ProductWhores

MAC Me Over

MAC's new MAC Me Over! is a HUGE new collection that was released on August 25th.  Proving once again that MAC is the hippest company when it comes to marketing ideas, this collection came about after MAC launched an online search asking regular people to tell them why they deserved to be one of the new faces of the brand.  Out of the huge amount of entries, six people were chosen.  They were flown to NYC for a makeover and a photo shoot - and now you can see them at your local MAC counter looking as beautiful as any supermodel.  I love, love, love this idea.  It's just a great way to involve their loyal customers in a collection.  What a thrill for those six lucky people!

MAC Me Over is divided into three different parts - MAC Basics (pictured above), Icelandic Cool, and New Black.  I saw the collection at my local store this past weekend and I have to say, I liked each of the parts for different reasons.  If you're someone just starting out with your makeup obsession (good for you!), Basics is fabulous because it'll let you build up your neutral shades with some gorgeous, easily wearable colors.  Icelandic Cool has some great icy shades - the frosty colors are some of my favorites in the whole collection and really hard to pass up.  And the New Black colors are perfect for dramatic smoky eyes - what I always think of in my head as "going out makeup."

I had a really, really (REALLY!) hard time keeping myself down to only a few key purchases, but I'm moving soon and I HAVE to save my money for all those expenses and the new furniture I'm going to have to buy.  I probably stood at the counter for a good 45 minutes trying to justify the stuff I bought (and trying to stop myself from buying even more).  Here are the pieces I couldn't pass up:

• Avenue Fluidline ($15) - I love MAC's Fluidlines and this charcoal black with gold pearl shade was just too gorgeous to resist.  I could easily have picked up any of the other three shades too because they're all beautiful, but I figured I would get the most use out of this one, so it was ultimately my choice.
• Plum Fun Lipglass ($14.50) - I'm all about the more opaque glosses for the coming fall weather and this one is just perfect.  It's a neutral plum purple with pearl that's different enough from any glosses I already own to make buying it a must. 
• Oh, Oh, Oh Lipstick ($14.50) - Another gorgeous lip shade that I just couldn't pass up. It's a plum bronze with pearl and just so fall-esque and pretty.  I had to have it.
• Street Cool Shadestick ($17.50) - I love Shadesticks for quick, easy color and out of the ones in this collection that I didn't already own, Street Cool totally called to me.  It's a mid-tone grey violet taupe that's sort of icy and frosty, but in a subdued way, not in an "I just stepped out of 1985" way.  I wore it out yesterday and I really love the way it makes my green eyes look.

Those were all the things I bought, but that's only because of my new, strict makeup buying budget.  (It really sucks.  I am not good at this self-denial thing).  But there are a ton of other items that I would've bought if I had just a little more to spend, like the Quiet Time Nail Lacquer (a beige nude creme) and the Stunner Powder Blush, a light coral pink.  That's the problem with these big collections.  They're always so awesome, I want everything in them!

You can find MAC Me Over! at your local MAC counter now and online at maccosmetics.com.

LORAC on Haute Look

All you LORAC fans should be setting an alert on your calendar for this Friday, September 2nd.  For that one day only, Hautelook.com will be offering two exclusive Haute Couture palettes that were created by LORAC founder and reknowned makeup artist, Carol Shaw.  The one-of-a-kind palettes are available only this Friday during Hautelook's "Deal of the Day" event, which lasts for 24 hours.

The Haute Couture Palette in Avant Garde (pictured above) is made for creating Carol's signature smoky eye.  Its four shades include a white shimmer, taupe shimmer, charcoal shimmer and plum shimmer, and it comes with a custom, double-edged brush in the palette.

The Haute Couture Palette in Sand Tropez (pictured above) is a neutral palette that can be used to get that "barely there" look that's perfect for daytime hours.  Shades include a matte ivory, a gold shimmer, a bronze shimmer and a matte espresso brown, and it also includes a custom double-ended brush.

Each palette retails for just $14 (they have a value of $76 each).  Set the reminder on your phones now!

