Guerlain Spring 2010 Cherry Blossom Collection

I am so stoked for the Guerlain Cherry Blossom Collection which comes out in the Spring of 2010.  The release date is January 26th.  I've always been a huge fan of cherry blossoms so much so that we had a cherry blossom themed wedding.

• Guerlain Voyage Meteorites
• Guerlain Eyeshadow Quad Ombrelles
• Guerlain Cherry Blossom Blush
• Guerlain Insolence Blooming Perfume

I'm a sucker for the soft shades of pink.  I'm definitely hauling from this collection. 

Two items on my lust list:

1. Eyeshadow Quad
2. Blush

What do you think?  Will you be hauling from this collection?

Image credits to the Lushious Beauty Blog

Sephora Friends and Family Discount

The Sephora Annual Friends and Family discount starts today Oct 19th and ends on Nov. 2nd!  Save 20% with your online order.  Just enter code FF2009 at checkout.  Happy Hauling!


What are you planning on hauling?

LUSH Herbalism Cleanser

In my last HAUL post I forgot to mention I picked up Herbalism Cleanser.  This stuff is amazing!  Here is the description blurb from the website: LUSH. 

"Detoxifies and exfoliates oilier, problem skin


Herbalism has China clay to remove excess oil, ground almonds and rice bran to exfoliate away dead skin cells, sage, chamomile and marigold to soothe inflammation and rosemary and sage to banish nasty microbes. As well, the combination of the clay and rice bran leaves a matte finish to the skin. Some people who have used the Angels On Bareskin and found it too rich, find the Herbalism to be lighter. If you persist and use this cleanser every day, we guarantee results that are well worth the bother."

It smells earthy & clean and my skin feels so smooth after each use.  I take a pinch of the cleanser, place it in my palm, add a little bit of water and crush it up into a pulp.  Then I lather it onto my face & I can feel it exfoliating.  I inquired about the Dark Angels Cleanser however the lady that works there told me it can be too harsh for my skin since I have sensitive problematic skin. 
 
Because the ingredients of this cleanser are fresh it only has a shelf life of 3 months but I think I can use this in 1 month.  Lately I've been showing signs of irritation around my eye area when I wash my face and Herbalism is a vegan/organic product so this has been a warm welcome to my cleansing routine.  :)

Collective Haul

Last week on my lunch break I went to MAC to check out the new 2009 Holiday Collection called Magic, Mirth, and Mischief.  I'm so impressed with myself.  I only walked out with one item from the collection! :-D  I ended up getting the Devil May Dare Warm Eye Shadow palette.  I am a sucker for golds, warm browns, pinks & beiges.  All six shades are limited edition and the palette is $36 USD.  I always opt for buying palettes rather than buying single eye shadows since one MAC e/s is $11. 

I did get two more items that aren't from the Holiday Collection and it is Russian Red & a Cremestick Lip Liner in Red Enriched.  Russian Red is an intense bluish red with a matte finish.  It's gorgeous.  Red Enriched is an intense auburn color that goes perfectly with Russian Red. 

After I went to MAC I popped into LUSH!  When I go to the mall it's hard for me to only grab something from MAC & go.  LUSH & MAC are practically right next to each other and it doesn't help that I can smell the decadent scents from the MAC counter.  So, either the ladies of LUSH have amazing customer service or I seriously have a shopping problem.  The minute I walked into the store they recognized me and called me by my first name lol.  I love the ladies at LUSH.  They're so helpful & sweet.  :)

I ended up getting Karma Kream, Smitten, Shave the Planet (for the huz), Handy Gurugu, Lemony Flutter & So White bath bomb.  I get terribly chapped & dry hands in the winter so these hand creams are doing a great job of restoring the moisture.

They had a special promotion where if you spent over $45 you get to pick out a free bubble bar so I chose Candy Cane.  LOVE!!

So White smells AMAZING!  I don't want to use it.  I just want to keep it in my bathroom cause it smells so yummy.  It smells like apples ... mmm.  Candy Cane bubble bar smells like sweet candy.  :)  Both of these items are Holiday items so they're seasonal and not permanent.  :(  I need to get another So White before they're all gone!

BB Cream

<3
I found my HG (Holy Grail) Foundation

I’ve recently changed my foundation routine since I don’t want to be tan in the fall and winter months. In the spring/summer months I would use MAC Studio Fix Fluid NW 35 or Revlon ColorStay in Natural Tan but lately I’ve been using BB Cream (Blemish Balm Cream).

