What's in My Makeup Bag? Volume III

The problem with switching to a bigger makeup bag is that I end up carrying far too many lip products (click to enlarge). Here's the rundown of what I'm really loving right now:

1) Glee Gum in Tangerine (I buy several boxes at a time when shopping at Whole Foods).
2) Chanel Glossimer in Star (from the Soho Collection 2010). I love this shade so much I bought several backups- I really wish that it hadn't been limited edition).
3) Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu (reviewed here, and still available at Chanel.com).
4) Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting (005) (reviewed here).
5) Kai Eau de Parfum sample from Barneys. I'm insanely in love with this scent!
6) MAC Tendertone Lip Balm in Hush (MAC Shop, MAC Cook LE 2012) (reviewed here).
7) Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint. One of my favorite lip balms (reviewed here).
8) Rouge Bunny Rouge Succulence of Dew Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings (review forthcoming).
9) Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss in Fleur Parfait (reviewed here).
10) Rouge Bunny Rouge Hues of Enchantment Color Burst Lipstick in Nothing Unknown (reviewed here).
11) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Poppers in Evelyn's Journey (swatches here, review forthcoming). Simply one of the most amazing lip plumpers ever invented!
12) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Lipstick in Cleo. One of the sexiest vampy colors to date! (swatches here, review forthcoming)
13) Cover Girl Lipslicks Lip Gloss in Daring (review forthcoming).
14) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Liquid Blush in Mim's the Word (swatches here, full review here). My favorite pink blush, and I use it on my lips too!
15) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Crest Compact Mirror (reviewed here).
16) Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers (GWP from Barneys Bag Event).
17) Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter (reviewed here). Pure love!!
18) MAC Double Spin Cremesheen Lipstick (Glitter & Ice Collection LE Holiday 2011).
19) MAC Kissable Lipcolour- Flaunting It (MAC Shop, MAC Cook LE 2012).
20) Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Lipid Serum. I don't leave home without it! (reviewed here).
21) Sunday Riley Crème Gloss Sheer Impact Lip Color in Vacay (overview here, review forthcoming).
22) Sunday Riley Modern Lip Color in Shakespeare (swatches here, review forthcoming). Marcia- you need this color after all!! Note the color on the Barneys website looks nothing like it!
23) Rouge Bunny Rouge Forever Yours...Long-lasting Lip Pencil in Vasco (reviewed here).
24) Rouge Bunny Rouge Feline Gaze Eye Khol in Vera (reviewed here).
25) Barneys makeup bag from a Bag Event from 2011.

NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner Film

While I am still eagerly awaiting the arrival of my NARS 413 BLKR Eyeshadow, I have been enjoying all things NARS- including these videos!

Revlon's New Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains- Review & Swatches Part II

I decided to try two more of the new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, and I actually really prefer these two shades to the other four that I reviewed in Part I here. These two came from my local Rite Aid, and were still on sale for $5.39 each (40% off of $8.99).

As stated in Part I of this review, it is impossible not to see the similarity between the packaging of this product and Clinique's Chubby Sticks, however I can't give you comparison between the products themselves since I do not have any of the Clinique Chubby Sticks in my stash. They are also often compared to Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tints, however Tarte uses far fewer chemicals than does Revlon making a tangible comparison difficult. Therefore, for the purpose of this review I will evaluate Revlon's newest lip product in a bit of a vacuum- not because I necessarily find this product to be peerless, but because I either do not have the appropriate product against which to compare it (Clinique), or I have a similarly fashioned product that I don't think is demonstrably similar enough to warrant a comparison (Tarte). 

One of the first things that I love about the packaging, aside from the cute bright colors that approximate the colors of the products themselves, is the fact that they opted for twist up tubes. I hate having to sharpen chubby lip products because of the inconvenience, messiness, and sheer waste. 

According to Revlon: "It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood."

