This was one of my Xmas gifts courtesy of the Cavewoman and the fine folks at MAC.

MAC Couture Sheer Mystery Powder and Couture Lipstick in Red No. 5

The Review:
I love the compact. It is metal with a jet grid design on top. Some MUAers stated that it reminded them of legos. I personally think of my jet bead necklaces. The powder works perfectly and will be a worthy replacement for my beloved everyday compact from Hard Candy. My Hard Candy has been a loyal friend. She always helps me out in a jam. Controls my shine and instantly freshens up my makeup.
This MAC mystery powder does the same job but comes in a more attractive high end case.

Cavewoman suggested that the MAC lipstick is a dupe for MAC's own New York Apple.
The colors are close but there is a difference.
The Red No 5 has no frost or glitter.
It is a cool toned blue based red that is more raspberry than apple.
It is lovely and will be a worthy addition to my red lippie collection.

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY15108&PRODUCT_ID=PROD10976

The tale of the pumpkin carriage:

One day a lovely maiden named Dramaqueenie2 gifted her single friends with a pumpkin carriage. She waved her magic wand and put a sweet hex on each one. The spell was that each girl would find her Prince Charming by the end of the year.
The spell worked. All the girls found their true love that year.
All but one.

I hate pumpkin carriages.
Pumpkin carriages can go to hell.



These are pictures from the Chagrin Falls store Teacups in Time.
Photos: Blogdorf Goodman

Happy New Year!

My Hopes and Dreams for 2006.
I posted this on December 29th 2005.

1. 2000 et Une Rose is relaunched by Lancome (My #1 wish came true! It was released in June 2006)
2. That there is a new fragrance by Ormonde Jayne. (Orris Noir---and it was lovely.)
3. Safran Troublant is released in a jumbo bottle (Yep. Available at Aedes.)
4. The Stella fragrance by Tocca finally comes out (OMG. I am like the Beauty Nostradamous )
5. I win a free trip to paris and I can take a friend
(Damn it. Well you can not have everything.)
6. A Cmart opens up in my town
(Screwed again. We did get an H&M...so I should not complain.)
7. I stumble across a seve exquise bottle in T J Maxx
(Well...that might be wishful thinking...but one MUAer stumbled across Donna Karan's Chaos at her local TJ Maxx. That is like a finding a unicorn in your backyard. It is insane.)
8. Fumerie Turque is released in the export range
(I am a proud owner. It was at Barneys...but I believe it might already be gone. The good Lutens giveth...and then taketh away.)
9. Luckyscent has a discount (Nope.)
10. Vol de Nuit finally works with my chemistry (Not yet.)

2006 was a damn fine year for me for beauty wishes. I am hoping that I have similiar luck with my 2007 list.

My wishes for 2007:

1. That Bond #9 does a traditional chypre fragrance for 2007. Something along the lines of Jolie Madame or Mitsouko.

2. Gobin Daude gets back into the fragrance business.

3. Lancome continues relaunching their vintage fragrances. I would love to see Now or Never back on the market.

4. That I am able to try Chamade, any Andy Tauer scents, Le Labo Ciste/Labdanum, Guerlain's Bois d'Armenie. I need to get back on track with my fragrance testing.

5. I would love to visit the CB I Hate Perfume store.

6. I want to visit France or Japan in 2007.

7. I want Heatherette,Behnaz or John Galliano to come out with a fragrance.

8. I want someone to write a coffee table book on the history of makeup.

9. I would love to see some Japanese products make their way to our shores in the US. Please can we get some Inoui Id? http://www.inouiid.com/vc/vol14_040221/index.html

10. I want to meet Pat Mcgrath.

11. Lancome needs to bring back Behnaz.

12. I want MAC to do a collection based on reds. I want new red lipsticks and blushes. I want a red lacquer compact. I want a huge red kabuki brush.

13. I want Chanel to do a nailpolish in red....with red shimmer. I want it to sparkle like no one's business.

14. I want to be able to get on the list early for said Ruby Chanel polish.

My Resolutions for 2007:

1. Start looking for a dream job.

2. Learn how to cook...for real this time.

3. Keep in better touch with friends.

4. Keep up with emails. Send out cards and letters.

5. Start seeking out new music again. Maybe finally splurge on that machine they called an i-pod. I also should join the human race and get a cell phone. I have been resisting this idea for a long time. Cavewoman tries to get me to the cell phone counters but I get sidetracked by Tradesecrets. I rather look at OPI's than razor phones.

