NARS Larger Than Life Mascara are brand new to the NARS mascara family. Two new mascaras enriched with Vitamin E and Macadamia Nut Oil and a pigmented formula that offers volume and lengthening effects.
Sounds good to me, doesn’t take much convincing to get me on board with NARS.
Click it for the full details!
NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara
It features a signature, square brush with fibers called honeycomb, designed for maximum product pick-up and perfectly even distribution. With lash volume and curl instantly boosted with every stroke, NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara’s results are dramatically dense.
NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara
The unique conical wand of high-tech fiber bristles encourages separation and definition, and unique nylon fibers cling to lashes for pronounced lengthening. NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara is transformative, leaving lashes visibly sculpted, elongated and defined.
These are $25 Each and available now from Sephora.
I’ve never tried NARS mascara before the Muse is wondering if it’s as good as the rest of the NARS collection hmmm!
I expressed my delight over the brand new Urban Decay Lipstick for Fall 2009 in Naked in a review recently. Naked is such a flattering shade of nude pink that will pair up beautifully well with a dramatic eye look or in my case a pink look!
Jump ahead for a peep!
For my look below I used a bit of Jill Stuart blush, Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow in Ballet, and Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked topped with a clear gloss from Philosophy. The look is fairly simple and innocent. As you can see Naked pairs up very nicely with a no nonsense, less than dramatic eye look but it’ll go along just as well with a bolder look that requires a nude lip look that won’t take away from the eyes. I’m normally not one for loving nude shades of lipstick but I fell in love with Naked almost instantly on swatch. It’s one the most flattering shades of nude pink I’ve come across and doesn’t have a mod look but more of a dewy finish that makes my lips look very natural.
Indulge in all of Urban Decay’s newest primers for $65 with the new Urban Decay Box of Potions.
This has to be the best value I’ve ever seen as it contains all full size products that are almost 50% off retail if you purchase them together (purchased separate you’d paid $114)!
They tell me the eyes have it. Armani obviously knows it as they introduced a brand new mascara entitled Eyes to Kill. Dude, doesn’t that so sound like a James Bond movie? This calls for corny theme music!
Keep it playing as you read the review it’ll really set the mood!
With all the bells and whistles in the mascara world lately one would think Giorgio Armani Beauty would decide to jump on board and create some crazy applicator. You know what I mean. Plastic applicators, brushless ones, slim line applicators, crazy medieval spiked ones….truly mascara has evolved since our mother’s started using it at our ages.
Armani though, they see the potential in the standard brush. There isn’t anything special about the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara applicator aside from the fact that it’s longer and fuller than many brushes. Aside from this the bells and whistles are left at the door. But don’t let that sway you because this mascara is incredible. Be it the formula or the brush one would have to guess at what made my lashes so full and so very, very long. Amazing!
Eyes to Kill Mascara is available in four shades which are the standard blacks, browns, and gray but they also have one entitled Rouge Iron which appears to be a pinkish red shade, very interesting choice for a mascara. I tried out Steel Black which is true inky black. The formula is very light and airy which creates a natural, softer lash look that still manages to be dramatic due to the incredible volume the formula gives lashes. It doesn’t clump up during application and glides on the lashes easily without creating a havoc of messy lashes in it’s wake.
As mentioned above the applicator is a simple brush that’s a fair bit longer than your average size but nothing too dramatic. The brush pulls lashes up and out while curling them and offering up supreme length and fullness.
Overall, count this Muse impressed with the new Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara. Lashes like these don’t come cheap at $28 for a tube but you’ll be incredibly happy when you’re prancing around with crazy long lashes to go along with your smoky Fall eye look!
Overall, I’m quite excited and impressed with this mascara. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten so hyped over a US brand mascara (as you know I’m all over Japanese mascara). Truly a fantastic one and worthy of a try, the Muse thinks you’ll love it!
Excellent mascara and deserving of a Muse Approval!
Summer is coming to a close really quickly this year. Must be the all the rain or the fact that I went on holiday so early but Summer feels like it flew by really fast this year. How sad.
As I brace myself for my favorite season, Autumn, I’m over indulging in all things Fall. For the most part I always associate warm golden brown shades, sparkling golds, and fiery oranges with the season which is why I’m ever so delighted that I can have Fall and maybe a bit of Summer too with the new Estee Lauder Sensuous Gold Collection.
Jump ahead for the review and swatches!
