New YSL for Holiday

Those familiar with YSL handbags have seen the "luggage tags" the bags feature. The Yves Saint Laurent line of cosmetics has created two new palettes inspired by these hang tags. The eye palette, "Your Lovely Palette" Eye Shadow Duo retails for a whopping $75 and contains a silvery lavender and a darker purple shadow, along with a brush-tipped applicator. The companion lip palette, "Your Lovely Palette" Lip Duo is also $75 and has rosy and golden shades with a mini lip brush. You're clearly paying for the packaging with these items, which can apparently be attached to a bag or other accessories to show them off. Cheaper than a Muse bag, but overpriced unless you are a die-hard collector. The line is also offering a sparkly golden beige powder ($28) and Golden Gloss Trio ($65) for holiday.

Lipsticks I'm Loving Right Now

Yes, I know I just posted about loving my new Berry lips, but at heart (and for everyday) I'll always be a warm nude/peachy pink girl. Here are some of my current favorites.
From left to right:

• Chanel Como Aqualumiere ($28)- this is the perfect warm pink beige shimmer. I believe it may have been limited edition but it's absolutely worth tracking down.
• YSL Sensual Silk #2 Rouge Volupte ($34)- this is a creamy light pinked beige. It is almost too light on it's own so I generally use a lip liner with it, but I love the pale pink (but not mod) mouth it gives. Just soft and pretty.
• Dolce & Gabbana Naked Shine Lipstick ($30)- you can see my review along with more pictures here!
• Bobbi Brown Lip Shimmers in Berry Shimmer and Rosebud Shimmer ($22)- Berry Shimmer is poorly named--it's actually a warm nude with white shimmer while Rosebud Shimmer is a rose-beige with silver shimmer. (Rosebud Shimmer looks nothing like Rose Bud Creamy Lip Color currently featured in the Earth Metal palette). Both are on the sheer side and look fabulous layered over one another. Bobbi discontinued this whole line of lipsticks, but you can still find them at CCOs.
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Baby ($22)- this has been my favorite lipstick for some time. It's shade I can just slap on and go when I don't have the time or inclination to think about what lipstick to wear. Find more pictures and a review here.
  

RIP Rock & Republic Cosmetics. A Rock & Republic Eye of the Day

I've made my love for Rock & Republic Cosmetics well known in my previous entries and unfortunately it turns out that the line is closing down. The good news is that several Neiman Marcus stores have the brand marked down between 40-50% (the sale has not hit the website yet). The bad news is that these superbly pigmented eye shadows and smooth glowy blushes are not long for this world. I strongly disagreed with the company's marketing strategy from the get-go: virtually ignore the rest of the line while promoting a mediocre $225 bronzer in a crystal-studded case. Whenever I spoke to someone about the line, their first comment was inevitably "oh, that line is so expensive." In truth, the line was priced along the lines of brands like Guerlain and YSL, and was cheaper than Chanel. And when you consider that the shadows and blushes contain 2-3 times the amount of product found in comparable lines, R&R is, gram-for-gram, a pretty good deal for outstanding quality. That message never came across and unfortunately the line did not succeed.

In honor of my beloved R&R, here is my eye of the day:
* Rock & Republic Veil Eye Shadow lash to brown (a soft pale ecru)
* Rock & Republic Snakeskin in the crease and smoked out (a murkey shimmery olivine)
* Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink Eye Liner
* Prescriptives (another brand that will soon but shuttering it's doors) False Eyelashes Mascara
* MAC Browning (from the Porcelain/Browning duo) powder for brows

Here is a link to my prior posts about Rock & Republic in the hope that they can help you with color selection should you choose to take advantage of the sale or try the line!

SpringLover

Dress - Frassy Rags
Belt - YSL Vintage
Vest - Sportsgirl
Hat - Sportsgirl
Boots - Docs
Sunnies - Surry Hills Markets
Wrist Wear - Bondi Markets, Vintage, Tiffany

Hey all!
Hope you are all having great weekends.
Mine was flat out...and my body is feeling it today!

First drinks at 1:30pm....and was not in bed til 3:30am...solid effort.
Sadly left my camera at my friends place so didn't take any photos out...

