40 Days and 40 Nights Of Beauty Brands Reviews

Day 36 , Too Faced


Cavewoman: Too Faced cosmetics line is just too adorable. Pretty shadow duos, sparkling glosses, and shimmery pressed powder blushes always tempt the Cleveland Gang into visiting the small display of Too Faced at our Nordstrom store. This line is all about the shimmer, and the Cleveland Gang loves shimmer.

My favorite Too Faced item is a very clever clicky-pen that contains foundation. It's called Magic Wand Illuminating Foundation, and of course I could not resist a product that calls itself Magic and describes the contents as illuminating! So, I bought. I like a good gimmick and I especially like one that delivers. And this one does.

The click is a button on the bottom of the tube. A few clicks deliver the foundation through the brush, and from there it's easy to just dab onto the face. I use the brush to work the foundation around my nose area and under the eye, and then I just smooth the foundation with my fingers on the rest of my face. The product itself is a sheer-to-medium coverage foundation with a glowy effect, truly luminizing, soft and dewy, lasts well with no change of color and no caking or cracking. I found a good match in the color called Paris Light Medium.
As you know, I have many great foundations, but I have to rave over this one, not just for the fine product and the clever container, but for the great feature of portability. Pop the pen into your purse. With no spillage or leaking whatsoever, and easy touch-ups if needed throughout the day, the Magic Wand is a great little item to add to your makeup bag. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then YSL has complimented Too Faced by introducing their own clicky-pen foundation last Fall. I've used them both. Believe it or not, Too Faced wins hands-down.

Annieytown: I love Too Faced's Diamond glosses.
My favorite shade is Pink Diamond.
This is a sheer pink color with fiery opal glitter.
The gloss has a tropical scent that smells like summer in tube. The glitter twinkles and pops but leaves no gritty mess on the lips. The gloss formula is enriched with Jojoba, Violet extract and Vitamin A to improve and maintain the condition of the lips. They retail for $14 and can be found at Sephora and Nordstorm.

Other shades:
Champagne Diamond (Honey gold---gorgeous and lemming worthy)
Candy Diamond (Pastel pink---not as good as pink diamond)
Lilac Diamond (Lilac glimmer)
Canary Diamond (Yellow gold)
Pink Diamond (Golden Pink Spark---do not get any gold)
Chocolate Diamond (Spiced Cocoa Spark)
White Diamond (White Fire Spark---not as good as Dior)
Fire Diamond (Hot Pink Spark)

http://www.toofaced.com/
What are your favorite Too Faced products? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman
Descriptions from Too Faced website
Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewers.

Cosmetic Market

Chattykathy discovered a little gem in NYC called the Cosmetic Market. This small space is practically filled to the rafters with beauty products. Brands spotted were Elizabeth Arden, Payot, Stila, YSL, Decleor, Nina Ricci, Versace, Lancome, Max Factor, VonBerg, Clarins, Covergirl, Maybelline, Revlon, Prada skincare, Estee Lauder compacts, MAC, Anna Sui (at the cash register in the case), Trucco, L'Oreal, Borghese and Almay.

I managed to score some Prada skincare while Lupa picked up several tubes of her favorite discontinued lipstick. The prices are a steal and the thrill of the hunt is exhilarating.
This is a treasure trove for beauty addicts.

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman

40 Days and 40 Nights Of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 35 , Shu Uemura

"Touch your inner expression with cosmetics." Mr Uemura

Cavewoman: One of the best and biggest cosmetic lines I've ever discovered is Shu Uemura. I was shopping in SoHo with my cousin Elaine about ten years ago, and we found this little store with the exotic name. When we entered, we found beautiful items from basic, everyday shadows and lipsticks to truly unusual and theatrical colors. And brushes. I had never seen such an array of brushes, tiny liner brushes and fluffy powder brushes and everything in between. We started to browse. Elaine headed over to the eyeshadow display, and I was going to try on a few lipstick shades at a counter with a huge mirror. When I decided on a color to try, I noticed a nice young man next to me, testing out a lipstick on himself. We chatted color and helped each other to decide which to buy.
I also bought a palette that day, and several of the beautiful brushes. I've filled and refilled that same palette over the years, and it still serves me well.

But I had not paid much attention to the skincare line, until I started to read about Shu Uemura cleansing oils. I've had oily skin almost all my life until recently, so the idea of adding oil to my face seemed rather unappealing. But people kept telling me to try it, it would not make my face oilier, and in fact it would cleanse off my makeup better and more thoroughly than just my usual facial cleanser alone. So, I caved. They were right, and I am a believer.

Shu Uemura cleansing oils come in many types and strengths, in convenient pump bottles of different sizes. I tried the Skin Purifier and was delighted with the results. I tap the cleansing oil onto my face and then gently massage it over my skin. Adding a bit of water after that, I continue to massage lightly, and the cleanser foams up a bit and becomes water soluble, removing all my makeup and rinsing off easily. It leaves my skin feeling totally refreshed and moist. Sometimes I use my Payot cleansing gel after using the Shu oil. In colder weather, when I want as much moisture on my face as I can get, I omit the second cleansing. Shu cleansing oils clear the pores of all makeup and primer, even the most stubborn oil-based foundations. Sometimes when I want a quick makeup removal, I pump out some of the cleansing oil onto a cotton pad and just wipe it over my face. It does not cause breakouts, in fact it seems to keep my pores very clean and clear. A bottle of Shu cleansing oil lasts forever, too. Now that I am a regular user of Shu Uemura cleansing oils, I can't imagine being able to remove my makeup completely without it. If you head to the Shu counter, try out one of the oils, and maybe you'll find a lipstick testing buddy there, too.

