Stila Jewel Collection New for the Hollidays

Sometime I wonder exactly how many brands are releasing makeup collection with Starry Night theme anyway. There is Sonia Kashuk, Lancome, Elegance, Chic Choc, Maquillage, Shu Uemura... Then from my Sephora window shopping Stila did it again, with their Jewel Eyeshadow Palette. ($32)
Copied straight from Sephora

- Rose Quartz (light pink with silver sparkle)
- Amethyst (grey eggplant with champagne sparkle)
- Black Diamond (black with silver sparkle)
- Golden Topaz (champagne shimmer with silver and gold sparkle)

They reminds me of surface of MAC solar bits (they look like loose shadow to me) but they didn't really mention the texture of the palette on the website. I do like the packaging as well but loose shadow are just not my thing.
Another interesting set would be the Jewel fullsized lip gloss trio ($32). Look at that deep purple with gold flecks. (I wonder how in the world is that supposed to be wearable consider Stila lip glaze are generally quite pigmented.)

Black Diamond Mascara ($24) - Yeah, the mascara comes in black and blue (but the blue one is still called "Black Diamond mascara") and they are swirled with crushed diamond. (No need to go Ohh & Ahh over it since diamond's price is exponentialy proportional to the weight/size, crushed diamond are practically worthless, as I have stated this for 100x on the blog)

Am I having a dejavu or this looks like a twin sister of a trio from All Doll'd Up Palette ? Actually there are 6 shades available and the other five are new (and boring colors I already have.)

Yumberry (that thing is deep purple-red and so yummy in real life) Crush Lips and Cheek Stain. I love Stila cherry crush but I sort of quit it after my second tube because buying a tube of 24 dollars cheek stain that would last less than a month is like flushing money down toilet.

P.S. They are all out-of-stock (probably not stocked yet) so don't bother getting your credit card out.

Revlon Passion Fusion Purple Quad

This is a review from 3 months ago but since purple would still take a big spot in the makeup trend, I guess it's not too late to post them up.

Instead of the usual black plastic compact, Revlon used a nickle metallic finished paint for this compact (which totally reminds me of Shiseido Maquillage) the special packaging makes the quad look quite expensive (consider it cost me $2.5) compared to all its drugstore neighbors. In fact, I thing the packaging is a lot more substantial looking that that of Sephora brand Too Faced. From left to right the Passion Fusion quad contains 2 seemly opaque eye color and 2 translucent lip/cheek color they are:

pale pink with a touch of golden beige- I think this color would be quite nice as a base as long as it doesn't contain too much silicone (with has a tendency to crease) but the color is rather sheer that it yields a sheer layer of duo chrome sheen even when I try to load it on. While it wouldn't hold any shadow as a base but it does give a slight brightening effect applied allover the lids.
Medium mauve with matching sheen- The shimmer/sheen is as delicate as the first one. The color pay off is also similar (rather poor) but I guess mauve isn't really the best color to be applied boldly as eyeshadow anyway.
Transparent Garnet- This lip/cheek color has a texture that reminds me of lipstick. While the color is quite opaque, it also seems to be quite light which makes perfect for staining lips. It gives me a sweet bright look that's quite wearable (Benefit Benetint usually turns fuchsia on me.) The color works equally well dotted on cheek as blush as well.

Deep Purple- This pan has the same texture and color as the red one. The color looks just like that Va Va Violet Lipstick but the texture is a lot easier to work with (Va va violet was impossible to build up as the new layer wipes of the previous one) Not only I can use it as a satin to created that slightly diseased purple lips look that is so popular in those fall 2009 runway (It doesn't look bad as long as you don't overkill) it would also show up fully layered on (not a flattering look on girls with big mouth, I have to say.) It actually doesn't hideous as a cheek stain because there are a bit of red in it and when it's rubbed in, there is just some very light flush (instead of monkey butt you get from pink blushers.)


