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Estee Lauder Chocolate Decadence: All the Chocolate, None of the Guilt

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Work was a killer today, so when quittin’ time rolled around I headed straight for Macy’s to do what I do best: window shop. I found some stuff that not only cheered me up, but also satisfied my inner chocoholic. Behold — in all their grainy Crackberry goodness — a couple snapshots of Estee Lauder’s new fall collection, delectably named Chocolate Decadence.

With lots of eyeshadows, lipsticks and glosses in colors inspired by berries, caramels and chocolate, this collection could have been by Willy Wonka. Aren’t the swirl patterns tasty?

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Estee Lauder Chocolate Decadence…

Creme Caramel Shimmer Powder, ($32)
That’s the swirl powder in the picture up there. It’s a soft brown with shimmer, ala MAC Beauty Powder. It’s for use on cheeks or on your body to get a soft glow.

Signature Eyeshadow Quads in Berry Truffle and Caramel Truffle, ($35)
The eyeshadows of these two, four-color quads — Berry Truffle and Caramel Truffle — are embossed with a pretty swirl pattern. Caramel Truffle goes with the browns in a big way, but I think I’m going to pass because the colors are similar to others in my collection. Berry Truffle got my heart pumping, but not so much that it forced me to make an impulse purchase. I decided to wait.

Pure Color Swirl Glosses in Berry Swirl and Caramel Swirl, ($18)
Yummy is all I can say about these glosses. I’m like a confused makeup foodie. Both glosses have a creamy beige color swirled into a dark purple berry and caramel. Picture a rich parfait. Mmm… parfait… I was actually tempted to take a bite, no joke!
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7 Ways to Wear Shu Uemura’s Fleur de Rose Palette

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Emancipate yourself from the land of bland, chalky eyeshadows with Shu Uemura’s Fleur de Rose Palette! With soft, velvety textures and rich, intense colors, the seven pink, purple and neutral shades combine easily to create several different looks. The palette’s great for makeup neophytes as well as eyeshadow experts, and from now until June 29th you can get it online for 20% less (Shu Uemura friends and family online sale).

Here’s a close-up of the palette (the numbers correspond with the swatches to make it a lil’ easier to follow).

  1. Gold shimmer
  2. Dark purple shimmer
  3. Silver-white shimmer
  4. Light pink-coral shimmer
  5. Maroon shimmer
  6. Beige matte
  7. Brown-gold shimmer

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My favorite shade is the brown-gold shimmer. Doesn’t it bear a striking resemblance to MAC Soba, but on shimmer steroids? I think it’d make a great crease color or a base for either simple or complicated eye looks. I can actually see myself hitting the pan with this one!

While playing with the palette, I used the brown-gold shade in the crease to do a soft purple and pink eye.

(Side note: Just as I finished this eye the Fed Ex guy rang the door bell. When I answered, I had my right eye done, but the other eye was bare. The poor guy looked at me like I was nuts, LOL. Perhaps in some ways I am.)

The shades are shimmery yet natural — still appropriate for work or play.

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Here’s how I did the look…

  1. Applied the matte beige shade on the browbone.
  2. Added the brown-gold shade into the crease.
  3. Smoothed the light pink-coral shade onto the inner two-thirds of the lid.
  4. Added the maroon shade onto the outer third of the lid.
  5. Applied the dark purple shade into the outer V and the lower lash line.

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Numbers refer to the palette above…

Fleur de Rose Palette Shortcut

There are several steps involved in the eye look above. If you’re new to eyeshadow, well, don’t freak out. You don’t have to go as far as I did to create pretty looks with this palette.

Start by exploring the brown-gold, beige, gold and silver-white shades — they provide great basic neutrals to begin a look with. From there, add pops of color with the pinks and purples.

Here are six beginner-friendly ways to use the colors in Fleur de Rose…

A Simple Look for Work

Apply beige shade (6) over the entire lid and brown-gold shade (7) in crease for an easy, neutral look.

A Subtle Pop of Color, Numero One

Add a pop of concentrated color to the Simple Look for Work above by wetting a stiff angled brush like the MAC 266. Use the wet brush head to apply the maroon shade (5) as a liner on the upper lash line. Wetting the brush amplifies the color as it’s applied.

