MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Fall

I missed Rihanna's summer collection for MAC, I remember something about it only being a preview of one or two products and I completely missed the whole preview.  I remember that it came out when I was very busy with work and balancing a couple academic related items and by the time that I was able to get on the website, everything was sold out and I couldn't even click on the products to look at them and tell each of you what was available.  Well I am not missing the fall collection and today we are going to look at the RiRi Hearts MAC Fall collection, many beauty bloggers have been looking forward to this collection for months and I bet that many of the products will be totally sold out within the first few hours of the collection premiering online.

I am going to start by saying that I am not a Rihanna fan, I like her music and fully supported her through all the drama with Chris Brown several years back but I don't love her style and the way that she often presents herself in public.  Personally, I am not excited about this collection and I don't really believe that I will be buying much/anything from this new line.  I am in minority with my opinion here and I am sure that Rihanna's devoted fans will buy the whole collection within days of the release.  I felt that way when Lady Gaga did her stint with Viva Glam and I still value my last tube of the Original shade, one of my favorite MAC associates and I are still trying to match up this shade with something current so that I can continue my love of this lipstick after I have used up the last drop.

But for those of you that love Rihanna...I will fully report on this collection and maybe I will be proved wrong and liked some of the products and hues that she inspired.  I am humble enough to admit that I might be wrong and I don't know everything about beauty so let's check this collection out and see what products were inspired by this superstar!

"Rihanna premieres her perfect palette of fall colour - a range of decidedly daring yet classically gorgeous shades, finishes and tools, all encased in the metallic warmth of rose gold packaging. Lipstick in deep raisin, orange frost, creamy nude and the vivid red of RiRi Woo match gleaming Lipglass, while eyes in contrasting soft and smoky cocoas complement luminous skin."

Here is RiRi Hearts MAC Fall!

Eye Shadow x 4: Her Cocoa - An Eye Shadow Quad in four warm shades: bright bronze gold, soft peach, chocolate bronze and antique gold. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- contains a bright bronze gold (Lustre)/soft peach (satin)/warm antique gold (Veluxe Pearl)/chocolate bronze (Lustre)

Eye Shadow x 4: Smoked Cocoa - An Eye Shadow Quad in four cool shades: shimmering champagne, black with silver pearl, satin charcoal and matte grey. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- contains dirty cool champagne (Veluxe Pearl)/muted mid-tone grey (Matte)/black with silver pearl (Lustre)/dirty black charcoal (Satin)

RiRi Hearts MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash - A lightweight curling, lifting mascara in an intense carbon black pigment. Applies with a petite gripper brush embedded with micro-spheres to give each lash effortless, upward bending definition and extreme volume. Easy wash-off formula. Smudge-free. Lasts 16 hours. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.

RiRi Hearts MAC Liquidlast Liner - A rich, black liquid eyeliner combines long-lasting wear with a non-smudge, non-flake precision line. Goes on effortlessly. Applies with its own brush to draw a perfectly defined line. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- Pointblack - black

RiRi Hearts MAC Veluxe Brow Liner - Fills, shapes and defines eyebrows with a rich powdery formula that's matte and velvety smooth in two shades: Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- Deep Brunette - muted blackish-brown
- Deep Dark Brunette - dark dirty chocolate

RiRi Hearts MAC 36 Lash - Full lash, creates a naturally dramatic look. If properly cared for, lashes can be reshaped or adorned if desired. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.

RiRi Hearts MAC 35 Lash - Slightly more dramatic length. Provides eye-opening fullness toward the centre of the eye. If properly cared for, lashes can be reshaped or adorned if desired. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.

RiRi Hearts MAC Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips that made M∙A∙C famous. Four limited-edition shades created by Rihanna. In Retro Matte - the signature red of RiRi Woo, the dark plum of Talk That Talk and the creamy cool of Nude. In Frost - the mid-tone orange of Who's That Chick. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- Nude - cool nude cream
- Who's That Chick - midtonal orange with frost
- RiRi Woo - matte cool red
- Talk That Talk - matte dark plum

RiRi Hearts MAC Lipglass - Rihanna's first Lipglass debuts in the creamy, cool red of RiRi Woo. High-gloss finish. Wear it alone or with a Lipstick for a glossed look. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- RiRi Woo - cool red cream

RiRi Hearts MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - A new generation of long-wearing lip pencil technology in two shades created by Rihanna: RiRi Woo and Talk That Talk. Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly. Defines lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour. Prolongs the hours between re-application. Transfer proof. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- RiRi Woo - cool red cream
- Talk That Talk - dark plum cream

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush Duo - Rihanna's Powder Blush Duo in Hibiscus Kiss combines two shades of M·A·C's celebrated colour for cheeks and face. Cool coral complements a neutral matte bronze in one gorgeous package. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- Hibiscus Kiss - cool coral/matte neutral blush

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush - Colour for the cheeks and face in the warm copper of Bad Girl Gone Good created by Rihanna. Satin finish. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C compact.
- Bad Girl Gone Good - warm copper

RiRi Hearts MAC Cream Colour Base - Versatile and multi-purpose, Cream Colour Base can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturizer or powder. Apply with a brush, sponge or fingers. Colour effects range from a light veil to highly dramatic, depending on method of application. Fragrance-free. Limited-edition golden shade created by Rihanna in RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C packaging.
- Diamonds - golden shimmer cream

RiRi Hearts MAC 282SE Duo Fibre Shader Brush - A dense and rounded, medium-sized paddle-shaped brush. Made from a blend of natural and synthetic fibres. The density and flexibility of the bristles helps apply eye shadow with a multitude of effects, from saturated colour to sheer washes. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C pink handle and rose gold ferrule.

RiRi Hearts MAC 187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush - A large, full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or Powder Blush. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of natural and synthetic fibres. Limited-edition RiRi ♥ M∙A∙C pink handle and rose gold ferrule.

I am not surprised that this really isn't a collection for me, many of the colors would not work at all on my skin and I will be skipping over a big chunk of the new products that were brought out for RiRi Hearts MAC.  My favorite piece of the collection is one that we saw earlier on in the summer months and we got a hint of in the Retro Matte collection that came out earlier in the year, I love the RiRi Hearts MAC Lipstick in RiRi Woo.  A red lipstick from MAC will always be a top choice for me in any collection and this is the only item that I really covert from this collection.  I would also really like to own the matching Lipglass created for this collection, I will be wearing lots of red lip looks this fall and these two shades would be key players in my lipstick rotation.

Even though there is only one item that I really must have in this collection, there are still a few more that I would like to own and would be willing to try on the next time that I visit my counter.  I like both of the Eye Shadow x 4, neither of sets is very unique but they both provide four quality shades that I would be able to use with many shades that I already own and would work well in many occasions.  If I had to choose, I think that the warmer palette is my favorite but I would like to own both of them.  The last items that I rally want are the liquid eye liner and the brushes that were created with this collection, none of these products are must haves for me.  I need another black liquid liner so this is actually practical for me to buy and I love the pink handles of the RiRi Hearts MAC Brushes. 

I know this collection will create a bunch of best selling items and I know that I will be one of the few that doesn't really like this collection.  I might like the products more if they worked better with my skintone but most of these shades just will not be flattering for me and there is no point in me chasing after many of them...

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Viva Glam - The Original

MAC Viva Glam is a worldwide phenomenon and has been among their best selling products since the first shade was released in the early 1990s.  Viva Glam has been a huge piece of the MAC collection for almost twenty years now and has contributed more to the MAC Aids Foundation that I could ever imagine, I own the original Lady Gaga shade and there have been many more that I have wanted but they sold out before I could ever get my hands on them.  I consider it an honor for any celebrity to be the face of Viva Glam and I love the choices of the company so far.

This month, MAC is revisiting the original Viva Glam shade and spokesperson, I was in elementary school when this was released so I never saw the campaign or even knew what MAC was.  For many people in the beauty industry, this is a blast from the past but this is a whole new collection for me since I had never seen it before.  RuPaul is the original spokesperson for this collection and is the iconic spokesperson in my book.  The original shade was a deep red that quickly became a classic shade in the MAC Lipstick shade range!

The MAC website provides the following as a description of the collection, "The original VIVA GLAM girl is back! The fabulous RuPaul, first face of VIVA GLAM in 1994, returns with her outspoken burgundy red Lipstick - now also available as a Lipglass. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM - The Original goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS."

The Original Viva Glam!

