Review by Joeybunny - Taupes You Can't Have #6, Paul and Joe #23 Boulevard

Elvira and I have been torturing you all by featuring a taupe eye shadow that is discontinued (DCed) and/or hard-to-find (HTF) at the end of each month. We think this a deliciously evil way to tease and torture our readers. We are such sadists! Elvira and I have a large collection of DCed and HTF taupe eye shadows that we believed deserved love and publicity; besides, who doesn’t like to look at pretty taupes? The first month we featured MAC Innuendo, the second month we showed you Shu Uemura ME Silver 945. The third month was a taupe I personally hated (Joey hates a taupe?!), Cargo Yukon. The fourth month, a taupe Elvira doesn't even have, Isadora Eye Shadow in Icy Khaki was featured. Last month, we presented Club Monaco Quartz. So what do we have for you this month?

This month, I have Paul and Joe Eyeshadow in #23 Boulevard. Yes, yet another Paul and Joe rave from Joey. I’m sorry I’m so predictable.

If you remember any of my past reviews, then you’ll know that Paul and Joe discontinued their original line of eyeshadows and brought out a reformulated eyeshadow palette system a couple of months back; my review of the new shadows can be found here. However, I was really quite fond of the old eyeshadows, and especially of #23 Boulevard. Even Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book shares my enthusiasm of the color! Look at what she tweeted to me about it:

@glowyjoeybunny Ahhhh - I see. I have that and LOVE it. LOVE it so much I had to get a backup. Contemplates dupes now . . .

(FYI - Sabrina did an amazing overview of her Paul and Joe eyeshadow collection a few months back on her blog. Click here to see her swatches of #23, which are infinitely better than anything I can produce - thanks Sab, for being so awesome!)

Yup, this eyeshadow kicks ass. The color is a very interesting pinkish-mauve-taupe.; the shimmer in this shadow is enough to create a glowing effect, but isn’t so much that it seems metallic or glittery. Yes, this is a sophisticated, shimmering pink-taupe. Sounds bizarre, but the color is just stunning. It’s neutral enough to pair with colors of all undertones, and alone, it makes a luminous eye-opening wash of color. I especially love it with warm browns or a deep cool purple. Also, it wears extremely well with or without an eyeshadow primer underneath.

The semi-annoying issue with the old Paul and Joe eyeshadows had to do with the level of pigmentation of some of the lighter shadows. If you’re as Casper-white as Elvira (sorry slutbutt!), then the shades would have been fine for you. However, I have an issue getting my small collection of shades to show up on me, and Boulevard is no exception. I have to use this shadow wet for maximum color impact; luckily, these shadows were formulated to be used either wet or dry. Even when I would get makeovers at Bergdorf Goodman, the girls would always have to wet the eyeshadows first. Despite my issues with the new eyeshadows (which has to do with the size:price ratio), the new eyeshadows are much better than the old because their pigmentation levels are so much higher.

Despite this shortcoming, I was still very sad to see the shadows go, and Boulevard was definitely one of the stars of the collection. Sadly, the new shades have no color similar to Boulevard. What a tragedy! If you can find this shadow, I recommend picking it up. I have no dupes of the color, and it really is too lovely to pass up.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Pinkberry

I'm going to be the first to admit that I have always considered Estée Lauder brand cosmetics for old women. Now all you old women out there, don't get your panties in a bunch over that statement. It's just that in the 1980's when I was first forming my opinions about various cosmetic companies Estée Lauder was associated with old ladies. There was always a gaggle of old cronies around the Lauder counter whenever I walked by. Their overly powered faces showing all the signs of age an overly powdered face can show, only stood out more by the bright gash of lipstick smeared across their thin wrinkly lips. Let's not mention Youth Dew perfume which smelled like a funeral home on a busy Wednesday, I was turned off by the brand entirely.

Fast forward to the 2000's. I start hearing about Double wear makeup. I start hearing that it's a super foundation. I tried it and loved it. You can read about it here. Then I see Michael Kors has a cosmetic collection with Estée Lauder (I really like his fashion and shoes!!) then I see Estée Lauder signs one of the top and most sought after makeup artists, Tom Pecheux! I had to change my opinion of Estée Lauder and I had to change it fast.

