For people unfamiliar with MAC’s Viva Glam campaign, ALL (yes, the full 100%, not a measly percentage) the money from a Viva Glam product goes to the MAC Aids Fund. It’s truly wonderful for MAC to bring awareness to a charitable cause and Lady Gaga for continuing to be a spokesperson for the Viva Glam campaign.

As for the new shades, they are definitely in the nude family.  The lipstick is a bit too nude for me personally (I am about an NC25 in MAC terms), but could definitely work depending on what I layer with it.  I think this lipstick would flatter someone with a little more color in their skin, so that it didn’t just blend with their natural skin tone.

The lipglass is very pretty and can be layered with almost anything since it’s nude.  It can be used to even tone down a brighter lipstick.

[What are your thoughts on the new Viva Gaga shades?  How does this compare to her first campaign?]

Pow!  Bam!  Zap!  Here it is…MAC’s spring 2011 launch, a collection inspired by Wonder Woman with a burst of flashy, fun colors that will officially launch at MAC locations Thursday, February 10th. I must say that this collection is definitely exciting because it features some really innovative pieces along with some cool collector’s items.

For starters, this collection features makeup bags in a metallic blue and red.  They are pretty simple in the design, but hip if you’re looking for a new makeup bag in a bold color.  What is even more hip is that there are two brush sets (featuring 3 brushes each) that come in a gold utility belt, or in other words, a gloried fanny pack! I know this may not be the most practical thing in the world, but it is definitely a hot collector’s item and just fun, fun, fun.  The brush sets are a MAC store exclusive.  There is also a collector’s compact mirror AND T-SHIRTS that are both ONLINE MAC exclusives.

The brush sets are a MAC store exclusive. The eye brush set includes a short handled: 213, 109, 224. The face brush set includes a short handle: 190, 129, 194.

Moving onto to bigger and better things…quite literally…MAC has come out with JUMBO sized products, specifically in:  lipglasses, penultimate liquid eye liners (only black), powder blush duos, and the mineralize skinfinishs.

I’m most intrigued by the jumbo lipglasses (in four shades) and mineralize skinfinishes (in two shades with a blend of three colors).

Look at the pretty jumbo sized lipglasses!

These mineralize skinfinishes are MASSIVE! (In a good way) ;)

Other nice things I really enjoy from this collection: the three different eye shadow quads (blue, green, and pink/purple combinations), COLORED Opulash mascara (about time MAC has put out an assortment of fun mascara colors in blue, green, and bright purple), #48 lashes (MY STAPLE LASHES ARE FEATURED IN THIS COLLECTION!  NICE).

[I also don't want to fail to mention lastly that the collection offers a couple shades of the following:  pigments, reflects glitters, and nail lacquers.]

My Must-Have List:

- “Themyscira”: (Blue Opulash mascara- blue always looks striking)

- “Emancipation”: (Pale shimmery nude pink jumbo lipglass – Yes, I know I own a million lipglosses, this is the last thing I need right now, but there is really nothing that is exactly like this shade and I NEED at least one jumbo sized lipglass in my life!!)

(I’m limiting myself to those two items for the time being, but I’m also very much in love with:)

* “Athena’s Kiss”: (Bright fuchsia jumbo lipglass – I think the color is BEAUTIFUL, although I do have a few things that kind of resemble this)

* “Valiant”: (Eye shadow quad in the green tones – All the greens are unique and just stunning)

* “Defiance”: (Eye shadow quad in the pink/violet tones – Again, a really pretty set, I love it all)

Today MAC launched a new collection called, “Peacocky” and I must say, I am totally thrilled with the collection! The collection is full of vibrant colors while still incorporating neutral shades for everyday use.

The collection consists of a wide array of both eye and lip products (which are both new in the line on a limited edition basis):  Kissable Lipcolour and Mega Metal eye shadows.

MAC Peacocky Kissable Lipcolour and Mega Metal Eye Shadows

It goes without saying that I am OBSESSED with the new lip colors!!!  I love the ultra slim packaging and the consistency of the lipgloss.  It is very much like a melted lipstick.  It has a high pigmentation with a creamy shine (no shimmer). They sort of remind me of MAC cremesheen lipglosses, but have MUCH more substance to it (as much as I want to LOVE cremesheen, they are just a tad too sheer and wear off too quickly within the day).  My only complaint about these lipglosses is that I am not a huge fan of the “doe foot” tip applicators, I prefer brush tip as it picks up the product out of the tube much easier.