Viva Glam I Lipstick - In 1994, M·A·C introduced VIVA GLAM, an outspoken deep red that was universal in appeal and glamour. In 1997, a second lipstick was created VIVA GLAM II, a pinked mauve. VIVA GLAM III, a foxy brown plum launched in 2000. VIVA GLAM IV, a heartful rose charged with gold, introduced in March 2002. In March 2004, Viva Glam V makes its debut, a pure neutral pink with a delicious Lustre finish! VIVA GLAM VI, the newest member of the VIVA GLAM family, is a warm terracotta-plum with pearl finish. Wear it alone or finish it off with a coat of VIVA GLAM VI Lipglass. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.
- Viva Glam I - intense brownish blue-red (Matte)

Viva Glam I 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.
- Viva Glam I - intense brownish blue-red

This collection is more than a Lipstick/Lipglass collection for me, these shades take me back to the 1990s and the supermodels that dominated the fashion world in this decade.  I remember looking at mnay pictures of Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell wearing either this shade or one that looked exactly like it both on the runways and on the streets of New York City.  This was when I first started to become obsessed with fashion and supermodels and this lipstick shade was a big reason that I always tried to steal my mother's lipsticks and wear them around the house.  I have a sneaking feeling that I am not alone in these behaviors and that the Supermodel Era inspired lots of young girls at this time...

I guess it goes without saying that I must have both of these products and I will wear them all fall and winter!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Antonio Lopez

We are well into the fall makeup shopping season and I already have my first round of shopping done and am beginning to plot what I need in the second (and third!) rounds.  The collection that MAC has released with Antonio Lopez has the potential be a large part of my second round of makeup shopping, this is one of the biggest fall releases from MAC and I know that it will sell out very quickly and create some new cult favorites for the season.  When I started making my Round 2 shopping list, I began by thinking about what items I need to add to my collection and what holes that I need to fill.  And as of right now...I have no holes that need to be filled in my makeup collection and I will be able to simply shop around and see what I really love and what would work well with what I already own.

Who is Antonio Lopez and why would MAC want to make a huge collection with him?  Antonio Lopez was a legendary fashion illustrator whose career spans all the way into the late 1980S.  He created illustrations for many of the top magazines of the time including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.  Over the past few years, his work has appeared in exhibits all over the globe and he is remembered as one of the most forward thinking designers of his time.  It was only a matter of time until MAC decided to team up with his foundation and create a collection that marries his illustration talents with their talents for creating the best seasonal collections in the beauty industry.

"The legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy and love of life inspire a striking colour collection featuring: Eyes x 6 Palettes, Lips x 3 Palettes and Face Palettes perfect for highlighting natural tones and contours. Each palette's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist, making these limited-edition objets d'art to be treasured."

Here is the MAC Antonio Lopez collection!

MAC Antonio Lopez Six Eyes: Creative Copper - Six coordinating Eye Shadows in coral pink, frost pink-gold, pale beige, sparkling gold, tarnished taupe and deep warm brown. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Easy Gesture - pale warm beige (Frost)
- Artistic License - midtone frosty pink gold (Veluxe Pearl)
- Dear Cupcake - midtone coral pink (Satin)
- Creative Copper - sparkling true gold (Lustre)
- Golden Touch - tarnished taupe (Veluxe Pearl)
- Carbonized - deep warm brown (Veluxe Pearl)

MAC Antonio Lopez Six Eyes: Violet - Six coordinating Eye Shadows in vibrant violet, satin pink, cool cream, dark blue grey, deep silver and intense black. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Lithe Spirit - cool cream (Satin)
- Envisioning Pink - midtone blue pink (Satin)
- Violet Impact - vibrant violet (Veluxe Pearl)
- Showgirl - dark blue gray (Veluxe Pearl)
- Carbon - intense black (Matte)

MAC Antonio Lopez Six Eyes: Teal - Six coordinating Eye Shadows in dark teal, black with pink pearl, charcoal with crystalline frost, sparkling silver, pearlescent blue and glittery blackened olive. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Nighttrain - charcoal gray with crystalline frost (Lustre)
- Colourful Life - dark teal (Veluxe Pearl)
- Freshwater - midtone sparkling blue with blue pearl (Veluxe Pearl)
- Sex and Disco - sparkling cool silver (Lustre)
- Sketchbook - glittery blackened olive (Lustre)
- Fashion Legend - black with pink pearl (Lustre)

MAC Antonio Lopez Three Lips: Nude - Colour plus texture for the lips that made M∙A∙C famous. The glazed glossy champagne of Art Directed, the satin light peach of Antonio's Girls and the amplified white pink of Vivid Image. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Vivid Image - light white pink (Amplified)
- Antonio's Girls - light peach (Satin)
- Art Directed - glossy sheer champagne (Glazed)

MAC Antonio Lopez Three Lips: Fuchsia - Colour plus texture for the lips that made M∙A∙C famous. The matte neon pink of Candy Yum-Yum, the matte blue pink of Moxie and the amplified bright violet of Violetta. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Candy Yum Yum - matte neon pink (Matte)
- Moxie - midtone blue pink (Matte)
- Violetta - bright clean violet purple (Amplified)

MAC Antonio Lopez Three Lips: Red - Colour plus texture for the lips that made M∙A∙C famous. The matte orange-red of Scarlet Ibis, the satin vivid red of M∙A∙C Red and the matte deep scarlet of Deeply Adored. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Scarlet Ibis - bright orange red (Matte)
- MAC Red - vivid bright bluish red (Satin)
- Deeply Adored - deep scarlet (Matte)

MAC Antonio Lopez Face: Pink - Features three powders to colour cheeks and face: Iridescent Powder in the light bronze of Belightful, Powder Blush in the satin pink of Pure Femininity and Beauty Powder in the mid-tone peach of Peaceful. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Peaceful - midtone peach
- Belightful - light bronze with golden shimmer
- Pure Feminity - midtone blue pink (Satin)

MAC Antonio Lopez Face: Coral - Features three powders to colour cheeks and face: Iridescent Powder in the golden peach of Star!, Powder Blush in the satin coral of Passion for Colour and Beauty Powder in the golden bronze of Smooth Harmony. Limited-edition M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez compact.
- Smooth Harmony - midtone peach
- Star! - light bronze with golden shimmer
- Passion for Colour - midtone blue pink (Satin)

MAC Antonio Lopez 129SE Powder/Blush Brush - Special-edition, shiny black short-handled brush featuring a lacquered black, metal ferrule. Designed for blush and powder application. Soft, black fibres form a full, rounded shape. Packaged in a reusable M∙A∙C Antonio Lopez pouch.

MAC Antonio Lopez Mirror - A crushed black velvet-wrapped, hinged square compact mirror with both magnifying and standard mirrors. Features the artist's irresistible fashion illustration. Limited edition.

MAC Antonio Lopez Makeup Bag - Carry treasured tools and colours in style. Flat, rectangular bag with zipper closure. Front exterior is satin featuring the artist's irresistible fashion illustration. Back exterior is crushed black velvet. 78 x 79.5 x 12.8mm. Limited edition. M∙A∙C stores only.

MAC Antonio Lopez Tote - An online-exclusive tote featuring an iconic illustration by the artist printed on the front satin exterior. Crushed black velvet handle and back exterior. 385 x 423 mm. Limited edition.

I am excited about a couple pieces of this collection but overall my favorites are from the eye makeup palettes.  My favorite palette is the first one that is listed here, Creative Copper.  This palette contains six neutral and rose shades that I will use together and then mix then with all the rest of my Urban Decay Naked Palettes.  I know that I don't need anymore eye shadows in these shades however these are the ones that I use the most and will continue to get the most use out of throughout the fall and winter months.  I also love the Violet palette, this palette will work great for a dramatic violet eye and I will be playing with this look when I am going out over the next few months. 

The Lip palettes are my second favorite category from this collection, I really love both the Red and the Fuchsia palettes even though I don't really need anymore shades like this.  If I had to decide between the two of the palettes, I would go after the Fuchsia palette since Candy Yum Yum is always sold out at my favorite counter and I have not yet tried Moxie.  The Red palette would be nice to own but not a necessary, I already own MAC Red and am pretty well stocked on red lipsticks from this company.  I can skip over the Face palettes and I don't need any of the accessories from this collection.

If I could only get two pieces from this collection, my top choices are the neutral eye shadow palette and the palette with the pink lip hues.  I would get use from this choices throughout the whole year and I could started using them right after I bought them!  It looks like Round 2 of fall beauty shopping is starting!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Retro Matte

Fall collections are now in full swing and MAC keeps bringing out the products that will keep me going back to the counter all season long!  I have swooned over their new Indulge collection, craved a new foundation from Pro Longwear, and wanted yet another red lipstick shade with my last visit to the counter.  A good chunk of my paycheck is being set aside each month for my MAC visits and this will be a fall of makeup shopping instead of fragrance and body product shopping.  I hope I don't need another train case by the end of October...

