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Trish McEvoy

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Trish McEvoy Demure Sparkle Eye Base Essentials

January 29, 2010

The entire Trish McEvoy Demure Collection has finally arrived instore at Nordstrom. A few days ago I wrote about the lipstick Gorgeous Demure, today I’m bringing you a feature and review on the new Eye Base Essentials in Demure Sparkle which retails for $24.


My thoughts on this product: The more I experiment with it, the more I like it. The first time I tried it, I wasn’t wowed, but still ended up purchasing it. I tried it on instore and reluctantly agreed to a mini Trish McEvoy makeup application. The artist applied it heavily on the eyes without any eyecream and the proceeded to apply more light lilac-pink shadows on it giving me a chalk-like look. It didn’t help that she kept using the phrase “I love it, don’t you love it?” over and over and over again.

In my past experience with other Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials, I know they aren’t great alone on the eyes. They are simply too dry. But I find this the case with MAC Paint Pots too. My solution = apply a light layer of eye cream on the eyes first and this helps the color blend out better. (I really like the Eye Cream from Nars because it’s a gel base rather than a heavy cream.) So I knew that chalky-powdery look I got instore wouldn’t necessarily be what I got at home applying it myself.

The color is a pale powdery pink and you can only see the sparkle when it is blended out. On my hand it looks really chalky. On the eyes alone it appears chalky too, but I don’t think it’s meant to be worn alone as an all-over wash. I think it’s really intended to be an eye base for other shadows.

Here it is swatched heavily:

Here it is swatched but blended out:

Compared to some other pale pink cream eyeshadows including Bobbi Brown Ballet Pink and Laura Mercier Pink Chiffon:

Swatch comparisons, 2 swatches of each color, the first one is applied heavily, the second is blended out:


If you’re fair skinned and find that most pinks look too dark on you, the Trish McEvoy Demure Sparkle might be the answer to your search. If you’re medium skinned or darker I think you might find it too pale. I used this as a base yesterday with NARS Brousse and All About Eve Duos and I have to say I was pretty impressed that my eyeshadow lasted all evening through a 4 hour client meeting and 2.5 hour class.

It depends on what you want for this type of product. If you want an eye base and like pale colors, you will like this. If you’re simply looking for a pink cream eyeshadow – I suggest you look elsewhere.

The items featured in this collection include:

  • Gorgeous Demure Lipstick – light nude pink (as in very light and washed out)
  • Irresistible Pink Lip Gloss – shimmery bright rosey-reddish pink (seems similar to a discontinued color, I want to say it was called Rose, but I’m not 100% certain)
  • All Over Face Color in London and Capri – simply a repromote of her discontinued face shines, London is a pale champagne, Capri is a deeper bronze, they seemed really sheer and just looked like sparkle on the skin
  • Translucent Finishing Powder – pressed translucent powder
  • Demure Sparkle – pale pink cream with subtle sparkles

I was initially excited from the promo photos (you can see these at TrishMcevoy.com or on Karlasugar’s blog) but my first reaction to seeing the entire collection in person was “meh.” The lipstick was too pale, the lipgloss was too bright, the face shines too sheer/sparkley. It made me wonder, am I a difficult customer? Or do I just have too much good stuff already? Probably a little bit of both.

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Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Demure Lipstick

January 17, 2010

I love light pinks in all variations for lips, but often times I find the ones that look the prettiest in the tube are often require extra effort to make them work for me. I call these my “high maintenance nudes” which include colors like MAC Creme Cup, YSL Rouge Volupte #1 and Nars Turkish Delight. The newest lipstick from Trish McEvoy called Gorgeous Demure (a pale nude pink cream) is no exception. I’m not sure if it’s just my skin coloring or if it’s my pigmented lips, but applied alone, most pale pinks end up looking like concealer.

Swatched on hand (can barely see it because it matches my skintone)

Swatched on lips alone, looks way too pale:


To make this color work for me, I first line with Trish McEvoy’s Bare Lipliner, apply the Gorgeous Demure Lipstick and blot, the top with Bobbi Brown’s Rose Gold Lipgloss.



The Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Demure lipstick is in the new Gorgeous Lip Color formula which is a bit pricier at $25 USD and is supposed to contain a special lip-conditioning quality. It is creamier and smoother than most of her lipsticks with medium pigment. I can’t really say I notice any moisturizing quality, but I will say that it is non-drying.

Pigment is medium and finish is slightly glossy. If you can pull off the paler shades, then I think you’ll like this. If you’re like me who can’t pull these off alone, you might want to pass since it will require other colors in liner and gloss added to make it work for you.