6. Join Netflix and get started on watching classic movies.

7. I need to start reading novels again. I want to seek out books on travel.

8. I should learn french. I need to pronounce the names of my perfumes correctly.

9. I need to give WW a chance. I need to stop cheating on my tracking.

10. I need to learn how to be a better judge of character.

What are your beauty wishes for 2007?

Do you have any resolutions?

I hope everyone has a lovely and wonderful New Year!

photo: Blogdorf Goodman

Nars Spring Collection

We went to our local Nars counter on thursday to check out the new line.
Cavewoman and I were in a "Nars frame of mind" after our very successful makeovers. We walk over to display and immediately went into swoons over Habanera.
This is the "it product" from the spring line.
I would say that this is one of their best duos....ever. I know that is a very strong and loaded statement.
The high octane shimmery brownish plum shade is unique. The mint julep color leans on the silver frost side.
They perfectly compliment each other.





Sugarland is a shimmery goldish apricot with an orchid pink.

Thebes is a creme eyeshadow duo. The colors are sheer platinum and gold. I was not blown away by this one but it could be useful.

Risky Business gloss is sheer shimmery berry color. On the Nars website it was described as a persimmon color. I have never had or seen a persimmon fruit so I went to my trusty wikipedia. I think this is too warm of color. I think it leans toward a pomegranate shade.

Tutti Frutti is described on the Nars website as a candied strawberry. This is an accurate description. This is the lipstick pictured above.

Corinthe is a standard warm reddish brown lipstick.
Very sheer.

The best lippie product from the collection was the velvet pencil. Calliope was a coralish pink based nude that might just be better than my Bettina.

If you are interested in purchasing the Nars spring line or stocking up on Nars essentials call Alesha my Nars SA at Saks.
Her digits are 216-292-5500.

She is offering free with any Nars $100 purchase a free 9929 palette. If you spend $150 with Nars you can get the 9929 palette plus the #150 Itabrush.
I LOVE THIS BRUSH!

Just mention Blogdorf Goodman.
I do not know how long this offer will last. Palettes are being D/C and that brush was being purchased by everyone that had a Nars makeover a few weeks ago.

All pictures: Blogdorf Goodman

Its that time of year when you start making resolutions and reflecting on all that has passed. 2006 was a very good year for me.
It was a mixture of some terrific highs and some depressing lows. I made some great new friends and lost some old ones. The blog grew and my spare time went out the window.
I fell in love with La Mer foundation, got blown away by Bond's Westside fragrance, struggled with my shampoo choices and discovered that in the end there is nothing like my trusted Nars Foul Play gloss to get me through a jam.

There were some stunning releases from fragrance houses, nail polishes that literally flew off shelves and primers became a part of most makeup lines.
It was a great year to be a beauty blogger.

Here is my list for my favorite beauty products that I fell in love with in 2006.
They range from the infamous Chanel Black Satin to the classic Jolie Madame fragrance.

1. Estee Lauder's Tom Ford Azuree oil is my top pick for best beauty product of 2006.
It was a limited edition gem that quickly captured the hearts of fragrance lovers. It was a modern interpretation of the 1969 fragrance Azuree. This version was "built around a tiare milk accord that comprises Tahitian gardenia petals mixed with coconut and orange blossoms and warmed with vetiver, sandalwood and myrrh". It was creamy tropical goodness with a linen crisp vetiver note. I wore it constantly during the summer months. I loved it so much that I started mixing it with other products. It was incredible with Bond's Fire Island and Chinatown. Soon my bottle got depleted to the half way mark. I am not one of those well centered people that say "the jar is half full".
I am from the school of panic, hoarding and cussing. I treat the remaining juice in this bottle like it is liquid gold or a Jar Fragrance.

Runner up for #1 spot:
Frederic Malle's Carnal Flower: Another incredible tropical fragrance of 2006. It is heavy on the tuberose absolute but somehow it does not kill you like Fracas does. I think it is the quality of the note along with the side notes of Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Orange Blossom absolute and Coconut. It really is stunning and one of my favorites from the year.
Now this one is available for purchase at Barneys in NYC.

2. La Mer foundation:
Taken from my review on May 24 2006:
The thing that slayed me about this product is the staying power. No foundation lasts longer than this bottle. I have played the field. I have dabbled in high end foundation and crossed the tracks and flirted with drugstore. After a full hellish day at work my makeup looks fresh and perfect. No touchups. No fiddling. It is a foundation miracle.

