Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush

Oh yes, I’ve managed to obtain it. I’ll let you sigh over the photos for a while before you come back and read my post.

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush – in Natural Light

Done? Moving on…  For Guerlain’s Summer 2012 collaboration with Pucci, the star of the collection has to be this Bronzer / Blush duo. Everything about it is stunning – the packaging, the colors, even the fragrance. As with the Terracotta gloss and the Perles d’Azur, the Terra Azzurra compact is housed in a smokey, tortoiseshell box, that when opened reveals Pucci‘s ‘Winter Capri’ print. What makes this all the more delightful is that the compact comes wrapped snugly, like a delightful present, in a silken pouch bearing the same print, marked on the inside with “Guerlain by Emilio Pucci“. The pouch is one of the factors in making this compact an instant collector’s item – who hasn’t secretly dreamed of owning a fabulously retro Pucci silk dress? This compact makes that just a little bit attainable, and isn’t that the point of owning luxury makeup in the first place – a touch of couture in our everyday routine?

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush

A Gorgeous Riva Aquarama, circa 1960s

The compact itself simply floored me, however – encased in varnished ebony wood, it is described as having been inspired by the luxury of the Riva Aquarama, a legendary wooden yacht used by the St Tropez Jet Set for decades. The case of the compact, engraved again with “Guerlain by Emilio Pucci“ does not open or twist off, rather, it is attached by three small magnets that ensure the lid is always securely on – an ingenious idea I have yet to see in another compact. The wood is heavy and sturdy, but incredibly smooth to the touch, and the compact is larger than my palm. It almost feels as though the product inside is just a bonus in possessing this gorgeous collector’s item.

Taking the lid of the compact off, one finds a large mirror on one side, and of course, the bronzing powder and blush on the other – half bronzer, with three streaks of vibrant blush in increasingly bright colors. Though the four colors can be mixed together, I have found that they are gorgeous used separately as a bronzer, and a blush.

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush Swatched in Direct Sunlight

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush Swatched in Indirect Sunlight

The bronzer, a light, slightly orange based shade with a golden micro-shimmer, is very finely milled and incredibly smooth. There is no product that blows away when attacked with a brush, and it covers the face in a fine, natural, easy to blend veil. The powder is best described as silky, with an incredibly appealing texture both to the eye and to the touch. Guerlain are known as the masters in the domain of bronzing powders, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint, suiting nearly everyone. Whilst some bloggers have complained that the bronzer is orange based, I actually find that its light color makes it look peach, and therefore more natural on my pale, pink toned skin – it doesn’t look tangerine like certain other bronzers, nor does it make my skin look dirty and brown. I do think that the bronzer itself would be perfectly suited to those with medium skin tones, as it is too light of a color to work effectively on those with dark skin (though the blush, bright and cheery, appears to be universally flattering). The bronzing portion takes up slightly more than half of the compact.

The blush side is of an even finer texture, and divided into three “stripes” of color – a pale iridescent pink for highlighting, a bright cool toned candy pink, and finally an oranged coral. All three shades are filled with shimmer – while I’ve swatched them alone, practically speaking they would be used together, as each strip is too narrow to get a proper dose of powder onto a blush brush. The colors, swirled together, create a fresh looking pink-coral that seems to glow more than it does glitter. As with all of Guerlain’s powder products, there is more than what meets the eye – visibly sparkly in the pan, this blush does not deposit the obvious glitter that other similar shades do (I’m looking at you, NARS Orgasm) but rather a slight shimmer that keeps color looking bright and natural.  The powders are heavily fragranced, so those with sensitive noses will be displeased to be hit with a wave of  frangipani, lilies, and summer sweetness – absolute heaven for me, total hell for others.

