Lipstick Boulevards.

Addiction Ready To Wear Eye Palette 05 Departure .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:59:00 +0000

Addiction Ready To Wear Eye Palette 05 Departure .

I have been pretty much avoiding all the new collections these days . While the Armani fall and By Terry Fall collections were nice ; in all honesty nothing really has felt like a necessity . That being said , Addiction Departure quad has completely dazzled me ! I seriously cannot get enough of this palette . Lets have a look at this baby before I start babbling about my love for it .

see how the sparklies come alive when the light hits it !

glow in the dark sparklies GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!

LOOK AT IT !! Addcition Departure quad .

Shade 1 : is a molten golden khaki brown with multidimensional shimmer . It is very creamy to the touch .

Shade 2 : is a silvery lavender glitter top coat . The texture is a little crumbly so be sure to gently pat this in or use light sweeping motions to blend it out .

Shade 3 : is a burgundy plum with purple and lavender shimmer . Extremely creamy to the touch .

Shade 4 : is a greyed lavender with tiny lavender sparkles . This is a a satin finish and makes an excellent bending shade .

Normally , I write down a little paragraph about how I wear a certain palette and the shadow placement but I decided to post an eye look featuring Departure . Mainly because I really want to show you guys how beautiful this looks on the eyes and I wanted to catch the sparklies in action !

yup I totally forgot to wear fdtn :(

allergies suck and my eyes refused to cooperate .

Breakdown of the look :

I put down a thin layer of Mac Artifact on the lid and then blended out the edges with shade 4 .
I placed the shade 1 on the inner half of the lid .
Then placed shade 3 on the outer half of the lid and gently blended the center of the lid with light seeping motions .
Now take a pencil brush and place shade 2 in the crease from the inner to outer corner of the eye .

Notice how I didn't get any fall out and barely spent any time blending #winning

Overall , I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PALETTE ! If this was LE people ? Trust and believe I would have been on the hunt for a back up lol .

Check out Belly's review here and Sara's here

xoxo

Suqqu Bright Up Lipstick in 01 .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 05:41:00 +0000

Suqqu Bright Up Lipstick in 01 .

I was quite late to the Suqqu lipstick game but was lucky enough to get the two beautiful reds they made in the Creamy Glow range . The new Bright Ups are supposed to be a more pigmented version of their predecessor .

Suqqu Bright Up Lipstick in 01 .

01 looks like a mauve pink in the tube but on my lips , it is a beautiful soft baby pink . Now this is how you do baby pinks people ( I am looking at you Mac and Ysl ! ) . I love how creamy and opaque it looks on my lips - LOVE ! Most light pinks have way too much white or blue and end up giving you the cough *pornstar* cough look :) . 01 makes a brightening and fresh looking lip on its own and beautifully compliments a dark smokey look as well . I have been wearing it with Illmasqua Katie on my cheeks and a heavy cat eye liner and it makes quite an interesting look .

Wear time was between 3-4 hours and I am happy to report that I didn't get the dreaded white line *gross* as it faded through out the day .

So what makes this worth 27 Gdp ? In all honesty , nothing compares to how these feel on the lips . Yes, not even my beloved BT come close . If a hydrating lip balm and Ysl Rouge voluptes had a baby then these are it ! They are supremely hydrating and insanely pigmented . They have the slip and feel of the Ysl but they last for much longer and feel a 1000 times more luxurious .

Overall , I cannot wait for new brighter colors !

xoxox

Mauvey Nights with Bobbi Brown .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 03:14:00 +0000

Bobbi Brown is not exactly a brand I look to for products . I own a few matte shadows from her line and that's about it . In my opinion the foundations are too yellow , the blushes and lipsticks are nothing special . Also , her palettes are always too sheer and they all look the same to me :/.

That being said , I was recently at the Guerlain counter getting a facial with the Orchidee Imperial line and I mentioned to the SA that I wasn't a fan of the BB line . The BB counter manger overhead us and asked me to stop by once I was done with my facial lol . Needless to say I was a little hesitant approaching her but I also wanted to hear what she had to say *the troll in me couldn't resist lol *

I probably spent 2-3 hours at the counter playing with products and I can honestly say the look she created for me was absolutely beautiful ! This was one of the best make overs I have ever had . I walked away from the counter with a new friend , a new look and a bag of products to play with :)

She insisted on doing a pinky/mauvey /plum look on me which I is completely out of my comfort zone . I like warm browns and reddish tones on myself personally but I was pleasantly surprised by her color choices for me .

Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum shadow and Velvet Plum longwear Cream Shadow .

Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum longwear cream shaow swatch , Velvet Plum shadow and both of the products layered .

She started with applying a layer of Velvet Plum long wear cream shadow on my lids and then topped it off with velvet plum powder shadow . We used a little bit of an eye shadow in Taupe to diffuse the color . I love love love this combination ! The cream version is a little warmer than the powder and both of them are decently pigmented . They lasted 7 hours on my oily eye lids with no primer .

Bobbi Brown Mauve Shimmer Ink

Then we took the gel liner in Mauve Shimmer Ink and lined my lid and the lower water line . The line was diffused with a smudge brush to give a soft smokey effect . We finished the eyes with two coats of Party Mascara . I like the look of the liner with the look but the formula is nothing special . I prefer the LM gel liner to the BB ones .

Bobbi Brown Sand Pink Blush

On my cheek she used a little bit of Blush in Sand Pink and blended it out towards the hair line . I absolutely love this color on me ! Surprisingly , I do not have a mauvey pink blush in my collection and this is just perfection .

Bobbi Brown Pale Mauve Cream lip color and True Pink creamy matte lip color , BB true pink creamy matte and BB pale mauve creamy lip color.

