Pink Sith

Votre Vu created the look of Parker Posey for the premiere of “Price Check” at the Sundance Film Festival.

2012-01-30T14:00:00.000-05:00

Parker Posey must have a painting of herself in the attic that ages. (re: The Picture of Dorian Gray) This woman does not seem to age at all. Maybe her secret is the host of Votre Vu products she uses.

Here is a quick recap of what Parker wore in the freezing temperatures at the Sundance Film Festival!

Kelsey Deenihan for Votre Vu created the look of Parker Posey for the premiere of “Price Check” at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Below freezing temperatures is never good for ANYONE'S skin. We get red around the nose, chapped lips, and our skin becomes very dehydrated. Before starting Parker's makeup this morning I had to take my time and replenish the skin's moisture and nourish it with products that would last her all day.

Today I really wanted to make sure I had Parker's skin hydrated and protected for a full day out in the elements, and fully prepared to wear makeup for a long day of press.

I started off by toning Parkers skin with Votre Vu’s Fleur Blanc Tonic. I used a cotton round and moistened it with tonic and wiped it across the face and neck. This refreshing first step leaves the skin silky soft and ready for the following Votre Vu skincare.

Tout Le Monde Antioxidant Eye Gelee was applied around the eye and lightly massaged into this sensitive area until fully absorbed. This cooling gel hydrates and comforts the area around the eye while firming and reducing the appearance of fine lines and creases.

Tragic Magic was key today. I applied a generous amount all over the face and neck. The lime in the creme clams the skin and reduces redness

Once Parker's makeup was finished I lightly dusted the face with Votre Vu Mineral Powder to set the makeup, decrease shine, and complete the look."

Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Concealer - Review, Pictures

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

image from http://www.lemetierdebeaute.com

OK. Here's the deal. I think I have claimed at least 2 different concealers as "Holy Grails" on this blog. But what might work for me, may not work for you, so I keep trying new stuff because, as I have recently been informed, much to my chagrin, it's not always about me. Feh.

So when I was getting my epic makeover from the one and only Mikey Castillo of Le Metier de Beaute at my local Neiman Marcus, I asked about getting a new concealer. Mr. Castillo introduced me to the Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Concealer. It was a small-ish concealer, NET WT. 0.08oz. (2.3g), and it came with a SPF of 18 in 12 different shades, but despite the size I was intrigued because the consistency and level of coverage reminded me a lot of my beloved Cle de Peau concealer. And well that concealer only has 3 color choices...Le Metier de Beaute had 12. I think I was sold on that option alone.

Now here's the thing. I need to conceal dark under eye circles but I also need to conceal occasional acne flare ups and some sun damage I have from when I was a foolish teen in the 1980's trying to tan with baby oil. This concealer needs to be multi-tasking. It needs to cover enough but not look cakey. It needs to be nice to my skin and not break me out and it needs to stay on for a decent amount of wear time on this oily mug of mine. Not an easy request. That's why, like most concealers I had low expectations.

Just like Pedro, from the movie, Rio, I was ready to get down and dirty with this Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Concealer.

According to the Le Metier de Beaute website, the Classic Flawless Finish Concealer is designed to blend away dark circles, slight blemishes and imperfections, while nourishing and protecting the skin. "Perfect for quick touchups, the unique slim-tip design glides the contours of your face, including hard-to-reach areas under the eyes, leaving a veil of high level SPF 18 sun protection, without chalky film deposits. The Nylon 12 base holds smoothly, to breathe with the movements of the skin. Natural active ingredients include Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Shea Butter to replenish and revitalize."

Yep. Truth in advertising. Gotta love it! I say that having used this concealer since October, everything they say is true.

First off: The color choices. I was all ready to grab color #1. I mean I'm white...white-white. But Concealer number 1 had too much pink in it. Concealer #2 was almost too orange. Now I was getting worried. Concealer #3 was perfection. it was very fair with neutral undertones...like my skin! It was an almost exact match to my skin color. I was thrilled. Of course women of color may or may not have a harder time finding a match. they do offer several darker shades, but I neglected to test them out. Fortunately Christina from Lovesong For My Lipgloss has swatched all the concealers. You can find them HERE.

Now here's the deal. Did it work?

Well. Let's just say that I am not really one for using up product. I tend to move on to the next "great" thing that comes along. I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to cosmetics. If there is something new and shiny out on the horizon, I'm on my way! But there was something about the Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Concealer that kept me grounded.

Was it the excellent coverage that didn't crease under my eyes or slip off my oily skin?

Was it the smoothness of application? I could use my fingers or a concealer brush and obtain fantastic results.

Was it the divine color match? I had no issues with reverse raccoon eyes or splotchy coverage...in fact it was seamless almost invisible transition from concealer to foundation (which wasn't even a Le Metier de Beaute brand!)

Had I finally matured past the toddler/magpie state of concealers and settled?

See for yourself!

That, my darling readers is PAN! Concealer PAN! on a freakin MONDAY! I am almost out of my beloved...yes. I said beloved Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Concealer in #3. I am scraping the dregs out with a Q-tip and concealer brush. I apologize for showing such graphic pan p0rn without a warning. but I think this pretty much says everything I need to say in one photograph. n'est–ce pas?

So. do you NEED this? YES if you like stick concealers. I know that this form of concealer isn't everyone's bag. but those that do like this form should check it. It's on the pricey side at $55 USD but if you have an exact color match in a concealer that actually preforms well, then it's worth it. The only issue is that the small amount only lasted me 4 months...I'll admit that I have more imperfections that need to be covered than most and I do apply a new face of makeup more than once a day some times (for the blog)...so with NORMAL use I say 6 months will be the longest this lasts. Then the price seems a bit better. Will I be purchasing this again? YES! But I have a few other concealers to test before I pick this one up...which actually makes me sad because I actually MISS this concealer. Oh man. I need mental help.

The Lipstick League - week of 1.23.12

2012-01-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

Question of the Week: - What is your most beloved makeup item in your collection, and if someone offered you $100 for it would you sell it to them?

Answer: - My most beloved item in my collection is NOT a taupe eyeshadow. I know, right? It's actually a makeup brush I received in a GWP from Lancome that is 23 YEARS OLD! Oh yeah baby! An eyeshadow brush that has natural bristles that are so incredibly soft. The shape of the brush is perfect for all over eyeshadow application. I have yet to find its equal. No amount of money could allow me to sell it. Well I suppose if someone offered me $1 Million for it I would sell it. I mean everything has its price.

Pink Sith - combines Six Sigma and Eyeshadow? See how she works in the business management strategy when she tells you all about Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon Eyeshadow.

Prime Beauty - revisits her high school crush and discovers Buxom's new True Hue Blush simultaneously.

Phyrra - shows you a lovely purple look with L'Oreal Perpetual Purple and Fyrinnae Cuddlefish.

Vampy Varnish - Checks out the bright fun new spring collection from China Glaze called Electropop!

we heart this - Brush hoarders, we've discovered a high quality yet inexpensive line for your collection - bdellium tools.

Beauty Junkies Unite - I never would have thought to put OPI's Suzi in the same room with Nicki Minaj, but it really happened! Check out Nicki's new collection of polishes for OPI.

Clumps of Mascara - I'm so obsessed with blogging that I love inspiring others to start a blog. Think you're ready? Check out 10 Tips for Aspiring Beauty Bloggers.

Gouldylox Reviews - Too Faced is all about a natural look this season. I'm in love with all three of these palettes. What about you?

Lipglossiping - simply asks "So you wanna be a beauty blogger...?"

Nouveau Cheap - There's been lots of buzz about the new Maybelline Eye Tattoo shadows. So did the shade Tough as Taupe work for me? Come find out!

Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush - Review

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Rembrandt - The Night Watch

If brushes made the artist, then everyone would be Rembrandt. Can a perfect brush make you paint a perfect picture? No...but I bet you didn't realize that a perfect brush can give your foundation a flawless look of perfection.

WHAT?

Yup. The geniuses over at Shiseido have created a foundation brush that is PERFECT! It's so perfect, in fact, they even use the word "perfect" in the name of the product.