Storybookheroine: Shu's a brand of spacial economy and ingenuity. Blushes and eye shadows are housed in tiny pans pact with highly pigmented color and delivered in clear plastic squares and rectangles. At first the packaging seemed cheap to me but I have come to appreciate the design and idea of this products. The clear plastic cases literally look like they suspend the pans. The coolest thing is they a made to be depotted so you yourself can custom design you own personal palette of blushes, eye shadows and powders. Shu is a fantastic way to have many colors in a small amount of space and the quality and range of colors are wonderfully wide.

My favorite item from Shu is the summer 2006 Amaterasu palette. This premade compact is a golden bronze metallic square containing a mirror , three buttery soft eye shadows (snuck into the equivalent of 2 e/s pans or one glow on) and a second pan containing a glow on (blush). The entire thing is so small I can easily fit it in the palm of my hand. It's close to 2 inches by 2 inches! Can you imagine? The glow on in Coral Flush, a nude coral color perfect for glowing summer flushed cheeks, is my favorite of all my Shu blushes. It brings my complexion to life and adds a bit of a sheer sunny glow with shimmer. The eye shadows are no disappointment to either. P Nude is hands down my favorite Shu eye shadow color and so underrated. It's a super sheer nude golden shimmery glow that brightens my eyes and glistens in the sunlight. It's a funny color because indoors it's not so pronounced but the second light hits it the shimmery pearl takes over and WOW! I wish Shu made this color in their permanent line (are you reading this Shu?). This is one of those wash colors you can do so much with. P Sunset is a warm bronzy color with a faint hint of orange and compliments the P Nude perfectly. It's not as sheer as the Nude but still a stunner. IR Azure flat out it the prettiest bright blue I have tried. As a rule I am not a blue eyeshadow fan for myself but this is a fantastic color! It has this really cool iridescent shimmer/glow and can be layered (as can the others) to be very sheer to a strong solid blue without loosing the properties that make it special. The eye shadows are a funny combo, but they make my blue/green/gray eyes pop like notice else I have. When I first got Amaterasu it took me a few times to get the hang of it but now I can do really pretty summery makeup with the shadows. I love the blue as a liner, nude as an all over wash and sunset on the outer third of the eye lid. It used the Nude and Sunset under my eyes as liner and I even can pass off Azure in the crease (I big deal for my as I have a hard time with doing my crease). The glow on is a great combination of sheer blush and bronzer for me. The shimmer is subtle and the color can be layered. The best way for me to describe the overall look is a sunset at the beach. I absolutely adore it for summer. Sadly the palette was limited edition but check ebay as these things pop up from time to time. (for reference I am Becca Sand or Cashmere, Nars Mont Blanc, Fresh Northern Light and MAC N4 (but I think we all know how well they do at color matching....).


I know the Shu shadows and Glow On's are very popular but something most over look at the lipsticks. These are so amazing you must run to your nearest counter and buy on RIGHT AWAY! The LOLISHINE ROUGE is describe on the shu ws as "the ultimate sheer and shine lipstick. Exclusive thermo-active Shine Amplifier delivers gloss as it comes into contact with skin temperature. Aqua-Lock system ensures adequate moisture to the lips all day. Crystal Clear Pearl reflects and refracts light, so lips are coated in sparkling shine that is clear as crystal" and ROUGE 4 is "a lipstick that provides a smooth moisturizing feel in a lightweight texture while promoting color intensity and vivid shine." LOLISHINE REFLECTS "sheer color with kaleidoscope shine. Exclusive thermo-active Shine Amplifier delivers gloss as it comes into contact with skin temperature. Aqua-Lock system with Ceramide and Depsea Water ensures adequate moisture to lips all day. Crystal Clear Pearl with tri-color confetti pearls coats lips in maximum sparkling shine." Yes you really need to try them! They are so glossy and moist and the colors are unbelievable. Some are solid color, some have shimmer or frost but my favorites have the "tri-color confetti pearls" or the micro glitter/shimmer (these come in silvers, golds, bronzes and even multi-color!). These are truly unique colors and textures for lipsticks.

So my quick favorites in Shu lipsticks are--------

Summer 2006 Amaterasu Lolishine Reflects in 920 and 962 (these are so shiny, glossy and moisturizing it's almost like a gloss in lipstick form).

-920 is a gorgeous sheer bronze nude with reflective micro shimmer particles. A fantastic summer nude bronze. Love it! Formula is creamy, moisturizing and rather lasting for being so creamy and sheer. A must have summer lipstick. Very unique.

-962 is a beautiful sheer pink nude with reflective micro shimmer particles. Normally nudes look like absolute poop on me but this is a fantastic nude. Love it, Love it! The formula is creamy and moisturizing and rather lasting for being so creamy and sheer. Gorgeous and glossy!

Rouge 4 731 (from Holiday 2005). My holy grail warm bronzy, chocolaty brown lipstick with tons golden pearls. It's so shimmery, shiny and lovely I wish this was a permeant lipstick.

