The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself

Laura Mercier Color Wardrobe

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:32:00 +0000

I've got one more piece of the Laura Mercier holiday puzzle for you. We previously looked at Laura's petite eye palettes; today I have swatches of her Colour Wardrobe palette, a double-decker case with eyeshadow, blush, and lip options.

The Color Wardrobe is $98 (though surely it will be marked down after Christmas?). The eyeshadows are all shades from the permanent line. African Violet, Stellar, and Sandstone are also used in the Petite Eye Palettes. The three blushes are special to this palette, which accounts for their "color" names. Click here and here to compare to Laura's permanent line of blushes.
The bottom level of the Colour Wardrobe palette is a plethora of lip options. The first six shades are lip stains, and it's worth noting that all six colors are unique to this palette. Just as with the blush shades, these have been issued "color names," and it's just coincidence that Mocha and Mulberry share names with Laura's regular potted lip stains. Laura's lipstains also aren't really stains; they're pigmented, heavy balms whose staying power comes from their consistency.

You also get two glossier Lip Glazes (still quite pigmented): a brown-rose and a pink.
Laura Mercier Colour Wardrobe: African Violet, Stellar, Cafe Au Lait, Sandstone, Celestial, Coffee Ground, Plum, Rose, Nude, Mocha, Ruby, Melon, Mulberry, Rosette, Brown Glaze, Pink Glaze

Sneak Peek: Guerlain Spring 2010, Cherry Blossom

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Guerlain's second spring collection (which should be releasing concurrently with Lip Innovation) is Cherry Blossom, an east-meets-west, Tokyo-by-way-of-France study in pinks. (At least according to the promo pics.)

There are really just three pieces to Cherry Blossom: the pressed Meteorites (Meteorites Voyage) have been reformulated and re-released in a new case ($170, refill for $55).

There are also two limited edition compacts: peach-pink Cherry Blossom Blush Eclat (#07, $49), and eyeshadow quad #408, Jeu D’Ombrelles ($59). I sort of dislike mosaicked powders because I am completely unable to calculate what the final, blended product will look like. From the promo pic, Jeu D’Ombrelles almost looks like the same two shades, twice.

Cherry Blossom should hit counters in January, so luckily, I don't have long to wait to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Sneak Peek: Guerlain Spring 2010, Lip Innovation

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Guerlain has two new collections on the horizon for spring. You've most likely heard something about Cherry Blossom, the eyes-and-face collection; the second collection is a celebration of lighter coverage, high-shine lips. Lip Innovation introduces two new lipstick formulas: Guerlain's Kiss Kiss Strass and a more sheer version of Rouge G called Rouge G Le Brilliant.

Guerlain already has a large, established line of Kiss Kiss lipsticks. There are "regular" Kiss Kiss lipsticks (Precious Colors), Kiss Kiss Extreme (High Fidelity Colors), Kiss Kiss Maxi Shine (sheer), Kiss Kiss Stick Gloss, and the recently introduced Kiss Kiss Baby Balms. The newcomer is Kiss Kiss Strass ($31). I'm not entirely sure of Strass's place in the Kiss Kiss continuum, but the new lipsticks are reported to be lightweight in texture, with a glossy, shiny formula containing moisturizing ingredients, as well as uncommonly finely milled mother-of-pearl. It is supposed to have a fruity scent (instead of Guerlain's usual violet?), and costs $31.

The shades are:
The Red Gold family

320 Rouge Taffetas

321 Rouge Broderie

322 Cuivre Drapé

The Yellow Gold family

340 Beige Mousseline

341 Brun Parure

342 Orange Sequin

343 Brun Satin

The Pink Gold family
360 Rose Perle
361 Rose Strass
362 Corail Dentelle

Rouge G Le Brilliant is a lighter, more sheer version of the Rouge G formula. The lipstick still contains crushed rubies, and all of the hydrating ingredients of the full-coverage original, and comes in 10 shades, all starting with the letter B. Rouge G Le Brilliant is $46.

