Giorgio Armani Summer 2011 Collection - Heat

The summer collections are really beginning to wind down now and already I am starting to read about hints of fall in other blogs and magazines.  I just have a few collections left, I still can't believe it since we aren't even half way through the month of June.  Giorgio Armani's newest collection is named Heat, these shades are very bronzy and will work perfectly for those of us with bronze complexions.  Some of these shades might even be too bronze for the tan that I have been cultivating for the past few weeks.  Armani is very hard for me to find to begin with so I can't always just right on the bandwagon with the new products even though they are always so lovely that I would love to buy them all in a minute. 

The model for this collection is Megan Fox so that should give you all an idea of what tone of skin this collection is made for.  Her skin is deeper, more olive, and much warmer than mine so this isn't giving me much hope for this collection.  I'm afraid that both the bronzer and the cheek colors will be too deep and the lip products too warm.  The eye shadow palette is looking like it will be my best bet from this collection.  I am betting that I can skip out on much of this collection so it isn't a total disaster that it is so hard for me to find. 

Here is the new collection from Giorgio Armani Beauty...

Sheer Bronzer - Create the glow of sun-kissed skin with sheer bronzer, a soft micro-fine bronzing powder.  Copper and bronze hues warm skin, creating a sculpted glow with shimmering honey highlights.  All skin types.  Soft, micro-fine texture.  Shimmery, sun-kissed effect.  Buildable color.  Apply with the Blush Brush where light naturally hits the face across forehead, cheekbones, and temples for a healthy, radiant complexion.
- 1 Brown Sand - beige
- 2 Mauve - pink beige
- 5 Golden Sand - deep tan beige

Blushing Fabric Second Skin Blush - Premiering Blushing Fabric, a second skin blush, a new sensory experience from Armani.  Crafted as a micro-blend of pure water-soluble pigments and lacquers, this cushiony texture delivers a buildable color for cheek and face that is both impercetible and long-lasting.  Artist Tip - Squeeze a small amount to the back of your hand and apply with fingertips to the apple of your cheek.  Buff to perfection with the Blush Brush.  Blend to the desired result using your middle and pointer fingers.  For a natural bronzed glow use Sienna #4, or for more definition on your cheeks, use Raspberry #5.  Both limited edition with the Summer "Heat" look.
- Sienna #4 - warm bronze
- Raspberry #5 - deep berry rose

Heat Palette - Eye Quatuor - As seen on the show - the Armani bronze smoky eye in one signature amber palette.  Four shimmering shades of desert eye dust.  Shadows are created with unprecedented color technology, jet-milled and fine to the touch.  This extremely fine film of vibrant eye color blends perfectly to produce made to measure incandescent color without creasing or a dull powdery finish.  To create the Summer "Heat" look: 1. Apply a layer of White Gold over the entire eyelid.; 2. With the Eye Shadow Brush, contour with the Desert Earth Brown, applied either wet or dry.  For impactful eyes, add a touch of color in the outside corner.; 3. Finish by smudging the Burnt Amber with the Desert Earth on the eyelid for a smoky effect.
- deep brown/pink-toned champage shimmer/medium taupe shimmer/pale white gold shimmer

Eyes To Kill Waterproof Mascara - Empower the eye with more intensity with Eyes To Kill Waterproof Mascara, a long wear, lengthening, and volumizing formula now in Black-Brown for luscious glowing summer lashes.  Limited edition with Summer "Heat" look.  The "lash liner brush" instantly outlines and loads the lashes with a high-powered yet lightweight formula.  Use a zig-zag movement, starting at the root, and glide up to the tips to elongate, curve, separate, and extend the lashes with an unforgettable sheen.
- 3 Black-Brown - mix of black and and brown pigments

Sheer Lipstick - For your summer look with a new signature lip color.  Armani Sheer Lipstick will be your secret weapon, delivering comfort, moisture, and long-lasting luminescent color.  In 4 new limited edition buildable shades for a barely there shimmer to intense color coverage.  Infuse a bold note of color with the star color powered Sienna Red Brick #34.  Add playful vibrancy with Burnt Coral #35.  For the perfect feminine pout, choose the sophisticated Sunset Pink #36.  Or opt for Megan Fox's soft seductive lips with Sand Dune Beige #37, featured in the Summer "Heat" look.
- Sienna Red Brick #34 - deep warm brick red
- Burnt Coral #35 - bright warm coral
- Sunset Pink #36 - warm peach pink
- Sand Dune Beige #37 - nude beige