Proclaiming a foundation as "Holy Grail" status is a very serious thing. I still stand by this review even though I have seen incredible skin transformations with the new Armani and Awake foundations. They are worthy of testing but I stay loyal to my La Mer. This product delivers amazing coverage that lasts 24 hours.
I can not ask for anything more.

http://www.gloss.com/home/index.jsp

3. Jolie Madame:
Taken from my November 14th review: It is a big fat chypre with the most lush oakmoss. It is earthy but crisp. It dries down to a smoky leather that is sweetened with a non-candied violet.
It is ladylike but with a twist.
Think Eva Marie Saint...but with a whip.

I thought I knew what a great chypre was with my Mitsouko EDT.
Lets call the bottle "The Aniston".
Well.... this Madame Jolie bottle came and turned my head.
This fragrance makes you leave your "Mitsouko" and go off to adopt babies.
Team Mitsouko might think Madame Jolie is a man eater.
They are right.

4. Bond's Westside: I smelled this fragrance on Laurice herself months before the launch date. It knocked me to my knees like Chinatown did. I love rose and amber combinations. This one was even more complicated and interesting than my beloved 2000 et une Rose. I never waited so impatiently for a release date. The moment it arrived at my local Saks I was standing at the counter waiting.
http://www.bondno9.com/catalog/

5. Chanel Winter Nights Quad: The best damn quad they have ever made.
I will actually hit pan soon.
Who hits pan with quads?
Not I....
http://www.gloss.com/home/index.jsp

6. Chanel's Inimitable Mascara: I have very short straight lashes. They have been the bane of my existence. This mascara turns them into lush fans with a springy curl. It is like hot curlers for your lashes. It's best feature is a brush that can separate lashes like no one's business.
http://www.gloss.com/home/index.jsp

7. Estee Lauder's Bronzer in Bronzed Amber: I never look at bronzers on principle. I always thought pale ghostly girls should avoid bronzers like the plague.
This is the bronzer that changed my mind. It gives a sun kissed glow instead of that awful tantastic orange that most bronzers inflict.
It was a limited edition product.



8. Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue eyeshadow quads: These were limited edition shadow quads that came in stunning cases featuring figures from a panel commissioned by Elizabeth Arden. Arden shadows were a surprise to me. I was delighted with their quality. They were a creamy texture with just the right amount of pigment. These quads colors were well coordinated and wearable.
I pray that they consider bringing these back and adding to the line.

9. DuWop's Revolotion Face: The best tinted moisturizer on the market.
Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer might be world famous but it has nothing on DuWop. It has better coverage with a sheer formula. It brightens the face with its light reflecting pigments.
It takes less product to get the face you need.
http://www.duwop.com/

10. Chanel's Wonderland Gloss: It looks lovely alone or when combined with other lippies it gives an added shimmer punch.
http://www.gloss.com/home/index.jsp

11. Lancome's Behnaz lipstick: I debated about bringing this up.
But I can not ignore the best damn red lipstick ever produced.
That is all I will say because I know it brings pain to many readers.

12. Lancome's Mille & Une Roses: This is not a new love.
Lancome brought back my beloved 2000 et une Rose in 2006 and renamed it. One of the greatest rose scents of all time.

13. Nars Brightening serum: This serum managed to wake up my face and give it life. I was transformed from a tired stressed out girl to someone that looks like they get 8 hours of sleep. It has become part of my daily routine.
http://www.narscosmetics.com/acb/stores/1/index.aspx

14. Chanel's Black Satin: What is a Best of 2006 list without the biggest makeup story of the year? Chanel's nail polish is known for its inferior quality but somehow they managed to sell out of a black nail polish twice. I was on the 2nd waiting list. I was #50....in the one horse town of Youngstown Ohio.
If there are 49 people in front of you for a black nail polish then you know that something crazy has happened. I was never called and luckily was gifted a bottle from a dear reader named Dana. I knew that I had to be faster when Noir Ceramic launched.
My local Chanel counter sold out of their entire stock within 24 hours. I was not fast enough...again.
Another reader, Gretchen has taken pity on me.
So from now on I am just getting on these lists the moment I read about a new product on a blog or in a magazine.
As god as my witness....I will never be #50 again!!!

