5 Favorite Bath and Body Works Fragrances

The Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual sale has started this week so I thought that this was a great time to look at my five favorite fragrances from this company. This time of the year they bring out many of their discontinued body product fragrances and since I prefer many of the older ones, this is the time that I go there to stock up.

Here are my five favorite Bath and Body Works fragrances...

Exotic Coconut - "Toasted coconut folded into sweet cream. At once, both fresh and sensuous". This is one of the best coconut fragrances that I have every smelled, anyone would like this fragrance because it is subtly coconut and more on the toasty and cream side. I love this fragrance in both the body products and the EDT form. This one is part of the Classics line and therefore now (during the sale) is the time to get it.

Blushing Cherry Blossom - "Fresh floral fragrance as joyful and uplifting as first love". This fragrance is very floral and contains rose, jasmine, and violet as the key notes. This fragrance is light enough to not power anyone with the floral notes and is perfect for that first warm day in the springtime. This fragrance I own in both the body products, the home fragrance products, and the EDT. This fragrance is available all of the time during the year so it can be purchased anytime.

Cool Citrus Basil - "Basil kissed by a hint of sun and citrus". This is one of the really old fragrances and I have been using the body products in this fragrance since I was in high school. This fragrance is really light and can be used by either gender or by someone with a sensitivity to most fragrances. I'm not always a big fan of citrus products but this one really works for me. I have this fragrance in the body products and this is another one that is available only during the sales.

Coconut Lime Verbena - "Inspired by an island breeze of luscious fruits and crisp citrus". Always a favorite of mine. This one is a great coconut and a great citrus fragrance combined. It is soft and sensual and always a crowd pleaser. I have this one in the body products and all of home fragrance products. This one is available all the time however there have been rumored that it will be discontinued at some point soon.

Cotton Blossom - "Inspired by the scent of pure cotton linen blowing in the breeze, this fragrance is clean, fresh, and powdery soft". This is another fragrance that is very light and always gets me compliments when I wear it. This fragrance has soft notes of florals and greens and therefore, is very versatile. I have this fragrance only in the body products. This one is also a Classic fragrance though the newer Sea Island Cotton fragrance that is available all year round is very close to this one, so it can substitute in any situation.

Hope these fragrances have given you all some ideas of what to look for at the Sale this year. I would go out and get the Classic fragrances before they are sold out because each store gets in a limited amount of them only in the first week or two of the month.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

2009 In Review

Well, the year is almost over so I decided to take a quick look at some of my favorite products and trends from the year.

My favorite products of the year...

- MAC A Rose Romance (whole collection)
- Stella McCartney StellaNude
- Lippmann Collection Purple Rain Nail Polish
- Bobbi Brown Chrome Eye Shadow.'

Overall, this year, I feel that I spent the largest amount of money on makeup and body products out of any beauty categories. I still have lots of products in both categories that I have never opened and therefore will have to be reviewed in the new year. I think this year I spent more money on MAC than any previous year and may have actually spent more money on MAC than any other brand this year. I purchased most of the products in A Rose Romance and ended up buying a large amount of both lip and eye products from that company this year.

My favorite trend of the year was the popularity of rose in fragrances. I have loved rose forever but this year, it really came into the mainstream of beauty and so many different rose blends came out that I can wear rose everyday and never smell the same. Also with all the new fragrances, even those who previously hated this fragrance can find a scent that is appealing toe them. Another trend that I liked was the emphasis on lip products. I purchased and tried all different types of shades this year, especially reds. I really expanded my makeup collection and ended up loving many shades that I would never have picked up before.

Of course, there were some trends that I hated this year. I feel that a lot of the trends and makeup collections were very polarizing this year. The first one that leaps to my mind is the blue eye makeup and mermaid trend of the summer. It seemed that every single company offered tons of bronzers and sparkly blue eye makeup in their summer collections. Which didn't work for anyone with colored eyes of pale skin. So most of the summer collections were a complete wash for me and therefore I ended up purchasing a bit less than I normally would have that time of the year. Another very polarizing trend came in the fall collections, especially in MAC's Style Black. Many ladies will not wear heavy black eye makeup, let alone black lipstick shades or nail polish. I know many of use felt that one collection was okay but when multiple companies jumped on the bandwagon, we had a bit of harder time makeup shopping.

I think my least favorite beauty aspect of the year is what I consider to be the "cheapening" of the beauty industry. With Hard Candy now being available only in Wal-Mart and now Fekkai is heading down to Walgreens and other drugstores, I feel that some companies experienced a slight slump in sales,freaked out and decided to lower their prices to match those available in discount stores. What I really feel that they didn't fully take into account is that most beauty addicts don't shop in discount stores and now will not be purchasing their products at all. I was also disappointed in the demise of Bath and Body Works Flagship stores. I used to enjoy going in there to pick up high end beauty products and then being able to use coupons to pick up a free shower gel or two. With the lack of high end products, I end up going in there much less often and spend much less money there. Also with this "cheapening", some beauty brands that I used to love are getting much harder to find in stores. Some quick examples are Vincent Longo, Awake, Me! Bath, Biotherm, and Modern Organic Products. On the other side of this debate, I did notice that some high end companies released products that were much more expensive than there usual fare because of sumptuous packaging. Two examples that come readily to minds are MAC Baroque Boudoir collection and many Guerlain products.

In the new year, I am hoping to master tight-lining and loose eye makeup. I also am trying to embrace my curly haired texture and find products that help me to do this. The two major items that I am looking forward to so far are the Lady GaGa MAC collection and the SJP NYC perfume being released in the first few months of the year.

Prescriptives Moonbeam Lip Gloss

Here is another post about a Prescriptives product that you all will want to run out and get before the end of the next month. This product is the one that I will be mourning the lose of the most, the Moonbeam Lip Gloss purchase may have been an impulse purchase with the foundation but I ended up really loving it. We all know that I am sucker for pink lip gloss so of course when I saw this product on display, I knew that it was coming home with me. After one or two uses, I realized that I should have tried this product out a long time ago.

Here is the description of the Moonbeam Lip Gloss from the Prescriptives website, "Take lips to a whole new dimension of chic with Moonbeam Reflective Lip Gloss. This revolutionary gloss utilizes new pigment technology that actually enhances light's reflective qualities, creating a super shiny shimmering lip look without feeling sticky or tacky. Moisturizing properties condition, soothe, and help heal dry, chapped lips."

I bought this product in Solstice 19, which I am guessing might be a limited edition or is sold out entirely since I cannot find it on the website at all. The shade is a midtone shimmery nude pink and is meant for ladies with the red undertones in their skin (the Colorprint system is very effective in this way). I love the brush applicator instead of the standard doe foot since it helps to deposit color more precisely. I am also a fan of light pepperminty fragrance that this gloss gives off.

So sad that this product is not going to be available much longer. I think that I will pick a few more up in the next week or two and then I will end up haunting CCO to see if I can find any left in stock anywhere.

photo courtesy of Prescriptives

MAC Warm & Cozy

This is the last of the new collections released from MAC and this one is my favorite of the three. I have been excited for this collection since I first saw it on Specktra.net about a month or so ago. The collection is called Warm & Cozy and brings images to my mind of fire places and snuggling. "Cuddle up, cozy down, chill out. Beauty succumbs to the most sensuous and luxurious essentials. Dim the lights, and relax in the soft candlelight of this season's most mellowed-out shades. Be Warm & Cozy".

Here we go...

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

- Embark - intense reddish brown (Matte)

- Mulled Cider - dark warm brown (Satin)

- Modelette - young natural peach (Satin)

- Chamomile - creamy pale yellow (Satin)

Warm & Cozy Shadestick - Shadestick Eye Shadow specially packaged for the Warm & Cozy collection. Features colour-matched casing and packaging. Available in a selection of four mellow warm shades.

