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    Marc Jacobs Splash 2010

    February 4, 2010
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    Each year, the Marc Jacobs fragrance division releases three new “splashes,” available just for the season. Once they’ve sold out, they’re really gone — and I, personally, think it’s a great tactic. Each scent is fresh, simple, and in splash form*; they’re like the super cute t-shirt that you know you’ll only be able to wear for a month before there’s a hole in the thin fabric but buy anyways.

    This year’s releases are Apple, Pommegranite, and… Biscotti!? Needless to say, I’m intrigued and cannot wait to smell these!

    *for those of you who are sane aren’t fragrance junkies: splashes are a very low concentration of parfum extract, made to be “splashed” onto the body (hence the HUGE size of the Splash fragrances; 10oz for about $75CDN.)
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    Tags: /Fragrance
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    YOU: Strange customer service stories?

    February 3, 2010
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    I’ve already asked you about your bad customer service stories, but now I want to hear the ones that make you go “wtf?!” Whether your stories are funny, sad, or just obscure, let’s hear ’em!


    Here’s one of mine:

     ——————–

    Last December, I was in The Bay looking for (yet another) new fragrance to try. I was interested in Guerlain’s Figue-Iris and Laurier-Reglisse, the only two out of the Aqua Allegoria line that I hadn’t been able to track down and try out (didn’t end up loving either.) And just as I was closing in on my prey — 

    “Hi my name is USA how may I help you today?” USA: Unhelpful Sales Associate.

    -[cringe] “You know, I’m really fine, I just wanted to smell a couple Aqua Allegorias and –“

    “No.”

    -[pause] “I’m sorry, what?!”

    “No.”

    [awkward moment]

    “You actually want to smell My Insolence.”

    -“Um, I’m pretty sure I really don’t want–.”

    [Takes Figure-Iris out of my hand, sprays My Insolence (four or five times) on a touche, and pushes it in front of my face] “It’s very young. Like you.”

    -“You know, I’m really not looking for something like –“

    “It’s perfect! Isn’t the bottle just adorable? The perfume is pink! It’s so you!” [Nodding like a maniac and grinning like the Cheshire Cat]

    -“I’ve smelled it before. And I still don’t like it! I’m really not looking for something that sweet.”

    “Have you smelled the original Insolence? The whole bottle is pink! You are so young and pretty, just like the colour pink.”

    [exeunt Rae and all the common sense in the room]

     ——————–
    If you have a story to share, well, that’s what the comment thread is for! I can’t wait to read the responses ;)
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    Cute things

    February 3, 2010
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    If you’re not planning on clicking any of these images, at least click the first one! Truly amazing photographs.

    The image that took me to Cute Overload in the first place (I rarely ever visit the site.) Via.

    I don’t even know what this is, but it’s adorable.

    This last one needs no introduction!


    All via Cute Overload; images link back to the original posts.
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    Tags: /Link love
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    I love it when you surprise me like that

    February 2, 2010
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    NYC’s Color Wheel Mosaic Eye Powder in Purple Rain.

    I was ready to say that this was an utter piece of crap. Because, well, I was convinced it was. I wrote up the entire post and scheduled it — and then I went back upstairs and thought over it again. (I despise hating on products, so I try to make sure they darn well deserve it if I do!)

    For the original post I had the photo below; each colour swatched dry and then a dry blend of them all. Right after finishing with these I swiped over them with my other hand, seeing how they would blend, and man, did they blend… right off my arm. Honestly, one touch and they were gone! I was disgusted, and that’s where the hate post came from.

    But then… then I thought about it for a while, when I was back upstairs at my vanity with the Color Wheel. I mean, it’s so soft, and it’s so darn pretty in the pan!


    So I gave it another go, once with primer and once foiled. And guess what? It amazed me. How could this be the same shadow?! It was $4 and (as you can still see by the far left swatch) it was pathetic!

    My faith in the drugstore was yet again renewed, and I was ready to re-write my post, but I had one thing I wanted to try first — I’ve always been curious as to what purple blushes are for. I figured if this is so unpigmented dry, why not give it a go? Can’t hurt, right?

