A Touch of Blusher — Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion

Weekend Beauty Reads for January 18, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, January 18, 2009

Curious about Lancôme’s Piha Black gloss from the new Spring 2009 Pink Irreverence collection? Lilan from The Daily Cookie has a full review with swatches!

Raging Rouge announces a Borghese makeup brush giveaway, so check it out for a chance to win!

Beauty Anonymous reviews the Lady Dior palette from Dior spring 2009 collection.

The Makeup Divas is giving away two sets of the China Glaze Romantique Collection. So hurry on over to enter now!

Beautiful Makeup Search is loving on the new Barbie Loves Stila collection as she dishes out the details and even shares memories of her own Barbie Dolls.

Aging Beautiful tells us about the new Stress Recovery Night Cream from Elizabeth Arden’s INTERVENE line.

Want to jump start your skin care? Beauty411 loves the new Clinique Turnaround Radiance Peel Once-A-Week System. Check out her review

StyleBell shows you how to pull off a beautiful double bun updo hairstyle as seen on celebrities on the red carpet!

A great hair conditioner doesn’t have to break the bank. Cybelesays.com found one that detangles like no one business!

Elke shares how to manage your beauty budget, with items you already have, as well as tips and tricks. In this post? Your pencils.

ThisThatBeauty gets an advanced viewing of Three Custom Color Specialists’ sexy new collection THE L WORD. Check out Felicia as she models all four shades – Bette, Kit, Alice and Shane. After seeing these beautiful shades you will want to pre-order yours TODAY!

Get the 411 on Kate Winslet’s look from the Golden Globes over at Beauty in Real Life!!

Glossypink is all about the Cat Eye.

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The Barbie Loves Stila Collection on Voce

by PJ on Friday, January 16, 2009

in -Stila, 2009 Spring

(image from www.sephora.com)

I am sure most of you know about Mattel’s collaboration with Stila. If you are interested, the Voce editor’s blog has photos of the launch event in Japan. One features a human-sized Barbie doll, and one shows a few accessory items that I haven’t come across elsewhere.

You can see more of the collection at Sephora.

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Makeup Review: RMK Water Color Eyes in 02 Lavender

by PJ on Friday, January 16, 2009

in -RMK, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

Many Japanese makeup brands feature a liquid or light-cream eyeshadow that is applied with a sponge (or occasionally a brush) applicator and blended with a finger. (One of the most popular ones is perhaps Beauté de Kosé’s Eye Fantasist.) RMK‘s version is Water Color Eyes, which is more liquidy than creamy. It comes in 7 shades, and today I am reviewing #02 Lavender.

It is a light lilac with subtle multi-colored shimmer. One layer creates a mildly pearly finish with no obvious sparkle (which is the finish I tend to go for with this item). More layers create a more intense/pearly look.

When worn lightly, it can brighten up the eyes naturally without looking obvious. Once when I wore it, a friend commented that my eye area looked brighter and she wasn’t aware that I was wearing makeup on my eyelids until I told her.

Apart from the lids, it can also be worn under eyebrows and in the inner corners of the eyes. For the latter, simply take off the excess on the applicator (which is a sponge applicator that we usually see for a lip gloss) and apply the color with very minimal blending.

The color is easily blended with a finger. The liquidy texture allows just enough time for blending, and, once it dries, the color sets quite firmly. I am very impressed with the staying power. After a whole day, the finish stays put and doesn’t fade. (I don’t usually use a primer under eyeshadows.)

If you want to brighten up the eye-lid area with an item that works subtly and effectively, this is a good item to consider. Also, if you are looking for eyeshadows that are more resistant to creasing, this range should be worth looking into.

RMK Spring 2009 Collection

Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil

Review: RMK Fall 2008 Collection

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Golden Globe 2009 Fashion: Best-Dressed 3

by PJ on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

in -Giorgio Armani, -YSL, fashion, fashion - award fashion

It’s the award season again. Last year, there was no (traditional) award ceremony for the Golden Globe, but the stars were back on the red carpet on Sunday for the annual event. Here are my three best-dressed for the night. (I just noticed that they were all wearing strapless numbers…)

3. Eva Longoria Parker

This form-fitting gown by Reem Acra creates a beautiful silhouette for Eva, and the warm red complements her skin tone. The mermaid cut elongates her petite figure, and the clutch bag adds pizazz to the whole look.

