Musings of a Muse

One item the Muse truly misses is Majolica Majorca Flesh & Blood Cheek and Lip Stain.

Take a blast to the past with the Muse to hear why she misses Majolica Majorca Flesh & Blood Cheek and Lip Stain!

Sigh…dontcha just hate when your fav products get up, walk away, and never return? So be the case with the limited edition run of Majolica Majorca Flesh & Blood.

These fabulous little tubes of color were available in four shades, were cheap as day old chips, and nicely pigmented! Many stains are too red or too pink but Flesh & Blood managed to captured a true blush of color and added a beautiful finish to lips and cheeks. The gel formula was easy to blend and melted into the skin leaving behind moist, dewy color that was both natural and flattering.

I sure do miss these and wish that Majolica Majorca would bring them back or at least do a similar release! For now I’m forced to blast into my past with the two remaining tubes I do have stashed away and I’ll mourn the day they are gone!

Have you every tried Majolica Majorca Flesh & Blood?

Have a few stashed away for a rainy day?

Tell the Muse about your Beauty Blast from the Past holdings!

I know I’m such a cheese with all my Avon reviews lately but I can’t help but stop and say that Avon has vastly improved lately and I’ve embraced all the great new items they are offering item.

Recently when I seen the Jillian Dempsey for Avon Essential Beauty Palette I was kinda hopping around as I really liked what Jillian has pulled off for Avon lately. Away I went with indulging in one of the two palettes on offer, after all it promises me a full face of makeup in a cute little palette…who could resist?

Zomg! Bad idea Avon. No likey this palette at all!

I’m somewhat shocked in all honesty that this was such an epic fail. The Jillian Dempsey for Avon Essential Beauty Palette comes in a cool and warm version and run around $4.99-$7.99 per palette. The palette is a cute little cardboard flip design with a full size mirror and all the makeup you need for a complete look such as lipcreams, blush, shadows, and an applicator! Sweet.

Not so sweet.

The entire lot of makeup included in the palette is utterly, completely, and devastatingly bad. I’m not sure what went wrong as Jillian Dempsey is a rock star with her Avon creations but this was terribly wrong. The shadows included are both cream and apply sheer and streaky! The lip colors aren’t as bad but they aren’t easy to blend and just sit on your lips and finally the blush gives a tiny hint of color but isn’t nearly pigmented enough to create a wow inspiring look.

I’m pretty sad about this one! I think they honestly put effort into making it but didn’t anyone test it before they slapped it up for sell?

The Muse says:

No likey.

At all.

What was it that kid from Jerry Mcquire was so fond of saying?

Did you know that a jar of La Mer The Powder weights as much as a human head? Well, maybe not but damn-yum it feels like it!

Talk about super luxurious! La Mer The Powder comes housed in a .88oz frosted glass jar that weights as much as that human head the kid was talking about. This must be what it feels like to be rich….I wish I was rich but at least I have La Mer The Powder to make me feel all wealthy, fabulous, and J-Lo like (I heard she slathers herself, head to toe, in La Mer cream!). I once dreamed I was fabulous but than I woke up. Darn it.

No seriously though the jar is super gorgeous and vanity worthy, count the Muse impressed. Needless to say what’s inside is just as lovely as what’s outside. It’s possibly the nicest and the most expensive powder the Muse owns at the moment. I’m not much of a powder user especially around this time of the year (dry skin and the likes) but La Mer could change my mind.

At $65 USD it doesn’t come cheap but the fact of the matter is it’s going to last you this lifetime and probably your next as it’s huge so in fact your $65 USD is an investment for your powder future. This is alot of product for the price so you can feel a little less guilty when indulging.

The powder is available in four shades and the one I’ve been using is the lightest shade Cream. It’s a lightweight, very finely milled, silky powder that helps my foundation last out a majority of the day and into the evening. I’ve been using mine for a while now and I can safely say it does wonders for keeping the evil oily forehead at bay during hot, humid days. The powder manages to give my skin an airbrushed, flawless look while giving my skin a fresh, awake finish. I honestly wouldn’t suggest it for using as a sole foundation as it’s a bit sheer but working as a finishing or setting powder it’s truly ideal.

The powder is developed with symmetrically shaped, uniquely coated particles that magnetically attract to the skin for a perfect fit…hey it’s not my words…go read it on the La Mer site. I have no idea what that means but hell it sounds important right? No seriously, it does have a rather wonderful way of conforming to the skin and blending in leaving behind that no makeup feeling while offering a beautiful sheen to the skin that can only be classified as flawless. I will say even on my dry skin the powder still manages to settle onto my face without caking, flaking, or just creating general drama which is always a plus as I do like to set my foundation occasionally with a good powder so it remains fresh all day.

