Paul & Joe has expanded their blush line with a new product called Creamy Cheek Color. There are currently 5 shades: 01 Marionette, 02 Kitten, 03 Peaches, 04 Butterfly, 05 Dusk. Each come in a mirrored compact the same size as the Face Color Blushes. The shades are all beautiful and have a subtle shimmer infused for a pretty glow. These retail for $24 each USD.
Swatches on bare skin:
Comparisons to other brands/similar colors:
Initial thoughts: I haven’t worn any of these for a full day yet, but I did test out 01 Marionette on my face as soon as I got it. It has an easily blendable texture and slightly powdery finish. The pigment is medium-sheer which is about the same as NARS Multiples, just less shimmery and less dewey looking on the skin.
Being the P&J fan that I am, I love these. I think everyone can find at least 1 flattering color. I know a few of my tan olive-toned friends love 05 🙂
For those who are wondering about the finish – the shimmer is very subtle. Not overly frosty like NARS Multiples or even MAC Blushcremes Sweet William/Blossoming. They give a pretty natural glow and the shimmer makes it so it doesn’t look too heavy or flat on the skin.
These were purchased from Bergdorf Goodman and should also be available soon at other Paul & Joe retailers.
The Paul & Joe Alice in Wonderland Sets have arrived in-store! They won’t be available for sale online officially until the launch of the upcoming movie release, but you can call various boutiques to do a phone order or put yourself on the waitlist for a presale.
So far, I know Bergdorf Goodman & Beautyhabit both received the sets instore, but in very limited quantities. I know other boutiques will be getting these in as well, so check out the Paul & Joe website for store locations and info.
Each set retails for $48 and comes with a blotting paper compact, blotting paper refill, lip treatment stick and a cute tin. There are 2 versions:
* Fantasy (001) is the pink set with the White Rabbit & Cheshire Cat on the tin * Daydream (002) is the blue set with a daydreaming Alice & teapot
Both tins opened:
Close up of 001 Fantasy tin with the box:
Close up of 002 Daydream tin with the box:
Close up of Lip Treatments, 001 & 002:
When I found out Paul & Joe would be doing an Alice theme, I didn’t think I would be all that excited. Alice in Wonderland is actually one of my least favorite classic Disney movies, mainly because I found it extremely frightening when I was little. But, after seeing the preview photos from my Paul & Joe resource and also on Rouge Deluxe (my ultimate source for Paul & Joe beauty news and coverage) I knew I had to have these. Of course my dear friend Josie and I have been enabling each other with nonstop chatter about these upcoming sets too. I am anxious to hear what she thinks of them when she picks hers up!
The Lip Treatments are tinted but it looks like they will be going on clear on the lips. No swatches since I ordered these from Beautyhabit so I could get these in time for a Valentine’s Day Gift for my sister (I hope she’s not reading this blog today). I am waiting for my own personal order from Bergdorf Goodman which probably won’t be here for another week which I am really excited about.
So are these sets really worth $48? While $48 may seem pricey for blotting paper and lip balm, I personally think these are well worth the price. Beauty Moogle Zone broke down the prices if you were to purchase some items individually. These are more of a novelty collectors item but I love them. Even though I’m not a huge Alice fan, I still think these are really cute. The packaging and layout and promotional photos are phenomenal! Great job Paul & Joe!!!
Want other resources or previews from other people? Check out the Paul & Joe Facebook Fan Page for the latest news, coverage and photos. My blog is actually featured on there several times!
I’m not sure if purple is “in” this season (with the exception of a part of MAC’s upcoming Spring Forecast collection) – but I’m not always one to follow the trends. When I think of spring, I think of soft colors and I love using purple on one feature for the face at a time (to avoid that purple overload look). I pulled out my soft purply colors and was surprised to find how much lilac and violets I own.
