The End of Another Year of Beauty

The Stash  as it is Tonight...

*no lip products,eyeliners,face, and missing 3 MAC pots*

Where it Lives...

The Lovelies of 2011

From Dior... the Gris Gris palette showed me that I could indeed wear icy eyes. I was so happy that I finally gave into the Tropic Duo and Or Etoile gives every color I put it over a lovely golden glow.
From Chanel...La Fascinante gave me the red velvet lip I dreamed of. Beige Lame proved a neutral can have a little sparkle too and Rose Platine reminded me of a sunny beach.
From MAC...two were never on my List O' Lust and Anticipation but thanks to my beloved princess A. who said I simply had to have Pink Power and princess S. who said Hidden Treasure was non-negotiable I found two lovelies that get weekly if not daily love. Lightscapade while many belly-ached across the internet world about their disappointment in this incarnation, I am nothing but thrilled with it's golden glow.
From Lancome...Shimmer Tamarind brought me back into the fold and reminded me I had neglected Lancome long enough.
From Sleek...to pick just one from a  lovely year from Sleek was rather hard but even today the Monaco palette just makes me happy.
Finally I have to sing the praises of the Konjac sponge...I adore it for the morning and it has become an indispensable part of the morning ritual.
What 13 lovelies does 2012 have in store for me?

Spring by Chanel

With a little Christmas card I chose my picks from Chanel spring. My original plan had always been Tigerlily and  Destinee, I also thought I wanted the lovely blush and quad as well. While the blush is lovely indeed, on the cheek it lost all it's appeal, most definitely Horizon is all about pan appeal. The quad will probably come home on another day or not.

I absolutely adore the contrast of Tigerlily with loads of mascara and the plummy lip of Destinee. 

I also fell a bit in love with Chusa (shhh, don't tell R.) and now am torn between two counters. She gave both The Beast and me small vials of  the scent she felt was reflective of each of us. Coco Mademoiselle for me and Bleu de Chanel for The Beast. 

That concludes the spree's of 2011.

Dior-Mas

A little Dior Christmas from The Beast

Ultra Violet shadow and of course the girls did the package up for the poor college student and made it a lovely gift to receive indeed.

Some Dior swag from my beloved C.

Two sweet little ornaments and the most awesome wrap bracelet which I promptly named the Dior-Balah.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Tooling around the counters last month led  me to try the new Chanel matte lipsticks and I fell in love with La Fascinante. I am so grooving on a minimal face with a red lip, I think it is just very chic. I also threw the holiday duo (Noir-Ivoire) on just to confirm my non-need and promptly fell into "I think I need" so....

Then Sephora sent out the email about the Dior 500 point insider perk. Yay! Now I can save my Dior receipts as the only difference between the Sephora and the actual Dior Charming Diva Diva Reward is the perfume. Addict to Life for Sephora and Miss Dior Cherie for Dior. I went out on a limb and chose Kat Von D's (cringe) Adora for $10.00 (black Friday deal) and I am so delighted by the scent. To me it smells like the bottle looks, a little gothy, which is beautiful thing...

Finally the quest continues for a non-mineral foundation and while I enjoyed Josie Maran's argan foundation it just felt "wrong"after a while, like wearing multiple layers of potions and lotions. My long affair with Bare Escentuals is because it doesn't feel like anything is on my face. So I went to princess S. at MAC and she said Studio Tech is their only non sunscreen foundation. She put it on and I was pleased.

NC27 applied with my Tarte foundation brush =
non-mineral heaven!

The Great Toss Off of 2011

There truly is nothing more lovely than tossing the unloved members of your stash.

The chicks I work with were pleased and the tossed were happy to find new homes.

Dior Diva 2011 - 250 Point Level

The Fashionista Diva

I was so happy to see the changes to the rewards program that V. had hinted at last year. I had to do the 250  point level simply for the adorable vintage book. The 3 miniatures were just an added bonus! The mini lipstick is Rouge Blossom, no bag or anything just all nicely packed in tissue. 

A Return to Lancome....Really?

I lost interest in Lancome a while back but these two brought me back with a bang!