- Cuddle - frosted light golden yellow (Frost)

- Nurture - frosted pale neutral peach beige (Frost)

- Warm & Cozy - frosted burnt amber with red and gold pearl (Frost)

- Relaxed - frosted dark chocolate brown (Frost)

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

- Warm Me Up - creamy mid-tone neutral pink (Amplified)

- Siss - muted golden beige (Satin)

- Spiced Tea - warm bronzed brown (Glaze)

Tinted Lipglass - A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lipstick or Lip Pencil, 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.

- Feeling Dreamy - pale neutral pink with pink pearl (Frost)

- 2N - creamy neutral yellow pink (Cream)

- 3N - neutral brown with gold and pink pearl (Frost)

- Light That Fire! - mid-tone burnt coral with pearl (Frost)

Lip Conditioner (Tube) - An emollient lip balm aimed at maxing-out repair by conditioning lips, locking in moisture. Contains Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamins A and E. Formulated for high impact to use alone or under lipstick. Petroleum-based, but not goopy, helps seal in moisture to protect lips from the environment.

Lip Conditioner Stick SPF 15- MAC's popular Lip Conditioner in a compact swivel-up stick. Goes in direct - or with a brush - to condition, moisturize and gloss the lips. Provides everyday UVA/UVB protection. Lightly vanilla: clear and sheer...the natural choice for all!

Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 - A protective emollient balm formulated with SPF 15, a sheer wash of colour, and an all-natural sheen. Conditions lips, locks in moisture. Contains Almond Oil, Avocado Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamins A and E.

- Feelin' Good - light neutral beige

- Close For Comfort - pinkish brown

Mineralize Skinfinish - A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed up highlights to cheeks and brows, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.

- Comfort - golden bronze

- By Candlelight - golden pink

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

- Blissed Out - creamy light nude (Cream)

- Dim The Lights - creamy warm dark chocolate (Cream)

Mineralize All-Over Lotion - This gentle non-sensitive, rich moisturizing lotion can be used on the face and body and is free of fragrance and colour. (This description is from Specktra.net, the link to this product is not working on the MAC website)

Care Blends Essential Oils, Sweet Orange + Lavender - Naturally derived from essences of lavender and sweet orange peel in a base of four richly conditioning botanical oils. Provides the skin with a healing balance of plant-derived elements that energize, heal, soothe, and calm. Apply to the skin after cleansing and before your skincare regimen. May also be blended with other MAC formulas.

Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile - Naturally derived from essences of grapefruit and chamomile in a base of four richly conditioning botanical oils. Provides the skin with a healing balance of plant-derived elements that purify, regenerate, soothe, and calm. Apply to the skin after cleansing and before your skincare regime. May also be blended with other MAC formulas.

Wow, I really love this collection. I predict that these shades will sell out within days of hitting the counters because this collection is very wearable and contains shades to suit everyone. I want a bunch of items from this collection. From the Eye Shadows, I want Modelette and Chamomile. I love the Shadesticks and want to get Cuddle and Nuture. From the lip products, I want to get the Lipstick in Warm Me Up and the Tinted Lipglass in 2N. I also want the Close For Comfort Tinted Lip Conditioner and the Stick version of the Lip Conditioner. To finish it up, I want the Blissed Out Nail Lacquer and both of the essential oil blends.

photo courtesy of Specktra.net

MAC In The Studio

The second new MAC collection that was released this week is the smallest of the three. This one is called In The Studio and actually consists only of two products. This is the description from MAC, "The dramatic, black-against-pale matte look of the fashion minimalist stays chic, goes modern. Lashes go bold with new Studio Fix Lash. Add the velvet-matte finish of Studio Fix Powder for a look so perfectly hip, it can only be In The Studio".

Here are the products...

Studio Fix Lash - Dramatically defines lashes to provide the sweep and definition that make lashes pop. The new lightweight mousse has a colour-rich formula that gives smoother coverage. Applies with a specially defined moulded brush that singles out lashes to provide them with fast, root-to-tip coverage.

- Black Fix - black

- Studio Brown - brown

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation - A one-step application of foundation and powder. Gives skin a smooth, flawless, all-matte, full-coverage finish. Long-wearing: lasts up to eight hours. A real all-in-one. The choice of pros, and a long-time favourite of MAC fans. Available in a range of shades to suit all skin tones.

Of course I want to try to new mascara that is released with this collection, however I feel that it is one that I will use in combination with another formula to help achieve both defined and huge lashes. I haven't tried the Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation even though I have heard raves about it from many different people. I guess it's time to check both of these items out at the MAC counter.

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Love Lace

Wow, I feel that I haven't been looking at new MAC collections in ages. With the amount of collections that have come out this year, it seems odd to me that I haven't been on their website on over four weeks. But they have released a bunch of new items now and so we are going to look at all of them today.

This collection is called Love Lace and this is the description of the overall collection from MAC, "Couture's fascination with lace is a long love affair. Intensely intimate, our newest collection captures lace's notoriety and allure".

Here is the new collection...

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

- Suave Intentions - light frosted silver blue (Veluxe Pearl)

- Pincurl - dusty white (Frost)

- Love Lace - frosted mid-tone grey-ish blue (Veluxe Pearl)

- Hypnotizing - frosted greyed mauve (Frost)

Kohl Power Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour power of ultra-soft carbon. Specially formulated to provide deep, fully opaque coverage, provides an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl. Versatile in application: blend or smudge.

- Sense of Style - blackened deep marine blue

- Raven - intense red with black pearl

- Feline - rich black (Frost)

Eye Kohl - A soft-on pencil liner that lines, defines, and shades the eyes with rich colour and a silky-smooth, matte/pearl finish. Ophthalmologist tested.

- Fascinating - intense matte white

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

- Stud - deep rich blackened brown

Zoom Lash - This instant volume mascara power-lifts the lashes into length, curls them up...builds them faster than you can wink! Precision control wand glides smoothly down lashes to provide a gorgeously silky upward "sweep". Smudge-proof and longwearing!

- Zoomblack - rich black

44 Lash - A unique combination of separate bundles at inner corner and dramatic winged outer corner combine for a full and fabulous effect.

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

- Pretty Please - pale pink pearl (Lustre)

- Intricate - frosted cool icy taupe (Frost)

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

- Icescape - sheer pale pink with pink pearl (Frost)

- Utterly Discrete - sheer frosted cool icy mauve (Frost)

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!

- Light Affair - creamy pale grey taupe (Cream)

Nothing that I really love in this collection. I would like to get both of the Tinted Lipglasses and the mascara but otherwise I don't think that anything in this collection really appeals to me shadewise.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Prescriptives Colorprint Service and Flawless Skin Foundation

It has been out in the open for several months now that Estee Lauder will be pulling the Prescriptives totally out of stores by the very end of January 2010. They decided to go out with a bang with the introduction of the Lustre Holiday collection and it has been announced that the company plans to continue its website and sell makeup solely through that channel. What this means is that anyone who hasn't tried products from this line yet so get themselves to a counter and learn all about the products and services that they offer. The product that this company is the most famous for it is foundation and it is worth a trip to the mall to receive custom blending service and to find a great foundation match.

This system is called Colorprint and works to determine the undertones of your skin and what shade will work the best for your individual skin tone. I went about a month ago to the nearest counter and asked for this service and expressed my wish to purchase foundation. The first action that the sales associate took was to draw lines of color on my cheeks to determine what my undertones are. I have cool undertones in my skin so I fell into the "Blue/Red" category of shades. All of the makeup from this company is grouped by undertone color, so (in theory) any shade within the "Blue/Red" category should be flattering. The sales associate then asked me to describe what I wanted in a foundation. I told her that I wanted a liquid foundation, medium to full coverage, for normal to dry skin.

