ProductWhores

Very Sexy and Glittery

Every Christmas Victoria's Secret surprises me with their holiday offerings (and I'm actually not even talking about their awesome flannel pjs which are a winter staple for me).  Their cosmetics line always kicks-butt and this year is no different.  Two stand-outs which I am obsessing over for stocking stuffers are Very Sexy Shimmer Lotion and Sexy Little Things Noir Tease Shimmer Powder.  Very Sexy is a sultry mix of vanilla orchid, clementine and blackberry.  The scent is intoxicating, but not overpowering, and the shimmer is delicate so you don't look like a human discoball.  I love that the lotion sinks right in, leaves skin feeling soft and the scent lingers the better part of the day (but not in an obnoxious way).  The Sexy Little Things Noir Tease Shimmer Powder is an awesome golden-glisten powder which looks fantastic on (again, not too overpowering with the glitter) but smells so ridiculously amazing that people have been stopping me to ask what scent I'm wearing.  The fragrance is black vanilla, frozen pear and gardenia but really it's most deep vanilla for me.  It reminds me of the Lavanila line - only sexier.  Love, love, love this product and at $25.00 it's a no-brainer for a gift.  I am especially loving using the powder as a perfume because it means way easier travel people (no spilling or measuring ounces).  

Note:  Samples of these items were sent to me by a PR representative working with Victoria's Secret.

Clean Up

I might've said this once (or twenty times) here, but I love CLEAN products.  Love, love, love.  I have almost every one of their scents and I wear them constantly.  If you're the same way, you'll definitely want to pick up this 4 Piece Fragrance Collection at Sephora.  For $65, you get four different 1 ounce Eau de Parfum sprays - one each of Cotton T-Shirt, Fresh Laundry, Warm Cotton and Shower Fresh.  The smaller sizes are great for traveling and the set's a fabulous value.  Even though I have way too many bottles of CLEAN already, I'm definitely taking this one home with me during the V.I.B sale later this week just to keep some backups on hand.  I have to be prepared in case there's a fragrance emergency, right?     

Lorac Bejeweled Holiday Collection

I am getting so excited for the holidays I can't even stand it. The malls are decorated, Starbucks has their holiday-themed cups and lattes back and my neighbor who never takes down his Christmas lights is now appropriately back in season.  All is glittery and festive without the snow.  And the holiday collections are releasing so quickly I can hardly keep up.  LORAC has the most brilliant limited edition Bejeweled Collection for this year.  They have released the Exclusive Bejeweled Day and Night Jewelry Box for Sephora, which has a gorgeous makeup collection all housed in the glittery goodness of a keepsake jewelry box.  This amazing box includes two eye liner pencils in dark brown and black, two high-shine lip glosses in Rose and Peach, Bronzer, a Face Palette for Day (which has 16 eye shadows plus blush) and a Face Palette for Night (again, 16 more eye shadows and another blush).  You cannot beat the set for the price (only $56.00).  The other item is a must-have stocking stuffer.  LORAC's Bejeweled Lip Gloss Collection contains 6 stunning glosses all housed in a beautiful diamond-encrusted cap (fake diamonds, of course - what do you expect for such a brilliant price?!)  The colors are all beautiful on and are so moisturizing you'll be shocked at how great they feel on.  Definitely my new go-to glosses and such an awesome price ($25.00 for the set).  Colors include Ruby Red, Peach Moonstone (my fave for the season as it's peachy-nude with sparkle - pairs gorgeous with smoky eyes), Hot Sapphire Pink, Rich Garnet (my second fave paired with nude shadow, black liner and black mascara), Pink Diamond and Bronze Topaz. You will want this set for your BFF and for yourself.  

Note:  A sample of the Bejeweled Lip Gloss collection was sent to me by a PR representative working with Lorac

Miss Piggy For MAC

Oh my gosh, you guys, when I was little, I loved Miss Piggy so much.  I totally watched "The Muppets" all the time, so the fact that MAC has a new Miss Piggy collection out makes me love them even more than I already did.  Can you imagine any other brand doing a collection with a Muppet?!  So, so awesome.  As is the fact that they credit her with being an "Icon.  Actress.  Supermodel. Chanteuse.  Muse.  Frog-o-phile.  Cinema and television superstar nonpareil."  Fabulous!

I kind of like that it's a really small offering of products too.  I mean, I love their big collections as much as the next girl, but sometimes they can get really overwhelming, so a few choices products is a nice change.

There are three items in the collection:

• Eye Shadow ($15) - Miss Piggy Pink - Mid-tone blue pink (frost) 
• Penultimate Eye Liner ($17.50) - Rapidblack - True Black 
• Lash ($15) - 36 - Full lash that creates a naturally dramatic look 

The Miss Piggy Collection will be available exclusively on maccosmetics.com on November 14th.

Happy Tarte-lidays!

