A Quick Apology

I just realized that either Blogger or Gmail thought it would be fun to no longer alert me when new comments are posted, and consequently I didn't realize that there were comments on certain posts. I apologize if I owe anyone a response! I am going to go back and address the comments I've missed--keep them coming! :)

Kiehl's Argan Oil Hair Care

I've been using the highly recommended Alterna Caviar Shampoo and Conditioner for the past few months on my long, straight, fine, dry hair and was still waiting to see the magic when I got to the bottom of the bottles. The products were absolutely fine, but not spectacular enough to repurchase, certainly for the price, and I started searching for replacements. I've had a Kiehl's gift card burning a hole in my wallet forever and figured haircare was a good prospect since I dislike their skincare. I had used the Olive Oil line in the past but given that it contains parabens I opted for the sulfate and paraben free Argan line.

The Superbly Smoothing Argan Shampoo and Conditioner ($18 and $19 respectively) have a slight chemical scent and definitely won't have anyone coming up to you telling you you're hair smells fantastic. The shampoo does a decent job of cleaning the hair without terribly stripping and the conditioner feels very light but has tamed my static-y fly aways. My hair looks smooth and doesn't feel weighed down, and enable me to skip a day of washing my hair without looking greasy.

One small nitpicky issue--the packaging is so ugly! I don't mind the cheap, recyclable bottles since they are typical of the Kiehl's pared down aesthetic, but the color combination is not enticing or attractive. Nonetheless, the products have been working well and I intend to finish them.

Blog Sale Featuring Bobbi Brown, Paul & Joe, Le Metier de Beaute and more!

Hi, all! All of these beauties are in great condition, many barely used at all and several were limited editions no longer available. I have a TON of extras to throw in as well. I'd prefer to sell the whole lot for $100 (a fraction of what they cost) plus actual USPS Priority shipping costs, but if you're interested in multiple items, feel free to make an offer either in the comments or by emailing newyorkcitypretty at gmail dot com.


Paul & Joe Eye Color Palette CS 001. Used twice.
Laura Mercier Garden Party ShimmerBloc. Used 3-4 times.

Tarte Eye Shadow in Here's Looking at You. Used 3 times.


Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Tenne- used 3 times

MAC Pearl Sunshine Beauty Powder from the Barbie Collection- used twice.
MAC Sharp Beige Lipstick.
Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmerbrick- used twice.
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Rockstar. Used 3 times and sharpened.
MAC Eye Shadow in Naked Lunch, used twice. PAN form.
Julie Hewett Eye Liner in Fig. Used twice.
Stila Lip Glazes in Grapfruit and Raspberry. Tested once each. LaVanilla Lip Shine in Lavender Vanilla. Used twice.
Tarte Dark Circle Defense Concealer (with full size brush). Used twice.
June Jacobs Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Mask. Used twice. Retails for $75.

Armani Beauty Spring Collection 2011 Eye Pencil

When I initially spied the Armani Spring Transluminence Collection at Saks, I completely ignored the 3 eye pencils included. To me, they looked like basic brown, black and green pencil liners, and while I don't think I need another brown liner, I was certain I had no use for a $27+tax one. Well folks, I was wrong. While the shades are not spectacular, the texture and formula certainly is. These glide on like no other liner I've tried--almost like a liquid or gel but with the ease of use of a pencil liner--and set for all day wear. You have a minute of so of smudge time but once this baby dries, it's on for the long haul! It lasted through both snow and a workout with nary a smear, flake, or fade. The brown has a very subtle shimmer when applied as well. Despite my initial hesitation, I am going to pick up the green as well. I purchased mine from Bloomingdales, but Saks also has the collection if you're looking to pick it up in person. Online, it's available at Nordstrom.

Favorites Face of the Day

Today's face for this painfully cold day featured many of my tried-and-true favorite products. This is a look that's quick and easy for me to put together on days when I'm running late or can't figure decide what to wear.

• Rock and Republic shadows in Veil and Snakeskin
• Rock and Republic mousse blush in Rumor (this seems to be the only Rock and Republic product that doesn't show up for sale anymore which is a shame since it's a true holy grail. When it's finally done I'll be having it duped by Three Custom Color Specialists)
• Origins Multigrain Bronzer
• Scott Barnes Creme Color in Luster
• Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink
• True Cosmetics Lip Definer 1
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Baby (this is my second one and you can see it's nearly done. I have a backup waiting in the wings)
  

Finishing off the look were BE Matte in Porcelain on my T-Zone, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye and tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes (which smears more than my beloved Korres mascara). Fragrance was Kiehls Vanilla perfume oil.

