Beauty Bag: Humidity Proof Looks- July 9th

This is my makeup bag this week- humidity friendly wares

This week I've been toting a light makeup bag due to the 80 degree temps and high humidity. Instead of my face melting at its usual 12pm schedule, it melts at 8:30am on my way out to work!
To combat the icky- stickies of giving mayjah face, I recently added these cute mint-scented hand and face wipes to the mix. Here are a list of my go-to's for this week!

-I heart Ice Cream Mini wet wipes- I picked these up at C.O Bigelow, too cute!

- Chanel Beige Nail Color- its a warm- neutral color that looks super natural. Perfect for those days when you want to have a nail art break.

- Jack Black Vanilla Mint Intense Therapy lip balm SPF 25- yes, this is for dudes, however, this is also the best lip moisturizer and smoother for when your lips feel like sand paper on a hot day. This here takes care of your lips like no other.

-Marc Jacobs Heart Mirror- When I first moved to the city almost 4 years ago, this was my first purchase at the Marc Jacobs accessory store. It will be making future cameo appearances.

- YSL Touche Eclat in #6- One of the loves of my life! just a dot or two under my eyes and that is all.

- Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Riviera- This punchy tropical orange is all the kick that I need for summer, especially with a bare face. I use two swipes and the color lasts at least until lunch.

- Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Mascara in Black- I was introduced to this mascara by a fellow beauty enthusiast. This mascara makes you look awake and is easy to wipe off when winding down for the evening.

- Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy- This is my "no- look" go to lippy, meaning that I don't need a mirror to apply the balm and I know I will look ( and feel good).

- Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer (not pictured)- I try to wear spf every day, especially because my skin gets hyperpigmentation scars like crazy from blemishes. This moisturizer is light and smooth plus, I know that it is working on my skin while I'm taking care of business for the day.. I know because this is like my third bottle.

- Makeup bag is from Forever 21!

What's in your bag this week?

Spring 2012 Haul: YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain

YSL Rouge Pur Couture- #4 Mauve Pigmente

YSL Rouge Pur Couture swatch in #4 Mauve Pigmente

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain presents us with some interesting choices: Stick, Gloss or Stain and the best part? You choose!
This Spring YSL Beauty combined three desired lip textures into a super beauty product like none other, YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain!
Initially, the color in the package is very bold and a bit intimidating, I questioned, "Are my lips going to really look that purple?", then I swatched #3 and #4 on my hand to check the actual color and the consistency. I was greatly surprised! Not only did the colors quietly blend onto my hand and present warm brown and light berry tones but the consistency was smooth, not sticky like other glosses and glasses. Additionally, when taking off the swatches, a generous amount of stain was left.
Lippie hoarders beware! YSL Rouge Pur Glossy Stain will be your go to for the Summer!

Check out this cute video for YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain

YSL Pink Celebration- Spring 2011

Pink reigns supreme at YSL beaute with soft palette inspirations for Spring 2011.
The look is now available on the newly revamped ysl.com and includes a Celebration palette complexion highlighter for the eyes, lips and cheeks and the much awaited creme blushes in five bright poppy spring colors to compliment the popular Rouge Pur Shines.

The full collection is expected to be in counters mid February.

Jourdan Dunn in YSL's Spring 2011 Beauty Campaign

Jourdan Dunn is the new Spring 2011 face of Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat beauty campaign. Hopefully this campaign won't be her last for YSL beauty, Karlie Kloss has been the main face of brand for the past two seasons and we look forward to Jourdan's return to fashion!
How do you like this campaign?

photo: Fashionologie via Models.com

2010 Moments in Beauty: Orange You Glad ?

Despite the not so cheery news of unemployment, transit hikes and lousy sample sales, you didn't have to look panicked in the face of unpleasant news. While determining whether to brave a face with the powerful red lip or a play up the youthful pink lip, neither contended as much as an old 80's favorite, Orange.

