Shu Uemura Supreme Shine Lipstick

When I first saw this Shu Uemura picture I gasped! Both the model and the makeup are absolutely stunning, and the lips had me mesmerized. I HAD to own that lipcolor! The Shu site says that the model is wearing Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine Lipstick ($30) in BG935 with OR520 in the center. Despite the torrential downpour today, I had to detour to Bergdorfs to see these lipsticks! They are all lovely in person but at over $32 a pop here (with NYC taxes), I realized I'd have to make do with just one.

Shu describes the Supreme Shines as a "fusion of breakthrough watery dewy shine and rich color payoff. Revolutionary film keeping capsule, ultra shine oil and shu uemura's signature hybrid pigment create a smooth, thick veil on the lips that glides on easily to deliver unforeseen shine and vibrant pure color payoff."

Hyperbolic though that may be, this is one fine lipstick! It's ultraglossy but not at all tacky or gooey, and smooth and moisturizing but isn't nearly as thick in texture as Clinique Buttershines or Stila Shine Lipsticks. This formula really feels unique.

I can't speak for all of the colors, but BG935 is definitely on the sheer side. It's a pretty neutral beige pink with almost holographic microshimmer. It doesn't exactly make my lips look like those of the model's (that would require Photoshop and surgery!), but the color is actually pretty close. Sometimes I'll see a lipstick advertised or credited in a magazine and it appears a completely different shade in person. In this case I actually believe that the color stated is the one used. The OR520 was much more vibrant--a coraly orange--than I'd anticipated based on the image but I can see how tapping it lightly over top would create the exact shade represented.

Compared to Bobbi Brown Baby (which is on the left):

UPDATE: Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Event

So I went back the next day because the Prescriptives concealer was just unworkable. It must have been the powder added to the product because it did not spread at all, caked, and could not be layered. It's a shame because the color was just perfect. I was also so excited about my new candle, but it went from smelling divine unlit to overwhelmingly strong when burned. This would be great if I lived in a large space or wanted to scent my whole house, but living in a tiny New York City apartment, it was too intense and instant migraine. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the brand to someone looking for a candle with a very strong scent and throw though. Just not for a studio apartment!

When I went back I again tried the La Mer concealer as I so wanted it to work fo me due to the amazing texture and coverage. I also tried a concealer called the Anti-Aging Mineral Mystique by La Bella Donna , a mineral line you really never hear much about. I believe it's carried at several spas and a few online retailers, but I've yet to see it in a department store other than Bergdorfs. The concealer is in a click pen but the product is quite thick and has great coverage (pigmented with minerals) and a good deal of light reflectors, ideal for someone with undereye darkness not only from pigment but shadowing as well. After walking around like a crazy person looking at every single mirror in every light on the floor (the store has the absolute worst lighting of any cosmetic department I've been in), I opted for the La Bella Donna. Not cheap at $44 (I've seen visited their website and all of the items are pricey) and it smells a bit waxy, kinda of like an old lipstick. I think that may just be because the line is fragrance free. Today was Day 2 and I like it! I also went back to Px for a lip liner in Ginger, a soft pink, but the sales associate gave me Guava, a deeper rose shade. I'm going to keep it though since I don't have a similar shade and it deepens the new gloss nicely and turns it into an evening shade. So all in all I ended up with:

• La Bella Donna Anti-Aging Mineral Mystique
• Prescriptives Custom Gloss
• Prescriptives Guava Lip Liner
• Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara

A nice ode to Prescriptives since unfortuntely the line is to be discontinued January of this year. Here is the liner/gloss combo:

Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Event

September 16th through 20th, Bergdorfs is having one of their Beauty Events, held several times a year, where you save $25 off a purchase of $100 on the Beauty Level. I had a very difficult time deciding what to buy. I originally wanted the new La Mer concealer, but the shades did not work out for me. The coverage and texture are divine, but the light looked too white under my eyes and the medium was very dark and very orange. Edward Bess has some new lipsticks shades and I contemplated them as well, but none grabbed me. I decided that in honor of the Prescriptives lines being discontinued as of the end of January 2010, I'd try show support and purchase some products from the line.