Ladies and gentlemen I bring you:

image from nordstrom.com

The Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush.

I have a fetish for looking like I have mannequin skin. Perfect, plastic, poreless, flawless. I want to look photoshopped. I want to look unreal. Blame it on the media. I have an unhealthy ideal of what "perfect" skin looks like. Thanks to photoshopping all traces of pores, blemishes and wrinkles form every face I see in magazines, I now want that same look. That look, by the way is unrealistic, but I want it anyway.

So what do I do? I go through a zillion different primers and foundations trying to achieve this flawless look. Sometimes it's not the foundation's fault that I can't look flawless. It's, what I like to call:

IO Error = Idiot Operator Error

1D10T Error = Idiot Error

Yes. I'm so clever.

Not.

Anyhoo.

When you combine Shiseido's sate-of-the-art technology with traditional Japanese brush-making techniques you end up with the perfect foundation brush that provides the perfect foundation finish. I have only used this brush with liquid and powder foundations but it is supposed to work for cream foundations as well. Judging by the performance I have seen so far, I imagine that cream foundations will respond very well to this brush.

The 100% Synthetic bristles in this brush pick up the the right amount of product and distributes it evenly for a consistent and flawless finish. The brush has tapered fibers that form an angle or slope, if you will. This slope allows the bristles to reach all of the facial contours. The trick is in the method you use to apply the foundation. The made in Japan brush has a fairly short handle. this makes it perfect for close up work and for travel! The brush from it's highest point to the end is approximately four and a half inches. (~4.5" or ~11.5 cm) From just the handle to the end of the ferrule, you know the metal part that holds the bristles to the brush, is approximately three and three quarters inches. (~3.75" or ~9.5 cm)

I found the best way to use this brush for an instantly perfect finish is to do the following:

Put some liquid foundation on the back of your had. Use about 1/3 the amount you normally use when applying with a sponge or other brush.

Gently tap the brush into the foundation picking up a small amount.

Starting with your forehead (or chin) quickly tap or dab the brush over your face. You will then see a thin but even coverage of your foundation in the area to which you applied it. If needed you can smooth out any streaks you might encounter by gently sweeping the brush over the area or simply dab the brush some more in the same area to even out the coverage. However I have been using this brush for several weeks and I have yet to notice any streaking when I use the dab, dab, dab application!
Work in sections forehead, nose, chin, cheeks, neck (if necessary) moving in a dabbing motion throughout. You do not need to move in circles or even strokes. That won't help.

End result...PERFECTION.

No seriously. I have been using Armani LSF in 3.75 for months and I have always like the color match but sometimes it just didn't look so great in application. I used a sponge to apply and I found myself going through bottle after bottle very quickly. I used to take 6 pumps of the bottle to get my entire face and neck done. Then when I started to use the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush I a) Achieved an even and immaculate finish. 2) I started to used LESS of my foundation I went from 6 pumps to 3 to 4 depending on how much coverage I desired and iii) Because I started out with a more even coverage I used less concealer and my foundation wore better throughout the day because it was applied properly! WIN!

The only, and I mean ONLY issue I have with this brush, is that it can be slightly difficult to clean. The bristles are very dense and there are many of them. Foundation LOVES to cling to the brush and it tends to move farther and farther down the bristle until it reaches the ferrule. That makes cleaning a real bitch. I actually start by using my oil based cleanser (and if this is a bad thing to do, please tell me, it's the only way I have found that gets all the foundation to separate from the bristles) work it in there pretty well. then get the bristles damp and watch the oil emulsify off all of the foundation. Then I follow with my BECCA Professional Makeup Brush Soap and usually have to do two rounds of washing to get it all clean. I have to clean it after each use because I don't like using dirty brushes for foundation or any sort of liquid or cream based products.

Do you NEED this? YES! You need this bad! If you wear foundation, you need this brush. TRUST ME! If it can me this old hag look somewhat presentable and not scare small children* it can make you look like a supermodel...from the neck up. The brush retails for $30 USD (totally worth the investment) and can be found online and in select stores at Nordstrom, Sephora or Macy's...but surprisingly not on the Shiseido website. Humm.

*Funny story. Back in college I used to have all sorts of strange colors in my hair. Purple, Blue, White, Magenta, etc. This was in the early 1990's and in the south in a rather small town, so freaks like me were fairly unusual. I was in a local department store to pick up my roommate from work when I happened around a corner and took a little girl by surprise. I was wearing my platforms so I was about 6 feet tall. I was wearing all black, my leather biker jacket and a long black skirt. I had dark purple hair in spiral curls and I was wearing lipstick that matched my hair color (not the best makeup moment of my life). She took one look at me, her eyes went super wide and then she started to cry and run away from me. She thought I was a witch! BUWAHAHAHA! She almost had it right...she just needed to replace the 'W' with a 'B'!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon Long Lasting Eye Shadow - Review Pictures Swatches

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

When Rouge Bunny Rouge named one of their Long Lasting Eyeshadows "Solstice Halcyon" I don't think they were referring to the epic doom metal band out of the UK which released an album titled Halcyon back in 1996. I mean...maybe...but nah.

I think they were referring to the Kingfisher Bird.

What?

Well since their whole theme is "WHEN BIRDS ARE SINGING..." I think it's safe to say they are referring to the kingfisher. I did a little research and discovered that kingfishers are sometimes called a Halcyon in honor of the Greek myth which is associated with the kingfisher bird. The term comes from the ancient myth by Ovid, in which two weeks of calm weather were to be expected around the winter solstice (21st or 22nd of December). It was believed that the halcyon bird calmed the surface of the sea in order to hatch her eggs on a floating nest. The Halcyon days begin one week before solstice and last for one week after the solstice.

To most tho, halcyon means calm and tranquil or happy and carefree.

You know what taupe eyeshadow makes me feel?

HAPPY!

Rouge Bunny Rouge eyeshadow is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands. The shadow is harder than that of Le Metier de Beaute but softer than MAC or Bobbi Brown. The pigmentation is strong, and they can be built up to intensify the color without looking chalky or muddy. The shadows blend beautifully with each other and with other brands leaving a truly beautiful diffused look to the eye. The shadow does not fade or crease (when used in conjunction with an eye base) and lasts for a good 10 hours on the eye.

The Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon Long Lasting Eyeshadow is a stunning taupe. It looks rather unassuming in the pan, but once applied the sweet satin texture of the shadow combined with the not quite grey not quite beige color make a heavenly shadow! This is one of THOSE taupes. You know the ones. The taupe shadows that everyone wants. Le Metier de Beaute Corinthian, MAC Satin Taupe, Chanel Safari are all classic taupes. Add Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon to that list my dears! Solstice Halcyon is darker and more grey than Gracious Arasari but lighter and less purple than Delicate Hummingbird.

OK. Here's the issue.

Now don't get mad at me. I'm just the messenger.

As of 1/22/2012, Rouge Bunny Rouge Long Lasting Eye Shadow in Solstice Halcyon is sold out on Zuneta.com, the only place I know of where you can purchase Rouge Bunny Rouge shadows.

::ducks::

Now, it's not very nice to throw things at me! I can't control how awesome this shadow is and how the demand for it has outgrown the Six Sigma models for manufacturing, supply, and distribution that Rouge Bunny Rouge and Zuneta have. I may have studied the Six Sigma business management strategy. I know that Six Sigma seeks to "improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in manufacturing and business processes. It uses a set of quality management methods, including statistical methods, and creates a special infrastructure of people within the organization ("Black Belts", "Green Belts", etc.) who are experts in these methods." (1) But I still can't tell Zuneta to re-stock Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon! I did confirm on the Rouge Bunny Rouge FaceBook page that this shade is NOT discontinued. So that's a good piece of news....right?

Do you NEED this? YES. You need this if for no other reason than to say you have it. It's that big of a deal! It will one day be like saying you own Shu ME Silver 945. Yeah. It's that important!

(1) Info from Wikipedia...and from sitting through hours upon hours of Six Sigma classes at one of my old jobs. It was originally developed at Motorola but worked so well that it took the business world by storm. I personally think it has to do with the fact that these businessmen at my old job just wanted to be "black belts" in something other than Douchebaggery.

