Musings of a Muse

Just last week I was wishing each of you a Happy Christmas and now I’ve gone and blinked and a New Year is on us already!

I’m hoping this year will be a great one full of health, happiness, and love!

I practice the art of nengaj? for New Year. Nengaj? is the Japanese tradition of sending out cards to family members and friends wishing them health and happiness for the New Year. I’m not a crafty person by any means but each year a few days before New Year’s I take to making my own cards to wish all my friends and family a very Happy New Year! I think it’s a great tradition and I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember since being introduced to it by one of my best friends who lives in Japan. Of course you can just send a card you purchased but I do love making my way to different shops in China Town to locate pretty stationary, stickers, and bits to make the cards with! It’s quite fun! This isn’t something that’s normally done here in the States. New Year’s greetings are done in person, on the phone, or in passing with a simple “Happy New Year” that’s uttered quickly. Of course I take the time out to say Happy New Year but it’s a nice little surprise to get a card in the mail wishing a person well for the New Year!

Well…anyway the moral of the story is I think we sometimes forget in the rush of Christmas to remember how important the New Year is. It’s a fresh start. A time for new beginnings. A time to remind ourselves of the things that are truly important in life. To remind our friends and our family how much we love and appreciate them.

Christmas and pressies are lovely but I hope you all remember how important the New Year is too!

Many Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year that’s filled with new beginnings! Adventures are to be had! Take full advantage of life because my dear, dear friends it’s far to short to spend it with a frown on your face

Sincerely,
-Your Muse (for this year and hopefully many more to come!)

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We are soon closing up 2007 and a New Year will be upon us within a few days! In celebration of that I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite products of the year!

Asking me to choose a single favorite item in each category is impossible so I’ve listed a few of them instead! My mind changes often and my taste in makeup changes day to day so something that may have been my favorite last week is probably not the same this week! Most of the items on my list are items that I’ve really enjoyed using this year! Some are age old favorites while some are brand new items! I wish I could take the time out to type a little something about each but if I did we’d end up with a huge blog entry to say the least! I’ve just decided to list my favorites and if I’ve reviewed them before or featured them I’ve included a link so if you’re inclined to find out more you can click the link and be magically transfered to the review or impression I got of the item! You can also comment or e-mail me a question about any of the items and I’ll be happy to help!

I’d really love to hear about your favorite items this year too so please by all means comment or e-mail me You don’t need an account to comment It’s open for everyone!

Much happiness for a great New Year! I hope Musings will be bigger and better this coming year with more of what you want!

Thank you for being such loyal readers! I appreciate each and everyone of you greatly!

On with the show!

MAC Mineralized Eyeshadow Duo in Earthly Riches (See my FOTD with Earthly Riches by Clicking Here)
Canmake Metallic Eye Shadow in 01 (See my Spotlight on Canmake by clicking here)
NARS Eyeshadow in Night Star
Majolica Majorca Eyeshadows in WT963, Rd422, and BL724
MAC Eyeshadows in Firespot, Passionate, Parrot, Black Tied, and Magic Dust
Urban Decay Eyeshadiw in Uzi and Grifter
Beaute de Kose Star Twinkle Eye Color in PK 872 (Click here for more on Beaute de Kose’s Star Twinkle Collection)

B Never Metallic Loose Powder

Too Faced After Glow Loose Powder and Pressed Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Pigments in Silver Fog, Quietly, White Gold, Your Ladyship, and Quick Frost

MAC Glitters in Reflects Gold and Blackened Red

KATE Loose Eyeshadow in Bu1, SV1, PK1, and GD1
Bourjois Paris Ombre a Paupieres Loose Eyesshadow in 23

Eyeshadow Primer

Urban Decay Primer Poton

Mascara

Beaute de Kose Mascara Fantasist
Majolica Majorca Lash Expander
Excel Maxi Glamour Lash (Click here for my review)

Guerlain Gold Overcoat (Click here to see more of the Guerlain Gold Holiday)
Majolica Majorca Lash Freeze
KISS Overcoat in Pink

Mascara Primer

Blinc Mascara Primer

Morgen Schick Hide and Highlight Palette

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil
Benefit Bo-ing
Benefit Lemon Aid
Philosophy Airbrushed Fingerpaints Concealer Palette

Vincent Long Gel Cheek and Lip Stain
Loreal Pinch of Color Stain
Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain
Majolica Majorca Flesh and Blood Cheek Stain
Morgen Schick Healthy Flush Cheek Stain

Bobbi Brown Metallics Eye Palette in Burnt Sugar (Click here to see my FOTD and Review of Burnt Sugar and Click here to see some more about this palettes!)
Majolica Majorca Holiday Majolook Palette in SV801 (Click here to see my FOTD and Tutorial for SV801 and Click here to see my MJ Holiday Haul)
Gransebon Gran De Eyes Palette in 15
Susie N.Y. Eyeshadow Quad in 11
NARS Night Series Palette (Click here to see more details on this palette!)

