This Muse is personally worried about getting her hands on the new IsaDora Holiday Collection 2009 but LipGloss Bitch is already on to IsaDora Spring Collection 2010.
Stop, wait, you’re going to fast now!
Jump!
Read More...Summer Collections 2009
It’s so VERY Fall. Wait, hold it. Actually it feels like blooming Winter. It’s cold. But I’m in Fall mode regardless of the cold weather. Fact is I wanted to go all festive Fall-like with my eye look this morning so I dragged out the American Beauty bits I got from the Summer Collection and proceeded to go to work.
Even though they are friendly Summer finds you can still them at Kohls.
Check ‘em after the jump!
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Yesterday was the official start of Fall and the Muse couldn’t be happier. As far as she’s concerned it’s the very best time of the year. Happy Fall Ya’ll now graces my front door and I can barely wait for Halloween.
I was feeling all Fall-like today so I cracked open my DuWop Crush Palette in 18 Karat. This was from the DuWop Summer Collection 2009 and I’m just now getting a chance to use it…sheesh talk about late to the game. The good news is the palette has a slew of Fall friendly shades in it.
Jump ahead for the deets!
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I’m keeping my Summer glow together with a little bit of Jelly Pong Pong Hawaiian Sun. Never again will I hate bronzers after using this little bronzer….errr…maybe I should say huge as the packaging is big. The excitement and delight of bronzer all comes together when I whip out my fancy box of Jelly Pong Pong Hawaiian Sun.
I’m one smitten kitten with this kawaii packaging and adorable puff for application.
Check it after the jump!
Read More...It was a pretty crummy Summer around this little city. Rain almost every weekend, kinda chilly and damp. I’m still in shock it’s nearly Fall now and really if you’re not officially counting I’d say that New York has already stepped right into the season within a flash of Labor Day being over.
Me?
I adore Fall but I’m so not ready for it. I’m still re-living my days of Summer especially cosmetic wise. I can’t just let go of Summer quite yet which is why I’m still enjoying Stila Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer. The good news is that little touches of Summer are pretty flattering seasonal shades for Fall. The soft peachy glow of a bronzer will keep your face looking like you just stepped out of the sun but still manages to create an ethereal warmth that can only be associated with the falling leaves.
Jump ahead for a review, some swatches, and a babble or two.
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Anyone else still in Summer mode? I’m kinda still exploring my Summer options lately and rounding up what I haven’t used or didn’t try out yet. It’s pretty much very cool the last few days so I suspect Fall is well on it’s way. Guess I better hurry along now and get all my Summer lovin’ in as quickly as possible. Which is why you’ll see a burst of Summer fun coming from me. It’ll be a rather great excuse to try out these items if you haven’t yet as they are liable to fly off the shelves and get quickly replaced by Fall and Winter stuff.
Today’s review brings me to DuWop IcedTeas.
Check it after the jump.
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Ahh Summer you’re still around here some place aren’t you? Please stick around a little longer as it feels like the Muse’s hasn’t had a chance to truly enjoy you being around this year.
In honor of Summer today I’ll share with you to fab bronzers that I’m loving from Clarins!
Jump ahead for the deets!
Ok, let me tell you a little secret…shhhh don’t tell anyone k? I always though Clarins was kinda for old ladies but than I tried a shadow quad and suddenly it opened a whole new world to me. Now I’m an utter addict and simply adore their releases.
I was all about the Clarins Instant Sun Light Collection this year as it had some great pieces to celebrate the heat with (do a search for the reviews on my blog). And even though I’m not a bronzer fan I found myself enjoying one or two this year without ranting and raving about them. You know me and the sun don’t get along so well, hello SPF? Wanna be BFF?
Safest way to get an instant spark of Summer sun?
Try out Clarins Instant Sun Light Bronzing Duo or Clarins Instant Sun Light Bronzing Powder!
