Saving face (literally) with products from Make Up For Ever

Remember my post about the key makeup prodz for new moms?  The implied message was that all you needed was some concealer, bronzer and a subtle lip color and you’re good to go. HA. And another HA I say. While there may only be TIME to apply 3 products, the reality (for me anyway) is that you look so haggard from lack of sleep, and a bit janky from hormone-induced breakouts, that you need a wee bit more than that to look ‘normal.’ Though my skin hasn’t gone completely bat-shit crazy like it did after the miscarriage, I’ve had a few spots crop up that really reflect just how little I’m able to dedicate to self-care these days (my feet, you guys – OMG they are so dry and ragged that putting on socks is like scratching nails down a chalk board!). On top of that, I’m a little – nay, A LOT – sleep-deprived, which does nobody’s skin any favours.

Fact is, I need a little extra help in the makeup department lately. Fortuitously, 2 products have recently crossed my path that have helped do a little ‘damage control’ – Make Up For Ever’s Pro Sculpting Duo in 2 Golden ($45CAD) and their Mist & Fix setting spray ($34CAD).

As contouring has suddenly gone from being an optional step (and viewed somewhat derisively at times), to the current ‘BIG THING’ in makeup, it’s no surprise to see a true makeup artistry brand like Make Up For Ever join the ranks with their own vision of what a contour product should look like. Conveniently including both a contour shade as well as a highlight in the compact (which comes in two shades – 2 Golden for medium-deep to deep skintones, shown below with their 156 Large Flat Blush Brush [$43CAD] ideal for just this purpose; and the lighter 1 Pink Beige for fair to medium skintones), the weightless gel-powder is designed to ‘blends seamlessly for traceless highlighting and contouring.’

I was very excited to try this product, not only to try my hand at contouring (something I’ve never really done), but also because – HELLO, that powder looks beautiful! However, when I dug into the product, I was a bit disappointed, and I’m sure those of you who ‘know’ about contouring can guess why.

The color of the darker powder is too warm to be used as a contour (in my opinion). I tried it, and while it applies soft and subtle – a must, as contouring is supposed to be undetectable – it mostly looks like I used bronzer to sculpt my face, and not like I naturally have covetable cheekbones. To be fair, people have been using bronzer as a contouring product for ages, but I just feel like it should be marketed as such, you know? Nonetheless, it does make for a lovely bronzer, which is how I’ve been wearing and enjoying it.

The highlight shade, on the other hand, is as it should be, and imparts a lovely glow to the high planes of the face. Its a *touch* more frosty than I usually like my highlighting products, but not so much that I haven’t been wearing it often. It’s a particularly flattering warm golden shade on my skin – I just might not use it during the height of the summer sun.

Both powders are very smooth with an almost creamy feel, and though I sometimes feel like I need several passes to pick up enough product, this keeps one from overdo-ing either one, an easy mistake to make with these types of products. Overall, though this wasn’t exactly what I expected, I quite like it and have been wearing it frequently to give my skin that extra ‘oomph’ I so desperately need.

After bringing life back to my skin with the Sculpting Duo, the pièce de résistance is the brand’s Mist & Fix setting spray, which helps ‘lock in makeup and keep color fresh.’ I was really pleased to try this product, as I had been contemplating buying MAC’s Fix+ – I really wanted something to set my makeup and give me a bit of a dewy sheen so my makeup would look more natural. I didn’t even realize Make Up For Ever made a similar product (though I should have known!), and all the better that they do!

The spray is designed to create a ‘sweat-proof, rub-resistant barrier for fresh-looking makeup that lasts up to 12 hours.’ It also helps to increase skin’s hydration and is ‘formulated with a complex to boost oxygenation and deliver a healthy-looking, radiant glow.’ I can’t speak to the 12 hour claim (when I DO wear makeup these days, it’s only for a few hours) nor the oxygenation part (uh, sure?), but I can attest to the awesome glow this gives the skin – that kind of dewy radiance that I’ve been trying to achieve for so long is finally in my grasp! SO happy. The only beef I have with the product is the scent – kind of reminds me of bug spray or something? Not that strong, but it’s a sort of mildly unpleasant chemical smell which is a touch off-putting. But, it does dissipate and doesn’t linger on the skin, so I can live with it. Also, hooray for spray nozzles that work properly (huge pet peeve of….probably everyone, AMIRITE?!) – this mists nice and evenly on the skin.

So there you have it – two additional secret weapons I’ve been using to look like an upstanding citizen again. I feel like the days when I venture out of the house has me wearing more products than ever before! At least, the basics…I wear less fun color and more stuff to make the skin itself look better. Ah well, it’s all only temporary…and things change so quickly! Just within the past week Elena has started sleeping for longer stretches at a time (she’s also awake for a bit longer) and more deeply…which means mama gets more sleep too 😉 I might be back to wearing bold lippies and fun eyeshadows sooner than I thought!

Do you use bronzer to contour, or a product designated for that purpose? Have you ever used a setting spray? What tricks do you have for looking well-rested?

*Products were provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.

Nearing the finish line: Makeup empties (the ultimate beauty achievement)

It’s been a dedicated effort, but I finally have some makeup items nearing empty – a whole handful of them! You other beauty fiends know just what I’m talking about, and how hard this is to do when you have SO MANY PRETTIES to use! I’m feeling pretty good about my progress, so I thought I’d share with you some gratuitous near-‘pan’ p0rn in case you need inspiration of your own 🙂

I’ve been using the Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation together with the Burberry Fresh Glow Luminizer to freshen up the matte look the Hourglass imparts – the two pair together quite well. I get a LOT of views on the Hourglass foundation post, so I just want to reiterate how great it is! I can skip powder entirely when I use this, and the coverage is medium without looking or feeling too heavy. I do prefer a dewier finish which is the only drawback for me (though I’d still probably still repurchase this, because all other facets are so good), which is where the Fresh Glow comes in. If you’re looking for a foundation for oilier skin with a satin-matte finish, this is 100% for you!  I’ve had the foundation for a long time now (2 years) and it’s near it’s end ~tear~

The MAC blush here (Mineralize in Early Morning) is a bit of a cheat, because I dropped it a couple years ago and most of it was wasted. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful shade so I kept it and used the dregs anyway. I’ll probably let it go soon but I’m just not ready to yet.