Shimmer Tamarind blush is simply glorious and the flashes of orange on the cheek are just lovely. Normally I roll my ideas when companies describe the color but this description I quite like - "sunburnt deep burgundy-red".

All that Glitters eyeshadow and all I can do is to "swoon"  at it's silvery green loveliness.

Slacker Challenge 2.0...The Results

I would say that I was bit more inclined to accept Albert's slacker challenge then my own skincare challenge. 

However, I truly think that my Clarisonic got more use in October than any other previous month (let's be honest-period of months) since I bought it. I would say that I only slept in my make-up 3 days this month. On the days that I did not "do" the Clarisonic I did at least remove my make-up with cleansing wipes. I was bit of a laze about the whole nighttime routine and could have been a bit more consistent with the use of moisturizer (face & eye) and BE treatment. The lip treatment and neck cream were haphazard at best. I still have not tried the Rapidlash.

I remained dedicated to my morning ritual and did not miss a day.
While most might consider my challenge a bit of a fail I feel that if I can maintain this level of evening skincare dedication that I will eventually be "doing" it every night or at least more nights then not.

Dior, Chanel & an Egg

Finally the Dior holiday palette in Couture Golds has arrived and it is just a perfection of shimmering golds. 

I adore it!

Yes, I do have a wee (huge) bit of egg on my face when it comes to Chanel Dragon. I was fairly pleased with MAC's Prolong (color & formula name (really?)) lipstick as far as the color went but the formula was too drying after a while and wearing a balm underneath created the same kind of slip that Dragon has. 

So why not get what you originally wanted?

And so I did.

Glitter is Nice

Due to some unexpected shenanigans from the Beast Child (yes, you college boy) my grand spree with the glittering unicorn was put on hold. However I did get the three things that caused the most lust in my heart....

(Let's Skate-Shimmermint-For Effect)

So very, very lovely. I adore each piece on it's own and collectively they create a glorious eye. I may go back for the rest of my list but for now I am very pleased.

A Little Spree With My Favorite Three

So the holiday collections are beginning to trickle in which invited a little look-see, a bit of a spree, and a few weeks of agonizing wait...

First Chanel, I was totally convinced that I had to have the duo of  Noir-Ivoire until I saw it in person and was like "ahhh not so much after all". I thought it was just pretty standard and nothing to write home about. However, I am absolutely smitten with Beige Lame at first glance I was like  neutral, nice, whatever but then I saw how truly lovely it is with all the beautiful sparkles. The lovely M. put it on my crease with Lotus on the lid and it truly is just as lovely as can be. I tried to resist buying Lotus as I thought it looked so much like Liberty but M. insisted and as she likes to remind me she would never be adamant about a color that she thought I was just duping or if I have something that is close enough.  The holiday lips  were just a whole lot of snooze (gold glossimer I am looking at you) even though I did fall under the lure of Dragon. I love the way it looks but the formula is just all kinds of icky. 

Off to MAC to see what might possibly satisfy my Dragon lust and the lovely S. suggested Prolong and I am quite pleased. She also convinced me to add some paint pots to my Glitter & Ice pre-sell bag. I really can't wait to bring that awesome bag of goodies home.

Finally Dior, I was thrilled beyond words to see C. at Macy's today where I was just going to pick up the holiday Or Etoile lipstick. I am so excited for a truly gold lipstick and it will be just amazing over any lip color. Of course she made me sit down to play and like some kind of mind reader she picked Smoky Nude for my eyes, the one other trio I had been lusting for.  I love it as a basic eye especially when wearing a super strong lip. Last weekend I got Nocturne lipstick from Dior holiday and I just think it is a glorious golden reddish pink.  I am so longing for the holiday gold quint and gold highlighter but according to C. no one has them anywhere. It is a mystery and makes me even more curious.

Is it to early to start dreaming of the spring collections?

Slacker Challenge 2.0....

I am the first to admit my skincare habits are pretty cringe worthy. I am a completely lazy with my nighttime ritual and sleep in my make-up most nights. I am devoted to my weekday morning ritual and rarely ( I won't say never) miss a morning. Most weekends I just keep it simple, wash and either an oil or butter and no make-up. But the evening is just my own personal bugaboo and I really have know idea why.

