AUDACITY IN PARIS LANCOME EYESHADOW PALETTE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

I swatched the eyeshadows from left to right and then followed next was the bottom row which was swatched from left to right as well.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post I just happened across the Auda[City] Lancome eyeshadow palette quite by accident. I was placing an online order for something else on the Lancome website when I saw a pic of this palette. I was like, "that is a really nice palette" and once I read it was "designed by Lisa Eldridge", I was like "sold - THAT PALETTE WILL BE MINE"! I know, I know, this year has been THE YEAR of the palettes! YSL, Urban Decay, Dior just to name a few, all have released rather large palettes. So the question I keep getting is - Do I really NEED this palette? YES!!! Yes, you really do NEED this palette.

I LOVE all the colors included in this palette. It's as if someone read my mind and built this palette based on all of my favorite eyeshadow colors. The most perfect combination of light and dark shadows which will allow me to create the perfect daytime or nighttime look. With this palette there's no need to haul around several different palettes. OMG, I LOVE IT!

The shadows in the palette are extremely pigmented and blend so easily. They are soft to the touch but not so soft that they will crease, crumble or have any crazy fallout. In that respect they have a kind of dry texture. When you first use the shadows all you really need to do is lightly tap, tap, tap your eyeshadow brush into the shadow to pick up a good bit of product. Then you will lightly tap, tap, tap the eyeshadow onto your lid or crease. These are super pigmented eyeshadows so it doesn't take much to really overdo it. I know I did the first time I tried using the palette and ended up with a muddled mess on my eyes. So I started over and below is a natural look I created. 

Now, typically I don't use eyeshadows to line my eyes but I thought I would give it a go. It was actually easier than I thought it would be especially when using any of the last four shades on the right of the palette. Those lined my eyes beautifully and were the perfect colors to line the eyes. Although I did go back in and use a touch of the purple eyeshadow to line the top middle of my lids. Just to add a bit of drama and to make my green eyes "POP" a bit more.

Now if I had to dislike or gripe about anything with this palette it would be the dual-end makeup brush that is included. I wasn't able to use it because it was rough and scratchy to my eyes. Clearly it wasn't the best quality although everything else was perfection!

AUDA[CITY] IN PARIS eyeshadow palette - $68.00 USD

Shades include:

Filigree (light gold shimmer)
Choquette (peach matte)
Parfait (light pink matte)
Kitten Heel (gold copper shimmer)
Joie (golden-bronze shimmer)
Voyage (muted purple matte)
Sante (brown matte)
Éclair (purple metallic)
Exhibition (orchid shimmer)
Zip Me Up (deep [purple shimmer)
Volcano (silvery gray shimmer)
Clock Strikes 12 (gray metallic)
Audacious (smoky brown shimmer)
Couture (dark brown matte)
It List (black matte)
Nuit (black metallic)

Includes Dual Ended Brush

(0.45 oz.)

Available online: Nordstrom, Lancome, Ulta and Macy's

260 ALEZANE CHANEL JOUES CONTRASTE POWDER BLUSH FALL 2015 COLLECTION LES AUTOMNALES - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Alezane is a new Joues Contraste Powder blush from the Chanel Fall 2015 collection Les Automnales (see the entire collection here). It is an extremely pigmented reddish brown with light reflecting gold micro glitter. I was honestly on the fence about this blush. I'm just none too excited about the gold micro glitter and it is somewhat visible on the face; especially by the end of the day. On me the blush is dark enough I can use it as a bronzer or blush and it doesn't take much pressure to pick up a fair amount of product either. The best brush I found for application is the Real Techniques duo-fiber face brush or their blush brush. Both are excellent for picking up the perfect amount of product without overdoing it and they blend everything out perfectly so as to minimize the flecks of gold micro glitter. The key to a flawless look with this blush is to blend, blend and more blending.

Below I have a few comparison swatches of some blushes in my collection. As you can see some are similar while others...not so much. Currently the Alezane blush retails for $45.00 USD (0.21 oz) and can be purchased at Chanel.com, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdales

302 ALLOW ME MARC JACOBS ENAMORED HI SHINE LIP LACQUER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Marc Jacobs 302 Allow Me is a glossy medium pink lip lacquer with a peppermint scent and fine flecks of sparkle with a slight iridescence. Allow Me is one of the brands more pigmented lip lacquers. When worn alone it applies with a nice wash of medium pink gloss and wears for about four hours. Over a lipstick such as Marc Jacobs Have We Met (see swatches here) it transforms itself into a beautiful iridescent glossy mauve pink and wears for about six to seven hours.

