Amarixe

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer: Review & Swatch!

2012-02-24T09:00:00.002-08:00

As part of my "use up as many products in 2012" efforts, I've been really resisting makeup purchases lately. So much so that ever since my trip to LA the first week of January, I haven't bought anything! That is, until I swatched this at the Chanel counter this week and instantly knew I had to make an exception.

This shade, called Jalousie, is part of the new Roses Ultimes de Chanel collection that just recently hit counters. The release features six glossimers and three nail polishes in new limited edition shades. This color really stood out to me, and I love the name!

I would describe this as a hot raspberry shade. It's definitely in the pink family, but has a bright red undertone to it.

The swatch sold me on this one. As you can see, it is nearly opaque, which is something I love in a gloss. It packs enough color that I don't have to layer it over a lipstick to get a bright lip!

And as with all Chanel products, the packaging is lovely.

If this is the kind of shade that catches your eye, I really recommend it! It takes a lot for me to justify the price of a Chanel product (this Glossimer retails for $29.50), and this is only the second lip gloss I've ever purchased from the brand (2010's Bikini Peach was the first!). However, this is one of those shades that is hard to be disappointed with. I love the formulation (not too thick, not too thin), and it wears on the longer-end for a gloss.

Would you wear it?

xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: Butter London Disco Biscuit!

2012-02-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog! I've been all wrapped up in other things the last few weeks, but today I had some time to paint my nails for the first time in a while, and tried out a new color from Butter London's spring collection! Disco Biscuit is a hot pink base with purple, pink, and blue microshimmer in it. It's like a disco Barbie shade!

natural light, 2 coats

I must say, I cannot remember the last time I used a polish with a formulation this great. It seemed to be the perfect consistency while applying. I don't own many Butter London polishes, but this makes me want to pick up a few more. As far as dupes go, the only similar one I can think of is Wing It!, a limited polish from OPI a few summers ago. If you like bright, fun pinks, you may want to check this one out.

Hope you guys have been good!!

xx, Allison

Beauty Wishlist: February 2012

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, I like to do "wishlist" blog posts to share which products/items I've been lusting over lately. With all of these spring product releases, I'm practically drowning in desire, so I thought I would share which items I'm eyeing most! Note: All photos used in this post are official promo images, as I do not physically have the products to photograph myself. If you would like to see actual product photos/swatches, a Google image search will give you an even better idea of what they look like!

1.) NARS Spring 2012 Collection blush in Gaiety: No surprise here. This new blush from the Spring 2012 collection is a matte candy pink that is to die for. What I especially love about Gaiety is it appears to be NARS Desire's cousin for fair to medium skin tones. Desire is a similar bright pink that is a bit darker, much brighter, and a bit over the top for my skin tone. Gaiety is lighter, more sheer, and more wearable for me!

2.) NARS Spring 2012 Collection single eyeshadow in Lhasa: This is a somewhat unique silvery-grey-taupe shade in the sense that it has a significant lavender tinge to it. Translation: when I describe it this way it makes the product sound like something I don't have anything like! Denial much? I still want it.

3.) Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation: After experiencing the awesomeness of the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes, I'm especially interested in the foundation. If it is anything like the clay blushes in terms of staying power and wearability, I think I would be in love.

4.) butter LONDON "The Black Knight" Nail Polish: This is one of those polishes I initially overlooked when I saw its release photos. However, while visiting my friend Ingrid (and rummaging through her nail polish stash!) last month, I had the chance to see it in person and definitely changed my mind. This is one of of the few black based glitters I actually quite like! Now the question is... do I wait to get it and risk missing my chance? Or justify the splurge while it is still in stores? (This one is limited edition.)

5.) Kiehl's Creme de Corps: This is another product I discovered while raiding Ingrid's product closet last month (oh the joys of staying at beauty friend's place!). I cannot even put into words how amazing this cream is. It is the most luxurious, thick, moisturizing butter I have ever put on my skin. It puts every body butter I have ever used to shame, and as soon as I finish all of mine up, a jar of this will be mine!

Well there you have it: my current beauty wishlist! What items have you been lusting over lately?
xx, Allison

Bobbi Brown Day to Night Palette: Review & Swatches!

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's featured product is one of the Bobbi Brown Day to Night Eyeshadow Palettes. Bobbi Brown is constantly releasing different versions of these, and this one in particular is very cool toned, featuring seven eyeshadows and a dual-ended brush!

