Urban Decay The Black Palette

As I was searching for this product, thoughts of The Black Album from Jay-Z popped into my head and now I will have to work to rid myself of the songs currently playing in my brain. I saw this palette for the first time in the latest Sephora Holiday catalog and was initially excited. I then re-looked at it in the December issue of Lucky and I just can't decide if it for me or not. I like several of the shades but I am begining to think that the blue shade might just kill the whole palette for me.

Sephora states that this product is "A provocative palette of six black-based eye shadows and one 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil". Here is the further description on the website. "This glittery black compact with mirror features a daring palette of five black-based, glimmering, jewel-toned eye shadows, and Urban Decay's darkest matte black eye shadow, Black Dog, for adding dimension like never before. The set comes complete with a travel-size 24/7 Eye Pencil is Zero and mini genie bottle of Eye Shadow Primer Potion, so your color stays deep, dark, and alluring all day and night".

The eye shadow shades are...

- Black Dog - richest matte black

- Barracuda - black with silver sparkly shift

- Jet - black with purple sparkly shift

- Sabbath - blue with blue sparkly shift

- Cobra - black with golden sparkly shift

- Libertine - black with emerald sparkly shift

The set also includes a 24/7 Glide On Eye Liner in Zero, the best-selling black shade, and a Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion. Eden Primer Potion is the newest release of the primers and is said to have a matte finish unlike the more natural finish in the original version. I am still on the fence about this palette, I like it but just can't picture myslef getting a lot of wear from it. I already own the black shades from Urban Decay that were featured in the Book of Shadows NYC and the Naked Palette and two of the Zero eye liners. Cobra seems as though it will be very similar to NARS Night Clubbing, which I already own and I also own Black Tied from MAC, a rich black with silver in it. So I am guessing that I will be skipping out on this palette, much as it pains me to not want an eye shadow palette from Urban Decay...

photo courtesy of Sephora

DuWop Holiday 2010 Collection

This year, DuWop has released a little collection that consists only of sets that can be given as gifts or kept for yourself. Both of the sets are focused only around lip products and I could see these being fantastic little gifts for all the ladies on your list this year. "Knock out your entire holiday list with these two star DuWop limited edition giftsets! Perfect for your BFF, your sister, your neice, your mom, your yoga teacher, your neighbor, your babysitter - even your dentist. They're sweetly packaged, versatile, and look beautiful on everybody".

Here are the two new sets...

Venom Gloss Candy Box - Venom Gloss Candy Box gives you perfect, bite-sized versions of DuWop's classic Venom Gloss shades. Each tube gives your lips stunning color and the famous Venom tingle. Blending that same spicy concoction of cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger with skin softening ingredients like jojoba, avocado, and sunflower oil, beeswax for protection, and green tea for soothing, Venom Gloss gives you full, soft, hydrated lips. Venom Gloss contains travel size versions of 8 best-selling Venom Gloss shades.

- Tulip - sheer clear red

- Coral Tree - shimmery peach

- Jessamine - copper rose/brown

- Lantana - super sheer hot pink

- Buttercup - light shimmery champagne

- Wisteria - rosy pink with gold flecks

- Pink Champagne - shimmery pale pink

- Berry Chill - cool shimmery berry

Private Lipstick Trio - Achieve the perfect lip on the go any time you want with Private Lipstick Trio. Our travel size Private Red, Private Plum, and Private Nude all conspire to give you gorgeous lips, customized to your perfect shade. Each Private Lipstick's proprietary formula includes a blend of three naturally derived pigments - annatto, hibiscus, and henna - and the technology behind the classic "mood lipsticks" of the seventies to provide vibrant shades that adapts to suit each individual's coloring. Annatto lends a rich pigment base, while hibiscus flowers offer gentle antiseptic properties, and henna leaves behind a long-lasting stain. Additional hydrating ingredients such as beeswax, caster oil, and Vitamin E keep the color lightweight and emollient. Wear Private Nude on the weekends, Private Plum to the office, and Private Red for a night out on the town!

I like both of the sets, but my top choice for myself is the Venom Gloss set. I can see myself getting these for my girlfriends and the ladies that I work with. I can also see myself dividing up the lip gloss set to make stocking stuffers or to add the glosses to cards.

photo courtesy of DuWop

The Body Shop Holiday Fragrances

The Body Shop always releases new fragrances around the holiday season. They are of a very different nature than the fragrances released by Bath and Body Works. The Bath and Body Works Holiday Traditions are more on the sweet and candy-like side, but The Body Shop fragrances are more naturally scented. The two new fragrances are Cranberry Joy and Spiced Vanilla. I am excited about the Cranberry Joy but not as much about the Spiced Vanilla.

