Nail of the Day - EssieEssie Chinchilly - Two Coats with Flash Chinchilly

Essie Chinchilly is a gorgeous smokey taupe cream with gray undertones and very pretty at that. This lacquer color actually reminds me a lot of what a glass of cold milk looks like after a few too many oreos have been dunked in it. All day today I was a bit unsure about this polish and I even said a few negative things about it, until I realized just how pretty and unique it really is. This lacquer is actually what I had hoped OPI's You Don't Know Jacques would look like, except with less brown undertones. This lacquer applied evenly and nicely on my nails, however the coats are a bit more sheer than I originally believed them to be, so you may need to apply thicker coats for this same coverage as I achieved here. The photos taken with the flash most accurately depict the true color of the polish. I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of Essie Chinchilly (two thicker coats), and Seche Vite as a top coat for this result. Enjoy!

Essie Chinchilly - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Chinchilly - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Chinchilly - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Chinchilly - Two Coats NO Flash

Nail of the Day - Zoya Tanzy

Zoya Tanzy is a fun tangerine colored sparkle lacquer with gold sparkle shot through it. It is one of the many colors in Zoya's Sunshine Collection for Summer 2011 and it sure is a star among the varying shades! I really love this lacquer for summer! It's such a bright, fun and cheery lacquer and the gold sparkle makes it an instant eye catcher! Like all the other Zoya lacquers I've ever used, this one applies evenly and takes only two coats to be completely opaque. I would say this is definitely one of the "must have" lacquers from Zoya's Sunshine Collection along with Zoya Faye and Zoya Reva (swatches coming soon!). So pretty!

To apply this lacquer, I applied Seche Base as a basecoat, two coats of Zoya Tanzy, and Seche Vite as a top coat! Enjoy!

Zoya Tanzy - Two Coats with Flash

Zoya Tanzy - Two Coats with Flash

Zoya Tanzy - Two Coats NO Flash

Face of the Day - Pink Stained Lips and Gold Shimmery Eyes

This is an easy face of the day using golds on the eyes and browns, with a pink lip stain. Since summer is approaching, I have really wanted to do more looks using golds and pinks. I have been really drawn to antique golds in particular, like Mac's Antique Gold Glitter and Bobbi Brown's Antique Gold Metallic Eyeshadow. I decided to use Bobbi Brown's Metallic Cream Eyeshadow in Antique Gold for this look. I wanted the eyes to sparkle, but not be too crazy or out there that this look wasn't wearable. So instead of using a lip gloss or lipstick, I went for a pink lip stain. I think the results look really nice and it's one of my favorite face of the day's that I have done thus far. In my opinion, this look ended up being soft, yet chic and effortless with the metallic antique gold eyes and soft pink lip stain. Enjoy!

Products Used:
Face:

• Nars Sheer Glow in Punjab
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand with Pale Yellow Powder
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque
• Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar
• Mac Bronze Bronzer

Eyes:

• Smashbox Photo Finish Eye Primer
• Smashbox 24K Eyeshadow
• Mac Soft Brown Eyeshadow
• Mac Ricepaper Eyeshadow
• Bobbi Brown Metallic Cream Shadow in Antique Gold
• Smashbox Cream Liner in Midnight Brown
•  Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara
• Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner
• Mac Taupe Impeccable Brow Pencil

Lips:

• Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Pink Passion

Sephora's The Joys of Fragrance Inspired Makeup with Lime Green Eyes

For this look I was really inspired by Sephora's The Joys of Fragrance Catalog. There was a model in the advertisement that featured glowing skin, bold blue eyeshadow and pink lips. When I saw the advertisement I thought to myself, "Wow. I want to do that makeup look, but with green eyeshadow!" Thus, I re-created the model's look using lime green eyeshadows. I didn't blend the lime green up as far onto the brow bone as the model in the advertisement because I wanted to make the look more wearable. Here is the result. I have attached a photo of the model as well as Sephora's The Joys of Fragrance Catalog for you to view. Sorry for the blurry photo of the model. You can check out the catalog below for a better photo! Enjoy!

