Aqualillies for Tarte

The first time I saw Tarte's limited edition beauty collection created by the bathing beauties of the synchronized swimming group the Aqualillies- I do believe I might have drooled a bit. I mean the packaging alone is swoon worthy! What's perfect as we head into summer (insert sweating) is that these products are budgeproof- jump in the water & you'll be fine!

Amazonian Clay waterproof liners come with their own liner brush & are available in Splash (left) & Black (right.) They go on creamy & smooth- plus even after giving several facials with steam in my face, these liners stayed put. I always say give cream or cakes liners a try, you'll be surprised at how easy they are over pencils.

 Don't be afraid to live it up a little with the Splash option! As long as you're not wearing an entire teal ensemble, this vibrant color pops the whites of your eyes & makes you look instantly awake.

 Of course you can't go wrong with classic black either.

The Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek compact in the collection is on my lust list- about the size of a CD, it offers a neutral palette with that pop of teal to spice things up a bit & the powders are all waterproof. I mean not all of us are actually swimming in fully applied make-up, but this palette will be perfect for my summer brides! There are super cute additional treats like a shower cap & beachbag as gifts with purchase on Tarte's website.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.
*Liners gifted for review

Make-Up Must Have Monday: Make Up For Ever Black Tango

I first spotted Make Up For Ever's Black Tango Palette when I was in Italy a few weeks ago. They were sold out of it & I panicked that it wouldn't be available in the U.S.  Luckily it is. The palette includes 4 Aqua Cream shadows- which is are so creamy & delicious they easily apply as liners. Here I sport the emerald hue on my top lash line & the navy on my bottom lash line.

I was a bit apprehensive of the reddish hue- since I feel pinks & reds near the eye can make them appear bloodshot.  But the shade is a deep black plum that's very wearable.  I covered my entire lid with it while playing with Halloween looks. Make-Up For Ever is such a great brand in that they offer truly theatrical grade coverage & colors without the heavy feel. This shade reminds me a bit of my beloved go to nail color- OPI's Midnight In Moscow.  I used the white shade in the palette as a highlighter.

All of the shades sparkle like jewels on the skin.  Since the deeper shades are all blended with black- it's a great palette to step out of your comfort zone a bit from basic blacks & browns.

The compact itself is a work of art, like a Japanese paint box.  It states on the compact to close each pot tightly, which I make sure to do since I noticed the tester on display at Sephora had dried out a little.  The textures & intensity make this palette a must have. It's also a great value at $45, when individual Aqua Creams (though larger) retail for $23 each.  I say put it on your holiday wish list!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow

I was ecstatic the moment I saw L'Oreal's Infallible Eye Shadow, because it reminded me of Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre Eye Shadow & I immediately justified that I could have 4 for the price of 1 of Chanel's! Yes, that's how I truly think- I kind of want one of every make-up product out there in the world. I know...issues.

From the start, the medium of this product just didn't work for me very well. Not a cream & not a powder, it proved to be a crumbly hot mess when trying to use it as an eyeliner. You can get a feel for how crumbly it was, by spotting the fall out beneath my eye. Normally I do my foundation first & then my eyes, while some artists do the exact opposite. For this I would do the eyes first, as I had to use make-up remover several times & had to reapply my concealer. I would also recommend using your fingers to apply or at least a short synthetic brush to really grab the product & minimize the mess.

Since L'Oreal's Infallible was being so uncooperative & I was running late for work I ended up with an intense blue lid with the remnant of my wing from just trying to use it as an eyeliner! Even more frustrating is that you can see, within minutes the shadow had smudged into my crease- not so much Infallible in my eyes. I had to set it with navy shadow. The color garnered oohhhs from co-workers, but at that point I was exasperated. The product offers intense pigment & shine, but with all the additional steps I had to take with it- this is not the shadow I'll reach for when I'm time crunched in the morning.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

I'm not going to lie. For as much as I adore make-up, pencil eyeliners rarely make my heart flutter. Yes there has been the occasional glitter pencil here & there- but they were brief flings. I blame it on the glide- or lack there of. On the gentle eye area, I am neurotic about pencils that pull, skip or tug. I want a flawlessly smooth line, which is why I turn to cake or cream liners both on myself & on professional jobs.

So I admit- I judged a book by its cover when I saw this eyeliner trio. However, when I read that Pixi's Endless Silky Eye Pens were more like liquid liners- I have to admit I was intrigued. So I swiped the deep lilac one on & was surprised at the punch of pigment it delivered.

What I love about these liners is how creamy they are, there are very few liners that I've worked with that deliver this much intensity when it comes to color.

The next day I played with the brown & smooth sailing. I was shocked at how impressed I was. I went for the lower lash line & perfectly smudged before it set. And set it does- don't worry about its staying power girleens, it was actually hard for me to get off! Even when I had runny eyes from allergies, these waterproof liners pretty much don't budge. I say pick up this trio at Target- Pixi's holiday goodies will available in November. It's the perfect stocking stuffer with all the color classics at a steal of a deal price- only $12!

Peace. Love. Liners. M

*Product gifted for review