The Nude family
B01 Blondie
B02 Barbara
B03 Bridget

The Red family

B20 Berry

B21 Bianca

The Pink family

B60 Beatrix

B61 Brenda

B62 Betsy

B63 Bella

The Orange family

B40 Brit

MAC Love Lace

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:09:00 +0000

Yesterday we took a look at MAC's "warm" post-holiday collection, Warm & Cozy; today: Love Lace. Both of these collections release on December 26.

Love Lace offers four eyeshadows ($14.50): Pincurl (a repromote from Blonde, Brunette, Redhead), Hypnotizing, Love Lace, and Suave Intentions.

Despite being a Frost, Pincurl is a matte ash or smoke with a tinge of purple. Hypnotizing (Frost) is a greyed violet. Love Lace (Veluxe Pearl) is a marine blue, not quite navy; Suave Intentions (Veluxe Pearl) is a bright, lagoon blue.

There are also four Love Lace kohls (all $14.50). Fascinating (matte white) is a regular Eye Kohl — it's also part of the permanent line. Sense of Style (blackened blue), Raven (blackened burgundy), and Feline (really black) are Kohl Power pencils, and are limited edition. We've seen Raven and Feline before; Sense of Style is a new shade.

I feel totally vindicated, because at last year's post-holiday collection, Chill, I inadvertently swatched Viva Glam VI SE lipgloss instead of Icescape. My counter had either sold out of Icescape or never received a tester, and they placed VGVI SE in the display, rather than leave a gap. This year, Icescape has been repromoted, so I got a second chance.

The second Lipglass is newcomer Utterly Discrete (Utterly Discreet?), a sheer brown or brown-purple gloss with purple sparkles.

Pretty Please lipstick (Lustre) is a repromote from the permanent line; Intricate (Frost) is new — both are quite sheer. MAC's lipsticks and glosses are $14 each.
There's also a new, limited edition nail polish ($12): Light Affair. It's a light, light, sliiiiiightly purple grey creme.

MAC Warm & Cozy

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:36:00 +0000

MAC has two and a half post-holiday collections this year (all releasing December 26): Warm & Cozy (a large, predominantly warm color collection with some skincare components), Love Lace (a smaller, primarily cool color collection), and In the Studio (the launch of MAC's new mascara, Studio Fix).

I figured we'll look at Warm & Cozy first, because I am SO excited about this collection (I know, I'm biased — but what an alluring name for a winter collection!).

First: the powders. There are four Warm and Cozy eyeshadows ($14.50), three limited edition shades and one repromote from the permanent line. Chamomile, Modelette, and Mulled Cider are all Satins, but they perform more like Matte²s (smooth, pigmented, matte finish). Embark, the permanent shade, is a regular Matte finish, and it's chalky.

I love these colors, but they definitely remind me of Cargo's Essential Eye Palettes.

There are also two new Mineralize Skinfinish (MSFs, $27). Peach-tan Comfort will be a highlighter for darker skintones (what do you think, could it be a bronzer for light-to-medium folks?). By Candlelight is a pink-gold highlighter similar to Porcelain Pink, but perhaps a little more emphatic. More pigmented, more sparkly, a little more frosty — if you thought Porcelain Pink was a tad too subtle, try By Candlelight. (Just for fun: By Candlelight looks maybe slightly more beige than Bobbi Brown's Nectar Shimmerbrick, which looks a bit more pink, I think.)
There are two Warm & Cozy nail polishes ($12): sheer peach Blissed Out and dark chocolate Dim the Lights (which reminds me of Rich, Dark Delicious from MAC's Nail Trend collection with Jin Soon Choi).
There are four new shadesticks ($16.50): Nurture, Relaxed, Cuddle, and Warm & Cozy.

There are also three lipsticks ($14): Spiced Tea (Glaze), Warm Me Up (Amplified Creme), and a repromote of the permanent Siss (Satin).