LUSH Dragon Soap

2012-01-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

LATHER UP FOR GOOD LUCK!

Chinese New Year was January 23rd and to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, LUSH created a beautiful, limited edition soap with the best-selling Karma fragrance. The spicy blend of patchouli, lavender and pine perfectly captures the passionate, creative and free-spirited nature of the Dragon. Intense, earthy, and confident: have a wash with LUSH's Dragon soap and your ambitions for the year ahead are sure to come to fruition.

At the very least, you'll be nice and clean, and smell scrumptious.

The Red Dragon soap ($7.95*) is available ONLINE ONLY at LUSH.com starting January 2012.

NARS Makeup Removing Water - Review

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

image from NARScosmetics.com

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I no longer have any need for makeup removing wipes.

That's right. I have found my ideal tool for removing makeup in a hurry.

NARS Makeup Removing Water!

Just released this month, NARS Makeup Removing Water is a soap-free, oil-free and alcohol-free water that removes face makeup, cleanses, and tones the skin. According to NARS the water is infused with cucumber, chamomile and hyaluronic acid. This formula is supposed to "sweep away makeup" and "leave skin feeling soft soothed and refreshed".

Well guess what?

IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO!

I know that products actually delivering on their promises shouldn't be a reason for all caps, but in this day and age, when everything is supposed to make you look 20 years younger and 20 pounds thinner and 20 times richer, we all know none of that is going to happen.

Honestly, I can't believe I'm getting so excited about a makeup remover.

I mean really? That's what is going to float my boat? Makeup remover?

I'll tell you what.

It's more than just a makeup remover.

It's a time machine. It's a mental health therapy session. It's a sleep aid. It's a marital aid. Yes. It is all of those things.

A) time machine: I now save a ton of time in the evening by using this makeup removing water when I'm too tired to do the full facial cleansing with my Clarisonic. Now I just use the oil cleaning and then follow up with the NARS Makeup Removing Water. I'm done! That affords me a few extra minutes before bed. It's like getting free time!

B) mental health therapy session: Believe it or not I get really stressed out if I fall asleep in my makeup. I start to worry about the damage I am doing to my skin by sleeping in my makeup. That stress transforms into a huge zit somewhere I can't cover like the tip of my nose or the middle of my forehead. I then end up buying more products to hide the zit, which stresses me out because I'm spending money on something that was avoidable, and my self confidence sinks to an all time low because of the zit on my face. BUT with NARS Makeup Removing Water, I skip all that stress. It's a Therapist in a bottle. All that stress about damaging my skin is swept away when I swipe the Makeup Removing Water over my face.

C) sleep aid: By getting my makeup off faster and finishing my nightly cleansing routine sooner I have more time to relax and ease myself into blissful sleep. I am relaxed knowing that I have not only saved time, but I am not damaging my skin by sleeping in my makeup because I was too tired to actually use my Clarisonic. I sleep well because I have no worries about my face erupting with acne from lack of care.

D) marital aid: By being ready for bed sooner, Mr. Sith and I have a little more time in the evening to...um...well..."Have a Conversation".

Is The NARS Makeup Removing Water a replacement for my regular cleaning routine?

No.

I use it on occasion when I'm just to tired or rushed to do the whole cleansing routine. I would never replace my cleanser and Clarisonic. But The NARS Makeup Removing Water is a super alternative to makeup removing wipes and other quick makeup removers because my skin feels soooo much better and soooo much cleaner after using it.

Do You NEED this? Possibly. If you use makeup removing wipes on a regular basis I think you really need to check this out. If you are constantly falling asleep in your makeup. 1) SHAME ON YOU and 2) Yes. You need this. If you are a religious user of a Clarisonic and cleansing, you probably don't need this. But if you're like me and some times you just don't wanna, then this is for you! The NARS Makeup Removing Water retails for $28 at www.narscosmetics.com.

This post contains an affiliate link, which gives us commission when you click and purchase something from that link. It's just like a retail associate who works on a commission basis. When you shop through an affiliate link on Pink Sith you help support the site!

The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

1/22/2012

Thu from Painted Ladies reviews Kat Von D’s Mi Vida Loca palette.

Elke reviews the new Do It Yourself “Knock Out” Gel Nails.

The Pink Sith has been humming cowboy tunes all day because of the new Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Pencil from the NARS 2012 Spring Collection.

Phyrra shows off some sweet eye shadows from Kiss My Sass.

Cindy from HelloDollface gets Botox for the first time and likes it!.

The Lipstick League - week of 1.16.12

2012-01-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Question of the Week: - Do you have any makeup/beauty tricks for looking more awake?

Answer: - A cooling eye gel to reduce the puffiness under my eyes, Lots of concealer under my eyes to hide the bags, then I add a light pink blush and bright lips. I try to avoid dark eye makeup and dark lips as those can make me look older and more tired.

What about you? I would love to read any tricks you have in the comments section!

Nouveau Cheap - Pssst! Want to the know the quickest and easiest way to make drugstore rewards work for you? Get 25 to 50% off your beauty purchases ASAP and stop throwing money down the drain!

Pink Sith - has completely lost it over the new NARS Eyeshadow in Lhasa from the 2012 Spring Collection!

Prime Beauty - invites you to Sunday Brunch with Jouer. Relax, enjoy some champagne, good food and of course, makeup!

Phyrra - presents a variety of lovely lipsticks and pigmented lipglosses from Morgana Cryptoria.

Vampy Varnish - highly recommends the new Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca True Romance Eyeshadow Palette.

we heart this - DERMAdoctor's Photodynamic Therapy lotion harness the sun's rays to create a sunlight activated laser similar to red light lasers used in doctor's offices. What has YOUR lotion done for you lately?

Clumps of Mascara - is in love with Finger Paints' Twisted nail polish. What's better than a flakie?

EauMG - falls in love with a natural citrus floral perfume, LUSH 1000 Kisses Deep.

Gouldylox Reviews - can't stop raving about three things this week.

Krasey Beauty - Read all about the new Sigma Beauty Eyeshadow palettes, see the swatches, and then decide for yourself if they are worth your time and money. K.B sure thinks they are!

And The Winner Is....

2012-01-21T07:57:00.001-05:00

The winner of the Vaseline $25 Gift Card Giveaway is....

Janice P.

Janice will receive a $25 American Express Gift Card! Oh and Janice mentioned that she found those mini pots of Vaseline Lip Therapy at her local Target. And I think they might have them at Walgreens too!

Please Congratulate MJ!

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in 01 Le Rouge - Review, Pictures, Swatches

2012-01-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

It wouldn't be right to let you go into the weekend without a few lemmings right? Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture lipstick is a good lemming to have...AMIRITE?

This YSL lipstick comes in 18 shades (Neiman Marcus carries all the shades) and is free of Parabens, Sulfates, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMOs and Triclosan. ( You know, all those bad thingies that causes third eyes to grow out of our foreheads and everything.) Regardless the satiny smooth lipstick is highly pigmented and comes with a SPF of 15! The formula is touted as being moisturizing and long lasting.

The color I have for you today came as a Gift With Purchase (GWP)! This is the "Flagship" Red in the collection. It is called Le Rouge. Pretty straight forward, no? The description is says it is a "Blood Red" but I find it more of a Darth Vader Lightsaber Red. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Anyway, this creamy Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture lipstick glides on like it is second skin. It feels like the lipstick is becoming one with your lips. This non greasy formula does not wear down quickly. After wearing it all day, with only a few touch ups, I noticed that the actual lipstick bullet did not look that molested e.g. used. The lipstick feels almost indulgent however I did not find it as moisturizing as other lipsticks I have worn. Thankfully it certainly didn't dry my lips out like some lipsticks do. The lipstick is scented with that fruity mango scent that all YSL lip products have, but it isn't as bad as the glosses (which I detest only because of the strong scent). Fortunately the scent seems to fade quickly upon application.

The case feels heavy and the metal is brightly polished gold with the YSL accent at the base. The case is polished so well, it can double for a mirror in a pinch. I like multitasking products as much as I like multitasking packaging! (Less things I have to carry in my purse.)