I’m STILL working on MAC’s Arena eyeshadow, which I showed you had hit pan last year. I’ve been using it almost every day but it just won’t die! LOL I do still love it, but it’s best for the summer months when my skin is more tanned – I love it as a subtle brow highlight then. Other times of the year it doesn’t get worn as much, but I’m making progress now because I’m SO CLOSE.

The Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Discrete is also a couple years old, and while I liked the neutral shade as it was quite wearable, I’m over it now! Its got maybe 3-4 uses left so I’m gonna make it happen TOOT SWEET. The Buxom lipgloss (here in April), is also on it’s last legs, and I’m not a fan of the frosty sparkly thing at all now, so it’ll be kicked to the curb regardless in the next couple weeks.

This two deluxe samples have had highs and lows in my beauty life. I love the nude tone of the Buxom Lip Stick (this is Sydney) but it’s very matte and looks terrible if  you’re lips aren’t in perfect shape (which mine weren’t for most of the winter).  My lips are doing much better now so I’m chugging through it – I really don’t like ‘mini’s’! The Burberry lippie is in Cameo Pink, and it’s a pretty soft coral shade that’s just a touch too light for my skin tone. If I apply it with a light hand, or pair it with another lip product, it fares pretty well. Got it down to the nub finally!

If you’ve been counting guys, that’s 8 makeup products that’ll be good to go very soon!!  SO EXCITED. I’m really trying to whittle down my stash and make way for new stuff, without feeling overwhelmed by the selection I already have. Which has been a goal of mine for forever, I know. But I keep trying! I’ve gotten major spring fever this year and gave a ton of stuff away to family and friends, mostly PR samples or gift items, as I’m getting a lot better at buying shades and products that I really want and that work. I usually have a huge bag full of items up for swap, but there’s nothing left now 🙂

Do you have any beauty goals right now? On average how often do you finish makeup items?

These are {13} of my favourite things (of 2013)

The New Year is almost upon us!  Even though the number 13 conjures up some unsettling feelings, 2013 was kind of a great year for me!  Though it started out a bit rough, with a lot of talking and support it turned around for me (a big thanks to all of you who sent kind words – and a care package! – my way!).  As always, the hardships make the good times feel that much sweeter.  I had the immense pleasure of standing in my friend’s most amazing wedding; I started dating a guy who makes me feel loved and truly content in a way I never have before; I’ve had the opportunity to work in several different positions at my work and found my niche; and I finally got to go to New York City, a long-standing dream of mine!  Not too shabby 2013, not too shabby 🙂

Over the month of December I’ve been pondering what beauty products in my collection really stand-out and get the most use.  Though I could probably add one or two more, the 13 items below really have rocked my world this year and have been very well-loved.  I would even go so far to say that I would repurchase most of them (and that’s saying something!).

And so I present to you, my favourite (beauty) things of 2013:

1. Osha Mae Calendula Salve ($15CAD).  On it’s own, without any cortisone products, this can clear up the chronic eczema on my hands overnight – absolutely unheard of!  I first got hooked on a sample of M.J. Herbals Calendula Salve ($15CAD), but when I saw this very similar version at our local market I picked it up, as I always like to support local!

2. La Bella Figura Bio Active Healing Mask ($65CAD).  When LBF was introduced on the Clementine Fields website, they had a promotion for 15% off it’s pre-sale.  I ordered this mask as I was looking for something hydrating that could replace the uber-scented derma-e mask that I’d been using for a while (uncomfortably).  I didn’t know what to expect, and was completely bowled over once I tried it – its truly amazing!  It hydrates, it heals, it calms, it brightens…I honestly feel like it’s almost a one-stop shop as a mask, because my skin just looks SO DAMN GOOD after using it.  I attribute it’s awesomeness to it’s inclusion of raw manuka honey (it’s the first ingredient) which is noted for it’s therapeutic, antibacterial and nourishing qualities.  Other ingredients include kaolin clay, rosehip seed oil and calendula extract – be still my heart!  Oh, and it’s also BRIGHT PURPLE (due to the aronia berry).  I want to get my hands on the Purifying ($65CAD) version next.

3. Lina Hanson Global Body Serum ($64CAD).  I really wish this didn’t cost so damn much because I just want to drown in this fantastically scented body oil for the rest of my life.  As it stands, I’m still trying to ration it, but I still fear it won’t last long as I keep using it every few days because it’s so addictive!

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille ($130US).  Yum.  And YUM.  You all know my penchant for vanilla-based scents, so my love for this probably comes as no surprise.  With notes like sandalwood, coconut milk, musk, vanilla and tonk a bean, it’s a gourmand fragrance-lovers paradise.  I was surprised however that it also contains notes like black liquorice (which I hate) and bitter almond – but I suspect they help round out the scent and keep it from being too OTT vanilla, which can get headache-inducing fast.  I have worn this and only this since purchasing it in NYC; the only gripe I have with the fragrance is that I don’t find it lasts on my skin – but I guess that just gives me an excuse to spritz, spritz, spritz!

Make Up For Ever Medium Highlighting Brush in #152 ($43CAD).  I didn’t quite understand just how much I would love this brush until I really put it into practice and had a while to play with it.  This brush is absolutely integral in my makeup application – aside from applying cream or powder highlighters like a dream, it also blends all formulas of blush or bronzer perfectly.  I don’t quite know how it does it, but somehow the fibers of the brush, its density, and it’s softness all contribute to a beautifully seamless complexion.  LOVE.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (full-size, $50CAD).  Though I only have a deluxe sample size of this product, you only need the slightest amount to get amazing, glowing skin, so it’s lasted me ages!  I usually pull this out when I am either going for a really ‘natural’ look that focuses on the skin, or if I’m looking to amp up the glow factor for an event.  Though the full-size would probably last me a lifetime – something that doesn’t appeal to a fickle beauty fiend like myself – I still think I’ll repurchase this when I DO run out, because it’s truly the most beautiful yet natural-looking illuminator I’ve ever used.

Buxom Full-Bodied Lipsticks (full-size, $26CAD).  My love for this lipstick formula is still going strong.  I use the little sample bullets I’ve got more than any other lipstick I own, and I’m looking forward to the day when they run out – so I can justifiably buy some full sizes!  Just so, so creamy and comfortable to wear, with awesome full pigment.  For the price especially, you really can’t beat ’em!

