MAC Cremesheen Glass

As a general rule I'm not a big fan of MAC lip products--I find the lipsticks drying and the glosses incredibly, unwearable sticky. Nonetheless, after seeing a picture of someone wearing Cremesheen Glass in Over Indulgence on another board, I knew I had to have it and make the trek to MAC.

Pleasantly, Cremesheen Glasses are not nearly as goopy and sticky as MAC Lipglasses (which I did use once in a pinch at college to adhere a note to a wall, albeit temporarily). The glide on smoothly and while they have more body than my beloved Hourglass glosses and some of my other favorites, they are not overly thick or goopy.

Over Indulgence is described by MAC as a "neutral brown," but it has definite peach and deep pink tones. It's a very wearable, natural shade that I think would suit many skin tones. It's very similar to Laura Mercier Nude Lips Gloss. It pairs nicely with Boldly Bare lip liner.

Cremesheen Glasses cost $18 (while regular Lip Glasses cost just $14) and apply with a doe foot applicator.


Laura Mercier Nude Lip Gloss (top), MAC Over Indulgence (bottom):

On Lips:

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.

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!

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!

Five Recent Rediscoveries

When you frequently buy new makeup products, often old favorites tend to fall by the wayside. Over the last few days I was determined to get back to using some items I hadn't worn in a while. Here of some products I rediscovered in my collection and was really pleased with this week:

• Lancome Miel Glace Blush Subtil- this soft shimmery pinky bronzy beige hadn't been used in quite a while and now that I've rediscovered it, I remember why it's such a highly praised blush among makeup aficionados. It's a great everyday blush whether you're pale or simply want a subtle look (I guess it's obvious that I don't use those little in-compact applicators!).
• Laura Mercier Black Violet Kohl Eye Pencil- black is too harsh with my fair skin and light eyes, but plums and purples don't always provide enough contrast or drama. Black Violet is absolutely the best of both worlds--a deep dark violet shimmer married to a sooty black--with an unbeatable formula. This liner glides on and wears well on me. Amazing on the waterline as well!
• MAC Grain Eye Shadow-I am not the biggest MAC fan, but I spotted Grain in a Company Store (the invite-only version of the Cosmetic Company Outlet) and had to have it. It's a pretty peachy beige shimmer with a hint of taupe in the pan, but is even more flattering when applied than you'd expect. It really brightens up my whole eye and is perfect for a quick, polished look.
• Laura Mercier Stickgloss in Brown Sugar- this is a soft beigey brown mauve in a sheer, moisturizing base. A perfect go-to for work and works very well with Miel Glace.
• Kiehls Vanilla Essence- this tiny vial holds an ultra-concentrated perfume oil. Many vanillas give me a migraine but this doesn't. Kiehls' Vanilla is not a complex fragrance. To me it's vanilla blended with a tiny hint of cherry and almond that I find warm, simple and comforting.

Bloomingdales Spring Beauty Guide

Bloomingdales wants you to you to get happy (with bright new pops of color), get glowing (with soft shades that shimmer) and get ready (with the freshest skincare solutions) and January 28th through February 7th the store at 59th and Lex is having a beauty event! It seems that almost all of the lines are offering some sort of gift with purchase or incentive to stop by. NYCers can call 212-705-2000 for more information! For everyone else, ring 1-877-485-8462. Here are some of the most intriguing products from the new catalog I received:

• Laura Mercier Radiant Creme Color ($35), Eye Color Duos ($22), Satin Lip Color ($22) in Barely Nude, Pink Cocoa and Maple Brown and Lip Shine in Crystal Pink ($22). That Radiant Creme Color is absolutely calling my name!
• Bobbi Brown is all about coral for spring as indicated by the stunning Nectar Shimmer Brick ($38), Cabo Coral Pot Rouge ($22), Cabo Coral Lip Color ($22) and Sunset Beach Lip Shimmer ($20). The lip products are all limited edition. They are pairing the Shimmer Brick with the Face Blender Brush ($45) which I have and really like!
• Dior's vinage lace collection looks stunning, but I'd be too scared to mar the beautiful imprints! For those of you braver than me, the new 5 Color Eye Shadow in Coquette ($57), Lace Highlighting Powder ($55) and Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect Lip Color in Beige Veil ($26.50) are your options!
• I am a big Lancome fan (even though it may not be what the cool kids play with anymore) because their products are top-notch. The new Color Design Quad ($42), Teal Ink Artliner Delight ($23.50), Coral Flight Pop'N Cheeks ($29) and La Laque Fever Gloss ($26) scream spring. Personally, I'm partial to the liquid liner version of the Artliners and wish they'd release new shades in that formulation.
• YSL is offering new Ombre 5 Lumieres #9 Palette in Parisian Sky ($56), Palette Y-Mail ($65) in 3 colors to choose from and for lips, Rouge Volupte #29 Opera Rose ($34) and Gloss Volupte #2 Chilled Rapberry ($30).
• Shiseido is all about bold color for Spring with Luminizing Satin Eye Color ($25) in 5 new shades including Peach and Sky, Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte blush ($30) in 6 new colors and Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer Pout ($25). there are 8 new shades in this range.

