Archive for category Bobbi Brown
Swatching Is Rough (AKA My Eyeshadow Collection)
Posted by Latoya in Bare Escentuals, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, Chanel, Clinique, Eyeshadow, Giorgio Armani, Hourglass, Illamasqua, KATE, L'Oreal, Laura Mercier, Le Metier de Beaute, Lise Watier, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, My Collections, NARS, theBalm, Urban Decay on February 9, 2013
I was going to leave my eyeshadow collection ’till last to swatch in my ‘find the gaps’ series of posts, but the superstorm (which…is kind of lackluster – yea, there’s lots of snow, but I want some action, darn it!) seemed like the perfect time to just get ‘er done – so I did! Oh man…for those of you who have larger collections than mine, I feel sorry for you if you attempt to do this – it is a BIG EFFING ORDEAL. I started last night and got just over halfway through before both (!) arms had had enough. I continued today and after needing to re-swatch several shade categories to get them *just right*, my left arm is just burning (as you’ll notice in the photos – red spots galore!). So: enough. I’m ready to rock ‘n roll. Now – let’s get into ‘er!
Note: All shades are permanent within their respective brands except where otherwise noted.
WHITE EYESHADOW
Avon True Color Quad in Smokey Eyes (satin white)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Uzi (shimmer w/glitter) (LE)
‘HIGHLIGHT’ EYESHADOW
Make Up For Ever Star Powder in #920 (iridescent)
KATE Real Create Eyes BR-2 Palette (white gold pearl)
MAC Eyeshadow in Vex (frost)
NUDE EYESHADOW
MAC Eyeshadow in Next to Nothing (Cult of Cherry Tempting Quad – frost) (LE)
Laura Mercier Eye Color Duet in Suspense (matte cool beige) (LE)
Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Trench (satin)
BEIGE, CHAMPAGNE & PEACH EYESHADOW
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (shimmer w/glitter)
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #13 Warm Beige (frost)
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Emerveille (shimmer)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Snatch (shimmer w/glitter)
Kate Real Create Eyeshadow BR-2 Palette (soft peachy shimmer)
MAC Eyeshadow in Arena (satin)
GOLD EYESHADOW
MAC Pigment in Melon (frost)
Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Color in Gilded Moonlight (pearl) (LE)
Clinique Touch Tint for Eyes in Gold Glimmer (shimmer) (discontinued)
COPPER & ORANGE EYESHADOW
MAC Eyeshadow in Amber Lights (frost)
Ardene Eyeshadow in 8B (pearl)
BRONZE EYESHADOW
MAC Pigment in Cocomotion (frost) (LE)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Smog (shimmer)
MAC Eyeshadow in Tempting (lustre)
Clinique Color Surge Super Shimmer Eyeshadow in Rum Spice (shimmer)
BROWN EYESHADOW
MAC Eyeshadow in Dark Edge (Cult of Cherry Tempting Quad – satin) (LE)
KATE Real Create Eyes BR-2 Palette (deep brown shimmer)
Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in #17 Espresso (matte)
Laura Mercier Eye Color Duet in Suspense (matte burgundy brown) (LE)
TAUPE-BROWN EYESHADOWS
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Suspect (shimmer)
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Rajasthan (beige-gold taupe) (shimmer) (LE)
KATE Real Create Eyes BR-2 Palette (taupe shimmer)
TAUPE-PURPLE EYESHADOWS
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Grand Palais (silver-taupe shimmer)
Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Exhibition (mauve shimmer)
MAC Eyeshadow in Shale (satin)
bareMinerals High Shine Eye Color in Meteorite (frost)
Le Metier de Beaute True Color Eye Shadow in Corinthian (shimmer)
RED & PINK EYESHADOW
L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Mahogany (frost)
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Abstraction (shimmer)
Avon True Color Quad in Smokey Eyes (matte light pink)
MAUVE & ROSE EYESHADOW
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Bordello (shimmer w/glitter)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Last Call (metallic)
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Grand Palais (matte dusty rose)
PLUM EYESHADOW
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Habanera (sparkling plum)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Rockstar (shimmer)
Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Exhibition (eggplant shimmer)
PURPLE EYESHADOW
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Psychedelic Sister (shimmer)
MAC Paint in Infamous (metallic) (discontinued)
BLUE EYESHADOW
MAC Paint in Blue Boy (metallic) (discontinued)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Radium (shimmer)
MAC Eyeshadow in Blue Edge (matte w/shimmer) (discontinued)
AQUA & TEAL EYESHADOWS
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Rajasthan (blackened teal shimmer) (LE)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Loaded (metallic)
theBalm Shady Lady Eyeshadow in Jealous Jordana (shimmer)
Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 8E (matte)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Haight (shimmer)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Money (shimmer w/micro-glitter) (LE)
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Habanera (mint frost)
GREEN EYESHADOW
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Kush (shimmer w/micro-glitter)
Le Metier de Beaute True Color Eye Shadow in Jade (shimmer)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mildew (shimmer)
MAC Eyeshadow in Sharp (Cult of Cherry Tempting Quad – satin) (LE)
Lise Watier Couleur Folle Eyeshadow in Folie Pomme (iridescent shimmer)
Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in #57 Chartreuse (satin)
YELLOW EYESHADOW
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #24 Yellow (matte)
MAC Eyeshadow in Bright Future (
KHAKI EYESHADOW
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Waterproof Eyeshadow in #24 Smokey Copper (shimmer)
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow in #6 Khaki Pulse (shimmer)
Clinique Color Surge Soft Shimmer Eyeshadow in Autumn Moss (satin)
TAUPE-SILVER EYESHADOWS
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Maui Wowie (metallic w/glitter)
Bobbi Brown Chrome Eye Shadow in Pewter (frost) (LE)
theBalm Shady Lady Eyeshadow in Insane Jane (shimmer)
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #2 Steel (shimmer)
GREY EYESHADOW
Avon True Color Quad in Smokey Eyes (medium grey & dove grey) (shimmer)
BLACK EYESHADOWS
MAC Pigment in Dark Soul (frost w/glitter)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Perversion (matte)
….PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you make it??