BB Creams are the latest rage in Asia and the two that I use are L’EGERE products which is a Korean brand. I usually buy all of my Korean cosmetics from a local Korean store called Cinderella but you can find these products online here (click me!). I use the White Multi Blemish Balm Cream & L'EGERE SPF34 UV Whitening Blemish Balm Cream.

Both of the BB Creams I use are whitening, conceals dermal blemishes, evens out the skin tone & gives me a smooth, flawless coverage. It’s like a tinted moisturizer with light to medium coverage. It’s easy to blend so I just use my fingers to apply this product. BB Creams are especially good for sensitive, peeling or irritated skin. While serving the purpose as a base and foundation it also works as a treatment to minimize wrinkles, treat pimples and lighten blemish scars all in one! They have a reputation for being a miracle cream because they are gentle enough to use on skin that recently underwent laser procedures.

After I apply this my skin is illuminating & has a beautiful glow. I’ve fallen in love with this product and I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to MAC’s SFF. I believe I have found my HG!

Thermal Masks - a drugstore alternative

Within the makeup community everyone has been raving about MAC's Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask from the recently launched Style Black collection.  Here is the description of the mask from http://www.maccosmetics.com/

"Formulated with Volcanic Ash and natural oils, this ash-black facial mask simultaneously deep-cleanses and treats the skin. When water is added, the mask heats up and the oils instantly lubricate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and clean. Helps keep skin moist, clean, soft, and evenly-textured. Limited edition."

This mask went flying off the shelves within days of the release and is sold out online.  It was $19.50 for a 3.4 FL tube.

I however, have been using a drugstore version of a thermal mask for a year now and I am glad I didn't rush out to the MAC counter to grab this mask.  I've been using the Biore Purify Self Heating Mask. 

The box contains 8 packets for around $7.99 and can be found in any drugstore that sells Biore products.  It isn't the traditional mask that you apply and let it dry on your face for 10 min then rinse off.  First you moisten the face, apply mask, massage for about 1 minute then rinse off.  The mask instantly heats up on contact with water and it feels amazing.  It removes pore-clogging dirt & leaves my skin smooth and radiant. 
So if you skipped out on the Style Black Collection or you didn't get a chance to pick a Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask before it was sold out, you always have this alternative. :)

Have you tried any other thermal masks out there? 

Halloween Look: Pretty Peacock

A good friend of mine, Stacy, requested me to do a Halloween look for her. She will be dressed as a peacock and this is what her costume looks like. Isn't it cute?!  I love it.

So here is the look I came up with. It’s really bright & fun and matches her costume.

I used the following:

Make Up For Ever eye shadow - 168 Lagoon Green

Make Up For Ever eye shadow - 93 Irish Green

NARS eye shadow duo – Rated R

Calypso Minerals - Aquadelic & yellow

MAC pigment – Cocomotion

NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil – Horse Raddish

MAC Technakohl Liner – Artistic License

Loreal Telescopic Eye Liner – Carbon Black

Loreal H.I.P. Color Chrome Eye Liner – Gold Charge

Maybelline Colossal Mascara – Very Black

Ardell Elegantly Wild Lashes

Duo Dark Tone Eye Lash Glue

You can wear it plain like this ...

... or jazz it up with a few more embellishments like falsies & pretty peacock patterns.

Hope you are all having a great weekend so far! XOXO

Feroch

On Saturday I made plans to go to Christian Siriano's book signing in DC at Borders on K St.  I LOVED Christian Siriano on Project Runway and I'm dying to try his Victoria Secret makeup but it's always sold out whenever I go to the store! :(  While we were walking to Borders we ran into Cibu Jenn.  Follow Jenn on Twitter here @cibu17 (Christian made her wedding gown!)  She informed me that Christian had already left Borders but he went over to Bubbles on K & 20th and I could catch him there.  She gave me one of his books so I could get it signed but by the time we found Bubbles he was already gone.  :(  For those of you that don't know he used to work at the Bubbles in the Westfield Annapolis Mall when he was in high school.  So, needless to say I was really bummed I didn't get a chance to meet him at the signing but I was super happy to have run into Jenn :D 

Over weekend huz and I popped into Nordstrom Rack to do a little shopping and I discovered a whole makeup section that I never knew existed! There was Trish McEvoy, Stila, Smashbox & Shu Uemura. I had no idea they sold Shu makeup there! I picked up three shadows & a lippie.