15. La Mer Powder:
Taken from my June 25 review: I am a loose powder junkie so I am generally hard to please when it comes to this type of product. This one made my heart sing and my feet dance. It is as light as whipped cream with a buttery texture.
It is very finely milled powder that manages to set your makeup all day. There is little to no touch up necessary. I also love that it is in a sturdy glass jar.
http://www.gloss.com/home/index.jsp

16. Awake Aqua Trans Powder in Stardom: I needed another pink shimmer powder like I needed a hole in my head....but this one is so damn good. It has the same sensation that prescriptives magic powder has. Goes on wet and slightly creepy. However this powder can withstand rain or shine conditions. Gorgeous lasting power.
The shimmer stays put throughout the day.
http://www.drugstore.com/templates/notcoldept/default.asp?catid=9730

17. Laura Mercier's Mineral Eye Powder: Now this is a Laura Mercier product that I can stand behind. Great shimmer shadows that have high quality pigment and sparkle. Asteroid is my personal favorite shade. Perfect for a smoky eye.
Available at your local Saks or Nordstorm.



18. Bond's Fire Island: Another winner from Bond.
The website describes it as "the beach equivalent of Proust’s madeleine dunked in tea."
It smells like sun warmed expensive tanning lotion with some creamy tropical flower thrown in for good measure. I grew quite addicted to mixing it with Lauder's Azuree oil.
http://www.bondno9.com/catalog/

19. Paul and Joe's fragrances in Bleu and Blanc:
Bleu is the best amber scent ever created.
Blanc is an incredible heliotrope and hawthorn scent that is so soft and comforting.
These are available at anthropologie stores. I just picked up my 2nd round of bottles at my local store with an extra 30 % off.
That is a steal!

20. MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade: A skin brightener that has veins of baby yellow, pink, orange and blue. One of the best MAC products in years.
Available at Saks, Nordstorm, Macys, Bloomingdales.
My local Saks had three to four left.

21. Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Habanera: I could not get out my credit card fast enough. This is their best duo. A stunning brown based plum with lots of shimmer.
Its partner is a mint silverish green shade.
Just Gorgeous.
Available at my local Nars counter (216)-292-5500 ext: 256
Ask for Alesha.
If you spend $100 you can get the 9929 palette.
If you spend over $150 then you get the 9929 palette and the 150 Itabrush(which is another great 2006 find!).
Say that Blogdorf Goodman sent you.

22. Essie's Bungle Jungle Nail Polish: One of the best reds produced this year. I orginally fell for their Jag-u-are shade but this one slowly took over my heart.
This is a red that looks flattering on everyone.
Available at 8ty8beauty.com and head2toebeauty.com

This is my list for 2006.

Please visit the sites of these following bloggers that are also participating in the Favorite Things of 2006.
You will find each and every one of these bloggers a delight to read.
They are some of my favorite morning reads.
The Great She Elephant will post her list on January 3rd. Other's will post throughtout the day on December 29th.

Afrobella

All About The Pretty

Aromascope

Beauty Addict

Beauty Blogging Junkie

Beauty by Nadine

Beautiful Makeup Search & Beauty Blog

Beauty Hatchery

Beauty Jones

Blogdorf Goodman

Bois de Jasmin

BonBons in the Bath

Brain Trapped in Girl's Body

Capital Hill Barbie

C'est Chic

Coquette

Crazy Jay Blue

eBeautyDaily

Girl's Handbook

Hautemommastuff

Koneko's *Mostly* Beauty Diary!

Legerdenez

Makeup Bag

Monkeyposh

My Muse

No one knows why the wolf laughs

Now Smell This

Perfume Smellin' Things

Peppermint Patty's Perfume Posse

Platinum Blonde Life

Product Girl

Scentzilla!

She'll Be Feverish After So Much Thinking

Slap of the Day

The Customer Is Always Right

The Daily Obsession

The Great She Elephant

The Life As A Ladybug

The Non-Blonde

Urbane Girl

Victoria's Own

graphic by Dramaqueenie2/Blogdorf Goodman

MAC Danse Collection

Drop that long face. Come on. Have your fling.
Why keep nursing the blues?

If you want this old world on a string,
Put on your dancing shoes.
Stop wasting time.
Put on your dancing shoes.
Watch your spirits climb......


Cavewoman proclaimed this collection as one of the best yet from MAC. Her personal favorites being Lingerie and Deneuve.
This collection comes very close to dethroning my personal favorite... Madame B.
The standouts are lovely and will not last long at the counters.

