Check out your Lancome CCOS!

PLEASE do! Now that shu uemura is pulling out of the US (sniff) I found tons at my CCO. EL CCO is great as usual.

W hat i got:
shu uemura fleur de source palette (summer 08)
MAC gold rebel lipglass (may 09)
MAC tropic glow slimshine (june 08)

Pics: Preview Spring 2010 Collections

Whoa--quick roundup of sneak peeks of top makeup brands around the web! (mostly from britishbeautyblogger.blogspot.com).

Michael Kors for Estee Lauder (Didn't even know about this! Looks gorgeous.) Source Here. And here's another picture.

Paul & Joe Alice In Wonderland Here. Looks great, though I think I preferred the original Disney collection.

Dior Lacy Beauty Here. Inspired by 1920's lingerie and Christian Dior's love of lace. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS! The 2nd quad is looking very gorgeous, as is the packaging. Not to mention its looking like a large collection, so there must be something for everyone!

March 18's MAC Viva Glam From Our lips campaign, featuring Lady Gaga (I totally saw that coming) and Cyndi Lauper.

From WWD:
"Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga have been named the latest faces of the MAC AIDS Fund. The newest campaign, dubbed “From Our Lips,” will break on Feb. 25. MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick and Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick, $14 each, will launch in North America on March 18 and globally throughout the month, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to the MAC AIDS Fund. The MAC AIDS Fund has invested more than $150 million to organizations in more than 67 countries since its founding in 1994."

I really liked the Fergie Viva Glam SE even though I never got around to buy it. I hope I can swap for it though, and I'm excited to see what colors (and if they're limited edition!) they're creating next.

Also note that word on the street is that MAC is coming nout with a Disney Villains collection for their big February collection!

Clinique's 2010 Juiced Up Colour Here. Nothing to write home about.

Yves Saint Laurent Spring here. Looks pretty but their palettes always seem to fall short.

Guerlain's absolutely beautiful spring collection here. Cherry blossom, and I love the imprints they always use on the quads. The blush is looking pretty, because I know I can't wear pink on my eyes.

Lancome's Make Up O My Rose spring collection inspired by the 1960's here. This is looking gorgeous too, I LOVE Aaron de Mey. They're spring collection last year was beautiful too but as pinks are so hard for me to pull off, I had to skip.

My picks:

Guerlain, MAC, Dior, Lancome and Estee Lauder (ish). However, Guerlain and MAC have a tendency to fall a bit short, here's to hoping that these collections will be winners. Estee Lauder looks pretty nice too but it's not calling to me personally. I will be following news on these collections very intently!

What are your top picks?

Swatches: Erika F Comparisions

When I was in Taiwan this year, I saw quite a few eyeshadows that I thought could dupe the infamous Erika F from Lancome. Of course, in the name of blogging, I bought the two that I saw: Shu Uemura ME471 and Art Deco 45. Here's how they stack up:

ME471: The most pigmented of the three, and the most olivey. I guess that's obvious because its named Olive ME471. Amazing buttery texture, and shimmery.
Ombre Absolute 144 Erika F: Super glittery and most green, and also lightest. This has probably the most issues with fall out, and its worst vice is because of all the glitter.
45: This looks hideously warm next to the other two, very bronze. It doesn't on its own, but now that I have this next to Erika F, it's nothing like 144.

So far, the closest dupe for Erika F is Shu Uemura number 471 but it doesn't have the glitter and more green / silver that Erika F is.

The search continues...

THIS JUST IN: Lancome Fall and Holiday info!

Wow! Readers, please thank fatbottmdgrl on Makeupalley for graciously letting me repost this on my blog! Yes, the very same who is behind the Clinique sneek peek info we got earlier!

Check it out:

FYI - just in case you want to post this:

DETAILS OF NEW PRODUCTS FROM LANCOME (other than Declaring Indigo)

NEW OSCILLATION POWERFOUNDATION (that’s right gals, Vibrating Foundation!!!)

Vibrating Sponge Applicator

12 Shades

Shake Product/Unscrew Cap/Tap Excess and press the button for 7,000 micro-vibrations per minute and apply to face.

(I guess this is for people who can’t swirl, tap and buff?????????
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOLIDAY – ROUGE SOIREE’

Holiday Eye and Face Palettes – there will be 4 palettes with 4 eyeshadows and a blush.

Plum Nuit (plum colors)

La Nuit (Pink colors)

Evening (Dark Neutrals)

Bronze (Light neutrals w/ a green and Mile Glace’ Blush)

Illuminating Face Powder – Sparking Cherub (cherub is embossed into powder)

Oscillation Spark Mascara Topcoat – One in Silver, One in Gold

Ink Artliner (the new pot liners from Lancome) Plum Tease (a true plum) and Brun Mystere’ (as opposed to Brun Elegance in Declaring Indigo)

La Vernis Nail Polish – Untamed Plum ( which is a deep purple shade)


Later this year they are also coming out with Matte Lipsticks and Eyeshadows.

Whoo! Sounds gorgeous! Anything you are interested in?

Review: Lancome Plum Fantasy Magique Mousse Blush

Wow, this review is long overdue! I promised you this weeks ago, but haven't had much opportunity [aka, excuse for forgetting ;-)] to sit down and type this up. But here we go!

