Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

I feel like I haven't tested out or reviewed a new eye makeup remover in the past few months, I have been using the same formula from the Clinique and have been quite happy with it.  I originally bought that product a few years ago and I have been repurchasing it ever since.  I am a person that likes to switch up my skincare and try new products and this was one area that I wasn't really reviewing many items from.  It seemed like fate when Sephora was offering a small bottle of the award-winning eye makeup remover from Lancôme as a 100 Point Perk when I was ordering some of the Bobbi Brown products that I spotlighted this month.  I decided to stop hoarding my points to grab this sample and try it out.

I have put my half-empty bottle of the Clinique to the side for the past two weeks and I have been trying out the Lancôme formula every night.  The Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a product that consistently has won the Allure Best of Beauty Awards and has been listed as a best seller as Sephora for as long as I can remember.  This is one of the more expensive eye makeup removers that I have seen and I do believe that the price was the main reason that I have not tried it before but I have decided that it is worth every penny...

The Sephora website provides the following description of this best-selling eye makeup remover, "An award-winning, gentle, liquid eye makeup remover.  This formula activates when shaken to gently whisk away even waterproof eye makeup while conditioning and refreshing the skin.  Ideal for sensitive and contact lenses, it leaves eyes feeling cool and relaxed without an oily residue."

This product contains a liquid layer and an oily layer and the formula needs be shaken before use and the two layers need to be completely mixed.  The oily layer is designed to break down stubborn eye makeup or waterproof products.  I tend to have the hardest issues getting mascara off without leaving traces under my eyes but this product does get the job done (when used correctly).  I have been using it to remove the Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara formula, this isn't the hardest formula to remove and I will need to continue to test this product as I try more mascara formulas.  I have been using the Urban Decay Primer Potion under all of my eye shadows and this formula is able to remove all traces of these products.

I saturate a cotton pad with this formula and then press it up against my eye for 30 seconds before wiping it away.  This gives the product time to break the makeup down and helps it to wipe cleanly away.

My 100 Point Perk size will not last much longer and I will then finish up my current bottle of Clinique remover.  I have already decided that my next purchase will be of this product and I will continue to use and test this product out to see if there are any formulas that it cannot remove.  I don't know that there is too much more to say about this product, it does what it is supposed to and doesn't bother my sensitive eyes.  I would probably go back and forth in between purchasing this product and the Clinique formula, it is nice to have two products that I know will work well.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose

I feel like I haven't talked about fragrances since the beginning of the month, the holidays are normally one of the best times to go fragrance shopping however this year hasn't been living up to my expectations in that regard.  With the exception of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black, it seems that next to nothing has been appealing to me lately.  There is one fragrance that I have now tried several times since the end of the summer and I have been waiting to see if it grows on me but I have officially come to the final conclusion that it will not be working for me at all.  Lancôme Tresor Midnight Rose falls into the category of fragrances that I really wanted to love but they didn't love me back...

I have tried a few Lancôme summer fragrances over the years however I have never owned one of their core fragrances, many of these have been best sellers over the years but I have not yet found one that has worked well for me.  I was hoping that Tresor Midnight Rose would be the winner, I get excited whenever I can find a new rose fragrance to try and this bottle would look beautiful on display in my room. 

"Charming. Mischievous. Desirable. It is time for a new love story to begin, when love is still to be conquered, full of smiles, mystery, and charm. It is the game of love. Set in Paris, the playground for a romantic game of hide and seek. A sexy, sweet blend of raspberry, rose, vanilla, and sensual musk for mischievous femininity: catch my heart if you can.", states the Sephora website. 

The notes of Tresor Midnight Rose are: Blackcurrant, Raspberry, Rose Absolute, Jasmine, Vanilla, Cedar, Musk.

The Black Currant and Raspberry notes are the first to come out on my skin and are the ones that kill the fragrance for me.  The fragrance never seems to fully develop on me, the Rose and Jasmine notes are very faint and the top notes never abate and fade.  This is one of the rare fragrances that starts with the top notes and then goes right into the base notes, the Vanilla notes develops before any of the floral notes and then the fragrance becomes a sweet mixture of the berry and the vanilla notes.  At this point, Tresor Midnight Rose becomes a cloying mixture of sweet berries and vanilla.  I found this fragrance to be more of a gourmand fragrance instead of the floral mixture that I was hoping for. 

I first tried this fragrance at the very end of the summer and I was hoping that it was just the heat that was making the perfume develop oddly on my skin.  I tried this fragrance on while I was getting ready to leave Sephora and the humidity outside brought the sweet berry notes on my skin.  I didn't like the fragrance then but I wanted to give it another try in the hopes that the heat was the issue this time.  The last two times that I used Tresor Midnight Rose, it was during cooler and dry weather and the fragrance developed in exactly the same fashion on my skin.  I came to the conclusion that this fragrance was never going to work on my skin in the fashion that I was hoping it to. 

Tresor Midnight Rose will be very appealing to someone who loves sweet gourmand fragrances.  The berry and vanilla notes in this perfume overwhelm the rose notes and turn this fragrance into one that I would have loved but I could not wear on my skin.  Berry notes and I have never gotten along and this perfume is yet another example of this issue...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Holiday 2013 Collection

I have just come across the new holiday collection from Lancôme on the company's website and I have decided to look at their newest releases today.  I am very excited to see a new shade of red lipstick contained in the holiday collection, I can't wait to add more red lipsticks to my collection and this seems one of the best collections for red lipstick this season.  After looking at the Encrusted Treasures collection from Essie yesterday, I am looking forward to a slightly more traditional holiday color collection today.  The Lancôme collection is certainly a traditional holiday collection; it contains red lipstick, shimmering eye shadows, and pretty nail polishes. 

Lancôme has released both this color collection and then a small gift collection.  The gift collection appears to contain a few giftsets that are full of the brand best selling makeup products.  I have not yet been able to find details on these sets so we are only going to look at the new color collection today.  I am quite sure that I will find quite a few products that I will want from looking at the collection today.

The Holiday 2013 Collection from Lancôme...

Blush Subtil Face Sculpting and Illuminating All-In-One Contour, Blush, and Highlighter - Sensationally smooth. All-in-One Blush Palette to sculpt and enhance your best features.  Artistry is made easy with three simple steps to contour, blush and highlight your complexion.  For any skin tone, any face shape – your complexion naturally enhanced.  Define your face, enhance or diminish any features for a complexion that is illuminated and brightened.
- Menage A Trois Kissed - peach pink blush with pale pink highlighter

Artliner Precision Felt Tip Liquid Liner - This effortless liquid eyeliner features a unique combination of two film-forming polymers that make every look last. Rich, deep, luminous color pigments offer the most intense color, and its uniquely shaped foam tip pen allows for precise shaping and defining of the eyes.
- Noir - deep black
- Smoke - deep charcoal

Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Smooth Hold - Make a statement with these shadow singles designed by Lancôme Global makeup artists. Available in a variety of chic shades and finishes—from shimmer to sheen and metallic to matte—to complement every wardrobe. Lancôme’s Micro-aired technology promises effortless application and smooth-gliding color that’s beautifully blendable. The long-lasting, pigment-packed color stays true for daylong wear.
- All That Brightens - gold taupe with a shimmer finish
- All That Glistens - purple taupe with a shimmer finish
- All That Shimmers - silver with a shimmer finish
- All That Sparkles - charcoal with a shimmer finish

L'Absolu Rouge Hydrating Shaping Lipcolor - An ultra-luxurious, hydrating lip color with a comfortable feel and all day wear.  Same amazing formula, now in a sleek, new click-to-close pack.  Wrap your lips in rich, satiny color with this deeply replenishing lipstick. Infused with moisture-boosting Pro-Xylane™, the formula gives high color payoff without dryness, leaving lips moist, soft, and comfortable for up to 8 hours. Plus, antioxidant-rich Vitamin E helps keep lips safe from environmental aggressors, so they’ll look and feel healthier day after day.
- Absolute Rouge - blue-red cream
- Berry Noir - deep berry
- Cherrywood Luxe - medium brick red

Vernis in Love - Vernis in Love is a high potency nail lacquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style. With ultimate brilliance, intense color, and a mistake-free application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.
- 071 Neige Argent Noel - deep charcoal with a high shimmer finish
- 520 Flacon Blanc Noel - shimmering pale gray
- 010M Crystal Quartz - clear

I love this collection, this might be a favorite of the season for me!  I love the red shades in L'Absolu Rouge and I also like the deep berry shade in this collection.  I would wear all three of these shades and they will work all the way through the winter.  I also think that I will need to do some shopping from these new eye shadow shades, these have a beautiful shimmer finish and will look great when getting dressed up for holiday parties.  I want All That Brightens and All That Shimmers, both of these metallics will be staples in my makeup collection and I can wear them all throughout the year. 

