Retrodivas Beauty

Review: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Gleam Cream Eyeshadow

meredith — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I personally really like cream eyeshadows, even though my skin is rather oily. I love the long-wearing aspect of them, and I adore the vivid bright colors that you can usually count on. It’s kind of a pain to clean makeup brushes after using them, but it’s a trade off that I can live with. So when I saw that Maybelline had a new line of cream shadows on the market, I decided to take them for a test run. I chose Maybelline Eye Studio Cream Shadow Trio in Purple Possibilities.

This is the look that I was hoping to achieve:

And this is what I got:

No. Do not like.

The product creased immediately, and was so transparent that I couldn’t tell there was much product there at all. Efforts to build up color just resulted in about half an inch of product on my lid.

Maybe you will have better luck. I personally won’t be buying it again. You can give it a whirl at most major mass retailers for about $5.99.

© 2010, Retrodivas Beauty. Some rights reserved. Retrodiva’s Beauty Blog by Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at www.retrodivasbeauty.com.

Help Sephora Kiss for a Cause supporting the Beauty Bus Foundation

meredith — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Whitney Port kissing for a cause

Sephora is inviting their clients to try one of this season’s hottest looks – the red lip – and donate their kiss to the in-store collage. From now until September 15th, $1 of every qualifiying red lip purchase will be donated to the Beauty Bus Foundation, a Los Angeles-based non-profit foundation dedicating to enhancing the quality of life for homebound, terminally or chronically ill people and their primary caregivers by bringing beauty into their lives. This foundation provides in home beauty and grooming treatments to those who might not otherwise have access helping them maintain dignity and giving respite through a difficult time.

To select the perfect red, let a Sephora artist guide you during a custom Red Lip Express Service, or to simply donate a kiss, what better place to explore a trend and feel good about it than at Sephora’s “Kiss for a Cause.” Choose from the following brands and colors to participate:

Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in Barcelona
Dior Addict Color Awakening Lip Balm
Dior Serum de Rouge in Red Serum 850
Fusion LipFusion Infatuation in Screen Siren
Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Adora
Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipsticks in Red and Berry
Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in S43 and P17
Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in The Red
Tarte Matte Lip Stains in Fiery and Envy

What’s in your makeup bag with Paula of Older Girl Beauty

meredith — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t had a chance to read Paula’s blog, Older Girl Beauty, you are missing out. Paula focuses on products that appeal to those of us who are out of our teenage years and maybe don’t want glitter, but we do want functional, beautiful products. She is also an extremely good friend, and I wouldn’t hesitate to loan her 20 bucks if she needed a cab in New York City.

“Valley of the Dolls” movie ticket: As a reminder that I want to post about the influence VotD had on makeup and makeup afterwards
Hair Clip – Sometimes the hair just needs to be pulled up and clipped back
Scrunchie – Yep. Shut up.
Sonia Kashuk Mineral Brush Up On Color in “Shimmering Rose 02″ (Discontinued): It’s a compact brush w/ blush color in one. Can’t beat the ease.
Huge Lips Skinny Hips Lipgloss in “No Panty Lines” : Clear plumping gloss w/ a bit of shimmer for when you just want a touch of sheen & it tastes good, too.
Clinque Blushwear Cream Stick in “Rosy Blush” : I love cream blushes and this one is so portable, I can swipe more on anytime I need to, or if I just want to freshen up after work to go out.
Dr. Denese SPF Defense Day Lip Veil: Another clear gloss, but this one has SPF 20, which is needed in this stupid sun/heat siuation we are having out here right now. Plus, it tastes good.
Bobby pins: To get those stragler fly-aways out of my eyes.
Susan Posnick Mini Tweezers: Because you never know when you are going to see that one stray hair around your brows while you’re out in natural light & you just have to get it *now*. Their small size make them so handy to carry.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” : A classic. For when I want just a hint of color, without the opacity of lipstick.
MAC Glaze Lipstick in “Total Wow” (Discontinued – was in the Magic, Mirth & Mischief Holiday ’09 collection): It’s a “brightened berry”. It gives me a pop of color, without being too bright and isn’t sparkly so I can wear it with just about anything.
Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in “Lucky Penny” : I just adore Mally’s eyeliners. They are silky to put on and stay on until I take’em off. “Lucky Penny” is a broze color that can be put on lightly for just a touch of light or put on deeper for a darker, more dramatic look. I keep it handy in case I need to switch to an evening look after work, or just want to bump up whatever I did that morning.
Three Custom Color Gloss in “Just Bitten” : This pinky brown gloss looks is such a good neutral color. Goes on fairly sheer, but enough of a color that it boosts your own natural lip color. (*I have also put some of the Clinique blush stick on my lips & used this gloss as a topper for a more dramatic neutral look).
Estée Lauder Pure Color Gloss in “Tempting Tearose”: A non-sparkly “cool nude rose” gloss, with the opacity almost of lipstick but with more shine. Have it in here becasue I have been trying it, but really liking the results. May be a keeper.
Two Faced Mirror Shine Lip Gloss in *actually, I have no clue: I was given this tube recently & don’t know much about it. It just hasn’t made its way *out* of my bag. Sure looks a lot like the “Tempting Tearose”, tho.
*not shown* Mario Badescu Lip Wax SPF 15: I normally have this with me all the time, but I had a friend in need & sacrificed it for the greater good. This soft wax can cure my chapped lips so quickly & keep them moisturized, with out the gross buildup in the corners of my mouth, so I always have some around. Only not now.

