Spring Beauty

nars spring 2014 color collection

Monday, January 13, 2014

KHAO SAN ROAD LARGER THAN LIFE LONG-WEAR EYELINER Right when I start thinking to myself “I don’t need any more makeup. I’m good.” NARS announces the launch of their Spring 2014 collection and I lose my mind.

While I only got my hand on two products, the entire collection is makeup bag worthy so get you a piece.
TIMANFAYA SATIN LIP PENCIL
Khao San Road Eyeliner ($24) is a beautiful, bright metallic aquamarine. It’s got a super soft texture and goes on like butter. Plus the color is so intense, it’s a beauty lover’s wet dream. Are you kidding me NARS?! I applied this on my lower lash line (complemented with gold eyeshadow on my lids) and I looked 10x more awake that I should on a Monday morning.

Next is Timanfaya Satin Lip Pencil ($25). I’m generally a fan of the brand’s matte lip pencils due to their long-lasting abilities but I may have found the one Satin Lip Pencil to take permanent residence in my makeup bag. Timanfaya is a reddish orange color that didn’t look as intense on my lips as it does in pencil format. While one coat looks good, two is my optimal amount and it was more coral than orange. I was a bit afraid that this would get all MAC Morange on me but fear not. I don’t hate Morange but you have to be in the right frame of mind to wear it friends. If you’re seeking an orange lip color without screaming “I’M WEARING ORANGE LIPSTICK, Y’ALL!” pick this up when it comes out.
TIMANFAYA SATIN LIP PENCIL AND KHAO SAN ROAD LARGER THAN LIFE LONG-WEAR EYELINER
This collection includes a slew of other products, like Kauai Duo Eyeshadow ($34), that I have my eye on. Luckily it will be available January 15, 2014 at NARS boutiques and on narscosmetics.com.

You’re welcome.

Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration.

Categorized Beauty | Tagged NARS, NARS Cosmetics, Spring Beauty | Comments (4)

perfect for spring — m·a·c vera collection

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

No stranger to collaborations, M·A·C Cosmetics has released a limited edition collection inspired by the art of textile designer, Vera Neumann. Neumann is best known for her brightly colored patterns and items signed with her distinctive signature, and often a ladybug.

Brilliant butterflies, flashy florals and gorgeously geometric graphics…A colourful collaboration between M·A·C and the artist known worldwide as Vera, who merged fine arts with linens, murals, textiles and silk scarves in her punchy, painted patterns. Now in shades plucked straight from her most lavish prints, M·A·C Vera embraces the luxe, lighter-than-air spirit that delivers the kind of startling, look-at-me statement that defines what it means to be an instant classic. — M·A·C Cosmetics

Each of the colors in this collection is said to have been named from a design in the Vera archives. Much like her art, this collection boasts bright, cheery, playful colors that shout spring from the rooftops. I love how delicate this looks with its pretty pinks and summer-esque corals.

Midsummer’s Dream nail lacquer ($16) - described as a pale pink lilac ($16)

sets one and three come together; sets two and four are packaged together — I got them all shuffled when taking pictures! These cost $34 USD and $40 CAD

- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Strawberry Patch (light blue pink) and Moon Rose (a vibrantly dark pink)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Rain Drop (metallic teal) and Moss Garden (metallic silver green)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Star Crystal (pink champagne) and Rose Light (metallic yellow pink)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Butterfly Party (bright lilac) and Desert Cloud (deep blue purple)

Plushglass ($19.50) in Butterfly Dream (a md-tone violet with blue pearl), Pretty Plush (extra soft pink with white pearl), and Confetti (a bright orange coral with soft pearl). All of these go on slightly sheer with hints of color (and smell like candy!)

Pearlglide Intense Liners ($15) in Industrial (periwinkle grey) , Lord It Up (bronze with pearl), Black Swan (black with pearl), and Petrol Blue (deep navy with pearl). These glide on and have amazing pigmentation. I love how intense it makes the eyes, though they are prone to smudging a bit.

Pearlmatte Face Powder ($28) in Flower Fantasy. This is one of two beauty powders in this collection and is described as a pale coral with slight gold pearl/slightly blue pale pink/soft pale salmon. That’s a lot of colors that basically means it’s a salmon/pink color that makes for a great blush. My one issue is that it’s SO beautiful in the pan, I don’t have the heart to swatch it, much less swipe a brush and use it on my cheeks. This looks like a total brown girl friendly color that can be used to liven up the cheeks a bit.

The full M·A·C Vera collection is currently available in stores/ on counters and online.

Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged beauty, MAC Cosmetics, Spring, Spring Beauty | Comments (1)

a peek at NARS Spring 2012

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Spring makeup releases make me happy. Perhaps it’s the bright *POPS* of color amidst the dreary wintery days but something about seeing a hot pink lipstick or purple nail lacquer really gets me going. It’s provocative*, y’know. For spring 2012, NARS is releasing a nine piece collection filled with vivid hues and power packed with pigments.

The Spring 2012 Collection is a study in contrasts: Bold color underscored by sophisticated shimmer. Eyes glisten in muted tones of lavender and pink, or shimmer in bronze shades accented with rich navy. Cheeks are flushed with candy pink. Lips gleam in topaz or pop with berry. Metallic violet nails add the finishing touch to a collection that’s bright, strong and iconic.

More information to come but this looks like a keeper, ladies. The collection launches online on January 13th.

*five points for attempting Jay Z and Kanye lyrics into my everyday vernacular.

Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged beauty, Makeup, NARS, Spring Beauty | Comments

Spring Beauty: Fresh, Floral Fun

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Versace ‘Vanitas’ Eau de Parfum (Nordstrom Exclusive) $95.00
With notes of lime, tiare and freesia mixed with the sensuous tonka and cedar, this scent makes a great go-to for the cool spring nights. Fist date? No biggie. This scent is feminine without being overtly sweet.

Avril Lavigne ‘Fobidden Rose’ $29.00
Housed in a beautiful violet flacon decorated with a black rose stopper, this perfume definitely surprised me upon first spritz. Opening with nores of red apple, white peach and Bourbon vanilla, this scent floats around youuntil you (quickly) get to the heat of it all — aromas of lotus, heliotrope and fresh green apple. A very clean scent throughout the warm base notes (including vanilla and sandalwood) dries down to something crisp and feminine.

Chloé ‘Love, Chloé’ Eau de Parfum Spray $85.00
I don’t typically like powdery perfumes. They remind me of old ladies and, to be honest, at the tender age of 23 I want to smell like anything but somebody’s Nana. Somehow the folks at Chloé reeled me in once again with another finely produced scent. A fine, powdery fragrance, Love, Chloé has notes ranging from orange blossom, pepper, lilac, wisteria, musk, talc and rice powder. When combined you’re left with an airy cloud of sophistication. Another perfect scent for a night out. Call this your second date perfume.

MARC JACOBS ‘Daisy - Eau So Fresh’ Eau de Toilette $70.00
A more playful and bubbly take on the hit Daisy perfume range by Marc Jacobs. Perfect for the brightest of days, hanging out with your girlfriends. Imagine you wearing this with a bright yellow sundress, wedges and oversized frames.

Jo Malone™ Dry Body Oils (Limited Edition) $65.00 US / $72.00 CAN for each 100ml
Okay, so not a perfume BUT oils are the best thing for skin when you want to be refreshed and moisturized. Why not do both while smelling good? With olive, kukui and macadamia-seed oils, Jo Malone’s new Dry Body Oil (out in April) nourishes skin, leaving it feeling satin-soft yet dry to the touch. Available in Lime Basil & Mandarin and English Pear & Freesia.

Disclosure: some samples were provided for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Avril Lavigne, Chloé, Fragrance, Jo Malone, Marc Jacobs, perfume, Spring, Spring 2011, Spring Beauty | Comments

Spring Beauty: Royal Flush

Monday, March 7, 2011

Hourglass Cosmetics Aura Cheek Stain, $45
This water-based formula is enriched with Vitamin E and gives cheeks a gorgeous flush without making the skin look greasy or oily. Free of oil, fragrance, and phthalates, count this as you go to cheek stain come warmer weather and powders and creams prove to be too much on the skin.

M·A·C Cremeblend Blush, $19.50
M·A·C’s newest addition to its permanent collection starts creamy and stays creamy giving those who prefer not to use powder another option. Between full on rouge like your momma use to wear or a more subtle glow like at Thakoon’s spring 2011 show, their new Cremeblend blushes have just the right color no matter your skintone.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks, $24
Double duty beauty at your service! This cream-based formula serves well as a cheek color AND lip color, providing a sheer, stained finish. Be sure to moisturize skin first as you wouldn’t want the product to look flaky upon application.

Lancome Butterflies Fever Blush, $40
Lancome is no stranger to creating special blushes for their seasonal collections and for Spring 2011 they did not disappoint. This bowtie and the butterfly blush is a fun and feminine take perfect for the warmer weather. Most importantly, it’s wearable.

Guerlain ‘Blush G Serie Noire’ Powder, $67
Inside this smooth and shiny lacquered black lies a mix of four complimentary pinks all begging to be placed on the cheeks before a beautifully warm spring day. These healthy glow boosters harmonize perfectly to revive to give the skin a gentle but totally effective boost.

tarte natural cheek stain, $30
tarte cheek stains are always a warm weather favorite for me and I’d be a fool if I were tonot include it. Free of alcohol, they do not dry out your skin upon application nor do they clog pores. They’re infused with the tarte t5 super fruit complex™ - a blend of the five most active superfruits- and provide a healthy dose of natural antioxidants.

Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideation. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Spring 2011, Spring Beauty | Comments (3)