Makeup Adventure Failure

I had grand plans for this weekend. Okay not grand, but definitely plans. I was going to take pictures of some of the new lines and collections that have recently been released, and I remembered to put my camera in my bag and everything! I started out with the new Bobbi Brown palettes and discovered, much to my surprise, that taking pictures is apparently tantamount to kicking puppies or something, so strong was the reaction of the store staff. I was immediately scolded and told that taking pictures is absolutely prohibited. For a minute I thought someone was going to take my camera away! You'd have thought that I was stealing merchandise, not inconspicuously photographing it! I later experienced the same thing at Sephora, trying to capture the Tarina Tarantino line. I can't explain why taking pictures is so frowned upon and when I asked why I was told "we're being watched." Oookay.
Luckily I got a few shots in before Camera-gate 2010 went down.

Bobbi Brown Bonfire, Aquamarine and Orchid Palettes:

Tarina Tarantino Eye Shadows:


I was decidedly unimpressed with the Tarina shadows. They are called Eye Dream Hypershadows as they supposedly have "high intensity pigment payoff" but I did not find them highly pigmented at all. It took several swipes for decent color to show up on my hand. The packaging is also too juvenile for both my tastes and the price tag.

Upcoming Hautelook Beauty-Related Sales

Hautelook has some pretty exciting beauty related sales this week! Some weeks there's not much on there to look forward to and then all of a sudden there will be several in a row I eagerly anticipate! This week we have:

Monday-
Rock and Republic Cosmetics! One of my favorite lines. You can read about some of m favorites here.
KROIA Beauty

Tuesday-
Evis MD Light Therapy- designed to resurface skin and combat signs of aging and acne

Wednesday-
blinc

Thursday-
Emjoi Beauty
Hand Perfection Beauty
Modern Alchemy by D.L. & Co.

Friday-
Pure Minerals

Sales start at 11 AM EST/8 AM PST and it's first come, first serve! Rock and Republic, here I come! Hautelook also has daily sales on clothing, jewelry, accessories, home items and sometimes even food! It's both fun and annoying trying to beat out other shoppers and score the best items for yourself!

Chantecaille Raffia Lips of the Day

So the weather today in NYC was just beyond abhorrent. Beyond. It was the worst of all worlds--snowflakes the size of golf balls combined with sleet, slush, and rain to ensure that the sidewalks were slick, the subways flooded, and I spent the majority of my day wet from the knees down with matted hair. Add in wind gusting strongly enough to turn an umbrella inside out and prevent any sort of lip gloss from being worn and all you want to do is crawl under the covers and watch Dirty Dancing with a cup of hot chocolate. Unfortunately for those of us who have to do the whole work thing to support ourselves (read: makeup addiction) this was not an option, and so I resorted to "cozy" makeup--warm cheeks, soft eyes, warm nude brown lips, courtesy of Chantecaille Raffia. I've only worn Raffia once previously, generally finding it a bit too warm and too brown (Space NK lighting is quite deceptive and I'm convinced the tester had a pink shimmer in the store), but today it was just right. Not so brown that it evoked the Revlon Coffee Bean of my teen years, but enough to read spicy winter lips.

Testing Testing 123: Eye Creams (Part 2)

After a month spent getting to know Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream with Biospheric Complex, I moved on to REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Maintenance Gel ($45). Apparently when it comes to eye creams, the longer the name the better. This is a clear, viscous fluid that is a bit more watery then a typical gel. It is "formulated with mucilages from Fig to cool, refresh and revive tired eyes. Other bio actives include gypenoside (source Jiaogulan), gingenoside (source Ginseng), laminaria and arnica to enhance circulation and reduce puffiness. Tyrosinase inhibitor from Wild Rumex and vitamin P address dark circles under the eyes, while pectins from Sea Grass and natural hyaluronic acid from Corn smooth and tone the eye contour whilst providing lasting hydration."