I'm a sucker for purples and grey tones, so this shade selection is great for my taste. I also love that the palette includes a matte highlight and matte black.

The pigmentation of these shades is good, not as buttery as other shadows I've used, but I had no problem getting solid pigmentation from them!

I received this as a Christmas gift from my friend Fleur, so I'm not sure where she got it or exactly where this is still available. I know it was a semi-recent release, so if you're interested in this product try poking around your local Bobbi Brown retailers and you may see it!

Update: According to Fleur this is a travel exclusive, available in airports only!

Have you ever tried Bobbi Brown products? Do you have a favorite?

xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: L'Oreal "Now You Sea Me"

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's NOTD is a polish from the new L'Oreal spring collection. Now You Sea Me is a light blue cream, and it caught my eye because unlike most lighter blue polishes, it doesn't lean too warm or too cool. I found this at WalMart for just under $5, and was really hoping to love it because the rest of the collection has some fantastic colors I wanted to try as well. However, I felt the formulation on this one was lacking. It was quite watery, not so much that it was impossible to work with, but I did have some streaking issues and the coverage below is three coats.

natural light, 3 coats

Overall, I like the color and the price, but if you decide to try this one keep in mind that it may be thinner than other polishes you are used to!

Would you wear it?

xx, Allison

Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow quad in Adventurous: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's featured product is another one of the new Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow quads in the color Adventurous. I don't know what it is about olive green eyeshadows, but whenever I see one I feel compelled to try it. I feel like olive green is one of the more wearable "colors" in the eyeshadow world!

Aside from a frosty olive shade, this quad includes a cream highlighter, frosty bronze, and matte brown. These shades remind me a lot of the Maybelline Sunbaked Neutrals 8-color eyeshadow quad (except they are much bigger)! I like that you can choose to just wear the neutral colors, or throw in the green to add a bit of a twist.

These apply really nicely and have good pigmentation. I haven't had any problems with all-day wear with these shadows, so as long as you use a good primer, they should stay vibrant and in place all day!

The back of the quad includes a diagram with a suggestion for how to wear the colors!

These can be found wherever Revlon products are sold and retail for roughly $7. If you are looking for some new shades to try or something compact to keep on hand for travel, I highly recommend these!

xx, Allison

Outfit of the Day: Stripes & Bows!

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

This OOTD involves one of my new favorite sweaters. I'm the kind of person that gravitates toward neutral colored clothing with one focused pop of color, and this outfit is just that!

This sweater is from Asos.com, and I fell in love with it because of its bow detailing on the back. It gives a very feminine touch to an otherwise very classic looking sweater.

I also love that the black and white color scheme allows something like red lips and gold earrings to stand out a bit more. This lipstick is Revlon's Cherries in the Snow, and the earrings are from Express.

For other accessories, I chose my rose gold Michael Kors watch and MARC by Marc Jacobs black handbag. For shoes, I'm wearing my red Jessica Simpson heels to tie the red lips in and add some more color! The black pants are from Express.

My gold ring is from Express, and has been my favorite ring to wear lately!

Hope you all have a great week!
xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: Essie Dive Bar

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's NOTD is Essie Dive Bar, a dark navy/purple/green color that is quickly becoming one of my favorite polishes. I especially love this shade because it is so un-Essie like. Essie is almost always light, creamy pastels, so something like this is really exciting. I love this for the same reason I love my Chanel Black Pearl: it gives my nails that edgy, chic dark look without being black. (Note: Chanel Black Pearl is much more grey/green than this polish) The consistence was nice on this as well.

natural light, 2 coats

If you like this shade, check out the rest of the Essie Dive Bar collection! It features 6 polishes that are much more "fun" than usual Essie shades.

Would you wear it?

xx, Allison

Sigma Eyeshadow Palette in Dare: Review & Swatches!

2012-01-21T09:00:00.001-08:00

***Through January 31st, 2012, click here and use the code 0112XJML to receive 10% off your Sigma order!***

Today's post features the Sigma eyeshadow palette in Dare: an 8-shade collection of pink, red, and gold toned shadows paired with a dual-ended eye brush!

The packaging of this palette is very similar to the original Urban Decay Naked palette. It is a rectangular cardboard case with a magnetic closure and rectangular eyeshadows. I am a big fan of this style of packaging, both for this product and the Naked palette. I think it is easy to use yet somehow slim enough to be easy to travel with.

