I had to go to CVS yesterday to hunt and peck through scary drugstore makeup to locate the Maybelline foundation I was babbling about yesterday. On my quest I couldn’t resist plopping some more Essence of Beauty Brushes in my cart.
Jump ahead for haulage pics!
I don’t normally like cheap brushes but I must say that these always impress. I ended up picking up the travel size kit and a two brush shadow duo set. I think both sets cost me $15 USD or so? Not too bad a price for seven brushes total. Hi cheap brushes the Muse likey you very much.
Although I wasn’t as pleased with the travel set as I was with the shadow duo set. The brushes seemed a bit more dense and harder than the normal Essence brushes I’ve picked up but none the less they were good aside from that. If you’re looking for some inexpensive, budget friendly brushes I’d totally recommend these as they are the best I’ve personally come across. I’m a MAC brush girl all the way but I can’t deny that the next best thing if I’m looking to save a buck or two would be snagging yourself some of these bad boys.
Check your local CVS for the selection.
Loves ‘em and even slapping a Muse Approval on ‘em for purchase!
My pink radar is currently tuned into Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Confetti. Loves it!
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Confetti was released with the Bobbi Brown Platinum Collection and in my opinion easily ignored since it’s a simple, sheer pink shade. But remember kids try not to judge a book my it’s cover!
The shade does look a tiny bit dull in the tube but on my lips is looks stunning. It’s a nude pink that gives me lips a full look while coloring them a natural, sweet shade of pink! Although it’s supposed to be a shimmer formula I got more of a pearl finish to the gloss which I normally don’t like but exceptions are made for such a lovely color.
The formula has quite a bit of tack and stick so it’s incredibly long wearing however I do detest the lip brush that comes with all BB glosses. Why oh why do they always split!? It drives me quite mad and makes me grumpy as hell! Aside from that one minor rant I think Confetti is worth checking out before it’s gone for good!
Great shade, loves it and Muse Approving it for purchase!
The Muse loves paving the way for brand new items she discovers! Her latest discovery is Beaute Cosmetics, hello pretty cosmetics wanna come out and play with the Muse? Beaute Cosmetics is a line of elegant, unique cosmetics which brings beauty to the next level.
The Muse recently tried out Beaute Cosmetics Liqui-Gel Stains for Cheeks and Lips and is absolutely in love!
I’m a big lover of cheek stains! Sweat-proof, rain-proof, hot weather-proof, atomic bomb-proof, you name it and cheek stain can hold it’s own against it. It’s my go to item for long wearing makeup that gives me a sweet flush of color that’s youthful, pretty, and long wearing…likey!
But of course when I see Beaute Cosmetics Liqui-Gel Stains for Cheeks and Lips I got hyper. Pretty stains that looked like glass tubes of neon! Available in four shades these gorgeous stains are possibly the longest wearing stain I’ve come across. The formula is a beautiful light, cooling gel that absorbs and easily blends into skin leaving behind a beautiful pinch of color. I’ve only tried one shade from the four available (The color I tried is Flouron) and found it interest that in the tube the shade is a bright neon orange but it quickly morphs upon contact with my skin and becomes a sweet shade of natural pink.
The stain’s unique formula contains Orchid Extract OS which is a naturally derived extract from the Precious Thai Pink Orchid which is rich in minerals, calcium, iron, copper, and zinc. It’s interesting ingredient also lends a floral scent to the gel which is quite nice!
Who might like this?
Anyone who fancies a long wearing blush that wears all day without fading and comes off when you want it off, not before!
Those who desire a flush of color on cheeks that looks like you’ve been pinched, just came in from the cold, or just been kisses!
Those who want a multitasking product for lips and cheeks that creates a youthful, sweet glow!
Beaute Cosmetics Liqui-Gel Stains for Cheeks and Lips are an absolute rave for this Muse and Muse Approved for purchase. I absolutely adore the formula and how easily it blends, like the long wear (can’t wait to use it in the Summer), and love the unique colors that Beaute has introduced in these stains.
If you’re a stain lover you’re sure to adore these!
Visit beaute-cosmetics.com and learn more about Liqui-Gel Stains and the rest of the incredible collection available from Beaute.
Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color in Platinum Gold was released as part of the Spring Collection this year and proved extremely difficult to get a hold off. Almost as soon as it released it was sold out in Japan right away. See kids? Japan knows what LE really means!