I used the Radiant Eye Maintenance Gel for about 3 weeks and while I'm nowhere close to tossing my concealer (or even leaving the house without it), this product did work on morning puffiness not just under my eyes by on the lids as well. If I don't sleep somewhat propped up I find my eyes almost swollen looking in the morning, and this alleviated that after a few minutes. While I can't say it worked on my dark circles, it did feel light and refreshing. It did not provide enough moisture to keep my concealer fresh looking all day, but considering it is a gel and not a cream I really wasn't expecting it to, despite the packaging claims. It is your typical .5 oz eye cream size.

I picked up my sample of this from Space NK and would actually consider purchasing a full size, though I would layer it under a more moisturizing cream when using it under makeup. Like all REN products, it is free of parabens, sulfates, pthalates, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances and petrochemicals. It's not a holy grail, but it is a good basic product for puffy eyes at a non-exorbitant price.

Ingredients:
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin (Source Coconut Oil), Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Zostera Marina Pectin (source Sea Grass), Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans (source Corn), Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rumex occidentalis Extract, Faex (Yeast) Extract, Phenoxyethanol (source Aromatic Ehter), Sodium Carbomer (Source Polymer), Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Source Amino Acids).

Tres Simple Face of the Day

Oh, insomnia. How I wish I could quit you. I've slept about 4 hours over the last few dates which necessitated a simple face today that would make me look alive! I find it easiest to put together a look in a hurry if I stick mainly to one brand, and since I wanted to retry an Origins blush I had previously put in the 'discard' pile (I love to set aside items that I think I no longer want and revisit them down the line, sort of like shopping in my own collection), I went with that line.

My eyes are Laura Mercier Metallic Cream Shadow in Gold, a taupey gold metallic cream that lasts all day, even through copious eye rubbing (thank goodness), with Laura Geller Key Lime/Dark Green Apple Baked Cake liner. I used Origins Sugar Cookie blush, a healthy sunburned kind of color, atop my new Jouer Tint in Whisper. Origins Rose Gold Creamy Lip Color and Caramel Candy Liquid Lip Gloss. (Fragrance was the delicious Ginestet Botrytis with hints of honey, candied fruit, quince and gingerbread for comfort).

With my Senna powder peeking out, and having forgot the lip gloss (it's that kind of day):

Sugar Cookie and Key Lime/Dark Green Apple:
Jouer and Laura Mercier:
Lips:

My Dermstore.com Order Featuring Paul and Joe and Julie Hewett

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dermstore, the site is a beauty junkie's playground! It features a huge array of skincare, carrying the more clinical lines like VMV Hypoallergenics, the mainstream likes of Murad, spa lines like Elemis to natural brands such as Raw and Luzern Laboratories. They also stock some great makeup brands like Sue Devitt, Jane Iredale, LORAC, Becca, Paul and Joe, Laura Geller and more. I'm not affiliated with the site, just a happy customer thanks to free shipping on all orders and a 10% discount when you add an item to your Favorites list before purchasing.

When I had my Paul and Joe mini makeover a few weeks ago, the makeup artist used Eye Color Palette CS Ingenue 001 on my eyes and I loved the look. I didn't buy the palette at the time thinking I could easily replicate the shades, but regretted the decision afterward. Not only did Doermstore have the palette, but I could get 10% off, making it slightly more, well, palatable!
Ingenue 001 ($38) features a shimmery ecru, shimmery taupe, and shimmery deep charcoal. All of the colors are smooth and pigmented. The palette is neutral and can be worn by all skin tones. It's just a good, versatile palette of high quality basics that would be great for travel or a quick eye in the morning that can easily be smoked out for nighttime. The charcoal shade is densely pigmented and would work well as a liner too.
Also, the case is just too darn cute! The flower pattern is so Spring-like and happy.Julie Hewett was on sale at the time I was placing the palette order, and so I had to throw in a couple of her items as well! I ordered the Shimmy in Goldie ($18 in palette form) and Camellia Balm in Rose ($18 in palette form).

