Blogdorf Goodman

Blogger With Pearl Lippie

2009-11-24T05:40:00.001-05:00

Too Faced Girls Dig Pearls Lip Gloss

I purchased these lip glosses based on their shimmery goodness. I was dazzled by their spark and fire in my local Sephora store. The lippies are made from crushed sea pearls, vitamin E and peppermint extract. The pigment is fairly sheer but the glitter power is high. I prefer wearing these lip glosses solo and not layered with any lip products. The glimmer gets lost. They are non-tacky and feel very moisturizing.

Shell is a blush pink with hot pink glitter. It is a less intense and slightly pearlized version of Chanel's Astral Glossimer.

Pink Bling is a muted, sheer, lavender pink opal jammed packed with fine hot pink glitter. It made me lose my mind.

The lippies retail for $18 and are available at Sephora. Visit
http://www.toofaced.com/ for more details.

Disclaimer: I purchased both these lippies at my local Sephora store. Pink Bling is usually sold out...BTW.

A Clutch Worthy For The Lash Bar

2009-11-24T03:57:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to spend the day working on my blog to get it up to code for FTC guidelines.

Guess what sidetracked me?

A clutch with Shu-worthy lashes!

It is from French Connection and it retails for $78.

http://usa.frenchconnection.com/product/

womens+accessories+handbags/SBDD2/lashes+clutch.htm

Pink Is The Navy Blue Of India

2009-11-23T05:33:00.000-05:00

Lancome's Deluxe Brush Set & Fashion Case

This gorgeous brush collection contains 5 brushes in a cool patent leather clutch-like case. The magenta dipped, dense brushes are snuggie-like soft. The brushes are outrageously handy but it is the deep pink color that makes it a "must have" purchase. They are girly yet hip.

Powder Brush #1:
Foundation Brush #2
Blending Shadow Brush #17
Dual Ended Brush #18
Precision Shadow Brush #12

The set retails for $59 and is exclusive to Nordstorm. It would make a killer stocking stuffer!
Visit http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3066277/0~2377897~2377898~6020567~6020570?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6020570&P=1

Quote Credit: Diana Vreeland

Disclaimer: A press sample was provided by Lancome

Self Styled Siren and TCM

2009-11-23T04:07:00.000-05:00

Many of my real life friendships were forged on Makeupalley. We all managed to stumble across MUA at a great moment in time. It was the golden age. The boards were shimmering with a fabulous group of women who had a great love of beauty products. The boards were often cliquish and resembled a high school cafeteria. There were bullies, snobs and the cool kids under the stairs. I frequented the fragrance board. It was a great cross section of every age and background. I became smitten with the board and most of the commentators.

I started my day with a cup of coffee with vanilla nut creamer and would read the banter between the London girls. These were a group of women who were online first thing in the morning. They were witty and charming.

Then the US girls started filtering in. That is when the Morning Poll started hopping. The morning poll was a series of questions about fragrance and taste posed by a fellow MUAer. This is where I met most of fragrant friends.

One of the most glamorous and charming fellow MUAer is Faran. I first spotted her on the top floor of Takashimaya in NYC. She breezed in like a 1930's movie star. A cloud of exquisite perfume and a Hermes scarf trailed after her. She will accuse me of romanticizing this first meeting. But it is the truth. She was awe inspiring.
All the ladies swooned and tittered. She had just delivered twins and looked like a million bucks. Besides the movie star good looks, Faran has exceptional taste in all things with an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage fashion.
We also share the same politic beliefs and passions. Her vintage political scarf created a firestorm on this blog. This delighted me to no end.
We became fast friends and I am one of her many devoted fans.

Faran created the most informative and lovely blog on vintage cinema. It is called Self-Styled Siren. In my most Leslie Caron voice....She is world famous!
So the reason for this latest gush makes my heart swell with pride and excitement.

TCM’s Shadows of Russia event was conceived and created by New York Post critic Lou Lumenick and film blogger Self-Styled Siren. They brought the idea to TCM after writing in-depth about TCM’s February 2009 presentation of Mission to Moscow. “The showcase is a fascinating opportunity to see how cinema has depicted the rise of communism in Russia and the country’s relationship to the world,” said Charles Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM.

