NARS Spring 2010 Collection

NARS has two parts to their Spring 2010 collection, there are the new products and shades specially released for this season and previous collection products that are being repromoted. The repromoted products are ones that NARS has decided will nicely complement the new shades. One first glance, I fell in love with this collection. I see pale eye shadow shades and pink lip glosses. NARS was inspired by Catherine Devenue during the creation of this collection.

NARS describes the new collection as follows, "Inspired by Catherine Devenue's role as Lucille in La Chamede, the NARS Spring 2010 collection features soft, sexy shades that are as elegant as they are versatile. 'I love Cathering's makeup look in this movie,' says Francois NARS. 'She is the perfect reference for this collection, and apropos for spring, a time to embrace color and get noticed.'"

Here are the new products and shades that are being offered...

Duo Eye Shadow - Shades to inspire and desire. The same longwearing crease resistant formula as NARS single eye shadow, in uniquely paired color combinations. Worn together or alone, all Duo Eye Shadows can be applied sheer or built up for a more dramatic effect. All powder eye shadows can be used wet or dry. Richly pigmented, micronized powder formula provides improved wear and feel. Effortless blending; coordinated in fashionable pairs. Multifunction: use as eye shadow, eye liner, or on eyebrows.

- Kuala Lumpur - rose gold/boysenberry infused with gold

Duo Cream Eye Shadow - Featuring custom color combinations that make perfect pairings, this soft-blending formula may be appiled with fingertips of with a brush for more precision and control. Shades may be worn alone or underneath NARS powder eye shadows for more color, depth, and intensity. Cream-to-powder formula provides glistening color. Non-creasing. Intense hues coordinated in fashionable pairs.

- Camargue - golden moss/sienna infused with multi-colored reflections

Single Eye Shadow - Longwearing, crease-resistant color in sheer wearable formulas. All NARS eye shadows can be appiled sheer or layered for a more dramatic effect. These richly pigmented powders blend effortlessly and can also be used wet for preciously lining the eyes. Richly pigmented, micronized powder formula provides improved wear and feel. Effortless blending. Multifunction: use as eye shadow, eye liner, or on eyebrows.

- D. Gorgeous - matte dusty lilac

Lipstick - A wide range of captivating shades designed to provide the look and style the color dictates. NARS lipstick is available in three formulas. Fashionable colors available in three textures. Exceedingly long-wearing. Nourishing and non-drying with Vitamin E. Once you start wearing NARS lipsticks, you won't want to wear anything else.

- Cruising - nude pink

Nail Polish - An exclusive formula with technology designed to improve flexibility, durability, wear, and gloss properties. This longwearing formula provides a tough, durable, chip-resistant finish and also has added UV protection to prevent polish discoloration. Modern sophisticated colors. Gentle formula. Toluene, Formaldehyde, and DBP free.

- Purple Rain - gothic purple

Glitter Pencil - Chunky crayons infused with transparent color and subtle glitter. May be used to subtly accent, highlight, and illuminate the skin. Subtle glitter suspended in translucent color. Ideal for eyes, cheeks, and body. Layer or use alone to illuminate eyes and skin.

- Bains Douches - bright sky blue with silver glitter

Lip Gloss - Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, creamy, and semi-sheer formulas. Extremely wearable and versatile shades may be worn alone or over other lip products for heightened drama. Ultra-shiny and highly pigmented. Convenient wand application. Iconic shades. Ideal alone or over other lip color.

- Easy Lover - ultra-sheer hot pink

- Ophelia - strawberry nectar

Here are the current products and shades with are suggested to complement the newest ones...

Blush - Made with transparent pigments for a soft and sheer look. Imparts a natural, healthy glow for any skin tone and may be worn alone or layered together for more depth and intensity. Provides a sheer, natural hint of color. Made with transparent pigments to avoid heaviness. Broad selection of shades.

- Amour - peachy pink

Highlighting Blush Powder - This truly versatile highlighting product may be worn on its own or layered over other color products for added highlight and dimension. The soft, shimmering color will add instant radiance to any complexion and may be used on the face or body.

- Albatross - shade suitable for all skintones

Lipstick - see above description.

- Niagra - pinkish coral

- Belle De Jour - nude beige

Stylo - Femme fatale eyes with epic effects. The super-fine precision tip of this liquid eye liner allows for maximum control during application, ensuring a precise, even line with just one stroke. The quick-drying formula delivers a high dose of pigment for optimum coverage and intense color. High pigment formula provides optimum coverage and intense color. Long-wearing, quick-dry formula shapes and defines eyes - lasts all day. Super-fine precision tip ensures an even line - thick or thin.

- Nabucco - brown

Volumizing Mascara - Lush, vitamin-enriched mascara boosts volume and curl with every stroke. Distinctive square brush is designed for optimum color pick-up. NARS signature "honeycomb" bristles with two hollow channels allow for even distribution on lashes. Every lash is coated with a velvety finish, no clumping, smudging, or flaking. Creates a thick fringe that's lush and lavish. High-drama lashes that are bigger than ever.

I really, really like this whole collection. I actually want everything that they are offering except for the Bains Douches Glitter Pencil. If I were to pick out the top pieces that I want I would have to pick the following items. The Lip Gloss in Ophelia, the Duo Eye Shadow in Kuala Lumpur, the Eye Shadow in D. Gorgeous, and the Lipstick in Crusing. I just love the pinks and pastels that NARS is offering this spring.

photo courtesy of NARS

Twilight Hair is Now My Reality...

About a year ago, I wrote about hoping to achieve Bella's long curly hair from the Twilight series. That dream was never realized when several weeks later, I got a couple inches trimmed off of my hair. However, this week I officially got Twilight hair. With a twist...

The little twist is that instead of Bella hair, I went to the salon and got my hair cut into Alice's hair cut. Nine inches off, deep brown base color, auburn and light brown highlights, and side swept bangs. Three and half hours of processing and I am a new person.

Besides, Alice was always my favorite vampire and with the evolution of the series, ended up becoming my favorite character overall. I added a photo of Alice from the movies so you can get a better idea of what I lok like now.

photo courtesy of images2.fanpop.com

Benefit Sugarbomb Blush

Benefit has just brought out a new blush shade to add to their bestselling line up. The blush is called Sugarbomb and I think is one of the more unique (if not the most) blush that they offer. I saw pictures of this product on both beauty blogs and the Sephora site but the specialness of it didn't really sink until I saw the blush in person on my last New York visit. The typical Benefit blush is only one shade but this product blends four (yes, four!) shades together to create the perfect blended shade.

BeneFit defines it as a "sugar rush flush" face powder. The four shades that are included in this blush are: peach, soft plum, shimmering pink, and rose. It appeared when I saw it at Sephora that only the pink had a shimmer to it and the other shades were matte, which should appeal to both those who dislike blushes with lots of shimmer and those who dislike the feel of a matte blush. Based just on the different finishes of the shades and the fact that there are four different shades to be mixed together, this blush should have universal appeal and I can see it becoming a quick bestseller. This product's recommended use is to swirl all four shades together and then apply to the cheek area.

