We have moved! Please head to http://www.lavieenbeaute.wordpress.com if your browser does not automatically redirect you. Please update your bookmarks with the change! La Vie en Beauté: January 2009

Introduction

Welcome to my abode of pretty things (:. Continuing Oscar Wilde's aesthetic one beautiful possession at a time.

Bulletin Board


IMPORTANT: I will ALWAYS disclose which products I have received from companies free of cost. I will never write sponsored or paid articles. Products sent to me are sent for consideration only, and are not guaranteed a good review. Unless otherwise indicated, everything reviewed are products purchased by me.

La Vie En Beaute is formerly Diamond in the Rough at thoughtsofeverythingandanything.blogspot.com. Please note the change because Blogger WILL NOT automatically redirect you!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Review: Kanebo KATE Glamtrick Eyes Quints

ImageSource (Ichibankao)

These are probably the only KATE palettes that drew my attention while in a Watsons drugstore in Taiwan last summer. And because of that, I picked up the shades BK1 (that I thought would give a great smokey eye) and GN1, because I was lacking a few green shades.

I think KATE designed these to give smokey eyes, because they all have the standard smokey eye depths:
Dark, liner / lashline color (the smallest square)
A highlighting shade (the universal white or tan square)
A silver (or other shade) glitter to pat above the all over lid shade
The lid shade, usually medium-dark depth
and another shade designed to use over the top part of the lid shade.
There is a diagram on how Kanebo wants you to apply it:

Available Colors:
BU-1: In addition with the silver and white shades that are in most of the GlamTrick eyes palettes, there is a dark navy with coarse sparkles, a medium bright, nicely pigmented sea-water blue, and then a light sky blue.
BK-1: Silver sparkle shadow (just sparkles pretty much), white highlighting shade, charcoal midtone grey, icy grey-ish lavendar and black with coarse sparkles.
BR-2: New for fall 2008, this has a silver-pink sparkle shade, a tan highlighting shade, medium redtoned brown, lighter tan brown, and black with coarse sparkles.
BR-1: This has a gold sparkle shade, white highlighting shade, cooler brown medium lid shade, lighter, more neutral brown and a dark coco brown with coarse sparkles.

BK-1 Swatches:





GN-1 Swatches:






The price? Around 10 USD, but available on Ichibankao.com for 19.50, because shipping is included in the price. Its a great price for 5 eyeshadows as that works out to about 2$ each! So A+ for that.

All of these shadows have great pigmentation, particularly the all over lid shade, but excluding the glitter shade. That shade was just meant to pat some glitter onto the lid, I think, not to add alot of color. They are not chalky, and are easily blended.

Packaging on these are really slick! It's this black plastic, and if you look at it from the side, only half of the opening lid is black! (I didn't take a picture of it, the other half is clear!) I like that the pans are arranged in a geometric pattern; it adds more 'cool' to the packaging for me.

The only thing stopping me from buying more of these? It creases. Even over Urban Decay Primer Potion, they crease. It's horrible because the color combinations are so pretty and perfect (especially BK-1!), but they crease. And even though I'm not THAT bothered by it (I have a monolid, no one can see it anyways!), and it gives a great 'rockstar, slept in my makeup look', I have to warn everyone who doesn't see it like that.

It really is a shame...Kanebo, if you're reading this, please reformulate GlamTrick Eyes so they don't crease!! Thank you!

MAC Style Warriors--Some Info

This collection comes out on 5/28/09, and here's some interesting new info on this collection!

The ''Style Warriors'' collection is an animal print based collection. It includes animal print bags with leopard, zebra and tiger prints. The usual packaging on products will be animal printed too. Here are a few of the products; this is not a color story, only some hints.

Eyeshadows
Night Maneuvers
Vibrant Grape (permanent pro)
Tempting ( seems to be permanent repromote)
Bright Future
Soft Force

Blushes
Eversun ( that used to be a beauty powder blush, so it is a repromote. )
On a Mission

Bronzing Powders
Refined Golden
Solar Riche

( Those bronzers are M.A.C. Classics - they were on the ''Neo Sci - Fi collection'' too. )


Credit goes out to Champnprincess @ Makeupalley. Thanks!