Each night of TCM’s Shadows of Russia will focus on two themes, beginning with Twilight of the Tsars and Red Romance on Jan. 6; The Lighter Side of the Revolution and The Left on Campus on Jan. 13; Our Red Army Pals and Diplomatic Immunity on Jan. 20; Spies Among Us and The Height of the Cold War on Jan. 27. The following is a complete schedule:

Wednesday, Jan. 6
Part One: Twilight of the Tsars
8 p.m. The Scarlet Empress (1934) – starring Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge.
10 p.m. Rasputin and the Empress (1932) – starring John, Ethel and Lionel Barrymore.

Part Two: Red Romance
12:15 a.m. Red Danube (1949) – starring Walter Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore.
2:30 a.m. Reds (1981) – starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton.

Wednesday, Jan. 13
Part Three: The Lighter Side of the Revolution
8 p.m. Comrade X (1940) – starring Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr.
10 p.m. Ninotchka (1939) – starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas.

Part Four: The Left on Campus
Midnight The Way We Were (1973) – starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
2:15 a.m. Spring Madness (1938) – starring Maureen O’Sullivan, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey and Burgess Meredith.

Overnight Feature
3:30 a.m. The Strawberry Statement (1970) – starring Bruce Davison, Kim Darby and Bob Balaban.

Wednesday, Jan. 20
Part Five: Our Red Army Pals
8 p.m. The North Star (1943) – starring Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews and Walter Huston.
10 p.m. Mission to Moscow (1943) –starring Walter Huston, Ann Harding and Oscar Homolka.

Part Six: Diplomatic Immunity
12:15 a.m. The Kremlin Letter (1970) – starring Bibi Andersson, Richard Boone, Max von Sydow and Orson Welles.
2:15 a.m. Conspirator (1949) – starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.

Overnight Feature
4 a.m. Counter-Attack (1945) – starring Paul Muni and Marguerite Chapman.

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Part Seven: Spies Among Us
8 p.m. My Son John (1952) – starring Helen Hayes, Robert Walker and Dean Jagger.
10:15 p.m. I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) – starring Frank Lovejoy and Dorothy Hart.

Part Eight: The Height of the Cold War
Midnight The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Angela Lansbury.
2:15 a.m. The Bedford Incident (1965) – starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier.

Overnight Features
4:15 a.m. Scarlet Dawn (1932) – starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Nancy Carroll.
5:15 a.m. The Doughgirls (1944) – starring Jane Wyman, Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith and Eve Arden.

Let us know if you watch! I am hoping and praying that this is the beginning of further collaborations with TCM! Congrats dear F!

Credit: TCM

Drugstore Deals and Steals

2009-11-22T16:11:00.004-05:00

For November 22nd through November 28th 2009

Walgreens

Rimmel: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip or eye cosmetics
L'Oreal: Free Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Skin Re-Smoother with a purchase of a $19.99 Skin Genesis Skin Care product.
$5 off Advanced Revitalift Skin Care
$2 off Advanced Revitalift Cleansers 5 oz or 30 pack of Towelettes
St Ives: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on 18 oz lotion
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Acne or Cleansing skin care. Excludes devices and kits.
CeraVe: $2 off 12 or 16 oz cream or lotion
DermaSilk: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skin care
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation,powder, concealer, blush, lip or implements

Rite Aid

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on eye cosmetics
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Prestige: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on face and eye cosmetics
L'Oreal: $15.99 on select skin care
$5.99 on select skin cleansers and towelettes
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off nail enamel

CVS

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all cosmetics and beauty tools with CVS card
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all cosmetics with CVS card
Neutrogena: The Wave duo is priced at $15.99 with CVS card
Moisture or Light Night cream is priced at $9.99 with CVS card. Excludes Healthy Defense.
Aveeno: $2 off Positively Ageless products with CVS card
12 oz Body Wash or 8 oz lotion is priced at $5.99 with CVS card
7.3-12 oz Lotion, Oil or Cream is priced at $6.99 with CVS card

I’ll be your mirror, reflect what you are...

2009-11-20T08:14:00.007-05:00

Anna Sui Holiday Cosmetics Collection 2009
By Jessica M

Anna Sui’s cosmetics are always so appealing, with their rock-romance design (rose-shaped gloss compacts!) and their range of colors from pastels to brights (with plenty of sparkle), and the limited edition products for the 2009 holiday season offer an extra dose of sweetness and shine.

There are five limited edition items in this line, also called the “Crystal Angel” collection. The stars of the group are two palettes shaped like old-fashioned hand mirrors; they flip open to reveal mirrors and five-pan color selections inside. The lip color palette includes five shades, from delicate to bold: Wish Pink (translucent soft pink), Crystal Yellow (clear yellow with gold pearl and red shimmer), Angel Orange (neutral orange), Glossy Red (translucent red), and Cherry Pink (bright pink). A lip brush is also enclosed.

