MAC Fabulous Felines Haul and Swatches

Happy Friday everyone! As many of you know because you stalk the message boards and MAC site like it's your second job, the MAC Fabulous Felines collection launched yesterday. I'd gotten a sneak peak at Nordstrom's earlier this week and fell in love. When I had more time to try things on I kinda fell out of love with all the lippies and the quads, mostly everything. Sad I know, but my wallet thanks me. I just thought this would be my favorite launch of the year... not so much. I'm hoping to get a FOTD or 2 up soon.

What did you end up hauling from the Fabulous Felines collection? Let me know in the comments!

Anyway, here's the goods. As always, click on the pics to make them biggins. Swatched on NW20 skin.

Top left to right: Mauvement and Lithe Pigment, Docile Lipglass
Bottom left to right: Palace Pedigree Eyeshadow Quad, Utterly Game Mineralize Blush


Palace Pedigree Quad swatches left to right: Courtly Life, Palace Pedigree, Quite Spoiled, Russian Blue. Courtly Life kind of blended in with my skin tone.



Natural light, swatches from top, clockwise: Lithe Pigment, Mauvement Pigment, Utterly Game Blush. Utterly Game is supposedly a peacher version of Ripe Peach blush. UG turned kind of orange on me, no bueno.

With flash, swatches from top, clockwise: Lithe Pigment, Mauvement Pigment, Utterly Game Blush


Docile Lipglass swatched lightly. This reminds me of Icescape Lipglass.

Docile Lipglass worn heavily so you can see the color. This is a very sheer light lavender pearl lipgloss.

Disclosure: I bought everything in this post.

MAC Luxe Couture Sneak Peak, Winter 2010

Could it be? I'm thinking this is MAC's Luxe Couture collection since it launches on the same date.... These couture collections are a little more pricey than the usual MAC collections.

MAC Luxe Couture
US Launch Date: November 24, 2010
International Launch Date: December 2010

Dutch industrial designer Marcel Wanders has created a limited edition makeup collection with MAC that goes on sale November 24 and disappears forever on December 26.

Design/makeup freaks, get ready to snap up lipstick, gloss, powder, something called Air of Style Scent Concentrate, and a signature brush and clutch. Colors are reportedly inspired by, among other things, Vermeer paintings.

Names to come...

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It's so big!

That's what she said.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size (say that 3 times fast) available now at Sephora

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Urban Decay New Primer Potion Professional Size!

Looks like the big wigs over at Urban Decay finally listened to us and developed a squeeze bottle tube of their cult classic Primer Potion. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! I was about a day away from cracking open my "empty" tube.



The packaging has an extra 25ml of product, easy to squeeze, and is hygienic. Sadly, it says this is limited edition on the Sephora site, but maybe if this sucker flies off the shelf then UD will make this the standard tube.

Available now at Sephora

Urban Decay Naked Palette FOTD

This was a look I put together using the new Urban Decay Naked Palette. Over hyped? Yes, a bit. I love the range of neutral colors in this sucker (kind of an oxymoron don't ya think?) I'll post a better review of this palette soon.

Face
Lancome Dual Finish Foundation Powder Matte Buff II
YSL Touche Eclat #2
MAC Dolly Mix Blush
MAC MSF By Candlelight

Eyes
Urban Decay Naked Palette
-Gunmetal (lid)
-Sin (tear duct)
-Virgin (highlight)
-Naked (crease)
-Creep (outer V)
Milani Liquif'Eye Black Eyeliner
Hourglass Cosmetics Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara (full review soon)
Diorshow Iconic Mascara (top coat)
Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Primer (full review soon)
Lingering brow pencil

Lips
MAC Lazy Day Lipstick -I seriously need a backup of this. Kristie, want to send me yours? ;-)
Dior DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss in Hawaii Coco 681




Are there any combos you'd like to see me do? Let me know, I'm always happy to oblige. As long as you're not going to make me use "creep" as a highlight, we should be in business.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga & Cyndi Lipglasses, Fall 2010

How pretty are these new lipglosses for the Viva Glam campaign? The lipsticks launched this past spring, but MAC is launching new matching glosses. These are only available for a limited amount of time (February 2011). I've been slacking on getting the new lipsticks since I knew I had a little time to get them. Are you looking forward to this launch?



