Current Obessions

I go through phases when I can't get the idea of a articular brand or product out of head. Sometimes it's something that I already own and want to wear all of the time. In other instances it's something I can't wait to try.

Some of my latest obsessions include the following:

MAC Eye Shadow in Grain and Edward Bess Eye Shadow in Dusk- both always look great, no matter how tired I am or what other makeup I have on.
Crown Brush Pointed Crease Brush (C139) and Lancome Black Coffee Le Crayon Kohl Eye Liner- the brush is one of the best crease brushes I've used. The shape is perfect for both the socket and outer corner. The eye liner is a deep dark brown that makes the white of your eyes look brighter, and the formula is smooth and silky enough that you can get right up against the lash line with no tugging. It works on the inner rim as well.
Rock & Republic Imitate Mousse Blush in Rumor- this is my favorite blush out of all that I own. The texture is sublime and the shade is perfect. I'm so sad that the line is discontinued. Even though Rock & republic pops up from time to time on sample sale websites, none of them have had the mousse blushes. I'd definitely stock up if I found this one again!
Origins Smileage Plus Lip Tint in Eco Pink- I love tinted balms in the summer and that fact that this one is natural and 95% organic is a huge benefit! Not only is the ginger scent uplifting, but the shade is a spot on--a sheer warm pink. Please excuse how jagged the tip looks; I almost destroyed it trying to take the picture!

Those are some products I already own that I'm loving, but my wishlist keeps growing! Right now I'm obsessing over Vapour Beauty, another organic line. The Aura Radiant Blush and Elixir Lip Gloss are calling my name! I wish I didn't have to order these sigh unseen but they are not available in brick and mortar stores as far as I know.

29 Cosmetics Highlighting Cream Blush is also at the top of the list. According to Neiman's it's a "real honest-to-goodness healthy glow packed with antioxidants that leave the skin naturally looking "blushed" not made up." This line is only carried in a few stores, none of which are on the east coast.

Finally, I'm also totally obsessed with Whole Foods 365 Caribbean Frozen Fruit Bars- strawberry, mango and coconut flavored deliciousness and only 110 calories per bar. It seriously tastes like vacation!

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:

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.

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.

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
   

My Favorites of 2010 Part Two

Eye makeup, fragrance and body favorites!
Edward Bess Dusk Eye Shadow- dare I say it--potential holy grail! Smokey yet somehow natural at the same time.Lancome Le Crayon Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Coffee- a dark brown that goes on without tugging yet lasts all day. Works well without irritating on the waterline as well.
Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Primer- finally a mascara primer without harmful ingredients. This one really works too!
Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Zero Humidity Frizz Control- tames flyaways, frizz and static while smelling absolutely delectable.

Josie Maran Argan Oil- I use this on my hands under my hand cream at night and it's the only thing preventing my hands and cuticles from becoming sorry, cracked and raw.
Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream- very pricey for the tiny size but sinks in quickly and works extremely well.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb- always elicits compliments
Ginestet Botrytis- like candied fruit mix with autumn air. I wear this one for me, not to attract anyone else. Reminiscent of the long and sadly discontinued Escada Collection, one of my all-time favorite fragrances.
Bvlgari White Tea Shower Gel- leaves the skin smelling clean and begging to be nuzzled.