YSL Summer 2010 Collection

This is my last summer collection of the year. I have been seeing bits and pieces of this collection throughout the season in magazines and it has been featured pretty prominently in Allure. The latest from YSL is a collection of bronzers and bright shades for lips and nails. Neither of these are among my favorite of products so I don't see this collection working out well for me but if you have a warmer skin tone, I could see if being a fantastic collection for you.

YSL describes the collection as "Free and passionate, the Yves Saint Laurent woman plunges into a new adventure of sun, sensual, and exotic. She opens her safari jacket over her tanned skin like an invitation to travel. Born of the elements, her essential and solar beauty is a force of nature".

Let's finish off the summer collections now...

Terre Saharienne Bronzing Powder - This bronzing powder provides an instant healthy glow thanks to the incorporation of the new "Sun Radiance" pigments. These special effect pigments capture the light and diffuse a golden reflection in all directions. The complexion is smooth, leaving skin looking refreshed and rested.

- #1 Sand - for pale complexions

- #2 Copper Sand - for medium complexions

- #3 Golden Sand - for deeper complexions

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

- 1 Luminous Radiance - for pale skin

- 2 Luminous Ivory - for light skin

- 3 Light Peach - for medium skin

- 4 Luminous Toffee - for deep skin

Fard Lumiere Aquaresistant Water Resistant Cream Eye Shadow - New Fard Lumiere Aquaresistant Water Resistant Cream Eye Shadow is a cream eye shadow in an infinitely lightweight texture, providing a deligthful feeling of freshness when applied. The eyelids are dressed with a long-lasting, luminous, and waterproof veil of color.

- #5 Golden Sands - pale gold

- #19 Riviera Blue - ocean blue

Mascara Aquaresistant Waterproof Mascara - Essential for the summer, this waterproof mascara coats, lengthens, and thickens the lashes while protecting them from the drying effects of salt, chlorine, and sun.

- #7 Blue Lagoon - bright blue

Gloss Pur Pure Lip Gloss - Pure colour and high shine. YSL's newest lip gloss is everything you need to achieve an ultra-sophisticated every-day look. Based on YSL's top selling lip gloss, Golden Gloss, Gloss Pur delivers a sparkle-free beautiful and glossy sheen to the lips. With a fresh mango scent and six must-have shades, you'll want them all.

- #7 Pure Sorbet - pale pink

- #8 Pure Watermelon - bright coral

- #9 Pure Hibiscus - bright fushcia

- #10 Pure Redcurrant - sheer red

La Laque Nail Lacquer - A nail lacquer that is both elegant and practical in its elongated glass bottle. Available in an incredible palette of shades, from the most natural to the brightest, it guarentees reinforced hold, wonderful shine, fast-drying, and protected nails.

- #42 Ultra Violet - bright purple

- # #142 Ultra Orange - bright orange

Mehhh... Not my favotie collection of the season. As I thought earlier, this is not a collection for me even though I like many of the shades on someone else. For myself, I only want four items. The item that I want the most is the Golden Sands shade of the eye shadow. I also really like the Ultra Violet nail polish and the lip glosses in both the Pure Sorbet and Pure Redcurrant shades.

Time to begin looking forward to fall...

photo courtesy of YSL

Bobbi Brown Summer 2010 Collection - Beach Club

Bobbi Brown's newest collection is another beach oriented collection. Considering how good of luck I had this summer so far with To The Beach, I am very happy to see another collection that could be quite similar in products and shades. I have read that this collection is considered to be more sophisticated and easier to wear than some of the products in To The Beach. Which I am super pumped about since those are the shades that I didn't purchase from the collection. The Bobbi Brown website describes the collection, "Shy about shimmer? Give us 5 minutes. We'll make you glow." Every product in the promo picture has a shimmer finish so I feel that this collection might be better in pieces and not worn all at the same time.

Let's find out...

Beach Shimmer Brick - Bobbi's NEW Beach Shimmer Brick Compact is hand-made in Italy and features five bars of warm, pearlized shimmer to create a beautiful seaside glow. Run the Face Blender Brush across all five shades and lightly dust over cheeks and forehead. Or wear just one shade on your eyes for subtle glimmer.

Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow - Luxe metallics for eyes. Our award-winning formula - infused with sparkle. For a sheer effect, blend on lids with your fingers. For a more dramatic look, add another layer. Or wear on top of your favorite matte cream shadow for soft shimmer. Stays color-true and crease-free all day. Inspired by the beach, our latest Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow comes in glistening pastels from ocean blue to oyster pink. Available in 4 new shades.

- Moonstone - pale shimmering green

- Opal - opalescent pink

- Pink Oyster - shimmering pink

- Surf - pale shimmering blue

Long-Wear Cream Shadow - Velvety-smooth formula that goes on easily - and lasts all day without creasing or smudging. Fragrance free. Safe for contact lens wearers. Ophthamologist tested. Introducing Shore, a soft matte beige perfect for a look that's just one notch up from natural. To apply: For a polished, professional look, apply on clean lids with the Cream Shadow Brush. Using short, sweeping brush strokes layer color on lids for desired effect. For a more sheer effect, use fingertips to blend.

- Shore - soft matte beige

Cream Shadow Brush - The Cream Shadow Brush is the ideal tool for applying Bobbi's award-winning Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow and Long-Wear Cream Shadow formulas. Features a brush head designed to pick up and perfectly apply this shadow.

Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15 - "You get the best of both worlds with Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15. It gives you beautiful color and actually improves the condition of your lips. It's a truly modern formula - Bobbi Brown. Lightweight, soft shine lipstick that doubles as a rejuvenating moisture treatment. It instantly comforts dry, chapped lips and provides long-term moisturization with natural Cocoa and Shea Butters, Jojoba, Apricot Kernal and Avocado oils. Peptides, along with Vitamin C stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while SPF 15 helps prevent future sun damage.

- Clear - clear

beach Fragrance - If one scent could capture the atmosphere and attitude of summer, this best-selling fragrance is it. Designed with a lightly intoxicating blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin, this eau de parfum is wearable anytime, anywhere. Comes in spray bottle for light application.

beach Body Oil - A unique, moisturizing body oil that gives skin a sultry sheen as it scents with beach fragrance. Contains four essential oils (Olive, Sesame, Avocado, and Jojoba) and Vitamins E and C to soften and nourish skin

Very pretty! The shimmer in this collection is more subtle than I originally thought so this is very easy collection to pull off. A big help is that the Lip Treatment for this collection is a clear shade so the wearer will not be full on shimmer. I would like to get a bottle of the beach fragrance, but since this is rather late in the season for me to buy warm weather items, I will remember it for next spring. I will pass on the Shimmer Brick since the warm tones will not allow me to use it all over my face. I like several of the new eye makeup shades. I want to get the Metallic Long-wear Pink Oyster and the Long-wear in Shore. I am also curious about the Cream Shadow Brush, I have always used my fingers for application and I wonder what type of finish and coverage is created with the use of the brush.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

O.P.I. Summer 2010 Collection - Summer Flutter

In addition to the summery feeling collection created for the new Shrek movie, O.P.I. has also created a very pretty new collection of shades inspired by butterflies and nature. This collection is named Summer Flutter and consists of four bright summery shades of polish. Just from viewing the promo picture, I feel that this collection is going to sell like crazy. The colors aren't super unique but they are great choices for every woman.

The first shade is named Flower to Flower and this shade is a bright mid tone blue pink. It has a cream finish with no shimmer at all. I predict that this color will go over huge with the bright pink polish trend that has been going on so far this summer. I want this shade and will love it for summer pedicures.

The second shade is more a warmer tone than any of the others. This shade is named Flit a Bit and is a warm toned coral orange. I do not like this shade at all. i think that it is too orange to be attractive. Also, it will not work for my skintone but would be great for those of use with tans or warmer skin tones.

The third shade is another pink toned, though it is deeper than the other and could be considered more of a magenta than a true pink. The name of this shade is Wing It and it appears in the picture to have a slight shimmer to it. I really like this shade also and want to get a bottle of it for both manicures and pedicures.

