Musings of a Muse

Here’s one that could be interesting, check it out:

Sephora Brand Buildable Cover Concealer…hmmm…count this Muse intrigued!

Available in three shades for $16 USD the Muse could say that this makes a girl curious for sure. Sephora Brand Buildable Cover Concealer looks like Benefit Boi-ing but supposedly dries to a powder-like finish. Not sure I’m loving a cream to powder formula in concealer can you say creasing? But it supposedly hides just about everything including tattoos…whoa…this could be good.

Buildabe coverage makes this a customized concealer for large or small problems. Contains Viatmins A and E with hydrating agents such as cocoa oil.

Sure sounds like it’s food from the concealer gods…whether it is or not remains to be seen!

In the cart you go….review coming soon!

Tell me…

The Muse finds that a majority of Sephora brand cosmetics are a trash…could this be awesome?

Count me curious!

But of course the Muse’s is the fairest of them all!

Ok, maybe not. I probably made that up but I happen to be a legend in my own mind…that counts for something right?

Speaking of mirrors you can nab yourself a super steal at the moment as the Too Faced Mirror Mirror Lip Gloss Set is currently hitting pay dirt over @ Sephora!

Check it….

The Muse has a certain fondness…ok…PASSION for Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss! Loves this stuff. Alot. Possibly thee best lipgloss I’ve tried in a while. I’ve already reviewed it here on Musings but it’s well worth a re-mention as it’s currently on sale at Sephora.

Nab yourself a four pack of Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss for $21 USD! That’s $5.25 per a gloss and well worth it in the Muse’s humble opinion. This is a perfect excuse to try the gloss out if you haven’t already plus nab a variety of colors. Or if you’re already a fan what’s not to love about the price tag? Hello, perfectly cheap so nice to see you around here darling!

Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss lives up to it’s name giving lips a mirror like shine that’s intensely glossy, ultra moisturizing, and might I say super shiny! This gloss is truly one holy grail material. Simply love it.

Nab yours now for $21 USD @ Sephora, totally Muse Approved for purchase! You can thank me later for introducing you to this “can’t live without it” lipgloss! If you’re feeling particularly generous pick up a few for V-Day gifts for friends! That’s what the Muse did!

I’m generally wary of trying mineral foundations as they all make me rather itchy! Although it goes without saying that I was really a fan of Prescriptives All Mineral Makeup and Urban Decay’s Surreal Skin however I do find that I don’t use them as much as I would liquid or cream foundations.

I should mention I also happen to be dubious of products that promise me a one minute miracle and 4 products in 1. So be the case with Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation. 4 products in 1 pressed powder that promises me a miracle in under a minute….

 

 

 

 

naaaaaaaa no way!

 

Maybe I need to eat my words because I was actually surprised at how well Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation performed. I will mention that the first time I opened the compact I got amazingly annoyed as the product had no sponge, no brush, nothing. At $24.50 USD they couldn’t include a brush and a mirror? How irritating! After reading the back of the package where it states use brush to apply I began to get even angrier. I dunno why I was so mad because I honestly never make proper use of a brush or a puff anyway but sheesh at the very least they could have included either of the two to appease my sudden frugal nature.

 

 

 

Turns out your Muse was quite silly…the compact is actually dual sided…oh likey alot now! It has the powder on top and you can flip it over to open the other side which has a deep well, a full size mirror, and a rubber sponge! This was getting better and better. I absolutely love dual sided compacts since they are so handy for keeping powder neat and tidy. So far I was loving the packaging after my tantrum earlier on.

 

Now the packaging was cool but it was time to test out the formula. Would it offer coverage? Would I be itchy after using it? Turns out that it performs as well as my Physicians Formula Pressed Powder which I adore and in some aspects even better if possible.