The eye color palette is a violet-purple range, which is typical Anna Sui but also very on-trend. One shadow is a cream shadow; it’s called Crystal Gold (pearlized gold highlighter). The four powder shades are Mysterious Purple (with blue shimmer), Milky Green (light green with gold shimmer), Cocoa Brown (deep brown with reddish shimmer), and Cupid Pink (light pink with red shimmer). An applicator is included. Each palette retails for $45.

For holiday nails, two kits are available. Each flowered pouch contains two nail colors, a patterned emery board, and a small container of rhinestones and tiny nail jewels. Set 01, in a purple theme, includes polishes in Aurora Purple (deep purple with “aurora” shimmer in red, pink, and silver) and Angel Pink (sheer pink with pink and silver shimmer). Set 02, in a red theme, includes polishes in Angel Rose (a creamy reddish pink) and Tiara Pink (light pink with pink sparkles) and Each set is priced at $40.

If you’re looking for something to hold your Anna Sui cosmetics, nail polishes, or jewelry, you just might love the flowered Antique Vanity Box. It’s made of lightweight metal, with a removable plastic tray inside. (Confession: I’ve already caved on one of these.) It sells for $25.

And, in case you want to share the holiday love, this collection even offers two heart-shaped cards, a red one and a purple one. They’re elaborate, layered “pop-ups” in Anna Sui’s typical neo-Victorian style. They cost $8 each.

In the United States, this collection is available exclusively at the Anna Sui boutique located at 113 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012. For more information, contact the boutique at (212) 941-8406. Stock is limited!

Cosmetics images courtesy of Anna Sui. Dress from Fall 2009 Ready collection, via Style.com. The title of this post is a song lyric from The Velvet Underground.

Project Runway: The Polish and the Finale

2009-11-19T07:59:00.005-05:00

By Melanie Parker

This week is the finale of Project Runway. In celebration for the end of the sixth season of this design show, I'm featuring a fantastic limited edition Sally Hansen Salon lacquer called Project Runway. This color is believed to be exclusive to Canada. The Runway Collection of polishes are in a cute display that features a center catwalk, and so far I have yet to see any making an appearance at a drug store in the USA. I don't know what it is about these LE Sally Hansen Salon colors, but they don't seem to have a sound distribution channel. This color is reallly quite fabulous and I hope that it comes to a store near you one day.

Project Runway is a jelly green with lots of green and gold shimmer. It almost reminds me of a snakeskin in the bottle. On the nail, it is rich and shimmery. I really have to say in a sea of green nail polishes available now, this one is unique and captivating.

In other limited edition news from Sally Hansen, the Hi-Definition Nail Color in Opulent Cloud is another special snowflake. This color always seems to photograph with a lavender hue, but it is actually an interesting gray with gold flashing. There were reports that it flashed green, but I don't get that on the nail. I get a strong gold flashing, which is a complete contrast to the silvery gray base.

The closest color I could think to compare Opulent Cloud to in the silver and gold category is CHANEL Kaliedescope, but as you can see in the bottle shots, Kaleidescope is quite brassy by comparison. Opulent Cloud is a great color to wear as a pedicure with silver shoes around the holidays and New Year's Eve. The Sally Hansen Hi-Definition colors are available at select drugstores like Walgreen's and CVS thoughout the USA and retail for about $7 a bottle.

Back to the Project Runway finale... Are you watching the show since it switched over to the Lifetime channel from Bravo? It has Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, and some great guest judges, but it still seems to be missing something. I'm not as impressed with the designers this season, but I think I miss the marathon format of Bravo the most. The Models of the Runway show that is on after it is interesting. But again, I'm not keen on the casting of any of these models, so it just seems a little lacking. If you want to get caught up on episodes before the finale on Thursday, you can watch them on http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/project-runway.

I think I'm rooting for Irina. Yes, she's a little like a Kardashian, but I would wear her designs. Who are you cheering for this season?

Disclaimer: All products featured in the review were purchased.

All I want for Christmas is....A Car in the Shade of MAC's Lavender Whip

2009-11-18T04:09:00.000-05:00

This a little snippet from the latest Lucky issue. LA interior designer Laurie March custom designed pillows to match an OPI nail polish.