On Cheeks – Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzer, Blush. On Lips – Guerlain x Pucci TerraCotta Lip Gloss in Porto Azzurro

On Cheeks – Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzer, Blush. On Lips – Guerlain x Pucci TerraCotta Lip Gloss in Porto Azzurro

I have found this product to be most effective when the blush and bronzer are used separately – swirled together, they created a bronzed peach shade, but it tends to look muddy on my skin. I have worn this over the last several days with the bronzer on my temples, cheekbones, and chin, with the blush on the apples of my cheeks only. As you can see in the photos (taken in appropriately summery sunlight, and paired with the TerraCotta Lip Gloss in Porto Azzurro), this duo, despite the orangey undertones, looks subtle and pretty on my NW20 skin, with the appropriate blending – I’ve been using the NARS Bronzing Powder Brush and buffing it into the skin, taking advantage of the powder’s nearly creamy texture.

On Cheeks – Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzer, Blush. On Lips – Guerlain x Pucci TerraCotta Lip Gloss in Porto Azzurro

On Cheeks – Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzer, Blush. On Lips – Guerlain x Pucci TerraCotta Lip Gloss in Porto Azzurro

The Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush is priced at $75 and is decidedly a luxury item. With that being said, this item is not only covetible and highly collectible, it is also incredibly useful, combining the need for both a summer bronzer and blush (which, purchased seperately from a comparable brand, would cost easily $75+ up total) and is therefore an investment piece. The only problem I have with this product? It’s just too damn pretty to use !

Guerlain x Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush available on counters now for approximately $75 USD / 63 Euros.

Poppy King x Boots

There is little that can make me feel so feminine as a fabulous lipstick. The gesture of uncapping a tube of color is just so wonderfully retro, the sort of thing that makes me want to shout “Put on your pearls, girls!”.

Poppy King x Boots in No. 5 Intrigue

Poppy King x Boots in No. 5 Intrigue

When a lipstick queen collaborates with a British drugstore giant, you know the results are going to be perfection – and so is the case with the Poppy King for Boots collaboration. I recently picked up a tube in “Intrigue“, as much for the wearable color as for the polka-dotted yellow packaging (and we all know how I feel about adorable packaging). If you don’t know Poppy King, she is the Australian, New York based self-proclaimed ‘Lipstick Queen‘ who has created some of the most unique shades on the market. Her products are highly coveted and she has collaborated with giants of style such as J. Crew. Boots, on the other hand, is a British drugstore chain known for its excellent selection and formidable, affordable in-house brand No. 7 – I have personally witnessed foreigners at Boots stores in Central London clearing off entire shelves –  it’s a spectacle to be witnessed. It should come as no surprise, then,  that their collaboration is nothing less than a hit.

Poppy King x Boots in No. 5 Intrigue, Swatched in Natural Light

Inside the box is a surprisingly small tube of lipstick, housed in a brushed lavender tin emblazoned with No7 and Poppy King, but fortunately, the formula did not disappoint. This lippie is moisturizing, pigmented but without being over the top bold with color – the effect is simply perfect. The formula wears more like a lip balm than it does a drying lipstick, and so my lips looked lush and hydrated. I was able to choose one coat for sheer color, or more for a bolder look. The color itself, Intrigue (No. 5), is incredibly wearable and natural. A nude, slightly warm pink, this color creates a perfect ‘lady’ look for daytime, all while feeling slick and pleasant on my mouth. The wear time is not exceptional – I got perhaps 3 hours of wear – however the adorable tube makes reapplication a pleasure. As you can see in my photos, this lippie pears well with pearls, but also a multitude of makeup looks. Here, a swipe of bold eyeliner, a bit of bronzer and the Poppy King x Boots lipstick in Intrigue were all I needed to pull together a polished look.

Poppy King x Boots… and Pearls !

Poppy King x Boots… and Pearls !

Poppy King x Boots is available at Boots in the UK, and at selection Target stores in the US, for about $9.99 USD / 12 GBP. There are complimentary products in the range including lip crayons and glosses, though the lipstick is genuinely the standout in this collaboration.

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

In my search for the holy grail of products to keep my gorgeous (but oh so slippery) Armani foundation on my face for more than 30 minutes, I have come across a few duds – see my review on MAC’s Fix +.