2. Anne Hathaway

66th Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals - Los Angeles

I saw her on a worst-dressed list, and I wasn’t really sure why. The crystal-embellished blue gown by Armani Privé provides a flattering contrast to Anne’s fair skin. The accessories are kept very understated. She really looks like an old-school Hollywood star.

1. Kate Winslet

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals

A winner in the ceremony, and a winner on the red carpet. Black is usually my least favorite red-carpet color for female celebrities, but this low-key Yves Saint Laurent gown is so stunning. It reminds me of what she wore to the 2007 BAFTAS, which was also a great choice, but I like this look even more. It is simple and elegant, and I adore the bow and jewel details at the waistline.

You can see more Golden Globe 2009 red carpet fashion at Yahoo.

Oscars 2008 Best-Dressed 5

Viktor & Rolf at the Barbican Centre

A Feast of Fashion in Nottingham

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NEW SERIES: From My Treasure Chest – Dior Princess Ring

by PJ on Tuesday, January 13, 2009

in _From My Treasure Chest, -Dior, makeup, makeup - lip color

As promised in my two-year anniversary post, I am launching a new series. “From My Treasure Chest” will take you through some of my favorite items in my makeup collection. It will give me a chance to share with you my thoughts on some of my makeup items that I got before I started my blog.

(This series is mainly an extension from my posts on Clarins’ Palette Impression and Aube’s Astral Rouge. It is also partly inspired by Betsy’s Archive series at Autumn Masquerade and The Muse’s posts on past holiday collections at Musings of a Muse. Do check out their wonderful posts.)

I decided to start the series with possibly my favorite Dior limited-edition item, Dior Princess Ring.

Dior Princess Ring was part of Dior’s summer makeup collection in 2005. It was not the first seasonal limited-edition item I bought from Dior, but it was probably the one I bought with the least planning and hesitation. I hadn’t come across any information on the collection before I saw them at a Dior counter, and I immediately went for the pink one (#001), which included a plum lip color and a pink lip gloss. (The blue one (#002) featured two eyeshadows.)

I remember that statement jewelry was very popular in that year, which is possibly partly why Dior came up with this design. As the princess cut is my favorite cut, I particularly like the shape of the ring. The tiny crystals and the mirror in the middle nicely bounce the light off, making this ring a lovely item to play with under the light.

The satisfyingly heavy and substantial-looking ring also comes with a short chain so the ring can double as a bag charm (although the face of the ring always faces downward when the chain is attached to a bag).

After the Princess Ring (and a few previous items), Dior continued to release “wearable” makeup products, which I have collected quite a few of, but this one has remained my favorite. Every season, I look forward to the new limited-edition star item, but, at the same time, I like this ring so much that, in a way, I almost don’t want Dior to come up with something even more lovely…

(However, I should be seeing Dior’s Lady Dior in person in a couple of days, and I do have high hopes for something that is about twice as expensive as the Princess Ring…)

Dior Night Diamond (Holiday 2008)

Dior Golden Dior (Summer 2008)

Dior DiorLight (Holiday 2007)

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Weekend Beauty Reads for January 11, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, January 11, 2009

in Weekend Beauty Read

Get “In Bloom” with Prescriptives’ new Spring 2009 collection! Lilan from The Daily Cookie has a preview of the whimsical cheek duo.

Beauty Anonymous reviews Kanebo’s Coffret D’Or Noble Dressy Palette.

Girl Gloss has a contest, giving away Six Softlips Lip Balms.

Beauty and Fashion Tech introduces a new series, Mascara Mondays, with a look at a wonderful mascara: Le Métier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara.

Check out the new Estee Lauder Spring Collection over at The Makeup Divas.

Raging Rouge resolves to finally get organized… or, at least her makeup does.

Beauty and Personal Grooming dishes out home remedies for hardened palms.

Elke rings in the New Year with a new Blog look, a new way to comment and a bunch more.

