Cosmetic Packaging Du Jour 5.21.09

I thought this would be interesting for you all to see, especially since A LOT of you have mentioned you want to go into the beauty and or fashion industry. I am lucky I am in both, I work at Fashion Luxury company that is branching into cosmetics and fragrance. I am the buyer and merchandiser but I also have product development under my job title and this is actually my favorite part of my job!

I attended the Luxe Packaging trade show today in NYC. If you are in beauty or fashion you know then EVERYTHING is about packaging, more so in beauty. You are paying for the packaging not the cosmetic! True Story. Anyway, I met with the packaging company that does all of MAC, Chanel, Laura Mercier, Etc packaging. It was really interesting to see all of this. I took a sneaky picture for you guys to take a look at you. You can see all the collections in there.. Lure, Dame Edna, Fafi, Manish, Hello Kitty and Heatherette. This was REALLY exciting for me. I am a dork...

Barry. M Lips Du Jour 5.20.09

I am sure everyone and their mother, brother, sister, and boyfriend's sisters cousin has heard the buzz about Barry M Lip Paints, especially #101 in Marshmallow.

I was dying to get my paws on these babies. I was fortunate to have someone in the UK send me these. I am thrilled with them, #101 is the lightest nude I own and I love it. It is very matter and very nude and relatively easy to work with. Now, #129 in Lilac... WOW...my new favorite color, you think lilac isn't wearable? Wrong, it is perfect, CREAMY and perfect.

Take a look yourself.

L to R:
#101 Lip Paint in Marshmallow , #129 Lip Paint in Lilac

L to R:
#101, #129

#101 Marshmallow Lip Paint

#129 Lilac Lip Paint

On the way out to door wearing the #129 Lilac

What are you feelings on lilac lips? Love or Hate? Too Lady Gaga?

MUFE Smokey Eye Du Jour 5.19.09

I have a charity event tonight at a bar.
I am using my new self made smokey eyes palette from Make Up Forever!
#3, #4, #40, #139.

REVIEW:
I absolutely LOVE these eyeshadows. I always gravitate towards neutral matte's and it takes alot to stand out as a matte. These are buttery soft and beyond pigmented, usually matte's are a pain in ass to blend. Not these. These blend with such ease. Huge Fan! #4, Black puts MAC's Carbon to shame! This might even be my favorite smokey look to date.

USED:
MUFE Palette
YSL Faux Cils Mascara in Black
MAC Feline Kohl
Lips Fleshpot

And thats it!

I really need my hair done, I have an appointment tonight. I am going lighter!

Have you tried MUFE? What is your favorite Smokey look?

Illamasqua Du Jour 5.19.09

The wonderful Alex from Illamasqua sent me the SWEETEST Gift. My boyfriend came home laste from work last night, with a black package in his hand for me. I jumped at it and saw it was from illamasqua! As you all know I have been on the hunt for the Gucci Purple. Well Alex sent me the cutest note and two purple products to help me achieve the gucci purple eyelook!



I am going to try these products tonight!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I will be sending you some goodies from you know where ;)

PS- Illamasqua.com is now shipping internationally! GO SHOP NOW! Thing are selling out big time Alex has informed me.

Make Up Show Du Jour 5.18.09

So today was the Make Up Show in NYC. It was great to see a bunch of lines, such as Smashbox, Mac Pro, Kryolan, Makeup Forever, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (which I was dying to test out), Becca, Crown Brushes, just to name a few.

I saw Ms. KraseyBeauty which was a pleasure and I finally got around to applying for a Mac Pro card. Very productive day all around and I even got to eat lunch at Cafeteria with my best friend. One of my favorite restaurants in NYC, think Sex and the City. They filmed there all the time.

Anyway, I got a few great things!

