Quelle Horreur!

Horror of horrors, I arrived at work yesterday and promptly realized that:
A. I had become a human popsicle, and
B. I left my lipstick at home and somehow had no other lipstick or gloss in my purse

While the former probably won't change until the weather warms up in March, across the street from my office is a Company Store, one of the 'By Invitation Only' Cosmetic Company Outlets. I picked up a Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Blush Rose, a soft warm pink. While I generally dislike lip products in pots, this was the best color choice available.

My very favorite lipstick is Bobbi's Creamy Lip Color in Baby, and this is a few shades brighter and pinker. It applies sheerly, as you can see in the swatch. I'm not terribly fond of this formulation in pan form--the product is just too soft. I only applied it twice and you can see the dent that it has made already--pan is visible! If you're the type that can never finish a lipstick and want to experience that satisfaction, I highly endorse the Creamy Lip Color. I go through tubes of it extremely quickly.
Blush Rose is no longer available on the Bobbi Brown site, but check your local CCOs. Here it is compared to Bobbi Brown Baby and Gilded Pink (yes, the majority of my lipsticks look similar to one another).
Baby, Blush Rose, Gilded Pink:

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.

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...

A Brief Interlude In The Prolonged Dry Spell

Well the makeup drought seems to be ongoing. I went to NJ today for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and didn't even peek into Sephora or Neimans, and I only quickly scanned the Beauty Exclusives. I did pick up a Chanel Paradoxal and a replacement Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Baby, which really has turned out to be my Holy Grail. I've used up but a few lip products in my life and this is one of them. I'll post more on Paradoxal later this week, but so far it's not rocking my world. It's much more gray and flat that one would think from the bottle.

My Laura Mercier Gilt order arrived on Friday! Included was a Satinee Creme Shadow in Ecru Silk and a gift set containing this palette along with three mini glosses and a brush:
The shades are: Vanilla Nuts/Coffee Ground, Gold Dust/Sherazade and Primrose/Kir Royale.

The palette is the newer refillable version so I can swap shades in and out for travel and when I get bored! I'm not a huge pink/purple person so I just may have to head to a counter soon to find a suitable alternative for the Primrose/Kir Royale spot.

I found the Ecru Silk Satinee Creme Shadow to be cakey and streaky, and effect I never experienced with Laura Mericer Metallic Creme Shadows. It promptly found a home with my mother.

The glosses are sheer but beautiful and deserve a post all their own.

Face of the Day!

I unearthed an old(er) MAC Quad today and wanted to use it!

Eyes:
MAC Blanc Type lash to brow (over Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen)
MAC Naked lunch in and above the crease
MAC Copperplate in the outer corner
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Bourbon
Korres Mascara
(The other MAC shadow in the Quad is Sensualize)

Cheeks:
Rock & Republic Rumor
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Maui
Julie Hewett Goldie Shimmy to highlight the tops of my cheekbones

Lips:
Laura Mercier Tiger Lily Stickgloss

Bobbi Brown TSV on QVC Today!

QVC's Today's Special Value today is the Downtown Beauty 6 Piece Color Collection from Bobbi Brown. For $84.96 (or 4 payments of $21.24) plus shipping and tax, the set includes:

• 0.25 oz five-well eye shadow palette with mirror; Ivory, a creamy white; metallic Heather Lilac, a gray violet with pearl flecks; Bronze Shimmer Wash, a bronzed brown; Heather, a medium gray violet; Black Plum, a dark brown plum
• 0.15 oz five-well lip palette with mirror; lip sheer in Peony, a bright pink; creamy lip color in Bronzed Pink, a shimmering bronze/pink; lip color in Brown, a medium pink brown; creamy lip color in Pink Sequence, a silvery pink; metallic lip color in Ruby, a soft ruby pearl
• 0.1 oz jar of long wear gel eyeliner in Caviar, a deep black brown
• 0.14 fl oz vial of sheer lip gloss in Popsicle, a light pink
• 0.14 oz compact of blush in Washed Rose Shimmer, a warm rose
• Dual-ended eye shadow brush
• Ultra fine eyeliner mini brush with cap
• Lip brush
• Tip card

The Washed Rose Shimmer blush looks so pretty on television! I really want to check it out in person!

Blush "Tweets"

I don't Tweet. Partly because my life is incredibly normal and boring and no one cares what I had for breakfast or when I'm heading to the gym, and partly because I would be creeped out if someone did know or care what I had for breakfast or when I'm heading to the gym. I work in a cubicle--I'm fine with preserving a little mystery when I can.

