photo credit: micasa. via desire to inspire.
I really, really love you, Marchsa. Which is why I just can’t understand why in the HELL you would come up with this:
Or this:
Or THIS:
Seriously. I DON’T CARE if you’re having personal issues or one of your designers is now bipolar or even if someone’s dog died. We get it. You’re creative and edgy. Now please, for the love of god, go back to creating lovely, flowing, elegant dresses, before I have to comment on your models!
(They are wearing really cute shoes, though.)
images credit style.com
Our first B-Ray giveaway has, unfortunately, come to an end. I couldn’t be happier about the results, though! The lucky gal who’ll be sent the listed prize (and a slew of other odds and ends) is very much deserving of it, if you ask me — so have fun with your loot, my dear Kate! (Well, technically, you entered with “Kate and Zena”… but if you try using any of this on Zena, I’m tracking you down using your IP and taking her away. Away!)
Kate’s favourite blue is Revlon Riviera Blue, a dark navy that’s the closest I’ve found in the drugstore to B-Ray. If I absolutely cannot find a better dupe, I’d recommend trying the Revlon in lieu of B-Ray… but it’s not quite there in terms of epicness, so I’m still on the hunt! (On that note, though I do quite like the Revlon Matte collection on the whole. It’s a lovely drugstore selection, in product, price, and packaging!)
I love it when good things happen to good people, so I’m over the moon that random.org spat out a “43,” corresponding to Kate’s name on my spreadsheet. Congratulations, dear! Don’t forget (pshh, how could you forget?!) to email me your details asap!
I haven’t tried Tart’s kabuki or Park Ave Princess, but I do know that a lot of you have been looking for a matte bronzer!
Jacob glosses? NOT recommended. However, their fragrance line isn’t half bad! It’s very fresh, quite green apple, and would make a lovely room scent (candle, anyone?)
It’s $10, but free with a $35 purchase if you put ONTHEFLY into the promo box. Sneaky! Valid 6/22/10 to 7/4/10.
Have a lovely Saturday, darlings! Make it awesome enough to make up for my terrible one… it’s currently just fine, but I anticipate complete and total wreckage.
Why is this?
IT’S THREE A.M. AND I CAN’T SLEEP. This is the third time in a week, so I’m going crazy over here!
Products by the brands that everyone has always wanted to be in Sephoras over here:
And products by the brands that are just… well, we’ll say “surprising,” be that in a good way or a bad way:
The conclusion? EVERYONE MUST MOVE TO FRANCE! Because clearly, the Sephora France site (a) gets the goods first, and (b) gets the goods that we don’t!
Note: I’m exhausted. This is all you’re getting right now… perhaps if I muster up enough energy later today, you can get a real post!
all images credit Sephora.Fr.
to be taken to the product or brand page, simply click through the images.
I’ve had these two cult GOSH items forever (yes, old-camera lip-swatches-at-weird-angles forever*) and always meant to review them, but I just never got around to it! Well, now’s as good a time as any.
*by this we mean “for a while, like maybe six months.
GOSH Velvet Touch lipstick
in 134 Darling
Aside from having the cutest name on the block (GOSH, Darling! That’s just gor-jus!) I’ve a bit to say about Darling. It’s basically the most hyped drugstore nude ever, which sets the bar high… and unfortunately, I don’t find it’s all peaches and cream.
(different lighting and angles)
First off? The good stuff: starting with the tube! I just love the sleek, matte black tube, and the shiny GOSH label keeps things interesting. The formula touts a light vanilla to cover up a waxy base scent, and the finish has a bit of shine and lustre to it.
one layer
two layers
And then, the bad: while the formula feels like it would be hydrating at first, with a nice amount of slip… it’s not. I actually find it to be drying, and (on already dry lips,) the colour has a tendency to catch on dry bits and settle into lines if you’re not careful. As for the “one size fits all” nude shade? Yah, not so much. I think it works pretty well on my skintone, but I can think of plenty of people who Darling wouldn’t look so hot on.
Including some people who love it.
‘sall I’m saying.
image from this FOTD.
The verdict? I do think it’s a nice nude, and it’s not like I’m going to stop using it — but it’s not the be-all-end-all that it’s hyped up to be. Because I don’t wear nudes often, my search is (at least, for now,) ending here. If I did wear them more than once or twice a month, though, I’d keep on looking! The drying formula is a dealbreaker for me, unfortunately.
A darling tip: she plays well with others! I love using this to lighten up other lip colours, or even as a light base when I’m mixing a number of colours to create what I’m looking for.
GOSH Exteme Art Liner
in 07 Black
Again, a much-hyped product! Unlike it’s Darling counterpart (I promise, I’ll stop with the Darling puns… eventually,) I think this one very much deserves the hype. The shade range is awesome, and these wear like metal!
wet/dry. Such a lovely, saturated black!
Seriously. METAL. They are so !@)$*@$%* hard to get off completely, even with oil-based waterproof eye makeup remover.
Anyhow, there are the downsides: The thick formula takes aaages to dry, leaving me awkwardly looking down for about five (!!) minutes. Seriously, the drying time is epic. The other problem is the applicator — while I’m fine with the brush tip, I know that a lot of ladies (especially those new to liquid liner) have troubles with controlling it, even though it’s not a wild bear. So, for a beginner, it may not be the best bet! (Also, so not loving the $16 price tag. I picked mine up on a 40% off sale, so I’m not complaining!)
