Chanel Eastern Light

White polish came back in vogue in a huge way when Chanel Eastern Light was first released (Hong Kong collection last year). The white polish, which was once associated with Wite-Out and forbidden, hastily splattered on nails in high school (I wasn't allowed to wear polish to school), suddenly became the shade du jour. I'm always skeptical when this happens. Why does it only become cool when Chanel chooses to pick up a trend?

(I mean, I know why. But I'm not happy about how perceived prestige causes us to so easily change our minds.)

But I did swoon over Eastern Light. I remember ordering it as soon as it was available on chanel.com last year, and barely agonizing over the fact that I paid $27 for white polish (though why should we be any less picky about white than say, red?). As white polishes go, this one is decidedly less streaky than most – with two thick coats or three thin coats to achieve opacity. The trick is to not apply too much pressure during application, otherwise you'll get a shadowy spot on the base of your nails.

Chanel Eastern Light is currently a repromote in the Reflets D'Été de Chanel Summer Collection, so for those who missed out the first time, here's your chance! Available for $27 at Nordstrom.

also good on toes!

Products Used:
Shu Uemura Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow Palette 01 Moss Green
Le Metiér de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer Shade 1
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil 08
Addiction Sandbar Eyeshadow
Lancome Star Bronzer Palette in Bronze Essence
Chanel Joues Contraste Rose Initiale
Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer in Delicate Pink
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never

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

3 Looks, 1 Palette: Guerlain Ecrin 6-Couleurs Eyeshadow in 2, Place Vendome

Beautiful design, but minus points for smudgy fingerprints

One of the most beautiful (non-limited edition) palette I own has to be the Guerlain Ecrin 6-Couleurs Eyeshadow in 2, Place Vendome. I purchased this when it first came out two years ago, but relegated it to the back drawer because I could never make it work. The looks came out too muddy, too messy, too much, but I realized it's because I kept trying to use all six colors at once. 

I know. 'twas a silly compulsion. But I picked it up again and now it's magic! To illustrate, I created three simple looks from just this one palette, but no doubt I've only scratched the surface of possible combinations. 

Be warned: this post is picture-heavy, even for Messy Wands standards.

First, I love the softly shimmering textures in this palette. The liner shade on the most left can be more intense if used wet, but I don't like doing it because I don't like the leftover stain you get on the shadow. The taupe shade is beautiful on the lower lash line, which you can see in action in the last look below.

(Also, for concision's sake I will not explain the base makeup/repeat steps like apply concealer/mascara etc. For list of products used, scroll to the bottom.)

Light Smokey Eye

Apply ivory shade as highlight under brows and around inner corners of the eyes. Light gray shade all over the lid, lightly blending out toward the brow bone, and on bottom lash line. Taupe shade in the outer v. Lightly apply liner shade to upper lash line.

Deep Gray Gradient Smokey Eye

Pat the darkest gray shade on to the eyelid and use the taupe shade to blend it out toward the brow bone. Use the ivory shade to highlight under the brows and blend into the taupe. Press liner shade into upper lash line. The bottom lash line is a combination of the dark gray and taupe shades.

On a side note, methinks it's time to invest in a better brush for the lower lash line.

Violet Smokey Eye

 

Pat the blue shade on to the eyelid, blend light gray in the inner 1/3, then press taupe shade to the center of the eyelid, being careful not to blend it out too much (but enough so it's not just a patch). Line upper lash line with liner shade and lower lash line with taupe shade.

And finally, to dispel the "rule" (myth, I say!) that you can't pair a heavy eye with a drastic lip:

Using my new favorite red: Burberry Lip Velvet in Military Red No. 310

Endless fun! Can you believe I used only one brush (my precious Shu Uemura 11 Pure Kolinsky) to apply all that eyeshadow too? The palette, mercifully, is in Guerlain's permanent color collection for $85.