Do you NEED this? DUH! Does a Lightsaber need an internal superconductor to transfer the returning looped plasma energy from the negative-charged flux aperture back into an internal power cell? YES! Exactly! The Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture lipstick retails for $30...or if you are lucky like me you get one as a GWP! [insert maniacal laugh here]

Thursday Poll

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

I have the incredibly huge and rare honor to be featured as one of eight beauty bloggers on the Neiman Marcus Beauty Awards Beauty Blogger Favorites! I think it's well known that I adore shopping at Neiman Marcus. I don't think you all understand what a magnificent honor being featured on their web page means to me. I am humbled and appreciative of this recognition. Let's face it, I'm hardly what you would call a "Traditional Beauty Blogger". I'm slightly uncouth, sometimes crass and a little crazy. Yet there I am. giving my opinion about some "Best In Beauty" products that were nominated.

I was originally asked to provide three quotes from a huge list of nominated beauty products that Neiman Marcus sells. Well you know me. I'm verbose. I can't chose JUST three...so I provided five. Yup. I'm glad I did, because I would have had a hard chance choosing which three to put up. The five products I chose were (with my quotes):

1. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - "I apply this at night and wake up to new looking skin. This should be required for anyone over the age of 30 for great looking skin!"
2. Cle de Peau Concealer - "I am never without my Cle de Peau Concealer. It's smooth application and crease resistant long wear make this my Holy Grail of concealers."

3. Le Metier de Beaute True Color Eyeshadow - "If there is such a thing as perfection, then Le Metier de Beaute has created it with this eyeshadow formula. Soft as silk, highly pigmented color that lasts and lasts. It's my go to eye shadow!"
4. Trish McEvoy High-Volume Mascara - "I never thought A mascara could change my look so much. Not only are my lashes full and soft but they keep their curl. One stoke of this mascara and you'll wonder what you ever did before it!"
5. Guerlain Le Rouge G - "Guerlain knows how to do lipsticks right! I am completely in love with amazing formula and luxurious case!"

The quotes I provided were all sincere. I honestly feel this way about all of these products. I have not, however, had a chance to write about all of these products. Here's why. a) The Estee Lauder serum is a hard one for me to write about because I have no scientific backing to explain why my skin feels so amazing after using it, but I will try to write a post about this very soon! b) The Trish McEvoy mascara was one of my favorite mascaras...but I am loath to review mascaras because I think the efficacy of any mascara is very subjective. I rarely find more than five people that can agree on one mascara being "perfect". So I will not review this mascara on this blog, but I will tell you it worked for me. It might not work for you. See if you can get a sample before you purchase.

OK. Enough about me. Let's talk about what are some of YOUR favorite items. For this Thursday Poll I'm going to ask you to list your favorite products from specific categories. The twist is that you don't have to just choose what Neiman Marcus sells. It can be a product sold anywhere! Sound like fun?

On To The Poll! I can't wait to read all the answers!!!

List your favorite product in the following categories:

1. Moisturizer - AmorePacific Moisture Bound Hydra Gel

2. Eye Care - Chanel Sublimage Eye

3. Foundation - Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

4. Concealer - It's a tie! Cle de Peau Concealer and Make Up For Ever Full Cover

5. Blush - Chanel Joues Contraste Blush

6. Eye Shadow - Le Metier de Beaute

7. Liner - Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner

8. Mascara - It's a Tie! Trish McEvoy High-Volume Mascara and Josie Maran Gogo Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara

9. Lipstick and/or Gloss - Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick I have no favorite gloss....yet.

10. Tools (Brushes, Curlers, Face Brushes, Tweezers, etc.) - Too Many to mention, but of all the Clarisonic Brush has made the biggest difference in my life!

NARS Eyeshadow Single in Lhasa - Review, Pictures, Swatches

2012-01-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

Let's face it. When one has over 125 entries under the color TAUPE on their blog, one has a serious TAUPE addiction. When I say "One" I mean ME! I don't need an intervention. I just need more Taupe shadows. More taupe shadows like....

The NARS 2012 Spring collection Eyeshadow Single in Lhasa!

Named after the Tibetan capital, Lhasa is a delicate grey taupe with hints of lavender and purple. It is a satin finish shadow that has a slight nod to pearl without losing the satin qualities for which it is formulated. This shadow is well pigmented. It applies well using a brush and looks even deeper in color when using a foam applicator.

Tonight I am going to a fondue restaurant for a "Girls Night Out" with a bunch of the moms to kids in Darthypie's Day Care class. I think I'm the ONLY mom in the entire group that actually wears makeup. I am wearing NARS Eyeshadow Single in Lhasa, black winged liner, light pink blush and a pink-y nude lipstick. By most standards I am not wearing too much makeup...but I have a feeling I will be wearing a lot compared to these women. My intent is not to make myself feel overly made up. It is to make all those moms look into my eyes and fall in LOVE with NARS Lhasa eyeshadow!

How could they not? It's an amazing shade. It's TAUPE! I imagine they will look at me from across the steaming pot of Fondue and think to themselves why they are suddenly so enchanted with me. They will then remember how incredibly charming I am. How I have a delightful sense of humor and how Darthypie is the most precious little boy in the world. Yep. I think that's exactly how it will go......

Mom # 1: "Have you tried the beef, Elvira?"

Me: "Not yet. Thank you it looks delicious!"

Mom #2: "Not as delicious as your eyeshadow!"

Mom #3: "I'm so glad you said something. I have been entranced by the luminous grey lavender color of your shadow since I sat down tonight!"

Mom #1: "I agree. If I may be so bold, your eyeshadow color is so spectacular I imagine that if you have the good sense to wear such a stunning color you must be very smart in so many other areas. Tell me. Do you have any parenting advice?"

Me: (with mouth full of fondue beef) "Ummm. Yes? I mean...no? I mean. So how about those football playoffs?"

Mom #2: "Your eyeshadow is just brilliant. I love the way that it looks satiny without looking too metallic. Tell me. What's your secret for looking so amazing ALL THE TIME!?"

Mom #4: "Yes. Please oh please tell us. You always look so "put together" and I promise we won't get mad when we read this on your blog tomorrow. In fact, I have no idea you even have a blog. It's a good thing I don't know you have a blog, because I would probably be really annoyed that you are portraying us as mindless fools with nothing to talk about other than your NARS eyeshadow."

Me: "Huh? I think you said the loud part, quiet and the quiet part, loud."

Mom #3: "I agree. I also love your eyeshadow but if I ever read this review on your blog, which I have no idea it actually exists, I would probably never speak to you again and I wouldn't be inviting Darthypie to my kid's birthday party."

Me: "I think this fantasy conversation is getting out of hand. I mean, this is MY fantasy! You all are supposed to ooh and ahh over me regaling tales of how pigmented the NARS shadow is. You are supposed to take notes when I mention that it lasts forever with hardly any creasing or fading when worn with an eye primer. You are supposed to beg me to tell you where to purchase this, and quickly start typing the web address for narscosmetics.com into your smart phones! You are supposed to delight in the fact that this shadow is only $23!

Waiter: "They would be doing all those things and more if you didn't feel so guilty for using them as a plot device in your story about NARS Lhasa Eyeshadow from the 2012 Spring Collection. Your overwhelming sense of guilt in making these lovely women look like vapid buffoons has not only caused your fantasy to derail, but now you have no solid ending for the post!"

Mom #1: "The Waiter is right. You really have no way to show that this specific NARS Lhasa eyeshadow is so very unique when you compare it to four other shadows."

Mom #2: Yes. Even when you mention that Armani Eyes To Kill Intense in Pulp Fiction is more silver and metallic, Inglot P420 is lighter, Shu Uemura ME Silver 945 is more brown and the lid color from Wet 'n Wild Silent Treatment lacks the lustre and purple qualities of NARS Lhasa. It will still seem forced and incongruous with the rest of the post."

Me: "Incongruous?"

Mom #2: "Yes. I'm a school teacher. I have a better vocabulary than you. Might I add that your grammar is appalling? However, not as appalling as the fact that if one does not buy NARS eyeshadow in Lhasa how empty their life will be."