Bobbi Brown Pale Mauve Cream lip color and True Pink creamy matte lip color

Last but not the least , the Lips ! We used a light layer of True Pink Creamy Matte Lipcolor and then topped it off with a a 2 coats of Pale Mauve Creamy Lip color . The Creamy Matte lip colors are very pigmented and creamy so I recommend patting them on the lips and them pressing the colors into the lips with your finger . The Creamy Lip color is very sheer and hydrating and reminded me of the Dior Addicts . This lip combination last 6 hours on me and faded beautifully ; leaving a soft pink color on my lips .

I couldn't find a match in the line so we skipped on foundation .Thankfully it was good skin day and I was able to get away with it .

Overall , I have worn this look almost 8 times in the past month and that's alot for someone like me who has so much makeup .The eye shadow combination is perfect on my almost black eyes . My coworkers said that it made my eyes glow ! The blush and lip combination are the perfect ccompliment to it .

Does this mean that I am a BB girl now ? Not by any means but I do like the products I bought and I can definitely wholeheartedly recommend these . I did go back to the counter to have a look but sadly nothing really spoke to me like these products did . I own a 6 pan palette from the line and that's probably going to be it for me :).

Would you like to see swatches of my custom BB palette ?

Lmk

xxoxo

Giorgio Armani 'Maestro Fusion' Compact Foundation SPF 29 in Shade 2 .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 02:47:00 +0000

Giorgio Armani 'Maestro Fusion' Compact Foundation SPF 25 in Shade 2 .

Giorgio Armani recently released the compact version of their Maestro foundation . If you have read my review of the liquid version ( Click ) then you are aware that I was not a fan . The foundation was a nightmare on dry skin and was FULL of silicones .However, I was quite intrigued by the compact version ; mainly because I love the feel and look of cream foundations on dry skin . This looked like exactly what I needed this fall .... umm ... ya ....

According to the armanibeauty.com , "Giorgio Armani Beauty introduces a new expression of Maestro Haute Couture foundation. Its revolutionary texture is now available in a compact. This multi-purpose product conceals like a foundation, offers precision touch-ups and camouflages blemishes. The compact cream is enriched with Argan oil ."

Giorgio Armani 'Maestro Fusion' Compact Foundation SPF 25 in Shade 2 .

If you cant tell from the horrific swatch above then this is probably one of the worst foundations I have ever tried . I am in my mid twenties and this made me look like I had the skin of a 80 year old ! Now, the foundation claims to be for touch ups but with this type of grainy and dry texture , I cannot imagine using it for that purpose . I tried this on over a thick moisturizer , different sunscreens , with the brush provided , a beauty blender and the Real techniques buffing brush . The result was pretty much the same .

The icing on the cake was the wear time . This lasted 4 hours on my skin and left my skin feeling very dehydrated . It also transferred like crazy which left me looking a patchy hot mess by the end of the day .

Overall , I think the swatch speaks for itself ..... I just cant with this product ....

Price ? $64.00

xoxo

By Terry Ombre Blackstar "Color-Fix" Cream Eyeshadow in 13 Brown Perfection.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 05:50:00 +0000

By Terry Ombre Blackstar "Color-Fix" Cream Eyeshadow in 13 Brown Perfection.

By Terry fall is probably the only Fall collection that actually releases in the FALL lol . I pretty much skipped out on all the collections this year because nothing really felt like a necessity and also because I knew By Terry was going to shut it down with her new releases !

I have already reviewed the lipsticks here -->CLICK ! and today I bring to you the new Ombre Blackstar in Brown Perfection . She released another one in a matte black color but I opted for the chocolate brown one .

By Terry Ombre Blackstar "Color-Fix" Cream Eyeshadow in 13 Brown Perfection.

Brown Prefection is a velvet finish OBS , which means that it is more of a subdued metallic finish as opposed the glittery finish of Misty Rock or Bronze Moon . Color wise it a true chocolate brown with slight red and bronze undertones that provides the color with a subtle sheen . Blended out the light brown base is more visible .

This makes an incredible smokey eye by itself and also makes a beautiful base for eye shadows . The wear time is between 8-10 hours on my oily lids ( no primer ) .

Overall , another beautiful addition to range . I hoping for a little more sparkle but I am quite happy with this offering .

Would you like to swatches of all the Ombre Blackstars I own ? Lmk

xxooxo

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette For Eyes 2013.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 02:27:00 +0000

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette For Eyes.

Laura Mercier has been one of favorite brands for a long long time . In fact my first high end products were from them and Nars . I pretty much wore their Tinted Moisturizer and blush in Rose petal everyday during my Freshman year in college . I think she makes makes high quality base products but the line has definitely lacked in the eye shadow and lipstick department . That being said , with the release of the baked matte powders and the lipstick ranges ; she has definitely stepped it up ! I hope she releases more matte and satin shades because quality wise they are great but the range is very limited .

This year LM released another Artist Palette and instead of it being half shimmer and half matte , this year it is half plum shades and the other half is all neutral .

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette For Eyes.

Lto R

Sparkling Dew : is a satin cream shade .

Guava : a light pink satin shade .

African Violet : a metallic plum with gold shimmer .

Plum Smoke : a matte light lavender shade with blue undertones.

Kir Royal : is a satin aubergine shade .

Violet ink : a matte eggplant .

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette For Eyes.

Vanilla Nuts : a matte light cream shade .

Primrose : a light pink shade with a sheen .

Fresco : a matte nude pink .

Bamboo : a metallic sandy taupe .

Truffle : a matte chocolate shade .

Espresso Bean : a matte black/brown .

The matte shades are slightly powdery so make sure u press your brush into the pan instead of swirling it . All the shades are pigmented and very buildable .

