Urban Decay Spring 2014 Collection - The Naked Collection

Urban Decay was one of the first brands to bring out their spring collection however I haven't gotten a chance to really check it out until I visited Sephora earlier today.  I had seen pictures of it online but it wasn't released to the stores right away and today was one of the first days that the weather co-operated enough for me to head out to the mall.  My goal was to check this collection out today and swatch a couple of the products while I start deciding what types of products I will be picking up for the upcoming spring months.  I am well stocked right now on skincare and am still loving the Bobbi Brown foundation that I tested out last month.

Urban Decay has often brought out more than one new collection each season so there is a good chance that we will be seeing more from this brand in the next few months.  The collection that we are looking today is called the Naked Collection.  The first piece of this collection actually came out several months ago with the release of the Naked 3 eye shadow palette.  I remarked in my review of that product that it was perfect for spring and summer and I put it away after I finished writing up my review of it.  Urban Decay brought out their first Naked Eye Shadow Palette in 2010 and they have been growing the collection ever since.  I have purchased a lot of the items from that line and I am sure that I will picking up more from this collection along with pulling out the Naked 3 palette once spring arrives.

The Urban Decay Naked Collection!

Naked Skin Beauty Balm - A five-in-one beauty balm that minimizes the appearance of pores, lines, wrinkles, and redness instantly for skin that looks firmer in eight weeks.  Blur flaws in seconds and get serious anti-aging benefits in just eight weeks.  This lightweight, velvety, oil-free miracle works instantly and over the long term.  Naked Skin Beauty Balm is invisible on your skin (zero rub-off): the universal shade glides on and dries down to a translucent flawless finish that works on most skintones.  While many beauty balms are tinted to provide coverage, Naked Skin diffuse light with high-tech pigments to give you amazing, natural, naked-looking skin that keeps getting better every week.  Unlike a lot of beauty balms, Naked Skin delivers measurable anti-aging benefits - and the claims prove it.  This product is now available in three shades: Light, Medium, and Dark.

Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Powder - Finely milled, this lightweight loose powder is designed to blur away imperfections, setting the foundation and concealer without creasing.  As with the Beauty Balm, it also provides a demi-matte finish so it doesn't look heavy or cakey.  Available in five shades to suit a range of skintones.

Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss - A nourishing balm and high-shine gloss in the one tube, containing vitamins and Shea Butter, the Naked Glosses provide a subtle color while complementing a range of looks.  With its creamy texture and high-shine finish, Naked Lip Gloss is the perfect gloss to complement a UD smoky eye.  It not only makes your lips dangerously kissable but also feels so luxe that you'll want to keep applying it all day (even when you don't have to).
- Beso - deep mauve pink
- Freestyle - brown-nude with subtle micro-shimmer
- Liar - soft mauve pink
- Lovechild - medium pink
- Naked - nude-pink with a pearly pink shift
- Nooner - light neutral nude
- Rule 34 - medium brown nude
- Streak - coral peach
- Walk of Shame - pale nude pink with subtle micro-shimmer

I am really excited for this new collection and I think this is my favorite collection so far this spring.  I know that I will be buying the Light shade in the BB Cream for summer, I have used the "universal" shade in the past (the new Medium shade" and I always found it to be a touch too dark for my skintone (even with self tanner and bronzer).  I can't wait to try that product out for the summer and I will be ordering this one very soon.  I am putting the loose powder on the backburner for the moment, I don't need a loose powder and it always takes me a long time to finish up a powder so I don't need to order this one anytime soon.  I would be open to this formula once I need a new powder and I will probably try this one out in the next few months.

My favorite item in this new collection are the lip glosses.  I still have some of the two previous formulas of lip glosses from this company in my collection and I am really excited to try this new one out.  My Sephora had the testers out of these glosses however most of the display was sold through and I was only able to grab one of the shades that I really wanted.  Naked was my favorite lip gloss shade in the previous gloss formula and a shade that I also own in their lipstick, this is my perfect nude and I was excited to see that this one was still in stock at my Sephora.  I will be ordering a few other shades online and I already have Beso, Liar, and Lovechild on my shopping.

Urban Decay is often known for creating cutting edge, bold collections and I really like this type of different offering from them.  I think this will be one of their best selling collections as this is a very wearable and universal series of shades and products and I hope all of these products are part of their permanent collection!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers

Yesterday we looked at the green half of A Fantasy of Flowers, this collection is off to a great start for me and I couldn't wait to start blogging again today and to look at the pink part of this collection.  From the green part of the collection, I was most excited by the Fluidline shade and both of the Mineralize Eye Shadow quads and I am hoping that the pink part of the collection will contain more lip and nail hues that I will want to buy for this spring.  I have been all about the pinks the past few springs and I will start wearing pinks in the beginning of February and then all way throughout the spring and summer.  My pink shades have been getting a workout over the past few springs and I always want to find more great pinks for this spring and summer.  I will start wearing my favorite pink lip and nail shades within the next few days and I will be all about bright pinks for Valentine's Day too.

I have said it earlier in the season and I will say it again here because I am pink shopping again.  My dress for Valentine's Day is black with little white polka dots and I want to do all my makeup in hues of pink.  I might start shopping for some pink jewelry while I am on the pink bandwagon...

