Musings of a Muse

You could convince me to buy Nivea makeup….

According to WWD Nivea is teaming up with lingerie designer Chantal Thomass to create a boudoir like collection. What? Boudoir-like? Ok, I’m so in!

You wouldn’t think Nivea would jump on board the boudoir express after dealing with skincare, cleansers, and body care for so long. I dunno, you’d think they’d do something..safe? But hey who am I to judge I’d so buy sexy Nivea makeup, don’t lie you know you would too!

The line will include eight lipsticks, six shadows, and two blushes and will be available within Europe from July 16th. I doubt we’ll see it stateside so start gathering up your Euro friends and begging them to please get you some sexy Nivea cosmetics!

Whatta ya think?

Loves Sexy Makeup from Nivea?

Leaves it?

Tell the Muse!

Source

Slap me happy! The Muse was browsing around the Internets and noticed that Missha revamped it’s website and now you can even order online!

Well, ‘ello there!

Missha is a Korean brand that’s sold in Korean, select Asian countries, and even Australia. Up until now I’ve never been privy to Missha within the US although I’ve seen a few odd pieces from it’s skincare collection here and there but never it’s point/base makeup collection.

Maybe I’ve been living under a rock but this is the first time I’ve seen Missha offering some of it’s point and base makeup items for sale within the US online including, ‘ello, BB Creams!

Now don’t get too excited as they really don’t have a whole lot going on at the moment, guess they are testing their feet in the US waters but they do have a few pieces here and there that can be exciting for the Asian cosmetic junkie in us all. Hey they even have the Missha Over Blusher! It’s a start people, it’s a start!

Some items are about the same price you’d pay in Korea but some are considerably higher. For example the BB Cream is $24.99 USD on the US site and 9,800? within Korea…major price jump. But they do offer free shipping with a $40 purchase and free samples plus you know you’re getting a fresh tube of BB where as with E-bay you have to pay shipping, probably aren’t getting samples, and may be getting an old tube.

Honestly, I’d rather give Missha my money than some E-bayer who’s jacking up the price on me. At least purchasing from Missha I can justify the higher costs as being a possible deal with importing it.

Anyway you splice it count the Muse happy she can get some Missha in the US now! Tis exciting news if ever I did hear it.

Click it to check out Missha’s site!

What do you think?

Excited to hear Missha is selling online now?

Tell the Muse!

Gorgeous peeps what’s up this gloomy hump day? It’s another brisk day in New York with a bit of a drizzle outside my window and I’m feeling like I live in London (which isn’t a bad thing).

Super busy at work today! What’s everyone up to today?

Well, to start the day how about a little discount disco? How about I arrange for 15% Off at Sephora? I’m such a friend right?

Click ahead for the deets!

The deets are this:

You can click here to print out a coupon which you can use in store for 15% Off your entire Sephora order. Coupon is good up until the 21st so you have plenty of time to get yourself organized for a splurge!

If you’re wanting to avoid the hassle of in store purchases just use coupon code BD2T9CB5 plus it’s also good until the 21st!

Ohhhh likey! I’m making my list and checking it twice. I only want a few odds and ends nothing major but I’m loving 15% Off! Yeahhhhhhh boy!

Take advantage kids as I doubt you’ll see it again until Christmas!

If you’re feeling like sharing tell me your list in the comment box.

Oh MAC why…why do you have do this to me? Just when I thought I was cured you yank me back under your spell. MAC Rose Romance, a truly romantic and impressive collection from MAC.

Could be love, could definately be love! Jump ahead for the sneaky peek!

MAC Rose Romance releases officially April 23rd but check your local Pro shops as it might be peeking it’s pretty head out early for you to snag. So far I only have a few of the items and from what I tried I must say I’m impressed and I’m rubbing my hands in glee awaiting my chance to get my greedy little hands on the rest of the release.

Star of the show, for the Muse, without question is the new MAC Just Pinch Gel Blush. Oh my god the coolness is too much. Housed in a paint pot glass jar this gel gives your cheeks a pinch of blush that will last all day long! Likey. It’s a loud red so a little goes a long way and with a bit of the new beauty powder on top you’re sure to look pretty for Spring!

Of course second runner up for my money are the stunning new Rose Romance Beauty Powder. Available in two shades these are shaped like a rose and pack a nice bit of pigment so they can easily be used a blush. I have Summer Rose which is a soft violet with plenty of pink.

I only have two of the three lipglasses released but from what I seen so far loves it! They seem more shimmery and full of sparkle than any other lipglasses I have. Steal My Heart is bright fun pink shade and Virgin Kiss is a pale almost peach with plenty of sparkle.

I wasn’t big on the lippies as they are a bit too nude but I def want to try to make them work. The colors I have so far are A Rose Romance which is a nude pink and Way to Love which is a creamy nude pink that almost has a touch of peach. I’m wanting Odyssey as it seems a nice warm plum shade and keeping with the mauve like look and feel to the entire collection.

Love, love, love the new shades of See Thru Lip Colour although they have been downsized from their original size of .17oz and are now mini size. I’m partial to Tender Tryst which is a gorgeous plum! I also tried out Secret Crush which is a pure berry.