 Outdoor Lighting in the Sun

 Indoor Lighting

They further claim:
-Lightweight Lipstain + Moisturizing Balm
-100% of women who tried it felt their lips were instantly moisturized with a soft stain of color
-Retractable chubby crayon, no sharpener required

Revlon's tips:
Step 1: Apply Just Bitten Kissable™ Balm Stain evenly to clean, bare lips. Build color and coverage as desired.
Step 2: Reapply as desired for moisturizing shine throughout the day

I think that their classification as a balm stain makes it clear that when they are first applied that they behave a bit like a lip balm, but once they dry down they are ostensibly lip stains. The color is buildable, but can very easily be sheered out as well. My swatches were each given multiple passes to build up the color, but I found that I was actually able to build it up a bit more. The texture is very comfortable and balm-like, but definitely behaves more like a sheer lipstick than a lip gloss. They are not, however, moisturizing in the same way that the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters are- not by any stretch of the imagination.

They do have a slight peppermint smell and taste that does cause a small amount of tingling on the lips, but for me it was neither painful nor unpleasant. The first four shades that I reviewed were neither moisturizing, nor particularly drying. However, these two shades really dried out my lips. It took between 1-2 hours before I was able to see the effects, but after wearing Crush (#005) all day I found my lips were quite chapped. The only way to combat this drying effect for me is to wear this on top of a very moisturizing lip balm, but that does seem to defeat the purpose of a stain/balm. The sheen lasts for a several hours and once it wears away I am left with a stain that lasts for about 4 more hours. Therefore the wear-time is quite good.

Cherish #015: is a lovely sheer leaning blue-based bubble gum pink, but it has buildable color.

Crush #005: is an insanely gorgeous plum burgundy merlot type of shade that is one of the best colors that Revlon has ever done, in my opinion. It is quite buildable so that it can be quite vampy, but it can also be sheered out for daytime wear. This is a real stunner, people!

Overall assessment: While I am crazy about these two colors, both of these shades dried out my lips. Crush is by far my favorite color of the 6 shades that I bought, but it was likewise the most drying on my lips. I'm not entirely sure why one is more drying than the others, but I won't be wearing them without a lip balm. I wore Crush longer than any of the other shades and am left to wonder if the remaining shades would be as drying if I reapplied and wore them all day as I did Crush.

Did you find them moisturizing or drying?

Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss in Fleur Parfait- Review & Swatches

According to Rouge Bunny Rouge the Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss line of lip glosses "is an exceptionally tempting interpretation of the ambrosial table of sweets in the Enchanted Garden. Naughty, but oh-so-nice! Think of lusciously ripe fruit dipped in the shiniest of honeys. Your lips will be optically plumped to a mouth-watering fullness and a lavish dream-star shine. Irresistible. Like a scrumptious dessert that cheers you to the bones just by inhaling it, these glassy glosses radiate spicy sweetness and utter intoxicating decadence. All of these candy drops of colour are heaped with exotic ingredients, and some abound with minute pearlised particles to sparkle your lips with glittering bejeweled effects. People will gaze at you with shiny-eyed infatuation, longing that you will possibly get...a...little...bit...closer."

This formula boasts an "ultra glossy finish with soothing and protective blend of Paper Birch extract and Woodland Figwort speaks of the wild freshness, naturally. Anti-oxidant and anti aging, our formula also contains Cotton Tree Fruit extract to hydrate and revitalize."

Of the six available shades, I chose in Fleur Parfait which is described as a "cushiony-soft semi-opaque mauve pink, with subtle silver highlights." I think that their description is an apt one, however mere words can hardly capture the magnificence of this gorgeous cool-toned mauve pink. This is one of the most beautiful pinkish mauvish colors that I have in my sizable lip gloss stash, and it has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. I'm even tempted to buy a second one just so that I have one with me at all times!

Indoor Lighting

Outdoor Lighting Direct Sun

This is an unbelievably comfortable gloss with a lovely bit of cushion that makes it feel fantastic on the lips. It is also a moisturizing lip gloss that is as fantastic to wear as it is gorgeous to look at. I can find absolutely nothing to criticize about the formula, the wear-time, or the beauty of this gloss. It is neither too sticky, nor too thin- in fact, the consistency has found the perfect balance between the two. I find that with normal use (drinking, light eating minus a vinegar-based salad dressing etc, and normal talking) gives me about 4 hours of wear-time, but more if I'm just having coffee or water. It is less tacky and thick than MAC lipglasses; and it's about the same thickness, but a touch less tacky than Chanel Glossimers.

