Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Midnight Brown

The star of Burberry's Fall 2011 Collection is by far the sheer eye shadow in Midnight Brown.  I'm not sure why Burberry has named their shadows "sheer eye shadows" because this shade is anything but sheer! Midnight Brown is a beautiful, complex deep brown with a faint shimmer.  The shade is complex because it seems to have red undertones in certain lights and taupe undertones in others.  

The packaging of Burberry's shadows is sublime!  The shadow comes in a black pouch embossed with the signature Burberry plaid, and is encased in a heavy, metal case with magnetic closure.  Of course the shadow itself is also imprinted with the signature Burberry plaid, and frankly it is almost too pretty to touch!  The texture is soft, and buttery, making this shadow easy to work with.  The color is perfect for the outer corner and crease to add dimension to any eye look.  This will pair nicely with my vast selection of gold shadows! 

For my first try of Burberry's cosmetics, I am pleased with the quality of the shadow and the color is too gorgeous too pass up!  Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Midnight Brown (#21) is available at select Nordstrom's and Nordstrom's online.  $29.00.

The Makeup Mavens Weekly Round Up

Makeup Mavens present makeup you might have missed. This week we posted about Tarte Cosmetics, the allure of false eyelashes, and posed a valid question about SPF in our makeup - are we really getting enough?  

Now that we are in the full swing of summer, 12 top summer essentials were toted by Jenn of HopelesslyDevoted to Makeup. See if your "must haves" for battling crippling heat and unbearable humidity made the cut? 

Jennifer of Lipstick Luvvies did some treasure hunting and uncovered some "hidden gems" found at Zuneta! This post will tempt you into placing a Zuneta order for sure. 

Tarte Cosmetics managed to catch the "eye" of Christina from Lovesong for My Lipgloss and she was kind enough to swatch them al for us! Do any of these calls call your name? 

In this captive post, Mookie On The Bench, raises a great question about relying on SPF in our makeup. 

Product Doctor finally got to sample Burberry Beauty and she was not disappointed! Take a peek at what she ended up walking away with plus a gift with purchase too - Score!   

RaspberryRouge shows us the Becca bronzer that has been logging the miles since the beginning of summer for her.  Doesn't she have the most gorgeous complexion?  

The Black Panties shows us her go-to eye lashes when she wants to be the spotlight of attention. Are you a fan of false eyelashes yourself? After seeing her wearing these lashes, I'm a fan *swoon*.  

NOTD: Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Rendezvous

One of the most special treats during Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale was this gem of a collection by Le Metier de Beaute: The Rock 'n' Romance Mini Nail Lacquer Set. The set  features 4 shades (shown in order below): Midnight Rendezvous, True Romance, Heat of the Night, and Chrome Passion.  The theme of the collection is glamour with an edge.  

Midnight Rendezvous is a gorgeous, shimmery deep navy blue.  

Each miniature polish is 0.14 oz, which is considerably smaller than your traditional polish.  Below is a photo of the brush.  Working with a brush this tiny was a bit awkward for me, and took some getting used to.  In terms of the polish itself, Le Metier's nail lacquers are "3- free" of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).  They are also fortified with nail strengthening proteins and hydrators.   I found the polish to have a thinner consistency than most traditional formulas.  The first layer applied quite sheer, but with a second coat I achieved an opaque finish.

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale continues until August 1!  Since each miniature Le Metier polish typically costs $10.00, the set is a bargain at $25.00.  Also available online.  

Burberry Beauty Fall 2011 and Gift With Purchase!

I went to Nordstrom's yesterday, in NJ, and to my surprise I stumbled upon a real, live Burberry Beauty counter!  This was the first time that I actually had the opportunity to visit a counter and check out the products!  After reading such amazing reviews of the line on my favorite blogs, I was expecting nothing short of perfection! Sure enough, the textures are brilliant, and the colors beautiful.  The packaging is also very sleek and sophisticated, featuring the signature Burberry print.  Overall, this is definitely an exquisite line and I found it difficult to restrain myself!


I picked up a couple items from the Fall 2011 collection.  Specifically I purchased the Sheer Eye Shadow in Midnight Brown (No. 21) and the Lip Cover in Nude Cashmere (No. 26).  Since Nordstrom's was having a special gift with purchase of $95.00, I also picked up a Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in Nude Beige (No. 09).  

