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.

Stash & Review - Hodgepodge

My very first department store beauty addiction was when I was senior in high school. My best friend Tricia and I would take the commuter train into Chicago and walk up to Water Tower Place where we would spend our hard earned money. Marshall Field's was generally where all our money went, sometimes Lord & Taylor captured a bit as well. Always Rizzoli for European fashion magazines and Fiorucci because it was just so cool.

One day at Marshall Field's I saw a counter full of Diane Von Furstenberg cosmetics and it was love. I had always been entranced by DVF, she was a princess, a glamorous jet setter, and she went to Studio 54. What was there not to adore? I even had her beauty book, chock full of beauty and style secrets as well as pictures of her looking so glam. To own her make-up was to have a bit of her glamour as well.

(from Amazon)

One day I found myself completely skeeved out by animal hair make-up brushes. I am not sure why? My skin is not sensitive to them, it's not an animal rights thing, for whatever reason saying goat hair just sent shivers down my spine. Who knew that $3.00 brushes from E.L.F. would be so awesome? I think they are rather amazing and work beautifully.

I received the little square palette of MAC lipsticks in a swap and rediscovered the ritual of applying lipstick with a brush. It also led to a lipstick de-potting party for colors that did not receive massive love or if I needed one or two more things so I could Back 2 MAC. Tony who used to work for Lancome swore by the Ink Artliner Eye brush as a lip brush and I could not agree more.

My _____ But Better 

After seeing the movie Dangerous Liaisons I remember walking through Nordstrom at Fashion Valley in San Diego determined to recreate the look of the make-up in the movie. Since then I have always had something in my make-up stash that is similar to the My "Blank" But Better best demonstrated in my opinion by the tragic Madame de Tourvel.

What I  currently use to create My _____ But Better.

BE's Golden Gate blush. BE Desire eyeshadow if I am feeling a bit of a glowy eye. Otherwise the palette of Lancome mattes is perfection. For the lips my own creation when I blended  MAC See Sheer and Warm Me Up.

Stash & Review - Mac

Awesome collections in special packaging? Check

Almost any color your heart desires? Check

Affordable? Check

Always something new? Check

Home of the amazing Amber and Shannon? Check

I really do love MAC, I think they do color so well and while some moan and groan about the endless collections I think it makes it so much more interesting. I think it would be rather fun to work on their creative team. My collection of MAC is rather modest by a true MAC devotee's standards but each and every piece is chosen with care. My heart belongs to Dior but MAC is my secret delight.

For me MAC is all about special packaging and LE pieces as well as fun color so it would be hard to choose but here goes.

Dirty Plum  - Is it the color or the way the color glows through the awesome Liberty of London packaging? 

Bite of Apple,Oh So Fair, Briar Rose, She Who Dares, and Violetta from Venomous Villains  - Not only is every color lovely on it's own, I fly over the moon each time I look at the compacts. 

Disney + MAC = Perfection

Vegas Volt and Something New Lipsticks - Bright lips? Check

Pink Power - Face perfection in a giant Wonder Woman disc.

Redhead MSF & Dainty Blush crushed and mixed together to create a coral pink golden glow.

Stash & Review - Bare Escentuals

Ahhh BE, how you keep me on your hook, I think your are my longest running make-up love. I first tried the foundation maybe 13 years ago? And have consistently returned to it after trying various liquids, creams and even other mineral foundations. I love the foundation for the coverage, the glow and most importantly I never feel like I am wearing anything on my face. 

Walking into a Boutique is better than any candy store and seeing the wheels of shadow and blushes dancing under the strategically placed lighting is truly close to nirvana. However BE, you are good and I mean really good at making one believe that having 100 shades of brown is a good thing, especially since each one is just a bit different and like a Pokemon you gotta catch them all. I vowed last year to only buy what is unique and special and downsized the collection in a ruthless purge. At the end of 2010 I placed BE on injured reserve I am sure sometime in the future it will be called back to play but for know I will simply enjoy what I have.

Now pick your absolute favorites.

The foundation of course and not pictured.

