Sneakpeak: MAC's Upcoming Summer Collection

I was just surfing some bloggers and I came across a pic of MAC's upcoming summer collection, and I have to say, IT IS GORGEOUS!!!


The blogger I found this pic at was Confessions of a Beauty Guru. I have to say, the seahorse is calling my name, haha! I really think that I might indulge in this collection. I've never really gotten into MAC like so many other makeup users, mainly because it isn't sold at Sephora. I get a lot of gift cards to Sephora, so I tend to buy most of my makeup there. But really, this collection is too pretty!!!

EOTD: Iced Lilac and Passion

So today's look was just a simple purple eye using only four products. Yeah, you heard me right. Only four products!!! I was in the mood for color this morn but didn't have much time so I went with a very simple and wearable combination of purples. And sorry in advance for the sorta fuzzy pics. These were taken on my old camera and the focus is kinda off, so its rally clear in some places but blurry in others.




Products Used:

L'Oreal Color Fresco Refreshing Eye Color in Iced Lilac (I think it's discontinued-I found it at Big Lots)
Clarins Summer Fever Kohl Powder Eyeliner in 02 (LE)
MakeUpForEver Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in 18L
Lancome Difinicils Mascara in Aubergine Royal (LE)

I was rummaging through my makeup stuff and found this palette from Lancome. I got it a while ago, put away and sorta forgot about it. I rally like the colors, so my next purple EOTD will be with this palette. The colors are so pretty!!!

The pallet is 04 Passion from Lancome.

Review: Guerlian Terrocotta Bronzing Powder, Shade 2

Ok, so this is a review for Guerlain's Terrocotta Bronzing Powder in shade 02. I actually got this as a gift over the summer but I decided to review it now because lets face it, who doesn't emulate Casper in the winter? Unless you're a tanner (and then you WILL end up like Casper and sooner than later, hehe).

Here's the case:

Guerlain definitely doesn't scrimp on the packaging. If you're a sucker for packaging, check these out!!! They're gorgeous!!!

Here's the label:


The pan:

I dropped mine and it broke :( I had to fix the broken part by pressing with alcohol. It still applies pretty, but no longer looks quite as nice :(

Here's a swatch:

And keep in mind that I am fairly pale, so it looks dark against my skin. Actually, it is a bit dark for me, but I use it as a blusher or a contour power, so all's well, haha!

Now, first off, the powder is very smooth and silky. It blends very well and gives a nice glow. Its very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. If you worry about value, this product will definitely last you quite a while, even with everyday use. Now, the product description claims that is is hydrating. I never really believe descriptions that claim that powders are hydrating because come on, who relies on powder to hydrate? And along with many other powders, this product contains talc, a drying agent. While it doesn't dry out my skin/emphasize dryness, I don't really feel that this product is hydrating.

As for the finish, it does have a bit of shimmer in it, but it is barely noticeable when worn, so the finish is mostly matte. Another thing that I really love about this line is the range of shades.

Here are some swatches from Sephora:

Unless you are really really dark, you should be able to find a shade that works for you unlike with other brands. I know Nar's bronzer is great, but it only comes in three shades that are very similar to each other, so there isn't as much range in shades. Anyway, I really recommend you try this if you can. If you're not willing to shell out the money, there are plenty of bronzers that will probably work just as well. But if you're a sucker for great packaging and product, try this!!!

Info:

Price: $46 (retail)

Ingredients: Talc, Nylon-12, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyl Palmitate, Squalene, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Zinc Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraoctanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Serine, Allantoin, Ethylparaben, Fragrance, Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Titanium Dioxide.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was gien to me by a close friend for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

My Three Favorite Glosses

Ok, so my three favorite glosses right now are, from top to bottom, Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Nars Chihuahua, and Nars Belize. This is just and introductory post. I'll have individual reviews up soon!

Urban Decay in Kirk is a sheer matte tan color. It is soooo glossy. It's perfect for someone who wants an understated nude look without the dead look you get from peachy nudes.


And it comes with some hotties on the cap!!!



Not exactly my type, but hey, I'm not complaining, haha! Eyecandy is eyecandy!

It has a brush applicator. The formula is sooo smooth!!!


L, Chihuahua, R, Belize


Some swatches:

L-R, Kirk, Chihuahua, and Belize


L-R, Nars Chuhuaua and Belize. Belize has the prettiest golden sparkles!!!


Urban Decay Kirk:




Nars Chihuahua:


Nars Belize:


Here's another pic to show just how pretty Belize is:


Anyway, my current three faves. What are yours? Let me know in comments!

Tarina Tarantino Is Now At Sephora

Tarina Tarantino has launched a makeup collection with Sephora, inspired by her jewelry line.

I have to say, however, I'm not really liking the packaging that much.

The eyeshadows ($19):


The lipstick ($22):


The packaging reminds me a lot of Hard Candy (it's old packaging) and Stila, which I really have a gripe with. If I'm going to spend around $20 on a single product, I want it to look like I spent that much, but these just kind of look cheap to me. Idk, maybe they need to be seen in person....

Not all is bad however. The lipsticks and eyeshadows have a fairly good selection in terms of shades. And I did see a few things that caught my eye:

The cream eyeshadows ($19):

The shimmer dust ($39):

And the brush set ($69):


Overall, I think that it's more of a novelty brand than a high quality makeup brand. If you're into brands like Anna Sui and Bourgois I think that you might like this. Personally, I think it's a bit overpriced.