…So. To be honest, when I started swatching all my makeup, I was originally just trying to find a way to justify new purchases – if it could be considered a shade I didn’t already own, then I would feel free to go for it. However, now I’ve discovered that being so fully aware of what I own, has made me really excited to play with my current collection, instead of seeking out new products. I especially noticed this with this eyeshadow post – there are so truly fabulous shades in there! While there are still of course colors I’d like to pick up to fill the gaps (namely – a lilac and a skintone [MY skintone, to clarify] shade, among a couple others), overall I’m WELL aware I have a ton of shades to rock out and don’t really *need* anything else at the moment. I did notice I have a lot less color than I imagined, but that’s actually OK because I don’t tend to wear it a ton and try to avoid buying a lot of it only for it to go unused. I think my stash is fairly representative of the kind of makeup I wear day to day! So SCORE for being logical in my purchases 
I am kinda worn out from the work necessary to do this post, so I’m done now LOL. But – I have questions for you!
Do you see any gaps that I could fill? What shades make up the bulk of your eyeshadow collection?? Also – anyone bother to count how many shades I have? I’m too tired now to bother LOL
Playing Where’s Waldo with My Makeup Collection
Posted by Latoya in Benefit, Blush, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, Chanel, Clinique, CoverFX, Estee Lauder, Illamasqua, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Milani, My Collections, NARS, Rouge Bunny Rouge, theBalm, Too Faced on January 9, 2013
I spent two hours – TWO HOURS! – last night, researching what products and shades I should to order from Becca Cosmetics (a brand I’ve yet to try and desperately want to). My (totally logical – I swear!) reason for doing this? To avoid purchasing any shades that were similar to ones I already own. I DID come up with a (very) pared down list, you’ll be happy to hear; if you’re interested (and FYI – the blog Shades of BECCA is a good resource for some swatches):
Papaya Beach Tint $30CAD (hot red)
Fallen Angel Ultimate Color Gloss $29CAD (nude spice)
There were a handful of other products I liked the look of, but in checking out swatches, they seemed to be too close to items I already own (though, c’mon, the brand is gorgeous and I could have easily gone for one of everything!). Which brings me to the point.
You’re all familiar with my organizational obsession right? (and…if you’re new and not aware: Hello! My name is Latoya and YES, I have a problem which manifests itself into a bit of compulsive organization. Could be worse!) Anyway, another problem I have is lack of funds; when you own a home on your own and don’t make the big bucks, things can get tricky. However, I have ANOTHER problem (jeez, someone institutionalize me, will ya?), which is that I love shopping – for cosmetics in particular. Smash the three of these together and what do you get? Well…you get THIS:
My poor broken MAC blush up on the right 
What ‘THIS’ is, is me taking a good look at an area of my makeup collection – specifically blush/bronzers in this instance – and seeing where I have gaps. By gaps, I mean: what shades do I lack that I can justify buying, in order to round out my stash and also quell the burning desire to shop my face off. Ya dig? This fantabulous idea kills three birds three mosquitoes (no one cares about those) with one big-ass swat. I get to organize something*, figure out what shades or products I’m missing, and rationally and systematically purchase new items that are on my wishlist and fit the ‘missing’ bill. BOOM!
*Seriously guys, I joke but….I really like organizing things. So much so, that near the end of the month I’m signing up for a Professional Organizers intro course to see if I’d like to become a professional organizer for realz. It’s THAT serious :S
So, as you can see, I’m starting with blush – because clearly blush is THE BEST EVER and deserves the number one spot for allowing EVEN MORE BLUSH. Because clearly 20 (+ 7 bronzer-type things and 2 mini-blush) are NOT ENOUGH.
(I swear I’m not on the sauce tonight guys – I just feel a little peppy ’cause I’m back into running and signed up for the Ottawa 1/2 Marathon in May…wooo! 
)
Left to right (flash): Rouge Bunny Rouge Florita, NARS Turkish Red, Illamasqua Tweak; NARS Taj Mahal, Make Up For Ever Blush Powder #25, Illamasqua Lover, Make Up For Ever HD Blush #12 First Kiss
Left to right (flash): NARS Sin, Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum (discontinued shade); MAC Raizin, CoverFX Bronzed FX in Garnet, Burberry Russet, MAC Early Morning
Even with 20+ blush, I can plainly see what shades I’m lacking: A bright red! (NARS Turkish Red is more of a burgundy) A true orange! (NARS Taj Mahal is kind of a burnt orange and quite shimmery) A neutral pink! (…I literally do not own one beige-y pink blush, for shame) A nice deep berry would be lovely! And also – varying formulations! I have NO cheek tints, and only four cream blush. You see, there actually ARE shades/formulas I do not have despite having far more blush than is probably necessary. And then, there are shades I need NO more of, like medium pinks…I have enough of those, yep. I don’t think I need any more bronzers, especially since I rarely wear them and I’m already kinda *ahem* bronze. I only really have a couple coral shades, which tends to be the one a lot of people go gaga for (myself included), but I’ll hold off till the warmer months on thinking about those right now. Same goes for apricot-hued shades.
Left to right (flash): NARS Desire, Illamasqua Unrequited (discontinued shade*), theBalm Down Boy, Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel, Benefit Bella Bamba, Illamasqua Hussy, Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral, NARS Torrid, theBalm Hot Mama
Left to right (flash): NARS Laguna Illuminator, Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzing Powder, NARS Laguna Multiple, MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder, Milani Sunset Duos in Sunset Beach, Clinique Bronze Uplighting, Estee Lauder Illuminating Gelee in Shimmering Sands
What I’m wondering is, what gaps do YOU see? Since I only have my stash to compare it to, I can’t get a good idea of what I’m missing. What shades can you suggest that I should focus on buying?
I’m planning on doing this little experiment with all my makeup over the next little while, so be prepared: more lame examples of my organizational obsession coming your way! But do come back anyway, because I need your help
Is your makeup collection where you want it to be, or do you have a few gaps you’d like to fill?