Chanel Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Revelation ($43CAD).  I have been on a cream blush kick for a while now, as I find it just looks so darn natural, which fits my makeup M.O. these days.  The newish Blush Cremes dry to an almost powder-like finish, so they don’t have quite the same effect; nevertheless, this natural-looking apricot shade gets a lot of regular use because it goes with just about every makeup look I wear.  The only downside is that its a touch too light when my skin is tanned – but at the moment it’s just right 🙂

MAC Eyeshadow in All That Glitters (pro-pan, $12CAD).  Though I have lessened my use of this shadow recently due to switching up my makeup routine, this baby got some SERIOUS love for months after I bought it early last spring.  It gives my eyes the most subtle yet beautiful sparkle I’ve ever seen, and accompanies a bright lip look beautifully.  The hype is TRUE, you guys.  BUY IT.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Trench ($30CAD).  Even after owning this shadow for a year and a half, I’m still amazed at how perfectly it blends and melds on the brow bone to give the perfect level of highlight to the eye.  As I have a lot of shimmering shadows, it keeps them grounded without making me look too ‘show dancer,’ but also isn’t so flat that it looks dull.  On top of all that, it’s HELLA soft.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Noir Intense ($29CAD).  I wasn’t big on black pencil eyeliner until I purchased this early in the year – I didn’t have one and thought I should at least have one in my arsenal.  I don’t use it as a traditional liner, but rather as a tightliner on my upper lash line.  It a nice, dark black that gives great definition when I’m doing a more natural look (see a theme here?) and doesn’t budge – in fact, it’s difficult to remove at the end of the day, so keep that in mind.  But as I find a long-wearing liner hard to come by, it’s far from a deal-breaker!

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($19CAD).  Black pencil liner may never have been my thing, but I can’t say the same for black cream/gel/liquid formulas, which have always been a staple in my arsenal.  When I ran out of my last black liquid liner, I decided it was about time I tried the cult fave Blacktrack.  It’s nice and dark, and its creamy texture makes creating a winged look (a regular go-to for me) incredibly easy.  I’m not convinced I would repurchase, only because there are several black cream/gel liners that I’d like to try, but it’s been a faithful staple for me since I purchased it.

XLash Eyelash Enhancer ($59).  You’re all probably sick and tired of hearing me trumpet on and on about my love for this lash serum, but seriously, just get some and then get back to me – I promise you’ll be converted!  I won’t repeat my gushings yet again, but I will say that I am actually planning to buy more of this when I run out (still haven’t!).  SO. GOOD.

That just about rounds up my year in beauty in a nutshell!  I’ve tried many things, some duds, some *pretty good*, but this collection here have been raised to the level of HG status for me.  As I learn and grow I find my selections have become more and more curated to the point where I rarely have a miss (at least if they’re purchased by me) and I’ve grown quite fond of my collection, to which I’ve whittled and culled to include *almost* only products that are a pleasure to use.  I still have a bit of work to do (which I plan on laying out for you in a future post), but overall I’m quite pleased and have passed the ‘GAH! My-stash-is-overwhelming-OMG-the-anxiety!‘ stage that I was in for a long time since starting the blog.  Which I deem a HUGE success 🙂

So say farewell to 2013 and welcome in the New Year with a bang!  I appreciate each and every reader of my little beauty haven, whether you’ve been with me or a while, or stumbled upon my ramblings by accident.  You’re the only reason I keep on writing!  I wish all of you a very excellent finale to the year soon past and hope that the very best is yet to come in 2014!!!  Let’s make it all sorts of great, yea? 😀

Image credit: ilovehdwallpapers.com

New Makeup Pretties: Liner, Lipstick, Shadow, and Highlight

I have been so terribly absent this summer it’s crazy!  Along with my normally busy social calendar, I’ve been really taking full advantage this season and enjoying it to the max.  It’s the first summer in a while in which I haven’t had a baby shower/bridal shower/bachelorette/wedding every second weekend, so the ‘downtime’ is much appreciated!  You may think that because I have a new (and fabulous…just throwin’ it out there ;)) beau that he’s taking up all of my time, but truth be told – he works in Newfoundland and is only home every second weekend, so I can’t even use that as an excuse!  In actual fact, I’m just having a great summer all around.  I hope everyone else is as well!

On the beauty front, nothing TOO exciting has been going on – I’m still trying to keep my purchases of new color cosmetics to a minimum (still only have one face, last time I checked), but fall is kind of my fave season so I haven’t been completely well-behaved:

Clockwise from left: MAC Pressed Pigment in Damson, MAC Lipstick in Hug Me, Laura Mercier Illluminator in Spellbound, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Cobalt

I mentioned in my wish list post that I had picked up the MAC Pressed Pigment in Damson – here is it in it’s (partial) glory (it’s MUCH more awesome IRL), along with Laura Mercier’s Illuminator in Spellbound, a MAC lipstick in Hug Me, and Stila’s newest liquid liner shade in Cobalt.  Every single purchase here is all sorts of awesome in it’s own way!

I feel like I’ve already gone on about MAC Damson ($25CAD), and I want to give it a full review, so for now just trust: it’s awesome.  Just LOOK at it:

I really needed a good MLBB lip color as I didn’t have anything and essentially just used lip balm when I was trying to go for that look (which is probably all that IS really needed, but…meh).  After trying on a TON at the MAC counter last time I was there, the SA pulled out Hug Me ($18CAD), which was a perfect match.  My lips tend to be of medium pigmentation and lean sort of grayish when I’m bare-lipped, so this was a great choice.  It’s a Lustre formula which isn’t my favorite, but it feels good going on, is only semi-opaque so it looks quite natural, and lasts a few hours so I’m happy.

The Stila eyeliner ($26CAD) is absolutely AMAZING.  A thick line of this with a lil flick at the end, a bit o’ blush and balm, and I’m ready to rock n roll.  I find this far easier and somehow more subtle to wear than a bright aqua liner (of which I seem to have several for some reason) and it looks particularly striking with my dark brown eye color.  This is my first Stila liquid liner – they are so darn tenacious and great, but I resisted buying one until now because they’re a smaller size than most other brands with similar offerings, but they costs about the same.  This unique color totally justified giving in finally.

Laura Mercier’s newest illuminator, Spellbound ($55CAD), hit the ground running, similarly to last year’s Rose Rendezvous, which I missed out on.  I was determined not to make that mistake again, so I ordered this rose-gold highlighter online sight-unseen.  It’s likely if I had waited until seeing it in-store that I would have purchased it – it’s quite nice but not mind-blowing to me – but I’m still pleased to have it, and it doesn’t replicate anything else I own.  And the design is just too pretty to pass up eh?  Further review to come.