A Subtle Pop of Color, Numero Two

Follow the same steps for A Subtle Pop of Color, Numero One but replace the maroon shade (5) with the dark purple (2).

Silver and Purple Night Look

Apply the silver shade (3) over the entire lid. Use a stiff-angled brush (either wet or dry) to apply the dark purple shade (2) on the upper and lower lash lines.

Daytime Smokey Purple Eye

Apply the beige shade (6) to your brow bone. Add the brown-gold (7) shade into the crease. Line the upper and lower lash lines with a creamy black pencil eyeliner like MAC Smolder, and then smudge the dark purple shade (2) over the liner with a pencil brush.

Pink-Coral and Maroon Eye

Apply the gold shade (1) to the brow bone; then add brown-gold (7) into the crease. Smooth the pink shade on the inner half of the lid, just barely into the crease. Finish by adding maroon shade to the outer half of the lid and just barley into the crease. Apply the purple shade (2) to the lower lash line. This is a variation on the coral and brown eye I did a few weeks ago.

Just imagine all of the palette combinations out there to discover! What looks would you create with Shu Uemura’s Fleur de Rose palette?
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Shu Uemura Friends and Family Sale Starts Thursday

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Starting Thursday, grab Shu goodies at a great price with Shu’s Friends and Family online sale. After registering (which is free) on the site, enter promo code SHUSUMMER at checkout to get 20% off your entire purchase. Be sure to make haste, young one, for the sale ends June 29.

Think of all the money we’ll save!

Don’t forget to squirrel away some of your savings for fall. 😉

Shu shopping ideas

  • Accessible Luxury: Shu Uemura Knows Lashes Inside and Out
    “Genetics bestowed upon me wimpy, ho-hum lashes … and then made me so clumsy that I couldn’t apply false ones to save my life. Oh, the sweet eyelash irony! Enter the Shu Uemura lash bar, aka false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier. Whether you’re looking for a little lash extension, or you’re aching for crazy, over-the-top-lashes to overcompensate for many years of eyelash inadequacy (*ahem*), Shu’s got you covered.”

  • Shu Uemura Makeup Tutorial: Go Pastel for a Fresh Spring Eye
    “I’m not normally terribly attracted to pastel shades, but these colors are fun, easy to use and have great color payoff. I combined them with Shu’s Tri-Color Eye Pencils (also from the Rebirth collection) and got in touch with my blossoming inner color diva.”

  • Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Crystal Shine Lipstick Swatches and Pics
    “Falling in love with these $23 lippies was easy. They make my lips shine brighter than a glazed doughnut (mmm… doughnut) yet still feel feather-light on my lips. They pack tons of color, and there are a bunch of shades to choose from — 17 in all!”

  • Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift, Anti-aging Skin Care Collection
    “It’s easy to fall in love with all three products in Shu Uemura’s Phyto-Black Lift anti-aging skin care system. With sleek black packaging, a light floral scent and smooth textures, the products are a skin care junkie’s luxury dream come true.”

  • Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Swatches – Rebirth Spring 2008 Collection
    “Anyway I’m running around today but I couldn’t leave ya hanging, so here are a few lovely swatches for you on this lovely Wednesday.”

  • Lip Look: Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited in RD 165N
    “The color makes me look like I just ate a whole bag of red Jolly Rancher candies, but I think it even looks brighter in the tube than it does on my lips. Gloss Unlimited RD 165N has a light orange scent and feels thinner than Clinique’s Cherry Bomb. Despite its consistency, Gloss Unlimited didn’t dry out my lips when I used it…”

  • Midnight Manicure with Shu Uemura Nail Polish
    “I’m on a Shu Uemura nail polish kick, and last night’s midnight manicure in Gold Beige may not have been the best use of time. Eh, who am I kidding?? Of course it was! I officially love these polishes and can’t wait to get more. Gold Beige dries fast, applies easily and looks great.”

Today was the longest day of work ever! The accountant stopped by the office to do the books for the end of the fiscal year and had to use my computer, so I had no internet or email all afternoon. Aggghhh! How did people *way* back in the early 90s survive office life before the Web? I felt so disconnected, like I was stranded on a desert island with nothing but coconuts. I got so desperate that I clutched feverishly to my CrackBerry until, of course, the battery died. The horror!