As for the eye shadows, they come in a bigger size (hence the “mega”) and all have a nice refined shimmer.  Although I am not as easily impressed with eye shadows, I must say the colors are beautiful and the consistency has a silky feel with a good color payoff (unlike the mineralize eye shadows) and extremely blendable.  My favorite eye shadow from the collection is “Noir Plum.”  This is definitely worth picking up if you like fun colors for the eyes.

My Must-Have List:

- “Vanity Fair”: (Bubble gum pink color — I LIVE for these colors and this just suits my personal style)

- “Woo Me”: (Nude shade with hint of dusty pink — THIS LOOKS LIKE A LIPGLOSS VERSION OF “BLANKETY” LIPSTICK!!  I AM TOTALLY OBSESSSSED as this is my favorite nude lipstick)

- “Flaunting It”:  (Grape plummy purple — I don’t know what about this color catches my eye, but it is SHARP and it is just captivating.  It’s very unique and unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time.  I think it’s cutting-edge and it requires an acquired taste)

I have a feeling that the MAC Kissable Lipcolour may eventually become permanent if they do exceptionally well.  The eye shadows have potential too, but I have not seen any limited edition eye shadows become permanent in a long time (such as Starflash eye shadows…MAC needs to incorporate some of these in the main line!  I especially LOVED “Grand Entrance”).

PS – As requested by blog reader, here is a photo of myself when I dressed as a peacock and did this really cool peacock inpired makeup!  (I’m wearing 3 pairs of lashes!!!)

Peacock makeup from Halloween 2009! :)

Closer look at the eyes in this photo. (I'm wearing a different lip color because I created this look for two separate halloween occasions. I like the lighter one better although this was also fun).

[What are your thoughts on the Peacocky?  What are your must-haves from this collection?]

I thought it would be nice to do a mini-giveaway in celebration of my birthday!  I am giving away a Beauty Rush lipgloss (from Victoria’s Secret) to THREE lucky readers.  Specifically, the first 3 people to contact me via contact form below with the subject/message, “Happy Birthday Meli Giveaway.”

Happy Birthday to Meli Giveaway - The first 3 readers to contact me will receive one Beauty Rush lipgloss!

Please submit this form below and also include your first two choices of which lipgoss you want!  The first one is a light shimmery gloss with a hint of pink, the middle lipgloss is a hot pink shimmer, and the last is a Minty lip shine!  Take your pick! :)

Thanks everyone!  Good luck!  I will be in contact with you if you are a winner!  xoxo, Meli

*  Sassy Pink Lassies Lipglass *

- “Sassy Lassy” – This is a bright pink color.

- “Fab Fun” – This is a pale shimmery pink that looks very much like “Bountiful” plushglass.

- “Frozen Dream” – This came out in a previous MAC winter collection called, “Chill” and is a pearlized baby pink.  I have ALWAYS wanted this lipglass.

- “Electro Lush” – This also has come out before in MAC’s “Rushmetal” collection.  I already own this, it is a deep mauve pink shade.

- “The Wee Coquette” – This is a pearly white shimmery light pink.  It is similar to “Oyster Girl” lipglass but more pearl.

Review: Although I truly love the pinks in this set (I always love pinks for the lips), this is my least favorite set.  My only problem with this set is that I have way too many shades that look like the colors in this holiday kit.  The ONLY lipglass that I would want from this set is the “Frozen Dream.”

*  Sassy Coral Lassies Lipglass *

- “Tad Saucy” – This is a nude pink with a warm undertone.

- “Jest For Fun” – This is a peachy pink color.

- “Pretty, Quick!” – This is a bright coral color.

- “Mimmy” – This is a light bright pink coral with shimmer.  This color was also launched during the “Hello Kitty” collection.

- “Heart-a-Beatin’” - This is a shimmery plum raisin color.

Review: This is definitely my favorite lipglass set.  I LOVE every color that it comes with!  I also like that this year’s coral set is not overly bright.  I love bright colors but I felt like in the past, the colors were all too similar.  This year, there’s a nice balance of brights and more neutral coral tones.

*  Sassy Neutral Lassies Lipglass *

- “Scottish Lilt” – This is a creamy beige color with a slight coral tone.

- “Spirits a’ Flying” – This is a shimmery light coppery gold color.  I believe this color has come out in a previous collection.

- “Girls at Play” – This is a shimmery plum brown color.

- “Stealing Kisses” – This is a creamy spice color.

- “Bright & Perky” - This is a shimmery gold bronze brown color.