During a gift with purchase promotion I purchased a full size bottle of the foundation and was eligible for the GWP...which included among other things a lipstick in the color Pinkberry. Now the first thing I judge a brand on is usually lipstick. It's the most accessible item and the one with the most colors. Have a crappy lipstick and you run the risk of having other crappy products as well. Since I had already discovered my love for the foundation, I had high hopes for the lipstick. Guess what? It didn't disappoint!

image from esteelauder.com

The lipstick freebie in my GWP was Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Pinkberry. Pinkberry is a soft pink nude. Very light but not sheer. It is a great nude pink that does not turn orange on my like so many pink nudes do. I like to pair this with a dark smokey eye to tone down the rest of my face and avoid the red lips/smokey eye Addicted To Love Robert Palmer vapid back up band look.

image from esteelauder.com

ANYWAY. I cannot comment on the case, but the product image shows a gold case with a clear bottom to show the product color in the tube. That seems good if you happen to have several of them in your purse at one time. I currently have over 10 lipsticks floating around in my purse at any given time. Granted, they are all different brands, but being able to see the color could be helpful. (Obviously, I have issues)


What I can comment on, is the lipstick itself. I'm not a fan a scented lipsticks, but some scents don't bother me. Estée Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting lipstick is scented with fig is a scent I can deal with. ...or as the website likes to say "Delicately fragranced with a delectable fresh fig scent." Yeah...um I don't want to eat this lipstick, but I understand that the guy in marketing working copy for the web has to "punch up" the description. The lipstick has an ever so slight taste to it but I can't tell if it's me tasting the "scent" of the fig or if I'm just hungry.

The lipstick in the tube has just an ever so slight shimmer to it, but it doesn't seem to show up once applied. The color is described almost as a matte and upon first application is has a nice sheen to it but I wouldn't call it shiny. The pink color is fairly light and seems to have a satin finish to it. Almost matte but not quite. The color stays true and does not turn orange or hot pink once applied. The lipstick is VERY pigmented. One swipe and your lip is covered. Pinkberry gives a nice opaque finish that if desired, could be blotted for a more sheer look or have gloss applied on top to add more dimension to the color.

The application itself is smooth and creamy. The lipstick has excellent slip (which means it glides across my lips easily) but also imparts a creamy texture upon application. If you don't like heavy feeling lipsticks then Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick might feel a bit heavy on you, but once it is applied it seems fine to me. The formula feels creamy on my lips and does seem to last a while...but since it is such a light color it's hard to tell when the fading begins versus a darker/brighter color fading. My lips never felt overly dry while wearing this and upon initial application the lipstick felt almost like a balm.

Do you NEED this? Well I can't believe that I am saying this, but Yes. This is a really nice lipstick. At $22 a tube it's priced slight higher than a MAC lipstick and slightly less than a Chanel Rouge Allure and you know what? I think the quality is higher than MAC but not as moisturizing as Chanel Rouge Allure. However, its a nice enough lipstick in a pretty enough color to be worthy of a full tube purchase. But thankfully mine was free! MUWAHAHAHAH Now I want to check out more of the Estée Lauder line. Once I got over my bias I have a whole new line of cosmetics to try!

Essie Pretty Edgy

OK. Let's face it. I'm a purple nail polish gal, I'm also a China Glaze/OPI/Nubar gal too. So when Essie (My least favorite high end brand of polishes) came out with a GREEN nail polish called Pretty Edgy, you wouldn't think I would buy it. AH HA! YOU would be wrong! You see. Green, specifically, kelly green is one of my favorite colors of all time. I have kelly green shirts, pants, sweaters, if I could find some I like, I would have kelly green bras! Kelly green is an awesome color that looks awesome on me, if I do say so myself. I'm about as white as a sheet of paper so really anything goes with white, kelly green goes best. Some interesting history about Kelly Green (according to Wikipedia and you know that they are ALWAYS correct (ha!)