From Apricot to Coral down to Tangerine, Orange was 2010's juiciest element of surprise. From MAC's Pret a Papier collection to YSL's Solaris Summer collections, new tones and textures where introduced that had a new crowd clamoring for radiance in a time of recession.

Halloween 2010: My Tron Legacy Costume

My Tron Legacy Makeup look

Products used to achieve look:

Face:

YSL Perfect Touch Foundation in #13

MAC Harmony Blush

Eyes:

MAC Haunting Eyeshadow

MAC Nile Eyeshadow ( in the crease)
Chanel Bois Bleu single Eyeshadow ( in the crease)

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

MAC Khol liner in Smolder ( on the waterline)

Lips:
NARS Triple X lipgloss


The final product!

The prep: I knew that I wanted to be a character from Tron legacy but didn't know how to approach how to put my costume together. First, I knew that I didn't want to invest upwards of $500 into a costume I'm using once.
For the framework, luckly I had some leggings from winter. Then I went to Uniqlo and bought a cheap fleece turtleneck that I turned inside out.
The net pieces acquired were the source of the "glow". Again, with limited resources, my costume couldn't be as slick as this guy's costume here, so I researched buying glow sticks in bulk- this turned out to be a success!
I ordered 50 necklaces and 50 bracelets in blue and a hot glue gun and got to work on a Thursday night, making sure not to snap the bracelets so that they don't start glowing because the glow is only for 24hrs.
After about a calculated method of not snapping the glowsticks, I glued them onto the sides of my black leggings (please note, I didn't plan on using the leggings post costume so gluing was an option). After gluing the glowsticks onto the sides of my leggings, I continued on with gluing the glowsticks onto my turtleneck.
The next day (Friday) , I snapped the glowsticks when putting on my costume and was pleasantly surprised with the results.

The framework.

YSL Sample Sale 2010: A Fantastic Frenzy

Today was the first of 3 days where the 4th floor of the Metropolitan Pavillion was devoted to the YSL friends and family sale.

If you have the patience to withstand an hour plus weight, the wit to get someone to put a Muse bag down and the strength to haul everything you see. This is the sale for you... kinda.

Its not all that bad, but you do need a strategy.

I have a simple 3:

1. Be on the look-out. Especially with shoes and your wallet. You can try on the shoes at the sale but keep a close eye on your own shoes, shoppers have been known to swipe other shoppers shoes.

2. Don't dress too complicated. When you are trying on clothes, the last thing you want to do is fight to get out of the layers that you have on only to look up and see the clothes you chose to try on are gone. Shoppers swipe #2.

3. Keep it simple and practical. For the YSL sale I know that whatever I buy I will wear for years to come. Just two years ago I bought 6 items from the sample sale ( a cashmere sweater, a silk skirt set, a pair of deep grey jeans, a black tie front blouse and a gold tie front blouse) for $200. I still use these clothes to this day, it also helps to go on the last day as the prices are marked down.

At today's first day frenzy, I bought the top pictured. Its quirky but totally works.

The YSL Sample sale is at the Metropolitan Pavillion on 18th between 6th and 7th aves from Thursday, October 28th from 8am-8pm; Friday, October 29th from 8am-8pm and Saturday, October 30th from 9am-4pm.

Happy shopping!

Photo: Style.com

YSL's #6 Touche Eclat

YSL's Touche Eclat #6 is finally here for all you beauties whose tones are richer than #4 and need a concealer/highlighter.

How much richer is #4 compared to #6? Well if your Sephora doesn't have a chart- if you are currently wearing Mocha or deeper (or NW40 or higher, in MAC), #6 is for you. The difference between #4 and #6 is that #6 focuses on more reddish undertones while #4 is for more neutral undertones.

When testing #6 before purchasing, the YSL counter manager noted that #4 works great but I would need a moisturizer prior to wear. Whereas, #6 is the more " wear and go" because you don't have to prime before usage.

This info was good to know since now I know that I have been ripping and running around without additional moisturizer while wearing #4- yikes! But I also have to take into account that my well moisturized skin endures up to 4 different lighting situations daily.