As I stated earlier, this collection is much too warm toned and deep for me to pull off.  The only item that I like is the eye shadow palette since this is the only one that will work for me in the least.  I do the bronze smoky eye look at lot in the summer time since I think blacks and grays can look too heavy in the warm weather.  I would order this eye shadow palette but I don't know that one item is worth me making the hour and a half drive to Saks just for it.  I think that I would like the Sheer Lipstick in the Sand Dune Beige shade however, I tend to prefer my nudes with a bit of pink in them and I know that I can find a shade like this at MAC.  I am intrigued about the blush but both of these shades will look awful on my skin.

I wish that I had an Armani counter nearer to me, then I could obsess more over this line.  I have to travel a bit to get to this line and therefore I feel like I have to buy products in order to make the trip worthwhile.  Time to see if I can combine a trip to the counter with something else...

photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani

MAC Sized To Go

Sized To Go is newest summer collection from MAC and is unique in that offers no color selections and no new products.  What MAC has done is shrunk down the sizes on some of their best-selling skincare items and made them ready to go for traveling.  Since I rarely use MAC skincare, I am looking at this as a chance to try out a bunch of their products without having to spring for all the full sized products.  Since I already own so much skincare, I actually enjoy buying smaller sizes so that I can try them out and decide if I truly love them before buying the larger sized products.  I don't know if this collection will be at the counters or just on the website and in the stores so I suggest checking out the website and then calling your local counter to find out.

"In travel, small has a virtue that goes beyond size.  It's mandatory!  Fix +, Cleanse Off Oil, Cleanse Off Oil/Tranquil, Pro Eye Makeup Remover, Demi-Wipes, Studio Moisture Cream, Strobe Cream, Green Gel Cleanser, Oil Control Lotion - everything you need to keep your skin cleansed, refreshed, and hydrated."  I am so excited to try some of these products, I am tempted to order each little product and see how much I like it.

Sized To Go...

Pro Eye Makeup Remover - A mega-effective remover that lifts off every look - from delicate to dramatic - without smudges, tears, or aggression.  Pro-quality, yet decidedly gentle; calms, hydrates, and soothes skin with cucumber extract.  Makeup can be immediately reapplied.  A favourite of busy models.

Cleanse Off Oil - An industry-strength oil-based makeup remover that's gentle on the skin.  Botanically formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose, and jojoba seed oil and absolutely 100 percent mineral oil-free.  Massages onto the skin to loosen all makeup, including waterproof mascara.  Emsulsifies into a lotion-type liquid with water; rinses off easily, no tissues required - and no residue!  Protects with Vitamin E.  Skin softening and conditioning.  Good for all skin types.

Cleanse Off Oil/Tranquil - A mineral oil-free makeup remover/cleanser for the skin.  Formulated with extracts of sea grass, peach leaf, soothing chamomile-derived bisabolol and scented with citrus-y yuzu, fused with conditioning botanical oils of grape seed, olive leaf, sunflower, and lavender.  Apply, splash with water.  Lifts off makeup, leaving skin clear, soft, relaxed.  Ultra-gentle: especially good for dry, mature, or stressed-out skins.

Fix + - An aqua-spritz of vitamins and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamolmile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi.  Adds radiance, finishes makeup.  Spray it on.  Skin drinks it up!

Studio Moisture Cream - A super-rich creamy moisturizer boosted with skin-nourishing extracts including passion fruit, spinach leaf, green tea, algae, wheat germ, and coconut.  Moistens, feeds, firms, and protects the skin.  Promotes a healthy radiance.  Diminishes the appearance of fine lines.  Good for day and night.

Strobe Cream - The ultimate quick fix for the skin.  Super-powered with potent botanicals; de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens, and boosts the look of dull, flat, or tired-looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea.  Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants.  Enhances the effect of light on all skin and in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight.

Green Gel Cleanser - Fresh, vibrant, skin-tingling cleanser with refreshing extracts of cucumber and algae.  Full-on foam, yet delightfully soap-free.  Conditions, nourishes, and hydrates leaving skin clean, clear, smooth, and protected.  For a blast of freshness for the skin; just activate with water.