I wanted a custom concealer, custom lip gloss and mascara. The artist I worked with was Neptune. I told him that I wanted a concealer with a lot of coverage and light reflectors for my horrifically dark, recessed circles. He got to work mixing, adding pigments to create the perfect shade, light reflectors to bounce shadows and darkness, and a white powder for opacity. The end result is a dead on match. I took off my makeup and tried it on at home on clean, moisturized skin waiting to see the miracle and hmmm...it seems to ball up when I try to layer it. I'm not sure if it's the powder that was added or the overall formula, but I'll have to play with this one some more. No angels singing. Bergdorf Goodman has the worst lighting of any department store and so what looks okay there may not fare so well in real life. I'll try it again tomorrow. The custom concealer is $34.

For the lips I asked for a liquid lipstick type product--not too sheer, not sticky, and heaven fobid I branch away from my usual peachy pinks. Neptune created a lovely sheerish natural peachy pink with a beige pearl and Bellini scent. There are several shades to choose from including Latte, Cocoa, Tropical, Mint and Berry. You can also select a doe foot want of slant tip applicator. The custom glosses are $34. Here is my gloss:

I needed a new mascara since my beloved Korres has dried up and am trying Prescriptives False Eyelashes since it is now paraben-free ($19.50).

I had to spend a bit more to qualify for the discount (sounds kind of ridiculous, doesn't it?) and I purchased a Nest Candle in Freesia Kiwi. Nest Candles are by Laura Slatkin. Many of the scents are reminiscent of the famed Slatkin & Co fragrances. The are soy wax and packaged in lovely stiped clear and frosted glass jars. Freesia Kiwi is a blend of freesia, jasmine, muguet, Asian Pear, kiwi and cassis. I had a hard time deciding between this one and Wasabi Pear, which turned out to be out of stock, making the decision for me.

Overall it was a fun night having products custom blended and and coming home with a pretty purple bag of goodies. I hope the concealer works better tomorrow than it did tonight! Have you ever had Px custom blend products for you? How did they work out?

Edward Bess Mini Review

During the Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Event I picked up Edward Bess Eye Shadow in Intimate and Lipstick in Pule Impulse.

I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed in the eye shadow ($30) when I got it home. It wasn't that it's not a fabulous color (Intimate is a golden taupey brown with a hint of khaki), its just that no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to look like the murky grayed green it appeared when applied on me in the store. I tried different bases, different brushes, read different blog reviews...and then I realized that it was Dusk applied at the counter, not Intimate, and I came home with the wrong shadow! I quick pop into the store later, I had Dusk shadow in my hands and am a happy camper!

Dusk is similar to Intimate in that it's a complex blend of shades, but leans more towards the cooler, grayer side. A taupe-infused gray with shimmer in the pan, the shadow's clean undertones come out when applied. It blends wonderfully and looks great alone lash to crease or used with other colors. The shimmer is sophisticated but keeps the lids looking luminous and not crepey. A deep color can easily leave my eyes looking bruised, but this is the right mix of tones to create deep color without leaving me looking like I've lost a fight.

Pure Impulse ($32) is a great compliment to Dusk. It's a nude that leans slightly pinky peach on me. The closest shade I have to this is Bobbi Brown Blush (on the left below) which is inker, cooler, and has more beige. The lipstick has no shimmer but doesn't look thick and heavy on the lips the way some cream formulas can. It lasts decently well, leaving a slight stain behind, and smells of figs but I don't find it overwhelming or cloying. The case is a chic black that snaps closed well. I've worn the lipstick several times and it has not dried out my lips, though I would not describe the formula as slick or glossy. Pure Impulse is a great basic lipstick on days I want that "my lips but better" look.