So, for the month of October I challenge myself to...

Wash my face each and every night with my neglected Clarisonic

Use my eye cream

Moisturize

Use my Bare Escentuals Rare Mineral night treatment

Use my neck and decolletage  cream

Use my lip treatment

Maybe try the Rapidlash that Jennifer sent me?

Or will I return to the skincare slacker fold?

Falling into Sleek

I am completely in love with the Sleek Nude Collection. I love the Au Naturel palette as an alternative to the shimmer glimmer that I normally favor, the suede blush is neutral perfection and the Bare Minimum lip is just lovely glossy nude.

Swoony swoon over the Me, Myself & Eye palette. While the mattes are lovely, the shimmering colors are just awesome. I adore the whole thing.

Finally, I am so thrilled to have finally picked up the Monte Carlo Pout Polish. I love it and it does complete my Mediterranean collection. Again the color has that lush shadowy look that I feel the palette has.

It is as if you are in a vibrant garden at dusk and while the colors are bright they appear as if in shadow. 

Which brings me to why this is my beauty diary and not so much a swatch and review kind of place.

If I had relied solely on the opinion of the internet I would have passed on this little pot of pink perfection.

Follow the Light

Well, once you've gone over the cliff, the second time is a breeze....

After emphatically declaring to Princess S. on Saturday that nothing caught my fancy in the Cindy Sherman (snicker, snicker) collection, especially all the hyped colors, along comes an email from MAC on Monday offering free second day so of course I succumbed.

Isn't she lovely?

I think Lightscapade is just divine and truly delivers on all it's hype.

I tossed it on my cheeks and just sighed with delight over it's creamy highlighting loveliness.

There is Something About MAC....

There is just something about MAC that  makes me happy, and here are some of the lovelies that have joined the collection.

Princess A. spent forever trying to teach me how to do a winged liner and even with her instructional card I remain hopeless, but I do adore the Blacktrack and the 266 brush for my feeble attempts.

I can not sing the praises of the Soft Ochre paintpot. Why did I wait so long? It is just a perfectly neutral canvas whether I wear it on it's own or as a base. Do not even get me started on Genuine Treasure...I have never worn the same eye look 3 days in a row until this little pot of yumminess came home with me.

 Powersurge is the perfect bronzey liner that I was searching for and the Smoked Ruby MES sends be boomeranging around the moon, I love it so...

 I kinda really like how much Sunbasque makes me feel all bronze cheeked and beachy it really is a lovely cheek.

CB 96  rescued me from ponying up 32.00 for a Dior lipstick that B. used with her Mitzah eye creation.

And finally, I wanted a red lip, I was scolded by Princess S. for not having a red lip, I finally have a red lip.

I adore Eden Rouge from the color, to the texture, to everything about how it looks on me...Kiss Me Quick (aside from the too cute name) is the perfect liner to wear with Eden Rouge.

There really is just something about MAC, they're always there when I am looking for a little something and I just adore all the girls at my counter...

Oh So Sleekly Summer

This summer was lovely beyond belief with both of these palettes...

I absolutely adore the Monaco palette for the lovely bright colors that somehow are also subdued, like a lush shady garden.

The Oh So Special palette is beautifully neutral yet somehow a bit more, hence the name?
I love the Santorini blush it is just perfect in that bright summer way.

Cats & Sprees & Dior....Oh My!

I was so happy to see B. at Sephora on Saturday and beyond excited to get the Mitzah palette. It is amazing but not nearly as amazing as the look B. created with the shadows and the new Mint eyeliner.

I absolutely adored the look and the green on the waterline just sent the whole shebang over the moon. 

She also of course layered multiple lipcolors and once again MAC delivered...

CB96 layered with my Dior Nude lipstick created the same feel that B. concocted. I also had to get the Buxom liner in Blue Jade which the exact color I have been questing forever and a day for....

There seems to be a cat theme running thru my collection...

MAC Leopard Luxe, Bare Escentuals Pussycat Eyes, Dior Mitzah

Jack & Katie

Toujours Dior....