The last new shade is my favorite. We have been seeing lots of great blues this season and this is no excecption. This shade is named Catch Me In Your Net and is a mid tone blue turquoise with shimmery finish. This is the shade that I want the most and will be going out to get this one soon. I can also this one selling out very quickly.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Dior Summer 2010 Collection

I'm not really feeling quite summery at the moment, it is pouring rain out and it has taken me all day to get up the motivation to start talking about makeup. Yesterday, I had quite a nice MAC haul including some good pieces from To The Beach so I am pretty much finished with my summer shopping and beginning to think about what might be stylish this fall. So in order to get my summer love back, I decided to look at the beautiful Dior. The Dior website describes this collection as following, "The new makeup collection is inspired by the colors of John Galliano's fashion shows and the energy of Dior Addict Ultra Gloss. It highlights must-have products with irresistable, glowing, and instant radiance. From the star product, 'Addicted to Dior', to limited editions for the lips and eyes, this vibrant and tangy array ensures a splendid beauty makeup. A revelation for beauty addicts and diehard Dior fans. Spotlight on these essentials to wear all summer long..."

Let's check it out...

1 Couleur Ultra Smooth High Impact Eye Shadow - The texture: Enhanced by the latest eye shadow innovations, this revolutionary texture is based on "Micro-Fusion" for ideal coverage on the skin and maximum color impact. It leaves the eyelid visibly smooth and the color true for hours on end. 1 Couleur comes in several variations: matte, satiny to pearly and sparkling. The color: Color expresses itself incomparable intensity. The spirit of the collection lends itself to the mixing and layering of color for effects that rival those of fashion shows.

- Golden Spotlight - pale shimmery gold

5 Couleur Irisdescent Eye Shadow - Your eyes have never beheld such brillance. Shimmering palettes created with Dior's phenomenal new Wet Reflect technology. Ultra-reflective. Ultra-luminous. Ultra-incredible. Five metallic-rich shades in each palette. Silky smooth and weightless. So blendable, the colors virutally fuse with the skin for looks that defy creasing, smudging, or fading.

- Earth Reflection - shades of golds and neutrals

'Addicted to Dior' Lip Gloss Luggage Tag - The star of the summer collection, the Addicted to Dior lip gloss luggage tag, is stamped with Dior's Paris address and rhinestone accents. Insides is a duo of warm bronze and juicy pink lip gloss shades so you can get a kiss of color wherever you go.

Smoothing Lacquer Lip Polish - Dior Addict Lip Polish a true revolution in gloss! An exclusive spinning applicator mimics makeup artist application, rolling over the lips like a primer and a gloss in one! This spinning action uniformly spreads and smoothes the gloss, delivering fresh, long-lasting, layered brillance to the lips.

- Fresh Expert 002 - pink

- Radiance Expert 001 - nude

- Glow Expert 003 - coral

This seems like a quite a small collection from Dior but every single product in it is a winner! I love the 'Addicted to Dior' lip gloss set! This will add to my collection of cute little Dior items. I also love the new 5 Couleur and the 1 Couleur. I also want to get the Smoothing Lacquer Lip Polish in both the Fresh Expert 002 and the Radiance Expert 001. I guess that I am ready to get back into the grove of summer...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Chanel Summer 2010 Collection - Les Pop-Up de Chanel

The newest collection from Chanel is quite different than their previous collection released for spring. The spring collection was all about wearable makeup and looking natural yet beautiful everyday. The new collection for summer is about bright fun makeup but these colors have a very definite time and place that they are appropriate to wear. Namely, not the office. However, this collection may be less versatile but is no less beautiful. The Nordstrom website states that, "The standout shades of the season: pops of neon bright lip and nail colour, luminous bronzing powders and more".

Let's check it out...

Soleil Tan de Chanel - Gently illuminating bronzing powder in the form of wave-swept sands. Innovative, oil-free formula delivers a naturally gorgeous bronze glow that never look dull or flat.

- Terre Epice - light bronze

- Terre Ambre - amber bronze

- Terre d'Or - golden bronze

- Terre Halee - deep bronze

Soleil Tan de Chanel - Sheer, weightless liquid instantly brightens skin and evens out skin tone. Light-reflecting pigments provide radiance and luminosity. Botanical extracts soften, smooth, and moisturize. Oil free. Fragrance free.

- Sunkissed - medium bronze

Rouge Allure - It combines fabulously wearable, lustrous colour and sensational comfort and is subtly etched with the world-renowned Chanel logo.

- Genial - rich coral

- Darling - light blue pink

- Super - bright pink

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

- Bondi - sheer warm peach

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

- Bondi Beach - rose gold

Gloss Fluo de Chanel - With its hot colour and high-wattage shine, the electric effect of this bright, sheer, light lip gloss is perfect for going from the beach to a night out.

- Laser - bright fushcia

- Pop - bright coral

Levres Scintillantes - Intense frost and shine for lips. Cool array of hottest colours in a convenient, easy-to-use case. Gel texture imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. New shades add extra sparkle and shine.

- Bikini Pink - light pink

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

- Noir - black

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

- Demure - pinks, peaches, and browns

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

- Mistral - sweet candy pink

- Riveria - intense rose

- Nouvelle Vague - bright ocean blue

I really like this collection much more than I thought that I would after looking at the promo picture. Most of the bright aren't for me but I found several items in this collection that I would love to purchase. First of all, I want all three of the new nail polish shades. From the new lip shades, I would like to get the Bikini Pink gloss and the Rouge Allure in Darling. I love the new Les 4 Ombres in the Demure shade, this will be perfect for me. I will also try out one of the bronzers and see how the lightest shade looks on my skin.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

OPI Shrek Forever After Collection

As I wrote a few weeks ago on the Sex and the City movie tie in fragrance, now we have another beauty collection tie in to check out. The third Shrek movie came out over the summer and now OPI has a new collection of shades based on this film. I have never seen any of the previous movies so I don't plan on seeing this one but I do plan on seeing what bright new shades are being released in conjunction. There are six shades in total, one dark, two pale, and three bright.

The first shade is named Funky Dunkey and this one is a deep blue purple cream. This shade is pretty but is it rather generic and could be very easily dupable. I like this one but this isn't unique enough for me to purchase and if I did, I don't that I would use it more than half a dozen times at most.

The second and third shades are the paler shades and these are my two favorite of the new collection. I would like to buy both of these shades and can see myself getting a decnet amount of use out of both. the first of the two shades in named What's With the Cattitude? and is a pale robin egg blue cream shade. I love this one and I think this is my favorite of all the shades. The second pale shade is named Rumple's Wiggin. This shade is a pale pink lavender cream and even though it looks like a bunch of shades that I currently own, I will buy it and use it a lot.

The last few shades of the collection are the bright shades and I think that these will be the best selling shades of the collection. The first bright shade is named Who the Shrek Are You?. This shade is a bright yellow green cream. I doubt this shade will be flattering on me but I can see it being a hit for pedicures and working well against tanned skin with more golden undertones. The second bright shade is named Ogre-the-Top Blue and this is my favorite of the bright shades. This one is a bright ocean blue cream, I love this shade. This one will be great for pedicures for this summer especially against white or silver sandals. The last new shade of the collection is named Fiercly Fiona and is a bright yellow. I don't like this shade at all and it would look awful on me.

I want three new shades from this collection. I want both of the pale shades, What's With the Cattitude? and Rumple's Wiggin. I want one of the bright shades, only the Orge-the-Top Blue. Not my favorite collection ever but it still produced a couple of items for me to check out.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Shu Uemura Summer 2010 Collection - Gem Glam

The summer collection from Shu Uemura was only released online (to my knowledge - if anyone knows any different, please comment and correct me). Shu Uemura will be pulled from all United States counters in July of this year, a very sad occurence since this company contains some of the highest quality makeup items available today and the highest quality eye shadows that can be purchased. This company will still have all the items available on their website for purchase so they should still be releasing new collections and I will still be coveting many of their items.

The collection for summer is named Gem Glam and this is the description from Shu Uemura, "Indulge in the dazzling brillance and alluring colors of precious gems. Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, amethysts... Let your flawless, crystalline summer beauty sparkle. Flawless complexion glows with absolute clarity and dimension. Eyes with piercing colors reflect and dazzle. Lips shine like polished gems". I am really looking forward to this collection.

Let's check it out!