Bobbi Brown Blush, left; Edward Bess Pure Impulse, right:

Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Zero-Humidity Frizz Control

Several weeks ago I colored my unprocessed, stick-straight, frizz free hair with the ill-named Loreal Healthy Look Creme Gloss Color, a semi-permanent dye that promised to wash out in 28 shampoos and "take [my] hair beyond shiny to glossy gorgeous color that's never dull or fake." Ever since then, my hair has been a horrid, staticky mess that nothing will ameliorate. Brushing or running my fingers through my hair, which sits almost plastered to my head all day, results in the "finger in the light socket" look that is anything but flattering. I've tried everything I can to fix this--I bought a new brush, new shampoos and conditioners, have used dish soap and clarifying products, a humidifier, multiple styling products, even static guard and dryer sheets, all to no avail. I'm at my wit's end and am resigned to wearing my hair up every day since it looks and feels so awful.

I went to the Fekkai counter at Bergdorf Goodman today in desperate need of salvation. The counter manager ran her fingers through my hair and immediately saw what I was talking about--the touch of her fingers made my hair nearly stand on end and her colleague joking asked if I'd been struck by lightening. She said that she had never seen anything like it before and whether it was out of pity or simple curiosity, offered to make me several product samples I could use at home to fix this disaster. She applied to Glossing Cream (which didn't have much of an effect) and left to get the samples when I spotted the Marine Summer Hair Zero-Humidity Frizz Control, a "weightless, alcohol-free mist with sea-algae extract blocks humidity while sealing in hydration to keep hair sleek for all-day frizz and flyaway protection. UV Shield helps prevent fading and applied it.

First of all, this smells AMAZING. Amazing, like a tropical beachy drink in a bottle with notes of pineapple and coconut. If it came in a cream I'd slather myself in it top to toe. Though it's meant to be applied to wet hair, I sprayed some into the palm of my hand and ran my fingers through my hair. Lo and behold, no static! I kept touching my hair over and over and the static did not return. I have no idea if this is merely temporary, but the momentary elation at have static-free hair for the first time in weeks coupled with the divine scent drove my straight to the register for my $23 bottle of elixir. If all else fails I'll wear it as perfume.

My Bergdorf Goodman Haul

Bergdorfs was a madhouse today! The gift Beauty Event is in full swing, and you'll receive $25 off a $100 purchase on the beauty level, in addition to the gifts with purchase that many brands are offering. I had a difficult time deciding what to buy, and ultimately settled on Le Metier de Beaute Fresh Creme Tint in Tenne, Edward Bess Eye Shadow in Intimate, Edward Bess Lipstick in Pure Impulse and a replacement Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. Unfortunately the Le Metier proved to be out of stock, and I had to make a game time decision about a replacement. I ultimately ended up with Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Zero Humidity Frizz Control which I'll post about separately.

Pure Impulse: a warm nude. This looks a bit gray for a minute or so after application, but then melds with my lips to create a stunning natural shade. This lipstick is full coverage with no shimmer.
Intimate: a golden brown with strong khaki tones. Or a khaki with golden brown tones. It's a fabulous shade on my murky green eyes. It's very blendable and the shimmer is subtle.

Intimate and Pure Impulse:
The new Edward Bess Compact Rouge is gorgeous as well. It's a deep burnt rose with a stain-like texture. It looks dark in the pot but blends out well with a dewy quality.

I was helped but the most fabulous sales associate, Eileen, at the Kiehls counter. She could not have been nicer or more patient and she included a veritable slew of Kiehls samples for me to try. Please let me know if you'd like her contact information.

I ordered the Le Metier from Neiman Marcus with their free ship code, NMSHOP and it's due to ship next week.

What Would You Buy for $11?

I placed my Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Event preorder last week, and just found out today that the Le Metier de Beaute Fresh Creme Tint in Tenne that I ordered is out of stick, will not be restocked during the event, and cannot be charged and later sent, meaning that I need to select another item in its place to qualify for the $100 minimum. Right now I'm $11 short and having trouble coming up with something else, either another similar cream blush or another product altogether. So...help me out! What would you buy?

A Great Cheap TJMaxx Find to Start the Weekend!

