Category Archives: palettes

conveniently beautiful combinations of color and more

benefit the rich is back! makeup kit

Posted on by
2

s1513977-main-Lhero

few things make me happier than discovering the very best of one season’s trends all wrapped up into a palette. this palette from tarte had me singing spring and now benefit’s collab with brit designer matthew williamson has everything that you need for summer. the gorgeous boxed set is one of the coolest cosmetic collections that i’ve seen come along.

three of the eyeshadow shades are neutral enough to wear everyday and the pop of ‘feel so teal’ is just begging to be dusted on your lash line (top and bottom) for a flash of retro glam. the palette also packs benefit’s best-ever mascara (seriously this thing still gets rave reviews from everyone i meet) and an exclusive ruby lip gloss called inferno. finishing things off is ‘gimme fever cheek powder’ in a subdued rosy bronze. i think the strategy here was to keep the cheeks more mellow (staying true to the 70′s inspiration) and really let your eyes and lips do the talking.

this box o’ beauty is high fashion and fearless, but the colors truly celebrate individuality and each product is done in such a way that you can amp it up or dial it back as much as you want. all in all, it’s fun-loving, light-hearted, and right up my alley. so very summer!

benefit cosmetics matthew williamson the rich is back!, $34
(*free shipping* with code JUNESALE)

aqualillies for tarte amazonian clay palette

Posted on by
10

tarte aqualilies palette

this new palette from tarte brings so many of spring’s best trends into one beautifully designed mirrored compact. inspired by the aqualilies synchronized swimmers (how glam!), every element of this cheek and eye color grouping is actually waterproof meaning that it’s perfect for staying pretty on vacation, at the beach and lounging poolside. the generously sized palette (about the size of a cd) has TONS of product inside and will be a perfect companion for you traveling beauties or those who want an easy way to wear a few of spring’s most gorgeous color trends.

i should note that i first fell in love with this collection for the color. it’s got six eyeshadows (including two of this season’s hottest shades: a seashell pink and an aqua blue), a champagne highlighter, a matte bronzer and a blush that perfectly blends pink and coral for the ultimate in universal flattery. if you’re a gal who likes to sport a natural complexion and interpret trends with a few subtle pops of color – there’s nothing not to love here. the colors easily last throughout the whole day without fading and i’ve been able to create countless, surprisingly sophisticated combinations. you can contour, highlight and play with eye looks that encompass both matte and shimmer shades – all in one place! well done, tarte.

in case you needed one more reason to invest in this high quality collection, i love knowing that tarte packs its products with amazonian clay and naturally-derived mineral pigments. while i’m certainly not consumed by all-natural organic beauty, it’s nice to know that these particular products have much less of the bad stuff in them than their counterparts.

all in all, we’re talking a great value for less than $40 and, if you trend toward the beauty minimalist, quite possibly all that you need in color for the season. pop a mascara and a tinted lip into your carry on and go get ‘em, girly.

shop tarte aqualilies amazonian clay palette ($38) >

jouer customized makeup palettes

Posted on by
2

jouer is one of the very first beauty brands to fuel the makeup obsession that drives the glossarie. what used to be a little-known brand available only at the henri bendel counter in nyc has grown into a makeup phenomenon with a serious following. i was originally drawn to jouer because of their intelligent packaging. they were the first to create the custom palette in a click-together format that is impossible to resist. jouer offers ladies the opportunity to get exactly what they want in terms of color in a makeup palatte, and, well, i totally dig that.

beyond the cool design are quality formulas in wearable colors that are just plain pretty. the result of whatever combination you put together is an effortless beauty that jouer refers to as the truly essential beauty wardrobe. just like the lbd, they offer up the perfect fit for everyone, for every occasion.

after investing in your favorites, you’ll find that jouer’s products click together side to side and back to back, meaning that you can break things up any which way you like, taking as much or as little of your beauty routine with you as you travel.

my must-haves:

moisturizing lip gloss in hamptons, $20
powder eyeshadow in meringue, $20
oil-free mineral powder bronzer in sunshine, $28
lip and cheek tint in petal, $20

the products are timeless and have quickly become key pieces in my otherwise overwhelming collection of beauty. i get instant chic whether i’m at home or on the go making jouer a true glossarie mvp.

to start customizing your own essential palette, shop the full jouer cosmetics color range ($14 – $38) online.

day to night: lip and eye palettes

Posted on by
7
day to night: lip and eye palettes

i love these new limited edition palettes from bobbi brown for holiday. they’re perfectly petite (palm-sized) and expertly edited to include three eye shadows (each with one that doubles as a liner), two lip colors (one safe, one sassy) and a gloss for the ultimate finishing touch. bobbi has dubbed uber nude as your timeless look for monday-sunday while atomic pink is fresh and fun, a bit more evening in my opinion. both are slight enough to slip into your work bag or the min-est of minaudieres. and whether you opt to give these cute compacts as gifts or keep them for yourself, the $30 pricetag is sure to please everybeauty.

the limited edition eye palettes will be available this november as part of bobbi brown’s holiday collection.

buxom passport collection ‘the jetsetter edition’

Posted on by
2

sporadic posting on this here blog can only mean one thing: it’s the time of year when i’m hustling back and forth between nyc and dc twice monthly. don’t get me wrong, i love the city and the fact that i have a dozen or so reasons to be there annually, but the travel (and the packing) starts to wear on a girl! more than ever i am seeking out travel-friendly options for my toiletries and cosmetics. i’m finding that it’s not completely necessary to pack up my entire routine and take it with me every time, especially with options like this pretty palette from buxom on the market.