I want all three of these nail polishes to finish up my shopping from this collection, I have not tried this polish formula before and I think would be a great time for me to see how well it performs.  This formula will be on my list of products to start reviewing after the holidays and I can't wait to see what other shades come out for the spring season!

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome Fall 2013 Collection - L' Absolu Desir

After blogging about the new collection from Butter London last night, I started playing around on some of the other beauty blogs and product websites.  I wasn't planning on going right into another fall collection today, I have just started trying out a new eye shadow primer and have been testing my new Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks and was planning on going more into product reviews today.  But life intervened and I was so impressed with the fall collection from Lancôme that I just couldn't wait to look at the products in details and show all of you the newest selections.  I have stated several times already that Lancôme has really improved their collections and products over the last five years, I used to only use the Juicy Tubes from this line and now look at all different products from it and each collection usually inspires some type of product lust from me.

The fall collection might be one of their best yet, L'Absolu Desir showcases the effortless beauty of the Parisian woman and has Kate Winslet as their model for the collection.  The packaging is limited edition and beautiful and brings out the packaging nut in me without even looking at the products inside.  I predict that I will be going crazy for this collection and a combination of this collection and the earlier one from Chanel will be the basis for my entire fall makeup look.  I really want to use this look find new products for deep red lips and perfect porcelain skin, a look that I can pull off very well as the weather cools down.  Kate Winslet is the face for this collection and I think she is beautiful and this makes me want the collection products even more!

The Lancôme press release states the following to describe the Parisian look that inspired this collection.  "She is elegant, chic, superb and totally effortless… She constantly reinvents her style with joy and individuality. She has that “je-ne-sais-quoi ” chic touch; she casts a spell without even noticing. She has just the right amount of sophistication and is always understated. In a word, she is…Parisian !"

"This season, Lancôme draws inspiration from iconic, effortless made-in-Paris chic ». A unique sense of elegance nestling within a secret: luxury teamed with creativity, bold twists on classics and new arrivals alongside the art of rewriting codes with a touch of wit. Following in Parisian steps, take an inspiring walk with Lancôme from the roses in Parc Monceau to the lights of the Eiffel Tower. The essence of their inimitable style is captured in a sumptuous collection with a fresh take on Paris’ best-known beauty symbol: red lips, skillfully sculpted in vibrant colour, accompanied by the perfect manicure… Effortless…"

Here is the new collection...

L'Absolu Rouge - Wrap your lips in rich, satiny color with this deeply replenishing lipstick. Infused with moisture-boosting Pro-Xylane™, lips stay moist, soft and comfortable for up to 8 hours. Antioxidant-rich Vitamin E helps keep lips safe from environmental aggressors, so they’ll look and feel healthier day after day. The stay true color won’t feather, flake or fade, so your pout will always look picture-perfect.
- 06 Rose-Nu - pink nude
- 47 Rouge Rayonnat - radiant crimson
- 132 Caprice - deep red with a warm orange tint
- 186 Rouge Desir - rich deep red
- 322 Rose Desir - bright magenta
- 386 Prune Desir - deep plum

Blush Rose Desir - Lancôme has created Blush Rose Désir, a precious powder with an all-new design reminiscent of a postcard from Paris, complete with the Eiffel Tour, roses and lipstick kisses…With two light-infused, orange- and pink-toned shades, this blusher for all complexions has been specially crafted to enhance the lipstick and bring out its radiance. Orange, the tinted shade is used to sculpt the cheeks, while the pink-tinted shade can be smoothed on to warm the top of the cheekbones.  The black case of Blush Rose Desir is embossed in gold, matching the L’Absolu Rouge design and part of Lancôme’s charming tribute to Paris this season. For perfect application every time, Blush Rose Désir comes with an exclusive, ultra-precise, double-ended brush. The wide brush is used to sweep blusher over the cheeks, while the smaller brush delivers just the right amount of powder for application round the lips, to illuminate the lipsticks and prevent feathering all day long.

Vernis in Love - Inspired by the new trendy Rouge In Love lip collection, Vernis in Love is a high potency nail lacquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style. With ultimate brilliance, intense color, and a mistake-free application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.
- 185 Purple Fiction - intense plum
- 385 Black Sepia - deep brown
- 485 Gray Lumiere - deep slate gray

This is a smaller than normal collection for Lancôme but all the products in it are stunning and I am excited to start adding a few of these to my traincase.  The Blush Rose Desir is an amazing products but one that I don't know that I would be able to bring myself to use, the blush has the amazing design of the Eiffel Tower embossed in it and I would stare at the product more than I would actually use it.  I can't say that I would ever buy this product because it might be a waste of money for me and I can't justify spending excess money on a product that I would barely use...especially when I need school books for this semester.  I will focus more on the lipsticks and nail polishes in this collection.

I have not yet tried the L' Absolu Rouge lipstick formual yet, I tend to buy more eye makeup and lip glosses from this company and have not yet tried any lipsticks from them.  I will start with the lipsticks in this collection, I love the limited edition packaging and the new shades from this collection.  My first choice would be the 186 Rouge Desir, this deep red will be perfect for my fall makeup look and red lipstick is my favorite way to try new formulas.  Next on my shopping list are the following shades: 06 Rose Nu and 322 Rose Desir.  Now onto the nail polish formula, I haven't tried this formula either, this is a newer formula and I haven't used it yet.  I would like to try the 185 Purple Fiction and the 485 Gray Lumiere shades, both jewel tones will be great for fall.

I will be stopping at the Lancôme counter the next time that I am in Macy*s and I think that I will be starting with red and then the rose nude shades.  I will then work my way to the new nail polishes in this collection and then add even more products from this line to my traincase.

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome and Alber Elbaz Collection

One of the most anticipated collections for the summer/early fall has been released this week and I am very excited to see it in person.  I have been seeing pictures of it in beauty magazines and blogs for the past two months and now I finally have the chance to see it in person and decide what items and shades that I will want to add to my makeup collection.  The first aspect of this collection that I was very attracted to is the very beautiful packaging, this is one of the most visually appealing collections that I have seen in a long time and it grabbed me instantly when I first saw a preview of it several weeks ago on a beauty blog. 

This new collection is a collaboration between French beauty house Lancôme and designer Alber Elbaz.  The Lancôme website presents this collection as a show and that is the format that I will use to present it.  To open the show, Lancôme provides a brief description of who Alber Elbaz is.  "Alber Elbaz stands among today's major contemporary designers.  Born in Morocco and raised in Israel, he studied in the United States to inject his realm with a healthy dose of good mood."  Alber Elbaz is a very unique designer and one that I am very glad that Lancôme has decided to collaborate with.  The first act of the show is about his collaboration with Lancôme.  The information at this stage is nearly impossible to pull from the Lancôme website so I will pulling the product description from Sephora and as much information from articles that I can find.

The collaboration between Lancôme and Alber Elbaz!

Hyponose Drama Mascara - A bold mascara dressed up in fashion designer Alber Elbaz’s iconic prints.  For the first time, the genius and boldness of Lanvin's artistic director Alber Elbaz partners with Lancôme’s eye expertise to doll up their legendary mascaras. Achieve spectacularly intense eyes with this convex brush designed to coat and separate each and every lash for scandalous volume. Swathed in its flamenco-style bright-pink polka-dot dress, Drama embodies self-assured and passionate ultrafemininity.

Definicils High Definition Mascara - A bold mascara dressed up in fashion designer Alber Elbaz’s iconic prints.  For the first time, the genius and boldness of Lanvin's artistic director Alber Elbaz partners with Lancôme’s eye expertise to doll up their legendary mascaras. Achieve lavishly long, perfectly defined lashes with this award-winning mascara known for providing the ultimate in separation. Carefully selected polymers coat each lash from root to tip to help lengthen and outline each lash for unmatched definition. This bestselling mascara’s unique brush applicator has specially grooved bristles that hold the perfect amount of product for gradual, even application every time.

Hyponose Star Mascara - A bold mascara dressed up in fashion designer Alber Elbaz’s iconic prints.  For the first time, the genius and boldness of Lanvin's artistic director Alber Elbaz partners with Lancôme’s eye expertise to doll up their legendary mascaras. The Hypnôse Star Mascara is already a tribute to the glamour of the silver screen with its double-sided brush designed to define stunning Hollywood eyes. In this star-studded electric blue "fur," it a virtual studio goddess. A new star is born!