Nonetheless, there are times, like now, when I have a few quick, "tweet-like" tidbits to share. I popped into bluemercury on my way home this afternoon (after buying two Levain Bakery cookies for dinner) and got to check out some new releases. Since blushes are my weakness, I was focused on them.

Bobbi Brown Beach Shimmerbrick- way too dark and bronzy for me. This would probably require a skunk brush and very light application on fair skin like mine.

NARS Multiple Tint in Turks & Caicos- a hideous day-glo orange in the tube, this gel tint is a super sheer but very bright coral on the skin. A pretty and pleasant surprise.

T. LeClerc Blush in Brun Voile- would make a gorgeous, subtle bronzer. A rosy as opposed to orange undertone.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator- I've heard many complain that this is too sheer, but I'm so fair that it was more than enough color, and has a distinct bronze tone and shimmer unlike the namesake powder blush and Multiple. It's a pretty blend of translucent pink, peach, bronze and gold that's perfect for summer.

Holy Grails

I, like most beauty junkies, go through phases where I love a certain product. Sometimes the infatuation lasts a few days, sometimes weeks, but there are very few items that I consider true holy grails--things that I'd absolutely replace right away since I would never want to be without them. Here they are:

• Clinique Take the Day Off Balm- I am not a Clinique skin care user apart from this product (though it was my gateway to higher end brands way back in my early teens) but this product is just amazing. Just a little bit completely dissolves all makeup with no irritation. I rinse it off and follow up with my normal cleanser since it does leave a bit of a film, but those with dry skin could probably just tissue it off.
• Bobbi Brown Baby Lipstick- I've posted about this several times. The formula isn't my favorite but the color is so perfect I won't let it go.
• Origins Silk Screen Powder Makeup- I don't wear foundation, but do like a powder in my T zone but to make me matte and for a little redness around my nose. Every time I stray from this I regret it. It's silky smooth, covers just enough and keeps shine at bay. There are plenty of shades from which to choose and Porcelain matches me perfectly.
• Korres Mascara- length, thickness, a rich inky black and it's all natural! No flaking or smearing either. A tube does start to dry out quickly but being much more reasonable priced than brands like Chanel and Lancome, I don't mind replacing as often as needed.
• Benefit Kohl Eye Liner in Sable- this is unfortunately discontinued but it might reappear if Benefit has a clearance sale. This dark brown lasts forever on the waterline. It's more tenacious than it's counterparts dubbed long-lasting or waterproof. The best.
• Rock and Republic Rumor Mousse Blush- A+ in terms of both color and formula.
• Chanel Brush #3- the best for adding a deep eye shadow color to the outer corner
• Lancome Artliners- these are the easiest to apply and never run, flake or smear. I have half a dozen and hope they come out with new shades soon! I much prefer these to their new Ink Artliners in the pot.
• Bare Escentuals Soul Eye Shadow- this best lid-brightening base
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle-keeps my skin clear and smooth with minimal effort (but a maximum price tag!)
• Rubis Tweezers- the sharpest and most precise.
  

Honorable Mentions:
These are products I trust and rely on and use all of the time, but as of now would not send me into a fit if they couldn't be replaced, either because I think they could be duplicated or I haven't had them long enough to truly call them a Holy Grail. They could achieve that designation though!

• Nude Facial Cleansing Wash- free of all the yucky stuff I don't want on my skin yet keeps my face looking great
• Paul and Joe Face Color 16 Canyon- such a flattering combination! I can't wait to try more shades.
• Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Eye Palette #1- my eyes look great every time I use this
• Desert Essence Organics Coconut Hand and Body Lotion- the most divine scent ever. I just wish it didn't fade quite so fast!
• Stem Organics Hydrating Facial Fluid- I love this for the fall and winter, but it's just a bit too rich come spring and summer.
  
• Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink- less harsh than black, more interesting than brown, this color is perfect on green eyes.
  

Face of the Day

I haven't posted a Face of the Day in a while, but I received so many compliments on my look today that I thought it was worth sharing, especially given how simple it was.

I used Bobbi Brown Champagne Quartz Metallic Shadow lash to brow, Rock and Republic Diffused Shadow in the crease and lined with Sephora Nano Liner in Glitter Brown. Cheeks were MAC Lilicent topped with the last dregs of the Chantecaille Lumiere de Rose Highligher I dropped and destroyed a few weeks ago and I wore Bobbi Brown Berry Shimmer (decidedly not berry colored) and MAC Gingerroot to line. Usual underpinnings of Jouer concealer, True Cosmetics mineral pressed powder, Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen and Korres black mascara.