The product that she suggested and used on me is the Flawless Skin Total Protection Makeup SPF 15. "It takes beauty and benefit to create flawless skin, and Flawless Skin Total Protection Makeup SPF 15. This groundbreaking formula with Pro-X Cell Complex, works to protect against sun damage and external assaults, while simultaneously diffusing imperfections. Achieves a flawless finish while working "undercover" to provide your skin with superior skincare protection and boosts skin's own internal defenses against damaging environmental assaults. Daily use improves skin's ability to repair itself and guard against UVA and UVB damage. The result is healthy, beautiful skin - inside and out. This lightweight, long-wearing foundation provides natural-looking medium to full coverage for all skin types. Oil-free."

I bought a full sized bottle of this foundation in the palest shade for with "Blue/Red", which is Rose 23 B/R. I have been using it for about three weeks and am pleased so far. The foundation is indeed long-wearing and while it isn't up to the standard of Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, it is mostly still in place at the end of day. The shade match is impeccable and I feel that it is worth it for anyone to try the Colorprint service and find their perfect shade of foundation.

I wish that Prescriptives wasn't being pulled from counters but I do take some solace in the fact that I can still order it through the website. Over the next few weeks, I am going to write on every Prescriptives products that I own so if anyone wants to try them out, they will have some time until the counters are pulled at the very end of January.

photo courtesy of Prescriptives

Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

For at least one or two years, every single time that I have gone to purchase a shampoo or conditioner at Sephora, I have been told by one of their associates that I should try the Ojon line of products because I would love it dearly. However, I have been nearly convinced several times until they have opened the bottles to let me smell them. The scent of the products from the line are earthy and somewhat remind me of dirt. This is not what I want my hair to smell like so I have always resisted and purchased another brand. I was surprised about how much the scent of this product line affected me, normally scent is one of the last traits that I consider in a product but there was just something about this scent that I could not get passed easily.

I always hear raves about this line, every magazine loves it and it seems like every supermodel swears by this line. I was intrigued but was afraid that my hair would smell like dirt all day long. Anyway, to make a long story short, Sephora has a great return policy and I just decided to give this one a try. I purchased the Ultra Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner and my hopes were soaring sky high before I tried this line out.

Ojon describes the shampoo on their website as follows, "Fortified with exclusive Ojon oil, an ancient native secret to naturally beautiful hair from Central America's Tawira tribe, known as the 'People of Beautiful Hair'. Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo is a daily, ultra-rich moisturizing cleanser that conditions hair with exclusive Ojon oil, Shea Butter, and Sweet Almond Protein to add weightless body without static. It's like giving your hair a mini treatment everyday. Formulated to help condition dry or dehydrated hair". This shampoo has a matching conditioner which has almost the exact same description and uses the above listed ingredients to help hydrate and smooth the hair follicle.

The first thing that I noticed when using this shampoo is that the texture is wonderful. It produces a thick, rich lather that I loved. The second thing I noticed was the fragrance (of course!), it is very strong and filled my whole shower with the scent of dirt. Using the conditioner was much the same type of experience, I loved the texture but the scent lingered a bit too much for my liking. The scent did go away quite a bit after I got out of the shower but there is just a hint of it that lingers. After drying my hair, it was much softer than it is normally and was easier to get a comb through. After several uses, I could a difference in the softness and shine.

However...THE SCENT of this product lingers much too much for my liking, especially after repeated uses. and the scent of the oil is nothing that this brand will be able to change without drastically changing the whole product. Which is really a shame since all the other results were much to my liking. What I ended up having to do to make this line work for me is to alternate using Ojon for two days and then use another brand for two days and continue to switch on and off. It seemed to me like the scent built up after several days and continued to strengthen the more times that i used it. I would love to be able to use this line everyday and reap all the benefits but I had to make a compromise and try to reap most of the benefits of use.

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC From Our Lips Preview

The promo pictures of MAC's newest addition to the Viva Glam collection have been released and have me sitting on pins and needles until the collection's official release in mid March. I have just purchased the new Lady GaGa cd and it had only added to my love of her music and style and I am so excited that I will be able to wear lipstick colors that she is promoting and the proceeds go to the MAC Aids Foundation at the same time. This collection will also have Cyndi Lauper promoting it also and after seeing the promo picture, I think that they make an awesome team.

As of right now, the release date is March 18th, so we have three months to wait to get this collection. But I have included the promo pic here to tempt and tease you all into anticipation. Now the promo pic has both of the ladies with prominent smoky eyes so I am wondering what the lip shades are going to be and how the color charts are going to work.

photo courtesy of specktra.net

Murad Essential C Night Moisture

Now that it will be winter in two weeks, I have had to up my skincare routine and try to find products that contain both powerful anti-oxidant protection and still are very hydrating since my skin is getting so dry that I think it might crack off my face if I ignore it for a day. With the craziness of the holidays in full swing right now, I wasn't able to get to Sephora right when I needed to so I had to rely on going through my bins of products and hope that something would jump out at me. And thankfully, it did.

I found a tube of Murad Essential C Night Moisture in one of bins. This product was given to me by a Murad rep at least a few months ago when I was at Bath and Body Works and she was helping me pick skincare out and having a discussion on the anti-oxidant protection that is available in all Murad skincare products. This product is more geared for older skin as it both protects from visible signs of aging and helps to correct the ones that are already present. This product is the night moisturizer in the best-selling Essential C line of products from Murad. This whole line is based on Vitamin C and the benefits that it provides to the skin. I have used many other Murad products with great results so I was very happy when I found this forgotten gem in my collection.

Murad states that this product "Encourages healthy cell renewal to reveal younger looking skin overnight". It has two primary benefits. The first is that it reduces morning creases and the second is that it neutralizes toxins and fights free radicals. I have two more benefits to it in addition. The first is that it hydrates my skin very well and the second is that it hydrates without a greasy feel and I have yet to break out from this product. Also the smell reminds me of a citrus fruit but it is light and while it might bother certain people, I feel that it adds to the allure of the product. I do use this product both morning and night even though it is without an SPF and therefore should only be used as a night cream. I have found that during the colder months, I need a separate moisturizer and then a layer of sunscreen to help protect my skin, so overall it works for me to use this night product during the day. And as an added bonus, since the product is not greasy, I can easily wear it during the day.

Overall, I am very happy that the Murad rep gave me this product and I would recommend it to anyone with dry to normal skin for use day or night. This product makes me want others from this same collection, especially the matching cleanser.

photo courtesy of Murad

NARS Wild at Heart Palette

Yesterday, we looked at the bold eye palette that was recently released for the 15th anniversary of NARS. Now today, we will look at the bold lip palette and see how they compare to each other. This palette is called the Wild at Heart palette and promises to be a sell-out product among fans of NARS lip products. Myself, I love both of this company's lip and eye products so I love all of these palettes and will end up trying to get both of them before they totally sell out.

This palette contains the following eye makeup shades: Abyssina, Alhambra, Ashes to Ashes, and Pandora. The cheek products in this palette are the same as the Everlasting Love Palette, the Orgasm Blush and the Multiple in South Beach. The lip shades that are the heart of this palette are: Baby Doll, Red Lizard, Man Hunt, and Fire Down Below.

Eye Shadow - Longwearing, crease-resistant color in sheer wearable formulas. All NARS eye shadows can be applied sheer or layered for a more dramatic effect. These richly pigmented powders blend effortlessly and can be used wet for precisely lining the eyes. Richly pigmented, micronized powder formula provides improved wear and feel.