The Key West Collection- Key Lime, Sundress and Ocean. Love, love, love this trio an absolute summer perfection of an eye.
The Pussycat eyes collection - The most glorious sultry smoky eye, Meow,Catwoman, and Pussycat.

Tulip, I chose this color by pinching my cheeks and telling them this is the color I want and Tulip was that exact color, cheek perfection.

I will admit that BE does collections like nobodies business and they are generally a true bang for your buck and the least assuming and on paper most boring turned out to be my most favorite... the Ultimate Grand collection from 2010. This collection was based on matte and glimmer and every time I use the colors I am blown away by how amazing they are - Secret Radiance, Exhilarate Blush, Cranberry Sorbet and Spritzer Glosses, Willow and Pashmina Shadows, each in a matte as well as a glimmer texture. 

Finally the Laura Does London Buxom collection - Do I want London a baby pink lipstick or Laura a fuchsia gloss or both together for lip perfection? Yes, please!

Stash & Review - Misc. Lines

I really am trying to stick by my resolution to stick to just a few brands so my misc. stash is rather small.

I believe I could develop a small obsession however for the Tarte amazonian clay blushes, so far I only have one and it is truly amazing. I think the greens in the Kat Von D gypsy palette are still amazing after several years. Rarely for me has any product lived up to it's hype however Urban Decay's Naked palette far, far exceeded my expectations. 

My favortites

Needless to say the Naked and Gypsy Palettes make the cut. As well as Tarte's Glisten blush.

I can not express the absolute love I have for Thierry Mugler's Coral Effect lipgloss, if only the camera captured the flashing shades of color that run through the tube.

Lipstick Queen - Time lipgloss, crushed velvet roses in a tube.

Guerlain - Black eye kohl absolute liner perfection.

Bobbi Brown's Chrome Pewter, kept in my make-up bag for a simple one swipe eye.

Stash & Review - Dior

I could say with absolute certainty that I simply adore Dior. I have danced on and off with Dior for many years but I really fell hard several years back when I met some awesome Dior make-up artists that just complete the entire Dior experience. There is look that is achieved when wearing Dior, I don't really know how to explain it....I just know when wearing a face of Dior there is just a certain glow,a combination of colors and textures working in harmony to make you feel simply lovely.

Now choose.

Well I don't choose any blushes because I feel that is Dior's weakness.

Against the wall and forced to choose these are my absolute favorites.

Tropic Light quint -Tropical, lit from inside, the perfect summer eye.

Ready to Glow quint-Who said neutrals are boring especially when there is a yummy chocolate center?

Five Golds quint-All you need for fall and winter,

Gris-Gris quint - Smoky makes blue eyes sparkle palette of grey gloriousness.

Pink Extase quint - Simply to stare at the glowing pink and purple shades.

Golden Spotlight shadow- Alone on the eye for summer perfection.

Fire Lipstick - Summer in a tube,period!

Mitzah Lilac Lipstick- The perfect pale pink lip.

Pink Sari Lipgloss- Glossy pink perfection.

Amber Diamond highlighter - Anywhere and Everywhere.

May Musings aka Stash & Review

I think I shall dedicate the month of May to a Stash & Review and musing on my love of make-up and all that means to me...

I have always been drawn to pots and pans and tubes of color. My eye is always drawn to colorful bouquets and paintings that sing with color. While most would look at their make-up as a means to an end often times I simply adore opening compacts and twisting up tubes and simply enjoying the color I see.

Of course I love wearing it as well and there is a bit of satisfaction when the palette of colors you have chosen looks as lovely in "real" life as it did when imagining the combination.

In addition to color there is also the beauty of packaging that enhances the product, the ads that are used to convey the concept of the collection. The lovely faces one sees from people using and loving the colors, whether it be from artists or "regular" people who share their love make-up and beauty.

There is the discovery of finally finding the color that you have been dreaming of, the moment you find the absolute perfect color, the one that makes your eyes sparkle and your skin glow...

Of course if your confidence is found simply by the make-up you wear than I think you have missed the point of all that glorious color....

Lovely paper peonies from Martha Stewart crafts....