And four Lipglasses ($14): 2N and 3N are repromotes from the N Collection; Feeling Dreamy and Light That Fire! are new.
There are also two Warm & Cozy Tinted Lip Conditioners ($14.50) — and Feelin' Good was the only piece of the collection my counter hadn't received. I tried a few other counters, but I just couldn't track down that second shade.

I have to say though, I loved Close for Comfort. It felt creamier than previous TLCs. The shade was very natural (super subtle) on my lips: barely a hint of color.
But wait, there's more! The Tinted Lip Conditioners segue nicely into the skincare component of Warm & Cozy. The collection also includes:

a repromote of MAC's regular lip conditioner (in a stick, like Chapstick), $13.50
a repromote of MAC's regular lip conditioner (in a tube), $13.50
the new! permanent! Mineralize All-Over Lotion ($29.50). I am dying to try this. It's for face AND body, unscented, with consideration for sensitive skin. I tried a little bit on my hands after swatching, and it dried down in about a minute — which is exactly what I want if I'm going to apply during the day and keep typing. (I didn't find that the Naked Honey products — or for that matter, L'Occitane's hand cream — met this standard.)
For those who like their lotion scented, the collection also includes Care Blends Essential Oils, in Sweet Orange + Lavender and Grapefruit + Chamomile ($19.50 each). You could add a drop of these to your Mineralize All-Over Lotion, use them alone, or even mix them into makeup (to make it more emollient).

Look at my Nails! Zoya Vanessa

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:10:00 +0000

I've been so excited about my nails lately, I kind of want to show them off. I have naturally thin, weak, peely nails (I don't bite them, they're just not very strong). But they've been getting better, through a combination of product and self-control, and that makes me want to show off some of my favorite polishes.

I'll start with Zoya Vanessa. Zoya makes the most delicious cremes, and Vanessa is a stellar example. It's a sexy, juicy, rich, uber shiny red plum (I think the late afternoon sun lightened the shade just a bit; it gets a little more plum/cherry indoors). People admire my nails every time I wear it, and I totally love it. There are a few salons that carry Zoya, otherwise you have to order from their website. Zoya polishes are $7 each.

Lips of the Day: YSL Pur Gloss 48 Pure Petal

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Readers, I have one more useful swatch before you go off and place your YSL FF orders. Sammi (of the modelesque lips) very kindly offered a to do a lip swatch and review of Gloss Pur #48. Gloss Pur lipglosses are $29.

It's no secret that Karla and I share the same taste in lipglosses and lipsticks. Yes, we like similar colors, but we also love the same textures. My favorite glosses have always been the YSL Golden Glosses (link to swatches). They are long lasting, not too sticky, or too creamy, and just the right balance of sheerness and pigmentation. But they are glittery. Very glittery. Usually, I don't mind that, but with a sparkly eye, I can feel like a disco ball. Introduce the YSL Gloss Pur (link to swatches). They are Golden Glosses without the "Golden" glitter. I have only managed to get my hands on #48 (Pure Petal), but I love it. I think Karla's original statement of their sheerness is correct, but they aren't too sheer — I have pigmented lips, and these don't look like clear gloss on me like many other sheer glosses do. I am contemplating ordering #4 (Pure Raspberry) and #5 (Pure Fuchsia) during the YSL sale. I definitely need more of these.

YSL Rouge Volupte Revisited

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:06:00 +0000

In honor of YSL's online Friends and Family sale (which starts today and runs through December 20), I've got a few YSL swatches to show you today and tomorrow — in case you were on the fence about these items.

Back in early fall of last year, YSL released 18 shades of a new formula of lipstick: the full coverage, absurdly creamy Rouge Volupte (click here for swatches of the original 18). Well since then, YSL has created 8 additional shades. I actually find the shade names somewhat distracting, since they use color words that I wouldn't necessarily have applied to these shades. Spicy Pink? Mauve, really.