Please note that this product is discontinued and while your local store / counter may have a few left, for best opportunity to purchase this, go to a local outlet store or websites.

While I swapped for this, it used to cost 28$ for 0.26 oz or 7 grams. I thought that it cost so much, but now that I've used it, and see the amount you really need, it's a decent price.

The color of Plum Fantasy is, indeed, plum. But it's not purpley, it's very rosey--rosey bronze with the dustiness of plum is how I'd describe it. I really do like it, but it has big sparkles in it. Not really fine shimmer that translates into glow once applied--this is bits of silver sparkle. I would have prefered that Lancome keep these matte! I, for one, don't like overly shimmery blush and this is one reason why I don't use this as much as I would if it were matte.




Of course, the part you've all been waiting for--the texture! It's spongey! It's moussey! It's super soft! It's pigmented! It's...Lancome Magique Mousse blush!

Out of the [decidedly not that many] cream or mousse products I've tried, only two have really made my eyes pop out at the texture. That's this stuff, and Jill Stuart Jelly Eyes [a review for another day]. It's so different! And it's not bad. Imagine whipped cream. Now imagine that it's firmer than whipped cream and spreadable [don't tell me you've never wanted to moosh your finger around in a cream product before!]. It easily blends into my skin, and the texture is really amazing. I love it!




All of this deliciously amazing product is housed in a frosted glass jar that feels nicely weighty. The cap is black with a golden rose--Lancome's symbol--on it. When all is said and done, this gem is definetly worth hunting down--Dang Lancome for discontinuing the series!

Update: Here is a picture of me wearing no blush:



Then wearing Plum Fantasy [used lightly, not a fan of heavy blush]

Teaser: Lancome Magique Mouse Blush

Teehee! I got this in the mail a few days ago, and love it! Here are a few pics to hopefully tide you over until I type up the review. But I highly advise you to rush out to your Lancome counter now, and see if they still have more of these discontinued beauties!! Why does Lancome always have to discontinue the good stuff?

These were 28$ at last count, for 0.25 Oz or 7 grams.

Review: Lancome Freeze Frame Cream Blush

It seems to be Lancome Blush week over here! You'll see why soon. This particular blush is touted to be:

"Sensational effects cream blush. Smooth Hold."

And to:
"Design your cheeks with a creamy touch of color. Blendable. Lasting. Sensational Effects.

A beautifully blendable, silky cream blush that gives cheeks even, lasting color. Smooth and non-greasy, it glides onto cheeks softly and evenly. Perfect for all skin types. In 3 finishes: sheer, shimmer and riche."

(Source)

Sounds great right? It is. But that didn't stop me from swapping Freeze Frame away. Why? Well, I'll tell you why.

Colour Design Blush is an Allure's choice (just thought I'd throw that out there.)
The texture is indeed, silky, blendable and a whole lot of good. It's not as thick as say, MAC cream blush, or as Lancome's own Magique mousse blushes (Now discontinued), or Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge. I like that it has alot more 'slip'; as it seems to blend so much more easily.

Smooth and Non-greasy? Check. Like I said before, this blush has alot of slip, and so is very smooth. Blushes with that quality tend to be more on the greasy side, but this one is not. So far, so good!

These blushes are very pigmented, but a light hand can let you get away with most of the colors, if you want to shell out 27$ for each one. Color Design blush comes in 11 colors, ranging from light pink to gold to red and plum, to mocha and what looks like dark rust. You can find any perfect shade for your skintone and preferences in the line.

Which brings me to another thing--price. I swear that last time I looked, these were only 23$. Why the sneaky price raises Lancome? And to 27$--almost as much as a Chanel lipstick! I don't think I could bring myself to purchase one cream blush for that much! (P.S. I had swapped for Freeze Frame in the first place!) Although, some time in the future, I probably will buy the Petticoat Pink color...you know how makeup addicts are!

Freeze Frame is indeed for use as a highlighter. The lady at the counter did tell me that it could be used as blush on super-pale complexions though, when I went to investigate some more. I'm not sure how well that would work as I don't have super pale skin and don't know anyone who does.

As a highlighter on NC20 MAC skin, it works really well. It adds sort of a luminescent shimmery glow--I couldn't tell you the color as I am horrible with color descriptions, and hope that your questions will be answered by the pics. They last very well on my combo-oily skin, but I just don't reach for highlighters! I must have about 7, and never use them! (This is the reason why Freeze Frame had to go).



The packaging is just OK. Sometimes it looks tacky to me; sometimes its just meh. You slide the clear cover back, like the Color Design eyeshadows, and voila, you can now use the blush. When you aren't using it, it locks securely shut.

All in all, another really great Lancome blush, and while Freeze Frame was not for my preferences, I might pick up some more later on.

Random Lipsticks

Here are a few pictures of a few lipsticks I have...

Lancome rose influence 361, beige sismic 202:




Estee Lauder Peach Fizz 324, Candy 116:

Lancome Erika F EOTD!

Here's another EOTD I did, using the cult status Lancome Erika F! Unfortunately this baby isn't available States-side (unless ordered in a quad), but in Asia and Europe. Retails 20-23USD; I paid about 16 because of a promotion going on.
I used:
Lancome Erika F
Bourjois Noir Emeraude
Integrate Pencil Eyes 311
Covergirl Lashblast
Urban Decay Primer Potion





Constructive criticism always welcome!