Overall , this is a very beautiful palette ! If you work in a very conservative wok environment then you will really enjoy this . For the price and the quality this is an awesome deal :)

Price ? $48.00

Limited Edition? Yes .

* This looks like a Sephora Exclusive so grab one as soon as you can !

xoxo

By Terry Fall 2013 :Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 11 ,12 , 13 , 14 and 15 .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 01:33:00 +0000

Hi there strangers .....

Apologizes for disappearing for almost a month but if you ever need to contact me then I am always here ===>TWEEETEERRRRRRR !

So , I am back and I have By Terry fall lipsticks to show you guys :)

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 11 Fatal Shot.

Fatal Shot is a glossy pink red with neutral undertones .

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 12 Be Red.

Be Red is another pink red but this one has definite blue undertones and is slightly lighter than Fatal Shot .

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 13 Sangria Appeal .

Sangria Appeal looks like a vampy cherry in the tube but on the lips it is a sheer plummy red . I was quite disappointed with this one . I wanted a deep , dark and rich vamp but this is mediocre/dated looking ? :(

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 14 Plump Plump Girl.

Plump Plump Girl ... seriously Terry ?

Color wise , it is a purple with a strong pink lean . BEAUTIOUS !

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 15 Grand Cru.

Grand Cru is half pink and half purple . The color reminds me of a Purple Loosestrife flower .. right ?

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in No. 11 Fatal Shot, 12 Be Red , 13 Sangria Appeal , 14 Plump Plump Girl and 15 Grand Cru.

I hope the pictures show the glossy/ vinyl finish of these lip colors . I love how most of these
(except Sangria Appeal) are opaque in one swipe but still have a slight jelly feel to them . If you love the look of opaque lip colors but can't stand how heavy and thick they feel on the lips then you will really like these . I was able to wear them for 5 hours and I didn't notice any bleeding or feathering but you have fine lines near your lip line then its probably a good idea to wear a colored or clear liner . Also , I found these to be quite hydrating. Which is shocking because I really didn't like how No 1 Nudissimo felt on my lips . Maybe the deeper colors in the range perform better than the lighter ones ?

As far as color is concerned , no .14 .15 are the most unique and I cannot wait to wear these with plummy cheek colors and strong cool toned contouring .

Overall , I am really enjoying these but I am probably going to return 11 , 12 and 13 because I have too many reds . If you are brave enough to wear number 14 then I highly recommend . No. 15 is also is a nice way to wear a purple lip without going all out .

Which one is your favorite ?

xoxo
A.

Love it Or Toss it !

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +0000

I am back !!!

Joyce from BronzerBunny asked me and the lovely Belly head from Wondegondigo to join her in a another edition of LOVE IT OR TOSS IT ! *muhahaha*

You can check out their posts here : BronzerBunny and here : Bellyhead.

I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to do some final testing on a few makeup products and give you guys short reviews on each of them . I should forewarn you though ... some of these reviews will not be "nice" but they are honest . Also , this is purely my experience with them and your's may be different .

1. Rouge Bunny Rouge Skin Sanctuary Time Defying Foundation in Linen.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Skin Sanctuary Time Defying Foundation in Linen

I actually bought this bottle back when it was first released in December and in all honesty I it really didn't like it on my dry winter skin but I decided to hold on it and give it another shot in the Summer months .

Rouge Bunny Rouge Skin Sanctuary Time Defying Foundation in Linen

If you are familiar with Rouge Bunny Rouge then you know the packaging almost never disappoints . The Skin Sanctuary Time Defying foundation is housed in a beautiful glass bottle with a pump . The bottle is hefty and looks quite luxe inside its black casing .

Texture wise the foundation is a thick cream that spreads out with little to no effort on the skin and gives a satin finish . Upon initial application , I noticed that my skin looked slightly flat but after a few minutes the foundation seems to warm up and look more natural . Sounds perfect for Summer right ? umm...

This foundation has absolutely no lasting power whatsoever ( ouch! ) .It lasts two hours in the Summer and 4 hours in the Winter ! I have normal to combo skin in the Summer and very dry skin the Winter . Most foundations last at least 6-7 hours on my skin but this foundation just slides off my face :( . Normally ,I would immediately toss a foundation with such poor performance but because it is RBR and I absolutely love the company and what that they represent, I spent ALOT of time testing this foundation with different moisturizers and primers . I tested this foundation with the Hourglass primer , RBR primer ,with setting powder , on top of bare skin and on top moisturized skin and the results were sadly the same . This just doesn't last on me .. sigh

It is now sitting in my blog sale pile :(

2&3 ) Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in 2 and Marc Jacobs Beauty Lovemarc Lip Gel in 104 Dizzy Spell

Lets first discuss the Marc Jacobs lipstick In Dizzy Spell .

Dizzy Spell is sheer peachy pink with a jelly finish and looks absolutely beautiful on the lips . When I first saw the word " gel " in the lipstick name , I knew that it will be drying and I was right . The lipstick has a glossy finish much like the Dior Addicts but unlike them , the MJ Lipsticks do not camouflage dry lips .The lipstick seems to amplify dryness on the lips and makes my them peel . My lips were left feeling extremely dehydrated when it wore off . The lasting power is between 1-2 hours but reapplication is a nightmare ! My lips were peeling so badly that I had to slather on a layer of Nuxe lipbalm and exfoliate off the dry bits with a cotton bud .

Bummer !

Lets have a look at the HG Nude lip Stylo now ....