Has anything caught your eye? What do you intended to check out for Spring?

Quick (Tired) Eyes of the Day

I've been averaging about 4 hours of sleep each night the last 5 nights of so and boy am I tired! I wanted to do something eye-brightening today and decided that soft, pale lilac would be perfect. I applied my usual Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen lash to brow, then Clinique Rock Violet Quick Shadow last to crease and once it was dry, patted Julie Hewett Pixie Shimmy on the lid. Urban Decay Rockstar 24/7 liner was smudged deep into the lashline and under my eyes, followed by a coat of Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara (which I tossed today). Viola! The Pixie Shimmy made the shadow really glisten in real life, bouncing light around my eyes and making me appear more awake. All of the products lasted incredibly well, through multiple yawns and bouts of rubbing and eyes tearing.

What's On Your Eyes Today?

Rediscovering my Laura Mercier Nude Lips in my collection inspired me to wear some other long-forgotten products, and so my eyes today are a hodge-podge of oldies but goodies.

I started with my beloved Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen. I then used MAC Grain lash up to the crease, MAC Sunday Best to highlight under my brow and the tear duct and The Body Shop Conker in the crease. I lined with Lancome Artliner in Brown and applied Prescriptives False Eyelshes Mascara in black after having curled my lashes with the Kevyn Aucoin lash curler. I filled in my brown with MAC Browning from the Porcelain/Browning Duo. The colors had faded and my eye lashes had wilted after a long stressful work day but I was very pleased with the overall look! I'm resolving to rediscover old favorites (in the hope of buying less and using more up. So that I have room to buy more. Ah, it's a vicious cycle)!

Lips of the Day

Today I unearthed my sadly neglected former love, Laura Mercier Nude Lips Sheer Lip Colour ($20) and I'm very glad I rediscovered it. This sheer moisturizing lipstick glides on smoothly and is sheer enough to look very natural but pigmented enough to show up and enhance your features. Nude Lips is a warm nude brown shade that goes perfectly with Laura's Praline Creme Cheek Colour. This lipstick gave me a polished and professional look today but would work equally well with smokey brown eyes in the evening.

Tons of Beauty Gift Sets On Sale at Nordstrom.com

For those of you who hesitated in picking up some of this year's holiday beauty offerings when they debuted, you're in luck! Nordstrom.com has marked down a slew of holiday products and gift sets from the likes of Bobbi Brown, Prescriptives, Philosophy, MAC, Jo Malone and more 20-50%! I'm not sure if this sale is going on in store as well (a Nordstrom is the one store we're missing here in NYC) but if you live near one it's probably worth the trek to find out. You can view the full list online but here are some of my picks:

Bobbi Brown Eyes and Cheeks to Go Set (was $60, now $47.90)- this set features 8 shadows and a Pot Rouge in one of Bobbi's new signature customizable palettes. There are also a few gloss sets on sale as well as the Goldstone palette and a brush kit.

Jo Malone Bath Oil Collection (was $85, now $67.90)- 6 mini bottles of Malone's top-selling bath oils in a beautiful gift box. You'll also find a soap set and another gift set on sale.

Smashbox Wish For The Stars Set (was $20, now $14.90)- an amazing price for a kit containing a Soft Lights Highlighter, Lash DNA mascara and Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume. Best of all, $1 from each purchase is donated to Children's Miracle Network to help sick and injured children.