So whilst strolling the hallowed halls of Sephora, I picked up a travel sized version of Urban Decay‘s “All Nighter”  Spray, a product that guarantees to keep the makeup on your face in humid Louisiana summers and the nightclubs of London alike. Urban Decay worked with SKINDINAVIA, a company that specializes in makeup setting sprays. Claimed to keep your foundation on for 16+ hours, the product contains a “patented temperature control technology” that keeps skin cool during the hottest of summer days, but also moist enough when it’s cold out (ie: on the slopes – I could have used this product in Switzerland!) While I was trying this product specifically for my foundation, it also keeps eyeshadows, highlighters and blushes in place.

So how did it fare? On a lark, I decided to keep my makeup on before a late-night session at the gym. I used the product as directed – spritzing my face about 4-6 times from 8 or so inches away. My foundation, miraculously, looked impeccable after some very high impact cardio and even weights. While I knew it was terrible for my skin, I also decided to test out the spray in my gym’s sauna, and while my makeup did slip off of my forehead (where I was sweating copiously), it stayed on my cheeks gorgeously! I looked something like this:

Now, mind you, I am not the type to wear makeup to the gym, beauty blogger or no – but I did believe this was the ultimate test for the product’s efficacy – and it WORKED. For summer brides, this may just be a life-saver, though I’m just hoping the product will get me through the humidity of Paris and New York in August.  For those of us no longer blessed with the perfect skin of adolescence, this product managed to keep my foundation and concealer from settling into fine lines. For younger readers, Urban Decay‘s De-Slick Oil Control spray may be a better bet. The product sprays on in a fine, even mist, and though their is an effect of stickiness, it fades after only a few seconds, once the spray has set.

I bought the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray in the travel sized, 15ml (.51oz) version for $12, which I would suggest doing to make sure it works for you. The full-sized version (4oz) is priced at $29, but I imagine will last quite a long time. Spring for the travel sized version if you’re only using it for a specific event.

Available at Urban Decay

 

Cheap Thrill Sunday

In any good makeup arsenal, you’ll find the high blended with the low. I may have more NARS eyeshadows than I can count, but I’m never against a cheap purchase – sometimes really exceptional products can be found for under $5, and failing that, it’s an easy way to experiment with color and texture.

I picked up a few products from NYX Cosmetics recently, an American brand with a vast range of reasonably priced products.

NYX's Xtreme Lip Cream (Absolute Red, left), and Soft Matte Lip Cream (Sao Paolo, right)

NYX's Xtreme Lip Cream (Absolute Red, left), and Soft Matte Lip Cream (Sao Paolo, right)

I’ve been dying to try the Soft Matte Lip Creams and though I couldn’t find the color I wanted, I did pick one up in Sao Paolo, a bright (but still wearable) warm pink. The texture of this product is really lovely – very much like a rose petal. It applies like a gloss but dries down to a feather light, silky matte lip color that stays and stays. The texture is not 100 percent matte, as it does give a slight lustre to the pout, but isn’t shiny like a gloss either – rather, it looks very much like a cross between a stain and a lipstick. The odour, however, is sickeningly sweet, like artificial buttercream, which makes initial application torturous. That scent fades however, leaving only bright, lasting color with a gorgeous finish. Available in 11 shades,  mostly neutrals, this product retails for a steal at $6USD.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Sao Paolo

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Sao Paolo

I also grabbed a tube of the Xtreme Lip Cream  , a recently launched product that is said to be a hybrid between a gloss, a lipstick, and a stain. This product goes on very thick – almost like honey – and doesn’t have amazing longevity considering the texture. It is, however, a fun way to experiment with color and does provide quite the bold look – though it is slightly difficult to apply precisely with its somewhat large, doe foot applicator. I picked this up in Absolute Red, a bright scarlet that leans slightly cool, pulling only the tiniest bit fuchsia. The odour problem here is the same as with the Soft Matte Lip Cream, but not as strong – it smells almost like a mix of vanilla and plastic, but fades quickly enough. These can also be found for $6, but aren’t as unique as the Soft Matte Lip Creams.