Soo…yeah.  I’ve definitely been up to a few of my old trick in the past month or so, but at least my purchases are varied and I feel like they augment my collection rather than just adding to the pile.  I’ve been keen to do another purge lately so I think that filtering out some items that don’t get much love to add others that will just makes sense.  All the products that are on my wishlist follow this mentality as well.  As long as I don’t feel guilt about my purchases then all is well and fine by me!

What kinds of makeup have you been picking up lately?  Are you paring down or ramping up for fall?

Everything is Just Peachy: An Update and a Pretty Powder from MAC

So, remember this post?  Yea, you know – the mega-sad one.  Well, just so you know: ever since writing that post and opening up about my current situation, things have much improved!  We all have heard that talking about things always makes you feel better, but we don’t always put it into practice.  Let this be a lessons learned for everyone (including myself): IT REALLY DOES MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.  I think why it helps is that you feel like you’re sort of being pro-active, and doing something for good yourself, even if you’re not actually putting a solution into action.  Once I did that, it was easier to start doing other constructive things to get back to my usual perky self.  I started doing kick-ass yoga (aka ashtanga yoga) to compliment my half-marathon training, and I feel stronger and more fit than ever.  I had my friends over for dinner and brunch this past month, and felt a little less disconnected that before.  And this past week, I made a connection with another gal who needs a place to stay, and soon I might just have  a roommate, which would help my financial situation immensely.  Things are most certainly looking up, and I just wanted to give you a little update and also to thank each and every one of you who were so fantastically supportive after I wrote that post – you gave me such comfort and the courage to then open up to my friends and family, and since have felt infinitely better.  So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for being the wonderful people you are and for being so kind and caring.  Though I haven’t met most of you in person I feel very fortunate to call many of you friends 😀

Particularly amazing friend-cheer from the wonderful Sarah of Beauty and the Baked Goods…aside from the very fact that she SENT me a care package, the sweet hat card and note plus hilarious envelope quips made me laugh out loud.  BEST.  THERAPY.  EVER.

Now, let me share some other goodness with you!  MAC has put out a collection this year (one of the million) called Year of the Snake, which contains a handful of repromoted shades with snazzy box packaging and beautiful snake-like embossing on the actual product, and only available for purchase online.  The moment I saw the peachy-golden fantabulousness of the Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl (which I hear has been repromoted up the wazoo….how did I miss it before?) on Circuits of Fever, I was 100% madly, desperately in love.  I went to buy it on the site, only to find that it had been sold out, to my utter disappointment.  Denise assured me that often things will come back in stock after a time, and to keep checking back every few days.  So, like a makeup obsessed crazy person, I checked the site constantly for a week, each time crossing my fingers and toes that it had come available again. No such luck.

Of COURSE, as things go, after a few weeks of giving up online shopping for Lent, I happened to be casually browsing the site and came across the powder, which was IN STOCK.  Let this be an indication of how much I wanted to own this powder, that I broke my Lent promise (which I have NEVER done) and snapped up the powder in seconds flat.  My love was that serious.

And do I feel guilty?   HECK NO.  This is why:

It’s sooo pretty you guys!!  I have purchased a few items over the past year with pretty designs and such, but this one really gets me goin’.  It’s just SEXY.  Love, love, love it.

I find the color to lean slightly pink and reads more coral than peach, but who are we kidding – coral is the SHIT!  No complaints here.  The golden shimmers throughout are really beautiful, and NOT an overspray.

As you can see from the swatches (first diffused, then layered), when worn it’s more of a golden highlight versus getting any serious pinky/peachy/coral hue showing.  Fair skins could probably wear this as a subtle blush though I think, as it does give even my darker skin the barest hint of color.

Comparing this to the other highlighters I showed you earlier this week, I would say that this does sparkle a bit in the sunlight, but it’s subtle and manageable in my opinion.  There is something about this powder I just ADORE.  I find it reminds me of a warmer version of Chanel’s Poudre Signee – it really illuminates my face in a beautiful way while remaining somewhat elusive.  I can see why MAC has released and re-released this powder several times over – it’s just so gorgeous!  To look at as well as to use.  I even prefer this design over the Chanel (sacrilege, I know).

Currently this powder is sold out on the US site but in-stock on the Canadian one (lucky us!).  I don’t know how long the collection will be available, but I would suggest if you’re interested in this powder to get it sooner rather than later – I know they’ll likely release it again (and again) in the future, but this design is not to be missed.  I even plan on keeping the box it came in too, that is BY FAR the best packaging I’ve seen to date.

Oh yea, FYI – the Beauty Powder retails for $29CAD.

Have you come across any beauty products that have rocked your world lately?

All the Pretty Sparkles: Highlighter Review & Swatches

I often find that my best posts are those that are made up on a whim.  Sometimes I’ll be trying something out for my own personal pleasure, and it leads to something else entirely.  Today I had one such moment; I was trying to figure out just how I could wear my NARS Laguna Multiple effectively, as its quite pretty but gets very little use.  I usually smear it on right from the tube and then blend the heck out of it with my fingers, applying it as a highlight on top of my cheekbones and around my brow bones.  Today I tried buffing it in with a stippling brush, which seemed to work exceptionally well.  Then I wondered how it looked in sunlight, and stepped out on my balcony in the sunshine, only to be blasted with some serious sparkle!  Eeks!  I can tell you right now that it is NOT the kind of product you want to wear outside in the sun (so, best used on cloudy days or at night), or at least if you DO wear it, use a very light hand.  Lesson learned (and thankfully before I made the faux pas in public)!

Of course, this got me thinking about other highlighters/glow-makers I own and how they fare in the bright sunshine.  Of course, being a dutiful blogger, I took photos so we all can benefit from my experiment 🙂  I chose four others that are all permanent products in their respective brands: Benefit Watt’s Up, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, the Balm Mary-Lou Manizer, and Burberry Fresh Glow.  You’ve seen swatches of some of these before in my Chanel Poudre Signée post, but here they are again (give or take a couple):

Left to right: NARS The Multiple in Laguna, Benefit Watt’s Up, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, the Balm Mary-Lou Manizer, and Burberry Fresh Glow

First let me preface the following face swatches by saying that while I could plainly see the sparkle/shimmer in sunlight, it is incredibly hard to capture in photos!! SO frustrating.  With that in mind, please take my word for it whether or not something is visible or not, as it is tricky to see in the snaps I took ~grumbles~  Also, please note that all of these shots were taken on completely makeup-free skin (apologies for dark circles!), so there is no other potential shimmer interference (I cleansed my face thoroughly between each shot).