Gem Glam Pressed Eye Shadow - Discover the brand-new, limited edition glitter pressed eye shadow in our Gem Glam collection. Collection also features a pearlescent blue-green perfect for spring/summer.

- P 450 - pearl pastel sea green

- G silver - sparkling silver

- G gold - sparkling gold

- G rainbow - sparkling pink tone white

Gem Glam Cream Eye Shadow - Our soft-blend, waterproof cream eye shadow formula is now available in 3 limited-edition pearl shades for the Gem Glam collection. This unique formula can be layered with pressed eye shadow for a textured, high-impact look, applied alone for a smooth natural finish or blended with another cream eye shadow shade.

- P pearl ivory - pale white

- P pearl light purple - pale lilac

- P pearl light pink - pale pink

Gem Glam Flawless Glow Powder - A gorgeous multi-color face duo for the perfect complexion. Achieve a flawless, glowing, multi-dimensional finish. Suitable for all skin tones, the fine powder minimizes the look of pores and evens skin tone. Upper set highlights the luminous transparency of the skin while the lower set enhances the natural contours of the face. Set in a luxurious compact inspired by the brillance of gemstones. Use the upper section as a highlighter and the lower section for contouring. Alternatively, swirl your brush across both sections for an overall healthy, luminous glow.

Gem Glam Vinyl Unlimited - Two limited-edition full coverage full coveage lip glosses for the Shu Uemura Gem Glam collection. Fresh colors with dramatic gem-shine to complete a glamorous summer look. Vibrant shades and vivid colors with an extreme lacquer-sheen finish.

- Pk 327 - soft pink

- Or 521 - coral pink

I love this collection! I think that the Gem Glam Pressed Eye Shadows are my favorite product of the season so far. I must get all four shades, but especially the gold and silver shades. I also want the Gem Glam Cream Eye Shadow, also in all three shades. The Flawless Glow Powder is beautiful and I must get this one too. From the new lip glosses, I want the pink shade but not the coral shade. I wish this collection would be much easier to get my hands on...

photo courtesy of Shu Uemura

Guerlain Summer 2010 Collection - Meteorites

The promo picture for this collection from Guerlain is one fo the prettiest that I have seen so far this summer. The model looks luminous and her skin appears to be "lit from within". Very fitting, since the collection is called Meteorites and brings to mind images of ethereal beauty and glowing skin. The Nordstrom website describes this collection as, "Spring into Summer... As a tribute to absolute radiance, Guerlain's Summer Collection celebrates the new Meteorites Pearls, the secret behind smooth and luminous skin".

Let's check this collection out...

Ombre Eclat 1 Shade Single Eye Shadow - Ombre Eclat 1 Shade is the largest single eye shadow product on the market. Intense and long-lasting colors allow for light and delicate eye makeup or a more sophisticated, dramatic effect, always with an impeccable finish. Available in many different shades to collect and mathc according to your mood.

- L' Instant d'un Baiser - pale beige

- L' Instant d'un Reve - mid tone brown

- L' Instant d'un Caresse - light gold

- L' Instant d'un Emotion - deep forest green

Meteorites Summer Collection Eye Shadow Palette - This monochromatic palette features four shades of natural hues with a subtle touch of iridescence for a soft, pearly effect. With tones ranging from soft beige and satiny pink to taupe and smoky brown, these eye shadows glide over and blend beautifully into the skin, adding a velvety-soft luminosity to the eyes. A white rosette, the symbol of Meteorites, is stamped on the palette and can be used as a fifth light-enhancing shade.

Meteorites Pearls - Inspired by light and created by Guerlain, Meteorites Pearls employ the technology of white light, which is used in photography and film to erase imperfections and soften features. A constellation of six multicolored pearls blends together for a flawless, radiant complexion. These pearls with a purpose have now been reinvented in three color harmonies adapted to each skin tone.

- Teint Beige 02 - neutral

- Teint Dore 03 - warm

- Teint Rose 01 - cool

Le 2 Volume Mascara - Following the success of Le 2 Mascara, Guerlain introduces a new weapon of seduction: Le 2 Volume. This double-brush tool is increasing its wealth of talents: Brush 1 boosts volume and curl for high-drama lashes, while revolutionary brush two strengthens curl and intensifies color with a deep black lacquer.

- 11 Noir 2 Lacque - black

- 31 Brun 2 Lacque - brown

Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator - Guerlain's new Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator hides all imperfections and awakens the skin's youthfulness in a single click of its magic wand brush. This must-have makeup tool employs an exclusive double-sided Gold Radiance Pigment: The opaque side targets imperfections and dull zones, toning down the appearance of wrinkles, dilated pores, and pigment irregularities, while the golden side reflects light. Combined with a blend of mrryh oil, known for its regenerating properties, and the lifting and smoothing properties of peptides, long-term results include the diminishment of fine lines and smoother, softer skin.

- 00 - porcelain

- 01 - fair

- 02 - medium

Kiss Kiss Baby Lip Balm - A soft and velvety lip balm pampers the lips with its rejuvenating formula and keeps them comfortable after long term usage. Three ingredients combine for complete lip care: Wild mango butter infuses lips with moisture and suppleness, luffa oil nourishes dried out and chapped lips and oligopeptides (proteins and trace elements) increase volume and softness.

- Cherry Summer 262 - neutral red

- Crystal Nude 200 - clear

- Red Nude 220 - sheer deep red

- Rosewood Nude 241 - brown rose

- Coral Sunset 242 - warm coral

- Honey Nude 240 - neutral honey

- Romantic Nude 260 - mauve

- Rosy Nude 261 - mid tone pink

Eye Pencil - Glide on eye color that stays put! Formulated with unusually high pigment content and a creamy gel, these cushiony, silky eye pencils take on unrivaled intensity and depth, and can withstand wind and tide - including extremely hot, humid climates!

- Kohl Me Black 01 - black

- Kohl Me Bronze 07 - bronze

- Kohl Me Blue 03 - navy blue

- Kohl Me Ivory 00 - pale ivory

Normally, I really love Guerlain collections but I am just lukewarm about this one. There are some products that I really adore and some that seem to be nothing special at all. I would like to all four shades of the Eye Shadow as I think that they will work well together and with many of the shades that I already have in my collection. As always, I want the new shadow palette, this is my favorite item of the collection. I need to try this new mascara out and also try the original from this company out too. Other than that, I want the Rosy Nude shade in the Kiss Kiss Baby and I would like to try out the Eye Pencils and see how this company's bronze shade compares to the one that I am currently using from Urban Decay.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Smashbox Summer 2010 Collection - Naked Beauty

I am noticing a theme with a bunch of the new collections, natural makeup and neutral shades are quite popular. I don't know if it could be due to lagging sales in past collections but it feels to me like many companies are playing it pretty safe right now and releasing shades that fit any female's lifestyle and could be worn to work or out at night. I don't that that I consider this a bad idea but I do feel that at some point, you own enough of the same neutral shades and won't purchase more of what you already own. Prove me wrong?

I think that the look created on the model for this campaign is quite attractive and I can see myself purchasing some of the products as I think that they will easily work with my skintone. Smashbox describes the collection as follows, "Expose your natural beauty with this gorgeous collection of sunkissed shades. Illuminating bronzers, creamy cheek colors, and barely-there glosses create a sexy summer glow. Natural beauty - exposed".

Let's look at the new collection...

Naked Beauty Photo Finish Lid Primer - Our best-selling, ultra-luxurious lid perfector, now in a shimmering nude shade. Wear it alone as a glowy golden sheen or under one of your favorite summer shadows. This revolutionary formula contains Phytomoist, a plant based hyaluronic acid for ultimate moisturization plus skin perfecting amino acids. Soft focus pearls help diminish the appearance of fine lines and discoloration on the lids, while patented delivery system ensures effective results.

Naked Beauty High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color - This duo of sheer, creamy cheek color and soft highlighter instantly gives cheeks a sexy flush and your complexion a radiant glow.

Naked Beauty Mini Lip Gloss Set - From glistening nudes to peek-a-boo pinks, these eight mini glosses infuse lips with just the right amount of soft color and shine. All new shades! Includes: Lip Gloss in Bare, Buff, Naked, Nude, Exposed, Natural, Sunkissed, and Pure.

Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer - This revolutionary bronzer imparts a gorgeous sunkissed glow while dramatically minimizing the signs of aging. Halo is packed with high performance ingredients like gold, 48 minerals, and a powerful peptide to perfect skin and get you glowing. Its patented hydration system delivers time released moisturization for a radiant, healthy complexion all day. Simply twist the shaver for the perfect amount of bronzer for a single application. In a univeral true bronze shade that works on every skintone and never looks orange. Clinical studies show: after 10 minutes, there is a 33% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles; and after 6 weeks of use, the overall appearance of fine lines & wrinkles are reduced by 67%. Oil-free, talc-free, paraben-free.

This collection may not be very unique but I can see how it will have universal appeal. I love the lip gloss and the new version of the Eye Primer. The new version of the Primer reminds me of the Sin Primer Potion from Urban Decay but I still want to get this one too. Time will tell if collections like this one sell out or if women want more color in their summer makeup.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

DuWop Summer 2010 Collection

For the summer, DuWop has released four new products to help complement your summer activities. When clicking on the "What's New" page of their website, the slogan "Let Your Beauty Soar" is written at the top of the page so I am lead to believe that these are products that are good for a carefree natural look and to complement your best look when on vacation.

Here are the products...

Twilight Venom Blush - Continuing the successful partnership between DuWop, the creators of Lip Venom, and Stephanie Meyer's acclaimed Twilight saga, Twilight Venom Blush brings a softer and sweeter look to the biting lip stain made popular last year. Twilight Venom Blush is a shimmering pink lip stain suspended in a venom-laced liquid lip conditioner argan, avocado oil, and olive oils, as well as Vitamin E. Twilight Venom Blush should be shaken before use (to represent the blending of the human and vampire worlds). Apply to lips until desired intensity of color is reached OR dip the brush in the top without shaking for conditioning and plumping alone OR dip the brush into the bottom of the vial directly into the undiluted stain for a more potent look. Pick your poison.

Angel Washes - Angel Washes are the sheerest tint for lips, cheeks, and eyes in three angelic colors. The refreshing, water-based formula provides a delicate wash of long-lasting color. The three shades are packaged in adorable tubes for easy application. The golden color can also be used as a face highlighter and is the only Angel Wash formulated specifically for the eyes. the set of three includes the listed shades.

- Petal Pink - midtone pink

- Delicate Coral - midtone coral

- Shimmering Bronze Gold - deep gold

Clear Revolution - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a self-tanner that actually tones and conditions your skin, was never orange or messy, and had a fantastic scent? if your answer to any of these questions is yes, have we got the product for you! Clear Revolution is a cooling ice blue gel that contains extracts of arnica and calendula to firm and tone and white tea and chamomile to soothe and refresh -all in an aloe base. The bluish hues fights any orange tendencies, giving your skin a completely authentic tan. Scented with a tempting blend of essential oils, including lavender, lemon, lime, and ylang ylang, Clear Revolution also provides natural sunscreen. If that's not enough the product gives you a safe, healthy, glowing tan that develops overnight. As with the original Revolution, Clear Revolution contains a hint of shimmer to bring a subtle sheen to the skin.

Flight Stick - Flight Stick is a skin-enhancing, hydrating stick created for the weary traveler or anyone who wants an instant pick me up. The product contains anti-oxidants to protect and hydrate. A touch of caffeine, a natural stimulant, wakes up the skin and enhances the appearance of dryness and damage. Flight Stick also contains a hint of tint to even out and perfect the complexion. The universal color can be used anywhere - on the face, under eyes, or on the neck - anywhere you need a boost! Packaged in a travel-friendly, roll up cylinder, Flight Stick is perfect to throw in your bag for touch-ups upon landing.

I love the concept of Flight Stick! This sounds as though it could become a go-to product for me during warmer weather or anytime that I stressed out over school and work. I also must keep with my Twilight theme and get the new shade of the Twilight Venom. I am curious about the Clear Revolution and will be keeping my eyes out for reviews to judge if it performs up to its description. I tend to not use gel tanners so I doubt that it would be a product for me, but you never know.

photo courtesy of DuWop

Lancome Summer 2010 Collection - Bronze Riviera

I have been reading for several weeks now that many consider Lancome's Bronze Riviera Collection to be THE collection of the summer. Even though bronzed skin isn't my thing, I am very curious to chekc this collection out and see what products could work very for me. The Lancome website states, "A Playful Glow of Bronze. A Celeboratory Pop of Pink. Be lavished in shades of gold and bronze that jet you away to the beautiful places and faces of the Riviera. The most luxurious elements of nature all come together now to create this summer's hottest color collection - with pops of pink to add a happy play of color to any look".

Let's see if this is THE collection of the season...

Color Design Limited Edition Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Compact - Color Design Limited Edition Sensational Effects Eye Shadow, Bronze Riviera Palette, features 6 must-have, sparkling summer shades with a hint of pink to pop any look.

- Pink Party Pretty - contains pink, nude, bronze, and deep brown shades

Le Crayon Kohl Waterproof Dual Ended Eye Liner - Le Crayon Kohl makes a splash with a new waterproof formula. This creamy, smooth dual ended eye pencil perfectly lines, defines, and contours.

- Sassy in Sunrise - deep brown/midtone warm pink

- Sultry in Sunset - deep brown/bronze

Color Design Sensational Effects Lip Color - Dress your lips in new Color Design Lip Color for full coverage, smooth hold, and sensational effects in one coat. Creams, sheens, shimmers, and metallics - four modern finishes for custom lip styling. A range of 36 shades to create the perfect designer's palette for any lip tone.

- Summer Nude - midtone nude

- Sweetly Pink - bubblegum pink

- Pink Splash - bright pink

Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss - Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss is a sunny delight for the juiciest lips this summer. To celebrate the 10th birthday of this juicy original, Lancome presents this limited edition Juicy Tubes formula: 100% Natural Ingredients, 100% Natural Flavors and Fragrances, 100% Natural Coloring Agents, FSC Certified 100% Recyclable Material Carton.

- Pink Precious - pale pink

- Blushing Beauty - pale rose

- Rose Pretty - midtone rose

- Sheerfully Sweet - pink nude

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

- Sultry Nude - midtone nude

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

- Ms. Perfectly Pink - bright pink

Tropiques Minerale Bamboo Bronzer - Tropiques Mineral Bamboo Bronzer Compact opens to reveal a silky, sun-kissed powder with a big, full-faced mirror for the golden, glamorous glow of tropical skin in seconds. Dust on cheek bones, forehead, nose, brow bones, chin, and decolletage to make bare skin look healthy and fresh.

- Temptingly Bronze - golden bronze

Tropiques Minerale All Over Magic Bronzing Brush - Tropiques Minerale Magic Bronzing Brush automatically releases powder onto its brush at the press of a button. Features 100% minerals from pure earth for a natural-looking, shimmering, bronze glow, head to toe. So convenient for sunny touch-ups on the go. One shade for all skin tones.

Ageless Minerale Blush - Ageless Minerale Brightening Mineral Powder Blush with White Sapphire Complex contains pure mineral pigments for soft, sheer color and a radiantly ageless look. 6-hour wear. Fragrance free, oil-free, talc-free, and safe for sensitive skin.

- Sparkling Sand - beige

- Brillant Berry - midtone berry

- Luminous Rose - midtone pink

Ageless Minerale Blush Brush - Ageless Minerale Blush Brush creates a soft, sexy, sculpted look. The velvetly, pampering touch of this hand-crafted brush shapes cheekbones naturally for controlled, even color application.

Ok, so lots to look at in this collection. I like this collection a lot but I don't think that it is the most amazing one that I have seen so far this summer. However, if I were more into bronzers I might take up a different viewpoint. There are some pieces that I would really like to get from this collection and some that I will be fine with skipping over. I adore the new eye shadow palette and will be able to create some fantastic looks with it. Also, this is one of the few palettes so far from the summer collections without any blue in it so I can safely say that I will use every single shade from this palette. I also love all the new shades of the Juicy Tubes Natural Origins and the new nail polish shade. Definitely some big hits from this collection!

photo courtesy of Lancome

Stila Summer 2010 Collection

The Summer 2010 Collection from Stila resembles a grouping of random products and shades thrown together and labeled as a new collection. I really prefer when new collections have some type of theme to the colors and products. But anyway, I digress. I usually have good luck with Stila products in general so I do want to see what they bringing out for me to try.

