Estee Lauder Releases Love Your Lips Collection in Time for Valentines Day

This special limited edition collection of 12 Signature Hydra Luster lipsticks and four new Kissable Lip Gloss shades will be available in February at Estee Lauder counters and online as well.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, thes lipstick feature a special LOVE stamp on each bullet and the glosses have the same unique design on each vial.

The Signature Lipstick is available in the following shades:

• Lustrous Pink
• Lush Rose
• Cherry Kiss (New for this collection)
• Perfect Pink
• Pink Kiss (New for this collection)
• Radiant Wine
• Rich Berry
• Chelsea Rose
• Radiant Rose
• Coral Kiss (New to this collection)
• Portofino Coral
• Spanish Red

The Kissable Lip Gloss is designed to give you a sheer wash of color on it's own, or you can layer it over the Signature Lipstick for extra shine and is available in four new colors:

• Sweet Kiss
• Cherry Kiss
• Pink Kiss
• Coral Kiss

The Signature Lipstick retails for $19.50, and the Kissable Lip Gloss retails for $18.

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NARS Spring 2010 Collection

The collection was inspired by Catherine Deneuve's role in Lucille in La Chamade:

Mr. Nars was going for shades that were as versatile as they were sexy, and Ms. Deneuve provided some beautiful inspiration.

And without further ado, here is the collection:

Duo Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpar: gold-infused rose with boysenberry

Duo Cream Eyeshadow in Camargue: golden moss and sienna

Single Eyeshadow in D. Gorgeous: dusty lilac

Lipstick in Crusing: neutral pink

Nail Polish in Purple Rain: intensely gothic purple

Glitter Pencil in Bains Douches: sky blue infused with silver glitter

Lip Gloss in Ophelia: high shine strawberry

Lip Gloss in Easy Lover: springtime fuschia

So, anything that you're wanting to get your hands on? I want to try Easy Lover and definitely the Purple Rain nail polish. That just looks gorgeous.

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Tom Ford Brings Me Pleasure Once Again

Tom Ford is my make-believe boyfriend. Everything he does is just beyond stylish and there isn't anything better than a gorgeous older man in a Tom Ford suit. I'm just saying.

However, this isn't about my obsession with Tom Ford the man. Clearly I have one, but this is about Tom Ford the fragrances. In 2007, Mr. Ford created his Private Blend Collection which included 12 fragrances. Several have been added since then, and all of them are extremely unique.

I don't have a Tom Ford beauty counter anywhere near me, so I was excited to visit the counter at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. All of the fragrances were amazing, but I had to make a choice, and I ended up choosing Champaca Absolute.

 

Champaca is a relative of the magnolia tree, which has never done much for me in terms of scent. Perhaps most magnolia scents I've smelled were artificial, I'm not sure. So I'm a little surprised that I would be so interested in a champaca note, but I'm not adverse to all grand florals, especially if they are sultry.

And this one definitely qualifes as sultry. In fact, the cognac note makes it wanton and drunken. It's like a perfectly well dressed woman who has just snuck away from a secret rendevous and didn't quite get her blouse situated perfectly. Which is exactly what I expect from Tom Ford - the man has managed to bring pure sex to the market, in my opinion.

The amber and sandalwood base lingers, and it's not overly sweet, which is a departure from most florals. This one just continues to deepen and grow more interesting as you wear it.

And I have other Tom Ford news: the man himself is releasing a line of lipsticks! No product photos yet, or even many details except that there will be 10 shades in the line, but I'm hoping one that will make me look like this:

 

Complete with the glasses, please. Thanks.

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Gift With Purchase from Marina Cosmetics

I've written about Marina Cosmetics before, and wanted to share this special offer with you before it expires. Purchase any Marina Hydrating Gloss for $22, and receive a full sized Sea Perfected Lipstick FREE. That is a gloss and a lipstick for $22. Can't beat that.

The best part about these products is that they offer UVA and UVB protection, which isn't something you find in many glosses or lipsticks, but is so important. Also, I'm told that if you use a Marina lip product for 56 days, you can see a 9% decrease in wrinkle depth to the lips.

Find them in salons near you or online at MarinaCosmetics.com.

Edited to Add: These discounts are available at the participating Beauty 360 locations only.

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MAC's Girl About Town Lipstick: My New Love and a New Dazzleglass

If you see me out and about this spring, chances are you are going to see me wearing this lipstick: it's MAC's Girl About Town. I paired it with their Magenta lip liner, and the two were made for each other.

I regret to say that I'm not sure if this is part of a collection or not - I simply saw it and knew that I needed to be wearing it. Since it was in with the regular lipsticks, I doubt it. But really, if you're down with the fuschia craze, this color is for you.

