Staceypants Beauty

MAC Cosmetics Alice+Olivia Collection

I knew this collection was going to be all kinds of great. Stacey Bendet, Alice+Olivia, is utterly charming on her twitter account. Recently, she has been touring the country in a Alice+Olivia tour bus. She visited the vintage clothing mecca, Mars & Venus in Nashville.

The collection is described as "frump fighting, pro-pixie, anti-seriousness collection of color". There are dazzleglass cremes glosses, pigments, and nail lacquers.
Each product is 100% lemming worthy. This could be "Madame B" greatness.

The Dazzleglass Cremes are sparklefested genius.

I.Want.Candy is a greenish yellow with multi-dimensional pearl. I need to experiment with this lippie. It scews slightly neon and the green cast can be tricky. This gloss is just so damn cool looking.

Sparklicious is a creamy silverish pale...pale...pale...pink.

The pink cast is just a speck. Very girly and pretty.

If It's Pink is a hot pink with some navy blue shimmer flecks. The Dazzleglass Cremes retail for $18.00($21.50 CDN)

Let me introduce you the first lemming of the 2010 year. This pigment will make you lose your mind.

Later is a sooty black with purple shimmer. This is Holy Mackerel good! The purple is more evident when applied wet. This morning I am wearing it as a liner.

If It Sparkles is a snow white with pink pearl. It is pink-opalish. Just more snow and shimmer fire.

Partylicious is a turquoise with silver pearl. I have not tested this shade yet. I need to compare it to all my teal/turquoise shades. This will take an afternoon! MAC's Director of Makeup Artistry, MUA God, and Goldfrapp fan, Gregory Arlt suggests sweeping this shade all over the lid with #252 brush. I will never be that brave.

These pigments retail for $19.50($23.50 CDN) and they are worth checking out!

The nail lacquers are fun and edgy. Morning After is a creamy turquoise. Blue nail polish fans(I am looking at you Patti aka Cavewoman!) will fall in love. This will be my Saturday manicure color.

So Rich So Pretty is a bright purple with pearl.
Military is a black matte with silver suede pearl. The nail lacquers retail for $12.00($14.50 CDN).

This collection will hit MAC counters July 8 2010. I suggest you run.

Follow Stacey on Twitter http://twitter.com/staceybendet

and check out her blog at

http://blog.aliceandolivia.com/. There are great pictures of the tour bus. So adorable!

Disclosure: A press sample was provided by MAC Cosmetics

Siren Song

Insolence Eau De Parfum by Guerlain

"One of the few fragrances built to work for three stages of a successful encounter: to draw someone's attention from across the room, to make flirtatious conservation for a few hours and to still smell fantastic the morning after."

This is a quote from Tania Sanchez (Tbone) & Luca Turin (Mr T) in the July issue of Allure. I heart them both!

My scent of the day is Insolence parfum. The early fans of this perfume were MUA's Cavewoman and Tbone.

It is an intoxicating mix of a ladylike violet with ripe berries. The ending is a mix of ambers and Tonka bean. It is a naughty alternative to Frederic Malle's Lipstick Rose.

So far...no "mens" are falling at my feet.

But it is early...

Let us know your favorite "man catcher" scents in the comments.

Disclosure: This decant was a gift from Tbone ions ago....

Do you love me, do you, Surfer Girl?

Essence Cosmetics “Surfer Babe” Collection
Review by Jessica M

Essence Cosmetics, the German makeup brand that recently launched in the United States, recently brought out its summer collection. It's a limited edition line called Surfer Babe, and it promises “that sun-kissed laid-back surfer look---carefree and casual.” Well, I avoid the sun and I don’t even like to swim, so you’ll never see me on a surfboard, but I can still appreciate some of the products in this line.

The Eyeshadow Palette in Surfer's Kit, for example, is on-trend and versatile ($2.99). I like the pale matte lilac as an overall wash shade, and the frosty white as a highlight on the browbone. The purple and orange shades have high-octane shimmer when applied with a sponge applicator, but a fluffy shadow brush sheers them out and makes them useful as day-to-night layers over a more basic eye shadow. The deep shimmery charcoal would make a good smokey liner.

Surfer Babe Refreshing Lip Gloss ($1.99) is like an affordable little sister to Lancome’s Juicy Tubes. Once applied, the gloss formula has medium shimmer, high shine, and a cool, tingly feeling. These shades complement the eye shadows: The World’s Coolest is a light aqua in the tube, Hang Loose is lavender, and Tube Rider is orange. They have less visible pigment when worn, so that they add just a hint of color.

I’ve raved before about Essence’s high-quality, budget-friendly nail polishes. Surfer Girl Nail Polish ($1.99) is a color family with four shades. I’m especially happy with Surferama (a punchy berry crreme) and Hang Loose (lavender creme); both applied smoothly and gave complete coverage in two coats, and they lasted well. World’s Coolest (light aqua with light shimmer) felt a bit thicker and harder to work with, and I haven’t tried Pointbreak yet (medium gray creme), but I love its name. Surf’s up!