Rouge Volupte lipsticks are $34 each — what better time to buy than when you can take 20% off? They also have the classic YSL mango scent.
YSL Rouge Volupte: Frivolous Pink, Spicy Pink, Vibrant Brown, Exquisite Plum, Luscious Pink, Praline Delight, Soft Beige, Tender Peach

YSL. Is. On. Sale.

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:12:00 +0000

There are certain brands you never expect to see on sale (Chanel, I'm looking at you).

Well in some kind of crazy Hanukkah miracle, YSL is doing an online Friends and Family this year.

December 14 – 20 take 20% off your order with code FF2009. Heck, get free shipping, too! (Why not?)

Secret bonus: I believe YSL adds little extra gifts to your order if you're an email subscriber.

Click here to browse YSL swatches.

Guest Swatcher: Edward Bess Jet Set Collection

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:26:00 +0000

I have a really fabulous surprise for you today, readers. I'm tag-teaming today's post with the amazing Lina, swatch genius, makeup connoisseur, and author of The Beauty Lookbook. Head over to her blog today for some utterly drool-worthy product pictures (and a really excellent review) of Edward Bess's Jet Set Collection.

Meanwhile, here at TNBTTGSY, I am posting her Jet Set swatches — Lina, it's an honor.

When I saw Lina's swatches of Island Rose, I asked how similar the color was to Guerlain's Russian Doll liquid blush (click here for a swatch of Russian Doll). She didn't have Russian Doll to compare, but she did make these comparison swatches with other cream blushes:

She said, of the ones she had, Island Rose seemed most similar to Bobbi Brown's Pink Raspberry, but slightly warmer and a bit more dewy. (Click here for more swatches of Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouges.)

Curious about Lina's foundation shade? Check out this post.

And, if today's exchange left you hungry for more swatches (this seems like a given), don't miss Lina's review of Edward Bess's complete selection of eyeshadows. It will most likely turn you into a makeup shopping zombie.

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:38:00 +0000

It fills me with joy when a company makes a foundation that runs from very light to dark. I think I'm almost as happy when foundation shades are numbered in a logical progression.

So let's take a look at Make Up For Ever's Mat Velvet + foundation, a shine controlling, oil-free, water-resistant, full coverage liquid foundation (actually it has a "heavy liquid" — almost liqui-gel texture to it). Mat Velvet + is $34 for a 1.01 oz. bottle.
The gorgeous Aradiapdx wears Mat Velvet + in shade 15 in winter (see pictures of her here, here, and here), so I asked her for her thoughts on it:

Is it just me, or is it really annoying when companies decide not to spell things out fully? But about the foundation: Great coverage. It can be sheered out a little, to medium coverage if applied right (damp beauty blender can do this well) or used for full coverage.

Actually, sometimes after I apply MV+, I will go back and apply more of the foundation with a concealer brush for minor blemishes and such. Since it is the same product, no stress over finding a color match. That trick works fine for minor problems, but for major blemishes you would want to use an actual concealer. This doesn't work so well for undereye either because it's a bit too dry/matte for that area. Which leads to the next question: who it is best for?

Dry skinned folks probably wouldn't like it so much. I could see it accentuating problems. I always lightly moisturize before using and I am not dry skinned. Sometimes, if I feel it's a bit heavy, I mix it with a little moisturizer, extra sunscreen, or tinted moisturizer to thin it a little. When my skin is being oily or sweaty, this stuff is the best because it really stays put well through all of that.

It does give a very nice matte finish, and can be applied without looking horribly cakey. I generally use a beauty blender sponge, but that's just my preference. I am sure others out there do just as well with other methods. The nice thing about using a matte base is that you can still use highlighters and other products to add a little "glow" back in, but you can choose where you want to glow. Naturally glowy foundations can easily translate into shiny-looking mess everywhere on oily girls. With this, you can decide to have a matte face with slightly glowing cheeks, etc.