Waiter: "It's not even like you can do the 'Do you NEED this?' question at the end of this post without it looking choppy. Mind you, I know that you would tell your readers that 'YES! You need this shadow in your life!' but it's too late now. You have gone off on a tangent and there is no reasonable way to get back."

Me: "Check Please!"

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose - Review, Pictures, Swatches

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

image from narscosmetics.com

As soon as I read the name for the NARS Spring Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil, called Mexican Rose, I started to hum a very old but very notable song, "Mexicali Rose". Originally composed by a man named Jack Tenney in 1902 the song was a waltz with no lyrics. Eventually Lyrics were created for this haunting tune and the song was sung by many from Bing Crosby to Vera Lynn to Jerry Lee Lewis. However, I think that the original Singing cowboy, Gene Autry, did it best. Heck. There was even a movie called Mexicali Rose released back in 1939 where Gene Sings the song on the silver screen.

The lyrics go:

"Mexicali Rose, stop crying,
I´ll come back to you some sunny day.
Called-every night you know that I´ll be pining,
Every hour a year when I´m away.

Dry those big brown eyes and smile, dear
Banish all those tears and please don´t cry.
Kiss me once again, and hold me.
Mexicali Rose, goodbye."

So what does some singing cowboy and a 110 year old waltz have to do with lip gloss?

Nothing.

I just got the song in my head and couldn't get it out.

So the NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose is in a word....stunning. I adore the color. It's a hot pink. It's a neutral hot pink tho. It's not too cool that those with warm skin tones couldn't wear it. Actually I think this would look stunning on golden skin tones and deep dark skin tones. I am pale...white...devoid of color...and this looks pretty good on me too! (If I do say so myself.) Oh and the staying power? For a gloss pencil, the color payoff is amazing. It also seems to last an inordinate amount of time because the color acts as a sort of stain for the lips. LOVE THAT!

The formula is shiny and smooth and very moisturizing....thanks to the moisture-rich hyaluronic spheres, which make your lips appear plumper! The gloss pencil is actually VERY sturdy. I was expecting it to smush and melt against my lips upon application but it did quite the opposite. It packed a huge pigmented punch while still maintaining it's shape. I actually swatched this on my arm, applied it to my lips three times and the pencil still does not need sharpening!

OK. Here's the thing about the NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose that I don't like. It Needs Sharpening. Oh how I wish that this came in a twist up tube like the Tarte Gloss Pencils. I just hate sharpening stuff. Call me lazy, but it's really because I over sharpen and then the "lead" AKA gloss gets all screwy and well...Mr. Nars, if your listening....A twist up pencil would be ideal. I know that it will cost more to manufacture, but I would be willing to pay a few dollars more for this wonderful NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil formula. I would! Love, Elvira. P.S. Your French Bulldog is awesome!

Do you NEED this? YES! It's such a pretty color, it feels magnificent, and almost anyone can wear it! I find myself reaching for it again and again! The NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose is available now as part of the Spring 2012 collection. It retails for $24 USD and you can purchase it on narscosmetics.com.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe - Review, Photos, Swatches

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's no secret how much I love taupe eyeshadow. I mean a lot of people love taupe, but it really has a special place in my heart. I love the color taupe so much, that many of my color choices, beyond cosmetics, end up taupe. (Clothing, furniture, pets, cars) I'm drawn to the utter banality of taupe. Taupe is predictable as the sunrise and just as beautiful. There are so many shades of taupe, just like shades in a sunrise, that I find it impossible to own too many taupe shadows. Each one is different in their own way. Each one a "Special Snowflake". Today I bring you another entrant into my taupe collective.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe.

Maybelline released only 10 shadows in this formula. The majority are very vibrant colors. The fact that Tough As Taupe exists in the rainbow colored, long wearing, eyeshadow community of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow group, is a surprise and a treat. The nine other shade names are:

Fierce & Tangy - Orange
Too Cool - White
Audacious Asphalt - Pewter Grey
Painted Purple - Purple
Bad To The Bronze - Bronze
Pomegranate Punk - Maroon/Deep Red
Tenacious Teal - Teal
Bold Gold - Gold
Edgy Emerald - Green

I find the consistency of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe to be very creamy and very similar to MAC Paint Pots. Although, I find that the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe seems to dry faster than the MAC paint pots. I do own the long since discontinued MAC Paint Pot in Stray Gray, but I could not for the life of me, find it in my stash. That is a clear indicator that I have too much makeup. However, from memory, I think the shades are nearly identical, so if you are still pining away over MAC Stray Gray, then Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe is your dupe. The consistency of Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeshadow Cremes are slightly more sheer than the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadows and they do not set as quickly as the Maybelline shadows. The Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless Cream Shadows are the sheerest of the bunch and have the most working time before they set when compared to Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadows, MAC Paint Pots, and Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeshadow Cremes.

The color of Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe is a rich and opaque grey beige. One thing to note The color in the pot, when you first open it, is NOT the color underneath. Que? Yes. The color on top seems to be a completely different color from what you actually get when you swipe the color with your finger the first time. NOT COOL! It ends up looking more grey than brown. This creamy shadow has no shimmer at all and dries to a decent matte texture which is nice. One must work quickly and sheer out the edges before they set. That makes working on one eye at a time essential.

See what I mean? It's like 2 different colors!

Here's the issue.

I did not find this shadow lasting anywhere near 24 hours on my lids. I actually went out to purchase this shadow after seeing a tweet from Maybelline. They had retweeted a person extolling the 24 hour virtues of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow. I should have known it was too good to be true. I already know that Maybelline won't be retweeting my tweet that these so-called Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadows last only 4 to 6 hours without primer and 8 to 10 with a primer. Nope. I bet they won't even. It was crease city when I applied Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe for the first time. I used no primer. Just clean lids. I applied using my finger (as instructed on the Maybelline website) and I managed to get a fairly sheer but even application. Four short hours later and my eye was creasing faster than a cheap suit on a long car trip. I tried the next day applying Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe over an eye primer while using a synthetic brush. I achieved a more opaque yet even application this time, but, by hour number 8 I was creasing faster than the lines in Daniel Craig's forehead. Not 24 hours by a long shot. Well there goes my 15 seconds of celebrity. I'm sure Maybelline isn't going to retweet "@Maybelline 24Hr Color Tattoo e/s lasts as long as Kim Kardashian's Virginity" (Low Blow) or "@Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo e/s is about as stable as Spiderman The Musical's stunt team" (Beating a dead horse) or "@Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo e/s disappeared faster than Charlie Sheen's career" (not winning!). (I'm just devastated...can't you tell?)

[UPDATE] I did get very good results when I wore this with a powder shadow on top. Almost 14 hours of wear, which is great. That being said, because I received so much positive feedback from you all. I will recommend this...but, as I mention below, your results may vary depending on how oily your eyelids are. [UPDATE END]

And I did not do such a great job sheering/blending out the edges.

Do you NEED this? ~~No. Sadly~~. [UPDATE] Maybe? I re-tested this with a powder shadow on top and I found it wore a whole 14 hours with no creasing. So I think the trick is to use the Maybelline eye tattoo under a powder shadow or top the Maybelline with loose setting powder....that is if you have oily lids like I do. [UPDATE END] Yes, the color is great. Yes, the consistency is nice. But if it's called "24 Hour Color" then it should last at least 15 to 20 hours. I don't even need it to last 24 whole hours. 15 would be fine with me. My lids are fairly oily, so your results may vary. I would love to hear from readers that DID have good experience with this product. Specifically I would like to know if: a) you used a primer. b) You have normal, oily or dry lids. c) If you use eye cream.

Color comparisons. It's almost a cream version of the powder eyeshadow from MAC called Copperplate

The Beauty Blog Network 1-15-2012

2012-01-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

1/15/2012

Enter at Painted Ladies for your chance to win a fabulous frock from Shabby Apple!

Phyrra shares swatches of the new Dreamworld Minerals Lip Chromes.

The Pink Sith is still a liquid eyeliner hoor! Check out her latest acquisition of the Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners and behold the beauty.

Stylebell shows you how to get a look right off the Cynthia Rowley runway!