A TJMaxx opened recently near my apartment, and I stopped in today to check it out. I firmly believe that there are Loehmann's people and there are TJMaxx people, similar to the way hat there are glass half full and glass half empty people. Falling squarely in the Loehmann's camp, I did feel a twinge of guilt as I entered the store. I've read stories of shoppers people stumbling onto prestige brands like NARS at TJMaxx, but mine merely had some old Clinique and Philosophy. I hate to leave a store empty handed so I took a closer look at some of the beauty offerings and noticed this brush by Lilique. It's called the Shading Brush (medium).

When I went to Bergdorfs to place my Beauty Event pre-order yesterday, I really wanted to pick up the Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush, but hesitated when I realized it was $40. To me that's the cost of a blush brush, not a small shadow brush. Lo and behold, in my opinion this Lilique brush is a decent dupe and cost all of a whopping $3.99! Now I have no idea what this thing is made of (it feels like natural hair), I doubt the bristles are hand-shaped like the Bess ones and this certainly doesn't come in a signature black box, but I saved $36 which nearly covered the cost of my Sephora haul from the other day. If you have a TJMaxx near you, it's worth a quick look to see if they carry this brush. It deposits a wash of color onto the lid and crease very nicely.

I've Had a Very Expensive Weekend!

It started out with too large of a spree at JCrew and H&M, and then moved on to two pairs of shoes at Cole Haan. I'm sick of my work clothes which are definitely not as cute as my weekend/going out clothes and I always feel like I have to run home and change before doing anything social after work. I'm hoping to change that! I've never been into H&M since the quality is often subpar (hey, you get what you pay for) but H&M cuts smaller and as I'm slowly sized out of stores like JCrew and Banana due to vanity sizing, H&M provides an alternative (and I've discovered that they really do have some cute things!).

I also picked up new crystal knobs from Anthropologie for a vanity I plan to refinish for my new apartment and new Loreal Healthy Look Creme Gloss Hair Color. I don't color my hair but this is supposed to be temporary and subtle and I could do with a bit of brightening up!

Last night I purchased Lancome Black Coffee Le Crayon Kohl Eye Liner and placed a Skinbotanika order (that is not an affiliate link--I just love the site and am happy to promote it) for:

• Clarisonic Mia- I usually have great skin but it's looking so dull and clogged lately. I'm hoping this helps!
• Sophyto Polyphenol Skin Drops- I'm almost out of my Kate Somerville Total Vitamin Serum and like to use an antioxidant product in the morning as I'm exposed to so much pollution here in NYC and am exposed to the sun quite a bit.
• Sparitual Nail Lacquer in Life of the Party- I really like this polish line. It's moderately priced and big 3 free. This looked like a fun pedicure color to me!

Now I'm off to buy new dining room chairs (6--ouch!), table lamps, hit Bed, Bath and Beyond for some organizing necessities, go grocery shopping and I have to pay my Bar dues!

And my list for the fast-approaching Bergdorf event is growing by the minute! Has anyone seen a money tree around? Trying to look good sure is expensive!

Starting to Think About April's Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Event

Several times a year Bergdorfs offers $25 off $100 beauty purchase. Those who have been shopping there long enough likely remember when it used to be $25 off $50, then $25 off $75, but $25 off anything is better than nothing and I rarely fail to take advantage of it.

The next event is towards the end of April (I get a different answer from every sales associate I ask, some say the 19th, others the 20th, still others just say the 3rd week of April) and will be coinciding with a Le Metier de Beaute event that runs the 19th through the 25th.

I've been mulling over what to get and have a few 'definites' and a few 'maybes' to consider. Is anybody else planning to go or order? What are you thinking about picking up?

So far I definitely need a refill of my Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. I'm also pretty sure I want Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Tenne and Radiance Powder Rouge in Echo.

Other possibilities include the Bobbi Brown Blush Brush and Mahogany Creamy Eye Pencil, Edward Bess Intimate Eye Shadow, and I usually end up with a new lipstick or gloss.

Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick

I realize that I'm a little late on this one since the Nude Shimmer Brick was a limited edition that's now difficult to obtain, but it's too beautiful not to share! Bergdorf Goodman had one of these left and I snapped it up as a substitute for the Chantecaille Lumiere de Rose that died an untimely death on Saturday night. On my very fair skin, these is a bit too deep to be a true highlighter, but is a gorgeous light bronzer with shimmer. It's a mix of pink, beige and caramel and is definitely shimmery but not a total glitterbomb.

Incidentally, the Bobbi Brown counter at Bergdorf's is having an event March 23, 24, 26 and 27 and I was told that they'd be debuting new items. No word on what they are or if there is a Gift With Purchase, but I'm trying to get more information. The number for the counter is 212-272-8827.

Chantecaille Centifolia Lip Sheer

I've had this lipstick on my wishlist for ages now. I hadn't purchased it mainly because it looks just like all of my other lipsticks--a sheerish peachy pink with a hint of shimmer--but caved on a recent trip to Bergdorf's. Centifolia is very sheer, more so than my other Chantecaille Lip Sheers. It provides just a hint of color along with a moisturizing shine. Is it remarkable? No. Worth $28? Probably not. But it's the kind of lipstick that can live in your purse and work with any look on days you forget to bring your lipstick of the day or want to switch things up. I also prefer this newer formula in the skinny tube. It's paraben-free, unless the prior incarnation.

Here are swatches in different lights:

A Mini Binge

So there are good binges (a makeup or shoe haul) and bad binges (eating half a dozen William Greenberg Black & White cookies) and because I was on the verge of the latter thanks to a cornucopia of stress, I decided to effectuate the former. Thus, I found myself on the poorly lit beauty floor of Bergdorf Goodman, telling the Edward Bess Sales Associate that yet another coworker had just commented on how tired I looked and pleading with her for some help.

I walked away with Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Bronzer in Daydream (a favorite of Sabrina over at the Beauty Look Book) and a few Chantecaille goodies that I'll post about tomorrow. I was debating between this bronzer and Chantecaille Capri, but fate intervened when the store was out of the Chantecaille. Daydream is a cocoa-brown shade with no orange or pink tones. It's sheer enough to be used all over the face, but can be built up to be used on the planes of the cheeks, nose and forehead that would naturally be toasted by the sun. I'm using my Bobbi Brown Face Blender brush with it, but the makeup artist applied it with Edward's lovely, though super pricey ($65) version. At $48 this isn't an inexpensive item, but not having a colleague ask when the last time you slept? Priceless.
P.S. I ended up eating 2 mini size of the aforementioned cookies. They really are exceptional. My top 5 favorite cookies in NYC:

1. William Greenberg Bakery Black and Whites
2. Financier Patisserie Macarons
3. Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookies
4. Not Just Rugelach Zaleti
5. Crumbs Bake Shop Snickers Cookies
   

A Mini Blush Adventure

Nothing tempts me quite like a new blush, and after seeing the gorgeous photos of the new Paul and Joe Creamy Cheek Powder on The Beauty Look Book, I made a beeline for Bergdorf Goodman this morning to try them for myself. I arrived just as the store opened and so I had the whole counter to myself and got to really play with all of the shades. Try as I might, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one! The texture and pigment of these are very nice, and I love the glowy shimmer, but I found the colors SO basic. The light pink is just plain light pink, the rose colored one straight up rose, the peachy one exactly like what you'd picture a peach blush to be. The bronze one was very dark and the orange one very orange. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but I guess lately I'm into more complex, nuanced shades lately. For $24 each I wanted something special that can't be easily duplicated. Plus, these have the signature Paul and Joe scent to which I'm sensitive, another small deterrent. I definitely won't say that I'm not going to pick one or two of these up (knowing me I'm sure I will eventually) but they just weren't doing it for me today. If I had to get one today I'd go with 02 Kitten, the pretty shimmery pink. 02 Kitten and 03 Peaches would be stunning blended together, by the way.