Review: I really LOVE this set almost as much as I love the coral set.  I don’t wear a lot of browns, but they are all very wearable and they would look great over lipsticks.  I also like that ALL the shades are very different and there is nothing in the permanent line that really resembles any of the colors from this holiday kit.

Overall, these are all AMAZING lipglass sets. Although I really do not need any more lipglasses, I always find myself buying one set almost every year.  This year, I really want both the coral and neutral set.  If I could only pick one, it would be the coral.  The MAC holiday lipglass kits make wonderful gifts for any lipgloss junkie or even as a treat to yourself.

Take note, ladies: UK brand Soap and Glory has reached Singaporean shores! A limited range of Soap and Glory products is now available at all Sephora outlets throughout Singapore! After reading so much about Soap and Glory thanks to the So Loverly ladies, I was determined to check it out for myself.

Cute packaging? Check. Great-smelling products? Check. Affordable? Check.

Therefore, I succumbed to temptation and purchased their (in)famous Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss in Nude. Read on to find out more!

First of all, what really caught my eye was a combination of the quirky retro girly packaging and its punny nudge nudge wink wink-inducing moniker.

Photo courtesy of soapandglory.com

So, what praises does the Soap and Glory site sing of this Sexy Mother Pucker anyway (sorry, the pun was there, I couldn’t resist)?

Extreme formula lip plumping gloss, with scientifically-proven plumping microspheres that explode in volume up to 10x when they come in contact with water. They’re like tiny, dehydrated little sponges that expand when you apply them onto your lips. We’ve also formulated Sexy Mother™ Pucker with a rare circulation enhancing ingredient that gives your lips a little ‘electric’ buzz, to move more blood around the area, creating the swelling effect mentioned above).

As a full-lipped girl, I was pretty nervous about a product that could amplify my lips to gargantuan proportions, but I thought I’d give it a swipe just in case – so I picked up a tube of the Nude shade and tried it out. I really liked the colour upon first glance – in the tube, it’s a little darker than the usual cool pink shades I go for, but when applied, it enhanced the natural flush of my lips and gave it a nice, elegant overgloss. It’s a very classy look that I approved of immediately.

To my surprise, it also smelled (strongly) and tasted (faintly and sweetly) of Jaffas, or orange chocolate. This was a tiny bit perplexing, but I didn’t mind it much. Also, I don’t think that any boyfriend/fiancé/husband would mind either if they were kissed by orange-chocolatey flavoured lips every once in a while.

A couple of minutes after application, I felt my lips go into a minor tizzy as the circulation-enhancing ingredient in the gloss got to work – my lips literally fizzed and tingled for at least 5 to 10 minutes, after which my lips looked surprisingly plumped, comfortable, filled out and wrinkle-free, sans scary beestung appearance. I also found myself oddly fond of the tingly feeling, which I can only describe as a mild, electricky, effervescent fizz. A quick warning though, as always, that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

Also, it lasted on my lips for ages after application. This gloss clung on to my lips for at least 5 hours, despite battling humidity changes (multiple trips from air-conditioned space to 35-degree sweaty weather outside and back) and a downpour (my mascara ran, my eyeshadow and blush sloughed off, my foundation was partially washed away … but Sexy Mother Pucker didn’t even budge).  Muy impresivo.

Pour conclure, I’m a happy first-time Soap and Glory customer – and even happier that I started with Sexy Mother Pucker. Great colour, great staying power, and a bonus tingly feel maketh the product indeed. Each 7ml tube retails for a pocket-friendly SGD19 and comes in two other shades apart from Nude: Peach (which looked more towards the pink side when swiped) and Clear.

Interested? Check out Soap and Glory at your closest Sephora Singapore outlet. From what I’ve seen so far, the products available mostly fall under the body care (they have a divine-smelling body butter called The Righteous Butter) and makeup (stumbled across their ultra-handy shaping and highlighting brow crayon called the Arch de Triumph, and their bronzer/highlighter compact called Solar Powder) categories – no gift sets, no facial care products (yet). Hopefully Sephora brings in the full range soon – will be keeping my eyes peeled for any new additions to the range!

I decided that in order to enter the giveaway, all I am asking is for people to vote for my Sunglass Hut Full-Time Fabulous video.  All the information regarding my entry and how to vote has already been posted in a recent post.  Thank you everyone for your unlimited support and votes during this time!  Remember, I have until November 17th to get AS MANY VOTES POSSIBLE!