The color range of this palette is quite unique... you don't see many red/pink based palettes released. My favorite shades are Grasp (peachy pink) and Shout (bright matte yellow). Shout is an intimidating shade, but used in small doses can add a really fun pop of color to the eyes! The brush included is a dual ended E20/E45.

Surrender, Grasp, Chase, Escape, Reveal, Catch, Shout, Vanish

I was really happy when I swatched these. I reviewed the Bare palette a couple of weeks ago and the pigmentation was mediocre, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case with this palette. The colors are all nicely pigmented and applied well!

Surrender, Grasp, Chase, Escape, Reveal, Catch, Shout, Vanish

Overall, if you think you would get good use out of these shades, I definitely recommend this palette. Personally, these colors aren't really my style for winter, but will look great in the spring/summer when I get a bit of a tan! These retail for $35 and can be purchased at SigmaBeauty.com.

Do you change your makeup shades with the seasons?
xx, Allison

***Through January 31st, 2012, click here and use the code 0112XJML to receive 10% off your Sigma order!***

Illamasqua "Rude" Blush: Swatch & Review!

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today I have another Illamasqua blush to share with you, this time in the shade Rude. This is a cream blush that I would describe as a peachy coral. I was a little intimidated by this one when I saw it in store: orange AND a cream formulation sounds like a recipe for clown cheeks, but after I swiped a bit on my skin, I knew it would be perfect for spring and summer.

Don't mind the subtle dots in the above photo... this is just how the cream looked before it was touched!

I really like the Illamasqua blush packaging. It's sleek and black without looking generic. Very pretty!

Here is the swatch on my skin. This is layered a bit to give you a better idea of the color, so you could easily wear this much more sheer than shown below. I absolutely love it!

This blush retails for $24 and can be purchased exclusively through Sephora. I think this blush is perfect to pair with a really natural look (concealer, mascara, gloss) so the peach tones really pop on the cheeks and give a fun, healthy looking glow. Will definitely be wearing this one to class a bunch!

Hope you all had a great week!
xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: OPI Nicki Minaj "Fly"

2012-01-19T09:00:00.001-08:00

Today's NOTD is Fly, my favorite polish from the new OPI Nicki Minaj collection. This is a bright teal creme that lives up to its name. I think it stands out without being too overpowering, and is a great shade for both fingers and toes! This is a nice shade for breaking out of the winter colors and into spring, and I do feel "fly" while wearing it. The formulation was really great too; it went on perfectly and one coat was almost all I needed!

natural light, 2 coats

Would you wear it?
xx, Allison

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's featured product is a lipstick from the Chanel Spring 2012 collection. The Rouge Coco Shine in "Flirt" is a glossy, semi-sheer peachy shade. The Rouge Coco Shine formulation is described as a "hydrating, sheer lipshine."

Aside from the quality, one of the biggest reasons I'm drawn to Chanel products is the packaging. Black with gold detailing, and the classic Chanel logo: beautiful!

Here is a look at Flirt swatched on my arm. As you can see, it has a high sheen and isn't entirely opaque. I like this because it makes it something you can easily use on-the-go or for a more natural look. No lip liner or precision needed!

Here is a look at Flirt on my lips:

Now while I am pleased with this purchase and will definitely use it a lot, I find the Rouge Coco Shine formula to be very similar to the Revlon Lip Butters. Thus, I really don't think you need to splurge for the Chanel product unless you are looking for a certain shade the Chanel line offers (that Revlon doesn't). Just my personal opinion! I probably won't be purchasing any more of these, considering the price. One is enough!

This product retails for $32.50 and can be purchased wherever Chanel products are sold!

Would you wear it?
xx, Allison

Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow in Decadent: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm back today with yet another Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow quad to share with you, this time in the shade Decadent. I like this quad because it has a very wearable color scheme, but isn't your typical brown/taupe shades!

When I saw this in store, I thought it was a great pick for spring and summer with light pinks, gold, and a reddish brown shadow. The pinks or gold would look great with a light wash all over the lid, or you could wear all four colors together to create a beautiful, defined look!

As with the other quads I've reviewed from this line, the pigmentation on these is excellent and they are definitely long-wearing. I think these colors will look great with a neutral blush, sheer gloss, and spring dress!

