Makeup

Fanciful Fall: Marrakesh By Way of Bohemia with the Bobbi Brown Marrakesh Chic Collection for Fall 2011

August 30th, 2011 by Karen 38 Comments

bobbi brown marrakesh chic

Grab your passport, Boho babe, because Bobbi Brown is taking us to Marrakesh!

Available now on counters and very soon online, the new 17-piece Marrakesh Chic collection’s shades of pink, plum, taupe, beige, gray and peach suggest it’ll be a casual, comfy trip, so pack accordingly (might I suggest a flowy floral top, wide-leg flares, feather earrings, chunky heels and that turquoise ring I know you have? 🙂 ).

The limited edition release invokes exotic street markets, broken-in jeans and buttery soft leather saddlebags handed down from an adventurous great grandmother. I think it also has some of that whole “lady of the canyon” vibe that’s been a big trend in fashion for a while.

While it’s a complete launch with pieces for eyes, lips and cheeks, the focus appears to be on the eight new limited edition Rich Color Eyeshadows ($30 each) it contains.

Right away, I noticed something peculiar about the pans. They’re circular, and not the usual (for Bobbi) squares.

bobbi brown marrakesh chic swatches

And that’s not the only break from Bobbi’s norm. The powder shadows themselves feel softer than usual to me, almost like creams, and the pigments and finishes look unlike anything I’ve seen from Bobbi before.

Picture the complexity of a MAC duochrome with the soft sheen of an eyeshadow from Becca.

According to the Bobbi Brown makeup artist I spoke with at the counter the other day (hi, Charmaine!), Bobbi used a completely different shadow formula this time around, one supposedly longer-wearing than usual that doesn’t crease, but it can be tricky to apply without the right tools.

bobbi brown marrakesh chic swatches
Rich Color Eyeshadows from the left: 1. Royale; 2. Sand Dune; 3. Desert Lily and 4. Rich Slate

bobbi brown marrakesh chic swatches
Rich Color Eyeshadows from the left: 5. Pink Silk; 6. Coffee Bean; 7. Wine and 8. Rich Kashmir
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Fanciful Fall: Wearable Colors Characterize the Chanel Sophisticated Eye Collection

August 29th, 2011 by Karen 29 Comments

chanel sophisticated eye collection

Now that’s what I’m talking about, Coco. 🙂 Your new Sophisticated Eye Collection features some seriously easy-to-wear eye makeup, and it’s making me cuckoo for COCO puffs!

chanel sophisticated eye collection

The sizable 17-piece release, a mix of limited edition and re-promoted items, is available now at Chanel counters, in stores and also online. With classic presentation and an understated palette of highly wearable blue, taupe, purple, brown, pink and beige, the release exudes class. Coco dresses lids in a simple, clean wash of light pink and beige, then blows a kiss of color along the upper lash line. Thick, defined fringe in black, brown or purple and a strong brow ties the look together nicely. Definition: understated, wearable, and totally up my alley.

The release also features a sleek, sassy eyelash curler, and every time I notice that lovely logo emblazoned on it, I question my loyalty to Shu.

A few of the pieces reached out and grabbed me when I swatched the collection yesterday…

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Lagons ($57) — DÃ©jÃ vu, mon amie! The blue and beige shades in this quad take me back to the spring of 2008 and Bleu Celestes from the Aurora Blues collection. I how intense and sparkly the darker shades are.
Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanities ($57) — I went to sleep last night thinking about the purple, taupe and pink shadows in this quad, and if I were forced to spend a week on a deserted island with just one thing from this collection, this would be it. There’s something special about each of these shades — the intense glitter in the dark purple (so glittery!), the extra buttery texture of the light pink, the two flashy duo chromes (one changes from a plummy brown to a pinkish gold, and the other from a pale pink to a purplish gold). Wow.
Inimitable Intense Mascara in Purple ($30) — I’m a huge Inimitable mascara fan (even if I have trouble saying the word, “Inimitable”), so I was stoked to check out it out in Purple. Sadly, the swatch disappointed me a little. The color looks more like a brownish plum than a true purple to me, and I have a feeling it’s intended for ladies with a lighter fringe than mine.

