NARS Primer Review

I hate it. I do. I really, really hate it. I am always looking for the next best thing so, after I ditched my Smashbox primer, which I also hated, I ventured into Sephora and found a new primer to play with. I found that the NARS Primer did nothing, absolutely nothing. It did not make my make up last longer. It does not make my make up go on smoother. It did not even have a nice texture, like Smashbox Photo Finish primer did. I generally like to look decent by the end of the day and unfortunately, NARS did not help me achieve this goal. Do not get me wrong, I love NARS. I swear by their blush, lip gloss and lipstick. I have also tried their eyeshadow, which is not bad, but I cannot bring myself to buy any other eyeshadow except Mac’s. I really wanted to love this, because I do really love NARS. On to the next!

OPI Texas Collection Spring 2011

• San Tan-tonio nail polish – pale mushroom beige nail polish
• Y’all Come Back Ya Hear? – bright tangerine orange nail polish
• Guy meets Gal-veston – bright coral pink nail polish
• Big Hair… Big Nails – rosy blush nail polish
• Too Hot Pink to Hold ‘Em – bright pink nail polish
• Do you Think I’m Tex-y – berry pink nail polish
• Houston We Have a Purple – purple nail polish
• Suzi Loves Cowboys – deep chocolate brown nail polish
• I Vant to Be A-Lone Star – silver blue nail polish
• It’s Totally Fort Worth It – shimmery lavendar grey nail polish
• Austin-tatious Turquoise – Blue green shimmer nail polish
• Don’t Mess with OPI – grass green nail polish

Thoughts? Any in particular that you are looking forward to picking up? I really want to try Y'all Come Back Ya Hear, Guy Meets Gal-veston and Big Hair...Big Nails!

Givency Spring Collection

If the world’s first woman were to be born today in the primeval garden, she would no doubt have a different vision of paradise. Nature would be tamed, its energy restrained, creating an ambiance in which she would more likely cut down the Tree of Knowledge than water it. But springtime always manages to awaken desires and dispel gloomy ideas. The impulse to seek gratification is driven by a sixth sense, making us eager for any and all sorts of sensations. A breath of pure air to be discovered or devised. The Must-Have, Blush Gelée, is a rich elixir of youth, illuminating a self-assured candour with fresh energy. NAÏVEMENT COUTURE (“naively couture”) is an autosuggestion of happiness.

Blush Gelee
Candide Pink

Prisme Yeux Quatour
Candide Garden (No. 78) Earth tones, oranges and browns

Rouge Interdit Shine
Candide Nude (No. 27) Natural

Rouge Interdit
Candide Tangerine (No. 50) Orange

Gloss Interdit
Candide Tangerine (No. 30) Vivid orange

Magic Khol
Coffee (No. 15) Brown

Vernis Please!
Candide Peach (No. 173) Natural

MAC & Marcel Wanders Collection

MAC teams up with Dutch designer Marcel Wanders for a new winter 2010 makeup collection. The products will be available in a Limited Edition in the beauty shops for about one month so you should have your wish list ready.

MAC & Marcel Wanders Collection will include lip products such as lipsticks and glosses, powders, a new mascara, a signature brush and clutch and one surprise by the name of Air of Style Scent Concentrate.

You can get your hands on November 24 till December 26.

OPI Katy Perry Collection

L to R: Last Friday Night, Not Like the Movies, The One That Got Away, Teenage Dream and Black Shatter.

Um, who remembers Cover Girls crackle nail polishes from a million years ago? I used to use that stuff when I was in elementary school. I can't believe it is being released again. Will you be trying it...? Not sure if I am going to take that trip back down memory lane.

image via: All Lacquared Up

MAC A Tartan Tale Collection for Holiday 2010

MAC’s holiday collection is always an expansive, kill-your-wallet-and-take-no-names kind of adventure. It includes a color collection as well as holiday kits, palettes, and sets.


Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Cut-a-Caper Mid-tone peachy pink (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
The Faerie Glen Pale neutral pink (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Deepest Wish Deep creamy red-brown (Amplified) (Limited Edition)
Full Fuchsia Bright blue fuchsia (Amplified) (Permanent at PRO)
Courting Lilac Sheer lilac mauve with soft gold pearl (Glaze) (Limited Edition)


Dazzleglass Creme ($18.00 U.S. / $21.00 CDN)
Radiant Jewels Dark sparkly magenta (Limited Edition)
Soft Dazzle Mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl (Limited Edition) (Repromote from Dazzleglass Creme, ’09)
Passing Fancy Bright orange coral with soft pearl (Limited Edition)
Lightly Prancing Light peach with gold pearl (Limited Edition)
Romancin’ Mid-tone lavender with multi-dimensional pearl (Limited Edition)


Eyeshadow ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)
Each eyeshadow has a plaid pattern imprinted on the eyeshadow and is similar in size to Mineralize Eyeshadows.
Golden Crown Light gold with bronze Tartan striping (Limited Edition)
A Wish Come True Dirty mauve with bubblegum pink Tartan striping (Limited Edition)
Follow Your Fantay Mid-tone peach with chocolate Tartan striping (Limited Edition)
Enviably Fun Grass green with dark green Tartan striping (Limited Edition)
Semi-Precious Aubergine with chocolate Tartan striping (Limited Edition)
Glamora Castle Dark grey with teal Tartan striping (Limited Edition)


Pigment ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)
Later Black with transforming purple pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition) (Repromote from Alice + Olivia)
Moonlight Night Blackened teal with teal pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
The Family Crest Blackened bronze with pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)


Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Petrol Blue Deep navy with pearl (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Black Line Black with gold pearl (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Undercurrent Teal with pearl (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Black Swan Black with pearl (Limited Edition)
Lord It Up Bronze with pearl (Limited Edition)

Blush ($18.50 U.S. / $21.50 CDN)
Her Blooming Cheek Bright iridescent blue-pink (Satin) (Limited Edition)
My Highland Honey Bright coral with soft gold pearl (Satin) (Limited Edition)


Nail Lacquer ($13.00 U.S. / $15.00 CDN)
Sly as a Fox Creamy mid-tone russet/burnt red (Cream) (Limited Edition)
Style Clan Dark taupe with red pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)

NARS Bento Box for Holiday 2010

Throughout all of his extensive international travels, Founder and Creative Director François Nars has always found Japanese culture to be a great source of inspiration, specifically the concept of Kabuki makeup. Years ago, after traveling to Japan, François brought back a small, porcelain pot with a red film of color– Kabuki makeup for the lips.


Debuting this holiday season after years of development is the NARS Bento Box Set – a limited edition set of two Kabuki cups that were hand-poured with a new exclusive-to-NARS lipstick formula in highly pigmented shades containing Vitamin E. Housed in a handmade bento box, the set also comes with a Kabuki lip brush, designed for precise application by dipping the brush into the cup and blending until desired coverage is achieved.


Fusing two inspirations together, François chose Daphne Guinness to once again be the face of NARS with her evocative portrayal of classic theatrical Kabuki makeup.


Only one thousand sets were created for sale in the United States and will retail for $125, and just over two thousand in total were created worldwide.

Video: How to Contour & Highlight Your Cheeks

I found this excellent YouTube video by MakeupGeek on how to contour cheeks. This is honestly the best video I have been able to find. Check it out!

PFW October 1st - MAC Cosmetics Face Charts

LOOK 1: ENTOMBED
The exact placement of colours was unique for each girl.


EYE
Blacktrack Fluidline – painted precisely on in an Egyptian
shape with a 210 brush.
Rose Gold Pigment mixed with Eye liner Mixing Medium – painted just
above the black liner on the upper lash line .
M·A·C Pro Primary Yellow Paint Stick – pushed on to highlight the brow .
Blacktrack Fluidline – to sket ch in the brows with individual doll-like hairs


LIP
Black Black Chromaline – to line the lips.
M·A·C Pro Terracott a Airbrush Formula – to fill them in with a blood red .


FACE
White Face and Body Found ation – applied sheer for paled down skin.
M·A·C Pro Primary Yellow Paint Stick – in a doll shape on the cheek.
A paste of kaolin clay was brushed randomly around the hairline
and onto the face, and partially cracked off when it dried to
give the dusty, entombed effect.

LOOK 2: MOUNTAIN GIRL


EYE
Bare.


LIP
Brown M·A·C Pro Lip Mix – as a soft stain.


FACE
Studio Moisture Tint – applied as a base .
Brown M·A·C Pro Lip Mix – to flush the apples of the cheeks.
A paste of kaolin clay was brushed randomly around the hairline
and onto the face, and partially cracked off when it dried to give
the dusty, entombed effect.