I got to play with the tester of this product the last time that I was at Sephora. Overall, it is on the sheerer side of Benefit blushes and is less pigmented than last year's Coralista release. The plum shade was much less noticeable than I thought it would be after I blended the four shades together and I created a pinky peach shade. The shade that I created is a pretty generic blush shade that should work well for many women. After blending the four shades, this blush turned into a very flattering, natural looking flush for my skin. I liked this blush a lot but I didn't purchase it since I currently have other shades that are quite similar. I'm not saying that I would never purchase this product but at the moment, I have several shades that aren't that different from it.

photo courtesy of Benefit

Cleanse Your Soul Valentine's Day Fragrances

Cleanse Your Soul is an independent bath and body product company that I used to order from all the time about two years ago. I haven't ordered from then in a bit so I decided to go back look through her new products when I got the monthly email from the owner, Judy. She has the Valentine's Day limited edition fragrances up so I have some new scents to look at. The best products from this company are any of the body creams, the scrubs, and the EDTs. Every product that I have tried from this company has served me well so far but I recommend the above products.

Here are the Valentine's Day fragrances...

Come Away With Me & Be My Love - juicy blackberries, pineapple, summer strawberries, and champagne

How Do I Love Thee? - summer strawberries with vanilla bean noel and marshmallow

Upon A Lilac Sea - spring lilacs on a bed of vanilla sugar

Love Never Fails - white wedding cake, yuzu, blood oranges, and lemon sugar

She Walks In Beauty - fluffy cotton candy, black cherries, angel food cakes, and loads of whipped cream

Thou Art More Lovely - Pink sugar, wild red cherries, champagne, and whipped cream

Love Is My Sin - rich dark chocolate blended with almond cream and a hint of spices

Idle Tears - white chocolate mousse topped with strawberry glace

Perfumed Sea - fresh air notes sing when combined with violets and sandalwood

Beautiful Dreamer - white nectarine filling sandwiched between frosted sugar cookies

Weeping Of The Rain - the scent for a sad Valentine's Day: black vanilla, blackberries, and amber

A Divine Rapture - red raspberry and strawberry-laced marshmallow frosting between red velvet cake, white cake, and vanilla poundcake

Ah, My Beloved - hauntingly beautiful scent combining Madagascar vanilla, Egyptian musk, and vanilla beans

Love Is Enough - whispers of spring flowers blended with mountain air notes and fresh linen notes

Endless Blue - Blue sugar mixed with sparkling soda and a spritz of vanilla syrup

If Thou Must Love Me - chocolate-covered strawberries nestled next to vanilla wafers and marshmallows

I Carry Your Heart - Pink sugar blended with a deep red wine...a very sultry scent

Life In A Love - a bouquet of a dozen red roses, red currant, and cloves

Judy's Pink sugar blends are always top notch, so they are always a pick of mine. Also, I have noted that her floral scents are quite strong so they are not for the faint of heart. However, since I love florals with a passion, they are a pick of mine. Of these limited edition fragrances, I would like to order products in How Do I Love Thee?, She Walks In Beauty, Thou Art More Lovely, Perfumed Sea, Beautiful Dreamer, A Divine Rapture, Love Is Enough, and If You Must Love Me. Looks like a large order is coming up soon...

Also, Judy is running a bunch of specials this month so I would recommend looking them up if you want to try this company for the first time. The specials change every month so there is always a reason to revisit the site again. Take some time and look at some body products that are outside the mall...

photo courtesy of Cleanse Your Soul

DKNY Be Delicious Candy Apple Fragrance Collection

DKNY has released three new versions of their best-selling Be Delicious fragrance. So far, we have the original, the Red version, the Night version, and the Blossom version, all of which I love (except the Night version). My favorite is the Fresh Blossom version of last spring so I am not all that excited for these new versions since I think that DKNY has pretty much covered their all their perfume bases. For this season, three new versions of the fragrance have been released and are known as the "Candy Apple Collection". This collection promises to be sweet and fruity and will either be loved or hated by the user.

The first fragrance is called Juicy Berry Candy Apple and based the appearance of the purple bottle, will contain some types of berry notes. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a juicy, ripe apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Juicy Berry Candy Apple, a combination of blackberry and fresh apple blossoms wrapped in rose petals and sandalwood to create a truly delicious indulgence." I smelled this one last time that I was at Sephora. The blackberry was too strong and the rest of the notes were simply sweet and indistinguishable. I couldn't detect any rose note in this fragrance and overall, this one is a large "No" for me.

The second fragrance is called Sweet Caramel Candy Apple and is housed in a bright green bottle. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a ripe, juicy apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. DKNY has perfected this pairing using the very best ingredients and juiciest notes. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Sweet Caramel Apple, a perfect blend of apple and delicate flowers, topped with creamy caramel and delectable vanilla." I didn't get over to the tester of this one but this sounds as though it would be the fragrance that I would like the most from the collection. However, even this one doesn't have me all that excited.

The last fragrance is called Ripe Raspberry Candy Apple and is housed in a red bottle. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a ripe, juicy apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Ripe Raspberry Candy Apple, a scrumptious blend of green apple and raspberry with floral touches. A finishing accent of Coca-Cola makes this scent the ultimate treat." I didn't get to the tester of this scent either but I don't like raspberry notes so I already can tell that I would pass on this one.

My thoughts? These fragrances look (and the purple one) smell as though they were made for teenagers, I just feel that I would find these types of fragrances at Victoria's Secret in their Beauty Rush line or at Bath and Body Works. I think that DKNY has overreached themselves in how popular that they think their fragrances are. I think that these fragrances will appeal to a younger audience and I have no doubt that they will sell but I still prefer the floral and the original versions of the fragrance.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Urban Decay Book of Shadows - Alice in Wonderland

The Alice in Wonderland craze has officially hit the beauty world. Launching at the very end of last week, Urban Decay latest Book of Shadows sold out in the morning of the launch. It is rumored that Sephora will be taking advance orders soon (no confirmation as I am typing this) and Urban Decay has started an email list for alerts when they get the product back in stock on their website. I am stalking this product for both myself and a friend so I am on the hunt for the fastest way to get my hands on two of these sets.

The packaging on this palette is a work of art in itself. I don't even really like Alice in Wonderland and I love the packaging. Really, I saw the movie when I was three and was so terrified that I forced my parents to turn it off and I never watched it again. "Tim Burton, Urban Decay, and Alice in Wonderland?! It's an Urban girl's dream come true! Our breathtaking 3D palette comes alive with 16 eye shadows and otherworldy treats to make this limited edition Book of Shadows worthy of collector status."

Here is the more detailed description of the palette from Urban Decay. "What a dream come true! When Disney called us to ask if we would design a product for the launch of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, we were like, "Um...Yes!" The result is this truly amazing (and seriously collectible) Book of Shadows. Open the palette to reveal a pop-up scene of Alice in the mushroom forest. Her "drink me" bottle discarded, she staggers past towering mushrooms, only to cross paths with a very particular, hookah-smoking caterpillar. A large mirror rests behind the scene - you feel as if you are transported into the film itself. Hidden inside a secret drawer are 16 best-selling Eye Shadows, given topsy-turvy names like White Rabbit, Jabberwocky, and Oraculum. Alongside them lie travel sizes of Eye Shadow Primer Potion and two 24/7 Eye Pencils. From smoky neutral eyes to flashes of hallucinogenic green and purple, the looks you can create are as endless as the rabbit hole itself. Anyone who loves Urban Decay, Tim Burton, or Alice in Wonderland absolutely must have this palette. Even the Mad Hatter would say this Book of Shadows delivers it all."