It's kind of crazy to be thinking about the holidays when it's not even Halloween but I was at the mall this weekend and it's definitely all decked out so I am embracing my favorite time of the year and am celebrating all the amazing holiday products new this year...in October!  Seriously, holiday-specific cosmetics are my absolute biggest splurge, and this year is going to be no different.  Tarte has just released two amazing gift sets that should definitely make it under your tree.  First of all, they have a limited edition LipSurgence set which made me squeal with delight.  Side note: if you haven't tried LipSurgence before, you just have to - they are super-moisturizing, come in gorgeous colors and are so easy to apply.  This set comes in a sparkly silver box and contains Perky (soft carnation pink tint), Swank (light cherry tint), Ashy (bright iridescent fushia luster), Glitzy (antique pink luster) and Dazzled (my favorite - this beautiful pearly coral/pink which looks stunning on).  Each color is completely wearable and definitely giftable.  Set costs $29.00.  The other incredible holiday set is Puttin On The Glitz - a three palette giftset which comes with a beautiful lip laquer and this stunning silver clutch.  I have never seen something like this before - you get so much product and it all comes in this adorable handbag for only $49.00.  Who wouldn't want it?  Each palette has 6 shadows and one additional bronzer, powder or highlighter (so you're getting 18 shadows, one bronzer, one blush and one highlighter in all).  Each palette also has snaps at the spine so you can snap them in and out of the clutch depending on which one you want to carry at night.   I love all the colors and Tarte has definitely taken the guesswork out of which shades should be paired with which.  The three looks are completely different so you will find a million ways to wear each one (one lends itself to the smokey eye, one is daytime glittery and the third is earthy).  Also, you can use the palettes on their own if you need a large handbag at night.  The lipgloss is so stunning I have been carrying it with me to wear at work and have also paired with all-over lip liner at night for a stunning deep coral/pink color.  This is a truly unique and amazing holiday gift.  Now the trick is who is most deserving in your life to receive this?  Oh, and an extra one for yourself, of course.  Or am I the only who shops that way?

Note:  Samples of the above were sent to me by a PR representative working with Tarte

NARS Holiday 2011

Oooh, this new Holiday collection by NARS looks amazing!  I can hardly wait for October 15th to check it out in person!

The NARS Holiday 2011 Collection is decidedly decadent. Bold, shimmery lips are paired with rich eye color and a classic cheek. Lips offer the perfect balance of luminous and matte shades. Eyes smolder in exquisite, mysterious black hues infused with red, purple, gunmetal pearl, or shimmer. For a dramatic finishing touch, skin is set aglow with rose cream laced with gold. Staring Italian beauty Mariacarla Boscono, the campaign was designed and photographed by NARS Founder and Creative Director François Nars. Arabian Nights Trio Eyeshadow, $45 (Limited Edition) Black with gunmetal shimmer, black with purple pearls, and black with red pearls Ponderosa Cream Eyeshadow, $23 (Limited Edition)  Mink Mandchourie Duo Eyeshadow, $33  Golden-infused denim and rich navy Campo De’ Fiori Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, $23 Antique brass St. Marks Place Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, $23 Bright violet Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush, $27 Soft, shimmering peach G-Spot Multiple, $39 Rich gold-infused rose Joyous Red Lipstick, $24 (Limited Edition)  Amber red Albatross Lip Gloss, $24 (Limited Edition) Luminous glow Space Odyssey Nail Polish, $17 (Limited Edition) Aluminum Endless Night Nail Polish, $17 (Limited Edition) Black grape Available: October 15th on narscosmetics.com

Colors Take Flight

  Okay, I admit it, I'm one of those people who has never seen "Project Runway."  I don't know why because it sounds like it's right up my alley, but I haven't.  I have, however, discovered their recent collaboration with L'Oreal, Colors Take Flight, at my ULTA and I'm all over it. 

The collection is split into four different mini-collections - The Charming Cockatoo (a sophisticated, sultry look with a blue metallic eye and deep burgundy lip), The Watchful Owl (a glamorous look with a red lip and a brown metallic eye), The Audacious Amazon (an avant-garde look with fun, playful colors), and The Sultry Raven (a dramatic look with a smoky eye and neutral lip).  Each of them has a Studio Secrets Professional Eye Shadow Quad, a Super-Blendable Blush, a Colour Riche Lipcolour, and two Pro Manicure Nail Colors.  Tons of fun shades to play with!  It's hard to pick favorites, but I absolutely love the eye quad from The Sultry Raven (above).  The shades are shimmery and sparkly and dramatic - perfect for going out!  For nail colors, I really love both shades from The Watchful Owl - Owl's Night and Owl's Lust (below).  Owl's Lust is a classic red creme, while Owl's Night is gorgeous, but very hard to describe.  It's sort of like a dark brownish-black with gold shimmer.  Love!  It has a matching lipstick in Owl's Pout that's a great deep red.  Perfect for fall!