Smashbox Eye Wish Palette (was $44, now $32.90)- 16 shadows and a mini Phot Finish Lid Primer along with a $1 donation to Children's Miracle Network. There are a few other Smashbox sets as well.

Prescriptives Holiday Warm Eye & Cheek Palette (was $45, now $30.90)- the last Prescriptives holiday collection ever. This palette contains a beautiful mix of shades but is refillable with the line's regular shadows and blushes. Look for several other Prescriptives sets marked down.

MAC Eye Shadow Palette (was $36, now $27.90)- this pretty palette, along with almost every other item from MAC's holiday collection, is 20% off!

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Color Palette (was $48, now $35.90)- this palette has 5 exclusive baked eye shadows and a double ended brush. There are several other Laura Mercier sets on sale including 2 larger color palettes, a brush set, and her signature bath and body products.

Fekkai Golden Shimmer Gelee (was $20, now $9.90)- more than 50% off, this spray provides shine, golden shimmer and hold.

Bare Escentuals Pretty Delicious Eye and Lip Collection (was $36, now $25.90)- 3 shadows and 3 matching 100% Natural glosses.

Bare Escentuals Sweet Obesession Eye Color Collection (was $48, now $35.90)- 9 eye shadows shades, almost all of them new. There are a few other Bare Escentuals kits including skin care on sale.

Philosophy Classic Cookbook Set (was $35, now $25.90)- 6 mouthwatering mini shampoo, bath and shower gels. Mmmm...Spicy Pear Cobbler! There are numerous other Philosophy goodies 25% off as well.

L'Occitane Almond Indulgence Set (was $33, now $25.90)- 8 oz size of the fabulous Almond Shower Oil and mini sizes of the shampoo, conditioner and Repairing Concentrate.

Favorite Bronzers and Highlighters Part 1

Admittedly, I have a real thing for bronzers and highlighters. Most of the time I embrace my natural paleness, but often times I crave the effortless starlet look--sunkissed cheeks with a dewy glow. The problem is that I'm fish-belly white with rather flat cheekbones and so this face takes a lot of finesse and great products to achieve. I need bronzers that won't turn me too dark or orange and highlighters that actually show up (a pale product on pale skin is generally invisible) and make me look like I'm glowing, not greasy. I like to have a variety of formulations depending on the look I want and the other products I'm using that day.

Becca Shimmering Skin Protector in Opal ($41)- known for their skin-perfecting products, it's not surprising that Becca Cosmetics would produce a lovely highlighter. This is a delicately opalescent liquid with SPF 20 and antioxidants in a large pump bottle. It is a spendy product but the bottle is so large I can see it lasting basically forever if it's used as I choose to use it--as a spot highlighter. I pat it onto the high planes of my cheekbones and it really does create a lovely glow, notably when the light catches it. Being a liquid it's easy to apply and blend and looks natural. I have read of people using this product all over their face for both the SPF benefits and highlighting, but in my opinion it would be way too over the top all over, especially if worn without foundation.
Laura Mercier Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc ($38)-this product has the same level of shimmer and frost as Laura's regular Shimmer Blocs, but with a pretty embossed flower pattern. Lke the others, it features 4 shades that can be used alone or blended to achieve a custom color. Swirling the colors in this palette together creates a frosty light pink that's youthful and not at all 80s. I usually apply this with a fan brush over a cream blush for a touch of added color and radiance. This was limited edition but is still available on Laura Mercier's website.
Lancome Color Design Blush in Freeze Frame ($27)- this creamy product is a golden candlelight beige shade with a touch of peach. It's a slightly drier cream that lasts all day and I love the case with the adorable sliding lid. Lancome doesn't get a lot of love but I find their products to be high quality and this one is no exception.

Face Stockholm Highlighter in Radiance ($25)- Face Stockholm isn't widely available with only 4 boutiques in the US, all of which are located in New York. The line is based out of Sweden and is made up of high quality basics and their highlighter in Dignity is often listed by renowned makeup artists as a favorite product. Luckily, there is a website if you can't make it to New York. This highlighter is a pale shimmery pink cream, though the product is available in a whopping 11 shades, a very broad range for a highlighter. Dignity, mentioned above, is a white-gold shade that's pretty dramatic and definitely red carpet worthy. Radiance is more subtle and adds a slight pink flush in addition to the shimmer. This product is very dewy and does not set, unlike the Lancome.
More to come, but in the meantime you can click on the pictures to enlarge the images.