Here is the shade listing...

- Underland - Flash (bright iridescent purple)

- Alice - Painkiller (bright bold aqua)

- Oraculum - Baked (rich bronze)

- Queen - Last Call (plum)

- Chessur - Chopper (coppery fawn with silver shimmer)

- White Rabbit - Polyester Bride (white with silver glitter)

- Wonderland - Maui Wowie (dirty gold with silver glitter)

- Curiouser - Grifter (lavender with silver glitter)

- Muchness - X (golden peach)

- Mushroom - Mushroom (pewter)

- Midnight Tea Party - Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (champagne pink with silver glitter)

- Vorpal - S & M (bright metallic silver)

- Absolem - Homegrown (bright true grass green)

- Drink Me, Eat Me - Sin (champagne)

- Madhatter - Twice Baked (brown with golden shimmer)

- Jabberwocky - Oil Slick (black with silver sparkle)

I will continue my searching for this palette. Also, I would like to thank MusingsofaMuse.com for her very clear descriptions of the shadow shades in this palette. I guess that in the spirit of the upcoming beauty wave of Alice in Wonderland products, I will have to rewatch the original movie to get a sense of what the new movie will be like.

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

LUSH Valentine's Day Products

Well, now that MAC has released a line of romantic lip products and I am hoarding all the Valentine's Marshmellow Hearts that I can find, I guess it it now time to look at some different Valentine's Day collections that are being released. Lousy holiday, fun beauty products.

The first bath and body product collection that I am going to look at is the one that is being offered from LUSH. A LUSH Christmas gift made my holiday last month so maybe thye can get me to look forward to Valentine's Day. Maybe... This collection contains both Valentine's Day themed giftsets and individual products. We will love at the individual products first and then get into the giftsets.

Love Soap - Love Soap looks as you'd expect it to with sparkles to put hearts aflutter and and smells of our best-selling Sex Bomb, with all of its perfumed powers of seduction. We have jasmine, the queen of the night, a deep floral fragrance to help you relax, warm up your emotions and boost your confidence. Clary Sage helps reduce tension and stop you panicking. Ylang ylang is beautiful and it's amazingly relaxing and helps you feel joyful. Can you think of anything better to give your beloved on Valentine's Day?

Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar - We're good at love spells, although we only make them work on people who are available: they are useless on other people's boyfriends or girlfriends and anyone further down the commitment chain. Starting with its charming mushroom shape we added two enchanting scents - Vanillary in the white parts and Yummy Yummy in the red cap - to bewitch everyone who bathes with it. Use it with your favorite fungi and you'll soon be making magic.

The Ex-Factor Bath Bomb - This is our antidote to Valentine's Day, inspired by a plan to rid the world of useless men (and useless women, if there are any) from the past. Limb by limb you dip the little chap into the bath water to dissolve away all that thoughts that are holding you back, so you are ready to start afresh with a nice person. At the same time you have a lovely deep blue bath with Butterball scent.

Vanilla Scoop Gift - You scream, we scream, everyone scream for Vanillary! It all started with Vanilla Fountain and then the obsession with our cinder-toffee, vanilla bean fragrance grew to an entire range. We've taken our sweet best-sellers and put them into a pink and cream confection bucket so you can satisfy your cravings top to bottom. Bathe in vanilla, dust in vanilla, Deelite in vanilla, and seduce everyone who crosses your path with vanilla. One scoop or two? This giftset contains a Vanilla Fountain Bath Bomb, Vanilla Dee-lite Lotion, Vanilla Puff Powder, and Vanillary Fragrance.

True Love Gift - There's nothing wrong with a bit of shameless romance, especially when you've got a satisfying mixture of bath and shower gifts inside, plus a vanilla massage bar for all the moves that come after dinner. We've wrapped up this selection of limited edition, and best-selling products in a glittery heart shaped box perfect for storing love letters in after you've bathed to your heart's content. This giftset contains Love Soap, Sex Bomb Bath Bomb, Heavanilli Soap, Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower Gel, and Vanilla Dee-lite Lotion.

Be Mine Gift - If you'd like to make them yours, this is the one to give. Having your loved one's name tattooed on your body is one way of showing how much you care. We think we'll stick with the recycled paper version and get down to business with the products inside. There's our sensual jasmine shower gel Flying Fox, out kiss-inducing Honey Trap lip balm, and Soft Coeur, our seductive, melty cocoa and honey massage bar for sweet caresses.

I want all three of the single products, especially the Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar. From the giftsets, I would the Vanilla themed one but the other two are just too "romantic" for my mood this year. Actually, I might be getting one of the Ex-Factor Bath Bombs for myself and a bunch of others to give out to my friends...

photo courtesy of LUSH USA

MAC Have A Love Affair

MAC has released a special collection that is lips only products and would appear to be Valentine's Day inspired. I'm not a fan of the holiday but I am a fan of MAC lip products and therefore can easily get on board with this collection. The collection is very appropriately called "Have A Love Affair" and is described as following. "Have a passionate fling with heart-racing lip colours plucked from Cupid's palette. Be devilish, sweet, or divine!"

Here are the products...

Lip Pencil - A pencil designed for shaping, lining, or filling in the lip. Lip Pencils have a smooth, creamy texture that is perfect for lining the lips or filling them in. They are long-lasting and available in a wide selection of colours that each work well with many different lipstick shades. The colour of Lip Pencils is protected by Vitamin E, which acts as an anti-oxidant, and they contain emollients that moisturize the lips. Lip Pencils can be worn alone, with Lipstick, or Lipglass.

- Beet - vivid reddish-pink

- Redd - clearly red

- Dervish - pinky-mauve

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made MAC famous.

- Violetta - bright violet (Amplified Creme)

- Snob - a ladylike mauve (Satin)

- Lovelorn - emotive blue pink (Lustre)

- Lady Danger - vivid blue coral-red (Matte)

- Lickable - bright clean blue pink (Cremesheen)

Dazzleglass Creme - MAC cult favorite Dazzleglass with a creamier, smoother, but no less shiny or dazzling effect. For those who are drawn to the luxe of cream lips, but still want the dazzling allure of its inspiration, this is it.

