jouer

Allow me to direct your attention to the picture above. See, that is why you don’t let your husband futz with a fresh tube of lipstick.

I sure do love that man, but sometimes he’s all elbows and thumbs. Seriously, watching him try to open something delicate is like watching a bear touch type (i.e., it’s not pretty).

The moral of this story? — if you’re super-stoked about a new lippie, especially one as smooth and moisturizing as this new one from Jouer, keep it safely tucked away in your purse.

That poor thing up there is Dusty ($22), one of six new Jouer products for fall (coming to counters and online this September). The focus is firmly on lips and eyes in this release, and Dusty, a full-coverage nude lippie, joins three Liquid Shimmer Eyeliners ($22 each; available in Fox, Sable and Mink), a Travel Eyelash Curler ($14), and two Everyday Classic Wear Mascaras ($20 each; available in Noir and Brun).

Over the past year I’ve gotten to like Jouer, a small, high-end indie brand sold at Henri Bendel stores and online, both in terms of the overall performance of their products and how the brand handles color. I like to call it upscale accessible and runway chic, like a city girl’s version of Becca.

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Just added to the list of blushes that look totally scary in the pan but oh-so-natural on the cheeks: Jouer Mineral Blush in Peony ($24).

It’s a sheer, cool pink matte — not so sheer that you can’t see it on the skin — with a smooth, easy-to-blend texture that’s actually hard to misapply. I’d go with one layer when I want a light flush, and two for something brighter.

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I’ve heard about days like today — sunny days in San Francisco — but always thought they were myths or legends. 🙂 Just kidding, of course. San Francisco does get sunny days, despite the many postcard pics of the Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in fog, and today was one of them. It was so sunny and hot, in fact, that I probably could have fried a petrified dragon egg on the sidewalk (yes, I’m obsessed with Game of Thrones).

Not a cloud in the sky!

Not expecting it to be as warm as it was today, I did a full face of makeup for my meeting in the city, with foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eye primer — the whole nine yards. Then, after the meeting, I started sweating on the short walk back to the car. The tiny trickle o’ perspiration that tickled its way down the side of my face got me thinking about simple summer makeup, and I couldn’t wait to get home so I could slip into some Jouer.

The high-end indie brand recently launched two new pieces for sweltering summer days, a Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Peony ($20) and an Oil-Free Sheer Bronzing Tint with SPF 15 ($32), both of them designed to be worn together for a simple yet polished summertime look.

When it’s really hot out, the last thing I want to feel is makeup melting on my skin. With these two lightweight products, that’s not a problem at all.

Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Peony ($20) — Jouer modeled the color of this cool and creamy pink gloss after their Mineral Powder Blush in Peony, a cult fave from the line. Smooth and non-sticky with a faint vanilla flavor and scent, it feels lighter than butterfly kisses and lasts about three hours on me. When it’s not out having fun, this cool-toned pink hangs out at Henri Bendel stores, but it can also be found online. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Oil-Free Sheer Bronzing Tint, SPF 15 ($32) — I like the subtle warmth this sheer golden brown tint gives to my skin. The product is easy to layer, but it never looks cakey or streaky, and my pores still feel like they can breath when I have it on. As much as I like it, however, I would love to see it made available in more colors for pale pretties and darker damsels. Like the Lip Gloss in Peony, it isn’t the easiest product to find; it lives at Henri Bendel stores, but it can also be found online. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

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