MAC has released yet another new collection that I am going to go crazy over when I get to the counter!  Retro Matte is a collection that contains only lip products and was based off the huge fame of the Ruby Woo lipstick hue and the cult following that came with it.  I have admired the Ruby Woo shade several times however I have not bought it yet for the following reasons: I spent more time at the MAC counter checking out the new and limited editions and this shade is very often sold out at my counter.  I have the worst luck with this shade and the stars have never aligned with me getting to the counter when this product is in stock and when I am not simply picking up all my new collection shades.  Perhaps with the release of Retro Matte, my counter will get more tubes of this shade in than they normally do.

"Inspired by Ruby Woo's overwhelming popularity and one-of-a-kind texture, M•A•C introduces new bold shades in its Retro Matte finish. Eye-catching colours like Dangerous and All Fired Up create a look that's fiercely feminine. M•A•C also premieres Pro Longwear Lip Pencils in a vibrant colour palette, giving this long-lasting and transfer-proof lip pencil an exhilarating makeover.", states the MAC website when providing an overall collection description.

Here is the Retro Matte collection!

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Steady Going - light pink matte
- Runway Hit - light nude matte
- Dangerous - orangey red matte
- Relentlessly Red - bright pinkish coral matte
- All Fired Up - bright fuschia matte
- Flat Out Fabulous - bright plum matte
- Ruby Woo - very matte vivid blue-red
- Fixed On Drama - rich wine matte

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - A new generation of longwearing lip pencil technology. Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly. Defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour. Pro-longs the hours between re-application. Transfer proof.
- In Anticipation - soft yellow pink
- Staunchly Stylish - pinky beige
- Dynamo - intense pink cream
- Shock Value - bright pink cream
- High Energy - bright orange red cream
- Trust in Red - bright cool red cream
- More to Love - intense bluish pink
- Fashion Boost - bright purple cream

Obviously...my first choice from this collection will be a tube of Ruby Woo.  After I can finally get my hands on a tube of this lipstick, then I will start looking at the rest of the shades in this collection.  I will be skipping over the Pro Longwear Lip Pencil since I don't use this type of product and will not be starting any time soon.  My lipstick shopping list: Steady Going, Runway Hit, Relentlessly Red, and All Fired Up.  I want all kinds of shades from this finish and I hope that these lipsticks are the same quality as the rest of the products from MAC, I will just add these lipsticks to my MAC lip obsession and end up buying more from this company!

photo courtesy of MAC

Clarins Fall 2013 Collection - Graphic Expression

I believe that today is officially the end of the fall 2013 collections, we have seen all kinds of shades and collections and I have some new favorites that I added to my beauty product collection for the fall.  The heat wave shows no signs of breaking up so I feel like we have "finished" fall before it has even arrived but very soon I will be breaking out my new sweaters and watching football every Sunday.  We are going to finish with a brand that I tend to use more skincare and tanning products from and need to branch out into their makeup collection.  I love Clarins skin and tanning products and I need to start adding their top rated makeup items to my train case.

The collection for fall is named Graphic Expression and it focuses on new eye and cheek palettes plus a new formula of mascara.  This mascara is unique and is specially designed to nourish and grow lashes while making them look fabulous, a rare combination product.  Normally one must purchase a mascara to wear during the day and then a separate treatment for the night.  I will be interested to see how this mascara performs against the option of using two separate products.  This is a heavy eye makeup collection so I am hoping to find a few products that will fill some of the voids in my train case.

There isn't a formal description for this collection so we are just going to go right into our last fall collection!

Graphic Expressions Eye Quarter Mineral Palette - Highly concentrated in mineral pigments, these eye shadows light up all eyes. Their wet and dry texture is extremely soft on application. Easy to blend and shade, their colours are both subtle and even. Harmonies of satin and iridescent shades offer a variety of effects. For a superb, long-lasting make-up result.
- deep forest green khaki satin/taupe satin/bronze shimmer/gold shimmer

Be Long Mascara - This season's most-wanted mascara takes skimpy lashes and makes them long and lush. Clarins' new growth-activating formula, Be Long Complex, makes all the difference. After 4 weeks of use, lashes increased in length by an average of 1.1mm*. Clarins exclusive applicator brush sees that no lash goes unnoticed—even the teensiest. *Test conducted with 33 women for 4 weeks. Measurements performed on bare lashes. Average result.
- 01 Intense Black - deep black

Graphic Expression Face and Blush Powder Palette - Tinted powder with light beige to illuminate, dark beige to even out skin tone, coral pink to sculpt and a touch of golden light to leave the complexion looking smooth, flawless, and sophisticated.
Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick - This lipstick combines the transparent colour and shine of a lip gloss with the creamy texture of a lipstick. A unique extreme shine Maxi Lip Complex helps plump and hydrate for full, soft and supple lips, while the deeply moisturizing and long-wearing formula provides the benefits of a balm with lip care.
- Spicy Cinnamon - warm shimmering brown red
- Royal Plum - deep plum satin
- Pink Camellia - medium neutral pink shimmer

I am already starting to collect a few items for my next Most Wanted list and the last two collections were two of the best ones that we have seen for this fall.  I love the eye makeup palette from this collection and am excited to try out the mascara.  I haven't seen anything like this mascara before and I really want to try it out next time that I need a new mascara (which won't be anytime soon since I have about three tubes that haven't even been opened yet).  I want to work this eye makeup palette into the looks that I create with both of my Naked Palettes and this will be great addition to my traincase. 

I am on the fence with the Face and Blush Palette, I doubt that I would ever use it even though it is quite pretty.  I don't love any of the lipsticks and can easily skip over adding any of them to my collection.

The temperatures are still in the high 90s and I am impatient to start using all the new makeup that I have bought for fall.  I hate this strange period of in between, I am not using the majority of my summer shades as the fall is quickly approaching but very few pieces of my fall line up are appropriate yet...

photo courtesy of Clarins

Estee Lauder Fall 2013 Collection - Metallics

We are at the end of the fall collections and will be looking at holiday collections within the next few weeks.  This seems hard to believe as my area of Pennsylvania is going through yet another late summer heat wave and it doesn't even seem that fall will ever get hear.  But the hot weather will be over before I know it and fall is right around the corner so I will finish up my fall shopping over the next few weeks.  One of the last large collections that I have not touched on yet is the new Pure Color collection from Estee Lauder, this collection is called Metallics and contains limited edition products and new shades all of which have one thing in common - deep metallic jewel tones rule this collection and I am excited to see what this company is bringing out for fall/winter.

I have been getting more and more into the Estee Lauder brand with the recent introduction of Pure Color.  The brand used to be more synonymous with old women that have worn the same fragrances and lipsticks for the past twenty years and now has been changing and bringing out shades and fragrances that can be embraced by a younger customer.

The Metallics collection will certainly be enjoyed by a younger customer but I do believe that this collection includes shades for every customer of Lauder.  Metallic hues are at the heart of the collection and I believe the majority of these shades will be best for nighttime and not appropriate for a more professional environment.  The eye makeup and nail polish shades are the most hyped products of the collection and I will want to check both of these products out next time that I visit the counter. 

Here is the Metallics collection!

Pure Color Intense Eye Shadow Trio - Play in a new dimension of amplified color with NEW Pure Color Instant Intense Eye Shadow Trios. Like molten metal, the liquid-like texture melts onto the eyelids for a high-definition chromatic color impact. A creamy, silk-like formula glides on effortlessly releasing pure, brilliant color that stays true for 10 hours without creasing or fading. The dazzling eye shadows instantly transform from a soft powder to a silky liquid-like texture using slurry technology to give the powder a unique silk-satin feel. True Vision™ Technology – a crystalline (polymer) laminate magnifies and amplifies color for intense clarity and vibrancy, while a unique blend of optics capture light for a reflective flash of shine.  Designed to be applied dry for a refined look or wet for a high metallic finish, the NEW Pure Color Instant Intense Eye Shadow Trios infuse metallic into any look for an added dimension of sophistication. Featuring three brilliant shades, each trio is a total eye look in one: base, contour, and highlight for mistake-proof application. Extremely blendable and color-true, the expertly coordinated shades look stunning on all skin tones and range from soft chrome shimmers to dramatic metallic finishes.
- Arctic Zinc – range of cool blue tones
- Beach Metals – warm peach and plum tones
- Camo Chrome – range of green tones
- Gilded Chocolates – warm gold and deep chocolate tones
- Smoked Chrome – metallic silver and slate blue tones
- Steel Lilacs – range of lilac tones
- Sterling Plums – range of pale and deep plum tones

Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer - NEW Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer drenches lips in an array of seductively rich lacquered hues, from sultry nudes to daring wines. Combining the creamy coverage of a lipstick and the high-shine of a gloss, this opulently pigmented lacquer creates a lusciously brilliant and glass-like finish. Estée Lauder’s True Vision™ Technology provides the ultimate color payoff, while multi-functional polymers seal in moisture and form a color stay barrier to keep brilliant color and impeccable shine looking fresh, supple and vibrant for a long-lasting 6 hour wear. A new moisture-infused formula also replenishes lips for a rich, cushioned feel that radiates from within. For application, an exclusive paddle, with a bell curve design, dips in the center creating a reservoir effect to release the perfect amount of lacquer that glides onto lips with precision.  A hybrid of vividly rich color and brilliant metallic shine meet in six NEW Limited Edition Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipsticks. Exclusive True Vision™ Technology provides rich color that wraps lips in lustrous shine, while a tri-complex of refined metalized gold and silver pearls envelop lips to create an amplified chromatic finish. This high-impact fusion of pigments and pearls create brilliant shades that work across all different skin tones, while the moisture-rich formula keeps lips feeling soft and conditioned all day.
- Electric Wine - deep cool wine cream
- Fuchsia Flash - medium magenta berry cream
- Hot Cherry - medium blue red cream
- Liquid Pearl - pale cool beige with shimmer
- Mirrored Mauve - medium mauve with shimmer
- Peach Glass - medium warm peach cream
- Ruby Glow - deep blue red cream
- Vinyl Rose - medium cool rose cream
- Wet Plum - deep warm plum cream
- Amber Allow - medium bronze shimmer

Pure Color Vivid Shine Nail Lacquer - Color Vivid Shine Nail Lacquer. Born out of a fusion of refined pearls and aluminum platelets, this new high-impact finish saturates nails in a flash richly pigmented chromatic color. The multi-faceted spectrum of color-enriched metalized shades range from dusty rose gold to smoky deep platinum, creating a new dimension of confident style and expressive attitude.
- Rose Gold - rose gold metallic
- Midnight Metal - platinum silver foil
- Chocolate Foil - deep chocolate brown foil
- Smoked Chrome - deep platinum silver foil
- Steel Orchid - deep silver purple metallic
- Brushed Gold - medium gold foil
- Chrome Violet - medium purple with a charcoal metallic
- Metallic Green - deep green metallic

I love this collection and this might be one of the best that Estee Lauder has brought out in recent years.  I don't know very much about Estee Lauder lip products and I think that I will stick more with the eye makeup and nail polishes from Metallics and then look more at the lip glosses later on.  My favorites of the eye makeup are Gilded Chocolates and Smoked Chrome.  I bet that the model in the picture is using the Smoked Chrome eye makeup and then the matching nail polish.  I would also like the Steel Lilacs and Sterling Plums to add to my fall eye makeup shopping. 

I am going to try and keep my nail polish shopping to a few shades or I will want to take them all home with me.  My favorites are Rose Gold, Steel Orchid, Chrome Violet, and Metallic Green.  One of the last things that I need is another nail polish line to be obsessed with but I have a feeling that this is exact scenario will occur very soon...

photo courtesy of Estee Lauder

MAC Pro Longwear

Indulge may have been the biggest release from MAC for this fall but we all know that they will keep releasing new collections and their loyal fans will keep buying their products all season!  The newest collection for MAC is another version of the Pro Longwear collections, it seems that MAC adds a few more products and shades to the Pro Longwear collection every single year.  Pro Longwear was originally a collection of pro-level products that were only available to registered MAC makeup artists, each of these products perform at the level required for runway shows and other events where makeup must stay at full impact for several hours and under extreme conditions.  I have never used any of the items from Pro Longwear but I am considering changing that trend for this fall.  Last spring, I could really see a change in my makeup on the days that I was going right from work to school at night and I usually had next to nothing on my face by the end of those 13 hour days.  I am thinking about mostly face makeup from this line but I am open to all kinds of products from it.

Pro Longwear is among some of the top rated products from MAC and I feel confident trying any type of face products from this line.  My first choice will be a new foundation and then a new concealer to follow it up.  I do like the Erase Paste from Benefit that I have been using but I want to see what else is out there and if MAC can offer me a product that lasts longer at a full pigment.

"Introducing new shades of Pro Longwear for eyes and face. Ranging from light to dark to perfectly match any skin tone, Pro Longwear Foundation and Concealer keep skin fresh and flawless in formulas lasting up to 15 hours. Pro Longwear Paint Pots deliver highly dimensional colour with a luxurious finish while Pro Longwear Eye Liner defines eyes with a dense, water-resistant formula that glides on comfortably and stays for 12 hours, in seven new shades from eggplant to brilliant sheer gold."

Here is the Pro Longear collection for this season!

Pro Longwear 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 M·A·C shadows and liners.
- Chrome Angel - platinum silver
- Let's Skate - pale pink with pearl
- Perky - cream coral with white pearl
- Rubenesque - golden peach with gold pearl
- Layin' Low - creamy beige
- Clearwater - sea foam
- Antique Diamond - frosted olive silver
- Camel Coat - muted beige
- Tailor Gray - muted gray
- Stormy Pink - muted gray purple
- Constructivist - metallic brown with red pearl
- Blackground - black-gray with multi color

Pro Longwear Eye Liner - Pro Longwear's long-lasting eye liner delivers creamy, dense colour that glides on smoothly. 12-hour water resistant formula stays put and smudge-free.
- Powerline - muted gold
- Devotion - deep army green
- Strong Willed - deep eggplant
- Definitely Black - deep black

Pro Longwear Foundation - A comfortable, long-wearing foundation that gives up to 15 hours of wear in any environmental condition. Lightweight and creamy, applies and blends easily leaving the skin feeling soft and free to breathe all day while controlling oil. Specially treated micronized pigments help give a smoother, more flawless, natural finish with stay-true colour.  Available in a range of shades to suit every skintone.

Pro Longwear Concealer - A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations. Comes in a clear glass vial with a matte black pump.  Available in a range of shades to suit every skintone.

242 Shader Brush - For powder, concealer or emollient-based product application. This brush has firm fibers carefully shaped to form a rounded edge for a smooth, even finish. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

195 Concealer Brush - A flexible synthetic fibre flat brush with slight pointed tip for precision application and blending of all concealer formulas and other emollient products.

193 Angled Foundation Brush - A Pro-quality foundation brush created to achieve a silky, flawless finish. Ideal for any M·A·C foundation, including new Matchmaster SPF 15 & classics like Studio Fix & Studio Tech. Use to apply, distribute and blend foundation into all areas of the face.

I am more interested in face products than I am in color products from this collection, I want to try out both the foundation and the concealer in this collection.  I need some products that I can trust to take me from the early morning, all the way through work, and then all the way through class at night.  I have found that most products can get me through the work day but I would have to touch up before class at night and I don't always have time for that.  This is going to be looked at during one of my upcoming visits to the MAC counter and this is the type of visit that I will need to set time aside for since this one might take more than a few minutes and I want to make sure that I get one of the counter managers to help me with these products.

After I get my foundation and concealer, I will then look at a few of the eye makeup products that were introduced in this collection.  I do like a few of the shades int he Pro Longwear Paint Pot, the neutrals will work well with the rest of the eye makeup shades that I already own.  Layin' Low and Camel Coat will be two very good neutrals for me and I will have them in constant rotation in my train case.  From the eye liners, I love the gold shades in this collection (Powerline) and this is shade that I could start using now and then use through the whole year.  I go through gold eye liner pencils faster than any other shade and I would like to add another shade to my collection.

photo courtesy of MAC

China Glaze Fall 2013 Collection - Autumn Nights

I spent yesterday's post mooning over the new Zoya collection and today we are moving onto the China Glaze fall collection.  I already have started making a long list for the next time that I visit Ulta and I am sure that this collection will provide even more additions to that list.  I have started using deep red hues on my toes this week but still haven't moved over to using them on my hands yet...but that will come before the end of the month.  I have a great red from the China Glaze fall collection of 2012 and I am looking forward to polishing my nail with it very soon!

The new collection from China Glaze is named Autumn Nights and I am envisioning a range of deep jewel tones in multiple finishes.  In short, I expect this collection to be very similar to the Zoya collection that we looked at yesterday.  I don't know how many of these shades that I will need if I am able to purchase all of the shades that I wanted from Zoya but it will be nice to have some backup options in the event that shades are sold out. 

Here is the Autumn Nights collection!

