Allura

Clarins Gift With Purchase At Nordstrom

2013-05-21T23:39:22Z

Choose a free gift (a $84 value) with your Clarins purchase at Nordstrom. Free shipping, no minimums. Ends 6/2.

Enjoy!

Review & Swatches: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in “Sea Pearls”

2013-05-23T21:16:43Z

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in Sea Pearls

Availability: Bobbi Brown
Price: $45.00

Company’s Description

Taking their cue from under-the-sea hues, these ten shimmering shades are sure to create an array of enchanting eye looks. Simply use your fingertip to swipe each color separately – then apply it to the eyelid – or glide across a group of shades to create your own signature mix. Imparts a soft wash of pearlescent color straight from the sleek, mirrored compact so it’s perfect for playing up eyes in seconds flat.

Bobbi Brown’s Sea Pearls collection comes with a new, limited-edition Shimmer Brick Eye Palette. This eye shadow palette contains 10 soft, shimmering shades inspired by under-the-sea hues.

Packaging: 9/10

This palette comes in a small, rectangular palette made with Bobbi Brown’s classic black, reflective plastic. The palette flips open and contains a full-length mirror inside.

Quality: 8.5/10

This palette is exactly as the company describes. It contains 10 sea-inspired colors, ranging from frosty whites to soft pinks, with a shade of green and blue thrown in. All of the colors are shimmery and frosty. The pigmentation on each color is soft, which is consistent with the company’s claims that you will get a “soft wash of pearlescent color.” You can use this powder with a damp brush, but this only increases the pigmentation and shimmery finish slightly.

Ease of Use: 8.75/10

These shadows’ baked formula means the powder isn’t creamy or soft, but the colors transfer better than you’d think, given the stiffer surface the powder has. Be careful when using these shadows with a damp brush–you may need to scrape off the surface of the shadows after doing so because it can create a crust on top of the pan.

Price: 7.75/10

For $45.00 you get 0.14 ounces (4 grams) of product. This is a significantly smaller amount of product for the price compared to Bobbi Brown’s other palettes and compared to eye shadow palettes from competitor brands.

Final Grade

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette Box

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in Sea Pearls

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in Sea Pearls Swatches (Dry)

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in Sea Pearls Swatches (Wet)

Disclosure
This sample was provided for consideration purposes by the brand or a PR company. Reviews are always honest and never paid for.

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadow in “Icy Mint”

2013-05-23T17:59:10Z

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadow in Icy Mint

Availability: ULTA, Walgreens, Drugstores
Price: $8.00 (Approx.)

Maybelline’s Summer 2013 collection includes new, limited edition shades of Color Tattoo eye shadows. This review is for the Summer 2013 shade in Icy Mint, which is a pale mint green.

If you would like to see the other Summer 2013 limited edition shades, please see this post.

Packaging: 9.5/10

These shadows come in glass jars with plastic, twist-off lids. The lids twist off and close tightly to help keep the product from drying out.

Quality: 7.75/10

Icy Mint is a very pale, frosty mint green. The green pigment is weak and is easy to miss once you apply this shade onto the lids. The green will be more prominent if you apply this over a dark base. The shade is translucent, regardless of whether you layer it or not.

The formula has a smooth, cream-gel consistency. The product sets to a dry finish soon after application. But this color is particularly patchy once applied to the skin, and it’s hard to get a smooth, continuous area of color on the lid, even if you work in small sections.

Without primer applied, this shade creased after about two and a half (2.5) hours of wear. Over primer, the shadow creased after five (5) hours of wear.

Ease of Use: 7.75/10

Packing this color not the lid must be done in short, dabbing motions because swiping a brush or your finger with the shadow on it across too much can give you a streaky, patchy finish. Even when working in small sections though, I still don’t get the smooth line of color I would like on the lid. Applying this shade in an extremely thin layer is pretty much the only way to avoid a patchy finish.

Price: 9.5/10

For around $8.00, you get 4 grams of shadow. MAC Paint Pots contain 5 grams of shadow and cost $18.50, while MAC Metal-X Cream Shadows cost $20.00 and contain 2.4 grams. Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Shadows cost $19.00 and contain 4.5 grams.