Cranberry Joy is described as being a "fresh, true cranberry scent" and I am really seeing this one as a top seller. It is available in the following products: the Bath and Shower gel, the Body Butter, Shimmer Lotion, Body Scrub, Lip Balm, and Soap. I am betting that this product would be great in the body wash, the butter, and the soap and true berry lovers can use it all over their bodies. This fragrance is also available in the home fragrance oil and fragrance reeds. Personally, I love the Frosted Cranberry fragrance from Bath and Body Works and I am hoping that the fragrance reeds in this scent will fill the void that Slatkin & Co. has left in their product line.

The Spiced Vanilla scent is described as a "sweet vanilla and spice scent". I wonder how much spice is really in this because I can only handle so much and I am betting that using this scent all over my body would overwhelm my nose. This fragrance is available in the Bath and Shower Gel, Body Butter, Body Lotion, Soap, and Lip Balm. This fragrance is available in the same two home fragrance products but these hold no interest for me with my love of spice.

I'm not super excited about these fragrance this year, I would see myself only using some of the cranberry products and none of the vanilla. The item that has me the most excited is the Reed Diffusers in the cranberry scent. I will be just staying with my Vanilla Bean Noel and Twisted Peppermint this time around...

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Clarins Holiday 2010 Collection - Barocco

Clarins Barocco collection has been heralded as one of the most beautiful collections of the holiday season. This collection may be small and consisting only of four products but they are four true winners and have hit the tops of everyone's most wanted list. This collection hits on all the major trends of this season; gold eyes, red lips, and flawless skin "Adorned with a precious, jewel-like decoration inspired by the delicate work of a goldsmith". I can't wait to see this collection in person...

Here is the beautiful new collection...

Barocco Limited Edition Face Palette - An incredibly soft and lightweight compact powder, presented in an elegant case: a black lacquered logoed bottom with a glossy white gold lid decorated with a black scroll. A harmony of two complementary shades are stamped into the powder in the emblematic scroll pattern. Beige and a pinky peach. Case protected in a red velvet purse.

Barocco Limited Edition Shimmering Gold Powder for Face and Decollete - A powder formed into gold-dusted nuggets presented in an elegant black cylinder, decorated with a black scroll. Embellished with a beautiful tassel. The delicate powder nuggets are nestled in with an elegant black powder puff.

Barocco Limited Edition Rouge Prodige Lipstick - An unrivaled lipstick that delivers long-lasting colour, intense shine, and exceptional comfort. High Fidelity Pearl technology ensures that colour and shine stay true for hours, while the rich, creamy texture provides nourishing skin care benefits to lips.

- Barocco - deep red cream

Barocco Limited Edition Eye Colour Trio - A palette of three eye shadows presented in a black rectangular case with a glossy white gold lid decorated with a black scroll. Case holds a large mirror and double applicator for precise makeup application. Three festive shades to light up your eyes. An elegant matte black to emphasize and intensify. A subtle captivating "duo" - black and gold mixed together for an instant smoky bronze effect. A radiant pearly gold to give eyes touches of light.

Of course, my favorite item of the collection is the Eye Colour Trio. I want to use the black as the liner, the black and gold as the lid color, and the then the gold as the highlighter. I have high hopes for this and I don't want to be disappointed. I love the whole collection but I am thinking that I could pass on the gold body shimmer. It might be too warm for my complexion and so I bet it would be a waste of money. However, I love the face palette and the lipstick shade. This collection just screams "holiday" to me and I agree with everyone that this is a top pick of the season.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

O.P.I. Holiday 2010 Collection - Burlesque

The newest holiday collection for O.P.I. was made with the creators of the movie Burlesque, a musical that just opened the other week starring Cher and Christina Aquilera. Ever since Chicago opened in 2003, I have been loving musicals that involve lovely costumes and fantastic dancing. O.P.I. states, "O.P.I. captures all the glitz & glamour of the Sony Pictures musical Burlesque starting Cher and Christina Aquilera in the Holiday 2010 Burlesque Collection - an inspired range of 12 nail lacquers that will command an audience all season long!" This collection is divided into two groups, one group that a has a shimmer finish and one that has a full-on glitter finish.

First the glitters...

- Bring On The Bling - bright yellow gold glitter

- Glow Up Already! - deep gold glitter with a greenish cast

- Extra-Va-Ganza! - pink gold glitter

- Simmer & Shimmer - bright aqua glitter

- Show It & Glow It - medium lavender glitter

- Sparkle-licious - cool pale pink glitter

And the shimmers...