P.S. I really love the new Boyfriend perfume featured in this catalog. It smells amazing! I also recently purchased Lolita Lempicka Si Lolita perfume after smelling my way through this catalog! It is so invigorating! Yay for good marketing from Sephora! :)

Inspiration Photo with Blue Eyeshadow instead of Green

The Joys of Fragrance



Products Used:
Face:

• Nars Sheer Glow in Punjab
• Make Up For Ever Uplight #12
• Illamasqua Tweak Blush
• Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Palette
• Chanel Tan Soleil de Chanel - Bronze Corail
• Bobbi Brown Cream Concealer in Natural with Pale Yellow Powder
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque

Eyes:

• Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Cotton
• Mac Shade Stick in Lucky Jade
• Urban Decay New York Palette - Kush
• Mac Swimming Eyeshadow
• Mac Brulé Eyeshadow
• Mac Humid Eyeshadow
• Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil in Taupe
• Tokidoki Sabochan Perfetto Liquid Eye Liner
• Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner
• Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara
• Mac Clear Brow Gel

Lips:

• NYX Pinky Lip Liner
• Dior Addict Lipstick 564 Model

Face of the Day - Copper-Reds and Blues

I was really in a copper eyeshadow type of mood this past weekend so I decided to go for a copper-red eye with blue eyeliner and glowing natural skin. I wanted my eyes to have enough copper-red eyeshadow to stand out, but not the bloodshot-tired-punched-in-the-eye makeup that often comes with a red eyeshadow. I realized if I placed blue eyeliner on the top lash line and kept the lower lash line a deep smokey brown, I could wear copper-red without looking overly edgy or tired. I really wanted my makeup to be fun, but wearable. This is what I came up with. I hope you all enjoy!

Products Used:
Face:

• Nars Sheer Glow in Punjab
• Bobbi Brown Concealer in Natural with Pale Yellow Powder (Under Eye)
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque (Under Eye)
• Nars Luster Blush (Cheeks)
• Laura Mercier Peach Shimmer Block (Highlight)
• Mac Bronze Bronzer (Back of Cheeks, Temple, Forehead, Under Jawline)

Eyes:

• Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Cotton (All Over Lid at Primer)
• Mac Soba Eyeshadow (Lid)
• Mac Coppering Eyeshadows (Outer V)
• Mac Spectacle of Yourself Mega Metal Eyeshadow (Crease) - Limited Edition: Mac Peacocky Collection
• Mac Ricepaper Eyeshadow (Highlight)
• Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil (Brows)
• Mac Clear Brow Gel (Brows)
• Mac Waveline Cream Liner (Top Lash Line)
• Tokidoki Sobachan Perfetto Eye Liner (Top Lash Line - Very thin line)
• Mac Show Stopper Eyeshadow (Lower Lash Line)
• Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner (Waterline)
• Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara
• Clinique Bottom Lash Masara

Lips:

• Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Heather Pink #12
• Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Flash in Evening Rose #756

Nail of the Day - Zoya Kimmy

Zoya Kimmy is a bright red polish with gold sparkle shot through it from Zoya's Sunshine Collection for the Summer 2011 Collection. This polish is really pretty. I love how vibrant and sparkley it is. It's easy to apply, however to make Zoya Kimmy opaque, I would recommend two coats of lacquer. Although I find this color really shiny and fun for summer, I don't know that I would repurchase it. Compared to the rest of the colors in the Sunshine Collection Zoya Kimmy feels like a just "there" color. I wish I could call it something special, but to me it's a bit too orange of a red to be a spectacular true red. I think there are other colors that spark my interest more, like Zoya Faye and Zoya Reva.

To apply Zoya Kimmy, I applied Seche Base as a basecoat, two coats of Zoya Kimmy and one coat of Seche Vite. Enjoy!

Zoya Kimmy - Two Coats with Flash

Zoya Kimmy - Two Coats with Flash

Zoya Kimmy - Two Coats NO Flash

Zoya Kimmy - Two Coats with Flash

Ultra Late Nail of the Day - Zoya Keiko

Sorry for the late posting tonight! I have been working on a paper on Two-Factor Authentication and President Obama's Internet Identity Project. Yeah...not really makeup related at all! Booo. This is Zoya Keiko from Zoya's Summertime Collection for Summer 2011. As you can see, it's a bright magenta-purple cream that is soooo opaque! I really love this nail polish. At first I thought it was just "meh" compared to the rest of the collections, but now I am starting to see the appeal of it. It's the perfect feminine magenta-purple. I feel like I am constantly saying this, but once I put it on my nails, I just fall in love with the colors. I try to be as honest as possible with what I think and I have to admit, this lacquer is awesome! I am starting to love Zoya more and more as a brand. They have consistently produced amazing lacquers that are just as nice as some of the high end lacquers I own. All the photos were taken with the flash because the photos were much more true to color when taken with the flash!

