palettes

I woke up this morning, checked my phone and saw a message from a reader, Claire. She asked me if I knew when the third Urban Decay Book of Shadows was being released in Europe. I was all like "THIRD??" - I have hardly gotten stuck into Vol. 2 yet! It seemed like the kind of (lame, beauty-obsessive) thing I often dream about, and I thought I probably hadn't woken up properly yet.

Claire is quite right though - there is apparently an Alice In Wonderland limited edition Book of Shadows being released in the USA in late December. It's a tie-in with the Disney film of the story, directed by Tim Burton. British Beauty Blogger has the full deets on her blog, along with some massive hi-res images to drool over, and she advises us that the palette will arrive in the UK in March, with just 2000 available. Can you picture the scrum at the department store counters?

Those who don't nab a palette might be slightly comforted to learn that although the shades all have Alice-themed names, some (don't know yet which) are just re-named shadows from the permanent line. There is a striking azure blue in there though that I don't recognise - it's called "Alice". And it's calling to me. There's also the usual travel-size rations of two 24/7 eyeliners and a mini Primer Potion.

The Book of Shadows format is a pull-out drawer of products below, and a lift-up mirrored display above. The Alice palette is no different. The top has a stunning pop-up montage of the scene from the story where Alice accepts the size-changing mushroom snacks from the caterpillar. In Burton's version, captured here, there is a forest of toadstools, with Alice herself wandering through them towards the mirror, and a bottle of "Drink Me" potion to one side.

I don't know whether I'm going to attempt to get one of these. The packaging is stunning, there's absolutely no question. But I have two Book of Shadows palettes already and if I'm totally honest the format isn't that user friendly, especially when I'm rushing to get out of the door. The first Book of Shadows has a drawer so stiff I can barely get it open with both hands. I love the selection of shades and the CS Lewis names, but I have so many UD shadows I honestly can't imagine needing more for a while. Plus, as I said to start with, I'm not fully bonded with my BOS Vol. 2 yet.

I do love those mushrooms though...

UPDATE: We've posted a summary of the latest details!

The shu uemura 2010 Christmas Collection is a collaboration with Japanese artist Aya Takano and she has done a great job of giving the collection the funky, urban feel that I love about shu!  Luckily she picked cute animals for the girls to kiss in the artwork, otherwise I might find it all a bit disturbing...
Reindeer Kiss xxxx Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - inspired by the colours of a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light.
Bowwow! Magic Queen Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - a warm-toned palette for a peaceful holiday season.
Blush Tint - Miracle Cherry - $30 - a lightweight gel blush to instantly add a natural glow to your cheeks.
Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Love Apricot - coral beige tint and apricot gloss with gold and silver glitter or Harmony Pink - girly pink tint and vibrant fuchsia gloss - $45 - enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone, or add gloss to amp up a shine!

Paint Crayon - Sparkly Purple  - dark purple with sparkly gold glitters - $30 - waterproof, long-lasting and creamy mechanical pencil allows you to draw a defined line that can be blended easily right after application.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - $37 - shu uemura's signature cleansing oil.  A gentle formula for moisturized, balanced, petal-soft skin.  Cleanses gently and maintains the skin's moisture balance with Advanced HPO system, Asian botanical oils such as Camellia Oil and Ginger Root Oil.  Leaves skin feeling comfortably balanced and petal soft with a fresh and sensuous aroma.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set - $85 - they're cute and pink, what more can I say?!
Magical Windfalls - $36 - easy-to-wear partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical hear and star symbols for cute accent.
Premium False Eyelashes - $75 - a dreamy pair of cutomizable eyelashes!  With a variety of abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of lases for the festive season.

Along with the colour story releasing today is my favourite part of every one of their holiday collections - the kits!  Loving the tartan although I'm a little confused as to why they didn't include the Beauty Crazed pink & black...


6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows - $43.50
Once Upon a Time - metallic vanilla (veluxe pearl)
Bronze - copper penny (frost)
Buckwheat - frosty medium brown (frost)
A Dashing Lassie - metallic milk (frost)
Magical Mist - metallic taupe (lustre)
Showstopper - dark brown (matte)

6 Beauties Play it Cool Eye Shadows - $43.50
Heather Belles - dark charcoal/carbon (satin)
To the Ball - dusty lavender (satin)
Hold My Gaze - medium grey (frost)
Magic Moor - purple grape (veluxe pearl)
Altered State - blackened plum (veluxe pearl)
Silverwear - metallic lavender (frost)