Overall Shu is a wonderful brand with many really nice products (but I hate the skin care).

Annieytown: Out of all the makeup lines I love, Shu is the one that I covet the most. There is no local counter so I have to wait to see the products in NYC. The minute I see that display with all the lovely shades of eyeshadows my heart starts to flutter wildly. I have never worn an acid yellow eyeshadow but Shu Uemura makes me want too. All the eyeshadow shades look interesting and wearable. My personal favorite shades are ME Gold 390(the best gold shade on the planet), ME Blue 638(the best MAC Parrot dupe) and ME Brown 850(a taupe that borders on a silverish mushroom color). The shadows are rich in texture and heavily pigmented. They apply buttery smooth and last all day without creasing.

The variety of shades is impressive with gorgeous metallic wines, deep olives, glittery strawberries, and celery greens.

My other favorite product from Shu is their face powders. I have tried a lot of face powders and can judge them harshly Janice Dickinson-style.

I expect and demand a lot from my powders.

Shu powders are among the best in the market. They are not as finely milled as Caron and La Mer but they work just as well. It sets your makeup and gives your face a luminous glow. The matte formula in colorless works very well with La Mer foundation.

It looks fresh for hours.

Shu eyeshadows retail for $20 and the powders go for around $33. They are sold at Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman. Visit the website to see the full range of products along with fairly accurate swatches for the eyeshadows. If you spend $75 or more on the site, you qualify for free shipping.

http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/default.aspx

What are your favorite Shu Uemura products? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Cavewoman, Storybookheroine and Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: The products featured in this blog post were reviewed by the reviewers; Cavewoman, storybookheroine and me!

Target Red Lipstick by L'Oreal

L'Oreal's Target red is a true tomato shade.
It is a warmer red with not an ounce of blue undertones. I thought the texture was creamy and rich but I strongly disliked the scent. It almost smelled like the lippie had turned. It was very old fashioned and unappealing.

In comparison to Lancome's Behnaz it is no contest. Lancome's texture is superior and the shade is magnificent. The poppy color just glows. I have never received so many compliments on a lipstick than when I wear Behnaz.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me, at my local Target store

40 Days And 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 34, Smashbox

Cavewoman: Smashbox Cosmetics is the baby of two great-grandsons of Max Factor. Holding the family legend carefully, the Factor heirs Dean and Davis created a line of cosmetics that were first used in photo shoots at the Smashbox Studio in Los Angeles. The line is full of great performers. My love of the PhotoFinish primer has been well-documented, there's nothing else I can say about it, other than the fact that it has seemed to inspire a primer-type product from almost every other cosmetic line I can think of. Often imitated but never equalled, it remains the best of the silicone-based primers, and it delivers what it promises.

But my new favorite from Smashbox departs from the serious, performance-oriented product philosophy of this line, and heads to the whimsical. I didn't even know for sure what Tokidoki meant, but one look at the Tokidoki Soft Lights called DolceVita, with its adorable flat kabuki brush, and I was headed to the checkout counter at our nearest Sephora. I'm always looking for the perfect cool-toned pink blush. Add a dab of shimmer and I'm buying. It was only when I got home with my purchase that I opened the box and read the explanation of what is Tokidoki. Here is what I found:

"Tokidoki means 'sometimes' in Japanese, because everyone waits for moments that change their destiny. Tokidoki is the hope and hidden energy everyone has inside that gives us the strength to face each new day and dream that something positive, something magical will happen to us. Smashbox Cosmetics is proud to present Tokidoki, an exciting new collection designed and illustrated especially for us by the ever-inspiring artist/creator Simone Legno."


To me, this DolceVita shade is my favorite pink powder blush. It can be used as an all-over face glow too, but I apply translucent loose powder over it to tone it down a bit if I am using it as an allover color. Soft and glowing as are the other Soft Lights shades, the texture is even and application is smooth. When using the product as a blush, I prefer to use a regular blush brush, because the kabuki brush is a bit too large and flat for me. I use the kabuki with other shimmery finishing powders, and it is easy to get an even application and to dust off any excess, too. I like the flat kabuki because it does not lay on too much color. I have also used the Tokidoki brush to apply loose powder over the DolceVita, to tone down the color and just give a subtle hint of pink. The pink works well as an eyeshadow, too, especially when combined with silvers and grays. Don't let the vibrant color intimidate you, because this shade is easy to wear if you're a cool-toned person who wants a fresh just-spent-the-day outdoors look.
It's been a very long, dull, cold, gray Winter in Ohio. I'm swiping on a bit of Spring with Tokidoki DolceVita, and finding a bit of that hidden energy for myself.

Annieytown: I have gushed over smashbox primer since this blog started so I will not bore you with another glowing review. Instead I am going to focus on the fabulous Smashbox Soft Lights. This is a jumbo pot of a velvet like powder that adds subtle color and shimmer to the face. The effect is luminous and flattering. I loved all the colors but caved on the Lens shade. It is a sheer apricot color that manages to perk up your complexion and give you a well rested glow.