Jump ahead to hear a rave about Platinum Gold!
Proving to be one of the most elusive items to date that the Muse had to track down, Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color in Platinum Gold also happens to be the most beautiful. After it selling out in Japan I had to quickly located it in Taiwan, which bless be, it was easy enough to locate. It’s understandable why it was so popular as it’s probably one of the prettiest shades in the Jelly Eye collection. The color is a white gold with contrasting silver shimmer and sparkle. It’s heavy duty sparkle so if you’re not a lover you’d best keep away from Jelly Eye Shadows in general.
Although it’s a cream shadow it blends effortlessly and creates a soft, subtle golden shimmer on the lid that can only be described as stunning. It also lends a certain lightness to my eyes so it’s particularly nice if I’m having a dark circle day or baggy eye day as this will brighten up my eyes a fair bit. I’ve have a few of the Jelly Eye Shadows before and I really like the formula. As I mentioned the formula blends easily and it’s also very light and smooth, not heavy at all, so it feels silky on. Although for some the amount of shimmer could be a deal breaker. It doesn’t dry quickly so it gives plenty of time to blend the shadow out, I’m a sucker for cream shadows that don’t dry right away as I think this causes woe for blending. The shadow comes housed in a gorgeous jar with a pretty silver top, very feminine and elegant.
The shade is probably my favorite from the line so far and is truly a pretty addition for Spring. It may prove slightly difficult to find so I suggest trying KATE Gel Eyeshadow in GD-1 or Coffret D’Or Fluffy Shine Eyes in 03. Both of these options are easier to find stateside and cheaper as well!
Apologies for my bare lips in the photos!
I’m looking forward to seeing what Jill Stuart has in store for us this Summer! I’ve been kinda off the Jill Stuart bandwagon lately but I’m always excited for new release.
The Muse is absolutely loving the Stila Summer Collection so much. It’s possibly one of my favorite releases this year for Summer with its shimmering gold and bronze shades. Almost everything released was a win for this Muse. I’ve been busy testing it all out and today I’m bringing you a review of the brand new Stila Marigold Convertible Color Duo!
One part bronzer and one part shimmering convertible color are combined to create Stila Marigold Convertible Color Duo. Creating a creamy shade of convertible color in a bronzer is ideal as it’s virtually sweat proof, tear proof, and Summer-wear proof! This isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
The duo comes with a strong matte bronze shade and a shimmering bronze shade (think shiny new penny). I do think I’d probably avoid this if it contained only the matte bronze color as I can’t pull off such a deep shade of bronze on my face. By combining the two shades though you’ll get a very nice healthy flush of peach. To start my look I add a touch of the matte shade to my cheeks and blend and proceed to place some of the shimmering shade on top as this lightens up the muddiness of the matte shade and creates more of a peachy, sunny glow. The duo together is gorgeous but as I said I doubt I’d ever be able to use just the matte shade as it’s too strong a color to use on it’s own. The appeal of the product is definitely in the fact that it comes with two beautiful shades that when cocktailed together create a perfect sun kissed glow.
If you’re looking for that perfect compact to give your cheeks a bit of Summer glow, look no further than Stila Marigold Convertible Color Duo! It’s a great solution for long wearing, Summer proof-makeup that’s perfect for that beach glow. The Muse likes it, alot!
I slipped a quickie eye shot in too! That’s DuWop’s trio on my eyes, god I freaking love that palette!
Meet Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush an absolutely essential item for Summer.
Combining equal parts blush with a beautiful bronzer and you’ll end up with the perfect shade of gorgeous! Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush is the ideal product for people like myself who really don’t like bronzers. The powder combines the richness of bronzer but with just the right touches of peach to create a warm shade of blush that’s bound to flatter any skin tone.
The blush is housed in the new standard Dior compact which they have currently embraced for a majority of the line. This isn’t the traditional blue shade though, it’s a deep brown shade. Quite pretty and practical so you’re not worried about scratching up the palette or not wanting to use it because it’s too gorgeous.
