New Giveaway: Infiniti Pro by Conair Volume Boost Hair Dryer Giveaway for Followers

NYX New Retractable Eye Liner Swatches and Review

Top to Bottom: Turquoise Blue, Purple, Bronze, Black




Turquoise Blue, Purple, Bronze, Black

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Camellia Eau de Toilette Spray Review

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Lavender, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Camellia

Bobbi Brown Fall 2011: Marrakesh Chic Collection

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless Nail Varnish Giveaway

Be the first to win the new Nail Varnish shades of the collection with a unique, rubberised finish by entering at http://www.illamasqua.com/kinkynails

Taking a lead from the colour-coded specialities of the Wittenberg Platz’s domineering Boot Girls, Illamasqua introduces confident new shades, in a brazen display of utter indulgence. The Theatre of the Nameless proudly parades a kinky new waxy “rubber-look” finish to Illamasqua’s hardwearing, chip-resistant.

Nail Varnish …





Taint – Stone Brown

Kink – Bottle Green

Vice – Deep Cerise

Faux Pas – Blue Violet


To enter, go to Illamasqua.com/kinkynails – the internationally open competition opens on Friday 26th August and runs until Sunday 4th September – all T&Cs on the website.

In case you missed the exclusive reveal and teaser on the Illamasqua blog and facebook into the Theatre of the Nameless, online launch date is on Friday, the 2nd of September!

Made From Earth Green Tea Toxin Cleanser Review

Illamasqua Cosmetics and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Illamasqua has always impressed me with their fearless take on issues with a firm stand for what the company believes in. This time, Illamasqua gives a film tribute for Sophie Lancaster to raise awareness and to inform people on how to donate to the cause. Watch the film below and find out how and where the funding for the charity goes.

Nail Look: Orly Birds of A Feather Collection in Fowl Play

Fall leaves in a bottle!! Fowl Play is hands down the most popular and most coveted polish from the Orly Birds of a Feather collection. I got the last one from my neighborhood ULTA. It is a beautiful dark purple base with gold, purple, green, and orange flakies. It is also opaque in two coats.

You will really appreciate the complexity and nuances of the polish outdoors or under sunlight. Unfortunately, it is just your usual plum/purple polish in low light unless you peer closely. It is a dupe of OPI's Merry Midnight that OPI came out with in their holiday collection a couple of years ago, so it's not technically an original from Orly. However, since Merry Midnight was limited edition and quite rare, the closest you can get to it is via Fowl Play.

MAC Me Over: Additional Swatches and Product Photos

Hi everyone! I went to the MAC store and bought MAC Me Over items that I didn't have yet, so here are some more product photos and swatches. If you want to see some of my looks, reviews and tutorials using the MAC Me Over products, check out The Shades Of U MAC Me Over Swatches, Looks and Reviews.

Eye Shadows:


Creamy Bisque, Carbonized
Satin Taupe, Outre
Mythical, Moleskin

MAC Me Over: 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush Review

MAC 226 small tapered blending brush 2011

I went to the MAC store yesterday and hauled a bunch of stuff, mostly eyeshadow refill pans from the permanent collection (Blanc Type, Soft Brown, Corduroy, Forgery - swatches and reviews coming up!), but I also got several items from the MAC Me Over collection that I didn't have yet. Well, I did get a MAC 226 small tapered blending brush from the Brunette Blonde Redhead collection in January 2009, but somehow, the heads of the 2009 and 2011 versions are quite different.

The 2009 version has a pointed head which for me made it hard to work with. The 2011 has a soft tapered head but not as pointed. See comparison pics below:

Infiniti Pro by Conair Volume Boost Hair Dryer Review

NEW Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF 15

I have tried more than 20 mineral foundations, and I am curious as to how different the new Bobbi Brown Mineral Makeup will be. Bobbi Brown is known for creating the flawless face, and I am looking forward to how she uses a new medium (minerals) to achieve this.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF 15 launches in stores September 2011.

NEW NARS Concealer

NARS is giving a face lift to its Concealer! Along with a new slim packaging, the formula has grown its range from six to ten shades in order to reach a broader scope of skin tones. All shades boast the same lightweight, creamy texture, enriched with Vitamin E for crease-resistant coverage that stays in place all day.

The range of shades now includes (from lightest to darkest):

• Chantilly – for fairest of complexions, true ivory (NEW!)

• Vanilla – for fair complexions, tiny cast of pink tones

• Honey – for light to medium complexion, warm peach tones

• Custard – for light to medium complexions, yellow tones

• Ginger – for medium complexions, golden tones

• Biscuit – for medium to dark complexions, natural balance of pink and yellow tones (NEW!)

• Caramel – for medium to dark complexions, yellow and golden tones (NEW!)

• Amande – for medium to dark complexions, golden olive tones (NEW!)

• Café – for dark complexions, warm red tones (NEW!)

• Cacao – for dark complexions, deep-gold-brown tones (NEW!)

Price: $22

Available: narscosmetics.com, beginning September 1st

D.J.V. Beautenizer Mascara Review: Fiberwig® LX and Volume Lash

I had the opportunity to try D.J.V. Beautinizer mascaras from Japan. They are all the rage in Japan and are about to make a U.S. debut. There are basically two variants of the D.J.V. mascaras. The first is the Fiberwig® LX that is your fiber mascara that lengthens the appearance of your lashes. The second is the Volume Lash which plumps up your lashes for more volume and lushness. Let's start with the Fiberwig® LX.

Nail Look: China Glaze Metallic Crackle Glaze

I have all of the China Glaze Metallic Crackle Glazes, but I am featuring only two here which were sent to me for review: Tarnished Gold and Cracked Medallion. Here are some looks using these with the China Glaze Metro collection polishes:


City Siren topped with Tarnished Gold Metallic Crackle Glaze


Urban Night topped with Cracked Medallion




Street Chic with Tarnished Gold



I am honestly not a huge fan of crackle polishes. I prefer to Konadify my nails or add a flakie polish or top coat if I want a design on them. I do admit though that adding a crackle polish is the easiest way to add zest to your manicure. It gives it texture and a look that will surely turn heads.

These new Metallic Crackle glazes are interesting, though, because not only do they add texture and contrast, they also give amazing shine. Coupled with a contrasting base polish, these are remarkable designs.

What I don't like about crackles is that they are not office-friendly, so I only get to work these during weekends. I also think they are a bit too juvenile, but they sure are fun for a night out on town clubbing with friends. 

China Glaze crackles are some of the better crackle polishes I've tried, just because they really do give prominent "cracks" on the nail.  Some crackle polishes I've tried don't really crack as much or don't produce obvious cracks, which defeats the purpose of the product.  And it's not because of the way I applied the product either: I always apply any crackle polish thickly to produce big cracks, but that is not the result I get every time.  I like that China Glaze crackles produce at least 1 mm. cracks every time.

Note: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company for consideration.  All opinions are completely mine.