Laura Mercier Petite Eye Palettes

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Laura Mercier's holiday offering this year is... complicated to say the least. The holiday collection (Club Couture) itself is small: it features two "foiled" eyeshadows in gold and silver and three lip products (two lipsticks, one gloss).

Then there are a plethora of palettes and sets (and certain items exclusive to particular retailers). The items you'll find everywhere are:

The Colour Wardrobe (a double-decker palette for eyes, lips, and cheeks), $98
Petite Eye Palettes in warm and cool (four shades in a very slender case), $28 each
Baked Eye Colour Palette (five baked shades), $48
Mini Lip Glace set (five mini glosses), $48

There is also a mini brush set ($45), a double-ended brush set ($85), and various bath and body gift sets. I've never owned any of Laura's bath and body stuff, but it all smells so delicious you might be tempted to eat it.
The petite eye palettes come in impossibly sleek and travel-friendly little cases (they remind me a bit of the first generation iPod Shuffle). The colors are all shades from Laura's permanent line.

I'm personally a big fan of Laura's eyeshadows. The color payoff is right for me, and I love the texture and finish (her shadows are predominantly satins and mattes; you generally don't see very frosty or shimmery shadows from her).

Laura Mercier Petite Eye Palettes: Sandstone, Stellar, Bamboo, Truffle, Morning Dew, Rose, African Violet, Twilight Grey

Clarins Holiday 2009: Palazzo d'Oro

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I've received a number of reader requests to pay more attention to Clarins, and the pictures I've seen online of their holiday collection this year (Palazzo d'Oro) stopped me in my tracks.

Tracking the collection down, however, was actually somewhat challenging. At Nordstrom and Dillards, when I asked, "do you have Clarins' holiday collection?" they responded, "do you mean the sets?" I finally found Palazzo d'Oro at Macy's — but there are no testers. If you want to try, you must buy. (Perhaps this is not the case in other places; different areas might also find them in different retailers.)

The collection contains an eye palette (four shadows and a cream liner, $66). The top two shades are both shimmery: pale pink and melon-gold. The bottom two are satin warm purple-grey and matte brown with a few tiny gold sparkles. The cream liner is very dark brown and swatched beautifully.

The "face compact" is a highlighter ($57), and should you choose to buy it, your first task will be to scrape off the layer of insane gold overspray (I used a triangle sponge). Once that's gone, you'll be left with a delicate, finely milled gold highlight which is actually very pretty.

Both compacts are ridiculously heavy.

There are two more holiday items, each $23.50. There's a mascara with shimmer (which I did not try), and a Joli Rouge lipstick. The lipstick is really a topcoat — you could wear it alone for a subtle, festive, lipgloss-like shine on your bottom lip (but it looks weird on the top lip). It smells like Juicy Fruit gum, and the gold sparkles feel a bit grainy. The effect is pretty, though, and feels worth it for a special occasion. Now to get myself invited to a suitable holiday gala.

Clarins Holiday: Palazzo d'Oro, Gold Attraction, Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick

Choose Your Own Adventure

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Hey readers,

A thought just occurred to me (and I hope it doesn't sound tacky to pass the question on to you). Would you rather see lip swatches of all 15 Minutes, with no giveaway (because I assume nobody wants a prize that's been lip-swatched), or lip swatches of some, and others used for prizes? Leave me a comment sometime today to let me know what you would prefer.

Lipstick Queen 15 Minutes of Fame

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Amazing story, readers: Lipstick Queen heard about my misunderstanding with Barney's, got in touch with me — and sent samples of all fifteen shades of their 15 Minutes of Fame Pop Art Gloss, as a gesture of swatching goodwill. I'm absolutely blown away!

I hope you won't let that keep me from telling you how impressed I am with these glosses.

I was definitely skeptical from the outset. I hate click pens, mostly because it's so hard to dispense the right amount of product. Click-click nothing, click WOAH too much gloss. I'd also read that the 15 Minutes were nonsticky, and subliminally, I didn't believe it. These days, companies use the descriptor "nonsticky" so blithely that it's started to lose meaning for me.