1. The Mineralize Skinfinishes:
Glissade: was a bronzey peach shade with plum veins. Our MAC SA used it as a blush and it appeared to be more a plum based orgasmish color. Had some shimmer to it.
Lightscapade: A baby yellow with veins of blue, pink and orange. Besides looking like a piece of heaven it immediately brightens the face. I think it leans toward a very opal effect on the face. I can only imagine how this will look on very pale skin.
I am beyond smitten with it.
This was one of my bday gifts from my buddy cavewoman. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a cavewoman in their lives.

2. The Eyeshadows:
Swan Lake: A blue based silverish gray.
Rite of Spring: A white that flashes pink.
Rondelle: An icy silver.

The one that I might go back for: French Grey
This is a silverish taupe color. I have been trying to move away from cool toned browns. I have so many but it is hard to resist the calling from this shade. It is screaming "I am a limited edition...you will rue the day when I am gone..."

I passed on Scene1 because I have so many pinks that I should be brought up on charges if I even entertain the thought of buying another one.

The Pigments
I have been disappointed with the pigments in the last few color stories. This collection has many lemming worthy pigments.
Cavewoman gifted me the pastorale shade for my birthday. It is a celery shade with a tiny bit of shimmer that could be described as an opalish gold. If you love green shades then this is a must.
The other pigment is a sky blue shade chock full of silver sparkling goodness. This is when you know that you have to walk away from a cosmetic counter. When a sky blue pigment wants to come home with you.
I walked away... but that pigment turned my head.

The Lipglass:
Pas-de-deux: Because I do not own a gray liglass.
Sometimes my reasoning is straight forward.
I plan to use this over everything. I think it will give an opal kick to my pinks and reds.
Cavewoman caved on either En pointe or Standing Ovation. I can not recall because I was gripping the pas-de-deux tube too hard.

The Lipstick:
Danse: Rose pink with silver shimmer.
At first I thought it was similar to Pink Maribu but it is far from it. It is blue based pink shade that is several shades lighter. Think of Madame B but loaded with silver pearl.
It was love at first sight.

Something interesting....there were no blushes. I would have loved to see a light silverish pink color.

The Quad:
Finally us gals that only have malls that feature Macys as their anchor department store have something to crow about.
This quad is exclusive to Macys and Bloomingdales.
The shade footwork is enough to cave on it. Specktra describes it perfectly. It is a "minty blue with silver pearlized pigments".

Visit Specktra for better descriptions on the whole collection. I can not rave enough about that site. It is an incredible resource for MAC fans and makeup junkies in general.
http://specktra.net/2006_danse.php

All photos: Blogdorf Goodman

If you want to order the Danse quad call my MAC counter at Macys.
Ask for MAC cosmetics
and then ask for Jen, Vivian or Blade.
330-758-8661








Disclosure: All the products in this post were purchased at our local MAC counter

Anthropologie's Golden Fleece dress $119.95

Anthropologie's Fields minidress $169.95

Anthropologie's Dark Orbit shift dress $79.95

The best ballet flats ever. http://www.guillaumehinfray.com/home.htm

found via blog An Alien in New York http://aony.blogspot.com/

via Style Bubble http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/

Susie was just featured on the French Vogue website along with the gals at Bag Snob. http://www.bagsnob.com/

Congrats to both!

Getting Nailed Challenge for December 26th 2006:

Chanel's Blanc Ceramic from the spring collection.

A lovely pearl color that flashes pink. It looks like it takes at least three coats and could be a quite fetching color for a french manicure.

Anyone cave on it?
What are your thoughts?

What is your nailpolish for this week?




All photos: Blogdorf Goodman

Happy Holidays from Blogdorf Goodman!!!!!

photo: Blogdorf Goodman

Breaking Beauty News via January's Vogue:

Cavewoman spotted the blurb about another limited edition Lancome lipstick created by Gucci Westman.

It will be called Proenza Pink.

They say it will be available in March in "limited numbers" at Neiman Marcus.

They are pulling our chains. You know these will be sold out within a day. I am starting to think that limited numbers means a bakers dozen.

all photos from style.com

Holiday gift ideas for the tie lover:

http://cyberoptix.com/index.php

I got Pacman Fever: Limited edition ghost tie for $50

Thats so Raven!: Crow tie for $30 to $40.

This site has very fun ties. I wish I would have found it sooner.

link found via shelterrific/designsponge

photos: from cyberoptix