NARS Spring Gift Sets 2011

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Christine

For Spring’s bright, playful look, NARS introduces two gift sets that boast limited-edition products. Both include pops of pink for a sexy, yet always sophisticated, look. In true NARS fashion, the sets are housed in vibrant packaging that makes them as exciting on the outside as they are on the inside.

Tainted Love

Following the success of Angelika Lip Gloss, the cotton candy hue with gold particles makes its debut as an iconic Multiple for the first time. For the girl who can’t get enough of shocking pink, the Tainted Love
Gift Set includes Angelika Lip Gloss, Angelika Multiple and Schiap Nail Polish.

Price: $59.00
Available: narscosmetics.com

Forever Yours

A more subtle approach to makeup lends its way to the Forever Yours Gift Set. Forever Yours Gift Set. Available for the first time is a medium-sized Deep Throat Lip Gloss, accommodated by an Orgasm Illuminator – two products perfect for a girly, daytime look. Instantly refresh for evening with an effortless swipe of thegold-infused smoky Aigle Noir Soft Touch Shadow Pencil.

Price: $49.00
Available: exclusively at Sephora.com

Smashbox Glambox Sultry/Sweet

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Christine

Smashbox Glambox Sultry/Sweet ($68) Sultry vixen tonight, sweet charmer tomorrow morning. Whatever the mood, satisfy your dual personalities with this all-in-one kit. This kit also includes a step-by-step guide!

Includes:

Limitless Eye Liner in Smoke
Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
Eye Shadow Quad in Softly Seductive
Hyperlash Mascara in Blackout
Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss
Lip Enhancing Gloss in Tempt
Cheek Duo in Sultry/Sweet
Travel Size Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer

The blush comes in 2 different shades for you to use the lighter one in the day and darker at night or you can swirl the colors together to create your own shade. I like to use both at the same time with the lighter color on the apples of my cheek and the darker color on the hollows to contour. The blush does not have any shimmer. The white lip enhancing lipgloss gives lots and lots of shimmer and shine to your lips and can be layered over any color gloss.

The eyeshadow colors look pretty in the quad but is not as pigmented as I would like. If you like light color shadows you will like this quad. The kit also includes the new Limitless Eye Liner in Smoke which I forgot to show but you an find the review for it here. The Hyperlash has fine plastic bristles which help lengthen and separate your lashes.

Availability: smashbox.com
Rating: B+

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China Glaze Island Escape

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Christine

China Glaze Island Escape
Summer 2011

China Glaze Introduces Six Sizzling Shimmers and Cremes

Take an exotic island escape with China Glaze this summer with a tropical, shimmering rainbow of brilliant bright colors! Mix and match these hot hues to add a candy-like pop to that summer manicure and pedicure. Colors in the collection include:

Papaya Punch: Crème based vivid orange.
108 Degrees: Flirtatious berry pink with specks of micro glitter.
Senorita Bonita: Passionate purple shimmer with pink micro glitter.
Blue Iguana: Bold and daring sparkly blue.
Cha Cha Cha: Vivacious shimmer green.
Electric Pineapple: High intensity crème based lime green.

Escape this summer to a far away place with China Glaze. Vacation in color!

MAC Quite Cute

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Christine

MAC Quite Cute Collection
April 7 2011

“Cute!” the most fanciful, fun and flattering compliment a young, modern trendsetter could ever want! Our version is the girliest kind of international glam possible, a style ride that combines postage-stamp-sized puppies with pixie swizzle-stick fashion and butterfly kisses for cute boys and even cuter shoes! Cupcake icing colours, vintage romance, an AtM card with Hello Kitty on it – and a way of life that says “yes!” to everything adorable! Come on, get happy with the multi-culti cutie, from tokyo to toronto to Paris with love! Pastel shades for eye quads, Lipstick, Plushglass and Nail Lacquer…And, due to popular demand, we’re completely cute-ifying three favourite Lip Pencil shades from last season that will join the fun and frolic. Flash! You’ll ♥ the Mineralize Blush with the sweet heart baked right into it. if it shines, shimmers and pops it’s completely, contagiously, cute!

