The Revlon unit at CVS caught my eye with these pretty satin finish eyeshadows. I don’t think I’ve ever tried Revlon eyeshadows before (even thinking back to my high school days). During my early teenage years, I was more of a Cover Girl, Jane, and Clinique kind of girl. These days I typically don’t purchase drugstore items since I am usually left disappointed by the items I pick out, however, I was so awed by the lovely sparkle in the compact that came home with 2 shades: Polished Bronze 10 and Nude Slip 20 and have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the finish and pigment. These were about $4 at CVS.
I’m wearing Nude Slip on my eyes and it gives a lovely wash of shimmer – reminds me of MAC Naked Lunch (although I didn’t pull it out to compare). Both have an incredibly soft texture and are easily blendable. There was a stunning black shimmer that I am anxious to go back and try.
How was everyone’s weekend? The weather here in Southern California has been a bit odd the past few days – at least by the beach. Sunny bits here and there and then mostly cloudy. This was Sunday’s outfit/look.
Top: J.Crew ruffle tank Skirt: J.Crew white denim mini Belt: J.Crew patent burgandy skinny belt Shoes: Prada flats Purse: Chanel
I didn’t plan to have mostly J.Crew on – but it seems to happen more often these days, although I do have to say it’s with their older pieces from past seasons. I love how comfortable the ruffle top is, but unfortunately, if it’s not tucked in or tied with a belt over, then it looks like a huge tent.
Face: NARS Beverly Hills + South Beach Multiples mixed on cheeks MAC Getaway Bronze Blush on top
Eyes: Clinique Seashell Cream Shadow as a base NARS India Song Duo MAC Orpheus Eyeliner
Lips: NARS Beverly Hills + South Beach mixed/dabbed on lips MAC Love Nectar Lustreglass + Beach Lounger Lipglass mixed
I’m really loving those Multiple Tints from NARS (see my review of 2 of them here NARS Beverly Hills & Cadaques Multiple Tints = Pure Genius). Beverly Hills pulls more bright pink than red on my skin for some reason, but I still like it. Works well dabbed on lips for a slight tint. I liked it mixed a little with South Beach. I mixed the two on the back of my hand first and then applied on the lips. For cheeks, I swiped Beverly Hills on each cheek then South Beach on top and blended quickly with the fingers.
Also wanted your opinions: for the Chanel – is this something I can still pull off or is it totally OUT of style? It’s an older one, I don’t think Chanel makes the line anymore – at least definitely not the brown-on-brown. It’s just been sitting in my closet for ages. I keep forgetting to bring it out. Input would be greatly appreciated 🙂
I took a mini road trip to Beverly Hills/West Hollywood this past weekend for a day of shopping, cupcakes and other girliness. It was perfect weather and my friend and I literally walked until we dropped. Of course I had to stop by Saks to check out D&G and see if they had the new Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Palettes in ($59 each) – which they did have for sale, but did not have testers of. Wasn’t a problem for me though, I had purchased my Eyes To Kill from last fall without testing them instore too. I picked up the neutral one, Number 6 which has a lovely warm taupe-bronze sparkle, light pink, soft light peach – all sparkly like the first series of Eyes to Kill, but not quite as sparkly as the Spring Nude Contrasts.
According to Armani, Palette 6 is named “Bronze Coral” designed for solar hues and describes the shades in the palette as having metallic and satin finishes:
Centre: fresh coral (satin finish)
Middle: fresh pink (metallic finish)
Exterior: gold stone (satin finish)
Close Up Photos and Swatches:
Natural Light Without Flash:
For the taupe lovers who want to know how this compares to the older release, here is Palette #1 compared to the New Palette #6:
In looking at the promo photos, it seems like there is a slight discrepancy in what is being featured. This is what I mean: there are 2 versions of each palette depending on which Armani site you visit. See the US versus International/Global photos.
I’m not sure if certain stores received different shades or if this is simply an error. The ones I saw at the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue look like the ones from the Global Website. In my excitement with the Saks Beverly Hills store, I completely forgot to check out the new Double Decker palette, new lipshimmers and waterproof Eyes to Kill mascara.
I haven’t tried this on my eyes yet, but I have fallen in love with almost all Armani shadows. I can’t wait to wear this today and plan to pair it with Bobbi Brown’s Bronze Gel Liner 🙂
Has anyone else seen summer in person yet? Any details to report on the lipshimmers? Have a great Tuesday!