Anyway, Shiseido Majolica Majorca (#88) and Shu Uemura (Asian Exclusive, I think...) have lilac shade blush and they are all supposed to look like a very light flush. Since purple have been quite hot for the pass few seasons, there might be more purple blush out in the spring, who knows?

Back to Revlon, overall this quad performs quite well. While the first 2 colors are sheer, at least to don't look boring or crease right away. The cheek/lip color are my favorite in the quad as the stain feels light, comfortable and are very natural looking. It would still be worth it (come on, the packaging looks expensive)even if you buy it at full price although sales go on all the time.

Mini Mascara Round Up

Here is a little mascara roundup since I haven't done one for more than a year. Some (one) of the review is not complete but I wanted to take nice picture for that and cellphone picture just doesn't make the cut.
Lancome Nasty Lash- Self explanatory title.

Maybelline XXL entensions double sided mascara- Worth it,the primer would work well with other mascara, worth buying if and only if it's less than 50 cents.

NARS Black Orchid - Zero clump, zero chips, (close to) zero length and zero volume. What do I even bother?

Physicians' Formula Plump Potion- Fiber free formula that lenghtens and thickens well. 10 dollars is way too much, wait for the 40% off sale. The winner of the bunch.

Anna Sui Super Black Mascara Full- Smells nice, works alright. Lenghtening one is better. (The tube is really cute and shiny though...)

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick, Nail Polish and Neutrogena Lip Gloss, Blush Bronzer Duo

I was trying to find a bottle of teal nail polish from Sally Hansen LE insta-dry line in Walgreen (as they are usually cheaper there) , while I didn't see that pretty teal polish, there are some new drugstore releases for spring 2010.

Rimmel just released Moisture Extreme Lipstick with SPF18 and Vitamin A,C, E. I liked the purple tube at first sight but it's really light and flimsy feeling.
The revamped the nail polish line (so the old ones are on clearance) with the lasting finish pro nail color line. At first I thought it was Sally Hansen as the bottle design just look like that that of Sally Hansen salon line.
Neutrogena Blush and Bronzer Duo. I do like the texture and color of Neutrogena powder blush but it gets on my nerve when the compact get scratched and look worn when the blush is 99% new...I don't babysit my blushes but this doesn't happen to those Benefit paper boxes.

New packaging (or new line) for Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Gloss. I don't really like Hayden Panettierre (not that I hate her) , She doesn't seems to be as approachable as Blake Lively or as glamorous as Scarlett Johansson (when she was still blonde.)

Spring 2010 Makeup Trend - Fuchsia, Coral, Jewel Purple and Taupe

I need some filler posts (so feel free to ignore it) before my camera comes (Amazon free shipping takes freaking forever, I might as well just order from the other side of the earth...) here is come Microsoft Paint compilation of some items from Spring 2010 collection. It's quite easy to see what are the hit color for the season since they just pop up over here and over there.

Fuchsia Fever (is here to stay)


Fuchsia was quite pouplar Spring 2009 and it seems that it actually gets hotter for the year 2009. Purple somewhat dominated fall (along with some 80s colors) and now even the purple in spring makeup gets deeper (it's usually lilac, not deep purple that get released for spring.)

Crazy over Coral

If you have seen swatch pictures from Yuki's channel, the Guerlain blush is mainly coral with a tad bit of neutral pink spots after you deflowered the top most layer. Anyway, I am waiting for Lancome l'absolu rouge in Chris and Tell. That shades look like a perfect coral for the season.

Top it over with Taupe
I can see Pink Sith laughing at a corner for this. I think the taupe is more of a mini trend as it's not popping out like fuchsia or coral. But Chanel, MAC (which released a bunch of taupe stuff in their Warm and Cozy and that equal opportunity collection, they all that all races all sexes and all ages but there are only 2 young, skinny female models..) I have never had any taupe item but I think I might pick up a nail polish in that color.