Pastels Using Aromaleigh Opulent Lustres

Here's a simple (no falsies!) look using my Aromaleigh Opulent Lustre shadows. This was the first time I tried them, and just like their cousins, the Elemental Lustres (also from Aromaleigh), these are best applied dry, because they are uber-metallic and would look over-the-top when foiled. However, it was Amarante from the Bete Noire collection that pulled the look together. Having used very shimmery products, I applied the matte shadow in the Coastal Scents 28 Piece Neutral Palette to highlight the browbone. All products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Soft Ochre paint pot over lid, brows, and apply UD Primer Potion on lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply MAC Cash Flow paint pot on lid.




Apply Gingko dry on inner half of the lid including the inner corners using a stiff shader brush (Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8"). Use quick, patting motions when applying the shadow.


Using the other side of the same brush, apply Dragonfly dry on mid to outer lid, blending into Gingko.


Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Amarante on the outer lid.


Apply more Amarante on the outer V and crease using a fluffy shader brush. Using the same brush, apply Tapestry on the outer V and crease, blending everthing using the MAC 224 brush.


Using Stila No. 5 brush, apply Shadow B from Coastal Scents 28 Neutral Palette (see pic above) on the browbone. Using Sonia Kashuk mini-contour/detail brush, apply Dragonfly on inner to mid-lower lashline, and Amarante on outer lower lashline. Line eyes using Indelible gel liner in Endangered. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero on waterline and tightline. Apply mascara.









Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Cory mineral foundation in Beyond Cream and Carmel Cream (70-30 mix)
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution finishing powder in Translucent
MAC mineralize blush in Gleeful applied sparingly

Lips:
Rimmel lipliner in Tiramisu
MAC lipstick in Lollipop Loving
MAC lipglasses in Vital Spark and Splendid!

Aromaleigh Valentine Limited Edition Shadows: Initial Thoughts and Swatches

I finally got my Aromaleigh Valentine 2009 Shadows samples, and I really, really love the colors. I believe this is going to be one of my favorite Aromaleigh eyeshadow collections, together with Bete Noire and Gothic Lolita. For now I'll just let the pictures do the talking. I swatched them on my hand dry without a base. I also took different shots and angles of the swatches so you can better see the color nuances.











First of all, here's a shout-out to Phyrra (Decorative Diva): you were right, I love Pillow Talk! I am amazed you actually knew my type of shades. :) I *think* (not sure because I have not placed them side by side yet) this is going to be similar to Champagne Toast from the Holiday Blast collection, but a little pinkier, maybe? Anyways, I think I might end up with a full size jar of Pillow Talk.

I love the shades in these collections because most of them are pretty neutral- chocolate, mauve, pinks, beiges are some of my favorite eyeshadow colors, mainly because they are very wearable and feminine at the same time. I am also loving Affair, Soul Mate, Chocolate Heart, Be Mine, Wine and Dine, Intrigued and Lovelorn. The good thing is that these are also on sale at 25% off up till 10a.m. EST on February 18. It's too tempting!

Here are the official descriptions of the colors from the Aromaleigh website.

Soulmate: A soft, velvety frosted pink that is extremely wearable due to it's buff undertone.

First Kiss: This appears to be a plush, smooth medium cool pink... but it goes on with a surprising violet highlight.

Bliss: A warm frosted coppery brown with tiny glints of silver throughout.

Fervor: Cool brown with a heart of pink roses, and bright sparks of copper.

Chocolate Heart : Luscious cool toned brown, pearlescent.

Sweet Nothings : Rosy mauved light brown with vivid twinklings of blue.

Be Mine : Soft and buttery smooth frost with unexpected bright twinklings of gold.

Pillow Talk : Pale buff pink with violet sparkles. Fans of our holiday big seller "Champagne Toast" will love this!

Love Note : Cool brown with green iridescence. Pearly frost, steely undertones. Like a cooler version of our discontinued "Elfin".