Mineralize Blush ($23.00 u.S./$27.50 CDN)

Miss Behave Light beige with pearly mint green heart
Giggly Light pink with pearly plum heart
Sakura Lavender with pearly magenta heart

Nail Lacquer ($14.00 u.S./$17.00 CDN)

Little Girl type Creamy pale lavender
Ice Cream Cake Creamy blue pink
Mischievous Mint Creamy pale blue mint

Lash ($14.00 u.S./$17.00 CDN)

#7 Lash

Cutie Eye Shadow x 4 ($36.00 u.S./$43.00 CDN)

Goody Goody Gum Drop Light white pink (satin)
Boycrazy Pale lavender with silver pearl (lustre)
Moshi Moshi! Pale white green gold (frost)
Azuki Bean Mid-tone dirty violet (frost)

Lipstick ($14.50 u.S./$17.50 CDN)

Playing Koi Creamy white peach pink (satin)
Quite Cute Creamy bright whitened lavender (cremesheen)
Saint Germain Clean pastel pink (amplified)
Candy Yum-Yum Matte neon pink (matte)
Play time Creamy intense violet (cremesheen)

Plushglass ($18.50 u.S./$22.00 CDN)

Bubble tea Creamy pale nude
Fashion Fanatic Creamy pale pink
Girl ♥ Boy Bright light blue pink
I ♥ u Creamy mid-tone purple

Lip Pencil ($13.00 u.S./$15.50 CDN)

Naked Liner Light neutral
In Synch Bright yellow pink
Boldly Bare Dirty red brown

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OPI Touring America Fall/Winter 2011 Collection

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Christine

Touring America Fall/Winter 2011
August 3 2011

OPI hits the open road with a new take on classic style in the Touring America Collection for Fall/Winter 2011. Inspired by Americana and cities with rich cultural heritage, the collection’s twelve shades offer comfortable glamour and wearable elegance for nails and toes.

The season’s go-to shades of taupe and pearl grey appear in variations from dark to light – A-taupe the Space Needle, Get in the Expresso Lane, French Quarter for Your Thoughts, and Suzi Takes the Wheel. Lush urban neutrals in deep sapphire (Road House Blues), rich raisin (Honk If You Love OPI), chic olive (Uh-oh Roll Down the Window), and coffee brown (I Brake for Manicures) merge with iconic red (Color to Diner For), vivid rose (My Address is “Hollywood”), and luminous coral and orange (I Eat Mainely Lobster, Are We There Yet?) for an expansive color landscape.

Touring America includes the following shades:

Are We There Yet? Don’t make me reach back there and take that perfect melon shade!
I Eat Mainely Lobster We “clawed” through crowds to catch this coral for you.
My Address is “Hollywood” We put this pretty rose-pink on the map.
Color to Diner For I’ll take the rosy-red with a side of “awesome.”
Honk if You Love OPI Don’t let this gorgeous dark grape pass you by.
Road House Blues In this case…R&B stands for “Really Blue.”
Suzi Takes the Wheel Buckle up—she’s not stopping until she gets to gray!
French Quarter for Your Thoughts Want beads? Then show us your sexy gray nails!
Uh-oh Roll Down the Window You’re gonna wanna pull over for this “unexpected” olive green.
A-taupe the Space Needle You’ll climb to new heights with this creamy-rich taupe.
Get in the Expresso Lane An amped-up dark brown that’ll never letcha down!
I Brake for Manicures This gorgeous eggplant-plum has our full attention.

Touring America by OPI will be available August 3, 2011, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

Estee Lauder Shadow Stick Duo Summer 2011

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Christine

Estee Lauder Shadow Stick Duo in Gold Bronze ($20) is a double ended complementing eyeshadow stick with intense, stay-true color with long-wearing and high-shimmer metallic finish. It’s smooth formula glides on easily, feels comfortable. It also does double duty as an eyeliner or you can apply all over the lid as a shadow. The Shadow Stick Duo is also available in pink and teal.

Recommendation: The shadow stick glides on effortlessly and is very pigmented. I have never used a shadow pencil before and this one from Estee Lauder pleasantly surprised me. The bronze and gold color would work well just as a shadow or even an eyelid base color. I used the pencil as an eyeliner on the upper lid and waterline and it didn’t move the whole day. It was like the formula was waterproof for the eyeliner working better than my waterproof bronze and gold eyeliners. So I am replacing those other liners with this Shadow Stick.

