NOTD: Toni by Julep and Oui by Orly

I'm consistently being drawn by darker, moodier colors, probably an indication of my longing for cooler weather and fall.  It will come (at least I hope it does - last winter was warm), I'm just wishful thinking it to happen a bit sooner!

Toni

I recently subscribed to the Julep Maven program because apparently, I don't get enough packages in the mail as it is:-)  For those who may not know, Julep is a boutique nail salon in Seattle, WA that makes their own polishes.  They started a subscription box where you can get two of their polishes and an added extra (pedicream, hand cream, mascara, nail files, etc.) for $20 a month.  There are 5 different profiles and I chose Boho Glam, but you can change to one of the others if you like that box better on any particular month or skip a month if nothing appeals to you. 

Toni was part of a Mystery box offer Julep had in August.  It's a muted purple cream with greige undertones.  If I could coin a word like greige (gray/beige) to describe it, I guess it would be purge, and that just won't work.  Oh well.  Here is two coats of Toni with Seche Vite base and top coats.  The formula bubbled on the first coat but smoothed out nicely with the second and top coat. 

Oui

I'm not usually a purple girl, but I like Toni.  It's different but not in your face and will probably work really well with my cooler weather clothes.  In the meantime, however, I felt the need to top it with something and Oui by Orly was the perfect choice.  I got this in an after Christmas sale at Sally's Beauty Supply.  It's purple jelly with a shiny gold iridescence.  So pretty!  This is one coat over Toni with no top coat.

Disclosure:  I purchased these.
 

Buxom Cherry Lip Gloss/Tint

I love my Buxom lip gloss, so if I see one on sale, I snap it up.  Sephora had Cherry on sale and I waited and waited but finally committed, and it's a good thing because I think she's gone.

The color in the tube looks a bit intimidating, but this is a sheer gloss that gives high shine with just a hint of a poppy color.  Really lovely and quite wearable both on it's own or as a topper for lipstick.

Buxom glosses are mint scented and give your lips a tingling sensation.  They are supposed to be lip plumpers, but I've not seen any visable plumping going on.  Personally, I like the tingling sensation and everything else about Buxom glosses - they are my HG lip gloss. I find them moisturizing, comfortable, not too sticky, and relatively long wearing.

While I was outside taking photos, I found this beauty.  Isn't it gorgeous?

Below I'm wearing a blend of OCC's Terra Cotta and Hush lip tars and some coral mineral pigment from The All Natural Face.

Here is Cherry over the lip tars, which gives you an idea of both the hint of color and high shine she gives.  Love it!

A quick search showed that Cherry is still available on both Amazon and ebay, ranging from about $18-$20.  I got her for $10 at Sephora, so happy I quit dragging my feet before she sold out!

Disclosure: I purchased this.

Lancome Nude Look Eyeshadow Quad

Top:  Daylight, Kitten Heel
Bottom:  Guest List, Gaze

I recently succumbed to another Lancome gift with purchase offer from Macy's.  I find them hard to pass up given the amount of items you can get, plus I decided to use many of the items for gift bags I'm putting together for Christmas.  Two color looks are available - Smoky or Nude - and I chose the Nude look.  From reviews I saw on Macy's site, it looks like everyone who ordered Smoky got Nude instead due to a labeling error, so I guess I made the right choice.

Macy's Lancome Gift with Purchase for August 2012

I chose Nude because I really wanted the golden peachy pink shade called Kitten Heel. Also included are Daylight (bone matte), Gaze (peachy beige shimmer), and Guest List (dark brown with bronze shimmer).  Lancome's Color Design Sensational Effects shadows claim a micro-aired technology which is supposed to promise "effortless application and smooth-gliding color that’s beautifully bendable".

I find that the Lancome shadows I've tried thus far are soft and easily blendable, but not spectacular when it comes to pigmentation.  They apply with a sheerness that I actually kind of like, as it makes for a really easy daytime or work appropriate look.  I did purchase one of the single shadows in Luring, a duochrome violet with blue-green shimmer, so I'll be able to tell if the formula differs significantly from the gift quad and the regular shadows.  Sometimes I wonder about that.

I used Daylight under my brow, Gaze on my inner eye, Kitten Heel over most of the lid, and Guest List over the L'Oreal Infallible gel liner in Bronze along my lash line.  An easy look, great for a morning like this when my head is wanting to fall off due to the pressure changes brought on by the advancing tropical storm Isaac. 

So, I traipsed off to work, only to arrive to an empty parking lot.  Turns out the University decided to close, but I didn't check my email since when I went to bed last night classes were cancelled but employees were still to report to work.  Oh well, gave me time to catch up on blogging:-)

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector SPF25

I've finally found an under eye concealer that works for me!  I received the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector as part of the New Beauty Test Tube, a quarterly beauty sampling service I signed up for.  The New Beauty Test Tube includes both sample and full sizes, and the Neutrogena eye perfector is full sized.  Every other under eye product I've tried would settle into fine lines in an obvious way that was not working for me, so I am thrilled to find one that doesn't!