"The name kelly green for the color originated in Ireland. The name derives from the fact that the surname Kelly, as well as the color green, are both popular in Ireland. The first recorded use of the term kelly green as a color name in English was in 1935."

Fascinating stuff huh? 1935? Really? That seems awfully late. Whatever.

OK. So what about the polish? Well in true Essie form, Pretty Edgy is sheer. Ugh. Essie and their freakin' sheer polishes! Thankfully after two heavy coats it looks opaque...after three coats you can't even tell there are brush marks. The picture above, is with only 2 coats, however they were heavy coats. The formula is runny and thin but surprisingly, not hard to work with. Drying time is typical and not very long. The polish dries to a nice shiny finish as well. No chips or flaking until the 3rd day of wear for me...and that's pretty decent as far as polish on my nails goes lately. I guess Essie brand polishes don't suck as much as I thought. I guess it's my aversion to sheers and neutrals that gave me the bad impression. I may have to collect more of the Essie colors that are bright and pretty!

This is a pure creme polish. No glitter, shimmer, pearl or metallic. It is perfection as far as kelly green goes and pretty good as far as formula goes. I find the tiny neck kinda a pain in the butt to use, but that's just me. I'm ham handed, fumble fingers, sloppy and shaky so the larger the top of the polish the better...your results may vary.

Do you NEED Essie Pretty Edgy? Probably not, but it's quite a departure from the typical soft pinks and nudes of Essie so why not pick up a bottle? Hold on to it for 10 years and then sell it on evilbay for $100, because you know some nail polish addict is going to pay money for that...not me because I already have my bottle, but someone will buy it...eventually. Oh and buy a second bottle for your personal use because it makes a great pedicure color for the summer!

My Guest Post on Beauty Debutante!

image from urbancowgirl.com

Hi all:
Just wanted to let you all know that I did a guest post on Beauty Debutante today.
UrbanCowgirl 5 Minutes to Gorgeous Kit
I'll be doing a few more reviews for this new beauty blog so I recommend that you all check out my review and the other awesome reviews on this site!
-Elvira

The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

Phyrra shows you Aromaleigh's new collection, Lost in Faerie!

The Makeup Divas reviews the Infiniti by Conair You Curl iron and shares pictures of her daughters hair that she did by using the You Curl iron.

The Pink Sith performs a public service by warning you about the new Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer.

Ilana from Painted Ladies discusses the importance of reading labels in cosmetic products.

A Touch of Blusher reviews two facial serums from Bakel.

My Guest Post on Beauty Crazed blog

What do Sephora for OPI Chic Prints for Nails and Vampires have in common?

They Both SUCK!

Read more about it by going to www.beautycrazed.ca

And check out the rest of the blog. Lisamarie and Christelle are the cutest Canadian Cyber Punk *Sluts in **Canada!


*Not actually sluts
** Actually in Canada

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer

image from Sephora.com

I realized the other day that I have not shared with you my absolute love and adoration for Make Up For Ever’s Full Cover Concealer (MUFE Full Cover). It is by far the best crème concealer I have ever used in my entire lifetime. That’s saying something as I have used and I have professed my love for several concealers of the decades. But as far as crème type/tube type concealers go Make Up For Ever is my favorite. You see how I said crème type / tube type concealers and left out stick and potted concealers? Yeah. That means two things.
1) I have used too many concealers in my lifetime and
2) I don’t want to contradict myself when you eventually read old posts about my love for Cle de Peau and The Balm concealers.
I’m clever and sneaky that way.

As you can probably guess, since I have favorites in different categories of concealers, it’s not hard to please me as far as concealers go.
My criteria:

• Match my skin tone
• Cover well
• Stay in place

If I answer is “Yes” to those 3 questions I’m happy. So why is MUFE Full Cover so beloved? Well let me tell you why.

MUFE Full Cover Concealer is available in over 13 shades so, if/when I tan or get paler (is it possible for me to be whiter? Yes. Yes it is.) I have a few variations in color to choose from. I currently use #4 but they just started to sell #3 at Sephora so I might pick that up. #2 is far too pink for my liking.

