ProductWhores

Summer With Stila

The new Summer Eye Shadow Palette from Stila is the perfect makeup item to buy to welcome in the hot, sticky weather.  They've managed to tuck six of the most gorgeous shades into the smallest packaging ever.  (I know I've talked about other palettes being portable before, but this one is extra portable.  You could fit in in your pocket if you wanted to!)  All of the shades are a little shimmery and can be layered for sheer to intense color (sheer for the beach, intense for the party afterwards!)  The palette even includes everyone's favorite Stila color, Kitten - the best nude/pink shade to use as a highlighter.  It seriously looks good on everyone - not an easy task.  Mystic, an aqua blue shade, is a funkier color, but perfect for those of you who like to stand out.  I used Prize (a soft gold shimmer) and layered it with Ray (a darker copper) for the perfect summer eye.  I had planned to wear it out today since it's been about a thousand degrees in L.A., but it randomly cooled off and actually rained this afternoon.  With thunder and everything!  That's almost like an urban legend for Los Angeles!)  At $40, this palette isn't the cheapest one out there, but the shadows are a good size and they'll take you from now until the fall (and probably into next summer as well) so it's a worthwhile investment.  Also, the packaging is so cute, with the orange color and sun on the front.  I know I should only care about the product and pretend that the outside doesn't matter, but when it's this adorable, how can it not?  So I guess that makes this palette the cute boy at work who also turns out to be smart and funny.  (Look at me using an analogy in a makeup review!  My SAT study group would be so proud!)

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Shimmer Your Way To Beauty

I've been loving the Physicians Formula line lately.  First I fell for their Organic Wear, then their bronzers, and now I'm digging their new eyeshadow palettes.  (My one complaint is that I cannot remember how to spell the word physician to save my life.  I have to look it up every single time I write it.  It's bizarre.  My brain just will not hold onto the info.  And yet I can probably tell you the name of every single girlfriend Brandon Walsh ever had on 90210.  Go figure).  Their new Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner are awesome.  They're color-coordinated by eye color (blue, green, brown and hazel) and each palette has 9 different shades in it, so there's plenty of color to play around with.  You can also use the shadows dry (for a softer color) or wet (for a more intense look), so if you factor that in, there's a ton of different looks you can get with one purchase. (I'd figure out the exact number, but it seems like a complicated equation and I don't like math nearly as much as I like makeup).  The palettes are available at drug and mass-market stores everywhere, which makes them super convenient to pick up.  And they're only $9.95, so buying all four of them won't break the bank (especially if they're on sale).  The one thing I have to warn you about - the top opens up instead of the way it looks like it will (like a book).  I'm just letting you all know because it took me 5 minutes to figure it out and I felt like a total moron, so I wanted to save anyone else from that moment.  You're welcome.

Photo courtesy of Walgreens

Spring Craving

Okay, while I haven't seen these in person, I am so craving the Spring 2008 Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners by Benefit.  I am in love with Birthday Suit (snicker, snicker) so I can only envision how much I will love the three new shades!  All three are gorgeous, wearable pink-ish colors speckled with some gold for drama.  The formula (based on my obsession with Birthday Suit) is wonderfully light, glides on effortlessly and really lasts the better part of the day.  Minimal creasing makes these shadows a must-have for all beauty junkies.  The glass pots are simply adorable and you really don't need much more than a swipe of the shadow (and some mascara) to achieve a perfect, fresh spring look.  The three new shades look so delightful, I am thinking a trip to Sephora is in order.  Bonus:  I actually have something left on a gift card!  Woo hoo!

Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners can be purchased online or in stores for $18.00.

Photo courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics

What I Want Right Now

I was walking around Manhattan tonight and even though I was running a little late, somehow got sucked into the glory that is one of the (bigger than usual) NYC Sephora stores.  I didn't buy anything, which I am very proud of myself for, but I did find a bunch of new things that I'm going to need to own soon.  (How much do you think I could get for a kidney anyway?)  If I could've walked out of the store with one item, it would've been this Smashbox Shockwave Fusion Eye & Cheek Palette.  It's so, so adorable in person.  It's a two-tiered palette with one tier of cheek color and one of eyeshadows in a chic little compact that you won't mind taking out of your bag in public.  I completely love the design that the shades are assembled in - the pattern reminds me of a Missoni dress, with the stripes of color.  (And any time my makeup can remind me of high fashion, I'm happy).  The colors themselves are great too - I especially want to play around with the sage green and turquoise eyeshadows because they're so gorgeous in the compact, I can only imagine how good they'll look on.  You know, as I'm typing this, I'm remembering that I have a gift certificate for a beauty site I've been waiting to use on on something that I really, really want (as opposed to something I just really want).  If they carry Smashbox, I think I have my winner.  Off to check!