"A dream world bursting with brilliant blooms of colour. A stunning bouquet of shades draws you in with hypnotic movement as a magical fantasy emerges glowing with a floral essence. Rose-coloured hues burst from lustrous Lipstick, while a heavenly hybrid of Mineralize Eye Shadows blossoms with natural splendour. Cheeks are kissed with the graceful glow of Mineralize Blush, and vivid pops of colour flourish as Fluidline and Nail Lacquer bring this flowery fantasia to life.", states the MAC website when describing the pink part of A Fantasy of Flowers.

The second part of the collection!

Mineralize Eye Shadow - Four coordinating Eye Shadow shades baked together in a single pinwheel pan. A brilliant way to experience Mineralize's unique properties: remarkably blendable pre-coordinated colours, sheer lightweight application, a pearlized finish with a soft shimmer.
- Pink Sensibilities - pinky brown/chocolate brown/yellow pink/icy blue pink
- Great Beyond - deep blue/dusky plum/icy white lilac/soft mauve brown

Pigment - Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product.
- Pink Pearl - shimmery lavender pink
- Violet - vivid bright violet purple

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.
- Phlox Garden - vivid violet

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Rose Lily - sheer pastel pink
- Snapdragon - midtone blue pink
- Heavenly Hybrid - midtone berry

Cremesheen Glass - A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own.
- Pagoda - frosted cool pink
- Playful Petal - electric magenta
- Galaxy Rose - midtone violet pink

Mineralize Blush - Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
- Azalea in the Afternoon - midtone blue pink

Mineralize Skinfinish - A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.
- Stereo Rose - coral with golden/bronze shimmering nuances

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!
- Saint Germain - light cool pink
- Girl Trouble - super glitter pink

286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush - With its soft dome shape, this two-toned, duo-fibre brush of goat and synthetic fibres provides a sheer, more controlled application of M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow.

159 Duo Fibre Brush - A small rounded, double-chiseled paddle-shaped blush brush for the smooth, refined application of powder to shade, blush and highlight the face. Made from a soft blend of natural and synthetic fibres.

187 Duo Fibre Face Brush - A large full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

This collection is exactly what I thought it would be, I am all over the lip products in this collection and not quite as excited about the eye makeup shades.  All the lip shades are very cool toned and will not work well for many people but they are perfect for me and I have a list of ones that I will want to order.  Rose Lily and Snapdragon are my two favorites in the Lipstick shades, one of these is a pale pink and the other is a medium bubble gum pink shade.  I want every shade of the Cremesheen Glasses in this collection, I will start with the berry toned shade in the winter and then wear the pinks as the spring begins. 

I am on the fence with the bright violet Fluidline, I would either really love it or really hate it.  I am bordering on trying it out since I loved a lilac cream eye shadow from Illamasqua last spring and I am looking forward to wearing it again this spring.  I will have to head to the counter for this product and get the thoughts of the MAC makeup artists on this product.  While we are on the topic of eye makeup, the only eye shadow quad that I would like is the Pink Sensibilities, it contains neutrals and pinks and will work very well with many of the eye makeup shades that I already own.

The Nail Lacquers are my last love of this collection, I must have both of the new shades and I will want to order them right away and start wearing them as soon as they come in.  These are both great pinks and I need to add both to my polish collection.  Nothing else really grabs me in this collection but that is ok since I already have a huge shopping list of items to begin with. 

I still wonder if we are going to be seeing another huge collection from MAC within a month but I think that I will have lots of shopping to do while I am waiting to see what else is on the way from this company!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers

It is very beginning of February and I cannot say how excited I am for this month to be coming to an end; in the past few past, my area in Pennsylvania has received more snow than the whole previous winter and has had only a few days that have climbed over 20 degrees.  Spring will be much appreciated this year than it has for the past few years and I am really looking forward to begin spring shopping for everything from makeup to shoes.  MAC has been releasing a few small collections ever since the day after Christmas and now their huge spring release has just been put up on the website.

I am unsure if this is the big release for spring and will take the place of the collection that always comes out in the first two weeks of February or if another collection is coming our way very soon.  The big February release is often a favorite collection on mine in years past (Hello Kitty, Archie's Girls, Wonder Woman) and I would love for A Fantasy of Flowers to join these collections in my heart and makeup case.  I think this is going to be a great spring shopping season...

The MAC website divides A Fantasy of Flowers into two parts of the collection, it appears that one contains beautiful green shades and the other one is a series of lovely pink hues.  We are going to start with the green collection because that is the one that is working correctly right now.  The MAC website must be very popular right now because the pink collection is crashing when I try to open it up and we will go with the green collection while it works!

"A glorious garden of irresistible shades unfolds, its hidden pleasures unearthed as delicate pastel Pigments unfurl and the dewy sparkle of Cremesheen Glass casts a luminous gleam. Rose-coloured hues burst from lustrous Lipstick, while a heavenly hybrid of Mineralize Eye Shadows blossoms with natural splendour. Cheeks are kissed with the graceful glow of Mineralize Blush, and vivid pops of colour flourish as Fluidline and Nail Lacquer bring this flowery fantasia to life."

Here is the green part of A Fantasy of Flowers!