This made me think of what beauty product I would find design inspiration in. My first impulse was a coat or snuggie in the shade of Lancome's Erika F. I love that eye shadow so much.

But I would love to own a VW bug in the shade of MAC's Lavender Whip.

With fancy rims that glittered like dazzleglasses.

What eyeshadow, lippie or nail polish shade would you like to see recreated into pillows, paint or outerwear? Let us know in the comments!

NARS Pleasures of Paris (Doucers de Paris)

2009-11-17T06:07:00.000-05:00

by Kimberly (aka Storybookheroine)

Generally,I am skeptical of any purple eye shadow. I'm not sure why but the tendency to make me look like I got socked in the eye is quite high and most of the time they clash with my natural coloring. But the raves I saw online and the photographs made me think I could pull it off most of the palette with the exception of the darker purple shade. Also this contains 4 shades I was familiar with and I think are some of NARS best singles/newer releases. So I went for it and I have to say I am extremely surprised and pleased. It's beautiful, hands down it's a fabulous palette and in truth I even find the purple shades rather neutral and complimentary to my coloring and they make a great day time eye.

Pleasures of Paris is perfect for a light day look but can go to a super smokey eye with little effort. The top row has Nepal, Violetta and Demon Lover. Violetta is a matte smokey lavender that blends nicely into all colors. I found it to be more pale than I expected from the NARS swatches but still pigmented and well covering of any imperfections. Demon Lover is a deep indigo. Now this one I really thought I would have an issue with but I don't. I think the indigo really helps make it more wearable and it's a matte shade as well. Demon Lover blends very well into the other shades and looks somehow neutral. Nepal is a pretty shimmering rose pink that I though would be sheer and lighter in color on but instead it's well covering again and a great wash or highlight shade. The bottom row has some of my personal favorites: Fez, Abyssinia and Cordura. Cordura (shimmery sooty dark brown), a gorgeous deep brown packed with shimmer makes the perfect dark, smokey eye and is great as used wet as a liner (all NARS shadows are also cake liners and can be used wet). Abyssinia, a delicate pearl sheen, is one of the best singles NARS has put out in years. It's the perfect wash, a beautiful highlight, really a multi-tasker and so fresh and pretty on and brightens tired looking eyes. Somedays I just do a wash of this and go, it's that good. Fez (velvety cocoa), another recent single, is the ultimate shimmering neutral lid shade. It's shimmer is just perfect and not overdone and the neutral shade plays well with others. Fez and Cordura and highly pigmented, Abyssinia is a sheen but will cover imperfections and is not sheer or see through.

Really this palette is a gem and one that I think would please almost anyone looking for one basic palette to take them from day to night with a unique take on neutral shades. It is a Saks exclusive but I've seen it on the NARS website (where I purchased it) and I'm sure it will turn up at other local department stores. I highly recommend this palette.

For reference I'm my eyes are a green/gray/blue mixture, I'm NARS Mont Blanc/Siberia or BECCA Sand in foundation and my hair is a warm light brown with a lot of auburn mixed in.

http://www.narscosmetics.com/Artist-Palette-C19_category_4.aspx

Photo Credit: Storybookheroine
Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Storybookheroine.

Nail Polish of the Week

2009-11-16T05:19:00.000-05:00

This week I chose MAC's Seriously Hip from the Style Black collection. This is a sooty black shade with an olive green cast. This polish has serious shimmer fire with sparks of gold, rust and red. Serious gorgeous factor. It blazes in the sunlight and can be distracting.

This is a two coat application. Great coverage and pigment depth.
Seriously Hip is sold out online at MAC Cosmetics but you might find some stragglers at your local counters.

What is your nail polish this week? Let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by MAC Cosmetics.

Drugstore Deals and Steals

2009-11-15T14:16:00.003-05:00

For November 15th through November 21st 2009

CVS

CoverGirl: Simply Ageless Blush is on sale for $10 with CVS card
Simply Ageless foundation is priced at $13 with CVS card
*Get $10 extra CVS bucks, when you purchase both these products with your CVS card
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Xtreme Wear,Instra-Dri or Hi-Definition nail color with CVS card
Rapidlash: Eyelash Renewal Serum is priced at $49.99 with CVS card
Revlon: Spend $15 on Revlon Cosmetics or Beauty Tools and receive $7 extra CVS bucks back with your CVS card
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card(excludes Telescopic, Explosion mascara)
L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion is priced at $9.49 with CVS card

