that could qualify as “taupe”, these mostly range from neutral to cool-toned taupes. For most of the pictures, I’ve included MAC Satin Taupe to help you gauge the colors in comparison to one another. Also note there will be some repeats in some photos!
MAC, Becca & FACE Stockholm Eyeshadows:
MAC Pigments, Paul & Joe Pearl Powder, MAC Solar Bits:
Bobbi Brown Metallic, Bobbi Brown Shimmerwash, Laura Mercier, Scott Barnes Eyeshadows:
Bobbi Brown (some repeats to include Fawn Shimmerwash):
More Laura Mercier & Scott Barnes:
Chantecaille Eyeshadows:
YSL & Chanel Eyeshadows:
Christian Dior, Calvin Klein (original discontinued line), NARS Eyeshadows:
Urban Decay & Giorgio Armani Shadows:
Jouer, Le Metier de Beaute, Shu Uemura & Trish McEvoy:
Better view of Jouer Amaretto & Espresso:
Dior Jazz Club Palette:
Palettes from Lunasol & Dior:
Top Row: Bobbi Brown Copper Sand, NARS Eyeshadow Cairo, Laura Mercier Bamboo, Estee Lauder Cinnamon
Middle Row: Chantecaille Iridescent Eyeshadow Rose Gold, MAC Patina, Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color RD709, Urban Decay Toasted, Urban Decay Underground
Bottom Row: Chantecaille Cinnamon, Clinique Lucky Penny, Giorgio Armani #60, MAC Honesty