    

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Absolute Red

 

Lastly, I picked up two small shakers of the NYX‘s Loose Pearl Eyeshadow, a loose pigment with a fine, sparkly texture best suited to eyeshadow or highlighting purposes. These products are a reasonable dupe for MAC pigments, and can be mixed with water to use as liner, brushed on the eyelids, blended into glosses or patted on top of cheekbones. At $3 USD each, these are an absolute steal, and a good product to own due to versatility and quality. As shown in the photos, these come in tiny jars and can be a wee bit messy to apply (there is no sifter, only an open top to the jar), but dipping a small, wetted brush directly inside of the jar can avoid messy mishaps. I poured a bit of each pigment out to show the beautiful, sparkling textures of these – they really shine, and don’t apply with any gritiness. I can’t recommend these enough as a true ‘steal’ purchase !

NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow in Mink (left) and Baby Pink (right)

NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow in Mink (left) and Baby Pink (right)

 

 

Katy Perry x Eyelure

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT a Katy Perry fan: I genuinely believe she’s a homophobe, would put her name on any product, and a saccharine version of my beloved Lily Allen.  I am, however, a sucker for a good pair of false eyelashes (my mother’s love of Liza Minelli may or may not have something to do with this), so when Katy Perry released a line of falsies with British lash giant Eyelure recently…. well, how could I have possibly resisted?

Katy Perry x EyeLure in Oh Honey and Oh My

There are four models in this collection, ranging from sweetly fluttering to full on Cabaret style lashes, each one named after something related to her career (ie; Oh, Honey refers to Miss Perry’s cameo on the sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’, and Cool Kitty refers to her recently released perfume). I picked up two pairs – Oh, Honey and Oh, My, and tried them out to mixed results. I photographed these on my new 70′s travel case that I found in a vintage store recently, a very vintage way to house my makeup and a good backdrop, I imagine, for these 60′s style lashes.

Katy Perry x EyeLure in Oh Honey and Oh My

Oh Honey are full strip lashes with no criss-cross, that flare out gently towards the outer corners. These are pretty and easy to apply, but remind me so much of my beloved Ardell 120 Demi lashes that I’m not sure it was worth the purchase. They do give my eyes a really feminine look and the band is easy to cover with eyeliner. The box, with its yellow seersucker stripes, is nothing short of adorable.

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh Honey lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh Honey lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh Honey lashes

The Oh, My lashes are, however, of a different sort. These are ‘double’ lashes – much like the TOWIE girls of Britain, these are inspired by women who layer two pairs of false eyelashes for maximum drama. I LOVED the look – full, dramatic, totally over the top. The problem was that the double layer of lashes made the band relatively inflexible and thus somewhat difficult to apply – and I have been wearing false eyelashes for many years. The inner corners kept ungluing themselves, and the thick band was difficult to cover without quite a bit of very dense black gel eyeliner. As with the other Katy Perry x Eyelure lashes, the packaging was nothing short of delicious – purple polka dots on white, though the box did fall apart quite easily.

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh My lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh My lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh My lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh My lashes

Katy Perry x Eyelure, Oh My lashes

At $6.99 USD a pair, these are $2 more than Ardell lashes and about $1 more than most Eyelure lashes, but they do come with tiny tubes of lash glue, which isn’t a great product but does the job well enough. The packaging is adorable and for Katy Perry fans or false lash collectors, I imagine they are worth the expense.

Katy Perry x Eyelure is available in the US at Ulta, and in the UK at Boots.

Dior New Look Mascara

Dior Mascara ? Something inspired by the iconic 1947 Christian Dior collection? Yes. Yes Yes and Yes.

Dior Show New Look Mascara

Dior Show New Look Mascara

Of course, when this mascara was launched, I immediately ordered it – I have been faithful to my DiorShow BlackOut Mascara for longer than I’ve known half of my friends, and am always eager to try their new mascara releases (the only Dior cosmetic product that I genuinely and truly love). My boyfriend’s mother was lovely enough to have given me a tube of the DiorShow 360 this past summer, and though I didn’t review it, it was a fabulous mascara with a lot of novelty value.

Now, if you’ve used any of the Diorshow mascaras before, you’ll know that the brushes have revolutionized the mascara world – big, oversized heaps of bristles that coat every lash and pack volume and density on to the lashes with ease. If you’re looking for a similar mascara, the DiorShow New Look is not for you.

