Musings of a Muse

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!