Guest Review by Joeybunny - Edward Bess Dusk Eye Shadow and Night Romance Lipstick

I am in love with Edward.

No, not Edward Cullen (this bunny is strictly Team Jacob), but Edward Bess. Edward Bess is this gloriously handsome 23 year old who has worked very hard over the past couple of years to create his own eponymous makeup line. Ok yeah, it seems a little strange for someone who’s only about a year or so older than me to have his own makeup line, but clearly Edward recognized that he had a vision and worked hard to achieve it because quite frankly, his makeup line is the shit.

Or in more sophisticated language befitting of such gorgeous makeup, Edward Bess makeup is luxurious, elegant, and rich. There, that sounds better!

Edward Bess’ line is only found in Bergdorf Goodman in NYC, home to my other favorite niche makeup line, Paul and Joe Beaute. Clearly, this sucks for the majority of you fine readers, but luckily not for me (I swear I’m not trying to rub it in, guys). Strangely enough, despite my semi-permanent residence in Bergdorf’s Beauty Level, I had been avoiding Edward Bess. Why? The makeup (and gorgeous Edward) frightened me. I wasn’t chichi enough for Edward Bess. Not grown up enough. Not sexy. This line is for the woman with confidence, the woman who doesn’t need bright colors or overly shimmery textures to stand out. Give her a nude lip and a smoked eye and she’s good.

This is not me. Or at least, this wasn’t me. The little makeup devil on my shoulder (aka Lina of TheBeautyLookBook) had long been prodding me closer and closer to the Edward Bess counter with her tempting product pictures (see HERE, but be warned!). A bunny can really only take so many pictures of gorgeous taupes and pretty lipsticks. So finally, one day on my way to work I stopped at the Edward Bess counter. I caved, I admit!

Krista, the counter manager, was sweet and very pretty - a perfect poster child for the makeup line. I told her I wanted Dusk eyeshadow and a pretty, non-nude lipstick. She showed me the newest editions to the lipstick range, and I picked Night Romance, the darkest of the three. She also dabbed on some Afterglow All Over Seduction (a gorgeous creamy highlighter) onto my face, and sent me on my merry way. But not before I had time to create about 10 new lemmings, sigh. I felt as if I had somehow earned the right to let Edward’s products grace my visage.

(An aside: A mix-up of eyeshadow shades caused me to return to the counter later that evening to pick up Dusk. Edward himself was there, and he not only apologized profusely for the mistake, but also had a very lovely conversation with me about myself and what I enjoy about makeup. I came pretty close to a Nars-like mental breakdown - explanation HERE) - and I’m pretty sure Edward was wondering why my face was so red. He was so sweet and so damn good-looking I lost my cool and composure.)

Now, the products are quite pricey. The eyeshadows and lipsticks are each $29. But before you say “Oh Joey WTF I’m not paying that much!”, let me interject. First off, any niche makeup line is going to be pricey. Bergdorf doesn’t sell cheap stuff. That’s a given. Secondly, I have some ridiculously discerning taste in makeup. I am critical as hell when it comes to testing products, because although I may live in NYC and work on the Upper East Side, I’m not rich. I’m just out of college and my ass cannot be spending $30 on a crappy lipstick. So, the moral of this mini-rant is that this lipstick and this eyeshadow are very well worth the $60+ I spent on them.


Dusk is a taupe for the taupe connoisseur. I can tell you that this is a taupe unlike any of the others I own, and I know Elvira hasn’t seen one like this either. In the pan it appears a warm stone color, a medium to deep shade with a subtle shimmer. On my hand there’s more of a brown undertone, the gold shimmer glistening (yes, this eyeshadow glistens more than it shimmers). On my eye it is a bit deeper and the grey undertone is more apparent. I’d call this a perfect neutral taupe. In order for a taupe to be perfect for me, it has to be wearable on its own with just a smudge of black pencil liner. This one is just...wow! It is incredibly pigmented but builds easily. I do a wash over the lids and more concentrated color in the crease and outer V. My eye smolder and seduce. I am in love with how long-wearing and concentrated this eyeshadow is, and I plan on buying every other shade in the collection (there are six).

Night Romance lipstick pairs well with Dusk. It’s a deep mauve-berry-pink color that is neutral to cool-toned. I am neutral-warm and this lip color brightened my face like no other. It delivers a nice pop of color that didn’t seem over the top or scary. The lipstick formula is pigment-rich and almost balm-like. My lips stay hydrated while wearing it, and the color stays through eating and kissing. This may be one of the classiest lipsticks I own (as we all know I love me some dark brows and deep purples on the lips)!

So, I’m clearly no longer afraid of the Edward Bess counter. In fact, Edward now has a new devoted fan. Tomorrow I’m picking up a fairly large order from the counter, and I’m thrilled! For those of you who are interested in ordering from the line, you can either visit Edward’s website (www.edwardbess.com) or call the lovely ladies at the counter at Bergdorf (and that number is 212.872.8826). I’m not responsible for any crazy hauls!

EDIT! Here is a picture of Joeybunny wearing Night Romance Lipstick!
isn't she so cute?

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish you all Happy Thanksgiving! Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, it's nice to think about what you are thankful for and eat pie. I love pecan pie I think I'll have a slice.

In America Thanksgiving is the day we all sit down and honor the religious persecution, rape and pillaging of native aboriginal indigenous persons of North America, the slaughtering of inbred turkeys, the harvesting of yams, the only use for canned french fried onion rings, breaking bread with people you would rather see choke on a turkey leg than eat with, being relegated to the children's table because you don't have a spouse yet even though you're 30, and FOOTBALL! Well Football is actually good. I'll take that out of the equation.

What is even better than stuffing your face is the grotesque display of rabid consumerism that is displayed early the next morning. Black Friday is what they call it. It's called Black Friday because this is the time of year (and sometimes, the day) where stores that were "In The Red" (in a negative balance or a sales deficit) actually come "Into The Black" (show a profit and actually make money). Yes. many stores will open at 4AM some open at Midnight on Friday to allow greedy and tired little shoppers the best deal on whatever electronic device is "hot" at the moment. Being greedy and tired is not a good combination for shopping at 4 in the morning. Last year a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death when the doors opened at 4AM. Many people have received broken bones, gotten in fist fights, and even been shot in the wee hours of Black Friday and for what? A cheap DVD player? A GPS system? You never hear of people rushing the Chanel Counter at 4AM. Nope. That's because Chanel does not stoop to the cheap tricks and discounts of mega stores like Wal-mart and the like. You won't be trampled trying to buy Guerlain Holiday Meteorites at 4AM. You know why? Because the stores that sell them aren't open and they aren't on sale anyway.

