MAC Fiery Impact Extra Dimension Blush Swatches & Review – In Extra Dimension 2013

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brooke

Out of the five Extra Dimension Blushes released with the 2013 MAC In Extra Dimension Collection Fiery Impact was really the only one that had me intrigued for Summer. Of course, the other four are pretty… but there is something about a reddened bronzed shade that makes me feel like I got a little bit of sun without actually ruining my skin in said sun.

What the MAC website says about Extra Dimension Blush:

A liquid-powder blush with prismatic reflections in five shimmering shades. Impact ranges from sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect. Lasts up to 6 hours. 6.5 g/0.22 US oz

Fiery Impact (burnt red bronze) has awesome, buildable pigment. For those at my skin tone (NW20-25) or paler, you’ll want to apply sparingly and add as needed. The formula was nice and smooth easy to blend out on the cheeks. This shade is luminous without being shimmery and also wore well through the day with only slight fading.

If you want to see this blush in action I’m wearing it in this post.

For more information on this collection, please see the Official Press Release.

MAC Extra Dimension Blush retails for $25.00 and is available at MAC counters (try Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdales), MAC stores, as well as online at maccosmetics.com.

Stila BLACK Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Swatches & Review

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brooke

Affiliate Links

While in recent months I’ve had excellent luck with every Stila product that I’ve tried, that wasn’t always so. However, even back in the day their Liquid Eye Liners always performed well for me. When in New York, a fabulous makeup artist at Sephora insisted I needed Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black on my eyes and in my life (for the cat eye that won’t smudge).

What Sephora says about Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner:

What it is:
An easy-application, waterproof liquid liner that stays on all day and night.

What it does:
This easy-glide, quick-dry precision liner stays in place until you say when—no smudges, feathering, or running. The thin, marker-like tip is easy to use, even for the beauty beginner, and delivers any look (from a thin line to a bold, dramatic stroke). It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and lasts all day!

This liner has an amazing applicator that is just firm enough, yet just pliable enough to give you a seamless line. Even a novice will have an easy time with this style. The pigment of the Black shade is dark and saturated enough to be perfect with one swipe. You can use the point for a thinner line or the side of the tapered applicator for a thicker one. These liners from Stila are definitely long-lasting and waterproof. They will not come off until you use your makeup remover and tell them too.

For applying liner I like to hold my eye taut and dot right up against the lash line, then trace it. Also, you must shake these tubes up before you use them so that the color remains true and not patchy.

You can also check out this liner in action at these posts – NARS Barrow Street Eyeliner, NARS Puerto Vallarta Multiple, MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara and RocksBox.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner retails for $20.00 and is available at Sephora, Ulta, beauty.com and stilacosmetics.com.

Chico’s FAS Supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brooke

Chico’s FAS and its family of brands – Chico’s, White House Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Proper are committed to making a difference in children’s lives, one miracle at a time.

Chico’s FAS has launched its third May is For Miracles campaign, a multi-faceted program to raise funds for the 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® across North America.

Chico’s is selling a limited-edition Miracle Bracelet and White House Black Market is selling a limited-edition Giving Miracles Bracelet. Both bracelets are being sold in boutiques and online for $20, with $10 from the sale of each bracelet benefiting local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Soma Intimates is donating 50% of the proceeds from their Sensualities Collection (up to $20,000) and Boston Proper is donating 10% of the proceeds from their Travel Collection (up to $15,000) to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In addition, customers can donate at any of the retailer’s 1350+ boutiques nationwide, outlets and online, as well as through the unique online social marketing campaign, Send a Smile. The goal of Send a Smile is to raise funds and put a smile on the faces of thousands of children. Users can create their own card through a customized, mobile-enabled microsite and each brand’s Facebook page. Participants can “share” the card creator experience via Facebook, Twitter, email, Google+ and Pinterest. The card will then be printed and delivered to a child being treated in the customer’s local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. It’s completely free to create a card and Chico’s FAS, Inc. will donate $1 for every card created up to $50,000. www.chicos.com/sendasmile.

Color Club ABYSS, BRIGHT NIGHT Nail Polish Swatches & Review – Kaleidoscope Summer 2013

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brooke

Press Sample

Color Club has six fun Summer nail polish shades for the 2013 Kaleidoscope Collection! In addition to the two featured today, Abyss and Bright Night, four others are also available in Endless, Evolution, In Theory and Pearl-Spective.