For the Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, which is going on now through August 1, Burberry is offering a gift with purchase.  The gift includes a patent baby pink cosmetics case, featuring the signature Burberry plaid.  Inside is a sample of the Burberry Brit Sheer Fragrance, a Burberry Brit Sheer Perfumed Body Lotion, and two miniature Lip Covers in Cameo Pink (No. 03) and Rosewood (No. 04).  

Top: Rosewood, Bottom: Cameo Pink

Top: Cameo Pink, Bottom: Rosewood

I plan on wearing the Cameo Pink Lip Cover today since it is such a gorgeous, vibrant pink!  This is definitely a line worth trying, and this lovely gift with purchase is reason enough to try it out now, while supplies last! Full review of the fall products coming soon!

Is Blue the New Black? Le Metier de Beaute Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Midnight Blue

Le Metier de Beaute's Anamorphic Lash Mascara is available in 5 shades to complement every eye color: Aubergine, Midnight Blue, Jade, Brownish Black, and Black.  The shade recommended to me for my dark brown eyes was Midnight Blue, a dark, intense navy. 

The color shown in the tube and on the brush is actually more blue than when applied to the lash.  When applied, the color is more of a soft black with a faint bluish tint.  I like the subtly of the color.  I find many colored mascaras to be too garish, this color however is subtle and sophisticated.  The mascara is very neat in that it gives my lashes a natural look with no clumping or mess.  In fact, my lashes still feel soft with the mascara on! The hold lasts all day with no smudges or flakes!  Better still, this mascara is good for my lashes! It conditions them, and is free of tar, mercury and charcoal.  

Top: Le Metier Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Midnight Blue, Bottom: Black mascara as control 

Le Metier de Beaute's Anamorphic Lash Mascara is available where Le Metier cosmetics are sold, and retails for $34.00.  Overall, I love the natural, touchable finish of this mascara, and the color is a nice alternative to basic black.

Cynthia Rowley Meets Birchbox

I debated on whether or not to post this, since I am more than a little late! Anyway, I really enjoyed July's Birchbox, so I decided to show you all what I received!


This month Birchbox collaborated with designer Cynthia Rowley to create a box filled with some of her all time favorites.  

The Redkin Shine Flash 02 (2.1 oz/ 71 ml) is a glistening mist that can be used to add shine and gloss to hair, giving it a brilliant finish.  Birchbox tells us that this product is a must have backstage at all of Cynthia Rowley's shows.  I tried the glistening mist after styling my hair, and it definitely added shine and left a nice, glossy finish to my hair without making it greasy or weighed down.


The Zoya Touch Collection Nail Polish in Pandora (0.25 oz/ 7.5 ml) is a beautiful creamy, pink nude perfect for everyday.  I see myself getting a lot of wear out of this color.


The Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser (1 oz/ 30 ml) is a cult favorite! This gentle cleanser removes dirt, oil and makeup in one step without drying the skin!  I have used this cleanser many times, and LOVE it so I was thrilled to receive a sample of this to take to the gym!


The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-usage Dry Oil (0.33 oz/ 10 ml) is a multi-use oil that can be used anywhere from the face and body to add a pretty glow, or to the hair to smooth flyaways! I am most excited by this product since Nuxe is a luxury French brand that uses natural ingredients.  The oil is made of a unique cocktail of 6 precious plant oils: Borage, St. Johnswort, Sweet Almond, Camellia, Haelnut, Macademia) combined with Vitamin E to soften and nourish skin.  I used this on my legs to add a nice summer glow so they look extra nice with my summer dress!


The extra treat this month was a Kind Bar in Almond and Apricot.  Kind bars are a great, wholesome snack!


Overall, I loved this month's box.  I will use all of these products up! If you are not yet a member, you can subscribe to Birchbox here.  If you are a member, what did you receive in your box???

Makeup What You Missed With The Makeup Mavens!

The serene view from the beach in Turks and Caicos

For all of my taupe homies, look no further than u-taupe-ia aka Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup's review on the epic purple taupe that is Delicate Hummingbird eyeshadow. 

I know we are always on the hunt for that perfect luxurious, vibrant pink lipstick. Look no further because Lipstick Luvvies is in love with By Terry's Cherry Cherry lipstick. Talk about stopping traffic *wink*

Lovesong for My Lipgloss is really adoring her new travel companion, which is Hourglass Illume Cream to Powder Bronzer Duo. I must say, the stuff looks pretty awesome :D

Bridal makeup is definitely always something we want to perfect since we all want to look awesome on our wedding day. It's no surprise that  Mookie On The Bench has some great ideas on what items to use and it's a bonus to see her skills in action.  