Sephora Coupon Haul and Some Other Deals

My Sephora (48th and 5th) currently has a number of cheap treats at the registers. NARS Silent Night (metallic yellow gold with gold sparkles) is $9, Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lip Glosses are $7 and Dior Show Mascara is Plum is $10. The NARS is available online as well.

If you shop online, you can use the following codes:

• JURLIQUE for a mini Herbal Recovery Gel with $25 purchase
• CLUTCH4U for a metallic clutch filled with samples with a $25 purchase
• CLOUD9 for a mini Tarte Cloud 9 cheek Stain with any purchase
• BUXOMKISS for a mini BE Buxom lip gloss in Sugar
• WISHME for a choice of NARS mini gloss, YSL mini mascara or mini Amazing Grace product

I received a gift card from Sephora both in the mail and online. I'm not sure if they were only sent to VIBs or anyone registered with them. I've used the one mailed to me ($15 off $50) for another Laura Mercier Eye Basics (one of my holy grail products), a mini Sephora Nano Eye Pencil ($5) in 06 Glitter Brown and a Dior Crayon Eyeliner in 063 Elegant Taupe ($26).

The day I bought these I was in a rush to get to work and skipped eye liner that morning, only to of course have an impromptu meeting come up and I needed to look more put together! A chocolate brown eye liner was needed STAT and for only $5 the Sephora one fit the bill. It's surprisingly creamy and is an overall lovely shimmery midtone brown without the coppery red tones that Urban Decay Bourbon has. The color name implies that it's glittery but it's really just shimmer. I thought the Dior Elegant Taupe would be good for definition on days I'm going for a softer look, but I'm finding that it's not doing much for me. You can barely see it once it's applied (I'm not sure if that's more the formula or the shade) but I'll keep trying to make it work!

Now what to do with the rest of my gift certificate money? Did anyone else receive coupons and what are you buying with them?

Sephora left, Dior right:

Recent Rediscoveries

This past spring I purchased the Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc ($38) and Tiger Lily Stickgloss ($20) from Laura Mercier's Gilded Garden Collection. I'm not usually a fancy shimmer powder person but this Shimmer Bloc was so pretty I couldn't leave it there. And a peachy pink Stickgloss? Add in the words "limited edition" and my willpower didn't stand a chance. I bought both, wore them once, spent days gazing adoringly at their beauty and hadn't used them since. Until today. It's a dreary, horribly raining day here in New York City--about as far away from a Gilded Garden as can be--and I thought using something pretty might boost my mood. I used the powder over my blush and Stickgloss by itself, no liner or gloss.

Well wouldn't you know, I can't believe how many compliments I received today! How fresh I looked! How nice! how--dare I say--pretty!! Needless to say, both items will be joining my repertoire of regularly used products. And both are still available on lauramercier.com.

Loose Mineral Blushes

I used to have a very large Bare Escentuals collection (what can I say, the boutique offered free pastries on Sunday). I branched out into other mineral lines and had a lot of products on my hands at one point! I eventually realized that my insomniac, uncaffinated self + loose minerals + early morning=big, big mess and either gave away or tossed most of it. I kept a few key products and eventually acquired a few more, with the Laura Mercier Mineral Blush having arrived today.

Clockwise from top. Please click the picture to enlarge:

• Susan Posnick ColorMe in Camelia ($32)-This little pot features a puff on top and a mirror on the lid for easy travel. It is a bright but sheer coral pink with gold shimmer.
• Bare Escentuals Bare Radiance ($18)- A sheer pinky nude shimmer that I use over cream blush for a dewy glow.
• Bare Escentuals A Little Sun ($18)- A light warm pinky brown bronzer with shimmer. The color is warm without being orange.
• Laura Mercier Mineral Color Blush in Amberstone ($22)- a warm nude shimmer. More pigmented and definitely warmer than Bare Radiance.
• Bare Escentuals Golden Gate Blush ($18)- a neutral pink with a hint of coral. This blush isn't shimmery per se but has a radiance to it.

LM Amberstone and Susan Posnick Camelia


LM Amberstone, BE Bare Radiance, BE A Little Sun, BE Golden Gate, Susan Posnick Camelia