While I already have Solar Riche and Eversun, Vibrant Grape eyeshadow looks cool! I can't wait!

EOTD: Smokey Eye


This is my first EOTD with Kanebo Kate's GlamTrick Eyes--a palette with 5 colors, designed to create a smokey eye. I will also be doing a review on these quints. I picked these up while vacationing in Taiwan.

What I used:
-Urban Decay Primer Potion
-Kanebo KATE eye shadow quint

The palette itself:



Friday, January 30, 2009

PSA: Tarte True Love Cheekstain Freebie!


Here are the deets:

"You can't buy true love, but you can get it for free! Love at first blush...Purchase any product on tarte.com and get a FREE* full sized true love cheek stain! Xoxo, the tarte team. Code: LOVE09, expires 2/17/09 at 11:59PM EST.

*while supplies last, products in the memory lane section are not valid."

Personally I find the cheek stains a little too sticky (review on blushing bride coming up soon!), but it's a great freebie, especially that it's full sized or if you were planning on ordering some tarte soon.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Review: Giorgio Armani Lip Wax

When this came out, there was a HUGE craze over Makeupalley as people bought, posted about, took pictures of, swatched, asked questions about the fabled (if oddly named product): Giorgio Armani Lip Wax.

Well, firstly...I was sucked in, a little bit. I don't have anywhere near me to buy GA, and it's 26 bucks? Hell no! I could get like, almost 2 MAC eyeshadows for that price.
The makeupalley craze got me.
I swapped for this beauty (number 06) as fast as I could. Is it worth the hype?

Well...yes and no.

Here's what Mr. Armani has to say about the newest lip addition to his line:
" Lipstick without excess. A modern vision of lip color, Lip Wax compact lipstick is a blush of color for lips. The incredibly smooth and silky texture of Lip Wax glides over lips leaving rich, tailor-made color. The ultra-fine and soft Micro-fil™ veil ensures a smooth and seemingly weightless result. Like a second-skin garment, the weightless texture dresses lips in a comfortable and extremely fine film of color with a sophisticated satin finish.

application techniques
To obtain a more precise distribution of color, apply with the Giorgio Armani lip brush. For a sparkling shine, add a layer of Giorgio Armani lip shimmer."
(Source)

Sounds good eh?

The colors:
01: Nude Beige: Indeed nude, but has a touch of gray to it.
02: Antique Rose: I think this is more my-lip-but-better, maybe a little browner.
03: Sienna: I would think this is a darker, less rosy version of Antique Rose. Except for the fact it's darker, I can't tell much difference between them.
04: Raspberry: Reminds me of Bobbi Brown's Raspberry pot rouge--dark purply pink.
05: Cardinal Red: True yellow red.
06: Deep Chianti: The one that I have, it's a gorgeous wine-esque deep red. While it doesn't apply on me like in the model above (yes, she is wearing 06, but I wear it much sheered out) because it looks too red in that picture, it's gorgeous and perfect for fall.
07: Brighter, lighter than 04 blue-pink.
Here's the lovely KarlaSugar's swatches of 1-6, as 7 is new for Spring 09

The texture is very firm--I rub around in the pot more than I would normally do to warm it up and 'soften'. It's good because then I can get a decent amount of it onto my finger. While GA advises to use a lip brush, I find that look too 'severe' and I use my fingers and dab it on.

I find this stuff VERY pigmented! And so, because it's so pigmented, I use it really lightly. If layered, it becomes deeper and redder, more true to the color in the pot. Here are two pictures of me with it on: (Please note that the sunlight washes it out terribly, the shadows are more accurate)


It's also quite drying when I apply it, but if I apply over balm it goes on unevenly. So I recommend that you have balm on for a time, wipe it off, then apply Lip Wax for best results. Once on, it has an amazing feeling--like you aren't wearing anything at all! Here's my own light swatch:

Packaging on this product is great. It's a shiny round compact with Giorgio Armani embossed on the side where it opens. Surprisingly, despite the shininess, it's hard to see fingerprints unless you're holding it up to the light at an angle. It clicks shut, reassuring you that it won't fall open and smear itself on the contents of your purse, and the mirror on the inside of the lid is great for quick touch ups.
This is the bottom of the compact:

I absolutely love the wear on these. It will last much longer than Laura Mercier lip stains, for at least 3 hours and through drinks without rubbing off onto the bottle, and a ten minute shower. Seriously, this is the most long lasting lip product I've tried (that may not be saying much though as I don't really like long-wear lipsticks).