Certain cosmetic companies might be having sales (called Friends and Family) during this time of year but the worst thing that could happen to you is that your Internet connect would be slow, since most of those sales are only on-line. The point of my rant? Well isn't it obvious? Buy makeup and perfume for the holidays, stay in your nice warm bed at 4AM on Black Friday and send those OTHER stores a message. "START SELLING EDWARD BESS AND PAUL & JOE COSMETICS AND GIVE THEM TO ME AS GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!"

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Rock - Shimmery Taupe

You know I couldn't go too long without offering a new Taupe shadow to drool over. And while this week is slow and this post might go unread because of the Thanksgiving Holiday in the US I felt a duty to report on my newest taupe acquisition. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow in Rock. First introduced in the Stonewashed Nudes palette a few years ago, Bobbi Brown now offers Rock Shimmer Wash eye shadow as a single!
OK. What is a Shimmer Wash eye shadow and why do you need one? Let me explain:
Bobbi Brown says that her Shimmer Wash eye shadows are:

"Sheer, lightly pearlized shadow, which can also be used as a highlighter shade under the browbone."

Oh but they are so much more. You could use a Shimmer Wash shadow like Rock, all over the eye up to above the crease and have a lovely subdued shimmer neutral TAUPE eye. Add in a matte highlighter (because shimmer and shimmer can be over the top some times) and you have an ideal every day eye. It's a silvery grey taupe and neutral enough to pair with cool and warm colors alike.


The shadow is lightly pigmented but goes on smoothly and stays on all day. honestly, even I have some fading when I use an eyeshadow base, but Bobbi Brown Rock did not fade or crease on me after 12 hours of wear (I did use my ArtDeco Primer). The shadow is shimmery but not overboard shimmer. If you are familiar with Dior Iridescent eyeshadow palettes, those make the shadow look matte. So basically I'm saying that it's not crazy shimmery. It also has no glitter. I like that because when you wear it all over as a wash you don't have to worry about glitter fall out. But what I like most about this formula is that is is buildable. You can lightly wipe it across your lids or you can pat it on as say a crease color or to finish off a grey smokey eye. The color does not get muddy when you apply multiple layers. that's always good.

The packaging is smart as usual. A sleek black compact with a clear window to see what color you are grabbing or pop out the pan and put it in one of Bobbi Brown's customizable palettes. Maybe a three pan with a highlight and a crease color...or with other Shimmer Wash shadows for you to pick and choose. Right now I have a 3 pan palette but I debating what to put in with this particular Rock color. I'm in no rush as I have a feeling that Bobbi Brown might be having a Friends and Family sale some time soon...which means a possible discount. We will wait and see.

Now I have come to terms with the possibility that SOME of you might not own 5,465,423,135 taupe eye shadows like I do and you are looking for just ONE good shadow. Well whatever you FREAK, but if you are one of these strange creatures I suggest Rock Shimmer Wash eye shadow is the one for you. If you are like me, you might find that Rock Shimmer Wash looks eerily similar to NYX Dune or MAC Smoke & Diamonds. But you would be W R O N G. Yes. in the pan the shadows do look similar but MAC Smoke & Diamonds is a touch warmer and NYX Dune is more opaque once applied on the skin. Ah ha! So there. You DO NEED it!

Bobbi Brown Rock Shimmer Wash eye shadow up to the crease, MAC Arctic Grey to blend & Highlight, BECCA Barbarella Cake Liner, Shu Uemura The Basic Mascara & Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara.

Bioelements Flash Foam Cleanser - Cleansing for my little brained ways

image from bioelements.com

I recently was given an opportunity to test out Bioelements Flash Foam Cleanser by a representative at Bioelements. I received the cleanser in the mail and I have to admit I was a little more than excited to try it out. I LOVE self foaming cleansers. I was actually thinking of doing an entire week on self foaming cleansers when I realized that not everyone likes them as much as I do, so I decided to spread out the reviews. After all, I don't want to lose you guys for a whole week while I write about the virtues of self foaming cleansers now do I. Self foaming cleansers are perfect for me, especially in the morning. I'm tired and not thinking and a self foaming cleanser takes all the thinking out of cleaning my face. Not that cleansing takes a lot of brain power, but I look for anything to help with minimizing the use of my little brain so early in the morning.

Bioelements Flash Foam Cleanser touts that

"This richly foaming cleanser is formulated with a blend of exfoliating botanicals that slough away dead, dull skin cells for a brighter, smoother complexion. Natural ingredients offers extreme antioxidant protection while aromatherapeutic oils and vitamin B5 deeply cleanse, moisturize and rejuvenate. Ideal for dry, combination and oily skin types."

OK I can dig that. So what are these natural ingredients?
Pumpkin, Papaya and Pineapple Extracts: Contain exfoliating natural enzymes
Green Tea Extract: Antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
Panthenol: Vitamin B-5 - Healing, moisturizing
Orange Oil: Soothing
The full list of ingredients is at the end of this post.
OH BUT LISTEN!
Those with sensitivities to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) can use this cleanser because Bioelements Flash Foam Cleanser doesn't contain those ingredients. WIN!

OK, so I told you about my fetish for foaming cleansers, my little brain, the key ingredients but what else do you need to know? Oh Yeah.
Does it work?
Well to be quite honest.... YES!

Now I will say that I used this mostly in the morning, as I have a different cleanser that I like to use in the evenings, but I did use it to take off my full face of make up a couple of times. It did OK. I would still continue to use my Shu Uemura Cleansing oil to really remove all my makeup, but the Flash Foam Cleanser did an OK job except on my waterproof mascara. Ah but when I wasn't worrying about taking off my makeup and just using it for straight cleansing, the Flash Foam Cleanser did a great job at exfoliating my skin without harsh scrubbing and scouring. Honestly I was VERY surprised at how smooth my skin felt after using this cleanser for a few days. I would use 2 puffs (one will suffice, but I'm a foaming cleanser freak so you know...) and massage into my damp skin on my face. massaging in a circular motion for about 30 seconds and then I rinsed. The cleanser rinses cleanly with no residue and it is not drying at all. My face felt calm, clean and smooth. I really was enamoured with how nice it was. The scent is another thing that I like. The orange oil and pineapple is fresh and invigorating, especially for the morning. It is not overpowering and does not linger once the cleanser is washed off.

