Mascara

Paris In Springtime: Fafi for MAC

Posted on February 13, 2008 by daneen in Blush, Eye Liner, Eye Shadow, Lipgloss, Lipstick, Makeup Brush, Makeup Case, Mascara, Nail Polish, Powder | Leave a comment

New from MAC is the Fafi Color Collection – now available at MAC stores and counters everywhere.

Inspired by the graphic expression of French graffiti artist Fafi, this hip Spring collection includes is filled with bold, empowering hues, unapologetically girly lip shades of pearly pinks and tangerine reds, iridescent powder, brown, blue and green Paint Pots and Quads, and whimsical cosmetic accessories.

“We had the idea on a shoot to capture the spirit of a young woman having fun playing — with clothes, technology, fashion,” said James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC Cosmetics worldwide. “We were inspired by Japanese anime, and as we researched the movement, we discovered Fafi. We asked if she would collaborate with us on a photo concept, and the creation began from there.”

LIPSTICK
Fun ‘n’ Sexy: Blue pink with blue pearl (glaze)
Not So Innocent: Sheer tan with pink and peach pearl (glaze)
Utterly Frivolous: Rosy coral with pink pearl (lustre)
High Top: Grey purple with blue pearl (glaze)
Flash-n-Dash: Intense tangerine red with pink pearl (glaze)
Strawbaby: Coral rose with rainbow pearl (lustre)

LIPGLASS
Cult Fave: Blue mid-tone pink with white pearl (frost)
Sugar Trance: Creamy soft pink with white and rainbow pearl (frost)
Squeeze It: Brassy plum (frost)
Totally It: Sheer bright pink with intense pink pearl (frost)

EYE SHADOW X4 – Fafi Eyes 1
Howzat: Deep grey with silver sparkle (satin)
Hey: Neutral tan with white pearl (veluxe pearl)
Pink Venus: Washed pink (lustre)
Vanilla: Soft pale-peachy-ivory flecked with shimmer (velvet)

EYE SHADOW X 4 – Fafi Eyes 2
Bold as Gold: Yellow gold with gold pearl (lustre)
You’re Fresh: Pale green with silver sparkle (lustre)
Shockwave: Intense orange with silver sparkle (velvet)
Prankster: Muted dark blue (satin)

PAINT POT
Nice: Vice Dirty purple with purple pearl (frost)
Girl Friendly: Creamy grey pink (cream)
Layin’ Low: Creamy beige (cream)
Cash Flow: Green gold with gold pearl (frost)
Perky: Cream coral with white pearl (satin)
Rollickin’: Aqua blue green with white pearl (frost)

FLUIDLINE
Blacktrack: Solid flat black

EYE KOHL
Smolder: Intense black
Fascinating: Snake-eyes matte white

ZOOM LASH
Zoomblack: Rich black

POWDER BLUSH
Hipness: Intense coral with soft white pearl
Fashion Frenzy: Mid-tone blue pink

IRIDESCENT PRESSED POWDER
Sassed-up: Soft coral pink with gold sparkle
Verve-acaious: Intense yellow gold with gold pearl
Belightful: Gilded peach bronze

NAIL LACQUER
Girls Will Be Girls: Pink with coral pearl
Boom!: Rich eggplant with purple pearl

BRUSHES
210 Precise Eye Liner: Firm, extra-fine tip brush for precision lining with emollient or water-based products.
129SH Powder/Blush (with decorated pouch): Soft natural fluffed dome Brush for application of powder products on cheeks and face. In a special decorated Fafi-themed pouch.
208 Angled Brow Brush: Firm, angled tip Brush for precision application of brow and eye-lining product.
182 Buffer Brush: Ultra-soft, large, rounded dome tip Brush for use with powder face and cheek product.

BAGS
Rectangle MAC/Small/Clearly Fafi
Rectangle MAC/Mini/Clearly Fafi
MAC Tote/Clearly Fafi

Fashion Week Part IV: Coffee Talk With Samara

Posted on February 6, 2008 by daneen in Fashion Week, Handbags, Mascara | 3 Comments

Following my rendezvous with Nigel Barker, I hailed a cab and was off again. This time, I was headed to meet my friend, Samara, for some mid-day caffeine. Samara reps brands such as CoverGirl, Max Factor, and Head & Shoulders; she is so generous with samples for me to try, and keeps me in the know about new product releases and cosmetic trends.

The coffee shop where we had intended to meet was – for some odd reason – closed at 4pm on Saturday. So we walked to a nearby Starbucks that, unfortunately, didn’t have seating. Luckily, there seem to be a coffee joint on every other corner in NYC – so we settled on a Cosi.

Samara and I had never actually met before…we have just corresponded via email. But I immediately found her to be so warm and friendly that it was like we were old friends. We chatted about the New York Times article, gushed about our mutual love for CoverGirl’s Lash Blast Mascara, and threw around some ideas for a kick-arse giveaway (coming up soon).

Here’s Samara and I playing candid camera outside of Cosi. Don’t ya just love my bag? When my husband first saw it, he exclaimed, “Daneen, it’s bigger than you are!”

True, but when you’re rushing between runway shows, meetings, and social events, there are two things to remember: cute (but comfortable) shoes, and a spacious shoulder bag. This one, the Budapest Slouchy from My Flat In London, easily lugged all of my stuff – and still had plenty of room for all of the press kits and product samples I acquired along the way.

Plus, when you’re rubbing elbows with fashionistas all day, you’d better dress to impress – and that extends to your handbag.