MAC Viva Glam Gaga & Cyndi Lipglasses
US Launch Date: September 2, 2010
International Launch Date: October 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the sensational Cyndi Lauper and the electric Lady Gaga! The uninhibited new voices behind MAC’s new From Our Lips campaign, designed to speak to the challenges women face as the fastest new groupa ffected by HIV/AIDS around the world. The MAC AIDS Fund and the Viva Glam program are the heart and soul of MAC Cosmetics. Established in 1994 to support men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally, Viva Glam I, II, III, IV, V, and VI were launched as continuous shades and have achieved tremendous success over the years.




Lipglass $14.50 U.S. (Available for 6 months)
• Viva Glam Cyndi -Mid-tone dirty coral
• Viva Glam Gaga -Light blue pink





Viva Glam Bag $28.00 U.S.
• Viva Glam Cyndi
• Viva Glam Gaga




Lipstick $14.50 U.S. (Available now until February 2011)
• Viva Glam Cyndi Light coral red (Lustre)
• Viva Glam Gaga Light blue pink (Lustre)

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Giveaway Winner!

Congrats go out to Imogen from Imogen Loves! She is the winner of my 125 Subscribers Giveaway!

This time I got smart and entered all the entries into Excel then used Random.org to pick my winner. Go me.



Imogen's loves the classics: "My favorite cleanser is Cetaphil, it's so gentle, cheap and makes my face feel nice & clean."

Thanks to everyone who entered this time around! I'm so happy to have you all as readers of my blog. If you didn't win this time around, don't fret, I'll be having more giveaways in the future.

What would you like to see in future giveaways? I'd love to hear from you!

Hourglass Cosmetics Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick - Mini Review

I was recently sent a tube of Hourglass Cosmetic's new Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick to try out in the color Ballet. I'd describe Ballet as a medium blue pink with a soft shine. It reminds me a lot of MAC's Lovelorn but a bit deeper and brighter. Ballet is definitely a change from the soft nudes that I'm used to (throw a gloss over this and I be clubbin!) I bet Ballet would look amazing as an everyday lipstick on medium/darker skin chicas.

I love the Hourglass emblem carved into the lippie.

Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick
A silky, richly pigmented formula that defines and shapes the lips as it moisturizes. This light as air formula immediately hydrates and softens lips for a luxurious feel and subtle shine.

•Unique blend provides excellent skin-smoothing, moisture-enhancing, and reparative properties
•Custom-designed bullet features an embossed Hourglass icon
•Vitamin E conditions and treat with protective super antioxidants
•Water-resistant, long-lasting, and paraben-free
•Refillable

Ballet (flash) Ballet (natural light)
Ballet swatched on NW20 skin
As a lipstick, Femme Rouge Velvet Creme is very buttery, moisturizing, and light on the lips. Long after it wore off, my lips felt soft and conditioned. It withstood 3 hours of wear before I felt a need to reapply. Also, the lippie smells very nice, kind of a faint vanilla smell but nothing overwhelming. The packaging is pretty cool, sturdy with the brand engraved onto the side. The description says that tube is refillable but I don't see anywhere on the website where they sell the refills yet.

I'm happy to report these new lippies definitely have a quality of luxury brand lipstick. If you're looking for a new line of lipsticks to try this Fall, I'd definitely recommend Hourglass's new Femme Rouge line.

Femme Rouge Velvet Creme recently launched on HourglassCosmetics.com and will be available in the coming weeks at Barneys, Sephora, Sephora.com and Zuneta.com.

Disclosure: I was provided a sample of the product by PR.