Looking for an amazing concealer and treatment in one? Product Doctor is smitten with Le Metier de Beaute's Peau Vierge Corrector and see what a difference it has made for her skin.

It's July and it's always nice to find pretty, very luminous bronzy highlighter that gives a soft warmth to your cheeks. If you're in the market for one, check out to see if it really is Raspberry Rouge's alternative to Dior Amber Diamond. 

Since The Black Panties always afraid of warm palettes, she has decided to step outside her comfort zone and take the plunge on my first Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in #5 Sakurakaba.

Nails of the Day: Chanel Le Vernis in Graphite

Chanel's Fall release, Graphite is a blackened silver with loads of golden glitter.  The golden glitter warms up the color in certain lights, whereas in others it appears more of a cooler toned silver.  

I'm a sucker for variations of black, so I was destined to pick this one up.  It was easy for me to apply, with opaque color in two coats.  I think the color speaks for itself.  If you like glittery shades, than this one would be for you.  I'll probably save this one for the cooler months.  Available where Chanel cosmetics are sold, $25.00.

Face of the Day With Chanel Topkapi

This is my very first Face of the Day post, and I was a little nervous to post this! It was requested that I do a look using Chanel's Topkapi palette.   I have been using this quad everyday since I purchased it! The shadows have a silky texture and beautiful pigmentation.  Plus, the shades are in my favorite colors and extremely wearable for day and night.


Face:
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge in Shade 3 mixed with Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in Shade 8
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Corrector Concealer in Chaud
Armani Micro Fil Loose Powder to set
Chantecaille Compact Soleil Bronzer in Tahiti
Chanel Espiegle Joues Contaste Blush 
Guerlain Terra Inca Star Powder on cheekbones to highlight


Eyes:
MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood as a base
Chanel Topkapi Taupe all over lid and just under brow to highlight
Chanel Topkapi Gold from inner corner to 2/3 of lid
Chanel Topkapi Copper Brown in outer 1/3 of lid and crease
Chanel Topkapi Dark Brown in outer corner of lid for added depth
YSL Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black Ink to line top lash line
Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
Le Metier de Beaute Brow Bound Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette to fill in brows


Lips:
Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme Lip Gloss in Toffee Creme

Chanel Topkapi Palette starting from top and proceeding clockwise: Taupe, Gold, Dark Brown, Copper Brown

This palette is extremely versatile and can work for summer as well as fall!  There are so many lovely looks you can rock with this quad!


What do you think?  How will you wear Chanel Topkapi?

Treat While You Conceal! The Le Metier de Beaute Peau de Vierge Corrector

Let me start by saying this product has reached holy grail status for me.  This revolutionary product, the Peau de Vierge Corrector by Le Metier de Beaute, is not only perfect for concealing under eye circles, blemishes and imperfections, but treats them at the same time! Never have I felt so good about covering my flaws!

The Le Metier de Beaute Peau de Vierge Corrector (shown here in Chaud) is a luxuriously creamy corrective concealer that is packed with Le Metier's exclusive Peau de Vierge technology.  Peau de Vierge contains anti-aging powerhouse Retinol, which is known for its ability to smooth and plump fine lines from deep below the skin's surface by stimulating collagen cell rejuvenation. What makes this different from any other Retinoid product is that the Retinol is delivered through a unique mechanism called TPM- Tocopheryl Phosphate Mechanism- which encapsulates the Retinol and allows it to safely and effectively penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Le Metier informs us that with traditional over the counter Retinoic Acid preparations, less than 2% of active ingredients are absorbed! With the TPM delivery system however, 20 times more Retinoic Acid is absorbed into the deeper dermal layer of the skin, where it is most effective.  This, says Le Metier, makes it the most effective cosmetic Retinoid treatment on the market!  

What does incorporation of the Peau de Vierge technology into the Corrector mean? Le Metier de Beaute promises that the Corrector stimulates collagen production, increases blood flow, lessens dark circles, smoothes fine lines, blurs blemishes, and tightens pores within a week of daily use!  I can certainly attest to at least one of the claims in this statement.  After 1 week of daily use my blemishes and acne scars are significantly reduced!  But I am a doctor you say, why not just use a prescription Retinoid to treat these areas?  With prescription Retinoid treatments, whether prepared as a gel, cream or ointment, I am left with extremely dry, flaky, and irritated skin.  The unique delivery system of the Retinol in Peau de Vierge negates these troublesome side effects of traditional Retinoid treatments.  