- Totally Fab - bright yellow red with pearl

- My Favorite Pink - light blue pink with pearl

- Creme Allure - bright yellow plum

Hmmmm...when looking at this collection in detail, I am pretty sure that that this is group of popular MAC lip products that they decided would work well for Valentine's Day. I feel like I have blogged about and looked at many of these shades at least once already. Which is fine with me, I still found more items from this collection that I want to add to my shopping list. I would like to get the Lipstick in both Snob and Lovelorn and the Dazzleglass Creme in My Favorite Pink. I'm not going to be celebrating Valentine's Day this year so I don't really need romantic lip shades but all the ones that I picked out will go right into Spring.

photo courtesy of MAC

Thymes Kimono Rose

You may be thinking, "Not another rose fragrance?! How many can she have?" Well the answer to that is that I can never have enough rose fragrances. The one that we will be looking at today is my current fragrance obsession and is one that has even won over those who are not fans of rose. This fragrance is from the company Thymes and it is my first purchase from this company. I haven't really seen many items from this company so I decided to look into the background of this company and learn more about it.

This is a much smaller company than many of the large perfume houses. They believe in botanical fragrances and skincare and strive to combine highly quality botanical ingredients with the latest advancements in science. I couldn't find out what country this company originated in though from the look of their products, I would take a guess that it is either England or the United States.

This fragrance is defined as "Femininity, Redefined". This line of products is available in perfume, body products, and home fragrance items. This is the description of the fragrance from the company. "A sheer, sensuous floral heightened with effervescent clementine and voluptuous cassis on a creamy bed of satiny rose, peony, and jasmine...finished with a kiss of vanilla. Thymes Kimono Rose is a modern reflection of who you are, and who you want to be...all wrapped up in one truly lovely fragrance."

I bought the fragrance in the little roller ball and have been very impressed with it so far. The scent is heavier than most of my other rose fragrances and the vanilla and jasmine notes make the fragrance on the spicier side of rose. It has decent lasting power and hasn't given me any reason to complain so far.

I only have this fragrance in the roller ball perfume right now but I would love to get in the body wash, the body cream, and the candle. I tried a bit of the lotion when I was in the store and I found the texture to be slightly too light for what my skin needs but the cream was much more to my liking.

As I stated earlier, this perfume even appealed to those who normally complain about all the rose fragrances that I have. I think that this one is on the spicy side and is more oriental than many of the others that I own. It also has the jasmine to really balance out that rose notes so it more floral than just a rose fragrance. This line make be hard to find but it is worth a trip to the company's website to view the products and look at the store locator to see what boutiques nearest to you will carry the line.

photo courtesy of Thymes

Smashbox Spring 2010 Collection - Heartbreaker

For this Spring season, Smashbox has released a collection called Heartbreaker and it looks as those it could be for either Spring (with the shades) or Valentine's Day (with the packaging). Now I am not a Valentine's Day lady myself, I enjoy the candy and the beauty products and that's about it. So for myself, I am treating this as a Spring collection, but this is open to interpretation and if you prefer to think of it as Valentine's Day makeup, be my guest. Smashbox has listed it as their Spring collection but it works for either.

The collection is aptly called Heartbreaker and has the beautiful Scarlett Johansson as the model for it. Since I love her, that is already a huge point in favor of this collection. Smashbox states that, "A fun and flirty collection to send his pulse racing. Lips and cheeks tempt with bold, juicy hues, while eyes charm with playful pops of color. With looks this luscious, you'll be sure to turn heads and break a few hearts."

Let's see the new collection...

Heartbreaker Baked Fusion Soft Lights - Turn heads with this shimmering silk-like powder that imparts a gorgeous lit-from-within glow to skin. Use on cheekbones or all over for a boost of radiance - the innovative baked formula keeps your skin looking luminous all day. Stunning new vibrant pink shade wakes up any complexion.

Heartbreaker Eau de Parfum - Our first-ever fragrance! Every heartbreaker has a signature fragrance. Melt his heart with this alluring blend of sensuous forget-me-not florals and spices. Seductive notes of blue Violet, Gardenia, Precious Musk, and Vanilla will leave him wanting more. To create a lasting scent-sation, roll a hint on wrists, behind ears, and anywhere else you want a sweet scent.

Heartbreaker Eye Shadow Palette - Ready for your hot date? These fun and flirty shadow palettes will have you looking stunning in seconds. In 6 gorgeous shades to always keep him guessing, plus a mini shadow brush.

- Kiss N' Tell - ballet pink/hot pink/icy white/deep violet/charcoal/peony

- Hot Date - creme brulee/chestnut/champagne/azure/mint/warm taupe

Heartbreaker Lash DNA Mascara - Flutter your fringe and make his heart skip a beat. This protein and amino acid-packed lash-lengthening formula creates dramatically longer, stronger, more defined lashes. The unique double helix brush grabs each lash, no matter how small, for the ultimate fanned out effect. Dramatic jet black shade intensifies and defines.

- Jet Black - jet black

Heartbreaker Lip Shine - You'll have him at "hello" when you drench lips in one of these kissably-smooth, ultra-high-shine glosses in playfully bold, juicy hues.

- Berry Hot - sheer bright fuchsia

- Melon Drama - juicy melon

Heartbreaker Liquid Liner Pen - Catch his eye with a look all your own. This ultra-fine liner pen will take you from sweet-and-sassy to super-seductive in just one sweep. Won't-budge Jet Black shade glides on and stays on. Sweep the fine point along the lashline starting at inner corner and sweep out, thickening the line as you go. For a more dramatic look, wing out at corners.

- Jet Black - jet black

Heartbreaker Roller Ball Lip Gloss - Entice him with a perfectly kissable pout. A quick slick of this sweet shimmering roller gloss will leave your lips looking luscious. Vitamin E nourishes while soft shimmer and shine polymers give lips a gorgeous reflective sheen.

- Pink Sugar - soft shimmering pink

O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color - Experience instant chemistry as your complexion is transformed from so-so to oh-so-glowing! The first intuitive blush, this clear gel reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn cheeks the color you blush naturally, in just seconds! O-Glow works on every skin tone, from the lightest to the darkest, to give everyone a customized flush of color. When applied, your skin's moisture activates the innovative formula, producing a rosy blush that lasts all day. The unique Goji Berry-C Complex creates a microcirculatory, skin-energizing effect, while antioxidants like Vitamin C, pomegranate seed oil, and marine botanicals provide additional healthy-skin benefits. O-Glow's revolutionary silicone-based clear gel is easy to blend, preservative and fragrance-free, and glides on smoothly for a healthy, glowing blush that's you, only prettier.

I love this collection, it is really pretty and perfect for both the Valentine's Day holiday and the upcoming Spring season. I love both of the eye shadow palettes and will be getting both next time that I get to Sephora. I would like to try the Soft Lights powder since it contains a pink shade in it, hopefully that means that it will look more natural for my skin. I want to try the Liquid Liner Pen even though I can't imagine how different it is from most other liquid liners. I guess that I could take or leave that product depending on what else I need to purchase. I really love the Rollar Ball Lip Gloss, it is the prettiest shade of pale pink and I know that I would get tons of use out of it. Also, I just wanted to mention that this collection has some of the prettiest packaging that I have seen in a long time and really adds to the allure of the collection.

Lots of pink and breaking a couple hearts? I'm in.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Jaqua Buttercream Frosting

I still have to remind myself that even though I am covering everything Spring related, it is still in the dead of winter and usually below freezing every single day. So even though my mind is in Key West and flirty little dresses, my skin is more than happy to remind everyday that it is living in the middle on Pennsylvania and not Florida. And if I don't moisturize it every single night? It rebels until it hurts, it has even hit a point where it become red and itchy if I don't get something on it right away. So you might say that this is the time of the year when I think about body products even more than I think about pink lip gloss.