Ingredients: PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, POLYBUTENE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, MICA, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, CALCIUM ALUMINIUM BOROSILICATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SILICA, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, PENTAERITHRITYL TETRA-DI-t-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, HYDROLYZED PEARL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, PARFUM, GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM EXTRACT, BETULA ALBA BARK EXTRACT, SCROPHULARIA NODOSA EXTRACT, TIN OXIDE, LINALOOL, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, CITRONELLOL, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, AMYL CINNAMAL. (+/-) CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 75470, CI 15850, CI 45380, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 15985

Overall assessment: FABULOUS lip gloss that is as fantastic as Chanel Glossimers!

Available at Zuneta & Beautyhabit
All photos mine except the stock image on top is from Beautyhabit.

Memorial Day Remembrances

Memorial Day, while originally intended to honor the fallen Union Soldiers from the American Civil War, became more notably a day to commemorate all fallen soldiers serving in the United States Armed Services. We honor those we have lost, have barbecues to commemorate them, and generally take pause to reflect upon what their collective sacrifice meant.

More recently still, this holiday has come to symbolize a day where we embark on more personal expressions of memory about those departed loved ones who we dearly miss. Many of these people engaged in battles of a different kind-  brave bodies nobly fighting terminal diseases until they can no longer battle their pernicious house guests, and in some cases the weakening effects of the curative medications themselves. For me, this day is a reminder of having lost my dad a few short years ago (who was a veteran of the US Army), and it reminds me of everyone who I have loved who is no longer here.

Join me in lifting a glass to honor the memory of all of the beloved people that we have lost. Please feel free to share any thoughts or memories.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Forever Yours...Long-Lasting Lip Pencil in Vasco- Swatches & Review

After looking at the six enchanting Rouge Bunny Rouge Forever Yours...Long-Lasting Lip Pencils, I decided to order Vasco sight unseen. It is described as "Cherry blossom powder pink" and Rouge Bunny Rouge suggests that it works best for those who have lighter skin types. It is a beautiful pale pink that has a magical story that further shrouds it in the quintessential Rouge Bunny Rouge mystery.

Once upon a time, a shrouded scroll with a magnificent navigation map, traced by whimsical lines, was found in the Enchanted Garden. Overwhelmed by its beauty, we captured the essence and softness of its everlasting magical colours in 'Forever Yours...' lip pencils.

Their soft heart glides on as smoothly as a ship on the calmest of seas, to keep your lips supremely in view. You'll treasure the incomparable staying power, allowing you fearlessly explore your thirst for new things - knowing that you look impeccable.

Drink and be merry, kiss and be cherished. It's so wear-resistant it's almost as unstoppable as you. Go ahead and write your own navigation chart, you'll be safely on course to sail off with whatever treasures you desire.

According to Rouge Bunny Rouge, "Advanced technology in this longwearing pencil delivers a formula with an instant release of intense colour, smooth glide-on and a precise application. The synergic action of gellified systems, special polymers and waxes provides a most comfortable and semi-permanent colour. Once dry, the colour will last the whole day and is waterproof too! These incredibly indelible lip pencils have been matched to your lips (as we all know, we match liners to the lips, not the lipsticks)." This formula is available in six "nude tones (depending on your lip colour) that can be used either to define the lip shape, or act as an all-day base for any lipstick or lip gloss."

I really like this lip liner formula a great deal- it is soft and creamy and offers superb coverage. Vasco is most definitely a very pale pink when applied in a normal manner. In fact when I swatched it on my arm it nearly disappeared despite having been a fairly heavy swatch. I took more than 30 photographs in every type of lighting imaginable, and I finally opted to swatch it on white paper so that there was a far higher degree of contrast. 

All three of the swatches on white paper were taken outside in the mid-day sun. 

Prior to swatching Vasco, I had my very first Rouge Bunny Rouge mishap which, thanks to the lovely people at Beautyhabit, was immediately rectified. The first Vasco lip pencil that I received broke the second I tried to use it. Thinking it was a fluke, I sharpened it and tried again, and once again the tip broke off immediately. 

The following day I received another Vasco lip pencil that was perfect, and after swatching it I had a thought.... It occurred to me that I should dig one of the broken tips out of the trash can in order to try to swatch it very very heavily on my arm- the likes of which I was otherwise unable to achieve through normal use. I literally smeared the entire broken tip over two spots on my arm, and what you see below is the result. Under normal circumstances I would never have swatched it this heavily, but I think that is instructive because it shows that once it is built-up the color becomes a dusty rose. Of course the color results from normal use will differ significantly.