The cleanser has a simple pump which I found to work well. It didn't clog or become stuck like some other self foaming cleansers I have used. The 6.5 oz cleanser is reported to contain 500 pumps of foam. I haven't been counting, but so far the cleanser is pretty full in the bottle. The price is high. $33, but the Bioelements website seems to run specials on shipping and there are other sites like Dermstore that have occasional 20% off deals from time to time make the price more palatable.

Do you need this? Well, if you want or need a gentle exfoliating cleanser this might be one to try out. Honestly, I was very anti exfoliating cleansers for a long time. I thought, "hey you wash it off what good can it do?" but after using this one for a while and seeing and FEELING the difference it makes, I am here to admit I was wrong about exfoliating cleansers. When used correctly, they can be quite effective.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerine, Sodium Lauroamphaocetete, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Extract, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Camillia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Diazolidinyl Urea/Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium EDTA, Citric Acid.

The Mighty J's Birthday Surprise Give-Away!

Hey! The Mighty J is having a Birthday Surprise Giveaway.
You all need to enter.
Winning free stuff is the best and The Mighty J is super sweet. She'll have a super prize for the winner I'm sure!
Click HERE to enter! Good Luck!

PINK SITH SALES BLOG!

So in anticipation of failing to sell anything and making a fool out of myself I have created another blog where I will be selling used and new makeup.

In the attempt to find the makeup and skincare items from The US, Europe, Japan and Korea that suit my skin-type and skin-tone best I stumble across things that might be great but just don't work for me because of their color or texture. I also used to collect limited edition makeup and realize that if it will only sit in a box, there is no use having it.

I know there are many makeup lovers out there who want to try out these items themselves and won't mind if something has been slightly tested and if the price is right it's even better.
Pink Sith Sales is a blog where I can offer such items and find them a home where they'll be more appreciated.

Click HERE to start Shopping or to browse.

Guest Review by Joeybunny - Fyrinnae Snow Leopard Eye Shadow

I just recently became involved with Fyrinnae.

Yes, recently. Not years ago, like every other normal MUAer, but recently. I’m a little upset at myself about this. For three years I stared at everyone’s pretty pictures of the sparkly, shimmery pigments in their happy little jars, and read about how absolutely sweet and gracious the Fyrinnae boys are. Yet, I continued to hold strongly onto my prejudices about loose eyeshadows...while my MAC pigment collection started to grow.

Clearly, I’m an idiot. I don’t hate loose shadows. I like them a lot! Yes, they have a learning curve and yes, they can be messy; however, they can be pressed if you so choose, and the color saturation is worth the shadow fallout. So why didn’t I order from Fyrinnae earlier? I guess I was just lazy. Bad Joey, bad!

So what made me finally bite the proverbial bullet and order from Fyrinnae? The fantastical, super magical, orgasmical Pixie Epoxy, which hopefully one day soon I’ll review. So with my Pixie Epoxy order I also threw in a loose shadow for shits and giggles (I believe it was Macabre) and you know what? It rocked! It was incredibly pigment-dense and shimmery, with long-lasting staying power. I was sold. So I made a second order based on my general taupe hooriness, and Elvira’s recommendations.

Elvira, the Mistress of Taupedom, told me I needed to get Snow Leopard loose eyeshadow. So I did, and when I finally opened it, I let forth a moan of pleasure that I’m pretty sure reverberated through all of Manhattan. Well, my roommates definitely heard me. Anyway...

Snow Leopard is one of the prettiest taupes I have ever seen. It looks like deep, dark, shimmering sand in the pot. The Fyrinnae boys describe it as “a soft, deep taupe shade that has subtle hues of rose.” Swatched on my skin, it’s a dark grey-brown taupe with what look to be burgundy reflects (this is different compared to the Fyrinnae site swatches, which look bizarrely pewtery-gold). On my eyes, it’s not very shimmery and the grey undertone pops out more. It is perfect for every day. Elvira has used this before as liner, and as a crease shade. Since I’m not quite as beautifully pale as she, it makes a more subtle lid and/or crease color, although I do often use this over Pixie Epoxy, which darkens it and brings out more of the burgundy reflects. Also, this shadow is neutral enough to pair with any color, cool or warm. I’m loving it with Fyrinnae Knickers in a Twist (which Elvira reviewed HERE), Fyrinnae Samhein Spirits, or Edward Bess Dusk eyeshadow (Edward Bess review coming soon, guys!).

So, do you need this? Hell to the ‘effing YES you do. This is a taupe! TAUPE! TAAAAAAAUPE! It could cost a million dollars and eat baby pandas while you sleep and I’d still say you need it. Luckily, this eyeshadow isn’t as expensive or carnivorous as it could be. A 1/4 tsp sample sized jar costs an incredible $1.75 (enough for many uses, although I find that I actually have made a decent dent in mine already and it’s only been about two weeks), and a full sized jar is $5.25. So affordable! Also, the lovely Fyrinnae boys charge a very low shipping rate and include a free sample with every order! How could you possibly resist that? You can’t! So go order!

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Hi All. Elvira here. Just a little swatch comparison for you all. As you can see Snow Leopard is darker than the other taupes I have in the warm family, but I thought you might like to see that Ulta Sandstoner and MAC Style Snob are identical. Seriously, they are the same color. The texture is softer with the MAC shadow, but since Style Snob is limited edition and Ulta Sand Stone isn't, I thought you all might like to know.

Thursday Poll

I have an irrational fear of insects and spiders. I hate them and I want nothing to do with them. This is the main reason I don't go camping..that and the thought of sleeping on the ground does not appeal to me. My idea of "roughing it" is staying at a hotel without room service. I think the stork was drunk and dropped me off at the wrong house. I think I should have been a princess or heiress or something like that. The life of luxury calls to me daily. From the minute I turn off my 5am alarm to the second my head hits the less than 500 thread count pillowcase at night I KNOW deep in my heart that I should really be a lady who lunches, a woman that shops at Neimans with my personal shopper buying handbags and shoes and dresses for galas etc. It's very painful being a diva trapped in a common person's body. I need a trust fund and a nanny. Instead I have a jar full of pennies and a pack of diapers. So why the whiny "I wanna be rich" diatribe? Because I realized my life is not complete until I own a pair of Christian Louboutin Anemone Bow Shoes.
Sure they don't make them anymore but that's besides the point. I NEED them.
On to the poll.