One of the current collections that I did purchase something from was Double Dazzle. I passed on the mascara (especially since the SA didn't have anything glowing to say about it), but I did buy Love Alert out of the collection. And guess what? It pairs beautifully with Girl About Town:Isn't it lovely? The glimmer particles don't really show up, but trust me, they are most certainly there. In fact, the Dazzle Glass line really reminds me of Chanel's Glossamer, with the benefit of being quite cheaper! Here is Love Alert on plain lips:
And it was more pigmented of the collection, so don't expect a lot of color there, but it really comes through with the glitter.

Grab all of them at MAC online or your local counter.

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Marina Cosmetics Creates Gorgeous Summer Shades for Your LIps

Gorgeous browns, neturals and bronzes are always popular for summer. I know I tend to go towards shimmering neutrals with a touch of blue in them on my eyes, peachier blushes, and always neutral, shimmery lips. I guess I'm wanting to match that mythical tan that I never have, but those shades always scream "summer!" to me.

I had the opportunity to try some absolutely gorgeous lipsticks and lipglosses from Marina Cosmetics, all of them inspired by the colors of the seashore. The lip gloss above is called Manila Mango, and is my absolute favorite. It's a heavily pigmented gloss, which is super hard to find, and it goes on without being gummy or sticky.

That could be because of the ingredients. Marina Cosmetics uses all natural ingredients from the sea. Two marine-based ingredients are at the heart of every formulation: Antileukine 6 (derived from golden seaweed) and nutrient-rich sea kelp. Anteleukine 6 is Ecocert certified and offers the best in lip-defense, acting to boost hydration, promote firmness and smoothness, and aid in decreasing wrinkle depth. In addition, it also helps to stimulate collagen synthesis, block inflammation, and prevent damage due to sun exposure. Organic sea kelp, which is high in silicon, offers vitamins and minerals to the lips, while helping to restore firmness and tone, prevent wrinkles, and promote softer, smoother, younger looking lips. Other ingredients include Buriti Oil, certified organic Jojoba oil, certified organic sunflower oil, as well as vitamin C and E.

Marina Cosmetics are available online. Lipsticks retail at $20.00 and lip glosses retail for $22.00. I can't recommend them enough - they are gorgeous shades, last a long time, feel fantastic on the lips, and are eco-friendly.

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Product Review: Max Factor Vivid Impact Lip Color

I had the opportunity to try out the Max Factor Vivid Impact lip color recently, and now I must rave.

I've gotten a bit disenchanted with drugstore brand lipsticks recently, because it seems as if I am forever layering it and trying to get the level of pigmentation that I am used to with my MAC lipsticks. While it may not be fair to compare lower end brands with MAC, I'm always looking for a bargain, and in the Max Factor Vivid Impact I think I've found it.

I tried #28, Rose Rage. It's a nice mauve, nothing terribly special, and not really something that I would have picked out myself. However, that being said, I've discovered that it makes a really great everyday lipstick, one that works perfect with a nude or natural face. Putting it on is very easy - it glides right on and provides lots of moisture. In fact, it feels similar to one of my favorite lip balms that I'm putting on all the time! I'm not used to lipstick that gives that much hydration, so that is a bonus. Plus, the color is beautiful, pigmented, and lasts for quite some time. While I wouldn't classify this lipstick as long-wearing, I figure if I'm going to be putting lip balm on all the time, it wouldn't hurt to put a nice color on instead.

Here is a quick photo of me rocking the Rose Rage:


While I can't find any Max Factor products in my area, I'm told that you can find it at Ulta and CVS. They retail for about $9, which is well worth it.

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Love Lip Stains? Try Pixi Lip Blush

I'm on a Target rant lately, aren't I? The truth is, I bought Pixi Lip Blush and stuck it in my cosmetic bag only to completely forget about it for almost four months.

That is really awful, isn't it? I know. Believe me, I know. Clearly I have too much.

However, the good news is that I was cleaning out my cosmetic bag with the idea that I needed to really go through and make an effort to use what I already owned, instead of giving in to the temptation to buy more. And by doing that, I rediscovered what is probably the best lip stain I have ever used.

What makes Pixi Lip Blush different is the applicator. It's like a felt-tip marker and it goes on easily and without much hassle. My second-favorite is my Revlon's Just Bitten and it has a roller ball which can make application a touch sloppy.

The stain is true, and lasts well over six hours, according to my lips. I kept a gloss over the top of it most of the day, and I did not have to reapply during my entire shift at work. Bonus!

You know I have to point out a downside, because really, nothing is perfect. The bummer here is that this little baby is going to set you back about $18. Sorry about that. Good news? It lasts forever, you'll love it, and if you're a lip stain fan, you'll be raving over it too.

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Have You Heard About Too Faced's Lip of Luxury?

While I've tried lots of Too Faced eye shadow combos (and loved them all), I only just recently found out about their lip product called Lip Of Luxury.