At first glance I thought that perhaps the Estee Lauder Sensuous Gold Collection was some sort of late Summer release. Truly Fall didn’t cross my mind at all since the collection is so warm and bronze-like. But upon further investigation and after trying the collection out I’d say it’s ideal for that time when Summer is just changing to Fall and the weather is still very warm. With warm shades of bronze, brown, and pale pinks the colors are all very work friendly and elegant. This isn’t a loud, vibrant look but more of a subtle touch of color that accentuates eyes with a burst of warmth.
Rounding out the collection are two brand new limited edition quads containing an array of buttery smooth shadows in golden pinks, browns, and golds ($35 Each). Each palette is a golden copper tone, quite pretty and fitting with the “gold” theme. The Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Rose Amethyst contains a pale mauve pink, a deeper mauve, a warm nude beige, and a golden chocolate brown. The Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Rose Gold contains a sheer nude peach, a light golden brown, a pale pink peach, and a fiery terracotta. The shadows have a beautiful sparkly over spray but the shadows are for the most part matte with a slightly pearl finish. Don’t get scared even though they are matte they manage to have a wonderful texture that blends like a dream. Overall, each creates a warm, work friendly look that’s elegant, chic, and very fitting for the warmer days of Fall.
My look created using the Rose Gold Palette (Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Cinnamon on my lips and Pure Color Multi-Shimmer Gloss in Rose Gold)
My look created using the Rose Amethyst Palette (Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Terracotta on my lips and Pure Color Multi-Shimmer Gloss in Amethyst)
Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Gold Shimmer are available in four shades to accompany this collection ($19.50). These are a dreamy, moisturizing lipstick with a golden sparkle in hues of brilliant Fall shades. My two favorites? Terracotta, a nude golden peach, and Cinnamon, a brilliant brown bronze with golden shimmer. The formula is beautiful as it glides onto lips leaving behind pigmented color and a high sheen as if I topped with gloss. Gorgeous!
You might very well think MAC when you see the new Estee Lauder Pure Color Multi-Shimmer Gloss ($18). This gloss is made of three shades of shimmering sheer gloss for a sparkling lip look. Rose Gold is made of sparkling warm peach shades and Amethyst is a trio of light pinks to deeper rubies. The glosses apply very subtly for the most part and aren’t terribly pigmented but they add an extra pop of lovely when paired up with the Hydra Lustre Lipsticks.
All in all the Estee Lauder Sensuous Gold Collection manages to capture the essence of Summer while bringing it right through to Fall. The shades are all very sophisticated and chic for creating subtle eye catching looks. Indian Summer in September? Easy with this collection. Might as well milk Summer for all we can and what better way to do it than with such a warm, bronzy collection that sizzles but also manages to keep the theme of Autumn as well!
Oh Clinique aren’t you up to interesting things this Fall! Introducing Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour for glossy, shiny, lips with a formula that defends delicate lips and contains good for you ingredients!
Check ‘em after the jump!
Putting aside all that good for you ingredients stuff the Muse admits that she’s just a gloss junkie kinda girl and the idea of anything that promises shiny, pigmented lips in a click style applicator is a no brainer in the “I wants that now please, thank you so much”.
Ok, ok aside from my need for more gloss I do so admit that the interesting antioxidant formula tickles my curiosity. The formula is supposedly non-sticky and highly moisturizing and most important packed with good for you ingredients. Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour is available in eight juicy shades ranging from opaque to shimmery, shimmery you say? Ok, I’m in.
Shades Available:
Fig-a-licious
Raisin the Bar
Mango-thon
Pink Me Up
Rhubarbie
Goodness Grapecious
Nude-tritious
Absolute Açaí
Gawd they sound so good I best be careful not to lick the applicator, what? It’s been known to happen on occasion.
Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour is available now at your local counter or visit www.clinique.com for $17.50 each.
Want ‘em?
Tell the Muse if it’s something you’re indulging in!
Although the Sephora Fall Catalog 2009 hasn’t yet winged it’s way into my mail box I was still quite excited to get a little sneak peek at some of the photo shoots and looks that will probably be making a guest starring appearance in the catalog. The official Sephora Beauty Blog posted up a series of videos for Fall looks that I’m positive you’ll see soon in the Fall Catalog.
Take a peep:
Fall Look: Cat Eye
Fall Look: Extreme Smoky Eye
Fall Look: Gray Eyes
Fall Look: Candy Eyes
Fall Look: Dark Lips
Fall Look: Bold Brows
What are some of your favorite Fall looks this season?