Oil Control Lotion - The ultimate no-shine base for oil control.  Natural exfoliants help improve texture and clarity.  Lightweight and instantly matte, bonds makeup to the skin for fewer touch-ups.  Oil-free hydration with natural colloidal minerals and antioxidants.  Formulated to help keep skin pH-balanced.  Use day or night.

Demi Wipes - Swipes away makeup, smudges, dirt and grime, pronto!  Oversized, luxurious, super-saturated with proactive Vitamin E.  Hydrates and nourishes highly efficiently.  Extremely refreshing.  Totally addictive.  Slickly packaged, re-sealable, ready to go!

I just love the idea of the smaller sizes of skincare.  I have been making a little shopping list as I read every single item description, I want to try them all.  I am most interested in the small size of Fix + to keep in my purse to use throughout the whole day.  I want the Strobe Cream for the same purpose come fall and winter.  Those are my two top picks from this collection but I want to try everything so I can get a read on the quality of MAC skincare.

photo courtesy of MAC

Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer

As I have already introduced last spring, the Clinique Colour Surge line of eye shadows is currently available in three formulas; the Soft Shimmer (we have already looked at), the Matte (which I dislike and we won't be looking at), and the Super Shimmer formula.  Noting what we have already looked at and what formula that I dislike, it isn't hard to see that we will be looking at the Super Shimmer formula today.  The Super Shimmer gives off my favorite finish of the three formulas, I love shimmer and high drama eye makeup.  I feel like this formula is offered in the least amount of shades which is depressing since that means that there will be less for me to buy and love when I go to the counters.

"Creamy, intense colour in one stroke.  Surprisingly lightweight.  Ophthamologist tested for even the most sensitive eyes.  Super shimmer finish brings day/evening/dusk drama.  The end of the quiet eye.", states the Clinique website in the product description.  This is the most shimmer that you will find in a Clinique eye shadow but I do want to state right off the bat that if you prefer a finish like Urban Decay's Midnight Cowboy, than these shades will not be quite shimmery enough for you.

Clinique places these shadows as a formula that should be worn at night.  I don't consider them nighttime-only formulas but they aren't quite appropriate for the office.  One of these shades could easily be worn alone for a luch date or a casual shopping date but if you want to use multiple shades of them, then you are best reserving them for after dark.  There are only seven shades in this formula and they are either neutrals or blue/greens, making this a very limted range in which to create eye looks.  I would love for some plums and lavenders to be offered so hopefully more will be added down the road.

Here are the few shades that are offered in this product...

- Lucky Penny - pearlized soft muted bronze with a hint of pink
- Daybreak - pale gold
- Blue Lagoon - violety blue with multiple pearl effect
- Sparkling Sage - soft muted sage green with silver pearl
- Rum Spice - highly pearlized deep golden brown
- Strike It Rich - highly pearlized burnised gold
- Peacock - deep pearlized teal

The shimmer effect is the most evident in the lightest of the shades and the deepest of the shades, the shades that are more in the middle don't seem to have near as nice of a finish.  I found this out when I was playing with the shades at the counter, so this product is best used as a highlighter, for sheer washes of color, or directly on the lid (when using the deeper shades).  Daybreak is the easiest of all the shades to wear and i think the one that the shimmer shows up the best in.  This one is best as a highlighter or for a more casual look.  Lucky Penny is very pretty but it is a lighter bronze than many that I have tried so this is another one that is best for a more casual look.  If you want a more dramatic look, than your choices are Rum Spice, Strike It Rich, or Peacock.  I didn't find Rum Spice to even be all that shimmery, the other two deep shades have much more shimmer.  Strike It Rich is my favorite of the deeper shades and is my favorite overall shade from this formula of eye shadow.  The lighter blue and the sage had fair pigmentation and not enough shimmer for me, I would skip both of them.

This formula creates a lovely shimmer finish that has a medium intensity to it.  If you love very shimmery shadows than this one might not be enough for you.  Clinique doesn't make the most dramatic makeup in the beauty industry and this formula is no exception.  The best comparison that I can come up with in terms of the finish is that this formula is more like the regular shimmer finish for Urban Decay.  You will get just a hint of twinkle from many of these shades, not the full on dazzling effect.  Like the rest of Clinique formulas, the eye shadow wear well and it still in place after about eight or nine hours (when used with a primer).  The pigmentation is medium, there are more strongly pigmented brands on the market.  This formula is my favorite of the Clinique shadows but it could be really be improved by expanding the shade range.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Five Favorite - Summer Fragrances

I feel like I haven't done a Five Favorite entry in ages.  Today's is about my favorite fragrances to wear in the summer.  I feel like I buy perfumes in spring and summer more than I buy any other time of the year.  Summer fragrances are more fun than any other time of the year and I just love the first few days that I can pull out my favorite fragrances.