All photos via Sephora.com.

Swatch: Dior Single Eyeshadow in Flirty Brown

It's just a very grey-ish brown. In certain lighting it can look warm, but overall I would classify it as a cool toned brown.





I've tried to preserve the design, haha!



I know that it looks fairly warm in the pic above, but it really is more cool toned in person.

Review: Hard Candy Sparkling Lip Gloss in Caramel

This is a review for Hard Candy's Candy Coating Sparkling Lip Gloss in Caramel. I believe it is discontinued, but you can buy it online from Makeup Direct.



This swatch on the bottom of the click pen really sold me on the shade! It's sooo pretty!


The applicator is a brush. It is a bit harder than other brush applicators (on click pens) that I've tried, like the Stila glazes, but it's not too bad. It isn't a major issue because the gloss is so shear. If the gloss was darker/more pigmented, you would definitely get streaking with this applicator.


Here's a swatch:


And here it is on my lips:


I really love this gloss, but I have to say that the quality isn't that great. First off, the texture is very thin. So thin in fact, that it lasts only about an hour and a half. And that is without gum/food/drinks, etc. Also, as mentioned before there isn't much pigmentation to this gloss. It gives a bit of a bronze glow, but not enough to actually get a true sense of color. Think of the color payoff with some of the Sephora liglosses ( the ones in the tubed). They look pretty in the packaging, but not much color payoff, right?

However, all is not bad with this gloss. The shimmer is incredible. It's not that there is a lot of glitter, but rather that it's different colors/sizes, which creates such a pretty look! Also, the smell is really nice, sorta like caramel (well, duh!) but not cloying like with other glosses that are flavored to smell like sugar. Overall, I like it. I know that it is not the best quality, but come on. I don't think that people really look to Hard Candy for amazing quality. As much as I like it, I would never pay $16.99 for this gloss. I found it at Marshall's for $2 (!!!) and snapped it up. If you are interested in purchasing it online, I would find it on Ebay. I can guarantee you that it will be a lot cheaper there.

Info:

Price: $16.99 (Makeup Direct.com, for .06 US FL OZ)

Ingredients: Not listed on the product, couldn't find them online.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

Swatch: Dior Stylish Move Palette

Review: Chanel Glossmers in Seashell and Imaginaire

These glosses are by far the best glosses I've ever tried! And I do mean EVER! I've got them in two shades, Seashell and Imaginaire. Imaginaire I bought about a year and a half ago while on vacation in New York City, so as you can see below, it's been used a great deal more than Seashell.


Seashell is a sheer peach shade with gold and pink shimmer in it, while Imaginaire is a deeper but still sheer plum with a bit of understated silver shimmer in it that is very fine, I'd say. Imaginaire is actually only one or two shades deeper than my natural lip color, so it gives my lips a bit of oomph without too much color. I know it looks dark in the picture, but it really is very sheer.

Here are the applicators:



Just your standard doe foot applicator. What's really special about these glosses is their texture. You can really see it in the picture above of the Imaginare applicator. The formula isn't like your typical liquid gloss, it's more of a thicker gel, almost. It goes on a bit thick, but is completely non-sticky, and has great shine. I find that you can do a thin layer for a bit of understated shine, or really layer it on for the full effect.

Here are the swatches:

Sorry for the blur:( You can really see how sheer Imaginaire is in this swatch, as well as how much less glitter it has compared to Seashell.


Here they are on my lips:

Seashell
I usually apply a thin layer of Seashell cause I don't like too much glitter.


Imaginaire
You can really see how nicely Imaginaire applies. It's perfect for everyday, when you don't want to wear anything too blingy (is that even a word!?). This is a thicker application than of Seashell above because since it doesn't have too much glitter, I don't have to worry about looking like a disco ball. And you can really see how glossy these can be.

I really love these glosses, as do most people who try them. The gel based formula is very good, worth every penny I'd say. It coats your lips evenly, even the darker colors with shimmer and is never sticky or tacky. The lasting power isn't like that of the MAC Lipglasses, but I''d say it's decent, about 3-4 hours without eating/drinking. And as you can see from the first couple of pictures, a tube will last you quite a while. Also, the packaging is gorgeous! I am a big sucker for packaging, especially if it is elegant and sophisticated, and this is both. It's one of those glosses you wouldn't be embarrassed to pull out of your bag to reapply during a girls night out, haha!

The only downside to this product (well, except for the price, haha!) is that the packaging can get scratched up very easily.



Here's a comparison with the newer Seashell:

I keep Seashell in the box that it came in, even in my makeup bag when I take it with me. It keeps the metal looking shiny and new. I was actually a bit miffed that these didn't come with one of those felt bags that they eyeshadows come in. But keeping it in the box really does keep them looking nice, and it's not much of an inconvenience.

Anyhow, I highly recommend that you try these out. At $27 they're not cheap, but worth every penny. I would suggest, however, that if you've never tried these before to go to the department store counter and ask the sales assistant to help you pick out a shade. Some of the colors look very dark and intimidating in the container, but actually apply very sheer, as you can see with Imaginaire.

Info:

Price: $27 (.19 oz)

Ingredients: C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol esters, polybutene, diisostearyl malate, silica, tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbic acid, citric acid, peg-8, propylparaben. May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, carmine, iron oxides and dyes.

Disclosure:The products featured in this post were bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.