Check out what Beauty in Real Life’s Christine did to her hubby…all in the name of beauty and research!! Find out the details here.

Face Candy finds a less expensive alternative to Blinc’s Kiss Me Mascara.

ThisThatBeauty gets up close and personal with BEAUTE Cosmetics. Check out Felicia’s interview with the line’s Creative Director. ThisThatBeauty hearts BEAUTE’s fabulous line of stains. See for yourself.

Glossypink shows you how to get Carrie Underwood’s starworthy look!

Beauty Junkie in SF thinks POP Beauty’s Cat Eyes Eyeliner makes winged eyeliner a little bit easier. Sounds good to me!

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Sass, Style & Substance for January 11, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, January 11, 2009

in Weekend Sass Style and Substance

eye4style
eye4style test drives lucy’s new Power Cardio Pant and the verdict is…

Gleaming Things

Celebrate New Year’s with a new jewelry contest from Gleaming Things and Twisted Silver – you could win a new pair of earrings!

Beauty Match

32 of Hollywood’s trendiest and craziest crash diets to lose weight fast!

My Women Stuff

Stila Precious Pearl eyeshadow palette for Spring 2009.

Her Accessories

Celebrate the return of spring with yummy spring shoe styles arriving in stores. Bright colors, strappy sandals and bows are making a comeback!

image: Stock.xchg

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Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9 Saks Boca

by PJ on Saturday, January 10, 2009

in -Bond No. 9, fragrance

(image from Bond No. 9)

Bond No. 9‘s latest creation, Saks Fifth Avenue Boca Raton, was launched in November 2008. The fruity floral scent is fresh and summery and smells nothing like a winter fragrance. But it goes with the name, as it is inspired by the mild climate and the relaxed atmosphere of Boca Raton in Florida.

Top notes: lily of the valley, blackcurrant
Middle notes: gardenia, freesia, hedione
Base notes: amber, cedarwood, cardamon, musk

The scent is sweet to begin with, which makes a clear statement of its light-hearted nature, and the richly fruity blackcurrant note is particularly perceivable. The overall flavor takes on a floral dimension as gardenia and freesia join in. They radiate a sense of freshness and are not too intense or powdery. The drydown afterwards feels very soft and gentle.

This is a very easy-to-wear scent. More fruity than floral, it is like a hearty bowl of summer berries adorned by fresh flowers here and there. Summery as the scent feels, it is not too cool to wear in colder weather. I think it is actually a nice fragrance to be appreciated while we anticipate the return of the warming rays of the sun.

Bond No. 9 Saks Boca is sold exclusively at the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Boca Raton. The flacon is available in two versions, one with 520 and the other with 1200 Swarovski crystals (seen above).

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

AYURA Night Meditation

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Update: Lavshuca Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

The Kanebo website has posted images of Lavshuca’s spring 2009 items. The various Grade Color Eyes palettes are what I am particularly interested in.

(PK-1)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp)

(BR-1)

(BR-2)

(GN-1)

(PU-1)

PU-1 looks very cool-toned to me here. It looks more lilac-y on the February 2009 issues of Biteki and Voce, but I still think the second darkest shade, supposedly the main shade for the lids, looks a little too pale for my liking. I will probably not go for this.

(Finish Powder)

The dark-plum lid of the new loose powder is not surprising, since plum is currently the main color for Lavshuca’s packaging. Even though it looks quite elegant (and there is still the puff with the cute bow), I would have liked a slightly more ornate case. The current Face Powder is available in Lucent (which I have) and Glow, and the new Finish Powder will be available in Lucent and High Cover. I am still intrigued in how High Cover performs.

A Splash of Color – Girlie Pink

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips

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Update: Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Earlier I posted a link to an image of Coffret D’Or’s spring/summer base makeup collection as well as my initial thoughts. Now, here is more information on the individual items:

– Lasting Power Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 22, PA++)
– Lasting Power Soft Gel Foundation UV (7 shades, SPF 23, PA++)
– Lasting Power Veil UV (primer)
– Magical Flat (pore-smoothing concealer)
– One-Touch Gloss Powder (loose powder with a brush applicator)

The collection will be out in Japan on March 1st, 2009.

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

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