Mineralize Eye Shadow - Four coordinating Eye Shadow shades baked together in a single pinwheel pan. A brilliant way to experience Mineralize's unique properties: remarkably blendable pre-coordinated colours, sheer lightweight application, a pearlized finish with a soft shimmer.
- In The Meadow - icy shimmering white/dirty olive green/golden mint green/pale yellow
- Golden Hours - copper bronze/golden brown/soft golden peach/pale yellow gold

Pigment - Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product.
- Chartreuse Bouquet - shimmering acid green
- Lily-white - pale butter yellow shimmer

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.
- Sassy Moss - vivid green

Haute and Naughty Lash - A two-in-one mascara that lets you choose if you want lashes to be naturally defined, or instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. Easy to use dual-wiper system allows this lightweight formula to go on either way. One wiper refines the application for a clean sweep, while the other loads the lashes for greater impact.
- Haute and Naughty Black - black

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Fleur d'Coral - pale creamy peach
- Naked Bud - neutral sheer nude
- Dreaming Dahlia - sheer red coral

Cremesheen Glass - A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own.
- Nectarsweet - soft pink peach
- Flare for Fantasy - midtone pink beige
- Star Quality - bright orange coral

Mineralize Blush - Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
- Petal Power - coral pink with gold shimmer

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

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!
- Pep Pep Pep - light peach nude
- Soiree - sparkly light bronze gold

187 Duo Fibre Face Brush - A large full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Blush - With its soft dome shape, this two-toned, duo-fibre brush of goat and synthetic fibres provides a sheer, more controlled application of M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow.

159 Duo Fibre Brush - A small rounded, double-chiseled paddle-shaped blush brush for the smooth, refined application of powder to shade, blush and highlight the face. Made from a soft blend of natural and synthetic fibres.

I am so excited for the bright green Fluidline in this collection, I have never seen a shade of cream eye liner like this before and this is my favorite piece of this part of the collection!  I am not sure how much wear I would really get from this color but I know that it will be fun for going out at night in the warm weather months.  I hope that this color does not sell out right away and that I can get my hands on it.  While we are looking at the eye makeup, I want both of the Mineralize Eye Shadow quads; I will wear the bronze and gold quad immediately and then all throughout the rest of the year.  I will hold off on breaking out the green one until the spring comes but I think that it is my favorite of the two quads.

As with most of the other MAC collections, the lip products get me very excited and I will need to add more than one or two shades to my collection.  Starting with the Lipstick shades, Naked Bud is my first choice for a nude look against strong eye makeup (like that green Fluidline) or for a natural look on the weekends.  I am even more excited to see that the Lipglass formula included with this collection is the Cremesheen formula, I have been a huge fan of this formula since I first tried it out and I am excited to add yet another one to collection.  My favorite shade from these new shades is Flare for Fantasy, this pink beige is perfect for me and I would wear it all the time and with all kinds of makeup looks. 

Rounding out the rest of the collection...  I want the Nail Lacquer in Soiree and the Mineralize Blush in the new pink shade in this collection.  I see that I have a lot of shopping to do from this first part of the collection and I am really excited to see what the rest of the collection holds.

Onto the pink part of this collection!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna

Last year was the year of Rihanna for MAC, there were several sell out collections that featured her and the colors that she loves to wear.  I loved the Ruby Woo shade that was given a makeover just for her and now I see that this year will be another year of MAC and Rihanna.  MAC has just released the latest in their acclaimed Viva Glam collection.  Viva Glam is one of their most consistent best sellers and one that often sells out within hours of the initial release.  My favorites in the past have included the Lady Gaga and Fergie collections and I see that this year we will have Rihanna as our spokesperson for this great cause.

This small collection is now available on the MAC and Nordstrom websites and I am sure that several more department stores will pick this collection up within the next week or two.  "Rihanna launches our new M∙A∙C VIVA GLAM with two strikingly bold shades of red frosted Lipstick and Lipglass, perfectly capturing her fearless, confident style. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Rihanna goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature."  I see that Rihanna has released yet another red shade with her name on it...

I love red lipsticks and especially MAC red lipsticks so I am all about this collection even though I have not been a huge fan of the previous Rihanna and MAC collaborations.  This collection introduces the new shade in both the Lipstick and the Lipglass and I bet that I will want both of them if I like the shade.

Viva Glam Rihanna...

Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick - Rihanna's blue-red with frost finish. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature. Pro discount is not applicable.
- Viva Glam Rihanna - frosty blue red

Viva Glam Rihanna Tinted Lipglass - Rihanna's frost blue-red in M∙A∙C's much loved Lipglass formula. Wear it alone or with a Lipstick. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature. Pro discount is not applicable.
- Viva Glam Rihanna - frosty blue red

I do need to see how frosty these shades really are, they could be great new red shades for me or be way too shimmery for my taste. I am interested in a frosty red from MAC as I have several Mattes and Satins from this line already and this would be a big change for my red lipstick/lip gloss collection.  I am thinking that I would be able to pull off this Lipglass even if I don't like the Lipstick when I try it out.

I wonder how many more collaborations we will have with Rihanna for the next few months...

photo courtesy of MAC

OPI Spring 2014 Collection - Brazil Collection

We have already seen the spring nail polish collection from Essie and I have been eagerly awaiting more releases from my favorite nail polish companies, this is one of the times of the year where I purchase the most amount of polish shades and I am excited to keep adding some new shades to my collection.  We have yet to see a collection from China Glaze or Butter London however the new OPI collection is now up on the company's website and I am going to check these shades out today.  OPI usually has one of largest range of shades in their seasonal collections and I always know that I will like quite a few from every collection.

