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    Sunday Steals & Deals + New 16/01/11

    No S&D for you ladies today… unless you’re in Canada, I suppose (Shopper’s has a few decent sales on – 40% off Quo tools until Monday, 15% off Tweezerman this week, etc).

    Actually, you know what? Forget what I said, I think I will list a few Steals & Deals…

    Here are the good ones at Shopper’s:

    • 40% off their Quo brushes and tools until Monday,
    • Revlon Super Lustrous, Matte, and Moon Drops lipsticks on for $3.99 Sunday & Monday,
    • Tweezerman is 15% off and GOSH is 20% off this week, and
    • A bunch of Rimmel is on for $4.99, but I’m not sure what.

    And here are a few worth noting online, for all you ‘mericans:

    • $5 off your e.l.f. order with BCGHAPPY, or 50% off all brushes with BCGRTB (the latter is valid only until the 25th), and
    • 15% off fan faves at Philosophy, with faves15 (expires tomorrow).

    That’s it for today, I think! Hope your weekends are going well :)

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    Urban Decay commits a Sin with their tinted Primer Potion

    What it is: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

    On the shade: Sin is described by Urban Decay to be a “shimmering champagne,” which is pretty vague, and also pretty true! Most brands have their own Sin; that is, a shimmery (or frosty) champagne shade – NYX Yogurt, Stila Kitten, Wet ‘n Wild Fine Wink, Cargo Champagne, or MAC Naked Lunch, for example. Sin happens to be on the frostier side of this spectrum, and runs a little darker than many champagnes, with rose undertones rather than yellow ones.

    Sin swatched heavily / blended

    On the product: Like the regular UDPP, I found Sin to be decently good at its job… but not perfect. It definitely intensifies my shadows and keeps them from fading, but also like the regular kind, I find my shadows still crease slightly by the end of the day. But, of course, eye primers are very much a personal thing, so I can’t say if this will crease on you or not!

    As for how the shade affects your shadows? I find they usually look about the same, with two exceptions: 1) if the shadow’s sheer, it’ll end up looking a bit lighter (assuming it starts off darker than Sin), and 2) the shimmer comes through matte and satin finishes, as expected!

    Un-tinted primer swatch / Sin-tinted primer swatch

    On the packaging: as I’m sure you’ve heard before, the makeup community has some major issues with this tube. The curved shape may be cute and distinctive, sure, but it makes getting all the product out nearly impossible! Urban Decay responded to this by (eventually) adding a slanted doe-foot, but I’m not yet sure if this’ll get it all out or not. Either way, I’m not a fan of the applicator – it makes opening and closing the product pretty awkward, and it’s not exactly the cleanest option.

    In short? I don’t use a point-based grading system… but if I did, the packaging would knock off some major points.

    The ingredients:

    C Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Trihydroxystearin, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben. May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/ CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).

    The verdict? I’m actually not even sure that I’ll be keeping Sin, so that probably tells you a lot, already. I think it’s a lovely champagne shade (perfect for the inner corners), and if it didn’t crease on my lids, it would definitely be a keeper – but it does crease, especially when worn alone, and at $22CAD ($18US) for 0.34oz, I expected more. So, I’d recommend that you give it a try only if the original Primer Potion works for you, though it’s not a perfect bet if it does (some people have reported creasing with UDPP Sin, but not the original.)

    AvailabilitySephora, Beauty.com, Ulta. Also currently available as a mini, in the Urban Decay Little Sins set!

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    Maryna Linchuk: a bit of a girlcrush

    To mourn the end of the Linchuk/Miss Dior Cherie era, I thought I’d post some of my favourite photos of Maryna, both on and off the runway.

    At 23, she’s been modelling for just four years, and has done campaigns for brands like Blumarine, Christian Dior (obviously), and Kenneth Cole. She’s pretty serious stuff, too – in her first season, she walked in Paris for Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, and Stella McCartney, and she landed her first cover in November of that year (for Portuguese Vogue)!

    But I digress. Some photos! Click to enlarge.

    P.S. Don’t you just LOVE some of the makeup looks that she’s worn? Then again – she’d look great in anything!

    photo credits: style.com (runway) and models.com (all others), bio source: nymag

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    Dior leaves a good thing behind

    Am I the only one that is hugely disappointed by the new Miss Dior Cherie ad? I mean… it’s not a bad photo, per se, but I just–

    Okay, let’s be totally honest. I hate it. I hate that it’s not the old ad; I hate that the gorgeous Natalie Portman looks a fair bit unlike herself; I hate that they felt the need to add “artistic suggested nudity.” I hate that the damn bottle is off-center!

