Estee Lauder Introduces the Blacker Than Black Collection

For a limited time this December, Estee Lauder is taking all their mascaras and offering them in the deepest jet black available.

To get this blackest of the black, Estee Lauder's scientists maximized color intensity and opacity by using  select Carbon Black and Black Iron Oxides and placing the pigment through an ultrasonic process. Because the mascara is so concentrated, it creates a contrast that defines and frames the eyes with a dramatic end result.

Here is the breakdown on all the mascaras in the collection:

• Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Blacker Black offers dramatic length, and sensationally long wear in one effortless stroke and won't budge, smudge, smear, or flake for upu to 15 hours.
• MagnaScopic Maximum Volume Mascara in Black transforms lashes with dramatic volume, making them appear extravagantly full for a powerfully eye-opening effect.
• More Than Mascara Moisture Binding Formula in More Black features a moisture-binding formula that conditions lashes as it defines and seperates them for a look that's smoother, fuller, and longer.
• Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara in Jet Black envelops each individual lash with high volume and exceptionally sharp definition for a sleek, striking look.
• Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Bold Black turns even your sparsest lashes into daringly full, lavishly lifted lashes without the clumping, spiking or weight normally associated with volumizing mascaras.
• TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara in Turbo Black combines an innovative formula and brush design to penetrate deep into the lash bed and comb through lashes more quickly and effectively, delivering all effects - volume, length, definition, seperation, and curl - in one tube.

And if you needed another reason to visit your Estee Lauder counter, check out this Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Black Smoke, with four shades to help you create that perfect smoky eye for the holidays.

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Too Faced Makes it Easy to Create Smoky Eyes

Creating a smoky eye is probably one of the requests I hear most often. Everyone wants to know how to do it well, without being over the top. Creating smoke really isn't that hard, and Too Faced has made it even easier with their Smoky Eye Kit.

Included are printed instructions for three different looks: day smoke, fashion smoke, and classic smoke. Day smoke is made up of neutrals, fashion smoke is bright shades of blue and green with a neutral all over lid color, and cassic smoke is your typical gray background with a matte black and a micro-glitter black shade.

Too Faced makes brilliant shadows - they have always been super easy to use, heavily pigmented, and the colors are bright; this palette is no exception. All the looks are easy to create and turn out wonderfully - I only took this palette with me when I attended New York Fashion Week in September. It was just that versatile!

If you're looking for ways to incorporate more smoky eyes into your daily looks, you will not be disappointed with Too Faced's Smoky Eye Kit. Also makes a great gift for that one girlfriend you have who would look so good with a bit of color on her eyes, but who doesn't have the confidence to pull it off.

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I Love Products That Come With Instructions

I was browsing around today thinking about how I was doing quite a bit of traveling lately, and avoiding checking bags. I think it's pretty absurd to check a bag every time I get on an airplane, so I've gotten into the habit of rolling and folding everything down into the smallest possible square that I can, and only taking exactly what I need to get through a trip. Ordinarily, I'd just throw everything and the kitchen sink in there, thinking that it's always best to have too much.

At any rate, I'm wandering through and I came across this great little kit. Now, I love me some palettes. They are so easy to travel with, and if I can find one with just about everything in it, I'm thrilled. But eye palettes are especially valuable because I don't have to pack all my eyeshadow singles. But the best part about the Smoky Eye Kit by Too Faced are the three instruction cards they throw in there.

There are three looks: Day Smoke, Fashion Smoke, and Classic Smoke. The day smoke shades are primarily neutral. I've swatched them for you:

There really are three shades there, it's just that one almost exactly matches my skin tone. Nifty!

Fashion smoke isn't breaking any new ground, but it combines blue, green, and taupe. Might want to follow instructions carefully here if you don't want to look like someone punched you in the eye:

Again, nothing shocking, but really quite pretty.

Finally, classic smoke is your gray and black colors.

There are two shades of black here - one is more matte, one has shimmer.

The benefit to this kit is ease of travel. I'm thinking of taking mine with me to NYFW and calling it good in terms of eye makeup. I'd pretty much have everything I need. Except my mascara. The other benefit is the instruction cards. They aren't incredibly detailed, but they give you a direction in which to go. Plus pictures, which is handy.

Grab yours at Ulta for $34.00.

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Pat McGrath Makes a Fantastic Look for Max Factor

Pat McGrath is a world-famous makeup artist, and is currently the Global Color Cosmetics Creative Design Director for Proctor and Gamble. She consistently puts out some amazing looks for the brands, including Cover Girl and Max Factor. This time, she created this look for Max Factor and their new spokesmodel, Giselle Bundchen. As we all know, the smokey eye comes back big in the fall and winter, and this one is just a touch outside of the traditional smokey eye, enough to really make those eyes pop.

Here is what she used:

• Blend the violet shade from Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo in Sultry Sage around the eyes, extending the color at the outer edge.
• Highlight the inner eye corners and brow bone with White Frost from Domino Effect Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo.
• Groom brows with No Color Mascara.
• Define lashes with Stretch & Separate Mascara in Rich Black.

I think it's the white shade in the middle of the eyelid that makes it unique. Positioned right where the light hits, it's almost a highlighting shade that breaks up the darker shades that make up the rest of the eye.

What do you think? Will you try it?

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