- Abyssina - delicate pearl sheen

- Alhambra - metallic rose mist/golden champagne

- Ashes to Ashes - violet brown with shimmer

- Pandora - white shimmer/matte black

Lipstick - A wide range of captivating shades designed to provide the look and style the color dictates. Lipstick available in three formulas; Satin - moist, longwearing lipstick containing micro-bubble spheres to continually release lip conditioners which yield creamy, silky color that wears for hours; Semi-Matte - a highly pigmented matte, non-drying formula that provides a long-wearing, full-bodied, velvety finish; and Sheer - long lasting color pigments have been suspended in this translucent formula to provide a sheer, natural tint. Fashionable colors available in three textures. Exceedingly longwearing. Nourishing and non-drying, with Vitamin E. Once you start wearing NARS Lipstick, you won't want to wear anything else.

- Red Lizard - full powered red

- Manhunt - sheer poppy red

- Fire Down Below - pure blood red

Lip Lacquer - High Shine formula with sheer pigments of color for luscious lips day or night. This super-shiny formula can be worn alone or over other lip products. Unique texture pigments prevents color from bleeding. Transparent pigments with sexy shine. Use alone or over other color.

- Baby Doll - cotton candy pink

I love this palette even more than the previous one. Since I have on a red lipstick kick recently, this palette just fits the bill perfectly for me. I haven't gotten any of the red shades that NARS has to offer so far but they have been on my list to pick up when I hit up Sephora. This palette would be a fantastic way for me to try three different shades at once. I also have wanted to get the Alhambra shadows for quite a time but haven't gotten around to it either. In this description, I didn't include the details on the cheek shades since they are the exact same as what is contained in the other palette and can be reviewed be scrolling to the previous entry. I cannot wait to get my hands on both of these palettes.

photo courtesy of NARS

NARS Everlasting Love Palette

This month marks the 15th anniversary of the NARS brand. As someone who has been a fan ever since I first tried their iconic blushes, I am super excited to see some limited edition items being released to celebrate. All the items are palettes of some form and combine some of the best that NARS has to offer. One of the palettes focuses on bold eyes, the other on bold lips. However, both palettes do contain all of the products that you will need to do your entire face.

Today we are going to look at the Everlasting Love Palette. This is the palette containing the bold eye makeup looks. The palette contains the follwoing eye shadows: Edie, Underworld I, Underworld II, and Night Breed. The face/cheek products that are in this palette are the Orgasm blush and The Multiple in South Beach. Rounding out the palette are the following lip shades: Belle de Jour, Chelsea Girls, Promiscous, and Dolce Vita.

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

- Edie - cream with shimmer

- Underworld I - silver

- Underworld II - slate blue

- Night Breed - black with silver glitter

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

- Orgasm - peachy pink with shimmer

The Multiple - The original, multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, and body. Its unique, creamy formula blends effortlessly to provide sheer color for creating shimmering accents, contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones. Creates perfect, glowing complexions and is conveniently designed for failproof application. The original multifunction color stick. Mistake -proof color. Quick and easy to apply. Sheer, natural finish for eyes, cheeks, and lips.

- South Beach - shimmering apricot

Lipstick - A wide range of captivating shades designed to provide the look and style the color dictates. Lipstick available in three formulas: Satin - moist, longwearing lipstick containing micro-bubble spheres to continually release lip conditioners which yield creamy, silky color that wears for hours; Semi-Matte - a highly pigmented matte, non-drying formula that provides a longwearing, full-bodied, velvety finish; Sheer - long lasting color pigments have been suspended in this translucent formula to provide a sheer, natural tint. Fashionable colors available in all three formulas. Exceedingly longwearing. Nourishing and non-drying, with Vitamin E. Once you start wearing NARS Lipstick, you won't want to wear anything else.

- Belle de Jour - nude beige

- Promiscous - shimmering honey beige

- Dolce Vita - dusty rose

Lip Lacquer - High shine formula with sheer pigments of color for luscious lips, day or night. This super-shiny formula can be worn alone or over other lip products. Unique texture prevents color from bleeding. Transparent pigments with sexy shine. Use alone or over other lip color.

- Chelsea Girls - nude beige

I love this palette, I can't wait to get on the list for this one. I love the lip shades in this palette and actaully really like all of the eye shadows. I have tried Night Breed in the past and have never gotten the best of pigmentation with it but maybe it is time to try it again (with Primer Potion). This palette and the other are both very limited edition so tommorrow we will look at the lip palette so you can make your decision if you are to try to get these or not. Trust me, make up your mind quickly.

photo courtesy of NARS

YSL Holiday 2009 Collection

Ok we are winding down the Holiday coverage, this is the last collection that I have to look at. I am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the Holiday products that have been released and while I have had a great time looking at all the pretty new colors and palettes, I am really looking forward to Spring since that is my favorite time of the year. However, I am not done yet and am still in Holiday mode. Today, we are looing at the newest products from YSL. Their Holiday beauty look calls for both intense eye makeup and red lipstick. This is another collection that will not be among the most wearable of looks. "YSL invites you to experience extreme elegance with our Holiday Look Collection. The collection is a tribute to ultimate sophistication, featuring sensual textures and beautiful effects".

Here it is...

Teint Resist Long Wear Transfer Resistant Foundation - Yves Saint Laurent's new foundation, Tenit Resist, guarentees unfailing wear and radiance for up to 14 hours. The luminous, transfer-resistant formula forms perfectly to the skin for a soft and seamless result. the complexion is preserved from feelings of discomfort or tightening, remaining supple and silky smooth from the morning through the night. Pigments are specially coated for a color-true effect and the formula absorbs excess oil throughout the day, for a complexion which always looks and feels fresh. Teint Resist gives the guarantee of an even, smooth and comfortable complexion hour after hour, giving you the confidence to put your best face forward in every circumstance. Oil free. SPF 10. Available in shades for every complexion.

Touche Eclat Radiant Touch - Light, luminosity, radiance. The award winning, must-have, take anywhere instant highlighter that banishes shadows, erases signs of fatigue and leaves your skin looking radiant. Touche Eclat is 8 hours of sleep in a pen - the one item no woman can be without. Touche Eclat is ideal at any time of the day over bare, under or over foundation, creme, or powder. Use this best-selling brush-pen around the eye area, the hollow of the chin, the contour of the lips, and the sides of the nose. Just slip it into your bag to ensure a brillant glow, anytime, anywhere. Suitable for all skin types. Available in four shades ranging from pale to deep.

Mini Touche Blush - Like a true beauty accessory, Mini Touche Blush is easy to take everywhere. The small size, the mirror on top of the cap, and the ultra-soft powder puff allow for a precise application and easy touch-ups all day long. The ultra-fine powder provides a luminous and natural makeup result, and the shimmering soft pink shade, #11 Sparkling Beige, enlivens the cheekbones and creates a sensuous and subtle shimmer on the collarbones for the Holiday season.
- #11 Sparkling Beige - soft pink shimmer

Dessin Du Regard Haute Tenue Long-Lasting Eye Pencil - This pencil allows several applications: eyeliner, kohl, or eye shadow. The supple, yet firm, texture enables versatile makeup results. It's high pigment content ensures a long-lasting intense finish. Includes a cosmetic sharpener.
- #1 Intense Black - pure black

Ombres Duolumieres Eye Shadow Duo - A reflection of the Yves Saint Laurent spirit, the colours are both luminous and radiant. The duos play with contrasts that work together to dress the eyelids with vibrant hues and beautify the eyes with ultimate elegance. The extremely soft powder glides on evenly and unwinds like the finest ribbon onto the skin. Thanks to an optical smoothing effect, each shade fully expresses its intensity and radiance.
- #1 Heavenly Beige - Astral Brown - pale beige/deep brown

Volume Effect Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara - An intense look in a single stroke with our must-have industry leading mascara. The secret? The triple-film complex. A coating film for intensity, a conditioning film for curve,a fixing film for long-lasting effectiveness. Even the brush applicator combines nylon fibers of varying diameters for volume enhancement as never seen before.
- #1 High Density Black - black

Fard a Levres Rouge Pur Pure Lipstick - Lip colour and care in one, Rouge Pur stays fresh for hours while ensuring hydration and protection to the lips.
- #149 Black Tulip - deep purple
- #150 Sublime Red - true red
- #151 Sweet Dark Purple - deep magenta
- #152 Pink Grenadine - midtone blue pink

I like both the eye and lip makeup featured in the promo pic but I don't know that I would do them both at the same time. So the two major items that I want from this collection are the Fard a Levres Lipstick in #150 Sublime Red and the Eye Shadow duo in #1 Heavenly Beige - Astral Brown.