Holiday Color Pairings
Posted by Latoya in a-england, Black, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Essie, Eyeshadow, Glitter, Gold, Green, Holiday, Illamasqua, Lips, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Metallic, Nail Polish, Red, Sephora Brand, Sparitual on December 12, 2012
When I start to think about it, it’s not really a surprise to me that I love makeup. When I was a kid, I use to spend hours pairing my crayons together in color combinations I thought looked good together (which was also a great indication of my obsessive tendencies toward organization, but that’s a whole OTHER topic in itself!). While I don’t feel societal pressures to follow trends in shades (woohoo, Emerald for 2013!), nor feel like I ‘should’ wear darker colors in winter and brighter colors in summer, I choose to follow these paths often because it just makes sense to me. I love the idea of changing the shades I wear according to seasons – heck, I even do it with the change in weather! Rain means somber shades of grey or blue; sun means warm tones of gold, or brights like aqua and orange; and snow equals icy silvers and cool pinks and purples. Its just how I roll, ya’ll!
As it’s the holidays, of course I imagined an array of festive shades to represent the season, and since the work was already done, I thought I’d share them with you! On the weekend for the first time I matched my lips to my tips, and it was a lot of fun. I’m not entirely sure I’d do the same with eyeshadow, but the colors below all complimented a polish I own so well I figured what the heck. I hope you enjoy!
Bobbi Brown Chrome Eye Shadow in Pewter; Chanel Le Vernis in 529 Graphite
Chanel Graphite; Bobbi Brown Pewter
Both of these silvers are so much more than plain ol’ silver. They both veer into a warmer tone rather than stark icy shades, which means they’re quite wearable for all skin tones. Pewter is currently unavailable as this was an LE shade, but at times Bobbi Brown brings it back in palettes and such, so keep your eyes peeled! Graphite has had a ton of reincarnations over the past year since it was released (though I don’t believe it’s LE anyway) – the best being Sally Hansen’s Shoot the Moon which was just featured on All Lacquered Up.
Essie Limited Addiction; Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in #46
Essie Limited Addiction; MUFE #46
MUFE’s #46 Rouge Artist lippie was the red shade I wore on the weekend to compliment my red manicure (done with China Glaze Ruby Pumps). I ADORE this lipstick; it is by far my favorite red that I own. It’s more of a true red I think, and looks so darn good on! The moistness of the lipstick keeps it looking so juicy and festive without being overwhelming in the least. It feels amazing on and I just can’t get enough! The only downside is that it’s only available at MUFE Pro stores and kiosks, but well worth the effort.
Essie Limited Addiction was, unfortunately, limited edition, but there are a billion reds out there I’m sure that are similar – just a bit deeper than your typical shade and neither warm nor cool.
MAC Jealousy Wakes; a-England Saint George
a-England Saint George; MAC Jealousy Wakes
Hot DAMN Saint George is beautiful! I don’t wear this polish nearly as much as I should, mainly because when I bought it last year, I wore it about three times in a few weeks – obsessed, I was! I’m wearing this to my work Christmas party this week and I’m super excited! Its one of the few greenish hues I own, and one of the few of that color palette I like. In truth it’s more teal than green but whatever – evergreen, shall we say? I LOVE IT and all it’s prismatic shimmer.
Jealousy Wakes is also another shade I rarely wear, probably because I don’t wear color in my shadows nearly as much as I used to, but I still enjoy it from time to time when I do pull it out. I dislike the texture of the shadow immensely – it’s so stiff and rough! – but it IS a lovely shade.
Sephora Brand She Sparkles; SpaRitual Aurum
SpaRitual Aurum; Sephora Brand She Sparkles
Oooh, sparkly indeed! Though Aurum is sort of a crap color on me – probably on most people, it’s so damn blingy I’m going to HAVE to pull it out for the holidays! Look at that sparkle! It’s a bit more greenish-gold than the orange-y gold of She Sparkles, but they both shimmer prettily together, don’t you think? I wore She Sparkles like crazy the last holiday season (when I purchased it), but haven’t given it much love since. I’ll surely be pulling it out again this month!
MAC Dark Soul Pigment; Illamasqua Creator
Illamasqua Creator; MAC Dark Soul
Though I’m not a huge lover of black nail polish, Creator has won me over with its glittery goodness, and looks both elegant and edgy at the same time. It compliments Dark Soul so perfectly! I could totally see rocking these two shades together, it’s like they were made for each other. I rarely wear Dark Soul for sort of obvious reasons (its a shimmery charcoal shadow – the rockstar look doesn’t exactly work at the office), but I’m trying to find ways to implement it more when I can. It’s definitely a perfect shadow for the holidays!
It was fun making these pairings and a huge throwback to my formative years 
It’s also scary to see that I happen to have enough polish and makeup that I can actually make pairings that coordinate so well… ~shrugs~ I’m a collector, what can I say?
Have you gotten into the matching trend? Would you be willing to try it, or do you avoid it at all costs? What colors say ‘holiday’ to you?
My Beauty Vision for Fall 2012
Posted by Latoya in Make-up, Clinique, NARS, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Bobbi Brown, Giorgio Armani, Laura Mercier, Dior, CoverFX, theBalm, Burberry, Rouge Bunny Rouge, Ellis Faas, Fall 2012 on August 18, 2012
I have been thinking about fall A LOT lately, probably more than I should since it’s still summer! I held out for a long time, even despite all the visuals and temptations of the new collections that came out far earlier than they should have – but I’m a change-seeker, and I’m just about ready to switch it up!
Chanel Fall 2012
Burberry Fall 2012
So far, I haven’t picked up too many items from the fall launches specifically – but I’ve been slowly building my arsenal of fall shades, new or old, and I think I’m nearly ready Some things I already owned, and some are new purchases, and between the two I think I’m going to have one heck of a beautiful fall!