Final Grade

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013: Icy Mint

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013: Icy Mint Swatch

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013 Swatches:
Blue Paradise, Waves of White, Icy Mint, Cool Crush, Seashore Frosts, Lavish Lavender

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013 Swatches:
Blue Paradise, Waves of White, Icy Mint

CoverGirl Captiol Collection – Inspired By The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

2013-05-23T17:38:15Z

Limited-edition
Release Date: Fall 2013
Availability: Drugstores

For the company’s first movie partnership, CoverGirl is joining forces with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire to release a limited edition collection called the Capitol Collection! Keep an eye out for it at your local drugstore this Fall.

“We are excited to announce COVERGIRL as the exclusive makeup partner for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The exquisite beauty and style in the world of the Capitol is a focal point of this film. Partnering with an innovative brand like COVERGIRL to create an additional layer of beauty storytelling and inspiration for the fans is new territory that we’re delighted to explore.”
–Paula Kupfer, Lionsgate Vice President of Promotions and Consumer Products

Kitsy Lane Jewelry Haul Video

2013-05-22T22:50:37Z

Here’s a little something different. I’ve had the opportunity to open up a jewelry boutique on Kitsy Lane. In this video, I show you a few of the pieces that are available and what I think about them. If you’d like to look at all of the pieces available for purchase, please see this link.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Allura’s YouTube channel to stay posted on the latest videos and to be eligible for exclusive giveaways.

Enjoy!

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Now On

2013-05-22T16:37:20Z

Shop the Women’s Half-Yearly Sale at Nordstrom now! Get up to 40% off. Plus, get free shipping and free returns on every order. Ends 6/2.

Enjoy!

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadow in “Seashore Frosts”

2013-05-21T18:49:29Z

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadow in Seashore Frosts

Availability: ULTA, Walgreens, Drugstores
Price: $8.00 (Approx.)

Maybelline’s Summer 2013 collection includes new, limited edition shades of Color Tattoo eye shadows. This review is for the Summer 2013 shade in Seashore Frosts, which is a slate blue with a pale gold sheen.

If you would like to see the other Summer 2013 limited edition shades, please see this post.

Packaging: 9.5/10

These shadows come in glass jars with plastic, twist-off lids. The lids twist off and close tightly to help keep the product from drying out.

Quality: 9/10

Seashore Frosts is a very grey-based, soft blue shade with a pale gold sheen. This is one of the most unique and interesting shades I’ve seen for an eye shadow. Once applied to the lids, you can’t really tell what this color is–whether it’s a blue, a gold, or something else. The finish is translucent and slightly shimmery.

The formula has a smooth, cream-gel consistency. The product sets to a dry finish soon after application.

Without primer applied, this shade creased after three (3) hours of wear. Over primer, the shadow creased after six (6) hours of wear.

Ease of Use: 8/10

Packing this color not the lid must be done in short, dabbing motions because swiping a brush or your finger with the shadow on it across too much can give you a streaky, patchy finish.

Price: 9.5/10

Final Grade

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013: Seashore Frosts

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013: Seashore Frosts Swatch

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013 Swatches:
Blue Paradise, Waves of White, Icy Mint, Cool Crush, Seashore Frosts, Lavish Lavender

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eye Shadows for Summer 2013 Swatches:
Cool Crush, Seashore Frosts, Lavish Lavender

Clinique Gift With Purchase At Nordstrom

2013-05-20T23:26:31Z

Clinique’s Gift With Purchase deal is now on! For a limited time, get an exclusive Tracy Reese for Clinique cosmetics bag filled with 7 beauty essentials. Yours with any $30 Clinique purchase. Enjoy!

Review & Swatches: Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 46 “Flirting Game”

2013-05-20T21:25:40Z

Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 46 Flirting Game

Availability: Sephora
Price: $13.00

Company’s Description

Flash superior color, flawless wear, and long-lasting beauty with this striking eye shadow formula. The Color Eye Last complex means you can comfortably wear this shadow up to 10 gorgeous hours and the micronized pigments ensure an ultra smooth, blendable texture. The range of colors and finishes complement day and evening looks, from perfect mattes to pearlized shimmers, glitters, and a glossy mirror glow.