The Nude Stylo range is being touted as every nude lip lovers dream collection ! The line consists of of 6 nudes shades that have an opaque satin finish with a slight sheen . I picked up number 2 which is a peachy beige, which looks beautiful with a bronze look . The lipstick stylo's have a decent amount of pigmentation and dry down to a true satin finish on the lips . I really enjoyed the color on its on but I feel like its a little too flat for a pale nude . My lips looked like I had concealer on them and as the as the color was wearing off , I noticed the dreaded white line on my lips *gross * .The wear time was between 3-4 hours and the formula was comfortable to wear but the way this wears off is something I cannot ignore .

It seems quite obvious that I would toss both of these right ? sort of ...

I decided to layer these two on top of each other and viola !

The combination of the two together makes a beautiful pinky peach lip which is opaque but still has a slight glossiness to it . The HG lips stylo gives the MJ lipstick a base to stick to and prolongs it wear time .Now , is it a hydrating lip combo ? Not by any means but its comfortable and I didn't notice any peeling . Even though I love the combination of these two together, their individual and combined formulas are not worth it to me . I am going to return these and buy myself a By Terry. Armani or Cdp lipstick instead.

Overall ,

RBR foundation ? Toss it !

HG lip stylo ? Toss it !

MJ lipstick ? Toss it !

Please check out

Joyce's Post HERE !

And Belly's Post HERE!

Have you tried these products ?

xoxo

Lipstick Week Tag : Giorgio Armani 'Kaleidoscope Fall 2013 - Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 410 , 610 and 612 .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 01:52:00 +0000

Giorgio Armani 'Kaleidoscope Fall 2013 - Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 410 , 610 and 612 .

Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 410 , 610 and 612 .

HELLO !

Yes , I am alive and no , I have not forgotten about the tag . Life sort got in the way of things but I am back with Giorgio Armani fall shall ! p.s. my top drugstore lip products post will be up next ;D

The Kaleidoscope collectin has been getting ALOT of buzz on the blogs these days and the collection is well worth the hype . Finally , a well executed fall collection ! While most of us were smitten by the eye and cheek palettes , the lipstick addict in me could not pass on the lipsticks ! If you have been reading my blog for a while then you know that I absolutely LOVE the Rouge d' Armani formula and I am always excited to find new shades in the line to obsess over .

The fall collection introduces 6 new shades and I bought 3 of them * woah self restraint ? lol *

Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 410

410 is a delicious strawberry red with a slight pink lean . It looks quite boring and uneventful in the tube but on the lips , the color really comes to life and brightens the complexion .

Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 610

610 looks like every other vampy lipstick in the tube but on the lip transforms in to a beautiful grape color with a pink lean . STUNNING !

Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani' Lipstick in 612

612 in the tube looks like a color my mom would love and I would normally pass on . However , the Mua at the Armani counter insisted that I try this one and I did .... and well it made its way home with me ! I would describe this a soft tea pink with plum undertones .

Overall , don't forget about the lipsticks you guise ! The palettes and the ETK shadows are absolutely stunning but the lipsticks are definitely the stars of the show.

xoxo

Lipstick Week Tag :Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick in T4 Calliope.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 07:48:00 +0000

Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick in T4 Calliope.

Day two ! Today I will "attempt " to show you one of my favorite nude lipsticks . P.s. photographing nude lip colors is the bane of my existence ! I always end up looking like I have white out on my lips ugh .

Here goes nothing ..

Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick in T4 Calliope.

Cle de Peau lipsticks have always been a favorite of mine . They are in my opinion highly underrated and one of the most hydrating and luxurious lipsticks I own The Extra Rich line promises opacity without the look of heaviness and moisture without compromising on the wear time . These last 4-6 hours on my lips and fade evenly .

T4 is the kind of nude I wear when I am a wearing a metallic bronzey eye and a soft honey toned bronzer on my cheeks . This peachy beige lipstick is the perfect compliment to the "Bronzey Summer " look . It adds the perfect amount of color to the skin without competing with the super metallic eye look . I find T4 to be surprisingly brightening too , which is odd because most nudes make me look lifeless and Edward Cullenesque *shivers*.

Overall, this is a summer must have for me and one of my many favorites from the Cle de peau line . I picked up a few new lipsticks from their new range so stay tuned for those swatches .

Tomorrow , I will share with you some on my favorite drugstore lipstick finds ;D

xoxo

Lipstick Week Tag :Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 401 Tibetan Orange , 502 Artdeco and 504 Ecstasy .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 05:36:00 +0000

Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 401 Tibetan Orange , 502 Artdeco and 504 Ecstasy .

Hey guys !

I was tagged by the lovely Claire from Aucuparia Brumalis , to do the "Lipstick Week Tag " and I decided to feature some of my favorite lip products from my lip stash .

Today , we will be looking at a few other colors from the Lip Maestro range . I have already reviewed 201 and 500.

Formula : They are a velvet finish lip gloss that is opaque in one swipe and sets to matte finish . I personally found these to be very comfortable to wear and non-drying . If you love the look of matte lips but most matte lipsticks wreak havoc on your lips then the Lip Maestros are what you have been waiting for . Wear time is between 4-5 hours on me .

Lets have a look at some of the other shades I own ..

Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 401 Tibetan Orange , 502 Artdeco and 504 Ecstasy .

Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 502 Artdeco .

502 Artdeco is a pinky plum with equal parts of pink and plum .

Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 401 Tibetan Orange.

401 Tibetan Orange is a reddish orange .

Giorgio Armani 'Lip Maestro' Matte Lacquer in 504 Ecstasy .

504 Ecstasy is a pinky red with a slight jelly finish but it sets to a matte finish eventually .

SWOOONNNNNN ...

I have been wearing these with nothing but sunscreen and huge sunglasses on my face .I think it is a very modern and classy way of wearing a bright lip without looking like your trying too hard .

Overall , I cannot recommend these enough !