Walgreens

Loreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on HiP cosmetics
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, concealer, powder, blush or eye products
Almay: One Coat Nourishing mascara is priced at $6.99. There is an instant coupon in store promotion of $4 off. Final cost is $2.99
Sinful Nail Lacquer: Buy 1, get 1 FREE
Yes to Carrots: With a purchase of an $8.99 Yes to Carrots product, you will receive a Yes to Carrots lip butter for FREE.
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics and skin care. Excludes Acne.
Cetaphil: Cleanser or lotion is priced at $7.99
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Rite Aid

Almay: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on cosmetics
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on cosmetics
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation,powder,concealer or blush
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye cosmetics
***There is also a $1 manufacturer's coupon in most Sunday papers****
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 50% off on Organic Wear or Mineral Wear products
Jane: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Target

CoverGirl: Lashblast mascara or Outlast lip color is priced at $6.99
Maybelline: Dream Liquid mousse foundation is priced at $6.99
Pantene: Pro-V Nature Fusion Shampoo is priced at $3.33
Olay Definity 1.7 oz moisturizer is priced at $22.69

I Want To Be Loved By You

2009-11-13T14:10:00.004-05:00

Reasons Why I Have To Have Poopoo Pidoo by Ego Facto

1. It is called Poopoo Pidoo
2. It has rice powder as a note
3. There is an eyelash decal
4. Luckyscent describes it as "lush and plush as a swans-down powder puff dabbed on Marilyn’s creamy shoulders"----SOLD!
5. It was created by Dominique Ropion

This lemming is at Luckyscent and retails for $90.
http://www.luckyscent.com/
I am trying to be strong and resist this sirens call.
Must stay strong for self-imposed "no buy" challenge.

Disclaimer: This is just a lemming or a coveting.
No samples were abused in this post.
Who I am kidding? I am weak as water.
I will cave on a bottle within a week.

The Twilight Zone

2009-11-13T11:08:00.007-05:00

You smell just exactly the same as always.
So maybe this is hell.
I don’t care.
I’ll take it.
(Edward Cullen from New Moon)

And so Twilight madness begins on Blogdorf Goodman.
It is not so feverish as last year.
This is due to the fact that I fell madly in love with the True Blood series.

This stunning cover is from the latest issue of Harpers Bazaar. Bazaar offers a lovely perk for their subscribers. We are spoiled with special and STUNNING covers. It is perk that is adored and appreciated by me.

Why does Vogue not do this?

Let us know if you are going to partake in the Twilight madness or if you are jonesing for the new season of True Blood in the comments.

Calling All Nars Fans!

2009-11-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

In celebration of 15 years of iconic beauty and François Nars, the limited-edition 15X15 book (ONLY 1,500 copies available!), individual portraits from the book, and photographic interpretations taken by the participants, will be available for purchase on the 15X15 Online Gallery (http://www.15x15project.com/) beginning tonight at 8pm EST through December 12, 2009.

100% of the proceeds from the project will be distributed among the 15 charities chosen by the following celebrities.

· Amanda Lepore
· Amber Valetta
· Carla Gugino
· Daphne Guinness
· Dayle Haddon
· Francois Vincentelli
· Isabella Rossellini
· Jennifer Jason Leigh
· Lisa Marie Smith
· Marc Jacobs
· Naomi Campbell
· Natasha Poly
· Olivier Theyskens
· Shalom Harlow
· Tyson Ballou

Let us know if you cave on the book!

Happy Shopping!

Credits: Nars PR

Fight For Your Right To Party

2009-11-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Bobbi Brown's Extreme Party Mascara

This is a new mascara offering from Bobbi Brown. I am a tough critic when it comes to mascara. My lashes are pretty limp, short and resistant to all curl. They are the bane of my existence. The only mascaras that have successfully worked for me are Dior's Iconic, Prescriptives False Eyelashes, Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara, Max Factor's Volume Couture, Lancome Definicils and Shu Uemura's Fiber Xtension.

Extreme Party is a good mascara. It provides great separation, extreme and exceptional layerablility and improved fringe action. Extreme Party dries quickly and leaves no mess. My lashes looked neat with no clumps, smudges or flakes. They also looked and felt soft to the touch. There was no crunch factor. This is a characteristic that sets it apart from my beloved Chanel and Shu mascara. The lengthening action was above average in comparison to every Bobbi Brown mascara. It also would stand up well to the competition listed above. Each lash was lengthened and thickened by the mascara. The curl properties is what comes into question. It did not add a spring to my lash. It did not weigh it down either. The lashes were poker straight. Like a lash visor. A very long lash visor.