I decided to do a different twist on my regular monthly Ten Things I’m Loving Right Now and combine this with my color focus feature. I like soft pinks because they always look so pretty in the compact and tubes. But finding a good soft pink can be a bit tricky sometimes. I can’t tell you how many soft pinks have made me oooohh and aaaahhh only to find it looks way to light or washed out on my skin (ala MAC Hue/Angel Lipstick or Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Demure Lipstick). It still doesn’t stop me from trying to make them work though, lol. That being said, the products listed below are my no-fail and no-tweaking required soft pinks.
There are so many favorites, but these are the ones I’ve been using a lot in the past month. I am actually just starting my 3rd tube of MAC Fabby (see below)! Laura Mercier Babydoll Lip Glace is a favorite that looks good on practically all my friends whether they are fair skinned or tanned.
Blush & Highlighters:
Dior Rose Diamond MAC Well Dressed MAC Summer Rose Beauty Powder (this was repromoted with the Liberty of London Collection in a different compact)
Chanel Rouge Coco in Rose Comete (swatched here) MAC Frost Lipstick in Fabby D&G Shine Lipstick in Soiree (swatched here)
Lip Swatches:
Nail Polishes:
Paul & Joe Poodle #10 Zoya Jessika Chanel Mica Rose
I have many more favorites but if I featured all my loves, this would just be a never-ending article if I pulled every single soft pink from my stash. What are some of your favorites and what is your skintone?
FYI, in case you’re new to my blog, I’m a Chanel Shell 1.5 Teint Innocence right now. This is the equivalent to what’s right in between MAC NC30 and NC35. I’m at that point again where I’m in between shades for most foundation lines. You can see My Foundation Shades HERE. I recently tried Bobbi Brown’s newest foundation and found a perfect match in Natural Finish formula shade 4.25 Natural Tan, however the formula didn’t work so well with my skin. So far, Chanel Teint Innocence and Lift Lumieres and DPFs are my holy grails.
I’ve recently found a few new taupe shades in cream and powder formulas from MAC, Trish McEvoy, Guerlain and Too Faced.
Clockwise from top shadow:
MAC Eyeshadow in Prepped for Glamour Guerlain Terracotta Eyeshadow Pen in Smoky Metal Trish McEvoy 24-Hour Shadow & Liner in Topaz MAC Greasepaint Stick in Dirty Too Faced Single Eyeshadow in Sitcom Siren
Most of the shades look true to what you see in the compact or stick, except for Guerlain Smoky Metal which went on my skin surprisingly warm. I haven’t tried this shade on the eyes yet, but I have tested out the others. MAC Dirty is such a gorgeous shade but unfortunately doesn’t last at all. It is extremely smudgey and by late afternoon gave me raccoon eyes. Trish McEvoy Topaz is more promising. I used it alone blended out on my lids and it didn’t budge at all. I can’t say whether or not it lasted a full 24 hours since I only had it on for the evening (from around 7:00 pm to midnight). But it lasted the entire time and when I got home looked just as good as when I put it on. My SA tested out the steel black grey shade from Trish and said it didn’t last at all on her and seemed way to soft/moist to be a 24-hour product, so YMMV per shade.
MAC Prepped for Glamour is extremely similar to Satin Taupe but the Prepped for Glamour shade has just a tad bit more red/warmth to it. But otherwise, very close. that I can barely tell the difference. Too Faced Sitcom Siren is my first Too Faced product. Pigment/blendability is nice but I actually prefer MAC. Sitcom Siren is a bit too frosty for my liking.
Some have asked me how and why I started blogging. There were several reasons why I started and I have many to thank for their inspiration and help getting me started. Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog occasionally asks for guest writers and being a regular reader, I thought it would be fun to submit an article to her.
At that time, about a year ago, I had recently discovered Le Metier de Beaute and I had scoured the web to find photos, swatches or reviews but could not find anything other than press release images and stock photos from Neimans and Bergdorfs online. I decided it would be fun to write about my thoughts on the products I had tried from the line to see if anyone else shared the same love.
My experience doing a guest post for her was so much fun as we wrote back and forth brainstorming ideas I decided to try and start my own. So I have Karen (among many others) to thank for helping me get started! This post is a spinoff of that post focusing on the Persephone Eye Kit by Le Metier de Beaute.
Those familiar with the line are well aware of their high quality, beautiful packaging and stunning colors. I can’t say I love everything in the line, but most of the products I’ve tried I have fallen in love with. It’s exclusivity makes it a bit difficult to locate and often times colors are sold out and are on back order due to the high demand.
