Random Acts of Swatching- The Shu Uemura Edition

The mad swatcher strikes again, this time raiding my traincase and highlighting the newest members of my Shu Uemura makeup family. Aren't they precious?

Painting Liner in Vivid Blue

Random Acts of Swatching- Smashbox Limitless Liners

I have already made mention of these sleek Smashbox gems, so let’s get right to the swatches of the shades:

Budgeproof Berries and Teals with Smashbox Waterproof Tech and Jet Set

Further pursuant to my discussion on the joys of summer-proof makeup, allow me to discuss with you two new additions to the Smashbox family that have me singing (and splashing) with joy.

Jet Set in Teal

Bulletproof Eyeliner- Stila Smudge Sticks

Summer is for sunshine, long days of surf and sand, and now, for eyeliner that is as stunning and nonstop as you are. From poolside to clubside, Stila’s Smudgepot inspired eyeliners are amazing in every sense of the word. Vivid, vibrant, creamy, sparkling, the list of virtues goes on, and on.

Make Up For Ever Metals

Glittering jewelry, foiled accessories, and now adornments for face and body. Molten metals are everywhere you look this season, but they are especially making a big splash on the cosmetics scene. Giving makeup fanatics (a group I may or may not be a part of) what they want, my beloved Now, Make Up For Ever has captured gold’s true essence in a brand new product that both delights and inspires. Say hello to the metal collection, a new line that will be making its way to Sephora stores for the holiday season.

Smashbox Tips- Eyes

In honor of the launch of the brand new (and very exciting) Smashbox Blog, I wanted to go ahead and bring you some great tips that were passed on from Smashbox to me. In these next few posts you will find some fun tips and tidbits, some old and some new. Accompanying each tip will be the Smashbox favorite that will help you get the look.

Part 1 is all about the eyes, naturally.

Get Wet- Deepen the intensity of any powder eye shadow by dipping your brush in water then swiping over the shade

Smashbox Must Have Product: Eye Shadow Trio in Shutterspeed


Shimmer At Any Age- The right tool is key! To avoid a disco ball effect, apply any shimmer shadow using a watercolor brush for a soft, sexy wash of shimmer.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Crease Brush #10


Soft Smoky Eyes- For the perfect smoky eyes, blend a cream shadow or liner all over lid, in the inner rim and along the lower lashline, then apply powder shadow to seal the color and give a soft, diffused look

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner in Image

Wake Up Eyes- Dabbing a pale gold cream shadow in the inner corners of eyes will brighten your entire face

Smashbox Must Have Product: Waterproof Shadow Liner Duo in Cashmere

Perfect Liner- Don't try to draw a straight line of liner all at once. Instead make a series of small dots along the lashline, then connect and smudge dots together to create a perfect soft line.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Limitless Eye Liner

Bright Eyes- Blue Mascara on just the tips of lashes make eyes look whiter

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bionic Mascara in Indigo Ink

Long, Lush Lashes-Thicken and define lashes by applying two different mascaras. Apply a volumizing formula first, then a lengthening or defining one on top.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bionic Mascara and Hyperlash Mascara

Lower Lash Perfection- To naturally define the lower lashes without adding length, glide a flat liner brush over your mascara wand then paint over lashes.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner Brush #9

Natural Definition- For natural-looking eye definition, sweep a matter bronzer into crease

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bronze Lights

Draw The Line- Liquid liner doesn't have to be intimidating. Try tracing over lashline first using a taupe liner, then going over it with the liquid formula for a flawless application every time.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner in Putty

Stay tuned for more flawless face tips from Smashbox. In the meantime, make sure you check out the Smashbox Blog. You would be hard pressed to find a more entertaining beauty brand blog, and that's a fact.


*Product provided for consideration

Art Class is in Session- Greasepaint Sticks

Crayons and markers have nothing on these 'art supplies'. The newest from M∙A∙C Cosmetics, The Art Supplies Collection channels your favorite art class with a range of pen-like products that are meant to bring the pretty, drawing style. One thing is for sure, this collection has this colorful and smoky eye lover dazed, dazzled, and all in a tizzy. The Greasepaint Sticks steal the show, very deserving of their own spotlight.

