ProductWhores

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 Discovered

Smashbox's 2012 Spring collection is all about the pastels, baby, and it's stunning!  Honestly, whenever I see pastels I think 80's frosted overload so I usually shy away.  In this case, I'm glad I gave the collection a fair shot (really, as any PW should do) because it has become my go-to look.  The new Be Legendary lipsticks come in three lovely shades, are super moisturizing (contain shea butter) and feel great on (so smooth!)  I have fallen for Honey - a soft nude - which looks so great I got tons of compliments at a L'Oreal event I attended on Saturday (yes, yes, I will admit I wore a Smashbox lipcolor to a L'Oreal event!).  In addition to the fabulous lipsticks, I am head over heels for their Spring 2012 palette - Be Discovered.  Okay, when I first tried the palette, I actually thought it was a dud because the colors are not the usual-Smashbox high-pigmented ones.  I found I was applying layer after layer, and even with a primer, felt I wasn't getting much color.  I then watched the video on Smashbox.com which shows you how to achieve the pastel look for Spring and it helped me out a lot with shading (and using the lilac color which is essential in the look).  If you blend the light colors across the eye and use the opal in the corners and along the brow line, you will be so happy with the look.  Also, I found that lining the eye with a dark brown shadow, and slightly smudging, made a big difference, as well.  No, you're not going to have a deep smokey eye (duh) but you will have a lovely pastel eye and then can pair with a deeper lipstick and some killer mascara. Don't let the pastel palette scare you because you'll be missing out.  This collection is limited edition so it won't be around for long - yikes!

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

R.S.V.P. Today

bareMinerals, hands-down, has the best gift for anyone in your life who loves make-up.  I, for one, freaked out when I had the opportunity to check out their R.S.V.P. set which is ridiculously awesome.  This amazing collection of products perfect for achieving a party-ready look, come housed in a cute two-drawer chest perfect for storing cosmetics or jewelry (or both, actually).  R.S.V.P. comes with SPF 25 Mineral Veil Finishing Powder, Prime Time Primer Shadow in Golden Peach (one of the best shadow primers I've used either alone or as a primer base), After Party Eyecolor (bronze shadow, perfect for all skintones and eyecolors), Celebration Blush (delicate light pink blush), Round The Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 7 PM (fantastic bronze liner which I adore so much I tried to get other shades, but alas, they don't sell separately), Double-Ended Flawless Definition Mascara (volumizes and lengthens), Pretty Amazing Lipgloss (Rowdy is a gorgeous plum color), Tapered Shadow Brush and Soft Sweep Cheek Brush.  Every single product in this set is perfection - and I assure you, you will use every single one.  I love how everything works so well together, or you can pull out and wear just a few for daytime look.  The Prime Time Primer Shadow with some black mascara and the Pretty Amazing lipgloss makes for a stunningly glamorous appearance (you'll actually look like you spent more time than you did prepping yourself).  Love, love, love this set and it retails for only $54.00 which is a steal!  Plus, if you order today or tomorrow and use the code SHARELUV you get 20% off and FREE Shipping.  Go there right now - you'll be so happy I forced your hand into this one.

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

I want Effects... some luxeffects...

Okay, I admit it's supremely dorky that I just made a pun out of a DasEfx song, but as I was thinking about the name luxeffects, I found myself humming the song to myself.  If you can get past my lame-ness, you will get super excited (much as I did) for the new Holiday collection by Essie - luxeffects.  The five beautiful shades all have the holiday glitz and glitter I completely embrace during the season, but with the delightful wear of Essie nail polishes.  These amazing top coats (you can wear on their own but they are clear with glitter flakes and opalescent pearl so not a lot of coverage) are so stunning it's hard for me to pick a fave.  Okay, maybe A Cut Above (shattered pink diamond glitz) comes out a touch ahead but that's because it's an awesome rose color and has those big chunks of glitter I love.  The other shades are As Gold As It Gets (gold glitter), Shine Of The Times (light reddish pearl), Pure Perfection (lovely pearl) and Set In Stones (fantastically large silver glitter).  All are available in December so Happy Holidays to you!

Note:  Samples of the products were sent to me by a PR representative working with Essie.

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