Well how about a lovely Dior spree or two to end the summer...

I went by to see the girls and simply had to have the Pink in Love blush, finally a truly pigmented and lovely blush from Dior! I also chose the Lifting Grey quint which to me is the ultimate ladylike eye. There was an event going on so I also received a Dior box which has the most adorable little removable velvet jewelry pouch She also threw in a mini Diorkiss lipstick as well as the Diorshow Maximizer. 

On Friday J. called to say that the 3 colors had finally arrived so Saturday I voyaged back over and got the Smoky Khaki which is just lovely and I am in love with the sliding popping case.  She also said the were discontinuing the duo's so I finally picked up the Tropical Look duo as I have been wanting it forever and a day. I also was questing for a lipstick to finish this monochromatic look that I am trying to create and Mauve Mirza is the perfect shade. Then J. lost her mind and said do you want this? How about this? And I ended up with a Rose Diamond powder as well a Rosy Nude quint both brand new and untouched till I gouged my fingers into both of them and the shadows more than once, oopsies! Here how about some stickers too?

Swoon...

Then of course it was time for some arts and crafts for my new swag.

Finally the monochromatic look...MAC's Smoked Ruby, Lancome's Rouge Glow. and the lovely Dior Mauve  Mirza. 

Perfection..

Surf ~&~ Spree

Just a few words...

I actually played while at the counter and Princess Amber did my makeup.

She only used the yummy seafoamy green with some neutrals and it was/is simply lovely. 

I am so happy that I bought the Surf the Ocean  stack!

The Gilded White pencil is a warm golden pencil of lovely perfection.

As for Hibiscus and My Paradise? 

Glorious...

Glorious to look at and even more glorious on.

I absolutely adore these items from the colors and textures to the adorable packaging!

Summer is here....

Going Rogue for Lovelies

As I have made abundantly clear the whole lipstick/lipgloss rule of 2011 has proved to be a complete failure. I did however feel that the sticking with my 3 favorite brands as well a small budget for unexpected perfection from a few random lines would not be a problem. Well I have now blasted that budget out of the water as well.

While I was at Sephora I also picked up this lovely Buxom lipstick, Nantucket. It is a lovely peachy nude that I am totally grooving on for summer.

While I was on my way through Dillard's I saw MK, the former Dior counter manger who is now a rep for the Michael Marcus line out of Dallas. She was so excited about this line and as usual I was intrigued by all the color. Before I knew it I was in the chair and the fun commenced. Aside from color this line is known (unknown to me as well as the internet as I was unable to find anything anywhere on any blogs or sites) for is their primer. It is a pot of tinted primer available in three colors and MK used number 2 on me. It felt wonderful on, very smooth yet provided a natural coverage that just perfected my skin. At the top of the bridge on the way home, the absolute best place to judge makeup I was indeed impressed However I am not sure how I feel about spending $66.00 for it. The line also has some amazingly lovely blushes and I am still somewhat longing for the Tropical blush. It was a really lovely color that would look super on the cheek as well as a shadow. Tropical is a bronzey yet coppery with flashes of coral pot of loveliness. I really think I need it. I however chose Blossom lipgloss as my toe dip into the line.

Absolutely lovely and it is more of a lipstick rather than a typical gloss consistency. The color  is amazing and I am in love with it.

Finally, some Mally...

I have seen her over the years on QVC and have always been a bit gun-shy of trying the line. Several weeks back I saw her presenting a collection that almost made me pull the trigger but I resisted. Yet I couldn't stop thinking about the blush/highlighter duo that was part of the kit. I decided to stalk Ebay till it appeared for a reasonable price (along with the brush) and the eagle has now landed....

I am over the moon with these two little pans of absolute glowing perfection. One of things that I have observed while watching Mally on TV is that they are always going on about the glow. Well, now I get it. The blush is called Afterglow and it is a rather lovely peachy pink, the highlighter is Purelight and it is, literally. Together they combine to absolute amazing perfection and my cheeks seem to be glowing from within. There is no sparkle nor glitter just glowing perfection.
I am a believer and dare I say a brand new fan-girl?

