I went to Atlantic City this weekend so of course I had to hit up the Lancome Outlet to see what they had in stock.
They had a ton of items however I was actually quite relieved that it wasn’t anything I absolutely needed (I’ve been known to get crazy at the Lancome Outlet) however one item did catch my eye which was Lancome Absolue Makeup and for the ridiculous price of $10 USD (this normally retails for $57 USD) I firgured I might as well try it.
Honestly, I’m not sure what I was thinking when I purchased it because aside from being great for dry skin it’s really not what I’d typical look for in a foundation. It’s meant for dry/mature skin…ummm dry yes but I’m not quite that mature yet..at least I don’t think I am. It’s pretty heavy and super pigmented for covering up everything and anything….again not what I’d normally reach for as I like a lighter foundation for my face.
Turns out that it works amazingly well and is actually well worth it’s originally $57 USD price tag. I can see myself purchasing another if I ever actually use all of this one as the jar is freaking huge and should last me till the apocalypse (Dontcha just love Misha?).
I do not recommend this for oily skin this is strictly for dry skin in my humble opinion. It’s extremely heavy foundation and a little tiny bit goes a very, very, very long wear. At the moment I can’t make proper use of it but as soon as the colder weather settles in my skin will be falling to it’s knees and thanking the Lancome gods for such a perfectly, moisturizing foundation that offers beautiful, airbrushed coverage and helps keep my dry skin dewy and moist!
I originally purchased this since I became slightly obsessed with foundations in a jar after falling in love with Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation and CoverGirl TRUblend Whipped Foundation plus the price couldn’t be beat at $10 bucks! I know, I know, pot foundations breed bacteria and germs but this does come with a handy little scoop so my fingers are never actually touching the foundation! And get this….the scoop comes with this handy little plastic pocket to store it in….sue me, I get excited about the little things! I was reading My Makeup Reviews (best site evers) a few days ago and Jojoba was saying how she hated the fact she had no where to store the little scoop from Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation so here in lays a little bit of a solution! A little plastic sleeve for my scoop! Yay!
A little bit more information about the formula…..
As I mentioned the formula is extra moisturizing and extremely pigmented. You can do light coverage but it does take a bit of work to figure out exactly how much you’ll need for a thinner layer of coverage as it always seems I’m just using too much! But after working with the product for a bit I finally got it down to the perfect amount for a nice, sheer layer of coverage that lightens my complextion, erases dullness, and leaves my skin looking airbrushed and perfect.
I was particularly thrilled with how great it worked under my eyes. It’s thick yes but it works well at concealing dark circles and just general under eye woes without drying the area out so it takes on the task of foundation and concealer in one product.
There are 12 color selections available and from looking at the site it appears they have pretty much all tones covered but I do find that when I am selecting color ranges from Lancome for foundation and concealers it’s best to head to your local counter to purchase so you can swatch it out and see what is best suited to your skin tone.
The wear is particularly good and you can easily get eight hours of wear out of this with proper prepping. I started out my day with it as of 5 am and it lasted till around 3 pm before it started fading and needing touch up. Not bad in my opinion plus it didn’t turn ashy on me as foundations sometimes have been known to do after long wear on my face.
I recommend this for the following skin:
Those who seek an extra moisturizing foundation especially if your skin is dry in the Winter.
Fantastic foundation for those who have the beginings or full effect of lines on their face as this will erase fine lines and create a smoother, fresher appearance.
Those who seek extra coverage
Those who want a foundation that can multitask as a concealer.
This one I’m approving for purchase. I’d indulge in $57 USD for it considering how much coverage and moisture if offers plus it’s a very large that will last over a year. Taking all the positives into consideration with absolutely zero negatives I’d say it’s well worth checking out for yourself. Pricey yes, but does exactly what it promises and more!
Likey!
Check out more of the color selections and further information at Lancome.
Sorry for being so invisible today but it’s been a rather busy Monday for your Muse! Tis 7pm and I’m quite happy to be home finally. I’m looking forward to a hot Lush bath, my weekly fix of Gossip Girl (the Muse has a soft spot for Lonely Boy!), and getting this review of Urban Decay’s hot new Holiday 24/7 Eye Pencils out to you!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-Eye Pencils are now available in a 5 piece set in two color variations! Sweet right?
