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Color Focus: Deep Purple Eye Shadows

September 25, 2009

I love the smokey eye looks that come out for fall but until recently, it seems like most all the lines usually release the typical variations of black and grey for their “smokey look.” I am not one who can pull of black eyeshadow or eyeliner easily because it’s often too harsh or ends up looking blueish on my skin. I have to opt for other deep colors and did a series on Smokey Eye Variations back in June and am so excited that lines are now releasing collections with a “black/smokey” theme that include colors other than just black or grey.

I just discovered 2 new deep purple shimmery eyeshadows from MAC and Dior and thought I’d pull out some of my favorite deep purples to compare.

1. Dior Ultra-Smooth High Impact Eyeshadow in #186 Ultra Violet
2. MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Young Punk
3. Laura Mercier Sateen Eyeshadow in Kir Royal
4. MAC Fertile Eyeshadow
5. Giorgio Armani Maestro #18
6. Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in After Hours
7. Stila Poise

A few other pictures of smokey purples:

1. Bobbi Brown Metallic in After Hours
2. Chanel Magic Night
3. MAC Smut
4. MAC Deep Purple Pigment (Pro)

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Color Focus: Taupe Eyeshadows

July 20, 2009

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:

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Color Focus: Dark Vampy Nail Polish

July 14, 2009

For makeup I’m obsessed with neutrals, but for nails, I’m obsessed with dark vampy colors and reds. Even though it’s mid-summer, I thought I’d share my favorite vampy colors to go along with the recent fall release themes like Dior Black Plum & Nars Tokaido Express. (Please excuse the messy manicures.)

***Note all pictures taken in direct natural sunlight. Also note the bottles shown don’t necessarily coincide with the shade on the finger directly above it. Bottles shown are notated in each category.***

Vampy Burgandy Shades (Sephora for OPI I’m With Brad & Chanel Vamp bottles shown):
1. Sephora for OPI I’m With Brad
2. Chanel Vamp
3. Chanel Rouge Noir
4. Chanel Cosmic Violine
5. Chanel Tulip Noir


Vampy Wine Shades (Dior Black Plum & Nars Gimme Shelter bottles pictured):
1. Nars Gimme Shelter
2. OPI NYPD Beet
3. Sephora by OPI Meet for Drinks
4. Dior Black Plum
5. MAC Boom!


Vampy Plums & Purples (Dior Licorice & Chanel Feu de Russie bottles pictured):
1. OPI Black Cherry Chutney
2. Nars Tokaido Express
3. Le Metier de Beaute Black Orchid
4. Dior Licorice
5. Chanel Feu de Russie


Miscellaneous Dark Shades (Chanel Nuit de Russie & Blue Satin bottles pictured):
1. OPI My Private Jet
2. Laura Mercier Caviar Dreams
3. Chanel Nuit de Russie
4. Chanel Blue Satin
5. Chanel Vendetta

Unfortunately for me this is how these blues/purples look on me without the sunlight:

I’m new to photographing nail polishes – so for more views or to check out these colors, I’d highly recommend checking out other various nail polish blogs for more swatches in case any of these look off on your screen! Or if some of the shades look identical, these blogs and galleries might help!

Some of my favorites:
* Community Nail Polish Gallery
* Scrangie
* All Lacquered Up
* Steph’s Closet Blog

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Color Focus: Smokey Eyes Part 5 (Blues & Greens)

June 24, 2009

Part 5 includes blues and greens with eyeliners and eyeshadows mixed in:
(Note all eyeshadows are applied dry, but with a heavy hand over Laura Mercier Stick Foundation to help the color adhere)

Eyeliner swatches:
1. Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long Lasting Eyeliner – Marine
2. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Indigo Ink
3. Nars Single Eyeshadow – Thunderball
4. MAC Velvet Eyeshadow – Top Knot
5. MAC Velvet Eyeshadow – Contrast
6. MAC Matte Eyeshadow – Meet the Fleet
7. MAC Pigment – Naval Blue
8. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow – #21
9. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow – #23 (same as the GA Original #4)
10. MAC Pro Pigment – Deep Blue Green
11. MAC Lustre Eyeshadow – Greensmoke
12. Chanel Les 4 Ombres de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow – Murano (bottom right shade)
13. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Ivy Shimmer Ink
14. Chanel Le Crayon Kohl Intense Eye Pencil – Black Jade
15. Nars Eyeliner Pencil – Kyoto
16. Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil – Antique Jade
17. Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil – Black Turquoise

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Color Focus: Smokey Eyes Part 4 (Mauves & Plums)

June 23, 2009

Part 4 includes mauves and plums with Bobbi Brown Black Ink as a true-black baseline:

Eyeliner swatches:
1. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Black Ink
2. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Cocoa Mauve Ink
3. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Black Plum Ink
4. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Black Mauve Shimmer Ink
5. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – Violet Ink
6. Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer – Violet Smoke
7. MAC Eye Kohl – Prunella
8. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil – Rockstar
9. Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil – Black Violet
10. Chanel Le Crayon Kohl Intense Eye Pencil – Ambre
11. MAC Kohl Power Pencil – Raven
12. Nars Single Eyeshadow – Night Fever (applied wet)
13. MAC Eyeshadow – Smut
14. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow – Black Plum SW
15. Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow – After Hours
16. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow – #18

Shadow swatches (some repeats):
(note for the shadows, skin was prepped with Estee Lauder Idealist to help the shadow adhere to the skin, all shadows applied dry except for Nars Night Fever – but they were all applied with a heavy hand)

1. MAC Eyeshadow – Beauty Marked
2. MAC Eyeshadow – Smut
3. Nars Single Eyeshadow – Night Fever
4. Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow – Magic Night
5. MAC Pro Pigment – Deep Purple
6. MAC Pigment – Smoke Signal
7. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow – Black Plum SW
8. Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow – After Hours
9. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow – #18

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