Eye Brightening All in One 5 Shadow and Liner Palette/Star - A bold harmony for a sculpted eye look. Color Design Palette brings makeup artist results within the reach of every woman, thanks to its unique *wet technology* formula for variable levels of shadow intensity.
- pure white/shimmering silver/deep charcoal/bright navy blue with silver shimmer

Eye Brightening All in One 5 Shadow and Liner Palette/Definicils - A bold harmony for a sculpted eye look. Color Design Palette brings makeup artist results within the reach of every woman, thanks to its unique 'wet technology' formula for variable levels of shadow intensity.
- pale matte nude/shimmering pale gold/shimmering warm bronze/tarnished gold with neutral shimmer

Eye Brightening All in One 5 Shadow and Liner Palette/Doll - A bold harmony for a sculpted eye look. Color Design Palette brings makeup artist results within the reach of every woman, thanks to its unique 'wet technology' formula for variable levels of shadow intensity.
- warm matte nude/shimmering pale bronze/deep bronze/medium rose with shimmer

This is a collection that is much more about packaging than the actual product inside, I was hoping for more new products and not just current products in great packaging.  I like Lancôme products but I don't know that I would go out of my way to order these products only because I like the packaging.  The product inside is not anything special and I am not in love with any of the new (or repackaged) colors in this small collection.  I wouldn't mind buying the original formula Hyponse Mascara from this collection, I have never tried this formula but I have heard so many good reviews of it that I would try it out.  Correction - I would try it out with or without the Alber Elbaz special packaging but I would just love to have this product in the very pretty packaging.

I do like two of the eye shadow palettes but they are not very unique.  I like Definicils and Doll, the two more neutral palettes.  The shades are almost exactly like what I own from the Urban Decay Naked Palettes but I always wear shades like this and I know that I would get a lot of use from them.  I might look further into reviews of these shadows and see if these are palettes that I should be investing my money in.

I am somewhat disappointed because the collection seems to be all packaging and show and not as much substance as I would like it to be.  I am sure that the products are high quality but there is nothing special that sets them apart from the rest of the products in the Lancôme color line.  If I wouldn't buy the products in the regular Lancôme packaging then I wouldn't buy them just fo rthis packaging.

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome Summer 2013 Collection - Aquatic Summer

May is finally here and that means that I have one final left between me and a nice, long, relaxing summer vacation!  As far as I am concerned, summer shopping season is now in swing and I will be ordering from Sephora to celebrate the end of this semester, even though I just ordered for their Friends and Family Event, I still have another list of items that I want to buy and am getting yet another order together!  I am so excited to spend a whole summer blogging and reading good books...even though I will begin to start reviewing old textbooks for my fall classes by the beginning of July!  I am counting the hours until my last final and am taking some time away from studying to look at another summer collection right now!

Today I am all about the new Lancome collection, I still have not yet ordered a second bronzer for the summer months and I know that Lancome creates fabulous bronzers.  It goes without saying that a bronzer will be in my next Sephora order so right now I am skewing my summer collection coverage to companies that have been known in past seasons for top rated and award winning bronzer formulas.  Today we are looking at Lancome and I am hoping that both Clinique and Clarins have their summer collections up now or will have them up within the next few days!

Lancome's summer collection is named Aquatic Summer and contains more than one formula of bronzer along with some new shades of their famous nail polish formula.  The collection is comprised of products that contain shades of bronzes and aquas for all features of the face.  The Macy's website has additional description of the collection that the Lancome website does not so I will provide that one for all of you.  "Lancôme invites you to plunge into our Aquatic Summer Color Collection. Ultramarine greens and electric blues echo cool spontaneity, while warm summer rays transform into golden glows. Bronzed skin, glossy lips and nails, and a customized eye look is the perfect way to transition from the winter blahs into summer sizzle."

Aquatic Summer from Lancome!

Star Bronzer Palette - Artistry Made Easy: Star Bronzer Palette offers 3 simple steps to tan, blush and highlight your complexion. For any skintone, any face shape - your tan is magnified. The 3 powder formulas are silky for a smooth and even application. They blend seamlessly, and build from sheer to intense coverage.  Add instant color, shimmer and healthy glow to cheeks and temples.  This palette contains a bronzer, blush, and highlighter.
- Bronze Essence - peachy pink blush/medium tan bronzer/sheer golden highlighter

Star Bronzer Long Lasting Powder Bronzer - This sheer silky-light powder delivers a natural sun-kissed glow in any season. Exceptional light-reflecting pigments ensure a radiant, tanned makeup result. Smooth and comfortable texture blends effortlessly and evenly into the skin. Skin feels silky soft and even toned.  Result: Radiant, yet natural-looking, for a bronzed complexion that stays fresh and color-true throughout the day.  Suitable for all skin types. Oil-free. Fragrance-free. Non-acnegenic. Non-comedogenic. Allergy-tested for safety.  Available in a range of shades to complement all skintones.

Le Stylo Waterproof - Formulated for an intense eye look to withstand everything from tears to inclement weather, this waterproof eyeliner has a unique twist tip that never needs sharpening. Won't skip, smudge or streak. The easy-glide, creamy texture helps you create any look you like.
- 403 Blue Oasis - teal blue
- 102 Bronze Riche - rich metallic bronze

Hyponose Star 24H Waterproof Mascara - Show stopping volume mascara that provides weightless volume, luscious length, 24 hour wear.  Weightless Volume, Defined and Lengthened Lashes.  Dual-sided brush perfectly coats lashes and maximizes the performance of the long wearing, waterproof formula. The result is layerable, weightless volume and luscious length that lasts 24 hours.
- 01 Noir Midnight - black

Color Fever Lip Gloss - A gloss that drenches lips in captivating color and mega-watt shine that’s downright dazzling. With one gliding stroke, lips look more sensual and voluptuous, thanks to Lancôme’s Vinyl Shine System that keeps color vibrant, and shine luminous and lasting without any sticky or tacky feeling. Moisture-boosting ingredients ensure lips feel soft, smooth and comforted all day. Application is always flawless with the unique Lip-Sculpt™ applicator that contours the curves of your lips perfectly in a variety of gorgeous shades.
- Sunbaked Coral - pink coral with gold flecks
- Metallic Sunburst - melon coral with sparkle

Vernis in Love - Inspired by the new trendy Rouge In Love lip collection, Vernis in Love is a high potency nail lacquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style. With ultimate brilliance, intense color, and a mistake-free application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.
- 500 Simply Aqua - very pale blue cream
- 545 Aqua Blue - medium blue cream
- 561 Plumge Pool - deep periwinkle blue cream

Le Curler Aqua - Limited-edition aquatic teal color.  Introducing Le Curler, the latest innovation from Lancôme for instant lift and lasting curl. Its specially designed hinge and no-slip grip give you ultimate control to prevent pinching and pulling for the most dramatic lash result.  So gentle on your lashes, the unique silicone pads guard against lash breakage and cushion every lash for a sweeping, crease-free curl. The precise curved design of the curler fits any eye shape and lash type, and easily captures all of your lashes.

Cheek and Contour Brush #25 - This versatile, dual-ended natural-hair brush is the ideal partner to contour the face and create a customized, naturally sculpted look. The flat, oval shape gently lays product on the skin, while the flat circular tip gives a precise application.  Benefits & Technology: Dual-ended feature offers easy application on the go, Oval-shaped side easily and evenly applies color for a professional blushing and highlighting effect, Short, flat side precisely and evenly applies contour for a foolproof reshaping effect.

O D'Azur - Carefree. Enticing. Surprising. Drift away on a sensual voyage off the Mediterrean coast with Ô D'AZUR. The fruity-floral scent captures the feeling of relaxed sensuality on a late summer afternoon where the warm golden sand is complimented by the sparkling blue ocean.  Top Notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Calabria Lemon essence.  Heart Notes: Rose, Peony.  Base Notes: Modern woody notes, Musk.

I am really interested in four products in this collection; the bronzer palette, the bronzer, the new nail polish shades, and the perfume.  At this point in the season, I am nearly done buying any warm weather perfumes, by the time that I begin to find room for the bottles on my dresser and begin using them, fall will be just around the corner and they will end up just taking up space on my dresser as I want to get more into heavier fragrances.  That being said, I will need to try this at the counter and then maybe put a bottle aside for next spring, the mixture of rose, peony, and the light citrus scents could be a great fragrance for me and a staple in my fragrance line up.

As much as I want a new bottle of perfume now, I need to look at the color products as these are what I am much more likely to be buying right now.  My top priority is another bronzer formula, I think that I will start off with the traditional single bronzer, then if I like that formula I might consider purchasing the palette that has the bronzer inside.  The website didn't give much of a description of what shade is contained in the palette or if there are more than one shade of bronzer that is available in the palette.  This might have to be seen at the counter before I order it.

I want every single shade of the nail polish, one of the last products that I should be growing my collection of!  All of the blues are great shades and are different than the blues that I already own.  Everyone knows that I cannot resist any shade of blue polish and these are three great blues!  I have never used a nail polish from Lancome before and now I feel that I need to start collecting polishes from this new formula.

I must concentrate on finding another bronzer formula for the summer even though I keep getting distracted by fragrances and nail polishes.  I am hopeful that Lancome formulas are really as good as all the hype surrounding them and I can't wait to find you!