Bobbi Brown Blush vs. Blush

Last week I spotted Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Blush at The Company Store and put it on my wish list. The line to check out was long and I need another lipstick like I need a hole in my head, but it looked like a pretty neutral for everyday. A few days later I spotted her Blush Lipshine SPF 15 in a different store and snapped it up, but I still had the original lipstick on my mind and bought it today. I'm a big fan of the Bobbi Brown lipstick formulation--I find that it last well and I actually like the scent.

Lipstick left, Lip Shine right:
So I went from no new lipsticks to two in the span of a just a few days!

Some of My Favorite Face Brushes

I have a lot of brushes. An embarrassing amount, really. Luckily, brushes don't take up much room stored standing upright but it makes it easy to amass a collection. Here are some of my favorite face brushes:

• Bare Escentuals Feather Light Brush- Bare Escentuals brushes may not be the softest and most luxurious brushes out there, but they are a good value and do their jobs well. The Feather Light Brush is sort of like a denser skunk brush is is perfect for applying and buffing in the Bare Escentuals Radiance products, or any other highlighter. The compact size makes it easy to use.
• Bare Escentuals Angled Face Brush- the angle on this brush is cut just perfectly for my face. It applies color on the cheekbones and blush in the perfect spot. It's also not so stiff that it applies color heavily or so soft that it splays all over your face.
• Smashbox Brush 1- this is a very large powder brush and one of the softest brushes I've felt. It's not inexpensive but if you're looking for a high quality powder brush that feels as sofy and silky as can be, this one is a great option. It's much better than comparable brushes from brands of greater prestige.
• Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush- this is perfect for applying bronzers and Shimmer Bricks. The top is gently rounded and works for so many purposes.
• Sephora Flat Blush Brush 42- I picked this up on a whim one day since I was intrigued by the usual shape and am glad I did. It's perfect for those of us with a small face. Rather than applying product with the top, you use the side of this brush for really great control and precision placement. I use this so often I'm considering picking up another one. It's very well-priced to boot!
  

Mini The Company Store Purchase

The Company Store is just like the Cosmetic Company Store, only the doors bear the words "By Invitation Only," which makes it seem much fancier than it actually is. In reality, the ability to shop at one is determined by whether your company is on a allowed access, and it's pretty location driven. Employees of most companies in the area surrounding a store can shop there.

I wanted a brush that would deposit less color than my Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush for my new Nude Shimmer Brick, and picked up a Prescriptives fan brush. It's larger and denser than my Becca fan brush, which I use primarily for a light dusting of highlighter on my cheeks.

Becca vs. Prescriptives Fan Brush:
You can see how much larger and denser the Prescriptives (left) brush is. A total bargain at $12.50!

I also bought Bobbi Brown Lip Shine SPF 15 in Blush. One of the few lipsticks I've used up in its entirety was Bobbi Brown's Nude Pink Lip Shine, and so even though this product has been discontinued, I bought it. It's a sheer pretty nude pink that goes with everything. Sunscreen in lip products usually makes my lips peel, but so far so good.

Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick

I realize that I'm a little late on this one since the Nude Shimmer Brick was a limited edition that's now difficult to obtain, but it's too beautiful not to share! Bergdorf Goodman had one of these left and I snapped it up as a substitute for the Chantecaille Lumiere de Rose that died an untimely death on Saturday night. On my very fair skin, these is a bit too deep to be a true highlighter, but is a gorgeous light bronzer with shimmer. It's a mix of pink, beige and caramel and is definitely shimmery but not a total glitterbomb.

Incidentally, the Bobbi Brown counter at Bergdorf's is having an event March 23, 24, 26 and 27 and I was told that they'd be debuting new items. No word on what they are or if there is a Gift With Purchase, but I'm trying to get more information. The number for the counter is 212-272-8827.

Public Service Announcement

Migraines and makeup do not mix! I took out my beautiful Chantecaille Lumiere de Rose Highlighter to use on Saturday night (I had to go out despite the migraine) and prompty dropped it on the floor, shattering it into a million pieces. It's one of the prettiest highlighters I've found, a slightly pink champagne shimmer with a fabulous texture. It just made you look ethereal and wasn't too over the top for day time. Sadly it's not nearly as much fun to replace makeup as it is to purchase something new, so I tracked down what I'm told is the the last Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick in the city and am going to give that a try. I have it's a decent substitute!