Wow...I am done with my Holiday posts...time for Spring!

photo courtesy of YSL

The Body Shop Holiday 2009 Fragrances

I feel like I haven't looked at products from The Body Shop in forever, which is odd considering that I find their quality to be far superior to that of Bath and Body Works for most of the products they sell. Maybe Bath and Body Works just tends to hit the public over the head more with their marketing and the promotional items that I always tend to get in the mail. Anyway, Body Shop has also released fragrances for this Holiday, all of which are limited edition also.

The first scent is called Merry Cranberry and since I hate cranberry fragrances, I already know that this one is not for me. The website describes this fragrance as being on the sweeter side and very fruity. Also, they state that cranberry seed oil is very hydrating and will help to improve the condition of dry winter skin. This fragrance comes mostly in different forms of moisturizers.

The second fragrance is called Black Velvet Apricot and is the one that I find the most interesting of the fragrances. Very few companies release any type of apricot fragrance and the ones are usually released are some form of apricots and cream and smell more like sweet candy than the actual fruit. This one smells of plum and apricot, making this fragrance true to fruit scent of the apricot. The plum is more of a base and makes the fragrance appropriate for the winter. This fragrance I believe is released in both moisturizers and a scrub that is in a tube. This is my favorite of the group.

The last fragrance is more on the spicy side than the two previous. This one is called Nutmeg and Vanilla. This one is my choice for smelling the most like typical "Holiday" fragrances and is my second choice of the fragrances. This fragrance is much spicier and stronger than the other two fragrances. This one that I know that I will like in the tub but if I would buy it, I would would only use it every now and again because I would get sick of the spiciness really quickly. This one is also available in the scrub and moisturizers.

There is still time left to ge these products before the Holidays but many of them were sold out on the website so I wouldn't wait too long. I personally am all over the Black Velvet Apricot fragrance and will be getting the scrub and the bosy butter before they are gone for good.'

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Clinique Holiday 2009 Collection - Black Tie Violets

For this Holiday season, Clinique has decided to focus only on shades of violets and plum for the newest collection. I can see this collection being either loved or hated. Fans of violet shades will want every piece of this collection while those who cannot get the shade to work at all for thme will walk away from the counter empty handed. But I am one of the people with a cool enough skintone to easily wear this shade, so I am jumping on the bandwagon of this collection. Here is what the Clinique website says about the collection in general, "Holiday glamour all wrapped up in softly shimmering shades of violet from plum to lilacs. Gorgeous effects for eyes, cheeks, lips beautifully illuminate every skin tone".

Let's look at this collection of violet shades...

Shimmering Stripes Powder Blusher -Long-wearing multitoned powder blends together to create a sheer, subtle radiance. Sweep over face for an allover, luminous glow or brush on cheekbones to highlight.

- Tuxedo Plum - shades of violets from light to deep

Powder Brush Limited Edition - Large, plush face brush dusts on loose or pressed powder for smooth, even application. Unique antibacterial technology helps ensure the highest level of hygenie, keeps brush irritant-free.

Cream Shaper for Eyes - Creamy-smooth eyeliner pencil with a hint of shimmer. Shapes and defines with intense, stay-put colour. Non-smudging, water- and transfer- resistant. Easy to sharpen too. Ophthamologist tested.

- Starry Plum - deep plum with soft luminescence

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad - Four coordinating shades of velveyy, shimmery colour to create the looks you want, from natural to dramatic. Creamy, intense shadows build quickly, blend easily for lasting colour. wear them alone, as duos and trios, or layered together. Ophthamologist tested.

- Plum Seduction - silvery grey taupe with a midtone lilac, a deep royal purple, and a charcoal grey

Brush-On Cream Eyeliner - Creamy eyeliner brushes on deep, smoky, eye-defining colour. Long-wearing, waterproof formula comes complete with a mini Eye Liner Brush. Ophthamologist tested.

- Violet Luxe - true purple

High Impact Mascara - Instant drama. Kicks up the volume and length of each and every lash for a look that's lusher, plusher, bolder. Pure, deep colour only adds to the impact. Wear it once and you'll feel naked without it. Ophthamologist tested.

- Black - black

High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 - High on colour, long on comfort. Dressed-up colour wears beautifully for 8 hours. And lips enjoy every minute. In highly moisturizing shades that continually smooth, soften, comfort. Protects from UVA/UVB too.

- Extreme Pink - electric hot pink with a sheen of white pearl (Satin)

Different Lipstick - Different because of its smooth, comfortable feel. One of the best, from our wide range of shades. Sheer, glossy, smile-rewarding lipstick.

- A Different Grape - pinkish grape (Soft Shine)

Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine - Triple-action plumping lip gloss instantly and gently creates a fuller, lusher look. The plush effect lingers up to 6 hours. With continued use, peptides prompt skin's natural collagen production to foster a smoother, more defined look. Builds moisture cushion and comforts lips, too.

- Bloomberry - medium plum

- Double Plum - deep plum

- Luscious Lilac - midtone lilac

Defining Liner for Lips - Makes lips look beautiful by definition. Modern precision pencil with built-in sharpener in the cap creates the look you want, anywhere. Creamy, non-feathering formula goes on smoothly, evenly, stays all day. Even helps lipstick stay in place.

- Pomegranate - intense blue red with shimmer

I love the Colour Surge Eye Quad that is being offered with this collection, it is rare for me to love every single shade contained in a quad and actually count them all as shades that I would purchase if they were offered by themselves. With the exception of two of the shades of the Full Potential Lip (Bloomberry and Luscious Lilac), none of the lip products in this collecttion really do it, which is shame because I love most of Clinique's lip products. I wouldn't mind getting the Brush-On Cream Liner in the new purple shade but I don't really know how much use I would get out of it on a day to day basis. This collection works overall me since I have a cooler undertone in my skin but I don't really know how smart it was for Clinique to offer a line that is based so heavily on one shade (and one that is not the easiest to wear either).

photo courtesy of Clinique

Guerlain Holiday 2009 Collection - Collection Imperiale

The Holiday collection from Guerlain is called Collection Imperiale and there is something about the promo pic that is reminding me of the Russian czarinas (before the Revolution of course). On first glance, this collection looks very much like it will be an extension of Volga Princess, the Russian inspired collection created for the past fall. Many of the shades look slightly softer than what ws released in fall and this collection contains only four products (just as fall did). So let's see if these two collections should be considered as only one collection or if they are unique enough to cover two seasons.

Here are the products...

Eclat Imperial Sublime Radiance Powder - An illuminating powder that graces the skin with a gentle and sheer veil of "diamond" reflections. Silky and ultra-light in texture, this deliciously violet-scented, sparkling powder will subtly sublimate and illuminate shoulders, arms, back, decollate, and hair. Finely decorated with screen printed lace, the white gold lacquered bottle boasts a long black tassel atomizer. You are invited to rediscover the timeless and most sensous gesture of applying powder like perfume.