The coverage is exceptional and long lasting. The opaque crème covers acne and acne scars brilliantly. It covers under eye circles, and if used with the appropriate tools (Brush, sponge, powder), you can be successful in covering a tattoo with it.

It’s versatile enough to mix with your favorite moisturizer and use as a tinted moisturizer.
It’s waterproof. It’s not going to budge once it is set and, should you need it, you can wear it to the beach/pool and not worry about it sliding off your face when you get in the water. I went swimming with Darthypie at the local pool and my acne scars were covered the entire time. I can finally feel confident going to the pool without feeling like I’ll look like a monster when I get out of the water. (If only it was slimming, I would put it all over me.)

The 0.05 oz tube packs a highly pigmented punch. A little goes a long way as far as coverage and pigmentation. I have had my current tube for over a year and I use it every day. The price tag is $30 and some of you may find it expensive. But if you think about not having to buy a concealer or tinted moisturizer for over a year, it makes that $30 go a long way. Price per use is phenomenal.

Do you NEED this? Yes. Yes you do. A concealer that won’t break you out, covers perfectly, stays in place and is pennies per use? How could you NOT need this?

Thursday Poll

My birthday is next Friday (July 2nd) and for my birthday this year I would like the following. To have the freedom and benefits of being an adult without the responsibility. In other words I don't want to worry about paying bills, taxes, cleaning, getting my car repaired....Oh don't get me started on my car. I just found out I need about $2700 worth of work done to it. And it's not stuff even Mr. Sith can fix (He's pretty handy)! On top of that our dryer is on the fritz. We think it needs a new motor. Yep. That's right. It won't start. It makes this awful sound when you try to start it...it sounds like a mechanical duck being strangled. Lovely huh? On top of the broken car and dryer, our Air Conditioner unit is so old that it qualified for Social Security Benefits last week. We will soon need to replace that and with a 100+ degree day forecast for the end of ONLY June I think I'm screwed. Now this may seem trivial to some...but let me put it in perspective for you. If have to pay for all that stuff BEFORE I can buy items from Chanel's new Fall 2010 collection. Yup. I thought that would make you see the agony I am in. Chanel's Fall 2010 collection has not just one but THREE new Joues Contraste blushes...and 2 are in the cool family! Do you know how long it has been since Chanel released 3 new JC blushes let alone cool toned ones? Arugh. It's killing me. Let's not even think about the new eyeshadow quad that had 2 count 'em 2 taupes and an eyeshadow single that is taupe. This Fall 2010 collection is looking to be one of Chanel's best in a long time. This is the kind of collection people will pine away for long after each limited edition Glossimer is gone. It sucks being an adult and having to put reliable transportation and clean clothing in front of new blush and eyeshadow. That's it. I'm too depressed to rant any further.
On To The Poll!

1. Blush Of The Day? - Chanel Joues Contraste blush in Pink Satin. Years old and long since discontinued. this medium pink blush has teeny tiny silver shimmer that blends in perfectly with your skin and gives a perfect flushed look.

2. You discover that the person you're head-over-heels in love with, loves a good homemade & handmade dessert. What will you make when you have this person over? - Pie. Nothing is easier or more impressive than making a pie for someone you love. The crust isn't as hard to make as people think it is, and you can make it as neat or as rustic (read= sloppy) as you like and it will still taste awesome. Plus. Nothing beats a Strawberry Rhubarb pie with fresh whipped cream.

3. Latest beauty acquisition? - Maybelline Falsies Mascara. I'm not sure if I love it as much as Maybelline Colossal Volume mascara but it's pretty mice. Definitely more volume than Colossal but the brush is kinda strange and a tad too flexible for my liking. Still though, a nice thick lash is the result. I'm biased toward Maybelline mascaras...it's my go to drugstore brand.

4. What is the longest book you ever read? - Ooh. This isn't easy because I want to tell you all it was something really classic or something that would make me look like a super duper intellectual, but the honest answer is Stephen King's IT. Freakin' long ass book with like a zillion characters and a killer clown. I still to this day have no idea how I read the whole thing in a few nights....especially considering my hatred of clowns.

