Professional Grade: The Bride wore Peau Vierge

I spent the day floating around Newport Beach (harbor) on a yacht today. My client, the bride, wanted to be classically dramatic with polished skin and a strong red lip:

For her look, I blended Le Metier de Beaute's Peau Vierge with her foundation. The result was smooth, polished skin that 'caught the light' just the right way. She was very happy with her look. As long as she's happy, I'm happy.

FOTD: Bridal Party

I was the last person to get ready. It's always like that... I show up barefaced, get everyone else ready and then slap some makeup on my own face:

FACE

Illamasqua Skin Base (#14)

Kevyn Aucoin Diaphonous Radiance Powder

Guerlain Terra Inca Radiant Powder (blush)

EYES

Rock & Republic eyeshadow in Fatalistic on brows

Chanel Kaska Biege Quad:

Purple Shimmer on lids

Purple Matte In crease

Beige Matte on browbone

Chanel Eye Pencil in Cassis on waterline

Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

Naimies Half Lashes

LIPS

Laura Mercier Lipstick in Bing Cherry

Hot Off The Red Carpet Giveaway: The Winner Is...

Jess!

Congratulations! You won:

Gold Clutch

Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero

Lorac 3D Lipgloss

Lorac Tantalizing Bronzer

Lorac Eyeshadow Duo in Tease Me

Lorac Eyeshadow Duo in Tempt Me

 

Jess, I've sent you an email. You'll need to email be back within 48 hours with your mailing address so I can send your prize out to you. If  I don't hear from you by then, I'll have to pick another winner. Congratulations again!

 

Chanel Autumn 2011: Illusion d'Ombre (Epatant)

Time for another review and comparison. I think I rather like this one. I thought it might be too glittery at first, but I've found that Epatant adds a nice bit of 'light' to other colors. Creasing aside, this one is shaping up to be one of my favorites.

As you can see, I used this before I took a picture. Boo to me! Call it poor planning.

I couldn't find an Armani counterpart in color. Epatant comes off as a cool shimmer green. The closest green color in Armani is #6, which is more of a golden olive color.

Epatant, swatched alone.

Swatched next to Armani's #6, Epatant comes off almost completely silver. 

I won't do a smudge test, because you guys already know what the results will be. I like this color though. I think it's a keeper.

FOTD: Summer Greens

I didn't really have a plan... I just wanted something fresh and green(ish):

FACE

Illamasqua Skin Base (#14)

Koh Gen Doh Translucent Powder

Chanel Blush In Rose Ecrin

EYES
Rock & Republic Eyeshadow in Tribal (brows)

Louise Young Eyeshadow in Ting (browbone)

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow in Hangover (lids and under waterline)

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Epatant (lids)

Stila Smudgestick in Onyx (lashline and waterline)

Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

LIPS

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Deauville

*The Rose Ecrin Blush was a gift. I said Thank You and have decided to keep it.*

Practical Application: Chanel Quartz Nail Polish

These Chanel Autumn 2011 polishes are just amazing. I love every single one of them. Today, I did my nails in Quartz...

On me it comes out a distinct shimmer taupe. In the sunlight, I can catch hints of pink and multi-colored shimmer. Each one of these polishes has such a distinct personality. Chanel really did good with this latest collection of polishes. Love!

Tarte for True Blood: Take Two

I can admit when I'm wrong.

I was browsing through Sephora and I SWEAR that Tarte for True Blood eyeshadow palette was calling my name! Yep.. that's my story. So I went over to swatch it... and damn if every single shadow wasn't silky and pigmented as all get out! I mean REALLY silky. Omg. Urban Decay Naked Palette fans, I challenge you to swatch these shadows, and see if Tarte doesn't change your mind.

This palette has a total value of $300+ dollars, but retails for $52. It is a RIDICULOUSLY good value. In addition to 17 rather large shadow pans (shimmer and matte), you also get an eyeshadow primer, a mascara, and the silkiest black gel liner that I've ever used. It might be 'too' silky, in fact. I swatched it and lost control of it for a second. The slip is that serious.

So I take back what I said about the palette being a pass. It's not. It's worth every penny.

This palette is SO good, in fact, that it's worth a giveaway. Yep.

Details and swatches coming soon. Ciao for now!

Givenchy: Autumn/Winter 2011

Forget the Fairest... it looks like Givenchy wants to be the Darkest of them all...

How Goth can you go...? The luxury makeup brand is celebrating one's inner Vampire with pale pale skin, blue-black eyes, and a blackened blood red lip.

Now you know the lipstick and the lipgloss in red have my attention... I love a good red. The rest, well, we'll just have to see.

Practical pictures, swatches, and applications to come... Ciao for now!

Lip Service: Beaute Cosmetics

If it's true that success can be determined by doing one thing and doing it well, then Beaute Cosmetics is living the dream. Instead of offering a wide range of makeup items, Beaute focuses on one thing: Lips.

The company also offers a range of makeup brushes and tools. But the primary focus for this company is on the lips.