Essence Cosmetics’ Surfer Babe collection will be available from June through August at Ulta stores nationwide. It also includes waterproof liquid eyeliner, an eyeliner pen, and powder blusher.

Title: Lyric by The Beach Boys
Images: Cover of Gidget by Frederick Kohner; all product photos by Jessica M
Disclosure: Press samples were provided by Essence Cosmetics

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For June 27th through July 3rd 2010

Rite Aid

Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip or eye cosmetics with Rite Aid card
N.Y.C: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with Rite Aid card
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on nail enamel and nail art pens with Rite Aid card
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, powder, blush, concealer or bronzers with Rite Aid card
Almay: $1 single check rebate on all eye cosmetics with Rite Aid card
Dove: 2 for $6 on shampoo, conditioner or stylers with Rite Aid card
Olay: Definity skin care is priced at $17.99 with Rite Aid card

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Exact Eyelights mascara, Lash Exact mascara, Line Exact Eye Liner & Eyelights eye shadow
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Target

Sally Hansen: Complete Salon Manicure Shell We Dance,Commander in Chic and other assorted colors are priced at $6.49
Neutrogena: 5 oz SPF 45 body mist spray or 3 oz SPF 55 Ultra Sheer cream is priced at $7 each

Walgreens

Aveeno: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on sun care
Wet n' wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
RoC: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skincare
Olay: 15% off ProX products
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics, facial moisturizing treatment or cleansers
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Kmart

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye cosmetics
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on face,eye, or nail cosmetics
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

CVS

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
Maybelline: Spend $10 and get extra $3 CVS bucks when you purchase these Maybellne mascaras---Falsies Volum'mascara on sale for $6 and Great Lash on sale for $4 with CVS card
L'Oreal: $5 on all L'Oreal Colour Riche lip color or lip liner with CVS card
$6 on all L'Oreal eye shadow with CVS card
$7 on L'Oreal Infallible lip gloss with CVS card
$9 on Infallible Stars or Never Fail lipcolor with CVS card
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card

The Surfer Moon

My newest obsession is Nude Beach from Bare Escentuals.

Nude Beach is a blend of minerals and Preservative-free. For all the shimmery goodness, it never irritates or "goops up" my eyes.

Nude Beach is a glimmery light sand color. I think it scews slightly cool instead of warm. It leaves just a light wash of concrete color and shimmer. The staying power is fair. It lasts well throughout my air conditioned day. Exposure to full heat provides mixed results without an eye primer.

It retails for $13. It is available at http://bareescentuals.com/.



Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bare Escentuals
Title: The Beach Boys via Surfer Girl

Dog Days of Summer

The Lancôme Boutique in NYC’s Upper West Side is kicking off the summer with “The Paws for Beauty” event tomorrow, Saturday, June 19th. Chat with a Lancôme makeup artist while your pup snacks on gourmet goodies. Listen in as dog trainer extraordinaire Andrea Arden shares her tips for caring for a pet through the hot summer months. Even our own Miss Juicy Tubes, Lancôme’s Mollie Winerock, will be there with her adorable Yorkie, Lucy.

Lucy is an adorable pixie!

10% of the total sales during this event will be donated to the Humane Society of New York.

Shanghai Surprise

Chanel's Noir Et Or Paris-Shanghai Makeup Collection

Peter Phillips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, created an exclusive collection Noir Et Or. The collection was inspired by Shanghai in the 30's and 40's. The twist is the Coco Chanel was never able to visit the east. However, her apartment is filled with objects of art from the Orient. You can see where Mr Phillips sought inspiration for this pre-fall makeup collection.

The black and gold cosmetics perfectly reflect the gilded walls and ebony statues.

Ligne et Ombre de Chanel in Jet-Gold

This duo palette features a matte black liner and a sparkling soft gold eyeshadow. The gold is warm and avoids any brassy undertones.
The palette retails for $45.

There are three nail polishes. One is a matte black called Black Velvet. It retails for $25 and quickly sold out online. (BTW: It has been restocked!)
The other nail lacquers are golds.

Le Vernis Nail Colour in Gold Lame is a creamy, satin gold nail shade. It retails for $25.

Le Vernis Nail Colour in Illusion d'Or is a transparent, sparkling gold filled with shimmer chunks. This packs a serious glimmer punch. Carla from Product Girl successfully layered Black Velvet with Illusion. The shimmer fire was blinding. It retails for $25 and is a "must have".

I layered the gold nail polishes.

I thought it was a fetching nail combination. Very light and summer appropriate. The shimmer caught the sunlight. It survived well throughout the week. The picture below was taken an hour before a new manicure. There was slight wear and tear near the tips.


The products are available online at http://www.chanel.com/ for purchase. This collection never made it to my local Macys store. If you have seen this collection in stores...please let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided by Chanel
Credits: Blogdorf Goodman and Chanel PR