1. Lip Of The Day? - Guerlain Rouge G in Gracia #66. Yeah. I bit the bullet, but I bought it at a discount. Call me a hypocrite I don't care. I'll be busy applying my Rouge G lipstick while you hate!

2. What is the longest book you ever read? - Ugh. Is it low brow of me to say "It" by Stephen King? Damn long book....and Scary.

3. What makeup do you carry with you in your purse every day? - MAC Blot, Lipstick of the day and probably 5 more because I forget to take them out of my purse, and Concealer.

4. Do you have a similar yearning for an expensive pair of shoes, purse, coat, etc? - Well obviously you see my answer above. I would also like a Cartier Love bracelet and a Chanel Purse...but I haven't decided which one I want.

5. When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? - Me 2 weeks ago, but I didn't use them for a week after because I was home with Darthypie all week and didn't bother with makeup. I'll wash them this weekend. I promise.

Christian Dior Designer Contact Lenses

image from http://photo.shoq.com/images/private/cd-damnthoseeyes.jpg

Christian Dior an icon in the fashion industry is known for haute coture clothing, handbags, MAKEUP and perfume. Now it ventures into the world of contact Lenses?

John Galliano is taking designer branding to a new frontier: contact lenses that outline the iris in fine circles of sparkling gold or black. They will also contain a miniature CD logo. While many people use contact lenses to do mundane things like correct vision, some do use them to change eye color. "These innovative contact lenses don't change eye colours, but rather enhance them with a special technical process exclusive to Dior," said Safilens, the contact lens maker.

• Each pair lasts for a maximum of two months.
• The initials CD help identify whether the lens is the right way up.
• The lenses are available in a silver box with a sliding case and mirror.

The Dior Eyes — currently hitting shelves in Europe.

So will YOU be sporting DESIGNER contact lenses this spring?

LMFAO! via oddee.com

China Glaze Avalanche

I must admit that I am a silver, grey and purple addict when it comes to nail polish. I have so many shades of gunmetal grey it's shameful. I used to have tons of silver but I gave them all away in a fit of "not being good enough" one day. I am slowly building my purple collection but 5 polishes does not a collection make. So when I saw China Glaze nail polish from last year's Ski Winter collection I was immediately drawn to it. It was silver and grey and purple all at the same time. What a wonderful icy cold shade for my tips this winter.

No there are some that detest metallic/frost finishes. They claim that the finish is streaky and shows brush marks. I say, that's not the case with this polish. China Glaze Avalanche is smooth, easy to apply and after two coats it is opaque. The brush marks, if any, are so slight I hardly notice them...and to be honest, since I know most of you are not nailpolishophiles you may not care about brush strokes in the first place.

Do you need this? Well I think the formula for China Glaze is the best and I love frost/metallic so I say yes...but those with warmer skin tones my not find this as flattering on them. Oh and it makes a great pedi color too!

Terax Life Drops - Fine Hair Savior

image from teraxhaircare.com

My hair and I have been getting along quite well lately. It's not always been so easy, but after 30 something years I finally figured out what I needed to do. I stopped coloring it, I finally got 3 inches of the last of my color cut off, I purchased a good Flat Iron (Sedu. Thanks Aly!) and I started using Terax Life Drops as a leave in conditioner.

Let me explain my hair. My hair is schizophrenic. It is curly and pin straight, wavy and frizzy, fine and coarse, strong and splits easily, and a lovely mousy dirty blond color. My hair acts like I had it transplanted from several different donors. Most of whom probably hated their hair to begin with so they were happy to donate it. Except,...sadly...my hair is all natural and not transplanted. My hair has never made up it's mind as to what it wants to be. However, now that I have started using the proper tools I AM THE BOSS OF MY HAIR!

Terax Life Drops is one of those tools. Life Drops is a "...leave in protein conditioner which helps repair and nourish dry/damaged hair. Life Drops restores the vitality of hair with Silk protein for nutrient and moisture balance."
According to Terax, Lifedrops is:

Formulated with silk and wheat proteins, Life Drops strengthens and restores elasticity to dry, brittle strands. The formulation’s slightly acidic pH acts to help seal the cuticle, retain moisture and prevent color fade. Life Drops is an essential step for all hair care regimens as it protects against and repairs heat styling damage. The warm vanilla sugar scent leaves locks smelling delicious. Life Drops restores the vitality of hair with:
• Silk protein for strength and softness
• Wheat protein for nutrient and moisture balance
• Yarrow for softening and conditioning

OK. Sounds good to me! But does it work?

YES! I use about a nickle side drop in my palms and distribute it evenly though the ends of my hair. I then take another nickle size drop and spread it lightly through the areas of my hair that tend to be drier or frizzier than other areas. The consistency is very liquid. very runny and it is a white semi opaque color. The smell....well...it's rather awful. It smells like plastic and vanilla. Like if a Strawberry Shortcake doll had a vanilla scented friend. It's rather disgusting. I'm not going to lie. THANKFULLY the scent disappears quickly.

What I get from using the product is soft hair. Soft and shiny! It can stand to go 2 days without a shampooing and it still looks and feels silky! I have silky hair! Do you know how long it has been since I had silky hair? Like let's see. I started coloring my hair in High School...carry the one...multiply by the square root of infinity. Yeah. A long long time.

The bottle is rather utilitarian, which is common for most Terax products. It's a stout baby blue plastic bottle with a flip up dispenser. Dull and boring, but at least I know I'm not paying for the packaging. The amount you get for $20 is HUGE. 6.7 fl. oz is probably going to last me ...umm.. the rest of my life...considering how little I use upon each application.

Who this product is NOT for. People with thick to coarse hair and people with normal to oily hair. This product is really best on people with very fine, dry hair. It's best as a leave in conditioner for fine hair because it won't weigh the hair down and it does not become greasy or oily. It contains no silicones but it smooths the hair shaft like some silicone products. If you have mild frizzies and fine hair this stuff is pure vanilla plastic gold!