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome Spring 2013 Collection - In Love

March is here and I am hoping that the weather starts to warm up very soon.  We had two Theme Weeks last month and this month will see the end of the spring collections and then the weather should follow.  This is the month that I plan to do a lot of shopping in, both beauty and clothing-wise and I am ready to spend some time and money at the mall.  I am going to say that I am about 70% finished with the spring makeup collections but there are still some great companies that are on my list to look at in the next four weeks.  Today we are going to look at the newest collection from Lancome, the spring and fall collections from Lancome are typically the strongest ones throughout the year so I am very excited to see what is coming out for spring.

The new collection from Lancome is named In Love, a name that sounds likes a Valentine's Day collection but is actually a spring collection.  On first glance of the promo picture, I see Emma Watson (a favorite of mine!) wearing a vivid pink blush (another favorite of mine!) and these two just set the tone for the whole collection.  I am so excited to see this collection piece by piece and to visit the counter since I have been all over pink shades for the past two months!

The Lancome website doesn't have a description of the collection so I went over the Nordstrom website and I found a short description of the collection itself.  "The season of pure pleasure. Lancôme captures the colorful wave of spring with easy to wear hues for all skin tones. The In Love collection embraces springtime city style."  The bright blue eyeliner that Emma Watson is wearing is not quite my style but I love every other shade on her face.

Here is the spring collection from Lancome...

Baume in Love Sheer Tinted Lip Balm - These neon-translucent permanent shades saturate lips with comfort, moisture and lasting stain of color.  The formula is filler-free and contains a transparent ultra-shiny oil that optimizes the transluscency of colors and adds shine to lips.  When the texture is applied, its high content of light oils delivers a very smooth, thin and glinding film on the lips that provides a comfortable, lightweight feeling for the customer.  Protective jelly enhances its adherence on the lips. This adherence combined with its barrier effect optimizes comfort and protection of the skin from its external environment by maintaining moisture levels within the lips.  Shea butter has a unique composition compared to other plant-derived oils: it provides a naturally moisturizing effect and leaves the lips feeling soft.
- 120 Coral Electric - bright warm orange cream
- 100 Rose in Love - baby pink cream
- 110 Urban Ballet - satin bright pink cream
- 130 Midnight Rose - lavender violet cream

Blush in Love Powder Blusher - A new fresh glow blush to sculpt and enlighten the complexion . Designed to suit every skin tone, available in two different harmonies: Coral Electric: warms up the fair skins. Urban Ballet: adds a rosy halo on the darker skins. For a dewy finish, we recommend to use the Dewy Spray Mist after the blush application, with the Baume in Love to create a natural peachy look.
- 10 Peche Joue-Joue - light warm peach with a medium warm peachy pink center
- 20 Pommettes d'Amour - bright blue pink with a medium warm peachy pink center

Dewy Mist - Dewy Mist is a beauty water to be applied before make‐up to prepare the skin; and/ or after the make‐up to fix it. It has well‐known caring properties thanks to its 100% natural origin ingredients.  This is a favorite make-up product of makeup artists: it is an active water used prior to and after make-up application:  Before: To Prepare the skin for make-up: it refines pores and smoothes the skin. It also moisturizes and revitalizes for radiant, glowing skin.  After: It provides a natural dewy finish and keeps the complexion looking flawless and invisible with long-lasting results. It also provides continuous protection for make-up and skin to create an imperceptible colorless shield provided by active hydrating ingredients.  During the day: to refresh make-up and give skin extra glow.  Its active medical scent of essential oils provides a boosting effect for your skin and mood.

Kohl in Love Eyeliner Pencil - Lancôme essential Khol is reinterpreted in 3 new shades and a new gliding, smudge proof and ultra pigmented formula.  All colours have been created to be worn alone for a natural look or coordinated with the Ombre Hypnose In Love monos for a more sophisticated make‐up result.  Create a sensual, intense eye look with ease. This smudgy, creamy-smooth eye pencil delivers a dose of decadent color that glides on effortlessly and blends beautifully. In an instant, eyes are perfectly lined, defined and contoured for a smoldering effect that’s absolutely irresistible.
- 401 Deepwater Blue - dark blue
- 101 Chocolate Affair - deep brown
- 501 Jade Crush - dark green

Color Design Infinite 24H Crease-Free Luminous Eye Shadow - A revolution in eye shadow. Now, a unique creamy-powder texture creates effortlessly luminous, lasting looks. Purity of color meets exceptional long wear, for infinite intensity.  24 Hours of Wear: Luminous eye color that stays true for 24 hours without creasing. A revolutionary formula offers a silky, powder-to-cream texture that lasts all day and all night.  24 Hours of Vibrant Color: Instant eye color, infinite intensity. The highest level of pearl and pigment creates an intensely luminous makeup result, with blendable, buildable coverage.
- 200 Perpetual Pink - pale shimmering pink
- 201 Persistant Peach - pale shimmering peach
- 300 Evermore Lilac - pale shimmering lavender
- 400 Boundless Blue - deep shimmering navy
- 401 Magnetic Teal - deep shimmering blue teal
- 501 Tremendous Turquoise - medium shimmering green teal

Vernis in Love Nail Polish - Inspired by the new trendy Rouge In Love lip collection, Vernis in Love is a high potency nail laquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style. With ultimate brillance, intense color, and a mistake-free application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.  Jolis Matins: Fresh shades for daytime wear. Jolis Matins shades are identified with the letter M in the shade number.  Boudoir Time: Pop shades for cocktail hour. Boudoir Time shades are identified with the letter B in the shade number.  Tonight is My Night: Intense shades for magical nights. Tonight is My Night shades are identified with the letter N in the shade number.
- 134B Peach Melodie - bright coral cream
- 301M Sugar Rose - pale sheer pink cream
- 335N Rose Macaron - bright magenta cream
- 441N Midnight Rose - deep purple cream

I love the pink shade of the powder blush that is offered with this collection, I feel like I haven't bought a new blush in several months and I think that I need to pick this one very soon.  This is one and only product that is super unique and that I really feel like I need to go out and buy right now, this is the month that I will do the heaviest of my spring beauty shopping so I am glad that I checking this collection out early enough.  The other product that I am really excited about is the Dewy Mist, I wonder how similar this is to the mists that I already own from Caudalie and I want to check this out the very next time that I go to the mall.  This is the only other product that really excites me from this spring collection. 

Even though I only consider two of the products to be must haves for me, I do like a bunch more of the products in this collection and look forward to trying them out at the counter.  The Baume in Love will be a good product for the spring and summer months, I always tend to wear bright or sheer lip shades during this time of the year and this new formula could be a great addition to my collection.  My favorite color is the bright pink shade, this will be very sheer on the lip and I will get lots of wear from it.  I love the two pinks in the nail polish collection, the pale one will get tons of use all throughout the year and I will wear the bright one in the next few months. 

The last piece of this collection that I am really excited to try is the Color Design Infinite 24H Eye Shadow, this product is said to be very similar to the Illusion d'Ombre from Chanel, a formula that I love and keep hoping that more colors will come out in.  I want to try several of these shades and see how they stack up.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream

Winter is almost here and that means one major fact for me - I will end up buying a ton of new skincare items and will go through them like crazy.  Early last December, I ended up buying or ordering from Sephora almost every single weeek because I was running through skincare products like crazy and then I was finding that some of the ones that I bought just weren't hydrating enough for the winter and had to be put away until the spring months.  My goal is head this off at the pass this year and start picking up some new skincare items now, especially the heavy duy face creams that I always end up needing this time of the year and for the next three months.  I can already feel that my face is much drier than it was several weeks and is beginning to feel tight and dry right after I wash it.  And everyone who is reading this knows that it will only get worse in the upcoming weeks...

My first skincare purchase of the late fall/early winter months is the Lancome Bienfiar Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream.  I first tried this product in a Sephora skincare sample bag and liked it enough to buy it the other week at the Lancome counter.  At first, I wasn't even sure what exactly this product was, the typing on the Sephora sample was very small and I couldn't make out if it was a SPF face cream or just a sunblock.  Once I first tried the product, I quickly figured out that it was a thick face cream that contained an SPF, it was much too thick for just an SPF and a product of this texture would be very hard to layer with another face cream. 

The best product description is found on the Lancome website.  "Containing a complex of nurturing Vitamins E, B5 and CG plus high potency moisturization, this greaseless formula provides 24-hour hydration. Your skin will look its healthy best and feel touchably soft all day. With Broad Spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen and essential antioxidant protection, Bienfait Multi-Vital gives your skin what it needs to help fight the visible effects of environmental skin damage.  Results: Skin is hydrated, looks its healthy best, and feels touchably soft all day.  Normal to dry skin, even sensitive skin.  Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist-tested for safety.  Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation." 