My lashes did not inspire any gawking from my co-workers. My lashes were not having a party. However, they were not studying at the library either. Extreme Party is currently only available in black and is easily removed with eye makeup remover or soap and water. In fact, this is the only mascara, that did not leave any smudges or specks the morning after.

Extreme Party Mascara is priced at $22 and is available at your local Bobbi Brown counter. Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/ for more details.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown cosmetics

Desperately Seeking Serena

2009-11-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

BLAKE LIVELY / Makeup Artist Angela Levin

Beauty Inspiration: "I was inspired by Blake's stunning Chanel diamond camelia brooch. I wanted her eyes to be dark and sexy, but the rest of herface to be light and fresh. She's young and sexy and wears a smoky eye so well!"

Beauty Tips: "I used Chanel Lift Lumiere Fluid Makeup in Beige all overher face, and set it with Chanel Poudre Cristalline Translucent Powder. On her cheeks I dusted on Chanel Blush Duo in Tweed Rose.

For her eyes I used the bronze and sand shades from the Chanel Quadra EyeShadow in Variations, and Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Magic Night, a deep plum shade, to add dimension in the crease. I lined the upper and lower lashes with Chanel Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Black Shimmer. I finished the eyes with three coats of Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Noir-Black.

Finally, I created a soft pink lip with Chanel Rouge Allure in Mythic, a perfect nude shade, topped with a bit of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Ming."

Credit: Chanel Press Release

Image Credit: celebrityparadise via Fashionspot

Tom Tom Club

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Pecheux is the new Creative Makeup Director for Estee Lauder. Mr Pecheux has been responsible for some memorable runway looks over the years. He is a MA rock star and will add a level of hipness to the line.
His midas touch will start appearing in product and ads in 2010. His first Lauder offering will be "high impact color products".

I am looking forward to great color stories, improved pigment power and a general excitement over the brand.

Let us know what you think in the comments.
What would you like to see him do at Estee Lauder?

I Want To Be Forever Young

2009-11-10T04:18:00.000-05:00

Forever 21's revamped cosmetic line is up on the website. I discovered it during my hourly stalking of their scarves department.
I have tried the LA nail polish and have determined that it is indeed fabulous. I have not tried the shadows, powders or lip glosses.
Let us know if you have seen the cosmetic line in your local Forever 21. Are there testers? Are the shadows shimmery? Will we lose our minds and wallets?

Please give us the beauty 411 in the comments.

Photo Credit: Forever 21

Get it while it’s hot!

2009-11-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Fired Up Lip Gloss from Lipstick Queen
By Jessica M

Just a reminder: Fired Up lip gloss is now available at the Lipstick Queen website (http://www.lipstickqueen.com/)! It’s a sheer, wearable candy-apple red, packaged in a tube with a brush applicator, and it sells for $14.

In addition to looking chic and modern, Fired Up is a beauty product with a mission: 100% of its profits will be donated to the organization Count Me In For Women’s Economic Independence and its Make Mine a Million program (see http://www.makemineamillion.org/ For more information)

Fired Up was officially launched one night last week at Castor & Pollux, a charmingly hip boutique in Manhattan’s West Village (check out their website and blog at http://www.castorandpolluxstore.com/ ). Poppy King, the Lipstick Queen herself, and Nell Merlino, the founder and CEO of Count Me In, spoke about their collaboration and offered some inspiring thoughts about being female entrepreneurs.

Buy it, wear it, feel stylish and confident, and know that you’re helping other women achieve their business goals.

Photo Credits: Jessica M

Bat For Lashes

2009-11-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

You know I am a sucker for any of the wild and insane Shu lashes.

At the Ace Wards, Makeup Artist Frances Hathaway, gave model Agyness Deyn some fierce lashes. She applied shu uemura’s Black Velvet Feather False Eyelashes to the bottom of the Miss Deyn's eyes. “Agyness is a cutting edge girl,” said Hathaway. “I needed a fashion forward lash with an architectural influence.”

What’s Hathaway’s tip for pulling off such a look? “When making such a big statement, keep it simple; just make one lash.”

You can purchase the Black Velvet Feather False Eyelashes for $25 at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/_us/_en/accessories/false-eyelashes/fantasy/black-velvet-feather-false-eyelashes.htm

This puts me in the mind of Miss Peggy Moffitt. What is everyone's thoughts?

And that means I need to post a scene from Blow Up.