Jaqua's Buttercream Frosting products manage to do two very important things this time of the year. They really hydrate my skin so that I don't want to claw it all off and they manage to may me smell like a cupcake and therefore bring my mood way up on the elevator. Here is the overall description of the fragrance itself, "Sometimes a scrumptious cake, baked with care, and lovingly frosted with fluffy white buttercream is the only thing that will do! These Buttercream Frosting delights are for all those times we can resist the cake, but not the frosting!" I first bought this product when it was sold on Christmas at Bath and Body Works and quickly ended up with all the products carried in this scent and buying back ups of them all for when I ran out of the first group. My favorite product of the group is that one that we will look at first, the Buttercream Frosting Sinfully Rich Body Butter.

"Requested by Christina Aquilera and featured in Pregnancy Magazine (May 2007)! A truly decadent scent, which reminds us of the happy occasions when our mothers let us lick the frosting off the beaters. Your skin will love how this ultra-hydrating butter with Shea Butter absorbs into your skin. Your senses will love the fragrance from Jaqua's Signature Collection!" This product is a super rich cream that absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves tons of fragrance behind. This has always been one of my favorite moisturizers and I was very excited to buy the rest of the products in the line to match it.

This fragrance also comes in a variety of other sweet smelling products. I have also purchased the body wash, hand cream, and the fragrance that matches the body butter. Of the three of those items, I like the body wash the most because it creates very little foam and doesn't strip and dry out my skin. The hand lotion is very take-it-or-leave-it. The scent is pure frosting goodness in the tube but turns when I put it in (no other product does this). I also find it to be a tad on the greasy side and not the best hydrator that I have ever used. The fragrance was simply just too sweet and contained only the frosting note. It would have been much better if it contained some other type of gourmand notes to make it more complex (like Pink Sugar). I ended up using it several times then giving it away soon after I bought it. Also, in previous seasons, this fragrance came in a candle and a bar soap, both of which I purchased.

If you are only able to purchase a few pieces from this collection, I recommend the body wash and the matching body butter. Also, I have found that anyone that I have ever given these products to as a gift has been simply thrilled with them...and Jaqua puts gifts with these products in on their website (if anyone wants to do any hinting before Valentine's Day). Now I just need to see if my skin will survive to see St. Patrick's Day.

photo courtesy of Jaqua

Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream

Originally this was going to be a review of the Caudalie Eye Contour Cream that I have been using over the past few weeks. But when I went onto the Caudalie website to find it, I found that it wasn't around anymore and another product had taken its place in the Energizing collection. I then clicked over to the Sephora website to see what they had available and they also only had the Pulpe Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream available for sale. This news affected me in two ways. First, I was irritated because I wanted to write this product and the good results that I had with it up. Second, I found an eye cream that I was happy with and now it isn't available anymore. Great.

I decided to at least take some time and review the new eye cream that they offered and lo and behold, I found right in the description on the Caudalie website that this is Eye Contour Cream renamed. Same formula, same package, new name. Maybe my life isn't ruined right now...

"This gel-cream reduces wrinkles, lightens dark circles, decongests, and protects the skin from free radicals." The major ingredients are listed right here: grape-seed polyphenols (OPC), Ceramides 3, tetrapeptides, horse chestnut, liquorice, witch hazel, fern, plant glycerine, and calendula. As will all products from this line, this product is more on the natural side and contains anti-oxidant ingredients. The horse chestnut is what makes this product unique to all the other eye creams on the market today. This is a natural ingredient that fights dark circles and puffiness without any type of bleaching agent. It has been said in some circles that chemical bleaching agents used around the eye area (especially hydroquinone) are responsible for an overall thinning of the delicate skin of the area and will actually make the effects of aging much worse down the line. However, to be fair, I was told this from a representative of Caudalie and have seen no information to back this up. In fact, the Murad eye cream with hydroquinone in it is a best seller and highly recommended by all who have used it. But I digress...

I was given this product by a rep for Caudalie a bit back and she told me that it would help with both my dark circles and puffiness but without drying out my eye area. I love the gel-cream texture of this product, it is very easy to work with and goes on easily without me having to tug on the skin of my eye area. The product worked well at depuffing my eyes but fell down a bit in the dark circles area. I have used this product both alone and alternating with the B. Kamins eye creams that is specifically designed for very bad dark circles. My dark circles are on the blue side, so they are a result of thin skin and are not going anywhere anytime soon (since they can't be lightened at all). I had the best overall results when I used this cream in the morning and the B. Kamins cream at night. However, this eye cream has an ingredient to help thicken skin and this process would take much longer than a lightening. The Vitamin K in the B. Kamins cream works much the same way to build skin up. When I reviewed the B. Kamins cream last year, I was on my second tube in a row of it, so the long term benefits were becoming more obvious.

The Caudalie alone was not enough to help minimize the appearance of my dark circles. But I should reserve full judgement until I purchase and use another tube of this cream and give it more time. And will I purchase this product and replace my tube? Yes, this depuffing powers are first-rate and the texture ranks among my favorite ever in an eye product (and has the B. Kamins beat by a long shot in this area).

photo courtesy of Caudalie

Make Up For Ever HD Powder

This is a product that I have been using for the past several months but haven't gotten around to talking about yet. I bought this product at Sephora in the end of May and have been using it ever since with fantastic results. During French Week last July, I talked about the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation and how much I adored it. Yet somehow, this product got left out of everything so far. But I feel that the time has come for me to sing the praises of this powder and convince all of you that you need to go out and buy it right away. If you love the foundation (or even if you have never tried), you will love the matching powder.

Before buying the product off of the recommendation of a coworker, I hadn't used loose powder since my Bare Escentuals debacle in 2007. I never liked loose powders and always ended up creating a disaster all over myself when trying to apply them. This powder is available in one universal shade and appears white in the package. However, my coworker and I both have very different skintones and it works beautifully on both of us so I guess that this really is a universal shade. Here is the description of the powder from Make Up For Ever, "Make Up For Ever HD line was originally created to keep the complexion of the actors looking flawless in the 6x magnification of high definition compared to regular cameras. HD Powder is a unique, extremely fine powder available in one universal shade to make skin absolutely radiant. HD Microfinish Powder consists solely of mineral silica powder, thereby respects all types of skin, even the most sensitive. Its talc free formula does not dry skin".

This product really does manage to make your skin look a million times better after application. My favorite aspects of the product are that it completely sets my foundation and concealer, while minimizing the appearance of redness and large pores. It has been my experience that loose powders always make my pores appear even larger, so this really is a different type of loose powder.

