I’m a liquid liner junky. Ever since I started wearing makeup, it’s been my weapon of choice. As a long-time Benefit lover, I was so excited to hear they had come out with their liquid liner called, Magic Ink ($20).  I got a sample for review last week and have been tying it all week, it’s pretty good.

Here I talk about the Magic Ink, eye tattooing, high school kids use of photobooth, and eating 10 year old cherry jam.

Seriously!

Thanks to the New York Times and Ashe Mischief, I’ve become completely fascinated with ‘haul videos’ so much so, it’s time to give it a go. Tonight on my way home I stopped by the local drugstore, Walgreens, to get ‘nail polish remover’ since I painted my nails two weeks ago, they were looking really terrible. Well, I ended up getting a bunch of crap I think I need, including Pop Rocks and Cracker Jacks.

Interesting facts learned from this.. Pop Rocks are made in Spain, and Cracker Jacks… dude, my prize was a paper Alexander Hamilton. Really? Yes, A. Hamilton. He’s the guy on the $10 bill, only it wasn’t a $10 bill. Dang.

I got a really cool holiday look courtesy of the lovely Bobbi Brown Education Executive Katrina Rau at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. Katrina is so much fun and so talented. I love our makeup dates.

Katrina kept the focus on my eyes with metallic and deep smoky colors from the Holiday and Chrome Collections and the new Extreme Party Mascara, which Bobbi created to mimic the look of false lashes (love!).

She kept the cheeks toned down and gave a subtle pop of color on the lips, using the new Rich Color Gloss, a non-sticky gloss that’s richly pigmented and has the moisturizing, minty feel of a balm (sort of a liquid lipstick). As always, she also shared great expert tips.

A full list of everything Katrina used and more details about the new beauty treats follow the video, which for some reason refuses to show up here the usual way after a gajillion attempts, but it appears to pop up when you roll over or click this link. I have absolutely no idea why it’s working this way. Egads.

click to see products used

The Holiday Collection

The Holiday Collection is chock full of deals – one of my favorite things about the holidays is all the sweet beauty deals this time of year. The palettes and value sets cost so much less than if you were to buy everything individually. For example, the Earth Metal Palette ($60, with ten shadows and lip colors, and two pro-quality brushes) would cost more than $200 if purchased separately.

My favorite of the bunch is the Goldstone Palette ($40, below), which includes metallic and shimmery cream shadows (see my video post about the new Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow here), a black-brown gel eyeliner, and a dual-ended pro brush. I got a sample of this and find it to be the perfect palette to create a dramatic, golden eye for a festive evening out.

I also love the liquid metal look of the three Chrome Eye Shadows ($22 each, Katrina used the silver shade on me). They make serious impact. I hope Bobbi brings out more colors of these. I could totally go for a rich green and a deep blue.

The Chrome Collection

The Chrome Collection breaks out the silvers and grays with some hints of plum. Check out my earlier post to see my review and another look I created with the Chrome Palette shadows and and a sultry new wine shade of lipstick.

New Mascara and Gloss

I adore the new Extreme Party Mascara ($22) Katrina used. I can get such impressive length and volume by building up the layers. I think it does a great job mimicking the look of false lashes.

Anyone who steers clear of Bobbi’s glosses due to their stickiness need steer clear no more. The new Rich Color Gloss ($20) has no sticky feel, provides lots of color, moisture, and has a refreshing, minty feel. It really is pretty much everything you could ask for in a gloss.

By the way, Bobbi has some great online, holiday promos with free shipping, free samples, and free full-size products. Check out our Beauty Resources page for more details and promo codes.

Do Tell

So what do you think of the new holiday offerings? What do you think of the metallics and sparkle? See yourself in these colors for the holidays? Have you already gotten of the holiday treats? Do tell.

For the holidays this year, Guerlain introduces the Imperiale Collection designed to bring luxury worthy of royalty to every woman. I’ve been having such a wonderful time playing with the press samples I received. I need the holiday parties to start rolling in, especially after I got a lesson with Guerlain’s top makeup artist Marcus Monson. I had the good fortune to sit down with him when he was in town recently.

Marcus describes the collection as a way to get a “delicate dazzle” with subtle radiance. I find the colors and finishes to have a really nice balance of holiday glamour and elegance – definitely festive but not over the top.

As usual, Guerlain knocks it out of the park with luxurious packaging that makes each piece a luxe accessory. They’ve created a lovely vintage, boudoir feel with white gold finishes and black lace and jewel accents.

