Chanel Glossimer in Meteore

I had a couple of minutes to kill right by Bloomingdales the other day and all of a sudden found myself at the Chanel counter swatching Glossimers. I'm not a gloss person and have never been interested in the Glossimers before, but the gorgeousness of Meteore won me over and it came home with me!

Meteore is a deep sheer pink with the most beautiful holographic iridescent shimmer. It can feel a little gritty and the color is much more subtle on the lips than in the tube. No scent or taste and not too sticky, I'm a fan of the formula, certainly more so than the price (which I believe was around $32 with tax).

FREE Chantecaille Tea Rose Lip Chic!

Okay, so it's not totally free--you do have to make a purchase. But Tea Rose is a gorgeous shade and at least Chantecaille isn't going all Neiman Marcus on us and requiring a $300 minimum purchase or something! On Friday, November 26th, every purchase of the Fall 2010 Tiger in the Wild Palette from Chantecaille.com will score you a free Tea Rose Lip Chic if you enter code TIGERS at checkout!

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.

Favorite Eye Shadow Brushes

I've been wanting to post about my favorite eye shadow brushes for quite a while, but I just cannot seem to take good pictures of them! Part of the problem is my hateful camera (though it's pretty much new so I'm unlikely to replace it any time soon) and the other part is that I don't find brush all that photogenic! :) Some of these brushes are relatively old but have stood the test of time very well thanks to good quality and regular washing, and others are somewhat new. Here is some information on my favorite face brushes as well. From left to right:

• MAC 213- perfect for laying color down on the lid or applying to the lid and sweeping up into the crease. It's a very soft, light to medium density brush.
• Rock & republic 202- unfortunately the barrel on this is so round that it absolutely will not lay flat for a photo! This tapers to a rounded point and is larger and much more dense than the MAC 213. I use it to apply lightly pigmented shadows or when I want a deep color payoff.
• Chanel 3- one of my all time favorites! It applies shadow to the outer corner with ease and the chiseled tip allows for precise placement. A true staple.
• Fresh 20 Eye Define- unfortunately this has been discontinued but it's the ultimate, perfect crease brush. It's the ideal shape for getting right into that space and is soft enough for blending colors out.
  
• Stila Brush 5- this was probably my first high end brush almost 10 years ago and I still use it nearly every day! It is the perfect size, shape and density for laying down base color. A staple I wouldn't want to be without.
• Chanel 12- I don't much about them but I really love the Chanel brushes I have, this one being no exception. It's very soft and fluffy and I use it to blend my shadow after application for a seamless look. the handle is nicely weighted and it feels and performs like a quality brush.

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.
  

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

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?

Face of the Day (well, er, yesterday)

Today is a snow day here in New York City so no makeup! Yesterday I was determined to dig up some items I hadn't worn in a while, and I opted for Chanel eyes, Lancome cheeks and Paul and Joe for lips.

Eyes were Chanel Ombre Essentielle Ivory lash to brow, Cinnamon in crease (with my beloved Chanel Brush #3), and Le Crayon Kohl in Graphite. Ivory has a beautiful golden shimmer, and Cinnamon is warm without being so red that it gives that "rabbit eyed" look. Graphite may seem like an odd choice with the shadows but the color is subtle and it works beautifully. I love this liner formula and am sad that it has been discontinued. If your local store still carries them, I recommend picking up a few!

I adore my Lancome Blush Magique Cream Blushes and frequently layer Cinnamon Glaze and Subtle Fluff for a pink-tinged bronze with shimmer.

The lips are the first Paul and Joe lipstick I purchased and one of my overall favorite lip shades, 40 Pomme Au Four. I'd wear it more often if it didn't have that (in my opinion) horrible Paul and Joe signature scent associated with it. Every time I do wear it I fall in love with the color all over again.

With Flash (Ivory, Cinnamon, Graphite, 40 Pomme Au Four, Cinnamon Glaze, Subtle Fluff):
Without Flash (Ivory, Cinnamon, Graphite, 40 Pomme Au Four, Cinnamon Glaze, Subtle Fluff):

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!

New for Holiday: From the Bloomingdales Catalog

The enormous Bloomingdales holiday catalog arrived and it features some new holiday makeup collections (just in case you need to make a wishlist)! Here are some of the highlights:

• Chanel Collection Essentielle de Chanel "Paris-New York" Multi-Use Makeup Palette: Face-Lips-Eyes ($85): that's quite a name, isn't it! This sleek black palette contains exclusive shades of two lip glosses, one cream lip color, three powder eye shadows, two cream concealers, one cream blush, along with mini applicators. The quality of the photo in the catalog isn't great so this is one to check out in person.
• Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Velvet Plum Eye Palette ($40)- back by popular demand
• Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette ($60)- contains 6 eye shadows and 4 lip colors
• Bobbi Brown Goldstone Long-Wear Eye Palette ($40)- this appears silver and charcoal in the catalog for some reason so check it out in person before purchasing
• Sonia Kashuk Faubourg Honore 5-Piece Silver Brush Travel Set ($150)- yes, you read that right. $150 for a Sonia Kashuk brush set in a purple leather case. This contains a domed powder brush, foundation brush, large eye shadow brush, crease brush and smudge brush.
• Estee Lauder Ultimate Red Collection ($18-$35)- features Opulent Shimmer Powder, Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Simply Red, Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Cranberry, Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Gold Opulence and TurboLash YM All Effects Motion Mscara in Gold Effects.