It's Beauty Day on QVC

And I almost escaped unscathed. Almost. I just ordered this tarte Achiote Cheek Tint & Lip Luster Duo because I am powerless when the words "peachy pink" and "cheek stain" are uttered and when you combine the two, forget it. The set is $28.93 (plus tax and shipping) with a retail value of $49. There are a number of easy pay offers and special prices through midnight tonight. Are you watching? Did you order anything?

Scott Barnes Creme Color in Luster

This couldn't have come at a better time. I wasn't at work 3 minutes when a male coworker came up to me to tell me I looked tired. Clearly I need wither sleep or a new highlighter, and the latter is much easier to procure.

I've admitted in the past that watching beauty shows on QVC is a guilty pleasure and while I've never actually ordered Perricone products, I've always been amazed by the radiant glow the brand's spokesperson, Dana, has on air. When I read that she used Scott Barnes Creme Color in Luster on her cheeks (over Tarte Dollface, for those interested), I immediately went on a quest for it. Luckily Strawberrynet carries the now-defunct brand and for a mere $18, this baby was mine.

First of all, this thing is itsy bitsy teeny tiny. The plastic case is about an inch on each side and the product is around the size of a nickel. I don't know why I'm complaining since it's not like I ever use anything up, but for those interested in bang for buck, this might not be for you. The shade is a luminous champagne with a hint of ever-so-slightly-bronzey warmth. If you find that most highlighters look ashy on you, this would be a great option. It's creamy and glowy without being glittery and really does impart a radiance to the apples of the cheeks, more so than a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or Laura Mercier ShimmerBloc. I'm not quite sure why, but darned if it doesn't do what it promises. The camera doesn't seem to capture it but the mirror does. A+!

New and Noteworthy at Nordstrom

• Lancome Butterflies Fever Ultra Lavande Blush ($40)
• Lancome Ultra Lavande Eye Shadow Quad ($42)
• NARS Tainted Love Set ($59)- Limited Edition Angelika Multiple, Angelika lip gloss and Shiap nail polish. The Multiple looks beautiful!
• Estee Lauder Wild Violet Pure Color Eye Shadow Palette ($42)- looks like Estee Lauder and Lancome are on the same wavelength as far as color scheme goes.

Mini Duane Reade Haul

I've said it before--I am not a drugstore girl. I love the feeling of plunking down my Amex at a high end department store and walking out with a tiny, fancy bag of overpriced, gilded treasures. However, I've spent way too much already this week and was having the kind of day that only a purchase could fix (believe me, I tried 2 glasses of wine first) so I headed to Duane Reade, my local drugstore (followed by Tasti D-Lite for a Snickers topped with Butterfinger) and came home with these guys:
NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Prevail Nail Lacquer in Concrete Jungle, Brucci Nail Hardener in Johnny's Girl. Grand total: $13.42 (plus $5 for the ice cream. It is NYC after all).
Concrete Jungle is a lavender shimmer with holographic microglitter. Johnny's Girl is the ubiquitous semi-sheer light pink.
I'd read that Plaza Pink is a peachy pink with golden shimmer, but it's definitely a soft baby pink with silver pearl to me. That's the other reason I shy away from drugstore makeup--you can't try before you buy. This seems a bit too cool for me so I'm glad it was only $3.99. Here it is compared to my only other drugstore item, which just so happens to be a NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Big Apple Blush.
Big Apple Blush (left) and Plaza Pink (right):

I'm waiting on several items in the mail. Hopefully this will hold me off until they arrive!

Some New Items at Sephora

Browsing the Sephora site for a new shampoo and conditioner (I'm open to recommendations for my straight, fine, dry hair) and "natural" mascara I discovered some new, intriguing items! What do you think? Are any of these going on your wishlist?