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Part 1: Eyes
For eyes, I can’t pull off all purples – some lilacs make me look like I have pink-eye but these are the ones that work for me. I would have to say my favorites are the Armani Maestro Single #10 because it has some slight gold sparkles and the new Paul & Joe Purple Clover from spring (waves to Josie for her wonderful swatch and review here).
1. Giorgio Armani Maestro Quad 6 Mineral 2. Giorgio Armani Maestro Single 10 3. NARS Duo Eyeshadow Violetta 4. MAC Violet, Dear (discontinued) 5. Laura Mercier Luster Eyeshadow Dusk (mini size from GWP) 6. Paul & Joe Face & Eyecolor CS in Purple Clover 066 7. MAC Eyeshadow Pro Palette in Crystal 8. Laura Mercier Mineral Eye Powder in Crushed Amethyst 9. Trish McEvoy Eyeshadow in Haze 10. Paul & Joe Eyeshadow Velvet Ribbon 06 11. MAC Pigment in Kitchmas 12. MAC Pigment in Lovely Lily (l/e) 13. MAC Pigment in Circa Plum (l/e)
* Please note, I’m not a fan of that Nars Violetta swatch, the lighter matte shade doesn’t always go on as muddy dark as it did on my arm
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Part 2: Lips
For lips, I can’t wear straight purples or lilacs for the lips. Most of these are either sheer or have some pink pearl in them to give a soft cool pink lip. My favorites are Laura Mercier’s Violet & Lilac Lip Glaces.
1. Bobbi Brown Brightening Lipgloss Pink Lilac 2. Laura Mercier Plumping Lipgloss in Wild Berry 3. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Violet 4. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Lilac 5. MAC Lustreglass in Morning Glory 6. MAC Lipglass Nico Now (l/e) 7. MAC Lipglass Fast Friends (l/e) 8. Nars Chastity Lip Gloss 9. Nars Sweet Charity Lip Gloss 10. Chanel Glossimer in Delight 11. Laura Mercier Stickgloss Lip Color in Purple Haze
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Part 3: Nails
I’m not the biggest fan of purple nails. I got a few of these as gifts yet can’t bring myself to regift them or give them away (because often times it’s the thought that counts). I desperately wanted to love Chanel’s Rodeo Drive (gorgeous violet purple) but it was simply too bright for my comfort. Chanel’s Lilac Sky is much more doable for me. I do like lighter purples for the nails, I also have a photo/swatch of Le Metier Phlox here, but it’s currently MIA.
Pinkie to Thumb: Sephora by OPI Call Your Mother, OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?, MAC Love & Friendship, Chanel Violette (euro exclusive), Chanel Lilac Sky
Paul & Joe’s Wild Flowers Spring 2010 Collection is my favorite for the cutest releases this year. This spring they’ve released 3 lip glosses and 3 eyeshadows for their seasonal Collection Sparkles Limited Edition series. I bought all three glosses they call Lip Gloss Lacquer CS in Baby’s Breath 001 (clear sparkle with pinky-beige), Snapdragon 002 (sheer orange with coral sparkle) and Primrose 003 (two shades of hot pink).
The lipgloss packaging is absolutely adorable and each come with 2 shades with a butterfly shaped center.
They are a cross between their regular lipglosses and lip lacquers in pigment and texture. The non-shimmer portions have more pigment than the shimmer parts which are more sheer and almost clear. The texture is smooth and non-sticky. I’m absolutely smitten with the packaging and boxes. I wish they would release stationary or even makeup bags in the cute spring flowers design. They have a slightly sweet scent, almost like fruity tooth-paste, but it’s not overpowering or strong.
CS Spring Lip Gloss Lacquers compared to Lip Lacquer Tubes
001 Baby’s Breath (pot) vs 04 Tenderness Lip Lacquer (tube)
002 Snapdragon (pot) v 08 Bouquet Lip Lacquer (tube)
003 Primrose (pot) v 06 Can-Can Lip Lacquer (tube)
Swatches
One more close up view
You can get these at Bergdorf Goodman and Beautyhabit. These retail for $25 each which I find a bit pricey for the size – but being the P&J fanatic that I am, I had to have them and after getting my order, I think they are definitely worth the price. My fellow Paul & Joe makeup fan (who goes by the screen name Parsi) helped convince me that I needed to have these just for the cute-factor. I have to admit I cried just a little when I dipped my brush to swatch them (ruining the perfect butterfly shape) but I knew I was going to have to do it anyways.