As bronzing powder is sometimes incredibly difficult to work with I suggest trying out any that Clarins offers as they are a silky smooth formula that blend a treat. The effect is a beautiful touch of sun on face and cheeks.
Clarins Bronzing Duo is made of two shades of bronzer in two separate finishes. One light matte shade and one sparkling darker shade. Combine the two to contour your face or place the lighter shade on your forehead and the deeper on your cheeks for a safe Summer tan.
Clarins Bronzing Powder is a rich, deep bronze shade with a fine shimmer finish. The shade is very deep and could apply muddy so do use a tiny amount and build up slowly for a deeper tan. This has an SPF 15 as well.
I find the best way to use or apply either is by adding them on top of gently flushed cheeks. Grab your favorite cheek stain and apply to a fresh face (or a face prepped prior with tinted moisturizer. The lighter the makeup the more natural your bronzer will look). After your stain is in place dust a bit of bronzer on top for a lit from within glow.
Perfect for Summer sun and safe too.
Although Summer is ending you can still get away with bringing it with you into the Fall with these compacts plus it seems bronzed cheeks are making their way into many Fall looks.
Snag these palettes while they are still at your Clarins counter as they’ll be gone before you know it.
Loves ‘em!
See my Tips and Tricks for Bronzer Application to spice up your bronze look!
The Muse thinks it’s safe to say Summer is finally here. The humidity is crazy awesome outside my office window and I’m loving it. Although I shouldn’t talk so loudly as I believe it’s going to rain tomorrow. WTH?
Which brings me to today’s review. Looking for that light Summer balm that moisturizers your lips with just a hint of color? One that’ll follow you through the Fall with just a touch of pink to flatter your dramatic, bolder looks for the season?
Jump ahead for it!
You need Dior Addict Lip Glow in your life chicas. It’s a moisturizing balm packaged in the standard Dior Addict Lip Stick packaging with a pale pink case. It’s packaging alone will make you weep in fits of girlish joy me thinks.
What is it?
It’s a sweet little moisturizing balm that’s pink in color but pretty much transparent until it hits your lips. One applied it reacts with your body temperature to create a perfect shade of pink customized just for you!
Golly, must be my girlhood memories of yesteryear that makes this so appealing. Reminds me of mood lipstick which was all the rage when I was 11 or 12 years old. The balm itself is a moisturizing balm nothing glossy, shiny, sticky, or tacky here…it’s simply a balm that smooths onto lips in a nice, even glide. It leaves behind a nice kiss of pink that’s completely flattering for all skin tones.
Ahh those lazy days of makeup are always in order when the humidity is out in full force and what better way to take advantage than applying a quick swipe of flattering pink to lips with Dior Addict Lip Glow and maybe a pinch of pink cheek stain for a natural, fresh faced makeup look!
Likey!
Well worth a purchase and Muse Approved.
Did you haul Dior Addict Lip Glow yet?
Loving it?
Tell the Muse!
P.S. A little clear gloss on top makes this pop!
Benefit has replaced many of it’s glosses with a single new line of gloss in eight shades.
The formula is supposedly a glossy finish with a great color payoff and most important a dazzling shine.
What did I think of them?
Check it after the jump!
So long as you go into your purchase of Benefit Lip Gloss believing it to be more of a lip cream than a gloss you should be alright. It’s a very interesting formula that isn’t particularly glossy or shiny but more of a creamy lip color.
I tried three shades of the new gloss and I loved the fact that they had such great color payoff. Each one was quite pigmented and left behind a creamy, sparkling finish. It’s not really a typical gloss in my opinion as the texture and formula are quite creamy in nature. One shade did have a slightly gritty texture due to the amount of shimmer in the product but it still managed to apply nicely. The shades all wear pretty long and have a moisturizing formula so they won’t try out your lips.
The shades I tried were Zone Out (Golden Nude), Almost Famous (Bronze Penny), and Fresh Squeezed (Shimmering Off Pink). I loved all three shades but I was particularly delighted with Almost Famous as it paired up so great with many of my Summer looks this season.