I find this lip pencil to be very long-wearing and very comfortable. It applies smoothly and evenly- never skipping or appearing patchy. The color itself is a lovely pale pink that will definitely work well on paler skin or less pigmented lips. If you are hopelessly devoted to a light pink or nude lip- this lip pencil was definitely made with you in mind.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Paraffin, Polybutene, C11-12 Isoparaffin, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Ceresin, Ozokerite, Cera Microcristallina, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol. (+/-): CI 15850, CI 45380, CI 77891, Mica, CI 77491, CI 45410, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 19140, CI 75470, CI 15985, CI 16035, CI 42090, CI 73360, CI 77163, CI 77742, CI 77947

Overall assessment: I love this lip liner formula. It is extremely comfortable and long wearing, and really doesn't budge once applied. I also find the color positively enchanting!

Available at Zuneta and Beautyhabit

Lola's Happy Garden

Revlon's New Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains- Review & Swatches Part I

Revlon is at it again! I have been very pleased with all of their new lip products lately and believe that they have really stepped up their game (though I am comparatively less enthusiastic about their new eye shadows). I was finally able to get my hands on a few of Revlon's brand new Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains that I found on sale at my local Rite Aid ($5.39 each-40% off the regular price of $8.99). 

It is impossible not to see the similarity between the packaging of this product and Clinique's Chubby Sticks, however I can't give you a comparison between the products themselves since I do not have any of the Clinique Chubby Sticks in my stash. They are also often compared to Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tints, however Tarte uses far fewer chemicals than does Revlon making a tangible comparison difficult. Therefore, for the purpose of this review I will evaluate Revlon's newest lip product in a bit of a vacuum- not because I necessarily find this product to be peerless, but because I either do not have the appropriate product against which to compare it (Clinique), or I have a similarly fashioned product that I don't think is demonstrably similar enough to warrant a comparison (Tarte).

One of the first things that I love about the packaging, aside from the cute bright colors that approximate the colors of the products themselves, is the fact that they opted for twist up tubes. I hate having to sharpen chubby lip products because of the inconvenience, messiness, and sheer waste. NARS, are you listening?!

According to Revlon: "It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood."

They further claim: 

-Lightweight Lipstain + Moisturizing Balm

-100% of women who tried it felt their lips were instantly moisturized with a soft stain of color

-Retractable chubby crayon, no sharpener required  

Both photos are taken outside in natural light.

Revlon's tips:
Step 1: Apply Just Bitten Kissable™ Balm Stain evenly to clean, bare lips. Build color and coverage as desired.
Step 2: Reapply as desired for moisturizing shine throughout the day

I think that their classification as a balm stain makes it clear that when they are first applied that they behave a bit like a lip balm, but once they dry down they are ostensibly lip stains. The color is buildable, but can very easily be sheered out as well. My swatches were each given multiple passes to build up the color, but I found that I was actually able to build it up a bit more. The texture is very comfortable and balm-like, but definitely behaves more like a sheer lipstick than a lip gloss. They are not, however, moisturizing in the same way that the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters are- not by any stretch of the imagination.

They do have a slight peppermint smell and taste that does cause a small amount of tingling on the lips, but for me it was neither painful nor unpleasant. While I don't find them particularly moisturizing I likewise don't find them drying. The sheen lasts for a several hours and once it wears away I am left with a stain that lasts for about 4 more hours. Therefore the wear-time is quite good.

Of the 12 shades available, I chose 4. Now here is where things get a little strange: 3 of the 4 shades look virtually identical in my swatches. If you look at them in their packaging all indications are that they will appear wildly different.

Smitten #030: is a darkened berry on the verge of a black cherry in the tube, but swatched it's a hot pink fuchsia.

Sweetheart #025: is a mid-tone bright pink in the tube, but it is just an ever so slightly brightened version of Smitten when swatched.

Lovesick #020: is a bright nearly magenta pink in the tube, but when swatched it barely differs from the other two colors.

I even built up the swatches and let them sit on my arm for a couple of hours, and when I did wipe them off all three of the swatches left behind a stain that was basically the same color. I did find that when I wore each of the three shades built-up on my lips that there was greater variation between the shades than appears in my swatches, but still not enough of a difference to justify having all three of them.