Here are the new items...

It Girl Palette - Brought to you first at stilacosmetics.com! The It Girl Eye Shadow Palette is a great selection of the neutral eye shadows that enhance the eyes and will sparkle in the summer sun! At only $10, you can't beat this value. Please note that the pans are slightly smaller than our usual full size pans. The sleek design is ideal for on the go touch-ups. It is perfect for the purse, wallet, or traveling. The three shades that are included are: Kitten (shimmering champagne), Chloe (I think this is mid-tone brown shade), and Lame (I think this is pinky gold shade).

Raspberry Crusk Lip & Cheek Stain - The newest member of Stila's Crush family delivers a perfect pop of vibrant pink to your lips and cheeks. Packed with good for you ingredients and a touch of subtle shimmer, this sheer raspberry-rich formula creates a healthy, glowing flush of youth. Infused with naturally staining raspberry extracts, this sweetly scented wonder reacts to your personal pH levels to create your perfect vibrant pink shade every time. This juicy formula works as a blush and lip tint - leaving a pretty pop of color that compliments your fresh summer skin.

Smudege Stick Waterproof Eye Liner - Obsessed for Sumdge Pots? You'll go crazy for Smudge Sticks! This highly pigmented, waterproof eye liner glides on to deliver intense, vibrant color with staying power. These easy to apply eye liners have it all: long lasting, waterproof, easy to apply, several shimmer intense shades to make eyes stand out, vibrant colors, self sharpening propel pencil.

- Stingray - black

- Lionfish - brown with shimmer

- Purple Tang - purple with shimmer

- Moray - olive with shimmer

- Koi - metallic gold

- Silverdollar - metallic silver

- Peacock - cobalt blue

- Blue Ribbon - navy grey

One Step Makeup Primecolor - This revolutionary new formula combines primer, eye shadow, highlighter, lip color, cheek color, bronzer with mineral pigments to deliver an innovative, high performance, high definition, long wearing, all over color. One Step Primercolor is formulated with Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex that reads and reacts to skin zone-by-zone, visibly priming, balancing, correcting, and optimizing for a supremely flawless finish. Exclusive mineral and silicone complex. Mineral pigment, primer, problem solving, and mess free! Water-resistant formula perfect for humid weather. Adjustable and buildable coverage. Shades will include matte and shimmer finishes. Reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrates and balances. High definition, long wearing. Paraben and fragrance free.

- Per Suede - tawny

- Bronze Babe - bronze
- Pop of Pink - pale pink

- Capri Coral - coral

- Rosie Posie - warm rose

- Kitten - champagne shimmer

Pro Artist Palette - You can't go wrong with this set of six eye shadows. Created and designed by Stila Pro Artists, this palette features our award winning eye shadow formula in six carefully chosen colors. Wear shades individually or combined for countless combinations and an endless amount of looks (check out the tips and tricks tab for a couple of suggestions). Includes the following top selling shades: Kitten (shimmering nude pink), Prize (soft gold shimmer), and Sparkle (golden bronze shimmer). Includes three exclusive new colors: Grand (taupe shimmer), Lucky (deep teal shimmer), and Moxie (vibrant purple sheen).

Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 - Stila's best-selling Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer has gone golden! Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 - infused with genuine 24 K gold - contains the perfect ratio of pigment to pearl, providing a beaming, flawless face in an instant. The anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties of gold leave the skin with a youthful, vibrant summertime sheen, while SPF 15 ensures that the skin is protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Stila Sun Highlighter - Highlight the skin with Stila Sun Highlighter. This subtle shimmer will work with any of the three shades of Stila Sun to reproduce the look of a truly terrific tan.

Summer Glow Set - Create the perfect summer glow with this three piece set. Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer makes your skin radiate in the sun, while protecting you from its harsh rays. Add a little warmth with the Illuminating Finishing Powder in Bronze. Finally the concealer helps cover up the minor flaws so that your skin looks perfect all summer long. This set is available in Fair, Light, and Tan.

I really like many of the new products in the little "collection". My favorite of the new products is the Smudege Stick Eye Liner. I am dying to try Koi, Stingray, Lionfish, and Moray. I also would like to get both the new eye palettes, I already own Kitten and use it in many eye looks, so I have no problem owning several backups of it. I am also really curious about the One Step Primecolor and I will have to try this one out next time that I go to Sephora. I think that I should have no problem finding some winners here...

photo courtesy of Stila

MAC To The Beach

It is finally the official release of MAC's To The Beach! I have been seeing pictures of this collection in blogs for the past two weeks and the other week when I was at MAC, the manager was nice enough to pull out the testers of the collection. Seeing the testers only made me go even crazier for the collection, the manager and I spent about ten minutes drooling over everything. This collection is amazing and I am so excited to write about it!

MAC states that "The seaside has a kind of golden, sexy alchemy we're all drawn to. This collection encapsulates it with the most soothing, sultry shades of summertime. A safe way to bronze, beautify, and get colour that looks sun-kissed. Close your eyes, and go To The Beach!"

To The Beach we go!

To The Beach Eye Shadow - An Eye Shadow whose shade and packaging reflects the beach side glamour of our To The Beach collection. Presented in a chartreuse compact with a shell motif in cream screened on the see-through window. Limited edition.

- Sand & Sun - light peach (Matte)

- Firecracker - frosted mid-tone red orange (Veluxe Pearl)

- Sweet & Punchy - bright yellow green (Veluxe Pearl)

- Shimmermoss - green with green pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

- Humid - intense green with shimmer (Frost)

To The Beach Eye Kohl - An Eye Kohl whose shade and presentation pays its own colorful tribute to the beach side glamour of our To The Beach collection. The coral motif screened on the barrel does double-duty as a whimsical shade indicator. Limited edition.

- Rosemary & Thyme - mid-tone olive gold with shimmer

- Float On By - dark green turquoise

To The Beach Lipstick - A Lipstick that in shade, finish, and overall glamour of look and packaging becomes a fitting part of our To The Beach bronzing collection. Features a coral-coloured case with a shell motif in cream. Limited edition.

- Beachbound - sheer frosted pale peach (Glaze)

- Lazy Day - light dirty blue pink (Lustre)

- Thrills - rosy copper with gold pearl (Frost)

- Funbathing - mid-tone bronzed plum (Cremesheen)

To The Beach Tinted Lipglass - A Lipglass whose style, design, and shade could only belong to our To The Beach collection. Its iconic touch: the seahorse motif screened onto the coral-coloured cap. Limited edition.

- Easy Lounger - light baby pink with multidimensional pearl

- Flurry of Fun - sheer sparkly peach

- Splashing - mid-tone blue pink with soft gold pearl

To The Beach Lip Pencil - A Lip Pencil featuring all the rich colour and sunny-day glamour you would expect from our To The Beach collection. The coral motif screened on the barrel does double duty as a whimsical shade indictor. Limited edition.

- Life's a Breeze - soft pink

- Temperature Rising - loudmouth orange

To The Beach Powder Blush - A brillant beach-bound part of our To The Beach collection, this blush is presented in a marine-green compact with a starfish motif screened on the window. Limited edition.

- Hipness - intense coral with soft white pearl (Frost)

- Get-Away Bronze - mid-tone suntan

To The Beach High-Light Powder - The superfine, lightly pearlized shimmer of our To The Beach collection High-Light Powder flaunts a whimsical seahorse motif embossed into the powder. Stylishly presented in a marine-green compact with see-through window. Limited edition.

- Marine Life - suitable for all skintone

To The Beach Creme Bronzer - Ultra-creamy and simple to apply, this uniquely formulated bronzer glides weightlessly onto the skin to provide sheer, sun-kissed colour. Builds effortlessly and evenly. Presented in a green compact with a shell motif screened on the see-through window. Limited edition.

- Beach Bronze - golden glow with soft gold finish

- Weekend - mid-tone deep orange brown with soft pink pearl

To The Beach Bronzing Powder - A Bronzing Powder as glamorous to look at as it is to wear. Superfine formula provides shimmering, sun-glitzed highlights for face and body. Mirrored compact and carton both feature the collection's signature coral-reef motif. Limited edition.
- Golden - muted golden tan-beige with golden shimmer

- Refined Golden - finely spun golden with soft pearl finish

To The Beach Lustre Drops - Glamour in a drop! This essential summer highlighter makes a welcome return specially packaged to our To The Beach collection. Provides sheer, natural-looking highlights with a luminous, shimmering finish. Use on face or body. Limited edition.

