Nice Gift With Purchase At SpaceNK

SpaceNK is offering a really nice goodie bag with a $150 purchase online. Click on the picture to view details (no, I'm not compensated in any way, shape or form if you click. It simply makes the picture and text larger).

Manicure of the Week

If you've been reading my Manicure of the Week posts since the beginning, this shade might look familiar since it's appeared here previously. Nonetheless, I love it so much it bears repeating! This is Rococo Nail Apparel in Dollar, an opaque, highly metallic silver with shimmer. It goes on easily, lasts decently well, is Big 3 free and a somewhat ridiculous $16.50 (yes, the price has gone up since the line debuted). This shade is in the Molten Lava formula and I think that give s a pretty good indication of how the polish appears in the bottle and on the nails. You can purchase Rococo at SpaceNK in the US and UK. I haven't seen it sold anywhere else and recommend checking it out since the line features many unique shades.

Chantecaille Raffia Lips of the Day

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

Testing Testing 123: Eye Creams (Part 2)

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

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

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

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

By Terry Crayon Blackstar

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

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

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

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

Rococo Nail Apparel R2D2

I purchased Rococo Nail Apparel in Dollar back in December, telling myself that a $17 nail polish was a one-time-only treat. Lo and behold, I found myself buying yet another Rococo polish last week. Space NK was out of the shade I wanted, the brand new R2D2, and offered to ship it to me free of charge from another store. I received it today and along with the polish, they included an adorable little bag full of samples! A very nice touch, especially considering that it was a relatively small purchase and the shipping was free.

R2D2 is part of the line's new Star Wars collection. This shade is a very unusual molten metallic glittery taupey champagne. I've never seen another shade quite like this one--it's absolutely dazzling when the light hits it which unfortunately seems to be impossible to capture with a camera. I love that R2D2 is kind of funky and trendy and yet at the same time perfectly acceptable for work, even in a conservative environment. If this shade lasts as well as Dollar does, I'll be a happy camper! (I also highly recommend the Space NK on the Upper West Side. Fabulous customer service).

Manicure of the Week (featuring Rococo Nail Apparel)

Rococo Nail Apparel is a "professional" polish range at "ladies who lunch" prices. Regular lacquers are $16.50, while their most publicized item, the Gold Leaf Lacquer, will set you back a whopping $16.50. The only US brick and mortar retail location I've seen for the London-based line thus far is Space NK. You won't find a huge range of colors, and in my opinion the existing shades offer a good balance of wearable everyday hues as well as on-trend, fun colors. I purchased Dollar, which is now on my tips and toes! Dollar looks like mercury--molten dark silver with a strong metallic sheen. The nail polish went on completely opaque with one coat, and was akin to liquid metal with two. A very fun look, especially for the holidays! In my experience, silver polishes tend to go on sheer, dull, or just look cheap and juvenile. There is no Tinkerbell with this color! It's a grown up festive shade that's whole lot more sophisticated than a reindeer sweater! :)

The sales associate at Space NK praised the longevity of her manicure with the polish. I guess time and my dishpan hands will tell!