The back of the quad has a diagram with suggestions for where to put each color, in case you are interested in any ideas!

These should be everywhere Revlon products are sold, and retail for roughly $7 a piece. I found my quads on a BOGO 50% Off sale a couple weeks ago though, so look around for a bargain!

Hope you all are having a great day!
xx, Allison

Illamasqua "Ambition" Blush: Swatch & Review!

2012-01-16T09:00:00.001-08:00

Today is the day for a new brand to debut on this blog, Illamasqua! After years of hearing how wonderful Illamasqua blushes are, I decided to see what all of the hype was about and picked a couple up in a recent Sephora trip. The shade in this post is Ambition, a new blush from their Theatre of the Nameless collection.

I think the packaging of these blushes is pretty cool. I don't know how to describe the shape of the compact (swoopy square maybe? haha) but I like it! I also like that "Illamasqua" is written where the compact clasps.

I would describe Ambition as a medium toned pink with a hint of plum to it. It has a beautiful golden shimmer that reminds me a lot of NARS Orgasm. I would say this is very similar to Orgasm, but slightly less pink and more plum.

The formulation is really nice: good pigmentation and goes on the skin very nicely. Here's a swatch!

These blushes retail for $24 and can be purchased exclusively through Sephora. Have you ever tried any Illamasqua products? I've heard their nail polishes are pretty great as well.

xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: MAC Oriele Orange

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's NOTD is Oriele Orange, a polish from the new MAC & Iris Apfel collection. This is a coral red creme that reminds me a lot of OPI Cajun Shrimp (one of my favorites). The formulation of this seemed much better than MAC polishes I've used in the past... it was nearly perfect! I used two coats for the photo below, but one coat was almost entirely opaque.

natural light, 2 coats

I love the name of this, as well with the rest of the collection, because it was bird inspired. This will be a great polish to pair with the lipsticks from this collection for spring and summer!

Would you wear it?
xx, Allison

MAC Naturally Lipsticks: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-14T09:00:00.001-08:00

I'm back today with a couple more products to share from the new MAC Naturally collection. This release feature four neutral lipsticks, and two of them really jumped out at me (as much as a nude shade could). Beach Sand is a light, sandy brown that is like a more opaque version of the Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee (one of my FAVORITE lip products recently). Pillow Talk is a medium rosy brown that is unlike anything I have in my collection.

These both have a cremesheen finish, which is one of my favorite finishes from MAC because it is very moisturizing. Because they are so creamy, they don't wear as long as something like a matte finish, but I don't mind reapplying every few hours. These are also very opaque.

And now for lip swatches! I love the way these look on! Very creamy.

Beach Sand

Pillow Talk

Do you like wearing brown/nude lipsticks?
xx, Allison

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Maybelline has been on a roll with their spring releases this year, and the new Dream Bouncy Blush is one of the most interesting lines yet! This 10-shade collection features a variety of colors in a new "bouncy" formula.

Fresh Pink, Candy Coral, Orchid Hush

When I first looked at the collection display as a whole, I was a little surprised that most of the colors were either very bright or very dark. I decided to pick up three of the lightest shades in hopes they wouldn't be too crazy on me. The three colors I purchased are Fresh Pink, Candy Coral and Orchid Hush.

Clockwise from top: Candy Coral, Orchid Hush, Fresh Pink

The actual consistency of this blush is unlike anything I've ever seen or used. In the pan, it looks like a normal, dome shaped powder. However, if you press your finger into it, the blush will form an impression similar to that of memory foam. It is the most bizarre thing! I wish I had a camera on me when I first discovered this, because I basically gasped and squealed. As for the pigmentation, I now realize why most of this line looks bright/dark... these blushes are pretty sheer. I had to build them up quite a bit to get the swatches below:

Candy Coral, Orchid Hush, Fresh Pink

Here is a look at the blushes after I've played with them... they are all squished in, almost like clay! As for how long they wear, these certainly don't have the longevity of something like the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes, but did hold up a good 6+hours on me. If you are someone who needs a blush that is really long lasting, I would maybe look elsewhere, or layer a powder on top of these!

Next time I catch these on sale, I plan on picking up a few of the "darker" colors I was initially intimidated by. You should be able to find these pretty much everywhere Maybelline is sold. I've seen them at Rite Aid, Walmart, and Target!