Meli's First Blog Giveaway to One Lucky Reader

The Giveaway:

-  Betseyville leopard makeup bag

-  MAC “Glamora Castle” plaid eye shadow from A Tartan Tale

- L.A. Girl Rock Star nail lacquer in “Addict”

-  Ed Hardy shower gel

-  Sugar “I Taste Like Sugar” 12 mini lip gloss set

-  A pair of sunglasses used during my Sunglass Hut Full-Time Fabulous photo shoot

The Rules:

*  The giveaway is open to US residents along with all international residents!  (I want to give my international blog readers an equal opportunity to enter).

*  The giveaway will run from Monday, November 1st to Wednesday, November 17th.  That gives you a little over two weeks to enter.

*  The winner will be chosen at random using Random.org.

*  The winner will be notified via e-mail on Thursday, November 18th.

To Enter:

1-  Click here to view my video as Sunglass Hut’s Full-Time Fabulous Blogger.  Once you have voted, check your e-mail for an e-mail with a link to confirm your vote.

2-  After you have confirmed your vote, please forward your confirmation e-mail to:  meli@stylebymeli.com

On the top of the e-mail, please include:  your name, e-mail address, location, AND how you found my video (Example:  A friend, another person’s blog, my blog, etc).

3-  I will send you a response to confirm your entry along with an entry number.

4-  On Thursday, November 18th, I will notify the winner immediately by e-mail and announce it on my blog.

Is it possible to enter the giveaway multiple times?

YES!  I will share a few ways to rack up extra entries towards my blog giveaway:

1-  Share my Sunglass Hut Full-Time Fabulous video link on your Facebook OR Twitter.

(This will give you 2 extra entries towards my giveaway.  If you post it on BOTH Facebook AND Twitter, I will give you 5 extra entries toward my giveaway).

Please e-mail your Facebook and Twitter links along with your confirmation e-mail or in a separate e-mail so I can make sure to give you extra entry numbers.

2-  Blog about my giveaway.  Share with all your blog readers the link to my video and how to vote. You can direct them directly to this blog post for information regarding my giveaway.

(This will give you 5 extra entries towards my giveaway along with a special bonus.  Please contact me regarding this bonus if I have not already shared it with you).

Please e-mail a link to your blog post along with your confirmation e-mail or in a separate e-mail so I can make sure to give you extra entry numbers.

3-  Share my video with your friends and family. After they have voted, just make sure they forward their confirmation e-mail to me with YOUR NAME as the source to how they found my video.

(This will give you 1 extra entry towards my giveaway.  Remember, if you have 10 people vote for my video and they all mention your name, that gives you 10 extra entries!  It’s very easy to receive extra entries just by spreading the word).

If you have any questions regarding the giveaway, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!  Thank you again for taking the time to enter and to vote for my Sunglass Hut Full-Time Fabulous video!  8-)

Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss - Photo courtesy of clinique.com

My love affair with these sweet little tubes of shine occurred completely by (pleasant) accident – and I have not looked back since. Read on to find out more.

One great thing about buying Clinique products is their generous gift-with-purchase policy: if you spend above a certain amount, they give you a sampling of products (either individually or in sets that come in adorable pouches). Among the products I’ve received are miniature-sized Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, High Impact Curling Mascara, All About Eyes, Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturiser, Fresh Bloom Allover Colour, Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer and Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – so you can see that they are not at all stingy with offering loyal customers more to love!

My two Superbalm Moisturising Glosses were part of this stash of samples. Grapefruit is a very feminine, light, cool pink shade with slight shimmer that looks a little darker in the tube than it does when applied. On lips, though, it looks gracefully natural and makes lips look fuller without being too pigmented. Raspberry, on the other hand, is a brighter, cheery pop of sheer reddish-pink. When applied, it brightens up the face with just enough colour – very casual, relaxed and youthful.

Texture-wise, these balm/glosses are thick, consistent and gel-like. I generally shy away from glosses of this texture because as smooth, beautiful and shiny as they are when applied, I often find them too sticky. These are a little sticky, but not unexpectedly so – but they just look great on, so it’s worth the hassle. These balm/glosses are also exceptionally moisturising, and keep my lips soft and plumped for hours the way a good lipbalm would (long after it wears off – hallmark of a great balm/gloss hybrid I say!).

One downside is that it does slough off a bit over the course of the hours and doesn’t hold up well through meals or drinks, so reapplying pretty often is required to maintain the look. That doesn’t bother me personally though, as I find that a very little goes a long way with Superbalm Moisturising Gloss: a thin layer gives you a nice, pretty, glossy sheen.

