#TBT: Burberry Earthy Blush

Is it too late for a #tbt? Look at the pan action on this Burberry Earthy Blush. Considering that I've had this for over two years (see this post, two lighting setups ago!) I guess it's not much, but it's a lot more than all my other blushes! Seriously, how do beauty bloggers hit pan, ever?

There's nothing new I can say about it. In my opinion, Burberry blushes have some of the best textures in the market – finely milled, uber pigmented, lightly scented, housed in a beautiful compact with a great, usable (!) brush. My only wish is that they would come out with more cool-toned shades. Earthy is what I call my cheekbone shade.

Burberry Earthy Blush is mercifully part of the permanent edition line, retailing for $42 at Nordstrom.

Products Used:
Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow Palette 01 Moss Green
Suqqu Frame Fix Cream Foundation N 102
Le Metiér de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer Shade 1
Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer in Delicate Pink
Guerlain Crazy Paris Meteorites Radiance Powder Compact (Holiday 2013)
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil 08
Le Metiér de Beauté Nouvelle Vague Kaleidoscope
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara
Burberry Earthy Blush
Shiseido Lacquer Rouge VI324
Shiseido Lacquer Gloss RS306

Ellis Faas Blush: S301, S302, S304

Many reviews I've read of Ellis Faas laud the superior texture and formula of their products, but always with a caveat: the applicator and its refilling mechanism is unwieldy. One of my Ellis Faas eye pens actually exploded once – I was twisting it to get pigment out, and probably because the leftover pigment was too caked onto the brush, the liquid couldn't get through. Instead, the entire top part of the pen blew out from the holder and paint splattered across the room. I was wary of trying Ellis Faas again, but here I am with their blush pens.

I'm happy to report that the formula and texture remain as what I remember them to be. As for avoiding a repeat of the last mishap, I now wipe off excess liquid after use (as I should have done in the first place).

Swatches

L-R: Ellis Faas Blush S304, S302, S301

Very simply, S301 is what I think of as a natural blush, an amalgamation of pink, peach and brown tones. S302 is more vibrant and leans pink, but still looks very natural when applied on skin. S304 is the color of mulled wine.

Ellis Faas pens are designed for fingers, so place a few dots along your cheeks then happily blend!

S301



S302

Suqqu EX-11 Sumiredama on eyes, Le Métier de Beauté Coral Rose on lips.

Ellis Faas Blushes retail for $32 and are available at ellisfaas.com.

Full disclosure: This blog post contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration, as well as affiliate links.

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Suqqu Spring 2013: EX-13 Ginusudama

Several pieces of the Suqqu spring collection landed on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, courtesy of a (well placed) loved one in London. I didn't find many of the US releases this season exciting and haven't been making new purchases, so the package was a welcome dose of beauty. I've mentioned on Twitter some time ago that I've largely weaned myself off the need to buy and own lots of things, but it's always nice getting something pretty in the mail.

A review of the spring palettes would not be complete without mention of this different, duochrome-ish white-silver packaging (as opposed to the usual black). I assume it is an allusion to the color of pearls, as the products from the entire spring collection ends with the word pearl (genius, I am).

Swatched clockwise from the top left, Ginusudama contains a pearlescent pink, a bronze-copper, an ivory, and a decidedly duochrome purple-gray. Though really, those are crude words to describe the colors above. Each shade flickers and changes slightly in the light. The formula, if you can believe, is even more buttery smooth compared to the regular quads. It's pigmented but light – you can't overwhelm the eyes with this palette, no matter how much you pile on.

The Look

For the look above, I used the palette in the most generic way possible. White as under brow and inner corner highlight, pink all over then layered with the copper, and purple-gray shade as liner. Because the color palette was so light, I knew I couldn't rely on my go-to nude. I reached for a shade I've never tested before, NARS Velvet Gloss in New Lover, and was surprised that it complemented the look very nicely indeed. Perhaps it's in the coolness of the shades? Nevertheless, that's a friendly pink added to the trusted stash, and we all know doesn't happen very often.

Suqqu EX-13 Ginusudama is available at ichibankao.com in the US, albeit with a high markup.