Lastly, the price. I griped about this--26$!!!! for 0.06 OZ (1.9 g)--and you don't need that much for each use, particularly if you like the sheerer, translucent look. I would say it's worth it for people who are looking for long-lasting colors, like couture end brands or are collectors of Armani. As for me, even though I like these, I don't think I can bring myself to shell out 26$ for this little pot again.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Blast From the Past: Sofina Aube

Wow. I'm so sorry that I missed out on this brand's eyeshadow palettes. According to Fleckschnitte on Makeupalley (or over at lotuspalace.blogspot.com) she totally raved about them.

Unfortunately, the only thing I managed to get--by swapping--was one Fruitina lipgloss. That's not a bad thing though, as these are some major shine lipglosses. But I still wish I could've gotten my hands on some of those fabulous eyeshadow palettes before the mother company Sofina redesigned Aube.

Now it just looks very silly--with those boring colors as eyeshadows! Gah!

Anyways. Sofina Aube Fruitina Gloss EX05. Here it is in all of it's glory. Some comments:

-Pleasant smell, I would say fruity.
-Great not too sticky texture with lasting power.
-Mirror-like shine!
-Color is sheer but still shows up on me as slightly milky beige pink.
-The wand is great, not exactly doefoot (slightly bigger and more flimsy), easy for swiping across full lips but depositing lots of color.



MAC Grand Duos 3/12/09: Info and Pics


Color collection and top pictures credit: Bjooti.net

Image Credit II3rinII @ Specktra.net

Collection Info:

Mineralization has swept the beauty nation, but MAC makes the next move with Grand duos: Mineralize blush that has a marbleized mélange on one side, and a complementary mono-shade on the other.

Soft-shimmer, super-shine pearl in a pretty tricolour veining to enhance and glorify cheekbones, followed with the pop and dimension of solid colour shimmer without an overly-frosted look. The 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush makes the transition magnificent. A sophisticated but simple new way to get your vital minerals.

MSF Blush Duos - (LE) $22.50USD

* Moon River - Blue pink mélange / Pale yellow pink
* Love Rock - Gold violet mélange / Bright blue pink
* Grand Duo - Copper pink mélange / Plum
* Light over Dark - Orange yellow mélange / Deep brown
* Earth to Earth - Purple bronze mélange / Yellow brown
* Hot Planet - Copper yellow mélange / Mid-tone plum
* Intenso - Orange yellow mélange / Deep brown

Brushes

* #188 Brush - A flat-topped, full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of any formula colour – fluid, cream, powder or pigment. Ideal for creating soft layers or adding textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres. (Perm) - $34.00USD


MAC Sugar Sweet Collection 3/19/09


Here is a sneak peek and collection info:

Eye Shadows - $14.50USD

* Sugarshot - Pale frosty beige (Lustre) (LE)
* Dear Cupcake - Mid-tone pink coral with gold pearlized pigments (Satin) (LE)
* Aquavert - Soft mint with white pearlized pigments (Veluxe Pearl) (LE) (Repromote from Lure Summer 06)
* Stars 'n' Rockets - Lavender with red/pink reflects (Veluxe Pearl) (Permanent)
* Club - Muted reddish brown duo-chrome with green opalescent shimmer (Satin) (Permanent)

Shadesticks - (LE) $16.50USD

* Cakeshop - Frosted light neutral beige
* Lemon Chiffon - Frosted pewter
* Butternutty - Frosted pale white gold
* Red Velvet - Frosted mid-tone pink
* Penny - Light pinky copper (Repromote)