Do you need this? Only if you have very fine hair that is dry from over processing or styling. But if you are very sensitive to fragranced hair care products you should skip it. It really is very oddly scented.

Ingredients: Deionized Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Alcohol, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow), Polysorbate 80, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Perfume (Fragrance), Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

Kat Von D Rock N Roll Eyeshadow Palette

**Warning. This review is not going to allow me to win friends and influence people. I may piss you off with my opinion about this product. For the easily offended and thinned skinned, read at your own risk.**

Kat Von D was introduced to me several years ago when I was watching Miami Ink. She was interesting looking. I liked her tattoos and I loved how talented she was. Fast forward to losing 30 pounds, mixed in with reality TV overexposure and she morphs into a caricature of herself. She becomes a bikini top wearing, loudmouthed, walking fashion don't. So what happens? She gets her own TV show and a cosmetic line from Sephora. Naturally! (I still find her incredibly talented as a tattoo artist.)

Recently Sephora's Beauty Insider 500 point "prize" was a Kat Von D eyeshadow palette. I wrote about it here. I think I even said I wasn't interested. But when my beauty bank reached almost 1,000 points I figured "why not" during the recent Friends and Family sale. I cashed in 500 points and got the palette. Call me a hypocrite. I'm OK with that. I changed my mind or perhaps I was caught up in the whole Friends and Family frenzy or perhaps I was so enamoured with the Givenchy Gloss as a 100 point perk I figured how bad could the 500 point "gift" be? Yeah. I was completely suckered. I admit it.

My F&F order arrives and my Kat Von D palette mocks me among the mounds of tissue paper in the box. I open the palette and it sure looks pretty. The colors are from the regular Kat Von D line of Rock N Roll Duo Eye Shadows. The duo shadows have a satin side and a shimmer side. so the colors are as such
Believer (Glitter) - Sparkly White
Confessional (pearl) - Shimmery Champagne
Groupie (pearl) - Iridescent Blue based Purple
and
Motorhead (glitter) - Glittery black.
So far so good. I'm pleased.


I swatch the shadows and well... they aren't as great as they look in the pan. The white is almost gritty and I think that perhaps I need a really, really good primer to have the sparkles show up. The champagne is decent enough. A good frost, a tad warm when compared with the other shades in the palette, The purple is very pretty and the pigmentation is decent. The black is sooty and the chunky glitter falls out upon application, again, another case for a decent primer.

The shadows don't wear as well as I would like. They tend to crease and fade after a few hours. That's even with a primer I like the fact that they included a neutral Champagne (Confessional) with the palette. I can use that as an all over wash with the White (Believer) as a highlight and close to the inner eye. The purple I have used as a crease color and liner color. It works well for both. It blends well but does seem to fade faster than most other shadows I own. The back is pigmented enough for a decent smokey liner and for a dramatic crease but honestly, the glitter causes so much fall out I would have rather had the satin version of it.

A few things that bug me about this palette are:
a) The brush it comes with is about as useless as tits on a bull. The brush is synthetic and flat and would be put to better use at the bottom of your trashcan.
b) The names are trying too hard to be edgy and cool. Urban Decay did this already. Move on. Try something new.
c) The Kat Von D line itself would be better suited for a 16 year old rather than me who is not 16 and not 40 but closer to one than the other.
OK. All you 20 somethings getting your panties in a bunch over me saying that the Kat Von D line is better suited for 16 year olds. I was using Hyperbole....so chill out you big babies!

Do you need this? Well honestly, if you have 500 points in your Sephora Beauty Insider bank you most likely do not. But I don't see them coming out with anything better for 500 points any time soon. HOWEVER. The Kat Von D Rock N Roll Eye Shadow Duos are a whopping $20 each and they are SOOO not worth that. So if you really love that purple color I guess 500 points when you have 1,000 isn't so bad. At least that's the justification I used. The other colors are not unique and you probably have a favorite Champagne, White and Black shadow in your collection already.

Blogger FTC Operations Change

As I am want to do, I have changed my mind about labeling my posts in order to comply with the FTC ruling for Bloggers.
See my original post here
I will no longer put "Purchase, Free Sample, Etc." in the Title of the post. I will now just be putting the the Purchase, Free Sample, etc. notification in the Label for the post. You know, the place where I put in eyeshadow, taupe, etc.
OK. So thanks for reading that. To pay you back for such boring legal mumbo jumbo here are pictures of Dior's Smokey Crystal Quint and swatches.
Enjoy.

And The Winner Is...

Congratulations to:

Margaret

She has been notified via the e-mail address she provided for the contest. Should she not contact me within 5 days another winner will be selected.

Thank you to all that entered. I expect to have a new contest by the end of the month!

Thursday Poll

Mr. Sith has been bugging me all week about what I want for Christmas/Hanukkah. To be quite honest, I really don't want anything. I think it's because when it's MY money being spent I'd rather spend it myself than leave it in the hands of someone else. I also don't know what I want until I have it. I like to browse and see what other people are getting, then maybe I might get inspired to get something using my own money on myself. And to really pull back the curtain, Mr. Sith isn't the best gift giver in the world. He over thinks the whole thing and ends up getting something I really do not want. I'm still trying to put the Christmas of Family Guy Action Figures behind me. This year I told him that I want him to get that Ineke Cologne that I like and for him to wear it. So basically buy a present for himself. Is that wrong? I will benefit from it, so I don't see the harm. Also I would rather spend money on Darthypie and watch him get excited over gifts. That's what giving is really about. The joy in a child's face as he opens up a Buzz Lightyear doll...for example...that's awesome. Anyway. I think I'm going to pass on a gift for me this year. What with all the sales and discounts I have plenty of makeup and perfumes and skincare. Maybe a nice pair of cashmere gloves.... On To The Poll!

1. Lip Of The Day? - Chanel Glossimer in Equinoxe. A lot more sheer then in the tube. It's so sparkly. It looks awesome over a berry lip stain!

2. What gift do you want for the holidays? - See above. Maybe a nice pair of gloves. I can never find a pair that has long enough fingers tho.

3. Latest beauty item disappointment? - I have to say that without a doubt Cover Girl Lash Blast Length. The one in the yellow tube. It did NOTHING for my lashes, relaxed the curl and looked like crap. nuff said. Straight in the trash it went.