T’estimo Frame Impact Eye Palette in 03 (Click here to see the Fall and Spring Palettes with my Impressions of each!)
T’estimo Layered Impact Eye Palettes in 04 and 05
Esprique Precious Full Sparkle Eyes in S-0

MAC Technakohl Eyeliner
KATE Super Sharp Eyeliner
Majolica Majorca Jeweling Pencils
NARS Eyeliner
Mark Star Eyeliner Pencil

Sponge Applicators
MAC 183 (See my recommendation by clicking here)
MAC 187
Stila 21
MAC 227
Bare Escentuals Eye Buki Brush
MAC 224
MAC 217
Mally Curved Blending Brush
Smashbox 9

Lush Sakura
BPAL Perfume Oils in Crypt Queen, Dana O’Shee, Pink Moon, and Pruno (Want to learn more about BPAL Perfume Oils? Click here!)
Love Magical Perfurmerie Candy Pop Perfume Oil (Click here to read my review on Candy Pop)

Lush Gorgeous
Lush Skins Shangri La
Philosophy When Hope is not Enough

Eye Cream

Petroleum Jelly
Lush Enchanted Eye Cream

Facial Cleaners

Philosophy Purity
Kose Airy Whip
Lush Ultra Bland (Click here to learn more about Lush Skincare)

Lush Ocean Salt
Philosophy Microdelivery Wash (Click here to read my review!)
C.O. Bigelow Tropical Fruit Face Scrub

Lush Tea Tree Water
Lush Breath of Fresh Air

Bloom Shower Gel in Energy
Bliss Shock Therapy
Lush Snowcake (Click here to see my Snowcake Haul!)
Lush Ghost (Click here for my review on Ghost)

Philosophy Bubbly (See my ravings on Bubbly by clicking here)
Bath and Body Works Temptations 3 in 1 Shower Gel in Iced Tea Twist and Forever Frosting

Body Scrubs

Isle of Eden Body Scrub in Bombshell
Philosophy Empowermint
Philosophy Pink Lemonade (Click here for my review)
Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Scrub
Philosophy Senorita Margarita Body Scrub
Philosophy Candy Cane Body Scrub

Tone Quick Absorbing Body Lotion

Lush Cocktail

Lush Snowcake

Lush Sexy Peel


Villainess Blush

Cherriflip Citrus Whip Truffle

Lush Haagen Bath

Lush Sakura

Lush Sex Bomb

Pich Posh Peach Bellini

Bubbles of Rockport Bloomin’ Raspberry Bubble Bar

Bubbles of Rockport Chocolate Covered Cherry

Lush Creamy Candy

Lush The Comforter

Those are my favs of the year! How about you? What are your favorites this year?

Tell the Muse!

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If you shop Sasa you probably already noticed that they updated the website and have quite a few new items.

A few months ago Iris from Rouge Deluxe gifted me with a beautiful Cineora Powder and Eyeliner set. You can click here to read about it.

Cineora was a brand I never heard about prior to receiving this gift. I had never seen it on my trips to Japan and it was quite brand new to my eye.

After trying it I soon fell deeply in love with it especially the powder. You can’t appreciate the powder as much unless you’re facing the dilemma I currently am.

As of late my undereye area is extremely dry. I’ve always had dry patchy skin in the Winter and oily in the Summer. But this year I find that my undereye area is suffering terribly. I’m not sure if I can blame it on the weather and to be honest I think much of it has to do with getting older.

Fact is I find myself applying eye cream day and night now instead of once daily. I also see the fine lines creeping in and I’m freaking out in a major way.

Well….

That’s all rather depressing.

The moral of the story is that I normally apply concealer and I pat my powder on under my eye area to set. I am no longer able to do this. My eye area is so dry that applying powder after my cream concealer is literally aging me 10 years or more. Seriously. So now I’m faced with the horror of having to just apply my cream concealer minus powder to set it which means my concealer isn’t lasting as long as I’d like.

The powder and the concealer is caking badly due to my eye area being so dry!!

The good news is Cineora Powder has saved the day! Serious.

The powder is super fine, silky, and light. It smooths under my eye area to set my concealer without creasing, fading, or aging me due to my dry skin! Bless be!

I’ve received many an email about the cute packaging Cineora comes in and where can it be purchased etc…

The only way you could get this would be jumping a flight or calling on a dear friend (if you have any living in Japan).

I’ve never seen this sold online, be it E-bay or online shops. Nowhere have I seen these products sold.

So what’s the really good news?

Well if my previous post (and this post) have created any lemmings for Cineora you can now purchase it at Sasa.com!

I can’t say how thrilled I am this is available at Sasa! It saves me the trouble of asking friends to get it for me and ship it over! It’s a bit more expensive but the packaging and the product is so brilliant I don’t think you’ll mind much shelling out the money!