My Five Favorite summer fragrances...

Harajuku Lovers G - "Never one to get lost in the crowd, G leads her crew in a white, corseted top and a blue miniskirt a la Alice in Wonderland.  Quirky, unique, and undeniably cool, G is the leader of the pack.  Her scent is an oriental, fruity, gourmand fragrance with notes of fresh coconut, jasmine, and cotton woods."  "Fragrance notes - Mandarin, Coconut, Apple Skin, Jasmine Sambac, Freesia, Magnolia, Coconut Cream, White Sandalwood, Cotton Woods".  This is my current summer fragrance obsession, it is warm and coconuty, without smelling like sunscreen.  It is more sophisticated way to wear coconut fragrances in the summer and take the beach to to the city. 

Marc Jacobs Daisy - "Enter the world of Daisy: fresh and feminine, with a playful innocence.  At the heart of Daisy is a floral with a vintage edge: violet.  Sophisticated, with a touch of whimsy, violet captures the eclectic, vintage flavor of  Marc Jacobs' feminine, edgy designs.  Always elegant, always enchanting - but not too serious - Daisy is a sparkling floral bouquet, spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth."  "Fragrance notes - Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods."  This fragrance is a rare find in that it is one of few warm weather fragrances that I can wear to work or out at night.  The violet and the strawberry notes come out the strongest on and I never fail to get compliments on this fragrance every single time that I wear it.  This one has been a staple for me for several years now and I doubt that that will be changing anytime in the near future.

Dior Dior Addict 2 - "Dior Addict 2 begins with a sparkling, alluring burst of fresh feminity, like a sweet bubble of optimisim and energy.  Crisp, clean notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and orange mingle with fresh floral notes and ripe fruits, soothed with warm sandalwood and white musk - this is Dior's baby doll."  "Fragrance notes - Bergamot, Grapefruit, Orange, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, Lotus Flower, Pineapple, Watermelon, Grenadine, Sandalwood, White Musk."  This fragrance is very crisp and quite easy to wear, even in the hottest of weather.  This fragrance starts out very citrusy and then settles down on my skin to be a light floral.  This fragrance is lighter so I find it best for day but it could be worn at night if you prefer a lighter fragrance or if it too warm to wear anything heavier.  This is about as citrus as my fragrances get and this is one of the few that doesn't smell sour on me (the floral notes are sweet enough to balance out the citrus notes).

Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena - "A tropical scent inspired by an island breeze of luscious fruits and crisp citrus."  "Fragrance notes - Sheer Coconut Water, Sandalwood, Musk."  I first used this fragrance when I was in college and I fell in love with it for whole summers at a time.  As soon as May began to roll around, I got this fragrance out of storage and wore it almost every single day until classes started the following September.  This fragrance really represents summer to me and I still continue to purchase it in the Body Splash to this day.  This is one of the few fragrances that I use up a bottle and then head right back out to buy another.  On my skin, this one smells like lime for about half an hour and then settles down to fragrance that is a mix of coconut, vanilla, and sandalwood.  I use the body products that match this fragrance all year round to bring a hint of summer to the dead of winter.

Caudalie Fleur de Vigne - "Homage to the beautiful Grape Blossom, this energizing, delicately fragranced, is drawn from the plants of aromatherapy.  Enriched with essential oils and plant waters rich in oligo-elements, it refreshes and tone.  Non-photosensitizing."  "Fragrance notes - Bergamot, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Blackcurrant Bud, Green Mate, Plant Waters of Grape, Lemon, Orange Sandalwood, Cedar.  Very unique, light fragrance that smells of citrus and grape blossom.  This is the lightest fragrance that I have ever owned and I wouldn't have put up with the lack of staying power to it if I didn't love the fragrance so much.  This one is more on the citrus side but is light enough and with the blend of the grape blossoms, I can pull it off.

