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Giorgio Armani Fall 2009: Manta Ray Collection

July 2, 2009

Last week I received a preview e-mail from Giorgio Armani about their new Manta Ray Collection featuring 5 eyeshadow duos, 2 silk lipsticks, 1 blush, and 1 lip shimmer.

Their star product of the season features their new eyeshadow duos with a snake-like embossed surface described as follows:

“Inspired by the precious and luxurious materials used in Giorgio Armani fashion accessories, the palettes offer a beautiful selection of color harmonies inspired by nature. The collection features subtle hues that offer a new take on the timeless color “Greige,” create by Giorgio Armani. The rich filtered eye tones, presented in a matte Greige compact, give depth and mystery to the eyes with subtle contours and highlights.”

I stopped by Saks and was surprised to see these in store already. The counter did not have testers, nor did they receive everything in the collection yet, but did have all the shadow duos, Blush #12 (pale whitish pink shimmer) and Silk Lipstick #93 (plum-brown cream).

I ended up purchasing the following two items:

* Manta Ray Eyeshadow #1: Described as “charcoal and greige,” this duo seems more like an intense satin black and soft grey/brown/beige with plum undertones. At first glance it looks like a plain brown, but I compared it next to a few other shades and it seems to have slight pink/plum undertones.

* Sheer Blush #12: I am a huge fan of Armani blushes and was really excited about the new #12. It’s described as a “pale raspberry” but this is quite misleading since it’s actually a super pale cool-pink shimmer with lavender undertones. Luckily the counter did have a tester of this item. The makeup artist assured me it went on differently than it appeared in the pot. She dusted a bit on and sure enough, it went on a pretty glowy light pink. Your mileage may vary on this one, so definitely try it out before purchasing.

Close up (clickable so you can see the slight shimmer):

Comparisons, left to right: GA #1, GA #12, GA #11

Comparisons, left to right: MAC Sheertone Shimmer in Shimmersweet, GA #12, Chanel Silk Dream

Above are some comparison pictures to help give a better idea of what the new blush looks like. Overall thoughts are undecided. I usually love Armani, but the look created in this collection isn’t the most flattering. The concept of the eyeshadows are unique but $32 for an eyeshadow and $42 for a blush is pretty steep – I feel like I should have gotten more for my $$$.

For other Giorgio Armani Features, click HERE to see the new Maestro Eye Shadow extensions, Summer 2009, and some Bronzer comparisons.

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Paul & Joe Beaute: Absolutely Adorable!

June 28, 2009

I’ve been eyeing some Paul & Joe Beaute items ever since I first spotted some pics from the holiday sets and finally broke down and ordered some things from Bergdorfs for their Smart Beauty Event (see one post below on their fabulous gift).

I have yet to see the whole line in person, but was totally smitten with their website which is super cute, unique, and absolutely adorable with their downloads and product design. I’m normally not a huge fan of pink-packaging, but have to saw these items are really cute and take me back to the days when I was little and when Hello Kitty and Little Twin Stars were cute girly.

Again, I have to rave for Bergdorf’s Customer Service – friendly, easy going, patient, and generous with samples and goodies! In addition to the beauty event gift, I also received a cute tote, skincare samples, and a mini container of their #2 Pearl Powder (looks scary orange/gold in the pot, but blends out to a pretty iridescent peach).

The extra goodies:

Eye Shadows are soft and blendable with high pigment. I ordered based on online swatches and descriptions and various blogs. The packaging/boxes only had numbers to identify the product shade, but websites also associate names with them.

Left to right: 003 Fortune, 04 Sepia, 23 Boulevard, 24 Centre Stage, 92 Tapestry

Close ups of each shade:

Pearl Powders are soft loose powders full of shimmer and finely milled. These are in between a MAC Loose Beauty Powder and Becca Loose Shimmer Powder as far as weight/texture go. If you remember those Stila All Over Shimmer Loose Powders – these have a similar texture and feel, but are easier to blend.

Left to right: 01 Secret of Gold, 03 Silhouette

Cute packaging:

Swatches, left to right: 01 Secret of Gold, 02 Blaze, 03 Silhouette
(NOTE: 02 blends out a lot so it doesn’t go on as intense or as orange as this swatch)

Face Colors are exquisite! These remind me of MAC’s Mineralized Blushes, minus the extreme frost. The face colors are still quite shimmery, but gorgeous on.