4. What is your favorite meal for a cold and rainy day? - This awesome chick pea soup. You puree the chick peas at the end of the cooking time...drizzle the soup with extra virgin olive oil and eat it with a big hunk of crusty bread. Yumalicious!

5. When you get new makeup, do you use it right away or wait a while? - I used to use it as soon as I got in my car to drive home, but now, because I have this blog and I want to take pictures of un-touched cosmetics I wait. It's difficult to do so, but I wait until I can get a decent picture.

Last Day To Enter The Giveaway!

That's right.
Don't forget to enter the Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain giveaway!
The winner will be announced on Friday the 13th!
♪ ♫ Dun Dun Dun! ♪ ♫
Despite the ominous date, one lucky winner will be announced.

CLICK HERE to get to the post and scroll down to the entry form.
Good Luck!

Purchase - Fresh Soy Face Cream

image from fresh.com

As the weather turns colder and I grow older my skin is getting drier. I go from an oil slick in the summer to a mildly oily T-Zone in the winter. Just like changing your wardrobe for the seasons, one should also change their skin care routine. An item I like to add to my cold weather skin care wardrobe is Fresh Soy Face Cream.

Now I will admit that more often than not, Fresh products are overrated and overpriced. Worst yet, some of their products don't even do what they claim to do...but The Soy Face Cream is a diamond in the rough! According to Fresh this cream is "enriched with natural protective soy proteins, restorative rose water, soothing cucumber extract, nourishing meadowfoam, and jojoba seed oils that work together to provide moisture and promote collagen synthesis." The cream also contains "...antioxidant-rich tea complex and an infusion of vitamins A, C, and E..." The cream is also touted as a "...paraben-free daily moisturizer for all skin types. It is enriched with moisture-retaining amino acids and protective antioxidants to hydrate and smooth the skin." This all sounds good. But do the claims ring true?

The Fresh Soy Face Cream retails for $38 for 1.7 oz. That's not bad actually, considering my other favorite skin cream costs twice that much. The product itself comes in a tube, so you determine how much to use at each application. Honestly I find a pea sized amount patted (not rubbed) onto my skin covers well. On colder days I might use a touch more and concentrate on the drier areas of my face. The scent is a mix of rose and lemon. I think the lemony rose scent is nice and refreshing, but those that do not like scented skincare or fruity sweet scents should steer clear of this cream. The cream is thick but not Crisco thick, the consistency is that of a well made pudding....mmmmmm pudding....anyway. The cream absorbs quickly into my skin and it leaves it smooth and feeling moisturized. However, drier skinned people may find it lacking a bit in moisture. I think this face cream works well on normal to combination skin and could benefit some more oily skinned people that tend to get drier in colder weather.

After a solid month of use I have noted NO increase in breakouts, so at least I know the cream does not cause acne for me. As with any product, your results may vary. I only apply this cream at night as it is a bit too emollient for day time wear, but people with drier skin may find that it is a great cream to wear under makeup. In the morning, after I have had this on all night, I wake up to brighter and more balanced skin. I don't seem to be AS oily in my T-zone as I was a month ago, but I'm not going to credit the cream with that, since the weather has changed so much, it could be environmental reasons for the change. It is rumored that soy products help brighten the skin, but I honestly have not read enough research to claim that it really does do this...the brightening of my skin could be attributed to a number of factors...but regardless, it does look better in the morning each time I use the cream at night. My skin also feels smoother and seems to have a tad more elasticity to it. All in all. I'm very happy with this cream. It's a no brainer for me. It doesn't break me out, moisturizes, makes my skin look bright and fresh and smells wonderful. What's not to love?

Do you NEED this? Well. I say maybe. With skin care it's so subjective, but if you have normal to combo skin, are looking for a mild cream that moisturizes well this might be a good item to try. Try to get a sample, as I always suggest with skin care, first.

Ingredients: Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Stearic Acid, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Fragrance (Parfum), Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Sucrose Polysoyate, C14-22 Alcohols, Sea Water (Maris Aqua), Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Jojoba Alcohol, Potassium Jojobate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol.

Purchase - Fyrinnae Eye Shadow in Knickers In A Twist

There are shadows in this world of Mythic Proportions. Shu Uemura ME Silver 945, Chanel Vega, Lancome Erica F, and MAC Moth Brown to name a few. What makes them mythical is that these shadows are either discontinued or very hard to find. Many people, instead of paying an arm and a leg for one of these coveted shadows, try to find a duplicate or "dupe". Dupes are not always exactly the same, but sometimes they come so close that they can be just as good as the original. Today I bring you a dupe for MAC Moth Brown.

MAC Moth brown is of mythical fame. A limited edition shadow release twice (Originally in the Madame B collection in 2005 and again in the Barbie collection in 2007) the dark purple taupe looks different on different people. Moth Brown has many haters and just as many admirers. It really is a unique color and I have yet to find a shade that is even close to the beauty of this MAC shadow. that is until I found Fyrinnae Knickers In A Twist.

This dark purple taupe color is infused with bronze shimmer from Fyrinnae was my hope for a close dupe to the coveted MAC Moth Brown. Knickers In A Twist is the name of this shadow from Fyrinnae. Originally dubbed Sir Loin Of Beef, Fyrinnae got such flak for naming it that, and the space between "sir" and "loin" kept disappearing in usage, they decided to change it. Now I don't know who would object to the name of an eyeshadow, but honestly I have my suspicions. And to those that objected to the original name of this shadow I have this to say to you:
If THAT is what offends you OH SO MUCH you have serious issues and need to perhaps open a news paper and look at the atrocities happening in the world. Perhaps direct one tenth of your "outrage" towards finding a solution to one of those problems and the world might be a better place. Jeesh. It's JUST A NAME FOR EYESHADOW! Don't Get Your Knickers in a Twist over it..... Hahaha. Get it? Knickers in a twist! OK. Moving on.
The texture of this shadow from Fyrinnae is smooth and very pigmented. a little goes a long way. Since it's loose you may need to practice the best way to apply and experience with the right amount of pigment that works for you. The bronze shimmer is very subtle but it adds depth to the taupe. You can apply it dry for a sheer look, pat it on to add more color, or apply it wet for a more intense color or as a liner. Any way you choose to wear it you are going to get a gorgeous deep purple taupe that is blendable and almost as much of a chameleon as MAC Moth Brown is. Compared to some other purple taupes you can see how MAC Moth Brown and Fyrinnae Knickers In A Twist are very close in color. HOWEVER the Fyrinnae shadow can be intensified by applying with a heavier hand and/or using it wet. MAC Moth brown, no matter how much you pack it on, still stays the same color and it does not change very much when applied wet. Now I admit that Fyrinnae Knickers In A Twist does not show as much purple as moth brown, but honestly, I think that may be a plus for those that didn't appreciate the purple in that shadow. It also has some subtle bronze sparkle, which can be lightly buffed out if absolutely necessary, but honestly it isn't that noticeable.