The shades are Highlight(an apricot with iridescent pink), Prism(soft rose petal shimmer), Lens(soft peachy shimmer), Tint(shimmery pink bronze) and Shimmer(shimmery nude bronze).

http://www.smashbox.com/

What are your favorite products from Smashbox? Let us know in the comments!
Photos: Cavewoman and Sephora.
I am posting this review early because I will be out of town.
Have a lovely weekend!

Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewers.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 33, Shiseido

Cavewoman: Six makeup-obsessed girls entered the Sephora store near Macy's NYC one evening. They dipped into testers, sprayed fragrances, swiped shimmery pretty powders on their hands, exclaimed over glosses and glitters, and testified about favorite products. One of these people had a favorite that she happened to be wearing that day. She led us to the Shiseido display and showed us the little jar of Hydro-Powder in WhiteLights. Dabbing and smoothing a bit of this cream shadow on the back of her hand, she showed us why she wears this shadow every day. We checked her hand closely. We checked her beautiful eyes. Every one of us reached to the display, grabbed for ourselves a jar of this magical sparkle, and headed to the checkout.

Shiseido Hydro-Powder is a tiny jar of thick, dense cream shadow that smooths out on the eye for a sheer wash of color. Whitelights is a silvery-white with flecks of particles that sparkle like crushed diamonds. It can be used alone or as a shadow base, it's the perfect highlighter for under the brow, and it is gorgeous worn alone as a wash of lid color. I've never seen anything else quite like it. The teeny particles can take on a multi-color effect under different lighting. The effect is wide-open, bright eyes.
The enabler/gorgeous-eyed WhiteLights wearer was ChattyKathy. The purchasers shall remain anonymous.


Annieytown: I started using the Pureness line in the early 90’s. My friend Michelle insisted that it would help me with my skin issues. I was young and dealing with the trifling problem of acne and blocked pores. From the moment I got on the Pureness program I was hooked. Most of the issues went away and I was left with improved skin. I considered it a minor miracle and was surprised that it was never recommended to me by a dermatologist.
Years later I still use the line along with constantly recommending it to others.

The Pureness skincare collection is gentle and caters to the needs of young complexions. I am not by any means young anymore but the stuff keeps issues at bay…so why upset a good thing?
Pureness contains a “soothing blend of green florals that help to release stress and lower excess oil production.” The cleansers are the mildest I have ever tried. You do not feel like you have stripped away anything essential to your skin. The Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam has non-gritty granules that remove impurities along with heavy duty foundation and primer. It leaves my skin soft, clean and not irritated. The Pureness Refreshing Cleansing Water quickly removes makeup while maintaining skin’s natural balance. I use this formula in the morning as it is light and there is no need to rinse. I follow this by using the Pureness Balancing Softener. This is an alcohol free lotion that gives a fresh sensation similar to a mild toner like Prada. This helps maintain ph balance to help the skin resist acne. I like it because it feels wonderful on my face. It gives you the energy to start the day or in my case…start putting my makeup on.
Before any makeup I use a moisturizer. My Dermatologist informed me that I did not need a moisturizer since my skin was oily. This was not entirely correct. I did need help but with a light hand. I could not have handled something heavy like a La Mer but Pureness Matifying Moisturizer Oil Free was perfect. This lightweight moisturizer is sheer and “absorbs oil for a matte finish as it provides hydration.”

I highly recommend Shiseido skincare to anyone with special needs from acne to aging issues.
I think their skincare is consistent in quality, innovation and price.
It is a solid performing cosmetic and skincare line.

What are your favorite Shiseido products? Let us know in the comments!
Photo: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

It is hard to find accessories for a perfume junkie.
I am constantly on the look out for anything fragrance related from rubber stamps to stationary.

Today I was fooling around on the Urban Outfitters website when I stumbled across this little gem.
It is a vintage inspired compact that flips open to reveal 2 mirrors.

It retails for $8.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=25586&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=77&iSubCat=556&iProductID=25586

Order it while you can.
I snagged 8.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 32, Revlon

In the factory, we make cosmetics; in the store, we sell hope.
-- Charles Revson

Cavewoman: For the astounding story of Charles Revson and the beginnings of the Revlon company, find a copy of the book called "Fire And Ice, The Story Of Charles Revson, The Man Who Built The Revlon Empire" by Andrew Tobias. Revson was a man who lived his life in excess, luxury, and controversy. He was another one of those cosmetic company geniuses, ready with the perfect product at the perfect time, sending Revlon products into the hands of eager makeup customers in department stores everywhere, and enjoying quite well the fruits of his success. I remember when Revlon was sold in the best department store in our area, and I sensed a magic attached to the name. I wasn't wrong. The book is a must-read for everyone who loves the tradition and history of the great cosmetics companies and their founders.


Revlon lipsticks and nail polishes are my favorites from the line. I love the Soft & Smooth lipsticks the best, but I have to do a "show and tell" with two of the oldest colors still in production in the Revlon line. Fire And Ice lipstick and Cherries In The Snow nail polish are products launched in the 1950's and are still popular enough to be sold today, more than 50 years later. Revson's "Fire And Ice" advertising campaign won an award for the best advertising of 1952, and with "matching lips and fingertips" as a new Revlon slogan, he ensured that ladies would buy a nail polish every time they purchased a lipstick.
Read the book to find out how much he disliked Estee Lauder. To put it mildly.
And stop at the Revlon display for a little tube of lipstick history.