Girl Gloss lists her 41 picks for best lip balms.

Beauty Blog Link Love 1-14-2012

2012-01-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella gives Japanese brand Suqqu a try with their Reset Cleansing Oil.

At long last, BB creams are (finally!) hitting it big in North America. Check out theNotice's BB cream coverage, which has only just begun.

polish insomniac shows us how to make a difficult polish look good!

The Pink Sith has FINALLY finished her quest for the elusive L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows! Read about the colors she got and see what she thinks!

Have old dried out nail polish strips and don't know what to do with them? Musicalhouses shows you how to save your dried out nail polish strips!

Miss Beauty Nerd loves nude colours, especially ones by Bobbi Brown. Currently, she's coveting the Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Eye Palette!

Check out Jenn from Spiced Beauty's current obsession from Sleek makeup.

Phyrra shows you the latest lip product she's been lusting after, new Fyrinnae Lip Lustres.

Looking for a full coverage foundation that doesn't feel like a full coverage foundation? Gouldylox Reviews checks out this one from Tarte and puts it's lofty time promises to the test!

My Lips But Better learns the hard way Tweezerman's nail files aren't nearly as good as their tweezers.

Wishing for Spring like Tracy at Beauty Reflections is? Then take a look at the new Lise Watier Aquarella Spring 2012 Eyeshadow Palette.

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Beauty Crazed is giving away a giant pile of makeup to celebrate the new year! Come enter and decide for yourself just how crazed they really are!

The Lipstick League - week of 1.9.12

2012-01-14T11:29:00.003-05:00

Question of the Week: - What's your go-to eyeshadow brush?

Answer: Sadly it's a brush that does not exist any more. It came as a GWP from Lancome back in 1989!! Yes. It's that OLD. It's a rounded brush medium thick with soft bristles. It applies almost any shadow perfectly over the entire lid. If it ever dies or gets lost, I will have a huge sad.

Nouveau Cheap - If you're a fan of the Wet n Wild 8-pan eyeshadow palettes, the new Black Radiance 8-pan palette in Downtown Browns is a must-see.

Pink Sith - educates you on the dangers of Severe Chanel Blush Withdrawal (SCBW) and explains how the latest Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel saved her life

Prime Beauty - got Mega Drag Queen lashes with RevitaLash Lash Conditioner and now you can too. Head on over to Prime Beauty to see the before and after pictures and enter to win a 3-month supply of RevitaLash and a RevitaLash mascara!

Phyrra - tries out a new line of eye shadows from well-known blogger Marlena of the Makeup Geek.

Vampy Varnish - checks out the new MAC collection called MAC, Naturally.

we heart this - you're not a color lover if you don't have a bit of Sugarpill in your stash.

Clumps of Mascara - has a guest editor discuss infertility and wonders why more women aren't discussing it.

EauMG - is in love with this decadent, self-indulgent vanilla by DSH Perfumes.

Krasey Beauty - shows you some brand spanking new additions to the LUSH Cosmetics line. Bathtime is funtime, in LUSH land.

Shinso Skin Care and Elure products are now being offered on iderma.com - Sponsored Post

2012-01-13T13:14:00.000-05:00

Exciting News! Shinso Skin Care and Elure products are now being offered on iderma.com.

Shinso skin care products redefine anti-aging and skin revitalization with their use of age-fighting herbs. Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian have used Shinso products to achieve smoother and younger looking skin. Shinso believes the world contains "miraculous healing treatments" that can be discovered by harnessing the earth's natural ingredients. Both Shinso Essence and Shinso Mist contain more than 26 active ingredients in a completely unique blend. Each product contains Fullerenes, which has been shown to be 125 times more effective at protecting the skin than Vitamin C.

Shinso Essence

Instantly rejuvenates and tightens the skin
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Enhances skin texture and natural radiance
Effective against the development of skin wrinkling
Destroys free radicals that damage skin cells
Tightens the skin by boosting collagen production

Shinso Mist
Convenient Mist for use anywhere, at anytime
Instantly revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin
Protects against free radicals and skin damage
Boosts collagen production for skin regeneration

Helps protect your skin from ultraviolet rays

Shinso Glow
Instantly gives your face a lift and removes dead skin cells
Protects the skin against skin damaging free radicals
Helps restore a youthful appearance leaving the skin looking plumper
No oil, chemicals, fragrances, or parabens.

Elure skin care products focus on improving the appearance of the skin through advanced skin lightening formulations. Their brightening creams utilize Melanozyme, the latest breakthrough enzyme, known as Lignin Peroxidase (LIP). Clinical tests indicate that LIP may help achieve greater results than Hydroquinone and herbal extracts. Elure saw an 8.25% decrease in Melanin color versus Hydroquinone with a 2.65% decrease. See why Allure is calling Elure a beauty "Breakthrough."

Elure Advanced Skin Lightening Night Cream
Achieve a beautiful, healthy skin tone

Contains Lignin Peroxidase (LIP) to successfully lighten the skin and reduce melanin color.

Perfect for those who are looking to achieve a softer skin tone and reduce depigmentation.
Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner 2011

Elure Advanced Skin Lightening Lotion
Achieve a beautiful, healthy skin tone

Contains Lignin Peroxidase (LIP) to successfully lighten the skin and reduce melanin color.

Perfect for those who are looking to achieve a softer skin tone and reduce depigmentation.
Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner 2011

Shinso Essence, Shinso Mist, and Shinso Glow all consist of rare deep sea waters and rich botanicals. Elure Advanced Skin Lightening Night Cream and Elure Advanced Skin Lightening Lotion both help brighten the skin and even out skin pigmentation. Shinso Skin Care and Elure products are now being offered on iderma.com.

And the Winner Is....

2012-01-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

The winner of the BeKnown Giveaway is....

MJ Oliveria

MJ will receive an ULTA Makeup kit and Business Card Holder from BeKnown

Please Congratulate MJ!

You all can be winners by using BeKnown for your next Job Search. The BeKnown app allows you to set up a professional profile directly on Facebook that is completely separate from your personal Facebook page. One of the apps newest features, College Pages, even provides a way for alumni to network professionally on Facebook and view job postings from their fellow graduates!

Please see our Contest/Giveaway Rules for more information about how winners are selected and notified. The Winner of this giveaway must respond within 3 days from notification or a new winner will be chosen.

BECCA Professional Make-up Brush Soap - Review Pictures

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

image from beccacosmetics.com

I'm not really sure why I bought it. I'm not really sure why I'm reviewing it. I'm not really sure if I know exactly what I'm doing, so I'm just gonna plow ahead. Forgive any ramblings or off topic discussions. I mean, how much can one talk about a brush cleanser. Either it works or it doesn't work. Right?

I know for a fact that most people use baby shampoo to wash their brushes. Heck I have been known to use anti-bacterial hand soap from time to time. But it hit me the other day. Those soaps are designed for a specific purpose...washing hair or washing hands. My brushes may be made out of hair, but it sure isn't human hair, and some of the cleansers in hand soap can be so harsh that I might actually damage the brush hair. After all the money I invested in brushes the last thing I want to do is have to replace them.

I saw a review on Modesty Brown about the BECCA Professional Brush soap. I'm not sure what it was about the product that drew me to it. It might have been the simple old time-y tin that the soap is housed in. It might have been the fact that BECCA is a cosmetics brand with outstanding brushes so it stands to reason they know a thing or two about keeping them clean. Or it could have been that my beloved Japonesque #333 Powder Brush (Yes. The brush for which I actually wrote a POEM!) was starting to look a little less than awesome from all the washing in harsh detergents. Regardless. I decided I had to purchase it.

The BECCA Professional Brush Soap is formulated to clean, condition and sanitize your brushes. This solid formula soap is made from plant oils to ensure it is gentle on brush fibers but still able to tackle tough product build-up. It works on both natural and synthetic fibers and will handle almost any brush size or shape. The less harsh detergents will help lengthen the lifespan of your brushes. Let's face it, clean brushes just work better. We all know that unwashed brushes can be a common breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause a bevy of skin issues.