Lipsticks - $14.00USD

* Sweet Thing - Mid-tone magenta with multi-dimensional pearl (Lustre) (LE)
* Bubbles - Sheer frosty white beige (Glaze) (LE) (Repromote of DCd Item '97)
* Touch - Peachy cinnamon (Lustre) (Permanent)
* Lollipop Loving - Mid-tone coral with subtle green with gold iridescence (Glaze) (LE) (Repromote from Heatherette Spring 2008)
* Saint Germain - Pastel pink (Amplified Creme) (Permanent in select Europe locations)

Tri-Colour Lipglass (LE) - $17.50USD

* Tasty - Top: Sheer blue pink with reflects. Middle: Mid-tone blue pink with duo-chrome pearlized pigments. Bottom: Dark creamy red pink
* Just Dessert - Top: Sheer yellow pink with reflects. Middle: Mid-tone yellow pink with duo-chrome pearlized pigments. Bottom: Mid-tone creamy yellow pink
* Simply Delicious - Sheer peach with reflects. Middle: Pale coral with duo-chrome pearlized pigments. Bottom: Creamy mid-tone coral
* Triple-Yum - Top: Sheer gold with gold reflects. True gold with duo-come pearlized pigments. Bottom: Mid-tone bronze
* Consume Me - Top: Sheer white with reflects. Middle: Pale mint with duo-chrome pearlized pigments. Bottom: Creamy light peach with pearlized pigments

Mineralize Skinfinishes - (LE) $25.000USD

* Perfect Topping - Pink/Peach/Lavender melange
* Refined - Tan/Peach/Coral melange

Mascara - (Perm) $12.00USD

* Zoom Lash: Zoomblack - Rich black

Lash (Perm) - $12.00USD

* #34 Lash - Dramatically long. Wispy. Features a long, winged-corner edge.

Nail Lacquer (LE) - $11.00USD

* Peppermint Patti - Creamy mint green (Cream)
* Seasonal Peach - Creamy pale peachy pink (Cream) (Repromote from Creme Sheen Fall 08)

Credit:bunnybunnybunny at Specktra.net / Image Credit: OfficerJenny at Specktra.net

Source

Credit: Bjooti, for bjooti pics
All other pics: Credit II3rinII @ Specktra.net








What are you planning to pick up? Now, I'm waiting for Lollipop Loving and possible that bottom MSF in the pic just above.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Swatches: Red Lipstick

Hi All--I thought I would do a comparison swatch of all my red lipsticks--a grand total of 3! They are:

MAC Port Red (Which I highly recommend to anyone who can find it)
Besame Besame Red 208 (Which sadly does not look good on me, too blue, but is *perfect* for that retro Marilyn Monroe siren look!)
Stila Rock the Vote Red.

Now that I look again, Stila's is darker but pretty much the same color as Port Red. But I remember that it wasn't the first time I looked at it--could Stila's formula have turned that fast? The smell does seem a little different. Hmm.

In the pictures, the order from top to bottom is the MAC, Besame and then Stila. Hope this information is useful!


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

NEW: MAC's Renovated Site

If you all go on to MAC's site, you'll notice that it's a huge visual video ad on their products, and the tabs are now to the side. What do you think?

I like it! About time they updated the look, and I like the quotes and colorful images on a black back round.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Review: MAC Quick Tease Lipglass



This would be the other end of my MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead 1/09 haul! Quick Tease is from the Brunette end of the collection. As I said in my Strawberry Blonde lipglass review, I love the idea of colors inspired by hair colors, but found that these two were the only ones worth picking up.

When swatches first arose, many people were eager to get Quick Tease because it was supposed to be the sister to Jampacked of Cult of Cherry, the lipglass that sold out incredibly quickly.

Well, I'm sorry, but it's not. However, it's a lighter, slightly sheerer, more wearable version of Jampacked. I think, what MAC had in mind for this color, if Jampacked was for full on gothic girl, Quick Tease would be for the timid sister tentatively testing it out.