Wow, that is a long list of lip products for someone that doesn’t reapply very much at all. But, at least I guess they are there for when I DO need’em, right?

Estee Lauder releases the gorgeous Blue Dahlia collection for fall 2010

meredith — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Tom Pecheux, the Creative Makeup Director at Estee Lauder, developed this collection at the Derek Lam Fall 2010 show, and while we got to see a sneak peek of it then, it’s even more exciting to get your hands on it now.

The Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palettes in Blue Dahlia and Surreal Violet are a powerful mix of cool, mysterious shades that mimic the fiercely theatrical world at the edge of night. Housed in a sophisticated golden-mirrored compact with oversized Estée Lauder cartouche, each palette holds five mesmerizing shadow and texture combinations to create endless looks that are both enticing and alluring. Layer the different shades and textures for optimal intensity.

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Highlight and illuminate your eye look with four new shades of Pure Color EyeShadow in Twilight Rose, Sepia Sand, Enchanted Meadow and Emerald Star for a standout pop of color.

Ethereal shades of raw pink and magenta adorn the lips in a soft, sensual shine. Swipe shades of Pure Color Gloss Stick in Rose Dusk, Night Bloom, Orchid Dream and Mauve Mirage and layer with Pure Color Gloss in Rock Candy, Twilight Petal, Raspberry Pop and Star Pink for a subdued lip look that perfectly balances strong eyes for a lasting impression.

Complement lustrous lips with perfectly polished nails in mythical shades. Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Blue Dahlia and Surreal Violet perfectly pair with the collection to finish off nails and toes in dramatic, fearless color.

Give your pout a punch of color with a deep berry shade of Pure Color Gloss or Pure Color Gloss Stick in Midnight Bloom.

To get the Blue Dahlia look:

Apply Double Wear Stay In Place Powder Makeup in SPF 10 all over face to create a matte base.
Using the Pure Color Five Color Eye Shadow Palette in Blue Dahlia, use shade four all over lid as a base, and blend. Shade three to frame the eye: start at crease, extend above and out to outer corner; define and blend into outer corner; extend down under lower lashes and blend. Blend shades one and five together and apply on inner 2/3 of lid. Use shade one as liner along lashline. Shade two is blended over liner at upper lashline. Blend out into outer corner. Apply Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara on upper and lower lashes.
For a dramatic lip look, use Pure Color Gloss Stick in Midnight Bloom with Pure Color Gloss in Midnight Bloom.
Softly emphasize cheeks with Signature Satin Creme Blush in Nude Light and Bronze Goddess Matte Bronzer.