Photo Credit:fotoglif.com, myspace and youtube(Blow Up)
Info from Shu

Mischief Makers

2009-11-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

MAC's Magic, Mirth and Mischief! Collection

I love the name for this latest MAC collection. It makes me think of the television series Bewitched. You can just see Elizabeth Montgomery riding a broom at midnight with MAC pigment particles trailing and twinkling behind her.
The collection is all about twinkles and shimmer. The standouts are my beloved dazzleglasses. Those glimmer tubes of greatness bring me so much joy in my life.

She-Zam is a sheer murky silver with pink shimmer. It goes on sheer and instantly tones down pigmented lips. I have worn it successfully alone and layered over nude and pink lip shades. I love it layered over MAC's Lavender Whip.

Phiff is an aged,yellowed pink with high wattage shimmer that reflects gold and sapphire. It is thoroughly odd and wonderfully flattering.

These dazzleglasses along with a gem named Jingle Jangle(a sheer yellow peach shade) are available at your local MAC counter. Also visit www.maccosmetics.com
for ordering or more details.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by MAC Cosmetics.

Joanie is a Nars Girl

2009-11-05T04:34:00.000-05:00

My favorite character on AMC's Mad Men series is Joan. Can I say that I cheered when she broke the vase over her husband's head? It was about flipping time.
I love everything about Joan. I love her clever wit and sex appeal. I love her choices of accessories. I love her perfect skin and bold red lip.

Lana Horochowski, Department Head of Makeup for Mad Men, loves using NARS on the cast-members. She states that the Velvet Matte lip pencils help give an authentic lippie look for the female cast. For Joan's bold lips, she uses NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Dolce Vita, Red Square, Sex Machine, and Forbidden Red.

She also uses NARS Heat Wave Lipstick and NARS Jungle Red Lipstick.

For Joan's eyes, she uses NARS Madrague Duo Eyeshadow and NARS Fez and Bali Single Eyeshadows. “With Christina's peaches and cream complexion” Lana explains, “she looks great in NARS Gueule de Nuit Cream Blush, as well as NARS Dolce Vita, Gilda, and Gina Powder Blush.”

Credits: Press Release from Nars

The Forbidden Fruit

2009-11-04T04:18:00.000-05:00

Tempted by The Fig: Lisa Hoffman's Tuscan Fig

The Lisa Hoffman 'Variations' Fragrance Collection is a fragrance concept that takes one note and creates a series of scents based on the time of day. The morning version is usually a subtle take on the scent. It is light and refreshing. The daytime version is richer and the sillage is more potent. The evening version is more sensual with a "close to the skin" sillage. The bedtime/night version is softer and geared toward a powdery drydown. The Variations collection are 4 oils contained in glass roller-ball vials in a buttery leather pouch.

The scents range from orchid to neroli. I am smitten with her Japanese Agarwood series. These fragrances are well crafted and so damn lovely.

Tuscan Fig is a fragrance based on the fig fruit. The fig note smells herbaceous, slightly woody and mossy. In this series the fig is accompanied by French jasmine, honeysuckle, osmanthus, Madagascar vanilla bean, Madagascar gardenia, Tahitian tiare flower, amber and woods.

The morning version is a honeyed fig with a wafting appearance from a low wattage jasmine.
The day version is warmer and sweeter with honeysuckle. It is also the fragrance with the strongest fig note. The fig is not dry like l'eau de Figue by Mathias Paris. It is more juicy and less mossy. The drydown is a vanilla pudding cloud with wafts of osmanthus.
Tuscan Evening is a mixture of tropical flowers scenting the night air with a drydown of figs and woods.
My favorite of the Tuscan series is the night version. It is heavy on the osmanthus with just a peppering of fig, tiare flower and vanilla. It is so comforting and lovely. Like a scent lullaby.

The set retails for $95 and is available at Bergdorf Goodman and http://www.lisahoffmanskincare.com/

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Lisa Hoffman

Hearting Chrome

2009-11-02T05:54:00.002-05:00

Bobbi Brown's Chrome Collection

Holiday 2009

The Chrome Palette Review

Chrome is cool and icy-it's a very modern but still pretty way to illuminate the skin.

quote from Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown palettes are like trading cards in the beauty junkie set. They are often drooled over, dissed, debated and doted on. The palettes sell out and become a thing of legend.

I do not doubt that this limited edition palette will join the ranks of palettes past.