Inside you’ll find a beautiful quilted design on the powder. The design has the Dior logo which isn’t easy rubbed off after a few times using the powder, that’s always a plus as I adore designs on my palettes. The design has equals parts blush versus bronzer so you can use the shades separate or together. I prefer using the shades together as it creates the perfect glow on my cheeks but if you prefer you can use the shades separate. The bronzer can be used to give cheeks a glow or to contour your face where as the blush part can be used to cast a peachy glow on your cheeks. The powder does have a fine shimmer overlay but it quickly rubs away after first use so you’re left with a silky satin finish.
I’m happy to report that the Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush is available in two shades, both of which are available in the US. Traditionally, Dior releases items in two shades but the US only ever gets the one color selection. I was pleased that this time around both shades are available within the US.
So far I’ve only tried Coral Riviera but I’ll be purchasing the second shade Rose Brazilia shortly as I was deeply impressed with how well Coral Riviera performs. I think the bronzer is the ideal solution for anyone afraid of bronzers or who doesn’t like using a bronzer as it gives a perfect glow to face and cheeks. I think it also prevents those with a heavier hand, like myself, from using too much product. As I find if I use a bronzer powder and follow up with a blush I overdo the amount I’m using. When I use the Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush I get the perfect ratio of blush and bronzer. The powder will work for just about any skin tone but I think it’s particularly a great addition to a fair or medium skin tone as it’s a good color combo that doesn’t appear too orange, too muddy, or too brown on a lighter skin tone. After I used the blush I thought it made me look like I used NARS Orgasm on my cheeks but with more pop and just the right amount of a sunny peachy glow. Loves it!
Who would love this?
Anyone who hates bronzers!
Anyone with a lighter skin tone that has always wanted to use a bronzer but was scared to!
Those who want a sunny, peachy glow on their cheeks!
Anyone who doesn’t want to use a bronzer and a blush but prefers one product that can perform both functions in one swipe of your brush.
Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush is my ideal Summer bronzer and I absolutely love it. I look forward to trying the other shade in the collection shortly and bringing you a review of it. I can’t recommend this enough and give it my highest Muse Approval for purchase.
Overall, the blush is simplicity at it’s best and makes using bronzer a snap! I love the overall look of the product on my cheeks and feel like it’s a perfect addition to your Summer makeup wardrobe.
The Muse loves veering off the well used cosmetic path and taking an adventure into something new and exciting. When she recently discovered Pink Beauty she knew it was something special!
Although the Muse is far from being a simple beauty girl she couldn’t help but fall deeply in love with Pink Beauty Cosmetics on first try. This luxury brand of cosmetic is known for its simple, effortless beauty with it’s array of user-friendly products that are all decked out in pretty pink packaging, what else would you expect from a brand named Pink Beauty right?
Part of Pink Beauty Cosmetics appeal is the simplicity of their products. Ease of use, pretty packaging, and interesting shades make for a truly unique makeup experience. Sometimes the Muse likes having less variety and more quality! Catering to Eyes, Lips, and Cheeks the entire line is based around simple yet pigmented shades of color to flatter many skin tones, a little something for everyone exists within this collection.
I tried out Pink Beauty’s Spring Collection which was utter simplicity at it’s best. I’d have never though to purchase any of these shades to pair up with each other and was slightly skeptical about the end result. Turns out I shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover because three simple products, in three simple shades now make up one of my very favorite looks for the season ahead!
Pairing a smoky brown eye look with pretty pink cheeks and a stunning pop of fuchsia lip color created a chic, flirty look for Spring. As I said I’d have never paired brown shadow with a pink blush or a fuchsia lipstick for that matter but turns out how terribly wrong I was because the entire selection made my eyes brown eyes bigger, my cheeks flirty and fun, and my lips pouty and sweet! The products I used for my completed look will be sold as a kit soon from Pink Beauty but for now are available separately for purchase.
I started my look by using Pink Beauty Eye Shadow in Chi Chi on my eyes. I kept this simple by picking up color with my finger and smudging onto my eyes. I was all about simple so I didn’t even bother using a brush I simply smudged the color on my lids and I think this actually made the finish of the shadow even better. Chi Chi is a sable brown that looks quite gorgeous with my brown eyes. The formula is silky smooth and blends nicely. The shadow is buttery in formula so blending is an absolute breeze. The finish is satin and has a nice pigmentation for excellent color payoff.