Hopefully, I have given you a few new scent ideas.  These are my favorite scents to wear in the summer and I tend to rotate which one of these is my favorite.  If you wish, leave your favorite summer scent in the comments and give me something new to try!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Philosophy Summer 2011 Body Products

Philosophy's summer body products are almost always among my favorite of their releases throughout the year.  The spring florals are always very pretty and the holiday scents are great to give as gifts but summer and fall from this company get my very excited and ready to fill up my online cart.  I'm not sure what Philosophy does better, fun drink inspired scents for warm weather or the fall treat scents that are ready for Halloween.  Maybe this year, I will just need to buy all of the offerings from both seasons and do an experiment...

This summer's collection is all about fun in the sun with their beach-inspired fragrances and then another series that have been inspired by fun, summery drinks.  It consists of several sets of products and individual body products and matching lip glosses.  I use 3-in-1s all summer long and these are just the perfect scents for the warm weather. 

First the fragrance sets.  We have three new ones introduced, two of which contain several products in the same scent and one that contains three 3-in-1s in lovely drink-inspired fragrances. 

The first set is named Greetings From Cabo and contains products in my favorite scent from this company, Senorita Margarita.  "Crave a vacation or happy hour?  Send yourself greetings from Cabo, featuring Senorita Margarita Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath 4 oz. Body Lotion 4 oz., and High Gloss, High-Flavor Lip Shine .5 oz."  Senorita Margarita is both my first Philosophy purchase and my favorite fragrance from this company so I would be more than happy to pick up a set of smaller sizes in this product.  I also have never seen the lotion in the fragrance and I am very excited that I finally have another option in this line.  The second set is named Aloha Girl and contains three product in the fragrance of that same name.  This one is new from Philosophy and sounds like one that I will end up buying products from.  "Kick off your shoes and enjoy a moment in paradise.  Aloha Girl features vanilla coconut Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath 4 oz, Body Lotion 4 oz., and High-Gloss, High-Flavor Lip Shine .5 oz.  Infused with the tropical essence of pure, refreshing coconut juice and a hint of sweet vanilla, this gift set is an instant island getaway to make any girl feel like an Aloha Girl."  The last set is named The Pool Party and this is the one that consist of three 3-in-1s in different fragrances.  "Make a splash with The Pool Party.  Starfruit Kiwi Martini, Blue Hawaiian, and Papaya Passion Punch Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Baths 6 oz.  Refresh your skin and senses."  I bought a version of this set three years ago with only the Papaya Passion Punch differing from that set.  I love the other two scents already so I doubt that I will need this one.

Now that we have looked at all the sets, it is time to move onto the single products for this season.  Aloha Girl and Papaya Passion Punch are the two new fragrances that are being offered this summer.  We have already quickly looked at these two scents with the sets and now I want to see what is offered in the full sized products.  Aloha Girl is a summery coconut and vanilla scent and allows you to "escape to the tropics" even if you are spending the summer miles away from the beach.  This scent is offered in the traditional 3-in-1, along with a matching Body Lotion and High-Shine, High-Flavor Lip Shine.  This fragrance sounds fantastic since I love coconut fragrances and already own several coconut and vanilla combinations in my body products.  I am so happy that Philosophy has finally begun to bring out lotions to match their 3-in-1s since I love to layer my body products.  The second of the new fragrances is Papaya Passion Punch.  The scent is a mix of papaya and tropical passionfruit punch drink.  This is one a very tropical fruit scent and would be great for some who loves that type of fragrance.  This one is available in the same products as the Aloha Girl scent.  To round out the single products, Lip Shines have also been introduced in the Senorita Margarita and Blue Hawaiian flavors.

God, I just want everything in this collection, it will be hard to decide what my favorites are.  I can start by ruling out The Pool Party set, I already own two of these products and I would buy the Papaya Passion Punch in the full sizes.  I can rule out the Senorita Margarita set since I want all these products in the full sizes and unless I go on vacation, I shouldn't need small sizes in these products.  I would buy the Aloha Girl set to try all the smaller sizes out since I already own all a bunch of coconut scents.  If I try the smaller sizes and really love it, then I know that I will buy all the large sizes in this scent.  The Papaya Passion Punch is like nothing that I already own and is a perfect summer scent, so I will be buying all the full sizes in this one and perhaps even the lip gloss too. Last but not least, I want both of the Lip Shines in the Margarita and Blue Hawaiian flavors.