 

The powder isn’t particularly silky but it is soft and it blends quite well leaving behind flawless skin. It works as a concealer, foundation, mineral powder, and SPF all in one. Technically the coverage is buildable but sheer so I’m unsure how well it’ll perform on skin problems such as acne however it does an amazing job with offering good flawless coverage and brightening up my dull skin. I think it would perform well in concealing pores as well but I don’t have terribly large pores so I couldn’t say for sure. I was slightly worried about using it under my eyes since I have a problem with powder under my eyes however this worked surprisingly well at offering decent coverage without creasing or aging my eyes. The powder contains an SPF 15 which is great if you’re seeking extra coverage after applying your normal SPF treatment.

 

 

 

I haven’t tried application with a brush but the included rubber sponge works fab at applying the powder and I actually prefer it over using a brush. It blends easily on my skin however since my skin is going through a crummy dry session at the moment it does look a little bit made up however with proper prepping and priming it looks natural and beautiful on my skin. The product is made with mineral pigment with a base of Shea Butter and Vitamin E which sounded promising for dry skin but no joy sadly, my dry skin really doesn’t love it without proper moisturizing prior to use.

 

 

 

It does promise full coverage and it does give quite a good deal of coverage yet applies sheer so it feels like you have virtually nothing on your skin. This is always a plus as we all want to look as natural as possible in regards to makeup.

 

Relieved is the Muse as it didn’t make her itchy as most mineral products do however I do have one minor rant in regards to wear. It wears extremely well but it does need a touch up around 3-4 hours into wear. I normally like my foundations to work overtime and offer at least 6 (if possible 8) hours of wear. I’m not good at touching up unless I am heading out after work so I do like my makeup to wear well and wear for hours at a time. This did need a bit of a refresher after around the fourth hour of wear. Not too bad but I’d prefer a longer wear time.

Is it a minute miracle? I dunno. I think it does a fine job of lightening my face up, giving flawless coverage, and making me look fresh and awake however I’m unsure if I can use this daily as my sole foundation since I’m more of a cream foundation girl but for in between uses I think we’ll get on just fine. Whether or not it will do the same for you really is a matter of trying it out and testing for yourself. At $24.95 USD the price is quite right which is always a bonus. The powder comes in a wide variety of tones as well which is more than I can say for most mineral products plus as I mentioned the small price tag definitely appeals.

I’m wearing the powder below with a touch of blusher. You can probably see that I do need a great deal more of concealer under my eyes as they are looking a tad puffy and tired but aside from that I think my skin looks quite healthy and flawless.

All in all I’m quite pleased with my first venture into Pur Minerals and I will repurchase the powder once I’m done with this one and also interested in trying out further items from the line.

 

How about you?

Loving Pur Minerals?

Tell the Muse!

Visit with Pure Minerals at www.purminerals.com

 

 

 

If you’re feeling tired of Urban Decay Primer Potion or you just don’t like MAC Paint Pots (like me!) you might want to check out the new Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow Primer for your priming needs.

It’s a bit expensive but well worth your time.

As far as I know this is the first time that Guerlain has ventured into the primer waters. Not many brands jumped on board the eye shadow primer hype prior to Urban Decay’s release of Primer Potion so most people were left using MAC Fluidline or MAC Shadesticks as a prep and prime prior to shadow. Hey, this worked well for years and still does but I won’t say I don’t have some sincerely major love for my Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Upon Guerlain releasing a primer though I did have to try it for myself as I simply adore Guerlain and I suppose with the release of a shadow primer I was expecting the gates of heaven to flood open…most of the time that happens with every Guerlain release that the Muse is privy to so it’s no great surprise that indeed she was touched by an angel after trying out Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow Primer.

First of all it’s not comparable to paint pots, nor is it anything like Urban Decay Primer Potion. The formulas are vastly different in my opinion and I will do the comparison babbling for you. Obviously Guerlain Eye Shadow Primer is a nice creamy base which could be compared to MAC Paint Pots however it blends easier, isn’t as thick as a paint pot’s formula, allows better blending for pigments and shadow in my opinion, and intensifies color, all while holding my shadow in place. It’s un-comparable to Urban Decay Primer Potion as well considering it’s a cream base and not as runny a formula as Primer Potion.

Guerlain Eye Shadow Primer is a nice creamy base that blends easily onto the lid. It comes with it’s own mini brush which honestly I find somewhat useless as I’d rather spread it around with my finger however if you’re a germ-a-phobe (hey the Muse is! No shame in that!) you’ll think the little brush is a life saver. A little bit of product goes a long way at freshening the eye area up a la Benefit Lemon Aid plus prepping for shadow or pigment. It has a hard beige edge which intensifies the color of shadow while it adheres. I don’t think any of my primers successfully intensify a color quite like this does. Greens look brighter, purples look deeper, and it just generally makes my shadow pop a fair bit. I think this has to do with the deeper beige of the product as it darkens shadows a fair bit which I find interesting.

I suppose it’s debatable that this could perform the same function as a MAC Paint Pot which is much cheaper but honestly I have no real love for MAC Paint Pots so this is ideal for someone like me who wanted something that was easier to blend and helped my shadow remain creaseless for hours at a time. I like the formula much better when compared to a paint pot.

Overall, I will definitely repurchase when I’m finished with this as it’s superior in terms of keeping my shadow fresh and long wearing plus offering some concealing benefits as well, allowing my lids to look fresher and less dull. It also blends beautifully well which makes application a snap. Well worth trying out if you’re anything like the Muse and not a lover of MAC Paint Pots.

All in all well done on this one Guerlain. The Muse likey!

The Muse thought she’d cheap it up today and break open her bottle of Avon Skin So Soft Fusions Soft & Replenish Dual Softening Body Wash.

I know, I know, it’s not everyday you see your Muse going the cheap route but hey desperate times calls for desperate deals right? I’m on my search for the best beauty budget finds and this happens to be one!

Read on to learn more!

At $3.99 USD for a 6.7oz bottle, Avon Skin So Soft Fusions Soft & Replenish Dual Softening Body Wash is a value for your buck. This mutitasking body wash cleanses, exfoliates, and moisturizes. See? I told you it was a deal.

The product contains a dual chamber which houses one side of a moisturizing lotion like shower gel and another which contains an exfoliating gel treatment. Squeeze a small amount into a shower puff, sponge, or your hand and the two formulas combine to create a creamy, bead infused shower gel. Small beads massage and exfoliate skin while the creamy base of the product offers moisture. The gel smells fresh and clean and leaves skin soft and silky smooth!

Skin So Soft is an extremely popular line from Avon and extending the line to include these new body washes is truly a good thing. The Muse likes the price and the way her skin feels gorgeous after use. Can’t beat the price either.

Avon Skin So Soft Fusions Soft & Replenish Dual Softening Body Wash is a fab Beauty on a Budget score.

Nab some for yourself at shop.avon.com

How very un-cosmetic of the Muse but today she’s highly interested in scoring some Hello Kitty Diamonique @ QVC! I have a serious addiction to collecting Hello Kitty themed jewelry…necklaces, earrings, watches, you name it the Muse probably owns it with Hello Kitty’s mug on it!

At one time it was pretty difficult to get nice jewelry featuring Hello Kitty within the US so I was an offshore collector nabbing things from different parts of Asia, particularly Japan.

It’s gotten considerably less harder to get some great themed products here in the US and even Sanrio has finally expanded it’s line to include some fairly nice Hello Kitty jewelry items!

When I heard QVC was doing a presentation of Hello Kitty Jewelry, well, you can imagine how excited I was!

Check out why below!

Jumping on the coat tails of MAC’s Hello Kitty release I’m sure it’ll be a Spring of Hello Kitty releases and QVC just happens to have a line up of Hello Kitty items from it’s popular “Diamonique ” line.

Nothing got up and grabbed me after I looked through some of the collection but I did end up nailing the QVC “Today’s Special” and a few other bits and bobs I’ll share with you in a sec.

The today’s special is a Hello Kitty Zodiac Pendant for $86 USD and some change. I thought it was darling so I picked it up in my sign. It’s available in all the zodiac signs and comes with a chain so I thought it was well worth the price.

I also snagged the Hello Kitty Diamonique High Polished “Kitty ID Tag” Pendant for $56 bucks which also includes the a chain. I thought this was a bit different from other pieces I collected and quite cute.

And finally I got the Hello Kitty Diamonique Sterling Princess Kitty Pendant which was $96. This was quite a unique piece as well and I thought the price wasn’t bad considering it comes with the chain as well.

They had some super cute items and I think I nabbed the most interesting and unique in the collection. It’s worth checking out if you’re a big Hello Kitty Fan!

You can check the entire collection at Hello Kitty Diamonique.

I guess Hello Kitty will be ruling the Spring scene! I look forward to see what else popped theme wit her Hello Kittyiness!

In collaboration with David and Goliath, Demeter Fragrance Library has introduced five new fun blends to tickle your perpetual child.

Exclusive to YesStyle.com these cute coffrets contain one quirky fragrance and a lotion for $58 USD. Bit on the pricey side if you ask me but the cute factor sure does appeal!

Whether you’re a drama queen, a trouble maker, think boys are smelly, or think that the world revolves around you, there’s a Demeter scent just waiting for you!

Boys Are Smelly? We all knew that! The smell of well worn leather seems to be the order of business in regards to how smelly boys are! And the Muse always thought it was sweat and testosterone, goes to show you what she knows!

The Muse likes to think the world revolves around her and just think she can have her own fragrance that’s all about her! Warm Caramel and Vanilla are what it’s all about!

Are you a drama queen? Don’t answer that. You’ll probably deny it anyway! The Nile isn’t just a river in Egypt…it’s also a fragrance entitled Drama Queen which smells of champagne and black pansies…who knew drama smelled like that?

Bet you’d admit to being a Trouble Maker faster than you would a Drama Queen! Trouble Makers smell like the things that our mama’s warned us about like cannabis, whiskey, and tobacco! Being bad never felt smelled…..so good?

Chicks Rule! We knew that. They rule with sugar, orange, lemon, and all good things nice!

Indulge your personality with Demeter’s David and Goliath Collection @ YesStyle

As part of the Bobbi Brown Brights Collection, several new shades of Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color were released. I’ve reviewed Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color briefly in my Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Collection post but I thought they did deserve a revisit and an article of their own considering what a lovely formula and product they are.

Four new shades of Creamy Lip Color were introduced with the Bobbi Brights Collection, two of which are making a spotlight appearance here on Musings for my review. Today I’ll be discussing, reviewing, and showing you the shades Retro Pink and Rose Brown.

Skip ahead to hear what I think about these lippies!

I’m a big fan of emollient lip products! Shiny, glossy, moisturizing, I’m all over that. Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color brings all those great qualities to the table with a rich pigmented base that’s sure to please makeup lovers far and wide.

The formula of the lip colors is a nice glossy, moisturizing lip treatment. It’s a cross between a lipstick, a gloss, and a lip balm, all rolled into one product. Who doesn’t love all those qualities cocktailed together? I know I do. The product glides onto the lips beautifully leaving behind pigmented, glossy color. I’m a particularly fond fan of applying a dab or two of lipstain on my lips and following up with a few strokes of the creamy lip color for a lovely pout!

I have two of the four new shades released which are Retro Pink (a bubblegum pink) and Rose Brown (a muted brown with a hint of brown).

Rose Brown makes me think of my friend Iris as I know she’d completely love this shade because it would remind her of one of her favorite lipstick shades from Esprique Precious, BR300….actually on me, as you’ll see below, the color came out as a coral because I paired it up with a touch of an orange lipstain under it prior to use. The effect of the stain and the lip color on top is interesting to say the least.

Retro Pink is a great Spring shade considering how light and fun it is. If you enjoy Bubble Gum pink shades this will surely please.

There aren’t a good deal of creamy lip colors on the market like this at the moment. I try ALOT of different brands as you know and I really never ran across a product like this outside of the Asian market. I enjoy how lightweight it is and absolutely love that it still remains a good deal pigmented even though the formula would seem sheer when applying. Color is buildable and lips are left feeling glossy, shiny, and lovely.

What’s not to love?

Who would love this?

• Anyone who likes a lightweight lip color with plenty of pigmentation and a super gloss finish!
• Those who aren’t too big a fan heavier lipsticks but still desire a bite of color on their lips!
• Anyone who enjoys a glossy, moisturizing lip treatment.

These are really fab in the Muse’s opinion and a tried and true favorite. I look forward to new color releases and I’ll continue buying since the formula is outstanding.

All in all Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color are Muse Approved for purchase. The Muse thinks they should be on your beauty radar! Loves it!

Mildew…hmm sounds unappealing but eyeshadow in Mildew…likey!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mildew is an army green shadow, and like all green shadows, lends a certain mystery to the Muse’s eyes. It seems that dark brown eyes and green eye shadow are a marriage most divine!

Mildew is pretty fantastic considering it doesn’t have the heavy duty shimmer overload many Urban Decay shadows have. Hey, the Muse is all about tons of glitter but sometimes it’s difficult to clean up! Mildew is deeply pigmented, silky smooth, blends like a dream, and doesn’t contain any glitter, always a plus for the glitter haters of the world!

Pair it up with a lighter shade of green for a contrasting, popping eye look or use it on it’s own with a bit of black liner on your bottom and lower lash line for a mysterious, alluring look!

However, you use it you’ll be happy you hauled it as it’s truly a great shade!

Do you have Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mildew in your stash?

Love it?

What are some of your absolutely favorite Urban Decay Shadow shades?

Tell the Muse!

I think a majority of the major cosmetic brands on the market have released info on their Spring Collections. Hells, most of them are selling it online and at counters for weeks now.

But which brands haven’t you heard from and are eager to hear from about their Spring Collections?

Join me to Muse about what collections you’re excited to hear about!

This was a no brainer for me. I’ve explored pretty much all the Spring Collections so far aside from the Japanese brands that haven’t released quite yet. However, one brand has not uttered a peep about anything Spring-like as of yet.

Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals.

I do look forward to seeing what Bare Escentuals has in store for us. I’m a constant ranter about their kits but I’m also a fond lover and fan and always look forward to what they are up to next! Aside from a few Buxom Lip kits I haven’t seen anything new pop up yet and I’m quite excited to see what they put on the table if anything.

How about you? What brand have you been patiently waiting on to release their Spring Collection?

Tell the Muse!

Bit busy this week?

Discover what you may have missed this week at Musings or revisit some past post favorites!

Discover how the happy the Muse was when she found Lush The Strokes Hair Treatment was back on the table!

The Muse was, is, and shall remain loving Benefit Coralista!

Discovering an HG concealer system that was awesome for this Muse. Find out why she is loving Mally Cancellation Concealer System

Get excited about bright, bold shades with the Muse’s Bobbi Brown Brights Palette Review & Swatches.

Shimmering powder? Quite a popular post was the Art Deco Glamorous Highlighter Review.

HD Makeup review is coming your way! Take a refresher course before the review by checking out the Muse’s babblings on the new Morgen Schick HD Perfection Kit.

The Muse has been busy, busy, busy announcing releases for upcoming Spring Collections 2009 and reviewing many of the collections for herself! Check out all the Spring Collections 2009 tagged posts here at Musings to see what you missed!

A makeup base for the eyes that may or may not work? The Muse has convinced herself B&C Ultra Skin Makeup Base For Eyes has her covered!

Happy Weekend Everyone!