When I saw the box, I was surprised at its aborted length compared to traditional mascaras, and found the tube inside to be even tinier – about as long, though quite a bit thicker, as my index finger. The wand is enclosed completely within the tube, and the brush itself – its triangular shape reminiscent of the full skirts of the New Look – is miniscule, with short, hard plastic bristles. I was, in a word, unimpressed, having grown so fond of the massive and substantial DiorShow mascaras over the years.

Dior Show New Look Mascara

Left; DiorShow New Look Mascara. Right; DiorShow 360 Mascara

Upon application, however, I understood that old adage about not judging a book by its cover. The tiny head allows for precision application, coating even the tiny lashes near the inner corners of my eyes. The size also permitted me to work the mascara into the roots of my lashes, creating a liner effect instantly, though it was more difficult to use than the XL brushes. It did not separate and lengthen as I’d hoped, and did require a good deal of combing through afterwards to avoid clumping. This is not a lengthening mascara and didn’t deposit fibers to the tips of my lashes like the BlackOut does, but rather gives the effect of volume and deep, black, density. The formula is complex – in addition to a serum and royal jelly that work with body heat to encourage lash growth and health, there is a ceramide enriched polymer for maximum volume, as well as a patented Dior Black Glass pigment, an ultra-rich, 3-d effect black pigment. If you prefer natural looking mascaras, this one isn’t your bag – this product is rich and wet looking, and almost difficult to work with because of it. I don’t like spidery looking lashes but certainly don’t skimp on mascara, but the fringe this product gave me looked almost artificial – thick, black, with an almost plastic look to them. The mascara certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. The product has good longevity but doesn’t stay in place as easily as DiorShow (Black Out, Unlimited, Extase, 360) do, nor does it dry as quickly: blink or sneeze immediately after application and you’ll discover the true meaning of panda eyes. I’ve avoided using this on lower lashes due to the wet formula, and am looking forward to using this product once it’s had a chance to dry out a wee bit, with the hopes that it will be a wee bit less dramatic. Though there are some complaints online about removing this mascara, mine wipes away easily when using a cleansing oil or bi-phase makeup remover with oil.

My Bare Eye - No Mascara

With DiorShow New Look Mascara

With DiorShow New Look Mascara

This isn’t my favorite mascara ever (BlackOut will forever have a place in my heart, and I found the applicator underwhelming), but it is a fabulous addition to an already wonderful range of mascaras from the company. I’m not entirely certain that I’d repurchase, but I do believe that is more due to force of habit than a dislike of the product. I am eager to see results (if any) from this wonderfully complex formula, and am generally pleased with my purchase.

The DiorShow New Look Mascara is available widely, for approximately $28 USD.

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss

There are two kinds of girls in this world: Lipgloss girls, and Eyeshadow girls, or at least, that has generally been my world view for the past 10 years (Sarkozy vs. Hollande? Pah!). I count myself firmly in the latter category, having amassed an enormous collection of eyeshadows I will never wear justified only by the words, “Oooooh… pretty!”, but when NARS releases a new lip product, I’m always the first in line to try.

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Piree

With that in mind, for the Spring 2012 collection, NARS released a line of glosses to their Larger Than Life range, now encompassing the aforementioned gloss, as well as eye-liner and mascara. From the NARS website:

“Outrageously lustrous color meets high-impact shine. Dramatic, stay-in-place shades glide on smoothly and evenly for lips that are more luminous and voluminous than ever before.

• High-shine, high-impact finish gives a dramatic effect
• Long-lasting, stay-in-place wear
• Infused with ingredients to nourish and fight free radicals while natural lip enhancers pump up volume
• Shorter-bristle brush delivers the most precise application possible”

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Piree

The packaging is quite a bit different from the traditional NARS glosses, which come in long, rectangular tubes. This one, with its thick shiny plastic and rounded edges, seems almost more voluptuous, as though the traditional gloss had been injected with as much restylane as a real housewife of Beverley Hills. The applicator is certainly unique – a miniscule, stiff brush that does indeed allow for more precise application, but requires at least two pumps to coat the entire mouth.