Pour conclure, I love these balm/glosses. They not only look great, they are also very handy and versatile – worn by themselves, or over another lip colour. Price-wise, each 0.5oz tube retails at USD 14 (check back for price updates for Malaysia and Singapore). Like I said though, you’ll probably receive a free miniature tube with other Clinique purchases and it’s a great way to test it out before you decide whether you want to invest in a full tube.

NARS "Turkish Delight"

For anyone that doesn’t know, Kim Kardashian’s lip staples are MAC’s “Angel” lipstick and NARS “Turkish Delight” lip gloss. I’m probably one of the few MAC addicts out there that DON’T own “Angel” and it doesn’t really attract me in any way.  (Same with “Myth” lipstick, MAC’s most popular nude shade that you will NEVER see in my bag anytime soon).  ”Angel” to me isn’t really special, it’s a really nude baby pink.  It’s nothing I’ve never seen before!

For anyone that knows me, I am NOT the type of person to read a magazine to discover a celebrity has a certain product, and then run to the store the next day to get it. That is kind of uncool in my book.  I would first want to investigate and see if it is something that expresses my personal taste and it has to look good on me of course!

HOWEVER, “Turkish Delight” is quite the treat!  I was looking in Sephora about a month ago and looking at all the NARS lip gloss shades.  ”Turkish Delight” grabbed my eye in an instant!  It is just a really pretty light baby pink with just the right amount of brightness!  It sort of has a coral undertone to it although it’s definitely a baby pink.  The texture of the gloss is creamy yet sheer.

This is a classic photo of Kim Kardashian's signature look. A smokey eye complete with lashes and a nude pinkish lip.

When I grabbed the gloss and checked the bottom, sure enough, it was the famous color that Kim Kardashian always tells people she wears!

I have to say that I do very much like the gloss as does Kim Kardashian.  I have had the gloss for about a week now and find myself wearing it almost everyday.

It’s not something that I’d personally ever wear by itself being that it is so sheer; however, it’s great for throwing over lipstick!  I have been using it over pinks, corals, light browns, etc.

I explain to people all the time, when creating a new lip combo, don’t always matchy-match. Meaning don’t wear a pink gloss over a pink lipstick only.  Why not throw a plum gloss over a pink lipstick?  I find whenever I mix random colors together, I come up with the coolest colors and people tend to always ask me what I am wearing.  It’s just fun to be creative with your makeup!

So I managed to snag the products I’d been targeting from the MAC VENOMOUS VILLAINS Collection that saw an exclusive and frenzied launch at MAC Tangs last Friday (from what I know, the collection will launch island-wide this coming Fri? I heard that MAC Tangs will not be re-stocking but this is not confirmed).

There was a frenzy that I kinda missed actually – I got there at about 1140am and A LOT of items were OOS – Bite of An Apple Blush, the nail lacquers, Heartless lipstick and I think I got one of the last mineralised eyeshadows in She Who Dares (the green/blue duo).  I honestly did not think that things would be OOS barely 2 hours after the store opened.  I was told there was a long queue outside the store before Tangs opened and ermmm, there was some knocking on the windows even. Wowza!

Anyways, here are some shots of the store, which I actually really liked – I know the images are essentially the same on the product packaging, but somehow as window displays, I enjoyed looking at them

I also like the sketchy images of the Evil Queen – I thought the sketches somehow captured that haughty, ”I’m so glam” expression 

A Cruella de Ville faux-fur coat and a wig for customers to try on and have their photo / video taken at the little “101 Dalmatians” mini-set (pictured below) and displayed on the monitor (think you had to spend $80?).  I was offered but I politely declined – I have my scraggly hair days as it is and don’t need further “help” in that department.

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And on to my haul – like I mentioned above, I mostly kept to my initial wishlist for this collection, adding only the lipgloss after being suckered into it once I saw swatches on Temptalia.  Lighting is a little different in these shots since I took them while waiting for Sophia at the lobby in Marriot Hotel (hence the nicer looking table instead of my stained PC table! LOL!). 

************************************************** 

I initially was only gunning for SHE WHO DARES but when I saw MY DARK MAGIC, I caved – my only flimsy justification being that I skipped YOUNG PUNK mineralised eyeshadow from the STYLE BLACK Collection . I am a fan of products like pigments and mineralised eyeshadows – I personally find them easy to use and they are wonderfully intense and often have that kapow payoff – of course, when used FOILED and over a good base! If you know me, you’ll know I love using eye colours foiled – makes my life a little easier when I don’t have to worry so much about fall-out and did I mention that foiling usually makes it more intense and pretty?  Totally pleased with these 2!