Gorgeous Demure was supposed to be released with a series of other products. As of yesterday, the only other item that I saw at Nordstrom was the new Translucent powder. Coming soon are 2 new face shines (which I believe are simply repromotes of long-discontinued colors), a new base essentials and a new lipgloss.

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Trish McEvoy Little Black Card Champagne Truffles

January 2, 2010

I was sold on this simply by the name “Champagne Truffles.” The box and the blue python pouch are to die for. The box says it all with adorable glossy product photos and fun-to-read description and how-to instructions. (Click the photo for larger viewing to read.)

Cute box and python case
Top Deck: Natural Blush, Champagne Shimmer Powder, Shell Eyeshadow (light pink), Truffles Eyeshadow (brown), Charcoal Diamond Eyeshadow (charcoal)

Swatches of the top deck, the blush/shimmer powder didn’t show up in the photo, it doesn’t go on as sheer on the face
Bottom Deck (no swatches yet)

I found this at Saks, but I believe it has arrived at Nordstrom and Neimans too. The kit is $58 USD which is pricey considering the double decker cards were $38 when she first released these. Various counters at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales or Saks often have GWPs to make the purchase a bit more worthwhile by spending a certain amount. Inspite of the high price tag, I still love these cards because I think they look cute, especially since you can just stick it in your purse and have everything in one compact.

One more view:


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What’s Your Definition of “Nude”?

December 28, 2009

I love the theme of nude-colored makeup for everything ranging from eyeshadows, lipsticks, and glosses but find it amazing how many different interpretations there are of this word “nude.” I personally associate nude with something the color of one’s natural skin, but with so many different skintones how does one define “nude”? Is there such a thing as a universally flattering “nude” lipstick or blush?


Take for example the following products that have the name “nude” – all of which are very different and not entirely flesh or skin colored.

Blushes (clockwise from top left):
Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmerbrick,
Dolce & Gabbana Nude, Chanel Nude


Eyeshadows (clockwise from top left):
Dior Nude Look 565, Dior Nude Look 365,
Bobbi Brown Nude Eyeshadow, Dolce & Gabbana Nude,
Edward Bess Nude, MAC Nude (d/c), Stila Nude

Lips (left to right): Dolce & Gabbana Nude Lipgloss, YSL #1 Pure Nude, Trish McEvoy Sexy Nude Beauty Booster, Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Nude, Bobbi Brown Nude, Bobbi Brown Nude Glitter, Chanel Nude Rouge Allure, Laura Mercier Nude Lips (sheer), MAC Creme D’Nude, Laura Mercier Barely Nude


Do any of these nudes work to give you a true “nude” eye, cheek or lip? I am still on my neverending quest for the perfect flattering nude blush and lip combo. I find my definition of nude is quite diverse as there are brownish nudes, pale nudes, golden nudes, beige nudes, pink nudes, peachy nudes etc. My holy grail nude eyeshadow is MAC Camel which has long been discontinued.

Tell me your skintone and what your favorite nudes are (nude-colors that is, not necessarily products with the name “nude” in them)!

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Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Blackberry Python Planner from Blue Mercury

December 4, 2009
My fellow makeup enthusiast Parsi told me about a Trish McEvoy Planner set she found at Blue Mercury. I have to say she is one of my best resources for makeup, she always has great information and impeccable taste. So of course I looked it up immediately and it is indeed gorgeous.

The set is called The Gorgeous Blackberry Makeup Planner Collection and retails for $95 and is exclusive to Blue Mercury in the US (it’s a steal if you add up all the items individually). After googling “trish python planner” I found that UK girls can also find this set at Selfridges.

Inside the kit:

  • Petite Refillable Makeup Page with Weekend All Over Face Color & Perfect 1 Blush
  • Lilac Glaze Eye Shadow, Tawny Glaze Eye Shadow, Platinum Glaze Eye Shadow, Blackberry Granite Eye Definer (the Lilac arrived broken, but they are sending a replacement)
  • High Volume Mascara (website says you get the curling one though)
  • Full Sized Gorgeous Lip Color in Blackberry
  • Mini Brightening Pink Beauty Booster Lip Gloss
  • Mini Eye Base Essentials in Bare
  • Sample of Treatment Foundation SPF 15

More views of inside the kit:






I plan on giving this as a gift so there won’t be any swatches.

Trish McEvoy was my first high-end love along with Stila back in 1999/2000. My very first makeover was at Saks in San Francisco where I had my first makeup lesson. For those not familiar with Trish McEvoy – the makeup artists are trained to provide a hands-on makeover experience for you where they have you observe their application technique in a mirror and have you repeat the steps on the other half of your face so you can recreate the look on your own. I have always had a great experience with Trish artists, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad makeover from them. They really listen to you about your preferences to give you a look that you will be comfortable with.