Darling #10, on the other hand, is a lilac pink that is surprisingly wearable and flattering.

Overall assessment: I like the formula a lot, and the colors are gorgeous. However, I am simultaneously wildly disappointed that three of the four colors that I bought look nearly identical on me. Had I known this was going to be the case I would have chosen one of them instead of three!

See PART II: Revlon's New Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains here.

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup

Week of May 21, 2012

Here is some fun weekend reading material for you!

• Has blush ever mystified you? Retro Diva takes a look at some tips and techniques to make sure your blush is perfect for you.
• Is the skin around your nails in bad shape? Would you do anything to fix it? Jessika from Polish Insomniac shows you her latest Holy Grail item – but would you spend that much $$$?
•  BlushingNoir has gone on a Revlon Swatch-A-Thon! Click to see 70 products from Revlon used in eye looks, as well as swatched and reviewed!
• The Lacquered Lady shares with us her best tips for staying beautiful and confident this summer. What will be her number one tip?
• Glitter.Gloss.Garbage shows off swatches of theBalm palette.
• Beauty Info Zone can’t get enough of Eyeko Skinny Brush mascara. Both Marcia and Lisa are in love!
• Phyrra shows you her newest lust, the Sugarpill Heart Breaker quad. She compares it to some of her other favorite shadows, too!
• Lola from lola’s secret beauty blog has rediscovered just how much she loves the Hakuhodo Kokutan M & MLL eye shadow brushes – they are gorgeous, effective, and joyous to use!
•  The Beauty Professor shares three luxury beauty products that effortlessly take you from Spring to Summer…it is time to glow!
• Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog is hosting a giveaway for Minerals Mate, a handy tray for mixing and applying any form of makeup!
•  OPI, ORLYs and Color Clubs, Oh my! Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom is co-sponsoring a super awesome fantastic giveaway!
• The Stepford Witch swatches and reviews a lovely cream cheek product from The Face Shop.
• The Crumpet started a 66 day Summer Nail Challenge going all the way through to September. Take a peek or join in!
• Perilously Pale shares with us the complete set of four new limited edition Rouge d’Armani lip glosses from the Armani Beauty Summer 2012 collection.
• Spontaneous Chick posted five MoroccainOil reviews.
• Curls N Pearls is all kinds of inspired by Miley’s gorgeous look at the Billboard Music Awards, reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot.
• The Pink Sith broke up with her old eye primer in order to start a romance withLORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer. Her new love.
• Hello Dollface wants to know: do you want perfect hair? Get it with these products from Matrix! Love free stuff? How about a free L’Occitaine facial…and a giveaway for your own Angelica Instant Hydration Mask? BeautyXpose has you covered.
• Looking for an amazing summer neon polish? Nails and Noms shows us this great set of minis from the Orly Feel The Vibe Collection!
• Mally Beauty claims that her Face Defender is so amazing, you’ll never need to powder your face again. Check out Erin from Scandalous Beauty‘s verdict.
• Miss L found out if Mavala Eye-Lite Double Lash Night Treatment makes your lashes thicker and longer in 30 days.
• Prime Beauty finds a less expensive alternative to her beloved WEN Cleansing Conditoner with the Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Collection in her latest Splurge v.s. Steal!
• Mina Slater from Fabulous Awesomeness swatches Pretty In Pink color-changing nail polish by Del Sol!
• BeautyJudy reviews the Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, and finds the best way to describe the experience is like this: gentle, soft Pop Rocks for your face.

Hakuhodo B103BkSL Pointed Blush Brush Review

The Hakuhodo B103BkSL is a gorgeous Sokoho Goat hair brush that is both soft and exquisitely effective. Because of the pointed shaped head, one is able to use this brush for more than its intended purpose as a blush brush. The shape lends itself to contouring, to applying highlighter, and to blending as well. I find that this brush does a stupendous job laying down the perfect amount of product with very pigmented blushes that require a very light hand and careful application.

The bristles of this tulip-shaped head are densely packed, and while the head is firm enough to avoid being floppy it remains remarkable soft yet effective. For those interested in the same brush, but in an even more luxurious version- you may prefer the S103 with the gorgeous vermilion handle and gold ferrule. The B103BkSL is a perfectly balanced brush made to the most exacting standards. In addition to being gorgeous and well-crafted, it feels remarkably comfortable in the hand- thereby making this a standout performer that is as beautiful as it is effective. Additionally,  my brush has neither shed a single hair- nor has it lost its shape after getting washed.