5. What pricey products are worth their weight in gold? - La Mer Loose Powder. This powder is so finely milled and has the perfect amount of shimmer (don't worry you won't get a disco ball look from this) that it gives you an airbrushed finish every time. Plus a little goes a long way. A full jar will last longer than a year.

Femme Science Skin Care

image from http://cdn.womenshealthmag.com

About a month ago I was contacted by a representative at Femme Science Skin Care Products asking if I might be interested in trying some of their products. I’ll be honest with you. I was hesitant. I had never heard of the brand and I wasn’t sure if some random skincare company could really address the skin care concerns that I had. I decided to check out their website and do a bit of my own research.

Attention: Boring facts and information to follow. If you are ADD and just want to read the review, skip down a few paragraphs.

Femme Science, based out of Miami, FL, was created with a specific target audience in mind. Those not yet seeing the first signs of aging..but still wanting to prevent any aging from happening. Ah Ha! I said. That’s me….sort of. I mean I do have a few wrinkles around my eyes, but nothing that is noticeable to the average person. I only see them because I spend WAAAAAAAAY too much time in front of a 10X powered magnifying mirror. According to the Femme Science website the company claims it is “…the only effective and premium skincare line that focuses on skin preservation and is specially formulated for youthful skin.” That all sounds good to me. Preventative approach to anti-aging. Sign me up.

image from http://www.femmescience.com/

Age Control - Starter Wrinkles Treatment for Youthful Skin 1.7 oz. for $54 –
The first product I received was Age Control - Starter Wrinkles Treatment for Youthful Skin. This lightweight creamy lotion type serum goes on in the morning after you wash your face. It comes in a plastic pump dispenser and provides enough product for your entire face with just one pump. That’s a plus, as so many skin care brands are so wasteful with dispensing product. The unscented white lotion spreads evenly on your face. It absorbs quickly and leaves no sticky or oily residue. You are supposed to follow with a regular moisturizer. I found that while the Age Control wasn’t oily, it was rich enough that I only needed a light moisturizer for my oily skin. Those with dryer to normal skin might want to use something heavier. Please note that because of all the anti-aging ingredients in the Age Control treatment, it is NOT necessary to put an additional anti-aging type moisturizer on top of it. In fact, some of the anti-aging properties of products can interact with each other and you may end up doing more harm than good to your skin. So how do I know? Because It happened to me. I was using the Age Control WITH the Night cream and my skin started to get these strange clogged hair follicles on my upper lip that felt rough. GAH. I was developing an invisible mustache! As soon as I stopped using the products together on my skin, the rough patch went away. Now I just use the age control during the day and the night cream at night. Your results may vary. I recommend a light moisturizer like SPONGE Rose & Sage Cream or CELLNIQUE Intensive Hydrating Oasis Gel or even Oil Of Olay (Basic). Then follow with a sunscreen for added protection…

Hey Wait a second. Why doesn’t Femme Science have a Sunscreen? You totally need that. Talk about prevention of wrinkles. It starts with a good photo stable sunscreen. Just a suggestion.

OK. Back to the Age Control treatment. I didn’t experience any breakouts with this product. My skin never burned, never got dry & flaky and it never got red or irritated. What DID happen to my skin was a refining of the tone and texture of my skin. After 30 days of use I could definitely see a marked improvement in the past acne scars on my face as well as a noticeable smoothness to my cheeks and neck. Now this is not an anti-acne product so it didn’t prevent breakouts, but when I did have a small one associated with That Time Of The Month, I felt that the Age Control treatment helped cut the healing time in half and eliminated the craggy red blemish faster than a regular moisturizer. I noticed a significant change in the skin on my neck because for the first 2 weeks I wasn’t using the product on my neck. I started to feel my neck in relation to my face and my neck felt like sandpaper (OK not really but it didn’t feel smooth) I started using the Age Control on my neck as well as my face (2 pumps) and in two weeks time I noticed a dramatic change. That is a TOTAL WIN!
According to the Femme Science website some key ingredients are: CoQ10, Niacinamide, Beta Glucan, Oligopeptides, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Green Tea, Vitamins A, C, E.