Lipstick: Rouge Unlimited PK338
Eyeshadows:
Matte Brown 850
Iridescent Pristine Green
Pearl Pink 100


Regular price lipstick: $23
Nordstrom Rack: $13.97
Regular price eye shadow: $20.00
Nordstrom Rack: $11.97

Twitching for my tweets!

Twitter is down again today. :(  I'm feeling anxious because I can't read my updates.  I need to know if @MakeupbyMel got her new halloween costume & which one she bought.  I need to know if @blairbear111 is finally going into labor (she's past her due date).  I need my daily dose of wisdom from @RevRunWidsom.  I also need to know if anyone has bought any makeup lately and what they've hauled lol.  Uuuggghhh!

Coastal Scents Italian Badger Buffer Brush Review

For two months I’ve been using the Coastal Scents Italian Badger Large Buffer Brush to apply my liquid foundation. For reference I’m using MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid in NW35 & Revlon Colorstay. This brush came highly recommended by my friend Amanda. Here is a link to Amanda’s Blog.
This brush is awesome! Not only did I buy it for $11.95 but I prefer it to my Sephora High Definition #55 Airbrush brush. The handle is made of wood & it’s nice and thick. It is super soft, blends & buffers like perfection. I absolutely love it! It did shed a few hairs during the first few times I used it but it doesn’t shed anymore.
So if you’re looking for a new foundation brush I highly recommend this brush.

You know you love me!
        XOXO

Hahaha sorry to be so daft but the most recent episode of Gossip Girl with Hillary Duff was too cute.  Love that show.
Happy hump day bitches!

My other blog

Hiya beauties!
So I've decided to create another blog.  It's called What's in My Closet?  I'll be posting about fashion-related topics on that blog and all the beauty posts will stay here.  What’s in My Closet? :click me:
So come on over & let me know what you think!  (It's still under construction so please bear with me)  Thanks!

Haul

Two nights ago bestie and I went out to dinner then decided to make a quick trip Sephora and LUSH. We both ended up buying the Kat Von D palette in Gypsy. ^.^  I’ve been eyeing Gypsy for a few months now and I never got around to buying MAC’s Photorealism palette (all greens) so I had to get this. The shadows have high pigmentation and they have awesome staying power. I wore it to work the next day and checked my makeup at 4.15 pm and it didn’t crease at all! I am impressed. The only drawback I found is they’re a bit chalky. When I used my 239 brush to pick up the color there was a lot of fallout in the palette so it’s not completely smooth but the payoff is worth it IMO.

After we shopped at Sephora I introduced bestie to LUSH! She had never been there before and I let her smell all of my favorite soaps like I Should Coco, Honey I Washed the Kids, Alkmaar, Porridge & Sultana of Soap (to name a few). She picked up a nice chunk of Rockstar soap & I bought another huge chunk of Sultana of Soap. I also picked up another MaBar Bubble Bar & Honey I Washed the Kids solid perfume. It's awesomeness.

Last month Hautelook had a huge Kevyn Aucoin sale. Dark red lips are totally in this fall so I picked up Leaharia (pinkish beige), Talula (coral red) and Poppia (basic red).
They’re gorgeous, creamy & moisturizing! On the Kevyn Aucoin website they retail for $23 but I got them from Hautelook for $9.20. Honestly, I didn’t order 3 lipsticks. I actually only placed an order for the two reds Talula and Poppia but they sent me Leaharia by mistake. Oops!

Moving on … I had a VIB coupon for Sephora so I placed an online order for YSL Rouge Volupte 19 Frivolous Pink which is one of their new shades. It’s a beautiful mid-tone pink with blue undertones. I also bought an Illamasqua lippie in Liv which is a matte, milky lavender pink. It reminds me of MAC’s Lavender Whip or Fashion Mews. Fashion Mews was a limited edition color that came out with the MAC Hello Kitty Collection and I regret not getting one. Illamasqua is a UK brand and it was only until a few months ago when Sephora started carrying this brand. I’m so happy I got this. I love it!

Hope you lovelies had a great week so far!  The weekend is almost here!  Yay!