    And I was right; it really couldn’t hurt to try. Though this doesn’t last all day, I have to admit that I’m in love. (And it takes a lot to get me to fall in love with something drugstore!) Not only does it look amazing foiled on the eyes, a sheer wash of this with a loose powder brush gives an incredibly stunning natural-looking flush.

    Oh my god I’m sorry for my Sunday-morning-face. No foundation, no concealer… I feel guilty making you all look at this! I’m glad I had my XSi, though, because makes everything prettier!

    So… the verdict? This one knocked me off my feet, and while I’m not a fan of the loose-lidded packaging, I have no other complaints. For $4, if you use this as a blush or foil it over primer on your eyes, this is definitely worth a try! It’s a nice pick-me-up treat for the girl on the budget.

    (If you’re a chronic no-base dry-shadow gal, though, pass on this one. And shame on you! Primer is like my best friend; foiling’s my fiancée.)

    (The wedding is in June and yes you are invited.)

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    Tags: /Cheeks, Eyes, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches
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    Dear John Galliano… I love you.

    February 1, 2010
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    So maybe Dior didn’t have it’s best season ever. (I, at least, don’t think so.) But I do love how you take us away to this alternate reality; you whisk us off our feet without abandon and refuse to even believe in real life. Dior couture is just so fantastical, so “out there,” that it almost creates its own reality — you can’t look at Dior and think about how weird it is; you’re simply forced to look at it and find the beauty in the fabrics, the shapes, the colours.


    The idea.



    All images via style.com
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    Tags: /Dior, Fashion, Other, Pretty things
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    The filled palette, as promised!

    February 1, 2010
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    Most of my shadows are Senna depots or pressed pigments — in other words, metal pans that need a magnet to stick to. MAC pans come with no magnets, but rather have a thin sheet of metal for the magnetized pro pans to stick to. I ended up taking strips of magnet about 1″ wide and sliding them into the palette; three of them, one strip per row. (My divider wouldn’t “snap up” and allow me to put a full magnetic sheet in.)


    Now, finally, the palette!

    From left to right; Senna unless otherwise marked. “Mine” indicating a shadow I mixed and pressed myself from pigments or micas. (More on those another day)
    Top row: Fantasy, mine, Bronze Age, Smoulder, Intrigue
    Middle row: Mine, mine, mine, Glo Green, MAC Humid
    Bottom row: Snow, Fusion, Taupe Glow, Twilight, Sphinx

    And an artsy shot because I have a new camera and no life:

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    Tags: /Eyes, Indie brands, MAC, Other, Product Photos, Senna
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    The Grammys happened… and so did these looks!

    January 31, 2010
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    Carrie Underwood is looking amaaazing! I absolutely LOVE the dress, the hair, and the makeup… oh, the rare celeb hat trick! I honestly don’t have a single complaint, and for a crabbypants like myself, that says a ton.

    Seriously. AMAZING!
    Of course, eternal love for Heidi ;) I wasn’t a fan of the dress, though… can we say epic boobage?!

    (Yes, I know I don’t have a photo of the dress here. It hurt my eyes. Go google it sometime when there are no children in the room if you’re really that interested.)
    Lea, Lea, Lea. You know, you usually annoy the hell out of me kind of annoy me. But oh my goodness — not tonight! I love the daring dress (that I personally could never pull off; jealous!) as well as your flawless hair and makeup. You got it right this time, girl. ♥!

    Image credits: many non-me sources.
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    Tags: /Celebrities, Fashion, Other
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    The Grammys happened. These looks did not.

    January 31, 2010
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    Miley — lose the tan lines, find your lips, and please for the love of god, WEAR PANTS. (A dress that covers your ass would be fine, too.)

    I have to admit, though. You have great hair, girl.


    Ke$ha — I don’t even know what to say aside from NO. (I did like the outer 2/3 of your eye makeup, though.)

    Katy Perry — you’re young, gorgeous, and hot. Ditch your stylist, because you do NOT belong in this. (No one belongs in this.)

    Jennifer — I think you normally look great, and my hat’s off to you for looking so happy… but I hate how chunky your bangs are, and holy MAN, your girls are hiiiigh!


    Image sources: assorted, but not theNotice.
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    Tags: /Celebrities, Fashion, Other
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