Each set contains five mini Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils for $29 USD which works out to about $5.80 USD per a pencil. The pencils are a tad bit skinnier and shorter than the regular size version but at $5.80 USD each compared to $16 USD for one shade, the Muse says, it’s a steal and a deal! Granted I love the large version and own several colors but I really like the idea of shelling out $13 USD more and getting five shades instead of one! Variety is the spice of life after all!
Travel Size versus Regular Size
The two sets available are Velvet Rope and VIP together they makeup nearly 75% of the colors offered in the Urban Decay 24/7 line. The line consists of a total of 15 shades so if you purchase the two sets you’ll end up with 10 of the 15 shades available! A nice little stash of color…great right? The Muse takes all these things into consideration for you!
Now these are postively my favorite liners out of all the liners I own. They have a gorgeous formula that’s super soft, super creamy, and beautifully blendable. Oh did I mention waterproof? No raccoon eyes here!
Out of the two sets VIP is my favorite considering it has the more vibrant shades of the two sets. VIP contains all of the following shades:
Lucky-Metallic Cooper
Electric-Aqua
Zero-Black
Covet-Peacock Green
Lust-Royal Purple
Velvet Rope contains more neutral shades that aren’t as bold as VIP but that doesn’t take away from the colors in this set being just as nice. Velvet Rope contains all of the following shades:
Zero-Black
Yeyo-Pure White (Oh my god awesome Twiggy shade! So Mod!)
1999-Plum with specks of Gold
Bourbon-Brown with specks of Gold
Stash-Olive Green
The sets are ideal as gifts but spoiling yourself with ‘em can’t hurt either! Even though it’s 76 degrees today in New York my head is all about awesome Holiday offerings from Urban Decay!
Do check out the rest of the Urban Decay Holiday Collection by visiting their website!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-Eye Pencil Sets in VIP and Velvet Rope are definately Muse Approved for purchase!
As my blog grows, my taste in cosmetics grows as well and I realized something very important this Fall. I realized trying something new works out for the best in the long run.
Nudes, neutrals, and natural shades are outside my norm but I’ve been testing out so many lately that I’ve grown to love a few. Although I was slightly scared of the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Palette I knew I needed to try it out for myself.
Guess what?
I ended up loving i!
Go figure right?
The palette retails for $50 USD and includes a total of seven shades that range from soft shimmers to metallics and even mattes. The palette includes a dual ended applicator as well, one side of which is a shadow brush and the other side a flat liner brush.
Since I’m self employed if I want to head in to my office wearing blue eye shadow I do just that and my clients aren’t too surprised by my wacky choice in colors however if you’re in a working environment where color matters the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes palette offers the ability to create various soft, sophisticated looks that are actually very, very flattering! I know it’s strange to be surprised at how well nudes work but I can’t help but be slightly shocked at how beautiful they look on my eye.
I think the reason I loved the palette so much is due to the array of softer, shimmering shades. I’m big on shimmer so give me a palette full of shimmery shades I’ll end up loving it by default. Although the shadows contain shimmer it’s nothing to be too scared of since the colors are very soft and the finish is a very sheer layer of shimmer that lightens up a nude, natural eye look.
You get a total of 7 shadows with the palette and at $50 USD for the entire palette you’re paying around $7 USD per a shadow. When you break the cost down I think it’s a considerably good deal considering each regular size Bobbi Brown Metallic Shadows are $20 USD each and you’re getting 7 smaller sizes for a nice deal! Considering the palette has such an array of shades you can easily create a number of looks with one palette which makes this a very nice deal.
The shades included in the palette are: Nude Beach (Metallic Shadow) Nude Mist (Shimmering Shadow) Naked Eye (Matte Shadow) Nude Glow (Metallic Shadow) Mica Shimmer (Matte Shadow) Nude Spice (Metallic Shadow) Espresso (Matte Shadow)
I’m somewhat scared of mattes so I was happy many of the finishes in the palette were of a shimmer base however I was delighted to discover that when I did venture into using the Mattes they blended extremely well and worked wonderful as a base for adding a bit of the shimmery shadows on top. The only shade I had a bit of a problem working with was Espresso which is a chocolate like brown shade with a matte finish. However, as per the instructions on the box I ended up using this as a liner and it worked a treat!
I created three looks for you using the palette but could have gotten many more but ado the Muse only has one face so she had to stop at three as she has other collections to get to!