But applying one of these to my lips was enough to make me a believer. The gloss comes out of the pen as a thick gel, which converts to a sheer, shiny gloss on your lips. Because of the thickness of the gloss, one click was enough to get me started, a second click was perfect to finish the job. I tried on 9 Minutes and it was like applying one of my favorite lipstains... in gloss form. They're not actually staining, that's just what the level of coverage reminded me of. The Pop Art Glosses are unscented, not the least bit sticky, and sheer cream finish (no sparkle).
I still want to show you a few lip swatches of these (because I think the lip swatches will really add to your understanding of what they look like), and I'll be giving the rest away — watch for that giveaway in the near future.

15 Minutes of Fame Pop Art Glosses are $16.50 each, or you can buy a set of five minis (3 Minutes, 5 Minutes, 11 Minutes, 12 Minutes, and 13 Minutes) for $28. The glosses are here to stay; the set is limited edition for holiday.

We Have Our Winners!

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:54:00 +0000

You guys did an AMAZING job with the Lancome holiday contest. Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

I am indeed giving away all five prizes, and here's who they're going to:

StefieJ (who wished for the NARS bridal palette): all three cream shadows (Pink Lace, Garter Belt, and Haute Smoke)

Connie (who wished for a vanity and makeup storage furniture): Luxe lipstick and Feverish gloss

Sandy (who wished Leslie Blodgett would personally teach her how to use BE): Crushed Rose lipstick and Seductively gloss

Shiny922 (who wished she lived in one place so she didn't have to buy duplicates of everything): Coquette lipstick and Untamed Plum gloss

Charlieee (who wished for Urban Decay's Book of Shadows Volumes I & II): Plum Tease Ink Artliner, Rouge Seduction lipstick, and Evening Splendor gloss

Stay tuned! We have more giveaways yet to come!

TFMA: The Marvelous Q-Tip, Part 1

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:34:00 +0000

If you've ever worn lipstick or gloss (and if you're reading this, I assume you have), you're familiar with "the line." In the first few minutes after application, product collects where your lips touch, and once it's there, it's usually going to end up on your teeth.

You could eliminate the line by putting your finger in your mouth, closing your lips around it, and drawing it out. But you'll have lipstick or gloss on your finger.

Which brings me to today's Tip From a Makeup Artist:

A better solution (which I just learned) is to clean up the line with a q-tip. Apply your lip-product-of-choice, give it a minute to settle, then take a q-tip and roll it along the inside of your pout. It erases the line, but it also blots the lipstick right where you're most at risk of transfer to teeth. It's so simple, yet genius! And this confirms my suspicion that the q-tip is actually the world's most useful makeup tool. But more on that later.

Cargo Eastern Eye Pencil Collection

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:56:00 +0000

There was one more item in Cargo's limited edition display (Pau F actually mentioned it in her comment yesterday!). Between the Hands of Hope Palette and the Mediterranean Nights Palette

there was a set of five eye pencils, and I thought "might as well swatch those, too." Either there's a typo on Sephora's website, or the N had been scratched off my Sephora display, which named this the Easter Eye Pencil Collection (seemed like an odd choice for this time of year).

Now, I have to warn you, I'm ridiculously uncoordinated with my left hand. I'm not very good at drawing neat lines (which is why I almost never swatch on my right arm). Still, these pencils did not bowl me over. I guess I'm spoiled about eyeliner now (thanks, Prestige, MUFE, MAC, Stila, and Urban Decay), but these weren't ridiculously soft or smooth (or pigmented, in one swipe).

If you love the colors, the price is great: $18 for a set of five minis.

Cargo Mediterranean Nights Palette

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:52:00 +0000

I thought it made sense — since we looked at the Cargo Hands of Hope Palette yesterday — to take a look at its sister palette, Mediterranean Nights. These two palettes are the same size (large and flat, like a children's book), appeared at the same time, and share space in Sephora's Cargo display.

