Jouer Cosmetics

Henri Bendel's has a crack like effect on me. Major addiction. I seriously cannot go into the flagship store in NYC without making something mine.  This go around I decided to try Jouer, a cosmetics company known for the ability to connect their individual compacts into customizable palettes.

I picked up the limited edition Blushing Beauty Palette, which consists of the Whisper Tint/ Feather Highlighter duo, Chocolate/Peach Eyeshadow duo, Sheer Matte Touch Powder & Bronzer duo + Cherish Lipgloss. In this picture all of the pieces are actually connected. Worth mentioning- I think I got a lot of prestige product for the price of $58.

Here I am sporting the shadows, powder/bronzer duo & gloss. The colors are neutral classics.  I could see a lot of brides sporting this collection for the summer wedding season now upon us. Though it's listed currently as out of stock on Jouer's website, I would call Bendel's & see if they can ship it to you. It's pure loveliness!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Senna Cosmetics

So I did a fair amount of damage while up in NYC for The Make-Up Show. I showed  *ummm* let's say a little restraint when it came reigning in my purchases. First up Senna Cosmetics.  Though I've never tried their line before, it was created by make-up artist Eugenia Weston & has been around since 1976. 

I know you'll be shocked that I picked up more nude lip treats. The never ending quest continues. I had read in Lucky Magazine a celebrity rave about their lipliners, so of course I had to scoop up one. I went for the lip liner in Heather {t} & a gloss in Flaunt{b.}

Here's the Smooth Lip Pencil {$18} in Heather. It's a nice classic nude, with pink undertones. A great basic.

I'm loving the Lip Lacquer {$20} in Flaunt & the packaging's gorgeous, too! Doe foot applicator, but the wand still dispenses a nice amount of gloss.   It's rather opaque in coverage- it reminds me a bit of Lorac's Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick, which I love.  Together this duo offers a look that ranks high in my book, though they're solid enough on their own to get plenty of use.  Just what I need- another make-up line to love!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

I purchased these products.

Files From the Brow Whisperer

It's the start of summer wedding season & nothing pulls a bride or the bridal party together more than getting your brows done!

For this bridesmaid we didn't do anything crazy, but cleaned up her brows for a more streamlined look.  If you are going to have your make-up professionally done for an event, I always suggest getting your brows waxed at least 3 days prior.  We exfoliate the skin where ever we apply the wax- so you don't want a different skin texture on various areas of the face when getting a make-up application. Hope you have a happy weekend Beauties!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Hourglass

I am powerless to resist anything involving a nude, glossy lip. Lord knows- my vanity is covered with all shades of nudes. I'm on an endless quest. When I was in NYC, I popped into Bergdorf's to investigate any new must haves. The make-up artist there from Hourglass was sporting a fabulous opaque nude lip. So we set about creating one to suit my coloring. I had already wanted to buy the Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick in Grace, since I knew it was used to create some fabulous Oscars beauty looks. Always on the lookout for the perfect lip liner, Hourglass' Trace Lip Liner in Bare also made its way home with me.Oh, did I mention I also scooped up this trio of glosses. I was totally torn between buying Child (top) or Ignite(bottom) initially, then we stumbled upon these minis- which had both shades + Imagine (center)= perfect solution!Here is the Trace Lip Liner in Bare, all on its own. It's a great your-lips-but-better shade with which to build any lip look.This look is the liner topped with the lipstick Grace. Grace is a delicious creamy, matte- but not in an extreme way. Your lips won't fall off from dryness. Plus, it's hard finding an opaque nude that doesn't wash you out. Grace is a hands down winner.Here I finished off my pucker with Ignite (top) & Child (bottom.) The glosses create 2 beautiful versions, one with some sheer shimmer & one in a milkier finish. I've been loving the multiple options I can create texture wise. The Hourglass line is quite luxe {meaning it's not cheap}, but I like the fact that I can buy refills for both the lipstick & liner. Plus, aren't we worth the splurge?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday

So this is the first time I've ever heard of Bling Tone eyeshadow from MyFace Cosmetics. It came in the first installment from a new monthly beauty sampler I've subscribed to called Beauty Army. I do love getting a monthly pick me up, though I need more products like a hole in the head;)

I received Sp"ice"y, which in the compact looked like a cool toned, shimmery brown shade. It's a much richer coppery shade when laid on the skin, though not very intense pigment wise.

I decided to smoke my eyes out with it when I went to the Matt Nathanson concert last night. I primped in hopes of A) Matt would see my smokey eyes & decide to leave his wife for me or B)He would single me out of the crowd & pull me up on stage a la Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video. Alas neither happened, but the concert was amazing none the less! I smudged the shadow in a winged shape on the lid, into the crease & along the lower lash line. I then lined my upper lash line & bottom waterline with jet black liner. I added mascara & was good to go!

Here it is on the lid, for a softer day time look. I must say, I feared fall out with the shimmer when I first opened the compact. Nothing annoys me more than when sparkles drop from my shadow onto my cheeks. I'm happy to report that this shadow cooperated beautifully, with little if any fallout when I used my standard prevention methods. When I read up about the shadow, I also noticed in its description that it can almost look 'wet' on. I had definitely thought the same thing. It's not a cheap eyeshadow at $20, but I liked it enough I might add another color to my beauty arsenal!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Elizabeth Arden Blender Brush

Alright so maybe I had unrealistic expectations of this Elizabeth Arden Blender Brush($15) from the get go. I assumed it would be basically a mini version of my beloved Beauty Blender on a handle, that would let me get into tighter areas with more convenience. Alas, that was not the case at all.

These 2 sponges couldn't be more different. The Elizabeth Arden one was so stiff, it was hard to work with. There was no give with the applicator when trying to apply my foundation, so the stipling method used with my Beauty Blender for a seamless finish left me with dots of foundation all over with the Elizabeth Arden version. I tried wetting it, but still when trying to use it on my undereye area- it felt hard & not very comfortable. It also poses a bit of a challenge to clean successfully. Such high hopes dashed. Now I feel guilty for straying- I'm sad to say I'd take a pass on this one, Beauties.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

NXY

No beauty store is safe from me, I can sniff them out. I got lost the other day & not in the best area- but then like a beacon of light I saw one. I love hopping into different areas since you can discover different brands. I've used & loved some NYX products in the past & of course had to scoop up these pretty Loose Pearl Shadows to cope with getting lost! Shown left to right: Nude Pearl LP 01 ,Sky Pink Pearl LP13, Mink Pearl LP 19, Mocha Pearl LP20.

How pretty are these in the daylight? Here the shadows are from the image above except instead of left to right, swatched top to bottom. There is something about loose pigments that just optimizes shimmer & sheen. I will say that whoever decided to put the powder in the little vials must have been a man, who obviously doesn't use make-up. They're too small to reach into with a brush, so you have to dump it out. Needless to say I felt like Penelope Cruz struggling with vials in the movie Blow!


Here I am using some of the bronze shades for an easy summer look:
LP 01 on the brow bone & lid, LP 19 in the crease.
There's that beautiful Sky Pink LP13 on the lid- I rarely use pinks on my eyes, I usually feel that it can make the whites of your eyes look bloodshot, but it is stunning! LP01 was used on the brow with LP20 in the crease to finish off the look. These are a steal of a deal at only $3 a piece & tiny enough to justify scooping up a bunch!

Peace. Love. Pigments. M

Becca Beauties

As I mentioned yesterday, Classic C brought her adorable sister in law with her to La Papillon's Beauty Blooms with Becca Event. Another natural beauty, D lives in California & loves the California 'beachy no make-up, make-up look.' Rusty applied Luminous Skin Color in Cashmere all over, then placed Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal {their #1 selling product} where the sun would naturally hit. He then used Becca's Beach Tint in Grapefruit on her cheeks & lips, then set the look with Becca's Mineral Powder in Bliss. He used Becca's Line & Define in Santorini to, well line & define her eyes, then completed her look with mascara.

Here the gorgeous girls are after their make-up applications, looking radiant & ready to take the town by storm!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Becca Beauties

So our Becca Cosmetics Launch event was a smashing success! All day Saturday La Papillon's VIPs {Very Important Pretties} came in to have National Artist, Rusty Goff work his magic. I though I'd give you a peek behind the scenes. Here's my lovely friend Classic C, she's a busy mom of an active 1 year old who wanted a fresh, natural & easy look.

Rusty started out by prepping her skin with Becca's Mineral Primer with an SPF 30- which is perfect for the summer. He followed with Luminous Skin Colour in Banana & set it with Becca's Mineral Powder in Bliss.

Once he had evened out Classic C's complexion he used Becca's Avalon Palette to add a flush of peach color to her cheeks & softly define her gorgeous blue peepers. This palette is perfect for moms on the go, to have an entire wardrobe of color in one convenient location. A quick swipe of Gisella Sheer Tint Lip Colour & she was ready for her closeup!

Here's Classic C's 'before' pic- even without any make-up, she's a natural beauty who's a dead ringer for Brooklyn Decker! Classic C made a day out of our event event & brought her sister in law, as well. Stay tuned tomorrow for a behind the scenes peek at her glamover!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Foundation

While I was in the Dominican for vacation, I caught up on the latest issue of WWD Beauty Biz.
In it I stumbled across a more indepth detailing of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Erase Treatment Make-up. I've seen the commercials, but thought the gimmick was more about the applicator on top, than what was in the bottle. The dome shape is said to glide over wrinkles, making them almost undetectable. What's inside? Along with collagen, millions of micro fibers that promise the foundation's coverage to reach fine lines & wrinkles to a microscopic level.

To be honest I don't know what all the fuss is about to warrant 7 years of research & 3 patents. Don't get me wrong, I do like the foundation. It gave medium coverage & made my skin smooth to the touch. However, there were no angels singing. However I might not be the ideal candidate though in terms of age group, so I will definitely have another beauty friend try it out. The applicator is my biggest issue & is difficult to manuver. I was expecting it to be soft, somewhat like my beloved Beauty Blender. However it's hard to the touch & applies somewhat streakily. I end up skimming the product off the top & applying how I normally would. To make it a smidge more annoying, you can't really remove the top. Maybelline's new foundation? 'Maybe' just not for me.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

In Need of the Brow Whisperer

There are some goddesses from the Golden Globes who need my help, it appears. I saw Country Strong over the weekend, and will be honest in that fact that Leighton Meester's brows proved a distraction for me in every scene she was in! I've been noticing that they've been a bit of a hot mess on Gossip Girl lately, but seeing them on the big screen just about sent me over the edge.

{I really liked Country Strong BTW} I'm all for a fuller brow, which she might be trying to achieve by growing them in. However, Leighton's brows are sparse so unless they're properly filled in, they just look untidy. It also doesn't work with her look with her brows, when she usually heavily plays up her eyes...I'm not asking for much- just a tiny, subtle swipe of brow powder! See the difference it can make? And yes, I am fully aware how obsessed I am when it comes to brows- hey it's my passion & livelihood!

Listen, every one can take a bad picture every now & then- I know. I normally find Sofia Vergara drop dead gorgeous! This picture just doesn't do her justice, but her brows made me stop dead in my tracks. It's fine to have soft brows, it looks like Sofia might also have her colorist lighten them as well. However the brow on the left starts lower in, which closes in her eye. I'm not asking for much, just some symmetry & tidying up right under her arch. That would have a overall lifting effect, as well. I really think my talents are needed here, so girleens come see me- I promise I'll squeeze you in!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday

For Make-Up Must Have Monday, I have a new tool rather than an actual beauty product. I discovered the Z Palette in new york while I was at the Make Up Show & fell in love. As an artist I have tons of single pan shadows & blushes from all different lines. What happens is that each line comes out with a compact that houses THEIR product, since of course they want you to support their brand. The Z Palette lets you consolidate all your loose pans in one large case! It's brilliant & one of those "Why didn't I think of that?!" things.

As you can see above I scooped up the Zebra color choice. You can see it houses some of my Being True, Prescriptives, MAC & Trish McEvoy shadows- all varying in size. The simple black shade is your classic "little black dress" option or the go to for any professional's kit.

It also comes in this adorable leopard print. I am such a fan, that we just brought this product in the spa & online boutique. At $20, this is such a great gift to put under the tree for any make-up lover! Hope all my beauties had a great holiday weekend!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday

I mean come on, is this not the most adorable lipstick you've ever seen?

Leave it to Paul & Joe Beaute to come up with this limited edition launch- dare I say they're the cat's meow! Sorry I had to go there girleens!

As with pretty much all of Paul & Joe Beaute's lipsticks- the moisturizing colors are very sheer & wearable. Top 068, Middle 067, Bottom 066. Don't be afraid of the shades in the tube or the unusual shape. You can actually use the cat ears to give lip liner like definition to the lip!

Moi wearing Clair de Lune 066

Moon Shadow 068

Over the Moon 067

These lipsticks are sold out across the country, but we just got them in at the boutique- so grab them while you can!
Peace. Love. Lipstick. M

Nordstrom Beauty Haull

So I guess I know myself pretty well, since I picked up exactly what I said I would at the Nordstrom Sale! Interestingly enough I had originally picked this Bobbi Brown kit($75) up for my sister's birthday. But in comparison to the promo picture I felt the brown is very warm & coppery in person, but the majority of the kit is very cool in undertones...
So I flip flopped & decided to give her this Trish McEvoy kit($85). This kit is perfect for fall & the warm eyeshadow shades will compliment her hazel eyes beautifully! Whether you have warm or cool undertones, both of the kits are a great value each worth over $130 if sold separately.Kits are a great way to try out a good portion of products, as long as you'll wear the majority of the shades. If you know you won't it's not worth it or save some of the pieces for stocking stuffers! What have you guys picked up at the Nordies Sale?
Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Nordstrom Beauty Haul

In addition to picking up some sets at Nordstrom's sale which I'll show you tomorrow, I scooped up some singles. I was hitting pan on my MAC bronzer, so I went with this bronzer from Estee Lauder & I'm not going to lie- I was totally motivated by the free gift! Estee's current GWP at Nordstrom is awesome & I'll show all GWPs I got this week, too. This compact is actually much bigger than it looks in this picture, almost the size of a CD- so it should last me forever!

I went with Laura Mercier's single shadow in Sterling over Bobbi Brown's new Denim single shadow since the Bobbi one did not even show up on my hand. In the container, both shadows might look a little intimating shade of blue with sparkle...
But as you can see as applied to my lid, it's surprisingly very soft & gives a brightening effect. I actually wish this shadow had more payoff! I had considered returning it, then got complimented on it when wearing it the first day so it stays!

I also picked up another shade of my favorite undereye concealer from Clinique. This time I went for their lightest shade 01- I guess I truly am the fairest of them all since I'm so pale- ha ha! I stocked up on two Lancome Maquicomplet Correcteurs to score their free gift even though that & a Chanel shadow I advance purchased were already sold out on the first day of the sale by 3pm! What can I say the ladies at the Nordstrom sale, myself included, were doing our part to stimulate the economy!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M