The look below I’m using Espresso as a liner. I thought this came out interesting as using it as a liner was far easier than using it as a shadow.
With the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Collection a few other items were released which included a few new shades of Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color. I’ve been pairing up the shade Pink Sequin with all my nude looks this week and I must say it’s an absolutely awesome shade and a great formula. This is my first experience with Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color and I’m quite impressed. Pink Sequin has a range of shades in it including gold, pink, and a bit of peach! The shade on lips is nude however it gives lips just a sparkle of color that’s very flattering. I thought the best way to use it was over a little bit of peach lip stain. My first set of photos I have peach stain on under it and my second set of photos I have it on over bare lips. The texture of the product is a creamy balm that’s very soothing on the lips. It has a slight lemony taste which is quite pleasant.
All in all I really liked both trying out both the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Palette and Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color. I’ll be indulging in further colors of the Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color and without a doubt I’ll definately take advantage of further palettes that come out as I’ve really had a soft spot for Bobbi’s line lately!
If you’re looking for a softer, elegant looking palette that’s extremely work friendly I highly recommend nabbing this new palette! It can easily create a slew of looks plus work well into the evening due to the shimmer finish on a majority of the colors.
The Muse recommends this for purchase! Beautiful palette and a gorgeous collection overall!
Check out more of the Shimmering Nudes Collection including other releases I didn’t review at Bobbi Brown.
The Muse likes a little sparkle, and a little glitter…oh and I love some shimmer so of course I’m all about Jelly Pong Pong Crystallize!
Jelly Pong Pong Crystallize is a new product from Jelly Pong Pong that contains four shades of dazzling jewel like shimmers that you can use on your face, body, or hair!
The product comes in sphere compact so it’s not only beautiful on the inside but also gorgeous on the outside. Once you’ve unscrewed the cap you’ll come across a powder puff applicator and under that is a sifter that’s divided into four parts a la Givenchy’s Prsme Libre Loose Powder Quartet. The sifter does not contain a divider between each shade so it’s difficult to actually apply each shade individually however this does not take away from the effects of the powder simply because combining all four shades creates an intense shimmery finish that’s simply gorgeous.
The four shades housed in the sphere are a Light Amethyst, Tanzanite, Firestone Ruby, and White Crystal or in Muse English they are green, pink, purple, and peach! Combining the shades simply gives you a highly intense shimmery effect that’s not so much a rainbow of color but more of a simple crystal-like finish. Of course, if you prefer you can, with a little work, apply each shade separately.
I’ve been happily using this on my cheeks, face, arms, etc…and as per Jelly Pong Pong’s recommendation I mixed some with my moisturizer and applied on my skin which produced a rather fun effect on my skin! Likey!
All in all this is a rather cute little shimmer to add to your collection if you’re high on doses of sparkle like the Muse is! I’m sealing it with a Muse Approval for purchase!
A few weeks ago I had mentioned dropping a rather ridiculous amount of cash on the new makeup offerings from Target, one of the items I had hauled was an NP Set Lipgloss in Nisi.
I know I’ve been very vocal about my great disdain for Napoleon Perdis but I’ve set aside my general dislike for his really bad tan and decided to give his new NP Set Collection a go.
I admit that I have trashed his line in the pass but when it went on sale I was the first one at the door grabbing up all I could and running as fast as my little legs could carry me to the register to pay for my treasures. Hey, I have no shame what can I say?
In all seriousness I actually do believe NP Set is considerably better than his original line that was sold at Sephora. For one thing it’s a bit cheaper (not by much), the foundation does not range in the colors orange, orange, and more orange (they actually included shades that are flattering to normal skin tones this time around), and many of the items actually have very nice packaging!
Out of all the offerings I ended up purchasing only one item but it’s changed my mind and made me want to indulge further because it was actually very good. I ended up purchasing NP Set Lipgloss in Nisi for $12 USD. This particular shade quite reminded me of the pink shade released with Dior’s Spring Collection which could account for why I liked it. It’s a bright, bubblegum pink that could prove difficult to pull off on some tones but I think it ended up looking pretty good on me which I was surprised about because I was fearful all that pink would definately look horrid! But it ended up looking smashing with a bit of pink shadow and blushing pink cheeks!