I’ve ordered Paul & Joe from both places before and highly recommend both. These were purchased from Bergdorf Goodman for their Smart Beauty Event which is still going on until the end of the month. (Note that my entire BG order is not featured in this post.)
For more views/photos, check out Beautyhabit.com for excellent photos (click on the individual item for a close up). The Paul & Joe website is also too cute for words.
So today I decided I would branch out a bit and show you more of my whole look – basically what makeup items I picked to coordinate with my outfit of the day. I didn’t have much on today’s agenda except for a lunch date with friends and a few errands to run (yes, I know it’s a rough life being on school break).
I know some of you prefer I stick to writing about makeup and after this post, I think I will. I suppose one benefit of this is that you can see a bit more of my style which you might say doesn’t exist. I tend to be very basic and simple with my clothing, not the most creative or fun, but it’s what I feel comfortable with so it works for me. My makeup tends to reflect my clothing style as well: simple and natural looking. For reference, I am petite at 5’3″. So much for trying to be a little creative, but here goes.
The outfit of the day:
Silk Ribbon Pleated Shell in Tarnished Steel from Banana Republic
Thin Cashmere White Cardigan from Jcrew (this is from over a year ago, so no link)
Paige Hollywood Hills Jeans
Quilted black purse/tote
Black strappy sandals from Banana Republic (from about 3 years ago, so no link)
The face of the day items used include:
Cheeks
MAC Golden Bronzer
Paul & Joe Face Color 001
Eyes
MAC Bare Study
Bobbi Brown Galaxy Cream Eyeshadow
Dolce & Gabbana Champagne Quad
Dolce & Gabban Stromboli Eyeliner
Diorshow mascara
Lips
Bobbi Brown Ballet Pink Lipliner
Chantecaille Camelia Lipchic
Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer 06
The products against the steel grey tank
(not recommended since I almost dropped my lipstick on my dry-clean only tank)
Swatched on bare skin
One more view
I used all four shades in the Dolce & Gabbana Champagne quad and really liked the result. I applied MAC Bare Study Paint Pot first all over the lid, then dusted the light lilac-gold shade from lash line to the middle of the eyelid. I then put the dusty brown mixed with the black smudged along upper lash line blended upwards. Dolce & Gabbana Stromboli was lined and smudged over upper lash line as well with the black shadow reapplied on top for extra definition.
MAC Golden Bronzer was applied on the cheeks like blush with the Paul & Joe 001 Face Color dusted lightly as a highlighter and to give a bit of pink to the cheeks.
The lips were a neutral healthy pink. Overall, I was happy with the result. FYI the Dolce & Gabbana quads have the best pigment that I’ve tried, they just don’t swatch well on a bare arm without any moisturizer or makeup base. I hope the swatches won’t deter you from checking out their quads!
It was really hard for me to narrow my list down to only 10 things this month! Since I’ve already featured quite a bit of the new spring 2010 items, I decided to feature 10 non-new/non-spring releases that I’m loving right now.
1. MAC Sunny By Nature Mineralized Skin Finish – I’m a sucker for bronzers and MAC MSFs and fell in love with this one when it was released last July with the Color Craft Collection. Looks dark and almost muddy in the container, but on the skin it’s a nice natural satiny bronze. I love that it’s not too shimmery (which most MSFs are). I hope MAC makes more MSFs in this kind of finish! If you missed out, check your local CCOs, I saw this along with Cheeky Bronze at my local CCO a week ago.
2. Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Metallic Eyeshadow – This was released as an exclusive with the Nordstrom Anniversary Exclusives but is also in the (X Palette). You all know I’m obsessed with neutrals, Nude Beach is a pretty shimmery, but not overly frosty, nude shimmer with great pigment and lasting power.
3. MAC Eyeshadow Brush #239 – This is hands down the best MAC eyeshadow brush I own. I think it’s a must-have for everyone. It’s so versatile and soft which makes blending a no-brainer. I have a soft spot for all of MAC’s white-haired brushes, I wish they would make more shapes and sizes.
4. Nars Ondine Eyeshadow – This is one of the few eyeshadows I have ever hit pan on (the one pictured is my second one). I wouldn’t say it’s for everyone – those who can’t pull off plummy browns will probably find this looks bruisey on their skin. I really like this though because it has a complex combination of brown, plum and gold all mixed into one shadow. Those who wanted to love MAC Starviolet but found it too purpley will like Nars Ondine. The Nars is a more wearable, more brown, more grown-up and less trendy version of the MAC.
5. Edward Bess Bare Rose Lip Gloss – Not your typical milky pink, but still light enough to give a pretty natural pink lip. If you’re a fan of Nars Chihuahua, you will definitely like the EB Bare Rose which has a fig-scent, slightly sticky texture, long lasting, and high shine.
6. Dolce & Gabbana Sparkling Lipstick – I got this from the D&G Holiday Collection from Saks NY and it’s the most unique sparkling copper/nude/gold lipstick I’ve ever seen. It’s very pigmented and frosty, so those who don’t like metallic lips, you may not like it. The frosty-factor can be toned down with a cream colored gloss though.
7. Shu Uemura P Gold 94 Glow On – This is a blush I like to use as a highlighter for cheeks and eyes. It’s a light-medium shimmery flesh-toned gold with gold flecks. I like that it’s not completely gold or yellowy. It seems more pigmented than most of Shu Uemura’s Glow On Blushes, perhaps it’s the metallic aspect that gives it more pigment.
8. Paul & Joe Caramel 04 Lipliner – This is the creamiest lipliner I’ve ever tried. It glides on more smoothly than MAC Cremestick Liners (which I love) and the Caramel is the perfect YLBB nude-pink-brown. I bought this thanks to the recommendation of Hettie from Bergdorf Goodman. Lipliners were one of the few P&J items I hadn’t tried yet, so I asked her to pick out 2 colors for me, #04 Caramel was one of them and I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it.
9. Chanel Glow Glossimer – Pretty soft glowiness that’s hard to describe. It has peach and pink and bronze in it, makes my lips look full and glowing. The lasting power isn’t the best on this one, but I don’t mind reapplying it.
10. Paul & Joe Canyon 16 Face Color – Soft light pink and cool-toned shimmery highlighter. I like this for a natural angelic-pink blush. It goes on very soft and natural. It might not show up on MAC NC40s or darker though because it’s on the lighter side.
Paul & Joe and Bergdorf Goodman still remain at the top of my favorites list and I am super excited about the upcoming Wild Flowers, Alice In Wonderland, and new additions in cream blushes, eyeshadows and nail polishes for spring 2010.
Since my Paul & Joe series back in November, I have added a few more items to my collection thanks to the recommendations of the Bergdorf Goodman staff and think I have found my holy grail creamy lipliners!
The loot:
Lipliner 01 Plum – natural pinky color with plum tones
Lipliner 04 Caramel – neutral beige
Lipstick 12 Bougainvillea – neutral-cool rose pink
Lipstick 27 Debutante – sheer sparkley peach
Lipstick 28 Darling – beige
Eyeshadow 22 Belle du Jour – peach shimmer
Eyeshadow 91 Butter & Sugar – pale cream shimmer
Nail Polish 06 Framboises – mauvey pink cream
Nail Polish 09 Full Bloom – baby pink cream
Holiday Blue Paisley Makeup Bag – comes with a brush holder inside
* Note #28 Lipstick is not swatched b/c I’m undecided about keeping it right now.