Left to right: Succulent Berry, So Blushious, Raspberry Mousse, Plush Peony, and Lush Orchid

Annieytown: My pick for best Revlon product is the Colorstay Soft and Smooth lipsticks. Recommended by Cavewoman and PattyG, they have become part of my lipstick collection. They come in a variety of shades from the stunning lush orchid to the subtle luxe lavender. This is not your average long lasting lipstick. The creamy formula does not dry out your lips and lasts throughout the day.
I loved the rich pigment and texture of the lippie.
It feels and looks high end.

What are your favorite Revlon products? List them in the comments.

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. (Dicken's Great Expectations)

Summer Fragrances

Even though the weather is supposed to return to blistering conditions this weekend, I am still reaching for my new summer fragrances. Winter has never felt so long and tiresome.
All I want to wear is my creamy floral and grapefruit fragrances.

Estee Lauder has released the Summer Fun fragrance collection that features limited edition bottles of Pleasures, Beyond Paradise and Beautiful. The Beautiful bottle has pink swirls in a leaf pattern. They retail for $49.50 and are available at your local Estee Lauder counter.


Pleasures Exotic will be launched nationwide in April. This fruity floral opens with mango passion tropical fruit cocktail, pink grapefruit, orange and dewy green leaves. The notes would make a delicious smoothie.
The fruit opening is joined with middle notes of island bamboo flowers, hibiscus, cassis, bougainvillea vine, peony, rose petals, baie rose and fresh orangeblossoms. This gives the creamy florals a tart feel. There is a very brief moment when a watery note sneaks into the fragrance. I generally shy away from lychee notes but this does not overstay it's welcome. The scent settles into a drydown of indian sandalwood, amber and violet woods. This is the best part of the fragrance. I love powdery wood drydowns.
This scent will retail for $58.

Visit your local Estee Lauder counter to check out all the limited edition fragrances and the magnificent Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche/skinscent.
http://www.esteelauder.com/home.tmpl

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 31, Prescriptives

Cavewoman: If I had to say that any one brand of cosmetics dominates my collection, it would definitely be Prescriptives. I've been using this line for almost twenty years! I discovered Prescriptives in the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store on a trip to NY, and made my first purchase that day, a water-based shake-before-you-use foundation that is no longer being made. It is interesting that my very latest purchase at Prescriptives is also a foundation, this time the Custom Blend. My skin has changed drastically in these years between that first purchase and the last one, but what hasn't changed is the fine quality, user-friendly, performance-delivering items in the line. I almost can't say one favorite, so I'll tell you just a few. It'll be hard to limit myself, but I will try!

Above all, the Custom Blend foundation is my favorite Prescriptives item. I was in Dillards a few months ago, a shopping trip quickly planned with my cousin. The only thing I wanted to do that day was go to Prescriptives, because this is the only counter in our area which does the Custom Blend. I approached the SA who greeted me warmly, listened to all my foundation issues, skin-type needs, and she asked me tons of questions about what I was wanting in a perfect foundation. She asked my Prescriptives color-print family (I am Blue-Red) and set out to make my makeup. The base that is used is oil-free, so I asked for moisturizing ingredients. She explained all the ingredients (adding treatment, too) and then showed me the luminizing ingredient (she added lots of the pink, and a little of the gold.) She tested her blend on me every step of the way, and would not stop until I was totally happy with the blend. She wrote everything down on a card, and if I want more and can't get to her store, she can blend and send! What I ended up with is a very moisturizing foundation that matches me more perfectly than any store-bought pre-bottled foundation I have ever had, with luminosity and comfort too. It is a pleasure to reach for my Custom Blend, knowing it performs exactly as I wanted it to. No caking, no turning color, no settling into lines or pores, and it is luminous and glowy. It is about as close as I have ever come to something resembling the old Luxe formula, and also Clinique Gentle Light, which I used when Luxe was discontinued. My Custom Blending was a most pleasant experience, from start to finish. Many foundations that I have are wonderful and I won't toss them or swap them away, but my Custom Blend is the one I reach for almost all the time now.

The Holiday palettes are something I wait for every year. Inside the large compact are six shadows, a blush, and a highlighting finishing powder. These pans can be popped out, re-arranged, and refilled directly from Prescriptives regular stock. I have four of them, both the warm and cool from last year and this past year. I re-made one of them with colors I chose from the Prescriptives display, saved the pans I removed, and interchange and replace when I use one up or just see new colors at the counter that I'd like to add to one of the palettes. I do not know of one other company that offers such a useful palette. Pans are held in by magnets, so it is easy to change them. And they are perfect for travel, too. Included in each Holiday palette is a double-ended shadow brush. A very nice brush, too.

Another great Prescriptives product that I use every day is the Flawless Concealer. A small silver compact with pot concealer inside, this product goes on smoothly, doesn't dry out, doesn't sink into lines, and doesn't cake or fade. I like a concealer in a pot, because it is easy to just tap my finger onto the product and dot and blend under my eyes. I happen to use it over my Prescriptives Vibrant Eye. That's a luminous serum-type of product that feels lightweight and adds a bit of light-reflection to diffuse any shadow or darkness under the eye.

