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

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.

Marcelle Rouge Xpression Lipstick in Jezebel

Or more appropriately titled, "in which I finally become Canadian."

Sort of. The running joke among my beloved beauty blogger friends (inexplicably, many of whom are Canadian) is that I am already half one, and what more do I need than some of Canada's drugstore best to push me over the edge, or um, leap from the Niagara Falls and emerge the other side? I've heard great things about Marcelle, and now that I've tried it, I'm insanely jealous. This is their idea of a drugstore product?

Marcelle Rouge Xpression Lipstick in Jezebel was gifted to me by my dear friend Arianne of Glitter Geek when she visited New York a couple of weeks ago. Arianne knows me and my fondness for lilacs well, but what she didn't tell me was how luxurious the lipstick feels. It glides like smooth balm on the lips but it's super pigmented and the color stays in place. 

What's better: there was no trace of the plastic smell that I've come to associate with drugstore lipsticks. If I had to compare it, I'd say it's similar to Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks, minus the rush of owning a luxury product. 

At only $12 apiece, the Marcelle Rouge Xpression Lipsticks offer you a rarity in beauty shopping: you don't have to think too hard about buying and it turns out to be such a worthy purchase. Arianne has swatched most of the Marcelle Rouge Xpression line, divided into neutrals and brights. In case you're interested in ordering, Marcelle is available to the US via their online store here.  

Makeup So Good It's Still Making Me Cry: Addiction by Ayako Eyeshadows

Along with the Cheek Sticks, I picked up some Addiction by Ayako eyeshadows thanks to my wonderful friend. Around the Internet, these are touted as some of the best eyeshadows ever, and when the entire world tells me it's that good, I just have to investigate. I had to buy these sight unseen, so I mostly relied on The Driveller Kate's swatches of the entire line to narrow down my picks. Trust me when I say it wasn't easy.

While the eyeshadows came in single pans, I decided to purchase the 6-pan palette for convenience. The palette does not come magnetized, but the eyeshadow pans will have glue on their backs anyway. Depotting is as easy as sticking a paper clip into the hole at the base. No heat necessary.

Addiction eye shadows are divided into four color types: (P) for pearl, (M) for matte, (ME) for metallic, and (S) for sparkle.

Top L-R: Sandbar (P), Flash Back (ME), Fudge (ME)

Bottom L-R: Midnight Oasis (M), Twig (P), Concrete Jungle (P)

L-R: Fudge (ME), Flash Back (ME), Sandbar (P)

L-R: Midnight Oasis (M), Twig (P), Concrete Jungle (P)

A closer look at Concrete Jungle, my favorite of the six I chose. The color is a true dove gray, and I can very safely say I don't own anything remotely close to this in my stash.

Highlighted inner corner and under brows with Sandbar

Worn with THREE Eye Belong Eyeliner (review to come), smoked out with Midnight Oasis

Lips and Cheeks: Addiction Cheek Stick in Revenge

Sandbar under brows blended into crease, Midnight Oasis all over lid and lower lash line

that pesky crease line! Bad primers make me sad

obligatory deer in headlights pose

Cheeks: Chanel Brume d'Or; Lips: Dior Beige Angelique 314

While NARS Outremer dashed my hopes for a vibrant International Klein Blue eye shadow, Midnight Oasis rekindled the flames (of desire? haha). In the pan I suppose it doesn't look as brilliant as Outremer does, and when worn it is a tad darker, but that, ladies, is what I call a blue.

What can I say? Hands down, Addiction features the best eyeshadow formula I've ever tried. Buttery doesn't even begin to describe how it feels when applied to the lids. All the hype is true, and I'll be  contributing to it from now on. Addiction eye shadows are $40 on Ichibankao (original price $27 in Japan).

Le Métier de Beauté Pallid Incandescents, a Dustin Lujan Exclusive

I've had to keep the lid on this story for over a week but finally the embargo has lifted! Here's the scoop on the latest Dustin Lujan exclusive eye kit for Le Métier de Beauté, Pallid Incandescents. When Dustin told me he was going to tackle a pastel eye palette, I whooped with joy. Pastel textures are notoriously fiddly, so the idea of having them in one of the best eye shadow formulas in the market was worth the embarrassment of a skipping Xiao down 8th Avenue (true story. I'm dramatic about makeup like that).

The palette is Dustin's way of playing with light. Here is an excerpt from the press release:

A collection of fun summer hues inspired by the complexity of light – soft resplendent hues of nature, such as crepuscular rays to something as whimsical as a sunset, then moving into the night with the vivid electric shock of neon bulbs and glowing street lights. This is truly a look for pastel days and neon nights. Whether it be out and about as a gleaming goddess or an ethereal vixen prowling the night, the pastel tones are perfect to bring light into the eyes as the colors intermix and illuminate the face.