There are eighteen shades of Marc Jacobs enamored hi shine lip lacquers available for purchase. They currently retail for $28.00 USD, contain .16 fl oz of product and are available at Sephora.

95 VIVA CHANEL ROUGE COCO SHINE HYDRATING COLOUR LIPSHINE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

95 VIVA is a limited edition Rouge COCO Shine that is part of the Chanel 2014 Fall COLLECTION ÉTATS POÉTIQUES. There are four Rouge COCO Shines released with this collection: Aura, Viva, Intime, and Confident (check out the link below to read about the entire collection). I have already reviewed Aura (see link below) and I will be reviewing the other two shortly. VIVA is described as a vibrant fuchsia lipshine (it definitely fits that description) that is semi-opaque with one application, applies with a smooth finish and glossy shine, and wears for about three to four hours with minimal fading. It didn't settle into my lip lines, there was no feathering or extreme fading and it kept my lips moisturized the entire wear time. Viva Rouge COCO Shine currently retails for $35.00 USD and it contains .1 oz of product.

Check out the entire collection here: CHANEL 2014 FALL COLLECTION ÉTATS POÉTIQUES

Review of Innocence blush here: 160 INNOCENCE CHANEL JOUES CONTRASTE POWDER BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Review of Orage nail colour here: 631 ORAGE CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Review of 96 AURA ROUGE COCO SHINE here: 96 AURA CHANEL ROUGE COCO SHINE HYDRATING COLOUR LIPSHINE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

575 WONDERLAND DIOR ADDICT FLUID STICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

The Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 575 Wonderland is a bright reddish coral lipgloss. It has the pigmentation of a lipstick but the shine of a gloss. It is easy to apply and is opaque with one application. The formula feels and applies rather wet but dries unevenly on the lips with some areas maintaining a glossy finish while other areas dried down to a muted shade. When reapplied to even out the application it has a tendency to migrate onto the teeth which is very unattractive and aggravating. The Fluid Sticks might have performed better if the formula were more of a jelly consistency and less of a wet liquid. Maybe then the Fluid Sticks would have worn more evenly and maintained an all-over glossy color consistency.   

The Dior Addict Fluid Sticks currently retail for $35.00 USD and contain .18 fl oz of product. 

338 ROSE DES CYGNES LANCOME LIP LOVER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Lancome recently released the Lip Lover Lip Protector - a 3 in 1 elixir that deposits beautiful color and a glossy shine all the while leaving the lips moisturized. This non-sticky, super pigmented lip product applies like a gloss but wears like a lipstick. There are currently 14 shades available on the Sephora website and there are 18 shades to choose from at Nordstrom. The Lip Lover Lip Protectors currently retail for $23.00 USD and they contain .14 oz of product. On the Nordstrom website they are currently offering 10% off on these.

I purchased 338 Rose Des Cygnes which is a deepened rose mauve. The color was a little darker than what I was expecting but overall its still a really nice lip product. The Rose Des Cygnes Lip Lover wore for about four to five hours before the shine started to faded but the color lasted for a little over eight hours and my lips stayed moisturized the entire time. Overall the Lip Lover Lip Protectors are really nice with long lasting color and they keep the lips super moisturized as well.

AZALEA SMASHBOX BE LEGENDARY LIP GLOSS - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

One of the items I purchased online during the Sephora 15% off discount period was the Smashbox Be Legendary lip gloss in Azalea. It is a brightened pink fuschia gloss that is non-sticky and applies easily. The gloss kept its shine and color with a wear time of about five hours before I needed to reapply. When you first apply the gloss it may look more sheer but within a matter of minutes the color pigments in the gloss really intensify the wash of color on the lips. 

The Azalea gloss currently retails for $20.00 USD and contains .20 fl oz. of product. There are a total of sixteen glosses to choose from and they are all available on the Smashbox website and online at Sephora. When I went to Sephora at the Northlake mall on Saturday they hadn't received the glosses in store yet. So for now you may want to purchase these online but I do expect them to pop up in store at Sephora within the next few weeks.

FEARLESS MAC PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCIL - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

On the MAC website they have recently launched 12 new PatentPolish lip pencils. The PatentPolish lip pencils have the shine of a gloss and the color of a lip pencil. The colors range from corals, pinks to nudes and each is housed in a twist up chubby pencil. I purchased Kittenish and Fearless. Click on the links below to read more about the whole collection and to see my review of Kittenish. 