Anyway, so far so good with #6 , I'm sure this product will be the rave of the year for those who are on the hunt for a great concealer/highlighter with a great legacy!

Fashion's Night Out 2010 Scavenger Hunt

Fashion's Night Out is this friday and since there is one billion things to do in NYC, I decided to come up with a scavenger hunt!

Chanel Soho- I'm really excited about the re-opening on the Chanel Soho store on the 10th, any chance for me to see Karl Lagerfeld would be a dream! While I'm in Soho, I can pop into Korres and see what's going on. Last year Korres had great FNO makeup demo's and it wasn't too crowded.

I'll also have to be on the lookout for the VanLeewen Icecream truck for their Cinnamon scoop! Hopefully, I'll have a Heartschallenger spotting as well.

Next I'll be off to 42nd street Sephora to check out the launch of YSL's Couture Lipsticks! Can't wait, meet and swatch in person. Then onward and upward to Midtown for a Bryanboy siting and Bergdorf Goodman's and finish up the night at Barney's playing musical chairs or singing karaoke.

I hope all goes as planned if not more and will update next weekend

YSL's New Shades of Touche Eclat!

Ladies, Have no fear of jumping a shade up or down when it comes to YSL's Touche Eclat. This September, YSL will debut 2 3 new Touche Eclat shades ( the Sephora counter in Soho). Once shade will be in between shades 2& 3 and one that is deeper than #4- my current favorite.

More details will follow!

Update: New hues are #8 Radient Silk ( the shade will be inbetween shades #2 & 3)

#5 Luminous Honey ( this shade will be in between shades 3&4)

# 6 Luminous Amber ( this shade will be after #4)

FOTD: Sunday Funday- Hotter than July

Oh Sundays! Here's my face of the day while on vacation at my mom's house in San Diego! Here is the rundown:

Face:

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NW45

NARS Casino Bronzer ( on cheeks)

MAC Eyekohl in Smolder

YSL Mascara Singulier in Black

CG Outlast Lipstain in Cinnamon Smile

Chanel Glossimer in Eclipse

Summer 2010: Best Highlighters

What compliments a great tawny bronzer is a great illuminator, highlighter or luminizer ( if you will), either one of these boosts your radient factor by so much more than you otherwise thought. The trick, keep the "highlighters" ready for when the sun goes down. Just like a candle in the dark, these keep your skin glowing and look great when you are photographed in nightshots!

Here are just a few of my favorites for this summer save NARS Luster, which I have chalked up in the past. The few mentioned are an array of pigment focused formulas that go a long way with a little usage.

Clockwise:

YSL's Palette Signes D'Orient- This very rare and hard to come by palette has it all. Illuminant shell and pink highlighters with a shimmer finish and a chocolate bark color powder for contouring. This pallette also includes two applicators, one a mini blush brush and the other an eyeshadow sponge.

MAC HyperReal Foundation in Beyond Bronze- A couple of years ago, MAC introduced Hyper Real Foundations as a second skin foundation that rids imperfections with light shifting like capabilities ( I'm paraphrasing). Not to say that this didn't work, it was too early in the game!

I still have 2 bottles of HyperReal, one being shade 700 and the other is Bronze.

Broze is a great liquid highlighter on top of cheek bones and below the brown, plus a little goes along way.

Chanel Emprientes des Chanel- This year's newbie! This palette has the Chanel interlocked C 's logo in a light gold wih peach, pink and tan shimmer powder is a mosaic around.

As with YSL's D'Orient- Good luck finding this one, it's been sold our since earlier this year.

Tarte Celebutante Dry Oil Body Spray- Ok, I'm beinding the rules for this one as I do have an upcoming post on body glow. However, I was enamored by the cute pink shimmer that can contribute over your bronzed cheeks for the perfect night out.

Citrus Lips! A Summer 2010 Guide to Juicy lips

Sonya Rykiel Ad-inspiration- Orange Lips

Joining Hall of Famers such as Bobbi Brown's Orange and MAC's Morange and CB96 lipsticks are 3 more citrus stunners that are sure to please!