All Purpose Powder

Posted on January 31, 2008 by daneen in Blush, Eye Liner, Eye Shadow, Lip Balm, Lipgloss, Mascara, Nail Polish, Powder | 1 Comment

Don’t ya just love when a product does double beauty duty? Me too. That’s why I was so excited to get my hands on Glamo-Glitz by Scarlett Cosmetics.

Glamo-Glitz is a one-of-a-kind product that can be used in seven different ways! These mineral-based loose cosmetic dusts are multi-functional, and are used on eyes, cheeks, lips, body, highlighting and even for mascara. Here’s how it works…

Eye Shadow: Use wet or dry and sweep lightly or dramatically over lid.

Eye Liner: Dip an eyelining brush into water and then into Glamo-Glitz, and sweep along lash line. The ones with glitter look fabulous this way!

Lips: Put petroleum jelly on lips then mix one part water with two parts Glamo-Glitz and dab onto lips.

Mascara: Mix two parts water with one part Glamo-Glitz and put onto lashes with a disposable mascara wand. Need a shocking teal mascara but can’t find it? No problem, make one from your Glamo-Glitz. Do not wear glitter formulas if you have contact lenses, though.

Cheeks: Dip a blush brush into your Glamo-Glitz and swep onto cheeks.

Decollete: Get a big, fat brush and brush over this area – as well as shoulders. Very sexy!

Nail Polish: Adding your choice of Glamo-Glitz color to clear nail polish can make a custom color. It blends smoothly so you don’t have to worry about clumps and the nail polish not drying. Try mixing one that has glitter in it!

In the photo, you can see a few of my favorite Glamo-Glitz shades (from top to bottom – Gypsy, Mombasa, and Pop Star). I wet the powders so that they would photograph more vividly; but please note that they also can be used for a sheer wash of color. That’s why they’re so great – because they’re all-purpose!

Scarlett Cosmetics are sold by select retailers in the U.S., U.K., and Hong Kong. But no matter where you’re from, you can live the Glamo-Glitz life by visiting scarlettcos.com.

America The Beautiful

Posted on January 30, 2008 by daneen in Eye Liner, Eye Shadow, Lip Pencil, Lipgloss, Mascara | 1 Comment

Lancôme read about how I adored America Ferrera’s SAG look…so they sent me her red-carpet makeup recipe.

Celebrity makeup artist, Vanessa Scali used the following Lancôme products on America for the awards:

Eyes
Color Design Artist Palettes in Couture Warms and Stylish Neutrals
Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir
CILS Booster XL (super-enhancing mascara base)
High Definicils High Definition Mascara

Lips
Le Lipstique in Rasinberry
Color Fever Gloss in On Fire

Eye Contact: Le 2 De Guerlain Mascara

Posted on January 18, 2008 by daneen in Mascara | Leave a comment

From Women’s Wear Daily:

Guerlain is aiming to boost its U.S. color cosmetics business with Le 2 de Guerlain, a $35 mascara featuring two brushes; it will launch here in March and globally in April. The high-tech formula is powered by space-age polymers and custom-designed brushes.

In the U.S., it will be available in about 300 specialty store doors and could do $3 million in sales in its first year on counter.

The Bluest Eye

Posted on January 15, 2008 by daneen in Eye Liner, Mascara | Leave a comment

This past weekend, I traveled to my parents’ house to spend some quality with the fam. My sister, who is still at home on ‘winter break’ from college (remember those days?) was rocking the most amazing eye makeup eva – and I couldn’t stop staring. Finally, I asked what she was wearing – and she produced a brand-new Sephora bag with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Deviant and Sephora Waterproof Mascara in Blue 02.

She was gracious enough to let me test them out; and I was so amazed by how beautifully bright my eyes looked that – at 7:30pm – I ran out to Sephora to buy my own.

Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Pencil is a creamy liner that effortlessly glides over your lid. The color is blendable for the first 30 seconds, then dries to a long-lasting finish that lasts all day and all night. Available in twelve shades, these pencils can be used for a hint of color – or more liberally, for a theatrical effect.

Sephora Waterproof Mascara is perfect for mascara lovers who hate smudges and smears. It’s a little on the dry side, but I can’t deny how it makes my eyes POP when paired with the aforementioned liner. Plus, it’s only $10 – so you can justify buying vibrant turquoise mascara.

An Amazing Discovery

Posted on January 4, 2008 by daneen in Blush, Eye Shadow, Holy Grail, Lip Plumper, Mascara | 1 Comment

If you’ve never dabbled in DuWop before, get thee to Sephora and pick up the Discovery Kit, a set of five DuWop makeup must-haves. The kit includes a full size version of Lip Venom – as well as miniature versions of Amber Eyes (an eyeshadow palette with a base amber shade, a deeper version, and a cream liner), Blush Therapy in Hug, Venom Gloss in Lantana, and Lash Lacquer mascara in Carbon Black. The products are packaged in the cutest reusable train case.

Cult favorite Lip Venom has been named the best lip plumper by Sephora, Good Housekeeping, and Elle – but to be honest, it’s a bit too aggressive for my liking. Then again, I have sensitive skin and I don’t need much enhancement in that area.

My personal fav of the bunch is another award winner, Blush Therapy. After only using it once, it became my #1 cheek color choice. The cream glides on like a gel, but dries to a sheer velvety powder. It blends effortlessly and the finished result more closely resembles a natural flush than shiny gel stains or regular powder blush. And to top it all off, literally, it has aromatherapy oils built into the cap.

Blush Therapy’s latest award is a spot on my Best of Beauty 2007 list. It was also one of the products I used to achieve my New Year’s Eve look. On my next trip to Sephora, I definitely plan to purchase in at least two more colors.