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Paul & Joe Lip Lacquers and Lip Glosses

November 26, 2009

The last Paul & Joe feature in this series focuses on lip glosses. Paul & Joe currently has 2 formulas for the glosses in Lip Gloss N (wand with brush) and Lip Lacquers (squeeze tube).

L to R: 01 LE (2007), 02 LE (2007), 003 Lustre LE (2009), 04 Peach Syrup, 01 Nectar, 02 Mandarin, 03 Serenade, 04 Tenderness, 05 Riviera, 06 Can-can, 07 Adieu, 08 Bouquet, 10 Magnifique


I’ve featured the lip lacquers in previous posts, but to recap, they are supposed to be similar to their lipsticks in lipgloss form and the pigment is indeed rich, but not too thick or overpowering, making your lips look full. Paul & Joe’s website has a cute photo of the glosses which is fairly accurate in my opinion. There is a faint sweet scent to them, but on the lips you can barely detect any fragrance.

Lip Lacquers: 01 Nectar, 02 Mandarin, 03 Serenade, 04 Tenderness, 05 Riviera, 06 Can-can, 07 Adieu, 08 Bouquet, 10 Magnifique


See swatches of #1 – 8 here.
See Joey’s review/swatch of #10 here.

Paul & Joe also has lip glosses in a wand form called Lipgloss N. These are sheerer with plumping properties. I haven’t really tested it for lasting power but the few shades I have are pretty and feel nice, but are on the sheer side.

001 Limited Edition, 002 Limited Edition, 003 Lustre (from summer 2009), 04 Peach Syrup


I don’t have swatches of these yet, but I highly recommend you check out these links for swatches, L to R is 001, 002, 003 Lustre, 04:

001 and 002 – Yuki’s Lazy Channel: Paul & Joe 2007 Invitation Christmas Creation
003 Lustre – Yuki’s Lazy Channel: Paul & Joe 2009 Gold Summer Creation

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Paul & Joe Lipsticks

November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I wish everyone a day full of fun and delicious food 🙂

Today’s feature is on lipsticks. Since Paul & Joe has launched the beauty line, there have been several formulations of lipsticks that have been released. The current line consists of 25 shades called “Lipstick N.” The texture is smooth and creamy, pigment is semi-sheer with a glossy finish, similar to that of Chanel Aqualumiere lipsticks.

The Lipstick N colors I have:
02 Shaved Ice, 07 Rose Potpourri, 10 Maroon Glace, 13 Brick Roof, 14 Strawberry Jam, 16 Ballet Shoes, 19 Princess, 20 Milk Chocolate, 29 Mademoiselle


Also, each year Paul & Joe releases a limited edition collection they call Collection Sparkles in which they label those releases with a CS in addition to the color number. Haru at Rouge Deluxe gave an excellent overview, check out her post and a sneak peak at what’s coming out for spring.

The limited edition lipsticks:
055 Sakura Bonbon, 059 Motif, 061 Backstage, 062 Opening Night, 064 RPM, 101 Invitation, 001 Pink, 002 Orange


I’ve been asked how I’ve picked out the colors since I don’t have in-person access to the line. The colors have all been bought sight unseen – I’ve relied on various e-tailers like dermstore and beautyhabit who describe product colors for Paul & Joe. However, many times the color turns out to be completely different from what I expected. Many of the lipsticks I bought turned out to be lighter than I anticipated, but luckily, I’ve been happy with the way they all look.

Being that they are very new, I haven’t tried them all yet. I did wear 07 yesterday and 29 today and can say they have the same lasting power and texture as Chanel Aqualumieres. They last longer than Armani Lipsticks and MAC Lustres, but their glossy finish makes it where they don’t last quite as long some other formulas like Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown Lipsticks. I’d definitely recommend wearing with a lipliner to make it last longer.

(Note there won’t be any swatches for these.)

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Paul & Joe Nail Enamels

November 24, 2009

Photos and swatches the nail polishes, 3 coats each swatch:

01 Secret of Gold (pale champagne base with micro silver glitter)
02 Heirloom (sparkley gold base with micro glitter)
03 Lampshade (opalescent shimmer)
04 Provence (more mauvey-nude pink shimmer)
05 Teacup (nude pink cream)

* Please note, the flash either washed these colors out or made them all look the same. They are all similar, but the difference is in the undertone.

10 Poodle
11 Goldfish
12 Matinee
13 Theatre Lights
14 Strawberry Glace


18 Nouveau
20 Manhattan
27 Gilded
29 Toujours


They have a different scent than most nail polishes – almost a powdery/floral scent. My top three picks would be 02 Heirloom (sheer champagne gold with sparkles), 10 Poodle (cotton candy pink with a slight iridescence) and 20 Manhattan (pretty sparkling gunmetal).

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Neiman Marcus Holiday Exclusives for Bobbi Brown: Mini Shimmer Bricks & Lipsticks

November 23, 2009

The Bobbi Brown Neiman Marcus exclusives have arrived in-store which include 3 mini shimmer bricks in Nectar, Plum and Sandstone along with the exclusive lipsticks in Pink Nectar and Sand.

