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

YSL Spring 2013: Jade Imperial La Laque Couture

You know how you lose something precious and there is a hole in your heart that cannot be filled and it's a little hard to admit because jeez, it's just nail polish, but it's still true? That's how I feel about Rescue Beauty Lounge Diddy Mow. I've only ever lost two beauty products in my life and one of it had to be a limited edition, sold out indie nail polish of the most dreamy green ever. It's frivolous and #firstworldproblem of me, but I want to weep when I think about it.

Anyway, I impulse bought YSL La Laque Couture in Jade Imperial from their spring collection because it looked similar to Diddy Mow in the bottle. Pictured below with Essie Luxeffects Shine of the Times because that's what I applied to the tips of my left hand (shown in top picture) and right ring finger.

Jade Imperial is a cloudy jade green creme. Application was smooth and could easily have been a one coater, though I did two. The formula is just a tad thicker than I would've liked, but in no way does it impede or mar application.

While there is no right or wrong when it comes to nail polish pairing, I think Jade Imperial serves well as a complement to this spring's palette of punchy pinks (I am willfully ignoring its dainty counterparts). I purchased mine for $25 from Nordstrom.

Products Used:
Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying Foundation in Wheat Cream
Guerlain Meteorites Perles du Paradis
Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur in Light/Medium
Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Revive
Le Métier de Beauté Dualistic Eye Pencil in Tamarack
Dolce & Gabbana Femme Fatale Smooth Eye Color Quad
THREE Flash Performance Pencil Eyeliner in 08 Eye On
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara
Suqqu Balancing Cheeks in 02 Mukuge
Paul & Joe Lipstick Case CS 006 and Lipstick Refill CS 080 Manège
Le Métier de Beauté Clearly Brilliant Lip Gloss
YSL La Laque Couture in Jade Imperial

Accessories:
Jennifer Zeuner Mini Bar Necklace
Catbird Alphabet Ring

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.

3 Looks, 1 Palette: Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs 502 Coup de Foudre

I knew I wanted the Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs 502 Coup de Foudre ($59) ever since I saw promo pictures, if only because they threw that curveball of a coral in there. It didn't matter that it wasn't the most practical of colors to include in what is essentially a green palette, it's interesting.

The palette consists of shimmers - a coral, a seafoam green, an olive, and a steel gray. Out of all four, only the gray gave me problems. I had to pack on the pigment to get that swatch. I'm assuming it's because it's meant to be a liner and liner shades usually have that issue. That's disappointing for such an expensive quad, but at least it's workable.

Look 1

This look was an attempt to use all four colors at once. I asked the SA how she would use the quad and she said she would apply the seafoam green on the first half of the lid, apply the olive on the second half, then pat on the coral in the center. Use the gray as a liner shade (do note that I tightlined in all the pictures).

Look 2

I guess that's fine, but using the coral that way feels a bit like we're at a playground and we just want to make all the colors feel included. I also think if you weren't careful, it would make the eyelids look muddy. For my second look, I patted the olive shade on the center of my lids, then placed the seafoam green in the inner and outer corners, blending the edges together. I lightly lined both my top and bottom lash line with the steel gray shade.

On a whim, I used the coral shade on my cheeks. Look how pretty that turned out! If you're planning to do this, a light hand is crucial since eyeshadows are usually more pigmented.

Look 3

This was my favorite look. I was so excited to find that the coral was so easy to wear on the eyes! As for the look breakdown, I placed a swath of the coral on my lids, dotted the light green in the inner corners as highlight, and heavily applied the steel gray shade on my bottom lash line.

All in all, a fantastic eyeshadow quad to play with. I always thought I couldn't pull off green and Coup de Foudre convinced me otherwise.