This is how I use the soap: (actual instructions in bold)

I first look at my makeup brushes in disgust because I have neglected to wash them for well over a week.
Then I look at the clock to see what time it is and if I have enough time to wash all of my brushes.
I determine that I certainly do not have enough time to wash ALL of them so I select a few that I will need the next day to complete my makeup look.
I then make sure that Darthypie is asleep because the last time I started washing my brushes when he was awake I had to stop in the middle and never finished.
I turn on the radio in the bathroom because I can't stand the silence.
I open the BECCA Professional Brush Soap vintage-style shaving tin and admire how sweet that little soap looks.
I decide that the soap is too little and I'll probably use the whole thing up cleaning all of my brushes.
I turn the tap on to cool to lukewarm water
I try to clean as much powder from the brush as possible on a towel and then run the water over the brush to dampen it.
I then swirl the brush on the soap long enough to create a small lather.
I get anal retentive about the pristine soap now having makeup residue on it.
I then place the brush in my hand and work the soap and water into a lather
I rinse away the soap from the brush and swipe it on a towel to see if I have any makeup reside left
I then am surprised that not only are all traces of makeup gone from the brush, so are all traces of soap
I pat dry the brush on a clean towel, reshape the bristles and lay it flat to dry
I move on the the next brush, and the next and the next.
I'm giddy that this brush washing took mere minutes to complete so I start to wash other brushes and the next thing I know I have washed all my brushes and I have not had too much time pass.
I then decorate the bathroom sink with clean towels and lay the brushes down on every flat surface I can find.
I rinse the solid soap off to get rid of remaining makeup residue, shake off the water and place it back in the tin.
I notice that very little of the soap has actually been used (a little goes a long way) and decide that I did make a good choice buying this soap!

There you have it! 20 (read 8) simple steps to cleaning my brushes!

Size comparison

Do you NEED this? YES! The BECCA Professional Make-up Brush Soap works very well. You only need a small amount to effectively clean the brush, even with stubborn concealer and foundation! The soap rinses cleanly without any residue. The time it takes to wash my brushes is MUCH shorter because I don't have to bother with multiple rinsing to rid the brush of soap that has become trapped in the bristles. My brushes are clean and they almost seem to dry faster. The best part is that they are left soft and as AWESOME as the day I first purchased them. That, my dear readers, is what a good brush cleaner should do! The BECCA Professional Make-up Brush Soap retails for $15 USD on the BECCA Website.

I purchased my BECCA Professional Make-up Brush Soap from Zuneta. Thanks to Perilously Pale for alerting me to an incredible sale at Zuneta! Right now, with the promo code ELLE20 you can save 20% on your purchases. This sale will last until February 28th, 2012! Now you have no excuse not to try it! Oh, by the way, don't flip out over the US prices on Zuneta. They look higher than they actually are because Zuneta US Prices include the British VAT (a tax). If you are shipping outside of the UK you shouldn't have to pay that. Happy Shopping!

Ingredients:
Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua (Water), Sucrose Cocoate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Parfum (Fragrance).

Thursday Poll

2012-01-12T08:37:00.000-05:00

I'm competitive. I didn't realize how competitive I was until I started playing Trivial Pursuit with Mr. Sith shortly after we were married. Boy was I getting pissed when he got questions right and I got them wrong. I was mad when his roll of the die was luckier than mine. Watching the number of pie pieces grow in his game piece made my blood boil. I realized. I do not like to lose. Well who does, really? But for some reason I get really, really, competitive over things I perceive that I am "good at". Trivia, Scrabble, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Words With Friends (WWF). Oh My gods. Don't get me started on words with friends. I used to play scrabble on my phone all the time, against the computer none the less. I usually won! I do crossword puzzles in INK! I thought that I would SLAUGHTER on Words With Friends. Nope. I have lost most of my games. I thought my great knowledge of Crosswords would help. Nope. It won't do jack squat when the only letters I have are A A I I O Q L and most of the board is blocked off by cross crossing words that I can't add to. And let me talk about what WWF thinks are acceptable words. Some of the words they accept are NOT FREAKIN WORDS! And some of the words I try to use, WWF tells me they are not words. SO not fair! So anyway. I don't get as upset losing to some friends on Facebook as I do losing to Mr. Sith. Why? Because he is just as competitive as me! He is not as bad as me but he is still competitive. Sometimes I let my crazy competitive side take over too much and it starts to seep into things that I don't need it to....like blogging. I know beauty blogging is competitive. I know there are tricks to getting more readers, more press samples, more exposure. I know that for some, blogging is a full time job. Those beauty bloggers have time to write, take photos, build relationships with brand reps, engage in social media, etc. Some times I start to get down because I see some blogs get better numbers than me or get better PR or get mentioned in magazines and I'm not getting those things. That's not because I think they don't deserve it. They do! It's because I forget why I really started to blog in the first place. I did this so that I could write. Write in my own style, deliver something more than the "clinical review". I did this not to get famous or get money or get "free stuff". (I wrote for a few years before I even started to get press samples.) I did this because I have a passion for writing and a passion for cosmetics, and the second I lose that passion for either one and only focus on the money or PR or numbers I have truly lost. I'm not saying that bloggers that focus on those things have lost. Not at all. I'm saying that for ME, for my own goals, that would be losing. I realize that not everyone is going to like the way I write. Not everyone is going to appreciate reading paragraphs of text only to find that my actual review of a product is at the end of the post. I'm cool with that. That's why people that read and appreciate this blog mean so much to me. They "get it"! and by them "getting it" they "get me" and they even see the "inappropriate use of quotation marks" in this post and find it amusing. They realize that makeup doesn't have to be so "serious"...I realize that makeup doesn't have to be so serious. I realize that what I do, as a hobby, is FUN! And by realizing all that, I have WON! ....of course to get mentioned in a magazine would be fun too!

On To The Poll!

1. Blush Of The Day? - Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel. I have to use a light hand with this well pigmented blush. It's so pretty tho. I think it would look good on almost anyone.

2. Do you play Words With Friends or any other sort of online games? - I do. I play WWF, poorly. If I had time I would probably play Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs).

3. Have you used up any beauty products recently? Did you replace them? - Yes and yes and no. I used up a Dior Toner but replaced it with one from Korres. I used up an entire MAC MSF but I have a back up of the same color. I used up my LMdB Concealer but I have so many other concealers I don't plan to replace any until I run out completely.

4. Do you have a hobby? If so, what is it? - Mine is beauty blogging...I don't really have any other hobbies. I guess before I blogged my hobby was baking. I loved cake decorating and making cookies and such...but it was too easy to eat my work.

5. What product would you immediately hoard if you found out that it was going to be discontinued? - There are sooo many, but because I want to be able to use it for ever and ever and I don't want to run the risk of it drying up, spoiling or turning bad I'll have to go with a powder product and that product would be.........Le Metier de Beauty eyeshadow in Corinthian.

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - Review Pictures Swatches

2012-01-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

Being a hoor for many things, Taupe shadow, Chanel Blush, etc. I have now found my new Hoor Category in Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners. During the last Urban Decay Friends and Family sale I purchased FIVE more liners, bringing my total to six (I had Perversion - Black). I use all of the liners very often and for many eye looks. Sadly tho, as luck would have it, I didn't capture every eye look while wearing these liners and I only have three to show you. But trust me. These are ALL winners.

FIRST

Let me remind you why I love liquid liners from Urban Decay

a) They are waterproof

2) The have the finest brush for precise application

iii) They come in a wide range of colors (Except Green. WTF UD? Can't a Ho get a green liner?)

*) I am a hoor for liquid liner...just look at my EOTD pictures. I'm wearing liquid liner in almost every one!

OK. Now that we have established that the UD 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners are awesometastic. This Liquid Eyeliner has a waterproof formula. It lasts all damn day! It deposits richly pigmented color using a fine tipped brush. That brush makes it almost impossible to mess up. This slim profile handle holds a brush that is easy to control, even N00bs will find it makes the perfect line! One can draw micro thin lines to thick lines of color. The classic winged cat eye will apply with ease using this liner.