So long as your purchasing these for the pigmentation you should be ok but don’t expect a super glossy finish. I thought that the formula of Benefit Her Glossiness was rather ideal for a glossy finish but these lacked the standard mirror shine you’ll get from many “glosses” which is why I’m seeing them more as a creamy lip color.
Overall, the shades are very nice and if you prefer a gloss that isn’t super sticky, tacky, or shiny these should appeal especially if you love a highly pigmented lip product!
I believe it was 1930, when the Muse was still a fresh faced teenager, that she hauled her first real live counter lipstick. That lipstick happened to be Clinique Bamboo Pink. Isn’t Bamboo Pink such a timeless classic that never goes out of style? Truly Clinique put the shade on the map for many a fan and I imagine at least one or two of you out there consider it your HG (holy grail) color of choice. With it’s deep tone of nude pink it’s just one of those shades that begs at the door of gorgeous.
Clinique realizes all of this. They realize they have a sure fire hit on their hands with Bamboo Pink, they realize how many fans of Bamboo Pink are out there, and cheeky, smart little company they are they released an incredible collection themed for the color.
Fabulous? Yes.
Check it after the jump!
Although it’s a Summer Collection, Clinique Bamboo Pink will get you through Fall, right into the long, cold Winter, and back into the warm weather again as the color just works well with anything you throw it’s way.
You have to hurry if you want this as it is available for a very short time although the Muse thinks they should keep it a permanent collection.
The collection consists of Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Bamboo Pink ($29.50), Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Bamboo Pink ($25), Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink ($14), and Clinique Powder Brush ($30).
The collection is really worthy of a look at in my opinion as it creates a rather fresh, radiant look. The colors all work well together to create a warm, sophisticated look. Each piece in the collection is crafted in a bamboo like design in keeping with the theme.
For my look below I used the Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad to create a beautiful, dramatic eye look. The colors are all intense and pigmented. They have a slight shimmer finish but for the most part are very velvet and buttery smooth. They blend like an absolute dream and have incredible color pay off. The shades all range in shades of pink that can be used alone or blended together. The shadow has almost a creamy formula and wears very well on the eye.
On my face I’m wearing the Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Bamboo Pink. You can use this to highlight or to act as a blush. It gives a luminous glow to skin with a nude pink color pay off if you’re using it as a blush.
On my lips is Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink which is a fantastic lipstick. Highly moisturizing, glides on like a gloss and feels incredible on the lips with excellent color pay off. Bamboo Pink is such a timeless shade for lips and it pairs beautifully well for finishing the completed look!
Sadly I wasn’t thrilled with the Clinique Powder Brush. This was scratchy on my face and shed a fair bit. It applied the Allover Colour quite well but the scratchy bristles irritated me and I’ll probably end up tossing it in a draw and forgetting about it quickly because of this.
Overall, count this Muse impressed with the whole collection. Honestly, I don’t favor this completed look for Summer as it’s a little to warm but I’ll be sporting this happily in the Fall as I think it makes a rather killer rosy, glowing look for the cooler weather!
Anyone haul this collection?
Wanting to?
Are you a Bamboo Pink fan?
Tell the Muse!
The Bamboo Pink Collection is available now at Clinique counters and online.
Big Muse Approval for the lipstick and eye palette! Those are my two favorite pieces.
Contrary to all of today’s Musings about Fall and Holiday 2009, it is in fact still very Summer outside. To celebrate those long, hot days of Summer still ahead I gathered up a slew of Jouer Cosmetics to do a Summery look this morning.
Jump ahead for a peep, some swatches, and some babblings about Jouer.
