Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Sephora VIB Sale and My Giorgio Armani Splurge: Reveal & Swatches

I am feeling quite happy with my Sephora VIB purchases, and while it is far too soon to review what I bought it isn't too soon to give you a closer look!
My purchases included: Maestro Fusion Makeup Compact No. 4.5, Sheer Blush No. 6 (Light Rose), Waterproof Smooth Silk Eye Pencil No. 1 (Black), Smooth Silk Lip Pencil No. 12 (Burnt Rose) and Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick No. 102 (Essenza).
Left to Right: Maestro Fusion Makeup Compact No. 4.5, Sheer Blush No. 6, Waterproof Smooth Silk Eye Pencil No. 1, Smooth Silk Lip Pencil No. 12, and Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick No. 102.
Did you shop the VIB Sale? If so, what did you indulge in?

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33 comments:

  1. I really need to try that waterproof pencil!!!!! Joyce loves it! Have you tried it yet?

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    1. It is amazing!!! Joyce loves it for a good reason! I wore it yesterday for the first time, and haven't a single complaint!

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    2. Yes gummy you must try!! I wish the black worked for me but the brown is nearly black anyway hehe :)

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    3. Do you find that the black is too severe, Joyce? Or is there an ingredient in it that irritates your eyes?

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  2. Strange as it might be, I am the most interested in the eyeliner! I've heard great things about it, and I'm wondering if it's finally the one eyeliner that will stay on my lower waterline without triggering an allergic reaction ;)

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    1. Hi Sunny! I agree with you completely-- I am obsessed with this eyeliner! I wore it yesterday for the first time, but I did not try it on my waterline. The black is so rich, dark and opaque-- just the way I like it! My eyes are pretty sensitive-- and for this reason I don't often put eyeliner on my waterline. If I do try it on my waterline I will let you know, but the quality of this pencil is excellent and it was pretty budge-proof on my upper lid!

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  3. Ummm….what Sephora sells GA makeup?? None where I live and I don't see it on line! Lucky you!

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    1. Hi Nina, Apparently very few actually stock Armani, and they don't even have the makeup on their website. I know that there is a Sephora in Manhattan that has stocked Armani for quite a while. In LA, the Century City Sephora has it (which is where I bought it), and I was told that the store in Malibu does as well-- though I have not confirmed that by going and looking myself. I'm pretty thrilled that they have it-- since that will definitely remain at the top of my list during their VIB sales! :-)

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    2. there's a few in SF as well. I wish more locations carried it!

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    3. I agree, I wish that more locations carried it. I can't figure out why it isn't on their website either!

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  4. Great finds and I like the blush colour especially.

    I don't qualify for VIB status... yet, but I'm thinking about purchasing the new Philosophy Sweet Fluffy Cupcake shower gel if I can find it at Sephora. :)

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    1. Hi Iris! Not having VIB status means that you have probably shopped much more rationally than I!!! Oooooh Sweet Fluffy Cupcake Shower Gel sounds so yummy!!!!!!!!! :-)

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  5. That black liner looks soooo pigmented. Must try!

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    1. Hi Chris! It really is-- I wore it for the first time yesterday, and definitely recommend it! It is super creamy and easy to apply, and it gives you enough time to work before it sets. It is a super rich deep black, and just gorgeous on!

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  6. I love the suspense of this Armani madness! I am taken by the maestro compact foundation and by the lovely rose colored blush. It seems to be perfect to light up the face and lift the cheeks up to the sky. My cheeks are baby rounded and Heidi red so they need all the help they can get to look relatively OK.
    I didnt buy anything at Sephora :( I have been applying to jobs non stop and producing an array of sillabi that I just couldnt leave the house :(((((( My husband promised me some Guerlain bronzers though after all of this ordeal is done with.
    I hope you are having a lovely week so far. The beautiful cold NYC weather is upon us and I just want to go out to experience it all. Perhaps this Friday...perhaps.
    Hugs to your cozy ones
    xxxxx

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    1. I'm glad that you enjoyed the suspense of the Armani Madness! The Maestro Compact Foundation is very nice-- I have only worn it once, but so far I really like it. The blush is definitely lovely, and I actually like mixing it with Armani No.2. I will have to do a dedicated post to the two together-- together they become a perfect soft rosy pink! I imagine that if you use a color-correction product to neutralize the redness in your cheeks- then you can wear any blushes that you desire. However, it it is something like Rosacea- then you can treat it rather than cover it!