The Shadows

Like all Guerlain shadows, the shadows in the 407 Bal de minuit Ombre Eclat 4 Shades ($58) are exquisitely silky with a great dose of color. But these have a different finish than most Guerlain shadows. They’re more metallic and pearlescent while retaining an elegant look, because the neutral hues are on the soft side.

There’s plenty of shimmer to make them work for holiday parties and any special occasion. But they can also work for everyday wear if you apply them lightly. It’s a great multi-purpose set. Marcus suggests applying the darkest shade wet to use it as a liner. He also showed me that the medium brown shade (bottom right) works well to fill in the brows.

The Mascara

I adore Le 2 de Guerlain with its two brushes that grab each lash and make them so long and full. Marcus showed me how to use it to curl the lashes by simply holding the lashes back for a second (much easier for me than using a lash curler).

For the holidays, the 12 Reine de nuit Le 2 de Guerlain ($35) has a super black shade with the main brush and a sparkly gold formula with the small brush. The gold is meant to be used alone or over the black on the bottom lashes and on the tips of the top lashes. The effect is subtle so you can’t see it well on the video. But it’s very pretty.

The Lip Colors

For the lips, they’ve introduced two new shades of Rouge G, their incredibly luxe lipstick with the case that flips out to reveal a mirror. It can also be engraved since the case is metal. For the holidays, these two lipsticks have ornamental black jewels on them.

Marcus used 11 Grace (bottom lipstick shown below) on me. It’s a subtly pearl, lingerie pink that’s now one of my all-time favorite pinks (the other shade is called 12 Gems). Marcus topped Grace with 807 Perle de Lune KissKiss Gloss ($29, middle below), a delicately sparkly, light opalescent pink. There are also two darker shades: 808 Ambre Précieuse and 809 Rubis Rose.

The Powders

The collection includes three powders. Météorites Perle Impériales ($53), the loose pearls of powder Guerlain is famous for, has three new shades to correct and brighten the complexion, as well as give it “evening-out” sparkle. It comes in a black, sparkly, lacy container.

There’s also a new luxury edition of the Météorites Voyage Impérial pressed powder ($180) in a white gold metal compact adorned with black Swarovski strass crystals evocative of a constellation of stars. I haven’t used that. But they say it has “fine-tuned formula” with a “one-of-a-kind formulation” that’s gently pearlescent, and easier to blend and customize.

Perhaps the most unique piece in the collection is the Éclat Impérial ($85, on right below) powder for face and body. It’s silky, sheer, lightweight and gives the look of tiny little diamonds on the skin. It comes in the most exquisite atomizer with a long black tassel so you apply it like perfume – talk about luxe.

The Makeup Lesson

Marcus was in town for a big beauty event at Nordstrom in downtown San Francisco. He shared more great tips and tricks in this makeup lesson video. I love that after all these years of sitting down with makeup artists I can still learn something new. My favorite tip was about how to properly blend eyeshadow in the crease by sort of dabbing at the shadow instead of sweeping back and forth.

It’s also nice to sit down with someone who knows the ins and outs of the products so I can use them to their fullest potential, so to speak, like how to use the mascara to curl the lashes. I also learned that Rouge G has a primer built into the formula so there’s no need to use primer before applying.

I must forewarn you that I had some trouble with this video. I sat down to review what I shot and found that the last third disappeared – vanished into thin air (sigh). I did my best to work around it with photos and such. But there is an upside: I had more time to show more of the eye makeup application, so you can see more of Marcus’ excellent techniques (YouTube has a time limit so I usually have to cut out a lot of great stuff).

Where to Find the Collection

The collection is available now at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman stores.

Do Tell

So what do you think of the collection and Marcus’ lesson? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.

Bobbi Brown has introduced glamorous Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows for fall. These aren’t just new shades. They have a different formula with glittery sparkle in a clear base. The sheer color comes from the sparkly flecks so you can get nice, sheer sparkle or layer on more for fabulous drama. But they still have the same amazing crease-proof, all-day wear her Long-Wear Shadows are known for.

The Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows ($22) are part of the permanent collection and are perfect for the holidays, parties, evenings out, or anytime you want your eyes to really twinkle.

They offer more sparkle than most Bobbi Brown shadows without going overboard. It’s more of a sparkle for grown-ups. They come in eight shades – from neutral metals like silver and gold to colors like blue and violet. I’m wearing Starry Night in the photo and video.

Video Tutorial

In this video, I got a lovely lesson from the wonderful Katrina Rau, Education Executive for Bobbi Brown, at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. Click on the face chart below to see everything she used.