Shop the products:

· I used the same base makeup for each look -

Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge #2

Dior Skinflash Primer #001

Le Métier de Beauté Foundation Brush

RMS Beauty Uncover-Up #22

Guerlain Ecrin 6-Couleurs Eyeshadow in 2, Place Vendome

Shu Uemura 11 Pure Kolinsky Eyeshadow Brush

Guerlain Noir G Mascara

Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow in 01 Moss Green

Shu Uemura Retractable Mechanical Brow Pencil in Seal Brown

Shu Uemura 6OB Brush

· Look 1 -

Suqqu Balancing Cheeks in 02 Mukuge

John Masters Organics Lip Calm

Shu Uemura 20H Blush Brush

· Look 2 -

(same as Look 1, with the addition of)

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick #12

· Look 3 -

(same as Look 2)

Chanel Notorious Sculpting Veil for Eyes and Cheeks (now available on Chanel.com!)

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
Le Métier de Beauté Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Bondi Beach

· Bonus -

Burberry Lip Velvet in Military Red No. 310

Le Métier de Beauté Dualistic Pencil in Rose

Mohair sweater is from Club Monaco, purchased last year.

Upcoming Releases from Paul & Joe

Don't you just love really getting into a new brand? Recently I've been hanging around the Paul & Joe counter more often and have been surprised by the quality of their products at such a low price point. I'm now itching to try their skincare (from what I've seen so far, very moisturizing and chock full of hyaluronic acid) and would love to procure every single one of their boxed powders. 

I first previewed the Powder CS blushes in this post. They are super pigmented and long lasting, and to my recollection feature no scent. It comes with a tiny brush, but I can see myself chucking that into the bin immediately. Packaging-wise, my favorite is the geometric print but the blush in the pelican case fits my skintone the best. The box powders retail for $30 each.

The new lipstick range comes in three finishes: Sheer, Natural, and Full Coverage. The Sheer lipsticks are basically lip balms (barely showed up on me), while the Natural ones are what other brands would call "sheer lipsticks." On the other hand, the Full Coverage lipsticks are crazy pigmented! I tried on #304 (a vibrant red) and it lasted without feathering for eight straight hours. Unfortunately, it was also staining. My lips were a few shades redder after complete removal and remained so into the next day. 

These are the lipstick holders you can place the bullets into. I think the third from the right is just genius on their part, considering the majority of beauty bloggers I know are cat fanatics. The holder retails for $5 while the lipsticks go for $17 (the old formula was $20).

This is how the lipstick looks slotted into a holder

In celebration of Paul & Joe's 10th Anniversary, the owner and creator of the brand Sophie Mechaly curated a makeup kit of essentials, titled the Love Story Makeup Collection. It is made up of a Pressed Powder Duo, Face Color, and five Eye Color sheets, and comes with a soft pouch.

As with all Paul & Joe items, the powders feature quite an amount of shimmer. I thought I wouldn't like it but they were beautiful and more understated when swatched. When combined, the blush is a peachy coral while the highlighter was shimmery white. I was skeptical about the Eye Sheets and told Alex (the SA) that they look like sample eye shadows. She said there is a fair amount of product in each sheet, but I'd personally treat it as a bonus feature rather than the raison d'être to buy this set (said reason, in my opinion, would be the pouch). 

The Love Story Makeup Collection will be available October 2012 at BeautyHabit.com and Bergdorf Goodman for $100. The fall lipsticks should be available in a couple of weeks, while I already spotted the lovebird blushes in store. If you need a contact or have any questions, Alex and Caroline of Bergdorf's Paul & Joe counter will be available to help you at 212.872.8648 and 212.872.2759.

As an aside, did you know I am now on Instagram? My username is messywands. I try to post adorable things and cupcakes on a regular basis. See you there!

One Woman's Freckles Is Another Woman's...

... skin condition. I kid, I kid!

On a whim – I blame that taupe eyebrow pencil I had lying around – I decided to dot on some freckles to see how I'd look. 

image via

While the model above is cute as a button (and potentially leopard-sexy), I on the other hand look like I need to put on sunblock. Maybe the trick is more concentrated dots?

If you're interested in replicating the look, here are the products I used:

Clockwise: Serge Lutens makeup base, Suqqu Keshizumi, By Terry 100, By Terry 200, LMdB Fawn*, Guerlain Rouge Automatique #100

L-R: bT 200, bT 100, LMdB Fawn, Suqqu Keshizumi

To dot on the freckles, warm the pencil on the back of the hand, then put the pencil on your cheek and roll it a little without altering position. Taupe shades replicate freckles in the most natural way.