To begin, we have the Laguna Multiple I mentioned originally.  Very sparkly in sunlight, and I really would avoid wearing it outside – especially if you do not have my skintone (on me it’s more of a highlight), as it would then be deep bronze + super shimmer, and just wouldn’t be your best moment.  You’ll notice as you look through the other face pics that this one has the most noticeable shimmer, even in photographs.  BELIEVE IT.  However, it IS very pretty and I plan on using it on evenings out over this spring/summer.

Next, we have Benefit’s Watt’s Up luminizer – I only have a sample size of this but honestly that is enough, as a little goes a long way.  I want to say it’s my least favorite of the five, but today changed my mind a bit, as the initial BAM! sparkle of it seemed to settle after a couple minutes, and then it really just gave me this lovely radiance.  It’s still fairly shimmery, but not as much as the Laguna, and you could probably get away with it in the day if you went very minimal on shimmer elsewhere.  Also, I’d probably layer my blush OVER this rather than under (which you’d likely do anyway if you chose powder, as this is a cream, and that’d just get weird), which would tone it down a little bit too.  It took me AGES to get photos of this and I’m still not satisfied, so trust me when I say there IS visible shimmer (look for little particle-like things on my face – those are them :P).

Moving right along, next is the insanely popular Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, in the shade Opal.  I snagged this deluxe sample in a swap about a month ago and I LOVE IT SO MUCH YOU GUYS.  I’m not going to go on a big ‘You have to buy this!’ rant, because everyone else has done such a good job – so just go buy it already!  This product comes very close to the ‘might be too shimmery for day’ line but manages to toe it exceptionally well, so you can totally rock it out all summer long.  I adore the glow this gives and because the shimmer particles are so small, they don’t look tacky at all, just nicely done.  I will continue to wear this now that the sun is out, day or night.

Continuing on, we come to the Balm’s Mary-Lou Manizer.  Next to Laguna this one is the most shimmery, and is also the only powder in the bunch.  This was one of my first highlighters (and again, its a small sample size compared to the real deal) and I tended to wear it more in the corners of my eyes than anywhere else.  Now, I wear it both ways (on my cheekbones too) but generally keep it to nighttime, as the shimmer combined with the lighter tone and powder formula can make it more obvious than I’d like.  Still, the powder is butter-smooth and is nice to have on hand now and again!

This second shot is kind of bizarro for sure, but it highlighted the shimmers so well I had to include it >_<

Finally, we have the most natural of the bunch, and my personal preference for a foolproof glow – Burberry’s Fresh Glow Luminizing Base.  If you recall, I bought this last year as a birthday treat for myself (which I think I might do every year – buy Burberry makeup, I mean!) and was unsure if it was genius or useless.  Well, consider me converted because this give the most subtle yet glowing look of the bunch.  It can be worn a multitude of ways: on bare skin, under foundation, over foundation, mixed in with foundation, etc. – but I prefer to use either on a bare face to just give me a pick me up if I’m going super low-key, or on top of foundation on the high points of the face.  Even though there is shimmer, somehow there is no shimmer – like Houdini or something.  I haven’t quite figured it out, but I will say that looking at it worn in full sunshine today for the first time, I was totally amazed – I looked utterly radiant but like I had absolutely nothing on.  Kind of like how you look when you put on a face oil, and you look glowing, but without the adding ‘shine’ factor.  Good times.  Dammit Burberry, why is everything you do SO DAMN EXPENSIVE GOOD?

Thus concludes my research – I hope you found it helpful!  I know it’s tough to see the nuances between shots but I think the gist is there in terms of comparing the five.  As always, this kind of post is helpful for me too, so yay for killing two birds with one stone!

Do you wear a highlighter?  What formula/finish do you prefer?  Which of these ones would you choose?

Chanel’s Poudre Signée de Chanel – Worth the Splurge?

Ok.  There are a handful of spring products that everyone and their dog has posted about over the last month or so (helloooo Burberry Lip Glows!  Holy moly, I wanted them badly until I got on overload from exposure…I’m kinda done with them now, sadly), and I’m about to show you one of them.  This would be kind of a bummer, except I have been run off my ass this week and am clocking about 1 hour at home before bed and REALLY not energetic enough to do a thorough post, SO – this works out well, as all I’m gonna do is show you some pics to ogle and call it a night.  Sweeeet 🙂

I present to you: Chanel’s Poudre Signée de Chanel, from their 2013 Spring Printemps Precieux collection:

Check out that lovely glow in the last shot – so damn pretty!!  But, I would have still been able to resist, even though the glow is captivating.  After reading so many reviews about it, I tricked myself into believing it couldn’t really be that lovely – until I swatched it.  As mentioned in my sneak peek post, this powder is so insanely soft, as soon as I touched it, it was game over.  (Also – UPDATE: I DID NOT actually end up buying the Chanel Mouche de Beaute powder nor the nail polish from the Hong Kong collection; when the SA from Chanel called me back with the shipping details, it was going to be $40CAD JUST TO SHIP.  Ah, HECK NO.  Sorry Chanel, you’re awesome but not that awesome!  So…my spree wasn’t so bad after all 😛)

One last test before I totally threw in the towel, was how it would look on my darker skin – would it be ashy??  Would it look harsh and obvious?  Well:

Direct sunlight

Direct sunlight

Indirect natural light

Artificial light

…Verdict is: Uh, no.  Of COURSE it looks fabulous on my skin!  Why did I even try to believe otherwise!?

What I love about this product is that it is probably the only powder illuminator I’ve come across to date that highlights the skin without obvious shimmer.  While you can clearly see it’s shimmery, note that even in direct sunlight, it’s more of a radiance that’s being put forth rather than even tiny specks of glitter that can be a bit garish in the wrong light.  It’s that finely milled.  I’ve actually tried this a multitude of ways, and beside wearing along my cheekbones etc., I find that I can get away with dusting it lightly all over and do not risk looking like a Cullen (*this analogy has been used before, I know, but it’s so damn apt!).

For your reference, here are some comparison swatches of other highlighters I own, plus one eyeshadow I thought may be similar (all taken in sunlight, with first a diffused then heavy swatch):

(Left to right): KATE Real Create Eyes Palette *white gold shade*; Chanel Poudre Signée; theBalm Mary Lou-manizer; Benefit Watt’s Up?