To use this product, I simply shake a bit of it out onto my hand then use a big fluffy powder brush to apply it to my whole face. I have been using the same container of this product since June and it barely looks as though I have made a dent in the product. So this one should last me quite a long time. The only thing that could make my love this powder more? If I came a in pressed version so I could carry it in my bag for touch ups throughout the day.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Chanel Spring 2010 - Les Impressions de Chanel

The Spring 2010 collections are beginning to appear up on the companies websites and I must say that I am very pleased. Right now, it is in the teens outside with very strong winds so looking at these collections is making me dream on spring dresses and warmer temperatures. The frist website to have their collection up (that I have checked so far) is Chanel and I am more than happy to start out with one of my favorites this spring. The collection is called Less Impressions de Chanel and is described by the company as "Clean, classic neutrals for face and fingertips that are infinitely wearable and effortlessly chic". I love it.

Let's take a closer look...

Empreinte de Chanel - Radiant glow highlighting powder. Highlighting powder combines subtly shimmering shades of rosewood, beige, and brown to warm and brighten the cheek and browbone. A unique beveled brush allows for perfect contouring. Limited Edition.

Poudre Universelle Compact - Natural finish pressed powder. Imparts a translucent, super-natural finish when applied over makeup in the morning or as an anytime touch-up. Ultrafine lightweight formula with light-reflecting pigments and luxuriously soft feel creates a flattering, halo-like look. Dust on alone for a sheer, super-natural finish. Available in four shades to match all skintones.

Joues Contraste - Powder blush. Unique powder blusher imparts a flattering radiance to cheeks. Remarkably silky texture for easy application and subtle shading. Accentuate cheekbones for a youthful look. Softer tones around the eyes soften expression and rejuvenate.

- 59 Imprevu - copper-imbued rose

Soleil Tan de Chanel - Sheer illuminating fluid. Sheer, weightless liquid instantly brightens skin and evens out skintone. Light-reflecting pigments provide radiance and luminosity. Botanical extracts soften, smooth, and moisturize. Oil free. Fragrance free.

- Sunkissed - subtly bronzing formula

Les 4 Ombres - Quadra eye shadow. Shade combinations ranging from matte to frost to satin for multiple looks, contrasting or complementary. Apply dry for subtle shadowing. Slightly moistened applicator gives a more intense shade. Organic polymer derivatives ensure smudge-proof long wear, particularly in high temperatures or humidity. Dermatologist tested.

- Kaska Beige - a harmony of deep and delicate browns

Le Crayon Yeux - Precision eye definer. Eye contour crayon outlines and accents dramatically. Creates a clear, precise line around eyes, enhancing their expression. Also gives a gentle shadow to lids when delicately blended with sponge applicator. Extremely smooth texture with finely dispersed pigments for even, long-lasting wear. Formula enriched with Vitamin E is ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers.

- 68 Khaki Dore - warm smoldering brown

Levres Scintillates - Glossimer. Intense frost and shine for lips. Cool array of hottest colours in a convenient easy-to-use case. Gel texture imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. New shades add extra sparkle and shine.

- 139 Futile - soft frosted pink

- 141 Maline - light luminous gold

Le Vernis - Nail colour. Brillance to your fingertips with must-have colours from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails. Unique patented non-spill bottle with wiping action for easy application.

- 503 Inattendu - sun-warmed beige

- 507 Tendresse - delicate pink

- 505 Particuliere - cool dusky grey

Beaute des Ongles Base Protectrice - Base coat. Brillance to your fingertips with must-have colours from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails. Unique patented non-spill bottle with wiping action for easy application.

Beaute des Ongles Lacque Brillance Extreme - Top coat. Brillance to your fingertips with must-have colours from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails. Unique patented non-spill bottle with wiping action for easy application.

This is a very strong Spring collection and gets me excited to see that else will be coming out in the next few months. I have several must haves from this collection. The first one is the Le Vernis in both 507 Tendresse and 505 Particuliere. I also must have the Glossimer in 139 Futile, the Kaska Beige Quadra Eye Shadow, and Le Crayon Yeux in 68 Khaki Dore. I love the promo pic that Chanel put out for this collection and I will be trying to make this look work for myself this Spring.

photo courtesy of Chanel

Clinique Superbalm Lip Gloss

It really seems like that some of my best lip glosses are ones that the sales associate suggested to me to balance out the stronger eye makeup that I was at the counter purchasing. The first instance of this is when I purchase the MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink. The second instance is when I was at the Clinique counter for an event and the Eye Shadow Trio in Ebb and Flow was used on me. This is a beautiful trio of greens, from dark green to seafoam. To balance this out, the makeup artist used the Superbalm Lip Gloss in Grapefruit on me. I bought both items in addition to several other things that day. The eye shadow? Used it once... The lip gloss? Quickly became a favorite...

Clinique describes this product as a lip gloss with many hydrating benefits above and beyond the normal lip gloss formulations. "Lip balm with a colorful twist. Luscious, high-gloss shades treat your most undermoisturized skin to soothing skin. Instantly relieve dryness, protect with anti-oxidants and more". The overall finish of the glosses is described as sheer and the major benefits is stated to be the moisturizing properties of the gloss. Under the "How to Use" area, Clinique states that this product can be used by itself or over lipstick. I have only used this product be itself so far and am quite happy with the results.

The product is available in eight shades: Rootbeer (sheer coffee brown nude); Grapefruit (pale pink blue with white shimmer); Apricot (sheer pinkened apricot); Ginger (midtone nude brown with a hint of pink); Mango (soft orange with slight pink hue); Currant (rich reddish deepened purple); Raspberry (bright punch of sheer cherry red); and Lilac (pearly violet). I have Grapefruit and even though it appears bright pink in the tube, it goes on quite sheer and comes out more to the color that is described by Clinique.

Clinique doesn't have their Spring collection up yet but it wouldn't surprise me if this product played some type of role in it or they released new shades of this gloss. This gloss is the perfect spring gloss to balance out bright or pastel eyes or just for a more natural look. At the moment, I have my eye on Lilac and Raspberry for this season and Currant for next Fall.

photo courtesy of Clinique

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick

I have spent a decent amount of time in the past few days testing out new lip shades that I have accumulated over the past few weeks. So now my interest has switched over to lipsticks for the moment and I have a feeling that this will not last long. One lipstick that I haven't purchased any of yet is the L'Absolu Rouge line from Lancome. While playing with the testers of this product that last time that I was at the Lancome counter, I came to realization that this is what a true lipstick is. Very pigmented and saturated my lips with long-wearing color. This product's official name is L'Absolu Rouge Advanced Replenishing and Reshaping Lipcolor Pro-Xylane SPF 12 Sunscreen. Got that one there?

Lancome describes the lipstick on their website as follows, "Absolutely Voluptuous Lips. Pamper your lips with this creamy and luscious formula. Lancome brings Pro-Xylane its complete and powerful replenishing molecule, to a lip color for visibly fuller and smoother lips. Rich, satiny, saturated color wraps lips in luxury. Lasting color precisely defines contours".

I am more interested in the technology behind this lipstick than the actual colors for the moment. The Lancome website gives a bunch of facts about the technology and the science that went into making this lipstick as unique as it is. This lipstick is formulated with Pro-Xylane and Ceramide V that restore moisture from within for up to 8 hours. The Satin Color Complex ensures even dispersion of color on lips and High Fidelity Pigments create a rich, intense color. SPF 12 sunscreen and Vitamin E guard lips from damage. I am most excited about the Pro-Xylane and Ceramide V since they both restore moisture throughout wear. The major drawback for myself about wearing full pigment lipsticks is that my lips always get dry and reapplying the lipstick does nothing to really help.