As an aside, that Serge Lutens makeup base costs $80, and unless I'm using it wrong (I sweep it onto the eye, how else am I supposed to use it?), it's absolutely horrible. Creases within application. What's wrong with this picture?

The product(s) marked with * is provided by the company as a gift during a press event.

NARS Hanamichi Kabuki Palette In Action

This is going to be a quick one. I wanted to show you how the NARS Hanamichi Kabuki palette performed on the face in case you were on the fence about whether to plunge into the purchase. First, apologies for the robot faces. I'm falling into a kind of restlessness that's been hard to shake off and it must have showed up as the impassive façades you see below.

I utilized all four shades in the palette to create this look. The gold was used as an all-over wash and bottom lash liner, the black in the crease and top lash liner, the red as a blush, the white in the inner corners and as a highlight in the form of a vertical strip down the nose as well as above and below the eye brows. Most of the shading is done with the included mini brush to test its efficiency. 

Turns out the included brush is not the best out there, which is a slight disappointment though not unexpected. It doesn't ruin the palette for me since I hold that the efficacy of an included brush is a bonus, not a necessity. That said, while the brush felt like a rake across my lids, it does work. I found the best way to use it with minimal pain is to pat the color onto the eyes and then blend it out sparingly. The more delicate your wristwork, the better. 

Now, I know the big $65 question is if the palette is still worth the cost now that I've used it as an actual makeup item. Based on the colors alone, I have to say no. While they do work well together, it's not that hard to come across these shades individually. In fact, you probably already own similar if not exact iterations of all four shades in your makeup stash. 

But we all know one doesn't buy palettes like these for mere functionality. That's what permanent items are for! Apart from the plainness of the hues (and I suppose the scratchy brush), I have nothing else to complain about the palette. Therefore, if you're inclined toward the extraordinary and exclusive, I would still recommend this palette to you as a keepsake. 

From what I've read around the Web, the Hanamichi Kabuki palette should be available on narscosmetics.com on November 1, exact time unknown. Leigh pointed out in the comments section that Nordstrom currently lists it as in stock, but who knows how long that will last. Hesitance is not a virtue when it comes to picking this up. Get to it before it's too late!

NARS Hanamichi Kabuki Palette

I'm almost sorry to show this palette when it seems to be sold out everywhere. But one can always hope the powers that be are benevolent and produce more of these. I mean, give people a chance! It was sold out before I even received my package (I purchased mine from Nordstrom).

The NARS Hanamichi Kabuki palette is part of their limited edition Holiday gift offering. It was a surprise for me - had I not stumbled upon a chance link on Twitter I wouldn't even have known it existed. But it was one of those things that didn't require thought.  I snapped it up as soon as I saw it. 

The palette came with a black box (not pictured) and was housed in a matching velvet pouch secured with waxed string (is that what we call those?). Inside, you'll find the palette accompanied by the cutest mini hand-spun, wisteria-wrapped Kabuki eyebrush.

The palette itself contains three impressions of flowers in gold, red and black in a sea of white. I'm not sure what adjective I should use to describe the texture. It's not flat enough to be completely matte, perhaps velvet? The shades are soft and powdery (in a good way). I cringed when I touched the sponge to the shadows and thought I felt it disintegrate - but it didn't, and in fact swatched quite beautifully on the back of my hand. I can't wait to take the mini brush for a spin and try this on my eyes.

I (tentatively) take back what I said earlier about the palette being sold out everywhere. I checked some other sources and found on Temptalia that NARS will be putting the Holiday Gift collection up on sale on their website on November 1. I'm still quite seriously considering the Barney's exclusive brush set, and am now just waiting for people to talk me into/out of it. 

If you're interested in the Hanamichi Kabuki palette ($65), I suggest cyber-stalking narscosmetics.com come November 1 and placing your order without hesitation once it's listed. It's shaping up to be another one of those too sought after limited edition items. That said, I, for one, am happy I've escaped the anguish.