Have you tried these?
xx, Allison

MAC Iris Apfel Lipsticks: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-12T09:00:00.001-08:00

MAC has released their highly anticipated Iris Apfel collaboration collection! The launch features limited edition eyeshadows, lipsticks, and nail polish (among other things) all inspired by birds! Five lipsticks are promoted with this collection, but only four are limited edition, so I passed on the permanent one. I must say, I think this is the best lipstick release I have ever seen from MAC. Not only are the shades unbelievably awesome, the pigmentation and formulation is perfect.

My psycho-scavenger blogger side came out when this released, as two of these lipsticks sold out online with an hour before I could get them. I ordered the other two still available, then found myself calling around to MAC stores seeing if the other two colors were in stock to ship to me (this collection isn't available at counters, which is all that I have in my city). Because the collection launched online two days before in-store, I was able to get a MAC to agree to ship them to me in a couple days after they launched in store. I've done this before, and sometimes the associates are on top of things and remember, sometimes they don't. So to be extra safe, I picked up the other two colors when we stopped by a MAC while I was in LA.

Long story short: I'm obsessive. And a little insane. But I got them!!

Here are the swatches on my arm. Aren't they just pretty to look at? The vibrancy is INSANE.

Flamingo, Pink Pigeon, Party Parrot, Scarlet Ibis

Now for lip swatches! First up is Flamingo, the most wearable shade of the bunch. This is a peachy coral that I'm sure will be one of my go-to lipsticks for spring and summer. This is the only lipstick of the release that has a lustre finish.

Next is Pink Pigeon. You almost need sunglasses to look at this one it is so bright, but I love it!! I'm sometimes hesitant with shades like these because of my fair skin tone, but every single color in this collection seems to go well with my complexion. This is a perfect color to pair with a black winged liner for an edgy look. It has a matte finish.

Then there is Party Parrot (aren't you loving these names?), the shade Ingrid and I found ourselves driving all over LA to find. Simply put, this shade is awesome. It is a bright coral/red/pink with a matte finish that makes an entire look pop! I love that it really is a mix between red and pink, and very bright, which makes it almost a more trendy, "young" version of a classic red lip. It has a matte finish.

Last is Scarlet Ibis. This is a bright, orange-toned red that is a bit lighter and warmer than a classic red. I usually stay away from orange-y reds on my complexion, but this one seems to work okay. It has a matte finish.

Now you may be asking yourself, who is Iris Apfel? Here's the promo shot for this collection below. How fly is she? I hope I'm this cool in 60 years. Thanks for the awesome collection, Iris!

If I haven't made it clear already, I think these lipsticks are absolutely incredible. If you are interested in any of these colors, I don't think you would be disappointed with your purchase. These are sold out online, but try checking (or calling) MAC stores around you to see if they still have them in stock. Once again, these are not available at counters (Nordstrom, Macy's, etc.), so check freestanding stores.

Did you get anything from this collection?
xx, Allison

MAC Naturally Collection Blushes: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

MAC recently released their "Naturally" collection, a set of neutral products perfect for everyday wear. Included in the launch were three new mineralize blushes. I've never owned a MAC mineralize blush before because I usually find the MAC mineralize blushes to be way too shimmery for my taste. However, when I saw that these have a very satin-- almost matte-- finish, I was sold (or rather, they were)!

I would describe these shades as a warm apricot, burnt coral, and warm pink. I think this color selection really is perfect for creating "natural" everyday looks!

Clockwise from top: Fresh Honey, Early Morning, Subtle Breeze

All of these were wonderfully pigmented and apply like a dream. As I stated earlier, these have a subtle satin finish, and for the most part really look matte on the skin. I love this, because usually the mineralize products are overly sparkly/frosty and I prefer my cheek color to be more on the matte side!

Fresh Honey, Early Morning, Subtle Breeze

I highly recommend these if you are looking for a new neutral blush... I'm pretty much in love with these! The quality is definitely there and the colors are beautiful. My favorite shades are Fresh Honey and Early Morning... I feel like MAC doesn't release colors like these too often!

Did you get anything from this collection?
xx, Allison

Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow in Siren: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's featured product is another one of the new Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow quads in the shade Siren. This is a beautiful grey-toned color scheme that is perfect for creating a smoky eye!

The colors in this quad are a metallic silver, medium grey, charcoal, and matte black. I like that there is both a silver and warm grey, so you could make the eye a bit cooler or warmer with whichever you choose.