Mediterranean Nights contains four unnamed eyeshadows: shimmery yellow-brown, shimmery, pale apple green, a shimmery tawny gold, and a matte pale pink with gold sparkles — though the sparkles didn't seem to stick at all.

The palette is $34, probably because it includes two blushes (Rome and The Big Easy) and Cargo's Medium bronzer. The bronzer forms a ring around the blushes, and it looks like it might be difficult to get your brush in bronzer alone.

So between Mediterranean Nights and Hands of Hope, which do you like better?

Cargo Mediterranean Nights Palette: Rome, The Big Easy, Medium Bronzer

Cargo Hands of Hope Palette

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Some weeks ago a new, limited edition Cargo palette appeared in Sephora. Called the "Hands of Hope" palette, it features nine shadows, each embossed with a stylized hamsa (a symbol of good luck in the Middle East).

I feel like I'm going to repeat a lot of my Cargo Runway Palette review. The shadows are excellent: great texture, very smooth and pigmented. They're all shimmery, except for that first purple, which is more like a luminous satin. The palette itself is very large and flat — though if Cargo keeps producing palettes like this, you could buy an Ikea wall-mount bookshelf for them and store them upright together.

The Hands of Hope Palette is $29, and, despite its name, is not a charity palette. Most people (myself included) are most excited about that cool brown (taupe!) third shade — luckyredlisa wisely observed that you could easily pay $29 for that shade alone. Unfortunately, the shades do not have individual names and are not sold separately.

Bobbi Brown Holiday: Neiman Marcus Exclusives

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:55:00 +0000

We've looked at a few parts of Bobbi Brown's holiday collection already: the Earth Metal Palette, the Chrome collection, including the Chrome palette. Today I have a few more pieces for you. Neiman Marcus, by virtue of its special relationship with Bobbi, sometimes gets exclusive pieces to collections. This holiday, those pieces are three mini Shimmer Bricks and two Lip Color lipsticks. [Edit: you can find these pieces in Bergdorf Goodman, too, if you happen to be in NYC.]

The mini Shimmer Bricks are $45 each (a regular Shimmer Brick is $38). I was sort of hoping they'd be sold in a set — a trio of mini shimmerbrick cuteness. No such luck. I assume the hefty price of these is based on their heavy compacts. The sales associates at the Bobbi counter were sort of horrified that I swatched these so heavily — and with a sponge. They said to avoid the metallic look, use a light hand and don't swirl your brush in them. I was thinking a skunk brush might be the answer — they pointed out an official Bobbi Brown goat hair Face Blender brush for the job. (I don't think Bobbi has a skunk in her line.)

All three Shimmerbricks had a lot of multicolored sparkle. They were all pretty, but Nectar was my favorite — it reminds me of MAC's Porcelain Pink.

There are also two new lipsticks: Sand and Pink Nectar. Port is being repromoted from the Chrome collection. The lipsticks are regular price at $22, and I LOVE Pink Nectar (it kind of reminds me of my current love, MAC Surprise Me).

Bobbi Brown Neiman Marcus Exclusives: Plum, Sandstone, Nectar, Shimmerbricks, Sand, Port, Pink Nectar, Lip Color

MAC Baroque Boudoir

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Usually for holiday MAC releases one big, universally distributed holiday collection (this year it was Magic, Mirth, and Mischief), and then a second, smaller, "couture" collection in swanky packaging, sold through freestanding MAC stores and Nordstrom. This year it's available in MAC stores only, and the ladies at my Nordstrom counter are still in denial.

Baroque Boudoir is also smaller than the last few collections have been. It includes three lipsticks, three glosses, and a clutch. The sheer mystery powders have been re-released, but only in two shades. (According to my source, Dark Secret didn't sell particularly well.)

