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11/28/2011

Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Invisible Skin-Fusion Foundation



1oz.
$57.00



What it is: A foundation that is made to be "fusional" so that it cannot be felt or seen.

"Imagine the delicious sensation of the lightest silk satin brushing against your skin…the sensual, sophisticated feel of materials enveloping the skin in softness, defining and shaping the curves, enhancing natural beauty".
-By Guerlain
Packaging: The foundation is packaged in a luxurious, heavy glass bottle with Guerlain's signature printed at the middle of the cap. The bottle contains 1 oz. of product. The foundation  has a pump, which is my ideal packaging because you have control of how much foundation you want to be distributed. There is an SPF of 20. 

Verdict: I have this shade in #23 Dore Naturel. The finish this foundation gives is fantastic. It is not dewy, or matte. It is in-between. You get a semi-matte finish, which looks natural and beautiful. The coverage is light to medium. The formula melts onto the skin, making it easy and quick to apply. The tools I use to apply the foundation are my fingers. I find that using my fingers allows me to work and blend away the product evenly. Because the finish is semi-matte, a setting powder is not required. The lasting power of the foundation is also spectacular. On me it lasts about 6 to 8 hours of wear. The foundation seems to also be photo friendly. Even though it contains SPF 20 it does not give the white cast in photos using flash. I have been using this product continuously for about two weeks and my skin has not experienced any problems. Overall, I am very happy with this foundation because of how natural it looks and feels on my skin.

***The only negative I find with Guerlain the brand itself, is the small shade range it carries in general. There are not many shades available. However, it is worth a try to check it out, your shade might be available. 

Before- Bare Face
After- Foundation and concealer applied and blush
Chanel Lip liner in nude and Glossimer in Muscat on top -reviewed here


What foundation are you loving right now?

11/27/2011

Bobbi Brown Corrector and Creamy Concealer



Both Contain .05 oz (1.4g)
US $22.00 each

         I decided to review Bobbi Brown's corrector and creamy concealer together because I pair them both on a daily basis. Under-eye concealer is what makes many of us look awake and ready for the day. It is a great tool to cheat your previous night of only a few hours of sleep. 
         Bobbi Brown corrector and creamy concealer work great together giving my eyes and face a fresh and clean look. The corrector can be either pink or peach based and is used to neutralize the under-eye darkness. The creamy concealer helps to brighten the under-eye area. Both products are creamy and easy to blend. Although the texture is creamy, it is also a bit waxy which helps the product adhere to the skin. I tend to prefer using my fingers rather than a brush to apply the products. For long-lasting results I set the concealer with Laura Mercier's translucent loose setting powder. Having tried other concealers from brands such as Clinique, Revlon, L'oreal, Maybelline and Rimmel, I have come to the conclusion that they do not compare to the results I get with Bobbi Brown's corrector and creamy concealer. Not only do they wear for 8 + hours, both products can last for a while. I have had mine for over 6 months with every day use. 
         If you are looking for an under-eye concealer that is creamy and looks natural, think about stopping by the Bobbi Brown counter to check out these concealers. It is extremely helpful that they carry a wide selection of colors for both the corrector and creamy concealers. So there is a high chance you will find one that suits your skin tone and undertone perfectly. 


Corrector in Dark Bisque
Creamy Concealer in Honey 
Before- Bare under-eye
After- With Corrector and Creamy Concealer


Start with the corrector and then follow with the creamy concealer. Use your ring finger, and do patting motions. End with a translucent loose powder to set the concealers.
And no more shadows under the eyes! 

Any other favorite concealers to try??


Available at Nordstrom, Sephora and Bobbi Brown website


FOTD-Using Hourglass Femme Rouge in Nocturnal


Recently on a trip to the Mall I picked up three MAC eyeshadows; Star Violet, Naked Lunch and Fig 1. So I decided to pair them together and this is this look I ended up with. 
Products listed below.





Face:
Guerlain Lingerie De Peau- shade #23
BB corrector and creamy concealer
Chanel Natural Loose Powder
MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush

Eyes:
NYX jumbo pencil in milk
MAC Naked Lunch (lid and brow bone)
MAC star violet (crease)
MAC Fig1 (outer crease)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Prestige My Biggest Lashes

Lips:
Hourglass Femme Rouge in Nocturnal


If you have any of these eyeshadows what are your favorite ways to wear them? 


Thanks for stopping by :)

11/26/2011

CHANEL Illusion D'Ombre in Illusoire #83

        
4g (0.14oz)
$38.00


 What it is: An "intensely shimmering long-wear eyeshadow". The shadow can be used as an all over lid color, on the crease or depending on the color can be intensified as an eyeliner. 

Packaging: The Illusion D'Ombre's are packaged in a beautiful heavy glass pot with the CHANEL C's printed in white. A small travel eyeliner brush is included with the Illusion D'Ombre. 