I think the difference here is that the Neutrogena eye perfector starts off creamy but then dries down, whereas most other concealers I've tried stay creamy, which pretty much guarentees they are going to migrate into any available crevice or line.  The Neutrogena perfector settles slightly, but a quick pat removes the problem, leaving me with a brightened eye area that is also protected by the SPF25 in the product.  That's another feature that I like, as I don't think any of the other eye products I use contain SPF.

Four shades are available - fair, buff, light, and medium.  I received it in fair and it works for me.  I'm not super pale so it surprises me that the lightest shade is a match, but it is.  The applicator is a twist pen and I've not had a problem dispensing the right amount, but if you do, the top is quite tight and keeps any excess on the brush from drying out. 

Another plus is that not only is this a brightener, but it is also contains a patented blend of anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, wild chamomile and soy to help de-puff and treat the appearance of dark under eye circles. 

Neutrogena Brightening Eye Perfector in Fair

I'd say the downside of this product is that it is not a heavy duty concealer, which is probably why they call it a "brightening eye perfector" as opposed to a concealer.  I don't have super dark circles, but my aging eyes do need a bit of a boost to look their best, and this helps.

The price is about $13, and ULTA currently has a BOGO 50% off deal on Neutrogena products.  I'm very happy to have discovered this!

Disclosure:  I purchased this.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eyeshadow in Bottomless Java: Swatches & Comparison

Bottomless Java is another of the new L'Oreal Infallible shadows that came out recently.  This is an intensely pigmented chocolate brown with bronze shimmer, and if you look closely in the pictures (click to enlarge), you can see some red and green sparkles in the sun. 

Look at the pretty sparkles!

I find that the Infallible shadows wear well for me over a primer.  They are waterproof and I had a hard time washing off the arm swatches with soap and water.  My oily lids do any shadow in however, so a primer is a must for me.

Bottomless Java, shade

Bottomless Java, sun

Bottomless Java joins two other browns in the Infallible shadow collection - Continuous Cocoa, a dark brown matte, and Bronzed Taupe, a cooler and lighter brown that traipses into frosty territory.  Bottomless Java has a bit more complexity and less shine to it than Bronzed Taupe and as a result will be a much more wearable shade for me.  

Bottomless Java, Continuous Cocoa, Bronzed Taupe

 Here are comparisons of the three:

Bottomless Java, Continuous Cocoa, Bronzed Taupe, shade

Sun

I'm finding the newer Infallible shades I've picked up to be an improvement over the older ones.  They are more complex in color and do not have the high shine/frost factor that some of the earlier colors suffered from.  There are currently 16 different shades to chose from and hopefully more to come, especially if they continue to improve!

The Infallible shadows are about $8 but frequent BOGO offers lower their price if you decide to pick up a few.   

Disclosure:  I purchased this.

ULTA Lip Crayons & Infallible 8 HR Glosses - The Sale I Couldn't Pass Up

Charmer, Tangelo

I browse the sales at both ULTA and Sephora on a regular basis, as you never know what you might find.  In July, ULTA had selected shades of their lip crayons on sale for $2.99 and a BOGO free sale.  In general I haven't been impressed with Ulta's house brand, but at that price I figured why not?  Also on sale were selected shades of L'Oreal Infallible glosses.  Again, not something I was seeking but at $2.49 each with a buy 2 get 1 free offer, I loaded up my cart.  What I didn't realize was how well the glosses would complement the lip crayons.  I lucked out!

Charmer

The two ULTA lip crayons I got are Tangelo and Charmer.  Both are shimmers that border on frost, but not in a bad way.  The formula is not hydrating but did not make my lips feel dry and wore fairly comfortably.  These are not twist up so will require sharpening.  Tangelo applies somewhat patchy, Charmer a bit better.  Wear time is a few hours at best, but that's about average for me. 

Tangelo

The three L'Oreal Infallible shades I got are Suede, Bloom, and Pink Topaz.  My tubes say 8 HR on them and there is also a 6 HR version, which is currently what ULTA has in stock.  I'm guessing the 8 HR version has been phased out, but Suede and Bloom are available in the 6 HR version for $2.49 each. 

Suede, Bloom, Pink Topaz

Nothing wears more than 4 hours on me, but these are long wearing glosses.  They are sticky, but they are a dryer sticky, if that makes any sense.  I typically don't care for super sticky glosses but these do not bother me for some reason.  Color me pleasantly surprised by these, as I wasn't expecting to like them.

Suede, Tangelo

Suede gives some glimmer but not much color and coordinates really well with Tangelo.  Tangelo provides the color and Suede the staying power, so it's a good combo!

Bloom is a bit more pigmented and provides shimmer, which complements Charmer quite nicely.  I'm really pleased that ULTA coordinated their sale shades amongst different brands so well ;-)

Charmer, Bloom

I haven't worn Pink Topaz yet, but it's a vibrant fuschia pink with shimmer.  I'm not seeing it on ULTA anymore, however all of the other shades reviewed are (and still on sale). 