Here Come the Holidays

Bobbi Brown has a serious bounty of goodies coming out this month in her Holiday Collection. This is the time to load up, because you can get so much for a fraction of what everything would cost if you were to buy the items separately. For example, the Earth Metal Lip & Eye Palette (on the right in photo below) has six shadows, four lip colors, and two pro-quality brushes (not those silly sponge-tip applicators) for $60. Every single one of those items normally runs around $20 so that’s worth about $120.

I love palettes, because you get everything conveniently organized in one nice, little set all coordinated to work together (I really don’t like fumbling around with single shadows). My personal favorite is the Goldstone Long-Wear Eye Palette (bottom palette in middle row below), which has two long-wear shadows, a gel liner, and a double-sided brush for $40. The holiday collection makes my heart pitter-patter. I’ll be shooting a video with the holiday goodies later this month and will post the video and review soon after.

This month, Bobbi also introduces Rich Color Gloss ($20), a new gloss with an all-new formula. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds great. They say it features full-color coverage of a lipstick, the soft shine of a gloss, and the luxurious feel of a balm as it moisturizes, conditions, and lasts through the day without feathering. Sign me up! It comes in eight shades, including pale, neutral, deep, and bright options.

Do Tell

What do you think of the new metallic shadows, the holiday collection, and glosses? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.

While I’m super into makeup, I’m a total amateur at false lashes so I headed over to the San Francisco shu uemura boutique for a lesson with the lovely Rita Brown, one of the company’s principal makeup artists. Rita always has false lashes on when I see her. They look so pretty and really bring out her eyes without looking overdone. That’s the look I wanted.

Rita applied the Lavender Bloom lashes (shown above) from the new Lashes in Nature Collection. I love the soft, feathery look with the hint of color. shu uemura makes some of the best lashes around. They have such a wonderful selection – from really natural to totally dramatic – and they’re beautifully handcrafted.

I feel way more confident in applying lashes now that Rita’s shown me the ropes. Check out the video below to get some great tips.

Do Tell

What do you think of false lashes? Do you wear them? Curious about them? Application-challenged? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.

Photos by the lovely Tami of fête à fête.

The Guerlain Fall Russian Beauty Collection is all about bohemian luxe with a smooth, radiant complexion, warm, shimmering eyes, and rosy lips – rich colors inspired by Russia and the sumptuous fabrics and beadwork of the dresses worn by Russian princesses.

Today I have a review of the collection and a wonderful new makeup video. I had the delightful opportunity to get a lesson at Saks San Francisco with Guerlain National Makeup Artist Marcus Monson, who is incredibly talented and fun, and has a client roster of celebrities, including Ivanka Trump. I just love the look he created for me. It’s tough to see the colors of the makeup in the photo due to the lighting – be sure to watch the video to see them better.

The Color Collection

I adore how Guerlain makes the experience of using their makeup so luxurious – from the impeccable formulas to the extraordinary details, like the fine etching in the Volga Princess makeup, the silvery accents on the Tsarina shadows, the patterns on the compacts, and the etched velvet bags and cases to protect those compacts. Even the blush bottle is chic, looking more like a flacon of perfume (top left).

The new, limited-edition Volga Princess Eye and Lip Palette ($69, above and at left) includes pink and violet shadows and rosewood and pink lip colors. The shadows look rather subdued but they actually provide a lot of rich color. Marcus used this palette on me and topped my lips with Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick ($45, at left), which he calls a “weapon of mass seduction,” in the new, limited-edition pearly raspberry pink shade Graziella. Rouge G has the most luxurious lipstick case around and the lipstick itself is quite wonderful as well.

Marcus also gave me a delicate pink flush with the new Russian Doll Blush ($42, top left). It’s a very unique lotion-cream formula that quickly dries and looks totally natural. The collection also includes the new limited-edition Tsarina Ombre Éclat 4 Shades Eye Shadow ($56) with faded orange, brick red, rose, and aubergine shadows reminiscent of a golden sunset.

I learned a fantastic trick from Marcus. He used the new Silver Retractable Eye Pencil ($29) along my waterline to brighten my eyes with a beautiful silver sparkle. He also used the new, limited-edition, plum called Bohemian to make my eyes look more defined. There’s also a gold to pair with warmer colors. Last but not least, he added astonishing length to my lashes with Le 2 de Guerlain mascara ($35) in the new, limited-edition, deep plum Bohéme.

While we didn’t use the Brun Madoré shadow palette ($58, pictured next to the mascara), be sure to take note. It includes a decadent collection of beige, chestnut brown, bronze gold, and dark brown shadows all kissed with a golden, sparkly shimmer that would perfectly complement any eye shadow collection.