The collection for this spring is inspired by Brazil and contains twelve brand new shades, I have complained in the past about how this company seems to bring out the same shades over and over again and this collection does not contain anything revolutionary.  OPI has a huge shade range and many of their limited edition shades are close to ones already available, I find this to be a good thing as I don't have to be upset if a limited edition shade sells out and I can't find it anymore.

The shades contained in the OPI Brazil collection are as follows...

- Kiss Me I'm Brazilian - bubblegum pink cream

- Live.Love.Carnaval - medium warm coral cream

- Red Hot Rio - medium warm red cream

- Next Stop...The Bikini Zone - pale lavender with a subtle gold duochrome shift
- Don't Bossa Nova Me Around - nude cream
- Taupe-less Beach - pale taupe cream
- I Sao Paulo Over There - medium taupe cream
- OPI Scores A Goal! - deep warm red-brown cream
- Amazon...Amazoff - deep teal cream
- I Just Can't Cope-Acabana - medium banana yellow cream
- Where Did Suzi's Man-go? - medium orange cream
- Toucan Do It If You Try - deep orange cream

The shades in this collection are designed to remind one of the jungles and beaches of Brazil, I have never been to this country so I cannot comment on how accurate the shades and names are.  When I think of Brazil, I think of jungles and numerous Botany classes about the Amazon jungle.  Some of the shades fit this theme very well and others seem a bit out of place.  The bright hues fit perfectly with the season and the theme however I am not sure why two shades of taupe were included with the Brazil collection.  The most unique shade is the only duochrome in the bunch, many of the cream shades are similar to those in the permanent line up or have been featured in previous seasonal collections.

My favorite shade is Amazon...Amazoff, this bright deep teal reminds me very much of Butter London's Slapper shade.  That is my current favorite nail polish shade and I used it like crazy last spring and summer.  I will purchasing Amazon...Amazoff to replace my bottle of Slapper once it runs out.  Next Stop...The Bikini Zone is the only other shade that I find unique enough to purchase from this collection and I will also be grabbing of bottle of this one once it is available at Ulta.  I really like Taupe-less Beach and Don't Bossa Nova Me Around but neither of these shades are unique enough for me to track down, I would buy them if I found them but I can find shades like this from other companies very easily.

I don't like any of the oranges or yellows in this collection, shades like this never flatter my skintone and I would be skipping over all of these.  I also don't need any other pink or red shades right now and this pretty much rules out the rest of the collection for me.

OPI is not my favorite polish formula and one that I will deal with when I really love the shades.  The application of this polish is very easy and the wide brush makes the polish quick to apply.  My problem with this formula is not the application but the wear of the product.  I cannot seem to get more than one day from this formula before it starts chipping off like crazy, there is something about the combination of my nails and this formula that just does not work.  I am the only person that I know with this issue, all of my friends who use this formula absolutely love it and get at least three or four days of wear time without anything more than minor chipping.  I wish I didn't have these issues but this formula just doesn't work well for me and will never been a formula that I highly recommend.

I have a few shades to add to my shopping list but I think that I will have even more shades to add once I see the new collections from China Glaze and Butter London.

photo courtesy of Google

MAC Vintage Vamp

I am going to warn all of you right now...in previous years I have hated Valentine's Day and spent a whole month before it complaining about it.  This year, I am actually looking forward to Valentine's Day since I have a boy friend for the first time in ages and I think that some of my posts might be a bit different than from previous years.  I will try not to be sappy and goofy, I will be happy this holiday but not silly about the holiday as I have seen from some people in the whole month before.  I will now be coming up with an outfit and beauty ideas for going out that night and this is more likely to be my focus for this blog.  I am thinking that I might wear a favorite black and white dotted dress on mine and then I might want to do bright pink accessories and makeup in this same hue...

I hadn't starting thinking about Valentine's Day beauty until I got the email from MAC about the new Vintage Vamp collection.  This is a Valentine's Day themed lip collection and MAC does one of these collections every single year at this time.  In previous years, MAC has highlighted their best pink and red lip and nail hues and is the start of the Valentine's Day beauty shopping season.  I have always picked at least one or two new shades from this collection in past years however I think that my collection of these hues is getting so large that I may not need any items from this line up.

This collection is online only and will only be offered at the MAC website.  "M•A•C Vintage Vamp - From seductive reds to playful pink, our online-exclusive selection for that pinup-perfect matte lip on Valentine's Day."

Here is the Valentine's Day collection!

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Candy Yum Yum - neon pink
- Ruby Woo - very matte vivid blue red

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - A new generation of longwearing lip pencil technology. Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly. Defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour. Pro-longs the hours between re-application.  Transfer proof.
- Kiss Me Quick - yellow red

The only shade that I need from this collection is the Candy Yum Yum Lipstick, this shade is sold out at my counter all the time and is periodically sold out on both the MAC and Nordstrom websites.  I have both NARS Schiap and Funny Face however this face is in between the two shades and I still want Candy Yum Yum really bad.  I will just keep watching for this hue and order it as I can.  I would like to have this shade before Valentine's Day but I wouldn't mind wearing Schiap (as this is still a favorite pink shade of mine) with my black and white dress.

photo courtesy of MAC

Deborah Lippmann Spring 2014 Collection - Spring Reveries

Spring nail polish shades are always my favorite releases of the year, I usually buy all my pastels and brights this time of the year and wear them until after Labor Day.  I am alternating between pale pinks and dark grays right now but I will be adding more pinks and purples to my line up within the next few weeks.  I am ready to start looking for new shades and I was very excited to see that Deborah Lippmann has released her new spring polishes to her website.  Spring Reveries is the name of her newest collection, this is a range of pastel hues that reminds me of Easter Eggs.