Tokidoki for Sephora is Totally Adorable

Not too long ago, a tasty little morsel of a collection popped up on Sephora's website to tease us all. Tantalizing our color-craving palates, Sephora and Tokidoki have been brought together into a collection that demands attention. Tokidoki brings us not only a full range of fun products, but also bright pops of color, and the most adorable packaging ever.

Beauty Wishes Do Come True- New From Smashbox

So a bit longer than a while- but not quite a looong while ago, I reviewed an amazing set of eyeliners from Smashbox for the holiday season.

These liners have literally become my go-to's for daily use because they are just that perfect. Pigmented, long lasting, and ultra smooth, these liners glide on beautifully rich and last all day. I am talking little birdies chirping whenever I uncap these people. Anywho, given their limited edition status, you know that I cried and prayed to the heavens every single day to bring these to me permanently. Seems that someone up there heard me, because look what I just spotted on Sephora's website?

The liners are back, yessir they are! Now called Limitless Liner, these beauties seem to match the exact description of the holiday liners. Better yet, they are here to stay, and come in color(!). These are available in five shades, and I want- nay, I need them all.

Another favorite that has come back to us both bigger and better than ever is brow tech. Brow tech traditionally is a dual sided pot with brow wax on one side, and brow powder on the other. It was the first brow product that I had ever purchased, and I loved it to pieces (till hitting pan did us part) despite the fact that it wasn't all that portable. Smashbox must have spies in my brain or something like that, because they have considered my girl on the go status and have created Brow Tech To Go- a dual sided tube with a brow pencil on one side, and brow gel on the other. Super compact and just as lovely as the original, this has WIN written all over it.

Last but not least, we can file this under the great ideas category. Designed to instantly change the look of an eyeshadow, think of Eye Illusion as an eyeshadow topcoat. A trio of super light duochromes, this product has the ability to completely change your eye look. As a lover of smoky eyes, you know I am all over this one. Need it even.

Have you ever wished for a limited edition product to become permanent? If so, did it happen?

Make Up For Ever Icons Metallic

Make Up For Ever Icon Collection Holiday 2010

Excited for all things new from Make Up For Ever? Well how about one last tasty little morsel to whet you appetite for holiday(!) 2010? Say hello to the metallic Icon collection.

For swatches and more details, read on!

Smile With Your Eyes- Sue Devitt Liners and Mascara

As promised, here is Part 2/4 in our Sue Devitt Series. This time, we are taking a look at liners, a highlighting pencil, and mascara- oh my!

 

NARS Eyeliner Stylo Review

I love me some Nars in a major way, and with the launch of Eyeliner Stylo, my love only continues to grow. The newest addition to my liquid pen liner family, Stylo is quickly making its way up in the ranks by offering up precision, convenience, and an amazing shade of blue to boot!

 

Roll Out the Red Carpet with Lorac, & Meet Carol Shaw!

Being the huge celebrity that I am, I just don't have the time or patience to spend on applying lots of makeup that doesn't perform. I mean, in between the movie screenings, killer afterparties, and trips to the French Riviera, who has the time to waste on junky products and messy singles?

Source

OK, so maybe I am exaggerating just a wee bit, but good palettes are hard to come by, while great liquid liners are even harder to spot. Fortunately, LORAC has the cure for what ails you (and me). LORAC proves that you don't have to be rich and famous to have quality makeup that works as hard as you do, whether you are a Hilton or a simple suburban gal.

I have not had the opportunity to explore much of the line before, but after trying both the Red Carpet Reveal Palette, and Front of the Line Pro Liner, I swiftly kicked myself in the shins (not easy, trust me) for not trying LORAC sooner. I came, I swatched, I tested, and I promptly fell madly in love.