New Hourglass Cosmetics Fall Launches

New this fall, Hourglass Cosmetics is launching a new mascara – Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara and a brand new lipstick collection – Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick.
Both were a collaboration between Hourglass founder Carisa Janes and Artistic Director Gina Brooke. In case you are not familiar with Gina, she is Madonna’s uber-talented makeup artist and has worked with a lot of other A-list celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and Naomi Campbell

Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick
A silky, richly pigmented formula that defines and shapes the lips as it moisturizes. This light as air formula immediately hydrates and softens lips for a luxurious feel and subtle shine.

•Unique blend provides excellent skin-smoothing, moisture-enhancing, and reparative properties
•Custom-designed bullet features an embossed Hourglass icon
•Vitamin E conditions and treat with protective super antioxidants
•Water-resistant, long-lasting, and paraben-free
•Refillable

Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara
All the fringe benefits in one full spectrum formula. The signature “pinwheel” bristles of the hourglass-shaped brush volumize, lengthen, separate and condition lashes for low-maintenance application with high-impact results.

•Pro-Vitamin B5 hydrates and conditions lashes to keep them supple and healthy-looking
•Added polymers help formula adhere to lashes and resist smudging and fading
•Triple-cut hourglass-shaped brush evenly distributes product across lashes to create volume while lifting and lengthening
•Sulfate-free, synthetic dye-free and phthalate-free

Both recently launched on HourglassCosmetics.com and will be available in the coming weeks at Barneys, Sephora, Sephora.com and Zuneta.com.

I don't know about you but I'm a mascara junkie. I'm always wanting to try the latest and greatest, and this new mascara by Hourglass sounds amazing! I hope it lives up to it's promises. What is your favorite Mascara?

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil Quick Review & Swatches

You may have noticed that whenever I do a FOTD I usually list a NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow pencil of some color in my products used section. The reason I use these is I love how vibrant they make my eyeshadow. I always pair this over Urban Decay Primer Potion because without it they crease a bit. They're super cheap but I love it when Ulta is having a buy one get one 50% off. Why do you think I have so many colors I clearly don't need.
To use these as a base, apply the jumbo pencil directly to the lid then use your ring finger to gently blend it out. Apply eyeshadow as usual.

Left to right: Horse Radish, French Fries, Black Bean, Lavender, Strawberry Milk, Milk

Swatched, left to right: Horse Radish, French Fries, Black Bean, Lavender, Strawberry Milk, Milk

For base color comparison, I swatched MAC's Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow, using the Jumbo Pencils as a base.

Sweet & Punchy, bottom and swatched over Jumbo Pencils Left to right: Horse Radish, French Fries, Black Bean, Lavender, Strawberry Milk, Milk

Horse Radish gives S&P a blue cast, French Fries dulls S&P into a more neutral everyday color, Black Bean deepens S&P, Lavender slightly lightens up S&P, Strawberry Milk makes S&P really ugly, Milk intensifies and lightens S&P.
My recommendations are to buy Milk and Black Bean. Milk is a great base for every day and sexytime looks. NYX offers these pencils in a zillion other colors but these are the ones I have on hand.

Do you own any NYX jumbo pencils? What colors are your favorites to use? Do you love them or have you shoved them to the bottom of your makeup collection?

Disclosure: I bought these myself because I like stuff.

FOTD L’Oreal Studio Secrets Eyeshadow - Lavendar Smokes

Happy Friday! Anyone doing anything cool this weekend? I have a wedding for my hub's coworker and some avoiding of Nordstrom Rack to do. I always get in trouble there...

I promised a FOTD using my new L'Oreal Quad that I swatched here . I'm not totally pleased at how this turned out but I just wanted to show the eyeshadows in action. I really shouldn't have used Vanilla as highlight for this one, should have only used color 3 from the quad.

BTW if you haven't done it yet, you should enter my giveaway to win Stereo Rose. Click here to enter!