NARS Fall 2012
Laura Mercier Fall 2012
Giorgio Armani Fall 2012
While I don’t follow ‘trends’ per se, I am very influenced by the weather with regard to my makeup, and with crisp, blustery days and vivid autumn leaves in my future, the imagery is bound to translate. Warm metallics, smokey greys, jewel tones, and dark, vampy lips have been dancing in my head in a big way. The pictures below perfectly exemplify what I mean – here I’ve paired them with some corresponding shade selections from my stash (all swatch photos taken outside):
Selita Ebanks
(below, left to right)
- Dior Rouge Dior in Daisy Plum (golden berry plum)
- Ellis Faas Creamy Lips in L102 (deep plum wine)
- MAC Mattene in Bing (blackened eggplant) (LE from Fall 2008 Cult of Cherry collection)
No flash
Flash
Wearing a deep, bold lip has never been so enticing to me. I plan on rocking out the above shades all season long!
Diane Kruger
(below, left to right)
- MUFE Eyeshadow in Espresso 17 (chocolate brown)
- LM Eye Color Duet in Suspense (plum-brown side of duo) (new and LE for Fall 2012 Cinema Noir collection)
- MAC Eyeshadow in Shale (taupe-mauve)
- theBalm Eyeshadow in Insane Jane (gunmetal)
No flash
Flash
I’m also really eager to work a smokey eye on the regular; in the past I’ve always only worn this look in a big way for a night out, but this fall I’m hoping to wear the soft, more subtle version (as best evidenced by the Burberry fall collection) in shades of grey, taupe, and brown. I realized I’m sorely lacking a matte grey shadow – any suggestions??
Aishwarya Rai
(below, left to right)
- MAC Blush in Raizin (reddish-brown)
- Burberry Light Glow Blush in Russet (glowing rust)
- NARS Velvet Lip Gloss Pencil in More (terracotta) (new for Fall 2012 collection)
- Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow in Rum Spice (deep bronze)
- Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in #6 (warm khaki)
- Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Waterproof Eyeshadow in#24 (smoky khaki-gold) (new and LE from Fall 2012 collection)
No flash
Flash
Of course, it wouldn’t be fall with out the earthy shades of the season, such as khaki, terracotta, and bronze – which are some of my favorite types of colors and look best on my skintone (bring it!).
Rose Byrne
(below, left to right)
- Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Velvet Plum (cool plum) (discontinued shade)
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush in Florita (glowing berry)
- CoverFX BronzedFX in Garnet (reddened bronze)
- NARS Cream Blush in Turkish Red (cool deep red) (discontinued shade)
No flash
Flash
Lastly, a good flushed cheek can’t be beat in the cooler months! I could use a few more of these mysterious shades in my repetoire, I just love them for their wearability on just about every skin tone.
Gah! Ok, now I’m REALLY ready for fall! Its been a fantastic summer, don’t get me wrong…but it’s time for a change Even though I had a major love affair with some fabulous brights all season, I’m getting a bit tired of them – and who doesn’t love the moody shades of autumn!? Note that the above shades I’ve listed that are new for fall 2012 will all be reviewed individually (any requests for which should be first??).
What shades are you looking forward to wearing this fall? Have you been lured into purchasing anything from the new collections?
Beauty Low-Buy Update: Month Six (and I’m Feeling Sort of Triumphant!)
Posted by Latoya in 2012 Beauty Challenge, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, MAC, NARS, Revlon, Tarte on July 20, 2012
Ok, so I’m halfway through these monthly updates, and they’re starting to be all business – and this post is no exception, I’ve got a LOT to cover! I did a fair bit of buying, but I think I did an equal amount of using (that sounds SO wrong), which justified most of the purchases I made. Anyway, I’m giving the whole thing away – go see for yourself, huh?
As usual, a recap on the guidelines:
1) Makeup: Purchase no more than 10 items per season (excludes replacing staples of foundation, concealer, powder)
2) Nail Polish: Purchase no more than 5 polish per month
3) Skincare/Haircare: Use one, Buy one
Fairly straightforward (at least to me…goodness knows that sometimes my challenges can be convoluted LOL) – so, here are my purchases for the past month!
Purchased (June 20-July 19):
- Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer ($26CAD)
- Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 06 ($5.79CAD – on sale)
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush in Florita ($31CAD)
- Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol Free ($29CAD)
- DermaE Vitamin A Wrinkle Treatment Moisturizing Gel ($13.99CAD)
- Vichy Capital Soleil 30 Mexoryl XL Sun Protection Cream SPF30 ($16.99CAD – on sale)
- Aussie Catch the Wave Mousse + Leave-in Conditioner ($5.49CAD – on sale)
- Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco Tropical-Riche Masque ($32.75CAD)
- Revlon Nail Enamel in Whimsical ($5.95CAD)
- China Glaze Nail Lacquer in For Audrey ($6.50CAD)
- Deborah Lippmann Daytripper nail polish ($16CAD – *Sidenote: they lowered the prices of these at Mills to match the US!! Yay!!!)
- Chanel Vernis in Inattendu ($26CAD)
I’m happy to say every single item I purchased (save for one) was well thought-out and part of my ongoing wishlist of products, which is my ultimate goal when buying now. The Kate Moss Rimmel lipstick was an impulse, one that I’m unsure of (review to come), but it was so cheap I’m not going to beat myself up for it. Anyway, moving on to the good stuff…
Remember my just-wont-die-discard pile from last month? Well, let’s check out the empties and see just how many I conquered >_< (Side note: It’s funny how my photography for these posts are SO lacking…but who really wants to shoot snazzy images of empty, crappy old containers of stuff? I mean really)
Used Up (June 20-July 19):
- Kate Somerville Quench Oil-Free Hydrating Serum
- Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector
- Ole Henriksen Total Truth Eye Creme SPF15
- Avon Foot Works Paraffin Moisture Treatment Mask
- L’Oreal EverSleek Sulfate-Free Smoothing System Humidity Defying Leave-in Creme
- EarthScience Olive & Avocado Deep Conditioning Masque
- Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat
- Witchcraft Durable Base Coat
Seems I’ve written reviews on many of these products (what a good lil doobie I am ), and the all still held true to the last drop. I disliked the Ole eye cream so much I used it up by using it on my neck for a couple weeks LOL – ’cause lord knows how long eye creams take to be finished! The Avon foot mask was fine – nothing like a paraffin treatment really, but did leave my toosies soft and hydrated.
