G’morning, girls! How’s your Saturday going so far? I slept in a lil’ bit and then spent some time catching up on my beauty reading; check out these really cute vintage perfume bottles on Bella Sugar and Beauty Addict’s favorite fall nail polish. I also spotted the Too Faced Cosmetics Smoke and Mirrors Fall 2008 makeup collection. A few of the items look super cute, especially the lipsticks, smokey eye palette and the glitter liner. Right now I’m getting ready to run some errands (Target and Costco, fun!), and since my closest Sephora sits next door to House of Tar-ghay, I figure it won’t hurt for me to pop in and take a look. 😉
I don’t have much experience at all with the Too Faced brand, but earlier this year I tested Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer, using it for one week beneath Clinique, Dior and MAC eye shadows and had much better luck with it than I had with Urban Decay Potion Primer. I had no problem blending shadows layered on top of Shadow Insurance.
Product: Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
Price: $17
Use: As a base for powder or cream eye shadows
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
It did exactly what a good shadow primer should do, keeping my eye shadows from settling into the fine lines on my lids and ensuring that my shadow stayed strong, all day long (even through workouts at the gym). So I’m really looking forward to Smoke and Mirrors. I think the brand has a lot going for it.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
tali says
August 30th, 2008 at 11:44 amKaren im just curious if the primer is as good as Urban Decay’s?
Karen B says
August 30th, 2008 at 11:46 amThat primer sounds great!
Btw, have you ever tried Lancôme flash retouche? I was an extra on a Belgian tv show two weeks ago and the concealer she used looks a LOT like flash retouche. I don’t know how well it works as they threw me in the pool 5 seconds into the shot
Karen Bs last blog post..Oh my effing Iker
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 11:51 amHi Tali,
I like it much more than Urban Decay’s. It has staying power that’s comparable and I find it’s easier to blend shadows on top of it. 🙂
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 11:52 amHi Karen B.,
I haven’t! I was thinking of trying their waterproof concealer though, in a tube. LOL, why did they through you in the pool?
BTW, how is your foot?
Jenni says
August 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pmHi Karen
I love that lipstick she’s wearing in the Smoke and Mirrors ad, but I can’t figure out which one it is on the site! Do you know?
Also, I’m having creasing issues with UDPP and I tried the Shadow Insurance yesterday, and it creased too 🙁 Any other good primers out there I should try?
lindsay says
August 30th, 2008 at 12:35 pmHey Karen!
I was doing some online shopping and stumbled across a brand named Lollila. They carry shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and fragrance and their packaging is SO CUTE!
Here’s the link:
http://www.lollialife.com/cat.asp?c=16
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 12:36 pmHi Jenni,
Hmm, I don’t know about the lipstick shade, but I’ll see if I can figure it out when I hit up sephora.:)
Regarding your lid creasing issues, I have a few ideas.
1. If you wear eye cream be sure to blot before your UDPP or Shadow Insurance.
2. You could try applying a foundation primer beneath UDPP or SI first — I’ve done this before and it seems to really help. I like Laura Mercier Oil-Free.
3. Another thing to try: lightly dust translucent loose powder or some powder onto your lids after UDPP or SI and then apply your shadows.
4. Try a completely different primer. In addition to SI, I also like Laura Mercier’s Eye Basics.
I hope this helps. 🙂 If these don’t work let me know… I can try to ask some mua friends for suggestions!
Rosie Dust says
August 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pmtoo faced eyeshadows have amazing staying power. I use UD primer potion underneath. I picked up a duo from Too faced called “rich bitch” because i liked the name. It lasts all day from 7 am until bedtime….
PS i love your blog and your cat 🙂
Erin says
August 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pmThose glittery liners look so cute for nights out! I’ll be curious to hear what you think about them!
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pmHi Rosie Dust,
Thank you! Tabs sends you a kitty hug. 🙂 I will have to check out that duo because I love the name too. Hope you are having a good Saturday!
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pmHi Erin,
I’m really hoping that the glitter chunks aren’t too big. I feel like sometimes I’m a bit too old for glitter (I’m 33), but if it’s tastefully done (ana not too chunky) I like it. How’s your weekend going so far?
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 1:54 pmHi Lindsay,
How cute! Thanks for sending that along. Have a good day!
tatiana says
August 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pmI use shadow insurance too and I love it, no creases all day long. I first heard about it on your site!