Front of the Line Pro Black Liquid Liner

Front of the Line Pro Liner is a gift from above, and an amazing liquid liner to boot. This sleek pen applies both the thinnest and thickest of lines, and does. not. move! I have previously declared my love for the fabulous Chanel liquid liner pens, but Front of the Line Pro has now bumped Chanel out of the rotation. The black shade is rich, with a slight metallic sheen to it. Best of all, no clicking necessary, and no ooze to deal with.

Red Carpet Reveal Palette

The Red Carpet Reveal Palette houses a beautiful trio of neutral eyeshadow shades, alongside a dusty rose blush. Not one to gravitate towards neutrals usually, it was the quality and versatility of the palette that drew me in at first. Each and every shade is buttery soft and deliciously pigmented. The colors range from a shimmering pale gold to rich, deep chocolate brown, with textures that are in that perfect state of everyday shadow homeostasis, right between a shimmer and a matte.

Don't take my word for it, here are the swatches:

And here is an fotd featuring the palette and liner as well:

These new offerings from Lorac are definitely not to be missed. Seriously, you need these now. Get your own at LORAC.com, or Sephora.com, and get camera ready in no time flat.

Speaking of which, all of you lucky ducks in California have the opportunity to meet Carol Shaw, creator of LORAC (Carol spelled backwards) in person, at Ulta in Huntington Beach.

Here is the 411:

WHAT: Beauty aficionados will have the opportunity to meet Carol Shaw and get the inside scoop as she shares her makeup tips! Guests will also be treated to VIP makeup consultations from LORAC and ULTA Makeup Artists and complimentary beauty essentials including a mini TANtalizer Baked Bronzer. Plus, as a gift with purchase LORAC is offering a full-size Co-Star Lip Gloss.

WHEN: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, 12pm - 5pm

WHERE: ULTA – Huntington Beach
7777 Edinger Avenue, Suite 130
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.891.9708

As always, I highly recommend that you attend if you are in the area. If you do, I would love to hear all about it too!

Urban Decay Lovin- The Eyeliner Edition

A few may recall the Urban Decay Friends and Family sale that ran a few weeks back. Taking it as a sign from above, I decided to indulge in some fun new shades of liquid liner and smoke out eye khols.

Introducing the newest additions to my happy little eyeliner family:

These liners are deliciously pigmented, go on smooth, and last all the live-long day. They have a slight metallic quality to them, which gives them exceptional shine. I love the shape of the bottle, and the cap fits perfectly into my hand. The brush is your traditional liquid liner brush, long and thin to give you precision in application.

And did I mention the colors are t.d.f?

Here are the swatches: L-R Gash, Acid Rain, Ecstasy, Shattered, Roach, Penny

While I LOVE the new liquid liners, the khols that I also picked up gave me results that weren't quite what I was expecting.

A on packaging, as I love pencils that have smudgers on the ends. I can say that I liked the powdery finish on the smoked out pencils upon application. However, I found that the colors weren't dark enough, nor did they go on smooth enough. They felt a bit hard, which led me to believe that they were either too old (dried out), or just of a harder formula than most of your run of the mill khols. I am sorry to say that I might have found in these pencils the first Urban Decay item that I do not like.

Swatches: Deviant 24/7 liner, Green Goddess, Purple Haze, Mary Jane

I also picked up deviant 24/7, which is an awesome shade of metallic blue. 24/7 liners are always a winner in my book, because quite frankly, they rock in every way. I think this would look absolutely amazing on the lower lash line to compliment a silver or purple eye look, and the possibilities are endless. A swatch of Deviant can be soon above, first on the left.

So what did you pick up from the sale, and what are your favorite types of liners? Urban Decay liners are available on UrbanDecay.com

Eve Pearl Cosmetics- A Review, Swatches, and Savings!

In case you haven’t heard, Eve Pearl gave me a makeover a while back. ;) Having heard so many amazing things about her products prior to meeting her, but never having the opportunity to try the line out for myself; I picked up several items at the makeup show to help give me a feel for the brand.

