Posts From May 2009
Welcome back dear Stila. We sure did miss you!
Today the Stila website came back full force atcha! It’s back up and running ladies and hopefully here to stay with us a very long, long time. And good news for anyone who shops it tomorrow!
Check out the deets below!
Use Coupon Code APPRECIATE tomorrow and get a free Stila 24k Luxe Lip Gloss with your purchase of $25 or more. It’s Stila’s kind way of saying thanks for the support. The new Stila 24k Luxe LipGloss is part of the Stila Summer 2009 Collection so the Muse is ever so hopeful this means the rest of the line with be coming at you soon.
Stila Family with Lynn Tilton would like to extend there thanks and appreciation for all the support during their transition.
Cheers Stila! To many fine years ahead!
Your fan,
the Muse
According to every single review I’ve read, I’m supposed to love MAC Fix+Rose…but I kinda don’t and I’m feeling all guilty and bad about it. I really wanted to love this….why can’t I?
Jump ahead for the whining!
Ok, so it deserves to be mentioned the Muse never tried MAC Fix+ prior to this however when she heard rose her ears perked up. She really loves anything rose in her skincare, how very Victorian! So she was all impressed that MAC Fix+ was adding a little rose into the mix of things to create their new limited edition Fix Spray.
As per the bottle’s instructions I should be using this in one of two ways. As a toner…spray a bit on my face, moisturize, and rumble down with my makeup application or as a spray fix to keep my makeup in place. The Muse isn’t a stranger to good toner and I actually probably couldn’t live without toner. My skin is dry so toner definitely aids my moisturizer to sink in and absorb fully. The idea of using this after my makeup did scare me. Imagine having a full face of makeup on, concealer, powder, the works and spraying yourself with a toner, does that sound scary or is it me? But I was determined to make this work because the idea of this “fixing” my makeup in place all day was too appealing to pass up and I was thinking hey if it doesn’t fix it at least I’ll have a killer toner.
Yea well not so much came out of it as a toner or as a fix.
First of all I don’t like it at all as a fixing agent. After applying a full on makeup and spraying my face down with this, I end up with a bit of a strange, washed out look. It’s as if I was caught in the rain and some of my makeup wore off. I’m just not feeling makeup perfect after use if that makes sense. In it’s defense I will say I’ve only used it once as a makeup fix (and a few times after as a toner). I plan on testing further but I’ve just been a tad bit wary to do it. I loved the smell, obviously roses however it caused a strange tightening on my face which I didn’t love. I assume the slight tightening was the effect of the “fix”. As an example it always feels like I’m wearing a very light peeling mask. You know that feeling of the mask being in place and it tightens a tad bit? That’s how this feels. There was also a slight tingle, sting, burning sensation but that seemed to have disappeared since using it my 3rd or so time as simply a toner. As far as keeping my makeup in place all day…nope. Def not. If anything it washed half my makeup away with the first spray!
As a toner again I didn’t like it but will say it did an interesting job of removing the flaky skin around my eye area and cheeks. My skin is going through that period where it gets used to the warm weather and is shaking off the cold Winter so I get a bit of flaking here and there which isn’t always cleared up with exfoliation. This seems to aid my moisturizer in keeping my skin flake-free I think. But again I don’t like the tight feeling it gives my skin. I also failed to mention that, oh my god, this burns terribly if you get it in your eye and come on obviously you will since you’re squirting it on your face, it’ll STING! OW!
So at the moment I’m somewhat in limbo if I like this stuff or if it’s just another useless item. I’m still testing happily away but from what I tried so far it fails to impress. Thankfully I didn’t buy a case of this as I was so enamored by the rose! I will say it’s unquestionably a good deal, as all MAC products are, since it’s such a large bottle with a tiny price tag. I just wish it would work now…..
What are your thoughts on MAC Fix+Rose?
Or just on MAC Fix+?
Do share it!
Loves it?
Same experience as the Muse with it?