I actually liked the Revlon top coat a lot, even though I’ve heard opinions to the contrary. It stayed fairly thin and easy to apply right till the bitter end – by which I mean, when I couldn’t reach it any more with the brush (why do they make polishes that way, anyway??). Same end came to the Witchcraft base coat, though I was ambivalent toward it; it didn’t perform badly, but it didn’t blow my mind either. I got it free, so whatever!
- Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Peach
- NARS Multiple in South Beach
- MAC Lipglass in Evolution Revolution
- Clinique Brush-on Cream Liner in Black Honey
There’s not a whole lot to note about the makeup – the BB corrector looks frickin’ orange when you apply it, but it brightens the eye area nicely and I like that it’s creamy and keeps my eye area looking young. But in terms of coverage, it’s not the greatest. I know that the purpose is to then use the concealer too, but I wasn’t wowed by the two together when I tried it in store. I’ve also purchased the concealer solo twice, again for the creaminess (and also for the shade selection), but for price vs the amount of product you get, I won’t be buying it again.
The South Beach multiple was a lovely, slightly peachy-toned highlight for my skin which looked great almost all the time. But MAN have I mentioned I hate sample sizes? So I was glad to see it go. I’d like to say I’d repurchase, but the way this took FOREVER to finish, I’d hate to have the full size too! Lose-lose. Also lose-lose is MAC Lipglasses – I’ve been powering my way through this one and planning to start on the other two I have left, and once they’re gone: never again. Too sticky, and there are SO many better formulations out there. I’m done with them!
Lastly, the Clinique liner was great when it wasn’t dried out, a deep brown shimmer, but I’ve had it for several years now and it fell by the wayside for a while, so it got crappy and it’s gotta go. Sayonara, sucka!
- Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum deluxe sample
- Steam Cream moisturizer sample
- KO Denmark Jasmine Neroli Rose Body Wash sample
Meh to all of these. I read a great review of the Tarte serum on Scrangie, but I never found it did much of anything for me. The moisturizer and body wash sample were two of the three I received from Beauty Habit, and while it was nice to try different brands, neither wowed me. Not much else to say about that!
So…am I the only one who’s pretty stoked about all those empties, including makeup items!?! All month I’ve been tossing and chucking and eager as anything to to show you guys! All but the Jack Black lippie (which initially I was in no hurry to finish, but after reading this on Temptalia, consider my mind changed :S) and the MAC Arena shadow, which was really only thrown in there because of PAN (sidenote: yes, I will capitalize that word every time I write it, because PAN is a very elusive thing for a beauty aficionado such as myself! – and speaking of PAN, last night I had a dream that I hit PAN on some product I own — seriously, a frickin’ DREAM, and it was SUCH a good one — which makes me sound even crazier than you probably already think me to be lol), was used up from the discard pile I was working my way through, plus some!!
OK! Putting it all together, here’s a quick recap:
1) Makeup: 3 makeup items purchased [2 non-staples this season (Summer)], 5 used/tossed
2) Nail Polish: 4 polish purchased this month (17 total since the beginning of 2012) + 2 polish tossed
3) Skincare: 3 skin/2 hair bought, 4 skin/2 hair used
I’m really quite pleased with the way this month turned out The thing is about this whole process – the restricted buying and the selective shopping – is that I’m working toward being both able to fully enjoy beauty and all it has to offer, while reconciling it all with my personality as a whole. I realized today the best way to describe it: I want to TRY everything, not OWN everything – does that make sense? I compile lists upon lists of beauty items I want to experience, but I don’t want to be overwhelmed with piles of them in my bathroom and having to feel like I have to ‘use them up’. I want to fully enjoy things rather than love it for a day or two before moving on to something else that’s grabbed my attention. So the hope here is that eventually I’ll streamline my stash to be filled with only products I’m not eager to finish, ones that I don’t mind owning for years because every time I pull them out, no matter how (in)frequently, they still bring me sheer joy every time I use them. I know I’ve sort of said all this before, but it really clarified itself for me today, and I wanted to explain myself more clearly for anyone who isn’t sure just what my freakin’ deal is I hope that you might be able to relate a bit more with my goal now!
To anyone who’s engaging in a version of a low-buy/no-buy, I sincerely wish you the best – I know from experience how hard it can be at times, and how it’s a challenge to want to be restrained and at the same time want everything! Hopefully you’re making headway in your own endeavours
What’s your approach to beauty in terms of acquisition etc? Does an ever-expanding collection give you stress at all?
Something to Amuse You While I’m Gone: My Blush Collection (Part IV!)
Posted by Latoya in Blush, Bobbi Brown, Bronzer, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Highlighters, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, NARS on April 12, 2012
Today, I have for you the last installment in my blush/bronzer/highlighter collection!! By the end of all these swatches, my arm was red and rashy LOL – it was quite a day! But I’m really pleased with the photos and swatches, and I think I see some holes in my collection that need filling!!! Mwahahahahaha… Oh. Sorry!
Today we’re going to look at the highlighters/illuminators in my stash. While I sort of feel like I have a fair amount, none of them really knock my socks off, so I feel like it’s lacking quite a bit. But, you can make the call when you see what I’ve got I guess!
Clockwise from left: Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick, Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands Gelee, Make Up For Ever Uplight in #23, Clinique Up-lighting in Bronze, NARS South Beach Multiple (sample size)
For some of you, these products will be more like shimmering blushes rather than highlighters – indeed, on me I usually wear Estee Lauder’s Shimmering Sands and Clinique’s Bronze as a cheek color rather than a highlighter/illuminator, though that might change this week. You could probably layer these under a blush and still get the illuminating effect. I know some of you that own Bobbi Brown’s Nectar definitely use it as a blush as well – for me it’s too light to do so.