Prescriptives has recently launched the fabulous AnyWear pressed powder foundation. I can't believe that finally, there is a powder foundation that looks beautiful on dry skin! It can be used wet or dry, you won't ruin it with a wet brush, and it covers beautifully without that masky powdery look. I like it as a finishing powder too, but it's great all on its own, for days when I have to paint and go and I don't have time to do a full foundation application.

I could just go on and on about Prescriptives! But then we'd be here for days! Go see all the beautiful things at the Prescriptives counter (Racecar Red is a great red lipstick!) and maybe you'll become a fan, too.
See how I am sneaking in one more Prescriptives product?

What are your favorite Prescriptives products? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Cavewoman

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewer.

Kenzo Summer

I am starting to reach for more summer fragrances now that the weather has broke in Ohio.
Today it is predicted to reach 77 degrees. You can feel the excitement in the air. Windows are open and turtlenecks have been left at home.
I am wearing my yellow coat and the new Summer edition of Flower by Kenzo. This is a special limited edition fragrance that will be sold exclusively at Sephora beginning in April.

It is a breath of fresh of air after wearing my heavy winter fragrances. It is a light, sparkling citrus floral with notes of bergamot, citrus fruits, bulgarian rose, white musk and vanilla. It is less powdery than its namesake, Flower by Kenzo. This fragrance is all about the shedding the parkas and mittens and basking in the sunshine. The bottle has received a summer makeover with a kite design of fuchsia, red and orange swirls.
The 50 ml will retail for $52.00 at Sephora.
www.sephora.com

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Kenzo

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brands

Day 30, Paul & Joe

Cavewoman: The first time I ever saw Paul & Joe cosmetics, I was in Bergdorf Goodman with some friends, browsing, testing fragrances, and finding lots of interesting cosmetic lines I had never seen before. What caught my eye at the Paul & Joe counter was the beautiful, feminine packaging. I fell in love with the compacts, the loose powders with their luxurious puffs, and the cute paper containers for eyeshadows. Of course, I had to bring home a little "souvenir" from Paul & Joe that day, and what better for a compact collector to bring home than a compact! I've added a few to my collection since then, and every trip to Bergdorf has to have a stop at Paul & Joe to see what is new.

My first Paul & Joe compact is the one with the pink and yellow swirled pressed powder. It is called Pressed Powder 001, no name to distinguish it from the other round compact which is just called Pressed Powder 002. Both of these powders have shimmer, but the swirled colors give a pretty brightening effect, and the one-color powder is glowy and luminous. I love shimmery powders, as I've shown in previous reviews, and these are favorites not just for the fine texture but for the adorable containers.

The pale green oval compact holds Protective Dual Powder Foundation SPF 25PA++ which is Octinoxate 7% and Titanium Dioxide 12.4%. This powder can be used either wet or dry, but I've only used it dry. It makes a nice finishing powder, I have not tried it on its own, nor have I put the formidable SPF to the test. I love this for the compact alone.

The liquid foundation, the primer, and the cream foundation are all excellent, too. I'm thrilled especially with the cream, which is not really a cream at all but a very thick liquid in the jar, and it smooths out beautifully for a luminous finish that can be either very sheer or well-covering. Thanks to my friend (you know who you are!) who helped me choose my correct shade. I see us back at the Paul & Joe counter very soon!

Annieytown: I hang out with some serious fragrance junkies. Some have been collecting parfum since they were children while others write perfume books and blogs. We are a serious crowd with exceptional noses. We love the thrill of the hunt from finding rare guerlain parfums at antique stores(Tussah!) to discovering hidden gems from niche brands. We will go anywhere to sniff out a new find.

Our local anthropologie store was where we discovered the amazing Paul & Joe fragrances. Blanc and Bleu are worthy of lemming, coveting and hoarding. I rave like a madwoman when it comes to these two bottles. They are better than most high end niche fragrances. However... it seems that no one is paying attention them.

Only a handful of makeupalley members sing their praises.
Today Blogdorf Goodman is going to scream from the rooftops and let you know what you have been missing.

Blanc was created by the great perfumer Jean Claude Ellena. This is the perfumer that was responsible for Frederic Malle's L'Eau d'Hiver. These two fragrances share similar notes such as hawthorn and heliotrope.

Blanc is a creamy almond based scent with hints of florals, cherry pie and milk. It is a comforting scent that manages to be elegant at the same time.

Blanc EDT notes are hawthorn, angelica(smells like honey), almond, sweet pea, freesia, lily, rose, musk, heliotrope and cloud of milk.

My favorite amber fragrance is Bleu. My love for it grew after witnessing it's greatness on a cold winter night in Ohio. Like Ormonde Jayne's Tolu, it transforms to greatness when it hits cold air. I could have stood outside for hours sniffing the sillage wafting from my coat sleeve. It did not matter that it was 10 degrees. The amber is thick and the incense notes are deep. This is not a cold church smell but something bright and luminous.

It was created by Pierre Bourdon. Mr Bourdon also authored my favorite iris scent, Frederic Malle's Iris Poudre. Clearly this man knows the way to my heart and nose!

EDT notes are bergamot, coriander( warm herbaceous scent) , cumin(brief and non-pungent), ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, magnolia, heliotrope, oak moss(woody smell that is sweet and fresh), patchouli, sandalwood, myrrh, labdanum, vanilla and musk.

http://www.paul-joe-beaute.com/en/index.html

Paul & Joe is sold in Bergdorf Goodman. Call 212 -872-2736 for the counter.