This brush blends out even the most pigmented blushes eliminating all harshness or streakiness. One can apply their products with either the pointed tip or with the side of the brush with great ease and efficacy. Some people who are devoted to this brush have found it to be amazing for the application of finishing powder- though I have never tried that myself. 

Use：	Powder・Blush
Hair Type ：	Goat(Sokoho)
Handle Type ：	Wood Handle/Black
Ferrule：	Nickel Brass/Silver
Size：	A. Full Length: 190㎜ B. Hair Length:50.0㎜ C. Thickness: 20.0㎜ D. Width of the Ferrule Foot: 20.0㎜

Overall assessment: What's not to love?! This is an extraordinary brush!
$72.00 from Hakuhodo

A Little Reminder of True Beauty...

Minerals Mate Mineral Makeup Application & Mixing Tray Review & Pictures

Every once in a while a new product comes along that is simply so brilliant that you wish that had come up with that idea yourself. Minerals Mate has done just that with their Mineral Makeup Application & Mixing Trays. They are elegant in their simplicity, but they are equally rugged and hard working (without sacrificing good looks). In fact, these pretty babies were made to be top rack dishwasher safe ensuring that they receive a proper and thorough cleaning. Click to enlarge all photos.

The seven snug fitting removable break-resistant and non-toxic caps reveal three large and 4 small wells to store a generous amount of product. Not only is this a way to keep your favorite products in one place, but it also makes it very convenient for travel. In between the smaller wells on the bottom there is a ribbed thumb grip that doubles as a scrubbing surface to gently clean your brushes.

While these were made with mineral makeup in mind- I would suggest that they are fantastic for all types of loose makeup. Not only are they great for housing your loose makeup, but the larger wells are so generously sized that they are fantastic for mixing colors. I actually think that these gorgeous palettes are also perfect for mixing liquid products as well. I tried mixing some OCC Lip Tars as well as customizing the color of a liquid foundation, and it works brilliantly in this application as well. If you have lots of lipsticks that aren't quite the right color- these trays are also perfect for custom blending. 

Red at Play is an elegant yet playful palette that was inspired by: "Lipstick. Nail polish. And shoes! Red is a woman’s color and this fun and lovely “Red at Play” Minerals Mate tray is perfect for the colorful woman you are!"

This little beauty gives you a clean, effective and fun surface to use when applying your minerals or any other powder product. Highly polished and substantial in weight, it features three large wells and four small wells, perfect for those foundations, blushes and eye colors! Use once and wash with soap. Or, if you have some leftover minerals on the tray, just snap on one of its red caps or two and save your minerals for the next use! Comes with a beautiful Minerals Mate red satin pouch.

Double Platinum is a gorgeous black on dark gray palette that is "subtle but dramatic and oh, so pretty, this black-on-dark-gray Minerals Mate tray goes with just about any vanity decor."

This elegant Minerals Mate Application & Mixing Tray gives you a clean, effective and fun surface to use when applying your minerals or any other powder product. Made of professional-weight, highly polished melamine, it features three large wells and four small wells, perfect for those foundations, blushes and eye colors! Use once and wash with soap. Or, if you have some leftover minerals on the tray, just snap on one of its black caps or two and save your minerals for the next use! Comes with a beautiful Minerals Mate satin pouch.

$19.95 each from Minerals Mate. Get a 25% discount through May with discount code: 2468MineralsMate

Overall assessment: BRILLIANT!! So well conceived and executed- BRAVO! This product should not be thought of as only being relevant to those who wear mineral makeup- this is great for everyone who likes to mix products (liquid or powder), and for anyone that wants a convenient place to store their loose powder products. I even think every makeup artist should have one of these beauties in their kit! A+

*These products were provided for editorial review, but the opinions expressed  are categorically my own.

Number One NARS Regret...

...that I waited too long to order 413 BLKR Shimmer Eyeshadow, and now it's "currently unavailable." I don't often have beauty lack of purchase regrets, but this is definitely one of my biggest to date! Do you hear sobbing across the blogosphere? That would be me lamenting my bad choice to wait to place my order!