Old size vs. New Size

I’m looking forward to seeing the other shades of shadow in the collection but so far I’ve tried Of Summer which is a frosty mauve and Et Tu, Bouquet? which is a frost pale pink with touches of gold (nice to to cocktail with Circa Plum piggie!).

I believe Circa Plum Pigment is a repromote. It’s a frosty dark lavender which makes a great contrasting shade for paler pinks, very fitting for the collection. Mutiny is being re-released as well and if you haven’t already gotten this gem from the Naughty Nauticals Collection I highly rec nabbing it now as it’s thee most perfect shade of aqua I’ve run across.

So far I’m deeply impressed. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest shortly and I’m very eager to try out the MAC Fix + Rose Spray, it’s on top of my list to buy! Just when I think I’m off the MAC train I can’t help but be suckered back in. Really a great collection and well worth checking out for yourself.

What do you think?

Loves MAC Rose Romance?

Leaves it?

Tell me what you’re hauling!

If you were wondering where Diane Keaton’s been the Muse is here to save the day and tell you what’s she’s been up to. What? I sometimes lay awake at night and think, “Gee, I wonder what Diane’s up to!”

Technically she’s been up to making primer for L’Oreal…I think? Actually she’s been up to alot with L’Oreal. She has her own L’Oreal Beauty Confidential Inspired by Diane Keaton Collection….I dunno I guess L’Oreal was inspired by Diane….who knows I’m not making this stuff, it’s all really true!

L’Oreal Beauty Confidential Inspired by Diane Keaton is an entire collection of cosmetics that I guess L’Oreal wants to appeal to a more mature audience. I’d have personally picked the collection inspired by Ru-Paul but hey props to Di for getting her own cosmetic line although you can color me jealous! I’m still waiting for the MAC Inspired by the Muse Collection, shrug, hasn’t happened yet damnit. Although nothing reached out at me much I was somewhat amazed, fascinated, and generally shocked to discover a primer in with the palettes and lipstick. A drugstore primer? Unheard of! Say word! Can it be so? And shaped so slickly like…might I say….Smashbox Photo Finish….Diane you cheeky little devil!

Indeed, this little guy is quite similar to Photo Finish but actually probably in the Muse’s humblest little opinion has a better formula and texture than Photo Finish. I don’t like Photo Finish. It pills, it causes me to break out, and it’s an uncomfortable primer if ever I did see one. L’Oreal Beauty Confidential Inspired by Diane Keaton is considerably better in formula and texture. It’s very much a silicon based primer but it feels smoother on my skin, it absorbs easier, and it doesn’t break me out nor does it pill. I don’t feel like I have a mask on and it makes my skin nice and smooth, likey!

Now…

What it should do.

It should fill pores, fine lines, etc….it should make foundation last longer, remain fresher, and make skin even and flawless.

What it actually does.

Ok, no pore problem here and no fine lines so I can’t speak for either of those. Foundation doesn’t really last longer but remains fresher if that makes sense. It allows my foundation to not only apply flawlessly but it also lets it breath and keeps it from oxidizing on my face so it remains fresher on. I’d say within an hour or two my foundation completely oxidizes to the point it actually morphs into an entire new color. I’ve tried plenty of different ways to prevent this from happening and have succeeded a fair bit but a majority of the time nothing helps much. Now L’Oreal Beauty Confidential Inspired by Diane Keaton Smoothing Face Primer probably doesn’t keep my foundation completely fresh but it does fairly well at the job, not bad for a drugstore find.

I do think it’s impressive to see such a product available in a drugstore as it’s not your typical drugstore fare. Honestly, how many silicon primer do you know of at your local drugstore (within the US, don’t bring Asia into this and cheat!). It does carry a tiny bit of a hefty price tag at $14.99 USD but I do think it was well worth it as the quality is definitely there.

I think the product is particularly good for anyone with large pores, anyone who likes primers in general, and anyone who wants their makeup to remain a bit fresher for a little while longer. I’m not going to say it did anything major in the way of making my makeup last all day because it didn’t but it did allow for a more seamless, flawless look to my foundation and it also kept my foundation fresh. I don’t rave about primers much so take my review as a very calm way of saying that this was quite good. I imagine if it was eyeshadow or blush I’d be bouncing off the wall but it is primer which in the Muse’s world isn’t much to get excited about. That being said I highly recommend snagging a bottle or two as I don’t know if it’s LE or not and I think it’s worth picking up as it is, as I said, very good quality for a drugstore purchase. The price I’m not keen on as it seems a tiny bit high but the size is quite nice so it should last a while. I do see myself purchasing again if I run out. I’m Muse Approving it for purchase since I liked it quite alot.

Overall, I’m loving that L’Oreal is introducing something so “techy” to the drugstore cosmetic world. Yes, it’s standard to purchase any number of primers at your fav posh counter or cosmetic store but how many can you find at your local drugstore? Good work L’Oreal…now about that Muse inspired collection…….

Anyone tried Miss Keaton’s Collection?

Loves it?

Tell the Muse!

Ahh…also appears this collection is VERY hard to find. FYI I found it at Walgreens but didn’t see it anywhere else as of yet nor is it on the L’Oreal website.