The Muse sporting NP Set Lip Gloss in Nisi
One of the rather awesome features of the gloss is it’s pigmented enough to act as a creamy lip color. I didn’t have to prep my lips with a stain or a lipstick prior to use simply because the color is pigmented enough to act on it’s own at shading my lips with beautiful, glossy color. I did experience a slight problem during application as the gloss doesn’t glide as well as I’d like and it kinda applies streaky which is a bit of a pet peeve for me but…so does Dior Addict Gloss so what the heck right? The formula is super soft, super moisturizing, and super emollient.
All in all the gloss is actually very nice for it’s $12 price tag and well worth checking out. It’s available in several shades and I see myself possibly going back for a few more colors! I liked this one and think it’s worth taking a peek at!
Tried any of the new NP Set items at your local Target?
When it comes to recommending drugstore cosmetics I’m the last person in the world you want to take advice from. If you’re read my past posts you know most of my drugstore cosmetic purchases end up trashed, ripped into, and tossed aside rather quickly!
However……..
I do have a rather surprising, holy cow it can’t be true review about Covergirl TRUblend Whipped Foundation. I must be high because I’m about to rave about this stuff.
Now it deserves to be mentioned I haven’t used drugstore foundation (NOR do I recommend using it!) in years. I mean, YEARS! The last time I actually used anything by Covergirl was when I was possibly 14 or so. Needless to say my taste in makeup developed into the posh, expensive, and quality items you see posted here today on my blog and they rarely stray.
I’m particularly adamant when it comes to foundation and concealer and these two items are definately splurge material however for quite a while now I thought it was my business, as your Muse, to get out there and locate a particularly good drugstore foundation and bring it back here to review for you.
I’ve yet to find that perfect, holy grail foundation prior to this. I’ve run across bad, I’ve run across ok, and I’ve run across somewhat good however great was never located nor did I believe “great” was anywhere to be found in the drugstore foundation world.
Until now.
I discovered Covergirl TRUblend Whipped Foundation recently for a mere $8.54 USD (I actually heard someone on a forum ranting this was too much for a foundation to which I proceeded to think to myself, “are they nuts?”). Now I truly didn’t expect much but I was very impressed with the array, I mean ARRAY, of shades the foundation came in. If you can’t find your color in this selection something is seriously off with your tone! The shades range from uber light to super dark and everything in between so you’re guaranteed to locate at least one shade that’s entirely suitable and flattering to your skin tone, the Muse promises it’s true!
One of the main things that got me pumped about this particular product was the fact that Drew Barrymore is pretty much splashed all over every magazine I pick up looking seriously flawless. Granted, maybe it’s her or maybe it’s Covergirl (or was that maybe it’s Maybelline? The Muse forgets!) or maybe it’s that awesome geek guy (who could be cute ala Chuck!) that photoshopped the bejesus outta her face! Who really knows but the point is I was roped into the allure of perfect skin when I seen her promo images and decided I too, must try out TRUblend for my very self.
Thankfully my gut instincts paid off and in the end Covergirl TRUblend happens to be all that and a bag of chips (and a sandwich too!).
There are two available options for Covergirl TRUblend. You have the Whipped Foundation and you have the traditional pump style foundation. I purchased both but today I’m concentrating on reviewing the Whipped version, later this week I’ll bring you the pump version.
I know, I know, everyone is moaning about dipping their hands into a big old pot of foundation. I’m sorry and I feel your pain but get over the promise of bacteria and germs and listen to my rave before you rant!
The shade I choose for myself was 410 Classic Ivory. I choose this shade for a number of reasons but mainly because if my memory serves me correctly this was the shade I used to purchase in the Covergirl Powder compact about 100 years before when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the Muse was a mere girl of 14.
I’ll get all kinds of grief if I tried convincing a makeup artist that this was the shade I want as it’s rather light however, thankfully, no MA’s are to be found in drugstores thankfully and I safely scored the shade without hearing a big lecture about how this is SO NOT my shade! I felt semi-guilty I went so light but no one was around to witness my shame so I firgured what the hell!
Turns out 410 works a treat so nanner nanner!
Anyway.
The foundation is creamy, moisturizing, and blends like a dream while offering light, medium, or heavy coverage depending on what you deem suitable. I use a very tiny bit as the formula is extremely pigmented so this is obviously great to build color up as you see fit. I don’t recommend trying this if you’re skin is oily or you have clogged pores or pores that clog easy as the foundation is heavy in some aspects even when used sparsely.
Sporting 410 and looking wide awake!