I can already see that I am not going to be finding any new pink or purple shades from Spring Reveries but I am going to start looking to see what holes are in my pastel nail polish collection.  I have loved this nail polish formula for years and I love that it is now widely available at Sephora.  I haven't seen it very often in my local store but I will just order many of the shades online instead.

This line typically releases three or four new shades each season but they have decided to actually release six brand new shades for this spring and I hope that this trend will continue for the next few seasons.  Some of the shades have already been seen on the spring runways and I will make a note of which shades have already been shown in which shows.

The Spring Reveries collection...

- La Vie En Rose - pastel pink shimmer (shown on the Spring 2014 Badgley Mischka runway)
- Blue Orchid - baby blue cream (shown on the Spring 2014 Badgley Mischka runway)
- Spring Buds - pistachio cream
- Tip Top Through The Tulips - pale peach cream
- Build Me Up Buttercup - pale yellow cream
- Flowers In Her Hair - pale mint green cream

I really like quite a few of these shades and I want to pick up every shade but the peach and yellow ones.  If I had to pick just one shade to order, La Vie En Rose would be my top choice as I could alternate it with the rest of my favorite pale pink polishes.  Blue Orchid and Flowers In Her Hair are my next choices and then I would also consider grabbing Spring Buds to round out my shopping.

I am willing to bet that we will be seeing a bunch of pastel-themed nail polish collections this spring and I will need to decide which polish shades are my favorite.  Deborah Lippmann polishes have one of the best formulas in the industry and I would choose these other many other brands with similar shades.

photo courtesy of Bigelow Chemists

Chanel Spring 2014 Collection - Notes de Printemps

We are returning to my coverage of the spring 2014 collections today and I am very excited to get back to looking at more products that I will want to be ordering in the coming weeks.  We started the spring collection coverage right before Christmas with the newest collection from Too Faced and we are now picking back up with a brand that has often created some of the best collections for nearly every spring season.  Chanel is one of my favorite brands and their spring collections often set the tone and trends for the whole season, I look forward to picking up some items in the Notes de Printemps collection and then seeing what other companies release similar products and shades.

The Chanel website provides the following description of the collection, "Spring makeup strikes a colourful chord with light, joyful notes. At the heart of the collection, a chorus of fresh, luminous reds sets the season’s tone for cheeks, lips and fingertips."  I love that this collection focuses a look around red lips and nails, I love red lipsticks but tend to buy and wear them mostly in the fall and winter.  I would like to purchase a few "spring" reds this season and I want to see how they shades that Chanel has chosen compare to what red shades are already in my collection.  I have a good-sized collection of red lipsticks and feel like I own nearly every finish and hue of red, I will buy any shade of red introduced in this collection that I do not already own and I will be visiting the counter quite soon.

The Notes de Printemps collection for spring...

Lumieres Facettes Eye Shadow Quad - Eyeshadow redefined. The Lumieres Facettes Eye Shadow compact features a vibrant, pigment-rich formula in eyeshadow palettes inspired by threads of Chanel tweed. With a spectrum of shade combinations and finishes that range from matte to satin to shimmer.  Each easy-to-wear compact offers endless possibilities, with two medium tones to colour and contour, a deep shadow to intensify and a light shade to highlight. Pure, long-lasting pigments ensure an intense colour effect while the soft, smooth texture allows for effortless application.
- Quadrille (537) - lavender gray/golden ivory/rosy apricot/intense brown

Illusion d'Ombre - With an innovative texture that’s both soft and cushiony, this intensely shimmering, long-wear cream eyeshadow can be worn as eyeshadow or eyeliner.  A combination of pure pigments of different colours and sizes: small pigments provide coverage and colour intensity; large pigments make the shades shimmer. Includes a specially designed shadow/liner brush, developed specifically for this unique formula.
- Diapason (92) - luminous deep purple
- Impulsion (93) - luminous pastel pink

Le Blush Crème de Chanel - Enhance, brighten and contour the face with this versatile cream blush that blends onto skin seamlessly. Healthy-glow shades sculpt cheekbones and refresh the complexion with a vibrant, velvet finish.
- Intonation (69) - warm rose
- Chamade (67) - deep pink

Poudre Universalle Compact - An ultra-soft, pressed powder that provides sheer, lightweight coverage, Poudre Universalle helps to even skin tone, and set and perfect makeup for a natural, matte finish.  Photo-reflective pigments illuminate the complexion and disguise imperfections without emphasizing lines.
- Preface (160) - light peach

Rouge Allure - An intense, long-wearing lip colour with full coverage and a satin finish. Leaves lips supple and protected with lasting comfort.  In a new formula, Rouge Allure features concentrated, ultra-thin pigments that deliver full coverage and magnify shade intensity. Sweet Almond Oil, Green Tea and Sappan Wood helps smooth, moisturize and protect lips.
- Melodieuse (136) - bright coral red cream
- Fouguese (138) - bright pink cream