- Goldie But Goodie - rich gold foil
- Gossip Over Gimlets - rich silver foil
- Charmed, I'm Sure - deep cool rich purple cream
- Don't Make Me Wine - medium magenta metallic
- Kiss My Glass - silver metallic with blue flash
- Public Relations - silver metallic with cool purple flash
- Queen B - rich blue/purple cream
- Red-y and Willing - medium cool red shimmer
- Rendezvous With You - deep purple/gray foil
- Scandalous Shenanigans - medium blue frost
- Strike Up a Cosmo - warm rose gold foil
- Tongue and Chic - medium aqua shimmer

I must say that I prefer the Zoya collection and this is one of my least favorite collections from China Glaze (usually the makers of fabulous collections).  There are very few shades that I want from this line up and am really only interested in the foil finish shades.  I love all four of the foil shades and will want to add all of them to my collection, I am the most excited about Strike Up a Cosmo but I know that Gossip Over Gimlets will be a staple in my fall polish rotation.  The only other shade that I really like Charmed, I'm Sure.  All of the metallic shades look like ones from previous holiday or fall collections and there is nothing unique about any of these shades so there will be a very short shopping list from this collection...

photo courtesy of China Glaze's Facebook

Zoya Fall 2013 Collection - Cashmeres and Satins

September has just began and I am know craving some new polish colors for fall.  Therefore today we are going to look at the newest collection from Zoya and then we are going right into looking at China Glaze's new collection tomorrow.  I start wearing fall reds and jewel tones on my toes right around Labor Day and then will start wearing them on my hands toward the middle of the month.  Zoya is a nail polish formula that I have just began to wear and will be buying more of over my next few Ulta visits.  This is one of the formulas that my hair stylist recommends the most and is one that contains no animal products or byproducts in the formula.

The new collection is called Cashmeres and Satins, this company always divides their seasonal collection up into two parts.  Each part has a different finish and most of the time the two parts contains the same or very similar shades in the different finishes.  So I expect that we will see a group that contains a metallic finish and a group that contains a satin finish.

The shades that are part of the Cashmere collection:

- Giovanna - stunning emerald green metallic (originally designed for Zang Toi/AW13)
- Maria-Louisa - gold cellophane accent topper (originally designed for Rafael Cennamo/AW13)
- Livingston - lush autumn red cream
- Channing - rusty coppery red metallic
- Pepper - brick red cream (originally designed for Peter Som/AW 13)
- Mason - exciting red violet metallic
- Flynn - lush camel brown nude cream
- Louise - rich brown cream
- Neve - sapphire blue metallic (original designed for Zang Toi/AW13)
- Hunter - dark sea green cream
- Sailor - classic dark navy cream
- Claudine - striking dark meteorite gray metallic

I love this collection and I am really pumped to grab some new nail polish shades in the coming weeks!  My favorite shade is the one that I have pictured, Giovanna.  I can only imagine how lovely this shade looked when worn by the models on the Zang Toi runway and I want to start wearing this shade as soon as possible.  Flynn will be a good choice for a neutral and this will be one that I will fall back on and use as a staple in my polish line up.  Here is the rest of my shopping list when I visit Ulta: Maria-Louisa, Livingston, Pepper, Neve, Hunter, Sailor, and Claudine.  I would love if Zoya sold sets of polishes, I want so many shades from this collection that I would be more than happy to order sets.

I already have a nice list for my next Ulta visit and I know that I will be adding to it tomorrow when we check out the new collection from China Glaze.  This is one of my favorite collections so far this season and the best nail polish collection that we have seen so far.

photo courtesy of Zoya

Guerlain Fall 2013 Collection - Violette de Madame Collection

Yesterday we looked at the new Dior collection and today we are moving right onto the newest from Guerlain, we have very few collections left and are going to cover them pretty quickly as we all know that the holiday collections will start coming out in the beginning of October.  Not that I even want to be thinking about the holidays right now...but we know how fast they tend to come up on us.  This will was already my first week of the semester and schoolwork will be piling up soon.  Therefore we are taking today to think about beauty and not the crazy semester that I have coming up...

The Guerlain collections are usually quite small but the products in them are beautiful and worth fighting the crowds for.  I love the pictures of Natalia Vodianova that are used with this collection and Guerlain has one of the best collection pictures of the season, I would love to be able to recreate her look for myself.

I found a great collection description on the Temptalia beauty blog, Guerlain did not have much of one and I am glad that I could use another blog to find one.  "Guerlain introduces its exclusive Fall 2013 Voilette de Madame collection, composed to make every woman irresistible, expressing her seduction and personality with style and femininity. Madame’s ultimate accessory, the veil, is the inspiration for this season’s collection. Like Madame herself, the veil gives only small glimpses into a woman’s mysterious world. And as Madame unveils herself, her secrets come to light."  This is lip product heavy collection and is the perfect complement to the Dior collection that we looked at yesterday.

The newest collection from Guerlain!

Ecrin 2 Couleurs Colour Fusion Eye Shadow - Guerlain has invented “ready-to-colour”, the perfect accessory for making the eyes a real fashion statement. This new fine and slender case slips easily into a handbag for use at any time. It opens vertically to reveal an elegant mirror… Inside: two eyeshadows, two textures, two colour accessories applied using its double-ended applicator to create amazing effects.
- Two Rock (01) dazzling green/black
- Two Stylish (02) deep blue/metallic grey
- Two Extravagant (03) chocolate brown/zesty green
- Two Gossip (04) plum/baroque gold
- Two Candy (05) soft white/sparkling pink
- Two Parisian (06) intense black/powder pink
- Two Lovely (07) soft grey/aquamarine
- Two Spicy (08) ebony brown/spicy coral

Gel Eye Pencil - Guerlain’s retractable gel eye pencil transforms your eyes in an instant. Its combination of smooth waxes, luminous polymers and intense pigmentation allows you to create the perfect eye contour for a refined look. Plus, it’s long-lasting, nontransferable and water-resistant so it stays all day without smudging.
- Black Jack (01) - black
- Jackie Brown - (02) brown
- Deep Purple - (03) purple
- Katy Navy - (04) navy
- Amber Silver - (05) silver

Rouge G de Guerlain Lipcolor - A jewel lipstick compact with a white-gold shimmer designed by Lorenz Bäumer, the young and talented jeweler in Place Vendôme. A horizontal design with feminine curves that houses a secret: a mirror automatically appears when the compact is opened. The lipstick has a purely elegant, contemporary design and closes magnetically. This exceptional object boasts a comprehensive, premium formula containing a star ingredient: ruby powder, which acts as an optical whitener to bring out the color and shine of the shades. The blend of natural active ingredients (Tiger Grass, wild mango butter, Gugul resin used in Ayurvedic medicine) completes the formula to plump up, smooth and bring moisture and softness to your lips.
- Madame Batifole (860) - vibrant fuchsia
- Madame Flirte (861) - fruity red
- Madame Reve (862) - voluptuous pink

Maxi Shine Gloss d' Enfer Lip Gloss - Maxi Shine Gloss d'Enfer guarantees lips a shimmering, radiant and plumping finish. Maxi Shine's oil composition creates a moisturizing barrier to ensure an intense softness. Additionally, each shade presents varying degrees of coverage and pigment intensity. The perfect partner for a desirable, appealing smile, Maxi Shine offers tailor-made effects for beautifully enhanced lips.
- Madame Batifole (860) - electric sparkling fuchsia
- Madame Flirte (861) - gourmand sparkling red
- Madame Fascine (863) - sparkling deep purple

Le Vernis Nail Lacquer - Guerlain's newest nail lacquers are indispensable allies for accomplished femininity. The ultra-vibrant shades incorporate adhesive resins to offer a perfectly even sheen that lasts for days. Using each shade's extra-flat and widened brush, the easy-to-use formula imparts a shiny, daring and immaculate finish.
- Madame Batifole (860) - deep and intense fuchsia

I love this collection and wish that I could find these products closer to my home.  Driving to King of Prussia isn't something that I can do on a normal basis and my Sephora tends to carry only a few of the best selling products from this line.  I guess I will have to make due with what I can find at Sephora and order from Nordstrom...at least they both have a generous return policy in case I don't love what I order.