image from http://www.femmescience.com/

Night Cream Skin Cell Renewal Treatment 1.7 oz for $44 –
The 2nd Product I tried was the Femme Science Night Cream Skin Cell Renewal Treatment. This thick and rich night cream seemed intimidating to an oily skinned gal like me, but with the promise of stimulating cell turnover during the night when our skin likes to heal best, I had to give it a try. The night cream comes in a plastic tub. I think you all know my disdain for cream products that don’t have a squeeze or pump dispenser. I find it too easy for bacteria from your fingers to get into the product and fester. The night cream didn’t even come with a mini spatula so I had to improvise and use a Q-tip every night to scoop out a little product. That’s my biggest gripe. ANYWAY. The cream is ever so lightly fragranced. I can’t put my finger on the scent but it’s not heavy and disappears quickly. The cream is thick and rich. It’s not overly greasy but it certainly wouldn’t be suitable for day wear (Hence the name “Night Cream”). A little goes a long way and I barely made a dent in the product before the 30 day trial period was over. I did notice some small whiteheads every morning for the first week of use. I think the squalane may have been a culprit as I have had this reaction in the past to products that contain that ingredient. However, after a week this “purging” period ended and I didn’t experience any more breakouts. I did wake up in the morning with noticeably smoother skin and it had a glow to it. It was a tad overly rich for my skin type (Oily) but normal to dry skin types will ADORE this cream. Now you oily ladies, let’s not forget that our skin needs hydration just as much as anyone else…especially those of you that use all sorts of toners and treatments to mattify and stop oil production. You know who you are. You are dehydrating your skin when you put all those potions and lotions to stop oil production. You need to give your skin a rest and nighttime is the best time to do it. This night cream worked so well on my oily skin that I found it less and less necessary (In conjunction with the Age Control treatment) to use mattifiers on my skin. I didn’t stop producing oil on my face, but my face was nourished enough that the oil production wasn’t in overdrive!
According to the Femme Science website, some key ingredients are: Acai, Avocado, Shea Butter, Glycerin, Green Tea, Squalene, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins A, C, E.

Do you NEED these products? Well I had a very positive experience. I had very low expectations and was very surprised at how well my skin reacted to these products. It was a refreshing break from overpriced skin care products I get at department stores and the mass produced lines that pay little attention to prevention as a key to anti aging. I didn’t like the initial whiteheads breaking me out and I didn’t like the rough skin reaction I got when I used too many anti-aging products on my skin at one time, But that’s my fault, not the product’s. I say if you are in your late 20's to 30’s and need a good preventative skin care line, this might be one to check out. I certainly am going to continue to use up the rest of the product I have…and hey, if they add a good photostable sunscreen for the face I’ll try that too!

Age Control Ingredients: ACQUA PURIFICATA (PURIFIED WATER), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDES, STEARIC ACID, ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE, PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE, CURCUMA LONGA ROOT (TURMERIC) EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, UBIQUINONE (COQ-10), NIACINAMIDE, SOYA STEROL, BETA GLUCAN, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE (VITAMIN C), RETINOL (VITAMIN A), POLYACRYLAMIDE, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, HYALURONIC ACID, CARBOMER, POLYSORBATE 20, POLYSORBATE 60, LECITHIN, CARNITINE, LAURETH-7, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, THIOCTIC (ALPHA LIPOIC) ACID, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), DMDM HYDANTOIN, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE.

Night Cream Ingredients: DEIONIZED WATER, JOJOBA ESTERS (JOJOBA), GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE, POLYACRYLAMIDE, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, LAURETH-7, SQUALANE (OLIVE DERIVED), OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE), PRUNUS AMYGDALUS (SWEET ALMOND), PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO), CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, EMULSIFYING WAX, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), EUTERPE OLERACEA (ACAI), VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BLUEBERRY), SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE), ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE), CITRUS AURANTUM DULCIS (ORANGE), CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON), CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA), GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN), CERAMIDE-2, ALLANTOIN, STEARETH-21, HYALURONIC ACID, HEXAPEPTIDE-11, ASCORBYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN C), DISODIUM EDTA, RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A), TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), FRAGRANCE, DMDM HYDANTOIN, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE.

