ProductWhores

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

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.

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

Discover Odacite

It's really amazing what all-natural, fresh skincare products can do for your skin!  I was super excited to have the chance to try the brand Odacite - a truly unique brand that actually makes organic products so fresh they have to include an expiration date!  I checked out their Discovery Kit which I highly recommend as it's such a fantastic introduction to Odacite without having to shell out a ton of money (kit is $29.00 with free ship).  The Discovery Kit contains small samples of their entire skincare line - Rejuvenating Cleanser, Immortelle Toner, Jojoba Beads Exfoliant, Day Moisturizer, Night Time Repair Serum, Deep Hydration Mask and Eye Contour; and aside from being an awesome way to check out the brand, also makes for the perfect travel kit. While I really like the entire line, and saw a beautiful transformation in my skin (think glowing, clear and super hydrated!) my absolute stand-out products are their Immortelle Toner (so refreshing without drying the skin), Jojoba Beads Exfoliant (oooh, small granules of goodness worked wonders on my skin without any irritation) and the Day Moisturizer (smells so fresh and is surprisingly hydrating considering how light it is.)  Fresh, paraben-free, cruelty-free, all-natural skincare line that actually works - what more could my skin ask for.

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

Stila For L*Space Swim

 

I completely love the naturally gorgeous and softly pretty look on this model from the L*Space Swim Show last week at Mercedes-Benz Swim Week.  It was created by the Stila Pro Artistry team, which was led by celebrity makeup artist Sarah Lucero (no surprise, since I always adore her looks).  Here's the face chart so you can see for yourself what shades she used:

 

I'm all about the coral right now (I'm dying to try Stila's new Custom Color Blush in Coral) and pairing it on cheeks and lips with a bronze smoky eye just shows off the shade even more.  Now if only I could look that good in my bikini...

Living The Life in Laguna

Ooh, I just got an fun e-mail from Stila.  Because I'm a Stila Star (AKA have spent way more money than I want to think about on their website) I can order the new Living the Life in Laguna Palette over a month early.  Which I totally am going to do because seriously, I think this is the prettiest one yet, right?  The colors are so soft and wearable.  I feel like I could totally create a glowing, beachy look with this one that I could still wear out at night too.  I think anyone can use the link to order as well, but there are only a small amount available and the pre-sale ends tomorrow at midnight (PST) so move quickly if you want one.  I will be. 

NARS Loves New York

Okay, I must have this new set from NARS immediately.  NARS Loves New York is available only in the New York area and on narscosmetics.com, so I'd have to order it sight unseen, but I'm okay with that. How gorgeous is that nail polish?  It all comes packed in a "NARS Loves New York" box with a soft zip pouch and three out of the four products are exclusive to the set. (The only one previously released is the Orgasm Blush).  Here's what you'll find in the set:

• Uptown Girl Duo Eyeshadow - a yellow-green shimmer and a smoky charcoal gray 
• New York Single Eyeshadow - a sophisticated plum brown
• Orgasm Blush, a sheer - peachy-pink with golden shimmer
• Soho Nail Polish - a modern black grape 

I just love every single shade in this set, but I really must own the Soho Nail Polish.  It has to happen.  The set is $75, but there are only 100 available, so if you're interested too, move as fast as you can because I think it's going to sell out in the blink of an eye.  How could it not?