Meteorites Voyage Imperial - Limited edition. The Strass-adorned, must-have for your purse, a perfect complexion. This one-of-a-kind formulation ensures ultimate softness and a lightweight texture. Gently pearlescent, it is reinvented as a concentrate of light and radiance. The new size of the colour shades, presented as miniature "flecks", makes blending colours easier for customized results. This compact slips into a dazzling purse to follow women in all their travels. For this holiday season, its design changed with a new pebble-shaped case. the white gold metal is covered with genuine black Swarovski strass crystals, delicately dotting the lid like a constellation of stars.

Le 2 de Guerlain - Limited edition Christmas 2009. For eyes having the sparkle of a starry night. The legendary two brush mascara comes out with special evening colours. The larger brush is featured in ultra-black to intensify the beauty of your eyes. The smaller brush is used for top coat application, offering touches of glittery gold on eyelash tips. The elegant design, featured in a white gold tone, is finely decorated with a swirl of black wound around the larger brush cap. A new collector shade: 12 Reine de Nuit

- 12 Reine de Nuit - black with a sparkling gold top coat

Rouge G de Guerlain - A majestic jewel for satin lips. In its original case designed by the jeweller Lorenz Baumer, Rouge G has become a classic in refinement and modernity. Elegant and unusual, its abstract and pure form is enhanced by a new jewel, black and strass-like in spirit that adds a subtle and refined holiday note. An ornamental gem for a sumptuous hallmark. As the ultimate finishing touch in makeup, lipstick enhances the lips and illuminates the face. Rouge G diffuses subtly sparkling golden reflections over elegant nude and gentle rosewood. It has the radiance of gold, just enough to bring out o glowing smile over an evening of celebrations. Two must-have shades: 11 Grace and 12 Gems.

- 11 Grace - nude

- 12 Gems - rosewood

Hmmm...this could be an extension of Volga Princess very easily. For one thing, neither collection really overlaps products, for example Volga Princess contains new shades of eye makeup and blush neither of which are carried in Collection Imperial. From this collection, I really love the Rouge G de Guerlain in 11 Grace and the limited edition shade of Le 2 de Guerlain. Guerlain is known for releasing beautiful shades and having amazing packaging for all their products. This season's collection does not disappoint.

photo courtesy of Guerlain

O.P.I. Holiday 2009 Collection - Holiday Wishes

O.P.I.'s newest collection for this season is called Holiday Wishes. Lately, I have been obsessed with nail polish and am changing my shades on a near daily basis. I don't quite know where this sprang out of expect maybe the resurgence in popularity of unnatural colors that I ended up adoring. So I have been pretty excited about many of the new nail polish collections that have been popping up. The O.P.I. website gives the following as the collection description, "For Holiday 2009, O.P.I. sends it best with Holiday Wishes - 12 stunning Nail Lacquer shades including six wish-upon-a-star reds and six most-wished-for dark and neutral tones".

Here are the new shades...

- Holiday Glow - shimmering dark burgundy

- Dear Santa - shimmering true red

- Smitten With Mittens - creamy true red

- Comet Loves Cupid - shimmering berry

- Ginger Bells - creamy nude

- Shim-merry Chic - shimmering taupe

- All A-Bordeaux the Sled - creamy bordeaux

- Sapphire in the Snow - creamy deep purple

- Merry Midnight - shimmering deep berry

- Glove You So Much - creamy deep rose

- Meet and Jingle - creamy true red (a bit lighter than Smitten With Mittens)

- Crimson Carol - shimmering true red (a hue deeper than Dear Santa)

The O.P.I. website did not have color descriptions so the above descriptions were myself trying to see the different shades and how they compared to each other. I know that O.P.I. is a slightly more conservative brand than many others out there but I did find this collection to be somewhat of a let down especially after many other lines have released. REally, I don't want much of anything from this collection so I shall be passing on the whole line.

photo coutesy of Amazon.com

Lancome Holiday 2009 Collection - L'Absolu Rouge Soiree

Get ready everyone, this new collection from Lancome is huge. With both the introduction of new products and sets, this company also has released a full collection of loose products for the Holidays. I saw this display in Macy*s and it is housed on a huge red display. Very festive! "For Holiday 2009, the look is sultry and seducative with rich reds, feminine plums, and exquisite browns. Lancome created the hottest color palette to bring out your wild, sexy side. All for sensual eyes, lips, cheeks, and nails with touches of shimmering light, day into night".

Let's check it out...

Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base - Give your lashes an XL boost! Cils Booster XL is an innovative mascara base that maximizes the result of any Lancome mascara. Features micro-fibers for enhanced effect; triangular brush helps separate lashes.

Dual End Liner and Shadow Brush - Brush #18 - This versatile, natural-bristled dual end brush is the ideal partner to all Lancome eye shadows. The flat, fine edge brush precisely applies shadow, wet or dry, to create a sharp eyelining brush. While the shadow brush quickly and easily sweeps shadow across the eyelid for a flawless, professional look.

Oscillation Vibrating Infinite Power Mascara - Oscillation is the first vibrating Powermascara from Lancome: 7000 oscillations per minute. Press the button and experience a breakthrough sensation in application. In one easy new gesture, let the vibrating brush combined with an exquisitely smooth formula wrap every lash up to 360 degrees. Instantly see a fascinating gaze: lashes appear ultimately extended, remarkabley separated, and virtually multipled in number.

- Sparkle Gold Top Coat - gold

- Sparkle Silver Top Coat - silver

- Black - black

Ink Artliner Longwear Calligraphy Gel Eyeliner - Eyelining becomes calligraphy. This superb new gel formula has the rich, creamy texture that ensures a luxuriously smooth application. With deep, luminous pigments offering the most intense color imaginable, this liner creates pure drama.

- Brun Mystere - deep brown

- Plum Tease - plum

Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base - This multi-purpose, silky-smooth formula keeps eyecolour in place. Leaves eyes with a matte, natural finish: perfectly primed to help your favorite Lancome shadows last even longer. This nude colour-in-a-pot applies with fingertips.

- Nude - pale nude

Le Crayon Poudre Powder Pencil for the Brows - Lancome's all-in-one essential for natural looking, beautiful brows. At one end: a powder pencil to colour-correct and contour. At the other: a handy brush to blend and groom for soft, subtly defined brows. Available in a range of brown shades to match all hair shades.

Blending Shadow Brush - #17 - This versatile, long-haired brush gradually tapers to a medium-size dome of soft, natural hair bristles. Its unique shape makes it ideal for applying shadow all over lids, softening eye contour colors, diffusing shadow pigments, or setting concealer to perfection. Shadow is seamlessly blended with horizontal strokes from the outer corner of the lid up into the crease, making eyes look extra defined. Concealer is set by using light vertical strokes around the eye area.

Fall Eye Brush - The makeup artist's best friend. This sleek, perfectly sculpted brush let you precision-line, shape and define your eyes beautifully. The handle is ultra slim and easy to hold for a professional finish. Ideal with Ink Artliner or any eyeliner, wet or dry.

Color Design Sensational Effects Cream Eye Shadow Long Wear - This versatile cream-to-powder eye color glides on easily and blends smoothly for a luminous, creaseless finish that's luxuriously lasting. Offers buildable color as a shadow, liner, or shadow base for 16-hour transfer-resistant wear.

- Haute Smoke - taupe shimmer

- Pink Lace - pale pink shimmer

- Garter Belt - berry shimmer

Holiday Eye & Cheek Palette - Experience the most glamorous palettes of the year. Surprise your eyes with a soft-to-sultry, trend-setting mix of six eye shadows and one blush to lighten up any look. Carry it off in style with an opulent palette adorned in a luxurious sparkle fabric. Available in four limited-edition palettes: Plum Irresistable, Nude Seduction, Alluringly Bronze, and Evening Splendor.