Playtime @ MAC

I went to the mall earlier this week looking for pants for The Beast's graduation. This is proving to be a very difficult mission as we are talking about a 6'4'' skinny minnie daddy longlegs. I was forced to console myself with a visit with lovely MAC princesses. 

I was of course compelled to ask about Surf Baby and Shannon smiled and walked away only to reappear with a tub of lovely loveliness...I was like ohhh and ahhhh and lets see the Hibiscus. It is a glorious tube that I can't wait to wear. I was like I must have the blush and S. was like of course you do. The only other thing I wanted was the Gilded White pencil. S. placed them all in a bag for me to pick up on Thursday and it was all good. Until she said I haven't played with the pigments and I was like they hold not interest for me...
Well they hadn't, until the swatch party started. Surf the Ocean is just perfect, the colors are beyond lovely and they are so smooth and simply glide on and into the bag they went. S. was like we will play on Thursday and you can decide then, smile, wink and nudge.

She then asked me if I had seen the Big Bounce shadows and I was like ooooh I have heard some horrible things about them. Shannon was like sit and with a fluffy brush and pouncing motion applied Up the Ante over the bronze colored shadow I was wearing.

This color is absolute perfection, a shimmering pot of loveliness. S. said it is imperative that these shadows be applied over powder and that as well as a fluffy brush are the keys to success, I am absolutely thrilled that I have this in my collection.

Why There is Beach Around My Eye

After nearly 5 months of longing and obsession I finally played with Chanel summer 2011.

Before I saw it in person I was convinced that I had to have it all. I walked away only with the absolute perfection that is the Rose Platine eyeliner.

While the collection is beautiful I felt there was nothing in it that I could not create with something in my my own collection. 

Except this amazing liner. 

I actually used my Dior Mystic Jade as a bobo nod to the Chanel eye. I lined my eyes with the Rose Platine. On the upper line I smudged the douchrome color of the Dior palette over the Chanel liner and flashes of green appeared. Under my eye the Rose Platine creates the loveliest beach that dances and flashes under the summer sun. Nearer the inner corner of my eye it takes on an almost silvery look while towards the outer part of my eye it appears almost golden yet still with a silvery sheen. It is like running sand through your hands while the sunset dances and reflects off the shimmering quartz. 

I love it completely and utterly.

Hello Kitty and Hello There Cuteness*

* and hello being mocked by a ruthless Beast Child

How adorably cute is this? I had a return to make at Sephora and I was utterly sucked in by this little Memoirs of Kitty palette. 

From the little pink cherry blossoms, to the little green leaves, to the little blue bow, to the amazing colors inside...

This just makes me happy and I am totally in love with colors inside. The shadows are just lovely and warm and sparkly. The blushes look lovely on their own as well as combined.

Yuck it up Beast Child and yes I am a teenage girl....

Survey Says.... $ for Lovelies

I have been doing surveys for a company for several years now, and it is my secret fund for make-up etc. This company pays within a day or two and if I can control myself I can build up a nice little PayPal balance. 

The other night I was tooling around Ebay and scored Dior's Mystic Jade and Lancome's Filigree for a song.

Mystic Jade is an awesomely lovely palette of delicious summer goodness. Using the lower left color wet creates an amazing green. By the time I finally was ready to buy this at the counter it had been discontinued so I am beyond happy to finally have it.

Filigree is just an awesome pale gold, perfect as a highlight and amazing in the inner corner. I de-potted it and  Filigree found a new home with Designer, Kitten Heel and Volcano.

I love finding "good deals" and it is even better when I had money waiting for me to spend!

Awesome...

Stash & Review - Storage

I would love a gorgeous vanity, something vintage in feel. With amazing lighting and custom drawers....

Since space will not allow that fantasy, I must make do and fortunately there are many creative options to choose from.

I found this little green table at Target

My 3 drawer Sterilite fits perfectly underneath. I would love to cover the horrid white plastic with some kind of decoupage but as of yet have not undertaken that project.

I found these clear drawer dividers at Target and 2 fit perfectly in each drawer. The top drawer is home to all my BE. The middle drawer is MAC. The bottom drawer is Lancome and misc. brands.