Have you ever regretted not purchasing a particular beauty product that you could no longer track down? What was it? Did you go to impossible lengths to find one, or did you let it go?

Update: I decided to call the NARS flagship store at 413 Bleecker Street in the West Village of NYC to see if they still had any 413 BLKR Shimmer Eyeshadows left, and they do!! I was told that they are not limited edition at that location- so while it is sold out on the NARS website you can still order it directly from the store for which it was made! (646) 459-2323

Mine is being shipped today!!!!!!!! Be expecting swatches and a review in the very near future!

Hakuhodo Kokutan M & MLL Eye Shadow Brush Review & Pictures

Hakuhodo's Kokutan Series of brushes all feature luxurious ebony wood handles and matte black ferrules. According to Hakuhodo, "the more you touch a Kokutan handle, the nicer the luster it attains." The handles are ergonomically tapered in such a way that they are unbelievably user-friendly and very comfortable to hold. This is a case of form following function: they are simultaneously gorgeous, highly effective, and user friendly.

The Kokutan MLL has a large tapered flat paddle that is made of the most luxuriously soft blue squirrel hair that feels like crushed velvet against your eyelids! This is a fantastic eye shadow brush for laying down washes of color all over the lid, and will also work as a blender brush. It is so soft that people with sensitive eyes and eyelids can rejoice in just how gentle this brush is. People with smaller eyelids may find the paddle to be too large for the application of eye shadow, but would still benefit from its ability to blend shadows flawlessly. The softness of the brush does not, however, make it a great candidate for the application of harder eyeshadow formulas- for that one would need a firmer and less soft brush instead.
Use: Eye Shadow

Hair Type: Blue Squirrel

Handle Type: Wood Handle/Kokutan (Ebony)

Ferrule: Black Chrome Matte Brass/Black Matte

Size: Full Length: 145㎜ B. Hair Length: 20.0㎜ Thickness: 5.0㎜ D. Width of the Ferrule Foot: 14.0㎜

The Kokutan M is a fantastic eyeshadow brush for so many reasons. It boasts a densely packed tapered head made of the softest blue squirrel hair, but it remains flexible enough to be highly effective at applying the right amount of shadow while being able to maneuvering the eyelid area with great facility. I find that I reach for this brush on a daily basis because it is both extremely effective and positively joyous to use.

Use: Eye Shadow
Hair Type: Blue Squirrel
Handle Type: Wood Handle/Kokutan (Ebony)
Ferrule: Black Chrome Matte Brass/Black Matte
Size: Full Length: 145㎜ B. Hair Length: 14.0㎜ Thickness: 5.0㎜ D. Width of the Ferrule Foot: 15.0㎜

Overall assessment: I love both of these brushes, and am so happy that I bought them. The handles are a little shorter than most of my other Hakuhodo brushes, but I love how they feel in my small hands. There are definitely more Kokutan brushes in my future! These are expensive brushes, but well worth the price if you have caught Hakuhodo fever, and if you want the extra bit of luxury afforded by the ebony handles. 

MAC Angel Lipglass- Review & Swatches

I have learned to become far more selective with the MAC products that I purchase from their limited edition collections because the quality varies wildly from product to product, and sometimes even from batch to batch. As a result I don't haul collections, but instead pick out only the things that are on the higher end of their quality spectrum, and that I am reasonably certain that I will actually use. One of their recent launches, Fashion Sets, features popular lipsticks from their permanent range accompanied by limited edition matching Lipglasses and nail polishes (except that Russian Red Lipglass is part of the permanent range as well).

Angel Lipglass, which is from the Asia Pacific Collection of Fashion Sets, is the only item that I selected from this beautiful range of lip and nail products. MAC describes Angel Lipglass as a "light warm pink" and while that is generally a good description I would add that it contains silver micro-shimmer which acts to cool down the warmth in the pink making it more neutral, and therefore more wearable to those with cooler leaning skin as well.

One of the things that I noticed immediately was that Angel was more opaque than many of MAC's Lipglasses, and therefore it resisted settling into the lip lines as many of their Lipglasses often do. 

Overall Assessment: I think this is a gorgeous pink that is perfect for the season. I'm glad that I got it, and am really enjoying wearing it!
$14.50 at MAC online