Do you NEED this? Yes. I think that this shadow is versatile enough that even if you already own MAC Moth Brown you will genuinely enjoy Fyrinnae Knickers In A Twist as much, if not more. Better yet, at a low low price of $5.25 for a full size jar and minus $3.50 for 1/4 of a tsp. (total $1.75) how could you pass it up?

Don't Forget To Enter The Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain Giveaway!

That's right.
Don't forget to enter the Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain giveaway!
The winner will be announced on Friday the 13th!
♪ ♫ Dun Dun Dun! ♪ ♫
Despite the ominous date, one lucky winner will be announced.

CLICK HERE to get to the post and scroll down to the entry form.
Good Luck!

Purchase - Iman Luxury Eye Defining Powder in Wicked

I realized the other day that while I swatched the Iman Luxury Eye Defining Powder in Wicked when I did a guest post over at The Gloss Menagerie I never really reviewed the shadow for you all. So here ya go!

Iman is an iconic beauty. It doesn't hurt to have perfect bone structure, height and gorgeous skin...but being married to David Bowie makes her that much cooler. Iman has had a small makeup line since 1994, but in 2004 Iman merged with Procter & Gamble which was a great union because it made Iman cosmetics more available! You can see Iman's entire line of cosmetics HERE.

One item from the line, which I adore is The Luxury Eye Defining Powder in Wicked. A silver taupe to rival MAC Smoke & Diamonds and Stila Diamond Lil. It has very little glitter if any, the pigmentation is intense and thick. It's a metallic taupe that really is best suited for an evening look but if applied correctly it could be sheered out a bit for a day time look.

The powder comes in a tube with a sponge tip wand applicator. It takes a bit getting used to applying with the sponge tip, but once you lean to tap off the excess shadow on the applicator and pat, not swipe the shadow on your lids you are an ace. The powder makes a beautiful smokey eye and can be blended and sheered out for a less intense look. I still find myself using a small flat brush for lining under my eyes, but overall I think the applicator is decent.

Do you NEED this? Well. if you aren't a taupe hoor like me, probably not...but I say probably not if you already own the following: MAC Smoke & Diamonds or Stila Diamond Lil or Benefit Where There's Smoke or NYX Dune. But if you like the idea of an easy smokey eye with a decent sponge tip applicator for ease of use. I say go for it. It retails for about $10.99 on drugstore.com. Oh there are 3 other shades. a pretty Ivory, Gold and Black with shimmer. YUM!

Thursday Poll

Fall is in full swing. Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving (for the US) is right around the corner. In no time at all it will be the winter holidays and people will be rushing about and wrapping gifts. So naturally it makes sense to start thinking about Spring Collection for cosmetics. I believe we were in the middle of July when we started seeing the fall and winter collections from Chanel, Guerlain, Lancome and the like, so why not start creating lemmings for Spring makeup in November. One of my favorite places to see new collections is BritishBeautyBlogger. She has great pics from Dior Spring, Guerlain Spring and Chanel Spring to name a few. First I must say that I am IN LOVE with the blush from Guerlain Cherry Blossom Spring collection. Seriously. I am so buying 2 of them one to use and one to put in a shrine and adore daily. Yeah it's that pretty! So is it wrong to start thinking about Spring BEFORE it has even snowed, before we've popped the champagne for New Years, before Valentines day? Of course it's not wrong. Duh. It's makeup! That's like saying creating a shrine to a blush is wrong....oh. never mind. On to the poll!

1. Blush Of The Day? - Chanel Joues Contrase Blush in...wait for it... PINK F*CKING SATIN! OK. the real blush name is Pink Satin, but OMG. I have been wanting this blush for a long long time. It has been long since discontinued and Chanel's Peter Phillips does not seem to favor cool pink blushes so I doubt I will see another cool pink blush like this for a while. Cool Pink and shimmery. It is LOVE in baked powder form.

2. What is your favorite flower? - Granted it's hard to pick just one But I really do love Tulips, aside from the scent the perfect simple delicate petals are my favorite.

3. What is your favorite Blush brush? - Mine is the MAC 116 Blush brush. It's soft and the perfect size...but I'm always looking for a new brush.

4. What do you keep in your wallet aside from money, cards and pictures? - A fortune from a fortune cookie that I liked and a bicentennial quarter.

5. Do you plan your face of the day around your outfit for the day or do you plan your outfit for the day around your Face of the day? - Usually I pick out my outfit the night before and then I plan my face of the day around it. But on the weekends I do the opposite. I obviously need therapy.

Purchase - Yves Saint Laurent Ombre Solo Double Effect Eye Shadow No. 04 Mink Brown

As some of you may or may not know. I have a slight obsession with taupe eyeshadow. I'm not a fan of bright colors. (Not on me. I adore them on others, when applied correctly) but honestly, with taupe you can't go wrong. You can't screw up taupe shadow too much. Sure it can be screwed up, but you have to really work at it to screw it up. That's why, when starting out with eyeshadow I always recommend a light champagne and pretty taupe to start.

One of my favorite mistake proof taupe eye shadows is Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Ombre Solo Double Effect Eye Shadow in No. 04 Mink Brown. YSL has some very nice shadows, however they can be in the VERY expensive range. This particular shadow retails for $28.50. Now before you get your panties in a bunch, let me explain that you a) don't have to buy this if you don't want to and b) never have to pay full price. Sites like Strawberrynet.com and ebay (if you are careful) are great resources for cosmetics at a discount.It had been several months since I purchased anything from StrawberryNET.com, so they send me a "please come back" e-mail promising me 10% off my purchase + my regular loyalty bonus of 7.5% and an additional 5% if I order more than 3 products, not to mention free shipping. Sooo 22.5% was enough to bring me back. I purchased the YSL eyeshadow and 2 other items and in no time flat my pretty package arrived. Let's see. the Shadow was discounted 4% on the website so it was already reduced to $27.50 + 10% we miss you bonus, that's $24.75 + the 7.5% loyalty bonus that's $22.89 and the 5% 3 or more items purchase I get the shadow for $21.75...which is about the cost of a MAC eye shadow with tax. Not too shabby.