Being wary of bright glossy color, I chose this in the shade “Piree“, a rosy and natural, warm pink similar in shade to their cultissime “Chihuahua” from the regular gloss range. The shade itself is lovely, albeit a bit warm for my skin – I think this would look like a “my lips but better” shade on all but the palest and darkest of complexions (I think it would look especially delightful on medium-toned Asian complexions). I took a photo of the gloss next to my nails, painted with OPI’s Kreme de la Kremlin, to show the similarities. This a creamy gloss with no shimmer, which is refreshing, as it permits the wear of gloss without looking like a teeny bopper.

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Piree vs. OPI's Kreme de la Kremlin

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Piree, Swatched

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Piree, Indoor Light / Flash

 

The formula itself is ok – though I should preface this by saying that I am really not a fan of the feeling of lip gloss on my lips. It doesn’t feel as smooth or emolient as the traditional NARS glosses, instead it feels thick and even a bit tacky (though less than a MAC Lipglass). It did feel, however, substantial on my lips, which is an odd term to use for cosmetics, but I felt like I was placing something of substance – that is to say, texture and color – as opposed to just a coat of “ooooh shiny!”. The color lasts for 3 – 4 hours on my lips, though the shine of the gloss wears off well before then, about 2 hours into wear. My lips never felt dry during wear, and the color never bled or feathered, owing perhaps due to the formula as well as the small precision application brush. The formula contains a host of good things – rice lipids to aid in long wear, Jojoba oil and vitamin E for short-term moisture and long-term protection, and a few products to fight free radicals and take care of the lips. I haven’t noticed any effects from any of these ingredients yet but due to my gloss aversion, admit I haven’t been wearing this regularly either. I will say however that the heaviness of the gloss means that most of my lips’ imperfections are masked (in a good way), leaving me with a plump, shiny mouth.

In short, this is a lip gloss that I’m actually willing to wear… which is saying quite a bit. These are wonderful for those that enjoy the sheen of a lip gloss, but want a sophisticated and womanly version to wear.

Currently available only at Sephora counters and NARS, for $26 USD.

Cheap Thrills – Rimmel’s Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow Palette

Alright, I know I am not on the ball on this one. These adorable Union Jack shaped eyeshadow quads have been on the market for a while – first in the UK, available on ASOS and at drugstores, then in France, and finally, in the US.

I managed to find one of these palettes for the modest sum of $6.49 USD recently, and although I certainly don’t need any more eyeshadow, I really couldn’t resist. Not only is the design adorable, but Rimmel is excellent in terms of price point and quality, and these shadows looked feminine and shimmery.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadow Quad, English Rose

The shadows themselves are really lovely – they are smooth and buttery, eminently blendable, and pack a beautiful shimmer that never veers into frosty-your-grandmother-in-Boca territory. The palette I picked up is in ‘English Rose’ (005), and the shades are beautiful, including a pale shimmering pink, a silvered plum, a purpled taupe shade and finally a deep rusty plum shade for definition. The pale pink is the palette’s main shade – logical, since we tend to use the lightest shade of our eyeshadows the most – and creates the cross of the union jack. The other 3 shades are repeated in small triangles in each of the four corners of this palette.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadow Quad, English Rose

Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadow Quad, English Rose

So the drawback? It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again – while it’s easy to access the large cross of pale pink with brushes and fingers, the pans of the other 3 shades are miniscule! Even the included sponge tip applicator can’t really fit in these teeny tiny pans, so I used a small, angled eyeliner brush to get as much color as possible.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadow Quad, English Rose, Swatched in Indoor Light

With that being said, for the price, this palette is worth it – I suppose the Union Jack design was adorable, but certainly not practical. I used this palette for my Valentine’s Day Look and was really pleased with the effect, not dissimilar to the sheer shimmering shadows offered by Bobbi Brown. If you are looking for a wash of color rather than a pop, and willing to deal with poor product design, then I would tell you to snap one of these palettes up while you can.