They have a few kaleidoscope kits in the form of a stacked swivel type design with a flip top mirror. Very innovative, a bit bulky, a bit complicated to use, but fun nevertheless. The Persephone Eye Kit is no longer available, but it is one of the few kits that contained colors permanent from their regular line, so luckily you can still find these shades.
The colors include range from frost, to satin to matte:
Rose Champagne (frost) – a complex but soft shimmery pale rose-pink
Alexandrite (frost) – a beautiful a sparkly eggplant amethyst
Canvas (satin) – a soft, satin, neutral beige-yellow with subtle shimmer
Sequoia (matte) – a medium-dark chocolate brown
Rose Champagne:
Alexandrite:
Canvas:
Sequoia:
The eyeshadows are highly pigmented and easy to blend. My favorite shades are Rose Champagne and Canvas, but all shades work well together. What I typically do is:
Step 1: Use canvas on the lid (from lash to 1/2 way up the eye)
Step 2: Apply Alexandrite with a small shadow brush on the outer corners of the eye blending inward and up towards the middle of the eye
Step 3: Take a smudge brush, mix Alexandrite with Sequoia to line along upper lashes
Step 4: Take Rose Champagne with a light bluffly brush and blend over the eye from brow bone down to blend everything together
I like that the kit has a mix of neutral and cool making it extremely versatile to coordinate with other colors for lips and cheeks. Today’s look combines the Persephone Eye Kit with the new Tenne Tint (reviewed here) and Ibiza Lipgloss (which I thought I had swatched but haven’t yet).
Le Metier de Beaute was exclusively available at select Neimans and Bergdorf Goodman, but they are expanding their distribution. Check out their website for details on locations.
Do you have any favorites from the line? I’d love to hear your favorites 🙂
Some of you have requested info, photos and swatches on a few items in the past few weeks. I apologize for the delay, I have not forgotten – here are the swatches and info you have requested. For reference, I am a Chanel Shell 1.5 in Teint Innocence (the liquid version). To see what other foundation shades I am, check out the sidebar – there’s a link to my foundation shades.
1) Can you swatch Edward Bess Bare Rose on your lips alone? Here it is by itself, please excuse the skin I don’t have any foundation or powder on:
2) Please swatch Paul & Joe 06 Nail Polish! I like this better in the bottle. On my fingers, I feel it’s a bit muddy looking. I’ve seen it on my tan friends (who are the equivalent to NC40 and a bit darker) and it looks gorgeous on them though. Here it is (2 coats):
3) How does NARS Love Devotion compare to last year’s Outsider? Love Devotion is brighter and sheerer. Here they are also compared to Beautiful Liar:
4) Can you swatch Shu IR Brown 850 compared to Shu ME 850? Sure, I’ll do one better. Here it is next to the other Shu Uemura taupes that I have. I find it fascinating how the base pulls out different undertones in each taupey color. These are swatched over a moisturized arm:
5) Can you write a post on how you pick out your makeup-of-the-day/look-of-the-day? There’s not much to write about this one. I pick out my clothes first and this is based on my mood. Makeup looks are picked out depending how much time I have and the colors I’m wearing for clothes. Sometimes, I’ll pick one product and create a look around that color. I’d like to say it’s more planned out through a more creative process, but it’s really just based on whatever works.
6) Will you show stash/closet pics? Most likely not. It might seem like I’m organized, but I am far from it. Just ask my husband. Granted, I do keep an organized mess – everything has their own section/pile – but it’s still very chaotic. I will share an old photo of my purse organization (this is an older photo from long before I started blogging, before I started my MBA, back when I was much more organized):
7) Did you purchase the new Chanel Shanghai-Paris Nail Polishes? What are your thoughts? But of course! How could I resist? I wasn’t going to write about these because so many other bloggers did, but since I’ve received several requests, I will. This one will be a bit more comprehensive, so I will do a separate post on this topic in a few days or so.
8) Will you be swatching NARS Versailles? Here’s a swatch, but I plan on this being my next manicure, so stay tuned for more pics! (FYI, I’ve seen this swatched on other blogs and it looked very streaky, I had to apply with a really steady hand to get an unstreaky result on my finger.)
9) Is there a dupe for Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer? Yes – I’ve found 2 dupes, Chanel Le Perle (long discontinued) and China Glaze Heaven. They look really different in the bottles, but on the nails, the result is strikingly similar. If you look close you can see the difference in finish and opacity, but’s not really noticable from afar.