I followed up with Pink Beauty Cream Radiance Rouge in Allure. If you’re a lover of Bobbi Brown Rouge Pots you’ll absolutely love these blushes as they have the same long wear formula as Bobbi’s version. This blush is going no where. Sweat-proof, water-proof, and tear-proof, this blush is staying on all day. Loves the long wear of it! The shade I tried was a pale nude shade of pink. On my cheeks it’s very natural and nude. If you’re a lover of natural blushes without alot of pop this one is a must try.
To complete my look I slicked on some Pink Beauty Luscious Lipshimmer Lipstick in Vi Vi. Pink Beauty has two finishes on it’s lipsticks one shimmer and one sheer. Of course, the Muse is all about the shimmer. Vi Vi is a soft fuchsia that has a fair bit of maroon to it. Pairing it with Chi Chi makes a rather interesting, unique effect as normally I’d go with a warmer shade of lipstick in this case but pairing pink with brown contrasted the simplicity of the brown with a pinch of pink. Nice! The lipstick formula is nice and glossy and glides on beautifully well, gloss is completely optional as it has a nice shine-like finish.
Pink Beauty Cosmetics is out to impress as when I got my package it was wrapped up in lovely pink tissue paper with a gorgeous little bow! I felt all special getting such a sweet little package to unwrap. All of the cosmetics from the brand are housed in girlish pink packaging which is sure to appeal to the package junkies who love sweet packaging (like me!).
Overall, the line is really quite a nice little stash of undiscovered goodness by many of you I’m sure. The Muse thinks it’s always nice to discover a little something new in makeup land! Pink Beauty offers a fresh take on the normal humdrum of cosmetics we are presented with daily. The line isn’t terribly extensive and I’m completely ok with that as I just can’t take too much selection lately as I’m awful at making up my mind about what I want. Forsaking a ton of product and having a decent amount of selection keeps Pink Beauty an interesting choice for hauling!
I was pretty impressed with the three items I tried and I’ll be back for more without question. I’m Muse Approving all three for purchase the quality was awesome and I loved the overall look I created using the products! Likey!
Pink Beauty Cosmetics can be located at www.pinkbeautycosmetics.com. They do ship within the US even though they are a Canadian company.
Pink Beauty extended a great little coupon to Muse readers! 20% Off your entire purchase using coupon code MUSE so go indulge in an item or two. I believe the coupon might also give you free shipping.
I can’t deny that the release of the Etude House Precious Mineral Skin Project Collection disappointed me. I really wanted some festive, flirty Spring Collection that was filled with sweet shimmering shades. Instead we got a round up of plenty of base makeup items with little of the collection concentrating on any point pieces.
Le sigh!
But fear not. Etude House Precious Mineral Skin Project Collection is solid gold base makeup and more than makes up for it’s lack of color with an amazing selecton of good quality base makeup for a nice price tag.
Even though I suffered some disappointed with it’s release I can’t deny that the release of Etude House Mineral Skin Project was probably one of the better collections released from Etude House as of late. Lately, collections have come and gone without really capturing my attention but this definitely caught my eye since I’m a fond fan of Etude House BB Creams.
Today I’ll be reviewing two of the items from the collection and continuing my review later this week with the rest of the items I got. The two items I am concentrating on today are Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream and Etude House Precious Mineral BB Compact.
Until now the concept of “mineral” makeup in liquid form was rather confusing to me. I really didn’t get the point. Granted I imagined the formula included minerals in it’s ingredients but the finish was quite the same as any other liquid foundation I’ve come across. I’m mentioning this because I was quite delighted with the finish of the Etude House Mineral BB Cream. It’s a rather strange little product as it’s obviously a liquid cream however it’s finish is that of a mineral makeup and gives my skin a buffed on look that’s quite flawless and very, very pretty. I won’t say this dries down to a complete matte finish but it looks very matte and the complete effect looks quite like I used a mineral makeup. It’s interesting to say the least.
Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream has all the benefits of a normal run of the mill BB Cream as it offers an SPF of 30, anti-aging ingredients, and whitening benefits. Everything and the kitchen sink is offered with this BB Cream as with many others. I can’t speak for anti-aging but it does whiten and brighten skin and the added benefits of SPF 30 are always a bonus. The box proclaims it offers sheer coverage but I personally think it offers medium to heavy coverage with proper application. A little goes a very long way so a few drops do me well at offering beautiful coverage while erasing dullness from my skin and making my skin literally glow with health. Truly it’s near perfect coverage. The cream comes in two variations one light and one darker (although the darker shade isn’t that dark). Although the cream should adjust to your skin tone I do think that it’s best used on fair to medium complexions but not dark, tan, or olive tones. This is a Korean product so it’s especially suited to Asian skin especially if you have yellow undertones as the product has a good deal of soft beige to erase yellow tones and even out the complexion.