As for me, my skin tends to be quite dry around this time of the year so it feels beautiful on and moisturizing. It blends in easily, leaving behind a dewy finish that’s flawless and natural. The lightweight texture of the foundation is particularly delightful as it feels like you have little to nothing on your face. The foundation has a darn good wear time of at least 7 hour maybe…maybe…8 if you’re lucky and set correctly with powder.
I heard a few rants about the foundation, mainly one of which was about it’s horrifying smell. Either my nose is not working correctly or everyone else is nuts because I didn’t notice a terrible smell. It actually kinda sorta smells like cherries or Jergens Almond Body Lotion.
It brightens up my dull spots, created a flawless finish for my makeup, and does a mighty find job of even concealing dark circles if I want it to act double duty as a concealer.
Fact of the matter is that Covergirl TRUBlend Whipped Foundation is pretty much as close as you’re going to get to holy grail foundation coverage in a drugstore.
I highly recommend trying it out for yourself! It’s well worth your $8 bucks and does a fine job of prepping your face for makeup!
Etude House Brightening Eyes Duo was released with this year’s Fall Collection. I like the idea that Etude House added a concealer to it’s newest releases. Not many brands concentrate on anything outside of color come Fall so the idea of releasing a concealer to go along with the rest of the selections is quite nice.
Etude House Brightening Eyes Duo consists of a stackable duo of products to brighten and conceal eyes. On top of the jar is a slide open cream concealer in a salmon color that contains hints of pink but has a dominant base of peach. Two things I found curious about this shade of concealer was the fact at how well it worked at concealing and also the unusual color choice for Asian eyes.
In consideration that Etude House is a Korean brand and mainly disturbed within this country I thought the peachy pink shade was completely unflattering for Asian skin tones. Normally concealing with a yellow based concealer works best for Asian tones but to randomly come out with a shade like this really puzzles me on how well it’ll work for those of Asian descent.
Blended
I was equally shocked that it worked well on me as I thought that the shade would be rather strange for concealing darker circles considering how flesh shaded it was. However, it does a pretty good job of concealing lighter dark circles.
The idea behind the product is to prep and prime lids and under eyes with the creamy primer that’s tucked under the main concealer in a pot of it’s own. The cream is moisturizing however this does not contain anything aside from some extra moisture for your eyes so don’t expect it to fill in fine lines or treat them by using this cream. The cream does a fine job of prepping the eye area prior to concealer and I like it very much for this purpose. The cream does is very slightly pigmented as well and brightens the eye area up a tiny bit. The cream count account for the name of the product “brightening eyes” because it does successfully brighten the eye area up prior to the cream concealer every coming into contact with your eye. After prepping with the cream you’ll follow up by using the concealer. Considering how well the cream has prepped the eye area the concealer glides on beautifully well and helps the blending process. I liked how well the concealer layered on top of the cream and created a soft focused look.
Although I love the duo and the look it left behind, it did have two main problems that prevent me from recommending this for purchase. One problem is the concealer lasts an hour, two if you’re lucky. Long wearing concealer is absolutely essential for me and this does not last long at all. The second problem is the product is good for lighter wear however it’s to sheer to conceal major problems. I personally feel like I need heavier coverage under my eyes and although this is buildable it still fails at completely covering all my woes. After 8 hours of good rest this may be good to use however if I’m looking at 6 hours of sleep and want to look like I had 12 I’ll be reaching for a better concealer for sure!
I love the idea behind the concealer and think it’s a rather perfect duo of products however the formula needs some work. I’d recommend it for younger eyes, those who have little to conceal, or if you just love cute products. I wouldn’t recommend it for aging eyes, heavy baggage and circles.
I like Etude House Brightening Eyes Duo but I’m not loving it! A little work and they could have a rather perfect little concealer product on their hands!
I’ve been wanting to try out Lavashuca Perfect Base for a long time now just because of it’s cute yet elegant packaging. The product comes in a heavy glass jar that’s beautifully vanity worthy and reminiscent of Lavshuca’s Jelly Eye Creams from a while back ago (I don’t believe they make these anymore). I liked the packaging so much I decided to get both the Moist and UV selections.
I know, crazy. Buying something because I love the packaging is ridiculous but since I’m on my quest for the perfect skin prep and primer I might as well try out Lavshuca with the added benefit of gorgeous packaging right? Indeed, the Muse’s mentality on choosing makeup does borderline on the strange and unusual.