the patent leather zip around case holds a pink blush (with brush) that’s perfect for perking up tired skin; four eyeshadows to mix, match, blend; buxom lash mascara (lengthens, volumizes, defines, thickens, doesn’t clump); and a plumping peach lip polish – all for $49.

if you’re a gal on the move and these are your colors, i would encourage you to snap this up quickly. i love the cute case and the way that the shades work together – all you need is your fav foundation or tinted moisturizer, maybe a lash curler, and you’re good to go.

buxom passport collection the jetsetter edition for eyes, lips & cheeks is available at sephora.

would this simplify your your travel routine? how do you pack your beauty products?

fresh satin luster face palette

Posted on by
2

the thing about glow is that it’s got to be believable. we can all slap on some highlighter and call it a day, but truth be told the art of luminizing is a bit trickier than that. thankfully fresh has taken all of the guesswork out of it with this pretty palette.

the creamy formula is spot on (i find that liquids tend to vanish into skin and powder is really hard to get right) and lasts all day. there’s not a hint of glitter to speak of and the three shades are so soft and pretty, you’ll be reaching for them year round. i like to use the rosy shade on cheeks and the white one on my brow bones or dotted into the inner corner of my eyes with my pinky. the beige on the far right is great for wearing under foundation if you’re looking for an all-over boost and you can also dip an eyeliner pencil into it to line the upper lash for a stunning wide-awake pretty.

used in any combination, this little trio wakes you up and brightens your visage without making you look like a disco ball. a little goes a long way and i haven’t found a highlighter yet that will look any prettier sitting in your makeup bag.

fresh satin luster face palette is $45 at sephora.

ps – if you love the glossarie, please vote for me in the allure beauty blogger of the year awards! you can vote once per day and you might win a pair of killer diamond studs :)

allure challenge 1: product review

Posted on by
2

it’s time to vote! week one of allure beauty blogger of the year challenges is here and our first task was a product review. i pondered spring trends and chose something that will update your entire face for the new season. click on over to read my thoughts on too faced’s natural face palette and vote for me if you like what you see!

ck one color + treat lip kit

Posted on by
Reply
ck one color + treat lip kit

i didn’t think i had all that much to be excited about with the new ck one makeup collection until i laid eyes on this small wonder. the color + treat lip kit goes beyond the typical multi-pan cream-color lineup and adds a few treatments to the mix. it’s a welcome change since i don’t always want to (well…i never want to…) lug around a lip balm, a lip stick, and a lip gloss – and i know i’m not alone in that! plus, the addition of a scrub and a plumper take things to a whole new level.

the lip kit houses five different products in one sleek compact and i really love ‘em all. you can use the collection to create a variety of looks and it’s already proven to be great to keep on hand at home or to toss in my bag for livening lips up on the go.

paint by number to get my favorite combinations:

  • soft & smooth = 1 + 5
  • bold & beautiful = 1 + 5 + 4
  • plumped & glossy = 2 + 3
  • the full lip service = 1 + 5 + 2 + 4 + 3

ck one color + treat lip kit in pop culture is available at ulta for $28.

a day with le metier de beaute

Posted on by
4

the lovely and talented meg of mimi + meg and i had the opportunity to experience the full on pretty of le metier de beaute recently at neiman marcus. our host was none other than director of makeup for the brand, mikey castillo, who took us on a tour of le metier’s truly luxurious skincare and cosmetics before treating us each to a spin in his chair for a full makeover.

{the view from my seat}

mikey used this shadow-based champagne pencil on my water line to reduce redness. he then turned a shadow brush upside down to pat and blend a deep blue shadow called teal tweed from the limited edition (and sadly no longer available) oscar de la renta ready to wear kaleidoscope and stuffed liquid liner onto the lash line which really made my eyes pop. to brighten and highlight my cheeks, mikey used the flawless face kit (above) and my lips were done using the red chiffon lip creme lip gloss from the oscar palette and topped with lip creme lip gloss cafe creme.

{showing off my finished look with the makeup master}

all photos courtesy of meg biram – thanks, lovely!!

bobbi brown party to go palette

Posted on by
7

i know it’s only september but i already feel that the holidays are right around the corner. bring on the cocktail parties and tiny clutches because bobbi brown has quite possibly created the world’s smallest beauty kit to tuck inside.

party to go is just $25 (about the price i spend for a single lipstick, mascara or blush at sephora these days!) and packs everything you need for lip and eye touch ups on the fly. hazel-eyed gals will especially enjoy the violet purple shadows that create the perfectly subtle smoky eye (though the shades are so on trend, they will flatter us all!) and every lady will love the lip options. bobbi even included a mini tube of her new high shimmer lip gloss which i adore! it’s tons of shine without the sticky feeling we all hate in a gloss and the midnight violet shade offers up the high impact we’ve been seeing on the runways.

the whole thing barely measures 4 inches x 2.5 inches and, bottom line? (3 eye shadows + 2 lipsticks + 1 lip gloss + 1 mirror) x 1 sleek, sturdy, and practical little case = a whole lotta look for not a lotta cash.

(ps – any fall/winter brides to be, i can’t help but think that this would make the cutest gift for your ‘maids!)