The Shimmy is a cream-based highlighter that is incredibly luminescent. I've been on a highlighter kick lately for some reason and wanted a product that would work equally well on my cheeks and browbone and this definitely fits the bill. Goldie is a beigey champagne shade with twinkling shimmer--it's not glitter and it's not teenybopper, but it's definitely noticeable shimmer. Shimmys have a good amount of slip to them and a thin consistency. I have all of the shades now except the bronze!
I'd been wanting to try the Camellia Balm for a while now, and when I saw that it was released in two tints I was excited! I ordered the Rose, which according to Dermstore is a subtle, warm toned pink and is described by Julie as a bouquet of pink petals. Both descriptions are apt when looking at the balm in the pan, but applied, unfortunately, this is completely, 100% colorless, a big disappointment to me. I expected the balm to be sheer (it is a balm after all) but provide at least a hint of a tint. The texture is nice--very thin and not at all waxy. Some would find it too oily but I don't mind the added slip and it smells strongly of fresh oranges, which I like. I'm definitely not a big cosmetic returner but am considering sending this product back since it really is just an $18 clear balm, and not the pretty "bouquet" the descriptions imply. I guess the hunt goes on for the perfect sheer pink lip balm! I had such high hopes for this one!

15% Off Trish McEvoy

You can save 15% off your next purchase at Trish McEvoy if you become a fan of the brand on Facebook by February 28th. Trish is one of my favorite brands so of course I had to do it as soon as I received the email! Now I just have to decide what to buy...

A Mini Blush Adventure

Nothing tempts me quite like a new blush, and after seeing the gorgeous photos of the new Paul and Joe Creamy Cheek Powder on The Beauty Look Book, I made a beeline for Bergdorf Goodman this morning to try them for myself. I arrived just as the store opened and so I had the whole counter to myself and got to really play with all of the shades. Try as I might, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one! The texture and pigment of these are very nice, and I love the glowy shimmer, but I found the colors SO basic. The light pink is just plain light pink, the rose colored one straight up rose, the peachy one exactly like what you'd picture a peach blush to be. The bronze one was very dark and the orange one very orange. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but I guess lately I'm into more complex, nuanced shades lately. For $24 each I wanted something special that can't be easily duplicated. Plus, these have the signature Paul and Joe scent to which I'm sensitive, another small deterrent. I definitely won't say that I'm not going to pick one or two of these up (knowing me I'm sure I will eventually) but they just weren't doing it for me today. If I had to get one today I'd go with 02 Kitten, the pretty shimmery pink. 02 Kitten and 03 Peaches would be stunning blended together, by the way.

After work, still unsatisfied and debating picking up the Paul and Joe after all, I sauntered over to Henri Bendel and noticed that Jouer had a new Cheek Tint. I love the Jouer products that I have so far and when I saw the new shade, Whisper, I caved. Whisper is a soft muted peachy pink that goes on pretty sheer and with a serious gold glow. I know, yet another peachy pink. But the shimmery glow and the sheer color payoff make this shade unique. Whisper looks like it will be very versatile as it can be used as a base for powder blush to help it last and bring out the color, a subtle cream blush on its own, or as a highlighter layered over other blushes. The Tints are $20 and are available at Henri Bendel and Jouer Cosmetics.

Testing Testing 123: Eye Creams (Part 1)

Overall, I'm very happy with my skincare routine right now. My skin is smooth, moisturized, clear, and I don't need to wear any foundation. The one area where I am not satisfied is with eye cream and so I've embarked on an experiment to find the best one for me. I demand a lot from an eye cream since I have a considerable amount of undereye darkness, puffiness in the morning, and dryness as well, but I've been around long enough not to expect miracles! I'm looking for a product that makes concealer application easy, keeps the area looking hydrated, and combats puffiness and the circles to some extent.

Over the last few months or so, I've been acquiring samples (by going into stores and requesting them), have been using each one for a few weeks at a time, and am ready to report!

The first eye cream I tried is from Skyn Iceland. I've always been intrigued by the line, but haven't tired the face care products because they contain fragrance. I can't say for sure whether my initial attraction tot he brand was because of the "pristine glacial waters" the products are based on, the catchy names like The Antidote and Stress Defense, or because of the adjectives such as "biospheric" and "microencapsulated"that they employ, but I was eager to try the (fragrance free) eye cream.