My favorite of the two primers would be the Lavshuca Perfect Base UV. UV is a heavy duty cream that does have a slight whitening effect to it. Yes, I’m one of those crazy girls that believes in the miracles of a whitening agent. The cream is a thick consistency so I’m unsure if I’d recommend it for oily skin types considering the formula however if you have dry skin especially with the upcoming colder weather this will be a god sent. The cream is very lightly pigmented and casts a certain glow onto your face. It’s not a ghostly effect by any means but just lightens up certain dullness and gives a nice rested look to your skin however it’s not pigmented enough to forgo foundation. It’s super moisturizing and a little goes a very long way at filling pores, smoothing skin, and doing a general prep prior to foundation. It also has the benefit of containing ingredients to protect skin from harmful UV rays which is always a bonus. Although it offered fantastic moisture and prepped my skin wonderfully well for the rest of my foundation, I did not notice any really difference when it came to the length of wear on my foundation. My foundation lasted the normal 4-6 hours after use of this particular base however in defense of the product I don’t think it promises anything in regards to setting foundation for longer wear. I’d recommend this base for those who seek extra moisture even after use of their normal moisturizer, anyone who’s looking for a thicker primer to fill in pores, and finally someone who seeks UV protection.
The second base I tried was Lavshuca Perfect Base Moist base which is considerably different when compared to the UV version. This base is much lighter and the formula is completely different. The formula is water based, with a lighter consistency and a gel like texture that has a faintly pink iridescent finish that’s not completely visible on the skin. I like this base for prepping the skin prior to foundation because it makes my foundation glide on and blend easier however as far as filling pores or extending the life of my foundation I wouldn’t recommend it as it does neither. I enjoyed the consistency of the product and think it makes a rather great prep for warmer weather however right now, when my skin craves added moisture, I think the UV wins out. The base will make a rather great primer for my Summer skincare and I imagine I’ll reach for this when I’m using lighter makeup.
As you can see from my swatches below UV has a slightly white cast once blended and Moist contains a tiny amount of pink shimmer. Although each has an unique finish once blended onto my face I didn’t notice any shimmer from moist nor did I notice a noticeable change in my skin tone when using UV aside from dullness disappearing.
Both are generally good bases and I liked them alot but I found nothing particularly exciting or unique about either aside from the packaging. If you don’t have a ton of primers and bases around I’d recommend picking one of the two that would suit your skin however I’m not particularly partial to either. They performed well enough and I liked them very much but the Muse isn’t in love!
All in all a rather nice set of bases to add to my every growing collection of skin prepping items!
Indeed, that’s exactly how I feel about Vincent Longo Diamante Quad in Aquila! Who wouldn’t love all that shimmery, glittery, gorgeous goodness?
Last year two colors of these fantastic quads were introduced and I brought each rather quickly as soon as seen them pop up on Sephora’s website! I was quite happy to see the introduction of these palettes as they combine four great colors of my very favorite eyeshadow, Vincent Longo Wet Diamond Eyeshadow, into one cute, chic little quad. Loves it! Plus at $40 USD the colors are broken down to around $10 USD each which is considerably cheaper than purchasing one color at $25 USD.
This year Vincent Longo extended the color line up to include Aquila which contains an array of vibrant, shimmering shades that are ideal for Fall. I’ve collected a majority of the Vincent Longo’s Wet Diamond shadows and the shades in the Aquila quad are far different from anything available in the line which makes the palette extra special in my opinion.
The shades included are a subdued aqua that looks almost like a blue/gray shade, a deep, dark purple, a peach shade with touches of cream, and a brighter, true peach. Although the shades don’t directly go well together (at least I don’t think they do) the two peach shades paired together make a rather great Fall look and pairing the purple and aquaish shade looks great together as well!
The shadows are wonderfully pigmented and have an almost baked feel to them. They contain a good, healthy dose of fine shimmer so if you’re not a big lover of shimmery shadows you may want to avoid this quad like the plague. However, if you’re like the Muse and simply adore shadow with tons of shimmer, glitter, and sparkle this will likely appeal in a major way! The effects of the shadow creates a super soft, silky finish while adding beautiful diamond-like sparkle. Fall out is a problem during applicaton but I find with proper prepping the shadows adhere great and fall out woes are minimal!