This lipstick comes in a full range of shades, 36 in all. These shades range from pale to deep, matte to cream to shimmer. I have broken my wishlist down by shade categories: Neutrals - Luxe; Pinks-Berries - Fleur de Lis, Voile de Rose, Crushed Rose, Coquette; Reds-Corals - L'Absolu Rouge, Rouge Velour.

I should get on picking these colors up since I really tend not to wear much lipstick in the springtime, I will forever be a pink lip gloss girl. I look forward to testing out how well the moisture level stays after a full day of wear. I think that I will start out with getting the Fleur de Lis shade, it is a pinky neutral that will wear well with many of the pastel eye shadows that we will be seeing in store this spring.

photo courtesy of Lancome

NARS Essential Eye Palette

After looking at the NARS Anniversary palettes about a month ago, I decided to go back to the part of the NARS website and take my time to look over some other palettes that they currently have in stock. Normally, I tend to pass over most of their palettes because I own so many products from them that at least one shade in any given palette is a repeat for me. There are only so many times that I can buy purchase palettes and set and end up with repeats of the same products and shades. I still have untouched items that are repeats with something that I already own, I don't need to add more items to this collection.

So did something catch my eye this time and male me decide that I must own. Well...yes and no. Yes in the fact that I love all the shades in this palette and it would be very easy on trips or rushed mornings to have them all in one place and not have to dig through all my makeup to find a shade that I need. Also this palette would be a permanent fixture in a makeup bag to carry with me. No in the fact that I already own two of the six shades in the palette. What palette am I talking about now?

I am referring to the Essential Eye Palette, a recent addition to the NARS line. This product contains six eye shadow shades that I believe are all bestsellers and are very wearable for all skin tones. Here are the six shades in the palette: Unconditional Love (matte seafoam and soft shimmering copper); Night Star (sheer peach with gold pearls); Galapogos (bitter chocolate infused with gold); Nepal (rose with shimmer); Ondine (plum with gold shimmer); and Thunderball (midnight grey). Night Star is my favorite eye shadow that I own (not just from NARS but in general) and I consider it be my Holy Grail of shades. As you can tell, I get a lot of wear from this shade and use it up pretty quickly. The other shade that I own from this palette is Galapogos and I use this shade mostly as an liner.

NARS describes their eye shadows as such, "Longwearing, crease-resistant color in sheer wearable formulas. All NARS eye shadows can be applied sheer or layered for a more dramatic effect. These richly pigmented powders blend effortlessly and can also be used wet for precisely lining the eyes. Richly pigmented, micro-ionized powder formula provides improved wear and feel. Effortless blending. Multifunction: use as eye shadow, eye liner, and on eye brows".

I would recommend this palette to anyone who is interested in NARS shades and who wants several super flattering eye shadows to use in any situation.

photo courtesy of Sephora

FTC Information - both of the eye shadow shades that I talk about owning in this entry were purchased by me at Sephora

MAC in Lillyland

I see tons of pink! I love Lilly! The second collection that was released by MAC may not be as wearable for the masses but this one is supergirly and I fell in love with it on first sight. MAC describes this collection right here, "A collaboration that feels like the best tongue-in-cheek resort retort delivers that joyously bright and refined Key West bloom: new floral patterned Pearlmatte Eye Shadow and Face Powder, plus all the retro-modern colour combinations that Lilly is famous for". Yay! I love this!

Without further ado...

Paint Pot - A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with MAC shadows and liners.

- Bare Study - soft beige with gold pearl (Frost)

- Rubenesque - golden peach with gold pearl (Frost)

- Fresco Rose - pink with matching pearl (Frost)

Technakohl Liner - A mechanical pencil-style liner. In formula, soft and creamy, with an intense, rich, colour deposit. Blends on application: dries quickly to a long-wear, non-smudge finish. Versatile. An easy way to line the top and lower lash line of the eye. When applied at a 90 degree angle, provides a thin precision line. For thicker application, apply at a flat angle.

- Graphblack - rich graphic black

- Purple Dash - intense aubergine

Pearlmatte Eye Shadow - A powder eye shadow in which matte and pearlized shades combine to create to produce a soft pearl-highlight finish. In this limited edition, three complementary shades from a floral motif inspired by the signature patterns of Lilly Pulitzer. Contains a pink shade, a green shade, and a pale silver shade.

Lipgelee - A soft jelly-textured glosser for the lips. Fab to apply. Squeezes on. Distributes evenly and easily via its special slanted tip. Moisturizes and conditions the lips - saps them up! Makes them look wet, shiny, super-lush! Comes in a wide range of sheer, soft tints!

- Lush & Bright - bright pink yellow coral with pink (Pearl)

- Preppy - blue pink with pink pearl (Pearl)

- Resort Life - Off white with pink pearl (Pearl)

- Shift To Pink - light violet with silver (Pearl)

Cremeblend Blush - A poured cream blush uniquely formulated to bring a natural, softly dewy look to the cheek. Creamy and soft to apply, yet colour, depth, and dimension stay throughout the day. Provides a luxuriously smooth, medium-buildable coverage. May be used on cheeks or lips.

- So Sweet, So Easy - light yellow pink

- Optomistic Orange - bright coral

- Joie-de-Vivre - peachy coral

- Florida - bright fuchsia

Pearlmatte Face Powder - A pressed powder in which matte and pearlized shades combine to produce a soft-pearl highlight finish. In this special limited-edition design, four complementary shades form a floral motif inspired by the signature patterns of Lilly Pulitzer. Contains pink, a pale gold, a burnt orange, and deep brown shades.

Nail Lacquer - Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer!

- Coconut Ice - light yellow peach pink (Cream)

- Steamy - hot 'n' steamy pink (Cream)

168 Large Angled Contour Brush - For expert application of cheek contour. This brush is a large angled contour - the fibres form a buffed edge and are soft and firmly bundled. MAC Professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

239 Eye Shader Brush - Soft and dense to shade or blend eye shadow or emollient-based products. This brush has a tapered, rounded edge with smooth, firm, fine fibres. It can be used to build intense colour on the eyelid. MAC Professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

My number one pick from this collection is the Pearlmatte Eye Shadow, which I have included an image of to illustrate the shades and design of. I have the Paint Pot in Bare Study already and it's not my favorite product to work with but I don't hate it as much as I used to. I do love the other two shades that are being promoted with this collection so I may have to put my feelings on the formula aside to purchase these shades. I want the Lip Gelee in Preppy and Shift to Pink, I haven't seen these colors yet but I have heard from other beauty bloggers that they are very sparkly and should be very fun and springy. I also want the So Sweet, So Easy Cremeblend blush and hopefully this will become a permanent product for MAC since this shade looks perfect and I love the use of both cheeks and lips formula. To finish this collection list off, I want the Coconut Ice Nail Lacquer.