  

I love that the collections were inspired by different birds (The Audacious Amazon one comes from the Amazon Parrot).  Just a cool idea for a collection all around, and the variety of shades is amazing for a single collection.  It's in drugstores and at ULTA now, but the displays are quickly emptying (at least around me) so if you want to get your hands on this, you better run out now.  What are you waiting for?

Note:  Samples of this collection were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Hello Kitty's Street Style

Even if you're not a fan of the kitty (which I happen to be a huge fan of myself), you will love the new collection out at Sephora.  Seriously adorable palettes, brushes and cosmetic cases and everything is limited edition which means - think quick, my friends, and get to the mall! 

Hello Kitty Beauty takes to the streets for Fall 2011 with the new, limited edition Hello Kitty Graffiti Collection. This colorful and edgy compilation pays tribute to the daring graffiti artists that decorate Hello Kitty’s urban landscape with hints of creative surprise and color.  Presented exclusively at Sephora, Hello Kitty Beauty is decidedly grown up, artistic, stylish, and with a sophisticated flair, combining coveted designs with luxurious formulas and iconic accessories and tools. It’s the ultimate must-have beauty collection for Hello Kitty collectors and beauty enthusiasts alike.

• Graffiti Palette ($35) - Hello Kitty Beauty’s signature, limited-edition tiered compact goes edgy with stylish graffiti décor and smoky shades. The top tier contains four eyeshadows in shimmery gray, charcoal, soft pink and grayish teal, while the bottom tier holds a  dusty pink and bronzy peach blush/bronzer duo.

• Graffiti Brush Set ($49) - Hello Kitty Beauty’s top-selling brush set has been “tagged” with the funky Graffiti Kitty print for a fun and charming new look. Inside the Hello Kitty-shaped holder are five synthetic brushes that provide a professional touch to any beauty look.

• Graffiti Rollergirl ($18) – This enchanting and uplifting fragrance has a new look that’s as fresh as the iconic scent. Containing fruit, flowers and spice, the fragrance captures Hello Kitty’s sweetness, fun and unexpected surprises.

• Graffiti Kitty Cosmetic Bag ($28) - Featuring the same Graffiti Kitty print in a tarnished silver, faux-leather design, this medium-sized carry-all is roomy enough to hold all of your Hello Kitty makeup while adding a touch of downtown flair.

• Graffiti Compact Mirror ($18) - Touch up in style with this cool compact mirror decorated in the edgy Graffiti Kitty print. The dual sided mirror design includes regular and 3X magnification.

Exclusive to Sephora, Hello Kitty Beauty Graffiti Kitty Collection is available in all Sephora stores while supplies last.  For more information call 1-877-SEPHORA or log on to sephora.com via computer or smartphone.

Radiant & Rested

If it wasn't already obvious I love cosmetic sets.  I mean, there's something to be said for someone else (a company) choosing items that I would love and that would work well together.  That all said, for the most part, I will buy a set and then be bummed that I don't use half the stuff in it.  Well, Tarte, you clearly know what you're doing because your Radiant & Rested: Volume II collection is perfection in a purple box.  I seriously use every single thing in here on a daily basis so spending the $42.00 made this feel like a downright bargain.  Set contains Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum (a brilliant highlighter that you can either wear alone or mixed with foundation to have an overall glow without discoball shiny-ness), The Bright Side (fantastic double-ended highlighter used to brighten the eyes), LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in "Sweet" (shockingly wearable light pink in the smoothest lip pencil I've ever used - who knew lip color could be so moisturizing in stick form?!), Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in "Glisten" (gorgeous shimmery rose which would work on any complexion) and last, but not least, Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in "Champagne" (hands-down best powder highlighter I've used - a staple in my handbag).  I love this collection but you have to know that it's exclusive to Sephora and is limited edition so no telling how long they'll have it!  Why must they kill me with the limited edition?!

Truly Bold Beauty

 
FACE Stockholm's Fall 2011 collection is absolutely stunning and I love they have incorporated the orange shadow for fall which is so on-trend right now (and shockingly wearable).  I went completely and totally bonkers when I saw the set because it's unlike other shades I already own so it forces me a bit out of my comfort zone, but I love the look.  The Bold Beauty collection, you'll want to own it all, features:

• Picture Perfect Foundation
• Pressed Powder
• Browshadow in Myrrah (to help you get those sexy, dark brows)
• Matte eyeshadows in Ash, Nude and Christo (they are my faves in the collection because they wear beautifully and blend so well)
• Black Volumizing Mascara
• Morkbrun Eye Pencil
• Kattis Lip Pencil (shockingly beautiful orange liner, who knew?)
• Vitamin C Lip Treatment (I keep this bad boy in my bag at all times)

If you don't believe me just how stunning this collection is, check out the model below who's rocking the orange.  See, I told you it's awesome!  All the products are available at FACE Stockholm locations or at www.facestockholm.com.

Note:  Samples of some products were sent to me by a PR representative working with FACE Stockholm