Verdict: I decided to pick up the shade Illusoire, which is a taupe with a mixture of brown, silver and purple. I thought that out of the color selection provided, Illusoire is one I can wear often, for daytime or smoking it out for nighttime. The product is a blend of intense shimmers (not chunky glitter), and looks beautiful when worn. The texture of the these shadows is interesting. When you open the product, you will notice that the consistency appears fluffy. Although it does blend softly on the lid, it does not have the creamy texture as per say a cream eyeshadow. As previously stated, the Illusion D'Ombre can be worn as a base for other shadows, as a wash of color all over the lid, as liner or on the crease. The wear longevity of this products is fantastic. It does not crease, even without a base and holds itself beautiful for hours. 
No Flash-Natural light 
With Flash 

Available at Nordstrom, Macy's and CHANEL website
Any other Illusion D'Ombres must haves?

11/24/2011

A Guide to Finding Your Perfect Foundation 

    Finding a foundation that meets your needs can be quite a challenging journey. Of course for me it was because I was not aware of the basics that really seem to make a difference when looking for a new foundation. Next time you are on the search for a new foundation, remember to keep the following points in mind;

1. Know your skin type- Just like we differ in height, weight, and body shape, our skin differs as well. People may have normal, dry, oily or sensitive skin…etc. Some people can also be acne prone, have large pores….etc. The list can go on with existing problem areas. Over the years, the beauty industry has made many advancements by creating different foundation formulations to treat different skin types. Once you identify the type of skin you have, you can narrow down the options for the different foundations that may work for you. There are foundations advertised for oily, dry, mature and even all skin types. 

2. Know your skin color/undertone- This key point is just as essential as the previous one. We all have a different shade of color. Are you fair, light, light medium, medium, olive, tan, deep or dark? You also want to identify what undertone you have; pink, neutral or yellow/beige undertones. If you are unsure about what your undertone may be, it may be helpful to consult a makeup artist.

3. Know the type of formula/coverage you want the foundation to have- Are you looking for a lightweight, medium coverage or full coverage foundation? What texture will you prefer in your base? cream, powder, liquid or loose mineral? If you want something light and easy for everyday use, a tinted moisturizer may be what you are looking for. When making a decision during this step, choose the formulation that makes you feel pretty and comfortable. Foundations also have different finishes. Some are moisture-rich, leaving a dewy finish look and others are matte which can give a flat look. 

4. Do research- Before, when I used to purchase a foundation I would go with the most popular foundation and sometimes the most affordable. However, I have learned that researching different foundations will not only save you money but it can really help you find the perfect foundation. Read reviews about foundations that are suitable for your skin type and that may be best for your shade color. Makeup Alley is a great resource where real people worldwide write reviews about many beauty products. 

5. Pick up a couple samples in store- Once you have a couple foundations in mind, get a few samples. Department stores are usually generous when giving out samples of their products. If you are not sure about two shade colors, get samples of different shade colors and compare.

6. Test in natural daylight- Test the foundation samples by applying them in natural daylight and see how they wear throughout the day. There are foundations that may oxidize (turns a different color after a few minutes of application), therefore you might want to go a shade lighter. 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Thanksgiving :))

11/22/2011

FOTD: Pink Lips Using Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop

       Lately for work I have been doing simple looks, in the attempt to give my eyes a rest from eyeshadow and all. These past few days I was only wearing mascara on the eyes, but today I felt like going a little beyond and ended up with this look. I am also wearing one of the two Revlon Lip Butters I picked up yesterday from Target. So far I am liking these lip butters. I am will have an in-dept review on these in the next few days. For foundation I am wearing/testing out Guerlain Linguerie De Peau Foundation (a sample). The finish this foundation leaves is fantastic, probably the best finish I have gotten from a liquid foundation. Products listed below.




Products
Face:
Guerlain Linguerie De Peau Foundation in #23
Bobbi Brown corrector (dark bisque) and creamy concealer (honey)
Chanel Natural Loose Powder in Dore 04
MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul
Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Gel Ink Liner in Black Plum Ink
MAC Naked Lunch eyeshadow (brow bone highlight)
Prestige My Biggest Lashes Mascara
Lips:
Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop

11/20/2011

CHANEL Glossimers


US $28.50

Chanel glossimers are described as being an "intense frost and shine for lips". I do not think they are quite frosty but they do deliver an intense shimmer. The shimmer is very fine making the gloss feel soft and silky on the lips. They are moisturizing and long-lasting (wear about 3 hours). When they are worn alone they are not very pigmented. However, I love the results I get when I layer them on top of a lipstick, lip stain and/or lip liner. Glossimers are comfortable to wear and never feel tacky, sticky or heavy. For some time I stayed away from lipgloss in general because I could not find one that felt comfortable on my lips. I am so happy that I decided to give Chanel glossimers a try. Currently I have them in three colors; Braise, Muscat and Wild Rose. 

-Braise #158 is a copper, bronzy plummy shade with gold shimmer. I think this shade will work for all skin tones, enhancing the natural lip color. 
-Muscat #85 is a shimmery, peachy beige color with gold shimmer. Lovely color to layer on top of lipsticks and add warmth.
-Wild Rose #119 is a rosy pink with a touch of brown and silver shimmer.

Braise #158

Wild Rose #119


Muscat #85

Available at Nordstrom

**What are your thoughts on glossimers? Any favorites?

CHANEL Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Color in Etole #80 & Venise #26

US $32

        What it is: Rouge Coco's were created as an interpretation of Chanel's rich life and legacy. They are described as a "lightweight lip color that glides on for easy application". They claimed to be moisturizing, featuring a "Hydratendre complex to soften, soothe and condition lips- even boosting their ability to hold in moisture".
Packaging: CHANEL represents luxury and therefore their packaging is sophisticated and luxurious. Rouge Coco Lipsticks are designed in a black, slim tube with a gold ring surrounding the tube at the middle. At the top of the lipstick the C's are printed in white. If you have smelled or applied Chanel products, you will know that there is a noticeable scent of roses. I honestly love the way Chanel products smell so the scent has never been a problem for me. 
Verdict: The color payoff I get from Rouge Coco's is always opaque and even. They glide onto my lips effortlessly and feel so comfortable. My lips are on the normal side of hydration but can get dry if a product reacts to them or if it simply is not moisturizing and dry. I do not find Rouge Coco's to be the most moisturizing lip stick out there but it is one of the most comfortable and weightless lip colors I have tried. The lasting power on these are between three to four hours of wear. I appreciate that the lip color wears off evenly, not leaving noticeable patches on some parts of my lips. Because the color is lightweight, adding a lip gloss really enhances the color without making it look goopey. The color selection CHANEL carries seems to be daytime and work time appropriate. They carry many shades of red which is lovely because red can be worn in many ways. For every skin color there should be a perfect red.  
Venise #26 is one of my favorite lip colors for its versatility. It is a soft red with plum and a bit of brown. There is no shimmer or pearl to it, leaving a creamy finish. I love this shade because it really brightens my face by giving a bit more of a soft deeper color. 
Etole #80 has become a quick an easy everyday color. It is a soft plum with a bit of pink and brown. I do notice it has a bit of shimmer, but nothing too noticeable. The shimmer does not not intervene with the softness of the formula. 

Etole #80
Venise #26
Etole
Venise
Available at: Nordstrom and Chanel Website

What are your thoughts on Rouge Coco's? Any favorites?


Review: MAC Blacktrack Fluidline



0.1oz (3g)/ US $15.00
         What it is: Fluidlines are described as an "ultra-smooth formula that provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Long-wearing and smudge-proof". The color Blacktrack is a "solid flat black" gel eyeliner. 
         Packaging: Blacktrack fluidline is packaged in a small glass pot. I store this fluidline upside down to prevent the product from drying out. Even though I have had mine for months, the consistency remains the same as when I bought it.
         Verdict: Blacktrack fluidline is my go-to product for eyeliner. It never fails me when I am trying to create a perfect cat eye look. The texture is creamy making the application easy and fast. I like that it does not dry and set very fast, giving me time to fix any mistakes I may have made. It also last all day (about 8 + hours). I use Sonia Kashuk's bent eyeliner brush to apply backtrack. 
P.S
If you find that your cream or gel liner smudges  throughout the day, setting your liner with a powder shadow that matches the color helps extend the wear. It is just as when you set your foundation with powder, which helps to prolong the wear. 




FOTD- Green and Gold

       Today I decided to use MAC humid eyeshadow again, which is a gorgeous forest green that really pulls together the whole eye look. I recently did a look using humid, and both looks are very similar. In this look I used Goldmine eye shadow on the lid, and the previous one I used rice paper on the lid. I feel as if green colors really makes brown eyes pop, and who does not want that?
I kept the lips simple, using Hourglass Femme Rouge in Fresco (a MLBB lip color).
Products are listed below!






Products Used:

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere Moisture-Rich Makeup in 50 Naturel
Bobbi Brown corrector (dark bisque) and creamy concealer (honey)
Chanel Natural Loose Powder 
Guerlain Terracota Bronzing Powder 

Eyes:
E.L.F. Eyelid Primer in sheer
MAC eyeshdows;
 -Goldmine (all over lid)
 -Sumptuous olive (outer lid)
 -Texture (transition color)
 -Humid (crease)
 -Ricepaper (highlight brow bone)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Prestige By Biggest Lashes Mascara
Rimmel Eye Kohl in Jungle Green 031

Lips:
Hourglass Femme Rouge in Fresco