- Pink Rebel - blue pink with gold pearl

- Sun Rush - peachy bronze with gold pearl

To The Beach Bronze Body Oil - A shimmering body oil formulated to bring a sheer sheen and sexy gleam to skin. Soothing, naturally emollient. Its fusion of three botanical oils helps soften, smooth, and moisturize skin. Limited edition.

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!

- In The Buff - muted taupe avocado

- Scorcher - creamy bright coral red

130 Short Duo Fibre Brush - A short, round, flat-topped brush ideal for the smooth, easy application of foundations, creams, emulsions, and select powder products. Features a blend of natural bristles and synthetic fibres.

131 Duo Fibre Powder/Blush Brush - A flat, tapered face brush featuring a combination of short, natural fibres and longer synthetic fibres making it ideal for the highlighting/contouring of Mineralize Skinfinish and all powder products.

To The Beach Bag - A capacious cream-coloured canvas bag detailed in the signatre coral colour of the To The Beach collection. Features a large coral-reef motif, two braided-rope handles, and a green ID tag with a starfish motif on one side and the MAC logo on the other. Measures: 16" x 6.5" x 16". Limited edition.

I love it all and I already know that much of my Most Wanted List will be coming from this collection. And I am not alone in my love of it, several of items are already sold out on the website and it hasn't even hit the stores yet. So what do I love the most from the collection? I must have two of the new shades of the To The Beach Tinted Lipglass, Easy Lounger and Splashing. I love the To The Beach Eye Kohl in Rosemary & Thyme, I am excited to create a whole new eye look with this product. I also must have the To The Beach Eye Shadow in Sand & Sun, I have been obsessed with it ever since seeing it in person at MAC. I have never tried a cream bronzer so I am excited to see how they work. To finish the whole look off, I want the bag to carry with my green bikini.

To The Beach I go!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Urban Decay Summer 2010 Collection

The new Urban Decay collection combines both new color products and a lot of new warm weather skincare products. The theme of the new color additions is "The Summer of Love", it is very bohemian inspired and contains quite a lot of nice neutrals. Also, there are two new additions to one of my favorite guilty pleasure products, the Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss. the skincare products are targeted toward treating oil and shine during the warm and humid weather that always comes with this season. I am super excited to check this whole collection out!

Here are the new skincare additions...

De-Slick in a Tube - Shine Control Gel - It's time to take control of your oil and put your matte face forward. Our lightweight gel performs anywhere, anytime: dab it on all day for touch-ups without ruining your perfectly applied makeup. It's completely color neutral, so it works great on naked skin, under foundation, or over makeup. Formulated to help tighten pores for a youthful, shine-free finish. De-Slick even works to keep skin matte under hot studio lights and in the muggiest of heat (so you know this addocting formula provides fierce absorbing action).

All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray - This groundbreaking formula mists on, ensuring that your makeup won't budge for 16 hours. Really. Weightless but powerful, All-Nighter's temperature control technology keeps your makeup from melting down when it's warm and humid, or dehydrating when it's cold and windy. What's that mean for you? All Nighter prevents loss of color, melting, sliding, caking, cracking, excess shine, fading blush, drooping eye shadow, and lip color disappearance. AND it's formulated to resist moisture, so you can fearlessly sweat, cry, or get your Jacuzzi on... You're guarenteed makeup that always look just-applied, without ever feeling sticky or tight. Imagine the possibilites. It's the new final step to your makeup routine. Just a couple sprays on top of your makeup and you're out the door. This seemingly weird extra step suddenly becomes the one step that you can't do without. Backed by years of science, All Nighter is simply unlike any other product available and keeps you looking...flawless.

Guardian Angel Spray Moisturizer - Face the day with an innovative, ultra-fine, mist-on appliocation of ethereal moisture. Guardian Angel answers your prayers for purity as it carefully moisturizes even oily, combination, or break-out prone skin. Time-release technology hydrates your skin up to 24 hours as the hygroscopic formla miraculously attracts moisture to your skin, yet always feels weightless. Guardian Angel gives your face a smooth, moisturized surface, which helps extend makeup wear. Boasting an infusion of SPF 8 and completely vegan ingredients, we'd say this is the most perfect Angel ever!

Dew Me Moisturizing Makeup Setting Spray - Wake up, makeup, and Dew Me! Finally, the perfect antidote for drier and combination skin that moisturizes and holds makeup flawlessly for 16 hours (Yes, really.). Without feeling dry or tight, this weightless makeup setting mist keeps foundation from settling into fine lines and prevents powder from becoming cakey. Your complexion looks dewy, younger, and more glowing! With impressive temperature control technology, Dew Me keeps your makeup from melting down when it's warm and humid, and dehydrating when it's cold and windy. There is no other makeup mist available on the market that can do what it does. Maintain your makeup quality by preventing loss of color, melting, sliding, cracking, fading eye shadow, and lip color feathering, no matter what the circumstances. Wanna know a secret? Dew Me is also the BEST thing to happen to our moms, and more shall we say "experienced" lady friends. Dry skin and hot flashes will no longer disrupt your pretty face!

Now for the color items...

Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Hate fussing with heavy foundation, but need soemthing that really performs? Seek protection with our Urban Defense. This formula is free of parabens and fragrance, is loaded with our multi-mineral complex, battles free radical damage, AND also has SPF 20! Even better, its light-diffusing pigments dminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, providing a youthful finish. Since it's buildable, Urban Defense always has just the right amount of tint...wear it alone for light coverage (great for warm outdoor weather) or under powder for an extra polished look. Apply Urban Defense after your cleansing/toning ritual and you're ready to face the day with moisture, sheer coverage, and SPF 20 at your service. Available in a range of four shades for light to dark complexions.

Summer of Love Shadow Palette - Say goodbye covered shoulders, hello sexy, when you wear these three golden neutrals together for a summery bronzed look. Our mix of textures gives you layers of silky-soft shimmer and flashy bits of gold. Play with how you blend them; from an au naturel glow, to a smoky eye with a bright pop. Bold against a tan. Feel the love in this palette, which includes a travel-sized Sin Eye Shadow Primer Potion (to keep your look going strong on those long summer nights) and 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil... an addicting treat for any free spirit. Complete with mirror and magnetic cover (and some groovy vintage photos inside), you'll want to host your own love-in. 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil comes in Bourbon (brown with teeny gold glitter). Eye Shadows come in the following shades: Chopper (copper fawn with silver micro-glitter), Maui Wowie (medium glod with silver glitter), Smog (deep coppery bronze), and Flash (lavender).

Summer of Love Nail Kit - Hard to choose which shade of polish you want? Celebrate free love with all of them! More arousing than full-size single bottles, this kit of IT girl polishes delivers punchy, offbeat shades of teal, orange, pink, and orchid that will drive you absolutely mad. Your healthy inner hippie will appreciate that all of our colors are formulated without toluene, formaldehyde, or DBP and your analytical left brain will appreciate the 220-strand brush for highly detailed application of color. Fit them all into a purple faux suede zipper case and you'll be ready to swing.

- Shine On - beige sparkle

- Woodstock - radioactive pink

- Love Light - baby pink sparkle

- Hashbry - bright orchid

- Magic Bus - emergency orange

- Aquarius - electric teal

- Psychedelic Sister - bright coral

24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil - The best eye pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brillant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals. Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Cottonseed Oil.

- Eldorado - gold

Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss - Undress our men with a flick of your wrist! Inside the cap of our custom tube is a photo of a yummy man. Tilt the tube back-and-forth to strip them to their undies! (We've even included front and rear photos.) Whether you swoon for a future senator or a tree-hugger, one of our men is sure to please you. Our guys make awesome gits for bachelorette parties, baby showers, or b-days. And the gloss? This formula is so slick and cushiony, you would love it in a plain ol' tube. Each shade varies in opacity and finish, but all have a sweet creme brulee flavor. The formula contains Hyaluronic Spheres, known to improve cellular function, prevent dehydration, and fill in lines and wrinkles. The brush applicator is ideal for blending. Need to lure a real man? Give the tube a rub to release pheromones into the air! Undetectable to the smell, pheromones enhance mood and sexual attraction. The flat tube slides right into your pocket!

