Sigh...Another QVC Purchase

What is it about watching makeup on television at 2 in the morning that can strip an otherwise rational person of their willpower? Somehow this little goody made it into my cart and through the checkout process. I think the words glow, natural, and peachy pink were involved!
Meet Laura Geller's Baked Blush and Highlight in Como/Portofino. For those who haven't heard Laura's schpiel, these baked products begin with several shades in liquid form, swirled together, and are baked on a little terracotta pan until they achieve this light, smooth powder consistency. This product has a small triangle shaped highlighter in a soft golden shade, and the rest of the product is a delicate light warm pink that yields a radiant flush on the cheek. The the shade is on the lighter side so it's best for the fairer complected. Laura herself says that this is the most natural of the Blush and Brighten franchise. If you've found her previous shades too deep, give this one a try.

Bobbi Brown TSV on QVC Today!

QVC's Today's Special Value today is the Downtown Beauty 6 Piece Color Collection from Bobbi Brown. For $84.96 (or 4 payments of $21.24) plus shipping and tax, the set includes:

• 0.25 oz five-well eye shadow palette with mirror; Ivory, a creamy white; metallic Heather Lilac, a gray violet with pearl flecks; Bronze Shimmer Wash, a bronzed brown; Heather, a medium gray violet; Black Plum, a dark brown plum
• 0.15 oz five-well lip palette with mirror; lip sheer in Peony, a bright pink; creamy lip color in Bronzed Pink, a shimmering bronze/pink; lip color in Brown, a medium pink brown; creamy lip color in Pink Sequence, a silvery pink; metallic lip color in Ruby, a soft ruby pearl
• 0.1 oz jar of long wear gel eyeliner in Caviar, a deep black brown
• 0.14 fl oz vial of sheer lip gloss in Popsicle, a light pink
• 0.14 oz compact of blush in Washed Rose Shimmer, a warm rose
• Dual-ended eye shadow brush
• Ultra fine eyeliner mini brush with cap
• Lip brush
• Tip card

The Washed Rose Shimmer blush looks so pretty on television! I really want to check it out in person!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder

I ordered this from QVC because it came with what looked like a phenomenal brush, all for less than the cost of just the product had I purchased it elsewhere. The powder is a shimmering champagne that I though would be perfect to highlight cheekbones and browbones, but I cannot get it to show up on me unless I really pack it on with the included sponge. Granted a highlighter should be subtle, but I literally cannot discern any difference whatsoever when I use the brush to apply the product. I'm seriously considering returning it. Keep in mind that I am quite fair--those with darker skin will have a greater contrast with the powder and may find it more noticeable.

You can see just how subtle it is here:

Mally Beauty

I've seen the Mally Beauty line at Henri Bendel on many occasions and was never tempted by it, and I've seen it presented on QVC multiple times and had no interest, yet last weekend I found myself ordering a QVC One Time Only kit online, acting quickly lest it sell out! This is the danger of staying home on a Saturday night instead of going out with your friends and being completely overstressed at work.

The kit arrived yesterday and I got to play with it today. The products confirmed my initial reaction to the line--nothing earth-shattering, nothing I'd crave in the future--but the quality is fine and the price was right. For $31 and change (almost $42 after shipping and taxes) I received:

• powder blush in Mally's Glow, a warm pink with shimmer
• eye shadow in Mally's Glow, a bronze shimmer
• liquid lipstick in Mally's Look, a midtoned pink
• eye liner in Midnight, black
• mascara in black
• the most hideous pink makeup bag

Mally waxed poetic about her line's lasting power but I found it standard--the liner had smudged a bit under my eyes and the mascara had flaked some. The gloss has a nice non-sticky texture and good shine but a fake/sweet smell and the powder products have good pigment and went on nicely. The overall look was flattering and nice for Spring, but for some reason I just can't get too enthusiastic. To me the line is missing the "something special" or cache of some others and doesn't seem sophisticated. I also really dislike how oversized the packaging is since the added bulk makes storage difficult. It was a good value, priced what would likely have been equivalent to drinks and cab fare had I actually gone out instead of staying in and shopping online and so I guess I came out even!

Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting

When Gilt had Laura Geller on sale a few weeks ago, for some inexplicable reason I placed an order for the Baked Body Frosting in Angel Glow. I've never worn body highlighter (I don't like the idea of it getting all over my clothes) but I had seen this presented on QVC before and it looked pretty and subtle enough for the very pale me. It was due to arrive last week in time for my trip, but unfortunately, I didn't receive it until today.

The Baked Body Frosting is enormous, approximately saucer sized and about an inch and a third thick. It's .85 oz and presumably will last forever. Unlike most body highlighters, this isn't bronze or gold or glittery. Products like those, even in sheer lotion form, look horribly unnatural on me (as one friend who saw me in a bikini last week said "you look good, but you're the whitest person I've ever seen!" I know, exactly what you want to hear when you're practically half naked). Angel Glow is the softest shell pink with pink iridescence. Technically, the product is called "all over face and body glow" so presumably this would make a lovely, radiant facial highlighter as well, but because it is described as moisturizing by QVC I'm hesitant to use it on my cheeks.

Use Baked Body Frosting wet or dry, but I think this one should be restricted to fair skin--darker skin may look ashy. Baked Body Frosting is currently available on QVC for $37.

Used wet:
Used dry:

It's Beauty Day on QVC

And I almost escaped unscathed. Almost. I just ordered this tarte Achiote Cheek Tint & Lip Luster Duo because I am powerless when the words "peachy pink" and "cheek stain" are uttered and when you combine the two, forget it. The set is $28.93 (plus tax and shipping) with a retail value of $49. There are a number of easy pay offers and special prices through midnight tonight. Are you watching? Did you order anything?

Scott Barnes Creme Color in Luster

This couldn't have come at a better time. I wasn't at work 3 minutes when a male coworker came up to me to tell me I looked tired. Clearly I need wither sleep or a new highlighter, and the latter is much easier to procure.

I've admitted in the past that watching beauty shows on QVC is a guilty pleasure and while I've never actually ordered Perricone products, I've always been amazed by the radiant glow the brand's spokesperson, Dana, has on air. When I read that she used Scott Barnes Creme Color in Luster on her cheeks (over Tarte Dollface, for those interested), I immediately went on a quest for it. Luckily Strawberrynet carries the now-defunct brand and for a mere $18, this baby was mine.

First of all, this thing is itsy bitsy teeny tiny. The plastic case is about an inch on each side and the product is around the size of a nickel. I don't know why I'm complaining since it's not like I ever use anything up, but for those interested in bang for buck, this might not be for you. The shade is a luminous champagne with a hint of ever-so-slightly-bronzey warmth. If you find that most highlighters look ashy on you, this would be a great option. It's creamy and glowy without being glittery and really does impart a radiance to the apples of the cheeks, more so than a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or Laura Mercier ShimmerBloc. I'm not quite sure why, but darned if it doesn't do what it promises. The camera doesn't seem to capture it but the mirror does. A+!