There isn’t anything particularly special about the Etude House Precious Mineral BB Compact but I fancy it anyway as it’s a perfect follow up for setting the BB Cream. The powder comes housed in a very simple pink compact with a large mirror and a soft sponge. This comes in three shades, I got the lightest and although I’d probably do better with the 2nd shade I didn’t mind so much as I felt like it went well with the lightest shade of BB that I selected. It blends out well on my skin and sets my makeup for long wear. It has an SPF of 30 as well which is fantastic.
Both products promise “sheer glowing skin” and honestly that’s exactly what they deliver. You’d never know it during application as both products just seem your run of the mill BB cream and powder foundation. But don’t let the formula fool you, the results speak for their self as my skin was glowing this morning. I’ve always wanted to be able to use mineral makeup but never really found a brand that didn’t match me itchy or make me look like I had a mask of makeup on. This gives me the look of mineral makeup in a liquid formula, likey!
A few things that deserved to be mentioned……
Wasn’t loving the price on any of this. I was shocked how expensive it was by Korean cosmetic standards. I’d honestly pay double for it since the quality is there but I couldn’t help but raise a brow at the price as normally Etude House is a good deal cheaper. The compact was 14,500 won and the bb cream was 13,500 won, as you can see not your typical price tag for Etude House but regardless well worth it. Secondly, I normally adore the pump style tube that Etude House favors for it’s BB Creams but I had a terrible time getting it to work this time and for some reason nothing was coming out. 3 dozen pumps later and a squeeze or two of the tube it finally started to flow, phew! For a sec there I thought I was going to have to slice into the tube to get to the cream! Sadly, the pump on the jar doesn’t unscrew as it’s glued on so I couldn’t even just unscrew the top to get to the product. Bit ranty about this! As you can see in my photos my tube of BB cream is rather flat and a little bit wrinkled up since I was struggling with it!
Wearing the BB Cream layered with the powder on top! The blush is also from the collection but I’ll be reviewing that later this week!
Aside from my minor rants I’m Muse Approving both Etude Hose Precious Mineral BB Cream and Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream for purchase.
I was lucky enough to have a very sweet person purchase these for me. If you’re wanting to purchase these I suggest checking on E-bay, Facial Shop, or G-Market to purchase although prices on the first two probably won’t be too kind!
Overall, even though I started my review with rants, woe, and general disappointed I must end it with a big wow at how impressed I am altogether with how amazing my skin was looking today thanks to the cream and powder.
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.
Oh my god I’m in such a pissy mood right now! After work today I picked up my friend Jai and whisked us away to MAC to snatch up some SugarSweet for ourselves. Normally it’s just easier for me to head to MAC Soho to haul or Macy’s on 34th but my mate Martin, who works for Apple, was working the Mall circuit today so instead of our normal haunts we hit the MAC at the mall. Martin is our shadow so we can’t go anywhere without him in tow thus we decided to become mallrats so we could kill two birds with one stone, pick Martin up for dinner and snag some MAC.
Such a big mistake. We are so killing Martin, tis his fault we couldn’t haul MAC SugarSweet today. Upon arriving at the MAC we noticed that they had the display out for SugarSweet and it only had the Shadesticks on it. So we asked after the rest and you guessed it, nothing in stock yet.
Boo, freaking, hoo! What the hell? To say we were disappointed is an understatement but we did get some yay factor in as we got all of the Shadesticks and I think that’s what Jai and I were the most excited about.
Jump ahead to have a look!
I only have my eye on a few other things from the collection so I am happy, at the very least, that they had the Shadesticks because that was honestly high on my list of things to get. I also want to snag Perfect Topping and Sugarshot. My list isn’t all that huge so I guess I’m not too devastated. I’m avoiding the glosses like the plague because as one reader mentioned they are seriously nice but with 2-3 uses they are going to be one big mess so it’s just not worth it. The lippies aren’t exactly all that fabulous so I can safely skip those and the rest of the shadows hold little appeal. I do wish MAC had release a blush or two with the collection.