The pigmentation on these is fantastic, and they wear all day as well. As stated in a previous post, I am really impressed with this line! I definitely think you get the bang for your buck with these!

The back of the quad has a diagram with a suggestion of where to place each color on the eye!

I've seen displays of these popping up in pretty much every drugstore in my area, so they shouldn't be hard to find. These quads retail for around $7, but shouldn't be hard to find on some sort of a sale, so look around!

Have you tried any of these quads?

xx, Allison

Maybelline Baby Lips: Swatches & Review!

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

It seems that almost every drugstore brand has released a new moisturizing lip product lately, and Maybelline is no exception. The new Baby Lips products are a tinted moisturizing balm in stick form. These have SPF 20 in them so they are great to throw in a beach bag or have on hand during the warmer months!

Peppermint, Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Grape Vine

There are six total shades in the collection, two clear balms and four tinted balms. I figured I only needed one of the clear balms, so I passed on the sixth shade. I love the packaging and color schemes of these!

Peppermint, Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Grape Vine

I heard a lot of people say that these were supposed to be comparable to the Revlon Lip Butters, but I don't think they are really similar at all! The Revlon Lip Butters are more like sheer lipsticks in the sense that they pack a lot of color, but as you can see in the swatches below, the Baby Lips are quite a bit more sheer. You definitely won't get the same coverage from these that you would from a Revlon Lip Butter. However, these are really moisturizing and are great for a really nice subtle tint of color on the lips!

Peppermint, Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Grape Vine

Last, but not least, these smell AMAZING! Each balm is scented according to its shade name, and tastes like it too!

These retail for roughly $3 and should be available wherever Maybelline products are sold. These will definitely be a staple to have in my bag for when out I'm running errands or going to class because they are very natural looking and very moisturizing.

What is your favorite moisturizing lip product?
xx, Allison

Outfit of the Day: Red, White & Black!

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

The weather was finally nice enough the other day to do some OOTD photos, so here is an ensemble I've been especially loving lately. I like the simplicity of the colors mixed with the complexity of the sweater design. A bit optical illusion-esque, that sweater is.

Sweater: Asos
Denim: Seven For All Mankind
Boots: Target

Scarf: Dress Barn
Watch: Phosphor

Earrings: local shop

I barrel curled my hair using a 1" iron, then shook it out with my fingers to loosen it up a bit!

I've been absolutely loving these black riding boots from Target lately. They're super comfortable, and I love the look of these from the back!

Here's the sweater without the scarf. I love the neckline and 3/4 sleeves. I think it goes really nicely with the print!

For pants, these jeans from Seven For All Mankind are one of my all time favorite pairs. They are the "Straight" style, which means they are skinny all the way to about mid-calf, then loosen a bit. They're really comfortable and fit my body type well.

For makeup, I'm wearing neutral colors. This is definitely a more casual outfit for me, so I kept the same idea with my makeup.

Have a great weekend everyone!
xx, Allison

MAC Tour De Fabulous: Haul & Swatches!

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

I made the mistake of thinking I could just breeze by the MAC counter the other day, and ended up falling in love with the new Tour De Fabulous collection. This collection contains limited edition lipglass and lip pencil shades, and the color selection is gorgeous! I ended up picking up a few things, and thought I would share them!

The first thing I got is a lip liner in Lasting Sensation. This is a pink/orange red that makes for a great spring colored lip! This look especially nice with the lipglass to its right, Tour De Fabulous, on top! Tour De Fabulous is a gorgeous creamy peachy pink color, and it is probably the best lipglass I've seen MAC release all year (as in 2011). The lipglass on the far right is Comfort & Joy, which is a pearlescent silvery purple shade, great for a cooler lip!

Lasting Sensation lip pencil, Tour De Fabulous lipglass, Comfort & Joy lipglass

Now for swatches!

Lasting Sensation lip pencil, Tour De Fabulous lipglass, Comfort & Joy lipglass

Did you get anything from this collection?

xx, Allison

Nail of the Day: OPI Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday"

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across the new OPI Nicki Minaj collection the other day. The store was having a 2 for $12 OPI sale, so I decided to pick up a few of the new polishes to NOTD here for you guys! The shade in this post is Pink Friday, a classic Nicki Minaj-esque light candy pink. This is extremely opaque for a light pink polish (similar to OPI Mod About You, and was really thick when applying. I applied two coats, but probably could have gotten away with just one. As you can see on my middle finger, I did have a little bubbling occur because the formulation was so thick. Regardless, I really like the color! I don't usually go for such "plastic-pink" shades, but I'm quite fond of this one.

natural light, 2 coats

Do you plan on getting anything from this collection?
xx, Allison

Sigma Extravaganza Complete Kit: Review!