Loving bolder brows? Favoring bolder, dark lips? Indulging in an extreme smoky eye?
Giorgio Armani leaps into fall with an elegant new Fall Collection. Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 pairs up a subtle but distinct tones to accentuate a deep smoky eye contrasted with a fresh, luminous complex and a mute but intense lip color.
Jump ahead to learn more about the Greige Collection from Giorgio Armani Beauty for Fall 2009.
With a heavy emphasis on the eyes Giorgio Armani Beauty brings together the simplicity of a fresh, glowing face and a dramatic eye look with it’s the Giorgio Armani Beauty Manta Ray Eye Duo Palettes ($38). This palette is an eye duo dressed with an exotic Manta Ray patter. Inspired by precious and luxurious materials used in Giorgio Armani fashion accessories, the palettes offer a beautiful selection of color harmonies inspired by nature.
Charcoal and Greige: the ultimate eye shadow combination for this season’s smoky eye
Deep Ocean Blue and Intense Ocean Green
Pale Lilac Grey and Luminous Fuchsia
Light Blue Stone and Sandy Beige
Shimmering Lilac Pearl and Pale Green Pearl
Giorgio Armani Liquid Silk Eye Liner ($30)
Matte Charcoal Grey Midnight Metallic Blue
Giorgio Armani Silk Lipstick in 92 ($25)
This season’s must-have Armani lipstick accentuates your natural lip color, keeping the focus on your dramatic eye look. The grey-blue tones of this soft plum lipstick combines intensity but contradicts with an air of simplicity.
The Giorgio Armani Beauty Greige Eye by Linda Cantello
Use the Greige shade to contour the eye by sweeping the shadow along the crease of the eye. Follow by sweeping the shade under the lower lash line and over the upper lash line. Use charcoal to add intensity.
A second option is to sweep the charcoal shadow over the whole lid and use the Greige to blend. For added intensity, apply midnight blue eyeliner along the upper lid lash line.
The Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Collection is available for a limited time online at www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com and at selected fine department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.
“The Smashbox Reign Collection is inspired by the ruling era of the English Tudors—an imperial court mired in salacious scandal and royal indulgence. The products featured in this collection are luxe, sexy, and indulgently sensorial, giving a glimpse into the extravagant lifestyle of royalty…”
Actually I think Smashbox was thinking “Oh my gawd that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the hawtness let’s base a collection around all that eye candy!” Or at least that’s how interpenetrated it. The Muse has a one track mind when it comes to loving me some JRM.
Jump ahead for the review on the smashing Smashbox Reign Collection!
Oh baby I’m a need the two palettes that were released with this collection so stay tuned for the review on those but for now I’m going to show you three pieces from the collection that created this rather awesome, elegant, super easy look for me yesterday.
Check it.
I got my hands on the Smashbox Reign Jet Set Palette which is hello all kinds of gorgeous. Really they put alot of effort into this collection so props and applause to Smashbox. The palette is a slick faux leather affair with a flip top, full size mirror, two wells with liner duos, a mini liner brush, and a “tudor” Smashbox themed coat of arms design. The palette is quite elegant, don’t expect cheap here, it’s a very nice piece of palette and alot of love and consideration was put into the design, likey! This particular palette houses two wells with snap closures. Inside each well a duo of Smashbox Jet Set Gel Eye Liners await you. You’ll get a deep, dark rich chocolate brown and light brown on one side and a golden metallic bronze and light metallic bronze brown on the other. I’m not the biggest fan of Jet Set liner as a prefer Smashbox regular cake liner from yesteryear but one thing I do love about Jet Set is the ability to use it as a shadow. The colors aren’t deeply pigmented so they blend wonderfully on the eye for a sheer wash of color or build it up for deeper color payoff. I got creative with this palette to create my look as I didn’t want to go all boring on you and just line my eyes using it. To create my look below I used the liners on the right side of the palette, the bronze brown and golden bronze. I placed a bit of the brown on my lid and blended out and proceeded to layer the golden bronze on top. Presto done. I lined my lower waterline with tons of the deeper chocolate brown on the opposite of the palette to set off my brown eyes. It’s a very simple, understated yet incredibly elegant look. Granted I’m doubtful that Smashbox had any intention of creating such a look with the collection but I was feeling all creative. It’s worthy of a pick up in my opinion as it’s travel friendly (hello four liners in one chic case! I likey you to come with me on holiday!) plus the shades all work as a shadow as well.