The Muse has an obssession with anything that promises her fuller, larger, poutier lips. Is poutier even a word? Most of the time she feeds her addiction by purchasing plumping glosses of all kinds to see which will give her the fatter lip look. Granted she doesn’t want to look like she had scary lip injections ala Melanie Griffith (scary!) but she does desire a sexier, fuller pout.
Up until now it’s always been about the latest, greatest lip gloss but Avon took it to the next level with it’s brand new Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump Lipstick.
Whoa a lipstick that plumps not a gloss? Cool beans!
Jump for it!
Avon Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump Lipstick is available in 10 shades and is $5.99 a tube, likey cheap plumping agents! According to Avon you’ll have to see it to believe it yourself but no worries the Muse is here to explain it all so you don’t have to run around trying to locate a tube so you can start seeing and believing.
The lipstick is your standard pigmented, moisturizing lipstick from Avon, hey Avon does excel at making generally good lipsticks, the Muse Approves. The only difference is that the core of the lipstick is packed with a plumping agent that hydrates, moisturizes, and you guessed it, plumps. This pretty much mimics similar products you’ve seen which have a conditioning core (remember MAC Color Forums Lipstick?) but the core this time around has a minty plumping medium that supposedly plumps and fattens up lips.
Ok so it glides on wonderfully well and feels incredible on my lips and yes like any good plumping gloss it has a tiny bit of a stinging bite plus plenty of pigmented color to keep your pucker looking beautiful. But…not sure on the plumping part….it does make lips fuller but I didn’t really experience any amazing effects in regards to plumping. If I’m honest I get better results with my trusty tube of DuWop Lip Venom than I did with this lipstick.
Disappointed?
A little bit.
But if I take plumping out of the equation I can’t deny that Avon Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump Lipstick is cheap, pigmented, moisturizing, and quite a nice lipstick for it’s price.
Doesn’t really plump but def serves it’s own in the realms of good lipsticks for a great price.
Likey!
Avon please work on the plumping agent and you’ll have yourself a champion although this one is still in the winning category for sure it just needs that little extra something to push it over the edge.
Sportin’ Avon Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump in Rosewood
Grab some now by visiting
http://shop.avon.com
Isadora Ultra Cover Compact Powder was recently released along with the Isadora Summer Collection. Although the compact isn’t apart of the Summer Collection it manages to stand up by itself and offer very good coverage with an equally nice price tag.
With an SPF 20 and plenty of pigment to cover everything, the Isadora Ultra Cover Compact Powder could be a nice (and cheaper) dupe of the Muse’s very favorite powder of the moment, Benefit Hello Flawless. If you’re looking to cut corners this powder is half the cost ($16 USD) and has plenty of the pigment that wow’ed me over when I reviewed Hello Flawless for you!
The powder instantly covers problem areas with a pigmented, silky formula that blends easily and flawlessly into skin. The powder comes in one universal tone which I suppose Isadora thought was a good idea but it’s a bit too beige and orange for this Muse but she does so admit that it blends pretty well once applied however I do have my doubts for anyone with fairer skin than my own or even darker for that matter as the shade just seems a tad off for darker or lighter tones. I’d recommend it for medium, medium fair, and possibly caramel tones but nothing darker or lighter than those.
SPF 20 protects skin against the harsh Summer sun while the powder formula allows for breathable flawless coverage for oily to normal skin. At the moment my skin is suffering it’s normal stage of dryness after a harsh Winter and the powder applied perfectly well without flaking up or looking unnatural on.
Coverage is mostly definitely heavy but can be applied sheer with a brush instead of a sponge. I imagine you can get all three coverages from the one powder including light, medium, to heavy. The powder is supposed to be ideal for covering up ruddy cheeks or redness on the face however I suffer from neither so I can’t say if that works but I did take note that the finish is that of a mineral foundation and it evens out my skin nicely.