Rouge Coco - Rouge Coco lip colour is more expressive than ever in a hydrating, next-generation formula that provides full coverage with a creamy yet lightweight finish.  An exclusive complex of Jojoba and Mimosa Butters, Sunflower Wax and Silicone provides lasting hydration and luminous shine. With a vibrant colour spectrum, featuring shade names inspired by Coco Chanel and the friends, artists and lovers who inspired her.
- Dedicace - pink with blue undertones
- Triomphe - pink with peach undertones

Rouge Allure Velvet - This non-drying matte lipstick glides on lips with intensely rich, long-wearing colour and a sumptuously soft, velvet matte finish.  Mother-of-pearl pigments deliver rich colour and a soft finish. Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter comfort and moisturize.
- La Diva (44) - electric pink
- L'Adoree (45) - mauve

Rouge Double Intensite - Glorious long-lasting colour pairs with high-shine gloss to deliver full-coverage lip colour that lasts all day.  Without transferring or feathering, the fluid formula of the base colour goes on smoothly and dries quickly; the glossy top coat imparts non-sticky, brilliant shine and superb hydration.
- Pink Twist - rosewood

Le Crayon Levres - Enhance the shape of your lips and give them perfect definition with this creamy-textured lip pencil. Long-lasting, full-coverage colour with a semi-matte finish glides on to soften and soothe lips, and ensures lipstick stays in place while extending its wear.  A comforting formula softens and soothes lips, while a sharpener and built-in blending brush offer makeup-artistry touches for the most professional-looking result.
- Sonic Pink (70) - shocking pink

Le Vernis - The iconic nail polish is reformulated for longer-lasting, high-shine colour that cares.
- Charivari (603) - soft purple/mauve
- Tapage (605) - bright pink

I like many shades in this collection but I don't feel that it is one of the strongest spring collections.  The shades are very wearable and can be easily worked into all kinds of makeup looks but I feel like I already own many of these shades in my collection.  I will be checking out most of the lipsticks but I don't know that anything else has really jumped out at me.  I would like both shades of the Rouge Allure, these bright hues will be very pretty paired with black eyeliner and bronzer throughout the summer.  I would like the mauve shade in the Rouge Allure Velvet formula, I can start wearing this neutral mauve hue right now and then all the way through the spring months.

I would like the eye shadow palette in the collection and I would also like the pale pink shade in the Illusion d'Ombre formula.  I have been loving those cream shadows and am always on the lookout to add more to my collection.  To finish out my shopping of the collection, I would like the deep pink cream blush.  I have a hard time finish cream blushes and I would love to try this formula.

This is a very nice collection and I am sure that it will sell out very quickly.  I don't find any of these shades very unique but I know that I would use and love everything that I order from this collection.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

MAC Feminine Face

Earlier today we looked at a new eye makeup collection from MAC and now we are moving onto a to full color collection to start out the New Year.  I am not quite sure if this is a whole new collection or just a new look created with current MAC products and shades, I guess I will find out when I check this collection out in detail.  Whatever the case may be...this is a very pretty collection of shades and the model has a skin tone identical to mine so I know that I will find several shades to try in it.  The model has very cool toned pale skin and is wearing a variety of pink hues and this overall look would be very pretty for Valentine's Day!

"For a modern, Feminine Face, simply follow the step-by-step instructions for an easy look with a flawless finish. Prep + Prime Natural Radiance hydrates and primes to improve makeup application, Mineralize Moisture SPF 15 Foundation provides luminous perfection with a natural-satin finish, and Mineralize Skinfinish finishes for a glow that's subtle, yet radiant. For professional results, apply with the new 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush."

I see that this is not a full color collection and that makes me very unhappy, I love the look that the model has on and I was looking forward to finding new shades for a pale pink eye and lip look.  This is one of my favorite looks to wear at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, I am hoping that that I like the palette in the Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4 collection so that I have another one to add to my collection.  Especially since I won't be finding one in this collection...

Feminine Face is all about face makeup; it presents a series of foundations and primers that will create the perfect base for all the pretty new makeup that I will be buying this spring.  I have been looking at foundation formulas for the past few days and perhaps I will find one in this collection that I will want to try.  My Holy Grail NARS formula is beginning to get low so it is time for me to decide if I want to try another formula or if I simply want to repurchase a bottle of this product.  I have used and loved MAC foundations in the past and I would be very happy to try another formula from this company.

Here is the Feminine Face collection...

Prep + Prime Natural Radiance - A silky gel emulsion, rich in natural ingredients, that hydrates and primes to improve foundation or powder application, control oil and promote smooth texture. Vitamins E and C protect with antioxidants, while caffeine calms skin. Illuminating pearl powders reflect optic brightening. Well-suited for all skins but especially effective on deeper skin tones, the formula disappears upon application, resulting in a beautiful glow.

Mineralize Moisture SPF 15 Foundation - A combination of powders creates an optical blurring effect that virtually diminishes imperfections and fine lines, for a more even tone. The light-reflecting, natural satin finish makes skin appear refined, revitalized and refreshed with a new purity, softly lit from within. SPF 15 adds the perfect finishing touch of sun protection. Features our 77-Mineral Complex, Shea Butter and Vitamin E.  Available in a full range of shades to suit every skin tone.