(Left to right): KATE Real Create Eyes Palette *white gold shade*; Chanel Poudre Signée; theBalm Mary Lou-manizer

In the last photo, you really can see how subtle the Chanel powder is, especially when compared to the other products.  For anyone who is looking for a lit-from-within-glow, I’d say you’d be hard pressed to get anything better than this! (Aside from Burberry’s Fresh Glow, which is a liquid and looks more obvious in swatches but ends up being barely detectable when worn).  However, I will say that the subtly is *almost* a drawback for me, as when I put it on, it’s barely discernible (which, if you recall, was my initial beef with the Burberry product as well!).  I guess I’m more of the flashy makeup wearer, and like to see the fruits of my labour in plain daylight.  However, I am trying to embrace the more ‘natural’ way of wearing makeup, at least when skin makeup is concerned, and this product is getting me there with absolutely no problem at all.

In all truthfulness, I couldn’t say one way or another if this is a ‘must-have’.  It really depends on your preferences.  If you favor a natural look and are in the market for an illuminator, you’ll get oodles of wear out of this and love every minute.  If you just plain need a luminizer and achieve a great glow, this would be a great bet for you as well.  If you like your makeup like me, a bit more flashy – I’d say maybe check it out and see if this does the trick first.  I’m not at all regretful I picked this up, and I suspect like the Burberry, it’s going to become a staple in my every day routine.  But could I live without it….probably 😉

PS: If you’re looking for a more in-depth review on this product (it’s doubtful, but I’m sure SOME of you haven’t seen a billion posts on this yet!), Becca of The Beauty Sample has a great review with all the info you could want 🙂

In keeping with being (semi)brief – thoughts?

Um, so…I Went On a Little Shopping Spree…

Today I got out of bed bright and early and headed down to the Chanel counter to check out the new spring 2013 collection, which just arrived yesterday.  And…um.  I bought a few things.

This is what happens every single time I try to keep my spending way down.  I lose my shit and buy everything in sight.  Haven’t I learned this lesson already!?!?

…anyway.  Yeah.  Chanel spree.  I’m, uh…I’m probably good for a while.

Here’s a sneak peek at the first installment (yes…there is a second.  On it’s way to me next week.  More on that in a minute, though):

I really mixed it up with all my purchases – I have a piece from the current Printemps Precieux spring collection, the Poudre Signée de Chanel; a polish from the 2009 Côte D’Azur summer collection, Orange Fizz; and a re-released eyeshadow quad from the Sophisticated Eye collection, 08 Vanités, which came out in summer 2011.  BOOM!  Clearly, I was not messing around to-day.  Since I was up so damn early, I managed to get home and get swatches of everything before the sunlight ran away from me – however, I still haven’t had a chance to play with everything yet, so reviews on all will be forthcoming.  First thoughts?  Z.O.M.G.

Here’s where it gets even more crazy (and um…long-winded.  So get comfy!).  Yesterday around lunchtime, the S.A. at the Chanel counter called me to let me know the spring collection had finally arrived.  I was in training outside the city, and wouldn’t be anywhere near the counter for the rest of the day.  She let me know she couldn’t hold the illuminating powder for me, as it’s limited edition, and truth be told, I had already half-convinced myself that I wasn’t going to get it anyway.  Often I determine my purchases by how much value you guys will get of swatches/reviews of a product, and the powder has been done to death – nothing new for anyone!  So I told her not to worry about it, and I’d be in sometime over the next week.

But it nagged at me.  And as it happens, I was on Twitter on my lunchbreak and came across Best Thing in Beauty’s review of the Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder that’s part of the Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012/13 collection, and was exclusively designed for the show (along with a pink Ombre Essentielle eyeshadow in Rose Favorite).  Another gorgeous highlighting powder with a fantabulous design.  THIS could be an item my readers would want to see, right?  And I hadn’t even heard of it ’till then, so it would be a relatively exciting review.  Since I’ve been driving myself crazy looking and looking and looking at pretty things, but not really buying, I got the major impulse to call up a Chanel boutique (I chose T.O.’s Bloor St location) and order one of the powders.  The SA was with a client, so I left my number for her to call me back.

End of day on Friday – no return call.  I had heard a rumor that Chanel boutiques will sometimes not sell products to you via phone unless you are already a client there, and I wondered if that was happening in my case.  I was pretty pissed, to be honest – how do you become a client if you can’t buy your first item from them?  So, when I woke up bright and early this AM, I decided to appease myself by heading down to my local counter to see what was left of the powders from the spring collection.

BINGO.  Turns out, there were still 6 powders of the 14 she had received, and when I touched it – dudes, this shiz is SOFT.  Baby’s butt soft.  It’s crazy!  So I clearly snapped one up; clearly it was meant to be.  However, I didn’t stop there.  I wasn’t sold on the spring nail shades – while Fracas is GORGEOUS, it’s so close to Deb Lippmann’s Daytripper (which is more of a jelly formula, but shade-wise very similar), and Accessoire is too close to Zoya’s Anja for my liking.  Emprise is nice but not really my thing.  What I wanted, was a pretty peachy-toned shade, and Orange Fizz just called to me.  It’s sort of a mid-tone coral-orange, but it look like spring in a bottle to me!  Also, because in discovering the gaps in my makeup collection, I realized I lacked a lilac shade, I had previously decided to buy the Vanités quad at some point, and well…I was on a roll, so I bought it right then.

…DAMN.  At least I had a $25 gift card :S

I get home and I’m totally enamoured with my pretties, when I get a call – from the Chanel boutique in Toronto.  “Just getting back to you about the Mouche de Beauté powder, what’s your address?”  Umm….

…Yea, I gave it to her.  I also gave in to her when I asked if they had any bottles of Malice left (STILL TRYING!), and while she said they didn’t, apparently there’s a new shade they’ve received as part of the Hong Kong collection, Western Light, which is a ‘deep chocolate with a hint of pearly red’ (there’s also another polish, Eastern Light, which is a white shade).  WTF?!  My wallet isn’t merely crying right now, it’s running out the door and living at La Maison de Chanel.  Jeez louise.