All in all I truly love the colors in this quad and find them beautiful for the Fall and well into the Winter and even the Summer and Spring. The palette is truly beautiful to add to your collection or to get you started, as these tend to be like chips, just can’t eat one or in this case just can’t own one!
I look forward to possibly seeing another shade pop up soon as last year they first introduced Roja I believe and Cassini popped up a few weeks later so the possibility of seeing another color selection prop up shortly is definately there. I haven’t heard too much in regards to Vincent Longo’s Fall Collection but I am particularly excited about the release of Aquila so I look forward to seeing what else is introduced after!
Vincent Longo Diamante Quad in Aquila is very Muse Approved as are all the Diamante Quads!
Guerlain Parure Aqua Liquid Foundation is a spoiled indulgence at $55 USD but well worth the hefty price tag for a delightfully wonderful foundation.
I had a difficult time deciding between purchasing Guerlain Parure Aqua or Guerlain Parure Extreme. In the end I decided to spoil myself with both as each performs a different function and both are beautiful pieces to add to my daily makeup routine.
Today I’m reviewing Guerlain Parure Aqua and later next week I’ll be bringing you a review of the Guerlain Parure Extreme.
Guerlain Parure Aqua combines good for your skin ingredients that are mineral rich and moisturizing. Parure Aqua takes it name from the fact that it combines sea water and natural spring water to create a cocktail of intense hydration for the skin. The hydrating factor of the foundation brought me to purchase it because as the colder weather sets in my skin will be aided and thankful for any extra moisture my foundation and other products can provide.
Parure Aqua is, as promised, a highly moisturizing foundation. It smooths on beautifully well, absorbs quickly, and leaves behind a radiant, flawless finish. Honestly, did you expect anything else from Guerlain?
The formula is nicely pigmented and I’d say coverage is medium. The texture is creamy and highly moisturizing and absorbs easily into the skin. I liked how well this absorbed quickly into my skin without much effort on my part bringing both a dewiness to my skin and a nice even finish. One pump of foundation should cover your entire face so this should last you a good long while.
The bottle is quite glam and reminiscent of Guerlain Forever Gold from the Holiday Collection in 2007. I love how pretty and gold the bottle is and it looks truly lovely on my vanity.
Although the price tag is hefty, I think the product speaks for itself if you’re a lover of posh cosmetics that do exactly what they promise. Radiant feel-good foundation, moisturizing and mineral enriched with SPF 20…the Muse likey!
I’m going to Muse Approve this one for purchase, I like it, alot.
I simply adore Sugar’s new Sweet Cheeks Baked Blush!
I seen these while browsing Sephora’s website recently and I couldn’t resist picking up both shades available. They did a truly amazing job with these and I hope to see more colors added in the future!
Each generous size compact contains one baked blush that has two shades of color. You can use the shades together or seperate to create various looks! I personally liked the effect of swirling my brush around both shades to create a deep blush shade that can be applied sheer or built up to create a popping look on your cheeks! I deem these suitable and pure perfection for those with darker skin tones! The two shades available are Cupcake and Gingerbread. Cupcake is more of a frosty pink shimmering finish and not pigmented to work alone as a blush but more as a highlighter and Gingerbread, my personal favorite, is a beautiful combination of copper and cranberry. Gingerbread creates a beautiful peach glow on my cheeks that’s absolutely stunning. For once in my life I’m not obsessed with having paler skin, I’m actually wishing I had more of a deeper skin tone as I think these would be amazingly flattering on dark tones.
Left hand swatch shows what the colors look like blended together, Right hand side displays colors separate.
Left hand swatch shows what the colors look like blended together, Right hand side displays colors separate.
Normally baked cosmetic products do not have the best color payoff however Gingerbread happens to have amazing color payoff and I personally think multitasking the compact as an eyeshadow would be awesome. Both shades compliment each other brilliantly so why not get your money’s worth and use it on your face and cheeks! The formula is silky and smooth, blends wonderfully well, and has just the right amount of shimmer to create a beautiful glow. These are $24 USD and since the compacts are pretty generous in size I’d say well worth the price.
I like that Sugar was thinking out side the Fall Collection Look box and created colors that are unique and completely flattering for the cooler weather.
Sugar Sweet Cheeks Baked Blush, particularly Gingerbread, is definately Muse Approved for purchase!
See more of Sugar’s Fall Sketchbook by visiting the Sugar Website.
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