Fingers in the Cold

It is a happy coincidence that I took a picture of myself holding this bottle of Nails Inc Porchester Square a few months ago in my DKNY Cashmere Pop Top Gloves, because at this point of time I wouldn't be caught dead outside without those tops fully closed. Sometimes, it's hard to stomach the price of cashmere (these gloves are $95), but I've experienced enough winters that I can't deny its efficacy. That and Uniqlo Heattech are my two saving graces this frigid season.

But we were talking about protecting the fingers of those who are untenable toward the cold, so consider this a PSA to get these gloves. It keeps you warm while enabling you to show off your manicure (if you so wish) and use a smart phone with minimal exposure. I'm kind of jealous that it's now on sale at dkny.com.

As for the polish, it's now in a bigger, heavier bottle with the same ol' stuff inside. Porchester Square is a beige mauve shade that would serve as a great nude for most.

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.

The Things I Use

A pictorial follow-up to the previous post. Here are some of the makeup (by category) I reach for when I don't have time to think. Instinctive grabbing tells you a lot about the merit of a product –

Blushes

Clockwise: Chanel Brume d'Or, Paul and Joe Color Powder CS in Inseparables, Benefit Dandelion, Addiction Brown Toast, Addiction Damask Rose, LMdB Tenne, LMdB Mystique

Concealers

L-R: RMS "Un" Cover-Up #22, LMdB Peau Vierge Correcteur in Light/Medium, Shu Uemura Kolinsky Brush 15, LMdB Revive Eye Brightening and Setting Powder

It seems my previous HG Cle de Peau (review) has finally been replaced. I barely use it anymore, preferring either the RMS or LMdB for creamier coverage.

Eyeshadows

Clockwise: LMdB Jojo, Addiction Sandbar (top left)/Flash Back (top middle)/Concrete Jungle (bottom right), Burberry Pale Barley, Chanel Notorious

I only listed the names of the neutral "everyday" shadows I use. The NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is a necessity for oily lids!

Eyeliners

L-R: Giorgio Armani Waterproof Smooth Silk Eye Pencil #1, LMdB Nouvelle Vague (4th shade), Shu Uemura Brush 10F, THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil in Eye On 08 and Eye Belong 04

I would have included LMdB Precision Liner in Noir but my pen dried out and I threw it out at time of photography. I have just purchased my replacement (third one ever).

Mascaras

L-R: Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara, Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

It's not that I don't love my Guerlain Noir G (review) anymore, it's just that I've finished up two tubes of it and can't bear to buy the refill when cheaper alternatives are rocking my world right now. When I'm done, I'm going to buy that Annabelle mascara in bulk. Incidentally, that Eyeko mascara is remarkably effective in holding curl.

Nude Lips

L-R: LMdB Bondi Beach Lip Gloss, LMdB Marrakech Lipstick, Suqqu Creamy Lipstick #5, Guerlain Rouge Automatique #103

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

Editorial: Copper+Blue

The title of this post could have been a lot of things. I briefly entertained:

How To Make Your Lips Look Three Times Larger Than Usual
I Didn't Know They Make Foundations Like This Now
The Tale of Two Clavicles
Erghfghgfgh Make Up!

But I suppose Copper+Blue will suffice. I have to thank Larie for assigning me homework yesterday and breaking me out of my makeup rut. I've been doing the simple brows/lashes/blush routine for the past two weeks and almost forgot what a good amount of color could do to my face.

Sung Hee in Elle Vietnam, September 2012 (source)

For the record, the above picture was the inspiration. Below is what I cobbled up.

I took one hour to recreate what seemed like a really simple look. There was a lot of prep and tweaking involved on my part. I wanted the lips to look like hers and I underestimated the amount of gloss needed. I also needed my skin to be absolutely smooth sans Photoshop. Those things take time, yo.