Rimmel Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow Palette – available widely at CVS, Walgreens (USA), Monoprix (France) and Boots (UK).

Rimmel USA

Tips & Tricks – MAC Fix+ Mist

Greetings, readers! I apologize about the ‘silence radio’ this week – on top of being without wi-fi (I was bereft!), La Coquette is suffering from a decidedly unglamorous winter bug. Rather than play with makeup, I was fixated on aspirin and Matzo Ball Soup……..

but with my tea in hand, I’m ready to blog again!

On my cosmetics spree two weeks ago, I picked up a bottle of MAC’s Fix+ Mist. Now, if you read a lot of beauty blogs or anything on Makeup Alley, you’ll know that some women say this stuff is the best thing since the invention of mascara in a tube. It refreshes! It sets makeup! It raised my newborn children!

Ladies, they’re lying. I won’t deny that the Fix+ is useful and even a good product, but at $20 for 100ml/3.4oz, it’s expensive for what it is, and unless you’re a real cosmetics junkie like me, it’s not worth the buy… but perhaps I should explain what this product actually IS.

The Fix+ is basically a facial mist that combines water, glycerin, and a few fancy ingredients like green tea, chamomile and cucumber to soothe and refresh the skin. Housed in a clear bottle with an (admittedly convenient) black spray nozzle that locks closed for travel, it can be used in a variety of ways – before foundation application as a primer, after makeup application to remove that plastered look caused by an excess of setting powder, as a mixing medium for eyeshadows, and throughout the day to give skin a dewy, fresh look without disturbing makeup.  I personally have been using this primarily after applying makeup, holding the bottle at arm’s length from my face and giving a few quick sprays. The mist is very fine indeed with no large droplets ending up on my face, but the glycerin makes my skin feel a wee bit sticky afterwards. While I do like the immediate effects – my skin does have a bit of a ‘glow’ – I find that this makes my foundation look patchy and strange after a few hours, so I’m not quite sure why some bloggers swear it keeps their makeup in place for hours. It does work well as a mixing medium for loose eyeshadows – it has all of the same ingredients as the MAC pro water based mixing medium, with the added soothing elements.

In short, this product is nice, but if you’re on a beauty budget or just getting your first real cosmetics arsenal together, I’d venture to say that this product would be an extravagant expenditure. It does what it promises, certainly, but isn’t the miracle product that you’ve always been seeking.

Sephora’s Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner

Calling all lazy girls (and boys) – do you feel that cleaning your makeup brushes is overwhelming? Do you hate the downtime between cleansing and drying time? Are you too lazy to buy brush cleanser/baby shampoo, but know that your blush brush is an absolute petri dish of sebum and bacteria? Then do I have the product for you….

I picked up Sephora’s Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner last week, and it’s brilliant. I’d love to tell you that I’m one of those makeup gurus with an arsenal of brilliant brushes from MAC and Bobbi Brown that I wash religiously, but to be honest, my daily brushes are travel sized ones from Essence of Beauty, a cheap (but fantastic quality) brand offered at CVS in the US. Since I apply makeup nearly every day, thorough cleansing of my brushes happens every two weeks at best – and I suspect I’m not the only one like this (to be honest, most girls I know don’t clean their brushes at all – you know who you are). Beauty blogging has made me feel a little bit insecure about my appalling makeup tool hygiene, so I knew that I needed this product.

At less than $7 USD for 60ml, this antibacterial, no rinse spray is a life saver. The travel sized bottle is airport liquid restriction friendly, and it takes only a few pumps to de-funk and un-gunk my makeup brushes. The spray only takes a few minutes to dry (wipe the makeup off first with, according to Sephora, a “lint free cloth”) and they are ready and rearing to go again. The thing is, using a dirty makeup brush deposits the bacteria and oils from your face back on to your skin each time it’s used, picks them up again, and the vicious cycles continue, leading to breakouts – so this is actually a really useful, pragmatic product to own.

The Sephora website currently carries one in different packaging, for $6, but it appears to be the same product.  Get on it ladies, if lazy / busy girls like me can deal, so can you.