I will show you one of my favorite nude lipsticks tomorrow ;D

xoxo

Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Cocoa .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 06:14:00 +0000

Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Cocoa .

I have been making my way through the Dolce and Gabanna makeup line slowly but surely and so far , I have been quite impressed with the range . A few months ago I reviewed the quad in 123 Desert and it has become one of my staple items . I love pairing that quad with bronzey and more metallic shades .

Since most of the Summer collections failed to impress me this year , I decided to visit the D&G counter in search of a warm palette and D&G Cocoa is exactly what I have been looking for !

Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Cocoa .

The quad consists of two matte and 2 metallic shades .

Shade 1 - Matte cream shade , very smooth and pigmented .

Shade 2 - A peachy orange matte , very smooth and pigmented .

Shade 3 - A metallic bronze , smooth and pigmented .

Shade 4 - A metallic plummy bronze , smooth and pigmented .

There is a noticeable difference between the texture of the matte and metallic shades . The metallic shades are slightly harder to the touch but the pigmentation is on par with the matte shades .

I absolutely love the way theses colors look on my eyes and I can see them looking amazing on lighter eye colors as well . Darker skin tones will also find these colors combination to be incredibly flattering . The metallic shadows are multidimensional and reflective but in a very sophisticated way . They are not frosty and will not exaggerate fine lines on the eye lids .

It is important to note that D&G quads are very hit or miss so it is imperative to check these out in store . The quality of the quads is not consistent and I found most of the shadow palettes to be an a mishmash of oddly paired shades .

The wear time was between 8- 9 hours with a primer and the shadows were a dream to blend .

Overall , I really love the look of Cocoa and I definitely recommend checking it out . Definitely check the line out in stores before you make a purchase . Quality wise Desert and Cocoa come highly recommended by me ;D

xoxo
A.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo Swatches and a GIVEAWAY !

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 03:33:00 +0000

Hello !!

I stopped by my local Nordstorm store to swatch the Kevyn Aucoin Eyeshadow duos I have been raving about ! If you have not seen my review of number 204 then click here.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo Swatches

Ugh I wish my camera would have picked up all the yummy metallic effect of these shadows :(

Needless to say , none of these were chalky or sheer in pigmentation . I really think these are one of the best shadows in the market ! They have the creaminess and pigmentation of my beloved Rouge Bunny Rouge shadows . I highly recommend giving these a swatch the next time you are near a KA counter .

P.s. I am giving away my favorite duo from the line :D

Click Here for the Giveaway page !

I hope this helps and good luck !

xoxo

Tag : What is my purse ?

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 22:05:00 +0000

I was tagged by the lovely Sara from Color Me Loud and Dr Ebru from http://drebru.com/ . Two lovely ladies with excellent blogs !

So , are you ready for the most uneventful "What is my purse ?" post EVER ? Well , here you go ..

Style wise I like very structured and classic looking pieces . I feel the DVF clucth is a classic black satin clutch with red lining on the inside and a gold lip design on the front to add a little pzazz . I have been attending quite a few work dinners these days and I feel like this bag is perfect for a casual lunch date and a formal work related event .

In all honesty ... IT HAS LIPS ON IT AAHHHHHH !

I only carry necessities in my bag and for me those are : my wallet , sanitary wipes and my makeup bag . My shades and first aid kit are always in my car .

My palette is from forever21 and the makeup bag is a freebie from Sephora .

In my makeup bag I usually carry sunscreen , my lip combo for the day , a mirror and a touch up compact .

These days I am using :

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 : This is a quick absorbing and light weight physical sunscreen . I use it to touch up during the day and it works perfectly on top of makeup .
Dior Diorskin Nude Compact in Light Beige 20 : is a light weight and satin finish powder . Unfortunately , it clogged my pores and I will be returning it :((
Lip Combo : By Terry 102 and Ysl Rouge Volupte in 01 . BT 102 is a caramel nude and ysl 01 is a creamy light pink . Both of them are beautiful on their own but together they are absolutely STUNNING !

I have pictures of the lip combo here and here .

And thats it ! Pretty simple right ? ;D

I hope this was interesting and I tag all of you too do this post !

Let me know if you have any questions ;)

xoxo

By Terry Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance Blush in 5 Beach Bomb.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:02:00 +0000

By Terry Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance Blush in 5 Beach Bomb.

While Dolce and Gabanna Caramel is the quintessential nude blush , By Terry Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance Blush in 5 Beach Bomb is the perfect flush of color for Summer . I initially wanted to buy D&G Sole blush but when I swatched it at the counter , I found it too be too pigmented and red for my skin tone . My aim was to buy a bright coral blush that livens up my complexion without making me look like I have a sunburn . By Terry Beach Bomb is exactly what I was looking for !

By Terry Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance Blush in 5 Beach Bomb.

The compact is the size of a Mac blush but it weighs a ton ! This is a seriously heavy compact and I am afraid to drop it on one of my toes and possibly injure myself lol . The powder has "Terry " imprinted on it and the blush comes with a purple satin pouch and a small moon shaped blush . I found the brush to be quite useful for a quick touch up and handy to carry in my makeup bag .

By Terry Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance Blush in 5 Beach Bomb.

The picture above shows a light swatch of the blush and a blended out one as well .I love how the powder melts into my skin and adds a delicate flush without making me look like a clown . I found Beach Bomb to be a incredibly blendable , buildable and long lasting ( 7 hours ) . Most bright blushes are overly pigmented and you have to be very careful with application but Beach Bomb is so finely milled that I can just swipe and go ! The powder is tightly packed and I did not notice any fall out during application . Beach Bomb has a beautiful satin finish that looks natural on the skin .