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.

Travel Beauty

It's SO nice to finally be back in NYC after my week of traveling for work, even if it is freezing here!

For me, traveling always presents a number of beauty issues, especially when flying is involved. First, I don't like traveling with any makeup or skincare that would be extremely costly or impossible to replace should something get lost or confiscated by a TSA agent having a bad day. I was initially going to pack my new Ellis Faas products but given how closely the items resemble weapons and how expensive they are, I quickly thought better of it. I'm still recovering from the time a male TSA agent went through my carry-on with a fine-tooth comb because he just couldn't understand what my eyelash curler was, and whether it posed an in-flight threat! I tried explaining it to him (to no avail) the purpose of an eyelash curler and he just looked at me, half dumbfounded, half thinking I was crazy. He wouldn't let me through until a female agent who clearly understood that the only danger posed by the curler was to my eyelid saw what was happening and waived me through!

I also left my beloved Rock and Republic at home because it's darn near impossible to find now (not to mention heavy), and poor Lancome Erika F never gets to leave the house!

Next, I have such a vast collection that narrowing down what to bring, especially when going away for a full week, is hard! I wear something different just about every day and love having option from which to choose! Anticipating what I'll want to have at my disposal while still keeping the quantity manageable is downright daunting! I normally end up selecting too much but given that I would be schlepping to several cities this trip I was determined to scale back and I have to admit, I was very pleased with what I chose! The real workhorse of this trip was my Kevyn Aucoin Essential Eye Shadow Palette Set #1. I wasn't all that thrilled with it when I first received it in the mail but I wore it nearly every day I was away and found it flattering and extremely versatile. I used it to create soft day looks for shopping, more polished looks for meetings and smokier, more dramatic eyes for going out at night. I did also bring a MAC quad with Grain, Sunday Best, French Grey and The Body Shop Conker but I found myself wearing the Kevyn Aucoin almost every day. (FYI, I just received an email that Kevyn Aucoin will be on Hautelook Monday with all items under $7! I certainly paid more for mine and am seriously considering another palette given how much I've grown to really love this one. I'd like to try the other color combinations offered). I typically wore the shimmery ivory lash to brow, the taupe next to it in the crease, and the shimmery charcoal used wet to line and smoked into the crease and outer corner with my Chanel brush #3, one of my favorites. The brush is worth every cent of the (pretty reasonable) $28.50.
Despite having packed half a dozen lipsticks, I wore Bobbi Brown Creamy Lipcolor in Baby almost every day as well. It not only works with the palette but it just always looks great on, no matter what. I never thought that I'd find a Holy Grail lipstick, but this one is very close! If the formula wasn't so thick it would be perfection as far as I'm concerned. Bobbi Brown Metallic Lipstick in Gilded Pink is supposedly very similar, which is why it's been on my wishlist for a long time now. I can't believe it, but I've almost finished Baby! Honorable mention goes to Paul and Joe 17 Bunch of Grapes which I used quite a bit as well just to break up the monotony.
For cheeks I mainly stuck with a Julie Hewett Cheekie topped with Paul and Joe Face Color in 16 Canyon. I almost always layer a powder with a cream and not only did this combination last through all day meetings in dry, recycled, conference room air, but it kept me looking alive as well! I have 3 of the Julie Hewett Cheekies in mini sample sizes which are perfect for travel and varied between (left to right) Natural, Destiny, and Jami (the lilac pot all the way to the left is the Shimmy highlighter in Pixie) depending on whether I wanted a warm, cool, or neutral look.
Finally, I always find it difficult trying to decide what makeup to wear on a flight, especially long, cross-country ones. I really have no idea if it makes a difference, but I try to wear more "natural" products when flying since I feel like it all gets sucked into your pores with that cabin air. I also opt for a simpler, "my face but better" look, which leaves less room for smudges should the unlikely scenario of my actually falling asleep arise! This time I wore Bare Escentuals Blush in Golden Gate on my cheeks, a pretty peachy pinky that I really should use more often. I also had on my usual Korres mascara, MAC Technakohl in Phtograuvre, and Origins Smileage Plus Liptint in Eco Pink. I love these guys--they're 95% organic, super-moisturizing, full of healing butters and oils, and the shades are sheer and pretty.
What are your beauty challenges when traveling? Do you have any secrets of solutions for packing or getting through a flight looking fabulous? Do you tend to over pack or do you have a set group of products you typically bring when going away? Please share!