You can also sometimes find it at your local Anthropologie stores and http://www.luileiny.com/

The bottles retail for $55.

What are your favorite Paul & Joe products? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

Max Factor Cosmetics celebrated Hollywood fashion and beauty in its first annual Max Factor Salutes Hollywood Fashion Show. The event was hosted by Carmen Electra to benefit Clothes Off Our Back, founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford, to benefit children's charities.

Hollywood beauties, including Carmen Electra of Epic Movie, Denise Richards of Blonde and Blonder, Olivia Wilde of The Black Donnelley's, Kristen Bell of Veronica Mars, Nadine Velazquez of My Name is Earl, Kristin Cavallari of Laguna Beach, Ali Sweeney of Days of Our Lives, Noreen DeWulf of The West Bank Story, Giuliana DePandi of E! News, Beau Garrett of Entourage, Autumn Reeser and Melinda Clarke of The O.C., wore stunning creations that are now being auctioned off at http://www.clothesoffourback.org/ with all proceeds going to Clothes Off Our Back.

The auction runs until March 29th.

World-renowned makeup artist and P&G Global Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath created the high-glam, cutting-edge makeup looks with MAXalicious Glitz and Glaze Lip Glosses, MAXEye Shadow Exotics Collection, Volume Couture Mascara, Pan-Stik makeup and Erace concealer. The products used to make up each celebrities runway look are also included in the auction.

Here is where this auction gets good. You buy a dress and the makeup comes up with it!

Some of these MaxFactor products have not been released yet.

I am obsessed with the new exotic eyeshadows and can not wait for the launch date.

Has anyone noticed that the drugstore brands are producing more lemming worthy collections than their department store counterparts?

Makeup used for Olivia Wilde(photo to the left):

MAX Factor Colour Perfection Lipstick in Berry and MAXalicious Lip Gloss in Falling in Love for lips, MAXeye Shadow in Vintage Vixen, MAXeye Liner in Night Club and Volume Couture Mascara in Black Brown for eyes, and Natural Brush-On Satin Blush in Premiere Plum for face.

Photos and information: Max Factor

40 Days and 40 Nights of beauty Brand Reviews

Day 29, Ormonde Jayne Fragrances


" A woman of character requires a perfume with personality and individuality. She spends a great deal of time and thought on her wardrobe, jewellery and beauty treatments and will settle only for an original scent." (Linda Pilkington, the creator of Ormonde Jayne)


I am doing the Ormonde Jayne review solo today. I could gush about Linda Pilkington and the fragrance house for hours. I fell in love with them in late 2003. A makeupalley member posted on the board about a perfume shoppe that she stumbled across in London. She mesmerized the fragrance board audience with her descriptions of the scents. As she was raving, I was googling the site and requesting samples. Luckily a few of us smart cookies got our requests in before the rush started. When the sample sprays arrived I was captivated by the juice inside. These were quite possible the most amazing and interesting perfumes I had ever tried. I fell hard for Frangipani, Ormonde and Champaca.
My love for Tolu came much later.

I will review my personal favorite and secret weapon first. Ormonde is the fragrance I reach for when I need to feel exquisite and vavoom-ish. This perfume has always brought me luck so to speak. It stops the male species in it's tracks. I always joke that it must be the black hemlock.
I have read countless articles that state that vanilla is the note that makes men sit up and take notice.
I respectfully disagree.
Men do not want something that smells like a cake.
They want mystery, smoke and a touch of danger.
Ormonde's notes are cardamom, coriander, grass oil, black hemlock, violet, jasmine absolute, vetiver, cedar, amber and sandalwood.


Champaca is a comfort scent. The basmati rice note envelops you and feels as cozy as a cashmere blanket. The green tea note gives it a springtime freshness. In fact it is my tradition to wear this scent on the first spring-like day. There is just something about this fragrance that makes you think of that first whiff of spring air.
The notes are neroli, pink pepper, bamboo,champaca, freesia absolutes, basmati notes, myrrh, green tea notes and musk.

Frangipani absolute was one of the first plumeria based scents I ever tried. It was my first love when it came to tropical scents. I still have a fond place for it in my heart.

It is beyond lovely.

The notes are linden blossom, magnolia flower, lime peel with heart notes of white frangipani, jasmine, rose and tuberose absolutes, water lilies, plum,and green orchid oil. The base notes are amber, musk, cedar and french vanilla absolute.


My love for Tolu came late. I dismissed it when I first received my sample pack. I am not sure why I never gave it any proper attention. I am a fan of strong incense based fragrances.
The day I fell for it's charms was a typical freezing Ohio day. The streets were snow covered and the air was just thick with that ozone-ish scent that comes from too much cold and ice. It is a hard scent to describe.
Anyway...I grabbed my Tolu sample because I was tired of the rest of my perfume collection and hated the fact that it was going to waste in my sample box. It was a risky move since there is nothing worse than wearing a fragrance you dislike all day.
The moment I went outside and the fragrance hit the cold frigid air, I was beyond smitten. That air made that fragrance holy grail for me. Something about blistering air and golden frankincense can bring me to my knees. It is a gorgeous and hidden gem among the Ormonde line. The notes are juniper berry, orange blossom, clary sage, orchid, moroccan rose, muguet,tolu(a tree resin), tonka bean, golden frankincense and amber.