Marissa says
August 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pmHi Karen! If you’re looking to get better acquainted with the Too Faced brand I highly recommend their retractable kabuki brush. I admit that before using it I didn’t really understand the idea that all brushes AREN’T created equal.
Asta says
August 30th, 2008 at 6:14 pmMarissa,
Thanks for the brush rec. I’ve been looking for a good kabuki so I’ll definitely try it out! I also want to look at some of the Hourglass brushes. Has anyone used these before? An MA I met at Sephora (who travels all over the east coast) swears by Hourglass and I’m really tempted to pick up at least a fluffy blending brush, but they are crazy expensive.
Everyone,
For a less pricey option on the glitter liners: I picked up 5 for $20 at Victoria’s Secret a few weeks ago and I am IN LOVE. They have at least 6 different shades and I got bronze, gold, silver, purple, and aqua. The glitter isn’t over the top or in large chunks, and there is color, too, not just the glitter pieces. They go on easily and are a great way to spice up an everyday look without feeling like you’re back in high school.
Glosslizard says
August 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pmI’m fond of Too Faced, but when they do sparkle they really do sparkle! My favorite thing from them is Snow Bunny bronzer! It’s one of the bronzers that is made up of stripes of color that can blend for a bronzing effect (one that works well on light skin) or can work as eyeshadows! Pretty! I also love the leopard-print bronzer they have just ’cause it’s all purty! 🙂
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 8:02 pmHi Glosslizard,
Yeah, I know. I hemmed and hawed today about getting a eye shadow duo and at the last minute I put it back. If I’m still thinking about it in a week or so I’ll get it. It was sparkly, for sure!
Karen says
August 30th, 2008 at 8:02 pmHi Asta,
I saw these a while back and went back and forth as to whether or not I’d get ’em. Now I am realize that the glitter is pretty great. I will have to pick up one when I go to VS next.
I haven’t tried the Hourglass brushes because I’m waaaay devoted to my MAC ones. The line isn’t easily accessible where I live, but one day if I see ’em in person I’d like to fondle the brush heads in person, LOL.
Asta says
August 31st, 2008 at 3:12 amI’ll probably just stick with MAC then since the price is much more affordable.
Totally check out the VS liners! Yay!
Karen B says
August 31st, 2008 at 6:44 amOkay.
Well, it was my part you know. I was a beautician and just as the lead says ‘I want to leave!’ I arrive and she just dumps me into the pool. Lol. It was a lot of fun.
My foot’s still the same. I have to go back tomorrow so hopefully I’ll either be cast-less or with a cast I’m allowed to walk on.
Karen Bs last blog post..Oh my effing Iker
Erin says
August 31st, 2008 at 9:24 amHey Karen, I totally agree about the glitter chunk problem. I like nice fine glitter particles. That’s why I can’t wait for your report on those! My weekend is going great so far- I’m going out for some kayaking today!
Megan says
August 31st, 2008 at 11:10 amGIRL – you should be wishing you were close to an Ulta…I just got an e-mail last night that right now if you print out you can get 20% off your entire purchase for the next week…and normally this would exclude all the higher end cosmetics…but right now it includes Too Faced, Elizabeth Arden, and Bourjois (BY THE WAY…you can get the deal online too). So I was planning on checking out the Too Faced anyway…and also a good time to pick up a new tube of EA Ceramide Mascara.
Meaghan says
August 31st, 2008 at 6:44 pmHey Karen- Have you gotten a chance to check out the new Chanel Smoke collection? Nothing gets me like a great smokey eye…I havent seen it in person but am dying to check it out!
Meaghans last blog post..MAC’s Starflash/ Lustre Twin Collection Review and FOTD
Marisol says
August 31st, 2008 at 8:27 pmI actually prefer this primer over UDPP. I also bought the Too Faced kit but have yet to tried the products.
Marisols last blog post..America, this is one of those moments.
aleina says
August 31st, 2008 at 9:51 pmSurprisingly we get two faced all the way over here in Australia. Not expecting much I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the stuff that I bought…that was a full face…foundation, bronzer, blusher, eyeshadows. The eyeshadows have extremely good staying power. I wonder if we are going to get this new collection….