MUFE’s Uplight is the real true ‘highlighter’ in the group, but it’s got glitter particles that make it more suitable for night than day. Typically I use NARS South Beach Multiple as a compliment to my blush/bronzer, which gives a fantastic peachy-bronze glow to my skin (though it fades within a few hours). Clinique’s Bronze Up-lighting, which has about 1/3 left and is the oldest product here, has a bronze-rose tone that gives a fantastic glow, but is pretty intense and needs to be blended out well. The ‘Natural’ version of this product is a total winner, and I would recommend choosing that over this shade.
Swatches above taken with flash. Left to right: Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands, NARS South Beach Multiple, Clinique Bronze Up-lighting, MUFE Uplight #23, Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick
Natural light. Left to right: Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands, NARS South Beach Multiple, Clinique Bronze Up-lighting, MUFE Uplight #23, Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick
While you can distinguish for the most part between each of these, I still always find luminizers and highlighters kind of funny, because at the end of the day they all look pretty similar when worn. Clearly, Shimmering Sands darker rose-bronze tones make it more of a bronzer/blush than a highlight, and could have been grouped as such, but I was trying to follow the names of products when posed with the ‘what goes where’ question. NARS South Beach is sort of a lighter shade of Shimmering Sands, and Clinique’s Up-Lighting here is also along the same color lines, but leans more rose than bronze. MUFE’s Uplight #23 is a champagne shimmer, and Bobbi Brown’s Nectar, while appearing quite coral on some skintones, looks downright pale pink on mine.
I also wanted to show a comparison between the two NARS Multiples (South Beach and Laguna) and Clinique’s Up-lighting, as they all are for the same kind of purpose – illuminate with a touch of color. I had initially paired Laguna in this group, but changed it to the bronzer section as it is likely used that way by fairer skintones.
All swatches shown with flash. Left to right: Clinique Up-Lighting in Bronze, NARS South Beach Multiple, NARS Laguna Multiple
Each of these are similar in their own right, but again – Clinique’s Bronze is actually more rose; South Beach is more of a pale bronzed rose; and Laguna is more brown. They are all distinguishable when worn on the face.
And there you have it – my entire blush/bronzer/highlighter collection to peruse, condemn, laugh at – whatever suits your fancy I hope it entertained you at the very least while I’m away! I feel satisfied OK with the collection, but there are some new shades I’d like to add, while also eliminating some that have worn out there welcome. I see room for some berry tones, as well as some neutral shades and lighter-toned illuminators that can be worn with blush/bronzer, and don’t overpower it. Can you say ‘hooray’ for an excuse to shop!?
Final thoughts? What shades are you coveting, if any? What shades can you suggest I add? Is my collection meager, just right, or too much? Inquiring minds want to know??
Something to Amuse You While I’m Gone: My Blush Collection (Part II!)
Posted by Latoya in Blush, Bobbi Brown, CoverFX, MAC, Make-up, My Collections, NARS, Tarte on April 10, 2012
Hello my dears! I hope this Tuesday finds you very well By now, I’ve gotten into the groove and I’m hopefully nice and relaxed (all the free booze doesn’t hurt!). Today I have some more of my blush collection for you: ‘reds’ and plums. I put red in quotations because they’re not exactly red, but their of that variety so lets just go with that (anyone else find categorizing blush shades super-difficult!?).
We’ll begin with the questionable ‘red’ shades:
Clockwise from left: NARS Turkish Red, MAC Early Morning, CoverFX Garnet
Notice anything about my MAC blush? Like the fact that it’s BROKEN!?! I dropped it back in February, after I’d only had it for about a month, and you know there isn’t anything worse than dropping makeup and it breaking. I was pissed. It makes me not even want to use it much, but I’m trying to get over that!!
Anyway. Even though MAC’s Early Morning is described as a ‘peachy-pink,’ I find on me it looks much more like a peachy-red, and more of a burnished shade, so I pulled it in with this group. It’s probably fairly close to NARS Torrid when worn, but I wanted things to look pretty and complimentary in the product shots, so… NARS Turkish Red is a deep red cream blush, which I received in a swap last Fall – it’s now discontinued. CoverFX Garnet is probably my oldest blush, as showcased by -*GASP!*- PAN!! It’s part of the BronzedFX collection, but I feel it’s far too reddish to be considered a bronzer. Its a great shade though; it looks fantastic with tanned skin in the Summer and great for a windblown flush in the Fall.
All swatches taken with flash. Left to right: NARS Turkish Red, CoverFX Garnet, MAC Early Morning
As you can see, these blush aren’t exactly ‘red’ but they definitely have red tones in them. Turkish Delight is a bit tricky to make work sometimes, but when it does, it truly looks stunning! Garnet is just a great tone all-around with it’s brick-red qualities, and the shimmer isn’t so much that it’s gaudy. Early Morning is a very wearable shade as well, as it IS coral (which works for most skintones) but with a faded, dusty tone to which you can wear very soft and subtle, or with a heavier hand to give the face a windburned look (which sounds weird but looks kinda great!).
Next, let’s take a gander at some of the plummier tones I have in my stash, which aren’t always the most popular picks because it can sometimes give a bruised quality, but can also be terribly flattering:
Clockwise from left: NARS Sin, Tarte Blushing Bride Cheek Stain, Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum
Plum blush actually looks quite lovely on my skintone, but like many I don’t gravitate toward them very often. My first experience with plummy tones was with Tarte’s Blushing Bride Cheek Stain, a sheer deep plum, which I actually used first while staying with a friend in Toronto. I loved it’s natural and glowing effect – but I find it’s lasting power and the stickiness leave something to be desired. I also find it’s a bit too muted to show up much my skintone. The other two shades here are just perfect though; NARS Sin, described as a ‘berry tone with gold shimmer,’ was a recent acquisition this year and it’s gives a great warmed-up look to my paler Winer face, and Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Velvet Plum is one of my favorite natural-looking blushes to use in the Summer.