This formula contains shea butter and claims to help smooth out fine lines in and around the lips. The neat thing about it? It has fizzy and tasty champagne essences in it.

Comes in eight gorgeous shades, from shimmer to matte, so there is something for everyone.

Have you tried it? Is it really fabulous? I haven't seen it in my local Sephora, but I'll be looking for it.

Too Faced Lip Of Luxury, $18.

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Product Review: Sephora Brand Lip Last

If you haven't noticed, Sephora is rolling out their own line of professional-type tools, designed to help make your products last longer. I think most of the Sephora brand items are pretty good, especially given the price point, so I was excited to grab the Sephora Brand Lip Last. I'm always looking for something to make my lipstick last a bit longer.

The Sephora Brand Lip Last works pretty well. I'd say it keeps my lipstick on about twice as long as it would usually stay, but not as long as a lip stain would last. The downside? It's really drying on the lips. In fact, when you apply it with the brush, it smells like straight up alcohol. I'm assuming that by drying the lipstick out, it enables it to last longer than usual. But it dries out your lips too! Putting a gloss on once the product has dried may be an option, but then I notice the lipstick not lasting as long.

Bottom line? Works great, for what it's supposed to do. However, if your lips are already dry, I'd avoid this one like the plague.

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Loving Bright Lipstick? Allure Names YSL's Rouge Volupte- #10 Provocative Pink Best Bright Lipstick

And it's easy to see why! That is some seriously bright fuschia. And that tube is a work of art all in and of itself. Here is how it's described by YSL:

"A cream texture that becomes fluid on contact with your lips and nourishes them throughout the day while its colorshine complex magnifies the colour that comes in 18 shades. And its elegant golden case with YSL signature makes it a real jewel in your purse."

And you know what else? Use your super beauty-girl sense and create a piece of art inspired by the lipstick, and win a trip to NYC! Enter now for your chance to win.

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MAC's Dark Lips Look

How much do I love this lip look? It's dark and vampy without being over the top. Okay, the glitter might be over the top, but at least it's not pure black, right?

Here is what MAC used to get the look:

• Lip Pencil in Nightmoth
• Lipstick in Dark Side (love this one - I bought it last year and wore it all winter long)
• Glitter in Reflects Rust
• LipGlass in Clear

Perfect for your next night out!

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Lipstick Porn: Urban Decay Lipstick in Jilted

If you have not checked out the Urban Decay Lipstick line by now, what on earth are you waiting for? I picked up my second shade on Monday, and I can't stop talking about it. This one is Jilted, and it's a blue-based fuschia that is so incredibly vibrant even I can't stop looking at my lips when I have it on.

You can't see it very well here, but I love how Urban Decay stamps their company name on the actual lipstick at the bottom. Combined with the dagger packaging, it's just fantastic.

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It's Quite Possible That I Love Everything in Urban Decay's Line

My recent trip to Sephora was obviously all about new lip products for the fall. Of course, Sephora had just sent out their new magazine, and I was just all about the dark lip look that was all over it.

Now, we really do have a nice Sephora store here at Lynnhaven Mall in beautiful Virginia Beach, but it doesn't exactly have the newest of everything. So I didn't go in expecting to see most of what was in the catalog actually in the store, but I had a few pleasant surprises.

The best find of all was new line of lipsticks from Urban Decay. Oh, wow. It was so hard to just choose one.

The packaging is extremely cute, and exactly what you'd expect out of Urban Decay. You actually pull the tube of lipstick out by using the dagger handle located on the bottom. The tube itself is a metallic purple, and is slightly larger than your typical lipstick tube. It goes on almost effortlessly, and is heavily pigmented, even for a shade that they described as a sheer, which I love. On my hand above is Gash, a cream red sheer, which is obviously the color I ended up taking home. It's deep and rich without being overmuch.

The surprise? It smells vaguely of caramel. And normally you know I can't stand smelling like candy. Tropical florals, yes. Tom Ford's Black Orchid, absolutely. But no food. However, this wasn't over the top and it didn't bother me at all. In fact, the moment after it registered, it was gone. Very intriguing.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with this lipstick. It's very luxe and has excellent lasting power. I ran around my house with it on all night - I easily got six hours of good solid wear out of one application. I'm sure the guy checking me out at 7-11 last night must have thought I was crazy: my NY heart ME pink t-shirt, floral pajama pants, hair in a ratty bun, and Urban Decay's Gash lipstick on. Hey, it's hard work being glamorous all the time.

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Finally! A Drugstore Brand I Like

I was hanging out in Rite Aid the other day waiting for my prescriptions to be refilled, and thought I would check out the latest offerings from the drugstore beauty brands. I had heard a lot about L'Oreal's Infallible Lipstick, most of it quite good, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I picked Teaberry, thinking it would be a nice light summer color. The directions state to apply the color, wait for it to dry for two minutes, then apply the gloss. Easy enough. After following the directions, I settled in to wait and see how long it would actually last.