Sephora has released a new line of eye shadows in its Colorful Eyeshadow Collection. The collection includes 80 different shades in 4 finishes: matte, shimmer, glitter and mirror effect. The formula is said to be highly concentrated, containing up to 70% of pigments and shimmers to provide ultimate color intensity. These shadows are supposed to last 10 hours. They can also be placed in Sephora’s new palettes, which are offered with 3 pans or 6 pans.

I will be reviewing all of the new colors offered in the Colorful Eyeshadow Collection. This review is for the shade No. 46 Flirting Game–a shimmery pinkish taupe.

Packaging: 9.25/10

Each eye shadow comes individually packaged in a plastic compact with a see-through, snap-shut lid. Along the edge of the pan in which the eyeshadow sits is a small groove which helps you easily remove the pan so that you can put it into a larger palette, if you wish.

Quality: 8.75/10

Flirting Game is a shimmering taupe with a pink undertone. The color is translucent. The formula is slightly stiff, but the powder transfers pretty well onto the skin. This shade is soft, so you can apply multiple layers without getting too strong of an effect.

Without primer, the color started to fade in the crease area after three (3) hours of wear. With primer applied, this fading effect didn’t start until about five and half (5.5) hours of wear.

Ease of Use: 9/10

I would recommend applying a primer underneath this shade to delay creasing of this color. Otherwise, it blends fairly smoothly through the crease.

Price: 9/10

For $13.00 you get 0.07 ounces of eye shadow. This is slightly more product than you’d get in a MAC eye shadow, and costs $2.00 less. Still, for a brand like Sephora (which, admittedly has been stepping up its game in the last year), this price point is a little higher than I’d expect for a single shadow.

Final Grade

Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 46 Flirting Game

Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 46 Flirting Game Swatch

Ingredients

Mica, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Magnesium Myristate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Dipentaerythrityl Pentaisononanoate, Silica, Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Talc, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Phenoxyethanol, Maltodextrin, CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), Sorbic Acid, BHT, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake)

Disclosure
This sample was provided for consideration purposes by the brand or a PR company. Reviews are always honest and never paid for.

MAC Tropical Taboo Collection

2013-05-20T22:16:03Z

Limited-edition
Release Date: July 4, 2013
Availability: MAC Stores & Online Nordstrom, Macy’s

Take a look at MAC’s upcoming Tropical Taboo Collection! This is a new mineralized collection from the company for Summer 2013.

Mineralize Eyeshadow

Dare to Bare: Light cream with gold pearlized pigments
Caribbean: Rose with pink and red pearlized pigments
Cha-Cha-Cha: Deep blue green with green pearlized pigments
Time to Tango: Lavender with silver pearlized pigments
Bossa Blue: Royal blue with brown pearlized pigments

Kohl Power Eye Pencil

Feline: Rich black (Repromote)
Orpheus: Intense black with gold pearlized pigments (Repromote)

In Extreme Dimension Lash

Black (Repromote)

Mineralize Lipsticks

Lady at Play: Mid-tone cool tangerine (Permanent)
Divine Choice: Mid-tone cool pink cream (Permanent)
Midnight Mambo: Intense violet
Luxe Naturale: Light beige cream (Permanent)
Glamour Era: Mid-tone warm brown frost (Permanent)

Cremesheen Glass

Calypso Beat: Pale neutral pink
Fever Isle: Bright red coral
Japanese Spring: Pale mid-tone pink
Narcissus: Mid-tone eggplant

Lip Pencil

Hip ‘n’ Happy: Mid-tone blue pink (Repromote)
Have to Have It: Soft warm beige (Repromote)
Heroine: Bright purple (Repromote)
Ablaze: Bright apricot (Repromote)
Tropica: Silver blue with purple pearlized pigments

Mineralize Blushes

Sweet Samba: Dark pink with tan pearlized pigments
Exotic Ember: Orange with bronze pearlized pigments
Simmer: Burnt rose with peach/gold pearlized pigments

Mineralize Skinfinishes

Adored: Coral with light beige pearlized pigments
Rio: Bronze with bright pink pearlized pigments
Lust: Pale pink with cranberry pearlized pigments
Soft ‘n Gentle: Gilded peach bronze (Permanent)
Gold Deposit: Soft reflective golden bronze (Permanent)

Brush

187: Duo fibre face brush
159: Duo fibre face brush
287: Duo fibre eyeshadow brush

Source