The colors are stunning and the packaging is gorgeous, but the bad news is that there is no set price as thought by my SA and price is steep at $45 each. They are extremely tiny and encased in a heavy magnetized metal compact with a velvet pouch. The lipsticks are regular price $22 and come in the same special packaging as the chrome lipsticks in Sand (nude beige) and Pink Nectar (coral-pink). They are also repromoting Port from the Chrome Collection.


There are three ways to get a better deal on these:

* Starting the 22nd until the 29th, you can save 10% off a purchase of $200 or more at Neiman Marcus
* Neiman Marcus will have their Incircle event starting December 7th – there will be a GWP
* Wait for Bergdorf Goodman’s $25 off $100 event starting December 2nd (however do note quantities may be limited)

The Neimans near me said they only received 3 of each shimmer brick and a limited quantity of the lipsticks. I was on the wait list, so my SA called me as soon as they came in.

The colors are indeed stunning but at $45 each, I feel they should have at least been the full size or come with a brush.

Close up of Plum & Nectar:


Size comparison:


Lipstick and lipgloss comparisons:


The Paul & Joe series will be continued tomorrow.

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Paul & Joe Limited Edition Face Colors

November 22, 2009

Last holiday (2008), there were a few limited edition sets that came out featuring a face color and lipstick packaged in a cute satin kitty-print makeup bag. Two sets were released, 001 Pink and 002 Orange. Each face color is made up of three different color swirled together: a pale highlight, the core color (either pink or orange) and then a variation of that same tone. All the shades are shimmery, but on the skin, the shimmer is natural and pretty.

The lipsticks will be featured when I do my lipstick post, but for now, here are the 2 face colors compared to similar shades in the regular line.

001 Pink and 002 Orange compared to 07 and 08.



They aren’t quite as pale on the cheeks as they are swatched on my fingers. I think I may have picked up more of the silvery swirls. Blended all together they work well for blush rather than a highlighter.

Check out my other favorite go-to resources for more photos and swatches:
* Rouge Deluxe: Paul & Joe Holiday 08
* Yuki’s Lazy Channel: Paul & Joe Christmas Creation 2008

These 2 sets retail for $55 each and can still be found online in the US at The Primping Parleur. If you do order through them, make sure you use the code NOVFAMILY for their 20% Friends and Family event this month. Various boutiques may still have this in stock – so if you have a nearby salon or beauty store that carries Paul & Joe, check with them!

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Paul & Joe Face Colors for Blush and Highlighting

November 21, 2009

Each Paul & Joe Face Color consists of 2 colors in crescent shapes that allow you to mix and blend the colors based on your preference. Some have a lighter paler shade that I like to use for highlighting, but most of the time I just like to swirl the colors together. The texture is soft and velvety and pigment is soft and natural.


Swatch of 03 Canteloupe Melon:

Swatch of 07 Love:

Swatch of 08 Moroccan Orange:

Swatch of 11 Rhapsody:

Swatch of 12 Chic:

Swatch of 15 Re-Belle:

Swatch of 16 Canyon:

Swatch of 17 Sundown:

Swatch of 18 Risque:
They are a bit pricey at $24 USD each, so I try to wait for GWPs at Bergdorfs or Friends and Family Discounts for various online boutiques which can reduce the retail price down to around $19.20 at 20% off. See the first post, Paul & Joe Beaute: Chic & Sophisticated Makeup for the Young at Heart, in this series about current specials.

#03 Canteloupe Melon has been discontinued, but is similar to #02 Peach Melba. For other photos and comparisons, check out these 2 links:

The Beauty Look Book: Paul & Joe Mini Haul from Bergdorfs

Yuki’s Lazy Channel: Paul & Joe Face Colors

I have 2 limited-edition ones that came in last year’s holiday sets, both of which will be featured in the next post.

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Paul & Joe Pearl Powders

November 20, 2009

The Paul & Joe mania continues with pearl powders. These are loose eyeshadow powders. They all contain finely milled shimmer, the holiday colors have a silver micro-glitter sparkle that is very subtle but still visible. Compared to MAC Pigments, the pigment is a bit softer and not as frosty and the texture is a bit more powdery/light feeling.


01 Secret of Gold, 03 Silhouette, 04 Afterglow, 001 Smoke Black, 002 Smoke Brown

* 001 and 002 are from the holiday 2009 collection & are limited edition

* Number 02 Blaze is from a sample.

For comparisons and swatches to other brands/colors, check out these past Paul & Joe features:

* Swatches of 01, 02, 03
Paul & Joe Absolutely Adorable

* 01 Secret of Gold comparisons
Color Focus: Neutral Sparkle & Glow
Dior Beige Print Comparisons

* 03 Silhouette comparisons
Color Focus: Taupe Eyeshadows
(taupe lovers be warned, this is picture heavy – not for the faint of heart)

* 04 Afterglow
More Paul & Joe Beauty

* 001 & 002 Holiday comparisons/swatches
First Look at Paul & Joe Holiday from Guest Writer Joey
Paul & Joe Holiday 2009

All pearl powders were purchased from Bergdorf Goodman with the exception of Afterglow 04 which was bought from dermstore.com.