You'd think that focus would translate into a selection of lipsticks, and maybe a few glosses. But that's not the case. Instead, Beaute Cosmetics has defined itself with a cozy range of Liqui-Gel Lip Stains, Weightless Lip Cremes, and Luminous Volume Lip Glosses.

This week, a lovely little box arrived, with three of Beaute's bestsellers: Liqui-Gel Stain in Harlot, Weightless Lip Creme in Girlina, and Luminous Volume Lip Gloss in Allure.

Isn't that just gorgeous?

Harlot       Allure        Girlina

Lip Stain   Lip Gloss   Lip Creme

First impressions are that Harlot would be a good match for my skin tone, but Allure and Girlina might be better reserved for fair-skinned beauties. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to properly swatch them on my warm skin tone. But my worries were for naught, because all of the colors adapted beautifully. I was surprised and impressed that the colors didn't just 'sit there' (as most cool colors tend to do on me). They actually took on a flattering warmth, without help from lip pencils and warmer toned glosses.

Swatches:

Now, the lip gloss and lip creme colors still look like they might be awful on me, right? Look what happens when I put them on my lips:

Luminous Volume Gloss in Allure

I know! I was surprised too. The color totally 'warmed up' to my skin-tone an set beautifully. I kept looking at it in different light (natural and artificial) because I just KNEW I was going to step outside looking like I  had no idea how to wear a flattering lip color.

Weightless Lip Creme in Girlina

Same for the lip creme. I really thought this swatch was going to come out awful. The cream went on opaque, warmed a bit, then set. That's just my lips with no liner and no 'help' (warmer lip gloss) to make it more flattering. It wore a medium pink on me. And it really is weightless. I was a little worried that my lips would dry out because of the light feeling formula, but surprisingly that didn't happen.

Liqui-Gel Stain in Harlot

I'm showing you this initial swatch, because I want you to see how OPAQUE this gel-stain is. My lips are pigmented (and two different colors to boot) and the stain completely evened everything out. That is ONE coat. It's not 'watery' like most stains. It goes on like a lip balm, without the moisturizing properties. You do have to wear a clear gloss over this stain to get the full effect.

After I applied the stain and let it set (about 30 seconds), I put the Allure gloss over it, and here's what happened:

Love that 3-D effect! I was so excited that I ran out to show my husband (who was thoroughly unimpressed. It's a guy thing). Just the addition of the gloss enhanced the stain and gave my lips a look that I normally achieve with a pencil, lipstick, and sometimes two different colored lip glosses.

I tested the 'staying power' of the stain by giving hubby a big kiss...

The gloss faded a bit, but as you can see, the stain stayed put! I'm totally impressed. Beaute took the time to formulate products that actually work, and the proof is in the pictures. The most noteworthy items for me are the Weightless Lip Creme, and the Liqui-Gel Stain. I've never used anything like that stain. It's the most potent formula I've ever come across.

I was a fan of Beaute Cosmetics before these items arrived (I have the Lip Cremes in Masochist and Severine), and these lippies have only served to strengthen my love for the brand. Beaute Cosmetics is proof positive that if you do one thing (or three) and do it well, you'll likely end up miles ahead of the competition.

You can purchase Beaute Cosmetics at www.beaute-cosmetics.com

FOTD: Illamasqua Skin Base

I road tested the Illamasqua Skin Base today... and it passed with flying colors! Now, I decided to go without powder for my first run. Next time I know better. It set beautifully on my oily skin for about 4 hours, but then I got pretty shiny and needed to blot. Still, it wore so well. I really love this foundation.

FACE

Illamasqua Skin Base (#14)

Sleek Contour Highlighter in Dark (as blush)

EYES

Sleek Storm Palette:

Gold on lids

Brown in crease and under waterline

Black on lashline

MAC Pigment in Lithe on inner corners

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

LIPS

Haughty Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Speak Up

Covet Worthy: Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

It's official: Illamasqua has ruined me (for the moment) for other foundations. I've been skeptical about just how 'great' the new Skin Base Foundation is (I was not a fan of the Rich Liquid Foundation), so I was slow to purchase. Add to that the fact that it's not available in the United States (you have to order online)... and I was not able to swatch colors ahead of time for the perfect match.

Enter 'AceYourFaceUK' (who I'm lucky enough to have follow this blog). She noted my questions about matching skin color, and using just my pictures on this blog, was able to match me PERFECTLY. She recommended Skin Base in #14... which is exactly what I ordered.

I have to admit, when I first got the bottle I was VERY skeptical (read: Oh HELL no! Did this girl just recommend some ashy freakin' foundation for me? What was she THINKING?!!!), because look at how light that is! And it has the nerve to look a little pink. Anyone who knows me knows that I always correct 'down' (read: go darker) if I'm in between shades.

But I trust that AceYourFaceUK knows what she's talking about (she's very familiar with the brand), so I go ahead and test it.