I am looking at the lip products in this collection and my shopping from Guerlain will balance out my shopping from the Dior collection that we looked at yesterday.  I love the shades of the Rouge G and need to try this product out soon, this is one that is carried at Sephora so I will have an easy time getting my hands on this product.  I want the red and the pink shades from this product and I want to try the red shade of the lip gloss (another product that I believe is carried at my local Sephora).  I like many of the eye shadow duos but I don't think that any of the shades are unique enough to warrant me purchasing them when I own a bunch of eye shadow palettes already.  The last piece that I love is the new deep fuchsia shade of nail polish, I don't believe that I own any shade like this and it will be perfect for the fall season!

photo courtesy of Guerlain

Dior Fall 2013 Collection - Mystic Metallics

I pretty much have my fall makeup shopping well under way and have a solid list in hand while making a few last minute decisions as to which other products I might need to add to my long shopping list.  I am finishing up the fall collections and have less than five more to round out it all out.  Today we are looking at the last big collection for this season, the fall collection from Dior is all about metallic hues for all facial features and promises to contain all kinds of beautiful makeup shades.  I am looking forward a deep charcoal metallic eye shadow and maybe a matching eye liner, I will have some more shopping to do after this collection!

Mystic Metallics contains quite a few top rated products and the new eye shadow palettes are among them.  Dior is one product line that I prefer the eye makeup products over the lip products and this is a rare occurrence for me since I love lipsticks and lip glosses more than any other type of makeup.  I think I own less than five lip products from this company so I will want to add more lipsticks from Dior to my collection after viewing the newest from this company. 

I can't find a collection description from Dior so I will try and sum up the collection theme myself before digging into the products and shades.  This collection focuses on strong eye makeup and most (if not all) of the shades are rich metallic jewel tones.  Dior provides nail shades to match the metallic eyes and lips take a back seat in neutral tones. 

Dior's Mystic Metallic collection!

Dior Blush -  Dior's legendary blush returns with a new texture formulated to blend with your skin, leaving you with a weightless veil of color.  This product will be available in 13 shades that will be grouped into the following families: Pink, Red, Coral, and Beige.

Mystic Metallics 5 Couleurs Eye Palette - Dior reinvents the 5 Couleurs legend with the Couture Palette that gives free rein to your creativity to achieve custom makeup results. True to the bold color creation from the House of Dior, each harmony explores a unique world of color. It's designed with a central shade, the signature of the palette, and four accessory shades that are used to create a multifaceted look. Each boasts a wide variety of textures and shades with a host of effects ranging from matte and satiny to iridescent and ultra-shimmery.
- #384 Belle Etoile - hues of blue and green
- #864 Constellation - hues of silver and purple

3 Couleurs Glow Palette - Dior reinvents the metallic eye with 3 Couleurs, an eyeshadow trio with shades in varying effects and textures to provide infinite, easy, custom-made metallic eyes. The palette features a sliding lid that opens to reveal an innovative, pop-up mirror. Inside, an ultra-smooth base prepares the eyelid while matte and iridescent shades provide ready-to-wear eye looks, from simple to glamorous.
- #751 Silver Glow - trio of silver shades

3 Couleurs Smoky Palette - Dior reinvents the smoky eye with 3 Couleurs, an eyeshadow trio with shades in varying effects and textures to provide infinite, easy, custom-made smoky eyes. The palette features a sliding lid that opens to reveal an innovative, pop-up mirror. Inside, an ultra-smooth base prepares the eyelid while matte and iridescent shades provide ready-to-wear eye looks, from simple to glamorous.
- #381 Smoky Blue - trio of navy and blue shades

Diorshow Fusion Mono Eye Shadow - In a single step, Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow creates multidimensional contrasts for a professional makeup effect. Its unique cushiony gel-foam texture brightens your eyes with faceted, long-lasting color and a weightless finish.
- #001 Lune - pure white
- #381 Milenium - deep charcoal
- #661 Meteore - medium bronze
- #821 Chimere - medium pink
- #881 Hypnotique - deep silver plum

DiorLiner Eyeliner - DiorLiner, Dior's automatic, total-control pen eyeliner, delivers precise contouring and a flawlessly clean line. Its click-action applicator with a soft, tapered brush deposits just the right amount of fluid on your lids, guaranteeing an even line in just one stroke.
- #888 Plum - deep plum

Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick - Dior Addict Extreme combines vibrant color intensity with the perfection of luminous shine. Extreme, almost breathtaking shades make lips glow with radiant shine in vibrant colors with dazzling pure pigments.Twelve shots of color, from the most daring pinks to nude beiges, make a bold statement.
- #369 Mystic - plum
- #546 Gris Gris - beige

Dior Addict Gloss - Straight from the runway, new Dior Addict Gloss features a featherweight formula with a flash-plumping, spotlight-shine effect. Hyaluronic spheres keep lips smooth and moisturized while mirror-like micropearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish. The package is tall and sleek with a Lucite® top that mirrors the nano-spotlight effect. The precision brush applicator makes for effortless, perfect application every time.
- #364 Charm - mauve
- #981 Ensorcelante - plum

DiorShow Blackout Mascara - Diorshow Black Out Mascara combines the spectacular volume and power of khôl black. Its XXL brush deposits a khôl-effect texture on and between lashes to create intense and mysterious smoky eyes.

DiorShow Iconic OverCurl Mascara - Dior brings you the latest chapter in the Diorshow mascara adventure inspired by the big-screen eyes of movie-star icons. The mascara is designed with an incurved brush, modeled after professional eyelash curlers, that delivers extreme curl and a stretch-effect formula for spectacularly shaped lashes.

Dior Vernis - Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer is the first couture gel-effect nail polish, featuring an advanced formula that provides you with glass-like shine and extended wear. Each shade is created with special pigments that give off vibrant, intense color and a new precision brush that provides the perfect amount of polish in a single sweep. The Nail Lacquer is easily removed with nail polish remover.
- #382 Destin - shimmering silver pink
- #992 Galaxie - deep plum cream

This is a pretty broad collection so I am going to start narrowing down my favorites from it.  I really love the eye makeup look on the model so I will be starting with the 3 Couleurs Glow eye palette.  I will then add the 5 Couleurs in the silver shade and then the single eye shadows in the white and charcoal shades.  I love Dior mascaras and this will be the perfect time for me to add a few more to my collection and round out the eye makeup look that this collection can create.  I am only really excited about the eye makeup pieces of this collection, I could easily skip over the few lip and cheek shades that were offered with this collection.  This is one of the best collections for eye makeup this season but I can't say that it is one of the best overall since the rest of the shades are a bit weak.

We are almost done with the fall collections and will be wrapping them up in the next two weeks.  After that fall will really be arriving and I will be getting ready to show off all my new makeup looks!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Deborah Lippmann Fall 2013 Collection - Jewel Heist

We haven't looked at many new nail polishes so far this fall and now we are turning our attention to the new polish shades from Deborah Lippmann.  I must say that I am the most excited for the new China Glaze collection but I am ready to look at these polishes and start to decide that shades I need for fall.  Jewel Heist is their offering for fall and this is one of the first times that we are seeing a unified collection from this company and not just a group of new shades.

Jewel Heist contains three deep jewel tones and then three holographic top coats to match each shade.  I am more interested in the three jewel tones but we will see if any of the top coats will work with my current style.  I might want to try one shade with the matching top coats but I don't think that I will purchase all of them...I see a deep navy blue in this collection so this would be my choice to try the top coat on.

To anyone that is not familiar with this polish line, the formula is now 5-Free (no DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, or Camphor).  I am not sure what the addition (or lack of) Camphor does to nail polish but I guess it was taken out of the formula for a reason.

Here are the six new shades...

- Fake It Til You Make It - metallic champagne gold with small red, gold, and green hexagonal glitter
- Glitter and Be Gay - sheer top coat with sheer gold base
- Laughin To The Bank - deep emerald green shimmer
- Shake Your Money Maker - sheer top coat with green base and teal and gold glitter
- Rolling In The Deep - deep navy cream
- Va Va Voom - sheep top coat with navy base and bright blue and navy glitter

My favorite shades are the blues, I want both of the jewel and glitter polishes and these might be some of my favorite pieces of the season so far.  The last shade that I want is the deep emerald green though I will be skipping the top coat for that shade.  I am not interested in the gold hue, it might be too warm for me and I wear very little gold shades in my jewelry.  I am not sure how I feel about mixing gold nail polish with silver jewelry and might decide later on in the season.

photo courtesy of Deborah Lippmann

MAC Indulge - Eye and Cheek

I have been raving over the first part of the MAC Indulge collection and if the second part is just as good, then I know that I have a MAC visit in my near future.  As I mentioned in my other post on this collection, I haven't been to the MAC counter in a few days and I have been waiting for the new fall collections to come out before I went shopping again.  I have already begun to pick products out for my first shopping trip of this collection and now I know that I will find more in this part of the collection, I tend to buy more eye makeup in the fall and winter months than I do in spring and summer and that means that I will be picking up some new goodies at the counter. 

I finished up several eyeliners at the very end of last winter and have not yet replaced them so I am looking at this collection as a prime time to do so.  It might sound boring, but I am most in need of a plain brown cream eyeliner as I used up the one I bought from Tarte last fall.  That is the most important item that I am looking at in this collection but I am sure that I will want much more than just a new liner. 