I love Trish for her high quality color products, but unfortunately cannot use any of her skincare (too strong for my sensitive skin). In recent years, she has revamped her line and packaging several times which can be frustrating and exciting all at the same time.

Also coming out soon is a new Double Decker Card called Champagne Truffles. It will be available at Saks, Neimans and Nordstrom, but you can see it now on Blue Mercury. My local counters say they are expecting to receive it any day now.

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Looks I’m Loving Right Now: Day 4

November 5, 2009

Today’s focus is around silvery eyes with a few alternatives in case you can’t pull off silvers. I have warmer skin with olive tones and can’t always pull off silvery eyeshadows because they make me look tired, but the Dior Smoky Crystal Quint was a surprisingly pretty on! I hope this gives you a few ideas of what types of colors you can use. These may not work for everyone, but these are looks that I’ve done that work for me.

To recap (in case you haven’t read my About Me section), I have dark black/brown hair with red highlights, medium olive/golden skin and use Chanel Shell/Beige Teint Innocence, my eyes are dark brown.

Look Day 4: silvery eyeshadow with rose-pink lips/cheeks


Cheeks:
Dolce & Gabbana Desert Bronzer (not swatched)
Lorac Velvet Rope Baked Blush

Eyes:
Shiseido Rose Tulle H11 Hydropower Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Steel Cream Eyeshadow
Dior Smoky Crystal Quint
MAC Feline Eyeliner

Lips:
Chanel Tulip Lipliner
Trish McEvoy Pink Innocent
Le Metier de Beaute Cannes Lipgloss or Bobbi Brown Pink Lilac Brightening Gloss as an alternative

* Note the swatches for the eyeshadows look greenish on my screen for some reason. In real life they are close to what the product photo looks like in the picture near the top.

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Alternative if you can’t pull of silvers: try champagne, a soft taupe, a sparkley silvery-gold cream shadow and a smokey black eyeshadow


Cheeks: Giorgio Armani Blush #10

Eyes: Giorgio Armani Maestro Eyeshadow #30
Bobbi Brown Galaxy Cream Eyeshadow
Giorgio Armani Eyeshadow Maestro #32
Giorgio Armani Manta Ray Duo #1

Lips: Bobbi Brown Blondie Pink Lipliner
Chantecaille Oleander Lipstick
Dolce & Gabbana Nude Lipgloss

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Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Pink Sugar Shimmer Blush

Eyes: Chantecaille Quartz (top left)
Chantecaille Meteorite (top middle)
MAC Sunnydaze Pigment
MAC Cinderfella Mineralize Eyeshadow
Chanel Noir Le Crayon Kohl Eyeliner

Lips: MAC Dervish
Dolce & Gabbana Charm Lipstick
Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer #9

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Looks I’m Loving Right Now: Day 2

November 3, 2009
Today’s color theme includes bronzey eyes and peachy lips/cheeks with three variations. (Note that Day 1 has been updated as well with a third look.) I would have to say this is my no-fail go to look. I always feel comfortable with a bronze liner and a soft peach lip (although I’ve been told that I look better in pinks and plums).


Look Day #2: bronze eyes with peachy lips & cheeks


Cheeks:

Chanel Fandango Blush
MAC Refined Mineralize Skin Finish

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Sandy Gold Cream Eyeshadow
MAC Vanilla Pigment
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill #2 Brown Copper
Trish McEvoy Eye Definer Sparkling Bronze

Lips:
Make Up Forever Aqua Lip Liner 1C
Laura Mercier Designer Beige Shimmer Lipstick
Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer #3

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Alternative with a brighter lip:


Cheeks: Trish McEvoy Liquid Face Color #1 + MAC Superduper Natural Mineralize Blush

Eyes: Bobbi Brown Flesh Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Burnished Cream Eyeshadow
Nars Cordura Eyeshadow Duo
Laura Mercier Brown Copper Eye Liner

Lips:
Chanel Exquise Rouge Allure
MAC Euro Beat Dazzleglass mixed with Paul & Joe Lip Lacuqer #8

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Alternative with a smokier eye & lighter nude-peach lip:


Cheeks: Chanel Tweed Sienna Blush
Le Metier Blush/Bronze Duo Sunkissed and Echo

Eyes:
MAC Femme Fi Eyeshadow
Trish McEvoy Eye Definer in Sparkling Bronze
MAC Gilt by Association Mineralize Eyeshadow

Lips:
Bobbi Brown Beige Lipliner
Giorgio Armani Rouge D’Armani Beige 101
Le Metier de Beaute Peche Creme

(Note you will most likely see a recurring trend with the Paul & Joe Lip Lacquers because I love them so much! For those who don’t have access to Paul & Joe, do not fear, I will include other brands too.)