- Colin - orange-red

- Max - pinky-nude

Wow! There is a lot to this new collection and most of it will be making my Sephora Wish List! the item that I want the most is the Summer of Love Eye Shadow Palette followed closely by the new Tinted Moisturizer. I also want the Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss in the Max shade and the new Eldorado shade of my favorite eye liners. I want three of the four new face products, I think that all of them will be really great additions to my skincare arsenal. I want to get the Guardian Angel Spray Moisturizer, the All-Nighter Long Setting Spray, and the De-Slick in a Tube.

I love this collection! Another winner from one of my favorite companies!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Lippmann Collection Summer 2010 Shades

Lippmann Collection has released two new shades of nail polish for this summer. Last season, I fell head over heels in love with the Happy Birthday shade, I would love it if that would be repeated with one of more shades from this collection. The collection for summer consists of two new shades, both of which pick up the trend of brightly colored manicures and pedicures. I am thinking that these shades are not going to be quite as wearable as the shades that came out for spring. Let's find out.

The first shade is named Between The Sheets and is a bright fushcia with a creme finish. I really like the cream finishes that I have been seeing on the brighter shades so far this season, a shimmer finish and bright colors and get overwhelming pretty quickly. That being said, I like this shade but I don't really know how much wear that I would get out of it. I could see myself using it for beach pedicures in the summer but I can't picture myself using it very often for manicures or at all in any other seasons. I might pass on this shade.

The other shade is named supermodel and was created with supermodel Dree Hemingway. This color appears to be a bright coral red creme on the picture on the Lippmann website but is described as a sheer shade. With my past experiences with Lippmann sheers (Rehab), I have found that they are sheer for about two coats but it you have the time and the patience, you can build them up with several more coats and you will achieve a full coverage finish. I find that this shade has too much coral in it for it to be very flattering to my skintone. Oh well, I will just have to use Happy Birthday more and wait to see what comes out in fall...

photo courtesy of Lippmann Collection

Laura Mercier Summer 2010 Collection - Sun Drenched Collection

As I stated when I wrote about the earlier Laura Mercier Summer products, I knew that there would be a second collection and I was right. I just went on the company's website and the Sun Drenched Collection is up and ready to be purchased. This collection is your very typical summer fare, lots of bronze makeup and items ready to get you glowing. The Laura Mercier website gives the following as the collection's overall description, "Our new Summer Color Collection gives your skin an all-over healthy glow, with pops of tropical color. Skin is sun-kissed and radiant, eyes shaded in new neutrals, and lips are drenched in bold fushcia and corals."

Let's check it out...

Bronzed Pressed Powder - Laura Mercier Bronzed Pressed Powder is a silky smooth bronzing powder that glides on evenly, giving the skin a soft luminosity and healthy, sunny glow without looking natural or heavy. Velvet composition adheres to the skin providing longer wear. Special pigments blend evenly into the skin. Oil-free. Mistake-proof application provides the perfect 'back to beach' look.

- Sun Bronze - deep bronze

- Dune Bronze - medium toned bronze

- Golden Bronze - medium light bronze

- Matte Bronze - light bronze

Luster Eye Color - Laura Mercier Luster Eye Color is a luxuriously smooth eye shadow that imparts pure dynamic iridescence's with a sophisticated frost finish providing amazing adherence for a freshly applied look throughout the day. Long-wearing and crease-resistant. Microionized pigments deliver deep color in the release of one stroke. Offers true color and brillance. Ultra-refined for a soft, luxurious feel. Pop each shade from its compact case and place in a Custom Compact creating a customized eye color palette.

- Sandbar - pale sandy beige

- Marina - light blue

- Sundown - deep bronze

Long Lash Mascara - Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara extends and precisely separates the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes by expertly scooping up and lengthening each lash wile delivering the right amount of product. Perfectly engineered brush, designed to meet Laura's specifications, dramatically lengthens and defines lashes while enhancing the eyes. An innovative stretch formula lengthens, separates, and curls each lash making lashes appear longer in just two strokes. Long-wearing, water-resistant, and smudge-proof. The formula contains rich dark pigments to enhance lash color for maximum drama. Clump-free, fiber-free, parabe-free, and ophthalmologist tested. Suitable for contact lens wearers.

- Black - black

Lip Glace - Laura Mercier Lip Glace is a high shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long-lasting color and brillant shine that creates the appearance of fuller lips. Any skin tone is virtually enhanced by creating a subtle contrast in texture. Contains the Laura Mercier Lip Complex which hydrates and protects lips leaving a wonderfully smooth surface. Lip Complex is a unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and plumping ingredients to boost the performance of the lip glace. Non-sticky gloss formula plumps and conditions lips. Lays down evenly without featering or bleeding. Adds a glamorous touch without looking too heavy. Available in a wide variety of coverages (sheer, medium, and full) and finishes (shine, sheen, and shimmer).

- Glistening Sand - pale shimmering nude

- Heat Wave - warm toned coral

- Bon Bon - pale cool pink

Body Bronzing Makeup - Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Makeup instantly reveals healthy, radiant, bronzed skin without long-term commitment. Satiny smooth formula with light reflective particles helps disguise imperfections. Adds a subtle, all-over sheen. Lightly scented with the Almond Coconut Milk. Streak-free, transfer-resistant, and easily washes off when ready. Available for a limited time only.

Bronzing Gel - Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel is a lightweight gel bronzer that smoothes on evenly and blends perfectly leaving the skin refreshed and hydrated. Sheer formula enhances a tan and adds a warm glow. Pigment blends flawlessly into the skin. Best used on clean skin. Can be applied light over Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation. Should not be used after powder. Works for all skin types.

I only want a few products from this new collection. I would like to try to Bronzed Pressed Powder in the lightest shade but I don't think that I will be getting any of the other bronzers. I would also get the Lip glace in the Bon Bon shade but the others are too warm for my skin. I have tried the Luster Eye Shadows yet so I will be looking into these also, I want to get the Sandbar and the Sundown shades.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

MAC Superglass

Pret-a-Papier consisted of neutral shades all built to make a pretty natural look. The newest collection, Superglass, is the total opposite. Superglass is a new formula of MAC Lipglass and is an extension of the famed Dazzleglasses. Personally, I love to look at Dazzleglasses and own two of the lighter shades but can't always pull off the more pigmented shades without feeling out of place. So, I don't know how much Superglass is going to appeal to my practical side. However, I bet that the shades will be mind-blowingly beautiful.

The MAC website states, "Shattered, decimated, blinded by a fantastic, intergalatic lip light! Lips have gone big bang, explosively dimensional, a rare eclipse. Extreme innovation that's a good reflection on MAC...and the seductress lucky enough to strike upon it".

Superglass - A lip gloss blended with small, medium, and large pearls to create three distinct dimensions of jewel-like flash and overwhelming dazzle. Provides sheer medium coverage. Adds sexy shine and lustre to the lips. Helps lips stay smooth and hydrated. Features MAC's vanilla flavor. Limited edition.

- Cherry Electric - bright cherry pink

- Sugar Overload - white beige

- Sweet Tart - pale baby pink

- Superflash! - midtone yellow pink

- Disco Blend - light tan

- Gift Wrap - light pinky peach

- Totally Bang! - fushcia

- Fab Brenzy - deep blue purple

- Tunnel of Love - deep blue brown

I think that many of the shades are really pretty and edgy, but a bit too edgy for my look. I think that I could get away with the following shades: Sugar Overload, Sweet Tart, and Superflash!. All three of these shades are close to the Dazzleglass shades that I already own. At the same time, I really like the Cherry Electric shade and want to give it a test run at the MAC counter so I can determine if I could ever get up the courage to wear it.

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Pret-a-Papier

While my computer was having it's issues, MAC released a bunch of new items that I am now going to quickly go over. The newest full product collection is called Pret-a-Papier and contains products in all shades of beiges. This looks like a collection that would be appropriate for anyone in any situation. I am betting that I will find a slew of shades that I will want from this collection.