Osmanthus is a very crisp, clean scent. It does not smell like fresh linens or spring breezes but more like a lovely white floral bouquet with ripe peaches and fresh cut greens. It is like a more subtle version of my beloved La Base fragrance.

The notes are pomelo(mild grapefruit scent), davana (sweet Egyptian herb), pimento, osmanthus absolute, water lily and sambac (Indian jasmine), cedarwood, labdanum resin, musk and vetivert.

The description of Ta'if from the Ormonde Jayne is perfect.
Ta´if by Ormonde Jayne is an intoxicating and audacious rose scent. This perfume dislikes daylight preferring dusk, the night, parties, promises and assignations. It is an opulent composition which makes a bold entrance and is confident enough to sweep everyone else to one side - a real belle of the ball. Ta´if is flamboyant but also sophisticated, a torrid blend of saffron, pink pepper, rose, dark sappy tree resins and broom - it is dynamic, daring and madly in love with life.

It really does smell like a dark sultry rose with dashes of spices and smoke.
The notes are pink pepper, saffron, dates, orange flower absolute, white peach, Ta'if roses, freesia, lily of the valley, jasmine, amber, musk, tonka bean,broom and vanilla absolute.

What are your favorite Ormonde Jayne fragrances? Let me know in the comments!

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman and Wikipedia(photo of a champaca flower)

Visit the website to see the entire Ormonde Jayne collection http://www.ormondejayne.com/

There is a sample set available. The price might seem high but you can get several testings out of each vial. It is a great way to explore the line before you make a purchase.

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewer.

Happy Birthday to Dramaqueenie2!

May all your wishes come true in 2007! This will be the year of everything fabulous!

Post Bday wishes in the comments and read DQ2's review of OPI below!!!

Photo: Blogdorf Goodman

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 28, OPI

Cavewoman: I was 13 years old when I received my Confirmation at my parish, and I don't remember much about it other than the perfect, long, red fingernails of my Sponsor, a kind and sweet family friend named Florence. I loved her elegant hands and I always wanted long, red nails for myself. I visited Florence in the hospital a few years ago when she was very seriously ill. She's lost her hair to her chemotherapy, but she still had her beautiful red manicure. Every time I reach for a red nail polish, I remember her with great fondness.

When it comes to red nail polishes, nobody does red better than OPI. For pales, go to Essie, for weird colors go to China Glaze, and for fun one-time-use, just head to the drugstore. But reds, reds are special, and for reds, nothing but the best will do.

OPI has a red for everyone. Warm lush reds, cool icy reds, shimmers, sparkles, and creams, a red for every skintone and occasion and whim are available with OPI. I'm Not Really A Waitress is the most successful, popular, best selling OPI color, a very dark sultry burgundy-red with beautiful shimmer. My favorite OPI red is a long-discontinued hot warm red called Louisiana Hot Sauce, it has a bit of gold shimmer to keep it warm, and it does look like a bottle of red-hot sauce! It's a tasty shade, to be sure! I love the cool cream red shade called Wanted, Red Or Alive, it borders on a fuschia. And for fun, You Rock-A-Pulco Red, super shimmery and bright. I always have the basic OPI Red on my toes during the Winter, even though they never see the light of day. I just like knowing that underneath socks and boots, I have red tootsies. Whenever OPI brings out a new collection, I hope there will be more reds to love. I think Florence would approve of my OPI reds.

Dramaqueenie2: I have hundreds of bottles of polish. OPI has become the standard to which all other salon formula polishes are compared to in my collection. In the 25 plus years that OPI has been producing polish, some remarkable colors have come and gone. Some are memorable for their cute names and others I collect for their complexity.

Ones I collect for the name include:
Ladybug - a true red creme with red microglitter
Black Magic Mountain - a deep bing cherry shimmer
Kinky in Helsinki - a a magenta shimmer that reminds me of canning beets at my grandmother's house as a child. Ever see beat juice bleed onto a white tablecloth? This is the color.
Lincoln Park at Midnight - This is a surprise recent release that is a deep plum shimmering sister to OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark creme polish.
Vampire State Building - a deep saturated blood red creme
Who Needs a Prince - a sheer milky pink with pink microglitter.
Others I admire for their color complexity include:
La Boheme - a deep berry with amber and green flashing
Sand-arella - a light purple holographic polish that mesmerizes
Day at the Peach - a delightful light peach polish that dances with prisms
Rainforest - a jungle green shimmer that captures the deep saturation level that all other green polishes seem to miss (although Nicole Jaded is a color twin and the new Rimmel Play Fast Camouflage is divine, too).
What's Dune - a whitish blue holographic polish that can be layered on top of any other polish for a holographic effect
The colors that I wear the most from this brand are Prune Danish (my favorite vampy red creme), Rose Petals (a pale pink creme that flatters my skin tone), OPI Designer Series Design (reminds me of diamonds in the sand--my favorite neutral pedi color), Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ (a deep plummy red creme), Wyatt Earple Purple (a classic neutral taupe shimmer), and Miso Happy with This Color (a ballet slipper pink opaque creme).

What are your favorite OPI shades? List your favs in the comments.

Photo: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.