Anyway, first I applied a thin layer of Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Luminous Liquid Foundation in 78 Beige all over my face, blending it into the neck (my lines are deep and permanent, can't mask that). I've only used this foundation twice and so far I'm still in shock. I didn't know foundation could do this to skin! When I first had it on I wasn't used to it because I looked airbrushed. Best of all, the texture is so liquid-y and lightweight that I can't even feel it on my skin. It covered redness and evened out my skintone. I only had to add a dab of RMS "Un" Cover-Up #22 around my under eye area for, dare I say, flawless skin.

To sculpt the cheeks, I swept on Chanel Brume d'Or in a sideways triangle.

After prepping the skin, I sketched in thick eyebrows with a pronounced arch with my Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil. I used Le Métier de Beauté Champagne Dualistic Eye Pencil as an eye base, then layered True Color Eyeshadow in Jojo, Spicy, and Tuscan Sunset respectively over it. To emulate the gleam on Sung Hee's lids, I applied Sugar to the center of my eyelid. I highlighted under my brows with Revive Eye Brightening and Setting Powder.

I didn't have that beautiful green in my arsenal (of course, now I have to find one just like it) so I substituted it with the blue in the Oscar de la Renta Kaleidoscope Eye Kit. I applied Noir Precision Liquid Liner closely on the lash line and waterline, and finished with a big swipe of Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara.

For lips, I swiped on Guerlain Rouge G Guerlinade and topped it with Le Métier de Beauté Vanilla Rose then a thick layer of Creme de la Creme applied with a lip brush. It doesn't look much in the close-ups (in fact, shudder at those lip lines!), but my lips looked three times plumper from afar.

I really should do this when I go out sometime. It's sort of a pity (and a waste of perfectly good makeup) that I wear almost nothing when I step out of my house.

At any rate, happy weekend to all!

Products Used:
Face -
Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Luminous Liquid Foundation in 78 Beige
RMS "Un" Cover-Up #22
Chanel Brume d'Or

Eyes -
Shu Uemura Mechanical Brow Pencil in Seal Brown
Le Métier de Beauté Champagne Dualistic Eye Pencil
Le Métier de Beauté True Color Eyeshadow in Jojo, Spicy, Tuscan Sunset, and Sugar
Le Métier de Beauté Oscar de la Renta Kaleidoscope Eye Kit
Le Métier de Beauté Revive Eye Brightening and Setting Powder
Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liner in Noir
Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara

Lips -
Guerlain Rouge G Guerlinade
Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crème in Vanilla Rose and Creme de la Creme

Swatched: My Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crème Stash

Once upon a time, I was a blogger with a modest stash of six basic lip cremes. That was the wardrobe – they were all a girl needed to concoct almost any color she might have wanted to wear.

A little over a year later, that stash tripled in size. This, ladies, is why a gloss purchase for me is a rarity.

Incidentally, this is how Messy Wands got its name

Since the beginning of this blog's existence over a year ago, I have consistently proclaimed my love for Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crèmes. While I have enjoyed plenty of other lip formulas, I've never found one that rivaled my love for them. For the uninitiated, the lip crèmes are lipstick/gloss hybrids, so they are heavier than regular glosses and quite pigmented when applied to the lips. The best thing about the lip crèmes is while they can be worn alone, they are also meant for mixing and layering together or with other lip products. I've written about this a few times in the past, with concoctions here and here.

Today's post is purely about updating my swatch gallery of these pretties (taking advantage of the swanky new lighting!) and um, providing eye candy. I just love seeing them all lined up.

L-R: Creme de la Creme, Vanilla Rose, Sweet Creme, Two Lips*, Peche Creme, Ginger Snap*, Creme Caramel, Cafe Creme, Cocoa Creme

L-R: Purple Haze, Mum's The Word*, Copper Leaf*, Chocolate Creme, Fraise Creme, Framboise Creme, Red Velvet*, In The Know Bordeaux

The lip crèmes marked with * are limited edition. The only two lip cremes from the permanent collection I don't have are Toffee Creme and Papaya Creme, which I am confident I can get by mixing two of what I already own. For those interested, I think Toffee Creme = Chocolate Creme + Creme Caramel; Papaya Creme = Peche Creme + Creme Caramel + Fraise Creme.