"Craft paper couture - an inspired idea cut like a pattern and whipped up into a seamless spectrum of parchment-to-vellum beiges with an occasional, clever colour spill, coral among the most au courant. Avec Pret-a-Papier, a new couture star is born!"

Let's check it out!

Paint Pot - A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with MAC shadows and liners.

- Coral Crepe - soft coral (Satin)

- Groundwork - mid-tone netural beige (Satin)

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

- Tissueweight - frosted pale peach (Frost)

- Bamboo - light beige with peach (Matte)

- Cut to Fit - frosted red bronze (Frost)

- Gazette Grey - dark green grey with gold pearl (Velvet)

- Memorabilia - dirty purple (Matte)

Studio Fix Lash - Innovative, mousse-like formula gives superior definition, volume, and lift by filling in sparse lashes for a dramatic effect. New moulded brush prevents clumping. Rich in pigments. Long-wearing polymers quickly coat from root to tip. Keeps lashes light, lifted, supple, and full. No clumping.

- Black Fix - black

Chromagraphic Pencil - A highly pigmented wood-clenched pencil with a firm lead and silky soft application. Use for outlining, defining, and drawing. Creates an intense line that blends down for a softer, diffused effect.

- NC15/NW20

- NW25/NC30

Impeccable Brow Pencil - A classic, creamy, long-wearing brow pencil, with an easy-to-sharpen point. Fills in, defines, and colours with precision. Provides a natural matte finish. Makes the brows look impeccable.

- Taupe - mid-tone dirty taupe

- Dirty Brown - cool light brown

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

- Archetype - sheer light gold (Lustre)

- Dressmaker, Dressmaker - creamy light peach coral (Lustre)

- Made to Order - creamy midtone dirty coral (Lustre)

- Kraft - creamy midtone brown (Amplified)

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

- C - Thru - peachy beige with shimmer (Cream)

- Fold and Tuck - midtone bright coral with soft pearl

- Pret-a-Papier - dark reddened bronze with pearl

Powder Blush - Colour for the cheeks and face. Various formulas. Different looks.

- Instant Chic - midtone muted coral (Sheertone)

- Garb - light golden suntan (Sheertone)

Mineralize Blush (Duo) - A Mineralize Blush featuring soft-shimmer super-shine pearl in pretty tricolour veining to enhance and glorify cheekbones, followed with the pop and dimension of solid colour shimmer without an overly frosted look.

- Light Over Dark - orange yellow melange/deep brown

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!

- Brown Bag - midtone warm dirty beige (Cream)

- Originality - sparkly copper brown (Frost)

I am little concerned that many of the shades in this collection might be too warm for my skin, especially the lip and blush shades. The only lip shade that might work is the C-Thru Tinted Lipglass, I will have to try this one out at the counter. The eye product shades are a very different story though. From the Paint Pot shades, I want to try the Groundwork shade. The Eye Shadow shades that I want to try are Tissueweight, Bamboo, and Gazette Grey. I honestly am not sure that understant the point of the Chromagraphic Pencils, the purpose and use of these go right over my head. Nice collection for some new basics!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Laura Mercier Summer 2010 Collection - Zen Collection

The newest collection from Laura Mercier is called the Zen Collection and seems to a be collection that is based all around one palette, appropriately named the Zen Palette. This collection is quite small and makes me wonder if a second collection for the summer might be on its way also. But that's not a topic for today, let's look at what is currently available from this company and not speculate on what else might come out. Laura Mercier states, "Inspired by a serene garden, discover beauty synonymous with nature. The Zen Collection features a limited edition compact for eyes, cheeks, and lips, in shades expertly selected by Laura. Alluring. Serene. Lush."

Let's check it out...

Zen Palette - Inspired by a serene garden, Laura Mercier introduces her limited edition Zen Face Palette. The colour palette offers a fresh landscape for eyes, lips, and cheeks in one convenient compant. Laura expertly selected 4 eye colours, 4 lip glazes, and 1 coordinating blush shade offered in this custom palette for a beautiful, harmonious look. Eye colours are Willow (bone), Haze (pale blue), Wisteria (mid-tone lavender), and Midnight Jade (deep green). Lip Glazes are Black Currant (deep plum), Lotus Blossom (mid-tone plum), Stone Beige (neutral beige), and Peach Blossom (warm mid-tone peach). Cheek colour is Plum (mid-tone plum).

Kohl Eye Pencil - Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil is formulated specially for lining the inside of the eyelid and the base of the lashes. Luxurious texture for maximum wearability. Allows anyone to easily achieve the perfect "smoky eye". Smooth, creamy formula glides easily along the eyelid. Creates a smooth and well-balanced line. Contains a thicker diameter than the Eye Pencils to create a more pigmented, dramatic effect.

- Antique Jade - deep smoky green

Long Lash Mascara - Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara extends and perfectly separates the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes by expertly scooping up and lengthening each lash while delivering the right amount of product. Perfectly engineered brush, designed to meet Laura's specifications, dramatically lengthens and defines lashes while enhancing the eyes. An innovative stretch formula lengthens, separates, and curls each lash making lashes appear longer in just two strokes. Long-wearing, water-resistant, and smudge-proof. The formula contains rich dark pigments to enhance lash colour for maximum drama. Clump-free, fiber-free, paraben-free, and ophthalmologist tested. Suitable for contact lens wearers.

- Black - black

Pony Tail Brush - Laura Mercier Pony Tail Brush is a natural brush with soft, medium-length bristles formed at a slight point ideally used in the eye crease. Longer bristles allow less intense layering of colour and more control for blending. Hand-tied bristles do not shed onto the face. Superior strength in maneuvering product for incredible placement.

Cheek Colour Brush - Laura Mercier Cheek Colour Brush is a natural-haired brush sized to perfectly shape the cheek bone. Medium sculpted brush head. Squirrel hair provides softness in application and goat hair offers durability. Best used with Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour. Approximately 8 1/4"/20.96 cm.

Lip Colour Brush - Pull Apart - Laura Mercier Lip Colour Brush - Pull Apart is a natural brush perfectly shaped for precisely lining the lip line. Sculpted to give perfect control. Finely rounded tip and tapered sides allows for precise lining of the lip. Pure, top quality sable provides ideal texture and firmness for application of Lip Colour of Lip Glace. Approximately 6 3/4"/17.15 cm.

I like this palette but I'm not overly excited for it. I love about half of the shades in the palette but I don't think that I would use any of the others. The Kohl Eye Liner is a product that I am much more excited about, I really want to try this one out in both the Antique Jade shade in this collection but also in more shades if the formula turns out to be a great as the description.

I am still convinced that this isn't the only collection that will be coming out from Laura Mercier, so hopefully I might find a couple more items from this company to get this season.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Essie Summer 2010 Collection - Resort Collection

For this summer, Essie just released a new collection of four shades called the Resort Collection. The four shades are meant to bring up images of the South of France and of luxurious vacations. The shades in this collection are all released individually and are available in a set of all four for those who love every shade released.

The first shade is called Lapis of Luxury. This shade is described as a "dreamy ocean blue" and appears from the picture on the website to have a cream finish. I love this shade, it is the perfect shade of ocean blue and would be a great pick for any summer manicure or pedicure. I will be picking up this shade very soon.

The second shade is called Playa del Platinum. This name gives me a headache so hopefully i will like this shade more. It is described as an "elegant and sheer sandy grey". This shade looks a sheer cream and would be very easy to use as a low maintence shade for an everyday manicure. I may not love the name of this shade but I see myself getting a lot of use from this shade in the coming seasons. I will be getting this shade also.

The third shade is called Splash of Grenadine. This one is the brightest shade of this collection and is a classic summer shade. It is described as "playful magenta pink". I predict that this shade will sell out the fastest since every magazine that I have read is talking about bright pink shades for the perfect summer pedicure. This is shade that I wouldn't mind having but I won't die without it.

The last shade is called Turquoise & Caicos and is another contender for favorite shade of the collection. This shade is described as a "flirty and pretty tropical aqua". Based on the picture on the website, this has a cream finish. It also appears to be more green than blue but that might just be the way the photo came out. I think that this is my second favorite shade of this collection.

I think this might be the first time is quite a while that it will be worth it for me to buy the entire box of shades. I am happily surprised that I really want each and every shade from this little collection.

photo courtesy of Essie