Mineralize Skinfinish - A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.
- Gold Deposit - soft reflective golden bronze
- Lightscapade - soft candlelit beige with multidimensional shimmer
- Soft and Gentle - gilded peach bronze

188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush - A flat-topped, full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of any formula colour – fluid, cream, powder or pigment. Ideal for creating soft layers or adding textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

I want to try this foundation formula from MAC, I have used one of their Mineralize liquid foundations before and I really liked how it performed and how nice it made my skin look.  I think that I will need to try a bit of this on my hand while I shop at the counter this weekend and decide how much I like it.  I love the range of MAC foundation shades, this is one of the only companies that I never worry about not finding a match to my skin tone when shopping at the counter.  The Prep + Prime formula is not one that I have tried yet and one that I would like to purchase when I need a new primer formula.

This isn't quite what I expected to get from this collection but now I am excited to shop for primers and foundations to finish out the winter and head into the spring months!

photo courtesy of MAC

Too Faced Spring 2014 Collection - Haute Chocolate

There are less than two weeks until Christmas and the first spring makeup collection has been released very early this morning.  It is still a bit too early for me to start shopping this collection but I am excited to start getting some ideas of what products that I will want to put on my spring shopping list.  Too Faced is the brand that has released their spring collection online today and it will be released to the Sephora and Ulta websites by the end of the month.  The company's website was barely functioning this afternoon when I tried to log on and look at the new products, it seems to be up and functioning at this point however quite a few of the products are already sold out.  I know that Too Faced will restock all of these products on their website and then there will be many more places to order them by the end of the month so I was not in rush to try and get these products before anyone else...

This collection is quite small and there doesn't seem to be a theme that ties these color products together.  That being said, the name of this collection is "Haute Chocolate" and it seems that the new chocolate-inspired eye shadow palette is the hero product of this collection and I am quite sure that it will sell out very quickly.  I am excited about the new eye shadow palette released by this company but the blush and lipstick shades aren't really doing anything for me.  I have been loving the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes so I am not really in the market for a brand new blush formula.  The new lipstick shades are in one of my least favorite formulas so I certainly won't be ordering any of these...

The Too Faced Spring 2014 collection...

Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette - The Chocolate Bar experience begins as soon as you open the palette and the smell of sweet chocolate envelops you. The eye shadows are pigmented with pure, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and includes 16 matte and shimmer shades of natural browns, delicate pinks and luscious plums. Includes our signature how-to Glamour Guide with three looks to get you started.  Too Faced Co-Founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino was inspired to combine the power of antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and makeup while having a chocolate facial and learning about the benefits of cocoa at a Hawaiian spa. Based on this inspiration we created our best-selling bronzer Chocolate Soleil and have now added the Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette.
- Gilded Ganache - deep chocolate brown satin
- Milk Chocolate - medium brown matte
- Black Forrest Truffle - deep warm plum shimmer
- Triple Fudge - deep warm chocolate brown shimmer
- Salted Caramel - deep cool brown matte
- Marzipan - warm medium brown matte
- Semi-Sweet - medium champagne shimmer
- Strawberry Bon Bon - pale pink satin
- Candied Violet - bright violet purple satin
- Amaretto - medium warm brown shimmer
- Hazelnut - medium neutral brown shimmer
- Crème Brulee - medum warm gold shimmer
- Haute Chocolate - deep chocolate brown matte
- Cherry Cordial - deep plum satin
- White Chocolate - cool champagne matte
- Champagne Truffle - cool champagne shimmer

Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush - Choose from four no-fail color palette blushes to take the guesswork out of creating a sweet, romantic flush. In each baked, heart shaped blush there are three individual color swatches. The baking process and multiple colors create dimensional color to provide the look of younger, brighter, healthier skin. It’s like having Hollywood lighting wherever you go.  Blend all three swatches together for one universal shade or use each swatch individually for a custom color.
- Peach Beach - shimmering peach/rosy pink/shimmering light golden bronze
- Something About Berry - shimmering mauve pink/golden peach/shimmering magenta pink

La Crème Color Drenched Lipstick - There’s a reason why beauty editors, bloggers, and millions of social media fans are obsessed with La Crème Color Drenched Lipstick: it’s a completely unique, super-luxe combination of creamy color and intense hydration for unprecedented ultra-comfortable wear.  White Lotus Flower Extract is a sought-after antioxidant that contains hydrating, soothing, and lip-conditioning properties.  Power Peptides are known to stimulate collagen and aid in the appearance of smoother lips.  Creamy, one-swipe formula.
- Bon Bon - pink papaya
- Jelly Bean - raspberry red
- Lollipop - violet with orchid shimmer
- Pink Chocolate - berry brown
- Taffy - pink marshmallow nude

I think that the only product that I will order from this collection is the eye shadow palette, I can see that it is already sold out on the Too Faced website and I will need to wait for a few weeks to come back into stock.  This is one of the very few eye shadow palettes that I can see myself using all the time and creating all kinds of different eye looks from it.  I love all the neutrals in it and I would like to mix the purple hues into a few looks this winter. 

I have never tried this blush formula but it does not sound like my cup of tea.  I do not really like blush shades with a shimmer finish and I will be skipping over all of the shades in this formula.  I don't feel that I need to comment on the La Crème Lipsticks, I reviewed this formula a few days ago and this might be one of my least favorite products that I have tried lately.  I could barely keep this formula on my lips in the neutral hues and there is no way that I would try this formula in any type of deep or bold hue.

photo courtesy of Too Faced

Spring 2014 Runway Trends

I have decided that we are going to check out the upcoming beauty trends that we will be seeing all over the place in the coming months.  I finished up my holiday collection coverage the other week and I am ready to see what collections and products will be making up the bulk of spring makeup shopping.  It is snowing like crazy today and I need to think about something other than cold and snow, it might be very early to start deciding on what trends I will be loving this spring but I need a distraction from thinking about all the shoveling that I will need to do this weekend.