6 Twists of Tartan Eye Shadows - $43.50
Vainglorious - metallic maroon (frost)
Rolled Gold - gold (lustre)
Lady's Prance - clay (matte)
High Spirits - shimmer avocado (frost)
Bows & Curtseys - metallic hunter green (satin)
Set To Dance - dark royal blue (matte)

6 Reelers & Rockers Eye Shadows - $43.50
Carbon - dark carbon (matte)
White Rabbit - shimmer white (frost)
Melt My Heart - metallic silver (veluxe pearl)
Gaelic Gold - metallic gold (veluxe pearl)
Crown & Sceptre - metallic copper (veluxe pearl)
Family Treasures - metallic bronze (veluxe pearl)


Happily Ever After Lip Kit - $27
Cheers All Around - bright candy pink (frost)
To Joy - medium pink (frost)
Endless Fun - sheer frost pink (gloss)


A Fabulous Fantasy Lip Kit - $27
Storybook Ending - raisin (lustre)
Imagine This - binky beige (amplified)
Heroic Tale - sparkle flesh tone (gloss)
A Triumphant Blush Face Kit - $45.50
Melba - soft coral peach (powder blush)
Peachtwist - golden peach (sheertone shimmer)
Smooth Harmony - neutral mid tan (beauty powder)
Hark the Heraldry Face Kit - $45.50
Dame - sophisticated blue/pink (powder blush)
Plum Foolery - faint dusty plum (sheertone shimmer)
Oh So Fair - pale pink (beauty powder)
Vain and Glorious Lip Bag - $43.50
Lustre Lipstick in Mellow Mood - sheer pink
Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks - sparkle baby pink
Lip Pencil in In Synch - light pink

Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag - $43.50
Cremesheen Lipstick in Timeless - medium rose
Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame - sheer neutral beige
Lip Pencil in Lingerie - dusty rose

Noble Knights Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz - black
Pigment in Teal - bright metallic teal
Zoomblack
209 Brush


Violet My Love Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Macroviolet - dark grape
Pigment in Violet - bright metallic purple
Zoomblack
209 Brush
Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweep & Define Brush Collection - $58
129SE, 190SE, 212SE, 227SE, 275SE


A Lady & Her Tricks Buff & Line Brush Collection - $58
168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE, 252SE

She's Got It All Apply, Define & Line Brush Collection - $58
194SE, 204SE, 224SE, 266SE, 275SE

By now you know how much I love a palette - there is something about having a whole bunch of colours together that just makes me happy!  mark. likes to see me happy so they have introduced 3 new palettes for my (and your) pleasure!  And the best part, they are so reasonably priced their is no reason we can't have them all (and they would make great Christmas gifts)!  Check them out:

mark. touch & glow shimmer cream cubes all-over face palette - 13.68g - $18 - a cream to powder formula that you can use all together to add instant radiance to the skin or individually to shimmer and shine.  Includes shimmery shades of pink, gold and bronze.  You can use with a brush or your fingers but if you're going to use a brush, I found that a synthetic one worked better over a natural hair bristled brush because of the texture.
mark. on the dot eye color compact - 6.75g - $18 - 9 high impact colours with a metallic finish - from neutral to electric! The two palettes above are available September - December.

mark. seeing stripes eye color trio - 2.26g - $7 - available in four limited edition shade trios: cocoa puff, baby blues, so jaded and violet riot - each shadow square includes three complementary shades and all four trios fit in a mezzo size snap to it custom color palette.  Available November - December.

You can get them online at www.avon.ca or through your Avon rep - call 1-800-265-AVON to find one.

The fall collection from GOSH is not what you would usually expect - no fall colours, just a lot of pastels and pinks which of course makes me happy!  You'll be happy to pull out this collection in the dead of winter when you forget what colours look like!
Quattro Eye Shadow - $19 - Limited Edition - Vanity Pastels and Modest Liberty - the compact has a built-in mirror and light so it's great for clubs and the other dark places that Christelle like to hang out in.

Effect Powder - $13 - No 19 - Doll or No 20 - Lime - loose and highly metallic it can be used alone, with another shadow as a highlighter or used wet as an eyeliner for a very bright and intense colour effect. FYI Twilight fans, their white effect powder is amazing used all over the face if you want the sparkly vampire look...for Halloween of course!

Soft'n Shine Lip Balm with SPF 15 - $15 - No 30 - Barbie or No 33 - Scarlet - a hint of colour, a hint of vanilla flavour and a lot moisture and shine.

Cinderella Body Shimmer - $20 - Pink - metallic and shimmery powder which can be applied on arms, neck, eyes, cheek bones and cleavage for shine and sparkle.  It's pink for heaven's sake, what's not to like?!