      What great self-control with respect to the Sephora sale! I love that your husband plans to get you some Guerlain bronzers. What a lovely reward for all of the energy spent applying for jobs and writing so many syllabi!

      What beautiful crisp weather you are having! I hope that you are able to go out and experience it tomorrow!
      xoxo

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  7. wow! the eyeliner is so pigmented

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    1. Hi Jannatul! It really is! It definitely does not disappoint!

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  8. Only in LA would Sephora carry Armani. I think that would be a fun place to shop!

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    1. And in NYC as well. Next time you come to LA, we can go together and get ourselves into plenty of trouble!

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  9. That eye pencil looks incredible!! Curious to see how it blends.

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    1. Hi Miranda,

      It really is incredible. I wore it yesterday for the first time, and I didn't blend it. That said, it is super creamy until it sets-- so you definitely have time to smudge and blend it. :-)

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  10. Helen, you were restrained! I've got the GA liner on my wish list and was thinking of picking it up yesterday. I'm on the hunt for a liner that is water-resistant/proof, smudge-proof and transfer-resistant on my upper lash line and upper waterline. I hope this one is The One.

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    1. Hi BooBoo, I wasn't as restrained as I could have been-- I did also buy the biggest box of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pads. Then I went back and bought another bottle of the Koh Gen Do Spa Water, and their Spa Wipes. I also bought Clarisonic 2-Pack Replacement Heads. I really love this Armani liner, but have only worn it once so far and didn't tight line on the upper lid, or put it on my lower waterline. I find that it is quite creamy giving adequate time to work with it before it sets. I only noticed transfer when I blinked before it set, but once I cleaned that up it was good to go all day. I think that it might be The One for me, but need to wear it longer before I can make that kind of declaration! Did you buy anything during the VIB Sale, or were you a good girl who showed great restraint?

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    2. Skin care doesn't count.
      Ever.

      I showed great restraint in getting nothing, but that's because I'm a lowly Sephora BI. It doesn’t seem like we'll get a sale period.
      BUT.
      If I had the 20% and money were no object, this would be my purchase list:
      1) NARS Light Reflecting Powder (probably pressed because it's less messy) – I need a translucent setting powder to take away the shine from my sunscreen. My drugstore pressed powder goes on chalky even though I dust it on lightly.
      2) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Trio even though Diffused is probably the best shade for me... I'm allowing the hype to suck me innnnnnnnnnnnnnn. (Now imagine me getting sucked down a tube into a Makeup Wonderland. Whee! I'm Augustus Gloop!)
      3) Benefit FakeIt Concealer in Light and/or
      4) The more hydrating of either the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (Light/Medium) or the new NARS concealer. (3) and (4) are on the list because it’s high time to start concealing my undereye circles
      5) A Sephora value kit with goodies (Oh how I love minis! And compact makeup! Yet I don't own a single makeup mini. *sob*). I'm still kicking myself for waffling on last year's In the Glow Set. It had blushes, highlighters, and bronzers. All in their adorable mini form and all being my favourite type of face beautifiers. Waaahh. Waaaah.
      [An aside: Ha! Ha! I'm writing out my stream of consciousness. I hope you don't mind. :) :) Ok. Let me set myself straight: "BooBooNinja, you DIDN'T know those were your *favourite* face makeup genres. It took you another year to figure that out. ALSO, it's not your fault Sephora didn’t release the same sort of kit this year. They'll probably have one next year. Which means -- DO NOT buy one off evilBay. Be Patient. Finally, shake that melodrama out. Shake it out!!" *phew* I'm normal now, Helen.]
      6) Back to the Sephora value kit thing…let me think (write) this out.
      Er... I wrote a whole lot and have deleted it. The short of it is I don't like enough of the contents of any kit to warrant a purchase. The end.
      Except.
      If I blind myself to the price and to the Canadian/USD difference (grrr), I'd pick up any the FRESH Sugar Lip Balm sets. Mmmmmm...