Now my new best friend is the Smashbox Doubletake Lip Color Pencil. This really beefed up my look with a bold splash of rich red on my lips. Brace yourselves for a moisturizing lip experience as Smashbox has perfected this one. The pencil is dual sided with a liner on one end and a lip color on the other. I braced myself for a rather blah experience as normally pencils aren’t all that fantastic. However, I was simply shocked at how juicy, moisturizing, glossy, and pigmented the lipcolor side was! Whoa! I didn’t use the liner but I did use the lipcolor all over my lips for my look below and as you can see it contrasts amazingly well with my more subdued eye look.
Finally I tried the one gloss that was released with the collection. Again very elegant packaging as this has a tiny charm attached to the gloss with the Smashbox coat of arms emblem. Slightly disappointed with this as the color quite reminds me of the shade released with Smashbox Muse. I personally prefer the bolder look they decided on with the duo lip pencil as this more subtle nude peach is a tad boring however I imagine it’ll go very well with the bolder eye palettes that I hope to review for you soon!
Overall, the Smashbox Reign Collection definitely has royalty stamped all over it. It’s a tad on the expensive side for Smashbox but I must say I’m quite impressed with the packaging, the overall look, and the beautiful shade selections. If you’re looking for a rich makeup look this season do settle on Smashbox Reign. Loving all over it at the moment and Muse Approving it for purchase.
Oh. my. god. The Muse is so about the Bobbi Brown Ivy League Collection! I told you a bit about the collection yesterday and popped a sneak peek of my FOTD today on Twitter.
For Fall the bold, green eye look is too entirely flattering for brown eyes in my humblest. Putting aside the preppy factor and just rejoicing over such a true, gorgeous shade of forest green is enough to make me dance around in circles of joy.
Check it after the jump!
So far I’ve only gotten my hands on Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Golden Leaf but I want to haul the other emerald green shade that is being released. The texture of the shadow is super smooth, blends beautifully, and is deeply pigmented, delish! Although it’s a shimmer wash shadow it still manages to have a velvet-like finish with a subtle hint of golden sparkle. Too pretty.
To accompany the greens in the collection a new Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer Ink was created. The color has a dominate brown note but also has the deeper aspects of a golden olive green. The shade is perfectly suited to the two shadows released and could possibly work as both a liner and a base.
I also told you about the new Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencils. I got one in brown plum. Quite a nice, moisturizing pencil that glides on smoothly without skipping and smudges like a dream. For my look today I didn’t use the pencil but I have a future FOTD planned with it.
Honestly for me the stars of this show are the Forest Shimmer Ink Gel Liner and the two new shadows, particularly Golden Leaf. Although I favor a warm look in the Fall that’s made up of browns, golds, and occasionally oranges I can’t deny that such a deep, dark green is utterly flattering and fitting for the season.
Well done Bobbi. Another incredible line up.
For my look below I simply used Golden Leaf eye shadow all over my lid and crease followed up with Forest Shimmer Ink liner on my waterline. You can see how dramatic the look is, it obviously speaks for itself that a simple wash of shadow on my lids and a little lining created a bold, beautiful look! Also as promised a close up of my eye using Urban Decay Eye Lash Primer and Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara…I think you can see the results are quite nice when the two are combined.
Spotted: Bobbi Brown going preppy by duping Blair Waldorf snappy little look!
Hey Upper Eastsiders! Bobbi Brown Ivy League Collection brings a fresh new spin on the strong Fall eye look using a dominate shade of forest green to capture the spirit of the season!
Check it below!
Whether you’re going manly chic this season, dark and goth (‘ello black lipstick and gloss!), or heading for the halls of Constance Billard School for Girls, makeup collections far and wide are embracing all sorts of incredible looks to suit all your looks this season.
Bobbi Brown is embracing it’s preppy side with a strong, bold eye look that has a certain preppy “tweed” look about it. With a scholarly feel this look should get you from the office to the evening in a flash.
Brand New Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencils ($20) come in a range of shades with a built in smudger so you can go straight or smoked with a quick dab!
Available in: Jet Walnut Caviar Midnight Hunter Brown Plum Dusk Charcoal Mahogany
Back by popular demand (I know of love ‘em) and part of the permanent collection, Bobbi Brown Lip Crayons ($22) will spice up your Fall look with a swipe of pigmented color.
Available in: Honeysuckle Coral Pink Raisin Berry Poesy Dusty Nude Wild Rose
Nothing adds mysterious to my eyes like a gorgeous shade of green. Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Liner ($21) has that Ivy League flair with a shimmering forest green and golden pearl.