Lip Liners: In Praise of an Unsung Hero

Lip Liners are like underwear. For most they're a daily essential that goes unheralded, an indispensable item working in the shadows. Some are barely there, while others offer shape and support without being obvious. Oh, and if you've chosen the wrong one, boy does it ruin your look.

I don't have a vast lip liner collection, but I use each one I have. Whether it's to extend the life of a lipstick, provide some color beneath a gloss or just to define and shape my lips, I have a few trusty go-tos.

From left to right:

• Chanel Precision Lip Definer in Natural ($28)- Chanel's lip liner in Nude garners accolades, but I prefer the soft peachy pinky nude of Natural. This pencil is creamy enough to be used all over the lips in place of lipstick, though I always top it with a bit of gloss.
• Lancome Lip Contour in Caramel ($22)- this is a self-sharpening liner in a deeper mauvey brown. It gets used more in the fall and winter to anchor bronze and berry shades.
• MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in Gingeroot ($14)- a pearly natural pink that's great with nude shades.
• Wet and Wild 666 ($1)- the cult favorite. A light berry bronze frost at an unbeatable price. One of the few magazine raves that lives up to the hype. It really is flattering on everyone
• True Cosmetics Lip Definer 1 ($18)- True Cosmetics is a mineral line sold at spas. This is a shimmer-free buff pink a few shades deeper than Gingerroot.
• LORAC 06 ($16)- a pinky plum with a hint of taupe. My go-to with any plummy lip.
  
• Prescriptives Lipcoling Pencil in Guava ($15.50)- the smoothest formula of any lip liner I've tried, yet the color lasts. Guava is a muted rose that seems to adapt to accommodate warm and cool tones.
• Face Stockholm Lip Liner in Lavish ($17)- the ultimate, perfect red. I wear this on its own blotted down to a stain. It lasts all night and manages to avoid looking garish, a problem I have with most red lipsticks.

Top to bottom: Chanel Natural, Lancome Caramel, MAC Gingerroot, W&W 666, True 1, LORAC 06, Px Guava, Face Stockholm Lavish

Lipsticks I'm Loving Right Now

Yes, I know I just posted about loving my new Berry lips, but at heart (and for everyday) I'll always be a warm nude/peachy pink girl. Here are some of my current favorites.
From left to right:

• Chanel Como Aqualumiere ($28)- this is the perfect warm pink beige shimmer. I believe it may have been limited edition but it's absolutely worth tracking down.
• YSL Sensual Silk #2 Rouge Volupte ($34)- this is a creamy light pinked beige. It is almost too light on it's own so I generally use a lip liner with it, but I love the pale pink (but not mod) mouth it gives. Just soft and pretty.
• Dolce & Gabbana Naked Shine Lipstick ($30)- you can see my review along with more pictures here!
• Bobbi Brown Lip Shimmers in Berry Shimmer and Rosebud Shimmer ($22)- Berry Shimmer is poorly named--it's actually a warm nude with white shimmer while Rosebud Shimmer is a rose-beige with silver shimmer. (Rosebud Shimmer looks nothing like Rose Bud Creamy Lip Color currently featured in the Earth Metal palette). Both are on the sheer side and look fabulous layered over one another. Bobbi discontinued this whole line of lipsticks, but you can still find them at CCOs.
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Baby ($22)- this has been my favorite lipstick for some time. It's shade I can just slap on and go when I don't have the time or inclination to think about what lipstick to wear. Find more pictures and a review here.
  

Post Purge: The Carnage

So I think it's time to admit that you have a makeup addiction when your 'to toss' pile becomes larger than most people's collections. I went through my stash and tried to be as ruthless as possible in attempt to declutter and, undoubtedly, make room for new makeup! Yes, there's Armani in there. And Becca. And Chanel. And Julie Hewett. Like I said, I was trying to be ruthless!
What I've learned:

• I should never buy drugstore makeup. Almost every drugstore item I had ended up getting trashed. I'm not sure if it's because I couldn't try the items beforehand and so they weren't quite perfect, or if they just seemed expendable to be because they cost less and I had an easier time letting go. Either way, it's money wasted since the products are headed to the garbage. No more CVS "cheap fixes" trips now matter how much Allure lauds an item or how long the wait is at the pharmacy counter.
• No more buying makeup because it's on sale. When Sephora cleared out Becca I bought a ridiculous amount of product. As in I went to 4 separate Sephoras and could have opened my own Becca counter afterward. Many of the items were tossed long ago, but some remained taking up space, collecting dust because I thought they'd come in useful some rainy day or just couldn't bare to throw them out because they were such a "great deal." Their day has come. Bye bye opalescent liquid with sunscreen. So long gray-green face shimmer! That Armani blush and eye shadow you see? Sale buys. Ditto the Julie Hewett.
  
