ProductWhores

With Love From London

Okay, I need to own this palette purely for the packaging.  I honestly don't even care what the shadows are like inside (although if they're great, that'd be a nice bonus).  Seriously though, how cute is this Love From London Palette from Tokidoki?  Being that London is my favorite place in the world and I especially love their epically cool phone booths, I squealed a little with delight when this popped up on Sephora when I was browing online.  Don't you just love it?  The shadows are even named after streets in London (Savile Row, Carnaby Street, Sloane Square, etc...)  It's $42, so I have to pretend to at least think about it before I rush right out and buy it, but come on.  I think we all know it's going to be mine before long.  I've never been able to resist anything about London and this is no exception.  

Portable Shadow

For various reasons, I'm trying to stick to a stricter makeup budget right now, but let's face it, there's no way I'm giving up buying it entirely so that just means I've been spending more time trying to find great drugstore bargains.  One of my recent finds is Almay's Intense I-Color Shadow Sticks.  The double-ended shadow sticks come in four different color combos - they're coordinated by eye color, so you can buy them for blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes and hazel eyes.  I bought the one for green eyes first, but I've since gone back and picked up the other three because I liked those shades too and I'm just a rulebreaker like that.  (And as a side note, am I the only one who doesn't know exactly what color hazel eyes are?  I always thought they were close to brown, but according to Almay, apparently not since they get a whole separate stick).  The shadows are a cinch to put on and blend easily once you've applied them, plus the whole stick thing makes them easily portable and packable.  I also like the fact that they're only around $8 each and easy to find in the big Almay displays at drugstores.  (I think I'm getting crochety as I get older because I'm very easily annoyed lately if there's something I want to buy and I can't find it anywhere.  I'm trying to give you my money, random companies.  Make it easier for me!)  Yep, I'm totally taking all the ones I bought with me on vacation next week.  Look out, Europe!

Spring 2012: La Boheme

Okay, Make Up For Ever, I was super excited to check out your new Spring collection and you did not disappoint!  La Boheme embraces the romantic, carefree spirit of the 1970s but, I think, with a very modern twist - extra glitz.  The Eye Shadow Palette features 6 baked shadows - four glittery and two pearlescent - and all surprisingly subtle despite their vibrant exterior.  I love how silky smooth the shadows are and adore the mix of shades (Lagoon Green, Vegetal Green, Beige, Parma Purple, Brown and Coral).  Lagoon Green (a bright aqua which makes me think of gorgeous sparkling water in Australia) and Coral are my favorites and pair together for a gorgeous day or evening look.  The packaging is stunning (almost looks like a patchwork quilted cardboard box) and the price is right on ($39.00).  La Boheme Collection also features two new lip colors which are so ultra-creamy you won't want to use another lipstick ever.  Positive - both shades are beautiful (Folk is a peachy-beige and Boheme is an iridescent coral).  Negative - they only released the two shades (too bad because I would buy them all, I swear).  Last part of the new collection is the Aqua Eyes liner (which we all already are obsessed with) in a new shade - La Boheme which is a rich, deep brown (doesn't sound that exciting but it's really pretty and pairs well with the palette).  Collection is available now at Make Up For Ever Boutiques and online at Sephora.com.  

Note:  A sample of the above was sent to me by a PR representative working with MAKE UP FOR EVER

Be Infallible

I have to say, the drugstore brands are really knocking it out of the park lately.  I mean, I love a good Chanel purchase as much as the next girl, but even when I'm in love with an expensive product, I always feel slightly guilty after I buy it, so when I can get a great makeup item and not feel like it's cutting into my shoe budget (I should say savings account, but who am I kidding?) I get even more excited.  

L'Oreal's new Infallible Eye Shadows come in these fun little pots of color that remind me a little of Armani's Eyes To Kill packaging.  Once you open the lid, there's a stopper on top that holds the shadow in place - it's not loose powder, but it's not entirely pressed shadow either.  You can kind of loosen it if you dig your brush in, but it's not really necessary to get enough color on your brush, so you don't really have to do that to use it.  (They're described as a "powder-cream texture" but they seem more powder to me).  The shadows come in 12 different shades that range from light (Iced Latte) to super dark (Eternal Black - a gorgeous shimmery midnight) and out of the five I tried, they were all very pigmented and colorful. There weren't any that disappointed as far as color payoff, which is nice because you can pick them up for around $8 a pot.  The shadows are supposed to last a full 24 hours before wearing off, but I have to admit, I didn't give them a full day of testing because, well, I have new ivory pillowcases and as curious as I was, I didn't want to wake up and realize my new Pottery Barn bedding was messed up.  (I mean, I'm dedicated, but not that dedicated.  Pottery Barn is expensive!)  I did, however, wear them to work on a long day and after layering them on top of my beloved Urban Decay shadow primer, they lasted from about 8am until I took them off at 11pm with very little fading or creasing.  Delightful!  I always love when I can find a product I get excited about that I can buy all the shades of if I want.  It just makes me happy.  Thanks, L'Oreal!   

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

Game Day!

With the superbowl just around the corner (go Pats!) I couldn't not post about this adorable set from Rae Cosmetics, perfectly named - Game Day!  The awesome set contains a beautiful eyeshadow palette and gloss which were inspired by the classic burnt orange color that takes over most of Austin (where Rae is based) during college football season.  I LOVE the unique burnt orange and bronze shades which are so ridiculously popular, and shockingly wearable, right now.  The set also features Pixie Lucky Lips which is a lovely subtle coral shade.  Why not look cute while you watch the Superbowl, right?!  Retails for $58.00.