All swatches taken with flash. Left to right: NARS Sin, Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum, Tarte Blushing Bride
I haven’t been wearing Velvet Plum much, which I hope to change when I come back from Jamaica – it really gives my skin a glow and looks super-natural and fresh. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s been discontinued since the update to the packaging, so if you love it – you’re outta luck! Sin will likely take a back seat until next Fall when my tan fades, as I suspect it won’t show up much on my darker skin. As for the Tarte stain…I think it’s days are numbered. It looks fantastic on my fairer-skinned counterparts, so perhaps I’ll leave it with someone who’ll give it a better home. It just doesn’t get any attention and there’s still quite a bit left.
Part II finished on my blush collection!! Be sure to check out Part I – Pinks and Peach/Corals – as well!
What are you’re thought so far? See any glaring gaps in my shade selections, and particular products that I absolutely MUST own??
Sparkle and Shine: Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Nectar
Posted by Latoya in Blush, Bobbi Brown, Highlighters, Make-up on March 22, 2012
When I’m jonesing to have a new product to play with, lately I’ve been trying to swap for it first, before buying it outright (if unsuccessful). Particularly for products that aren’t LE and have been around for a while, it seems to be much more sensible to get it on the cheap via swapping – there isn’t the time-sensitivity that can cause impulse purchasing.
I had Bobbi Brown’s Nectar Shimmerbrick on my lemmings list for a while, having tried it on in-store once and liking the way it looked. My desire was renewed when the Rose Gold collection came out; while I wasn’t a huge fan of the two Shimmerbricks offered (Rose Gold and Wild Rose), I remembered Nectar and envisioned it to look like how I wanted Rose Gold to look – sort of a warm golden pink. I managed to get it in a swap, still in the box no less (score!), so I eagerly awaited it’s arrival. 
Nectar has five strips of varying pinky-golden shades (with one off-white strip), leaning coral but still overall more in the pink zone. On my darker skin the difference is negligible – it just looks like a very sheer pink highlight. Like any product with different colored strips, you could apply each separately if you wanted to – but I don’t know why you would. I swirl my brush around lightly and then apply the product concentrating on my cheekbones. If you were fairer, you could get away with this as a blush I think – but still use a light hand as it’s shimmery (hello, stating the obvious here!). 
I find it sort of interesting that for a line that’s all about natural-looking makeup, that the Shimmerbricks are part of that as they are pretty darn obvious. Not necessarily in a gaudy, glitter-particles kind of way, but in sunlight, you’re obviously wearing shimmer, and as I find it kicks up a bit on your brush, it tends to disperse somewhat outside the perimeter of where you apply it, which can be a touch annoying. I don’t find it’s a product that you can buff into your face, like some other shimmery powders, so for me this will be more of an evening product (unless it’s a particularly dull day and I need a glowing boost!). Nonetheless, it IS pretty and I’m sure I’ll get some use out of it. The wear time was actually pretty decent, but more for the shimmer and less for the color – though again I think that would depend on your skin tone (being darker I find less pigmented colors fade on me quickly).
Shots taken in sunlight
As always, I was interested to know if this was similar to any other shades I own. I thought perhaps Benefit’s Bella Bamba, which is a watermelon pink with a fair bit of shimmer too, so I swatched them side by side (both swatches taken in sunlight; Nectar on left, Bella Bamba on right).
Clearly, they’re not – though they are in the same color family. These types of shades are some of my favorites, because I find they’re a warm pink that can suit a variety of looks – so I don’t mind having two that are similar!
Overall, Nectar is pretty, regardless of it being not entirely practical, and I’ll have fun playing with it throughout many seasons. Even if it won’t get a lot of daytime wear, it’s a quick and easy way to pick up my look in the evenings and for special occasions. And, it’s just so darn pretty to look at
Do you own any Shimmerbricks? How do you wear them, as a highlight or as a cheek color? Are you a fan of shimmer or shy away from it?
Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!!
Unconventional Holiday Beauty
Posted by Latoya in Bobbi Brown, Color Club, CoverFX, Make-up, Nail Polish, Pink, Sephora Brand, Zoya on December 18, 2011
I started to write a post about some of the products I’m planning on using throughout the holiday season that are festive and season-appropriate. However, during a two-hour meeting this week, as usual my mind started to wander…and I thought, “What about the holiday looks that are a bit unexpected?” Sure, the typical red lips/nails and gold/silver eyeshadow are typical for this time of year, but you guys already know that stuff. I’ve been making an effort to use my creative muscles lately, and as a result, I came up with a few different looks I’d like to try out this season!
Not Flushed Cheeks, but….
Of course, you know all about bronzer and the wonders it can do year-round to keeping your skin from looking sallow – which can be a particular problem during the colder months of the year. However, I’m partial to wearing blush, especially in the Winter as I really love the flushed, just-out-in-the-cold look. Additionally, a little bit of shimmer never hurt anyone during the holidays. To get the best of all worlds, why not try a shimmering bronze blush? My particular fave which I wear consistently throughout the year is CoverFX Bronzed FX in Garnet – a gorgeous terracotta shade with golden shimmer:
You can see how much wear I get out of it – I’ve even hit pan, which is a huge feat when it comes to blush. It looks great in pretty much every season, but I really love it in the cooler months, and the shimmer isn’t over-the-top so its even wearable during the day. With a touch of champagne, gold or bronze eyeshadow and a nude lip, this bronzer/blush/highlight gets you holiday-ready in a flash.
Not Red Lips, but…
Rather than opting for the traditional red lip during the holidays, what about going with a more dramatic look of deep burgundy? I’m picturing it with a shimmering gold or bronze gloss on top, which would give it a luxurious, plush feel. I picked up this Sephora brand gold gloss last week and its give the perfect hint of golden glow:
Or, have the best of both worlds with a lipstick like MAC’s “O,” which is described as a purplish-red with golden pearl. I’m loving the whole look Michelle Trachtenberg has going on in the photo below:
With the thick black liner and gold necklace as well, this whole look says holiday to me!