Fearless is described as a deep blue pink and it provides semi-opaque coverage. It is rather sheer like a lip balm, it applies unevenly and tends to settle into the lips. Reapplication is necessary as it does not wear very well (at least on me) and seemed to enhance any lip imperfections. Fearless lasted maybe two or three hours wear time at best and then it just looked faded and feathered. It also has a really strong Vanilla scent, one that is similar to the MAC lipsticks, but nothing quite as strong as this. Overall I was just really disappointed with the performance of Fearless. There are better lip products out there and at $20 each I am not going to waste my money on a poor performer such as this. 

The PatentPolish lip pencils currently retail for $20.00 USD and they contain .08 oz. of product.

Read my review of Kittenish here:KITTENISH MAC PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCIL - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Read more about the entire collection here: MAC PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCILS

KITTENISH MAC PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCIL - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

On their website, MAC recently launched 12 new PatentPolish lip pencils. The PatentPolish lip pencils have the shine of a gloss and the color of a lip pencil. The colors range from corals, pinks to nudes and each is housed in a twist up chubby pencil. I purchased Kittenish which is a mauve-y pink. It has the consistency of a creamy lightweight lipstick and I didn't notice any dryness to my lips when wearing the lip product. Wear time for the Kittenish lip pencil lasted for about four hours and with only one application it seemed to cover the lips like a full coverage lipstick. It also had great pigmentation with no settling into the lip lines. Kittenish currently retails for $20.00 USD and contains .08 oz. of product.

Read more about the entire collection here: MAC PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCILS

400 GIORGIO ARMANI MAESTRO FUSION BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

In April Giorgio Armani will be releasing their newest creation the Maestro Fusion Blush (It is currently available online at Nordstrom). The intensity of the Italian sun was used as inspiration in the creation of the Maestro Fusion blushes (there are a total of three). Their purpose is to give the face and body the appearance of a natural sun-kissed look. The liquid blushes have a lightweight formula that luminates and highlights the cheeks. They can be used as a blush, bronzer or one can mix, blend or layer for a custom-made result.

"The secret of this iconic Maestro formula is no water or white powder. Instead, it contains five non-comedogenic oils, including white lotus oil, which gradually evaporate upon application and leave you with a “no makeup feel.” The ultra-fine oil-pigments suspension enhances the skin and is enriched with finely milled micro-pearls for liquid summer bronzer and essential concentrated pigments for fusion blush. For optimal results, use a single drop of the highly pigmented blush formula."

The Fusion blushes come in three colors: 300 is coral, 400 is berry and 500 is a warm mauve. I purchased both the 400 and 500 blushes. When I first opened the 400 blush I was taken aback by how dark it looked. It was supposed to be a neutral berry color but it swatched with a strong red undertone. Its still a very pretty color but it just seemed darker than what I had expected.

The Fusion blushes are quite messy (see the picture below of the dropper). So unless you are proficient with using droppers, which I definitely am not, then expect to make a mess. It says to use one drop for the face but even then I found that to be a bit much. One could get away with using maybe half of a drop. Anyway, if the whole dropper thing seems overwhelming just dab the dropper against your hand and then use a makeup brush to apply it to the face. Or one can just swipe a brush along side the dropper to get a dab of product for the face. However you decide to use it this product is definitely gonna take some practice even for the seasoned makeup artist.

If I had to pick just one out of the three to purchase I'd have to say 400 is my favorite. The color seems much more compatible with my cooler / paler skintone. The Giorgio Armani 'Maestro' Fusion Blush currently retails for $52.00 USD and it contains .5 fl oz. of product. On the Nordstrom website they have the liquid blushes listed at .6 fl oz. but per the box and the container it is only .5 fl oz. It is important to note the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheers contain 1 fl oz. and cost $64. So these new Fusion blushes are half the size and $12 less which is still a bit pricey.

IMPORTANT to remember:

1. Store them upright or they will leak out!
2. Take care when handling as these will stain the skin and clothing.
3. Extremely pigmented so not much product is needed.
4. Most important - shake before using as the product has a tendency to settle / separate.

TULIP LAURA MERCIER LIP GLACE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Laura Mercier recently launched thirteen new shades of her most popular lip gloss: Lip Glacé. The non-sticky formula glides on smooth for an even application all over the lips. It is a highly pigmented gloss that creates the appearance of fuller sexier lips with long lasting color and extreme shine. Lip Glacé is available in a variety of finishes: shine, sheen and shimmer and the coverage ranges from sheer, to medium to full coverage. They retail for $25.00 USD, contain .15 oz of product and can be found at most department stores and at Sephora.

I purchased TULIP which is a creamy blue based pink gloss. It didn't feel sticky just slightly heavy on the lips. It took only one application for complete coverage and it seemed to last about 4-5 hours wear time. Then it was just a few sparse areas on my lips that needed a smidge of a touch-up. Now even though I didn't notice any plumpness to my lips I was really impressed with the way the Lip Glaze wore. It didn't settle into my lips and it kept my lips really moisturized and the majority of its wear time the gloss stayed...well...glossy!