The palette retails for $39 and can be found at Smashbox.com and Sephora.com.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Decay In Style

One of the only good things about traveling with WAY more makeup than the average woman could ever possibly wear on a ten day trip is that when you're visiting family, you can take it all out and show off the cool products you're currently obsessed with.  (I like to use the Vanna White hand display method when I take every new product out of my makeup bag to give them the full effect).  The big hit of this past weekend's makeup show and tell was Urban Decay's new Loose Pigments.  They're eyeshadows that come housed in their own spill-proof tube (perfect for trips) with a brush in the container (even more perfect for trips where you accidentally leave most of your brushes at home!).  The colors range from lighter neutrals to bolder dark shades, and the formula is actually a mineral makeup made from pearlized powders, so there are no dyes or synthetic pigments used.  The color I'm reaching for the most frequently is Smog, a medium brown.  It looked amazing layered with a liquid gold eyeliner when I used it to create a metallic eye on my cousin.  You do have to be a little careful not to tip the container once you open it since the pigment can easily spill out (and you definitely need to tap the excess shadow off the brush before applying) but that's a small price to pay for being able to carry one of these tubes in your bag to get ready for a night out.  My cousin liked it so much, even though she normally doesn't wear makeup, she was planning on heading over to Sephora the next day to pick one up.  I love turning people into makeup addicts.  Does that make me an enabler?

Urban Decay's Loose Pigments retail for $20 and are available at Sephora.com and UrbanDecay.com.

Photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Be Part of an On Screen Duo

I love when you're about to go on a trip and you somehow luck into getting a product that's perfect for travel, especially when it's as cute as these new LORAC On Screen Duo's.  The top compartment holds a powder eyeshadow with a frost finish and the bottom one opens to reveal a cream eyeshadow that can also be used as a liner.  The cream shadow is highly pigmented so the color is easy to build, and it's long-lasting, which means you can put it on in the morning and still look good hours later.  (Or, you know, after a long flight when you're trying not to scare the person picking you up).  It's fun to play around with layering the two shades in each duo - you can apply lightly or more dramatically for night, so it's perfect to take along on a trip.  There are three different color combinations: Champagne & Caviar (a dark gray/champagne shimmer), Fame & Fortune (a black/gold shimmer) and Rich & Famous (a bronze/ivory shimmer), so there's sure to be one that catches your eye.  (Rich & Famous is my personal favorite).  I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.

LORAC's On Screen Duo's retail for $24 and are available at Sephora.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Clearly Speaking

I've worn contacts for a long time, but on one of my last visits to my optometrist, he told me that I have an astigmatism.  I didn't really know what that was, but the second he said it, all I could think of was that terrible, terrible movie "Stigmata" with Patricia Arquette that HBO kept replaying for years late at night, when all the good movies were asleep.   

Intensify Your Eyes

I'm always on the lookout for a good eye pencil, especially those of the thicker variety (I just find those easier to use, for some reason).  I especially enjoy using the Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils.  They're perfect for when you want to do a smoky eye because the thick pencil lets you get the color both above and below your eyes with ease.  (I'm notoriously bad at lining my lower lids - seriously, it can look like I let a child do it if I'm not careful).  The other nice thing about these pencils is that they also include a smudging brush/applicator at the other end, which allows you to lessen the intensity of the color if you over apply. I own it in Ava, a deep plum that lasts from morning to night without fading or smudging.  (And apparently, they're water resistant too!  The things you learn online...)  The pencils are $22 and are available at Sephora in a variety of colors.  I think Bangalore, a shimmering khaki green, is going to be my next purchase.  Then again, it could be Tanzania.  Or maybe Kenya...

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Be A Pussycat Doll

I love the look of a good smoky eye.  Ask my friends - when I had my makeup done by a professional a few weeks ago, I couldn't stop talking about how much better my eyes looked when she did it as opposed to when I attempt the look.  So I'll use any excuse to try products that can help me in my quest to mimic how the experts work.  Bare Escentuals' Pussycat Eyes kit is my newest acquisition as I go after the holy grail of the perfect eye makeup for a night out.  The kit includes three shadows and a brush to apply them with.  The shadows come in Catwoman Glimmer (a dark black), Meow Glimmer (a yellow amber), and Pussycat Glimmer (a khaki green). 

Out Of This Galaxy

When I was a tween (we did not even use that term when I was actually one, so that goes to show how long ago it was) I loved nothing more than getting those huge makeup kits from Wal-mart.  You know, the one with about a hundred bright eye shadows that were all sparkly and you really had no freakin' clue how to apply them, so you'd swipe them all the way from lashline to brow, grab your denim purse, put on your denim jacket, and off to school you went.  Not that I would ever spend the money on the huge box of shadows from Wal-Mart, but I really do long for the days of the fun, sparkly colors.  Well, I have found my answer - perfect for someone who wants to tap into their inner tween, but doesn't want to sacrifice quality.  FACE Stockholm Galaxy is a wonderfully fun and easy to use line of loose glitters.  The 27 bright colors come in pots and you become the artist, applying to eyes, cheeks, body - wherever you want some dazzle.  I, myself, am loving Tjugofyra (say that five times fast) which is a hot pink glitter that has a lovely iridescent shine when the light hits it just right.  It looks fabulous on eyes and is really fun if you mix some in your hair cream before you head out at night.  But a definite word of caution, do not overdo it.  Since it's loose glitter, it is very easy to have a heavy hand and bam! - you're a human disco ball.  It also does have a tendency to travel down the face when applying, so definitely do your foundation last  The colors are vibrant, incredibly well-priced (the pot will last forever), and the glitter lasts all day.  A word to the wise, if you want to keep that office romance a secret, do not apply Galaxy and have a makeout session, because your romp in the storage closet will be revealed on his face.  Actually, let me up that, if you're going to have an office romance, at least make him spring for a night at the Four Seasons.

Photo courtesy of FACE Stockholm