For me the gems of this collection were the Shadesticks. It’s been a while since MAC released Shadesticks and these are some stunning shades. The revamped packaging is pretty slick as well which makes them even more appealing. I wasn’t always a lover of Shadesticks but after seeing how easier they make it to apply pigment I started to like them.
Four new shades are released with MAC SugarSweet and one regular catalog shade. Penny is the shade that’s already available from MAC and just released in new clothes for this collection.
Cakeshop, which you would think would be the shade of batter or cake, is a frosty green almost olive shade. Wonderful shade and a possible favorite for me but strange name! Lemon Chiffon is a creamy shimmering white gold, another favorite for me. Butternutty, really a crummy, rubbish shade when viewed but swatched it’s a gorgeous nude pink that’s stunning! Red Velvet is a deeper pink with an almost matte like finish. And finally Penny is a pretty peachy copper shade.
I absolutely love all of the shades and think they are well worth picking up. Correct me if I’m wrong but the price on these has gone up as they are $16.50 USD each but I recall them being a little less? Or maybe not.
I highly recommend grabbing some for yourself as they really do make life easier with shadow application and particularly pigment application. I find I get less fall out and a deeper color pay off when I use a Shadestick prior to applying pigment.
Overall, MAC SugarSweet is the first collection I’ve been excited about in months and I highly recommend heading over to MAC and having a swatch, you’re sure to fall in love with a few of the items available.
I also caved while I was in store and purchased Popster Tinted Lip Conditioner and Tippy Blush. I wasn’t too surprised after seeing Hello Kitty in person for the first time that still it failed to wow me.
In closing the Muse thinks the new MAC Shadesticks deserve a Muse Approval for purchase. Likey!
When I first started blogging Etude House, I kid you not, Evil-bay sellers started carrying ridiculous amounts of the brand. Now that I’ve begun blogging Shills everyone and their mum is selling it.
Which is good and bad. Good because it’s easy to get a hold of, bad because it’s so terribly jacked up. A majority of items from Shills is damn fine product so it’s probably well worth what you might pay for it off of Evil-bay but still…it’s the moral of it all, you know?
Shills is a Taiwanese brand that has a certain Benefit style packaging. As you can see with Shills Electric Eye Concealer it has that quirky, chic Benefit-feel with the black and white photo of the glam little lady on the cover and just the general font style, etc….In my humblest opinion I do believe Shills was trying to go for a dupe of Benefit Boi-ing with this concealer but it actually turns out packaging wise it’s all Benefit but formula wise it mimics Bobbi Brown.
Obviously the packaging draws the eye instantly and it becomes an instant want item but turns out what’s inside also happens to be a winner. The concealer is a mega moisturizing creamy formula that’s comparable to Bobbi Brown concealer. Anyone with dry under eyes will absolutely love what a dreamy, creamy formula this is. The concealer blends seamlessly and covers beautifully. Dark circles, puffy eyes, fine lines, and other problem areas simply disappear with this. It offers nice flawless coverage while brightening the eye up and giving your eyes a more awake, well rested look. Likey.
Possible problem though for some would be the lack of colors. It’s available in one shade which would be suitable for fair to medium fair skin types but anyone darker it probably would be a no go. It has a base of hints of salmon and peach with a dominate creamy, porcelain shade which is perfect for anyone with lighter skin but if you’re darker chances are you won’t be wanting to indulge.
Aside from it’s lack of colors it’s a great little concealer for the price. I think I paid around $5-$6 USD for it and on Evil-bay I’m looking at anywhere from $12-$15 USD. I do think it’s well worth paying the extra cash for it as it works quite well especially if you like a very creamy concealer. I did a few shots comparing it’s texture to Bobbi Brown Corrector Concealer and it’s quite a good dupe for the new Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Concealer I recently reviewed so you can see how similar the product is to both.
Overall, if I run out, Shills Electric Eye Concealer is on my repurchase list. Loves it and Muse Approving it for purchase! Check it out, it’s a good one.
I can’t believe I’m about to say this but this morning when I was test driving Stila Mango Crush I realized I was too pale to use it. Gasp! Outrageous right? Although it looks mighty nice on I think it’ll look way more flattering, gulp still can’t believe I’m saying this, on sunny skin. Obviously Stila’s intention was to make a shade that was flattering on tanned skin and in this case I’m in agreement with them.