Pink Topaz

For the whopping price of about $1.60 each, these were quite the steal!  Even better, I like them and have been reaching for them regularly.  Sometimes stalking browsing sales pays off!

Disclosure:  I purchased these.

NOTD: Dangerous by OCC and Born into Privilege by Wet n' Wild

It's been a hectic week that has rushed by, so I apologize for not having bottle shots of Dangerous and Born into Privilege.  Time just got away from me!

I just shortened my nails and every time I do I want to wear something dark.  I've seen the medium darkish gray Dangerous described as the color of a shark, and I think that's pretty spot on.  The formula was good but I did have a problem with polish running down the stem of the brush and consequently flooding it.  This is my first Obsessive Compulsive Polish and the polish was not thin or runny, so not sure what was up with that.

Two coats achieved opacity and I topped it with one coat of Seche Vite.  My Seche Vite is now half gone and has gotten stringy, so I threw it out and opened a new bottle.  **Shakes fist at Seche Vite and its temperamental ways""

Gray wasn't really jiving with my summer wardrobe, but I still enjoyed Dangerous and it wore quite well with minimal tip wear.  After 4 days I decided to jazz things up a bit and added one coat of Born into Privilege by Wet n'Wild.  This combo turned out very pretty, as Dangerous is dark enough to contrast nicely with Born into Privilege, but not so dark as to show how haphazard my application was.  Win/win!

Disclosure:  I purchased these. 

Tequila Sunrise Mineral Blush by The All Natural Face

I admit it, I'm fickle and crave variety when it comes to makeup.  I've got a few holy grail items I don't stray from (much), but my attention wanders a bit for most others.  For example, I've been wearing BB creams all summer, and prior to that it was liquid foundation.  But now, I'm falling back in love with loose mineral makeup.  Not just foundation, but blushes and eye shadows as well.  So, you will probably be seeing quite a few posts featuring various mineral products I'm playing with at the moment.

First up is a blush by The All Natural Face called Tequila Sunrise, which surprisingly I was unable to find any other swatches of online.  I've reviewed some shadows by The All Natural Face before, but I recently ordered their Get Started Green deluxe sampler that includes all colors of their foundations in the pale to medium range and all of their blushes.  I can't think of a better way to get a feel for a line as well as really figure out what colors work for you.  I'm guestimating each packet probably has enough product for 5-7 uses.

Tequila Sunrise mineral blush

I've got to say, Tequila Sunrise is one I think is working for me:-)  Described simply as a coral colored blush, Tequila Sunrise has a warmth and subtle shimmer which makes it very wearable for my fair to medium, warm toned complexion.  It was easy to work with and build up color. 

For those unfamiliar with The All Natural Face, it is a vegan cosmetics line which uses no artificial ingredients in their products.  So, no bismuth, no talc, no carmine, no silk powder, no D & C lake colors and no parabens, for those concerned about such things.  Prices are reasonable and the selection is vast.  This is my second time ordering and it's been easy and problem free both times.

Currently, The All Natural Face is having a 20% off sale in honor of having been invited to participant in a swag event for celebrities at the Emmy's.  I took advantage of this for my last order, and here is the info I received in an email:

Enter the word EMMY into the discount code box to receive the 20 % off and then enter the word Makeup in to the box separately for the palette.  Your order must be $20.00 before shipping for the sale to apply.  Past orders are not applicable ( we just got invited:)  With this sale there will be a strict policy of no code entered...no promo..so make sure you enter the code:)  You can share the sale details with friends and family and use the discount as often as you would like during the sale period:)   

8/3/12-9/30/12

Disclosure:  I purchased this and have no affiliation with The All Natural Face.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald

Golden Emerald is stunning, and yet I almost passed it up.  When I first swatched it in store, I admired the color but thought it was a bit too glittery for me.  Later however, I decided it was too pretty to pass up and I'm really glad I changed my mind.  It is one of the more complex of the L'Oreal Infallible shades and both looks and wears impeccably.

Some of the earlier Infallible shadows fell victim to an overly shimmery monotone, bordering on frost, which made them a bit difficult for me to wear.  I've compared Golden Sage, the earlier Infallible green shadow, to Golden Emerald below to show the contrast.  I think the color variations in Golden Emerald save it from going the frosty route. 

Golden Sage vs. Golden Emerald

I've included several swatch shots so you can get an idea of how complex the color really is. 

I've been wearing Golden Emerald more as an eyeliner than as an overall shadow.  I use my finger to apply, although a liner brush will work as well.  I get a full day's wear over eye primer, and fortunately have not experienced transfer from my lash line to lid.

If you like green shadows, this one is a winner!  Infallible eyeshadows retail for about $8-$9, although you can usually find a BOGO sale that helps cut the cost.

Disclosure:  I bought this.