If you’re interested in throwing your money at Chanel too, here are some pictures and links with info about the two collections:

Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012/13 Collection

– Sandra’s Closet (product info and looks from the runway)

– BE.com (in French; product photos)

Hong Kong Collection

– When A Door Closes… (product info and photos)

– The Blonde Salad (Le Vernis bottle shots)

So yea.  I think that’s just about all the makeup shopping I’m going to be doing for the next few months LOL.  I feel sort of half-sick to my stomach, but also *finally* satiated, and I’d rather buy a couple really wonderful products, than a mass pile of just more items that are probably repeats in my stash – happily, everything I bought has no comparable mate out of all the makeup I own, so there’s that.  I have been meaning to buy a powder illuminator for some time (I really don’t have one, somehow!); now, I’ll have two so I am PRETTY MUCH SET FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.  Wicked.

As mentioned, reviews and swatches will be coming soon.  In the meantime, how have you been indulging in your consumerism side lately??

Score a Lit-From-Within Glow with Clinique’s Uplighting Liquid Illuminator in Bronze

Ever since the end of last month, when I decided I was going to make an effort to use every single makeup item in my stash over the next month (or two…I’ve got a fair bit to go through!), I’ve been rediscovering some real gems that I forgot I even had in my possession.  It’s been a great exercise in recognizing just how much I have, and lessening the urge to buy anything new of which I don’t already have a reasonable fascimile.  It also has helped me weed out items I no longer want, and give some love to my long-forgotten products!  It’s an all around good time 😀

One product in particular that has actually been on my radar for months, but I just couldn’t be bothered to use, is Clinique’s Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in Bronze ($32CAD/$25US), described as a sheer bronze with gold shimmer.   For some reason, I couldn’t get on board with this product, and I kept pulling it out to use only to bypass it and choose something else.  Finally, in my new dedication to using everything, I tried it once more – and DAMN!  What was I waiting for!?  This stuff is GOLD (well – bronze really, but you know what I mean ;)).

Artificial light

With flash

Dispensed via a pump mechanism, you only need a very small drop of liquid for each cheek – the size of a pinhead.  Without natural light, it’s hard to show you the beautiful effect this illuminator has on the skin in a swatch.  It looks metallic and just kinda…blech.  But!  Never fear my fellow makeup fiends, because this baby shows up FABULOUSLY on the face in photos – which is kinda the whole deal, right?  It’s always good to have an arsenal of photo-friendly products in your back pocket!  Bask in the glory:

You can see my pores a bit here, but it’s not truly due to the product (sadly), and you can only see them in this kind of very up-close view.

I remember once going out for an event, and a few photos were taken that were later posted on Facebook.  A friend at the time wrote a comment and said ‘Whatever makeup you’re using to give you that glow, I WANT IT.’  Stupidly, even though I remember this and remember how GREAT I looked in that photo, I stopped using this for a few years!  What the what!?!

Like my cute feathered headband??  I bought this a few years ago when feathers in your hair were a big thing.  I still think this works because it’s not obnoxious, and it really dresses up my hair if I’m lazy and pull it back 🙂

I find when I’m wearing this, which has been a lot lately, I hardly need any other makeup, because it just makes me look so damn HEALTHY.  And it’s terribly easy to use, at least on my skintone – I just dab a touch on each cheek and then pat it along my cheekbones with either my finger or a stippling brush.  It gives a hint of color, but mostly the illuminating effect speaks for itself without anything else needed.  I will give a note of caution however – on a lighter skintone, you’ll need to apply this more carefully, as it could look a touch muddy if applied with a heavy hand.  Or, even better – head out and grab yourself the ‘Natural‘ shade, which is a soft neutral beige with gold shimmer, and blends into almost any skintone (and is great to use an a inner eye corner or brow highlight too!).  There’s also a ‘Blush‘ option – a sheer pink with white shimmer – but I’ve never tried it or used it on any of my clients, so I can’t comment on it.  Sephora doesn’t seem to carry the Natural shade online, and currently the Bronze shade is sold out, but you can get all three on the Clinique websites (Canada & the US).

Basically, you absolutely need this if you’re in the market for a liquid highlighter/illuminator – or even if you’re not.  It’s just so freakin’ great!  The wear time if you can believe is exceptional too – all day without any touch-ups required, which I think is quite a feat for a liquid product that I’m not layering or powdering.  And I’ll admit, some Clinique makeup doesn’t seem to last that long in general – but this sure does!  The only issue I have at all is that the pump sometimes gets a bit clogged so if you’re not careful, too much will come out if you push the pump too hard.  But it’s such a slight inconvenience for the awesomeness you get that I don’t care one iota about it.  A small price to pay to look like you just came back from a run on the beach in Hawaii or something.  It reminds me of that fabulous glow you get in the evenings when your down South and it’s still warm but you’re not sweating at all – LOVE IT!

So – liquid illuminator, check.  Now I just need a powder illuminator – any suggestions?  Do you prefer liquid, cream or powder highlighters?  Or none at all?

Just a Tad Bit Overdue: My Birthday Burberry Haul

Er, so it’s been like what – 18 days since my birthday, plus a few more than that since I received my Burberry items, and I have yet to post about ’em…WTF?  Sorry about that!  It’s just that these products are kinda special, you know, and I really wanted to make sure I did a thorough review, with the best photos I could manage and without being too biased, since the general consensus online about Burberry cosmetics is: AWESOME.  After giving each piece its fair share of face time (literally), I think I’m finally ready to show you and discuss my recent acquisitions.

First of all, my purchases came housed in a cute little Burberry box, quite sturdy, from Holt Renfew, with a couple sweet extra samples and treats for me to try from the brand – a gorgeous mirrored compact housed in their iconic substantial packaging, two deluxe size samples of their Lip Cover, a sample packet of four of their Lip Mist shades, and a handful of samples of their foundation and concealer, which the SA guessed as using my NARS foundation shade as a reference (as my order was over the phone).   The actual products I purchased were: Sheer Eye Shadow in Trench, a pale satin cream shade; Light Glow Blush in Russet, a muted rust shade with a hint of shimmer; and Fresh Glow Luminous Foundation Base, a liquid face illuminator.

When I was trying to figure out which items I was going to purchase, I wanted to be sure that they would be of good value and use in my collection, as of course the products are terribly cheap.  I picked Trench eyeshadow ($33CAD) because, interestingly enough, I don’t have one shade like it in my stash.  I have a handful of similar, shimmery shades, but I was finding that I had nothing to wear as a brow bone highlight that didn’t look garish or ‘too much’ for every day.  I also find that as I tend to wear shimmery eyeshadows on the whole, I prefer a more matte shade to wear under the brow.