For a Radiant, Youthful Complexion

Marcus perfected my skin and made it look more radiant and even with the heavenly, new Parure Gold Collection: Rejuvenating Gold Radiance Fluid Foundation ($78, middle at left), a dusting of Rejuvenating Gold Radiance Powder Foundation ($45, compact shown with the eye makeup above), and strategic sweeps of Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator (a concealer, brightener, and shadow base in one convenient little pen, $48, far right).

They all include special gold pigments that add a lovely, youthful, natural-looking glow. I was amazed at how well the Precious Light concealed, brightened, and didn’t settle into fine lines, which happens way too often with concealers. He also used the 24 karat gold-infused L’Or Makeup Base ($70, far left) to prime my skin. It’s not new but it is stunning.

Everything is available at select Saks Fifth Avenues, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom.

The Makeup Lesson

I had such a great time with Marcus. He’s so much fun and has so many interesting tricks up his sleeve. Marcus is always traveling all across the U.S. for Guerlain. If he’s in your area for a special event, sign up immediately!

To see everything Marcus used, click on the face chart.

Do Tell

What do you think of the collection? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.

The new Dior Beauty Jazz Club Collection for fall is filled with sultry smoky greys, purples, and light pinks inspired by the jazz scene and the daring femme fatales of the twenties and thirties. The star of the show is the limited-edition Jazz Club palette with its beautiful reusable case inspired by the Dior Couture Jazzclub line. Today I have more details on the collection and a makeup lesson video from a Dior national makeup artist.

About the Collection

Dior is always great about coming out with striking makeup inspired by fashion and looks on the runway. The colors are so rich and the textures luxurious. The fall collection is no exception.

The limited-edition Jazz Club palette in Smoky Jazz and Purple Jazz ($65) comes with just about everything you need for day and evening looks. There’s a no-smudge cream liner, brow powder, and four shadows, including a matte shade, two iridescent shades, and a shimmery, light “top coat.” I love that it comes in a wallet-size case that can be used as a makeup case or even a little clutch when you remove the makeup. It’s also a serious deal when you consider all you’re getting.

There’s a new 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Night Butterfly ($56) with a perfectly coordinated collection of charcoal, lavender, light grey, and two plums. The collection also includes several more decadent shades of shadows, an eyeliner, glosses, lip colors, and nail lacquers – everything from nudes to red with colors predominantly in the purple family.

The collection also features the new Brow Styler ($28). This is a great tool – dual-ended with a brush at one end and a super fine pencil at the other for really precise application. You can draw in the tiniest hair. It also has a great formula that isn’t waxy like so many brow pencils so it stays on really well. It comes in one color that’s truly flattering universally.

A Makeup Lesson

I stopped by Saks San Francisco to get a makeup lesson with Dior National Makeup Artist Karen Hummel. She shared lots of insider tips and techniques that I’ve been incorporating into my makeup routine. I love how she played up my eyes with the greys in the Smoky Jazz Jazz Club compact ($65). And I was blown away by by how long and full my lashes looked when she layered two shades of the new Diorshow Iconic Mascara ($27). It almost looked like I was wearing false lashes.

I also fell head over heels for the new award-winning Diorskin Nude Fresh Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 ($45) and Diorskin Nude Fresh Glow Powder SPF 10 ($45). They do a wonderful job perfecting the complexion and feel so refreshing and cooling (even the powder). The Radiance Booster Pen ($34) is also a knockout brightener and concealer in one. Check out the video and click on the face chart to see what Karen used.

To learn more about Karen, check out this profile I wrote and my articles about her favorite Dior products and makeup tips.

Do Tell

What do you think of the collection? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the newly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Benefit, Sephora, and more.

Right on the heels of Nude Collection, Bobbi Brown brings us another lovely new collection for fall. The Ivy League Collection focuses on shades of ivy and products for the woman on the go. There are new eye pencils and lip crayons, a new shade of her amazing gel liner, limited-edition shadows, and a new, essential makeup brush.

“Pencils are back in a big way for fall,” Bobbi says. “They’re quick, mistake-proof and can go from subtle to bold in one easy stroke.” I headed to Neiman Marcus in San Francisco to get a closer look at the collection and get a makeup lesson on how to use everything with the wonderful Katrina Rau, Education Executive for Bobbi Brown.

About the Collection

Creamy Eye Pencils. These are new pencils with an improved formula that’s especially creamy and smooth so they go on really easily with an intense dose of color. To soften the line and create a smoky look, use the built-in smudger. Each pencil comes with a sharpener. There are nine shades available for $20 each.