Not Gold or Silver Eyeshadow, but…
Pewter or rose gold shades. Particularly for skin tones like mine (leaning more olive/caramel), silver can look terribly stark. I have Bobbi Brown’s Chrome Eyeshadow in Pewter, a Limited Edition shade from a couple years ago, and it’s the perfect color, as it has somewhat yellow tones that look better with a warmer complexion – though it looks good on most all skin tones, too. 
Rose gold tones seem to be all the rage right now, in everything from cosmetics (hello, LM Rose Rendezvous!) to accessories (still loving my Michael Kors watch!). And again, this is an uber-flattering shade that looks good on pretty much anyone because it works for both cool and warm skin tones. Sadly, I don’t have anything in this shade but I’m hoping to change this soon!
Not Red Nails, but…
Glitter! While it’s can be an obvious choice during the holidays, a way to make it fresh is to try some of the more untraditional colors like hot pink or aqua. I picked up Zoya’s Kissy and fell in love big time:
Oh, so pretty!! Here I have it layered over China Glaze Ahoy, as it’s glitter in a sheer pink base. The glitter is sort of holographic and is super eye-catching. The only problem with this is that because it’s bar glitter, its pretty gritty, and if you’re not careful it can catch on your clothing!! I ended up putting three coats of top coat on so that it felt relatively smooth. NOT so fun to take off! But still well worth it in my books.
Another fun shade I picked up this season is Color Club’s Beyond the Mistletoe (purchased from Nail Polish Canada – fast becoming one of my favorite nail polish sites ever!), a pale glittering holographic aqua. I have yet to wear this but I am beyond excited to do so – it’s truly gorgeous. This also needs to be layered as it’s relatively sheer, though it could be worn on its own with several coats. 
Now of course, I’ll still be rocking the red nails (I have a fabulous one on now I’ll show you soon!) and lips, and getting good use out of my gold MAC Amber Lights eyeshadow, but I always like a change, and doing things that are unexpected. These are just some ideas I had that I’d thought I’d share with you – hope you liked them!
Do you have any traditional looks you rely on during the holidays? Or any new looks and ideas you’ve tried or are hoping to try out? I’d love to hear about them!
If I Were Stranded on a Desert Island: My Five Must-Haves
Posted by Latoya in Bobbi Brown, Body Care, Clinique, Hair, Jack Black, Make-up, Skincare on May 4, 2011
I was taking a lil’ gander around my bathroom today, and was inspired to write about some of the products I’ve come to be dependant on. These are products that I regularly lug with me on any overnight stay or vacation without fail – they are certainly must-haves in my arsenal! Anything I would purchase more than once deserves a medal in my book! And so:
First up: TREsemme Naturals Moisture Conditioner. I am shocked to say that this unfaithful product junkie will actually repurchase this conditioner over and over and over. For a silicone-free conditioner (Yay! ~crowd cheers~), this seriously works on my extra-dry hair like nobody’s business. The fact that it truly hydrates and detangles my crazy curly hair rather than coating it in ‘cones to give slip and the false effect of moisture (all the while leaving a wicked film and build-up), makes me pleased as punch. I don’t know how they do it, but I am loving it! Super awesome.
Next, Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge – I have the shade Velvet Plum, and what a multi-tasker! These are so great. Because they work on cheeks and lips, I often bring this on overnight stays so I don’t need to pack a separate lip product. This particular shade is just slightly plummier than my lips as well so it’s perfect. Anytime I wear this, it gives my skin the best natural glow, without being greasy, and stays on throughout the day. And I’m pretty sure it’s going to last for-ev-er. Love!
Third, Clinique High Impact Mascara! I know, I know, I work for Clinique, so you’d think I’m biased, but trust me, I’m not – I’m the first person to choose anything else other than Clinique, mostly for the fact that it gets boring using the same old familiar stuff! But, this mascara just seems to be exactly what I’m looking for…nice, thick brush which easily imparts length and thickness to my already curly lashes. I don’t have to fool around with it to get it to look good, it doesn’t clump (although I will note that sometimes the first couple uses are mascara heavy), and it’s the only mascara I’ve ever tried that doesn’t annoy me somehow. I’ve given in to it’s charms (for the time being at least – I’m planning on trying Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill when I’m in T.O. next month) and even have two backups!
Fourth on my must-have list is Jack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF25. I know you’ve probably all heard of this product, Temptalia raves about it all the time. Interestingly, I actually picked it up due to MUA reviews before I noticed Christine’s penchant for it, but I have to agree these are pretty excellent. They have an uber-smooth texture due to the Shea Butter and Avocado Oil; I love that they have a higher SPF; and they smell heavenly – I have the Lemon Chamomile, and YUM! And the wear time is pretty decent, if I don’t eat/drink, I get about four hours; if I do, it still leaves enough moisture that I don’t have to reapply instantly. Also, I enjoy that it has a relatively small ingredient list – just 7. Fab.
Rounding out the list is the Sensitive Skin Remedy lotion by Curel. I was actually looking first for a lotion that wasn’t petroleum/mineral oil based, which is a real challenge, and happily happened upon this product, which also helps to relieve irritation as well as strengthen skin against irritants overall by using ceramides. As you know, my eczema is often a challenge, and this product has really helped to keep it in check. It’s highly moisturizing (the second ingredient is glycerin) without being greasy, and I even feel comfortable putting in on dry patches on my face in a pinch. It’s fragrance-free, dye-free, and hypo-allergenic, so it meets a lot of my necessary requirements for a body product. Win!
I don’t wish to find myself stranded on an island anytime soon (well, if I were with Jake Gyllenhaal, OK, DONE.), but if I were, these products would keep me looking fairly presentable for the *duration* of my stay.
Have you tried any of these products? If not, have I swayed you to at least check them out? Let me know what you think!
Two days till the weekend!
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