Products Used:
Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying Foundation in Wheat Cream
Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur in Light/Medium
Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Revive
Guerlain Parure de Nuit Pressed Powder & Blush
Shu Uemura Mechanical Brown Pencil in Seal Brown
Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs 502 Coup de Foudre
THREE Flash Performance Pencil Eyeliner in 08 Eye On
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara
Burberry Lip Mist No.212 Nude Peach
(For Look 1 product breakdown, click here)

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

Spring 2013 Swatches: Guerlain and Dior

My guerilla swatches hopefully require no more introduction.

Guerlain Spring 2013

On the far left: Meteorites Pearls du Paradis swatched individually

Ecrin 4 Couleurs 502 Coup de Foudre

Top: Shine Automatique 600, 601; Rouge Automatique 762 Rendez-vous, 761 Flirt

Bottom: KissKiss Gloss 870 Cherry Pink, 849 Fizzy Mango; Ecrin 4 Couleurs 501 Attrape Couer

The only thing I sprang for was the Ecrin 4 Couleurs Coup de Foudre because look at that coral! And the nuances on those greens! I tried it on at the counter and was surprised to find that it looked beautiful on my skin tone, so into the shopping bag it went.

Dior Spring 2013

5-Couleurs Eyeshadow in Rose Charmeuse #854

What caught my eye about Rose Charmeuse was the really dark black, which reminded me of LMdB Nouvelle Vague (swatches here, look here). I can't be certain, but I believe it is as pigmented.

Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow in Rose Ballerine #724

Clockwise: Nail Lacquer in Gris Trianon, Rosy Bow; 'Cherie Bow' Twin Set Eyeshadows

Dior released a couple of duo cream/powder shadow sticks for spring as well, which I swatched above - cream on top, shadow on the bottom. It's... better than what I expected from shadow sticks, but the product itself doesn't appeal to me personally.

I think Dior released some beautiful pinks, but pinks are not my strong suit and not something I would wear much, so I didn't pick anything up from Dior. I am quite tempted by the two nail lacquers, but decided to mull over them for a couple of weeks before purchasing.

I swatched these in Saks Fifth Avenue New York, but both collections are already up online at Nordstrom!

Suqqu EX-08 Hanamari Blend Color Eyeshadow

I think we bloggers are secretly most gleeful when we can blame a fellow blogger for our purchases. My latest fall was not only Lizzie of Glossed in Translation's fault, she even went as far to procure it for me all the way from London. Seeing her post about Suqqu EX-08 Hanamari Blend Color Eyeshadow was one of those "I see, I want" kind of moments that usually leads to buyer's remorse. In my case, it has led to the kind of satisfaction you only get when time has proven that you've made a very good decision. I think of Hanamari as an effortless eye palette, and I know we abuse superlatives often, but I really, really mean it.

Like I always say, sometimes all one asks for is pretty, and pretty this is. The quad contains a pinkish pearl, a taupe meadow green (I'm at loss what color this is), a light shimmery pink, a warmish brown. If I were perfectly honest, I'll tell you I bought the quad solely because of the green shade, but it's always good to know everything else works.

What I do with it is dreadfully simple. I layer the three lightest shades on top of each other (pearl, pink, then green), with only the barest of afterthoughts in placement, such as more of the pearl around the inner corner, more of the green at outer corner etc. I tightline my eyes with a brown liner, then sort of fluff out the brown shade from the lash line (I wish this was a video so you understand what I mean by fluffing out).

For this particular look I accidentally applied a little too much of the pink. Usually the result is more of a gray-green-pink combination that's marvelous because I cannot tell you for sure what color it is.

If I look a little haggard in these photos, it's because it was taken after about eight hours of frantic running around the big city. There is just so much work to do before the holidays, which perplexes me a little. Why are we working so hard and stressing out for a holiday?

I don't know if Suqqu EX-08 Hanamari is still available since it is a limited edition Selfridges/Hankyu exclusive, as Lizzie explains. But uh, pretty!

Products Used:
Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
Suqqu EX-08 Hanamari Blend Color Eyeshadow
Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Waterproof Eyeliner in Brown #2
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara
Suqqu 03 Hinageshi Balancing Cheeks
Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #200 Terra