EYE
Coffee Eye Pencil – along the socket line as an aero-dynamic,
tailored line going straight out to the temples .
Concrete Eye Shadow – washed over the lids to soften out the
Coffee pencil, and slightly under the eye for contour.


LIP
Cherry Lip Pencil – to line the mouth.
Crimson Lip Mix – precisely on top with a 316 lip brush.
Basic Red M·A·C Pro Pigment – to give an extremely matte , perfect finish.


FACE
Studio Sculpt Found ation – applied as a base .
Dark Brown and Mid-Tone Sepia Cream Colour Base – mixed and smoothed
under the chee kbones and on the temples to contour.

PFW September 30th - MAC Cosmetics Face Charts

EYE
No products were applied to the eyes.


LIP
Lip Conditioner– to moisturize the lips.


FACE
Pro Longwear Concealer – to cover imperfections.
So Sweet So Easy Cream Blush (Available 2011) – buffed
on to the cheeks.
Face and Bodies were then sprayed with a high gloss spray
to achieve the wet look.

EYE
Luna Crea m Colour Base – on upper lid .
Shroom Eye Shadow – on inner corner of eye.
Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in Black – an entirely new brow is
drawn on Horizon tal and square with a slight upwards tilt.
Clear Lipglass – applied over brows to give a wet look.


LIP
Lip Cond itioner–to prep.
M·A·C PRO Lip Mix in White and To Pamper Lipstick – blended and
applied to the lips.


FACE
Face and Body Foundation – applied to the skin in matching
tones and then with a darker shade used to contour.
M·A·C PRO Sculpting Creams in Bark and Accentuate – applied with
188 brush under the cheekbone .
Luna Cream Colour Base – added as a highlight on upper
cheekbones, cupid’s bow and down centre of nose.

EYE
Dazzle Lash Mascara in Black Dazzle – light application
after curling the lashes.
Coffee pencil – drawn subtly under the top lashes.


LIP
Lip Conditioner – patted on to the lips.


FACE
Face and Bod y Founda tion – applied for sheer coverage.
Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder – to set the foundation .
Taupe Blush – to slightly contour the cheekbones.
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural – to bronze the skin.

EYE
Virgin Isle Crea m Colour Base and Chrome Yellow Eye Shadow –
blended on to the eyes from crea se up ove r the brows and out
toward the temples.
Painterly Paint Pot – to highlight the eyelids and accentuate the
stripes.
M·A·C PRO Black Full Coverage Foundation – Drawn through the
crease and out toward the temples.
Zoom Fast Black Lash – applied to top and bottom lashes.


LIP
M·A·C PRO Lipmix in Crimson and Orange –
blended on to the lips.
Neo -Orange Pigment – patted over Lipmix for a matte lip.

FACE
Virgin Isle Cream Colour Base and Chrome Yellow Eye Shadow –
blended on to the cheeks and back toward the hairline .
Strips of tape were applied from cheeks to forehead and later
removed after makeup application to crea te stripes without
product on the face.


EYE
Fling Eye Brows – used to draw a moth wing shape over
the lids and up past the brows.
Deep Brown and Polished Ivory M·A·C PRO Paint Sticks – mixed
together and blended over the moth wing shape.
Omega and Copperplate Eye Shadow – pressed over the paintstick
for a powdery matte texture.
Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer – brushed through bleached brows.
LIP Dim Lip Erase – patted over lips.


FACE
Face and Body Foundation mixed with White Face and Body
Foundation – to create a base several shades paler than
each girl’s natural skintone .
Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder – to set the foundation.

EYE
Vanilla Pigment – applied to the inner corner of the eyelid.
Fuchsia Pigment – applied to the outer corner of the eyelid.
Blacktrack Fluidline – to create a feather-like line along the
top and bottom lash lines drawn out past the outer corner
of the eyelid, and also to create feather-like lashes drawn
on to upper and lower lash lines.
Lash 44 – applied to the upper lash line .
Lash 36 – applied to the lower lash line .


LIP
Redd Lip Pencil – drawn over the lips.
Clear Lipglass – applied over the lip pencil.


FACE
Studio Sculpt Foundation – to perfect the skin.
Springsheen and Mocha Powder Blush – blended on to the
cheekbones and temples.
Vanilla Pigment – to highlight the cheekbones.