The verdict? I love this like I love chocolate cookies. It’s great for long hours and perfect for events — but I wouldn’t reach for it on a daily basis, seeing as lots of cookies make you fat it’s a huge PITA to get off at night and takes forever to apply. However, if you’re into long-wearing makeup, or you’re even a little into makeup artistry, I think this is well worth having in your kit. They’re even great for things like body art and (so I hear,) nail art!
compared to some other liners. GOSH on the top; Annabelle Black Out liquid liner and Lancôme Noir Artliner below, respectively.
slightly similar comparison post here.
Well, that’s all for today! I know it’s a lot for one post, and I hope we didn’t overwhelm you ;) Questions, comments, and so fourth are always appreciated in the comments!
Ingredients behind the cut.
Lipstick:
Liner:
What comes to mind at the mention of your name is your glassware. Your gorgeous, gorgeous bottle. Like your body it is quite complex, and to some degree (by this of course we mean to a large degree,) it is overwhelming.
Often, you are mentioned in the same sentence as Angel, and always either in complete reverence or complete distaste. The two of you are both so loud, so rambunctious, that you are either love or hate. (And, alright, so I quite dislike the both of you.) True to your promise, you are more floral, and leave less sillage — but like Angel you are often preferred after at least six hours of wear.
Your liquid is aniseed, ivy, liquorice, vanilla, tonka bean; aggression. Met with amarena cherry, vanilla, praline; syrupy sweetness. Supported by iris, musk; hearty and bold. You fill my mind and get stuck in my throat, choking me. A spoonful of honey; pure and too sweet.
What is truly stunning is the vastness of your line. Not only do you have the standard eau de parfum and eau de toilette, you exist in eau de parfum concentré, whipped body cream, foaming gel, velvet cream, deoderant, sweet cream soap, body scrub crystals, bath sugars, glittery body fondant… for over fourteen hundred pounds, you can even be found in “giant bottle luxury edition” packaging. 2700 milliletres, all in one overwhelmingly large bottle.
This is your embodiment. Everything about you on its own is so delicate, so light and untouchable — but together, your elements create something monstrously large.
Lolita Lempicka was created in 1997 by Annick Menardo. Her gorgeous bottle was designed by Alain de Morgues.
Available for pre-order now! (But they won’t make it in until the twelfth.) Clicking on the image -> takes you to the product page. Now have at ‘er!
I’ve confessed my love for L’Eau Ambrée before, and I’ll do it again!
No, seriously, I will. I love this scent!
Ugh, gross applicators. But still, you *have* to love this Shu palette. It’s Shu, and it’s very cute and sleek.
Also this Dior one, just because it’s Dior, and even though the packaging is butt ugly.
(Take note, Dior. I’m talking to you.)
It’s just so darn cute!
You had me at “Lancôme.” Even though, again, we’re suffering from outside ugliness.
(In case you can’t tell, L, I’m talking about that awful pink thing.)
(In case you can’t tell, L, I’m talking about that awful pink thing.)
Still haven’t tried Orgasm. But now that I’m getting over my insane love for exclusively matte, dusty, rose or plum blushers, I’d like to try it.
To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of either of these looks — which is why it’s been over a year since these photos were taken, but I still hadn’t posted them. (Seriously, over a year. I was still using my old camera and not even considering buying a new one.)
I hate to let a good photo (or in this case, a bad photo) go to waste, though, so I’m throwing them out there! I’ll be trying to clear out some of my epic photo backlog over the next month or so, which means that we’ll be able to put out more current material in the near future. Don’t worry, though — it won’t get in the way of regular posting :)
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use these images as colour inspiration despite the fact that they’re not my best work! I did both quite late at night, so by the time I took full-face shots the sun was setting. So, both have a bright-but-blurry sun-lit image and a couple with flash. I’ll try to make up for the image quality with angry quips, so buckle your seatbelts.
More of each (including full face shots and product listings) behind the cut!
On occasion, our usually-boring sky looks ridiculously gorgeous for no apparent reason.
I love it.
Not a great makeup shot, but I loved how my hair looked :P
Used: green:
Stila Oil-Free foundation in shade BBoots No. 7 Illuminating Concealer in IINYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.NARS GinaMAC BlacktrackMAC Plum PerfectFyrinnae Polar Bear (gold)MAC Mauvement (for the finish, probably?)MAC Humid (green)
The blue look
I remember this looking really different with different angles and lighting, so I tried to capture that in the eye shots!
AHHH where is my shirt?! And why do I look like an alien?!
(Just kidding. You can see a bit of a strap here, but I think I switched it for a sweater for the other photos. Got cold, perhaps?)
(As for the looking like an alien… I’m still not sure.)
Should have left the tank top on. This shirt is low enough to make me uncomfortable.
YES I AM A PRUDE. HUSH.
On a more on-topic note; the inner corner hilight was actually very even. But, as I said, the whole look flashes very differently with different angles etc!
Remember when I didn’t smile for FOTDs? This was back when I usually didn’t.
So while I look a bit like I’m about to cry, cut me some slack! The effort was there!
Used:
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
MAC BlacktrackIman Rubor (pink cream blush)
MAC Harmony (contour)
Stila Vanilla (lip glaze)Senna Blue Note (dirty navy)
Senna Kinetic (silver)
GOSH Pretty Petrol (liner)
Coastal Scents Blue Diamonds (super-shimmery blue)
MAC Naked (fleshtoned shimmer)