To get the Surreal Violet look:

Apply Double Wear Stay In Place Powder Makeup in SPF 10 all over face to create a matte base.
Using the Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Surreal Violet, blend shade four all over lid. Buff up shade five on center of lid, from lash to crease. Then use on outer 1/3 of lid and blend out to outer corner. Use Pure Color EyeShadow in Enchanted Meadow at inner corner of lid to highlight. Shade one can be used as liner along upper lashline and shade two along the lower lashline. Add Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black on upper and lower lashes.
For a dramatic lip look, use Pure Color Gloss Stick in Midnight Bloom with Pure Color Gloss in Midnight Bloom.
Softly emphasize cheeks with Signature Satin Creme Blush in Berry Light and Signature Silky Powder Blush in Rosewood.

Eight new shades of nail polish to try this season

meredith — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

art fingers #1 by vi4kin on flickr

Fall is a great time to step out of your comfort zone and try out some new fun and funky nail shades. We are seeing every color of the rainbow this season, and the finishes run from matte to full on glitter. Why not consider your fingers and toes another accessory to play with? Because with these shades, you are going to want to have them done all the time.

Classic Camel by China Glaze Vintage Vixen: Not only is camel going to be big in the fashion world, but we will see this gorgeous neutral on fingertips too.

photo by All Lacquered Up

Cuckoo for this Color by OPi: Swiss Collection. I love greens, and this one is no exception. With plenty of shimmer and even a few tiny flecks of glitter, this color will stand out in the sea of boring mauves and pinks that everyone else wears.

Nail Trend F/W ’10 by MAC in Ming Blue: New York Fashion Week is almost here, which means MAC has released their latest collection showcasing what they think the best of Fashion Week will entail. In this amazing Jin Soon collaboration, we can find Ming Blue, a cobalt blue frost that looks stunning on.

Just a Little Dangerous by SEPHORA by OPI : purples are HUGE this year, and this shade is edgy without being harsh. A deep purple with a metallic finish.

butter LONDON All Hail McQueen Nail Lacquer: I am personally obsessed with this one, and not because I was a huge admirer of Alexander McQueen, who the polish is named after, although that is a bonus. It is a nude holographic that would probably work well on any skin shade.

Paradoxial Le Vernis Nail Color by Chanel: If you can stand one more mention of this limited edition shade, it’s well worth a look-see. Paradoxial is a gray-violet frost that is absolutely beautiful on.

Orly Lunar Eclipse from the Cosmic FX Collection: No link for this one, as it hasn’t been released yet (soon!). I can’t stay away from the cobalt blues, and this interesting shade has a pink and purple holographic effect.

Tight Knit from the Style in Argyle collection by Barielle: This is a very interesting shade – it’s described as a purple-brown creme. I like the effect of the creme versus matte – matte shades can be a little off-putting to some people.

Review: Garnier Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfector: is it the answer to keratin treatments?

meredith — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000

I could not WAIT to get my hands on the Garnier Blow Dry Perfector Kit. It cold very possibly be the answer to my prayers: a smooth blowout with no frizz without resorting to a salon keratin treatment that would cost me several hundred dollars.

I might have mentioned it before, but I have not been kind to my hair this summer. I took it from blue-black to bright red by way of color removers and bleach. I’ve since had to deep condition three times a week and chop off three inches to try and get it under control. So my hair is rather damaged, and one should bear this in mind when they read what products work on my hair. The first thing you absolutely need to know is that this product will STRIP any deposit-only haircolor you have on your strands. To avoid unpleasantness such as what I experienced, use this product before coloring. Or wait at least a few weeks after coloring to use it. I’m not sure what to advise, because all I know was that when it was all said and done, I had about an inch of roots that wasn’t there when I started.

I did notice a difference in my hair’s texture. However, it wasn’t the dramatic change that I was looking for. This is probably due to my damaged hair versus the effectiveness of the product. However, it did help. It didn’t fix, but it helped.

When applying the Blow Dry Perfector Kit don’t be alarmed at the smell. It is a deeply disturbing smell, one that kind of reminded me of a home perm circa 1984. But when you wash it out, the smell does go away, and for that my family was thankful, because they were about to kick me out when I was applying it.