- Plum Irresistable - Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadow in Rapturous, Seducative Gaze, Magnificent, Captivating, Diva Shimmer, and Entrancing, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Violet Sunrise

- Nude Seducation - Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadow in Pink Zinc, Wear It Well, Erotique, Amorous, Kittenish, and Feline Strut, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Aplum

- Alluringly Bronze - Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadow in Fabric, Alluring Presence, The New Black, Enticing, Get It now, and Daylight, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Mocha Havana

- Evening Splendor - Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadow in Honeymoon, Tempted, Impress, Mannequin, Model, and Lezard, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Bronze Escapde

La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full Color Lip Shine - Revolution in shine. High potency color. Lacquered lips last for eight hours. For the first time at Lancome, an elixir of vibrant concentrated color and unprecedented shine in one gliding stroke. From the moment of application, densely pixilated pearls combined with unique polymers give multi-dimensional shine that truly holds to your lips: no touch-ups for eight hours. New soft-sculpt applicator smoothly polishes and precisely designs fuller lips in a perfectly even layer for sensual impeccable contours.

- Captivating - shimmering berry

- Untamed Plum - shimmering plum

- Seductively - shimmering pale pink

- Evening Splendor -true red

- Feverish - shimmering mauve

L'Absolu Rouge Advanced Replenishing & Reshaping Lipcolor Pro-Xylane SPF 12 Sunscreen - Absolutely Voluptuous lips. Pamper your lips with this creamy and luscious formula. Lancome brings Pro-Xylane; its complete and powerful replenishing molecule, to a lip color for visibly fuller and smoother lips. Rich, satiny, saturated color wraps lips in luxury. Lasting color precisely defines contours.

- Luxe - nude
- Crushed Rose - creamy rose

- Coquette - creamy pale pink

- Rouge Seduction - shimmering deep red

Retractable Lip Brush #9 - This versatile, synthetic-bristled brush is the ideal partner to all Lancome lip colours and glosses. This sleek, precise applicator retracts easily for portable convenience. Precisely and evenly applies lip colour for a flawless, professional look.

Le Lipstique Lipcolouring Stick with Brush - Two tools in one: a soft, creamy, waterproof pencil for gorgeous, professional-looking lips on one end; and a brush for blending on the other. Worn alone or under lipstick, colour stays in place - no feathering or bleeding. Unique brush tip blends and applies lipstick beautifully.

- Rougelle - true red

Le Vernis Divine Lasting Colour & Shine - It's Lancome's most technologically-advanced nail polish. Your fingertips and toes will love the boost of color and lasting shine that stays put for up to seven days. Its cutting-edge, soft-sculpt brush embraces the shape of each nail for perfectly even coverage in one coat with no clumps.

- Untamed Plum - creamy plum

- In All Her Splendor - shimmering red

Powder - Brush #1 - Made with only the finest materials, this precision-crafted tools allow for virtually flawless makeup application everytime, anywhere. Sweeps on powder for a smooth, nautral finish.

Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup - The makeup survival kit. As a foundation: sponge on dry, over daytime moisturizer, for a soft matte effect. Sponges on damp for a full-coverage, flawless matte finish. As a powder:puff on dry over any Lancome foundation. Result: portable perfection that's perfect for all skin types. Available in a range of shades for the palest of skin to the deepest of skin.

Cheek Brush #6 - This compact, natural-bristled brush is the ideal partner to all Lancome powder blush. It easily and evenly applies colour for a professional blusing effect.

Sparkling Cherub Sheer Warm Illuminating Powder - This sheer, sparkling powder illuminates skin with a sheer, bronze-lit glow. Adds layers of shimmering light, wherever you want it to highlight: face, eyes, decollete. The instant glamour compact to lift any look to the ultimate degree.

Maquicomplet Complete Coverage Concealer - This creamy, liquid concealer hides flaws, blemishes, and dark circles with full, natural-looking coverage. Enriched with a hydrating botanical complex, anti-oxidant protection, and light-diverting agents. Minimizes the appearance of under-eye circles and wrinkles, while protecting against environmental damage. Result: Covers imperfections with a natural-looking finish. Available in a range of shades from pale to deep.

Foundation Brush #2 - Made with only the finest materials, this precision-crafted tool allows for virtually flawless makeup application every time, anywhere. Provides even coverage of liquid foundation for a picture-perfect finish.

Renergie Lift Makeup SPF 20 12 HR Lifting - Anti-Wrinkle Radiance - This light-weight, moisturizing formula incorporates the breathrough skincare technology Micro-lift
Network. Anti-wrinke: In a 4-week clinical test: Total surface area of wrinkles was significantly reduced. 82% of women felt firmer skin. Radiance: Satin pigments and micro-pearls help erase dullness and awaken the complexion. Result: A transformation to a virtually lineless, more naturally radiant complexion. Moderate to full coverage. Radiant finish. 12 Hour lift effect. Available in a range of shades from pale to deep.

Fall Powder Brush - The master of sheer perfection. This luxuriously full brush sweeps on powder smoothly and and evenly for flawless, even application. Soft and perfectly contoured, it's ideal for use with La Rose Liberte or any powder.

Concealer Brush #8 - Made with only the finest materials, this precision-crafted tool allows for virutally flawless makeup application every time, anywhere. Applies concealer evenly for beautiful, natural looking coverage.

That was quite a collection! What do I want from this collection? From the eye makeup products that they offered for this Holiday, I want the Color Design Cream Shadow in both Pink Lace and Haute Smoke. I also really like the palettes that were offered for this collection, I would like to get both Nude Seducation and Evening Splendor. From the new lip products and shades, I am most excited about La Laque Fever in Captivating and Seductively. I also love the L'Absolu Rouge in Luxe, Crushed Rose, and Coquette. In my opinion, I think lip shades are the stunners of this collection. It's nice collection overall, I just really don't feel that Lancome needs to clutter up the collection with all the brushes and different foundation because you should be purchasing the face products and brushes that are recommended to you, not the newest items released. Just my two cents...

photo courtesy of Lancome

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collector Set

So far from Make Up For Ever, I have only used the HD collection but I have a friend that loves all of their products and one of her favorites is the Aqua Eye Eye Liner. I believe that I once got this product as a Sephora Beauty Insider sample but I haven't opened it up yet to try it out. But to a fan of both this line and this product itself, the Holiday Collector Set of these liners that is being sold at Sephora is a dream come true. The first 100 of these that are made and sold will be numbered and signed by Danny Sanz (founder of the company). For a huge Make Up For Ever fan, this is a dream come true.


The set is limited only to distribution at Sephora so I turned to their website to get a description of the product, "The 25 Aqua Eyes Collector Set includes the full range of 25 shades so that you can create endless eye looks. Aqua Eyes is an award-winning, waterproof, and long-lasting eye liner pencil that contains a unique formula that adheres to the eye lids and resists water - even under the most extreme conditions. Its creamy texture glides on effortlessly for precise application and intense color and by smudging it immediately after applying to the lid, it can double as a shadow".


Here are the colors that are in the set...