Natural Blush - $16 - No 39 - Electric Pink - contains mica and ultra-fine bonds of powder particles for a smooth, flawless and silky application and a beautiful, natural finish.

Nail Lacquer - $6 - Limited Edition - No 589 - Sweet Rose, No 591 Silky Mint and No 590 - Yellow Doll  - stay tuned, I'm going to swatch the mint and yellow next week.

You can get your GOSH fall fix at Shoppers Drug Mart!

The star of Armani's Night Viper collection for fall 2010 is this Maestro eye shadow quad. Like several other brands, the Giorgio Armani creative team chose a rich dark blue as the bait to catch our attention and tempt us with its subtle shimmer. What can I say? It works.

While this is no Guerlain, the much lighter weight of the compact and easier to digest price tag give Armani major points. The combination of of one stunning color and three accessible neutrals is very appealing. One can create several looks for day and evening, play and blend as desired. There's a little insert in the box with suggestions for four combinations. It's a great place to start, even if the one titles "smocky evening look" is most likely a misspelling.

 If you're familiar with these Maestro shadows you know how soft they are- any novice can blend them and enjoy working with these colors. As is the case with the other Maestro quads, they require a primer for best results (I didn't use one in the swatches) and a bit of brush maneuvering because the individual pans are very narrow. It's worth the hassle, though as the results are beautiful and the colors are so easy to wear.

Bottom Line: Poor Armani would have gotten a lot more attention if it weren't for Guerlain.

Giorgio Armani Fall 2010 Maestro Eye Shadow Quad ($59) is available from Saks, Nordstrom and Barneys and directly from giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com.

All photos are mine.

This is one of those posts that write themselves. It starts with the photos that no matter how tempting they look, they still don't compare to the very gorgeous real thing, and continues with a product that performs so well it makes you wonder why isn't every makeup item this good. I'm not even talking about the packaging- the compacts of the Ecrin 6 Couleurs should win Guerlain some serious prizes for the beautiful design. This is what a luxury product should be like.



As I've mentioned before, I chose two of these Guerlain eye shadow palettes. One was the warm mauves of 93 Rue de Passy, and the other one is this- 2 Place Vendome. The shimmery blue eye shadow in the center is the star, of course, as are the blue eye shadows other brands have been featuring lately (Le Metier de Beaute Le Cirque, Bobbi Brown Denim & Rose, Armani NightViper, Nars (coming soon. I couldn't resist) and Givenchy Midnight Look (ditto). But the other colors in th are character actors- full of depth and deserving of love.


The compact creates the impression these shades are on the cool end of the scale, but as you can see they are actually quite neutral and pick warm tones from the skin, making all of them very wearable and adjustable for various makeup looks. You can use only one or blend several colors together to shade and highlight. The eyeliner is more muted on skin than it appears in the pan.  I like it a lot more in this compact than the charcoal from Rue de Passy because the color is not just more unique but also looks as an integral part of the palette. I like using it to smoke out Bobbi Brown's Denim Ink gel eyeliner, but it's fine by itself or over a black liquid liner.

The texture and pigment of these eye shadows is just as superb as in Rue de Passy. My swatches don't necessary reflect it, because I didn't use a primer and my skin was already raw from swatching other items when I took these photos, still I think you can get a decent impression of the pretty.

Bottom Line: Made of awesome.

2 Place Vendome Fall 2010 Eye Shadow Palette ($84) is available from Guerlain counters everywhere.

All photos are mine. It's really bad karma to steal them and not give credit. I'm just sayin'.

Someone at Guerlain really knows us. Naming the new eye shadow palettes from the fall 2010 Champs-Elysees collection after the most fabulous shopping destinations in Paris could not be more perfect. 93 Rue de Passy is also home of a Lancel boutique, where you can find this little beauty (€ 599.00) and other leather goods:


93 Rue de Passy is also the name of this 6 color eye palette (five shadows, one powder liner). The colors are on the warm side, from shimmery pink quartz to sandy brown. The eyeliner is charcoal and might be the least convincing item in the otherwise wonderful palette. The eye shadows come in various textures from matte to high shimmer, they blend well together and allow for creating different looks. Playing and combining these colors has kept me amused for the last couple of weeks and I've been wearing this palette everywhere- from the pet store to the comedy club to see Jeniffer Coolidge (so much fun).

Bottom Line: It's a gem.

Next week: the other Guerlain palette I picked, 2 Place Vendome.

Guerlain 93 Rue de Passy Fall 2010 Eye Shadow Palette ($84) is available from Guerlain counters everywhere.

All makeup and swatch photos are mine, Lancel bag gsell.fr, orange tabby is Kosh.