Abyss

Abyss is hard to describe in terms of color. I want to say teal, but it’s more like when teal ate turquoise lol if that doesn’t make me sound crazy I don’t know what would. Anyway, the formula was pretty decent, the swatch above is one coat… we all know how much I love that!

Bright Night

Bright Night is a vivid and neon cobalt blue. The formula was a bit runny and definitely needed two coats to be even. But darned if that color isn’t a stunner.

How are you liking the new Color Club Summer polishes?

Color Club Nail Polish retail for $8.00 each and are available on the website.

Laura Mercier EARTH GLOW, FIRE GLOW Illuminating Eye Color Swatches, Review & EOTD – Folklore Summer 2013

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Brooke

Affiliate Links

It’s safe to say I’ve become somewhat of a Laura Mercier obsessive sort of stalker person. On the brand, not the person. The Folklore Collection for Summer 2013 is a glowy, bronzy assortment of hotness, everything from lip crayons to body bronzing makeup.

The items that called to me the most were the Illuminating Eye Colors. Out of the three shades released with this collection I purchased two of them in Earth Glow and Fire Glow.

What Nordstrom says about Folklore Illuminating Eye Color:

Eye color with a multidimensional, luminous pearl finish has a soft, bouncy texture for excellent color pay-off and a smooth, even application.

Earth Glow is a smoldering deep chocolate bronze whereas Fire Glow is a burnished metallic orange.

In both of these shades the pigment is intensely rich and saturated. These wore all day over-top of the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour without any fading or creasing. Really smooth and easy to apply and blend with no fall-out. The design of the shadows and beauty of the colors will draw your eye, but the performance will definitely keep you coming back for more.

For this EOTD I used Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold and used my finger to blend the color all over the lid and up to the brow bone. Earth Glow is at the outer V and crease and Fire Glow is at the center. I added a bit more of the Rose Gold Caviar Stick Eye Color to the inner corner of the eye and also smudged it under the lower outer third of the eye. I finished up the look with MAC Teddy Eye Kohl and Missha Signature Vibrating Mascara.

Laura Mercier Folklore Illuminating Eye Color retail for $24.00 each and are available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s. All three of the shadows released with this collection are limited edition.

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup – Week of May 17, 2013

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Brooke

Mama Fashionista: Learn how Quinn plans to maintain her new red hair color with L’Occitane!
Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle website: Kiehls has developed a unique skincare product that actually can help reduce the signs of stress and perhaps, prevent them
BeautyTidbits : Find out why Harshleen can’t stop raving about her latest SPF discovery – Neova DNA Damage Control Everyday SPF 44
My Highest Self: See the before and after photos when Tina reviews the new Revlon Luxurious Colorsilk Buttercream Hair Color!
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog: Maybelline Colorsensational Lipcolor in Born With It No. 015 is a stunning must-have for those ever on the lookout for the perfect pinky nude lipstick, and it’s budget friendly!
Painted Ladies: Sheila is glad you she purchased Physicans Formula Custom Shimmer Strips Kajal … so you don’t have to!
TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla spills why Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lipstick is worth the bite
D.G.S.Beauty: Looking for a new BB cream? Try the Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream!
Beauty Professor: Ever an alluringly elusive line, the Beauty Professor adores Serge Lutens beauty. This week, she shares swatches and a video review of his famed Teint Si Fin foundation powder!
Beauty by Arielle: Review of Real Purity’s Cream Blush
Lipgloss Break: Check out Zoya nail polish Stunning Collection – a must for summer!
Blushing Noir: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour makes a quick eye look golden!

Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil + House of Harlow 1960 Earrings = Hot (at least from the neck up)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Brooke

Press Sample

Suave has teamed up with Fashion Star celebrity mentor Nicole Richie to introduce the Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Shine Suite, where you can enter to win $100,000 and also read up on the secrets from beauty and fashion insiders as well as go behind the scenes of NBC’s Fashion Star.

The Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil, shown below, is one of the six products within this collection.

The Suave Professional Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil is ultra-light and provides silky shine that lasts all day. It’s infused with authentic Argan Oil for brilliant shine and conditioning.

With this product I focused on applying to the ends of the hair, working my way up. I didn’t go anywhere near my scalp because I get so oily up there. I applied after I used my flat iron so that the ends looked refined and smooth. I also loved the scent of coconut, totally puts me in that warm weather mood!

(ends of hair tamed by Suave Professionals, ears blinged by House of Harlow 1960!)