- Champagne 23 L - metallic pink champagne
- Fushcia Pink 13 L - metallic fushcia
- Purple 11 L - metallic purple
- Black Purple 6 L - deep purple
- Shimmering Plum 4 L - soft plum sheen
- Burgundy 18 L - deep burgundy sheen
- Pearly Brown 2 L - golden brown sheen
- Light Brown 19 L - dark taupe
- Light Taupe 24 L - taupe brown
- Bronze Green 5 L - golden olive sheen
- Bronze 10 L - metallic bronze
- Gold 9 L - metallic yellow
- Pistachio 17 L - metallic vibrant yellow green
- Green 16 L - medium yellow green sheen
- Forest Green 20 L - deep pine green
- Turquoise 7 L - light turquoise sheen
- Blue With Green Highlights 12 L - metallic teal blue
- Majorelle Blue 15 L - metallic royal blue
- Iridescent Navy Blue 3 L - navy blue sheen
- Mat Black 0 L - black
- Star Black 1 L - black sheen
- Dark Grey 21 L - dark metallic grey
- Grey 22 L - silvery grey
- Silver 8 L - metallic silver
- White 14 L - pearl white sheen

This huge set should make any Make Up For Ever lover or even any eye makeup lover jump for joy when they unwrap it. This quite possibly could be the end-all set for eye liner selection. Now if Urban Decay would make the same type of set so I could get it for myself...

photo courtesy of Sephora

DuWop Holiday 2009 Collection

DuWop has released only three now products for this Holiday season. All of which are either palettes or kits and would be either great gifts or something to keep for yourself. All the products are focused toward creating Holiday ready eye makeup looks and there is very litle for the face and nothing for the lips offered in this collection. Let's check them out...

Crushed Velvet Kit - The Crushed Velvet Kit is your one stop shop for the perfect Holiday look for eyes. The Crushed Velvet Kit combines the best of DuWop with our famous Lash Venom mascara, All EyeCatcher liner and Crush shadow, all chosen for their drama, intensity, and wearability. Each of these products is perfect for an office party or an evening out but combined they make an unforgettable statement. Each Crushed Velvet Eye Kit contains: A limited edition Holiday Crush containing a trio of eye shadows in shades of bright emerald, rosy gold, and burgundy in the same silky formula; EyeCatcher All Eye Intensifier, a velvety black waterproof eyeliner; and a deluxe travel size Lash Venom mascara to plump up lashes and finish off the look. The entire collection comes in a sleek graphite DuWop bag to take your look on the go.

Peacock Palette - Inspired by the opulent and regal colors of a peacock feather DuWop brings you the Peacock Palette. Full of rich, high shimmer eye shadows and bright, luminous skin balms, the Peacock Palette is the ultimate Holiday set. The Peacock Palette contains DoubGlow7 and Cheek Venom in Cobra, a new shade, to illuminate the skin and bring a flush of color to the cheeks. With a peacoc as our muse, we created six metallic eye shadows that are densely pigmented and go on silky smooth. In shades of deep eggplant, vivid copper, earthy brown, bright teal, khaki green, and rich sapphire, there is something to set off each eye color. The set also includes a professional double-ended brush and a full size mirror for on the go touch-ups.

IceStorm - This Holiday season DuWop presents a gorgeous palette of frosty shades to mix and match. The kit includes a jet-black, water-resistant cream liner to create a dramatic counterpoint to the ethereal pastels. The set also includes a professional double-ended brush and a full size mirror for on the go touch-ups. The eye shadow shades included are: shimmering rose, lightest lilac, frosyy white, and metallic mint.

Of the three new palettes, the only one that I really want is the IceStorm palette. I love the pale shades and the idea of pairing them with the dark dramatic liner. I know that I said several days ago that I really have no preference if companies do all sets or all loose product for their Holiday collections but after several posts all about sets palettes, I am beginning to wish that I was looking at more single products. Anyone else feel this way too?

photo courtesy of DuWop

Philosophy The Cookie Exchange

It has always been a tradition in my family to take plates of home-made cookies to family members and coworkers every single year. What this means is my mom always starts baking right at the beginning of the month of December and will continue to make batches of cookies until right up to Christmas Day. For an entire month, there are always ton of cookies all over the place and are always sitting out to be eaten. Heaven right? People are always shocked when I tell them that I don't really like cookies. I can eat a few at a time but they are one of my last choices for desserts. Give me cupcakes or candy and I will be one happy girl. But for those of us that love cookies, this entry is for you.

For this Holiday season, Philosophy has released a set of small 3 in 1s called The Cookie Exchange. This set contains four 3 in 1s in various cookie inspired fragrances. This is what Sephora has to say about this set, "A quartet of delectable, high-foaming, multipurpose cleansers. This decadent ensemble of three-in-one Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath formulas treats you to the mouth-watering scents of warm, fresh-baked cookies. Bask in Holiday delight as you cleanse from head-to-toe with moisturizing, sweet-tooth-satisfying lather".

This set contains the following four fragrances; Lemon Cookie, Oatmeal Raisin, Coconut Macaroon, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. I smelled all of the fragrances the last time that I was at Sephora and the only one that I really liked was Lemon Cookie. It reminded me a lot of Hello Sugar from Bath and Body Works (still one of my favorite items that they ever released) but the others didn't do much for me. I found the Oatmeal Raisin to be the strongest of the bunch however, it smelled strongly of spices and that turned me off. The other two fragrances were just generically sweet, nothing amazing about them but nothing wrong with them. This set just isn't really for me but I bet tons of others will love it.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Chanel Holiday 2009 Collection - Collection Cage Doree de Chanel

This Holiday collection from Chanel is the most unique of all the collections that I have seen so far this season. It is based on exotic islands and the creatures that inhabit them. In other words, it is bright and can almost be considered a Summer collection. So I don't know how much wear I would get out of it now but I can save it for warmer weather. Here is the description from Chanel, "Inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel's fascination with the brillant plumage of exotic birds, the Holiday Makeup Collection is a lfight of fantasy for face and fingertips".

Here we go...

Les Tissages Lames de Chanel Shimmering Tweed Highlighter - Three delicately 'woven' shades of shimmering colour for cheeks and decollete. Gold, bronze, and copper tones cast a natural luminous glow on skin to highlight and heighten a festive effect.

- Lames de Chanel - gold/bronze/copper

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow - Shade combinations ranging from matte to frost to satin for multiple looks, contrasting or complementary. Apply dry for subtle shadowing. Slightly moistened applicator gives a more intense shade. Organic polymer derivatives ensure smudge-proof longwear, particularly in high temperature or humidity.

- Bird of Paradise - tropical-bright quartet of aqua, yellow, green-gold, and copper

La Ligne de Chanel Professional Eyeliner Duo - Mistake-proof eyeliner duo enables every woman to achieve the perfectly lined eye. Stray-proof, powder-based formula easily mimcs both the precision of a liquid eyeliner and the smudged look of a kohl pencil.

- Celadon-Lame - rich green-black

Inimitable Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel - Now, in a single stroke, Chanel sets a new standard in mascara with a formula that does it all. A sophisticated formula and unique brush design combine to lengthen, plump, and curl, delivering lush, long-wearing colour so precisely that each lash, even the finest, is perfectly separated and defined.

- Noir - black

Aqualumiere Sheer Colour Lip Shine SPF 15 - A brillant pop of sheer colour and ultra-creamy texture provide an immediate sensation of softness and comfort. Lips are throughly hydrated with a nourishing, soothing, and fortifying action.

- Maldives - warm, ultra-wearable peach

- Galapagos - lustrous coral

- Tasmania - exquisite pink

- Grenada - soft, subdued fuschia

Aqualumiere High Shine Sheer Concentrate - Brush on the exquisite, water-light look of this new ingenious gloss and discover perfect comfort in a sheer wash of colour.

- Colibri - shimmering pearl

- Hirondelle - vibrant pink

- Canari - bright, citrusy coral

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

- Trapeze - radiant silver-beige

- Mica Rose - tender pink

- Orange Fizz - vivid coral

I think the Bird of Paradise concept is a bit out there for the Holiday season but I do predict that this collection will sell out within days of hitting the counters. The Quadra Eye will sell out first I predict and I will be one of the people lining up to get my hands on it. Along with it, I also want the Mica Rose polish and the Colibri lip color. I give Chanel points for a unique collection and for a collection that I will be wearing long past this winter.

photo courtesy of Chanel