Anyone that has used French skincare before will have no problems understanding why this is a top selling face cream in that country.  To those who have not, I will provide a few more details.  This cream has a high SPF in it, higher than most that are available from major brands in the United States.  Most face creams don't really live up the SPF that is promised on the label, to achieve the full SPF benefits the product must be applied in a thick, even layer.  Most of use do not apply our face creams as thickly as they should be, especially those of us who layer foundation and concealer on yet too.  So if you use an SPF of 30, it is more at the 15 protection level and an SPF 15 is next to no protection.  Sorry to burst your bubbles everyone, but this is why I prefer to use separate sunscreen products for my face. 

French women are also more likely to prefer very rich hydrating products and this face cream certinaly lives up to that standard.  I would only recommend this for the driest of skin types, this cream is so thick that I had to warm it in my hand before applying it to my face in order to get it to fully absorb and this product could be overdone very easily.  I wouldn't recommend this face cream for those with normal skin, however I see on the Lancome website that it is available in a lighter lotion formula, so all the benefits can still be reaped with a lighter formula.

This cream contains many anti-oxidant protection benefits, I wouldn't list this as a solely anti-aging moisturizer.  It has the potential to help correct some of the signs of anging, however it is most powerful in preventing the signs and helping to brighten the overall complexion.  The vitamins and anti-oxidants helped to make my skin look a bit brighter, one of my favorite aspects of it when I first tried out my deluxe sample and that caused me to purchase the acutal product, my skin takes on a grayish pallor during the winter months and I will try any product that promises me some kind of brightening benefits.  The Vitamins E and B5 are mostly responsible for these benefits and are the major reason why I prefer anti-oxidant facial products over any other type of formulation.  This didn't deliver as dramatic a result as a traditional brightening serum would but it certainly help to make my skin looks clearer and healthier at this time of the year.  Maximum brightening benefits would be reached by using this product with a brightening serum at least once or twice a day.  I only use this product during the day since it contains the high SPF, there is no point in using this product at night. 

This is one of the first (if not the first) Lancome skincare product that I have used, mostly I go to this brand for fragrance or color.  I was happy enough with my deluxe sample to buy the full sized product after a week of use and I am looking forward to trying the other skincare products in the Bienfiat line.  I am already thinking ahead to the summer months and I am betting that I will buy the lotion version from this line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Holiday 2012 Collection

We have spent the last two days away from the holiday collections and I am feeling that I must return to them and keep looking at items that I will want to buy to help create an lovely holiday makeup look for myself.  Today we are looking at the holiday color collection from Lancome, a collection of individual makeup products that will help create one of my favorite looks of the season, gilded eyes and deep red lips.  We see this look all the time during the holiday season however I love to collect products in these shades so I will do lots of shopping the next time that I visit Sephora.  One gift for a friend, one lovely item for myself.  So on and so forth...

This collection goes very heavy on the gold eye look, it contains gold eye shadow shades, gold eyeliners, and even a gold mascara top coat to complete the look.  I am intrigued by the gold mascara top coat, I wonder how bright it is and if it will become a true gold on the lash or just create subtle gold flecks to open up the eyes.  This could be a fantastic product for me or a total disaster.  I do wonder how thick this product is in texture, will it create clumps on my lashes after I initially apply my mascara?  Will it also add additional volume to my lashes?  I will be looking at this product in great detail when checking out this holiday collection.

The Nordstrom website does provide a quick description of the collection, "A collection inspired by the city lights of Paris, glamorous soirées and shimmering chandeliers reflecting against golden sequin gowns."  I would love to get dressed up and go to a huge party in Paris one night so this collection represents one of my dreams and therefore I know that I will love this collection!

Lets go!

Artliner - Emphasize your eyes with this easy-to-handle, liquid pen featuring a uniquely shaped foam tip that lets you line, shape and define eyes to create any look you like. Rich, deep, luminous pigments offer the most intense, dramatic color. Glides on smoothly without scratching, tugging or skipping and lasts all day.
- 24 Karat - pure true medium gold

Le Stylo - At last, eyeliner that’s here to stay. Formulated for an intense eye look to withstand everything from tears to inclement weather, this waterproof eyeliner has a unique twist tip that never needs sharpening. Won't skip, smudge or streak. The easy-glide, creamy texture helps you create any look you like.
- Taupe Brilliant - taupe

Petit Tresor Ombre Hyponose - Limited edition.  Discover the new Ombre Hypnose Mono limited edition adorned with golden glitters especially for this holiday collection. This luxurious jewel like case encloses a treasure new formula. Woven like mesh fabric, this fine texture offer a very sparkling formula to create the most dynamic and scintillating eye effects. Pure Golden pigments combined with this soft and bouncy formula offer an excellent pick up and pay off for a color that lasts for up to 16 hours. This formula can be used dry or wet to increase the color intensity.
- S207 Mesh - all shades of taupe

Les Paillettes aux Yeux - "Lights of Paris".  Les paillettes aux Yeux 'Eye glitter' contains loose sparkles. Very easy to apply, these sparkles are proposed in a shaker jar which displays the right amount of product. The very powdery formula of les paillettes au yeux is easily blending while offering a intense glow thanks to the golden jewel like shimmers it contains. Les Paillettes aux Yeux are to be used as a top coat over the ombre Hypnose Mono in order to dramatize its glittering effect.
- 10 Putting on the Ritz - shimmering peach
- 20 Lumieres de Paris - shimmering white silver

Hyponose Top Coat - This mascara dresses lashes with a hint of sparkle.  Makes lashes look luscious & fuller.  Keeps lashes soft & supple throughout the day.  Non-smudging & non-clumping.  To use: Wear alone or over favorite mascara.
- 24 Karat - pure gold

L'Absolu Rouge - Wrap your lips in rich, satiny color with this deeply replenishing lipstick. Infused with moisture-boosting Pro-Xylane™, lips stay moist, soft and comfortable for up to 8 hours. Antioxidant-rich Vitamin E and SPF 12 help keep lips safe from environmental aggressors, so they’ll look and feel healthier day after day. The stay true color won’t feather, flake or fade, so your pout will always look picture-perfect. 
- Berry Noir - deep berry
- Bordeaux - bordeaux
- Amande Sucre - cool pinkish taupe

Color Design 5 Shadow and Liner Palette - Infinitely luminous. Sensationally smooth. All-in-one 5 shadow palette to brighten eyes.  Lancôme’s versatile, all-in-one palette conveniently creates a full eye look for day or night.  Experience the newest generation of luminosity as silky lustrous powders transparently wrap the skin, allowing a seamless layering of pure color for a silky sheen and radiant finish.  Build with absolute precision and apply the shades in 5 simple steps (all over, lid, crease, highlighter and liner) to design your customized eye look. Contour, sculpt and lift in soft day colors or intensify with dramatic evening hues for smoldering smoky effects.  Long wear, 8-hour formula.
- 211 Ruby Affair - shades of plums and purples with a champagne highlighter shade

Le Crayon - An automatic lip pencil that never needs sharpening and glides on easily, for daylong definition and rich, creamy color. The anti-feathering formula won’t fade, budge or smudge, so your lipstick lasts longer and looks fresh for hours.
- Nude - medium translucent neutral
- Plum - deep cool plum
- Garnet - reddish brown

Blush Highlighter - Illuminating highlighting powders that give the skin a light-reflecting luminous glow. Wear alone or pair with other cheek products to create beautiful dimension on the face.
- Moonlight Rose - medium cool pink

Vernis in Love - Inspired by the new trendy Rouge In Love lip collection, Vernis in Love is a high potency nail lacquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style. With ultimate brilliance, intense color, and a mistake-free application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.  Categorized in 3 moods: Jolis Matins: Fresh shades for daytime wear. Jolis Matins shades are identified with the letter M in the shade number.; Boudoir Time: Pop shades for cocktail hour. Boudoir Time shades are identified with the letter B in the shade number.; and Tonight is My Night: Intense shades for magical nights. Tonight is My Night shades are identified with the letter N in the shade number.
- Bubbly Gold - sheer champagne shimmer
- Ginger Swing - deep copper
- Flirty Red - bright blue red

I see that a couple of my questions about the mascara has been answered, it is more of a subtle gold shimmer and not a fully opaque gold.  This product has me very interested and I want to find out as much as I can about how well it performs and I bet that I will buy it if I find good reviews on it.  I hope that this product performs exactly as the product description promises, this will add a beautiful subtle twinkle to my eyes and hopefully make them look even brighter and bluer!

What else do I love about this collection?!  I can start by just going on about how much I love the combinations of the berry and gold shades and how flattering these shades will be for me all through the rest of the holidays and then the whole winter season.  I want the gold shade in the Artliner product, I don't own a gold liquid liner yet and I have high hopes that this product will create a foil-like effect on the eyes, this could be a favorite product of mine all year long if it performs as promised.  The Petit Tresor eye shadow is fantastic also and I would love to see how it looks in real life, I sense a visit to my closest Lancome counter is in the works...