Overall , this a VERY expensive blush but if you are looking for a bright blush that gives you a bright yet sophisticated flush then Beach bomb is definitely worth the investment . I think it will look AMAZING on medium and tan skins as well .

What is your favorite coral blush ?

xoxo

Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour in Caramel .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 04:25:00 +0000

Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour in Caramel .

I admit it .. I am lazy and this Summer I have done absolutely nothing! That being said , I missed blogging a lot and I am going to force myself to post daily from now on . Are you ready to be bombarded with pretties ? ARE YOU READY ? I am ! I can't wait to share all these beauties with you .

Today , I present to you my HG neutral/natural blush . Dolce and Gabbana is my default blush option when I cant decide which blush to pair with my look . It works with everything !

Caramel is a light caramel color with equal parts of pink and peach . The blush is matte and feels incredibly creamy to the touch . D&G blushes are highly pigmented , finely milled and easy to blend . The wear time is between 6 -7 hours on my normal to combination skin .

Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour in Caramel .

If most natural/neutral blushes look muddy or red on your skin then you must give Caramel a try . It looks like it is a part of my skin tone and not an obvious "flush" .

When I first saw Caramel at the counter , I thought it would be something Sofia Loren or Raquel Welch would wear with a gorgeous cat eye and a nude caramel lip . It really reminds me of the 1960s and Catherine Deneuve in Belle de jour .

Image Source.

Image Source

I am a huge history buff and I love that this little blush reminds me of these beautiful iconic women and of the progressive 1960's .

Overall, Caramel is an absolute must have in my books . The color is phenomenal and the formula is absolute perfection .

xoxo

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo in 204 .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:26:00 +0000

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo in 204 .

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty is known of their base products and contour powder but the color products are just as spectacular . I have had my eyes on the eyeshadow duos for a while and during the beauty.com sale I decided to order one on a whim .

The duo's come housed in tiny red/maroon compact with a small mirror . The compact is very light and comes with a little protective pouch .

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo in 204 .

204 is described as a "gold/auburn shimmer " but the colors are more of a metallic grey taupe and a metallic red brown with auburn shimmer . At least they got the "auburn shimmer " part right lol . The colors look incredibly multidimensional but dupeable in the pan .

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Eyeshadow' Duo in 204 .

I gasped when I swatched this duo ! The shadow is so soft and insanely pigmented .. I was blown away !

They have the softness and blendability of Rouge bunny rouge and the pigmentation of Inglot and RBR . I mean look at that brown .. I am in love !!

The wear time was on par with other high end brands and they blended seamlessly with matte and shimmer shades . I have been wearing the taupe on the lid with the brown in the crease and a matte burgundy in the outer V.

This is definitely one of those reviews where I feel hope the pictures are able to convey what words cannot . I cannot imagine a more perfect shadow formula and I am definitely going to need more of these .

Overall , I highly reccomend this particular duo and I hope the rest of the line is just as spectacular .

xoxox

Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze in Ritual .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 00:15:00 +0000

Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze in Ritual .

When it comes to bronzers ,Guerlain pretty much owns the market and It is hard to pay to attention to any other release after Four seasons in Nude 00 . That is is until I saw the lovely Vanessa from the BombshellSuite do this tutorial (Click here ) ... SOLD !

Ritual is marketed as a blush/bronzer and is part of the Baked Matte Collection from Laura Mercier . The powder is a melange of pink , gold and shades of brown that mix together to give you the ultimate bronzed bombshell look .

Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze in Ritual .

The Bronzer is a golden brown with slight peachy undertones . The pink strips help to tone down the brown and help the powder not look muddy or dirty on the skin . I found this color to be very warm on my pale , neutral skin but if you have more yellow/golden undertones then this will look incredible on you .

The powder is incredibly finely milled and pigmented . It is very easy to overdo this product so make sure you use a fluffy brush and build the color in layers . I did notice a little bit of sparkle when I swatched it but on the skin the shimmer is barely noticeable . It is important to note that because this powder has a sheen , it will accentuate uneven skin texture .

I have worn the powder by itself as a over all bronzer and on top of a cooler toned contour with a little blush and it looked beautiful on both occasions . As far as wear time is concerned , it lasted 6 hours on my skin .

Overall , if you like your bronzer with a little bit of a sheen then Ritual is definitely worth a look . If you are pale like me then make sure you use a light hand . I can see this looking AMAZING on medium to darker skin tones .

Limited Edition ? Yes .

xoxo

Ellis Faas Concealer in S201 and By Terry Touche Veloutée in 1 Porcelain.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 05:12:00 +0000

Ellis Faas Concealer in S201 and By Terry Touche Veloutée in 1 Porcelain.

Summer : Sunshine , the beach , Sun Bathing , Bikini season ,Tanning and SWEATING ! Pretty much everything I loathe put together . To add to my misery , I live in Texas and everything I put on my face melts away in 30 mins or else . Which has forced me to dig through my makeup and try to find long wearing products that last all day but also don't give me a mask like matte face .

Today , I will be showing you two concealers that I use to cover my under eye circles .

My Under-eye concerns : I have light greyish shadows under eyes which become more severe when I am under stress .

Concealer Preference : I like a medium to buildable concealer under my eyes with the slightest hint of luminosity . Most importantly , the concealer should not crease , look cakey or settle into line as it wears through out the day .

I was able to find two amazing concealers that not only meet all my requirements but also passed the Texas heat resistance test (aka did not melt off my face ) !

Ellis Faas Concealer in S201 and By Terry Touche Veloutée in 1 Porcelain.

Ellis Faas Concealer in S201: is a yellow toned ivory concealer with medium to buildable coverage . It is one shade lighter than my skin so it adds a slightly brightening effect under my eyes with out giving me the reverse raccoon eye . The product has a slight powdery feel to it when you touch it but once it is blended out , it looks like a true cream with a hint of luminosity . My under eyes do not look shiny or wet ; they look fresh and luminous .