This is a beautiful and useful palette. It is heavy on the shimmers with colors that lean toward a more cool toned complexion. The stand out shades are Polar Ice, Thunder, Cyber Grey and Chrome. Cyber Grey alone...is worth spending $75.

The palette is bento-like with a mirrored top. The shadows are in a hidden pocket. This keeps the shadow crumbles from contaminating the lip gloss pockets. The palette includes a mini eye shadow and lip brush.

I enjoyed the shadows both dry and wet. I used a mixing medium for the wet swatches.

The Shadows

1. White Eye Shadow: A very chalky white. Standard.
2. Polar Ice Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow: A violet casted silver. High smitten status! Stunning with dry or wet application.
3. Storm Cloud Sparkle Eye Shadow: Shimmery coco puff.

4. Iron Eye Shadow: A taupe based charcoal soot.
5. Thunder Metallic Eye Shadow: With a wet application, a green cast is evident.
6. Moonlight Sparkle Eye Shadow: A penny copper with a rose cast.
7. Cyber Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow: Serious gorgeous factor. A silver based taupe.
8. Foil Metallic Eye shadow: High shimmer(fallout occurs) with a dry application. Did not swatch wet.

9. Chrome Metallic Eye Shadow: An Erika F dupe with more green cast. Both applications very similar.
10. Charcoal Haze Eye Shadow: A sooty brown black. Wet application is a true charcoal color.

The lip section of this palette boasts 4 glosses.

The Lippies

1. Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss: Mist is the perfection description. A cloud of baby pink. It does not show up on my pigmented lips. It disappears on my skin.
2. Winter Bronze Glitter Lip Gloss: This is a caramel shade with low wattage shimmer. Great for warm tones.
3. Berry Glitter Lip Gloss: This is "your lips but better" shade. More low wattage glimmer.
4. Chrome Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss: Metallic misty Pink. High shine. Wattage is significant.

The Limited Edition palette retails for $75 and is available at your Bobbi Brown counter in November.
Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Drugstore Deals and Steals

2009-11-01T13:20:00.003-05:00

For November 1st through November 7th 2009

Target

Pantene: 25.4 oz shampoo or conditioner is priced at $5.49
FREE Pantene styler with purchase
Neutrogena: 1.7 oz Essentials Continuous Hydration is priced at $12.99
1.7 oz Restoratives Age Reverse Day lotion is priced at $16.99
1.7 oz Intensives Deep wrinkle moisturizer is priced at $16.99
FREE 6.7 oz Neutrogena Cleanser when you purchase Neutrogena Essentials, Restoratives or Intensives
Boots: 1 oz Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum is priced at $22.99
FREE 30 ct Boots no7 4-in-1 Wipes when you purchase Boots no7 Protect&Perfect Beauty Serum
Burt's Bees: 12 oz shampoo or conditioner is priced at $7.99
Sonia Kashuk: Double-zip foldover cosmetic bag is priced at $7.99
L'Oreal: Preference or Feria is priced at $7.99
Aveeno: 10 oz Daily Moisturizing lotion is priced at $7.99
Cetaphil: 16 oz skin care is priced at $7.99

Rite Aid

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation,powder, blush or concealer
L'Oreal Feria hair color is priced at $7.99
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Advanced Revitalift skin care
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off face and lip products
Revlon: Nail enamel is priced at $2.99
Revlon: Lip products is priced at $5.99
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip and nail enamel
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off cosmetics

Walgreens

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on eye cosmetics
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off cosmetics
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on lip products
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye cosmetics
25% off on skin care products
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Aveeno: 25% off skin or hair care
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

CVS

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on eye or lip products with CVS card
Revlon foundation, powder,blush or concealer is priced at $8.99 with CVS card
CoverGirl: Lashblast Length Mascara is priced at $7 with CVS card
Lash Exact,Volume Exact, Eyelights, Lashblast, Lashblast Luxe mascara, Wetslicks or Smoothers Face Makeup is priced at $5 with CVS card
Lumene: Time Freeze Day, night,eye cream,serum, mask, wrinkle treatment or eye stick is priced at $14.99 with CVS card
L'Oreal: Age Perfect RevitaLift or Skin Genesis Cleanser 5-8oz or Towelettes 25-30ct is priced at $5.99 with CVS card
Advanced RevitaLift is priced at $9.99 with CVS card
Age Perfect Moisturizer is priced at $13.99 with CVS card

Duane Reade

Maybelline: $2 off eye products with DR card
Almay: Eye Makeup Remover is priced at $3.99 with DR card