Marrakesh Chic

On a bike trip through Morocco a few years ago, Bobbi Brown absolutely fell in love with Marrakesh.  She pulled inspiration from the sights and smells of the vibrant city and returned home to create what has become the Fall 2011 collection.  This insanely beautiful collection of shadows and lipsticks features intensely pigmented colors which are totally wearable and utterly gorgeous.  I, for one, want everything.  Available in September.  Marrakesh Chic includes:

• Rich Color Eye Shadow ($24.00) in Sand Dune, Pink Silk, Rich Kashmir, Desert Lily, Rich Slate, Wine, Coffee Bean, and Royale
• Lip Color ($23.00) in Desert Plum
• Metallic Lip Color ($23.00) in Violet Glaze
• Rich Color SPF 12 ($23.00) in Desert Rose
• Creamy Lip Color ($23.00) in Pale Plum and Pink Blossom

Sweet Orange & Argan

Discovering new brands is always fun, especially ones that smell as delicious as Andalou Naturals.  Their Moisture Rich Sweet Orange & Argan Shampoo and Conditioner duo is a great new find for my morning routine.  They smell SOOO amazing - it's such an energizing scent for when I stumble into my shower half-asleep at 7am.  (I am not a morning person.  I seriously think I don't actually start to function until around 10am - and even that's only after 2 cups of coffee).  The sweet orange helps to revitalize hair follicles and encourage healthy circulation, while the Argan oil helps to restore moisture, elasticity and strength while minimizing split ends and frizz.  I'm just a fan of the way it makes my hair look - soft and smooth and healthy.  The duo is also sulfate free and safe to use on colored hair (thank God!) so there really isn't a downside to trying them out.  And while you're on the site, do yourself a favor and also order the Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub.  It's fantastic.  Discovering new brands makes me feel like such a beauty pioneer!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Andalou Naturals   

Live By A Youth Code

You guys, I go through eye cream on a shockingly quick basis because I never get enough sleep, so I'm always trying to find a way to lessen my dark circles and undereye bags.  I'm also thoroughly convinced that wrinkle prevention works, so I feel like the better I treat my skin now, the happier I'll be in 30 years.  (Future me is going to be so happy someday!)  L'Oreal's Youth Code brand is awesome because it's fabulous skin care that you can get right at your local drugstore, often with discounts or money back if you spend a certain amount.  (Why yes, I'm a frequent CVS shopper - why do you ask?)  Right now, I'm totally obsessed with their Eye Cream Daily Treatment.  It comes in a tube, but with this fabulous metal scoopy rollerball on the end for application, which lets you massage in the eye cream in an easy way that's especially delightful during the ridiculous heat wave we're having in Los Angeles right now because it's nice and cool to the touch.  I've been using it both morning and night like the instructions recommend and I think it's definitely helping to keep my eyes more moisturized because the bags underneath them look slightly less haggard.  It's always hard for me to tell how well eye creams work because honestly, I never get enough sleep so I feel like it's almost unfair to judge them because they're fighting an uphill battle.  But I love the undereye massage the applicator gives and I do feel like this one is making a difference after a few weeks of use.  Maybe if I keep going, I'll start to look like I actually sleep more than 5 or 6 hours a night.  A girl can dream, right?  

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

smolderEYES creates drama

As much as I try to avoid drama in my life and the workplace (yet I am constantly watching reality TV which is always dramatic), I love creating dramatic looks with liner and the smolderEYES collection by Tarte is absolute perfection.  The chubby liner comes in 8 shades - Navy, Charcoal, Fig, Olive, Bronze, Golden Black, Plum and Brown - and all are so beautiful it's hard to choose just one.  What I love about this liner (as I love with all Tarte products, actually) the liners go on incredibly smooth and last the better part of the day so no need to re-apply.  Each liner has a fat end which you use to line the eye and then the other end has a little smudger which you use for, well, smudging.  These are so perfect to use for a smokey eye and are completely free of all those nasty chemicals that none of us want in our makeup.  Bonus: each liner comes with its own sharpener!  I love that because I am always losing my pencil sharpeners (or my dogs are destroying them for some unknown reason) so it's great to have a few extra on hand. If you tortured me to choose a few must-have colors of smolderEYES, I would have to choose Plum and Golden Black (traditional black with stunning golden flecks in it).  smolderEYES retail for $25.00 and are worth every penny!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Tarte.