I have already started to see pictures of the Too Faced spring collection and that collection will actually be releasing on their website early next week.  This company is always the earliest but I am sure that several companies will have their spring collections out by the week after Christmas and we will then go full swing into the newest beauty products that will be arriving in the next month or two.

Allure has always published the spring and fall runway trends and this is the article that I have traditionally used to review what trends we will be seeing each season.  This spring will be no different and I am using the Allure article about the biggest runway trends from the December issue of this magazine.  They have highlighted the top nine hair and makeup trends from the runways, I have found this article to be the best source of the trends that we will be shopping from in the coming weeks.  I am also going to start picking the trends that I will be following this spring season and starting to get ideas of what products that I will need to add to my collection (and what products I already own that will work well).

Allure's top trends for the upcoming spring season!

The Rumpled Braid - The trick to creating the textured plaits at Alberta Ferretti was scrunching first: Hairstylist Guido misted the volumizing spray all over damp hair, then scrunched as he blew the hair dry using a diffuser.  Then he curled the top layer, combed through the resulting waves with his fingers, and teased the crown before weaving a classic braid at the neck.

Romantic Ponytail - Guido called the ribboned hair at Nina Ricci "simple and feminine".  We call it one of the most elegant ponytails we've seen.  He secured the low ponytail with a black elastic, then tied a ribbon in a bow to conceal the band.  The ponytails stayed intact, even after one model was almost wrestled off the runway by a protestor who stormed the show.

Casual-Cool Bun - To keep the chignon at Celine from looking like something you'd wear to ballet class, Guido ran his fingers through the top of the hair to add a little volume and brushed the sides to keep them flat.  Once the hair was twisted into a knot and pinned, he used a lightweight hair spray to smooth flyaways and make sure it was clean, not crunchy.

Hottest Lip Color: Orange - Orange is the new red.  And pink.  And any other lipstick shade you might think about reaching for.  "Right now it just feels cooler than red, " said makeup artist Gucci Westman, echoing the sentiments of pretty much every other pro.  Creamy, matte, neon, or pastel - every single orange looked fresh and strong.

Metallic Smoky Eyes - Whoever said not to mix metals clearly never saw how sexy gold, bronze, and copper can look together.  Case in point: the glimmering smoky eyes at Gucci, which combined all three hues into one beautifully burnished halo.

Messy Updos - The most beautiful updos were the ones that looked a little (or a lot) unkempt.  To create them at Michael Kors, hairstylist Orlando Pita curled random sections, then sprinkled in texturizing powder before twisting and pinning the hair into a haphazard chignon, letting pieces fall out along the way.  At Rochas, hairstylist Eugene Souleiman achieved "multitextured, chaotic-yet-beautiful twists" with beach spray, furiously brushing out sections of hair that had been curled, crimped, and straightened.  "It's a bad hair day gone right," he said.

Gold Fever - Makeup artists and hairstylists glided everything in sight.  (No, really, you should see our notebook.)  "For 15 years I've done metallic looks in blues, yellows, and greens," said Pat McGrath.  "This season, when designers asked for metallic makeup, they wanted it to look more sophisticated."

Gilt-y Pleasure - We first spotted this Sylvain Le Hen barrette at the Jason Wu show - and soon after on several editors.  Stylist Kate Young found the clips at Colette in Paris and gave them to hairstylist Odile Gilbert, who snapped them on the models' low, sleek ponytails.  "It looks graphic and elegant," said Gilbert.  "The rose gold is my favorite".

Artsy Eyes - Talk about works of art: At Derek Lam, makeup artist Tom Pecheux created cubelike cat eyes, referencing sculptor Donald Judd.  At Celine, makeup artist Dick Page drew "surrealist" brows.  McGrath looked to street art when she airbrushed graffiti-style scribbles across the brow bones at Prada, and at Chanel, Philips made miniature abstract paintings by brushing rainbow-colored theatrical paint around the eyes, framed with black lines across the lids and brows.

There are five new hairstylists that we will be seeing all over this place this spring season and I am quite fond of the Romantic Ponytail.  This look will work well in many different situations and I will be able to wear it to work if I change out the type of ribbon used in the look.  The Gilt-y Pleasure style will also be a favorite of mine this spring, this look will be easier for me to wear in a professional environment.  I will be looking for a few different styles of gilded barrettes and ponytail holders and I will be wearing this look all through the spring and summer.

I am not a fan of the orange lip look and I will be skipping over this.  I have never liked or looked good in peach or orange hues so I will be sticking to my classic pink and red lip looks.  I like both the metallic and the gilded eye looks that were all over the runways and I will be working with these looks to make them more friendly for the professional environment.  The Artsy Eye look is probably not for me, I don't think that I have the skills to create these types of looks and I don't know that I like them enough to spend a lot of time learning how to create them.

I will be adding more hair styling products to my shopping list and I am excited to see some new eye shadow palettes.  I am a bit on the fence about what lip products I will/won't need for spring since I am not going to be adapting the orange lip hues that promise to rule the collections.

photo courtesy of Google