"Fall Colour is a surreal feast for the senses, where no taste is too extravagant and no behaviour beyond limits. On the menu: Cremeblend Blush flushes skin with buildable glow as Eye Shadow defines eyes for the ultimate in temptation, intensified by Fluidline. Haute and Naughty Too Black Lash darkens and lengthens lashes.", states the MAC website in a description of this part of the collection.  Cremeblend Blush being in this collection is very exciting to me since I also love to use cream blush in the cold weather months.  I think that this might be one of the few collections that I will find products that I want to buy for every single facial feature!

The rest of the Indulge collection...

Eye Shadow - Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well.
- Gilty Morsel - glittery light gold
- Sex and the Oyster - mid-tone grayed blue green
- Three Ring Yellow - bright sulfur green gold
- Divine Decadence - soft bronze
- Beluga - dark charcoal with multi-dimensional pearl
- Eat, Love - deep emerald
- Deep Cravings - dark shimmery gray
- Palace Pedigreed - dark plum

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately
- Gilt Gourmet - sparkling burnished gold
- Deliciously Rich - shimmering dirty taupe
- Blacktrak - solid flat black

Haute and Naughty Too Black Lash - Our two-in-one mascara in an intense carbon black. Creamy, velvety, lightweight formula sweeps up lashes and coats from root-to-tip. The dual-wiper system customizes your lash style: naturally defined or powerfully dramatic.

Cremeblend Blush - A blush that manages to make a simple blush state-of-the-art. Creamy, easy to blend medium coverage formula imparts a natural finish that's smooth, dewy-fresh, long-lasting.
- Tease Your Tastes - soft neutral pink
- Glamour Feast - deep rose

266 Small Angle Brush - For creating sharp, precise lines. This brush has fibres which are carefully arranged to form a perfect angle. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

213 Fluff Brush - For application of eye shadow to the lid area. This brush has a thick bundle of fibers arranged in a rounded shape. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

This is another strong collection for me...MAC is hitting all the high notes this fall!  My favorite aspect of this collection is the two new shades of Fluidline, both the shimmering gold and shimmering taupe will be awesome for fall and I will be able to use them with the Urban Decay Naked Palettes and many other eye makeup shades that I already own.  I will be picking these two up on the first day of the collection release!  I am already thinking about my fall eye makeup looks and I can say that these two shades will play a big role this fall!

I like some of the Eye Shadows shades but I am not dying for any of them.  Sex and the Oyster is one of the best names that I have ever seen for a makeup shade but I don't like the color and it wouldn't be very flattering either.  I would like to buy three of the warmer neutral shades as they will work well with the shades that I already own and tend to wear the most of, my choices are: Gilty Morsel, Divine Decadence, and Deep Cravings (not a neutral but a great shade!).  I am always looking to expand my eye shadow collection and I have found some solid new shades with this part of Indulge.

The Cremeblend Blush is a product that I am very excited about and just might be the product that I am the most excited about in this whole collection.  I love both of these shades and pinks and rose are the best for my skintone.  In the fall and winter, my skin gets much more pale and I love to wear bright cheek looks throughout the whole season.  These are two more products that I will want to get the first day!

I have quite a shopping list from this collection!  My must haves include two blushes, two eyeliners, a lipstick, a lip gloss, and a nail polish.  I have a feeling that my return to the MAC counter will be huge!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

MAC Indulge - Lip and Nail

I haven't been at the MAC counter for the past few days and I must say that I am really craving some new items from them and am so glad that they are beginning to bring out their new products and collections for fall!  I have been seeing pictures of Indulge since the beginning of the summer months and I got a flyer in the mail the other week, inviting me to a launch party for the collection at my favorite Macy*s.  I still haven't really decided what I need to for fall and what kinds of looks that I want to create over the next few months but I have a feeling that I will find a bunch of products that I want to buy from this collection.  Indulge is the big fall release from MAC to start the season off and this collection will set the tone for the rest of the season for this company and for much of the beauty industry. 

Even though I am still firmly entrenched in my pink lip glosses and bright colored nails, I know that I will be going back to red lipsticks and more dramatic bronze eye looks this fall.  Every fall, I pick out at least one or two more great red lipsticks and now I have quite a collection of them and I might actually be more interested in looking for a deep berry to start off the fall season.  I see that Indulge has been broken down into two collections since it so large and I will be starting with the Lip and Nail piece of the collection because this is what I am the most excited about this fall.  I have been doing brights for a few months now and I will be ready to change course very soon and start wearing my berries, reds, and lovely jewel tones!

MAC provides a description of the both parts of the collection and the following is what they have to say about the Lip and Nail part of the collection.  "Revel in a magnificent banquet of colour for lips and nails. Lipstick in deep plum, frosted beige and sheer, golden sparkle get layered with Lipglass, ranging from blackened berry to shimmering taupe. Lacquered nails for that opulent touch, rich in jewel tones and molten metallics."  I have a feeling that I am going to want nearly everything in this collection right away...

Here is the Lip and Nail piece of the Indulge collection!

Lipstick -  Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Smash Hit - sheer golden sparkle
- By Design - soft shimmery beige
- Feed the Senses - mid-tone mauvey nude
- Just a Bite - mid-tone blue red
- Sweet Succulence - deep glossy plum

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.
- Ultimate Dish - light beige with pearl
- Fashion Punch - midtone neutral pink
- Liqueur - shimmering taupe
- Lust for Life - dark berry
- Utterly Tart - deep red

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!
- Sinfully Sweet - sparkling champagne with gold pearl
- Magnificent Feast - sparkling true gold
- Discotheque - super glitter silver
- Impassioned - bright warm pink
- Screening Room - bright mid-tone teal
- Rebel - midtonal cream plum

I like so many items in this collection and I can see that my Visa is going to be crying this fall.  My thoughts are transformed from pink lip gloss to deep berry matte lipstick and matching nail polish shades, this will be a great collection for me and I have only looked at half of it so far!  I will be starting with the Lipsticks in this collection and then I plan to pick up a few glosses and a polish or two.  My nail polish is already huge and I have shades that are similar to many of these already so I only plan to pick up my favorites and focus on the lip shades.

My favorite Lipstick shade from this collection is very predictable and I have it pictured here.  I already said that I am really not looking for another red lipstick shade but I just love this shade.  Just a Bite is the shade and the name also makes me think of True Blood (a favorite show of mine and book series!).  The rest of the shades that I want from this collection are: By Design and Feed the Senses.  Both of these shades are more natural and I will be able to wear them in the upcoming season and then all through the rest of the year. 

From the rest of the collection, I am looking at a few choices in both Lipglass and Nail Lacquers.  My Lipglass shopping list will actually be longer than my Lipstick shopping list.  I want Fashion Punch the most, this neutral pink will be great for my skintone and I will be able to use it in a range of makeup looks.  I also want Lust for Life and Utterly Tart for a more dramatic lip look this fall.  I own no deep lip gloss shades from MAC and I think that I need to try them out this season.  I am going to be very picky with the Nail Lacquers, these are great shades but none of them are so unique that I must buy them right away from MAC.  Screening Room is the only shade that I must have from MAC, I love teal shades and have been wearing bright shades all summer and love that I can take one of my favorite shades into the fall and winter.  Rebel and Magnificant Feast are the other two shades that I really like but I know that I could find them from other lines very easily.

I love the first part of the Indulge collection and now I am very excited to move onto the next part and see what shades of eye and face makeup I will want too!

photo courtesy of MAC

YSL Fall 2013 Collection

Yesterday we looked at the small and slightly boring fall collection from Clinique, I can honestly say that the collection might be among the contenders for my least favorite collection of the fall season.  Considering that this is a line of makeup and skincare that I typically purchase a lot from, that is a sad fact.  Perhaps they will have a stronger holiday collection.

Today we are turning over to a beauty brand that can never be called boring or mundane. YSL creates beautiful collections almost every season and the hardest part of the products in this brand is relating the trends from the Parisian runway to most women's normal lives.  I don't own as much from this line as I would like it but every item from them that I have used has been of superior quality.  I have been told by several ladies that I need to brand out into the lipsticks from this company so those will probably be my next purchase from this company. 

The fall collection from YSL focuses on bright eye makeup paired with dramatic lip shades.  I can already see that I will have to pick pieces of this collection and then figure out how to best work them into makeup looks that I am more comfortable with.  I am already state that I would be more likely to go after the lip products from this collection as I cannot pull off bright green and blue eye makeup at the same time.  I can see how this look will rock the fashion industry but it will not rock the professional or academic worlds in which I spend most of my time these days...