      Delete
    3. Skin care doesn't count.
      Ever.

      I showed great restraint in getting nothing, but that's because I'm a lowly Sephora BI. It doesn’t seem like we'll get a sale period.
      BUT.
      If I had the 20% and money were no object, this would be my purchase list:
      1) NARS Light Reflecting Powder (probably pressed because it's less messy) – I need a translucent setting powder to take away the shine from my sunscreen. My drugstore pressed powder goes on chalky even though I dust it on lightly.
      2) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Trio even though Diffused is probably the best shade for me... I'm allowing the hype to suck me innnnnnnnnnnnnnn. (Now imagine me getting sucked down a tube into a Makeup Wonderland. Whee! I'm Augustus Gloop!)
      3) Benefit FakeIt Concealer in Light and/or
      4) The more hydrating of either the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (Light/Medium) or the new NARS concealer. (3) and (4) are on the list because it’s high time to start concealing my undereye circles
      5) A Sephora value kit with goodies (Oh how I love minis! And compact makeup! Yet I don't own a single makeup mini. *sob*). I'm still kicking myself for waffling on last year's In the Glow Set. It had blushes, highlighters, and bronzers. All in their adorable mini form and all being my favourite type of face beautifiers. Waaahh. Waaaah.
      [An aside: Ha! Ha! I'm writing out my stream of consciousness. I hope you don't mind. :) :) Ok. Let me set myself straight: "BooBooNinja, you DIDN'T know those were your *favourite* face makeup genres. It took you another year to figure that out. ALSO, it's not your fault Sephora didn’t release the same sort of kit this year. They'll probably have one next year. Which means -- DO NOT buy one off evilBay. Be Patient. Finally, shake that melodrama out. Shake it out!!" *phew* I'm normal now, Helen.]
      6) Back to the Sephora value kit thing…let me think (write) this out.
      Er... I wrote a whole lot and have deleted it. The short of it is I don't like enough of the contents of any kit to warrant a purchase. The end.
      Except.
      If I blind myself to the price and to the Canadian/USD difference (grrr), I'd pick up any the FRESH Sugar Lip Balm sets. Mmmmmm... Or a couple full sized FRESH Rose tinted lip balms.

      Delete
    4. This is an awesome wish list, BooBoo! You sure got your commenting mojo back! You definitely have a face powders and concealers thing going on here! The whole Canadian/US price disparity is just so unfair!!! It just makes no sense at all! The Fresh Lip Balm sets are awesome, no doubt! :D

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    5. Whoa. Hee hee! My list is ridiculous. :) I've since narrowed it down to the NARS Light Reflecting Powder and the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. I'm tempted by the Hourglass Ambient Powder Trio and have put myself on the waiting list at my local store but I doubt I'll get it. What is your favourite setting powder, Helen?

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    6. Well, you certainly narrowed down your list! I seldom actually use a setting powder-- I have couple but almost never use them.

      Delete
  11. Wow wow wow that is one black liner!!!! And I'm really liking the looks of that lip pencil…did it seem pretty smooth when you did the swatch?? How fun!!! So many yummy goodies :-)

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    1. The Black eye liner is AMAZING-- so creamy and rich-- no skipping just a smooth gliding liner- and then once it sets it doesn't budge! The lip pencil is very smooth- both swatched on the arm and worn on the lips-- I am really loving it!!

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  12. i love that eye liner too ! ugh that fdtn was a nightmare on my skin .. i recently reviewed it
    i hope u love it
    xoxox

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    1. Isn't that eye liner amazing?!!! I have only worn the foundation once, and need to really try it longer-- so I haven't yet formed an opinion. Wowza-- I checked your review, a definite miss for you! I will let you know what I think after I have tried it longer.

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