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And here we have STRANGE POTION LIPGLASS and TOXIC TALE Lipstick.  I’ve been looking and looking for an orangey coral lipstick for a while and when I saw TOXIC TALE lipstick, I knew that I would have to try it! I swatched it in-store and its very intensely pigmented (the stain of the swatch remained on my hand the whole afternoon) – likely because of the Satin finish.  I initially thought it was similar to CHANEL Rouge Allure in GENIAL but I feel GENIAL pulls way more pink on me than TOXIC TALE. 

Apart from these, I’ve ordered FRENCH QUARTER Greasepaint Stick on Michelle’s MAC spree and am looking forward to receiving that! (You can check out Temptalia’s swatch / review of French Quarter HERE)

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I KNOW I shouldn’t … but I am thinking about BAD FAIRY Nail Polish … Bad Kas, Baaaaaad Kas … but I’m still a happy, happy cat!

So did you witness any of the VV-inspired frenzy? Did you get anything at the Tangs launch? What are the items you are zooming in on?

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DISCLAIMER: All products featured were purchased with my own money.  I am not affiliated to MAC.

This look was actually created exactly a week ago (I just have not had the opportunity to post it in greater detail until today) when I went to Briella’s birthday party.  She comes to me when she needs makeup and it was nice of her to invite me!  Her party was held on a boat and will be featured in “Jerseylicious” this season during episode 13.  It should be fun to watch the episode knowing that I was there!

WHAT I AM WEARING…

- Purple cocktail dress (XOXO)

SHOES:

- Lavender heels with rhinestone detailing (Prada)
[These designer shoes are amazing and surprisingly comfortable!]

JEWELRY:

- Clear beaded lucite bracelet (Metropark)

- Silver ring (Forever 21)

MAKEUP: For the makeup, I wanted to go for a more smokey look and big lashes with more emphasis on the eyes.

EYE SHADOWS:

- MAC “Carbon” –> Jet black matte (LID)

I layered this shadow over “Blackground” paint pot, which is a dark grey black with shimmer.  For creating a super smokey look, “Blackground” is essential for eye prepping.

- MAC “Copperplate” –> Medium grey matte (CREASE)

This is a great color for a smokey look or even incorporated in the daytime.

- MAC “Solar White” eyeshadow –> Shimmery goldish white (HIGHLIGHT)

I wear this all the time!

* Please note for the eyeliner, I used a Korres WHITE eye liner pencil inside the waterline (on the bottom) with a black pencil lining the actual lash line.  This always picks up nicely in photography.

- MAC #6 lashes

These are big and dramatic!  Love them!

BLUSH:

- MAC “Peaches” blush –> Bright peach blush, matte

This is my typical jam, I especially wanted to wear it being that the eyes were really cool with the grey, I wanted brighter brush to warm up the cheeks.

LIPS:

- MAC “Boldly Bare” lip liner –> Neutral brownish/pinkish tone

This was a limited color but there are many other lipliners that could have worked out with this lip such as MAC “Whirl” which is sold all the time.

- MAC “Myself” lipstick –> Creamy neutral, lustre

This is another discontinued product from a previous MAC collection.  Although it is discontinued, I figured I’d show a photo of what the color looks like.  It is a basic neutral color without being too nude (where I feel washed out).

- Smashbox “Pout” lip enhancing gloss –> Pastel baby pink

Although I am true to MAC when it comes to the majority of my makeup (especially lip products)…I absolutely LOVE this lipgloss.  This color is totally my style when it comes to lipgloss.  It’s very sheer so it is best to wear over lipsticks.

]]> http://belledemoiselle.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/review-isadora-wet-gloss-in-23-golden-cherry/ Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:00:21 +0000 ksuan http://belledemoiselle.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/review-isadora-wet-gloss-in-23-golden-cherry/ Has anyone out there heard of IsaDora cosmetics before?

I hadn’t, until I ordered a few products off StrawberryNet and received one of its lip glosses as a free gift with my purchase. At first, I was skeptical (as many women are, when it comes to brands unheard of) – but when I popped the cover off this little tube and saw the cheery pink pop of colour within, I felt hopeful.

IsaDora Wet Gloss in #23 Golden Cherry – Photo: Author’s Own

Read on to find out more about IsaDora, and to see what I thought of IsaDora Wet Gloss in #23 Golden Cherry.