It's got this little nozzle on the end, which is perfect for paranoid artists like me (I hate an unsanitary application), and as you can see, the foundation itself looks much more 'yellow' on its own. Blame the pinkish hue on the frosted nature of the bottle.

You see this drop? This covers half my face. I am NOT kidding. That's how little you need for medium coverage. Double that for full coverage. The amount (or lack of) foundation needed to cover the face is precisely what skyrocketed this product to Covet-Worthy status for me. And if that's not enough, the way it blends out is just RIDICULOUS...

OMG  look at that! That is a 'full coverage' on my arm ... just that little dot did all that coverage. You can totally sheer it out as you like. And you cannot BELIEVE how well it adjusted to my skin. My oily skin drank it up and set *snap* like that. Did I mention that the COLOR adjusts too? Give it a couple of minutes, and the freakin' foundation ADAPTS to your individual shading and undertones. I CAN'T TAKE IT!

Now, if there are any cons, they are as follows:

The bottle is small. But in its defense.. it's the same 'amount' of foundation as nearly all of its counterparts. It's one ounce. The size of the bottle will throw you at first, but I think that's because of the shape. If it was a regular glass bottle with a pump, you wouldn't even notice it. And you use SO LITTLE of this foundation, that it more than makes up for its weight and volume.

The cost is prohibitive... at least in the United States. The conversion (and the shipping) kicked my butt. But it's only prohibitive because I'm 'guessing' at colors. If the foundation were here, I wouldn't even bat an eye. I spend hundreds of dollars on foundation... BUT I also get to test, swatch, and sample them to death before I make a decision. I'm also paying for that convenience. With Skin Base, I relied on the knowledge of another Makeup Artist, some swatches, and my own gut.

I don't know about this yet for a drier or mature skin. My oily skin LOVES this foundation. It wears just like, if not better than, Hourglass Foundation. My skin drank it right up, it set, and it never moved. I'm wearing it today, and I can't feel it. I keep checking my reflection like WHOA.

This foundation is top of the line for me. I have ordered the shade darker than this one (#15) to accommodate my summer skin. For the moment, #14 looks perfect on me. But if I get a tan, it's a wrap. So I'd like to be able to use it as much as possible, no matter what my skin-tone is at the moment.

I HIGHLY recommend this foundation for oily girls. If you can match your shade, this foundation is worth every penny. I LOVE IT!

You can get Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation online at www.illamasqua.com

FOTD: Bold Line/Bright Lip

I had a little time on my hands today... so I decided to work a bit more on one of my biggest challenges: the bold eyeline. I'm not good at it at all... and I always need time to get it right. Here's how it turned out:

FACE

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Bobbi Brown Concealer in Honey

Guerlain Giant Mosaic Bronzer

Sleek Contour Highlight in Dark (as blush)

EYES

MAC Pigment in Naked Dark (all over)

Louise Young Eyeshadow in Pom Pom (crease)

Shu Uemura Painting Gel Liner (lashline/waterline/tightline)

Make Up For Ever Lash Fibers

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

LIPS

Haughty Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Break A Leg

FOTD: YSL Midnight Garden

So...
I've decided to keep the new YSL eyeshadow palette. It's really beautiful, and I was further impressed after actually using it in practical application:

FACE

Hourglass Veil Foundation (6.0)

YSL Radiance Blush in #3

LIPS

MAC Lipstick in Violetta

EYES

YSL Midnight Garden Palette:

Darkest Purple on lids and under waterline

Darkest Green in corners

Lavender through the crease

Estee Lauder DoubleWear Pencil in Forest on waterline

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

My Sustainable Journey: Tarte for True Blood

Something that both the Vegan and the Goth can agree on: Tarte for True Blood Collection.

The vampire-chic collection is named for the HBO series True Blood... which, if ya'll didn't know, features all manner of supernatural creatures from vampires to warewolves to witches -and in the middle of it all - a country blonde named Sookie.

The makeup collection consists of a fabulously packaged eyeshadow palette, with eyeliner (in Black, of course) and mascara, a cheek stain in sheer red, and a glossy lip pencil in red.

Closer inspection reveals that the palette is great if you don't have those colors already... but they are all dupeable. I decided to pass. The cheek stain and the lip pencil however, made their way back to my home.

I love them both. The cheek stain smells distinctly of fresh lemons, and the lip pencil features that same minty feeling and moisturizing properties of the regular lineup.

Swatches:

As you can see, the cheek stain is very sheer. It has little gold sparkles in it, that are more shimmer than glitterbomb.

The lip pencil is anything but sheer. It wears like a solid red lipstick. I really like them both.

You can get both (and the palette) at www.sephora.com

Lip Service: Armani Plums

Two new plum colors have joined the ranks of the new Armani Lip Glosses: Plum 601 and Plum 602.

As you can see, Plum 601 looks more like a brick red. Plum 602 looks more purple than plum. Both are very sheer and wear with incredible comfort.

These behave more like a moisturizing stain. My lips maintained their regular shape (and wrinkles) but were almost 'dyed' the sheer color of the gloss. I rather like that idea.