Take Flight with Super G!

You guys, could the new Super G from Harajuku Lovers be any cuter?  The answer?  No, no it could not.  I've collected all of the Harajuku Lovers scents that have come out so far and I love all the packaging, but this one is seriously the cutest of them all.  She's flying through the air with a cape on! Adorable.  The scent itself is a really interesting mix with notes that I've rarely (if ever) heard of in a scent, like Yellow Pineapple, Banana Nectar and Tart, with lots of fruity and sweet notes as well, such as Pear, Coconut, Peach, Vanilla and Raspberry.  It's a hard scent to describe, but I'd probably call it a musky fruity blend.  I like it's uniqueness, but I wish it lasted a little longer on.  I feel like all my other Harajuku Lovers scents are way longer-lasting than this one and it's a little disappointing because I like the scent a lot, but I swear, I spritz it on in the morning and by afternoon, it's hard to detect anymore.  (I know I could carry it with me to refresh the scent, but the bottle's not real travel friendly and also, I would blow through the bottle in like, two weeks if I did that).  So basically, I give Super G two thumbs up for the scent, but her super powers failed a little when it came to staying power.  

P.S. If you want to make it up to me, Gwen Stefani, you can always send me a few pairs of L.A.M.B. shoes since I'm in love with pretty much all of them and can afford pretty much none of them.  Call me!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Harajuku Lovers

Go On A Silver Odyssey

I love sparkly, shiny makeup, so of course I'm going to be lining up to grab these two items as soon as they go on sale.  Silver Odyssey is a pairing of two exclusive NARS products, Via Crispi Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner ($23) and Space Odyssey Nail Polish ($17), which were created in honor of Fashion's Night Out 2011.  It's the first time NARS has created a collection for the night and I'm seriously coveting the aluminum Space Odyssesy polish.  (I love the eyeliner too, but if I had to pick one, it's definitely got to be the polish).  

The set will be available on narscosmetics.com starting on September 8th.  Get yours before they're all gone! 

Super Lush Lips

When I was at Sephora last weekend (it's really stunning how many times I set foot in that place), I decided to pick up Super by Nicholas Perricone because it smelled so good in the store. Definitely coconut tropical, but not overpowering.  I have to add that I just bought it, despite the rather hefty $20.00 price tag, without even testing it - I was so not going to use that tester which just looked as though all the nastiest fingers had poked and prodded it continually for weeks.   So, yes, I was living on the edge just purchasing without having any clue if it would be good or not and I am so glad that I live life so rebelliously because this is a fantastic lip balm!  Super hydrating, non-irritating and a little goes a long way so the pot will actually last me a while (making the 20 bucks look like a downright bargain price).  My only complaint is I wish it came in a plastic pot because the glass one is so heavy in my bag (but I refuse to go anywhere without it).  Maybe this is my chance to re-pot something and use those empty travel containers I bought at the beauty store (yet another "on a whim" purchase for me). 

Help Save The Sharks

Okay, I have to admit, sharks aren't exactly my favorite fish of all time and are actually probably part of the reason I stay out of the ocean.  (Insane, I know).  But over the past few decades, their population has dwindled by over 90% because of people's demand for shark fin soup and other shark products.  That's just crazy.  (Also, apparently this does not make me a gourmet, but how disgusting does shark fin soup sound?  No.  Just no).  LUSH has teamed up with one of the leading marine conservation organizations, Shark Savers, to help bring an end to shark fining.  Their limited-edition Shark Fin Soap sells for $5.95, with 100% of the proceeds going to Shark Shavers to support their work.  I mean, even if you don't like sharks, how can you resist the adorable soap with the decorative paper fin?  It's impossible!  The soap itself is packed with seaweed, sea salt and lime oil and sounds delightfully refreshing.  Wouldn't it look super cool on your bathroom sink?  This one must be mine on my next trip to LUSH (and gives me an excuse to stop by this weekend).  Done and done.