IsaDora is a Swedish company founded in 1983, and they manufacture a full range of beauty products from cosmetics to skin and hair care to fragrances to accessories. They’ve apparently made headway into the markets of over 40 countries – mostly in Europe, I think – and have been featured in magazines like Cosmopolitan Norway, Glamour Sweden and even People Magazine USA. It’s a wonder why they haven’t created waves in Asia yet! I suppose competition here runs rampant, especially with the recent influx of Japanese and Korean brands flooding the market.

Product-wise, they emphasise quality, no fragrances, non-animal clinical testing and a wide range of colours for every woman to pick from. Apparently, while they have a selection of classic colours and palettes, their collection is also updated six times a year to keep up with international fashion and seasonal trends! Plus, they only use non-toxic, non-harmful pigments approved by US and EU standards in the manufacturing of their products. Talk about dedication to the craft.

So what did I think of my IsaDora Wet Gloss in #23 Golden Cherry?

First impressions first: the gloss itself is packaged in a prim little mother-of-pearl coloured lipstick tube that clicks satisfyingly when opened and shut (little things make me happy). While it’s plastic, it’s not super flimsy like some other lipstick cases (yes, Maybelline, I’m talking about yours!).

The gloss itself is, as depicted, a cheerful-looking shade of cool pink. Despite its exceedingly girly exterior, when swiped on it actually doesn’t scream Barbie – applied, it is a soft pink with a nice golden-undertoned sheen. I know that may sound a little dubious, but trust me when I say it looked quite lovely against my warm undertoned skin. I found that one layer did the trick for a subtle and elegant look, and two layers made lips look rather kissable in a “touched by sunlight” way thanks to the gold sheen. The Golden Cherry moniker is well-deserved in this lippie’s case!

I also really liked that it was a gloss and not a lipstick, as this colour would not have worked well had it been more pigmented. As a sheer, light gloss, it was just right. However, although it’s supposed to be a Wet Gloss, it in no way replicates the effect of Maybelline Watershine and other products that fall under the category. When applied, IsaDora Wet Gloss does not provide a high-gloss, super moisturising, ultra-shiny look. What it does, however, is give your lips a soft, lustrous, glowy sheen. Personally, I prefer the latter to the former as it’s a little more classic, timeless and versatile.

While IsaDora Wet Gloss isn’t that moisturising, it does not have that sticky texture that I dread in most glosses – i.e. when the wind blows your hair into your face, you spend no time (or embarassment) at all sputtering and pulling strands of awry hair that have gotten stuck to your glossed lips. This is definitely a perk I could get used to when it comes to glosses.

Also, when it comes to staying power, this gloss is quite amazing. It’s a gloss that stays intact after a full meal. Yes, really. I annihilated a plate of mixed rice and afterward, my lips barely needed any touching up at all – that nice pinky-golden sheen was still there.

Pour conclure, if other IsaDora products are as good as their Wet Gloss, count me in for rallying them to make an appearance on our shores! The rest of their range as depicted on the website looks promising and worth a browse through at the very least.

You can buy IsaDora products online from CosmeticMall.com, an American-based online cosmetics shop. Prices are a little higher than typical drugstore brands, but not as high as upmarket brands like Chanel or Guerlain. They begin at USD 9.00 fo a bottle of nail polish, while lipsticks and glosses retail at about USD13 – 15. Apparently some IsaDora products are also available at Walgreens. Let’s hope they bring this intriguing brand to Asia sometime soon so we can check it out for ourselves – otherwise, if any of you girls have friends in the States, this might just be the time to ask them to pinch one or two for you!

So I’ve been vascillating between a “to post” or “not to post” (of course without the angst and the torment of Hamlet) and finally decided to … Sophia has already seen some of this hitherto undeclared stash anyway.  Not all of these were purchased at one shot though and some were purchased just before I started blogging (or before I had a decent camera!).

Here goes …

DECLARING THE UNDECLARED CHANEL GLOSSIMER STASH …

L-R: 106 MYRIADE; 128 METEORE; 114 AMBERLIGHT; 118 GOLDLIGHT; 98 GALACTIC; 122 NEBULA;

129 COSMOS; 131 MICA

And this last pic is simply because I cannot resist using the starburst effect!

A few of the Glossimers were limited edition (because they were not available at all counters and the BAs told me they were LE).  I’ve used 4 of them (Myriade, Amberlight, Nebula and Meteore) and the rest are BNIB! Terrible right? Buy and Keep! I I decided to keep them in the boxes when I’m rotating them primarily because someone at Chanel decided it was ok just to print ONLY THE NUMBER of the glossimer on the tube and leave out the name. Sigh. And because I rotate my glosses and I haven’t used these as often as I use my MAC glosses, I usually use a disposable gloss applicator (at least for Nebula and Meteore since they’re much newer and I had the brains to do so) so I cut down on contaminating them with bacteria, etc – “no double dipping”. 