For the price I don’t think you can go wrong especially if you’ve been considering Hello Flawless but just weren’t willing to dish out the $34 for it. Isadora Ultra Compact Powder makes quite a nice dupe and is good wear for the humid days ahead when our skin will need a bit of powder to keep it mattified and fresh looking while battling a forehead that looks like a mirror as our skin becomes more oily due to the warmer weather. I’d have liked a bigger selection of colors but for what it’s worth the universal shade isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be at first swatch, just remember to build up coverage slowly to avoid a case of a muddy or a mask-like look.
Sportin’ Isadora Ultra Cover Compact Powder with a spot of blush!
Visit http://www.isadora.com for more deets and purchase from Amazon or Cosmetic Mall if my review has fed your lemming!
As Summer quickly approaches you may be on the look out for a beauty steal and deal here and there! A little cosmetic treasure that won’t break your piggie bank too much. Check out some cool buys for $10 bucks and under to add to your Summer time beauty regime!
Check outL.A. Girl Illuminating Blush in Just Pinched for a flush of pink to your cheeks. This nifty blush comes in a dual compartment compact with blush on top and applicator on the bottom plus a full size mirror for quick on the go touch ups. Best part of all? It’ll only set you back $6 bucks!
Score glossy, shiny lips with a trio of
Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss Set for under $10 bucks! Likey!
A kiss of blush and a hint of bronze,
Sonia Kashuk Crème Bronzer/ Blush Duo in Golden Crème gives you both for $8.99!
Treat lips so they are moist and shiny with the Muse’s personal favorites,
Smith’s Rosebud Salve and
Smith’s Strawberry Lipbalm. Only $5.59 each so even if you indulge in both you’re still keeping it at almost $10 bucks!
Did you know
Girlactik Star Blush used to be sold at Sephora for more than the $3 bucks you can nab it for now? Check out shades Capri and Bora Bora for a slick way to amp up your Summer color wardrobe! Hey, get three and you’re still at your $10 threshold.
Pretty much a great dupe for MAC Tender Tones,
L’Oreal HIP Jelly Balm are around, available, and under $10 bucks (unlike Tender Tones which are long since gone!)
It always amuses the Muse that there are indeed items from E.L.F. that cost more than a buck!
E.L.F. Mineral Eye Shadows are $3 bucks and pack a nice hint of shimmer for a nice Summer eye look. Honest, the Muse has seen them up close and personal, not too bad a deal for these babies. Try out Celebrity or the new shade Golden.
Snag a two pack of
Softlips with SPF 20 to keep your lips protected while you’re lazing poolside.
Get your glow on for $4 bucks with
Bonnie Bell Blend N Glow Natural Blush!
Metallic strips of gold, bronze, and green are sure to keep your eyes looking fierce this Summer with
Milani Runway Eyes Palette.
Not the biggest fan of Sephora makeup but not denying that the shimmering array of
Sephora Colorful Strass Mono Eyeshadow for $10 bucks each is a killer deal. Try out #3 and #5 for that Sunset Eye Look you’ve been wanting to test drive.
NYX Cream Blush is a great one for the pool as it won’t easily rub off as a powder would plus sets you back $7 bucks…what’s not to love?
The Muse has a thing for mineral blushes especially ones that are $5 bucks, contain an SPF 15, and come in shades called Glistening Coral!
Splash Mineral Blush has it going on.
Check out some of the above cosmetic goodies to keep your Summer budget on the low down. Your wallet will thank you I’m sure!
The Muse thinks it’s been too long since her last Stash Spotlight so she deems today a good day to do one!
How about a lookiee at her stash of Bare Escentuals Glimmers and Shadows?
Ok, so the Muse is the first to admit she has way too many of these. Whoa. But she feels better that at least they were mostly collected with kits and not purchased separately, that counts for something right? Maybe….
It’s easy to compel the Muse when the the name of a product includes the key words “glamour” and “sparks”. Glamour, for sure. Sparks? As in sparkles? Ok, I’m in! Kryolan Glamour Sparks is bringing the sparkle and the glam along for this ride!
Kryolan Glamour Sparks is a brand new loose shimmering powder available from Kryolan. This finely milled, iridescent powder with it’s shimmery finish is available in 9 shades for $12 USD each.