The concealer blends in with little effort and does not sink into fine lines . It lasted 7 hours on my skin and did not crease or look patchy as it wore through out the day . I was able to retouch my under eyes with the same concealer without making my under eyes look cakey .

The only con to this concealer is the packaging . It is impossible to judge how many clicks it takes to twist up the perfect amount of product . I always end up with too much :(

By Terry Touche Veloutée in 1 Porcelain : is a neutral toned ivory concealer with medium to buildable coverage . This concealer is a true satin finish and like the EF is a shade lighter than my skin . The product is very creamy and blends in effortlessly under my eyes . I did not notice any settling into fines lines and it looked incredibly natural under my eyes . The wear time was between 8- 9 hours on me without any touch ups or creasing . I was able to touch up my under eyes without making them look cakey or chalky .
The packaging is absolutely amazing ! With one click , you get the perfect amount of product to use on both sides of your face .

The only con to this concealer is the color range . They have only 4 colors which will cover light to medium skins only .

Ellis Faas Concealer in S201 and By Terry Touche Veloutée in 1 Porcelain.

If you look closely at the blended swatches of both concealers , you can easily spot the slight luminosity of the EF . The BT is definitely more satin compared to the EF .

When I wear EF under my eyes , it definitely looks like a very concealed and polished look . While with the BT I look like I have had 8 hours of sleep and I am wearing a little bit of concealer to complete my look . Neither of them look fake or over the top IMO .

I should add that I always wear eye cream and sunscreen on my eye lids and under my eyes and the application of these concealers is not effected by it .

Product size comparison:

By Terry - .22oz for $58.00

Ellis Faas - .08 oz for $40.00

Overall , I am so happy to have found these two and I highly recommend them ! If you want a slightly dewier look and are prepared to deal with the packaging then try the EF . If you like a more satin finish and have light/medium skintone then the BT is for you .

p.s. If you are greedy like me then you can own both lol

xoxo

By Terry Rouge Terribly Age Defense Lipstick in 302 Hot Cranberry.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 02:04:00 +0000

By Terry Rouge Terribly Age Defense Lipstick in 302 Hot Cranberry.

My Lover affair with By Terry countinues ! I am slowly but surely making my through her entire lipstick line and today I present to you , 302 Hot Cranberry .

By Terry Rouge Terribly Age Defense Lipstick in 302 Hot Cranberry.

Lets take a moment to truly appreciate the mind blowing color saturation and vinyl finish of this baby !

*Sigh *

As a lipstick addict I am always excited by new formula and color releases but in all honesty , very rarely does a lipstick stop me in my tracks . I have been wearing Hot Cranberry for 3 weeks straight and I just cant seem to get enough .

Imagine the pigmentation of the Ysl Rouge Voluptes with the slip of the Rouge Volupte shines then add a ton of moisture , exceptional wear time ( 10 hours +) and you get the By Terry Rouge Terribly lipsticks .

By Terry Rouge Terribly Age Defense Lipstick in 302 Hot Cranberry Vs Givenchy Le Rouge 201 Rose Taffetas.

Hot Cranberry is a saturated bright watermelon pink with a cream finish . The lipstick just glides on top of my lips and plumps up any obvious lip lines . Givenchy Rose Taffetas looks like soft pink compared to this power house pink . I found HC to be incredibly brightening on my pale skin , without being over the top and I can see this looking drop dead gorgeous on darker skin tones as well .

Overall, By Terry makes the best lipsticks money can buy and Hot Cranberry is another beautiful addition to my lipstick collection .

xoxox

Mac All About Orange Collection .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:55:00 +0000

Another Mac haul y'all ! A collection with peaches and corals and I am all over it . Plus , I had a lot of "Back 2 Mac" empties and this was the perfect time to get my hands on LE lipsticks for FREE !

I picked up 6 lipsticks and 2 Blushes .

Back Row : Tart &Trendy ,Razzledazzler and Sweet & Sour .

From Row : Tangerine Dream , Sushi Kiss and Flamingo .

Mac Tart & Trendy Lipstick

Tart & Trendy is a pastel milky coral with a hint of pink . I found this to be very brightening on my face without being over the top .

Mac Tangerine Dream Lipstick

Tangerine Dream is the color of a clementine with yellow undertones . This one is very hard to pull off and I basically look like I have Jaundice when I wear it but it was too unique to pass up .

Mac Sweet &Sour Lipstick

Sweet and Sour is a pastel baby peach . It is a little too nude on me and I usually pair it with a brighter gloss or mix it with a brighter lipstick .

Mac Sushi Kiss Lipstick .

Sushi Kiss is a true coral . The formula is very drying on the lips ( it is a satin finish) , which is a shame because it is an absolutely beautiful color .

Mac Flamingo Lipstick

Flamingo is a fresh pink with a slight coral lean . This lipstick looks different and flattering on everybody . A truly chameleon shade !

Mac Razzledazzler Lipstick.

Razzlerdazzler is a soft peach . This is probably the easiest to wear out of all the lipsticks in this collection but it's not very unique .

While I was swatching lipsticks at my local Mac Counter , I realized that Sunny Seoul is an EXACT dupe for Flamingo lipstick ! So , there is no need to buy backups or pay insane Ebay prices :) Also , Peach Blosssom is similar but it has a bit of a beige lean .

Mac Immortal Flower and Royal Sunset .

Immortal Flower is a soft beige with peach undertones . I have to really pack this on for decent pigmentation on my cheeks .

Royal Sunset is a brightened pink with peach undertones and a beautiful pastel quality to it . LOVE !