After work, still unsatisfied and debating picking up the Paul and Joe after all, I sauntered over to Henri Bendel and noticed that Jouer had a new Cheek Tint. I love the Jouer products that I have so far and when I saw the new shade, Whisper, I caved. Whisper is a soft muted peachy pink that goes on pretty sheer and with a serious gold glow. I know, yet another peachy pink. But the shimmery glow and the sheer color payoff make this shade unique. Whisper looks like it will be very versatile as it can be used as a base for powder blush to help it last and bring out the color, a subtle cream blush on its own, or as a highlighter layered over other blushes. The Tints are $20 and are available at Henri Bendel and Jouer Cosmetics.

Paul and Joe Mini Haul!

I think I've been reading Lina's amazing blog, The Beauty Look Book, too much because I've never had any interest in Paul and Joe, and yet all of a sudden I was overcome with a desire to buy some! I headed over to Bergdorf Goodman this evening and some goodies came home with me!

I normally just walk up to a display, swatch my usual neutral-to-warm fare and go with those items, but today when the makeup artist asked if I'd like her to select some colors for me I agreed and ended up with some things just a teeny tiny but outside my comfort zone, which is a good thing! I picked up Face Color in 16 Canyon ($24), Nail Enamel in 4 Provence ($14), Lipstick N in 17 Bunch of Grapes ($20) and Eye Liner in 02 Dark Brown ($16).

The Face Color is one of the new shades and when I had a tough time deciding between this one and 15 Re-belle, the makeup artist nudged me towards this one. I'm still not sure which one would be optimal (Re-Belle looked so pretty--a pale peach pared with a mauve shimmer that bled to create a soft, girly frosted nude pink) and the artist applied the product with a very heavy hand. Right now Canyon looks quite bronzey and warm on me but I'm sure it will look different when I put it on myself with a lighter touch. (Just to note, the shades are accurate in the pictures I took yet always appear duller once uploaded to blogger. The shade is deeper and a bit brighter in real life).
The Nail Enamel is an iridescent pinky nude shimmer with mauve tones. I think it will require 3 coats to really show up.
I definitely do not need another eye liner but this one, despite being officially named Dark Brown, is a softer taupey brown. The pencil felt creamy and didn't drag when I swatched it. It's a softer look than the dark brown I wore into the makeover.
I was a little surprised when the makeup artist started pulling plummy tones for lips since I definitely gravitate towards warm nude pinks and peachy pinks, but this sheer nudey plum looked nice with my green eyes! I almost opted for the warmer 20 Milk Chocolate but deferred to the artist in an attempt to try something new! Interestingly, the tester lipstick had no scent, but the one I purchased has a definite perfumey smell. I found this to be the case with my one other Paul and Joe Lipstick (the discontinued 40 Pain D'Epice) but I consistently read reviews stating that these are odorless! I thought Pain D'Epice might have been uniquely scented but either I'm on the makeup version of Candid Camera or these lipsticks are perfumed! If you're particularly sensitive to scented lipsticks I'd avoid these (just in case I'm not crazy!).

The makeup artist also used Eye Color Palette CS Ingenue 001 on me though I did not purchase it since in the store I felt like I could duplicate the shades with items existing in my collection. Now that I'm home I think I might end up ordering it anyway! It's going on my wish list for sure! The trio is $38 and contains a soft pearly ecru, shimmery taupe and shimmery charcoal brown shade that can be used to line. This picture is from Dermstore.com, a site that carries the Paul and Joe line for those without local access. This is also a good time to stock up if you're loyal to the brand's single eye shadows--the makeup artist today informed me that all singles will be discontinued.
So how did I do on my first foray into Paul and Joe? Aside from the palette, what else do I need from the line? I did come across a promo picture for the Spring line from the brand's Facebook page and the cream blushes look interesting...
I have to yet again publicly complain about the lighting at Bergdorf Goodman. The Beauty Level in in the basement and little has been done to light the space well. It's downright dim in there which makes it very difficult to judge colors! I highly recommend taking a hand mirror upstairs to the main level if you're concerned about color matching, especially with foundations or concealers!