Left to right: 11 Rhapsody (pinks), 12 Chic (more beigey)

If you are a Paul & Joe collector or have any items you love, please share them! I’m new to this line and need some more details on products and colors!

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Chanel Fall 2009 has arrived at Saks!

June 20, 2009

Stopped by Saks today to pick up a few Armani items and was surprised to see the fall collection for Chanel out! The product rep wasn’t there, and there were a few empty slots (mainly 1 duo eyeshadow or single eyeshadow slot and a few pencil liners), but most of the collection was there.

Collection includes:
* 6 Rouge Allures in Clandestine #73, Comedia #74, Amusing #75, Captive #76, Inuitive #77, Instinctive #78
* 2 Glossimers in Arlequin #136 and Courtisane #138
* 1 Le Crayon Leveres in Praline D’Or #35
* 2 Le Vernis in Gondola #499, Intermezzo #501
* 1 Poudre Douce in Peche Caresse
* 1 Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Sienna
* 1 Jous Contraste in Fresque
* 1 Quadra Eyeshadow in Murano
* 1 Eye Gloss Quad (forget the name)
* 1 Irreelle Duo in Acqua Alta

Also featured are 2 waterproof eyeliners, 1 brow pencil, mascara.

Left to right Rouge Allures in Comedia #74, Intuitive #77, Instinctive #78, Glossimer in Arlequin #136 and Courtisane #138:

Murano Quad:

Tweed Sienna & Fresque Blushes:

Tweed comparisons:

Fresque comparisons:

Nail Polishes in Cosmic Violine (from the Celestial Collection) versus Gondola:

Also, not pictured is the new Lip Liner which is a gorgeous light peachy nude (did not photograph well). The other rouge allures were in the red family, all gorgeous. The other nail polish was a iridescent opal white color. The eyeshadow duo was a crystal white shimmer with a charcoal grey.

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Color Focus: Golden Glow

June 11, 2009

One of my favorite color categories for eyes lips and cheeks is that pretty golden color – pale gold, light bronzey gold, honey golds, amber golds. I’ve decided to share some of my favorite golds for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails – especially those who like MAC’s Naked Honey Collection, but are looking for a bit more variety or other options.

Cheeks – Bronzer, Highlighter, Blush:

1. Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba (see previous post HERE)
2. Dior ‘Diorskin’ Shimmer Star Pressed Powder in Copper Diamond
3. Dior ‘Diorskin’ Shimmer Star Pressed Powder in Amber Diamond
4. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in New Vegas (was released with McQueen Collection)
5. MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Enough Said (was released with Red She Said Collection)
6. MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Trace Gold

Eyeshadows:

1. Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Shadow in Gold
2. Nars Cream Eyeshadow in El Dorado
3. Nars Powder Eyeshadow in Cyprus
4. Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Cosmic Girl
5. Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Golden Peach
6. MAC Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow in Soft Force (released with Style Warriors Collection)
7. MAC Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow in Femme Fi (released with Neo Sci-Fi Collection & Blonde/Brunette/Redhead Collection)
8. MAC Frost Eyeshadow in Bagatelle (released with D’Bohemia Collection)
9 + 10. Laura Mercier Eye Color Pot in Solid Gold
11. Laura Mercier Eye Color in Sunlit (released with the Saks Exclusive Orange Blossom Collection)
12. Becca Eyeshadow in Lurex
13. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow #28 (see original post about new Maestros HERE)
14. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow #2
15. Shu Uemura Eyeshadow in P Brown 820
16. MAC Frost Eyeshadow in Ricepaper
17. Dior One-Color Eyeshadow in Beige Select #525 (UK/Asia Exclusive, Spring 2009)
18. MAC Pigment in Dazzleray
19. MAC Pigment in Blonde’s Gold
20. MAC Pigment in Jardin Aires
21. MAC Pigment in Melon
22. Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Sandy Gold

Lipglosses:


1. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Gold
2. Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in Creme Caramel
3. Guerlain Terracotta Gloss and Shine Beige Sun #52
4. Nars Lip Gloss in Greek Holiday
5. Nars Lip Gloss in Moon Fleet
6. Chanel Glossimer in Pin-Up
7. Chanel Glossimer in Sunset Gold
8. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Pearl Sugar
9. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Rose Gold
10. MAC Plushglass in Nice Buzz
11. MAC Lustreglass in Instant Gold
12. MAC Lipglass in Bonus Beat (released with Heatherette collection)
13. MAC Lipglass in Gold Rebel (released with Style Warriors collection)
14. MAC Dazzleglass in Goldyrocks
15. MAC Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame

Lipsticks:

1. Trish McEvoy Glaze Lip Color in Golden
2. Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Sunset Nude
3. MAC Glaze Lipstick in Sunsational (released with Style Warriors collection)
4. MAC Frost Lipstick in Gel
5. Chanel Aqualumiere Lipstick in Cancun
6. Nars Lipstick in Mojave
7. Nars Lipstick in Promiscuous
8. Chanel Rouge Allure in Lumious
9. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lipstick in Candlelight (today’s equivalent is Metallic Lipstick in Beige Gold)
10. Laura Mercier Stickgloss in Tiger Lily

Nail Polishes

Left to right: Nars Adelita, Chanel Golden Sand, MAC Golded

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MAC Fashion Forward Event Makeover

June 1, 2009

I’d like to start a series of posts to archive some looks I love and also some great makeovers I’ve had at some events. Hopefully this will give you ideas on some pretty color combinations of products.

The first one I’d like to write about is the MAC Fashion Forward Event I attended at Nordstrom. I had my makeup done by one of my favorites sales associates who I’ve shopped with for years, so she knew my taste and preferences. This was my first good MAC makeover (I’ve had about 5 others that turned out horrible) and now that I know a couple of the good artists, I will definitely request them for future events. Everyone received a cute pamphet with a few face charts featuring some looks.

One page of the face chart pamphlet:


This is what she used on me, all MAC products (unless specified):

FACE:
* Prep & Prime Skin
* Studio Moisture Cream
* Chanel Teint Innocence Shell 1.5
* Mineralize Blush in Dainty

EYES:
* Paint Pot in Painterly
* Eyeshadow in Soba 1/2 way up eye
* Eyeshadow in Folie on outer corners blended up
* Eyeshadow in Arena in the middle of the eye blending colors together
* Eyeshadow in Ricepaper to highlight
* Pearlglide Eye Liner in Molasses

LIPS:
* Lip Pencil in Whirl
* Lipstick in Ramblin Rose
* Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame


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Les Naturels de Chanel

May 30, 2009

Chanel has released a new natural-look collection this May 2009 featuring two new matte single eyeshadows along with several repromotes. I’m really excited they decided to repromote Bel Air and Waterlily Glossimers!



The theme for this collection is: “A quintessential makeup collection of universally wearable, natural colours designed to enhance and flatter the face. . . and ensure a woman’s best look is naturally her own.” Les Naturels de Chanel includes the following items:



Here are some close-ups of the collection:

Left to right: Curious Rouge Allure (63), Unity Glossimer (41), Waterlily Glossimer (112), Bel Air Glossimer (147), Naive Rouge Allure (25)



Orchid Rose Joues Contraste (15)

Left to right (matte shades): Lily Ombre Essentielle (84) & Slate Ombre Essentielle (83)

Left to right (repromote shades): Lotus Ombre Essentielle (46) & Mahogany Ombre Essentielle (51)



Some comparisons for Bel Air Glossimer:

1) Chanel Curious RA
2) Chanel Naive RA
3) Chanel Bel Air Glossimer
4) Chanel Giggle Glossimer
5) Chanel Glass Quartz Aqualumiere Gloss #69
6) Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect Satin Pink #657
7) Laura Mercier Blush Lip Glace
8) MAC Ample Pink Plushglass

Overall thoughts: I am a huge Chanel fan and am so happy I finally got my hands on the Bel Air glossimer since I missed it when it first came out and was exclusive to Chanel Boutiques and online. The matte shadows are gorgeous, but are on the sheer side for me. I need to use a cream base like Laura Mercier’s Metallic or Satin Cream Shadows or MAC Paint Pots. And even with a base, I need to layer it heavily with a stiffer brush. I’m crazy about the natural no-makeup look, but the new matte shadows are a bit “too natural” for me to be absolutely in love with them. Still, they are great for layering over other shades to softly blend colors together.

Luckily, I already have all the other items featured in this collection, so I felt this was nice to give me some ideas on how to incorporate some staple products with new shades. If you don’t have Orchid Rose Blush, it’s a definite must have, it goes with just about everything. I’m a Chanel Shell/Beige = MAC NC30-35 for reference. At one of the Chanel events I went to, the makeup artist used this on one of my friends who is a couple shades lighter than me and it looked gorgeous on her too!

* Promotional images from Chanel.com

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