The fall collection from YSL!

Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow Palette - Through the magic of water and a revolutionary new process, Yves Saint Laurent pushes the limits of color with Pure Chromatics, a new generation of eyeshadows. Real makeup-artist magic is made easy with six emblematic harmonies that captivate the eyes. 
The power of water: Exclusively by Yves Saint Laurent, the new water-process technology is the latest discovery in color, allowing pigments to be more intense and metallic than ever before!
Use wet for a chromatic transformation. Expect the unexpected. Water does not dilute but enhances color pigments in Pure Chromatics. When used wet, the water rehydrates the eyeshadows and gives full intensity to their pigments. The effect is the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream while pearls shine with a metallic finish.
- Arty - bright blue/bright lime green/shimmering true silver/deep shimmering charcoal
- Classy - deep brown/medium shimmering bronze/pale tan/deep shimmering silver

Liquid Eyeliner - These artistic eyeliners with shimmering reflections have a firm yet flexible precision brush that draws a bold, even and long-lasting line.
- Baby Doll - deep warm gray

Volume Effect Faux Cils Shocking Mascara - Exaggerate your lashes with shocking volume from every angle! New and exclusive to Yves Saint Laurent, the amplified helix brush with a twisted cut provides instant volume on the lashes with effortless application. Shaped and styled for excess, the slim brush breaks the rules of volume, allowing for perfect control and precision, combined with a beautifully creamy formula to cover each lash evenly for a thick and lustrous fringe.
- No. 8 Bronze - deep bronze

Blush Radiance Matte and Satin Blush - Adorn your cheeks with a sensual flush of color and light with this ultrachic compact. The two powder textures, matte and satiny, seamlessly blend to capture light and create a radiant veil of color on your cheeks. Incredibly versatile, this blush colors, contours and highlights to create any effect, from natural to glamorous. The beautifully blendable formula contains self-adapting pigments that capture and transform light's intensity into a vibrant color source that complements any complexion. Remarkably silky texture blends beautifully for buildable, custom color.
- No. 9 - shades of light and medium pink coral
- No. 10 - shades of light and medium pink rose

Rouge Pur Couture Lip Color - Adorn your lips in Yves Saint Laurent. Introducing new Rouge Pur Couture, a new generation of emblematic colors - red, fuchsia and orange - in a collection of 18 vivacious lipsticks. This luminous satin texture is presented in a modern golden case, designed by Yves Saint Laurent Couture Creative Director Stefano Pilati, for the ultimate in luxury and style. Hydrospheres and natural extracts provide all-day comfort and hydration.
- No. 50 Rouge Neon - bright warm red cream
- No. 51 Corail Urbane - medium warm coral cream
- No. 53 Beige Promenade - medium cool nude cream
- No. 54 Prune Avenue - medium cool plum cream

Lip Liner Pencil - A richly textured lip pencil to outline, re-define and colour the lips. Does not smudge or feather, and makes lipstick last longer.
- No. 20 Mocha - medium tan
- No. 21 - deep spice

La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer - Yves Saint Laurent introduces the La Laque Couture collection. The vibrant assortment of ultra-shiny hues makes every woman feel couture to the fingertips.
- No. 38 Gris Underground - pale gray cream
- No. 39 Beige Gallery - pale neutral beige cream
- No. 40 Sepia 7e Art - deep sepia cream

This collection is quite a contrast to the Clinique collection that we looked at yesterday, it is much more artistic however it will be much harder to wear some of the shades in the collection.  I am not even going to try for the makeup look that the model for the collection is wearing, I would never be able to use the bright eye makeup palette however I would like to try the more neutral palette.  This would be a good staple for me along with the cool toned blush palette.

The Rouge Pur Couture Lip Color will be my first purchase from the collection, I think that I want to see these shades at Sephora first and then see what others are available in the product line.  No. 53 Beige Promenade will probably be the best shade for me from this group and I am hoping that there will be more shades that will work well for my skintone.  I am hoping to find more lipstick obsessions in this company's line up.  The last items that I really want from the collection are two of the nail lacquer shades, I love the gray and beige shades and they will become new neutrals in my polish collection.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Clinique Fall 2013 Collection

It's the start of the second last week of August and I have spied Halloween candy on the shelves at my local supermarket already.  I am pretty much down with summer and ready for the leaves to starting on the trees and to see pumpkins out all over the place.  We still about another month of warm weather so I am purchasing new products for the fall months but I won't start using them in the next few weeks.  So I am back to looking at fall collections and getting ready for a big MAC fall color release at the every end of the week.

Today we are looking at the new collection from Clinique, a collection that contains only eye makeup products and is rather one sided in this aspect.  Eye makeup is the area that I tend to have the least of (relatively speaking) and everyone knows that lipsticks and lip glosses are my two favorite products to purchase.  So this collection from Clinique might not get me as excited as many of the other fall collections but at least I will be able to look for items that I need (rather than just want more of) to add to my makeup shopping for this fall...

This collection does not have a formal name or collection description but it is a combination of new eye shadow shades and palettes.  I have used both the single shadows and the palettes in the past so I am happy to see what else has come from this company.  I have found these eye shadows are more muted than some of the ones on the market and all of the ones that I have used are very easy to wear and to create all kinds of looks with them.  Any woman can wear many of these shades, there are few that are vibrant colors or have glitter in them.  I can confidently purchase any eye makeup shade from this company and know that I can wear it in a professional environment, I can't say this for ever eye makeup brand on the market.

This is a small collection but I am hoping to see some shining stars for the fall months.  The newest eye makeup from Clinique!

All About Shadow Single - Long-wearing powder eye colour. Choose Soft Matte, Soft Shimmer or Super Shimmer finish.  Creamy colour glides on in one smooth stroke. Longwearing. Crease- and fade-resistant, too. Ophthalmologist tested for even the most sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Mirrored compact comes with a sponge-tip applicator.
- At Dusk - medium warm bronze with shimmer
- Chocolate Covered Cherry - deep warm brown matte
- Deep Dive - deep aqua with shimmer
- Foxier - medium warm brown with slight shimmer
- French Roast - deep cool taupe matte
- Lemongrass - bright gold green with shimmer
- French Vanilla - pale vanilla matte
- Purple Heels - medium true purple matte
- Raspberry Beret - bright medium raspberry matte
- Slippery Glass - pale silver with lots of shimmer
- Stroke of Midnight - deep black matte
- Sugarcane - pale off white with shimmer

All About Shadow Duo - Use one shade as a base colour, the other to contour. Crease- and fade-resistant. Ophthalmologist tested for even the most sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Mirrored compact with illustrated how-tos plus a brush/sponge-tip applicator.
- Like Mink - medium neutral nude/deep bronze (shimmer)
- Mixed Greens - pale cool green/deep forest green (matte)
- Uptown Downtown - medium cool pink/medium charcoal (shimmer)
- Cocktail Hour - medium lilac/deep red plum (shimmer)
- Diamonds and Pearls - pale cool white/deep charcoal (shimmer)
- Jeans and Heels - medium blue gray/bright aqua blue (shimmer)

All About Shadow Quad - Wear shades alone or layered together in different combinations. Crease- and fade-resistant. Ophthalmologist tested for even the most sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Mirrored compact with illustrated how-tos plus two sponge-tip applicators.
- Jenna's Essentials - pale bone/deep bronze/medium taupe/deep warm charcoal
- Morning Java - pale bone/deep warm brown/medium gold/deep warm charcoal
- On Safari - pale bone/deep forest green/medium olive green/deep brown
- Smoke and Mirrors - medium silver/medium gray/deep charcoal/deep black
- Going Steady - pale warm bone/medium plum/medium taupe/deep plum
- Galaxy - pale white/deep aqua/medium aqua/deep forest green

I like a bunch of these new shades but there isn't one shade or palette that is so unique that I don't already it or something very similar.  I think that I would be more likely to pick up the Quads or a few shades from the singles, I am not a big fan of any of the duos and most of the shades that are in them are also contained in the Quads.  From the Quads, I can see myself getting a good amount of use from Jenna's Essentials even though I already own shades quite similar to these in the Urban Decay Naked Palettes.  The same holds for Morning Java.  I am considering Smoke and Mirrors because it would create awesome variations on silver smoky eye looks so this one will be worth checking out.  The Lemongrass Single is the most unique shade in the whole collection and I think that I would really like this one based on how much gold I own in my eye shadow collection.  Other than that I shade, I can see that At Dusk will be easy to work in with my current eye shadows and I know that I would get good usage from it.

Not one of my favorite collections of the season...

photo courtesy of Clinique