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

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb La Vie En Rose

Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb fragrance is one that seems to be either loved or hated. It is burst of floral notes so it isn't hard to see which group I fall into. A new version of the scent has just been released which I am more excited about than the original, Flowerbomb La Vie En Rose. Yes, it has the magical rose note in it that doesn't follow me to not like it. Also, the bottle is bright pink, putting more points in its favor.

Sephora places this fragrance in the Floral category. The description of the fragrance from their website is as follows, "This limited-edition fragrance has the power to seduce with the same glamorous extravagence as the classic Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum. This sparkling and sophisticated rendition entices you to indulge in the power of a refreshingly crisp sensation. The scent opens with top notes of tangerine, bergamot, tea, and pink pepper. Lily of the Valley, freesia, and Centifolia Rose create the floral heart. A base of amber and patchouli provides a compelling anchor".

The notes of the fragrance are: Tangerine, Bergamot, Tea, Pink Pepper, Lily of the Valley, Freesia, Centifolia Rose, Amber, Patchouli.

In the comments section of the Sephora website, someone noted that this fragrance is lighter than the original Flowerbomb. The original is quite heavy and I would use it in colder temperatures as to not overwhelm those around me. I want to try this fragrance out for myself and determine what season it would be best in. With the Pink Pepper and Amber notes, it still might be too strong for warm weather. However, I am already beginning to decide what fragrances I need to buy for fall, so I can decide what shopping list to put this one on.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Five Favorites - Bath and Body Works Classics

The month of June brings us the Semi-Annual Sales for both Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret. Every year, my favorite part of the Bath and Body Works sale is looking for my favorite old fragrances and stock piling enough of them to get through the next six or seven months. I have gone through my collectionand picked out my five favorite Classic fragrances for everyone to consider before the beginning of the sale.

Pearberry - This was my first fragrance love from Bath and Body Works way back when I was in high school. It was also one of the first purchases that i ever made when I started working there and is still a fragrance that I look for as soon as I walk in during Sale. This fragrance combines pears and strawberries to make a unique, crisp fragrance. I highly recommend this fragrance in the shower gel, but all the forms are worth picking up.

Exotic Coconut - This is one of the best coconut fragrances that I have ever smelled and I was so unhappy when the company pulled it from their regular Signature Collection. This fragrance combines toasted coconut and cream and has one of the best warm coconut fragrances out there. I recommend this fragrance in all the forms but especially the moisturizers.

Cool Citrus Basil - This is another fragrance that I used in high school and will never get old. Fresh and herbal, this fragrance can be used on men or women and is light enough to not offend even the most senstive noses. This fragrance has a heart of basil and several different citrus notes. My favorite product in this fragrance is the shower gel though I also recommend the body lotion for a light summer moisturizer.

Night Blooming Jasmine - This is one of the prettiest fragrance that Bath and Body Works has ever released, I really wish that this fragrance was around in a EDT version. I think that this might be the Bath and Body Works fragrance that I have gotten the most compliments on when I wear it and this one is a constant search for me. This fragrance contains notes of jasmine, freesia, and rain. I recommend this fragrance in any form that you can find it in.

Green Clover and Aloe - This fragrance is another one that falls into the "clean" and "herbal" categories. This fragrance reminds me of many of my favorites from the Demeter collection and can worn by men or women. This fragrance is another good choice for summer in that it is light and non-offensive to all. This fragrance combines notes of grass, aloe, and clover to produce a unique herbel blend. I find that I prefer the shower gel and lotion in this fragrance.

Personally, I am looking forward to a Semi-Annual shopping trip. I didn't get anything at the sale after Christmas so it is time for me to evaluate when I have and what I need to stock up on. Bath and Body Works does have a Classics section on their website where these fragrances can be purchased at full price all year long. During the sale, they are usually much cheaper (spurs me to really stock up) and they are able to be tested out before purchase. Also, I get a thrill from digging through the bins, I love the adventure aspect.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

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

Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer

After loving the HD foundation and the matching powder, I don't hesitate to try anything from the Make Up Forever HD collection. Today, we are going to look at the Primer, which is actually the first item that I bought from this collection at Sephora (many items from this line are exclusives) but I had put it aside and totally forgotten about it. I found in the other week in my train case and decided to give it a try. I have never used face primer before even though I swear by eye shadow primers. The other week, I was at MAC and Prep + Prime was used on me and I loved the feel of it so much that I bought it and decided to try out this product that I already owned to see if I got the same feeling from both.

Sephora states that this product is "A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin's texture and primes the skin for makeup application". The website provides further product details right here, "HD Microperfecting Primer deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a glowing effect. Creates a protective layer on the skin allowing foundation to glide on easily and last longer". This product is available in one translucent shade and six color correcting shades. I have have the clear shade and imagine that this would work for every single skin type and tone.

So what I do I like about it? First of all, it feeling cooling and calming going on. I apply it with my fingers and let it set for about 30 seconds after application. I tried applying it with a makeup sponge but I felt that too much of the product was just absorbed right into the sponge. I have been told that primers can be worn on there own on low maintence days and I have tried this out yet but I would really like to. Right away, I can see a reduction in the redness on my cheek area. Also, my pores appear much smaller and any oily areas in my T-zone are mattified. Using this primer makes my foundation apply much easier and I have to use less foundation than I did before working with this product. I am really happy with the results.

This product comes in the same style pump bottle that the HD Foundation is available in. Two full is perfect for covering my whole face without wasting any product. I actually have nothing bad to say about this product and I would recommend it to pretty much anyone.

Here are the shades that you can choose from...

- 0 Neutral - adds natural luminosity to the complexion

- 1 Green - minimizes redness (ideal for skin with rosacea)

- 2 Mauve - counteracts sallow undertones

- 4 Caramel - combats ashiness in medium to dark skin tones/warms golden tones

- 5 Blue - adds radiance to fair skin/reduces minor imperfections

- 6 Yellow - lightens dark complexions

- 7 Pink - brightens the complexion/counteracts sallow undertones

After the success of the Neutral shade, I would love to try this product in both the 1 Green and the 5 Blue shades. I love Make Up For Ever HD and I am beginning to believe that this collection is one of the highest quality lines on the market today.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Most Wanted June 2010

I once thought that I wasn't a super fan of summer beauty but I guess that the new releases for this summer season have proven me wrong. MAC To The Beach has captured my heart and will end up being where I spend most of my money in the upcoming days...

My Most Wanted list to begin summer...

- LUSH Grass Shower Gel
- Urban Decay Summer Love Eye Shadow Palette
- Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Koi
- Lancome Color Design Eye Shadow Palette Summer 2010 in Pink Party Pretty
- Philosophy Pineapple Coconut 3 in 1
- MAC To The Beach Tinted Lipglass in Easy Lounger
- MAC To The Beach Eye Shadow in Sand & Sun
- MAC To The Beach Eye Kohl in Rosemary & Thyme
- MAC To The Beach Lipglass in Splashing
- Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I am feeling that a beach trip is going to be necessary this month...