The Muse remembers her first Jouer palette….it was a Holiday release…something bunny it was called. It had a cheek and lip stain and I was quite delighted and rolling around in fits of excitement how cute it was. Since that time Jouer has grown up, revamped, and come out with new, fun products. Although they have taken a new approach, the same fun design remains. Jouer Cosmetics, if you’re not privy to the brand, is a series of face, eye, and lip products that all “snap” together quite like a puzzle to make a customized beauty palette. Each piece features notched edges for sliding pieces together to create a little palette of sorts. Even a standard lipgloss has a deep set grove for snapping on shadows or a blusher for on the go touch ups. Pieces are also stackable for easy storage and portability. If you fancy a little organization with your makeup, Jouer has you covered.
The Jouer Cosmetics Summer Collection is simplicity at it’s best. Jouer is not making a huge splash but keeping to a minimal, sunny look that’s fresh and pretty. Thinking about it now it’s the ideal collection for toting away for a quick holiday getaway when you aren’t wanting to drag around a slew of makeup. The collection features all the key ingredients for glowing skin, sexy lips, and sparkling eyes!
For my look below I used the following products:
Jouer Cosmetics Lip and Cheek Tint in Poppy
Jouer Cosmetics Suntan Matte Bronzer
Jouer Cosmetics Mimosa Lipgloss
Jouer Cosmetics Tiare Highlighter
The look is fairly simple to create and gives a warmth to your face leaving it fresh and sunny.
Start out by using the highlighter on your eyes. You can use this just about anywhere where you want a bit of golden sparkle. I opted to use it all over my lid to add a hint of gold to my eyes. I followed up with the the lip and cheek tint in poppy on my cheeks for a flush of sheer coral. The tint can be used on lips as well as it’s moisturizing and pigmented. To add a deeper color to the tint I swept on the matte bronzer on suntan by applying to places the sun would naturally hit my face. The finished results of using the tint and bronzer together creates a sunny glow to my face. Finally I completed the look by topping with lipgloss in mimosa which shimmering golden pink that pairs beautifully with warm skin.
Overall, if you’re looking for a simple, sunny look for Summer do check out the Jouer Collection! I was quite impressed with the look especially since this morning I was rushing around and just wanted something minimal yet flattering. As you can see it’s quite a pretty look and just right for the warm weather!
You can see more and “try” on color for your skin tone at www.jouercosmetics.com
If you haven’t tried Jouer prioer to this it’ll be a great little discovery and if it’s been a while since you checked them out you’ll be in for a delightful surprise with the many changes to the line!
Let’s step into Summer for a second here. Can I tell you the life of a beauty blogger is so NOT fun. I hate that I can’t enjoy Winter without worrying about Spring or how I can’t just indulge in Summer makeup because I’m busy testing Fall….grrrrrrr!
So today let’s step back into Summer. After all we are in the heart of it right now aren’t we? It’s almost August and the sun is super bright today! Humidity is hitting my little city so hard and I’m smiling all the more for it as I’m tired of all the bloody rain New York’s been hit with lately.
Stepping into Summer reminds me I indulged in Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun. Oh Guerlain how you delight the Muse.
Jump back into Summer by taking the jump for a quickie review of Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun!
Guerlain manages to cover both the bronzing and the blush world by creating it’s Blush & Sun powder. Capturing the essence of a bronzer with a touch of sheer blush makes thee perfect go to powder for Summer. It’s a Summer must have in the Muse’s opinion.
The bronzer aspect of the product is ever so sheer so for all the bronzer dummies (like me!) out there or those nay sayers that hate bronzers (I used to be one of those!) this is the ideal solution for getting a kiss of the sun but still having the added benefits of a pinch of blush.
The product comes in three different shades all of which are very nice however the lightest shade, 01 Sun Light, is the best of the three in my opinion and should work well on light to medium skin tones. The shade is a golden peachy beige with a kiss of shimmer. The product works more like a blush than a bronzer which is what makes it so appealing however don’t let that fool you as it does give cheeks a sunny touch of color.
The finished look is probably one of the more natural ones I’ve come across. A sweep of this across your cheeks creates a very sunny, peachy look that not only wears like a blush but also manages to look as if you’re spent an hour at the beach and got a slash of color across your cheek bones. Very, very flattering.
