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Archives for June 2011

Tame House Tabby or Jungle Cat? The Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer

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Card carrying members of Team Cat Lady, whether you’re a a tame house tabby or a certified jungle cat, chances are you WILL meow when you see the leopard print on Dolce & Gabbana’s limited edition Animalier Bronzer ($50).

Isn’t it just the coolest thing since leopard-print heels? Too bad the pattern’s an overspray and not actually etched into the pan — or maybe that’s for the best. The first few times it’s used, as the colors in the overspray are mixed together, the product applies super dark (like a chocolate golden sheen), and it would probably make a fantastic eyeshadow totally perfect for sexy, smokey eyes.

But once the overspray gets worn away, out comes a sheer, orangey brown bronzer with tiny flecks of golden glitter. Mrow! It’s sheer, though. Too sheer for me as an NC42; on me it delivers a subtle warmth, yet while I sheer do like the glitter and how smooth it feels, there’s something a little off about how the color works with my skin, like some of the darker tones from the overspray are still milling about…

“Muddy” is the word that comes to mind, and I was actually hoping for sun-lit.


Bronzer (left) and overspray (right)


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Why, Yes, I’m Having a Summer Romance with the Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel Collection for Fall 2011

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Fall makeup always makes me think of doing fall-ish things, like sipping hot cider (or maybe a little eggnog) by the fireplace or the wood-burning stove, carving pumpkins (which I’ve only done once or twice), or skipping down suburban sidewalks past huge piles of orange and yellow leaves, and kicking ’em up (SWOOSH!) every once in a while with the tips of my thigh-high suede boots. 🙂

Since summer’s only just begun, however, I’ll have to wait a while before the eggnog shows up at Trader Joe’s, but I won’t have to wait to wear fall makeup, not with so many lines launching their limited edition fall stuff early. Seriously, next year we’ll be celebrating Christmas in July!

To blur the lines between the seasons, and to ease our transition from summer makeup to fall, a couple of the lines have been sprinkling fall pieces into their collections that also look great right now, like Chanel did with the new Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel.

The launch is ripe with fall-ish smokey shades and dark metallics (NOM!), but there’s also a handful of products I could easily see myself wearing with a slip dress and sandals, like, now.

Take these here, for example…


Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fantasme

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fantasme ($36) I love how that silver glitter shimmers in direct sun, and could it be any easier to apply? One or two layers on my lids with a fingertip — that’s all there is to it. I swear it even makes me look less tired because of how it lightens up the dark area at the inner corners of my eyes. There’s been some chatter out there about fallout from the glitter, and I see some of it, too, right beneath my eyes and sometimes on my upper cheekbones. That’s probably the biggest mark against Fantasme, but I think it all depends on how you feel about glitter and where it does and doesn’t belong. This may sound strange, but I actually like the way this glitter gets around (to a point). It just seems to fall in all the right places — almost like I’ve also applied a shimmery highlighter.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+


Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine

Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29) Remember Rose Platine, that killer taupey beige liner from Chanel Spring 2011? Khaki is like her golden green, taupey sister. Wait — hear me out! 🙂 I know it sounds unusual, but like Rose, this creamy pencil liner gives eyes a subtle glow. A dash along my upper and lower lash lines, a quick curl from a lash curler, maybe a little mascara for good luck, and I swear I look like all glowy and well rested. Paired with summery coral cheeks and lips, it’s perfection. No joke.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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A Mid-Week Date Night Look with Chanel, MAC and NARS

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When it started to look like cereal for dinner, El Hub and I decided at the last minute to go on a mid-week date last night (fish and chips, and beer… romantic, I know!). I went with this quick, sparkly look using a mix of new pieces from NARS, Chanel and MAC (and very little blending) and sprinkled it with some permanent products from Jouer, Hourglass, Buxom and Urban Decay.

Here’s a product breakdown of the look…

EYES
CHEEKS
LIPS


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It’s No Illusion; This Sparkle Is Real: Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel Collection for Fall

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Chanel Fall 2011 swatches

Metallics rule the new 21-piece Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel collection for fall flaunting eye-catching, shimmery finishes, but a solitary matte blush threatens to steal the crown!