I absolutely adore my Muji 5 drawer case and it is home to all my Dior and Chanel. I love the Paris plate I found at Michael's as well as the 2 little "shot" glasses for brushes and eyeliners. I found the  lip organizer at Target.

The drawer holds all my not so loved lip products as well as too tall glosses. I  keep some random eye products in there as well. They are stored in little acrylic cubes from Office Depot. The drawer is also home to my Sleek collection and my large Lancome custom palette.

Above the green table is a shelf where I keep my brushes and there is also a little box for random storage (currently empty) all from Michael's.

Finally the awesome acrylic storage box with the awesome lip holder from Amazon as well as little mesh letter holder from Office Depot. My Naked palette is in one drawer waiting to be moved into the letter holder when the drawer becomes a dedicated home to something. The bottom drawer holds the Rock & Republic blushes as well as the lone eyeshadow that did not fit into the Z-Palette.

Stash & Review - Lancome

My affair with Lancome began in the early 1980's, my dear friend Laurie was the counter manager at the Marshall Field's on State street. Going into her bathroom was like entering a beauty playground and I remember endless hours spent getting ready to go out. I pretty much then forgot all about Lancome until about 5 or so years ago when I rediscovered the line. 

I adore the palette(s) of shadows I've put together and the Lancome blushes are just perfect in color and texture. 

If I was forced to choose my absolute favorites this is what I choose.

The fabled Erika F, simply one of the loveliest shadows I have seen. I love colors that can be used alone and this color is perfect for that, perfect for a hot summer day (or any day really)when you want to keep it simple. If I only had Mocha Havana Shimmer, Shimmer Pink Pool, and Shimmer Mandarin Sky in my blush collection I think that would be all I need. They are a trio of cheek perfection.
I think I would also want to keep my little palette of 4 that contains Kitten Heel, Designer, Honeymoon, and Volcano.
I would throw in the smoky Henna eyeliner as well.
For lips I adore Electric Pink a tube of glittering, shimmering fuchsia perfection, Rich Cashmere as the perfect nude and Raspberry Glimmer gloss along with Berry Sensual liner as just the loveliest golden rose lip.

Stash & Review - Sleek

How can make-up that costs so little be so amazing?

If the make-up god's were being particularly cruel and told me you must chose one palette and refused to be swayed by my by passionate arguments on awesomeness and affordability...

Storm.
My first palette, brought back from England by Jennifer and the start of my obsession. Just an all around lovely palette and dare I say all you need?

Stash & Reviews - Rock & Republic

I first saw Rock & Republic at Nordstrom over at International and  I was like what amazingly awesome packaging and what amazingly awesome color. At one time I had all 12 blushes but I swapped them  away  even the much lusted after Call Me. When the shadows were at incredibly discounted prices I completed my wishlist and now I feel like my Rock & Republic stash is perfect for me.

I would choose to keep all 4 blushes..... 

 Seduce the perfectly unassuming pink with the lavender glow, X-Rated for the perfect in from the cold cheek, Bedroom the perfect go to cheek, and All Nighter as the perfect orangey red.

If I was forced to remove my very favorite shadows from the palette and keep only a few I would choose....

Carat - Golden perfection. Top row 3rd from left.

Corrosive - Lime perfection. Top row 4th from left.

Envy - Emerald green perfection. Middle row 2nd from left.

Jaded - Blue green perfection. Bottom row far left.

Lawsuit - Duochrome flashing green perfection. Bottom row 2nd from left.

Stash & Review - Chanel

The late 80's where all about Chanel and while I would almost always have a lipcolor or two of some sort in my collection Chanel pretty much  fell off my radar till last year when Robbie finally wooed me back. This time around I am choosing pieces that really are special to me.

Since my collection is rather small and I do love each and every piece, I would be hard pressed to choose my absolute favorites. But the make-up god's are demanding a sacrifice so I will keep these....

Clair eyeliner thank you so much Robbie for "forcing" this one on me there is simply nothing better for masking an allergy reddened eye.

Espiegle Blush the perfectly glowing peachy cheek.

Ombres Perleés de Chanel  - Oh how lovely you are.