Icelandic Relief Eye Cream with Biosperic Complex ($20-$45) is "[f]ormulated to address all of your eye care concerns, including puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines and wrinkles caused by stress-related oxygen and nutrient depletion, Icelandic Relief Eye Cream delivers immediate relief to the delicate skin under the eye. Stress can wreak havoc on the eye area, accelerating the signs of aging and depriving skin of vital moisture and nutrients. Icelandic Relief Eye Cream helps minimize puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles while reviving skin with a blend of soothing ingredients."

I used the item for just over a month and found it to be light yet moisturizing. Concealer glided over top without looking pasty or goopy, but the hydration did not last all day. By mid-day my concealer looked crepey. I also noticed no difference at all in terms of dark circles or puffiness, but like I said before, I'm a tough case. I really liked how well the product sank in. It caused no burned, irritation or milia and is free is parabens, fragrances, dyes, sulfates, pthalates and triclosan. Thanks to judicious use of sunscreen I don't have wrinkles around my eyes yet so I can't speak to the cream's efficacy in that regard. My overal impression of the Icelandic Relief Eye Cream is that it's a good, basic eye cream full of good ingredients and devoid of many harmful ones, but it's not a miracle worker.

Ingredients:
Water, Isocetyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Decyl Oleate, Dimethicone, PEG-6 Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Hesperetin Laurate, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Oleic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Gold, Silver, Silica, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Phytonadione, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Carotenoids

Look for more installments in this series coming soon!

Trying to Wish Away the Weather Face of the Day

It's been bitter cold in NYC this week and what was once the pretty snow (for all of 5 minutes) has turned into black piles of slush and puddles of murky water. I am so ready for spring weather and so I decided to do a springy face in the hopes of changing the seasons through sheer will and makeup alone! I wore my beloved Rock & Republic eye shadows along with pinky-peachy-bronzey cheeks and lips.

Eye Shadows:
Rock & Republic Diffused, Affair and Veil

Cheeks:
Paul and Joe 16 Canyon

Lips:
Chanel Aqualumiere in Como (this was limited edition but if you can find it, grab it! It's gorgeous) with Hourglass gloss in Lush. The gloss sheers out very nicely and both adds depth to the lipstick and moisture (without stickiness) to my lips.
Swatches from lef tot right:
Rock & Republic Veil, Affair, Diffused, Paul and Joe 16 Canyon, Chanel Como, Hourglass Lush

Stunning Laura Mercier Exclusive Spring Picks Collection at Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus has an exclusive Laura Mercier set just in time for Spring! This collection ($65) retails for $176 and includes
• Mini Eye Colour Quads in Warm and Cool - mix and match shadow for endless looks.
• Full size Lip Glace in Opal - using the wand applicator, apply gloss to the lips alone or wear with your favorite lipstick.
• Foundation Primer, 1 oz. - apply on clean skin after moisturizing and before foundation application.
• Mini Long Lash Mascara in Black - using the wand applicator, apply mascara to eyelashes.
• Dual Eye Colour/Eye Crease Brush

According to Neiman Marcus, "Laura handpicked five of her must-have products for Spring that offer countless options for the woman on the go. The collection includes her iconic Foundation Primer which leaves makeup looking fresh and colour-true the entire day. Eight warm and cool mix & match eye shadows in one convenient palette and matching shade of Lip Glace. For a flawless application, Laura chose her professional double ended Eye Colour Brush and Eye Crease Brush along with lash lengthening Long Lash Mascara for the final touch. All packaged in the season's bold, bright must have fashion accessory, a chic metallic woven bag perfect to take anywhere!"

Super pretty and just in time for the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event!

Manicure of the Week

This week I used my brand new OPI for Sephora Nail Polish in Set the Mood, which Sephora describes as "metallic dark pink" but I think is closer to a warm iridescent pinky plum. When I bought it I kept thinking what a pretty and unusual color it is, but after going through my nail polish collection I'm finding it quite similar to Zoya Pru. I also bought a new base and top coat in the hopes of extending my manicures past 48 hours! I opted for Creative Nail Design Sticky Base Coat and Duri Miracote Super Fast Dry Through Top Coat at the recommendation of the salesperson at the beauty supply store. Has anyone tried either of these?