You’ve been reading Musings long enough by now probably to realize what an advocate the Muse is when it comes to brightening, whitening, and remaining as pale as possible. I’m a medium fair skin and I do everything in my power to bring my skin down to, at the very least, a fair shade without looking too ghastly. I think I blend out well enough that you’d never realize my skin was a shade or two darker than it actually really is. This morning I was having a test run with Stila Mango Crush and I realized that it’ll actually be way more flattering if I simply sat in the sun for a while or used a tinted bronzer or bronzing powder prior to applying.
I’m loving the shade. It’s a gorgeous deep coral color that has a hint of a pearly shimmer that’s very pretty. It’s plenty pigmented to give a nice pop of peach to cheeks. I think the idea was for it to taste like mango as with the other stains in the line they taste and smell like their namesakes. However, I thought it tasted like cucumber and not mango.
The stain comes in a click style pen and with a brush applicator. Simply click for a squirt of color and brush on. A per my rantings in my prior reviews I’m not a fan of using the product on my lips and following up on my face so I’ve taken to simply wiping it clean with a MAC Cleansing Cloth after each use. My first venture with Stila Cherry Crush I ended up purchasing one for my lips and one for my cheeks but I’ve become economy friendly now and just wipe down the brush after use with the cloth and I’m good to rumble. I like the style of packaging as it’s travel friendly and mess, fuss-free.
As mentioned above it gives a rather lovely pop of peach to my cheeks but I think it would look even better on a tanned face. Tomorrow I’m going to try using a bit of a bronzing powder to see how it looks on. The shade is quite pigmented and should work well on most skin types however it may not be deep enough for a darker skin tone. It looks quite nice and natural on lips as well.
Overall, I really loved Stila Mango Crush and must say I love that they keep extending this line and growing it with new shades. It’s a wonderful color for Summer and it’ll work well into the Fall. The stain is long wearing with no touch ups between so it’s virtually sweat proof, rain proof, and sunny day proof. Even when the rest of your makeup has well worn away you’ll still be sporting a sunny shade of sunset on the apples of your cheeks!
Well done Stila! Keep crushing and the Muse will keep buying! Stila Mango Crush Lip and Cheek Stain is Muse Approved for purchase. This was a little sneak peek review so you’ll have to wait a little longer for Mango Crush, she’ll be available in May from Stila and Sephora. For now check out Cherry Crush and Pomegranate Crush for cure your lemmings!
Happiness is the new Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Sand & Sea Palette! Loves it!
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess has some particularly great items that were released with this very early Summer-like collection but the one I’m loving the best is undoubtedly the Sand & Sea Palette.
A little golden sand, a bit of the ocean, and the perfect blue sky and you’ll have an ideal palette for creating numerous Summer looks that are sure to please. The palette is made up pf six silky shimmering shades of color that range from aqua to gold and than some. Housed in a slick slim line case in a golden bronze shade that flips open to reveal a full size mirror, you’ll be wanting to tote this little guy along on your next tropical getaway!
The shadows are all silky smooth with a satin finish with the barest hint of shimmer. The colors have quite good color pay off and blend very well. Plenty of variety is housed in the palette and the colors fitting in with their name of “Sand and Sea”. You’ll get an aqua shade, a sky blue, a deep chocolate brown, a shimmering sunset gold, a light cream beige, and a subtle bronze. Contrasting aqua with the sandy, golden shades creates a rather interesting effect on lids that really brings out a bit of the Summer. The palette is a nice price at $38 USD which rounds out to around to $6 dollars per a shade of shadow. You’re getting quite a fair bit of product for the price. I’m a sucker for gorgeous palettes and this is really a nice one especially considering the variety you can get from all six shades. I created three separate looks for you with the palette but you can get any number of combinations from it.
For my look below I started out using the light blue shade all over my lid and crease. I followed up by using the deeper shade of aqua on my lid and blending slowly upwards. I finished the look by lining my lower lash line and my lower waterline with the Estee Lauder Duo-Tone Eye Pencil. You’ll also notice I used a tiny touch of the gold shade above my crease just blended upwards slightly for a hint of shimmer!
