Okay, so this post was supposed to go up Friday, but I kind of sort of completely forgot about it. (Hey, at least I’m honest!)
In fragrances…
Must… smell… them all… immediately! (P.S. Review of Lady Million soon! I’ve been keeping it under wraps because it doesn’t launch until the fifteenth in Canada, but we’ll try to get a Love Letter out for you over the next week or two.)
Oh, and P.P.S. Marc Jacobs? Release a new version of Daisy, already! We’re so sick of new bottles, new bottles, new bottles, “oh just kidding it’s the same scent” business. We’d like a proper flanker now, please!
 |
What it is: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara, in Black Tea.
The wear: Unfortunately, this was not smudge-free. (But then again, with my lids… almost nothing is. The only mascaras I’ve ever tried that has been truly smudge-free have been my beloved tubing ones!) It holds a curl, but only if said curl was “dried in” — it takes the curl out upon application, like a lot of other soft-and-feathery mascaras. To remedy this, all you have to do is “push” your lashes for 10-20 seconds while they dry, curving them up with your finger. The effect is just lovely, but getting there’s a pain in the arse when you’re in a hurry!
The look: Just as it claims to be, this mascara is definitely more of a lengthener than a volumizer. The formula was a little less wet than I was expecting, though, seeing as lengthening mascaras tend to be quite liquid-y. (In my books, though, this is a good thing — super-wet mascaras tend to take the curl right out of lashes, no matter what measures you go to in order to try and prevent it!)
The finish is soft and not quite glossy, but it’s less sooty than many other mascaras that I’ve tried. (By “sooty,” I don’t mean the colour… I mean that look that most mascaras have. You know the one: ashen and super-matte.) One coat of this mascara produces natural, pretty lashes, and two really gives them some “oomph.” I wouldn’t risk three, though — we’d definitely be encroaching on spider lash territory.
The removal: is easy. Some water, some soap, and you’re done! No need to wash your face and then slather on even more makeup remover to get rid of racoon eyes, which is nice.
The ingredients:
Organic Green Tea, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Honey Beeswax, Contains All or some of the following Pigments: Blackberry, Blueberry, Black Tea, Grape Skin, Pomegranate, Acai Berry, Boysenberry, Blackcurrant and Raspberry, Oat Protein, Wheat Protein, Provitamin B5, Seaweed Powder, Coconut Stearic acid, Mica (for shimmer in the Blackberry and Blueberry), Cocoa Butter, Pearl Powder, Rice Powder, Cacao Powder and Powdered Coffee Beans, Lavender Honey, Extracts of Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender and Golden Seal
Try it if…
Skip it if…
Availability: on the 100% Pure site, a full tube runs for $18 (here.) However, you can also get a mini size (here) or a trio of minis (here,) which work brilliantly for those abiding by the three-month mascara rule, or for those on the go!
A quick comparison: out of all the mascaras I’ve tried so far, this is most similar to Fresh Supernova (review here.) However, the finish of this one is a bit more glossy, and my lashes clump together more than they do with the other. While the Fresh can’t be beat for a natural-but-better feathery lash, though, I’d pick this one over Supernova — it’s $18 to Fresh’s $25, the packaging is even prettier (!!!) and while both smudge and take the curl out of the lash initially, this one holds the curl a bit better.
A last bit of advice: don’t want to fork over $18 for a mascara? Fret not — this one’s featured in kits pretty often. Like this one (which is available just for the weekend,) or this one, or this one (which contains the tinted moisturizer that I love so much!)
A bit of a lazy day today, so here’s a chunk of the release…
Hair is your best accessory and Frédéric Fekkai wants everyone to unlock the key to great style! To show consumers how to achieve their best personal style, Frédéric Fekkai is inviting consumers to Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide on Thursday, August 26th to receive a personalized hair consultation and complimentary full sized Fekkai Advanced styling product, up to a $25 value, while supplies last.
The promotion is part of the exciting “Wear Your Hair” campaign from Fekkai and includes the chance to take home a best selling styling product. Consumers will be asked a set of brief questions regarding their hair type, daily routine and the style they want to achieve. A Fekkai team representative will be on-hand to offer a personalized consultation complete with a corresponding complimentary product to help them achieve their ultimate style! Product options include: Advanced Full Blown Volume Lifting Hairspray, Advanced Brilliant Glossing Crème, Advanced Salon Technician Color Care Anti-Fade Topcoat & Coiff Contrôle Ironless Straightening Balm. […]
The Fekkai Style Trial is limited to one styling product per customer and is only available while supplies last.
What it is: Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion
.jpg)
aqua (water, eau), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cera alba (beeswax, cire d’abeille), mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, stearic acid, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark extract, sodium bicarbonate, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, carum petroselinum (parsley) leaf oil, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel wax, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, tocopherol, parfum (fragrance), sucrose stearate, glucose, xanthan gum, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil (huile de colza), sodium borate, sodium chloride, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, limonene
The verdict? I thought a foot lotion was a needless frivolity — and I mean, I guess it kind of is. But (especially in the summer,) this one is worth it! I love how it feels, I love how it smells, and because you don’t use too terribly much at a time, I guess I can justify $15 on a tube of this ;)
Availability: Well.ca, most drugstores, some supermarkets… I’ve even spied Burt’s in Sears, no joke! (I was trying to find YSL Cinema that day, which I did not chance upon. However, I now see the silver lining of this expedition, as I can share this with you ladies!)
You fill the whole room.
No, really. You fill the whole room; at least, on my skin. Like you’re some sort of airborne infectious pathogen… or perhaps as if you’re a beautiful melody resonating from a grand piano. One spritz on one tiny, tiny bit of flesh, and you’re everywhere.