The eye makeup is by far my favorite part of this new collection however I do want one product for my lips and the blush highlighter that has a rose pressed into the product.  I hope that I will actually use the product and get over my dislike of spoiling the rose pattern, this is a great shade for my pale skin so I should get over that fear very quickly.  I only really want one of the lipstick shades offered in this collection, the Berry Noir shade is the perfect deep berry (and I am pretty sure that this is the one that the model for the collection is wearing) and I will wear this one all winter and than again next fall.

The holiday collection from this company is another favorite of mine and the mascara top coat is going right on my next Most Wanted list and I will be paying a visit to the counter very soon!  all of the collections for this season that are featuring reds and golds are turning out to be the best ones yet...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Lancome Hyponse Doll Lashes Mascara

I am forever in the search of huge, thick lashes and I am currently finished my tube of YSL Faux Cils and it therefore is time to find another formula that will give me massive lashes.  I made a Sephora order several weeks ago that was primarily mascara and skincare based and a tube of this product was included with my order, for the longest time I ordered multiple mascaras at once so I always had tons of choices in my traincase but somewhere in the past year, I realized just how much mascara that I already owned and decided to suspend this trend for a bit.  Somehow in the past few months, I saw that I had used up all the tubes of mascara that I already owned and that I needed to revitalize my traincase.  I started with buying the tube of Faux Cils for my French Week coverage last summer and then went on to the Amazing Mascara formula.

As I stated in the review of the Amazing Mascara formula, this is mascara that is best used for daytime volume and wasn't the type of formula that I would use for huge, fake-looking lashes.  Trying to fulfill this obsession was one of the major points of my Sephora order and I order both the Lancome Hyponse Doll Lashes Mascara and the new formula from Buxom (haven't opened this one yet) in the hopes that I would find a formula that performed to my expectations.  I have been using this mascara for about a week now and so far I am pretty happy with it.

From the Sephora website, "A mascara that extends, lifts, and pumps up the volume to doll-like proportions of lashes.  This mascara helps create Lancôme's most flirtatious lash look. A new, unique, cone-shaped brush provides an extremely smooth application, precisely defining even your hard-to-reach corners and lower lashes. This expert formula lifts and thickens every single lash without weighing it down.  This product was ophthalmologically tested and is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers."  In addition to the description of the product, Sephora included one of the major results from the research done on this mascara formula.  "With Hypnôse Doll Lashes, women perceived an eye opening effect up to 35% according to a test group of 28 women."

I remember seeing the advertisements for this product when it was first released last year and the models reminded me of the 1960s supermodel Twiggy, with her huge lashes and big eyes.  This mascara was made to make the eyes resemble doll's lashes, really long, huge, and wide-eyed.  This mascara did promise me volume however I found it to be more of a lengthening formula.

I would place this mascara as a lengthening and volumizing formula, I found that it performs better in the lengthening aspect than in the huge volume aspect, this formula did provide volume but not quite the lush lashes that I chase after.  Where this mascara really performs is in making my lashes longer and really separating every single little lash, this is one of those rare formulas that really separates lashes and grabs even the smallest lashes in the corner of my eyes.  I really see the "doll" effect, my eyes look huge when I use this formula and they are much brighter.  I found that I need two coats of this formula to reap any type of volumizing effect, one coat will lengthen and separate my lashes however in order to create the "doll" effect, two full coats are needed. 

I was very impressed at how easy this formula is to remove, it was a breath of fresh air after YSL Faux Cils.  The Faux Cils formula smears during removal and leaves black residue all over my undereye area.  This mascara removed easily and fully with the use of eye makeup remover and didn't create more of an issue when I remove it at the end of the day.

I like this formula but I would need to own this with at least one or two more mascara formulas with it, this is another formula that I prefer to use during the day or in the summer months.  I don't get the fake lash look that I prefer from this formula.  I will buy more tubes of this mascara to use during the day and I am hoping that the new mascara from Buxom that I also bought will fulfill my need for very dramatic volume lashes.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Fall 2012 Collection - Midnight Roses

Midnight Roses is the newest fall collection from Lancome and I must say that I am betting that this will be one of my favorites.  I love roses and Lancome has produced some great collections inspired by roses in the past few years and I am hopeful that this one is as wonderful as the previous.  The previous rose-inspired collections have been spring or summer collections and this one is very different, the hues are deeper and much more dramatic.  This collection consists of color products for all facial features and one of newest fragrances from the company.  I am already beginning to plot out my shopping list for this collection, I love so many of the shades and I must own the perfume that is grouped with these products!

The Nordstrom website provides a full description of the collection and the Lancome website provides more details about the products themselves.  "Lancome is excited to present Midnight Roses, our Fall 2012 Color Collection.  Inspired by Tresor Midnight Rose and the majestic hue of purple, the makeup evokes mischievious feminity and glamour.", states the Nordstrom website to describe the collection.  I love all the deep berry shades for the lips and all the lovely purples for the eyes, this is a great collection!

Here is the Midnight Roses collection from Lancome!

L'Absolu Nu - For fall, L'Absolu Nu undresses your lips in three new sheer shades, 3393 Parme Fianelle, 3397 Prune Mantille, and 3389 Rouge Resille.  Still using the same ultra caring lipstick with Pro Xylane, L'Absolu Nu enhances your natural lip tone and replenishes lips.  From mauve to raspberry and plum, these limited edition colors are the perfect transition to the Fall while keeping lips moisturized with a delicate veil of color.
- 3389 Rouge Resille - deep rose berry
- 3393 Parme Fianelle - sheer berry
- 3397 Prune Mantille - light plum

L'Absolu Creme de Mat - A liquid rouge with a matte finish.  L'Absolu Creme de Mat combines the gentleness of a gloss and the coverage of a lipstick with a deep velvety finish on the lips.  Three limited edition shades, ranging from bright red to profound burgundy, will cover every look from day to night.  The precise-angled, tapered tip applicator ensures an even and contoured application. 
- 300 Magic Pourpre - matte bright berry
- 301 Prune Elixir - matte plum
- 100 Potion d'Amour - matte deep berry red

Color Design Eye Palette - Infinitely luminous.  Sensationally smooth.  All-in-one 5 shadow palette to brighten eyes.  Build with absolute precision and apply the shades in 5 simple steps (all over, lid, crease, highlighter, and liner) to design your customized eye look.  Contour, sculpt, and lift in soft day colors or intensify with dramatic evening hues for smoldering smoky effects. 
- Violet Magnetique - matte pink (all-over base), shimmer taupe plum (lid), shimmer periwinkle (crease), metallic silver (highlighter), deep shimmery plum (liner)
- Mauve Cherie - shimmer soft yellow (all-over base), shimmer plum (lid), matte taupe plum (crease), shimmer silver taupe (highlighter), shimmer black (liner)

Le Crayon Kohl - Create a sensual, intense eye look with ease.  This smudgy, creamy-smooth eye pencil delivers a dose of decadent color that glides on effortlessly and blends beautifully.  In an instant, eyes are perfectly lined, defined, and contoured for a smoldering effect that's absolutely irresistible.
- 300 Purple Dusk - deep purple

Vernis in Love - Vernis in Love is a high potency nail lacquer perfectly themed to compliment every woman's mood and style.  With ultimate brilliance, intense color, and a mistake-proof application, your nails will love the lasting shine and pop of color that stays put for days.  Limited edition shade 453 Infusion de Prune and top coat 030 Givre Magique are the perfect finish for any of the Midnight Roses-inspired looks.
- 453 Infusion de Prune - deep berry
- 030 Givre Magique - clear matte top coat

Blush Subtil Palette - Sensationally smooth.  All-in-one blush palette to sculpt and enhance your best features.  Artistry is made easy with three simple steps to contour, blush, and highlight your complexion.  For any skin tone, any face shape - your complexion is naturally enhanced.  Define your face, enhance or diminish any features for a complexion that is illuminated, brightened, and lifted.
- 323 Rose Flush - matte tan/shimmery rose pink/iridescent pale pink
- 359 Framboise Flirt - matte tan/radiant bright pink/iridescent pale pink
- 385 Plum Elegance - matte cocoa brown/shimmery plum rose/shimmery copper steel
- 126 Nectar Lace - matte tan/shimmery pinky coral/pale gold shimmer
- 158 Peche Savvy - matte tan/shimmery bright coral/iridescent beige
- 192 Rouge Allure - matte chocolate brown/radiant burgundy red/shimmery copper

Tresor Midnight Rose - Charming.  Mischievous.  Desirable.  A sexy-sweet blend of raspberry, rose, vanilla, and sensual musk for mischievous feminity.  Catch my heart if you can!  Top notes: Raspberry, Black Currant Bud Absolute.  Middle Notes: Rose Absolute, Jasmine.  Base Notes: Vanilla, Musk.