Eight hours later, it was still there, and looking quite good. It had gone through one caramel macchiato, one espresso shot (no comments about my coffee habit, please), one lunch of miso soup, three glasses of water, and a full day of work. I did touch up the gloss about midway through my day, but only because my lips were feeling dry, and I have a habit of always glossing my lips.

I am seriously impressed with this product. It lasted even longer than my Revlon, my MAC, and most of my lip stains. My only complaint is that the gloss smells like some sort of horrible cotton candy from circuses of my childhood, but that's a small price to pay for this kind of lasting color, and I don't imagine you have to use the included gloss if it grosses you out too much.

I will be going back for some other shades.

Photo via ulta.com, which has this product on sale for $8.99!

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MAC Stylistics

I was hanging around the MAC counter recently while a friend of mine got some awesome smokey eyes done (huge shout out to the MAC folks at Saks on 5th in NYC) and stumbled upon the Stylistics collection. Usually I don't pay much attention to the new MAC offerings, because I always feel like they are just slightly out of my league. I have no idea what to do with all those pigments and powders - give me my makeup cleanly labeled and in palette form, thanks. Anyway, I did find a few things that I simply must have.

First up, the most flattering lipstick I have ever put on my lips. Called "The Scene," MAC describes it like this:

An exceptionally rich lipstick that glides on with ease to a creamy, sophisticated shine. Lips feel soft, look rich and lustrous. Provides medium-buildable to full coverage with a satiny shine. To enhance and add dimension, pair with The Stylistics Lipglass. Features the exclusive detail of The Stylistics collection, a square black metal Lipstick case embellished with pearl detail. Limited edition.

Love it. Love the case it comes in. Love everything about it. Of course, they were out, and I don't actually own it.

Next up, Sheerspark Pressed Powder in Solitare. Gorgeous! This iridescent pressed powder is beige with a gold tint. Makes for an excellent highlighter, and helps give skin a nice, dewy finish. Great for evenings out. And the compact it comes in is gorgeous too - like the rest of the collection, it's black with clear and black pearl details. How sophisticated will you look pulling that out and touching up? MAC always has the best face powder.




I have to admit that I've never even smelled any of MAC's perfume lines. They were just not the counter I'd go to when thinking of perfume. But Air of Style is different. First, check out the bottle. Fabulous. MAC describes this scent as:

Warm, intoxicating, sensual…A baroque blend of white pepper, dates, tuberose, orange flower, jasmine, precious woods, leather, vetiver and amber crystals sumptuously overlaid with the opulence of ylang ylang and orris. A rich, ravishing, fusion of dark, light, feminine and masculine, this exclusive scent comes with a glass perfume vial designed by M·A·C and hand-blown by Seguso.

Sign me up for anything with tuberose, amber, and ylang ylang. This is definitely on my wish list.
And last, how about a gorgeous clutch to keep it all in? Yes, please!

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Proenza Pink Lipstick by Lancome

Yeah, I'm coming in late on this one. Frankly, I'm surprised that anyone actually LIKED this lipstick to begin with - it's lighter than bubblegum pink. I mean, frankly, it's completely unwearable. It was created specifically for Proenza's show and like most everything you see in fashion shows, it's not wearable by the majority of the public. But surely no one sees these shows and thinks that they are seeing anything other than art, right? Well, apparently consumers have snapped up this hideous lipstick and are even paying super high prices for it on eBay. My question is, why? Why on earth would anyone think that this lipstick is meant for daily use? It's hideously ugly. Oh, I'm sure it was perfect in a fashion show setting, but real life? I don't think it's going to look good on anyone, unless they are deathly pale, white-blond, and totally into that "ghastly" look. Anyway, the NY Times had a piece on this which I added to my del.icio.us over to the left. Take a look and see what you think.

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Revlon Limited Edition Just Bitten Lip Stain

Oh, Just Bitten, how much do I love you? More than my Urban Decay Lip Envy. More than my MAC lipstain. So that is a great deal, indeed. First, I am a lover of lipstains. I prefer to put a nice stain on my lips once or twice during the day, and just touch up my gloss. This is because I tend to forget that I'm even wearing a lip product that requires attention at all, and my lips will go bare if they aren't touched with stain. I love the Cherry color, because it does indeed look as if you've been eating a ripe, red, juicy cherry and just didn't care to wipe your lips off. Color is deep and true, and lasts almost 4 hours on me. Only drawback is that once it starts to fade, you must touch up or else you look as if you lined your lips and forgot to fill in with your lipstick. One of the best Revlon products that I've ever tried - I just hope this one will be around in some form in the future. Otherwise, I'm going to have to go stock up now.

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