- Rising Star - medium warm copper shimmer

- Take The Stage - burnished orange shimmer

- The Show Must Go On! - bright fushcia shimmer

- Let Me Entertain You - medium pinky purple shimmer

- Ali's Big Break - cranberry shimmer

- Tease-y Does It - deep plum burgundy shimmer

I have favorites in both finishes of this polish. From the glitter collection, I really like Sparkle-licious (the featured photo is of this shade), Show It & Glow It, and Simmer & Shimmer. From the shimmer collection, I am very fond of Ali's Big Break. Ali's Big Break is a fantastic holiday shade and will be perfect this season and beyond.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Chanel Holiday 2010 Collection - Les Tentations de Chanel

Earlier we looked at the Clinique Strawberry Fudge collection, a subtle collection comprised on pink and browns that would create a naturally beautiful makeup look. This season, Chanel has also used browns and pinks in the inspiration for their holiday collection though the end results are very different. Clinique dressed them down, Chanel dresses them up and makes them ready for all the parties that take place this time of the year. "A sumptuous color collection of tempting chocolates and rich fuchsias, perfect for the holiday season".

Here is the collection...

Les 4 Ombres - 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.

- Tentation Cuivee - pale beige/pale pink/deep bronze/deep brown

Le Vernis - Classic and trend-defining shades from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails as it delivers long-wearing, high-shine, chip-resistant colour. Applies evenly without streaking.

- Pulsion - bright fuchsia

- Mica Rose - pale cool-toned pink

Levres Scintillantes - Gorgeous shimmer and a high-shine glow is delivered effortlessly to lips with just one stroke of this best-selling lip gloss. A wide range of shades, from sheer and natural to sparkling and rich, look beautiful on their own, or over your favorite Chanel lipstick. Equally beautiful: the conditioning formula's comfort and long wear.

- Pink Pulsion - bright fuchsia

- Charming - pale cool-toned pink

- Futile - medium-toned nude pink

- Pleasing - medum-toned warm copper

Ombres Contraste Duo - This foolproof pairing of complementary shades - in two unique textures - is housed in one convenient compact. The softly shimmering light shade is a creamy powder, which can be worn alone for a luminous effect, or as a base to extend the wear of the accompanying deep-toned shadow. The dark shade has intense micronized pigments for true-colour application, and a matte finish to create depth and contour. Two applicators are included: a foam-tip to apply the shadows and a brush to blend. Available in six essential shade harmonies designed to take the guesswork out of harmonizing and applying eye shadow.

- Misty-Soft - deep charcoal and pale silver

Stylo Yeux Waterproof - Waterproof, smudge-proof eye liner delivers long-lasting definition with the twist of the wrist: Colour winds up when you need it, winds down when you don't. Gentle, soft, silicone-enriched formula delivers smooth, even lining. A built-in sharpener at the opposite end detaches for quick refreshes.

- Cassis - deep plum

- Espresso - deep brown

Eclat Lumiere - In a single stroke, add new radiance to your skin. Light-coverage concealer, highlight, and complexion-brightener all in one, this multi-tasking essential brings instant luminosity to those areas of the face you want to play up. Light-reflecting pigments reduce the appearance of fine lines and de-emphasize dark circles. Convenient brush-on formula si ideal for daily touch-ups.

- Beige Rose - pink toned beige

Inimitable Intense - This technologically advanced formula builds on the success of the original mascara, delivering dramatic effects with a unique brush. The result is a more intense lash look, with the same easy application. Lashes appear longer, thicker, and more curled, yet each lash, even the finest is still precisely separated - without clumping, spiking, or flaking.

- Noir - rich black

Chanel continues to deliver top quality eye shadow shades, I want both the quad and the duo this time around. I like the lighter pink shades in both the lip gloss and the nail polish but I have to see how unique they are before I buy them, I already own quite a stash of pale pink glosses and polishes and I really don't need to add yet another one of the same shade to my collection. Otherwise, I like all the shades but I'm not wowed by anything...

photo courtesy of Chanel

Most Wanted December 2010

Since there are twelve days of Christmas, I extended my Most Wanted list to I could give myself a present for each day.

Baby, all I want for Christmas is beauty!

- YSL Rouge Pur Couture #20 Rouge Flamme
- Katy Perry Purr
- Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Eye Shadow Palette
- Dior Minaudiere Palette in Grey Gold
- Bare Escentuals Buxom Samantha's Smoky Eye
- Stella McCartney Solid Perfume Necklace
- SK-II Skin Signature Melting Rich Cream
- Paul & Joe Luxury Lip Rouge
- Clarins Barocco Face Palette
- Clarins Barocco Eye Colour Trio
- Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer
- Laura Mercier Milk Scrub in Almond Coconut

This month is the mother load for beautiful eye palettes: Dior, Tarina Tarantino, Clarins. And I had to add in a YSL red shade, a relaxing Laura Mercier product, and enough skincare to help me start the winter off right.

Merry Christmas!