Two brand new limited edition Bobbi Brown Eye Shadows ($20) in Autumn Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow and Bash Metallic Eye Shadow will lend you a ticket to be first in class with your gorgeous green lids.
Although small it strikes me as a beautiful collection. I’m particularly interested in both eye shadows and the gel liner. The overall look is pretty chic while the green brings the season in very nicely for me. I’m a big lover of green on my eyes as it really makes my rather large, buggy brown eyes look mysterious and dare I say seduction so I’m looking forward to trying my hand with these items soon.
What do you think?
Not so into the prep scene?
Loving it?
Tell the Muse!
Bobbi Brown Ivy League will hit counters and Bobbi’s site in August but I’ll have the sneak peek and swatches for you this week!
Spoiled Pretty has the deets on the new Twilight inspired cosmetic collection. We already knew that DuWop was busy creating something special for us in the works that was Twilight themed but I don’t think ANYONE has realized how big a collection this is turning out to be.
Click it below to read the deets!
Yes well call me what you will but I’m a fan of Twilight so I’m excited to see how this line turns out. My original thought was DuWop would create a small selection of items to pair up with the new V Gloss they introduced earlier this month. Nope, not the case. It’s even bigger and better than that!
The beauty line actually consists of two separate collections. It’s actually entitled Twilight Beauty so they are taking this above and beyond a simple release from one brand.
Twilight Beauty will launch two different lines of cosmetics which will be entitled Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight. The two lines will be available with the second film’s release this Fall.
Spoiled Pretty reports that Esmy Manica and Kimbery Clark of All About Beauty and Cristina Bartolucci, the founder and Creative Director of DuWop Cosmetics, are part of the development team behind the Twilight Beauty Cosmetic Line.
The line will include over 70 products!!!!!! Holy cow! That’s a brand all in itself so you can see how interesting this is shaping up to be.
Luna Twilight is inspired by the female characters of the books with an array of soft, natural beauty looks and stunning, fierce ones. Some products will include First Light Body and Face Glow and Gleam Metallic Mascara.
Volturi Twilight is inspired by the Volturi family crest. The line features Foreshadow Primer which is coupled with a loose glitter dust called Labrynth Shadows. These loose powder shadows are supposedly highly pigmented and are housed in stackable pots providing the ability to mix and match colors.
Luna Twilight will be available September 15, 2009 at Dillard’s and Nordstrom. Volturi Twilight will be available September 15, 2009 through specialty retailers. Both lines will be sold at TwilightBeauty.com, the exclusive website for both brands.
I’m highly interested in checking this out for myself as I’m curious about colors, products, and prices.
What do you think?
Love the idea of an entire line dedicateto Twilight?
With plenty of chic menswear-inspired looks showing up in Fall Fashion collections it isn’t any surprise that cosmetic lines would follow along with smashing releases to suit these couture options.
Prescriptives Fall 2009 introduces it’s Fall Collection, Well-Suited, with a feminine yet sophisticated edge to pair up beautifully with your favorite preppy look this season!
Jump ahead for the deets!
Prescriptives Well-Suited Eye Color Compacts in Warm, Neutral, and Cool ($40) project a chic, sophisticated business look with five strips of contrasting shadow in a slime line case.
Prescriptives Well-Suited Finishing Powder helps set makeup while giving skin subtle hints of luminosity and a smooth, even finish ($28)
Prescriptives Long Wear Kohl Liner glides on easily for smudge and waterproof wear (New $17.50 Each) Available in Black, Slate, Brown, and Blue.
Prescriptives Colorscope Lipcolor is a lightweight, moisturizing lipstick with a glossy, comfortable wear ($17.50) Available in Posh Nude, Posh Pink, Posh Honey, and Posh Ginger
The Muse is all about geeky, chic menswear. It’s been in her wardrobe for the last few seasons along with a good pair of high top chucks to take it that extra step further, wink! I’m looking forward to this collection as I’m enjoying all the tweed browns and shades of olive green I’m seeing as of late. It really screams Fall to me.
The Muse was happily playing around with the new Smashbox Reign Collection this morning and was quite delighted with the results. I’ll be bringing you the review later this week but for now here’s a quick sneak peek of a look I created and snapped with my camera phone this morning.
.png "summer museapproved stamp+(2)")
.jpg "photo(3)")
Recent Comments