Out of all these, Peche Creme gets the most use (I'm almost done with my tube). If you're pondering a first purchase, I think Peche Creme, Fraise Creme, Purple Haze, and Creme Caramel are good bets. I personally found them the easiest to layer and mix with other colors.

Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crèmes retail for $36 and are available at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, as well as select Saks and Nordstrom locations.

Some products in this post were provided by the company for editorial consideration

RMS Beauty Swatches

I know the pain of blind online purchases and the inevitable regret when the color doesn't match the product images online, so here are swatches of the complete RMS Beauty color collection.

L-R: Lip Shine in Sublime, Bloom, Moment

The Lip Shines are shiny lip balms. Sublime is a light hot pink, Bloom is a peach pink, while Moment is a honey brown shade.

L-R: "Un" Cover-Up #11, #22, #33, #44

The "Un" Cover-Ups are what we usually call concealers. #11 is ivory yellow, #22 peach yellow, #33 ochre yellow, while #44 is bronze yellow. (I'm definitely straining my color vocabulary here.)

L-R: Lip2Cheek in Muse, Promise, Modest, Smile, Illusive, Rapture 

The Lip2Cheeks are lip and cheek colors that can be sheered out or layered for intensity. Muse is a pale pink cream, Promise is.. orange/brown/red with slight gold shimmer? I don't know, but it's very pretty. Modest is coral, Smile is peach, Illusive is a brown-based red, and Rapture is a rich brick red. I actually tried on every single one of the Lip2Cheek and was surprised to find only Promise and Illusive worked on me. Muse was concealer lips (in a bad way), while Modest and Smile were too warm for me.

L-R: Cream Eye Shadow in Lunar, Solar, Seduce, Magnetic, Spark, Myth, Karma

I trust the Cream Eye Shadows need no external description. Lunar is actually a shimmery ivory nude (I layered the swatch heavily to show the color), Solar is a complex antique gold, Seduce is a khaki-leaning brown, Magnetic is a taupe. Spark and Myth looked really similar in the pot – I feel like Spark is a neutral brown with slight gold shimmer, while Myth is a brown cream that leans red. Karma is a dark brown-black.

I didn't swatch the Living Luminizer because I've already shown it in this post, which you can also head over to see "Un" Cover-Up #22 and Rapture in action.

RMS Beauty is available nationwide at rmsbeauty.com. If you live in (or are visiting) New York City, you can view and try out the entire collection at Bloom Beauty Lounge, located at 140 West 19th St.

PS: Just received word from @rmsbeauty that Spark and Myth have been discontinued.

Looking Like Fall: Recreating Armani's Fall Beauty Campaign Look

Fall is upon us, and nothing signals its arrival more than the welcome sight of smokier eyes. The Glitter Geek Arianne and I decided it would be fun to celebrate its arrival by recreating a fall beauty look. She took inspiration from the runways, while I have been enamored by Armani's fall beauty campaign ever since I saw it two months ago.

It was an easy choice, though complete recreation was somewhat hindered by the lack of a comparable hat.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall Campaign 2012

Products Used:
· Face: Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Tinted Treatment #2 mixed with Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base, RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up #22
· Eyes: Le Métier de Beauté Nouvelle Vague* (black shade)
· Cheeks: Le Métier de Beauté Creme Fresh Tint in Tenne
· Lips: Burberry Nude Peach Lipstick

There really isn't much to the look – I just wanted a chance to tackle an exaggerated black smokey eye. I colored my lids with black eyeshadow and shaped them into oversized cat eyes, blending out the edges. The model's cheeks had just a hint of color, which I emulated with a few pats of Tenne. Burberry Nude Peach Lipstick might not be pink enough compared to what the model had on, but remains a good companion to over-smoked eyes.

Arianne is doing Derek Lam's Fall 2012 runway makeup and I can't wait to see what she's conjured up. Mosy on over here to take a look!