SECOND

Let me show you the colors I purchased:

From top to bottom:
Demolition - deep, matte brown
Retrograde - glittery, deep purple

Revolver - sparkly, dark grey

Sabbath - deep, matte navy blue
Smog - sparkly, golden medium brown

Swatches:

Oh yeah baby. Look at them. So pretty!

THIRD:

Do you NEED these? YES! If you are a liquid liner hoor like me or if you have always wanted to try liquid liner but were afraid to, this is the one to get. I SURE HOPE THEY COME OUT WITH A SPARKLY DARK GREEN ONE (hint hint) but for now I am more than satisfied with the colors I have...you know, minus not having an option for a green liner. ::coughUrbanDecayMakeOnePleasecough:: Who am I kidding. They don't read this blog. I should just write them a letter or something. But anyway. I use one of these liners every day and cant imagine living without them.

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Demolition

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Sabbath

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Retrograde

NARS Spring 2012 Collection

2012-01-10T13:00:00.001-05:00

Who said Spring had to be about soft pastels and neutrals? Certainly not the brand's Founder and Creative Director François Nars!

The NARS Spring 2012 Collection is a study in contrasts: Bold color underscored by sophisticated shimmer. Eyes glisten in muted tones of lavender and pink, or shimmer in bronze shades accented with rich navy. Cheeks are flushed with candy pink. Lips gleam in topaz or pop with berry. Metallic violet nails add the finishing touch to a collection that’s bright, strong and iconic.

Let's start with the eyeshadow Trio:

DOUCE FRANCE

This Shadow trio is named for the 1942 song by French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet. You can listen to it HERE. Pink eyeshadow fans will be ecstatic to learn this this Springs Trio features THREE pinks to create a stunning and versatile look. The trio eyeshadow features three gorgeous pink shades—shimmery icy pink, shimmery rose-petal pink and matte deep rose—that can be mixed to create a range of looks, from delicate and innocent to bold and sophisticated. Wear each alone or use one as a base, another to highlight and the third as a liner or contour.

Douce France Trio Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) $45

Two more shadows from the collection:

LHASA

One of the highest cities in the world, Lhasa is the home to many significant Tibetan Buddhist palaces. This shimmery lavender-gray Single Eyeshadow lends lids a luminous look worthy of its spiritual namesake. Did someone say gray and lavender? Oooh. This color has me in fits. I must have it!

Lhasa Single Eyeshadow $24

PARAMARIBO

The capital and largest city of Surinam, a tropical state in South America, was the inspiration for this Duo Eyeshadow, with its metallic shades of brass and bronze. Wear each solo, or use one as a base and the other as an accent or highlight for a richly burnished effect.

Paramaribo Duo Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) $34

Remember the bright pink cheeks on model Ginta Lapina? Well here we have the culprit!

GAIETY

A bright candy-pink Blush that’s as cheerful as the state of joyful exuberance for which it’s named. This pink looks like fun and also looks like it will suit a number of skin tones!

Gaiety Blush $28

NARS Cosmetics have these wonderful The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils. This Spring the color is:

MEXICAN ROSE

Just like its namesake flower, known for its long-lasting pink blooms, this hot-pink Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil leaves lips soft and gorgeously glossy thanks to moisture-rich hyaluronic spheres, which make pouts appear plumper.

Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil $24

Who says matte is just for winter. Mr. Nars doesn't follow those silly rules. He introduces a new Pure Matte Lipstick in:

VALPARAÍSO

The Chilean city is becoming increasingly known as the country’s cultural capital. The rich raspberry Pure Matte Lipstick delivers long-wearing color with a comfortable finish.

Valparaíso Pure Matte Lipstick $25

Not a bright lip fan? NARS has you covered with their new lipstick called:

BILBAO

A smooth and super-conditioning Lipstick in a shimmering topaz named for the Basque region of Spain, which has been revitalized by the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum.

Bilbao Lipstick $24

I am personally a huge fan of Navy shadows/pencils/liners and Purple Nail Polish, so when I saw these two treats from the collection I clapped my hands like an excited child!

DARK RITE

The navy blue Soft Touch Shadow Pencil complements any warm-weather look. Use the creamy, long-wearing formula alone, as a base for layering with powder shadow, or to line and sculpt the eye.

Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil $24

DIAMOND LIFE

Sade’s 1984 debut album inspired this metallic violet Nail Polish. “Smooth Operator” indeed.

Diamond Life Nail Polish (Limited Edition) $18

The NARS Spring 2012 Collection will be available on January 15, 2012 at narscosmetics.com

Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel - Review Pictures Swatches

2012-01-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

I think it's pretty clear now (after an entire year of Blushes You Can't Have) that I have a debilitating addiction to Chanel Blushes. It has gotten so bad that I have had to ask the help of strangers to talk me out of purchasing more blush from Chanel. Of course the strangers look at me like I'm a meth head and think I'm using street slang when I say "Joues Contraste". They naively assume I am asking them if I should purchase more meth, A.K.A. Joues Contraste, but in reality I am asking them if I should purchase more blush.

Now the sane person would say, "No!" "You don't need any more blush!". But when I ask these strangers they just try to act like I'm not there and that I don't exist. Can you imagine the scene I caused when I stood out in front of Neiman Marcus? My hands all sweaty, holding my credit card, My pallid complexion highlighted by a layer of cold perspiration. My throat is dry and my lips are parched. I have a dead behind the eyes look, yet I speak with the urgency of a woman that has lost her child in the store. I ask passers by, "You think I need another Joues Contraste?" They shoot me disapproving looks and hurry their pace.

I am now panicked. What if they sell out? What if I'm too late? I ask again, shortening the word to just it's initials, hoping that my haste in speaking will be returned with a quick answer. "Do you think I should get another JC?" This only confuses the shoppers walking out of Neimans and seems to gain the attention of the Mall Security Guard. I slink into the store, trying to go unnoticed. But my plan backfires. You see this Neiman Marcus has attentive Sales Associates and one of them approaches me as I grip the fragrance counter for support. She takes one look at me and recognizes the darting eyes, the sheen of sweat on my wan face. The hunched over shaking as I paw at my credit card and point with a weak and crooked finger at the Chanel counter. She recognizes this as Severe Chanel Blush Withdrawal or SCBW.

SCBW is a serious illness. If not treated properly it can lead to a lifeless looking complexion, lack of color and in some cases, death. Realizing that I was in Stage 4 of SCBW the friendly Sales Associate Guided me to the Chanel counter and immediately showed me the new Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel. As she swiped a clean brush across the tester I could almost hear angels singing with each bristle that touched the finely milled and incredibly pigmented powder. The striations in the blush ranged from pink to white to peach to deep fuchsia. Combined they formed the most beautiful delicate peachy pink that my eyes have ever seen.

The Sales Associate then applied the blush lightly to the apples of my cheeks and lightly up to above my ear. The application was like a wave of cool refreshing water from a virgin spring in the Swiss Alps. My SCBW was cured! I no longer had cold sweats or shaking hands. My ashen cheeks sprung to life under the ethereal glow that the Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel provided. It's warm peachy pink was well pronounced on my fair complexion and the luminous without being frosted glow made me look almost airbrushed rather than emphasizing pores or imperfections on my skin. On darker skin tones the Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel would provide more of a tinted highlight than a blush, but whether one is fair, tan or dark the result from using the Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel is splendid bliss.

Chanel Describes Blush Horizon de Chanel as an “elegant highlighting face powder... [with]... subtle gradations of rose, coral, and peach.”. Since the stripes are so small I would find it hard to use each stripe individually and I have a hard time sticking to one section of the pan for a specific color, therefore I swiped the entire blush from top to bottom using a sponge to show a heavy and light swatch.

Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel retails for $58.00 USD. It is a limited edition blush from the Spring Collection. I purchased my Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel at Neiman Marcus from my favorite Sales associate, Kathy Shoreman. You can call Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus in Tysons Galleria at 703-761-1600 X-3282.

Watch for the warning signs of SCBW:

Pale or wan complexion

Cold Sweats

Unscrupulously high bank account balance (from lack of spending money on Chanel Blushes)

Shaking

Disorientation

Sudden magnetic like pull to a Chanel Counter when in a department store

Muttering in French under ones breath

Stalking Neiman Marcus Sales Associates.

Death