In Order from Left to Right:

• Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre, Daily moisturizer, cult item- I HAVE BEEN DYING TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS. Ever since I met Lily Donaldson a year ago and she told a few girls that she refuses to use anything but this on her skin I have been jonesing to try this out!
• Embryolisse Filaderme Emulsion, Night Cream for Dry Skin
• Embryolisse Creme Vitaminee, A creme that gives your skin a shot of vitamins and hydration. Also to be used at night and as a treatment for scars, skin problems etc.
• Make Up Forever HD Foundation in #123. I have been reading so many reviews on this and for about half price I had no reason to not try it out, since I just ran out of my Chanel Vitalumier.
• Make Up Forever Full Cover concealer in #4. This is GREAT.
• Make Up Forever 4 pan palette, filled with #04, #139, #3, and #40 (I am thrilled with these matte shadows, look and review to come)
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic Lip Tar in Feathered- White
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic Lip Tar in Katricia - A creamy violet color

Were any of you ladies there? If so, what did you get?

PS- Style Warriors is now up on maccosmetics.com. Go order!

MAC BABY BLOOM Collection Du Jour 5.14.09

MAC Cosmetics Baby Bloom for Fall 2009

U.S. Launch Date: July 30th, 2009
International: August 2009

BECOME A FORCE OF NATURE… Introducing Baby Bloom, the newest and simplest way to combat hot and cold extremes, air-conditioning and outrageous heat, with our next generation collection of Studio Moisture Tint treatments…makes the sunny side of the street the place to meet! Five neutral skin-tone shades, all SPF 15, to drench skin in healing emollients, give it glow, rescue it from future damage. And fresh new Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in five sheer colour shades, from Pink Tinge to Moist Plum, are the big news we’ve been tight-lipped about…until now!

Studio Moisture Tint SPF15 ($29.50 U.S. )

• Light Soft pale beige
• Medium Warm beige
• Medium Dark Caramel beige
• Dark Deep caramel
• Deep Dark Rich golden bronze

Suntints SPF20 Liquid Lip Balm ($14.50 U.S. )

• Just A Smidge Soft, pastel yellow with multi-coloured pearl
• Lilt of Lily Soft, creamy pale pink
• Pink Tinge Clean bright yellow-pink with gold pearl
• Full of Grace Soft, sheer rose
• Moist Plum Light lilac with very fine pearl

Credit to Temptalia.com for all pictures and info! Visit her at www.temptalia.com!

This looks like my dream collection...moisture moisture moisture. I have very dry skin and anything that is formulated to hydrate and refresh is right up my alley. I love tinted moisturizers and Lip Balm. This Suntints looks very interesting and right away Just a Smidge, Lilt of Lily, Pink Tinge and Moist Plum is calling out to me.

Why is this coming out so late? July 30? What the hell?
Will these be the new tendertones? Is this why they aren't releasing new tendertones? I hope these are similar!!!!

What do you all think?

FOTD Du Jour 5.13.09

Simple Pimple Look...no fuss.


Face:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand
Chanel Bronze Universal

Eyes:
MAC Shroom All over lid
Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
NARS Black eyeliner- smudged all over

Lips:
Mac Hue Lipstick

and that's all folks...super simple. I was in a rush and late to an appointment!
What do you all think?

MAC Dupe Du Jour 5.13.09

Okay, so I am sure we all have been hearing about Revlon's new matte line lipsticks, Pink Pout and Nude attitude and how they are dupes of MAC's Myth and MAC's Angel. When I heard this I made a mental note to go try these out. 

I finally got my butt into duane reade, a whole 1 block from my apartment, I am lazy what can I say? Anyway, I digress, so I found them both there. I got home and they both looked kinda dark. I compared them to Myth and Angel...what do I think? Look below.

(Angel and Myth on left and Nude Attitude and Pink Pout on Right)

While swatched on the hand they look very similar in color, almost identical, but in texture they couldn't be farther apart. Revlon Matte's are VERY dry, MAC's were much glossier and creamier. For all of us that think Myth is drying and hard to work with, do not go near Nude Attitude then!

On the lips, Nude Attitude and Pink Pout are a touch darker than the mac's.

I will swatch these on the lips later if you all would like to see that.

In Conclusion, I give Revlon A- for effort but C is execution, too drying and and the texture is a bit rough. I will stick to MAC for the extra $5 or $6 dollars.