Availability: Estee Lauder counters, esteelauder.com
Rating: A-

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3 New Blue Hued Shatter Nail Polish from OPI

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Christine

OPI expands its Shatter line with the addition of three new trendsetting shades: Blue, Navy and Turquoise. With nautical hues of cobalt, indigo and sapphire, these blues provide the perfect look for summer nails in one simple step. Inspired by graffiti art, Shatter leaves behind a crackled, two-texture finish when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.

In addition to the original Black Shatter, the line also features the Shatter coat in White, Red and Silver. All Shatter retail displays now feature Quick Response (QR) code, a two-dimensional barcode readable by smart phones and mobile phones with cameras and Internet capability. A quick scan of the display’s QR code will directly link to a demonstrational video – making application foolproof.

Blue Shatter, Navy Shatter, and Turquoise Shatter will be available beginning May 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Shatter coat.

Clinique Milly Pretty in Prints Compact Palette

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Christine

Clinique Pretty in Prints Compact ($36) Silvery mirrored compact inspired by fashion’s own Milly features a versatile eye shadow quad in rich chocolate browns and delicate pinks plus coordinating cheek color. Comes in its own Milly drawstring pouch with applicators and a how-to card. I enjoy that Clinique put in a how to card for those who are unsure on where to apply the colors and if you’re creative you don’t need the color and can make your own eye look. The card, palette, and lipgloss all fit conveniently into the cute little patterned pouch.

To use the palette colors, sweep ivory shade from lashline to brow. Layer pink shade over lid, just to crease. Contour outer corner of eye with brown shimmer shade. Define upper and lower lashlines with rich matte brown. Swirl blush over apples of cheeks for a fresh glow. Clinique lip gloss adds the perfect finishing touch. I used the Milly Pink lipgloss ($14).

Recommendation: I like having the eye and cheek color in one sleek compact, it even comes with brushes. Although not the greatest bushes as full sized ones they still get the job done. The color that stood out to me the most was the blush. It reminds me a lot of NARS’ Orgasm blush minus the excessive shimmer. The blush is a peachy pink with a hint of shimmer and applies very easily. The eyeshadow isn’t as pigmented as I would like, especially the pink. The brown and pink seem to mix together and you get more of a purple color than a distinct brown and pink on the eyes. The lip gloss Milly in Pink gives a sheer pink color but over time it starts to get a little sticky on my lips. The things I really enjoyed out of this collection is the patterned reusable pouch and the blush.

Availability: Clinique counters, Clinique.com
Rating: B-

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OPI Glam Slam! Collection

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Christine

OPI Glam Slam! Collection

OPI captures Serena Williams’ winning spirit with four additions to the Glam Slam! collection, including two new shades of the fashionable, must-have Shatter – Red and White. Launching in conjunction with the French Open, Glam Slam! France celebrates with two duo-packs for four unbeatable looks.

The first Lacquer set includes Spark de Triomphe (a monumentally marvelous silver glitter), paired with White Shatter. Once applied over completely dried Nail Lacquer, Shatter begins to crackle, leaving behind a two-texture pattern on each nail. The second Lacquer set features Rally Pretty Pink (rise to the occasion with this shimmering sunset-pink), paired with Red Shatter.

New shades in the Glam Slam! collection will be introduced to coincide with each of the four major tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open in January 2011, followed by launches in May 2011 for the French Open, June 2011 for Wimbledon and August 2011 for the US Open. Glam Slam! France will be available beginning May 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $14.95 ($20.95 CAN) suggested retail for each duo-pack.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Christine

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm ($15) Super-nourishing balm is loaded with mango and shea butters. Just what dry, delicate lips need to feel comfortably soft and smooth. Eight natural-looking lip tints in all, each with a subtle sheen. Apply directly to lips. For subtle definition outline lips first, then fill in with natural-looking colour. Never needs sharpening: simply swivel up to reveal more lip colour balm.

Recommendation: Absolutely love this!! This is like a colored lip balm. It is very moisturizing and not sticky at all like lip gloss or lipstick. At first look I thought the darker colors would look bad but it turns out they apply more sheer than they appear but with just enough pigmentation to notice the color. The Chubby Stick as a rounded end and twists up like lip balms when you start to run out. These are high quality lip balms and I want to go get the rest of the colors. I imagine the pinks and reds would be great colors as well. These are now on my favorite products list

Availability: Clinique counters, clinique.com
Rating: A+

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Monthly Archives: March 2011

NARS Spring Gift Sets 2011

Smashbox Glambox Sultry/Sweet