The products that I got to try are:
Eve Pearl Eyeliner Pen, HD Foundation in Fair, Eyeshadow Palettes in Diva and Pretty ‘n Pink, and the Eve Pearl Light Blush Trio

I was impressed with each and every item that I tried. The HD foundation covers beautifully and I loved how I could mix the two colors on my face to match my skin perfectly. The eyeliner pen is the best I have used, delivering a super fine, dark black line that DOES NOT BUDGE! Both eyeshadow palettes were well pigmented, and had a lovely mix of both matte and shimmer, while the 3 colors in the blush palette applied smoothly and effortlessly to provide just the right hint of a rosy flush.

Here are some photos to get you going:

L-R Top To Bottom: Pretty 'N Pink Eyes, HD Foundation in Fair, Diva Eyes, Blush Trio in Fair

In this photo, I am wearing the Eve Pearl HD Foundation in Fair, no primer. Also, the blush trio in light.
Now, here is the fun part: Eve is currently running a promotion on her website that allows you to snag free goodies with nearly every purchase!

EVE PEARL - Gift with Purchase!!! Get up to $262 FREE EVE PEARL Products
(Coupon Code: GWP61709) *PROMOTION CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTION, COUPON, DISCOUNT, KIT, ETC.

Spend $50.00 - $99.99 and receive a FREE gift worth $36
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36

Spend $100.00 - $149.99 and receive FREE gifts worth $58
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
- MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22

Spend $150.00 - $199.99 and receive FREE gifts worth $98
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
- MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22
- EYPAL-PN The Eye Pallet-Pretty 'N Pink $40

Spend $200.00 - $249.99 and receive FREE gifts worth $126
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
- MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22
- EYPAL-PN The Eye Pallet-Pretty 'N Pink $40
- KOP-LGC-104 Kisses of Pearl Lip Gloss Combo | 104-Stardust/Moonlight Kiss $28

Spend $250.00 - $299.99 and receive FREE gifts worth $162
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
- MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22
- EYPAL-PN The Eye Pallet-Pretty 'N Pink $40
- KOP-LGC-104 Kisses of Pearl Lip Gloss Combo | 104-Stardust/Moonlight Kiss $28
- LP-102-CRML Kohl Lip Pencil & Brush Combo – Caramel $18
- EYP-202-BLK Kohl Eye Pencil & Smudger Combo – Blackout $18

Spend $300.00 - $349.99 and receive FREE gifts worth $212
- BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
- MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22
- EYPAL-PN The Eye Pallet-Pretty 'N Pink $40
- KOP-LGC-104 Kisses of Pearl Lip Gloss Combo | 104-Stardust/Moonlight Kiss $28
- LP-102-CRML Kohl Lip Pencil & Brush Combo – Caramel $18
- EYP-202-BLK Kohl Eye Pencil & Smudger Combo – Blackout $18
- EYL-101-UL Ultimate Eyelashes $6
- EYL-102-AN Au Natural Eyelashes $6
- EYL-103-DV Diva Eyelashes $6 TF-EBR Tri-Fold Eyebrow Razor $7 MB-
- PLEC-102 Makeup Bag/Clutch $25

Spend $350.00+ and receive FREE gifts worth $262
BTSC-L Blush Trio- Sweet Cheeks-Light $36
MSCR-LUSH Lush Lash Mascara - Black Onyx $22
EYPAL-PN The Eye Pallet-Pretty 'N Pink $40
KOP-LGC-104 Kisses of Pearl Lip Gloss Combo | 104-Stardust/Moonlight Kiss $28 LP-102-CRML Kohl Lip Pencil & Brush Combo – Caramel $18
EYP-202-BLK Kohl Eye Pencil & Smudger Combo – Blackout $18
EYL-101-UL Ultimate Eyelashes $6
EYL-102-AN Au Natural Eyelashes $6
EYL-103-DV Diva Eyelashes $6
TF-EBR Tri-Fold Eyebrow Razor $7
MB-PLEC-102 Makeup Bag/Clutch $25
SCTRIO-MAGIC Salmon Concealer Trio-MAGIC $50

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to score some awesome gift with purchases!

Just head on over to EvePearl.com to browse the products or purchase. If you do decide to indulge, mention me in the notes section of your order and then come back here to tell me what you picked up.