Ooh! It’s like Game of Thrones up in here. 🙂

Well met, lords and ladies. Heya! How’s your hump day been? Mine got epically better this afternoon when I ran into the new Chanel Fall 2011 collection at Nordies after lunch. The limited edition release for eyes, lips and cheeks is available now at Chanel counters and also online, and if you like your makeup with major bling, feast your eyes upon this…

Swatches on NC42 skin

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows in Emerveillé, Fantasme, Ebloui, Illusoire, Epatant and Mirifique ($36 each); Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29, far right)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Ecrin ($43, first swatch); Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Prelude ($57, second through fifth swatches)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise and Pampille ($28.50 each); Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Rose Morganite ($34); Rouge Coco in Plumetis and Etole ($32 each); Le Crayon Levres Precision Lip Definer in Coralline and Rose Cuivre ($29 each); Lip products swatches from fall 2011 not pictured: Glossimer in Giggle ($28.50) and Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Quartz ($34)
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NARS Fall 2011: I’m Anything But Neutral on These Latest Lip Colors from François Nars

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We’re taking a page from Vanessa Williams today by saving the best for last. 🙂 The new nine-piece NARS Fall 2011 collection is getting all dolled up backstage, preparing for its big debut (on counters “soon,” which usually means any day now, and online July 15). Lips feature prominently in the release, making up more than half of the collection, with five different pieces in varieties of pink, red, rose and violet.

When I think of fall makeup, visions of dark, opaque matte lips cross my mental runway. There are a couple of those kinds of colors here, but NARS spiced things up by varying the finishes and levels of coverage, which range from the sheer Pago Pago to the full-coverage Train Bleu, Montego Bay and Mascate.

While overall I think the lip colors, like the other pieces in the collection, lean cool, making these colors potential paramours for gals with cooler skin tones, a few of them approach neutral, which also gives ladies with warmer skin tones (like moi) reason to smile.

It’s like there’s a little something for everyone this time around.

nars pago pago
Pago Pago Lipstick

Pago Pago Lipstick ($24) If you’re looking for a neutral pink lip, Pago Pago is a South Pacific kick in the pants! The silver sparkles in this sheer petal pink, which is named after the capital of American Samoa, make it something special to behold. A single layer produces a light wash of shiny color; two deliver about the same coverage as a MAC Lustre. But one layer or two, I think it looks like destiny opposite the bright blue NARS Outremer Eyeshadow Single. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

nars oasis
Oasis Lip Gloss

Oasis Lip Gloss ($24) NARS describes it beautifully as a sparkling pink champagne, and, sure, I’ll take a glass of that. 🙂 On me, I characterize it as a pinkish berry sprinkled with flecks of golden glitter. I think François totally nailed the pigmentation here, giving Oasis just enough color to make a statement without taking over the entire show. Sure, it comes with that notorious trademark plasticky NARS gloss scent, but it’s super easy to wear, and I bet it looks fabulous on a wide range of skin tones. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

nars train bleu
Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Train Bleu Velvet matte Lip Pencil ($24) Okay, now doesn’t this deep, dark purple remind you of an eggplant? Dramatic and goth, I think it looks amazing in pictures. I never expected to like this pencil as much as I do, and I almost didn’t give it a chance. For a modern look, try it with soft, shimmery eyeshadows like the shades in the NARS Delphes Trio. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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NARS Fall 2011: There’s Something Sketchy about Galion Nail Polish

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nars galion nail polish swatch

There’s something sketchy about the new NARS Galion Nail Polish ($17), and by that I mean that it reminds me of the graphite pencils I used to draw with in art class. 🙂

Two coats of this creamy dark gray, the sole polish in the upcoming nine-piece fall collection from NARS, deliver fully opaque nail color with a high-shine finish.

nars galion nail polish swatch

nars fall 2011 galion nail polish
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