To apply this polish, I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of Zoya Keiko, and Seche Vite as a topcoat. Enjoy!

Zoya Keiko two coats with flash

Zoya Keiko two coats with flash

Zoya Keiko two coats with flash

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12 lipsticks are Bold on the Lips

When I purchased Bobbi Brown's Rich Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12, I was envisioning the perfect pink-nude and this lipstick totally met my expectations for color. However, I wasn't as impressed with it's lasting power or it's "moiturizing" properities. Although upon first application this lipstick felt wonderfully creamy and lightweight on my lips and applied with a lot of pigmentation and a nice finish, I found the lipstick a bit drying and wore off pretty quickly in terms of lipsticks of this caliber.

These lipsticks are meant to be highly pigmented with a creamy, moisturizing finish. There is no doubt about it that Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12 are highly pigmented and go on evenly - even over dry lips! The actual formula is very creamy without being slippery. My lipstick didn't smudge or get caught in my hair like most "creamy" lipsticks. Plus, this lipstick is not scented and is tasteless! However, I didn't like how after a while these lipsticks didn't leave my lips as moisturizing as I would expect from a $22 lipstick that claims it's "moisturizing".

Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a highly pigmented lightweight creamy lipstick that you don't mind reapplying or adding a bit of lip balm to, then this is the lipstick for you. This lipstick was rated an A- because despite it's lack of superior moisturizing properties and just "eh" lasting power, it is really lightweight on the lips and creamy without being smudgy. Most lipsticks I've tried out tend to take creamy to the level of icky and slimy. I like that this lipstick is highly pigmented, lightweight and creamy without being gooey or giving me the impression I'm wearing an awful lip mask. It's definitely worth purchasing and even worth investing in a variety of colors.

Bobbi Brown Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12

Bobbi Brown Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12

Bobbi Brown Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12

Bobbi Brown Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12

Bobbi Brown Lip Color SPF 12 in Heather Pink #12

Face of the Day - Green Sparkle Eyeliner with Neutral Eyes

One of my favorite things to do with my makeup is take a really pretty neutral makeup look and add something that doesn't belong. Today I decided to wear a pretty neutral smokey brown eye with glitter green eyeliner. As a result, I received several compliments today and it made me believe even more that my "Neutrals + Something Unexpected" makeup philosophy is not only surprising, but welcomed by most. I guess I just don't see the point of owning so many pretty fun colors, if I don't get to use them, even if it happens to be on a day when I'm suppose to be "more professional". I figure in a few months I'll have to stick with "work-safe" makeup on a day-to-day basis, so now is the time to pull out the "crazy glitter eyeliner" while I can still attempt to make it a trend! I don't know if partners at my firm will ever adopt wearing glitter green eyeliner, but here's to hoping! I have a feeling convincing the male partners is going to be kind of tough...haha. Enjoy!

Products Used:
Face:

• Chanel Teint Innocence in Beige 40
• Mac Bronze Bronzer
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque
• Bobbi Brown Concealer in Natural with Pale Yellow Powder
• Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar

Eyes:

• Laura Mercier Cotton Eye Basics
• Mac Soft Brown Eyeshadow (Crease Blended Out)
• Mac Charcoal Brown Eyeshadow (To deepen crease)
• Mac Showstopper Eyeshadow (Outer V)
• Mac Brulé (Lid and Highlight)
• Mac Undercurrent Pearlglide Eyeliner (Top Lash Line)
• Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner
• Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara
• Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
• Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil in Taupe

Lips:

• Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Flash 756

Up and Coming Featured Product of the Week...Mac Packed to Go Palettes

 

The Mac Packed To Go Collection is available today and I will feature the 6 Warm Smokey Eye Palette and 6 Cool Smokey Eye Palette for my products of the week for the next two weeks. I wanted to give you all a heads up in case you wanted to get your hands on these palettes early and play along with me. Each palette is $38.00 and includes six shades. Use coupon code: ToGo for Free Shipping!