LAVANILA Vanilla Passion Fruit

I want to love LAVANILA, I really do. This fragrance line uses 100% natural ingredients including pure essential oils and active botanicals. In addition to fragrance, LAVANILA makes body wash, lotions, candles and lip balms in vanilla-based scents that sound positively divine: Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Grapefruit, Vanilla Lavender, Vanilla Spice, Vanilla Blossom and now Vanilla Passion Fruit. The problem is that every product I've tried has disappointed me, and I want to like the line so badly that I've tried quite a few. The candles had no throw at all, the Vanilla Coconut shower gel smelled so off I actually returned it to Sephora, the Vanilla Grapefruit fragrance smelled like cat pea after a few minutes, the Vanilla Lavender deodorant..well, let's just say I would have been better off going without. I like the Lip Shines quite a bit and thought that the range had finally redeemed itself with Vanilla Passion Fruit. Two of my favorite scents in one!

"Experience this irresistible, long-wearing blend of passion fruit, guava, and peach nectar steeped in a warm base of sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla. Created by master natural perfumers, this love-attracting scent is uniquely infused with a romantic blend of powerful aphrodisiacs (blue lotus, clary sage, and juniper berry) prized for their seductive properties."

Doesn't that sound yummy and perfect? I found the product at Sephora today ($58) , spritzed it on a tester strip and was enthralled. It smelled SO good I just had to spray it on my wrist immediately! I left the store resolving to come back and buy it and went on my merry way. By the time I reached Loehmanns 3 blocks away I found myself asking "what IS that awful perfumel? It was like a cloyingly sweet Gucci Rush (my most hated fragrance ever. Lancome Tresor is a close second for what it's worth) on steroids! I thought it was the woman in the dressing spot next to mine until I realized, horrified, that it was ME. I was the one polluting Loehmanns smelling like cheap pink cotton candy coupled with the syrupy sweet Vanilla Fields of my teenage years.

Of course, this is the most enduring scent ever since it's been 4 hours and will absolutely not wash off or fade. I couldn't get my Bond No. 9 to last on my this way if I tried, but Vanilla Passion Fruit is not going anywhere! Of course your mileage may vary, but for me this is a migraine-inducing dud that refuses to dissipate. It's too bad because the first sniff is absolutely lovely. LAVANILA, I had such high hopes for you...

By Terry Crayon Blackstar

I had a pretty expensive weekend. I placed a Dermstore.com order (more about those goodies when they arrive), repurchased my beloved Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen for the bazillionth time, and treated myself to a new nail polish and this By Terry Eyeliner (plus tons of groceries, stuff for my apartment at West Elm, a new pair of earrings, a birthday gift for my mother AND paid my renter's insurance in full for the year). Phew! I'm exhausted and somewhat broke!

This eye liner was definitely a huge splurge. By Terry products are certainly not cheap, but I like everything I've tried from the line. It's high quality and not merely repackaged mass-produced Your Name Cosmetics items. "This dual-action pencil, with a color tip on one end and a brush on the other, provides a rich, glide-on line that shimmers with mysterious reflections for a shiny powder effect. Its "Color Resist" complex sets the color and ensures irreproachable hold. Its extremely comfortable formula allows for precise application on the eye contour." How good does that sound? The only drawback? The price tag. $35 + tax for an eye liner.

The shade I selected is Bronze Ebene, a blackened bronze shimmer. It's not as harsh as black and it defines my green eyes nicely. I tested the product at Space NK by drawing a line on my hand, and the line is still there despite copious hand washing and rubbing with a tissue soaked in eye makeup remover, so I give them pencil points for fortitude! I might have to classify the heart shaped swatch I drew on my forearm as a tattoo, since it's not budging at all! If you have problems with eye liner smudging, I'd definitely take a look at these--they're nearly indelible.

The pencil also comes with a sharpener if that helps make the price more palatable to you! Every now and then it feels good to purchase an expensive "special" item and I have high hopes for this one!
P.S. Here are the earrings:

New at Nordstrom

Nordstrom.com has some interesting new cosmetic items up on their site (in addition to the new huge MAC Spring Collection). Anything look interesting to you?