The pots are fairly a large size and are easy on the application due to their cool packaging design. The “sparks” are housed in standard jar with a separator that has a hole on top. This hole makes for less mess when using the product as you can easily tip a small amount of the product into the lid for application or dip your brush end in it for just the right amount of powder without causing a major mess.
The powder itself isn’t terribly pigmented but more of a shimmering layer which would best be used over another shadow. In my picture below I used Silver all over my lid for just a hint of sparkle but they do work best when paired up with a shadow for a bit of a dramatic effect. If you own alot of matte shadows this is the perfect companion to create a bit of sparkle when you’d like to spice things up. On their own they work equally as well but aren’t pigmented enough to create a deep eye look. The texture is quite silky and almost reminds me a bit of MAC Solar Bits but with alot less fall out and ease of blending is considerably better as well (I’ve always found Solar Bits difficult to work with!).
Kryolan Glamour Sparks can be used on your eye obviously but they are rather great for highlighting cheeks or your arms, legs, etc for a bit of sparkle…..plenty of product comes in the jar so it last ages. You do need to prep and prime properly prior to use as they do tend to slip and slide off the eye rather quickly but with proper application they’ll last all day!
The Muse is a shimmer, sparkle, and glitter lover so Kryolan Glamour Sparks are definitely right up her alley.
Loves ‘em!
Anyone try?
Love Kryolan?
Tell the Muse!
The Muse recently shared with you one of her favorite soap companoes, Villainess Soaps. If there is anything Villainess Soaps knows how to do, it’s create soaps that’s for sure. With many scents to discover Villainess Soaps keeps a boring bar of soap very exciting and fresh.
Today I’ll be reviewing for you two limited edition scents available from Villainess right now.
Skip ahead for it!
With swirly marble designs and pretty colors, Villainess Soap not only smells nice but looks darn beautiful too! These moisturizing soaps are an extra large size and create a ton of lather plus they come in incredibly unique scents. For $5 USD each they won’t break the bank either. To get more from a bar I normally slice them in half as they are quite a large size.
Two scents that are rotating in my shower at the moment are Krakatoa and Hoarfrost both of which are great for Spring or Summer with their fresh, fruity blends.
Krakatoa is a pretty off pink with swirls of cream and a metallic pink finish on top. The scent combines exotic coconut, banana, papaya, dewfruit, and mango with normal fruits such as apple, peach, plumps, pears, and raspberries. Topping these fruits is a shot of citrus orange, pineapple, lemon, and tangerine. Alot going on in this soap and it really comes through. With a light musk and a hint of sugar and a tiny bit of sandalwood to tie it altogether you’ll feel like you’re in paradise with this soap gracing your shower.
Hoarfrost brings just the opposite to the table with it’s pale, pink marble design. Combining the fruity scent of several berries and a cool blast of peppermint and eucalyptus you’ll end up with a cool, fruity experience. This one is sure to please anyone who likes cool, minty blends. The base notes of strawberry, raspberries, and blueberries blended with the coolness of peppermint and eucalyptus makes me think of cough syrup for some reason, but not in an unpleasant way. It’s quite an invigorating blend and it’s literally cooling on your skin so obviously ideal for your Summer shower!
If you’re looking for unique soaps with tons of character def check out Villainess Soaps. The Muse suggests Hoarfrost and Krakatoa to start with, both are yummy! Likey!
Check out more at http://www.villainess.net
The Muse listens, honest she does. She’s gotten numerous requests asking for a review and swatches of the new Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush. One new shade was introduced, Pink Coral, which was quite appealing for my Summer Blush series but I got soooo many requests for a review and a spotlight on it that I just decided why not Muse it by itself instead of having it become lost in a series post!
So here it is, as per alot of requests, Product Musings on Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Pink Coral.
With the barest hint of sparkle, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blushes are sure to please anyone who prefers a non-matte blush formula. Pink Coral is one of the newest shades available in this formula and ideal for Summer-wear. It’s a gorgeous shade of coral with a tiny kiss of pink! If you’re desiring a sweet pop of peach on your cheeks Pink Coral will do the job well. Although the “shimmer” maybe scare you, rest assured it’s a barely there shimmer that’s very subtle and pretty.