The 6 Warm Smokey Eye Palette includes the following shades:

• Shroom (Light Beige Shimmer)
• Naked Lunch (Light Peachy-Beige Shimmer)
• Tempting (Golden Bronze-Brown Shimmer)
• Green Smoke (Light Gray-Green Shimmer)
• Stormy Love (Deep Hunter Green Shimmer) Limited Edition
• Show Stopper (Deep Brown with Slight Shimmer) Limited Edition (aka - My favorite deep brown ever!!!!!) 

The 6 Cool Smokey Eye Palette includes the following shades:

• Seedy Pearl (Soft light pink-champagne shimmer)
• Tender Smoke (Light gray-lilac shimmer) Limited Edition
• Satin Taupe (Brown-Taupe shimmer)
• A Brown Suit (red-brown shimmer) Limited Edition
• Beauty Marked (deep blackened purple shimmer with purple sparkles)
• Carbon (matte black)

I am really excited to play with these palettes. I have a few of the colors in each palette already, but it's going to be fun to try out the new shades and combine them all together. I think each palette is a great value for your money and includes some of my all time favorite shades and staples in my collection: Mac Show Stopper, Mac Carbon, Mac Naked Lunch, and Mac Shroom). No matter who you are, these colors should in your collection and if you don't own them, now's the time to bring these babies home! :)

If you're also looking to expand your collection, Mac is also offering three different Look's in a Boxes, one lip + face collection, an eyeliner collection, two brush collections and three lip collections. This is a great way to expand your collection and buy outside your comfort zone! Some of my favorite products ever I purchased from Mac Look's in a Boxes. Enjoy!

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Corail is a lovely take on Sunkissed Cheeks

Here it is. Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Corail #537. Isn't she gorgeous? I have to admit, I have been drooling over this blush since I first caught sight of it. I pre-ordered my very own Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Corail and received it a few days ago. Since opening it and taking a look, I am in awe of it. First of all, if you think this is just a pretty bronzer, then you probably didn't realize how versatile it is. As someone who usually purchased medium shades of foundation and has yellow undertones, the idea of a pretty coral bronzer really perked my interest. Instead of using this Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Corail as just a bronzer, I have been experimenting with it as a blush, bronzer, and all over pretty face powder. The powder does have a slight golden shimmer, which give a really nice soft golden glow to the skin, while the coral is just subtle enough on the skin to give a girl (or guy!) that flirty flush look without looking like she is getting a sunburn. haha.

Packaging
As usual, Chanel wow's me with its packaging: sleek shiny black packing with gold inlay C's, pretty velvet pouch for keeping your nice packaging scratch-free, big fluffy soft brush which includes C inlay, big beautiful mirror for checking out your glow, compact design for the girl (or guy!) on the go, and nice plastic overlay to protect your bronzing powder from your brush. Could anyone ask for more?

The Quad of Shades
As for the actual shades within the bronzer, they include a warm light bronze, a shimmery champagne beige, a deeper chocolate bronze, and a bright coral. Now, the bright coral may seem intimidating, but they idea is you have options with how to use this bronzer. You can wear all four shades swirled together, wear the bronze shades swirled together and use the coral as a blush (see photo below, this is what I did), or you can use the bronze shades together, use the coral as a blush and use the beige as a highlight! It's really pretty versatile and I love the idea of getting a lot of bang for my buck with versatility. I really like to use the bronze and beige shades swirled together as a face powder or bronzer, while swirling the coral on my cheeks. However, I have also tried the coral swirled with the bronze and beige shades for a really nice "shimmer brick" style glow. (If you like Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks or Laura Mercier's Shimmer Block, this is kind of a similar idea but with a much softer glow!)

Final Thoughts
If you are like me and about to graduate from something momentous in your life, like high school, college, grad school, med school, etc. (aka Law school for me!) then this might be a really nice gift to ask for from one of those aunts or uncles who hates giving money! haha. If you worked your butt off all week and you need a good "I deserve it" gift to yourself, then this would also make a super appropriate great summertime must for your collection. If you just love makeup and want to own something really pretty, unique and worth the $50.00, then you should definitely check out Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Corail #537, it's just that awesome. Finally, if you're not sold by this review, then check it out at your local Chanel counter. The best way to experience makeup is by testing it out yourself! Enjoy!

Without Flash - With Plastic Overlay

With Flash - No Plastic Overlay

Without Flash - No Plastic Overlay

With Flash

Without Flash

Bronze Shades on temples, through back of cheeks, Coral on cheeks