    The ad is boring, Dior. It’s mainly innoffensive, and yes, (dare I say it?) it’s pretty… but it’s BORING. I like the two-page ad a bit more, but still: this just doesn’t have the appeal that the previous campaign had. Bring back the fun, playful version, with Maryna Linchuk! That Miss Dior Cherie campaign has been a favourite of mine since it started running; I even wrote a full post about it last year. (An entire post, dedicated simply to great advertising! Yes, it was that good.) Why attempt to fix it if it wasn’t broken to begin with?

    A moment to reminisce:

    And a one more Miss Dior Cherie ad that didn’t quite “hit the spot” for me: via


    I did love this one, though: via

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    Spring collections round-up: Part one

    On a whim, I put together a Holiday guide last season using our new Shopstyle widgets… and to my surprise, you ladies seemed to find it really helpful! So, I’ve begun putting together a similar one for Spring 2011 as well, but I’ve fine-tuned it to look a little snazzier. Not all Spring collections are online yet, so I’ll do the round-up in a few parts and post them as they become available. I hope you find this to be just as useful as the Holiday guide!

    How the widgets work: just click – it’s that simple. These should be set up so that when you click on a specific product, it’ll take you to that product’s page. (If it doesn’t seem to be working, well, let me know!)

    Christian Dior, Christian Dior, Christian Dior


    Estee Lauder, Estee Lauder, Estee Lauder, Estee Lauder


    Guerlain, Guerlain, Guerlain, Guerlain

    Please note that many of these widgets are missing an item or three due to a) a lack of online availability, or b) the sheer size of the collections! (Some of them were so large that they couldn’t fit comfortably into these boxes, so only the key colour items were included.)

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    Subversive Apothecary: a one-step wonder?

    What it is: Subversive Apothecary Anti-aging Serum

    The background info: As we’ve mentioned before, Subversive only makes one product – this one. It’s an all in-one moisturizer, primer, toner, and serum, made for everybody, whether you have oily skin, dry skin, blemishes… the list goes on. Here’s (some of) what they have to say about themselves, on their FAQ page:

    “How are you an apothecary if your products don’t address specific skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and freckles?

    1. Freckles are adorable and are not a legitimate skin concern.
    2. Our apothecary is devoted to treating 1 disease: the overuse and overconsumption of too many skin care products. Less is more. Using too many products—especially fragranced and exfoliating products—abuses the skin. If you’ve got a serious, acute skin problem that a break from your Lavender Mint Miracle Cheek Exfoliation Detergent Scrub does not resolve, then heavens to Betsy, please see a doctor!”

    What I have to say to this: YES. I thought the first point in particular was adorable; I have freckles and they’re one of my favourite facial features! Love them to death. But honestly; I love the vision of Subversive Apothecary. I’m a one-product kind of gal (I know; I’m terribly lazy and low-maintenance for a beauty blogger), so one product that does it all really appeals to me. Plus, I love that they’re free of things like preservatives, fragrances, and silicones (to name a few)!

    just under one pump of product

    The serum: is surprisingly nice! I have to admit that I was skeptical (“one size fits all” rarely applies in real life), but this serum didn’t disappoint. It goes on really smoothly, feeling almost reminiscent of my beloved silicones – oh, how I miss you! – hydrates well (really well), and sinks in quickly with no heavy feel or oily finish. One pump is enough to cover my entire face and a bit down my neck, and as they’ve mentioned on the product page, that one pump is free of water and other fillers.

    For those unaccustomed to using facial oils, applying this could take some getting used to, but it’s honestly not that hard! This serum is a lot lighter than things like mineral oil or EVOO (extra virgin olive oil, a popular all-natural moisturizer)

    immediately after being worked into the skin

    The ingredients:

    Grapeseed Oil; Olive Extract (Squalane); Ceramides; Antioxidant Booster (Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Oil, Rosehip (Rosa Affinis Rubiginosa) Seed Oil, Alpha-D-Tocopherol (vitamin E), Lycopene, Tocotrienols, Astaxanthin, Lutein, Beta Carotene and Alpha Lipoic Acid); Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone); Soy Lecithin

    The cost: I have to say; this is the only thing about the serum that I disliked. I mean, $62 for 1 fl oz? I thought it was pretty high – until I compared it against other anti-ageing serums, that is. Here’s a bit of a comparison for you: for the same amount, Burt’s Naturally Ageless would be $50, Lancôme Genifique would be $84, and Guerlain Orchidée Imperiale would be bloody $400. So, $62’s actually pretty reasonable, I suppose!

    The verdict: Okay, this is a hard one. On one hand, I really, really like this serum, but because I don’t need anti-ageing (yet)… I wouldn’t shell out $62 to re-buy. However, I do think that it’s an innovative, unique product, and it’s backed by a great brand, so yeah – if you were looking for an anti-ageing serum, or something to simplify a five-product skincare routine, I’d recommend this.