OK. enough about my guilty justification about price. On to the actual shadow.
The tiny, and I mean tiny, gold box opens to reveal a lovely brownish cool taupe with a large section of the brown cool taupe and a tiny section of the same color with more frost infused into it. The shadow itself is buttery soft but not powdery. The pigmentation is wonderful. Both shadows have quite a bit of shimmer, but no glitter thankfully! The taupe itself has a pretty brown base but enough gray mixed in with it to give it a cool/neutral appearance. The shimmery side is remarkably cooler and frostier but pair perfectly with the brownish taupe.The shadow can be worn alone for a dramatic smokey eye. (Applied heavier at the base of the lid up to below the crease and then blended/sheered out slightly beyond the crease.) or it can be combined with a pretty light warmish pink or Champagne and used as a crease and/liner color. This shadow makes a wonderful crease shade adding dept to eyes that may not be as deep set as you want them to be. Applied with an eyeshadow base, this shadow lasts all day with no creasing what so ever. Because it is so pigmented a little goes a long way. you need only introduce your brush briefly to the shadow and apply to your lid. I like to pat the shadow on with the brush and then smooth it out to blend. Speaking of blending. this shadow blends beautifully. It does not get chalky or grainy. it just sheers out wonderfully. The lighter section can be used as a slight highlight, but as you can see by the swatches, the combination of the two is magical as well.

Do you need this? Am I ever going to say no? OK. I admit I have said no to taupes in the past, but this is one that you would love. So YES! You need this. Don't let the small size fool you. the pigmentation combined with the wear and versatility is a great every day shadow to last you a long time!

Purchase - Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Pale Mauve

The other day I believe I finally killed my desire to collect every light pink lipstick on the planet. How did I do this you ask? Well I purchased a Bobbi Brown lipstick.
The End. Done.
Whew that was a short post.
What? You want more detail?

OK. I purchased a Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Pale Mauve #73 and it felt and looked like corpse makeup. Not that I know what corpse make up looks like or feels like, but I imagine that if I were a corpse that this is the lipstick they would apply to my cold dead lips. OK. That’s not fair to corpses. This lipstick isn’t even good enough for corpses.

Let’s start with the color shall we? In the tube. A mildly neutral milky pink. OK so far. On the lips?
Well you get the picture. YIKES! Who died? No. No one died. That’s just me in a craptastic color.

You might be thinking. “Errrrm. Elvira. Aside from you being incredibly morbid and gross perhaps, and I say this only as a slight possibility, Perhaps you might have just picked the wrong color for your complexion.”

A) You don't have to be so patronizing and B) OK. Maybe this was not the best color choice. I admit that. I have other gorgeous light neutral pink lipsticks that I could use. This was a mistaken purchase. I was given the wrong formula and color. Since I cannot return…because I realized it too later after I bought it…don’t ask. I decided to give the lipstick a try…regardless of it being the wrong formula and color.

Upon application I exclaimed, “Holy crap, put a wick in that lipstick and light it because this stuff is waxy as hell!” It literally dragged on my lips. The lipstick has no slip. Applying this lipstick was akin to smearing a candle across my lips. One of the more unpleasant experiences with lipstick I have ever had.

My question is: How the heck does Bobbi Brown stay in business with a lipstick this awful? Seriously!

Do you NEED this. Hell NO! please read above for my reasoning.

What I really wanted was a Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color lipstick in Pale Mauve. It was a sheer pink and glossy as heck. Smooth and creamy. But since my recent wretched experience I think I might swear off all light pink Bobbi Brown lipsticks for the rest of my life. Oh who am I kidding? I’ll swear them off until next season….maybe.

Purchase - Zoya Matte Velvet Nail Polish in Loredana

image from artofbeauty.com

I know you all are probably sick of Matte nail polishes. I know that you have read the good nail polish blogs months ago and have seen swatches of all the matte polishes. But I still need to profess my love for one matte polish in particular. Zoya Matte Velvet Nail Polish in Loredana. Yes. I know all this stuff because I'm psychic...or psycho...well whatever. You have read this far, you might as well finish right?

Zoya describes this color as a gunmetal grey with shimmer that is matte. Yeah, I know you might find matte polishes dull. (Pardon the pun) but the shimmer they infused into the Zoya Matte Velvet nail polishes puts these mattes in a different category that those other non shimmer filled mattes just can't compete. The shimmer adds depth and seems to make the matte look just that much better. Zoya has 6 shades of matte colors. and you can see there here. Fall 09 and Winter 09. Both collections are limited edition and the colors are freakin beautiful. There is a red in the Fall collection that is beautiful and I'm seriously lusting after the purple shade in the Winter collection.

Two things that annoy me about matte polishes.
a) Wear. These suckers chip fast. It doesn't matter if you paid $2 or $10 the polish is going to last 3 days max. Lack of base coat and top coat will make the polish chip faster than conventional polishes which are usually applied without such protectors.
b) Staining. I cannot tell you why I love dark nail polish so much, but I can tell you I am always religious about applying a base coat to protect against staining and yellowing of the nails. But matte polishes are recommend for use without a base coat, so therefore the dark matte colors stain my nails. That pisses me off. It doesn't make me so mad that I turn green, muscly and say thing like "Hulk Smash". No. It just makes me annoyed so much that I tend not to wear my matte colors as often as I want to. Which makes it sort of useless to own if I never wear it....duh.

So my post is not so much about how freakin awesome this matte polish looks and how much I love the color, it more of a plea to nail polish manufacturers to make matte polishes that work well with a base coat so I won't stain my nails. Because right now, I'm not wearing my lovely mattes, and that's a waste of money and polish. I'm not saying it is gonna happen, but one misplaced shot of gamma radiation and I'm going from Bruce Banner to Hulk in a few seconds and my yellow stained nails will so clash with my green skin. That would be embarrassing.