It's a dark plum with a reddish tint. Super pretty, and gives my pigmented lips a darker, more sexy-esque look. However, for some reason this is sheerer than the permanent line of MAC lipglosses for some reason--maybe to keep with the 'timid sister' influence?



Unfortunately, MAC didn’t release special packaging for Brunette Blonde Redhead—which is to be expected as they don’t do special packaging for every collection. It would have been nicer than the normal gunmetal grey though.

The wand included with lipglasses is the typical doefoot wand, which dispenses color evenly and well!

MAC lip products do have a faint vanilla scent that I love, but scent-phobics beware!
Note: Both of the lipglasses were slightly separated at the top, near the base of the wand when it was BRAND NEW. I don’t know why that is, but it’s not smelling off, so I assume it’s fine.

This costs 14$ at maccosmetics.com or MAC locations near you. Great buy, and I don't recommend missing it!

NOTD: Black and Red

This was my first time ever doing a bi-color nail! I used:

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
OPI Black Onyx (for black, 2 coats)
Essie E! Live from the red carpet (for red, 2 coats)

I think I didn't do too bad for my first time, but definetly could use improvement, especially compared to the ladies over on MakeupAlley's nail board!


NOTD: Pink and Purple Glitter



For this NOTD, I used:

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
OPI Black Onyx as base color (1 coat)
Shiseido Integrate RS361 nail polish (1 coat on top of OPI)

Here's how it turned out :)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Review: Shu Uemura XTR Protector SPF50 PA+++ Sunscreen Milk



It's kind of fitting that my first ever skincare review is on Shu uemura, as my favorite brand! Maybe it's also fitting that it's not available on the shuuemura-usa site, but in Asia. Hmm! Well, for readers in Asia or currently planning to take a trip there, here's something you should look out for.

I think I got this for 1300NTD, which is about 39$USD. Now, 39USD sounds really pricey for 40ml, or 1.35FLoz. But, I've used this for about 2 years, using it every time I'll be in the sun for at least an hour (so, I usually only use this in the summer, daily). As you can see by the pictures below, a little goes a long way.




It mattifies my skin nicely, so I don't get all oily. I don't really see a difference in makeup application after wards. So the good things are that it mattifies, and doesn't affect the makeup put on after wards.

The texture is really nice too--not too liquidy, but not a thick cream--a happy mixture of the two. It sinks in quickly, and doesn't give my skin a white cast. However, for the sensitive noses out there, it *does* have a slight fragrance that lingers after you apply it. I find it unobtrusive, like the smell of, well, sunscreen and faint herbs, but I have to mention it anyways.

I like that the SPF is 50, so I don't really have to worry about it for maybe two hours, as opposed to my other sunscreen of SPF20 that I reapply frequently. Yay for high SPF!

While I just use this on my face, the SA told me it is also good for use on the body, but I want to keep using the same tube for as long as possible.

The packaging for this is a box of white and lavendar, a tube of pure white, which I like. It fits in with shu uemura's sleek image.

Note: In Asia, where the 'Protector TTL Defender SPF25 PA++' is also available, the SA told me that XTR Protector SPF50 PA+++ Sunscreen Milk sells better and that customers prefer it over the Protector TTL Defender.

Also, in Asia, I believe the PA+ rating system can go up to four ++++, for indication of higher protection and this obviously has more of them.

FOTD: Warm and Cool

Well, since school was cancelled a few days ago due to freezing weather here in the Midwest US, I had lots of time on my hands. This is what I came up with!
Warm:







What I used (warm):

MAC Bright Fuschia and Golden Lemon pigments
MAC Firespot e/s
NARS Cactus Flower cream blush
BBW liplicious raspberry jam lipgloss

Cool:






What I used (cool):


MAC petticoat MSF
MAC Quick Tease l/g
MAC Silver Fog, Blue, Teal pigments (also a little of grape, not shown)
Shu ME700, ME650 eyeshadows

Better (not really) pic of lips (BBW accidentally got onto Quick Tease :X)
Raspberry Jam on right, Quick Tease on left


Whew! I had fun (even though it took so long!)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails