Burberry Lip Cover Heather Rose No. 05

Well, it's been a few weeks since the launch of Burberry Beauty, and my orders from Nordstrom have been trickling in. I will try to post photos of the products little by little. Today's post features a lipstick I ordered unseen and am quite happy with. (I know it's weird, but sometimes I like to buy products without seeing them first because it's like a little surprise and I might end up with something different than my same-old usual choices, which helps me to move a bit outside of my makeup comfort zone. Of course, the downside is that once in a while I end up with a ghastly, totally useless product that I have to go through the hassle of returning!) Fortunately, this one is a keeper.

Heather Rose No. 5 is a medium warm, gingery-brown with coral-rose undertones and a touch of bronze. This is not what you would call a traditional "rose" color. In the photos this may appear like a cream formula, but it definitely has a slight shimmer, with tiny flecks of gold glitter throughout (no worries if you don't like glitter--these are so small as to be almost imperceptible). Although it looks mostly like a brownish, terra-cotta shade in the tube, it is not too orangey on and is more flattering than a true brown, thanks to the subtle brightening effect of the rosey undertones.

I really like the packaging, from the pattern etched into the lipstick, to the design of the case with its signature plaid and magnetic closure, to the classic Burberry beige paper carton--it's all very well thought out!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres #17

Happy Sunday everyone!

Here is a look at another Nordstrom Anniversary Sale exclusive: YSL's eyeshadow quint in #17. This palette has a selection of really pretty, girly shades:  a shimmery peach; a matte, flesh-toned pink/mauve with flecks of silver micro-glitter; a light cotton-candy pink; a sparkling ivory highlight/base color; and a neutral, medium shimmery brown.

I had the hardest time trying to get these shades to show up well in photographs. Although the pink and peach shades look bright in the pan, as you can see by the swatches they are actually quite neutral on application. These powders do not have a lot of color payoff. Despite this drawback, I still like this palette and it should come in handy for an everyday quick, no-brainer look! However, if you dislike sheer shadows you may want to skip this one. I imagine many may have similar shades in their stash, but what makes this palette attractive is the convenience of having these colors all in one place.

Below are some comparisons. (MAC's Da Bling is a bit brighter and darker than the pink in the YSL palette):

The light mauve shade is almost identical to Trish McEvoy's Demure both in color and texture:

~Thanks for visiting~

Laura Mercier's Portable Beauty Collection for Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale

Here's a look at the portable beauty collection by Laura Mercier, which is currently exclusive to Nordstrom ($65). It contains the following products:

• Eye Colour Duo: Sparkling Guava / Kir Royal
• Cheek Colour Duo: Rose Petal / Mauve
• Double-Ended Lip Glace: Glimmer / Violet
• Long Lash Mascara: Black
• Double-Ended All Over Eye Colour and Smudge Brush
• Metallic navy blue zippered cosmetic bag

Overall I really like this little set, especially the blush and eye shadow. The colors, in my opinion, are universally flattering. The lip glosses seem to be the same formula as Laura Mercier's full-size lip glaces, with the same signature scent. The Violet shade appears to be more pigmented in the tube and in the swatches than it does on the lips--it is actually quite sheer, which could be disappointing, depending on your preference. I haven't used Laura Mercier's mascara or brushes before, so look forward to trying these. The  faux-leather cosmetic bag is cute and is small enough to throw in your handbag.  The vertical zipper in the front opens up to a separate storage space.

 

 

Guerlain Rouge G Fall 2010: Gilian and Giny

A few days ago I posted some photos of Rouge G #13 Giny from Guerlain's fall collection. I spent way too much time last Saturday at the Saks counter trying to decide between Giny and the other neutral shade that was released with this collection, #14 Gilian.  These shades look so incredibly similar in the tube and even when swatched on the arm. I couldn't imagine why Guerlain would release such similar shades in the same collection (unless it was just some kind of crafty marketing ploy to tempt someone as indecisive as myself into splurging for both of them!).  So...I ended up going home with just Giny, but kept thinking about Gilian, and (because I have zero willpower) I went ahead and ordered it, and it arrived today!

The funny thing about these lipsticks is that the color brightens up and intensifies slightly once it has settled on your lips for a while, and this is when I really see the difference between these two: they are both neutral shades, but Giny is warmer with peachy-brown tones, whereas Gilian is a bit lighter and cooler, with slightly more shimmer and pink tones.

In the end, I'm quite happy with them both because they are neutral shades that contain just the right amount of brightness to avoid giving a washed-out look and are an easy choice when you want to emphasize the eyes with dark and smokey or colorful looks. Although I really like the way some light nudes look on some people, they can be hard for me to pull off, so these are a nice alternative!

Below you can see just how similar they look:

Photo above taken outdoors in sunlight

Photo above taken in indoor lighting with flash

MAC Dazzle Lipstick

I pre-ordered a couple of MAC's Dazzle Lipsticks, which I received last week. I chose "Glaringly Hip" and "Infused with Glam." I gave one a try today and have decided that, for me, they work best over another lipstick or pencil because they are a bit too sheer on (at least these two shades). They give a pretty sparkle and dimension to the lips and I can see them working well for a night out, although they are subtle enough to wear in the daytime as well becase the glitter is not too-obvious unless you apply heavily. One caveat:  as their name implies, these are full of glitter and removal can be a little tricky. Wearing over a clear lip balm makes for easier removal with a tissue, and be prepared to have some glitter left behind unless you use a makeup remover of some sort. If you're not too fond of glitter, you may want to pass on these!

Glaringly Hip is a sheer pastel peach with bright pink glitter

Infused with Glam is a sheer, warm reddish-bronze with pink and silver glitter

Note that these shades appear differently depending on lighting and angle of the camera, and although they look very different in the tube and in the swatches, the base colors are sheer so both come across mainly as pink glitter on the lips. I would say the difference between them does not justify having both. Fair ladies may prefer Glaringly Hip while darker-toned beauties might prefer Infused With Glam.  

MAC Stereo Rose

Yes, dear reader I, like so many before me, have jumped on the MAC Stereo Rose bandwagon. I couldn't help but share photos of this legendary product, with its corally-rosey-bronzey gorgeousness (although I'm sure the beauty community is positively saturated with images of this product by now!). While picking up the last remaining Stereo Rose this weekend at my local Nordstrom, I felt a bit like I imagine the character Charlie Bucket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory must have felt when he found the last "golden ticket"!