• Josie Maran Eye Love You Too Palette ($42)
• Josie Maran Fresh Faced and Romantic Beauty ($52)
• Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Palette-Pretty ($60)
• Korres Natural Look Antioxidant Color Collection ($32.50)
• Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Bath and Body Collection ($40-$55)
• Shiseido Collector's Edition Makeup Palette ($50)
• Stila All Over Shimmer Duo ($22)
• Sephora Collection Perfecting Color Concealer ($16)
• Stila Coconut Crush Lip and Cheek Stain ($24)
• Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmer Powder ($30)
• Pacifica I Love Fragrance Five Solid Perfumes Set ($25)

A Small Pink Haul

I stopped by the Bobbi Brown counter at Saks this afternoon intent on getting a Pot Rouge. MY cheeks have been dry, my complexion sallow, and I felt I needed something a bit brighter and pinker for blush to help take me through the winter. The makeup artist suggested Powder Pink and it took me all of 3 seconds to say "yes." While there, I also picked up a replacement Creamy Lip Color in Baby and a Metallic Lip Color in Gilded Pink. I've gone through two tubes of Baby already, quite a feat for someone who never uses up a lipstick. Baby is a sheerish, natural peachy pinky beigey lip color. I adore the shade, but am less fond of the formula which I find the be quite thick, so much so that my hair sticks to it when the wind blows. I've been looking for a duplicate and found that Gilded Pink is the most similar shade in the line, albeit a touch sheerer and less brown. Nonetheless I had to pick up an additional Baby. I tried to purchase a Pale Pink Lip Liner but the counter was out.

The closest item I have to Powder ink Pot Rouge (on the left, below) is Julie Hewett Destiny Cheekie (on the right). Destiny is a bit "sandier" and warmer.Here is Gilded Pink (left) compared to Baby (right). You can see how close they are in the tube and when swatched. Gilded Pink is surprisingly sheer.
I then came home and was cooking dinner when I must have leaned too close to the stove (and not realized how long my hair had gotten) because all of a sudden my hair was on fire! The flames quickly shot up my hair and in the millisecond it took my to put out the fire, I'd managed to singe off quite a bit, necessitating an emergency hair cut (which is hard to do on a Monday since salons are generally closed). That's the great thing about New York though--something is always open. $90 later I have cleaner ends and a bottle of It's A 10 Leave In Product since I'm a total sucker when at the salon and the pink bottle pushed me over the edge. Now if only there was something that could get the odor of burning hair out of my apartment...

Bloggy Award

Olivia, creator of the fabulous The Unknown Beauty Blog has award me a Bloggy Award! The rules are simple:

• Post about this award and copy the rules. Link the person that has tagged you.
• Choose 3-5 blogs you would like to tag and link them too. Leave a comment on their blog that you've linked them.
• Important: This award is for unknown blogs of the ones that are just starting out.

I love awards like this--it's such a great way to discover new blogs! Here are my picks:

• Blushes on Display. The ultimate blog for the blush-obsessed!
• Beauty Info Zone Blog-incredibly informative and created by 2 very sweet makeup junkies!
• Visionary Beauty- the items she selects are always ones I'd pick for myself.
• StellieStellina- she has great nail polish picks!
• Planet Martha- everything looks good on her!

I'm shamelessly stealing the graphic Olivia created for this award--it's so cute. Check out her blog and the others I've listed.

Save 30% on Becca, Paul & Joe and More at the Primping Parlour

The Primping Parlour is currently offering 30% off purchases with code NEWYEAR11. The site stocks Paul & Joe, Kevyn Aucoin, Becca, Beauty Blender, Japonesque and more! [I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just trying to enable my fellow beauty junkies with a great sale!]

Chantecaille Wind Blush

If you've noticed that many of my posts lately have been about blush, well...you're right. I go through phases--sometimes I'm obsessed with lipsticks or eyeliners or nail polish--and now it's blush. To me, nothing makes a winter weary face look better than a swipe of cheek color, but I'd been feeling as though my summer pop-of-color blushes were a bit bright on my ghostly pallor. Enter Chantecaille Wind. This blush is pale but pigmented, if that makes any sense. You don't need to apply much or layer for the color to show, but the shade itself is subtle. Just enough to add a peachy neutral warmth without screaming makeup. Chantecaille blushes are expensive at $28, but the formula is lovely. In fact, the only blush I've ever actually finished completely was another Chantecaille in the shade Silk.