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And this one … well, I completely forgot about it. Which is never a good sign …

Monogrammed with their iconic rose emblem!

This LANCOME PALETTE LIBERTE in INDIGO ROYAUTE is from LANCOME’s Aaron de Mey DECLARING INDIGO Collection … I got this in a value set with a indigo nail polish (which I wore in an NOTD here), a full-sized eyeliner and mascara as well as some other goodies.  Each shade is 1.2gm which is about the size of a MAC eyeshadow.  As is the case with Lancome’s eyeshadows that I’ve used (I used a duo of sparkling lavender purple and deep grey called Round Midnight for a long, long time and I still have the much-coveted (in the US at least), Erika F, which is a sparkling olive-toned silver – these are pigmented, smooth and are long-wearing.  The quad consists of 1 intensely jeweled blue shade, a lighter blue shade infused with gold micro-sparkles and 2 gold shades.  Of the 2 gold shades, one is bright tan-gold while the other has a wee bit more of a bronzed, antique gold shade.  

That’s all the undeclared stash I have … I think … *sheepish* LOL!

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DISCLAIMER: All products featured were purchased with my own $$$

So Soph and I were out last week more to check out the eyeshadows from MAC’s TO THE BEACH Collection.  We were both intrigued by Firecracker and Sweet and Punchy (which is essentially a dupe for Rated R from the Starflash Collection which I already have. Bah!).  And then the SUPERGLASS Collection caught Sophia’s attention at Isetan, sitting quietly in a corner of MAC Isetan Scotts.  When I met up with her later that day, we zoomed over to MAC Raffles City and oooohed and aaahed over the Superglass collection.  The display itself was mirrored and shiny, almost blinding us! 

We were at MAC just lounging around for about an hour, waiting for a chum and in all that time, I noticed that people were not quite as intrigued by Superglass as they were by the To The Beach collection, despite Superglass being rather prominently displayed. I mean there were folks checking them out and buying them, but the frenzy was really directed at the To The Beach collection – I guess that held more appeal given that it was an entire eyes, lips, face collection (and the highly-sought Marine Life Highlight Powder) rather than just dazzling, glistening, glittering, *drool*, sparkling lipglosses.  Speaking of which, here are the 2, in CHERRY ELECTRIC and TOTALLY BANG, I picked up that day:

I had to go down to the rooftop garden at my building to get these shots in the blazing sun cos shots in normal indoor lighting looked blah. I felt like a real pro-photographer checking lighting and angles! LOL!

Cherry Electric essentially has a pink-toned red base but is packed chockfull with different sized glitter – from what I can discern, the glitter seems to be red, fuschia and gold.  Totally Bang has a purple-toned fuschia base and seems to be jam packed with purple, red and pale gold multi-sized glitter.  The thing is this – the glitter seems so irregular that they almost seem like mini-flakies (like in the newer nail polishes?) and MAC did a great thing by packing the glitter in so it wasn’t a case where you swatch these and all you get is a glob of the base and 1 or 2 pathetic bits of glitter.  Don’t believe me? Check out the random swatches of the more pigmented shades in the collection.

Note: I apologise for not being able to tell you what the names of the specific swatches are cos I just swatched crazy and snapped the shot as fast as I could.  Also, the lighting in MAC Raffles City is a little yellow-toned so the colours should be a bit more vibrant in real life

I swatched Cherry Electric and Totally Bang on my Chanel Rouge Allures in Genial and Super (Cherry Electric complements Genial while Totally Bang is now Mrs Super) as well as MAC Up The Amp (as seen in the snapshot above).  

I got Cherry Electric and Totally Bang becos (1) they’re rather pigmented and too pretty to let go and (2) they will complement many of my lipsticks.  Totally Bang was totally a no-brainer pick for me, given that I wear purply-pink shades often but I also thought that I will be able to wear Cherry Electric with my coral or even red lipsticks, given the pinky-red base, so that came home too :) I can’t wait to try these out!  When I swatched these, I didn’t find the formula particularly gloopy or sticky and I’m comfortable with the MAC Lipglass / Dazzleglass formula so Wheeeee!

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DISCLAIMER: All products featured were purchased with my own money.