Overall, if you’re scared silly of bronzers and aren’t tempted to try one out for size I’d say that Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun is the perfect product for you. A touch of the sun and a touch of blusher creates a super flattering look in this warm, humid weather!
Delicious!
Yes well I know you’ve had to listen to me biatch myself blue about how the Balm Cabana Boy mysteriously disappeared off the shelves of Sephora soon after I told you about. What the hell? It’s a total conspiracy they so didn’t want me to have this blush!
Well the bad news is you’ll have to listen to one more post about the Balm Cabana Boy before I finally bring you a review of it.
Yes, yes you guessed it. It’s available at Sephora! OMG! Everyone rejoice! All hail Cabana Boy! Thank gawd. I was liable to throw myself off a roof in protest if I didn’t get me some of this soon. The baby jebus finally heard my prayers.
Wants it?
Go gets it!
The saga of Cabana boy is now closed. For more epic posts about it do a search on my blog and read your heart out chicas!
A few months ago I introduced you to a small Swedish drugstore brand by the name of Viva La Diva.
Sadly the brand is virtually unknown in the US, nor available our side of the shore. Golly why can’t we have cute cosmetics like this stateside? No fairs!
Moral of the story is Viva la Diva came out with a rather cute collection of goodies for the Summer one of which was a very sweet little eye palette with plenty of shimmering shades of pigmented greens, blues, sandy golds and browns. Rather an ideal palette for Summer and cheap as day old chips.
Jump ahead for a peep at it!
This is my first venture with Viva La Diva and probably won’t be my last after experiencing the brand for myself. For it’s inexpensive price tag I’m quite delighted with the quality of the shadow palette.
The Viva La Diva Tropical Temptation Eye Shadow Palette is a slim line compact which contains 12 shades of shimmering shadow. The shadows aren’t huge and you’ll probably hit pan fairly quickly but they are richly pigmented so a little does go a fairly long way.
The shades range in color from deep ocean blues, aquas, and teals, watery greens, and shades of sandy golds and browns. It’s a pretty versatile palette that allows for a warm sunny look or a cooler, bolder Summer look. Seeing as it has 12 shades to choose from you can mix and match for any number of various looks. I only did a few swatches below as I was feeling greedy with the palette hehe!
Each shade is nicely pigmented with a shimmery finish however fall out is a problem during application and this could be annoying to some. The shadows are loosely packed into the pans so you’ll get a good deal of kick up when your brush hits the shadow. I also noticed shades don’t blend particularly well together as they end up becoming one color. The shades all apply smooth and blend easily onto the eye but two or more shades creates a bit of a mess. Aside from these minor rants I absolutely adore the palette.
With it’s cute size, inexpensive price tag, and variety of color I’m quite pleased with my first purchase from Viva La Diva and look forward to trying out future items from the brand.
Sadly, I have no recommendations where to purchase these goodies from however I do suggest checking makeup forums or MUA to see if someone in Sweden would be willing to CP a palette or two. Worthy of a hunt down in my humblest. Great little palette!
The two looks created below were created using one shade each from the palette one with a light neon green and the other a white gold.
Anyone tried the line before or any fans of it?
Tell the Muse!
Why Vintage Sister you do surprise me this year with brand new flavors of your popular gloss. Year to year flavors normally come and go but are in constant rotation without too much change in the works which is why the Muse was ever so surprised and delighted that this year Vintage Sister choose to do something a little bit different instead of hauling out much beloved classics from last year!
Jump for it!
With all the talk of Fall Collections 2009 isn’t it nice to rewind and discuss something Summer-like? Vintage Sister Summer Lip Balm Collection captured my attention with it’s new line of interesting flavors this year. Six new flavors for under $3 bucks each make these balms highly affordable and crazy cute for tucking into your purse! Although old flavors are back like Raspberry Lemonade new flavors also make an appearance like Circus Peanut!
Check ‘em:
Find out more by visiting http://www.vintagesister.com
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