Swatches from L to R: YSL Rouge Pure Shine Lipstick #94Blood Orange,

YSL Rouge Pur Pure Lipstick #21 Indian Orange, Chanel Allure Lipstick Genial

YSL #94Blood Orange

YSL's Blood Orange #94 is fresh from the current Solaris Collection. The coverage is sheer with shimmer but the deep orange pigmentation lives up to its name.

Normally I'm put off by shimmer, however the sheer shine coverage conquers this lippie!

YSL #21 Indian Orange

Indian Orange has been in YSL's line up for sometime now but as the Summer 2010 calls for the brightest lipstick shades and seeing as Indian Orange has been sold out in the NYC Sephora's for some time- this is lipstick is definitely the underdog that is now casting a light on all the newbies!

Indian Orange packs a more "true orange" color that its brand sister Blood Orange. The payoff is long lasting with brighter with layers. Quite vibrant like the Rykiel Advert.

Chanel Genial Rouge Allure

Genial is the breakout star among the sheerest of the sheers. This apricot-twist to the orange lip game is playful and punchy. While YSL's Indian Orange would probably be reserved for a day at the office, and YSL's Blood Orange would kick off an evening girls -night-out look. Genial would be my playful weekend Brooklyn or DUMBO Flea lippie with my vintage Valentino day dress.

YSL's Blood Orange #94 and Indian Orange #21 Lipsticks can be found here: ysl.com

Chanel's Genial Lipstick can be found here: chanel.com

disclaimer: YSL and Chanel lipsticks were purchased by Lacroix with the intent of review and use.

YSL Gloss Pur Hibiscus #9 is Pur Heaven

YSL's Gloss Pur Hibiscus #4 is my favorite lipcolor of the moment! This fuchsia toned hue is complemented by a touch of lavender and is just a sliver of YSL's offering for the Solaris Summer 2010 collection.

This gloss contains no shimmer or glitter so coverage is very smooth, opaque and highly pigmented . And in YSL lippie fashion- there is a hint of rose scent.

If you want a punch of color this summer, YSL's Gloss pur's might just be it. They offer more pigmentation than other Summer 2010 collection glosses.

YSL's Summer 2010 Solaris collection debuts Summer 2010. Check your counter ( got this one at Macy's in Herald Square) or check out Sephora.

disclaimer: product purchased by me for use and review

YSL Spring 2010 Gloss Volupte #5 & #8

Just in case you missed out on YSL's Gloss Volupte Gloss in #4 for the fall, have no fear- #8 is equally stunning. When I headed uptown for my Chanel excursion, YSL had their Spring 2010 Makeup collection out. I wasn't too thrilled about the pastels however, the new Volupte Glosses drove me wild!

#5 Sugared Almond is the perfect nude with just the right touch of pink for deep pigmented lips. It won't leave you ashy- just theright amount of color

#8 Glazed Blackcurrant is a stunnying deep plum, it borders the discontinuted Black Tulip Rouge Pur and just as sheer.

These are my next obsession for Spring other than the epitimous Chanel Particulier Nail Polish.

I tested these at Saks but they are available at ysl.com.

They are definitely worth the splurge for Spring!

Update: Both Gloss Volupte's are available on Sephora.com

Loreal Friends and Family Sale ends Dec 20, 2009

Info:
Metropolitan Pavillion
125 West 18th Street, 5th Floor ( btwn 6th and 7th aves)
Wednesday, Dec 16th- Sunday, Dec 20th , 10am-8pm.