Obsession Du Jour 5.13.09

This is an unlikely obsession but it is from the drugstore. I was perusing the aisles to find the Revlon Matte line to take a look at Pink Pout and Nude Attitude when I came across the Prestige Baked Skin Loving Minerals line. I had heard alot about these and I wanted to try them out, at $11.95 for drugstore makeup I was hesitant because as I said for Duane Reade that is kinda steep. Well I bought Glam Tan and Pure Shimmer and I am so happy I did.

These MAC Mineralize Skin Finish knockoffs possibly are even better than the original MSF's, I know I know, before you get your panties in a twist and ask how could I ever say somthing like that, take a look.

Much more pigmentation, smooth as butter and $11.95, less that half the price of MAC's MSF.

I will swatch these on my cheeks later on and compare to the MSF's, but right now I am loving them!

WIN WIN Situation, go out and take a look at these, they are worth it!

Fashion Du Jour 5.12.09

(Crappy Quality on low setting on my blackberry)

It never fails, someone at least once a day asks me about my jewelry and wants to know about it.

So I thought I would share it with you guys also! I am very into jewelry and accessorizing, aka I pile on jewelry at all times. Even if I am wearing black leggings and a white tee, I will have stacks and stacks of jewelry on, its my thing. I make my own bracelets and make them for my friends. I used to sell them in college, I am thinking about resurrecting my jewelry line.

Right Hand: My own Bracelet es, Cat Bird Snake Ring worn on first knuckle, Cartier Love Ring in Rose Gold.

Left Hand: One of my own bracelets, skull bone bracelet by evolution, sterling silver double band ring by made her think.

Eyelashes Du Jour 5.12.09

I have been using LiLash for 5 weeks now, and I am supposed to have started seeing results. I was very disappointed because I felt like nothing was happening, so I took a picture to compare to my before and Whoa...something is happening!

Day One

Week 5, Day 35

Can you see the difference? I especially see the difference at the outer corner! They look glossier, thicker and darker. I am liking what I am seeing! I will be posting again at 8 weeks, Day 56. I wonder what they will look like then?

FOTD Du Jour 5.12.09

Going to work today, can barely see the makeup :/ ermm...

Oh well, wearing Satin Taupe e/s, Lancome ArtLiner in Black and some Mascara. 

Plain Jane Today.

My baby girl in bed 

Talk to you all lovelies later...

GET BETTER STEPHY!

(Left: Steph, Right: Me)

I miss you!! Get better soon. I can't wait to see you Saturday.

Snugs, SNL, LOST and RED MANGO!

I love you!

FOTD Du Jour 5.11.09

MUFE #9 Eye Look

Excuse the sleepy eyes, it was 8 am.

Make Up Forever Eyeshadow #9 on lid, with MAC Omega in Crease

NARS Jolie Poupee lighter color over

Ta Da

I applied lightly-ish because this was for work. I work in fashion so I can get away with colors and fun makeup but I want to wait until it is warmer to break out the intense purple eyes.

What do you guys think?

Obsession Du Jour 5.11.09

I just found an oldie but goodie. Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme and boy is it EXTREME.

This is a clear (with subtle duo chrome blue flecks), vitamin smelling gloss that supposedly plumps your lips like collagen injections.

Before

10 Min Later

Close up of "Swelling"

Skin Patch that I swiped the gloss on, raised and red!

Boy, does this stuff work, it will even make your skin puffier and bigger. These pictures don't even capture full difference. My lips were noticeably bigger, my boyfriend even noticed!

Information from Sephora:

Lip Injection Extreme
What it is:
Lip Injection Extreme is a lip plumping serum that gives long term results based on the most scientifically proven and advanced lip plumping technologies.

What it is formulated to do:
Increase lip volume and plumpness permanently with continued use.

Size: 0.2 oz

CONCLUSION: Works!! It stings and burns for about 2 minutes. I am not sensitive so this doesn't bother me but , I would not recommend this to people with sensitive skin, they might very this very irritating and painful. 10 minutes after application you will have swollen puffed out lips, just like collagen injections! I actually kinda semi love this ;)