The silky formula glides on well and blends beautifully leaving behind plenty of pigmented color so remember a little goes a very long way. Use the blush in it’s own pan or pop it out and place it in one of the Bobbi Brown Customize palettes to create your own unique compact.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush are fantastic and Pink Coral is a beautiful shade to Muse about this sunny day! The only rant the Muse has is the blushes are only available in seven shades, boo can we has more now?
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Pink Coral (or any shade) is Muse Approved for purchase.
There is something so terribly appealing about puffing my entire body down with a big slab of Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick! And lookiee here now I can fulfill that need with the brand new Neiman Marcus Exclusive Bobbi Brown Exclusive Shimmer Brick for Body & All Over Body Brush!
Available exclusively at Neiman Marcus the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for Body & All Over Body Brush is all about creating a bit of shimmering dazzle on legs, arms, decollete, or anywhere else you’re wanting to shimmer yourself down. Mind you this kind of treatment doesn’t come cheap! The palette is $75 USD and the brush, yes it’s sold separately, is $85 USD! Whoa.
But of course this doesn’t prevent me from wanting it any less. The Muse likes the idea of sitting around and brushing shimmer everywhere and anywhere but of course she does think a bunch of craft glitter in a bucket, dumped over her head might be a bit cheaper but it doesn’t have Bobbi’s name on it now does it?
Yes, indeed, I wants it, rather badly.
Carol’s Daughter has been known to capture my heart a time or two with their incredibly unique fragrances. So the case may be with the brand new fragrance introduced from Carol’s Daughter.
Carol’s Daughter Pearls is one of the best scents to date I’ve tried from the collection. According to Lisa Price she loves creating fragrances that are unique and unforgettable and truly that’s something she does well. Pearls is a soft blend of lemon verbena with a beautiful finish of apricot and peach. The blend has a complex way of morphing from a fruity scent to a warm sugary blend to a soft floral with hints of jasmine, rose, and violet and plenty of warm vanilla and caramel too! It quite reminds me of Fresh Lemon Sugar but far more complex with it’s various notes. The scent is very warm, sweet yet nothing too crazy, and very feminine and flirty. I love the scent of lemons in my perfume and this is a heavy note of lemon with a nice underlay of warm vanilla, sugar, and hints of caramel which slowly morphs into a fine floral. It’s quite interesting, very unique, and truly a special fragrance. Even though the fragrance is an EDT it still manages to have great throw and lingers quite strongly as most Carol’s Daughter fragrances do.
I’m reviewing Carol’s Daughter Pearls today since Mother’s Day is right around the corner and there is a very special limited edition collection available that’s a steal, a deal, and something that will make your mum (or you…hey we all need spoiling!) very happy.
Available for a very limited time is the Carol’s Daughter Limited Edition Pearls Gift Set for $49.50 which includes a Carol’s Daughter Pearls Eau de Toilette 2.5 oz and a Carol’s Daughter Pearls Body Creme 1oz. The two items come housed in a gorgeous little keepsake jewelry box with a dome lid and a little gold clasp. I still have the creme and perfume stowed away in it but you can remove them and use the box to stash away your jewelry or small treasures as it’s really a nice, sturdy keepsake box.
Carol’s Daughter Pearls Fragrance is actually $45 USD so you can spend a few dollars more and get the gift set with the body lotion for a better deal. It also ships free when purchased from Carol’s Daughter directly. Sephora also has it in store and in stock.
Carol’s Daughter Pearls is very Muse Approved for purchase. Do head to your local Sephora to check out, I’m positive you’ll fall in love with it as much as I did. It’s simply a gorgeous scent. It makes a rather great gift for Mother’s Day but the Muse can understand if you want to keep it all to yourself!
Discover more about the Pearls collection by visiting http://www.carolsdaughter.com
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