The Loreal Friends and Family sale officially started yesterday but there are plenty of goodies left at the Metropolitan Pavillion.
Here is what they had and the prices:
Kiehls: $5 lipglosses, $15 Argan Dry Oil, $5 essential oils,$10 Bodywashes & Hand cleansers $5 totebag
Lancome: $5 Juicy tubes, $8 Liglosses and Lipsticks , $10 Foundation,$25 Eye shadow palettes $20 Bronzers
Shu Uemura: $ 15 lipsticks, $10 lashes, $25 brush sets, $20 concealer, $20 bronzer
Giorgio Armani : $20 foundation
Vichy: $10 Skincare
YSL: $10 Gommage , $20 Eyeshadow palette, $10 lipgloss, $10 french manicure kit

Source: Madison Avenue Spy

DIY: Concealer

I've been running low on some good cover-up and adventured out to the Sephora on 5th avenue to see if they had some new goods. Unfortunately- A. either my shade or the product is discontinued or B. I am in-between shades. For example- Illamasqua's concealer, my shade is in-between CC320 and CC325. That's a hugestretch in tones!

So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and whipped up my own concealer with the materials I had in my Ikea office furniture- turned 6 drawer traincase.

I broke out the following:

NARS Balanced Foundation in New Guinea

NARS Firming Foundation in Benares

NARS Concealer in Chocolate

YSL's Temps Mejor Yeux

and put all 3 to work.

First, I started with a small empty sample jar I received from Sephora.

I added a scoop of the Temps Mejor and cut a 1/16th disk of Chocolate concealer from the stick.

Chocolate is long since discontinued from NARS . Its darker than toffee and is without the yellow undertones. I then mixed New Guinea in the jar to get the concoction to my skin tone.

For further blending, heat a pot of boiling water and a small plastic bowl. Add water to the plastic bowl and add your jar of concealer contents.

When the concealor melts, take the jar out of the bowl, take a cotton swab (remove the cotton) and mix the contents. After this, place your new concealor is a cool-try area and watch the concealer's consistancy thicken.

Voila! you have a new custom made concealer with all of your own goods and just saved up to $20 in the process!

disclaimer: materials used were purchased by me except for the Sephora Sample jar.

Finally! YSL Rouge Volupte Gloss in #4

For my birthday I received quite a pleasant surprise! I received YSL's Rouge Volupte Gloss in #4 and I'm in love!!!

The gloss has the coverage of a lipstick, the consistancy is much like Clinique's Black Honey Almost Lipstick BUT the color is much bolder and lasts much longer. I would say Black Honey is like #4's little sister in that respect.

The pumping effect is pronounced because the moisture and coverage making your lips fuller.

This is officially my new holiday lippie and FINALLY you can get it at Sephora.com.

disclaimer: product received as a gift from friend (no affiliation to YSL or Sephora).

Sephora's Friends and Family + New Holiday Stuff!

Today is the day for Sephora's Friends and Family 20% off discount on-line, the promo runs until Novermber 2nd.

Not only that, but there are new Goodies on Sephora.com!

NARS has three 15 year anniversary palettes!

One Eyeshadow palette ( Day and Night) the other two are full face palettes complete with Eyeshadow, blush, Multiple, lipstick and gloss. Each cater to either the smoky eye/Red Lip combo ( Wild at Heart) or the Colorful shadow/ Nude lip combo ( Everlasting love). Plus there is a Multiple Coffert featuring 3 mini mulitples!

Also on Sephora.com- YSL's Holiday set! Trial Size #1 black liner & #1 Luxurious Mascara, #1 Touche Eclat and #2 Golden Praline Golden Gloss.

I have a laundry list of replenishments before I can get a hold of this new Holiday stuff- I can't believe its around the corner!

What do you plan on getting from the F&F Sale?

Fall ’09 Beauty Trends: Soft Skin

Shed the summer skin and prepare for fall’s polished skin with sensitivity in mind.
A little ( a quarter size and use 1-2 times a week) goes a long way, so these recommended may last you until the New Year and beyond!
After exfoliating, I follow-up with my favorite moisturizer.
This has been my Sunday wind-down routine – especially when the sun sets earlier and the temperature gets colder.
Have some Vanilla tea.
Exfoliate
Moisturize
Watch a film
Fall asleep while watching the film J

Here are my favorite scrubs for fall:
MAC Volcanic Ash
YSL Natural Action Exfoliator
Laura Mercier Face Polish Gommage Facial
Chanel Deep Purifying Exfoliating Mousse

photo: Sephora.com