I just love this collection and it continues the tradition of Philosophy having great summer collections.  I could add every single piece of this to my collection and not think about it twice.

photo courtesy of Philosophy

Guerlain Summer 2011 Collection - Terra Inca

Every year, Guerlain releases a different version of their famed Terracotta collection for the summer.  Terracotta is a line of top-rated bronzing products and among the most famous in the whole Guerlain collection.  Which is saying a lot, since this company produces a lot of beauty winners in almost every single category.  This year, the traditional bronze products are complemented with pops of colors for the eyes and neutrals for the lips.  Terra Inca is the name of this year's collection and I am betting that it is based on shades that are associated with the Inca tribe.

This collection spans another group of bronzers to choose from this summer.  The offerings from this company are considered the Rolls Royce of bronzers so I am betting that if you can't find anything else that works for you, that you will find a shade or product in this collection that will give you a great sun-kissed look for the summer.  Nordstrom states the following about the overall collection, "Guerlain celebrates the arrival of summer with a color-drenched, incredibly chic Terracotta collection!  With colors ranging from ocean blue, flamboyant orange, and ardent browns, Terra Inca invites you to experience a stunning Technicolor voyage."  I'm not that I can embrace the techicolor eye shadow shades but I am noting that the model for the collection wears the bright eye shadows even though she has blue eyes exactly like mine.  Maybe I can make this one work with a bit of practice...

The new version of the famed Terracotta collection...

Terra Inca Eye Shadow Palette - The catwalks have set the tone: summer will be flashy!  Guerlain reinterprets the trend by creating interlacing, intense colors sprinkled with golden arabesques.  A vibrant orange, an intense blue, a deep brown, and a lighter brown, speckled with with a pale golden tone, can be used together or separately to match your every desire and mood.
- bright orange/bright light blue/deep shimmering brown/light shimmering brown/pale shimmering gold

Terra Inca Sublime Radiant Powder for Face & Body - A skin accessory between design and desire, this powder is composed of two subtle pearl shades: a highlighting golden beige and a pink bronze.  Together, these shades will embellish your complexion while warming the skin with an iridescent glow.  The case mimics the extra-large wooden bangles worn by fashionistas, making Terracotta Powder the 'it accessory' of summer 2011!

Terra Inca Kohl Kajal - The cult favorite Kohl Kajal returns to light up the eyes with its ultra-pigmented formula.  Its creamy texture glides on perfectly, making it ideal for women who love a deep and hypnotic look.  Applied at the inner corners, the gaze is instantly accentuated.  It is a summer essential!
- Black Frida - deep rich black

Terra Inca Ombre Fusion Cream Eye Shadow - Ombre Fusion Cream Eye Shadow is a unique creation that offers the softness of a powder, the richness of a cream, and the lightness of water all in one.  These eye shadows reveal a spectacular metallic effect by adorning the eyelids with fabulous shimmering reflections.  the effect is striking and will last from dawn to dusk.  Designed to resist heat and dips in the ocean, the Ombre Fusion eye shadows are the first Guerlain cream eye shadow specially created for the summer!
- Bahia 01 - shimmering cream beige
- Havna 02 - shimmering deep bronze
- Maya 03 - shimmering clay

Terra Inca Moisturizing Gloss - Neon fuchsia, sunny coral, flamboyant red: These concentrates of color envelop the lips in delicious sheerness with insolent shine and give an instant radiance boost to the face!  Their secret?  A luminous and translucent formula, free of sparkles but packed with pigments.  The non-sticky gloss can be applied at any time of the day for an ultra-sensual effect.
- Mambo 08 - bright coral orange
- Salsa 07 - bright fuchsia
- Tango 09 -  bright warm red

Terracotta Bronzing Powder - Whether dark or fair, blonde or brunette, Terracotta powder perfectly creates a natural-looking tan, whatever your complexion.  Its unique texture has always been Guerlain's best kept secret.  It leaves no lines or marks, only a natural, radiant, luminous tan as never seen before.  Its formula, enriched with moisturizing ingredients, does not dry out the skin and ensures long-lasting comfort.  An unequaled range of bronzers to enhance all complexions.
- for blondes - three pink-toned shades: 00/02/04
- for brunettes - four golden-toned shades: 01/03/05/07
- for ethnic skin - one copper-toned shade: 08

I am most interested in buying both of the types of bronzing powder that were featured in this collection.  For the original formula, I am betting that I might need one of the ones that are recommended for blondes since they are pink-toned and should be a bit better for my skin that the more golden shades.  I would like to try the other bronzer too since it has been receiving top marks with many of the other beauty bloggers. 