It’s off to dance class for me tonight. When I get home I have to wrap the present I got for my brother from Hawaii. Here’s the front of one of the shirts I picked up for him on Maui.

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LOL! This shirt is wrong on so many levels. That’s why I love it. Last time I checked, cats lacked opposable thumbs, but I guess somewhere along the way the cat in the middle learned how to play guitar.

And is the cat on the right wearing Borat’s swimsuit?
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Brighten Your Day With Clarins Sun Lip Balms

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Who knew Clarins makeup was so fabulous? Up until a few weeks ago, I thought of the brand solely as a skin care line, but discovering Wonder Mint teal mascara a few weeks ago changed all that. It prompted me to do some additional “research” (aka playing with makeup!) into their Summer Fever line, and I uncovered other hidden gems.

The Sun Lip Balms ($19 each) are shimmery, limited edition glosses available in two shades — Rose Bikini (the hot pink pictured above) and a neon orange called Orange Delight (shown below).

The marketing…

  • Shea, wild mango and rice oil extracts in the product moisturize, nourish and soothe lips
  • Olive oil provides the moisture
  • Vitamin A and vitamin E repair and protect lips against free radicals
  • SPF 6 protects against UVB rays responsible for premature skin aging and dry lips

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The two Sun Balm colors are bold, yet still have a subtle duochrome quality to them, flashing from orange to blue, or from pink to purple, depending on the light and angle of view. Both shades contain the tiniest flecks of blue, green, and purple glitter, making the colors both playful and interesting. That’s also how I feel about the look I get with Wonder Mint — playful and interesting.

These are colors I’d wear with a Burberry bikini, sipping champagne on a yacht in the Mediterranean, *not* colors I’d wear with big hair while guzzling a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon on the Jersey shore. Ya dig?

Orange Delight on the left, Bikini Pink on the right
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I will definitely include these in my ever-growing makeup kit this summer, with one big caveat: the texture is thin (and tastes like fruit punch, go figure), and the product doesn’t have great staying power. It’s all but gone from my lips after a couple hours of wear or a single meal.
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Dior Impression Cuir: Early Reviews and Swatches

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Bust out your alligator pumps, white cardigan sweater, pearls and pencil skirt, and let’s explore Dior’s upcoming Fall 2008 Impression Cuir collection. YES!

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I just received previews of two of the items from the upcoming collection (due out this August). Sometimes, I feel like brown can be a little boring, but when it’s done well, as I think it has been here, brown can be downright smokin’.

After playing with the Impression Cuir eyeshadow palette and Rouge Dior Fiction Brown lipstick this morning, I felt very much like a hot librarian in training. I almost wanted to don my glasses, put my hair in a bun and talk sweet, sweet dewey decimals. Fo’ reals!

Impression Cuir eyeshadows on the top; Fiction Brown lipstick on the bottom
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The Impression Cuir Palette ($55) contains a trio of bronze, brown and beige shimmer eyeshadows embossed with a pretty alligator-skin pattern on the pan. The tiny sparkles give the shades a lil’ extra kick, but the colors in this palette are still very work-friendly.

In the picture above I’m wearing the beige on the brow bone, bronze in the crease and beige on the lid. I like how the colors blend seamlessly into each other. With these shades, creating subtle, yet sexy eye looks is a breeze. I can even picture the colors mixing well with greens, browns, pinks and purples. If you’ve been wanting to try Dior eyeshadows, let this palette be your gateway makeup drug! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

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Dior Fall 2008: Impression Cuir Fall Pics and Full Product List

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It being almost summer and all, let’s take a moment to wax philosophic about an upcoming fall collection slated for a summertime release: Dior’s Fall 2008 Impression Cuir makeup collection. No matter what Dior calls it, this collection looks hot. Put on your water wings, grab some sweet tea (or gin and juice, haay!) and take a look.

Due for release this August, the collection features rich, romantic colors like burgundy, plum and copper and embossed animal-inspired textures — think crocodile and python. The makeup gods say dark lipstick will be big this fall, and I’m looking forward to Fantastic Plum Rouge Dior (pictured below). I think it’ll look great with my warm winter coat and knee-high boots.