Products Used:
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream in Light Medium
RMS "Un" Cover-Up in #22
Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow in Moss Green
Suqqu EX-13 Ginusudama Blend Color Eyeshadow
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner in 08 Eye On
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara
Guerlain Blush G Sakura (Asia Exclusive)
NARS Velvet Gloss in New Lover

Spring Butterfly Makeup

L-R: Addiction Twig, Suqqu Mizuaoi

Not even gonna lie, the "butterfly" part was coined by the editors of Harper's Bazaar to describe the below, taken at Roberto Cavalli's Fall 2012 runway show. To my dismay, I don't have purple or green eyeshadow that vibrant, but as usual I took matters in my own hands and cobbled up a look with what I had. I only noticed after editing that the result is similar to the Rouge Bunny Rouge look I did a couple months ago, with slight adjustments to placement.

I wish I used a brighter green. Can we just imagine that the dark green I used on my lids was brighter and popped (I hate using that word, but in this context it's really apt) more? Would have made this more interesting.

Anyway, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. I covered my eyelids and my bottom lash line with the green eyeshadow. For the blueish lilac shade, I stuck my brush by the side of my nose bridge and blended the shade into the lid, stopping just before it touches the eyebrows. The definition achieved by the model above is envy-inducing—alas, I have no such nose.

For the outer half, I used the purple brown shade from the Suqqu Mizuaoi quad (sadly discontinued) and blended it into the two colors. I lined both top and bottom lash line with a black liner, then applied mascara. For the finishing touch, I dipped a liner brush into the white and highlighted the inner corners of my eyes.

While the makeup on the rest of the model's face was kept bland, I added just a hint of pink on my cheeks (the trick is a really fluffy powder brush, a light pink blush, and an even lighter hand), then highlighted on top of my cheekbones and down the center of my nose. I also went for lipstick that didn't wash me out.

Oh! I tested a new trick to applying foundation. I sprayed a mist between every layer. Basically, mist –> foundation –> mist –> powder -> mist. The aim was to create dewy-looking skin.

The Look






Products Used:
Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying Foundation in Wheat Cream
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light
Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist
Guerlain Perles du Paradis Meteorites
Benefit Dandelion Blush
RMS Living Luminizer
Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow Palette in Moss Green
Suqqu Mizuaoi
Addiction Twig Eyeshadow
Pop Beauty Peak Performance Mascara in Blackest Black
Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer in #201

Paul & Joe Spring 2013 Collection

The Paul & Joe Spring Collection is so full of whimsy and cute. I knew this even before I went to the counter; I've seen the press releases. Yet, there remained much squeeing and dancing little jigs in front of the SA, who thankfully was already familiar with my ways. There are elephants on that lipstick, guys, tell me you can resist.

Alright. On to the formalities:

Paul & Joe Pressed Powder CS 001 Swirl

I didn't take a picture of the powder because there was a seal over this product and it wasn't a tester so I couldn't mess with it. Think pastel green, pink, cream, and white in a dense lollipop swirl. It makes for an understated highlighter that's definitely much less glittery than what I've come to expect from the brand. This is a good thing.

L-R: Eye Color CS 082 Calliope, 083 Montmartre, 084 La Belle Epoque

L-R: Eye Color CS 082 Calliope, 083 Montmartre

084 La Belle Epoque

L-R: Lipstick Refill CS 078 Carousel, 079 Merry-Go-Round, 080 Manège

In case you missed it, Paul & Joe announced last fall that they will start selling their lipstick components in two parts, which means you'll have to purchase the bullet and the tube separately. This amounts to a $2 increase in their (complete) lipstick prices, but as compensation, the company doles out mega-cute limited edition lipstick bullets to soothe the pain off that couple extra dollars.

I had to. I just had to. Nevermind that the color is fantastic and I don't actually own a fuchsia lipstick (and notice the carousel horse detail printed on it!), there are elephants on the tube. That is, unabashedly, my real reason for buying it.

Paul & Joe Spring is already available online at beautyhabit.com. Alternatively, you could give my friend Alex Runciman who works at the P&J counter a call at 212.872.8648. I swatched and purchased the above at Bergdorf Goodman.

Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes

Perhaps you've heard about the Clinique Chubby Stick, arguably the most popular item to come from the company since the 3-step system. While we know it originally to be a lightweight lip tint, the Chubby Stick has actually evolved into a franchise, with a recently released intense lip version and in February, the eye version.