Would I repurchase it? Maybe. I think you get $11.99 out of it. I am just so concerned about the stripping of color that I’m a bit afraid of it. I’ll probably try it again when my hair settles down.

Video of the week: Girl next door vintage makeup

meredith — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

It’s no secret that I adore the vintage/retro makeup looks of yore. I can spend hours watching tips and tricks on how to apply it, and how they achieved the looks, since most of those techniques went out of vogue by the time I was old enough to wear makeup. Casey’s blog, casey’s musings, focuses more on vintage clothing, but her YouTube channel, elegantly amused, has some other hair and makeup tutorials. Today I’m sharing with you parts one and two of her girl next door vintage makeup tutorial, please enjoy!

8/29/10 Beauty Blog Link Love

meredith — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Rae reviews a gorgeously packaged mascara that smells like blueberries (no, we’re not kidding!) over at theNotice.

Tammerly from Pink Diva’s Beauty Spot was GHD’s guest at Little Joe Woman fashion luncheon which was also sponsored by Lancome.

IHeartCosmetics reviews the famous Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish .

The Pink Sith tries to put as many non sequitur references that she can into her review of Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush. See if she has finally gone too far.

Madame B Fatale swatches some Australian Mineral Shadows by Kylies Professional.

Jellyminx creates an affordable autumn inspired eye look perfect for the dreary weather the UK has had recently!!

Urban Decay announce The Black Palette and Lipglossiping has the photos! This one’s for the rock chick inside each of us!

Cindy from Prime Beauty is finally leading the semi-”charmed” life she thinks she deserves by wearing the newest Three Custom Color Specialist lipstick. Find out how you can get yours as a GWP!

What’s in the vanity drawers at The Gloss Menagerie? Come have a look at Alyson’s makeup organization.

Beautywoome takes you through the no-chip manicure paces.

It wasn’t easy, but Glitter Geek actually listed her top 10 products for Summer 2010. See any of your own favourites?

Jeweled Thumb reviews a face paint by Models Own as a blush and discovers it works!

Want to learn how to self-apply individual false eyelashes at home? Mz. More of The Glamorous Gleam has a video tutorial!

Hot Beauty Health shares how to get short, curly hairstyles like celebs!

The Lip Print makes a change and crosses over to the light side .

Retrodiva explores eight autumn beauty trends sure to be popular this year.

Want Chanel Paradoxal but don’t like it’s price? Musicalhouses shows you Paradoxal’s (much) cheaper little sister!

YSL releases new products with their fall 2010 collection

meredith — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Dramatic and sensual, those are the words I’m using to describe YSL’s fall 2010 collection. Filled with ravishing blackberry lips, dramatic lashes, and gorgeous eye colors, it’s a very passionate collection.

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Yves Saint Laurent 'Manicure Couture' Duo " class="shutterset_set_29" >

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I noticed that it is a little difficult to get the YSL Manicure Couture – it’s sold out on several different retailers websites. I can see why – the two colors are gorgeous. There are several new products out with this collection including the lip gloss, the eyeshadow duo, the blush, and the mascara. The beautiful highlighter palette is a limited edition, so you can be sure that won’t be around too much longer.

Do you see anything you can’t live without? I’m thinking I desperately need the Rouge Volupte Pearle in Mesmerizing Purple. That is just an absolutely brilliant shade.

Review: Benefit’s Ooh La Lift

meredith — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Do you love my beat up tube of ooh la lift eye balm – eye concealer? I’ve had it for a really long time, it was one of my first Benefit purchases many moons ago. It’s a staple of my routine, yet I can’t decide if it falls under makeup or skincare.

A touch of this on your undereye area gives you an instant boost – it contains light reflecting ingredients as well as a raspberry extract that seems to help wake up my tired eyes.

One shade really does work on everyone – it’s not pigmented, per se. It is more of a cooling tinted lotion that adds just a bit of lightness to that already-dark undereye area. It’s brilliant on those mornings when I’ve been up way too late the night before but need to look rested the next day.

ooh la lift eye balm – eye concealer is available at Benefit Cosmetics for $22.