The product(s) marked with * was sent by the company for editorial consideration

Before It's Gone: Suqqu Kakitsubata 01 Eyeshadow Quad

The word around the blogosphere (Drivel About Frivol, The Non-Blonde, and @GlossedTweets) is Suqqu has discontinued their 01-06 eyeshadow quads. Of those, I own Ginbudou 06 and Keshizumi 04 (seen here). Here is a look at Kakitsubata 01 before it's gone forever.

taking cues from Alexander Wang Fall 2012

Kakitsubata is the most "neutral" of the Suqqu palettes I own. It's made up of a fleshy peach, coppered brown, matte violet and matte ivory. The violet was splotchy in the swatch but performed well when used as a liner, which is its official purpose anyway. The rest of the quad are buttery smooth. 

I am weird with earthy tones because I actually find it very hard to wear brown. I think Kakitsubata works for me because it leans copper, and I stumbled upon the right shadow placement. When I place browns on my crease the look ends up muddy, so instead I blended it all over my brow bone and it looked much better. I love making new discoveries. Eyeshadow suddenly became much more fun.

Cheeks: Paul & Joe Color Powder CS Inseparables; Lips: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Rapture

I suppose this post is dedicated to those lucky 'uns from London and Japan where Suqqu counters exist, as it is no longer stocked on ichibankao.com for US folk. I do think the colors in this particular palette are easily dupe-able, and I was really excited about the look and wanted to share... Please don't throw your makeup brushes at me.

Lipstick Bandits: Nudes

What do we mean when we say nude? Is it the color of your lips, the concealer lip, or somewhere in between? It gets a little confusing when we use this term when everyone has their own definition (rendering it not a very good word since it confounds communication), but I suppose in the beauty blog world we have pictures to make up for that. 

The Bandit Collective didn't define nude for this assignment, so I will be interested to see how my fellow masked villainsfriends see it (links below, as usual). For me, nude is somewhere in between concealer and original lip color, so in my mind there are many shades of nudes. And because I never properly wrote about it (but used it in this post), here's Rouge Dior #314 Beige Angelique.

I screwed up the white balance on my camera so I look much more olive in my pictures. It's an interesting color on me, and I'm surprised I actually like looking so bronzed (after years of wanting to look lighter). The purpose of stating it is just so you know the below is not a product of excessive bronzing. 

Eyes: Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad; Cheeks: LMdB Creme Fresh Tint in Tenne

Beige Angelique is a beige peach shade on me. Going by the tube, I would assume it wouldn't go well with my skin tone, but in real life it works. I do think that as far as nude peach shades go, Burberry Nude Peach looks better on me. 

We are missing a lot of comrades this time around, but please do still give Bloomin' Beauty, Call It Beauty, Makeup Morsels, and Rocaille Writes a visit!

• Beauty Reflections
• Eye Heart It
• Getting Cheeky
• Glitter Geek
• Musing on Beauty
• My Funny Valentine
• My Women Stuff
• theNotice: a beauty blog‎

Clean Lines and Cat Eyes

Yes, I have to put that much for it to show up so little.

Lips: Le Métier de Beauté Dualistic Lip Pencil in Nudité; Contouring: Mistura 6-in-1 Beauty Solution*

I wish I could do a tutorial on this, but I'm really a beginner myself when it comes to drawing cat eyes. This one leans more toward the editorial spectrum rather than the more palatable everyday flick, but I really like it and would love to wear it out one day soon. 

I did finally learn how to find my favorite angle for the cat eye, which I've always struggled with. I just imagine an upward extension of my bottom lash line and stop at the invisible line where the tail of my eyebrow ends. I used Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liner in Noir to sketch out the line, then went over it with the black shade from Nouvelle Vague* for intensity. I couldn't find a nude lip color I liked from my drawer so I used their Nudité lip pencil, and was pleasantly surprised that the texture was creamy enough to hold its own. 

Products marked with * were provided by the company for editorial consideration