    Availability: as far as I know, this is only available through the Subversive Apothecary site. However, they do ship worldwide, and offer free samples of the serum if you’re in the US! (Due to shipping costs, as the shipping for the sample is free, too.)

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    The Secret of D&G’s Secret Garden

    Ever had an “oops moment” in which you realized that all of your promo photos were totally off?

    Yah, I didn’t think so.

    But that’s exactly the predicament that D&G found themselves in not too long ago with their upcoming Secret Garden collection! Karen posted their new images yesterday, and I thought I’d share some side-by-side shots of the old ones and new ones. (Hope that’s okay with you, bella!)

    Smooth Eye Color Quad – Eden

    Crayon Intense – Lilac

    Shine Lipsticks in Romance (mauve) and Love (pink)

    Ultra Shine Lipgloss – Secret (red) and Bon Bon (violet/pink)

    How do you feel about the change? It really just goes to show how subjective colour can be, in my opinion – the two renditions of the very same collection are SO different. On one hand, you have the almost neon-brights of the original images, and on the other, you have the subtle pastels of the updated ones. Crazy!

    Which version do you like more?

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    Violet swatches to brighten a Monday morning

    Swatches in indirect sunlight. Order listed below. Click through twice for high-res (1000 px wide) image.

    Does anyone know what today is?

    Yep… it’s the start of winter term, for those of us who haven’t already had to go back to that torturous place University. A few more months of trudging two blocks through a foot of snow in under ten minutes. A few more months of hauling five pounds of textbooks (and five pounds of scribblers or a laptop) from building to building. A few more months of profs who may-or-may-not absolutely suck!

    Needless to say, I needed some major brightening up this morning – so I thought I’d share some swatches of my favourite violet shadows* (because honestly, is there anything better? I say no.) Hope you enjoy! Spot any old favourites (or new cravings)?

    Order listed below. Indirect sunlight with flash supportClick through twice for high-res (1000 px wide) image.

    Swatches from left to right: Annabelle Insomnia Domed Eye Shadow Quad, Marcelle Dimensional Mauve Graphic Eyeshadow Quad, Lancome Angora Maquiriche Eye Colour, Laura Geller Orchid Eye Stay Duo, Rimmel Royal Violet Glam’Eyes Eyeshadow, Annabelle Violet Vibe Mineral Eye Dust, Annabelle Ultraviolet Mono Eye Shadow, Make Up For Ever #92 Eyeshadow, Korres Plum Eyeshadow, Laura Geller Lilac Eye Stay Duo, a violet from the huge Flirt! holiday palette, Senna Destiny Sparkling Eye Colour.

    Order listed above. Direct sunlight. Click through twice for high-res (1000 px wide) image.

    Annabelle Insomnia is an LE quad, but I wanted to swatch its lightest violet shade because it’s an interesting one — I didn’t like how sheer it is, but it does have a cool multicoloured-glitter thing going on! You can check out the rest of the swatches here.

    Marcelle Dimensional Mauve is also LE, but it’s my lightest violet so I thought I’d include it as well. Swatches of the rest of the quad here. (The darkest shade is actually a pretty good match for Korres Plum, but reflects more blue-violet than red-brown.)

    Lancome Angora is a silvery lavender; very cool.

    Laura Geller Orchid is part of a duo (Lilac, swatched 3rd from the end, is the other half). Very pink in comparison!

    L -> R: Insomnia, Dimensional Mauve, Angora, Orchid, Royal Violet

    Read more

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    Steals & Deals AND New 08/01/11

    (I just had three little steals and deals to share with you, so I slipped them into the New Products widget instead of giving them their own – they’re the Tarte and Fresh minis and Tartan Tale shadow, in case you were wondering! Though, the Benefit Ready… Set… STAY! duo is a pretty good deal, too.)

    + another new product launch that we thought was kind of cool: L’Occitane’s new Shea Butter scrubs. (I used to use the hand cream all the time, before I went ‘cone-free!) They’ve come out with three cute “Magical Duos” for the winter season, for the face, body, and hands. The face duo contains their Ultra Rich Face Scrub and Ultra Rich Face cream (100 ml and 50ml respectively); the body duo contains their Ultra Rich Body Scrub and Ultra Rich Body Cream (200ml, 200ml), and the hand duo contains their One Minute Hand Scrub and Hand Cream (100ml, 150ml). Only the hand duo is limited edition.

    Fun fact (well, two fun facts): the L’Occitane Ultra Rich face and body creams both contain a whopping 25% pure shea butter, and the new formula’s paraben-free!

    Oh, and P.S. the L’Occitane winter sale is still on ;)

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