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

***Through January 31st, 2012, click here and use the code 0112XJML to receive 10% off your Sigma order!***

A few weeks ago, Sigma released a new 29-piece luxury brush kit with 18k gold ferrules. When I first saw this release, I fell in love. An 18k gold brush set is like a fine piece of jewelry for makeup addicts such as myself. However, the price tag of this kit is very hefty. Thus, I would like to acknowledge that this is supposed to be a luxury brush kit. Sigma didn't create this with the idea of selling millions of sets. I think it would make a wonderful graduation gift, or fancy present that is something different from fine jewelry.

The price is $510 for the whole set. For that reason, I would like to address the price aspect of the kit before continuing with the rest of the review. Yes, $510 is an ENORMOUS amount of money to spend on a set of brushes. I am not in any way trying to say this is cheap. However, when you do the math, $510 for 29 brushes comes out to $17 per brush, with 18k gold plating! That is still cheaper than companies like MAC. This set is extremely expensive because you are buying in bulk, not because it is necessarily overpriced per brush (if they work well-- see below!).

This kit comes in a leather zip case, with a binder-like system inside for storing the brushes complete with brush guard flaps for protection. I am really impressed with the quality of the case itself... I wish Sigma sold empty cases like this, as they would be nice for any kind of brushes!

There are, in a sense, two "pages" of brushes in this kit. The large face brushes all come with plastic covers to protect the hairs during storage. The kit is also split pretty evenly between face and eye/lip brushes. Here is the first "page":

Here is the second "page":

This set includes 29 of Sigma's best selling brushes, which for the most part are ones I am familiar with. Here is the first row of eyes brushes. As you can see, there are three crease brushes, a short shader, a few precision eye brushes for liner application, and a lip brush on the very end.

E25, E35, E45, E20, E15, E65, E05, E10, L05

The first row of face brushes includes three stippling brushes and 3 powder brushes. I really love the selection of this row because it includes popular brushes for basic face makeup.

F50, F15, F35, F30, F55, F20

Here is another look at the same row outside of the case, so you can get a better idea of what the brushes look like:

F20, F55, F30, F50, F15, F35

The second row of small brushes features another crease brush, a pencil brush, and some shader and concealer brushes. Once again, a great selection to choose from.

E40, E30, E70, E55, F70, F75, E60, F65

The second row of face brushes includes several more powder brushes, including an angled brush, and a foundation brush.

F25, F10, F40, F05, E50, F60

Here is the second row of brushes outside of the case, for abetter look at their shapes:

F25, F40, F60, F10, F05, E50

Each handle has the Sigma logo and brush number on one side, and "extravaganza" in gold cursive on the other side. The whole design is really beautiful.

Here's another look at the case, which you can see is very thick! It is quite heavy when you have it full of brushes!

So now for the big question: do the brushes work well? Overall, I would say yes. The hairs are soft and they apply product nicely. I experienced quite a bit of shedding with the F15, but aside from that brush, none of the others have shed on me. The E30 pencil brush seems to have a little bit different shape from a standard E30, but I think I like the Extravaganza shape better.

I do not think these brushes outperform standard Sigma brushes. The big appeal of this kit is the 18k gold ferrules and vast selection of brushes. I do not think you need this kit in terms of getting the best makeup application on the planet. The original Sigma brushes perform just as well, in my opinion!

However, if you are looking to build a brush collection and are willing to spend money on something like this, I think it is a great choice. You get almost every type of brush you could need in a collection, and buying brushes individually can add up to $500+ over a few years pretty fast anyway. It would have been much cheaper for me to have purchased something like this at the start of my collection than to grab a MAC brush here and there for several years.

Overall, I LOVE this kit. It's pretty, it's fancy, and it works really well. I don't think it is a must-have, but if you want it and have the means to get it, I think you will be very pleased with it.

xx, Allison

***Through January 31st, 2012, click here and use the code 0112XJML to receive 10% off your Sigma order!***