But this isn’t a bad thing — not necessarily, that is.
You might not be my cup of tea, but that’s not to say that you’re anything bad: it’s just that you’re a lovely floral, with hints of green, and neither are families that I happen to be partial to. I’ve never been a Chloe girl, and I suppose that’s why I don’t love you. You evoke the image of a strong young woman, one who is feminine and girly — but not “girly-girl.” You’re not exactly grassroots, but perhaps your parents were in their heyday. You go to the farmers’ markets on the weekend and love the feel of sand between your toes.
You are pink peony, freesia, lychee; fresh, watery (as if water spilled out of petals when you bit them,) and accessible, friendly. A little deeper I may find magnolia, lily of the valley, and rose; right here is where you find your demure, refined nature. Somewhere, there is a subtle bit of powder, but powder in softness rather than in sharp aldehydes. Finally, you reveal cedarwood, amber, and honey… or at least, your notes say you do. I understand honey and cedarwood, but my nose cannot find amber in your sparkling soft white floral existence.
To be honest, I so prefer you on a blotter than I do on my skin, where you always seem to be too sour. But you’re devastatingly popular with your crooked grin, and paired with your your packaging (which none can rival, of course,) your scent makes you the perfect gift. It’s just that I’d never be friends with you… you pretend to be carefree and effortless, but your perfectly polished nails and two-hundred-dollar hilights aren’t fooling me.
You’re a nice girl, Chloé. You smell a bit like the idea of a wedding; floral, creamy, and (hopefully) inoffensive. Parents love you when their sons bring you home, and your boss thinks you’re quite chic, and sometimes, someone leans into your hair and asks, what is that?
But your date’s sister thinks you’re two shadows short of a palette, and your coworkers (while they love spending time with you outside of work) are tired of having to explain everything to you. Twice.
Availability: Most department stores, Sephora, FragranceNet
. This lovely lady’s not hard to find at all!
What it is: Marcelle Lux Metallic liquid eyeliners in Aqua and Ultraviolet and Marcelle Lux Diamond liquid eyeliner in Silver, all included in Marcelle’s Brighten Your Eyes collection for this fall/winter.
The colours and packaging: are both gorgeous. Totally, completely, dazzlingly gorgeous. The Metallic liners dry to a liquid-metal finish, and are semi-opaque with one layer or completely opaque with two. I tried Aqua and Ultraviolet and adored both, but Cobalt Blue and Jade look gorgeous as well!
The packaging, on the other hand, is perfect and simple. Both the Diamond and Metallic liners feature my favourite liquid liner tip, a thin, long brush, making it incredibly easy to create a fine or thick line, and to get said line right in close to your lashes. The tubes are lightweight and classy — very Marcelle!
The Metallic eyeliners: I have only one gripe with these, which is that they pick up your eyeshadow (the finish is slightly tacky even when completely dry.) For those of you with differently shaped eyes, that may be fine — but for my monolids, it’s a disaster! It’s not a dealbreaker, though; it just means that I have to remember to set with a tiny bit of translucent powder on an angled liner brush.
As for the rest of the wear? It’s great! The Lux Metallic liners apply easily, dry reasonably fast, and last all day long.
The Diamond eyeliners: As I was playing with Silver, I couldn’t help but think “I know you. We’re good friends… and I’d recognize you anywhere.” Turns out, I was right! She’s a dead ringer for Annabelle Plutonium. And by “dead ringer,” we mean dead ringer, right down to the ingredients list.
Do I have a problem with this?
Not a one! I love my Plutonium liner, and seeing as this one is the same, I’m a happy camper. The price is a little higher, but you get more product, the same great brush, and you get cuter packaging.
I’m a bit lazy, so instead of reviewing Silver, I’ll direct you to my review of Plutonium… here : )
The ingredients:
Metallic:AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, PVP, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, SILICA, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) FLOWER EXTRACT, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE
May contain: (MICA, IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE , FERRIC FERROCYANIDE, CARMINE)Diamond: AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PHENOXYETHANOL, POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
The verdict? I’m still pretty upset with Marcelle, because you ladies are all going to be broke after the Brighten Your Eyes! collection ravages your wallets. However, at $11-something a pop plus (or should that be minus?) a rebate coupon (below)… I have no regrets advising you to pick at least one of these up. I mean, all four Metallic liners and both Diamond liners would be overkill (probably,) but one or two couldn’t hurt!
Two more photos to flaunt how gorgeous these are… promise me you’ll enlarge that last one to experience epic glitter? :P
Reviews and swatches of Marcelle’s Fall 2010 collection (Brighten Your Eyes) upcoming! In the meantime, why not check out last week’s FOTD, which features the other quad in this collection? ;)
As usual — head behind the cut for more photos a disturbing number of full-face shots, a few more eye shots, and a product listing!
Eyes…
Full-face… I took a bunch and I couldn’t pick :/
The eye without Blue Hue layered overtop:
(More on this tomorrow… all you need to know for now is that Teal Chic alone wouldn’t cut it for this look! Oh, and — obviously — these photos are missing mascara and liner.)
.JPG)
Products Used:
Marcelle Wet and Dry quad in Teal ChicAnnabelle Trio Eyeshadow in Blue HueMarcelle LUX Metallic eyeliner in AquaSenna powder blush in Faded RoseBobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Heather BuffBenefit Stay Don’t Stray eye primerMAC Matte2 Eye Shadow in Blanc TypeMAC Fluidline in Blacktrack100% Pure Ultra Lengthening Mascara in Black Tea