Trench is an excellent compliment to almost all of my looks – as it’s not a flat matte (you can see the very slight shimmer in the photos below), it looks very subtle.  I’ve been reaching for it almost daily since I got it.  As the powder is very smooth and soft, it kicks up a bit of excess but not so much that it’s a problem, and it doesn’t get terribly messy in the pan (pet peeve!).

The color of Trench works really well as a highlight as it’s neither too yellow nor too pink, but very neutral in tone.  I think this would work for almost all skintones except very dark for that purpose.  I worried a bit that Trench might be too light for me, but as long as I use light hand it works very well.  In the 8 months of the year when I’m not tanned, it will be perfect.  Note that the shadows are fragrance free.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Trench (Natural Light)

The Light Glow Blush in Russet ($54CAD) looked lovely in swatches, but wasn’t necessarily my first choice out of the possible shades.  However, many of the Burberry blushes looked as if they may be too genteel for my darker complexion, which Russet appeared to be substantial enough, which is why I chose it. Note: there IS fragrance in the blushes – a nice, subtle scent I can’t place – but once on the skin it dissipates, and so far it hasn’t caused any issues with my sensitive skin at all.

Russet is a really hard color to capture, and describe, as it’s not quite brown, not quite peachy – its really more a mix of the two, closer to a dusty terracotta but not so orange.  I think it’s soft enough to work for many skintones, but I definitely suggest trying it first if you can, especially if you have cooler tones.  It does contain shimmer, but on the skin even in sunlight I find it very subtle and enhancing, rather than gaudy, giving the skin a glow rather than an Edward Cullen-like shimmer (so Breaking Dawn Part II isn’t till November – what of it?).  Again, the formula of the powder is so soft it kicks up a bit, but no big issues with that.  Oh, and if you tap your brush into the pan rather than sweep, you preserve the pretty pattern MUCH better 😀

One thing I really like about this blush is that its a great transitional shade that works for me in several seasons.  Right now, it looks very subtle and adds just a lovely warmth to my skin without too much color – it’s great for those days when I’m wearing a strong lip, or if I’m going ‘au naturel’.  However, in the Fall months when I lose some of my tan, this will be an excellent shade to wear with deeper Autumnal tones, as it leans somewhat brown and makes me think of the changing leaves.  It’s also not SO warm that I can’t  wear this during cooler months as well – I can’t wait!

Burberry Light Glow Blush in Russet (Natural Light)

One thing to note about both the shadow and blush are the wear times – for the shadow, I haven’t been paying close attention because I’m only wearing it on the brow, but so far it seems to last most of the day.  As for the blush, I have to sadly report that the wear time is not great – by midday it’s faded quite a bit (over powdered skin) – but somehow it still leaves my skin with a warmth to it.  I suspect the reason it seems to fade away is that it’s already quite subtle on me; when my tan fades I will investigate further and see if it seems to be apparent for a longer time period.

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Trench, Light Glow Blush in Russet (Natural Light)

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Trench, Light Glow Blush in Russet (With Flash)

Since Holts was having a GWP of sorts with Burberry when I ordered, I had to get another item to get in on the deal, so I picked the Fresh Glow Luminous Foundation Base ($66CAD) since I had read rave reviews about it previously on Cafe Makeup.  The packaging is statuesque – I love having this on display as it looks so pretty 🙂

The product comes out via a pump dispenser that gives just the right amount, no overkill here at all.  Its a pale, shimmering creamy shade that is fairly neutral, meaning it doesn’t lean too pink or too golden, making it exceptionally wearable for almost everyone.  It’s also fairly sheer in application, so even very dark skin can wear it without it looking ashy.

I’ve been experimenting with this several different ways, applying it under my foundation, over it, mixing it WITH my foundation, and wearing it on bare skin.  To be honest, I haven’t seen much of a difference either way – it’s very subtle.  However, when I swatched it for this post, I realized that this product must be GENIUS, because its CLEARLY noticeable in these shots and has some decent shimmer going on.  But worn on my face, not ONCE have I looked glittery or obviously wearing some sort of highlighting product, so…?  I guess it’s just that good?  I just don’t notice much of a glow happening either, but then again, I’m already a touch oily so I’m not exactly begging for it.  One thing I will say is that using this on top of foundation is not really the way to go – I found it hard to blend and THEN I was able to see an outline of shimmer versus my natural skin.  It needs to be rubbed in without fear of taking the makeup itself off, so either go for it beforehand or add it to your foundation.

Lastly, we have the Lip Cover shades, which I will just touch on as I’ve only worn one of them so far, and this post is already WAY too long!  Rosewood is a  medium rose-mauve shade, which typically doesn’t look great on my skintone, and is why I haven’t tried it yet.  Cameo Pink is a soft coral-pink shade that looks really natural on me – it’s nearly a MLBB shade but is a hair too light this time of year to be so.  It feels fantastic on the lips; really creamy and smooth, hydrating and lightweight, and I find after its been on for a few minutes it really melds with the skin to look super natural.  There is no scent that I can detect.  I’m already planning to pick up some full-size shades when I can – it won’t be a cheap buy at $36CAD, but they feel so luxurious and wonderful that I can’t resist!

Burberry Lip Cover in Cameo Pink and RosewoodBurberry Lip Cover in Rosewood and Cameo Pink (with flash)Wearing Burberry Lip Cover in Cameo Pink (sunlight)

Like many others, the packaging is what really grabs me about the Burberry products.  I’m not a huge fan of the Burberry pattern in clothing (though I don’t dislike it at all), but the gunmetal metallic cases with the design are so striking and just feel SO elegant (and of course the repeating design on the powders themselves – to die!).  The magnetic snap closures are divine and so satisfying to close shut – so lame but you know you love it!

And of course…they look awfully pretty on 🙂

Wearing Russet Light Glow Blush, Cameo Pink Lip Cover, and Trench Sheer Eye Shadow (sunlight)I had to add this photo because I’m making the most hilarious face…but it’s a good example of how the Russet blush warms up my face – and also I thought it was good for a laugh 😛

Finally.  This post has been weighing on my mind for weeks – I hope did these products justice!  My overall thoughts are that I’ll probably pick up a few more shadow shades over time; I may check out more of the blushes, but only if I see them in person; the luminizer is either the most genius product ever made, or a total waste of my money; and the lipsticks are absolutely phenomenal and a few full-size ones will be joining my lippie stash in the very near future.  If nothing else, I’m getting some serious pleasure just looking at these items in my stash – they’re just beyond lovely!

What do you make of the Burberry products?  Worth the hype (packaging)?  Are there any items that you’re lemming?