Musings of a Muse

As my Spring season comes to an end I have less and less Spring Collection reviews to worry about. I know, terribly weird being in the middle of Spring without a ton of Spring cosmetics to review but so the life of a beauty blogger goes, we are always one step ahead of the game.

Summer approaches fast and already I have my head buried in Summer collections…..

However, today is all about you!

Today is an open mic of sorts for you to sound off on items, collections, skincare, etc…that you’re really wanting a review on. So please go ahead and comment and tell me what you’d like to see reviewed, swatched, and talked about in the upcoming months!

The Muse looks forward to hearing your thoughts on this!

Ok, so you don’t like Benetint because it’s simply too red. And you’re not too keen on Posietint because it’s too pink….but you’re still wanting a nice, natural cheek stain.

No problem.

You really need MAC Just a Pinch Gel Blush!

Introduced as a limited edition product with MAC Rose Romance Collection this sweet little blush gives cheeks just the right amount of flush without being too red, too pink, or too bold!

The gel comes in the standard paint pot jar which contains a healthy amount of product but since I’m loving it so much I feel like I need a back up before it’s gone EEP! I suppose it’s not really a stain per say but more of a gel blush. The formula is a cool, moist gel with a subtle touch of color that can be built up in intensity. Going natural or loud is completely optional just layer the product for a more bolder look or use a tiny touch for a more natural look.

Since it doesn’t have the standard formula of a liquid stain it’s easier to blend on to cheeks. You won’t be left with little dots of red on your cheeks since it absorbs and blends easily for a smooth finish. The impact is a very natural, simple flush to cheeks, nothing dramatic, very subtle and fresh. Ideal for Spring I’d say. You might recall a few years back when MAC had gel blushes in a tube. This is kinda the same concept but more of a solid base.

Personally I love the look it gives to my face. If you’re a big lover of stains you’ll probably fall for MAC Just A Pinch Gel Blush instantly! Although it’s a rather bold shade of red in the pot, I thought it looked very natural and sweet on my cheeks.

Definately Muse Approving this one for purchase! Loves it so much I think I’ll snag a back up!

Did you nab one?

Want one?

Loving it?

Tell the Muse!

For further pictures of this product please see my MAC Rose Romance First Impressions post.

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Sorry I really should have posted these with my original haul post from MAC SugarSweet. As requested from a few readers here are some swatches from MAC Minralize Skinfinish in Refined.

I was visiting on Cozy a few days ago and many of the girl’s were impressed with how pigmented Refined was. Just a note I thought it applied best and deepest when used with a kabuki brush. It works a treat as a blush so long as you buff the color into cheeks with a kabuki. With any other brush it acts more as a highlighter! Just thought I should add that if you were curious.

Some people collect stamps. Other collect stickers. Some folks like to collect designer bags or shoes. While still others collect figurines or action figures. The Muse happens to collect cosmetics (and old books but that’s not part of this story).

As per a reader’s request I’ve taken a picture of my large stash of Majolica Majorca Eyeshadow Singles. Now the Muse values Majolica Majorca Eyeshadow Singles more than she does life itself…ok I exaggerated a little bit there…she does however hold these in higher value than say her MAC stash of shadows.

I can’t say I went to a ton of trouble to get my singles because I honestly didn’t however my good friend Iris went to a heck of a lot of insanity to grab me singles that were both new and discontinued by searching around Tokyo drugstores about a year and a half ago. Lucky enough Iris scored some great shades that were long since gone from the regular catalog of single shadows. It saddens me that Majolica Majorca Single Eyeshadows get so little love due to the fact that the palettes are the star of many eyes in the cosmetic world. It’s actually really upsetting considering that most addicts would agree the singles are actually much better pigmented and better quality when compared to the palettes that MJ has out at the moment.

The singles come housed in a little slide draw that sports the MJ golden emblem on top as a pull. Pull back and the draw reveals gorgeous, silky, pigmented MJ eyeshadow. The shadows can be removed from these draws and placed in palettes however the Muse loves the packaging style so much she never really had the heart to depot any of her singles. A few years back MJ had compacts out which would house either four shadows, two shadows and one blush, or two blushes. I can’t say for sure but I think these are long past gone and I don’t think MJ actually carries them anymore or I could be wrong and they axed the dual compact which housed one blush or two shadows. Either way the compacts were quite gorgeous with a gold layered plate on top, a mirror inside, and the words “Fulfills All Your Wishes” in lovely script on the gold plate. I really should get around to actually depotting my singles and putting them in these pretty compacts but I just never had the heart to do so and my stash currently resides in a pink box and the compacts are tucked into another box.

The Muse’s MJ stash tucked safely away in a pretty box!

The singles run around $3-$5 USD and are a great deal to say the least so if you happen to be wandering around Tokyo one day and come across these wonderful singles the Muse says pick ‘em up as the are Muse Approved for purchase!

You can snag ‘em up and around the Internet as well just have a read of my Japanese Cosmetic Buying Guide to see where the best deals are!

I’ll be documenting all the shades that I have stashed away shortly so stay tuned for that post!

Majolica Majorca Holiday Collection 2007 Review

Majolica Majorca Holiday Collection 2008 I Am Gorgeous

Majolica Majorca Summer Collection 2007 Review

Majolica Majorca Mascara Review

There happens to be a thin line between love and hate. The Muse happens to love and hate Benefit Cosmetics! Some products she simply cannot live without while others make her so mad she sees red. And so the relationship goes when you’re loving and hating someone or something in this case.

Benefit has been on a great winning streak with the Muse lately, take into consideration they are releasing Benefit Coralista shortly…whoa…has to be a win this Muse thinks…also remember how wonderful Benefit Posietint was! Another score! Obviously it’s been a rather great release of products lately but sometimes Benefit has a dud or two here and there!

However, today I’m not on the topic of hate but more along the lines of passionate, undying love for Benefit Lemon Aid. My tale starts with a request from a reader asking me to review a few of my very favorite Benefit items and in this case Lemon Aid happens to fall into the favorite pile!

My story is actually quite short as Benefit Lemon Aid doesn’t have a whole lot of hoopla attached to it. It simply is and does what it says without anything in between! The simplicity of Benefit Lemon Aid is the reason the product remains a favorite of mine for at least 10 years now (could be more!).

Benefit Lemon Aid is a yellow based cream base for eyelids. So who honestly needs a cream base for eyes? Generally speaking when we choose to conceal our woes we are most worried about what lays under our eyes but not above! Lemon Aid happens to turn the situation around and offers concealer and coverage for our lids instead of under our eyes!

Do we really need to conceal our eyelids? The Muse likes to think so. After concealing under my eyes I notice that my lids are sometimes a tiny bit red, dull, or just not very awake due to dull skin around the lids. I could probably easily just use concealer on top of my lids as well but honestly I’ve tried and it simply doesn’t work.

So here in lays my solution!

Whip out my pot of Benefit Lemon Aid and go to work concealing my lids. A little dab here, a little dab there and my eyes begin to transform and I’m looking fresher, more awake, and ready for my day!

Lemon Aid is yellow based and flattering on all skin types, it’s formula is creamy yet dense enough to create a nice base for the next step in your makeup routine (think MAC paint pot texture!), and most important Lemon Aid manages to transform woe skin to wow skin with a pat here and there!

Do you need it?

Hells yes. It’s Muse Approved so that along means you need it!

Honestly, I simply can’t live without this stuff. It’s been said you can easily use it to conceal dark circles as well but the Muse highly suggests going by the book in this case and sticking to applying on the lid. This isn’t for concealing under the eye but over it!

Wakes up tired eyes? Check!
Creamy, Moisturizing Formula? Check!
Works as a great base for shadow? Check!

I think Benefit Lemon Aid pretty much has it all covered! It’s part of my daily routine for years now and I highly recommend checking it out!

Fair warning: I’ve heard many people rant about Benefit Lemon Aid and I’m quite shocked as I think it’s the awesome! Personally I think it’s a product that you need to test for yourself to see if you’re standing on the love line or the hate one!

Love it?

Not really?

Tell the Muse!

Benefit Coralista

Benefit Posietint Review

Benefit “That Gal” Review

There was some discussion after I posted my NARS Revolt review over whether or not MAC Lipglass in Jampacked was similiar to NARS Lipgloss in Revolt.

Both shades are completely different to me. Revolt is a sheer grape where as Jampacked has more of a tinge of cherry to it!

As per your request here are images comparing the too!

I hope this helps

NARS Lipgloss in Revolt Review

MAC Cult of the Cherry Review featuring an FOTD using MAC Lipglass in Jampacked