For my second look I started off by giving my entire eye a color wash using Tea Biscuit (light cream beige), I paid particularly close attention to my high brow area, highlighting with this shade. I followed up with Ginger Drop (subtle bronze shade) on my lid and completed the look by contrasting Ginger Drop with Gold Nugget (sunset gold shade) in my lid and blending upwards.
For my final look I used just about all the shades and the kitchen sink! Tea Biscuit was used as an all over color wash and followed up with Ginger Drop on my lid and contrasted with Gold Nugget on the outer v of my eye and blended into the crease. A tiny touch of Bronze Cube (chocolaty brown shade) on my crease blended upwards complete the upper part of my eye. For a bit of pop I added some aqua to my lower lash line and lined my lower waterline with the Estee Lauder Duo-Tone Eye Pencil.
Although this is a review of the Estee Lauder Sand & Sand Palette I also used the new Estee Lauder Duo-Tone Eye Pencil in my few of my looks which deserves a mention. This pencil is a dual sided liner that has two shades of color in one pencil. The Muse wishes that more brands would embrace this idea, I heart two shades of color for my dollar! This is worth a look and a buy if you’re a fan of aqua shades as this has two shades of brilliant aquas that are unique and pair well with the palette.
Overall, I’m really enjoying my adventures with the entire Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection. It’s Summer-friendly and has plenty of beautiful shades to last well into the Fall if you choose to haul the palette out when the cooler weather sets in (I know, I know! Spring isn’t hear yet and I’m on about Fall but hey makeup junkies must prepare ahead). The palette is a nice value for the price and offers plenty of color options for quite a few eye looks. If you’re looking for a warmer bronze palette to flatter your Summer tan look no further than the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Sand and Sea Palette, tis Muse Approved for purchase! Head on over to your counter for a swatch, the Muse guarantees you’ll fall in love with it.
See more of the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection by visiting www.esteelauder.com
I’ve Mused Bare Escentuals Glimmers and Eyeshadows but I never discussed Bare Escentuals Blushes. Secondary, on my list of favs from Bare Escentuals line would have to be their blushes.
Bare Escentuals has some great hidden gems in their blush collection that many people probably never took note of, one such shade would be Fruit Cocktail.
Doesn’t the name just make you happy?
The shade is a popping pink that kinda reminds me of fruit cocktail. Every eat fruit cocktail in the can? All that fruit and if you’re lucky a single cherry or two….I used to love the cherry when I was little, it was the highlight of the fruit cocktail! This blush reminds me of those days.
The color could be a bit loud for some but for my cheeks it’s very flattering. It has that just pinched look that I favor in my blushes and if I’m feeling frisky I can even use it as an all over color wash on my eyes!
Bare Escentuals Blush in Fruit Cocktail is one to watch, the Muse loves it!
I’m blue today not literally just blue makeup…yeah, yeah I know it’s St. Paddy’s day but I was feeling blue…my the very my all this blue makes me want to break out in song!
Jump ahead to check out all that blue!
Clarins Spring Collection is feeling the love for blue with it’s two new limited edition shades of blue in the Clarins Eye Pencil and Clarins Wonder Volume Mascara.
I’ve reviewed Clarins Wonder Mascara prior to this but I did so have to come back and tell you it’s available in a limited edition shade entitled, what else, Wonder Blue! Who doesn’t need a blue mascara in their life? Clarins Wonder Mascara promotes fuller, longer lashes all while staining them the perfect shade of navy blue great for pairing up with a stunning blue eye look or pair it up with sparkling gold for a bit of pop! All that blue flatters any eye color but the Muse likes to think it looks the best with brown eyes!
Line and define eyes with the Clarins Eye Pencil in Ultramarine which pairs up beautifully with the mascara. The shade is the perfect ocean blue and brightens up eyes beautifully well for Spring. The formula is soft and smooth for easy lining and blending. The pencil is dual sided so it also includes a sponge smudger on the opposite end to blend out color and create a smoked out eye look if you desire.
Sportin’ Clarins Eye Pencil in Ultramarine on my bottom lash line and bottom water line and Clarins Wonder Lash Mascara in Wonder Blue
If you were craving blue, Clarins has all the blue you need! Hurry along to Clarins to snag them before they are gone for good!
Loving all that blue ba da dee!
I’m a little obsessed with blue at the moment!
How about you?
Which colors are reigning supreme in your cosmetic wardrobe this week?
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