The Clinique shadows are pigmented, smooth, and easy to blend, which I never thought I would say about cream eye pencils. I did not experience creasing or fading and they last impressively long even without a primer.

I applied the shadow below (Whopping Willow) exactly the way I did here, using the exact same tool. Recently, I've been needing to simplify my regimen for travel while still looking presentable, and I find that cream eye pencils offer the best of both worlds. One simple stick allows me to achieve a decent look, and when the formula is as good as this, it actually becomes a pleasure to apply (unlike this).

In short, when this launches in February (for $16 apiece), everyone should head to a counter and play and then wave your fist at me because then you'll want to have one (or four) of your own.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration.

Editorial: Purple Smoke with Rouge Bunny Rouge

INSPIRATION is such a beautiful word. While it's been said true artists/writers are the ones who slough through regardless of its presence, I'm sure we all can agree that when it's there, life is a million times easier.

I've been meaning to feature a trio of shadows Rouge Bunny Rouge sent to me, but just couldn't figure out how to use them together, until I stumbled upon this photo.

The eyeshadows in question are Snowy Egret, Lilac Reef Curassow, and Eclipse Eagle — an icy gold mint, a lilac, and a purpled brown.

L-R: Snowy Egret, Lilac Reef Curassow, Eclipse Eagle

Here you can see them housed in a nifty little case (RBR' Trio Eye Shadow Keeper)

As you can see, I switched up the colors from the original photo (which are breathtaking, by the way. I want everything used on her), but conformed to the same shading shape. Basically, think of your eyelids in thirds. After applying primer, I patted on Lilac Reef Curassow to the center (2/3) of my lids. I then applied Eclipse Eagle to the inner and outer lid (1/3 and 3/3), making sure to blend, but not overly blend into the lilac. More detail went to shading the inner lid, as the makeup artist extended the shade to the side of her nose bridge instead of stopping at the edge of the lid. I applied Snowy Egret to the inner corners of my eyes and smoked out the bottom lash line with Eclipse Eagle.

I could discern only the faintest inkling of a line on the model's eyes, so I tight-lined using a black pencil liner. Two coats of black mascara, and done.

The Look

Rouge Bunny Rouge products are available internationally on rougebunnyrouge.com and zuneta.com.

Products Used:
Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying Foundation in Wheat Cream
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light
Guerlain Meteorites Perles du Paradis
Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadows in Snowy Egret, Lilac Reef Curassow, and Eclipse Eagle
THREE Flash Performance Pencil Eyeliner in Eye On 08
Pop Beauty Peak Performance Mascara in Blackest Black
Addiction Blush Mix in Brown Toast
Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer in #201

Necklace from Intermix, dress from Free People.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration.

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #200 & Le Métier de Beauté Cocoa Me Crazy Nail Lacquer

We are talking about these two very different things in one post because I happened to photograph them together. Before we dive in, let's have moment to appreciate that nail color. Isn't that such a magnificent nude?

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #200 Terra

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #200 Terra ($32) is a browned-red, but what's more interesting is the formula. As you probably know, this year's beauty market has seen an onslaught of liquid lips (I predict cream sticks to be next year's thing... again) but each are markedly different from the next. I've tried virtually every one of those new formulas and Armani's is my favorite by far. It applies wet and dries down to a velvet matte. It is incredibly pigmented and long-lasting, though it has a lot of slip. I use that to my advantage especially after some of the color has disappeared after meals, as all I have to do is press my lips together; the pigment from the top lip will transfer and lips will be fully painted again.

For swatches of the entire Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro line, visit here.

Le Métier de Beauté Cocoa Me Crazy Nail Lacquer

The beautiful nude is courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté Cocoa Me Crazy ($18). I couldn't figure out how to describe this, but Nordstrom saved me. The polish is a "vanilla bean creme with cocoa flecks." It's not apparent in the picture (much more evident in the bottle), but after application you'll see little specks of brown on your nails. It is reminiscent of cement and I mean that in the best possible way. It's beautiful, and possibly already inched toward the top of my favorite nudes list.

The Look

Eyes: Suqqu EX-08 Hanamari Blend Colour Eyeshadow