I am intrigued about the eye shadow palette but I will need to see it before I decide that these are looks that I can pull off.  I will need to plan a trip to Saks or Nordstrom soon so I can make my decision (if it is even in stock at either place anymore), I'm not sure about either the blue or the orange shades in it.  I would like to buy all three shades of the cream eye shadow in the hopes that they really are weather and wear proof, since I can't get cream eye shadow formulas to stick around in the summer time.  I will be skipping out on all of the lip glosses, if I want a high pigment product than I will just look for one of the lipsticks from this company

The bronzing products seem to be the biggest hit from this collection with the cream eye shadow coming in close behind.  I am still thinking that many of these shades might be too warm for me but I can still try them at the counters...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Harajuku Lovers G of the Sea

Every few seasons, Harajuku Lovers comes out with a series of new versions of the original Harajuku Lovers collection.  All of these collections have been limited edition and have spawned a few great fragrances but most of which aren't as nice as the originals.  This summer, Harajuku took the star of the collection, the G fragrance, and only made a limited edition version of this one.  G is styled after Gwen Stefani herself and I am surprised that this is the only fragrance that got the new limited edition version.  The original G is one of my new summer favorites so far this year, it is coconut vanilla and very yummy.  This new version is more of a citrus which is a break from the traditional of keeping the base of the original scent and then adding a few different notes to match the season.

"G of the Sea is a beautiful mermaid with gorgeous flowing hair and an adorable green tail.  Inpisred by the magical world of her underground playground, this new, limited-edition, Harajuku Lovers fragrance features a citrusy woody-floral scent.  Top notes delight in juicy splashes of crisp apple, magic water lily, and the tangy sweet surge of crushed berries.  Soak in its heart, filled with flirty bouquets of dewy freesia, whispers of pink peony, and delicate kisses of jasmine petals.  Finally, leave an enchanting trail of smoothly sundrenched woods, sensually transparent musks, and luscious amberwood."  This fragrance really has nothing to do with the original, which somewhat disappoints me since I wanted to add another beachy fragrance to my collection. 

The notes are of this version of the fragrance are: Crisp Apple, Water Lily, Crushed Berries, Dewy Freesia, Pink Peony, Jasmine Petals, Sundrenched Woods, Transparent Musks, Amberwood.  When I smelled this fragrance at the counter, I decided that I liked it but that it had nexst to nothing to do with the original version fo this fragrance.  This one is a crisp fruity floral and reminds me more of a Dior Addict 2 type of fragrance than the Harajuku Lovers. 

For an additional layer of comparison, here are the notes in the original G fragrance - Coconut Water, Mandarin, Bergamot, White Peach, Heliotrope, Exotic Tiare Flower, Orange Flower, Vanilla Bean, Tonka, Skin Musk, and Creamy Sandalwood.

When comparing these fragrances they are like night and day.  The original is warm and summery, the new version is crisp and floral.  The fact that this one is dressed up for the beach makes no sense with the fragrance itself.  I agree that they did need to change the fragrance a bit from the original, since otherwise it would be the same fragrance just released in a new bottle.  It would be hard to make this fragrance any more warm or beachy so I guess the company decided that they should try going in the other direction with it this time.  Last summer the company did a summer version of this fragrance and they remained true to the coconut and added a hint of a citrus.  I do agree that there are very few other ways that coconut should have been mixed up in this fragrance and smell any bit different from the original or last summer's version. 

The bottle of this fragrance is the cutest bottle that this company has done so far and I would prefer to buy the original fragrance in the new bottle.  Having this bottle on my dresser would inspire me to buy a second bottle of the same perfume even though mine barely looks used since I just really opened it up for the season.  I doubt that I will buy this fragrance since the lasting power isn't the best from this company and I would rather just wear Dior Addict 2 instead of this new version. 

I am wondering if the new editions of these fragrances weren't selling as well as anticipated since they only released one this time around.  It is true that I normally prefer the five originals from the Harajuku line, with the exception of one or two scents from last summer.  It will be interesting to see how this collection changes around this fall...

photo courtesy of Sephora