Some Initial Thoughts on Ellis Faas

Ellis Faas Cosmetics launched in the US at Bergdorf Goodman yesterday, and after reading various raves I had to do some reconnaissance! According to the Sales Associate I was only the second person to the counter so the display were quite pristine, despite the counter being tiny and tucked away in the corner next to Bulgari Skincare and behind T. Le Clerc. Shortly after I arrived, a very frustrated and seemingly angry woman from Women's Wear Daily approached the counter saying that she had an appointment with the line's PR person and had been walking around the cosmetics floor for over half an hour looking for the line and couldn't find it. The Bergdorfs beauty level is not that big so I don't understand the issue, but wanted to point out just where the counter is located lest anyone else struggle! (Interestingly, neither Ellis not the PR rep were there when the WWD writer showed up for her scheduled interview appointment--there was some debate as to whether they were at a meeting or outside "having a smoke". When Ellis did show up--in lovely makeup, by the way--she asked the writer if she should "just go through the motions" and began going through the line's concept, history, etc. It should be very interesting to read WWD's review of the line!). Back to the actual makeup...

All of the products are housed in long slender silver tubes with pointed caps intended to resemble bullets. The various liquid formulas flow through either a "showerhead," the line's name for a hard flocked sponge top applicator with several holes through which the product is dispensed, or an attached brush. The only product not dispensed this way is the Powder, which is a standard pressed powder cake. Ellis also makes a large cylindrical metal tube to house your various Ellis Fass products, though it's rather large and unweildy. It features a built in powder compact at the bottom since the pressed powder currently comes only in a plastic clamshell for packaging. The Holder would be lovely if your entire cosmetic collection consisted of only Ellis products or you needed a handy weapon with which to clobber someone over the head, but for makeup junkies like myself it's just impractical.

Ellis also makes a Skin Veil Foundation and Concealer. The foundation is light in texture and features minerals to illuminate. It contains sunscreen and the 8 shades are in the same bullet style tube, just fatter, and come with a refill. The concealer seemed light and silky but it was no match for my serious undereye circles. For those with minor imperfections to hide, this might be a good option. Ellis Faas will soon be coming out with a Skin Luminizer as well.

The Blush comes in four shades, my favorite being S302. It's a very, very pretty shimmery peachy pink and will likely be my next Ellis purchase (more on what I did get later!). I can definitely see it being one of those shades that works on nearly every woman. The blush blends right in and has good pigment for a liquid. The shimmer is not over the top, just gentle and fresh. A really lovely product.

The Powder comes in 3 shades which did feel nice and creamy and didn't look heavy when applied, but the fact that it doesn't come in a compact is a deterrent to me.

Ellis Eyes are some of the line's star products. These fluid eye shadows come in two different formulas, Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes. Creamy Eyes is a slightly thicker textured cream and are smooth and velvety, glide on and and give you time to blend them before they dry. Once they had set on my hand I had difficulty removing them, even with the makeup remover provided! This is one long-wearing shadow! They are full coverage and are available in 7 shades, ranging from a light yellow beige to a red plum to a sooty charcoal. Ellis mentioned that her line is nearly shimmery free, and the only one of these shadows in which I could discern some shimmer was E109--a pretty shimmery vanilla. You can click on all of the swatch pictures to enlarge them.

Milky Eyes are more translucent in texture. I would not describe them as sheer or unpigmented, merely more transparent, akin to stained glass. The shades in this collection are more vivid, yet can be blended down to a stain or gentle wash of color. The texture is lighter, spreads easier, and can be layered for inensity or to combine shades. I used two "coats" of the the shade I purchased (E209- a light beigey peach) to achieve my desired effect.

Ellis also makes a Mascara in brown and black and an Eyeliner in brown and black. The liner, like the shadows, transform from a liquid to a powder and feature a nice applicator brush.