I love these lipstick and lip gloss shades, I know that I have been trying to buy less lip products this season but so many great shades have come out so far this season and I continue to find more and more shades that I want to buy.  My favorite shades are from the new lipstick shades, Rouge Resille and Parme Finalle are both lovely and will be very flattering on my pale skin.  I must go to the counter for both of these shades as soon as I can.  I like the lip gloss but I want to see how pigmented they are before I decide what I want to order, they look as though they will be more like liquid lipsticks than just lip gloss.  Assuming that it is a liquid lipstick, I want to buy another berry hue from this formula (Magic Pourpre is my choice!).  I know that I should not be buying any more lip products but these are just such great choices for me!

I want both of the eye shadow palettes, I have been trying to buy more shadow and blush shades this season and so far have picked up a few great shades.  My favorite of the eye shadow palettes is Violet Magnetique, I have been all over purple eye shadows this fall and this is another great choice and therefore I can't wait to see this palette at the counter.  I am very interested in the new blush palette that has been brought out with this collection however I want to make sure that this will be a product that I can easily use in the correct fashion.  Rose Flush is the shade that I would start out with and I will want to play with this at counter when I go!

Midnight Roses is one of my favorite collections of this season so far and I don't think that I will be adding many more to that list at this time in the season.  I can't quite state if it is my absolute favorite yet but it is a contender for this title!

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome Summer 2012 Collection - Bronze Diva

One of the best known summer collection is that from Lancome, this company always creates a great collection of bronzers and the complimenting makeup shades.  Over the past few years, Lancome has been known for creating fantastic bronzers that sell out quickly every single year.  Since this is the year that I need to do major bronzer comparison shopping, I am looking at this collection early one and then deciding what to do before everything good is sold out at my local Macy*s counter.  This collection is named Bronze Diva, it combines several wonderful bronzers and pink shades to complement.  I am really excited about the pink shades for lips and eyes, the eye palette is all about the rose gold eye look and I am going to be adding more of these shades to my collection.  I really see myself with a fake tan, rose gold eyes, and light pink lips this summer...

This collection is relatively large, it contains 10 new choices for the season.  Some of bronzers appear to be brand new, other products appear to be new shades of their best sellers.  Personally, I am very excited for some new Juicy Tubes as I haven't bought these glosses in forever but I love them to pieces. 

Lancome's newest summer collection!

Color Design Pink Safari Palette - Infinitely luminous.  Sensationally smooth.  All-in-one 6 shadow palette to brighten eyes.  Indulge in a limited edition compact with shades of golden pinks mixed with orange, copper, and brown.  Inspired by the desert sun and exotic mirages, this new versatile all-in-one palette conveniently creates a full eye look for day or night. 
- Desert Sunset - pale pink shimmer/medium pink shimmer/warm orange shimmer/pale champage gold shimmer/medium bronze shimmer/deep brown shimmer

Le Stylo Waterproof - Formulated for an intense eye look to withstand everything from tears to inclement weather, this waterproof eyeliner has a unique twist tip that never needs sharpening.  Won't skip, smudge, or streak.  The easy-glide, creamy texture helps you create any look you like.
- 102 Bronze Riche - deep warm bronze
- 103 Cafe Noir - deep brown black

Artliner Waterproof - Emphasize your eyes with this easy-to-handle, liquid pen featuring a uniquely shaped foam tip that lets you line, shape, and define eyes to create any look you like.  Rich, deep, luminous pigments offer the most intense, dramatic color.  Glides on smoothly without scratching, tugging, or skipping and lasts all day.
- 103 Gold Passsion - deep true metallic gold
- 104 Bronze Desire - deep warm metallic bronze
- 200 Pink Luxe - clean bright shimmering pink

Juicy Tubes - This ultra shiny gloss sweeps on a sheer, sexy wash of color in a variety of browns, corals, pinks, and peach shades.  You'll love the ultra glossy formula that glides on easily with its tube-tip applicator.  Perfectly portable, this essential gloss discreetly slips in a pocket or purse for a quick fix of fabulous anytime.
- 210 Vanilla Sand - creamy vanilla with a hint of sparkle
- 262 Bronze Cocoa - light pastel bronze
- 3351 Pink Hibiscus - bright strawberry pink
- 114 Peach Nectar - sheer coral

Color Design Hydra Balm - New limited edition super-hydrating lip balm to enhance lips with a tint of popping, fresh sheer color.  Pamper your lips with long-lasting comfort with this shine-boosting lip balm that smoothes on deep replenishing moisture, and a veil of SPF sun protection.
- 559 Lotus Blossom - deep sheer rose cream
- 505 Desert Primrose - light pastel pink
- 561 Cactus Flower - bright orange

Star Bronzer Bamboo Bronzer - All over powder bronzer great for face, body, and decollete with a limited edition bamboo design.  Inspired by the desert sun and exotic mirages, accents of gold, copper, and pink come together for a glowing, sun-kissed complexion.
- Spice Island - metallic blend of gold, copper, and pink

Star Bronzer Aqua Stick - Discover the new limited edition Star Bronzer Aqua Stick.  Revitalizing stiock releases a smooth wave of sheer color onto the skin with gliding, intensely refreshing applicaton and a soothing effect.  Gently blend gel bronzer onto your skin over your cheeks, all over your face and/or decollete.
- Diva - rust copper metallic

Le Vernis - Add a soft touch to your fingertips with two limited edition Le Vernis colors in bright tangerine and pink, inspired by the desert sun and exotic mirages.  As Lancome's most technically-advanced nail polish, your fingertips and toes will love the boost of color and shine that lasts for up to seven days.  It's cutting edge, soft-sculpt brush embraces the shape of each nail for perfectly even coverage in one coat with no clumps.  It's small, portable bottle makes it easy to travel.
- 361 Cosmopolitan Pink - medium pink
- 134 Tangerine Tint - medium orange

Blush Subtil - This luxuriously silky powder blush glides on with its own brush to color and contour for flawless application every time.  Color stays true for hours; versatile powder finish never looks dry or dull, thanks to moisture-balancing ingredients that keep skin feeling completely comfortable.  Oil-free and oil-absorbing.  Ideal for all skin types.
- Aplum - matte rose-y mauve

Star Bronzer - This silky-sheer powder delivers a natural sun-kissed glow in any season.  Exceptional light-reflecting pigments ensure a radiant tanned makeup result.  Smooth and comfortable texture blends effortlessly and evenly into skin.  Skin feels silky soft and even toned.  Result - Radiant yet natural-looking, for a bronzed complexion that stays fresh and colour-true throughout the day.  Suitable for all skin types.  Oil-free.  Fragrance-free.  Available in a wide range of bronze shades to suit all types and tones.

My favorite piece of the collectiom is the one that I have pictured, the Star Bronzer Bamboo Bronzer.  This formula is a bit on the much side for everyday life, it has a shimmer finish and will work very well for the night but it is too much for casual situations.  For most times during the summer, I will buy a matte shade of the Star Bronzer.  It is available in both matte and shimmer shades, I would buy a matte shade first since I would actually get a lot of wear from it.  If I only purchase one item from the collection, it would be a matte shade from the Star Bronzer.

After I purchase a bronzer, there are another series of products that I want to buy too.  I love the eye shadow palette that was made to compliment the bronzer shades, you all know that I have been raving about the rose gold eye look for the past few weeks and this product will give me many more options to help create it.  Next on my shopping list is the pink shade of the Juicy Tubes, I love the bright strawberry pink shade.  I want two of the liquid eyeliners, the gold and bronze shades will work well all summer and I know that I will keep using them well into the fall months.  Lastly, I want the bright pink nail polish shade.

I love that Lancome has decided to break with the tradition verison of the bronzed look and added pinks and golds into the look.  I love that I have more options that the bright blues that I have been seeing in the some of the summer collections, this is one of my top five favorites of the season!

photo courtesy of Lancome

Lancome Spring 2012 Collection - Roseraie des Delices

I feel like I wait all year for the Lancome spring color collection, every since Aaron de May took over as Creative Director of the brand, their spring collections have been their best release of the entire year.  I am hoping that 2012 does not break this trend, I never really like the summer collection since it is so heavily focused on bronzers and the warmer makeup hues that match this type of complexion.  I am in full spring makeup shopping mode right now so this collection was released at the perfect time to satisfy my shopping urges.  This collection contains lots of pink hues in every type of product.  I am most excited for the pretty pink blush in this collection and I am hoping that there is a great lipstick to match it...

The latest masterpiece from Aaron de May!