Here's What You Missed By The Makeup Mavens!

One of the unique tiles by Antoni Gaudi located in Parc Guell, Barcelona, Spain

The Makeup Mavens present makeup you may have missed. This week there are delectable delights from the likes of Chanel, Shiseido, Le Metier De Beaute, Chantecaille and Becca. One Maven shares an interesting post on the link between beauty blogs and spending habits and another offers you the chance to win yourself a gorgeous cream blush.

Want to win yourself some Le Metier De Beaute? Hop on over to Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup for a chance to win a beautiful Poppy Creme Fresh Tint.

Are beauty blogs bad for the wallet? Lipstick Luvvies shares her thoughts on the subject this week, so pop on over to her blog to find out if they are friend or foe to the bank balance. 

Lovesong for My Lipgloss introduced us to the newest additions in the Chantecaille range, Poudre de Perle and a new Compact Soleil shade. Check out her gorgeous swatches of Biwa and St. Barth's. 

Are shimmery, coppery shadows your thing? If so, you need to visit Mookie On The Bench for a brilliant review on Shiseido's Hydro Powder Eye Shadow in Tiger eye.

Product Doctor fell in love with Chanel's limited edition Topkapi palette. Check out her swatches of the silvery taupe, gold and rich browns and you'll see why.  

Raspberry Rouge discovered Becca's long lasting Eye tint's and shared a review and swatches of Baroque, a foolproof soft brown shade.

The black panties got to play with Le Metier De Beaute's Silk Road Eye Kaleidoscope. Head on over to see some beautiful swatches of gorgeous plums, purples and chocolate-y shades.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eye Shadow in Pulp Fiction (4)- Swatches and Review!

I visited the Chanel counter recently and experimented with the new Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eye Shadows, and found some of the colors to be truly beautiful, however slightly glittery.  This reminded me that the The Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eye Shadows are among the best I have ever tried!  Both are long wearing formulas, however I feel their similarities end here. The cream-powder hybrid texture of the Armani shadows, compared to Chanel's creamier jelly like consistency, make them easy to apply, with no fall out.  Best of all, these shadows live up to the hype and truly last all day with no fading, creasing or smudging.  The color remains rich and true.  The latest addition to my collection is number 4, Pulp Fiction.

Pulp Fiction is a lovely silvery grey with blue, pink and white microshimmers. Perfect for a night out!

Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in Toffee Creme

Like most beauty addicts, I first started lemming after Le Metier de Beaute's lip cremes after reading a post on them.  This naturally caused me to run out and not only finally try out this fabulous brand, but purchase one of these gems for myself. Le Metier de Beaute's lip cremes are unique in that they are a hybrid of a gloss and a lipstick.  The formula offers more intense color payoff than a traditional gloss, and more shine and gloss than a traditional lipstick.  The formula combines emollients, antioxidants and color to soothe and nourish the lips, while the finish provides a lacquer sheen effect.  

Chanel Byzance Collection: Regard Signe de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Topkapi

If someone designed an eye shadow palette specifically for me, it would be the Regard Signe de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Topkapi.  Topkapi is the perfect combination of taupe, gold, and rich browns.  The quality is superb.  These are soft, buttery shadows with no powderiness.  The pigmentation is extremely rich in a single pass.  To put it simply, Topkapi is not to be missed!

This quad is stunning.  The vibrant colors are dramatic against the jet black background, and the quilted pattern with the Chanel logo on top adds to this effect. It is reminiscent of the infamous Chanel quilted bag!  The pattern is deeply ingrained in the shadow as well.  After swatching a few times, you can still see the quilts and logo.  

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to Blushing Noir! She is the winner of my 100 Follower Giveaway! Thank you so much to all of those who entered! Also, a special thank you to all of my readers and followers who make blogging so much fun!

I tallied up all the comments (and double checked to see they were followers) as well as the tweets.  After making a single list with each entry, I used Random.org to generate a number.  I then counted down the list to see who the winner was.  I have emailed our contest winner for her selection on a shade.  Thank you again!