Chanel Lagons
1. Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Lagons

Chanel Vanites
2. Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanites

Chanel Fauve Twilight Magic Night Lily
Swatches from the left: Ombres Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in 3. Magic Night; 4. Lily; 5.Twilight; and 6. Fauve
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Who Gardens at Midnight? YSL, Of Course, with the YSL Midnight Garden Collection for Fall 2011

August 26th, 2011 by Karen 35 Comments

ysl midnight garden fall 2011

Evenin’, gorgeous. What are you up to tonight? I’ve basically been laying low here at home, painting my nails, reading some magazines and just chilling with the boys.

I was fiending for sushi earlier tonight but didn’t want to drive the 20 minutes to the Japanese place I really like, so I just picked up one of those packages of pre-made sushi rolls (shrimp tempura) from Whole Foods.

Eh, it was aw-ite. 🙂

Oh, Lloyd Christmas got a trim at the salon this afternoon, so he’s back to his old self again. And then afterward he and I stopped by Nordie’s for a quick look around.

There were TONS of new fall products out on counters in the beauty department, but the purples, greens, pinks and reds from the new YSL Midnight Garden Collection kept me occupied. They’re available now in stores and online.

ysl midnight garden fall 2011

The 12-piece collection of stuff for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails feels pretty summery to me, which is great because I’m nowhere even remotely near ready for summer to end. Tropical flowers, exotic birds and fantasy midnight gardens (fo’ reals!) are supposed to have inspired the release, and I can see it, too, in the rich jewel-toned shades and the pale pink, peach and lavender pastels that pop against them.
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Get Homework Help with the New LORAC Close Up: Real Life to Red Carpet Natural to Dramatic Face Tutorial

August 26th, 2011 by Karen 6 Comments

If you’re a busy gal who craves classic glam and shades like peach and taupe, has LORAC got a kit for you. The new LORAC Close Up: Real Life to Red Carpet Natural to Dramatic Face Tutorial ($39) comes with five full-size products for eyes, lips and cheeks and two convenient step-by-step tutorials.

The first one demonstrates how to do a natural day look, and the second one covers a more dramatic look for nights (there’s also another card filled with additional tips). Most of the time I think the tutorials that come with kits sound cooler than they actually are. Often they’re little more than a few brief steps printed on the back of the packaging, but LORAC went a little further with these. The two tutorials have from six to seven steps printed with thumbnail images on 6″ x 6″ stickers and a spiral-bound card stock stand. You can either stand the cards up next to you while you follow along, or peel off the stickers and affix them to a mirror, counter or wall.

I felt like doing the dramatic red carpet night look today and was surprised by how little time it took — just 20 minutes, which isn’t bad for a full face.

Clockwise from the blush pan on the upper left: Blush in Soul, Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in LORACstar, Front of the Liner Pro Liner, Couture Shine Gloss in Trend Setter and Multiplex 3D Lashes Mascara

Swatches from the left: Couture Shine Gloss in Trend Setter, Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in LORACstar, Front of the Liner Pro Liner and Multiplex 3D Lashes Mascara
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Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow: Are You Ready for These Swatches?

August 25th, 2011 by Karen 63 Comments

bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadows

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals has something BIG lined up for fall, and the question is, are you ready?

The line is leaping into the thrilling world (it is to me) of pressed eyeshadow duos and quads with a brand new line of permanent collection products called Ready. The 19 pieces in the Ready Eyeshadow Collection, which arrives on counters this October (ready or not), consist of four quads ($30 each) and 15 duos ($20 each), and for a brand best known for their loose mineral eyeshadows, it signifies a brave shift in a bold new direction.

But what about the minerals…?

Don’t worry. They’re still here — in the form of something called “solid mineral technology.” bareMinerals went mining in the sea and put the stuff they found into pressed powder form. The shadows, according to the company, promise to deliver vivid pigments, as well as softer, smoother skin.