The other standout in the line are the lip products, in 3 formulations: Creamy, Milky and Glazed. Creamy Lips are dispensed through the aforementioned showerhead component and are full coverage but with a soft and velvety feel. They don't feel drying in the least and I can see them blotting down nicely. The pinky-nude L108 would be my top choice. Milky Lips are lighter in texture than Creamy Lips and a bit less pigmented, but not quite a gloss. Thicker than a stain and thinner than a lipstick, the product is very unique and comfortable to wear. I chose L207 for myself, a natural my-lips-but-better shade similar to Laura Mercier Nude Lips. Last is Glazed Lips, a sheer, wet looking non-sticky gloss. L308 is a sheer nude brown that I really liked. All of the formulations come in 9 shades, but the line's standout and most publicized is Ellis Red, which comes in all 3 formulas. This shade is designed to be a universal, versatile red that is supposedly flattering on all women.

So why no pictures of the items I picked out for myself? After all the time I spent playing and swatching and sampling and choosing, I go to pay and the Sales Associates realizes that none of the items (save for the Ellis Holder) have been entered into the store's computer system and thus they could not be purchased! Bergdorfs really dropped the ball on this one! The store launched a line and made it so that customers can't actually buy it! The Sales Associate took down my credit card and shipping information and they are supposedly shipping my items to me today. I will be sure to post a follow up when I receive them but in the meantime I'm looking forward!

The line's biggest downside is the pricing. The line is, in my opinion, exceptionally (and rather unnecessarily) expensive, especially since some of the items cost quite a bit more than when you convert the overseas pricing into USD. If I'm happy with my new Milky Lips and Milky Eyes, I would go back for the blush and likely a Creamy Lips, but it's not a line to which I can afford to really develop a strong addiction or sizable collection. When I was at the counter, a woman (a tourist and without prior knowledge of the line) came by to play with the eye and lip products, and asked the Sales Associate the pricing to which the answer was "everything is $36." The shopper then opted to add the foundation, concealer, and a few other items to her haul, not realizing that the $36 was only for the eye and lip products she was eyeing when she asked (nor did I at the time). Since we could not be properly rung up and were not given totals, this poor woman is going to find herself back in Pennsylvania with a $500 bill and not know why! Oy!

Here are the prices:
Ellis Holder- $35
Skin Veil Foundation- $65
Skin Veil Concealer- (not listed but I believe $45)
Blush- $40
Powder- $25 (no compact provided)
Creamy Eyes- $36
Milky Eyes- $36
Mascara- $34
Eyeliner- $36
Creamy Lips- $36
Milky Lips- $36
Glazed Lips- $36

The Sales Associate I worked with, Claudia Pinto, was extremely nice and helpful. She apologized any time I was kept waiting, when she went to work with another customer and when the register wouldn't scan the items. She allowed me to play and never hovered or put pressure on me to purchase anything and was happy to offer advice and suggestions. She is also knowledgeable about the line, the products and the shades. I called today to confirm that the products were shipped and that there were no issues and she not only remembered me by name, but let me know that she had already shipped the items and ran my credit card info through the shredder. That, to me, is top-notch customer service. If you'd like to order through her, her number is (212)872-8713. I have absolutely no affiliation whatsoever and receive nothing from posting this or her contact information. She was just a very helpful Sales Associate and nice person with whom to deal.

If you've tried the line I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for additional products to try!Oh, and here are some quick iPhone pictures of swatches and products. The lighting in Bergdorfs is notoriously yellow and bad (why on earth you'd but beauty level in a basement is beyond me) but hopefully they can provide some additional guidance.
Top row: Glazed Lips 308, Milky Lips 207, Creamy Eyes 108
Center: Milky Lips 208
Bottom row: Milky Eyes 206, Milky Eyes 109, Blush S302
Top row: Milky Eyes 206, Glazed Lips 308
Middle row: Milky Eyes 109, Milky Lips 208, Milky Lips 207
Bottom row: Blush S302, Creamy Eyes 108