• Just because the product looks great on an airbrushed model in a magazine or a color is heralded as the "next big thing" does not mean that they are right for me. Sure the fuchsia Chanel lipstick looked great in Elle, but the model was 17 with flawless skin and the shade was airbrushed to be just right. If the credits were even being honest about what product was actually used. And those vampy berry lipsticks I'm getting rid of? NOT for very full lips! My lips entered a room 10 seconds before I did!
  
• No more minerals. I went through a Bare Escentuals phase because their Upper East Side boutique was so tempting! Hundreds of pots of open sparkly color! Free pastries on Sunday! I amassed an embarrassing number of the aforementioned sparkly pots of color, and they sat untouched. I decided to decant them into stackable containers thinking I'd be more inclined to use them if they were more accessible. I wasn't. I didn't. They are beautiful but so messy, especially when I'm trying to get ready for work and haven't had caffeine yet!
• And finally--and I realize this is probably sacrilege--I just don't use Gift with Purchase (GWP) items. I'm sure Estee Lauder just rolled over in her grave. The bag would have 5 more GWP items in it if I hadn't used them for Sephora's Cash for Clunkers today. The Benefit Creaseless Cream and Lipstick were Sephora gifts with purchase. I never would have chosen those shades if I had to pay for them, and haven't opted to wear them since they arrived. Let's not even talk about the products I purchased that I didn't need just to qualify for GWPs filled with products I never use!
  

Have you purged lately? What are you getting rid of? Have you learned anything through the process? Share your epiphanies!

Feature Focus: Unsung Heros

I wanted to highlight some unsung heroes--tried and true never-fail products that seem to fly under the radar. Products that you never see in magazines, rarely hear raved about. I'm sure that everyone has some of these unsung heroes in their arsenal--please post about them in the comments!
Darphin Blush Sensation in Soleil Sublime:

This is bar none the most beautiful, natural looking bronzer I've ever used. I'm quite fair and on the pinker side, and this has absolutely no orange in it. It features a gentle color gradation so you can customize your look depending on how much 'sun' you want that day! The shimmer is super-subtle and doesn't accentuate lines and wrinkles, just lends itself to a gentle glow. It costs $40 and is available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

MAC Lilicent Blushcreme:

This cream blush has a unique love it or hate it texture. It's almost akin to a potted lipstick in that it's somewhat thick and remains dewy on the cheeks. This helps you look 'fresh' all day but if you're used to a cream to powder formula, this may take a bit of getting used to. The color is a real face brightener, and never fails to brighten my complexion with its warm, peachy rose hue. It is $18.50 and available on maccosmetics.com and at MAC counters nationwide.

Lancome Artliners:

Colors left to right are: Socialite, Brown, IceBlack, IceCarob and Star Shower
In my opinion, these little wonders stand alone in the liquid liner category. They are the easiest liquid liner and you can easily create a thin line right at the base of the lashes or thicker cat eye due to the unique flexible applicator that allows you to control the product. Unlike felt tip dispensers where the product may flow through inconsistently or only with pressure, these unique wands dip into the product and just enough comes out to create a perfect line every single time. The shades are gorgeous, although many of the unique ones are available on a limited edition basis. These are $28.50 and available wherever Lancome is sold.

Eye Necessities:

-Bare Escentuals Eye Shadow in Soul- the perfect vanilla base, this shadow is shimmer free (you can see the faintest glimmer in the pot which prevents lids from looking crepey but doesn't add a sparkle).
-Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen- the palest pink that brightens lids, creates the perfect base so your shadow lasts and the pigment appears true, and even works on its own for a natural eye look.
-Laura Mercier Baked Cakes Eye Liner in Key Lime/Dark Green Apple with Brush- gorgeous, baked, shimmery greens and a perfect brush for application. Use these wet or dry for a look less harsh than black but still achieve ample definition. I use the dark shadow on my upper lid and the light shadow to line underneath.
-Benefit Kohl Pencil Eye Liner in Sable- the only product I use on my inner rim. It lasts and lasts without iritation and glides on smoothly. The shade of brown is spot on--not too light or too dark.

Tools:

-MAC 208 brush- a very thin synthetic angle brush for precise gel eye liner application.
-Chanel Brush 3- a great brush for applying shadow to the outer corner. The bristles are densely packed and the thicker handle is weighted for easy application.
-Fresh Eye Definer Brush 20- the BEST crease brush, this is soft and perfectly shaped for the perfect placement and depth of color.
-Sephora Brand Professionnel Flat Blush Brush #42- perfect for small faces and the tapered point places the blush exactly where you want it to go.
-Tarte Eyelash Curler- this has never pinched my lids the way other highly-touted brands have and the lilac is so cute!