Purchase items from the Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion line at local drugstore retailers. Use the product locator to find a location near you.

MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara Swatches & Review

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Brooke

Affiliate Links

Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara is one of the latest from MAC. I am always after the newest MAC Mascara, even though Plush Lash will always be my fave from them. Think this one is better? Hmmm…..

What Nordstrom says about MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara:

A lightweight curling-and-lifting mascara in an intense, carbon-black pigment. Applies with a petite gripper brush embedded with microspheres to give each lash effortless, upward-bending definition and extreme volume. Easy wash-off formula. Smudge-free. Lasts 16 hours.

I was not a fan of this mascara the first time I used it. Or even the second time. I bought this up in New York and I wore it there and was like… meh didn’t do anything and I have no volume.

I thought that. Until I saw pics. I posted the full face shot above so you can see how it really extended and curled the outer lashes (Instagram photo). Lately my favorite way to use this is by putting one coat on the lashes, focusing on the outer part of the eye, and then adding my Plush Lash over-top.

I felt that this mascara performed how the description stated, other than the extreme volume. But, if you use it in conjunction with the Plush Lash (or whatever other mascara you love for volume) it will look amaze.

MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara retails for $16.00 and is available at your local MAC counter (try Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s), MAC stores and online at maccosmetics.com.

Spring Cleaning Giveaway! Open Internationally!

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Brooke

I’ve been feeling pretty bad lately that all of the giveaways on this blog have been US only. I wanted to throw out some love by hosting a giveaway accessible to all of my awesome readers.

This is a Spring Cleaning Giveaway for me. I have samples upon samples from orders I’ve done and it’s really out of control as well as too many dupes to ever use up. So, in a white Neiman Marcus tote I have it almost half filled with samples to send to one lucky winner, in addition to these other great prizes (side note: there is a clear makeup bag in the pic below, which ripped at a seam as I was packing up the prizes, so the clear makeup bag will not be included in this giveaway):

1x IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes! Mascara (full size)
1x IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye (full size)
1x OPI Can’t Let Go Nail Polish (full size)
1x Incoco Zebra Stripes Nail Polish Appliques
1x Maybelline Cool Crush 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow
1x Le Metier de Beaute Cinnamon Kiss Lip Palette (GWP size)
1x Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil & Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara Deluxe Sample Set
1x Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Deluxe Sample Size
1x Molton Brown Patchouli & Saffron Body Wash (deluxe sample size 1 fl oz)
1x Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (deluxe sample size 0.25 fl oz)

The “rules”:

This giveaway IS open Internationally and will run from May 21, 2013 to June 4, 2013.

You can enter this giveaway via the RAFFLECOPTER WIDGET that will be at the bottom of this post. Comments posted below will not count towards a giveaway entry. You’re welcome to comment, but it won’t be counted as your entry.

*** Entries placed in the comments will not be valid and will not be approved. ***

The ONLY mandatory entry on the Rafflecopter Widget is the first one – to follow via BlogLovin’. I’m also giving LOTS of entry points for subscribing to the newsletter to the right and also following me on Instagram.

To enter, please wait for the Rafflecopter Widget to load. If it doesn’t, try to refresh. If you still have issues (sometimes if you’re using Google Chrome it can be a pain) please contact me via the comments or email. Additional terms and conditions are listed on the widget. Please contact me with any questions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***All items are brand new and are provided by me.

Giorgio Armani 5 PLUM Smooth Silk Eye Pencil Swatches & Review

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Brooke

Affiliate Links

Armani does some pretty great things with the eyes… they have one of my top five favorite mascaras and of course the Eyes to Kill Eye Shadows are a force to be reckoned with. It’s only natural I’d migrate over to test out their eye liners, so while in New York at Sephora (yes, SEPHORA) in Times Square, I played around with the Armani Beauty and settled on #5 Plum Smoother Silk Eye Pencil.

What Nordstrom says about Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil:

Soft, versatile texture for a defined or smoky look. This silky-soft formula allows for precise, easy application and versatile looks. Use it to subtly define or to intensify your eye look. Glide the smudger over eyeliner for a sexy, smoky result. Available in a subtle palette from pale taupe to soft black. 0.04 oz.

Plum is an almost flat eggplant shade. Extremely creamy and smooth, applying without tugging and with awesome pigment. It stays on perfectly on the top lash line, but on the waterline it will fade and migrate slightly. I have a similar experience with MAC Kohls.