These just emerged from the surf this afternoon, so I haven’t had a chance to really dig into ’em yet, but I had to share pictures. From what I can tell so far, the vibrant powders feel soft and surprisingly smooth (and aren’t the product names GREAT!?). 🙂

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow Collection: Full Collection Pictures

bare minerals ready the afterparty
The Afterparty, clockwise from the lower left: Rowdy, Cheers, Mingle and Lights Down

bare minerals ready the dream sequence
The Dream Sequence, clockwise from the lower left: Boudoir, 500 Thread Count, Romp and Nightcap
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A Brief Encounter with Burberry Beauty’s New Nude Cashmere Lipstick Left Me Feeling Undressed

August 24th, 2011 by Karen 40 Comments

burberry beauty fall 2011

It’s true — nude lipsticks might not drive makeup lovers into frenzies like a brilliant fuchsia lipstick or a cobalt blue nail polish can, but lip looks featuring nudes are still among my favorites, just the same.

Nude lips are always in style and look great with almost anything. Unfortunately, finding a good nude lipstick can be tougher than finding a good man.

If I had a nickle for every time I tried a new nude lipstick, only to look up at myself in the mirror at something totally and completely wrong, I’d probably have between 80 cents and $1. 🙂 But seriously, the truly great ones are few and very far between.

New for fall, Burberry’s Lip Cover in Nude Cashmere ($30) passes the mirror test with flying colors (or lack thereof).

Actually — it does contain pigment. It’s a beautiful brownish beige (reminds me of raw almond skin), and it’s one of the most wearable nudes I’ve met in a while.

Since launching last fall, the Burberry Beauty makeup line has stayed pretty true to the brand’s fashion aesthetic with seasonal collections of mostly understated, neutral, classic shades and designs. I think of their pieces as luxurious basics with a timeless appeal, and I’ll reach for them when I want to look polished, put together and professional.

Nude Cashmere, one of two new Burberry Lip Covers for fall (part of the Autumn Winter 2011/12 collection), saunters onto Burberry Beauty counters next month with seven other pieces for eyes, lips and face.

burberry beauty fall 2011
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The LORAC Ooh La Lace Palette Makes Me Feel Ooh La La

August 23rd, 2011 by Karen 14 Comments

lorac ooh la lace

CAUTION: Seductive palette ahead.

LORAC’s lurvely Ooh La Lace palette ($36), the latest piece from the brand’s fall collection of lingerie-inspired delectables, has been wooing me with its smoldering selection of baked eyeshadows in neutral and smokey shades of beige, gray, black, peach, bronze and brown.

Want big, bedroom eyes? Lucky for you if you do, because LORAC chose the colors they put into the palette to create eyes just like that.

But that’s not all this palette has. I also see versatile, wearable colors here capable of going out for drinks with the girls after work.

LORAC infused these matte and shimmer shadows with plenty of pigment to spare. Most of them gush with vibrant color, and all of them blend like a very good dream, clinging to my lids all day long while admirably resisting creasing and fading.

When I do a look with more than two of these shades, my blending brush barely has to touch the surface of my skin to transition from one shadow to the next. I have a feeling this palette’s gonna be great for girls who either don’t have much time to get ready in the mornings, or who could use a little help when it comes to blending (or both).

lorac ooh la lace

lorac ooh la lace
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I’d Gladly Stay Awake Till Sunrise for This Vibrant Sula Beauty Lipstick

August 23rd, 2011 by Karen 32 Comments

sula beauty awake till sunrise lipstick

Just how pigmented is vibrant orange Sula Beauty Lipstick in Awake Till Sunrise ($8)? Well, if I were ever going to scribble a note on a bathroom mirror with a tube of lipstick, I’d use it, because “YOU’RE MINE FOREVER!!” scrawled on a mirror in sheer baby pink just doesn’t have the same impact.

This — THIS! — is what I’ve been hoping for from the Sula Beauty line. Creamy reddish coral Awake Till Sunrise totally hits it out of the park (think MAC Hibiscus), and I wouldn’t be surprised if it and the other lipsticks in the line skipped right past “Go” on their way to the Drugstore Makeup Hall of Fame. 🙂

Not only did Sula peg the price at a reasonable $8, they omitted the parabens and phthalates, refrained from testing on animals and loaded this particular shade with so much pigment that it could easily pass for department store.

Awake Till Sunrise even feels more expensive than it is, with its creamy, moisturizing and slightly thick texture. For a minute there, I almost forgot it wasn’t a Chanel Rouge Coco.

sula beauty awake till sunrise lipstick

sula beauty awake till sunrise lipstick
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