But we def took enough to make up for that at pre-drinks.

Always a blast.

Shout-out to Jaz - HAPPY 22nd BEAUTIFUL!

Can't wait to get some constant spring weather action!

We keep getting hints of spring and summer but I just want it to stay already!

Also thanks again to the lovely Audrey at FRASSY for the gorgeous dress I am wearing!

I adore it! :) Check out her Frassy Rags Shop HERE.

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

XXXXXXXXX

-PS-

Please vote for fellow Adelaide Blogger Chantelle HERE in the DKNY Comp.

Even voters can win prizes by simply voting...you can vote 10x a day! So why not?!

Thanks! :)

YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick Shade 126 Cashmere Pink

I know I come across as a bit of a bargain freak on here and I suppose I am but even I like a bit of a treat occasionally. I don’t begrudge paying £22.50 on a lipstick if it’s something really special. As I don’t spend that kind of money on one item often when I do I try and make sure that it’s a shade that I can get a lot of use out of and this hasn’t left my hand bag since I bought it. Shade 126 Cashmere Pink is a soft, dusty rose shade. It’s not as bright as it appears in the photo of the bullet but the swatch is pretty colour accurate. 

Let’s start with the packaging. It looks gorgeous doesn’t it! Unfortunately it feels like lightweight plastic. I like premium products to feel hefty and expensive and this just doesn’t. I don’t like how they don’t print the name on the bottom either. Just the number. 

The lipstick itself has a fairly strong floral scent which takes a little while to fade. I personally like it but if you are sensitive to scents I’d sniff before you buy. The texture is divine. It’s so creamy and smooth that it practically glides itself onto your lips giving full, opaque colour. Because of the creamy texture (it almost feels like a balm) I expected it to fade off almost instantly but the colour remains long after the balm like feeling fades away. 

I am thrilled to have this lipstick in my collection. Not only is the colour incredibly easy to wear but the formula is a joy as well. I just with the packaging lived up to the product x

*Bought with Boots points*

RibCageDress

Dress - Stylestalker Rib Cage Dress
Belt - Vintage (but I ended up wearing my YSL Vintage belt instead)

Wore my new Stylestalker Rib Cage dress out last night..
...It is actually so cute! I could not stop twirling around in it.
Had SUCH a great girls night (plus 1 boy, ha, poor guy) out.
.Endless Drinks.Frog Style Dancing.Happy Meals.Mr Ed Photos.Podiums.

I love new friendships.

Hope you all had great weekends too!

XXXXXXXXX

Face of the Day

It was rainy and gloomy when I woke up this morning so I opted for brighter pink cheeks and lips. They were just as appropriate in the afternoon when it had turned sunny and cheerful (though I was too chained to my desk at work to enjoy it).

Eyes:
Lancome Erika F
Jane Iredale Eye Highlighter on brow bone (I use this all the time)
Laura Geller Baked Cake Eye Liner in Key Lime/Dark Green Apple (I usually use the dark wet to line the top and inner rim and the lighter dry to line the bottom)

Cheeks:
By Terry Blush Veloute in Apple, topped with a mix of
Trish McEvoy Sunkissed All Over Face Color and Perfect 1 blushes (the 2 colors in the middle. The others are Jolie and Weekend)

Lips:
Sephora Nano Liner in Queen Quartz
YSL Rouge Veloupte #2
Hourglass gloss in Origami

Close up of the eyes:
Close up of the cheeks:
Close up of the lips:

Bloomingdales Spring Beauty Guide

Bloomingdales wants you to you to get happy (with bright new pops of color), get glowing (with soft shades that shimmer) and get ready (with the freshest skincare solutions) and January 28th through February 7th the store at 59th and Lex is having a beauty event! It seems that almost all of the lines are offering some sort of gift with purchase or incentive to stop by. NYCers can call 212-705-2000 for more information! For everyone else, ring 1-877-485-8462. Here are some of the most intriguing products from the new catalog I received:

• Laura Mercier Radiant Creme Color ($35), Eye Color Duos ($22), Satin Lip Color ($22) in Barely Nude, Pink Cocoa and Maple Brown and Lip Shine in Crystal Pink ($22). That Radiant Creme Color is absolutely calling my name!
• Bobbi Brown is all about coral for spring as indicated by the stunning Nectar Shimmer Brick ($38), Cabo Coral Pot Rouge ($22), Cabo Coral Lip Color ($22) and Sunset Beach Lip Shimmer ($20). The lip products are all limited edition. They are pairing the Shimmer Brick with the Face Blender Brush ($45) which I have and really like!
• Dior's vinage lace collection looks stunning, but I'd be too scared to mar the beautiful imprints! For those of you braver than me, the new 5 Color Eye Shadow in Coquette ($57), Lace Highlighting Powder ($55) and Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect Lip Color in Beige Veil ($26.50) are your options!
• I am a big Lancome fan (even though it may not be what the cool kids play with anymore) because their products are top-notch. The new Color Design Quad ($42), Teal Ink Artliner Delight ($23.50), Coral Flight Pop'N Cheeks ($29) and La Laque Fever Gloss ($26) scream spring. Personally, I'm partial to the liquid liner version of the Artliners and wish they'd release new shades in that formulation.
• YSL is offering new Ombre 5 Lumieres #9 Palette in Parisian Sky ($56), Palette Y-Mail ($65) in 3 colors to choose from and for lips, Rouge Volupte #29 Opera Rose ($34) and Gloss Volupte #2 Chilled Rapberry ($30).
• Shiseido is all about bold color for Spring with Luminizing Satin Eye Color ($25) in 5 new shades including Peach and Sky, Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte blush ($30) in 6 new colors and Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer Pout ($25). there are 8 new shades in this range.

Has anything caught your eye? What do you intended to check out for Spring?

YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch v By Terry Touch Veloutee

I like comparing and contrasting products which in essence are designed to do the same thing, it reminds me of English A-Level essays.

Of course these are both designed by Terry de Gunzburg, the first whilst she worked for YSL and the second when she started her own makeup brand By Terry.

I never bought into the idea of a highlighting concealer, and laughed at my sister who clickety clicked her way through many a golden pen in the '90s, but suddenly and overnight or so it seemed I developed brown eyelids...where on earth did they appear from? and an annoying inherited freckle on my lower eyelid. At around that time (I was probably about 36) I was wondering absentmindedly through the Cosmetics Hall of a large department store - not a good idea - and before I knew it a cosumate SA had me in the chair weilding her aforementioned golden pen and I was amazed at the results, I looked, well alive, rested, friendly. Of course I purchased on the spot and have been using admittedly more off than on ever since....but one always wonders if there is something better.

For me these are different products, and it maybe is unfair to compare them. Touche Eclat is for me an eye product, I know that it can be used along cheek bones, around the lips, in the naso-labial folds but for me it is purely an eye thing, for a start the brush head is slender and narrow.
Touche Veloutee is more of a concealer, the brush head is wider, the texture is more dense, the finish more opaque.
However compare them I will.

Here are my eyes, sans anything apart from my skin.

I have splodged these on and around my eyes - Touche Veloutee on the left eye (the denser texture can be seen) and Touche Eclat on the right eye.
I then use a MAC #183 brush to blend in, a la gossmakeupartist - I can't find the actual video I saw him demonstrate this technique and I think it was with a BB concealer but saw the technique and thought "at last a use for a brush that I have had knocking about in my makeup stash"

Blended in below

 

And with a bit of mascara and groomed eyebrows.

To me the difference between the 2 products is that Touche Eclat has a lighter more translucent consistency, it really is a highlighter and thus lightens my teabag stains which to be frank are not horrendous. It lasts all day. Touche Veloutee is more of a concealer, the finish is more matte. Again it lasts all day. My problem with Touche Veloutee is that it has an all pervading scent of rose which slightly turns my stomach - I can deal with it just about in a lip product but not in this. I also think that I have the wrong shade - I automatically picked up the palest shade which is very pale and too pale I think for me.
Touche Eclat is £24.99 for 2.5mls and Touche Veloutee is £33 for 6.5 mls.