Click on the pics to make them biggy big.


Face
Lancome Dual Finish Foundation Powder Matte Buff II
YSL Touche Eclat #2
Maybelline Dream Matte concealer
MAC Instant Chic blush
MAC MSF Petticoat

Eyes
MAC Vanilla(highlight)
L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Color Smokes Quad Eye Shadow in Lavender Smokes
(1- V & crease, 2- middle and outer lid, 3- inner corner and over Vanilla,4- inner lid)
Milani Liquif'Eye Black Eyeliner
Cover Girl Lashblast Mascara in Very Black
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Strawberry Milk
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Lingering brow pencil

Lips
MAC Nude Rose lipstick
Dior DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss in Hawaii Coco 681

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Shadow Quad in Lavendar Smokes, Review and Swatches

You may remember me lemming the L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Color Smokes Quad Eye Shadow in Lavender Smokes in my post last week. I fell in love this quad when I saw that It was purpley colors coordinated for brown eyes. I'm happy to report that it was easy to find at Target, yay for no searching.

The colors are beautiful to look at but a pain in the butt to swatch. I had to dig to get the colors you see in these swatches. They were very easily blendable though. These were swatched without a base. I'll be posting a FOTD featuring this quad shortly but you'll see that with a NYX jumbo pencil as a base, the color from this quad pops.

I noticed immediately that there are two MAC dupes in this quad. Color number 4 is a dupe for All that Glitters and color 3 is a dupe for Retrospeck. For the $5 I paid for this quad in store, I'd say it's worth it to get the dupes especially since you can use color 4 for so many other looks.

Swatched in natural light. So much for pigmentation...

What do you think of these new quads by L'Oreal? I enjoy having premade quads so looks are easy to throw together. Speaking of drugstore makeup, has anyone bought the new ELF Beauty Book Palettes? They're only $5 and feature a slew of yummy colors that are surprisingly pigmented. Beverly from AFullBeat had me searching all over Target only to find them out of stock :( They will be mine, oh yes, they will be mine.

Disclosure- product featured was bought by yours truly.

Review: Sonia Kashuk Remove Eye Makeup Remover

I'm pretty dang picky when it comes to eye makeup remover. Many variables must go into picking my remover. It must take off waterproof mascara, it must take off everything without residue, it must not goop up my eyes, it must not sting, it must take off everything fast - no elbow grease needed, etc etc etc. I've had terrible luck in the past with removers and only use one brand but even my holy grail remover has flaws (leaves a little white residue and not available in stores). And then there's every one's favorite remover (coughlancomebifacilcough) that ruins my contacts every freakin time.

Enter Sonia Kashuk Remove. I've had pretty good luck with the Target exclusive brand in the past. Her brushes rock! So does her remover live up her reputation? Let's test that bad boy out.

The Target website describes Remove as follows:
•This fresh-as-water eye makeup remover activates when shaken to gently whisk away waterproof eye makeup while conditioning and refreshing the skin
•No stinging, it’s ideal for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers
•Eye Makeup Remover
•Perfect for All Skin Types

The good: I was very pleasantly surprised by this remover. It took off all of my eye makeup with very little effort. I'd wet a cotton pad, place it over my lashes for a couple seconds to melt my makeup and swipe it off in no time. I experienced no immediate irritation or goopy eyes in the morning. It also left no oily residue!

The not so good: The remover costs $9.99 but they do give you a generous 4.75ozs. The mouth on the bottle is hugeeeee- be careful not to knock it over. Lastly, I'm VERY sensitive in the eye department (dry eyes). After a couple days of using this, I found my eyes would feel a little stingy in the morning. A huge no no in my book.



Overall, this is a great buy if you're not super sensitive to eye products like me. I still use this when I'm out of my HG remover but I make sure not to get any in my eye.

Can you recommend any eye makeup removers that I should try?

Disclosure- product featured was bought by yours truly.