The Dior Impression Cuir Fall Collection…

Eyeshadows

2-Colour Eyeshadow ($35)

  • Bronzy Look #695
  • Silver Look #775

5-Colour Eyeshadow ($54)

  • Earth Tones #673
  • Iridescent Leather #539

Dior Impression Cuir Palette ($55)

  • A trio of bronze, brown and beige eyeshadows

Eye Liner

Crayon Eyeliner ($25)

  • Iridescent Khaki #363

Lipgloss

Creme de Gloss ($25.50)

  • Cream Burgundy #735
  • Delicious Plum #875

Ultra-Gloss Reflect ($24.50)

  • Lace Beige #587
  • Lurex Plum #877

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Lipstick

Rouge Dior ($27)

  • Western Beige #423
  • Pink Drama #559
  • Fantastic Plum #874
  • Fiction Brown #619

Lip Liner

Dior Contour ($25)

  • Mythical Brown #713
  • Mysterious Plum #988

Powder

DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer ($24)

  • Copper Diamond #003

Blush

DiorBlush ($38)

  • Pink Copper #739

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Chanel Fall 2008: Early Reviews and Swatches

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Ahhh… You know things are going well when 1) your coffee tastes better than usual, and 2) your day begins with new Chanel.

Even though it feels a little weird to talk about fall makeup in early summer, my Chanel homie just hooked me up a with few preview products from the fall 2008 collection. Autumn leaves, here I come!

The entire gold-themed collection lands at Chanel counters this July, but here are three members of the fall collection. I’ve yet to see the items I’m *really* lusting after — the Gold Fever Highlighter and the Gold Light Glossimer — in person, but these should tide me over for now.

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Rouge Hydrabase Lipstick in Great Copper ($26)

A semi-matte lipstick, Rouge Hydrabase in Great Copper feels nothing like those dry, cakey, heavy matte formulas of the 90s. I really like the formula Chanel used for Rouge Hydrabase. It’s light and incredibly moisturizing. Great Copper literally shimmers on my lips, and it almost couldn’t be easier to wear (That’s it in the picture above without a lipliner).

I can see myself wearing it to work every day. I know that wearing gloss on top of matte lipsticks sort of defeats the purpose, but I can’t wait to wear a thick layer of clear gloss on top of this. My makeup spider sense tells me it’s gonna look somethin’ fierce. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

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Jouse Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Dust ($40)

This beauty gives cheeks a matte, rosy plum glow. At first glance I was afraid this shade would be too cool and light for my tanned, post-vacation face, but after dusting two layers onto my cheeks I saw I was wrong to worry. Unlike light pink blushes with a tendency to look too obvious on tanned or dark skin (in a “Hey, look at me, I’m wearing blush!” kind of way), Rose Dust looks great on a tan. The shade reminds me of MAC’s Blushbaby! Still, because the pink is so light, I have a feeling it will look great on pale gals, too. Oh, and the texture? It’s soft like buttah, baby! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
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Chanel Makeup Studios Make Going International as Easy as Placing a Call

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Yes, Virginia, there is Chanel Heaven, and thy name is the Chanel Makeup Studio.

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One of three Chanel Makeup Studios in the US (Honolulu, Hawaii; Costa Mesa, California; and Seattle, Washington), the Honolulu studio, located at Nordstrom in the Ala Moana shopping center, not only lets Chanel junkies play with the company’s full domestic makeup, fragrance and skin care lines but also allows them to get their Chanel-addicted hands on exclusive international products not normally carried by Chanel’s regular US counters.

Some European Chanel products currently available at the Ala Moana Chanel Makeup Studio

  • Chanel Irreellee Blush in Snow ($40)
  • Chanel Irreellee Blush in Sable ($40)
  • Chanel Les 4 Ombres De Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Beiges Velours ($55)
  • Rouge Allure Lipstick in Reve ($30)
  • Rouge Allure Lipstick in Discrete ($30)
  • Hydrabase lipstick in Sahara Beige ($30)
  • Glossimer in Muscat ($25)
  • Chanel Les Vernis Nail Color in Viollete ($20)

Non-Hawaii Chanel-aholics needn’t despair because nirvana is just a phone call (and a credit card) away. US residents may order Chanel’s international products by calling any of the three US Chanel Makeup Studios. Reach the Honolulu studio at (808) 953-6100. Ask for Sheila, the studio’s fabulous Chanel makeup artist, and tell her “Hi!” for me.
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