Overall ,I liked everything I bought except Immortal Flower .
Must haves : Tart & Trendy , Sweet & Sour and Royal Sunset.

xoxox

Chanel Summer 2013 Collection .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 19:00:00 +0000

After reading all the Chanel cream blush hype on twitter , I decided to visit the counter to check out the fall collection . I did pick up two blushes ,which I am currently testing right now and a few items from the Summer Collection . Is it just me or all the fall collections coming out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to early ?

I live in Texas people ! Summer has only begun here *shivers* .

Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Moon River ,Pink Lagoon and Jade Shore .

Moon River is luminescent platinum.

Pink Lagoon is a midtone pink with shimmer .

Jade shore is a jade green with blue undertones and shimmer .

These have a nice cooling sensation which reminds me of the old Chanel cream shadows . The color payoff is quite nice and I found these to be quite easy to blend . The staying power on bare lids is very disappointing and my shadow only lasted an hour but on top of Nars smudgeproof , they lasted 6 hours on me .

Chanel rouge coco shines in Pygmalion and Idylle

I also picked up two of the LE Rouge Coco Shines in Pygmalion and Idylle .

Chanel rouge coco shine in Idylle.

Idylle looks like a lovely peach in the tube but on my lips, it is almost clear and very patchy .

Chanel rouge coco shine in Pygmalion.

Pygmallion is a watermelon pink in the tube . On the lips it has a beautiful jelly finish and a soft watermelon color . This is my absolutely favorite piece from the entire collection ! Perfect for summer IMO .

The Rouge Coco Shine's last 3 hours on my lips and do not dry my lips out .

Overall , meh ...

This collection really didn't speak to me and I felt like most products lacked in quality . Pygmalion is the only item worth investing in .

xoxox

Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Dark Spice .

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:53:00 +0000

Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Dark Spice .

The lovely Gummy from (http://gummyvision.com/) kindly informed me about an amazing Burberry GWP event at a store near her and well ... I went a lil CRAZY ! ( a pic of my haul ) . I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to kill a FEW lemmings lol.

When the Burberry quads were first launched I was not interested in any of them except Dark Spices . A quad with warms browns and a light mustard shade ? I will take one please :).

Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Dark Spice .

The Palette has four satin shades including a light mustard , warm rusty brown , warm dark brown and a cool black . The shadows are a little drier and harder than the singles but still quite pigmented . The wear time and blendability is on par but the quad lacks the complexity that the singles offer . However , the colors together are absolutely beautiful and if we put aside the astronomical expectations I have from Burberry , this is still a damn good eyeshadow palette .

Overall, if you a fan of warm browns then you need this in your life !

Price ? $59.00

xoxo

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlighter.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:33:00 +0000

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlighter.

I do not need another highlighter and you don't either but none of us can deny that we are always looking for more ... maybe that is just me .. but hey ! I bought this for us ... for us to decide if we need this or not , right ? RIGHT !

Laura Mercier never fails to lure me in with new products or new caviar sticks :P . IMO most of her products have good quality and are decently priced. She usually releases a few new products or new additions to existing lines every now and then. This Summer she not only introduced new products , released a seasonal collection but also added new shades to her line . I was so excited to see new caviar sticks and the highlighter fiend in me was ECSTATIC to see new highlighters !

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlighter.

The Baked Radiance Powder line has two highlighters and 3 bronzer shades. I picked up the lightest highlighter shade to add to my ever growing highlighter collection .

01 Highlighter looks like a white powder in the pan but on the skin it is a soft champagne . Now, this is not the Stila Kitten kind of champagne : this is more of a Kevin Aucoin Celestial powder, champagne . The powder is very soft and almost creamy to the touch and incredibly pigmented . I found the highlighter to be quite loosely packed ,which can lead to a lot of fall out but that can be easily avoided if you use a light hand .

I love how the powder melts in to my skin and just add a delicate radiance to the face without looking frosty or shimmery . I did not notice any shimmer or glitter in direct sunlight and wear time was between 6- 7 hours on top of liquid and powder foundation .

Overall , if you have been dying to try the Kevin Aucoin Celestial powder or you have been looking for a highlighter that does not accentuate uneven skin texture then you NEED the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlighter. IMO skip the Estee Lauder powder gelée and try this baby out instead !

Price ?$36.00

xoxo

By Terry Hyaluronic Blush in Peach Posh.

noreply@blogger.com (LipstickBoulevards) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:23:00 +0000

By Terry Hyaluronic Blush in Peach Posh.

By Terry recently released two blush shades in the new Hyaluronic Blush range ; a peach aptly called Peach Posh and a wine shade called Blushberry . I chose Peach Posh for obvious reasons :).

Peach Post is a pastel peach with slight pink undertones and on my skin it looks like a delicate peachy pink flush (LOVE !!! ) . The blush has a mousse texture and was easy to blend on top of foundation and powdered skin . I did notice a few shimmer particles on my hand while swatching it but on my cheek it looked matte and the shimmer was not noticeable .

While the formula claims to provide hydration and anti aging properties , I personally cannot vouche for any of them . I didn't find the blush any more hydrating than any other liquid blush on the market . Also , can our blushes just act as blushes ? Why must we formulate/advertise them to erase wrinkles , add hydration , add luminosity , control oil , look matte , add radiance ... etc etc lol *end of rant*

By Terry Hyaluronic Blush in Peach Posh.

I love the texture of the product and if your weary of cream blushes because they look messy or are difficult to apply then this is an excellent option . Also ,the staying power was phenomenal (7 hours !! ) and it faded evenly .

Overall , Peach Posh is a lovely brightening peach on light/medium skin tones . Darker skins may find Blushberry more flattering .

Price ? $42.00

xoxx