Sadly, they only carry the powder and the mascara. No liner as of yet. But I’m just happy to have a place to replenish my powder and not have my mates running around Tokyo to get this for me!

You can click here if you’re interested in fulfilling your need for Cineora!

Cineora as far as I know doesn’t have a huge line up and I believe the powder, liner, and mascara is it. But it’s such a killer brand you won’t mind that they don’t have a ton to offer as the powder will completely wow you enough!

The powder is available for $16.50 USD and the mascara is available for $13.90 plus Free Shipping for orders over $50! Sadly, the liner (which I love!) is not available as of yet on the site!

This is most definately a Muse Approved item!

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The Muse’s little friend Megan is back and teaching us all about cosmetics! I want to adopt this child! She talks like a little English old lady! “Remember to smile!” I love her! Please let me have her! The Muse wants a army of little girl’s just like her to take over the cosmetic world!

Take a look:

How about those blending skills folks!? And the lipliner! Sheer perfection! Someone needs to remind Megan she’s gorgeous without the cosmetics

Click here to visit Megan and her cousin Rows at Mostly Make Up (Mind you Megs is the genius behind the entire blog! I’m kidding, I’m kidding!).

Note: Megan is only 7 and she’s not really doing up her makeup for a night on the town! She’s simply a very little girl enjoying her older cousin’s cosmetics and having a little bit of fun! No children were harmed in the making of this video and I promise Rows spoils her rotten and takes very good care of her from what I’ve seen So no worries that Megan is going wild applying goops of cosmetics and running around London Town with it on and no Rows does not hold a shot gun to Megan’s head while forcing her to depot eyeshadow she only does that with her boyfriend! Hehe…couldn’t resist!

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I’m positive all my MAC junkies already know but here’s the newsflash anyway. MAC’s newest color story, Sculpt and Shape, is available online and in stores this week.

I personally don’t contour my face so this collection is somewhat useless to me sadly. I actually really should because my face is round and a little contouring and sculpting could make me appear a bit longer in face but ado I don’t partake.

However, these new sculpting powders do intrigue me and the fact that Stila and a few other companies have released similar powders this year really has me wanting to possibly buy a compact.

I know I probably won’t because the fact of the matter is I’m packing so much (primer, rice powder, foundation, concealer, whisper setting powder, my secret whitening agent that I’d have to kill you if I told you what it is! Etc…Etc…) rubbish on my face as is I really don’t need sculpting powder added to that lot! It always fascinates me how much I end up with on my face in one sitting but thankfully it appears quite flawless and not caked on! Phew!

But that doesn’t make me any less curious what I’d look like if I contoured my face a bit!

Anyway….

MAC’s duos are pretty cheap so if you’re wanting (or already do) contour your face you must be happy about this!

I know of at least one person that’s excited to see these powders available and she’s already purchased one already! Visit with Vanessa at Nessasary Makeup by clicking here to view her tutorial on sculpting and contouring! Vanessa is a big believer in contouring her face and she does a fab job of it! It’s quite well done and may make you want to dive in and purchase some of these powders!

Do you contour your face?

Tell the Muse!

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The Muse’s most beautiful mate Erika, from Makeup Bag, has me lemming Bobbi Brown’s newest collection!

I must say I’ve had my ups and downs (Click here to view my woes and Click here to view my wows) with Bobbi Brown but I reboarded the Bobbi Brown train and headed over to Nordstrom’s after seeing Erika’s beaitiful FOTD today. Click here to see Erika sporting some of the Pink Raspberry collection.

I was actually really good about ordering from this collection and only got two items (I know I even amaze myself sometimes with the strength of my willpower!).

The two items that intrigued me most were the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks. I dunno what it was but I guess I was blinded by the two colors that were released for the collection. They look stunning. I love blushes that give me a pinched look and these most definately fall into that category! Honestly a majority of the time I work the “cute” look thus really sweet pinks make there way onto my cheeks. I don’t have alot going for me in the beauty department so “cute” is my way of working it thus these are most definately something that can give me the “cute” dewy look that I favor!

The palette does intrigue me but fact of the matter is it seems two costly for what you get. At $55 I can think of another palette or other makeup items I’d want much more!

The glosses are equally pretty but won’t be too flattering on me so that’s more money saved and the lip pencils just aren’t me. I’m not one for lip pencils.

Finally as gorgeous as the brush set was it was too expensive for me to really bother with!

So really not much wormed it’s way into my heart or cart for that matter.

I can’t believe the words “expensive” are popping from my very lips. Suddenly I’ve become the frugal shopper. Bloody hell what’s wrong with me!?

I think mostly Erika’s gorgeous FOTD really sold me and upon seeing the beautiful shades from the potted blush I knew I had to have those!

I’m a bit scared as I don’t have very good luck with the staying power of cream blushes but I’m hoping these are good!

You’ll see my review on these two blushes soon (My raves or my ranting like a loon! We shall see which!) until then are you loving this collection? Want any of it? Skipping?

Tell me!

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