Tag Archives: beauty

MAC Posh Paradise Collection Haul

1 Oct

Clockwise from the left: Imaginary, Nubile, Half-Wild and Genuine Treasure Paint Pot by MAC

My YouTube buddy girlcanpaint0412 is a Paint Pot fanatic and did an awesome review of the new Paint Pots released in MAC’s Posh Paradise collection.  Based on my shopping habits I don’t need much ecouragement but her video convinced me to pick up a few colors.  I was happy to see that the ones I wanted were still available at my MAC store since several were sold out online.  My favorite out of the bunch is Genuine Treasure.  It has been compared to Tempting eye shadow and Woodwinked (a big favorite) so that was a must have.  The  Paint Pot is tarnished-golden-sparkly deliciousness.   Nubile is like Painterly Paint Pot with some sheen.  I think it would be great for brides and personally as an everyday color all over the lid with a soft brown shadow to contour the crease.  Throw on some brows, mascara, soft cheeks and lips and I am ready for work.  Since I have brown eyes Half-Wild and Imaginary were mandatory additions to my haul.  Great for smokey eyes that will bring out my eye color.

Rumor has it that this is a different formula but I have not had a chance to test them out to see if I notice any changes on how it applies and wears on the eyes.  From swatching they feel like they have more slip but still have great color payoff:

From left to right: Imaginary, Half-Wild, Genuine Treasure and Nubile Paint Pot (with flash)

From left to right: Imaginary, Half-Wild, Genuine Treasure and Nubile Paint Pot (without flash)

Opening: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Flagship Boutique

23 Sep

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Boutique

Opening September 23rd, 2011

174 Ludlow St. (map)

Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11:00 Am-7:00 PM; Sun. 12:00 PM-6:00 PM

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, the 100% vegan brand and maker of the popular Lip Tars, is opening its flagship boutique in NYC’s Lower East Side.  Check out what you can expect at their first shop:

Walking into the flagship store you will see an array of makeup in bold and dramatic colours with pops of neon and saturated pastels, radiating from every corner. Professional Makeup Artists are standing by to offer private consultations, makeup applications, and will even show you how to perfect airbrush makeup.  Customers will not want to miss OCC’s Mixing Bar where they can custom create their perfect shade, or recreate their favorite colour. Gone are the days anyone has to live without their favorite discontinued beauty product!  With over 36 shades of Lip Tars, highly pigmented loose eyeshadows, and an array of vibrant nail polishes, OCC’s flagship store is sure to become the next beauty haven for any makeup artist or beauty buff.

How fun does the OCC Mixing Bar sound?  I have to get over my fear of the F train and check their shop out soon.  I need to step my airbrushing game up.

-DRB

Image and info source: c/o PR

P.S. I was not able to attend last night’s preview because I always get busy at work when all of the cool things are happening.  You can check out some pictures of the space over at Makeup by Kim Porter’s blog.

Polished: Harlequin Hardware Nails at Diego Binetti Spring 2012

15 Sep


CND Harlequin Hardware Manicure

@ Diego Binetti – Spring 2012

Another ombré manicure appeared at Diego Binetti by CND.  The pink and cream color combination on the nails made them seem as if they were blushing.  Gold and silver tips add it to the list of quirky french manicures seen this season.

For Diego Binetti, Candice Manacchio delivered drama for digits, crafting “Harlequin Hardware” manicures stained in CND Colour in Raspberry Parfait and Frosting Cream, capped in gold and silver metal for an artisanal finish. Toes were polished in Raspberry Parfait. Makeup embraced “mask as part of the model,” and hair was crimped and elaborately wrapped for a nighttime beauty look to remember.

 

-DRB

Info and Image Source: c/o PR

Polished: Glamorous Manicures by CND at Norman Ambrose Spring 2012

13 Sep


CND

@ Norman Ambrose – Spring 2012

As you can tell I am pretty much obsessed with almond/oval shaped nails.  It is probably because it is very unlikely that I would be able to achieve the desired length since my nails do not have the decency to at least wait until they grow past my fingertips to break.  Therefore, I am living vicariously through CND’s creations.  I mean how glorious is the manicure pictured above that was developed by Candice Manacchio for Norman Ambrose?  It was one out of the six looks created for Ambrose’s collection that, according to CND, looks like “high glam 1960′s pieces straight out of vintage Vogue – for the sexy, exotic woman who swims in her diamonds.”  With a description like that you know the nails had to be hot.  The gilded look can be recreated at home with CND Colour in Gold Chrome paired with CND Colour in Blackjack on the tips and gold leafing.  CND also shared the components of the other manicures:

  • CND Colour in Flashpoint iced with Sheer 24K Sparkle Effect for a funky French tip
  • Flashpoint topped with CND Colour in Poppyfield, acid washed with a sweep of acetone for texture
  • CND Colour in Gold Chrome topped with CND Colour in Copper Chrome, finished with acetone wash
  • CND Colour in Desert Suede topped with Ice Blue Shimmer Effect, edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome
  • CND Colour in Putty topped with CND Colour in Creamy Cameo and Ice Blue Shimmer, and edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome

-DRB

Info and Image Source: c/o PR

Polished: Gradient Manicures by CND at Jen Kao Spring 2012

12 Sep


CND Gradient Manicure

@ Jen Kao – Spring 2012

When it comes to beauty, the ombré trend does not have to stop at our hair.  CND shows us how to wear it in a striking way on our nails at Jen Kao:

Look, but don’t touch! For Jen Kao, Wanda Ruiz created “Lethal Love” diffused, gradation manicures that attract the eye with bold shades, but like a poisonous frog, have dangerous undertones. These four uniquely artful manicures were shaded using an airbrush tool, but can be re-created at home using CND Colours in Midnight Sapphire, Anchor Blue, Rouge Red, and Green Scene each combined with Inkwell and topped with Air Dry Top Coat while wet for an ombre finish.

-DRB

Info and Image Source: c/o PR

Backstage Beauty: Monique Lhuillier Spring/Summer 2012

11 Sep

Makeup

Val Garland, for MAC Cosmetics,created “fast, urban graphic liner” to fit with Monique Lhuillier’s athletic and graphic collection.  The skin’s dewey look was achieved by using MAC’s Face & Body Foundation (applied with a 187 Brush).  The face was slightly contoured under the cheekbone with Sand Brown and Malaysia Contour Creme.  Lips were kept natural with Lip Conditioner and the brows were groomed with Brow Gel.  The “double color liner” was created with Pro Black Creme Liner applied in a “very straight and aerodynamic way” followed by a thin line of Chromacake in Marine Ultra that was taken back into the crease in a straight line for a “sporty Nike let’s do it kind of a thing” vibe.  To recreate the look at home, Garland suggested using a black and a blue eye pencil.  Start off with the black, then have the black bleed into the blue liner.  Use a q-tip to clean up the lines.

Nails

Wanda Ruiz, for CND, created an “athletic and elegant” look for the nails using different colors on the hands and feet:

For Monique Lhuillier, Wanda Ruiz designed “Soy Milk” manicures on active, oval shaped nails using semi-sheer CND Colour in Cream Washed topped with CND Super Shiney Top Coat for a glossy finish. Pedicures were reminiscent of a cloudy night sky using custom blended blue (which can be duped at home using limited edition CND Violet Shimmer Effect layered on top of CND Colour in Midnight Sapphire). Sporty eveningwear pieces (ie: Anna Kournikova from gym to gala) in pops of cobalt, black and yellow were complemented by slicked back ponytails, and matching dreamy blue eyeliner and toes.

It was very cool to see how much the Violet Shimmer Effect transforms a color by adding a very pretty purple glow to the polish.

Hair

Odile Gilbert for Kérastase created a pony at the crown to show off the models’ shoulders in Lhuillier’s coktail dresses.  Hair was prepped with Kérastase’s Fiber Architect, which seals split ends and is coming out this fall, to both treat and style before blow drying and straightening with a flat iron.  The pony was secured tightly with a hook elastic then teased to create volume.  Double Force Hairspray was used to finish off the look.

View more of my behind the scenes pictures after the jump:

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Review: Bliss Fabulous Skin-Reviving Rubberizing Mask

8 Sep

Check out the video above for my review and demo of Bliss’ fabulous skin-reviving rubberizing mask.  I found it to be very refreshing and my skin feels cleaner and smoother to the touch after removal.

Bliss’ Rundown

Boost your skincare regimen with this straight-from-our-spa facial treatment, a weekly must for all skin types. The unique rubberizing mask is designed to envelop skin’s surface, allowing its key ingredients to be optimally absorbed by the skin. The brightening, skin-renewing formula is packed with powerful antioxidants and nourishing, detoxifying seaweed. So if you’re looking for a bright and healthy complexion—‘mask’, and you shall receive! Includes 6 individually wrapped mix-it-yourself masks, 6 spatulas and measuring scoop.

  • Bilberry + vitamin C calm skin and fend off free radicals
  • Leaves skin looking refreshed and vibrant
  • Helps even out skin’s tone and texture

Quick Tips

  • Use your hands to apply the mask.
  • Don’t be shy; apply a generous layer of the mask.  I found that there was more than enough of the paste to cover my face and neck.
  • Before getting started make sure to secure your hair away from your face.  I got some of it on my hair the first time I used it and had to use a towel to rub it off, followed by a quick rinse of water.  After going to the hair salon to get a blow out, the last thing I want to do is to wake up my baby hairs because I need rinse out the remnants of the mask.
  • Avoid drains when you remove the mask.  Dump it in your trashcan because it does not dissolve in water and you do not want to risk clogging your sink or bathtub.

Price: $38.00

Availability:  bliss spas, blissworld.com, bliss catalog (888 243 8825), and Sephora and Ulta retailers.

-DRB

Disclosure: Item mentioned in the video and post was received for free from PR.  I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Info Source: blissworld.com

Event: Inglot Makes You Up on Fashion’s Night Out

2 Sep

Stop by Inglot on Fashion’s Night Out and try out the products that have been popping up in so many YouTube beauty videos.  Have you seen MakeupGeekTV’s Upside Down Smokey Eye! tutorial?  She used Inglot eye shadows in the look and the results were gorgeous!

  Image Source: PR

Makeup Haul: MAC MAC Me Over Collection

26 Aug

Yesterday I chose to burn some cash at my local MAC store where I picked up some products from their fall mega collection called MAC Me Over. I got all of the berry lipsticks in the collection, assuring me that I will not need any more for the rest of my life (not that it is going to stop me). Check out my haul video that includes items repromoted with MAC Me Over that were already in my makeup stash.

Items mentioned in the video:

  • Lipstick
  • Rebel (Permanent)
  • Prince Noir
  • Smoked Purple (Permanent at MAC PRO)
  • Peachstock (Permanent at MAC PRO)
  • Lip Pencil
    • Spice (Perrmanent)
  • Eye Shadow
    • Outre
    • Satin Taupe (Permanent)
    • Mythical
    • Carbonized
    • All Races (from the Lady Grey Eye Shadow Quad)
  • Shadestick
    • Street Cool
  • Nail Lacquer
    • Purple Majesty
  • Blush
    • Equilibrium
  • Brushes
    • 190 Foundation Brush
    • 214 Short Shader Brush

    Swatches:
    (more…)

    Musing of the Day: Aaliyah

    25 Aug

    Can’t believe it has been 10 years since Aaliyah‘s tragic death.  Today I was thinking about when I was in elementary school and started getting into MTV and music videos.  I remember the first Aaliyah video I ever saw.  It was “One in a Million” and from then on I was hooked.  Besides Aaliyah’s catchy music I was obsessed with her style.  I switched from parting my bangs down the middle to side-swept bangs.  And for someone who cannot get enough of skinny jeans these days it is funny to think that I begged my mom for a pair of baggy jeans.  I was terrified of asking my parents for anything when I was a kid so it was a pretty big deal.  She took me to a store called Cookies, which is in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, and I went to the boys section to get the jeans I needed to emulate her look.  I was so excited to wear them to school!  Today I keep away from the jeans.  However, I am still rockin’ the side-swept bangs and developed an interest in her makeup (of course).  My favorite makeup is the purple smoky eye paired with red lips in her “We Need a Resolution” video.  Who says you can only play up one of your features at a time?  She definitely pulled it off.

    Even though Aaliyah is no longer with us she is still living on through her music.  Many years later, I still stop and listen to it whenever her songs pop up on my iPod.

    Did Aaliyah influence your style?  Share your story in a comment below.

    -DRB

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