The lipsticks and glosses are $22 each. The Sheer Mystery Powders are $60 (up from Monogram's $50 and Stylistics' $45). The clutch is $65.
I think it's interesting that the lipsticks are Cremesheens. Based on early product photos, I thought I was going to be all over Prive, but now that I've swatched it, I think it's too blue for me. If I'm interpreting MAC's website correctly, these glosses are some kind of special new formula. They're actually sheer tints with tons of dense sparkle (which gives them their color) and they have brush wands.Sheer Mystery Powders are matte finishing powders. (Mineralized Skinfinish Natural contains light reflectors for more of a satin finish.) Your $60 gets you the heavy, refillable compact and two pans of product (one in the compact, plus a refill). Sheer Mystery Powder is generally sold only during holiday.

There's not a huge gap between the two shades. I'd wear Light Medium (and I'm ~NW20. I wear MAC F&B in N1). Yes, my arms are more tan than my face.

I last swatched the Sheer Mystery Powders in their Kitty Kouture (Hello Kitty) release. Click here to revisit those swatches or remind yourself what Dark Secret looked like.

So will you succumb to the damask packaging? Are any of these products calling your name?

MAC Baroque Boudoir: Baroque Boudoir, Privé, Prive, Treasured, D'Nouveau, Preciousness, The Lap of Luxury, Light Medium, Medium Plus

Last Day to Enter the Lancome Contest!

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:49:00 +0000

Don't forget, folks, if you want to enter to win one of four fabulous prizes in my Lancome Holiday giveaway, that contest ends tonight at midnight. Go back to the original post and use the widget to enter!

And if you'd like help make that five prizes (or you want to earn a second entry), come find me on Twitter! I'm only 26 new Twitter-friends away from giving away Plum Tease Ink Artliner, Rouge Seduction Lipstick, and Evening Splendor Lipgloss! Woohoo!

Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Make Up For Ever has five different concealers in its line:

a dual-ended pencil for facial spots, blotches, and wrinkles. It also doubles as a lip liner, and it only comes in one shade;
Lift Concealer, firming concealer in a tube, intended for the undereye area, as well as facial darkness — you can apparently also use it as a highlighter;
HD Invisible Cover Concealer, oil-free, medium coverage for the undereye area (in a click-pen);
the potted Camouflage Cream (for face). Camouflage Cream is also packaged into 5-shade "Camouflage Cream Palettes;" and
Full Cover, oil-free, ultra-long-lasting, waterproof, matte finish, serious business, full coverage in a tube. This stuff is for scars, hyperpigmentation, tattoos, etc. for face or body.

I recently took advantage of a complete display of the HD Invisible Cover to make some swatches.

As the name suggests, MUFE's HD concealer is supposed to provide perfectly natural, brightening, medium coverage — undetectable to either the naked eye or an HD camera. It's packaged in a click pen with a weird, flexible, silicone elephant-nose applicator, which I think would take some practice. (With any click pen, I usually end up dispensing onto the back of my hand, and then applying with my fingers.) HD Invisible Cover is $28.

Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow

KarlaSugar@gmail.com (KarlaSugar) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:38:00 +0000

Make Up For Ever (MUFE) — as a brand — is generally known for the color range and quality of its foundations (Face & Body, HD, and Mat Velvet) and for the intense pigmentation of its "color" products. I've had a number of reader requests for "more MUFE"… well, readers, you know I aim to please.

Diamond Shadows are part of MUFE's permanent line of pressed powder eyeshadows. They are $20 each, and impressively smooth and pigmented. The names are purely descriptive (e.g., Diamond Burgundy, Diamond Night Blue), but that probably makes it easier to pick up the right one.

MUFE's shadows, Diamond shadows, and blush pans are all the same size for easy paletting.

Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadows: 308, Diamond Night Blue, 311, Diamond Burgundy, 307, Diamond Black, 310, Diamond Green, 309, Diamond Purple, 306, Diamond Beige, 302, Diamond Turquoise, 303, Diamond Pink, 305, Diamond Peach, 304, Diamond Lime, 301, Diamond White, 312, Diamond Brown