Trish McEvoy Allover Face Highlighter ($35) in Capri (bronze) and London (champagne)
Laura Mercier Zen Face Palette ($60) has 4 shadows, 4 Lip Glazes and a plum blush.
Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer ($39) uses the same technology as the Halo foundation and highlighter and makes some pretty interest claims.

Trish McEvoy #37 Bronzer Brush ($68) and M44 Precision Concealer Brush ($25)- how gorgeous is this bronzer brush? The size and shape look perfect and you can tell from the picture it must be soft and luscious! But oy the price!

Out of the Archives

There's something great about checking out a blog and seeing a brand new, pristine product. A never-before-touched item takes a fabulous picture, and can definitely make someone want to run out and try it for themselves! However, as a true makeup junkie, I think that there's something equally if not more special about a well used, clearly loved item! It's nice to check out what people are actually using among their collection instead of merely documenting, and seeing some "more senior" items makes me nostalgic for the particular time in my life in which I procured them. The that end, in a fit of weeding through my makeup, I came upon some of my old, dear products and thought I'd share!

Stila Double Duty Peach Palette
This palette has to be 5 years old (and I half-heartedly apologize to all of the beauty magazine editors who exclaim that we should toss makeup items after a year or so) but is still one of the best, most versatile palettes ever made in my opinion. It contains shadows in Buff, Brick, Twig and Amber, and blushes in Persimmon and Tint. These are the older Stila single eye shadows that had an amazingly smooth, creamy texture and were uber-pigmented. Stila single blushes were THE blushes to have before NARS came about and every time I use these I remember why--they're subtle but gorgeously color the cheek and brighten the face. The palette features a huge mirror, perfect for travel to boot. After all of these years, the products haven't changed texture or given any indication that they've gone 'off' and so it will remain well-loved in my collection until it's used up!

Calvin Klein Cosmetics Eye Shadow Palette
While there have been three incarnations of Calvin Klein Cosmetics, all of which rode off into the makeup sunset, it is the second venture that I greatly loved and sorely miss. I believe that it was only at Nordstrom and Sephora, and featured a sophisticated neutral palette of products housed in chic lucite compacts. In addition to your traditional makeup items such as powder eye shadows and lipsticks, Calvin Klein has these unbelievable sheer washes of eye shadow, cream blush, sueded lip tints and mousse highlighters. Everything was wearable and flattering, and I cannot fathom why it was discontinued, and why it was relaunched several years down the line with a teenybopper flair. This eye shadow palette has served me well over the years, as has the high quality included brush, and contains colors I still haven't been able to exactly dupe (Aubergine, Granite, Almondine, Espresso and Khaki). Almondine is a flattering shimmery base, Espresso is the ideal bittersweet liner, and Khaki is super in the crease.
Chanel Glossimer Extreme in Emotion
I am completely embarrassed at how old this is, but I just cannot beat to get rid of it. I believe these debuted in 2004 or so but in my defense, the product doesn't seem to have gone bad at all. I honestly might even consider using it if it was bad, I love it so much (which is why it's still around--it's use gets rationed quite strictly and it only comes out on special occasions). The Glossimer Extremes debuted to a giant thud and bad reviews. In fact, I may be the only person who actually liked them! I think the problem was that people heard the name and expected a smooth, creamy gloss and these have no relation to their Glossimer cousins in anything but name and tube. The Extremes are dry-textured creams that apply with a doe-foot and remain soft on the lips but last forever. There really is no other product on the market like them and I find the way they feel totally addictive. They're weightless and saturated and not the kind of thing your hair will ever get stuck in. And the color. The color! Hands down the best peachy pink with holographic shimmer ever produced. From time to time I break Emotion out, head over to a beauty floor and seek a suitable alternative, but I've always left empty handed as nothing compares. I've thought about sending it to Three Custom Color Specialists for duplication but I know that there's no way they could replicate the texture and since they're my last hope for the color, if they couldn't get it quite right, I'd be despondent (okay not really, but I'd be super bummed). For now, I'll press my luck, continue to use it, and hope for the best. Chanel, bring these back!!!

So what's in your beauty archive? What favorites have you kept around for years and still enjoy? Do you like seeing old favorites on display, or do you prefer to see only pristine items?