When I swatched and layered it for the first time, I remarked that it was like he was trying to capture the twinkling reflection of a shimmering pond. 

In-store lighting

Natural lighting

Clockwise: Top to Bottom

L-R: Bottom to Top

The names of the colors: 

• Flush – a matte buttery pink 
• Lambent – a shimmery turquoise
• Refulgent – a matte coral
• Ultraviolet – a shimmery lilac

In the pictures below, I applied the palette in the company's couches de couleurs style, layering the kaleidoscope from top to bottom. I lined the bottom of the eye with the lilac shade, while focusing the green shade closer to the waterline.

Dustin originally wanted to pair Pallid Incandescents with the Bleu or Aqua Precision Liquid Liner, but I didn't own either so as a concession, I lined my eyes with Noir and patted the green shade over it. The result was (surprisingly) a glowy forest green.

Lips: Nude Pink Mix

Lips: Dior Plaza

When crafting this palette, Dustin wanted to create four great shades that can be used together or alone. Thus, you could apply Pallid Incandescents couches de couleurs from top to bottom as I did, or in reverse for a more vivid look, or be mindful about color placement and apply it the "traditional" way – matte pink in inner corners, green all over lid, coral in outer v, and the lilac as the accent shade patted in the center of the lid. Dustin told me in one of his test looks, he applied the palette over a black base of Noir Precision Liquid Liner to make the colors pop, which I can't wait to try on myself. 

For daytime, Dustin suggests pairing Pallid Incandescents with the Blush Kaleidoscope and Palm Springs Lipstick topped with Crème Caramel. For night, pair it with Radiance Powder Rouge in Fresh  and vamp up the look with Uma Paro Lipstick topped with Hibiskiss Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss. The model in the promo photo is wearing the night look.

Le Métier de Beauté Pallid Incandescents retails for $95 and will be available first week of July exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. Last I heard, there will only be a hundred units produced. I'm sure Dustin is taking pre-orders, so call him at 212.872.8612 and let him know I sent you!

Giorgio Armani Holiday 2011: Madre Perla Face and Eye Palette #1 and Eye Palette #2

I frequently go into bouts of beauty coma. Throw enough mediocre makeup at me and I start to feel like there's too much going on. When it actually becomes too much I hide under my table for a bit to weather it out. (I kid. Or do I?)

I was on the verge of seeking shelter under my table when I received my Giorgio Armani Holiday goods in the mail. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. All is right in the world again. The company swayed away from ostentatious display (remember the jacquard palette I didn't like?) and concentrated on the products themselves this time around. The result is a well-curated assortment of items that complement each other. I swept most of the collection clean and now am the proud owner of the Madre Perla Face and Eye Palette #1, Eye Palette #2, along with Gloss d'Armani Plum #604, which I featured earlier this week, and Eyes To Kill Intense #19. 

Madre Perla Face and Eye Palette #1

L-R: All three blended, swatched top to bottom.

I couldn't get the three varieties of gold from the Madre Perla Face and Eye Palette #1 to show up in the picture, probably because the bottom two shades resemble my skintone a little too closely. I'm just glad the blended swatch turned out noticeable. You'll have to trust me when I say this is apparent on my cheeks. I can't for the life of me figure out why I can't capture the very visible gold sheen I get from this palette (again, probably my skintone). But it's there. And the effect is a certain iridescence when applied to the skin. A note to glitter haters, there are super fine glitters accompanying the aforementioned sheen. They're not overabundant - think sparser than what you get from Guerlain Meteorites - but again, they're there. 

The Beauty Look Book allayed my mediocre swatching skills! She has her Armani Holiday feature up and her swatches are much more distinguished. Go forth and be tempted!

Madre Perla Eye Palette #2

Madre Perla Eye Palette #2 is made of three light (not sheer!) hues - a white gold, taupe, and the palest of pale lilacs. Again, these don't look so impressive when swatched over my hand, but they perform brilliantly when placed on the eyes. 

White gold shade all over, taupe in the outer corners, lilac swept just below the browbone 

I've heard plenty of women who shy away from lilac shades because they're afraid of how it would look on their eyes, but I want to set the record straight. Lilacs are magical brighteners for tired eyes. After all, light purple tones actually work to counteract sallowness in the skin. If you need more convincing, do watch this video by Lisa Eldridge. The makeup guru concurs, calling lilac "a universally flattering pep up shade." In the photo above I probably had only 3-4 hours of sleep the day (and entire week) before. I don't think I look it!

The shadows are a pleasure to work with. Soft but not flaky, smooth, and easy to blend. However, since the shades are so light, I suggest you use a nude base or primer beneath to ensure they'll show up. 

And here is a (half) face shot using all Giorgio Armani Holiday items:

The Madre Perla palettes retail for $59 apiece and should be available at major department stores. The Holiday collection just arrived at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com and is missing the rosewood gloss I've been waiting for. Sigh.