Intrigued: Smooth, pearl frosted warm chocolate brown with a deep undertone.

Hot Stuff : Can't resist vivid coral-red soft frost with violet sparks. Don't be shy!

Sea of Love : Deep, richest pearlized teal with deep pewter tones and glints of silver.

Lovelorn : Exquisite! Deepest rose brown with a myriad of smooth iridescence. Sure to please.

xoxo : Purply mauve with coppery iridescence. Very smooth and plush.

Heart and Soul : Sheer, easy to wear vivid magenta with sparks of pink. Can be foiled for more intense application.

Affair: Mid-deep smooth rosy coppered brown with soft golden iridescence.

Wine and Dine : Wine and rich garnet tones apply like silk with the slightest copper iridescent highlight tone.

In my opinion, I find the finish, texture and color pay-off of the Valentine shadows better than the Opulent Lustres, but I also like some of the shades from that collection. If you want romantic, feminine, and something really gorgeous to wear for a romantic night out, check out the Valentine limited edition shadows from Aromaleigh. I can't wait to come up with looks using these.

Aromaleigh Rocks! Sonic Rouge Blushes and Opulent Lustre Shadows

I'd been forever curious of Aromaleigh's Rocks! Sonic Rouge blushes because I've read a lot of great things about it. I held off ordering though because they look pretty scary in the baggies/jars. They really scream "pigment", but of course, I read that all you need is a light hand and a fibre optic blush brush, and these would give the most beautiful lit-from-within flush even on the fairest of skins. I took the plunge and ordered samples of all the Sonic Rouges. They come in baggies containing 1/4 teaspoon of product, which is pretty generous to me because you only need so little of these bad boys, or else you could end up with clown cheeks.

So what is the best tool to use with these? A fibre optic or skunk brush is okay (like the MAC 187), but Aromaleigh has crafted a unique blush brush for these suckers - the flat-head fibre optic blush brush.



This blush is quite different from the ordinary fibre optics patterned after the 187. The latter has a full, round head of white and black hairs, whereas the Aromaleigh fibre optic blush brush has a flat head of similar black and white bristles. I am not talking about the usual flat-top mineral brushes, this time the sides of the head are flattened, not the top. I prefer angled or flat headed duo fibres for applying mineral or very pigmented blushes as you can apply the pigment exactly where you want it (in a slanting position when contouring or just on the apples of the cheeks if you want a subtle flushed effect). The pigment doesn't go all over the place because of the precise flat head. This blush brush is also perfect for contouring as it gives a precise slanted strip under the cheekbone for a polished contoured effect.


Here are swatches of the beautiful Rocks! Sonic Rouges applied heavily on the skin using a Q-tip. These would be gorgeous on the cheeks using the flat-head fibre optic blush brush.



I also got a whole bunch of samples of the Opulent Lustre eyeshadow collection. I read that these are sisters of the Elemental Lustres, but patterned after a series of art works done in China that the owner fell in love with. That probably explains the asian flavors and names of this collection. These have a distinct metal finish, and I would love to use this dry because using it wet may be more metallic than I'd like it to be, but it didn't fare very well on my lids when applied dry. I might foil them next time to achieve better staying power, although this was the first time an Aromaleigh eyeshadow faded on me even with primer on. I will try the others and see how they would fare, but the colors are gorgeous!







This is obviously a spring collection, because the soft lovely colors just scream it.

If you love these swatches, now is probably the time to snag the Opulent Lustres as they are on sale at 20% off retail price. I am already eyeing Bamboo, Azalea and Camellia. I chose these colors because they are lid colors, and these metallic shadows are beautiful as a wash on the lid, with matte colors on the crease, outer V and to highlight the browbone.

I also just bought samples of all their new limited edition Valentine eyeshadow shades. Just looking at these, they are eye candy and just jaw-droppingly gorgeous:



Click the picture to go to the Aromaleigh Valentine shadows page.

I can't wait to play with these! The colors are so yummy!