Lip Crayons. Bobbi brought these back by popular demand and is keeping them in the permanent collection. Hooray! These are delightful. They’re super silky, moisturizing, subtly glossy, and lip plumping (without being irritating) with an awesome minty feel. Available in six shades for a variety of skin tones for $22 each.

Eye Shadows. There are also two new, limited-edition Eye Shadows in very wearable, autumnal ivies. Golden Leaf is a rich, golden khaki green. Bash Metallic is a deep, dark green that reflects a more medium shade of golden, metallic green when the light hits it – stunning. Each comes in its own compact but can also be added to a Custom Palette. $20 each.

Angle Eye Shadow Brush. Bobbi has added an angled shadow brush to her wonderful line of cruelty-free brushes. This is a fantastic, versatile brush that’s ideal for applying shadow in the corners, in the crease, for blending, and for getting a nice, smoky line. Try it and you will love it. $28.

Forest Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. Bobbi added a new color to her range of award-winning gel liners that go on so smooth and truly last all day without smudging. This is an unusual golden, deep, dark forest green that has a gorgeous shimmer. $21.

Makeup Lesson Video

I had another fun session with Katrina, who gave me a lovely, dramatic look with subtly colorful smoky eyes. Click on the face chart below to see what Katrina used.

Hurry!

Everything’s available now. If anything catches your eye, get to a counter or pick up the items online soon. Katrina tells me this collection’s selling like hotcakes. You can get a free full-size Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Copper Penny with any $65 online order. Enter code Eyes66 (through September 27).

Do Tell

What do you think of the new Ivy League Collection? Are you all about the ease of pencils? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the newly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Benefit, Sephora, and more.

Pioneer in nude makeup Bobbi Brown introduces a new, Nude Collection for fall. Every year Bobbi creates a different nude collection. This one includes an exquisite eye shadow palette that combines a variety of textures and finishes, a new shade of her best-selling Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, a new Shimmer Brick, and four new shades of her amazing Creamy Lipsticks.

I’m a huge fan of nude makeup, particularly from Bobbi Brown, so of course, I adore this collection. Any woman can wear these colors and look stunning. Nude shades are so versatile. Create a soft, natural look or go for elegant drama by playing up the eyes. “Nude makeup never goes out of style,” Bobbi says. “It’s polished, sophisticated, and always looks modern.”

Today I have details on the collection and a video with a makeup lesson from a Bobbi Brown makeup pro.

About the Collection

Nude Eye Palette. I can’t get enough of the new, limited-edition Nude Eye Palette. It comes with six essential colors to create a complete look – a matte cream, all-over base shadow (Navajo, far left), three shades to add shimmer and sparkle (Pebble, Beige Linen, Maple Sugar), a matte taupe that’s perfect for contouring (Chino), and a deep black-brown to add definition (Caviar, far right). Everything comes in a Three-Pan Palette that can be refilled with any Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow and Blush shades. It’s also an excellent value at $60.

Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink. There’s also a beautiful new shade of Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21) called Caviar Ink, which is a rich, deep black-brown that’s a lovely, softer, warmer alternative to black. These liners are perfect if you want color that’s easy to apply and doesn’t budge or flake.

Nude Shimmer Brick. Bobbi also adds to her collection of gorgeous Shimmer Bricks with the new limited-edition Nude Shimmer Brick ($40). Swirl together the five strips of finely milled pearl pigments in pink, gold, bronze, beige, and caramel to give a soft, nude, lit-from-within glow. Also try the individual shades on the eyes as sheer shadows.

Creamy Lipsticks. I love Bobbi’s Creamy Lipsticks ($22). They’re incredibly moisturizing and stimulate collagen to make lips look fuller. There are four wonderful new shades – from pinky tones to a deep nude. My favorite is Rosebud (second from the right in above pic), which is a deep, nude pink.

Makeup Lesson Video

To show you the collection in action, I shot a makeup lesson with super talented Bobbi Brown Education Executive Katrina Rau. She shows how to create a beautiful nude look with great tips on how to go nude without looking washed out.

To see everything Katrina used, click on the face chart at left. Everything’s available now at Bobbi Brown counters and online.

Coming Soon

Bobbi has another new collection for fall called Ivy League with new colors and a host of new easy-to-use eye and lip pencils. I’ll be visiting Katrina again soon to get a closer look and shoot another makeup lesson.

Do Tell

What do you think of the Nude Collection? Are you into nude shades? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the newly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Bobbi Brown, Sephora, and more.