Lilly Pulitzer and Spring!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC All Ages, All Races, All Sexes

This is the first new collection of the year from MAC. This collection falls into Spring but I found that it is more on the season-less side since it focuses on natural beauty and has a wide range of products and shades that will flatter (as the title of the collection suggests) anyone that wishes to find products in this collection. The official write-up of the collection from the MAC website is right here, "Intent on a universal focus, a collection that extends our range with new shades to match every international skin tone. But that's not all. Because brows speak louder than words, two new products to help you express their style. In every language these are wow!"

Here is the collection...

Eye Shadow - Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well.

- Cross Cultural - dark dirty yellow brown (Matte)

- All Races - cool light mauve taupe (Matte)

- Banshee - dirty taupe with frost and sparkle diamond cluster (Lustre)

- Showstopper - deep blackened brown (Matte)

Pigment - Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting.

- Universal Mix - sparkly white gold (Frost)

- Rich Life - dark cool brown with silver (Frost)

Impeccable Brow Pencil - A classic, creamy long-wearing brow pencil, with an easy-to-sharpen point. Fills in, defines, and colours with precision. Provides a natural matte. Makes the brows look impeccable.

- Taupe - mid-tone dirty taupe

- Dirty Blonde - cool light brown

- Blonde - pale yellow brown

- Black - blackened dark neutral brown

Eye Brows - Self-propelling, self-sharpening, brow defining. Confidently adds what you need: shape, colour, density in one streamlined tool. Like a pen, creates its own just-right point. Provides definition, shape, deepens/fills in colour. Creates striking arches. Easy to tote around. No sharpener needed.

- Lingering - soft taupe brown

- Spiked - rich brunette

Penultimate Brow Maker - A liquid, pen-style marker for colouring and styling the brows to a well-defined, natural-looking finish. Easy to control. Tapered tip provides precision and helps create the feathery strokes needed to fill in and perfect the brows. Flow-through, quick-drying formula means no smudges. Long-wearing.

- Universal - universal

Brow Set - Slick! Strokes on. Adds shine, style, grooming, overall wow! to the brows. A brush-on gel that grooms and slicks brows into shape without flaking or stiffening the brows. Available in several tinted shades or clear, it can be used on its own, or for a nice natural look stroke over Eye Brows. May also be used on lashes, sideburns, and chops - any facial hair.

- Clear - colour-free

- Mink - dirty brown

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made MAC famous.

- Equality - creamy pale yellow beige (Lustre)

- Myself - dirty light mauve with traveling pearl (Lustre)

- Empowered - creamy mid-tone neutral brown (Satin)

- 5N - plummy sheer brown (Lustre)

Tinted Lipglass - A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil, or Lipstick, Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It's pigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colour. It contains Jojoba Oil to help soften and condition the lips. Tinted Lipglass is packaged in a convenient bottle with a sponge tip applicator that provides a quick, smooth, even application.

- Naked Frost - sheer taupe with silver pearl (Frost)

- Glamour For All - sheer pale baby pink with pearl (Frost)

- Liqueur - frosted mid-tone pink brown (Frost)

- Spirit & Soul - frosted dark cool brown (Frost)

Beauty Powder Blush - Silky-fine, shot with pearl, this blush inspires a subtle glow in tandem with a pure colour vibe. Ultra-smooth, delivers a light and alluring shimmer together with a sheer-colour payoff. Builds colour for ultimate effect. In every way luxurious. Limited Edition.

- Personal Style - light mauve taupe

- All's Good - cool deep rose

Blot Powder/Pressed - A unique pressed powder designed primarily to provide shine control without adding any noticeable colour or texture. Sets foundation, finishes faces. For use in professional situations and for frequent touch-ups. Blot Powder contains Mica and Silica to absorb excess oils and reduce shine on the skin's surface. Can be applied with the puff that comes in the compact or with a powder brush like #129 Powder/Blush Brush. Perfect for touching up Studio Fix Powder Foundation throughout the day. Available in four shades from Light to Deep Dark.

I can tell that a couple of the items in this collection could potentially hit a Holy Grail status for me. The first product that really caught my eye is the Lipstick in Equality, the swatch on the MAC site made it look very similar to Way To Love (however there is no pink in this shade for it may be too warm for my skin). I want the All Races and Banshee Eye Shadows and I also want to try the Universal Pigment. From all the eye brow products, I think that the best product for myself would be Eye Brows in Lingering. Lip product-wise, I also want the Lipstick in Myself and the Tinted Lipglass in both Glamour For All and Liqueur. To finish off the collection, I want the Beauty Powder Blush in All's Good and the Blot Powder in the palest shade. I have been into Beauty Powder Blushes ever since A Rose Romance and am jumping at the chance to buy another one.

photo courtesy of MAC

Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15

Well, it's January and therefore (unless Estee Lauder changes something), this will be my last Prescriptives post ever. Very sad... This last post will be another one about their foundations, one powder and one liquid. Both of these foundations are from the All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15 line and were ones that I had considered when I got my Colorprint done. I wasn't all that interested in the powder formula but I was very curious about the liquid formulation and wondered if I would like minerals in a liquid formula, since my major complaints with Bare Essentials was the powders. These products are bestsellers for Prescriptives so we will look at both of the formulas and you can determine which would be the best for your skin type.

Here is the description of the powder formulation that I got from the Prescriptives website, "Good for you. Good for your skin. What's in it for you? Vitamins, minerals, gems, sun protection...all helping make your skin look naturally radiant and unbelievably healthy. What's not in it for you? Oil, talc, fragrance, pore-clogging ingredients...all the things that may make you hesitate about wearing makeup. So, All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15 is all good --- and skin looks and feels naturally flawless, naturally better. Key benefits: pure, natural coverage; infused with vitamins, minerals, and gems; healthy, radiant finish; weightless, long-wear formula; and SPF 15 protection". The method of application for this product is the same as Bare Essentials (which I hate) so I don't think that this formula is what I am looking for in this line.

Now let's look at the liquid version from this line. The liquid version is billed by the company as being good for 16 hours of wear and is the long-wearing product in the mineral line. This is what the company website has to say about this product, "Introducing the long-wear makeup that's good for skin. All Skins Mineral Makeup 16-Hour Wear/SPF 10 is an all-day liquid mineral foundation that stays fresh and lasts up to 16 hours, while helping protect with non-chemical UVA/UVB sunscreen. Our exclusive R.E.C. complex (Radiance Emitting Crystals - a unique combination of Amethyst. Rose Quartz, and Calcite) gives skin extra luminosity, as if it were "glowing from within". Lightweight, buildable coverage lets skin breathe. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. Long-wear. Water-resistant. Oil-free. Fragrance-free. Non-acnegenic".

When I tried this liquid foundation at the counter, I determined that it wasn't a heavy enough coverage for my skin. However, I loved the feeling of it and was intrigued by the R.E.C. complex. So in the end, I didn't end up purchasing this product though it was a second choice of mine.

I hope that Prescriptives is able to do something to keep all their items available on their website. I have found that every product that I have ever tried from this company, I have ended up loving. And I have never even tried any of their skincare or eye makeup yet. If I hear anything else about availability and this company, I will post it right when I find out.

photo courtesy of Prescriptives