Color Design Spring 2012 Limited Edition Eye Shadow Palette - Create a fresh, sensual eye look just in time for the spring with Les Yeux Doux ("Soft Eyes"), available in two color palettes, Rose Romance and Vert Tendresse.  Encased in a luxurious black lacquered compact with a delicate green rose crown, "Les Yeux Doux" is a must for a fresh spring eye look.  Long-wear, 8 hour formula.  Color does not fade, continues to stay true.
- For a rosy, sensual look, 206 Rose Romance consists of a mix of soft pinks, peach, and burgundy.  Apply the shades in 5 simple steps (all over, lid, crease, highlighter, and liner) to design your customized eye look.  Contour and sculpt in soft day colors or intensify with dramatic evening hues for smoldering smoky effects.
- For a fresh pop of color, use 502 Vert Tendresse, a warm palette with shades of mint and forest greens.  Apply the shades in 5 simple steps (all over, lid, crease, highlighter, and liner) to design your customized eye look.  Contour and sculpt in soft day colors or intensify with dramatic evening hues for smoldering smoky effects.

Le Stylo Waterproof - Formulated for an intense eye look to withstand everything from tears to inclement weather, this waterproof eyeliner has a unique twist tip that never needs sharpening.  Won't skip, smudge, or streak.  The easy-glide, creamy texture helps you create any look you like. 
- 502 Green Petal - frosty mint green
- 600 Blanc - pure white

La Roseraie Illuminating Smooth Powder - La Roseraie ("Bed of Roses") compact is the new must-have of the Spring season.  The light texture of this multi-dimensional powder eases application and gives a transparent finish to the skin.  The bright rosy pink and pastel shimmer combination is a perfect all-in-one product for cheeks and face.

L'Absolu Rouge Nu - Discover delicious sheer shades that will adorn your lips with a delicate veil of color.  The 1st ultra caring lipstick with Pro-Xylane in a new infinitely light texture, and enriched with enhancing pigments to reveal the radiance of beautifully replenished lips.
- 388 Rose Petal- sheer bright pink
- 1141 Sweet Marmalade - sheer bright coral

Le French Touch Absolu Nu - Limited edition cult packaging inspired by Lancome's heritage lipsticks - fourth edition.  This sheer pink shade is inspired by mouth-watering cotton candy.  Enhance your natural lip tone in a veil of shiny, translucent color.  The 1st ultra caring lipstick with Pro-Xylane in a new infinitely light texture, and enriched with enhancing pigments to reveal the radiance of beautifully replenished lips.  A surprising sheer texture will adorn your lips with a delicate veil of color.
- 316 Cotton Candy - cool bright sheer pink

Color Fever Gloss - Discover limited edition pastel glosses in sheer shades of mint, tangerine, and rose for a natural, romantic spring look.  With one gliding stroke, lips look more sensual and voluptuous, thanks to Lancome's Vinyl Shine System that keeps color vibrant and shine luminous and lasting without any sticky or tacky feeling.  Moisture-boosting ingredients ensure lips feel soft, smooth, and comforted all day.  Application is always flawless with the unique Lip-Sculpt applicator that contours the curves of your lips perfectly.
- 386 Green Petal - translucent soft green
- 388 Rose Petal - sheer baby pink
- 387 Tangerine Petal - sheer soft coral

I was originally going to put a picture of the model wearing the full makeup look in this post but after seeing the blush compact up close, I decided that just a description didn't do it full justice.  I must have this blush, I can't even put into words how much that I love it, I just am afraid that I would never use it because the rose is just too pretty to destroy.  I must see this person and then decide if I would ever use it or just stare at it all day long...

I am debating whether or not I really want the pink eye shadow palette, I think it is very pretty but I already own a few pink shades and I don't even wear them as much as I could.  I don't know that I could pull off the complete pink face look, I will try it with the products that I currently have before I end buying this palette and getting little to no use from it.  The lip products are a whole different ball game though, I love many of these shades especially the new lipstick shades.  My favorite is the limited edition French Touch Absolu Nu, I love that bright cotton candy shade and that it has a sheer finish, I think that I actually own nothing like this in my lipstick wardrobe already.  The Rose Petal shade is great also, I am loving these bright pinks for the spring months!  Last but not least, I want the Color Fever Gloss in the Rose Petal, I haven't bought gloss in ages and this one is stunning.

Vive Aaron de May!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Lancome Fall 2011 Collection - 29 St. Honore Paris

French culture has always been a huge part of my life, you all know that I celebrate Bastille Day more than I celebrate the Fourth of July and always tend to prefer French companies over those from any other area of the world.  The Bath and Body Works release of Paris Amour sent my over the moon last month and now the fall color collection from Lancome just continues to send me orbiting through space.  This color collection is another in the series from Aaron De May, the revolutionary creative director of Lancome, and continues his reign of hit collections.  29 St. Honore Paris features red lips and graphic black eye liner, two of my current favorite looks.  I believe that we have another hit here and I am so happy that a collection is featuring red lipsticks for me to play with.

I am jumping out of my skin so without further ado...

Hyponse Drama - Get instant lash drama in a single coat with this ultra volume-boosting mascara that'll take lashes from so-so to show-stopping.  The full contact brush, with S-shaped curve, grasps and loads lashes for a fanned out, full body fringe.  Lancome's luxe Texturizing complex features highly saturated waxes and intense black pigments for maximum lash volume.  The triple coating system delivers a fluid and creamy application to quickly and easily build big, battable lashes that won't clump or flake.
- Gris Fatale - deep charcoal gray

L'Absolu Rouge - Wrap your lips in rich, satiny color with this deeply replenishing lipstick.  Infused with moisture-boosting Pro-Xylane, lips stay moist, soft, and comfortable for up to eight hours.  Antioxidant-rich Vitamin E and SPF 12 help keep lips safe from environmental aggressors, so they'll look and feel healthier day after day.  The stay true color won't feather, flake, or fade, so your pout will always look picture perfect.
- 100 Hold Up Red - bright blue red cream
- 104 Rouge Canaille - deep true red

Color Design - Infinitely luminous.  Sensationally smooth.  All-in-one 5 shadow palette to brighten eyes.  Lancome' new versatile, all-in-one palette conveniently creates a full eye look for day or night.  Experience the newest generation of luminosity as silky lustrous powders transparently wrap the skin, allowing a seamless layering of pure color for a silky sheen and radiant finish.  Build with absolute precision and apply the shades in 5 simple steps (all over, lid, crease, highlighter, and liner) to design your customized eye look.  Contour, sculpt, and lift in soft day colors or intensify with dramatic evening hues for smoldering smoky effects.  Longwear, 8 hour formula.  Color does not fade, continues to stay ture.
- 600 Gris Fatale - a smoky palette with shades of black, silver, and gray
- 103 Golden Frenzy - a warm palette with shades of soft gold, copper, and brown

Artliner - Emphasize your eyes with this easy-to-handle, liquid pen featuring a uniquely shaped foam tip that lets you line, shape, and define eyes to create any look you like.  Rich, deep, luminous pigments offer the most intense, dramatic color.  Glides on smoothly without scratching, tugging, or skipping and lasts all day.
- Slate - vibrant gray

Le Vernis - It's Lancome's most technically-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.  Shiny and shock free.  Sheild Plasticizers keep nails flexible, shiny, and more resistant to shock and abrasion.  Chip-free for days!  Strong and healthy.  Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane (MSM) is a naturally occuring substance known for its diverse health benefits, including support for healthy nails.  It is know to boost the production of keratin, a tough protein from which finger and toe nails are made.  MSM paired with Shield Plasticizers make nails much stronger and more flexible.
- 023 Noir 29 - black with slight golden shimmer

Maison Lancome - Maison Lancome is an all-over powder blusher that gives a subtle shine.  An extremely soft satin texture.  A range of natural colors.  Long-lasting.  A mix of soft brown, rose, and light pink with a golden overspray.

Le French Touch Absolu - Limited edition.  Cult packaging inspired by Lancome's heritage lipsticks.  Ultra-caring lipstick with Pro-Xylane in an infinitely light texture.  Enriched with enchaning pigments to reveal the radiance of beautifully replenished lips.  Enhance your natural lip tone in a veil of shiny, transparent color.
- 314 Rouge St. Honore - soft red

I love this whole collection!  This one is up there with my favorites of the season and might just be my favorite of the whole season, I will decide on that in a few weeks time.  If I had to pick my favorite piece from this collection, the Maison Lancome is one of those blushes that is just so lovely in the compact that I don't know if I could use it.  The powders are actually formed into a Parisian scene with the Eiffel Tower being the central focus, the product itself is just a work of art.  As I stated in the introduction, I am so happy that I have found a collection with strong lip products in it, I want both the 314 Rouge St. Honore and the 104 Rouge Canaille shades of red.  Both of the Color Design palettes are very attractive but I think that I would be more inclined to purchase the one with the smoky shades since the I own all of the shades in the neutral one already (Urban Decay's Naked palette pretty much covers any shade that I would need in this area).

On a final note, I love the look that was created for the models of this collection!  I would totally wear this whole look and I could pull it off quite easily too.  This new collection from Lancome is a very serious contender for best collection of the fall season...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom