Musings of a Muse

KATE is one of Kanebo’s many sub-branch cosmetic lines available within Japanese drugstores in Japan and if you’re lucky in various parts of Asia. Many of you already know most of this already but for those new to Asian brands a few quick facts about KATE lay ahead.

KATE is a rather inexpensive, mid-range priced cosmetic line that sports a variety of edgy compacts and cosmetics with fantastic color payoff and quality. The line is darker and has a certain flair that many Japanese cosmetics don’t sport. Where as many of these brands sport kawaii, girlish, or very feminine packaging, KATE brings the edge to it’s brand.

One of my very favorite items from the line are the KATE Dual Carat Eye Shadow palettes!

Jump ahead for my stash!

KATE Dual Carat Eye Shadow Palettes contain two contrasting shades of shimmering, pigmented shadow in a small slim line case. The shadows are silky smooth with fantastic color payoff and most important pack a nice shimmery finish that the Muse favors!

I’m a big lover of these little guys and I believe I’ve collected all the shades that KATE has released so far. I’m ever hopeful when a new collection pops up that they’ll either add to the current catalog of Dual Carat compacts or introduce a similar line up as KATE is known for revamping there palettes while keeping certain aspects of the old.

They are a true favorite with this Muse as you can see from my vast collection!

How about you?

Love KATE Dual Carat Shadow Palettes?

What’s your favorite KATE palette?

Tell the Muse!

Aren’t fairies supposed to be sweet little bits that run around granting wishes or something?

Well, not according to Captain Jack they aren’t!

Have no fear! Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes is sweet and will grant all your mascara wishes with a sweep of it’s wand! Scary fairies not included thankfully.

If you hated Majorca Majolica Gorgeous Wing as much as the Muse you’ll be thankful for the introduction of the newest mascara from Jelly Pong Pong entitled Fairy Lashes. The promise of light, fluffy lashes that are thicker, fatter, and volumized awaits you without the drama of harsh fibers!

If you have stubbier lashes or smaller lashes this is one you’ll want to try and if you already have full lashes but want extra volume with a light, soft feel Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes is for you.

The formula is an interesting formula that creates nice full lashes with plenty of volume all while keeping things light and soft. Your lashes will feel virtually weightless and soft with this mascara in place. Where as some mascaras give an icky hard feeling to lashes, Fairy Lashes keeps lashes soft and conditioned as if you aren’t even wearing mascara at all! Likey! The applicator is a big chunky brush which captures all your lashes at once so no struggling to try to get inner lashes. One swipe and you’re golden! A few swipes more will get you plenty of volume and curl.

I thought the mascara also managed to keep curl exceptional well which is probably due to it’s very light formula. Asian (or anyone with shorter, stubbier lashes) lashes can definitely benefit from this formula as it’ll keep curl all day plus keep lashes soft which in turn will allow for less breakage.

The formula is formulated with cotton seed extract which is supposedly an active ingredient that contains natural oligosaccharides which restructions eyelashes and renders them flexible and hydrated.

Overall, I absolutely loved this and I wish more mascaras would embrace the interesting “technology” behind it. It keeps my lashes very soft, holds curl all throughout the day, and it’s fairly easy to remove even though the formula is waterproof. It doesn’t smudge, cake, or create raccoon eyes which is always a plus. The formula itself just feels so natural and weightless on my lashes I can’t help but love it.

The mascara comes in a cute blue box with a sweet fluffy feather affair on top. The box splits open to reveal the purple tube of mascara within. Quite a nice presentation packaging wise. I’m always so chuffed proper with Jelly Pong Pong packaging I actually ended up keeping this box and storing the mascara back inside since I loved it so much!

Who might love it?

• Anyone who’s been seeking a weightless formula that makes lashes soft while giving good volume to lashes!
• Anyone with shorter, stubbier lashes who desires a softer natural look to lashes while not causing breakage!
• Someone who’s been seeking a mascara that keeps curl all day with a weightless formula!

The mascara successfully does what it promises which is to create fuller, curlier lashes while keeping them weightless, soft, and natural. Truly a winner in the mascara world! I’m Muse Approving this for purchase as I think it’s truly a great one. I think my Asian girls would particularly love this formula so I do highly recommend checking it for yourself.

You can get yours from the Jelly Pong Pong site at http://jellypongpong.com

Jelly Pong Pong ships worldwide too! Cost per a mascara is $18.50 USD or £15

Want it?

Tried it already?

What are your fav Jelly Pong Pong cosmetics?

Tell the Muse!

Omg! The MAC Grand Duo Collection was created to tempt and tease a Muse! I’ve already blown through much of my Spring budget and I’m so, so tempted by this collection!

Jump ahead to find out if I’m hauling!

MAC Grand Duos combine two of my favorite items from MAC, an MSF and a Mineralized Blush. Well Hello gorgeous want to come home with me tonight?

I so want all of ‘em! I’m tempted beyond belief but I’m also feeling the love for many of the other upcoming MAC Collections that will pop up shortly, can you say Sugar Sweet?

So I’m in high debate whether to haul these or just wait?! Oh the pain of having to make choices such as this. Le sigh!

What about you?

Hauling?

Hells no!

Tell the Muse!

Oooo the weather is warming up…kinda…sorta…ok, not really but soon it’ll be warmer and you’ll want to have picture perfect knees, elbows, and legs. You’ll be wearing shorts, you’ll be showing your arms, and tons of skin will be on display for all to admire or if you’re wobbly like the Muse you keep those bits under cover hehe!

You’re so NOT wanting to have crusty, flaky, dry elbows, knees, and legs right? Don’t panic. Solution ahead!

I’m a big fan of Lush Massage Bars as I think they do my skin a world of good especially the dry, ickier parts of my body but I’m all for an alternative that’s cute and sweet smelling!

That’s where Vintage Sister Elbow Grease comes into play! It gives me a bit of a sweeter option with kawaii packaging. What’s Elbow Grease anyway? Elbow Grease is simply a solid moisturizing bar that you can rub on your dry skin to smooth it up. You take the soap shaped bar and rub it on rough elbows or knees or anywhere else dry skin is cropping up and as your body temperature rises the bar will melt slightly into a creamy, dreamy moisturizing treatment.

Vintage Sister steps up the game and makes Elbow Grease extra cute and travel friendly by housing it in a sliding tin case. Slide the tin open and pop the bar out for use, after you’re done pop the bar back in and slide the tin closed!

Elbow Grease is $10 USD a tin and comes in six fun scents! I have mine scented in Carribean Fruit which has touches of tropical orange, cherry, coconut, and pineapple! It’s a combo of sweet, tropical fruits that’s sure to get you in the mood for Spring!

Each bar will last around a three to four weeks with daily use. It works fabulously well at making skin extra smooth and particularly makes your legs feel wonderfully silky and short ready for the Summer!

All in all I’m still a big lover of Lush Massage Bars as they perform the very same way but I really like the fun, quirky style of Vintage Sister which is what makes Elbow Grease such a hit for me.

Snag some today at www.vintagesister.com

Shipping is very reasonable as well ranging from $1.99-$2.99 USD or less within the US and $6 USD and up for International Orders.

Loves it! Works a treat and getting the Muse all soft and silky again!

Tried it?

Want to?

Tell the Muse!

Spring obviously signals the mating call and the need for men? We’ve been privy to Urban Decay’s take on men this Spring and today we’ll indulge our need for more men with the Balm Down Boy Blush and Shadow.

Hey, with a blush dubbed “Down Boy” I’m almost positive you’ll be irresistible to the guys this season!

the Balm is terribly underrated isn’t it? Taking into consideration that the line isn’t terribly big that may sway you from actually checking it out but the Muse does so solemnly swear that the Balm is well worth checking out, especially when they put out items like Hot Mama and Down Boy.

In the case of the Balm Down Boy Blush the Muse was tickled pink, literally, when she seen it. The idea of a baby pink blush appeals in a big way as my chubby little cheeks sure do love a good pink blush but the keyword here kids is “baby” pink. Baby pinks tend not to work well for me but I was determined to give it a go. Actually, come to think about it, does baby pink work for anyone!?

When I got my package it didn’t surprise me in the least that I was completely and utterly disappointed with the blush. It was extremely pale, chalky, and just unappealing. It was quite headed for the rubbish bin before I even tried it but lucky enough I did decide to dip a brush in and have at. Sure glad I did try as it turns out that this baby pink works quite the treat on a Muse’s cheeks.

First the packaging. Packaging is awesome as it has that retro glam beauty charm that I adore. It’s a flip top with a full size mirror and a cute vintage design. I’m a lover of this style palette, Too Faced is legendary for housing it’s cosmetics in similar style compacts, as they are easy to store, travel with, and just rather fun.

Although the powder is a tad on the chalky side I was pleasantly surprised at how well it blended and how much pigmentation it actually packs. The color is the perfect flush of pink that’s not overwhelming and looks very natural on. I can’t help but think at least one or two people are out there in makeup land who are hating on Benefit Posietint and of course these people will be more than pleased with The Balm Down Boy because the color is so natural and less of a louder pink when compared to Posietint. What’s interesting about the product is the buildability…gee is buildability even a word? I deem it a word! The product allows for a light application which gives just a touch of pink to cheeks or a few strokes will build it up to an even deeper shade of pink. But no matter how you use it, heavy handed or light, you’ll always end up with just the right shade of perfect pink. If you’re feeling the need you can easily use the blush as a shadow as it multitasks as a sweet pink on your lids! Pigmentation as I mentioned earlier is very good so you can easily build up a nice shade of pink on your eyes.

With Spring well on it’s way a natural, soft pink is worthy of your attention and the Balm Down Boy has it in the bag! I absolutely loved this and think it’s a perfect shade of pink and well worth checking out for yourself. I’m Muse Approving it for purchase with one downside, it’s rather a soft pink and won’t be flattering on all skin tones (cool, lighter tones go best with this) so points are deducted for that. Aside from that I think the blush is absolutely gorgeous and well worth checking out!

In the picture below I’m wearing Down Boy on my cheeks and on my lids!

A quick switch of gloss! I decided that Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in James was looking much better paired with the blush! So James is on my lips in this FOTD

It’s available at Sephora and the Balm’s website. If you purchase the Balm Kiss Me Goodbye Overshadow for $15 USD you can get 25% Off your total order when ordering on the site so you might want to hope over to take advantage. Just place items in your cart, check out and pay full price. the Balm will refund the 25% Off on a second invoice but I’m not sure when this is over so you might want to e-mail to ask.

Tried the Balm Down Boy?

Loving it?

Tell the Muse!

It’s March and by the 20th the first day of Spring will be upon us but for the most part it’s still dreary as heck outside my window, cold, and I’m still quite firmly in hibernation mode without a schedule for coming out of it anytime soon.

But forget all that….

We can have a tiny bit of Spring right now with the Estee Lauder Vivid Gardens Collection!

The Muse deems it that we need a little Spring right this very minute because all this cold weather is just terribly depressing! Break out the Estee Lauder Vivid Gardens Collection friends and brace yourself for pretty pastels, sparkling illuminating powder, and beautiful shades of flattering pink that scream Spring, Spring, Spring!

The Muse fell in love with Estee Lauder’s over sized illuminating powders this past Holiday Season when she got her hands on the Estee Lauder Shimmering Jewel Powder. I guess after that there was no looking back. These jumbo sized compacts are awfully addicting and I can’t help but want every single one that comes out particularly when they are as pretty as the Estee Lauder Vivid Garden Illuminating Powder. With swirls of shimmering gold, lilac, pink, and creamy white this luminous powder is sure to please the masses plus it doesn’t hurt that the design on the powder is stunning. Featuring a beautiful floral motif with a firefly fluttering happily away it’s brings the pretty as well as the practical. The powder gives cheeks, eyes, chest, and face a tiny glint of a soft glow. Swirl your brush all over it to pick up just the right amount to accentuate your cheeks and forehead with a pretty yet subtle luminous glow. The powder is multitasking as you can use it just about anywhere including your eye lids as a shadow! Can you tell how in lust I am with this palette? I think the palette is particularly flattering on cooler skin tones as it has that certain “pink” glow that’s very pretty on a cooler tone!

Following up this collection is the new limited edition Estee Lauder Vivid Gardens Signature Eyeshadow Quad which features four pastel shades of silky, shimmering shadow for eyes. The colors are all very light shades and again I think they’d be best suited to cooler tones. Inside the palette houses a soft baby pink, mint green, a baby blue, and true white. I’m partial to the palette because I really adore pastel shades. I think that the mint green and blue work best together as they contrast nicely with a bit of the white as a highlighter for the highbrow area. The baby pink and the white go well together however you do have to be careful with the two as blended out they appear to become the same shade. You can mix and match virtually any of the shades in any which way you want. The compact comes with a dual sponge applicator and another dual applicator which has a sponge on one end and a brush on the other. The shadows have good pigmentation and have a silky soft finish which causes a tiny but of drama for blending but nothing too crazy so long as you’re careful.

One shade of Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Gloss in Lotus Blossom was released with the collection as well. This is a shade of pure pink but with a heavy base of peach and a pearl like finish that’s quite flattering with the shades of the eye palette.

The overall look you can achieve using the entire collection is very soft, subtle, and Spring-like. It’s a very feminine collection that makes one think of fresh picked flowers, buzzing bees, green grass, and a tea party outside on a breezy Spring day.

If you’re partial to pastels and light shades of color this will surely please. Overall, the collection has some very nice items. The Muse’s personal favorite is most definitely the Estee Lauder Vivid Garden Illuminating Powder as it’s one of those gorgeous unique makeup items that I like to make a guest starring appearance in my makeup vault.

In the photos below I’m using the white and pink shadows from the Estee Lauder Vivid Gardens Signature Eyeshadow Quad. The pink is on my lid and I contrasted it with a sheer wash of the white shadow all over my eye. On my face I have a simple pink blush from MAC and topped it with a heavy brush of Estee Lauder Vivid Garden Illuminating Powder. To complete my look I slicked on Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Gloss in Lotus Blossom!

For this look I used the baby blue as a lid shade and contrasted it with the mint green in the v of my eye blending outwards. A list dusting of the illuminating powder on my cheeks completed my look!

Check out the Estee Lauder Vivid Garden Collection at www.esteelauder.com or your local counter!

Picked up any of this collection for yourself?

Wanting to?

Tell the Muse!