Here are the thirteen new shades:

• NEW Pink Pop
• NEW Bare Baby
• NEW Nectar
• NEW Poppy
• NEW Daiquiri
• NEW Wildflower
• NEW Azalea
• NEW Tulip
• NEW Orchid
• NEW Black Cherry
• NEW Garnet
• NEW Cosmic
• NEW Chocolate

88 PINK PIVOINE CHANEL AQUALUMIÈRE GLOSS - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Another item from the JARDIN DE CAMELIAS spring collection (US - online only / ASIA exclusive) is the Chanel Aqualumiere gloss in 88 PINK PIVOINE. This lightweight gloss gives a sheer wash of color to the lips with a glossy shine. It is very sheer and only wears for about 3 hours before it really starts to fade and wear off. It didn't settle into my lips and it was very moisturizing but there are better lip glosses available if you are on a budget. This gloss is one of those that is "nice to have" but definitely not a "must have". So if you were looking to splurge on a Chanel gloss I would skip this one. 

88 Pink Pivoine currently retails for $29.50 USD and contains .20 fl oz. of product.

Read more about the entire collection here: JARDIN DE CAMELIAS CHANEL 2014 SPRING COLLECTION

3 ROSE DENTELLE GIVENCHY OMBRE COUTURE CREAM EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Recently Givenchy released 9 new Ombre Couture cream eyeshadows. These long lasting cream to powder eyeshadows boast a 16 hour wear time that can be worn as a base or as an eyeshadow. I purchased 3 Rose Dentelle which is a muted pinkish brown. It is a gorgeous natural shade that will wear well on just about everyone. The texture is reminiscent of the MAC paint pots but the Givenchy cream eyeshadows have a denser consistency. They do apply rather sheer but buildable. So there is never a fear of overdoing it. Just keep in mind that it does dry rather quickly but one still has time to blend it out before it sets. I wore Rose Dentelle all day yesterday as an eyeshadow, about 17 hours (7am until about midnight) and I didn't experience any creasing but there was some slight fading after about 12 hours. Today I am wearing it as a base, 5 hours so far, and nothing has moved, creased or faded on my eyes. These "MUST HAVE" Givenchy Ombre Couture cream eyeshadows are available at Sephora and are currently priced at $23.00 USD for .14 oz. of product.

ROSE BROWN BOBBI BROWN ART STICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Art Sticks are the newest lip product launched by Bobbi Brown. It is a combo of a lipstick and lip liner housed in a chunky pencil form. It applies smooth and creamy and has a matte finish. There are a total of eight shades to choose from and the color range is quite diverse. Each Art Stick currently retails for $26.00 USD and contains .2 oz of product and an enclosed sharpener is provided as well.

When applying the Art Stick as a lip liner one should use the point to gently line the outer edges of the lips. Then to apply as a lipstick one will need to hold the pencil at an angle against the lips to fill in the entire lip with color. Now the whole concept of a chunky / chubby lip pencil is not entirely new. Clinique and Max Factor had their chubby sticks way back in the late eighties and they are still as popular today as they were back then. For the longest time chubby sticks were my go-to lip product. So while the concept isn't entirely new the formulation has definitely been improved upon to the point where these will now last all day.

I purchased Rose Brown which, as the name suggests, is a warm rosy brown. Unfortunately it was a good bit darker than what I expected. So keep that in mind when purchasing them from the website. I would recommend exfoliating before applying these because they tend to enhance any lip imperfections such as dry or chapped lips. It didn't seem moisturizing but neither did it dry out my lips. Rose Brown wore for about eight hours with some slight fading after about five hours.

182 TOCADE CHANEL L'EVRES SCINTILLANTES GLOSSIMER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Glossimer 182 TOCADE is another item from the Chanel Variation Le Rouge collection. There were three glossimers available: 181 Bliss, 182 Tocade and 179 Murmure (the latter was also available with the US Spring collection as well). Tocade is a creamy plum colored glossimer. It doesn't contain any glitter or sparkle and it wears for about three to four hours. It does feel slightly tacky and it took two coats of the gloss for it to be nearly opaque. I was really pleased with its performance as glossimers tend to fade rather quickly but this one maintained its shine. Also the color is really beautiful as well. Tocade is currently priced at $29.50 USD for .19 oz of product.

Read more about the entire collection here: CHANEL VARIATION LE ROUGE COLLECTION

Read more about Murmure here: 179 MURMURE CHANEL L'EVRES SCINTILLANTES GLOSSIMER