All in all I think it’s a luxury item that’s affordable considering how long the product will last! The presentation of the product is gorgeous and the powder’s formula is equally as wonderful. This one the Muse suggests checking out for yourself it has the potential to for holy grail material membership!

Tried La Mer The Powder?

Love it?

Got a favorite La Mer product?

Tell the Muse!

Yesterday I gave you quite a chunk of the Givenchy Spring Collection to chew on. Did you enjoy those bites of goodness?

Your Muse sure hopes so!

Today I’ll be introducing you to the two new shades of Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick.

Excited?

Two new shades of Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick were introduced to compliment the Indian inspired Spring Collection and both are rather stunning. Maharani Rose is my favorite of the two as it’s a unique shade of rose that gives my lips just the right touch of natural pink. I was a tad bit disappointed with Maharani Henna as I thought it would be a deeper shade of red. Although Maharani Henna is advertised as a warm brick red I felt like it was more of a deep peach shade and easily duped by other colors in my lipstick library. Kinda bummed about this one as I was hoping for some sort of popping red to match up well with the bright hues of the Givenchy Sari Glow Blushes BUT the good news is I actually think the shade is quite lovely and a nice touch for Spring or Summer looks.

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick are all quite matte at least the shades I’ve tried however even though I’m no great lover of mattes shades I must say that every shade I’ve purchased has always pleased me since the formula is so great. The formula is a luscious moisturizing blend that leaves lips with glossy and full of color thanks to the great pigmentation of the product.

Both of the new shades compliment the Spring Collection perfectly and even though I was slightly disappointed with one I still felt like it was a welcome addiction to the entire line up.

All in all Givenchy Spring 2009 could be shaping up to top this Muse’s favorite list for the Season!

See a few FOTD’s using these items by clicking below:

Givenchy FOTD 1

Givenchy FOTD 2

Last week could possibly fall into the “end of the world as we know it” category considering that the Muse ran out of Labello Lipbalm.

Seriously.

The Muse takes these things uber serious and when she realized she was down to the last tiny drop of her Labello Lipbalm in Cherry she took herself off to her storage closet and proceeded to look for a new one.

GASP!

None left.

Oh.
My.
God.

Talk about panic attack.

But Muse couldn’t you go to the store and get some Chapstick?

Hells no! Chapstick is so NOT a Labello!

Jump ahead to read why the Muse adores Labello.

You may or may not be privy to the brand Labello here in the US, it’s basically a glorified Chapstick. That’s the key word, glorified…as it in glorious…as in it’s a glorious lip treatment that make your lips feel happy!

I discovered Labello years ago in Amsterdam and ever since that faithful day I am never without at least 4-5 tubes that I stash in my bathroom, my desk draw, my beside table, and even one in my kitchen. The moral of the story is YOU need Labello Lipbalm and shouldn’t be without it.

But why Muse?

If you’re a Chapstick lover (do Chapstick lovers exist?) or just a general lover of tasty lip balms, I’ll kindly remind you that Labello makes the best around. Not only does Labello make a wide variety of flavors and formulas, it also happens to be an extremely moisturizing, shiny, glossy, tasty treat for the lips! The formula is highly emollient and leaves lips with a wet, shiny, glossy look while offering moisture, a tiny hint of color, and in some formulas, SPF.

Who doesn’t need a great lip treatment for the cold harsh weather? This is ideal for preventing or curing chapped, dried lips while offering a beautiful glossy finish and a kiss of a fruity taste! Yums! Labello manages to keep a girl happy with over 25 different formulas and flavors of balm and is every introducing new flavors, new formulas, and new products (selections vary from country to country). Who doesn’t love variety?

Labello is available within Europe but you can find a few online shops that sell the line and also Evil-bay has a few sellers. I normally have a friend in Amsterdam who airmails about ten or so when I need them and it lasts me for quite a while and I find it cheaper ordering it in bulk however if you’re just wanting to try it out I do suggest nabbing one online if you have no other option.

Labello is 100 years old and quite fond of telling the world that Nobody Kisses Better…this Muse couldn’t agree more which is why she Muse Approves Labello Lipcare with a big hearty YAY!

The Muse thinks you needs some, the sooner, the better.

Love Labello?

Which are your fav flavors?

Fav formulas?

Tell the Muse!