Look at what happened to my poor dog because HE wouldn't use anti-aging skin care.

Don't let THIS happen to you!

Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer

image from Sephora.com

In my recent Sephora.com order I used a code to get a free sample of the new Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer. I love trying new shadow bases and I love finding ones that work...but not as much as I like finding ones that don't!

Does that make sense?

I like bashing products that suck because it makes me feel like I am performing a public service. I am essentially saving you $15 plus tax, because after you read this review you will clutch your Urban Decay Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance or ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base and promise to never stray.... At least that's what I did, after I was done test driving this Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer.First off. I cannot comment on the packaging of the product because I received a sample size, however looking at the photo, the Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer looks like your standard concealer packaging with a doe foot applicator in a straight tube. Hey, at least the tube is straight and CLEAR so you can see how much product you have left. That's pretty much the nicest thing I can say about this product. It's clear so you can see how much you have left, e.g. how much you are going to waste when you buy a new eyeshadow base because this one sucks.

Let's start with the obvious problem. It's an eyeshadow base that is also touted as a concealer. It is tinted a light greyish peach color...so pigmented that if anyone with lids darker than a MAC NC25 wears it, the base will show up as a greyish white peach color on your lids. Attention women of color. I may be pigmentally challenged (read: lilly white) but I have not forgotten about my sisters that are dark and lovely. This eye base that is also dubbed as a "concealer" is so light it will make your lids look ashy. Who wants ashy looking lids? I digress.

The real problem with Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer is that is DOES NOT WORK! Seriously. My shadow creases AND fades so badly when I use it that I would be better off NOT using a base at all.

The first time I used the Sephora: Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer, I wore a Chanel liquid shadow on top, went to see the movie Toy Story 3, and cried my eyes out. I came home to creased and faded shadow. I assumed my shadow disappeared because I was crying and because it was a liquid shadow.

I cleaned up my lids and applied a new coat of the Kat Von D shadow base and then a MAC eyeshadow over it. (Satin Taupe to be exact) I went to grandma's house with Darthypie, played at the park and on the drive home I noticed that my eyeshadow had creased and faded after 3 short hours of wear. I chalked it up to high temperatures and unusually high humidity. I told myself tomorrow will be different.

Well tomorrow came and I used the Kat Von D Shadow Base a third time. This time I used my trusty Bobbi Brown eyeshadow. This stuff NEVER creases on me...even without a base. I look at my lids after 4 hours of wear and not only is the shadow creased but it's completely faded! I am in a nice cool and dry office environment. I have not been rubbing my eyes or applying overly oily eye cream to my lids. This is not the fault of the shadow because I have experienced almost 15 hours of perfect crease free/fade free wear from this shadow in the past.

My highly scientific (insert sarcasm here) experiment has led me to the conclusion that the Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer is a suckfest of the highest order.

Do you NEED this? Hell no. Steer clear of this farce of an eyeshadow base. I am not afraid to tell you when a product sucks. This is one of those times when I advice you to save your money and in fact SAVE money and buy ANYTHING but this. (OK not anything. The Too Faced eyeshadow base in First Base is pretty terrible too.)

This post contains an affiliate link for Sephora and Sephora.com. Affilate links gives the Pink Sith Blog a commission when you click and purchase something from that link. It's just like a retail associate who works on a commission basis. When you shop through an affiliate link on Pink Sith you help support the site! 

Sally Hansen Opulent Cloud

I'm not a matchy matchy person. I don't have to have a bag match my shoes, My blush match my lipstick (Who does that anyway?) but if I find a match of a color I adore then you know I'm going to get it. For example. If I found a green liner to match the kelly green of my Kate Spade bag I would buy it in a heartbeat. If I found a nail polish to match my coveted MAC Sweet Sienna pigment then I would get it in a second. Well as you can see from the pictures above I found a pretty close match with Sally Hansen HD in Opulent cloud.

No let me say this. I am not. and I stress NOT a fan of Sally Hansen HD polishes. They are overly sheer and the colors just don't grab me. Sure, Sally Hansen is doing an excellent job with color selection and innovative brush design, but the HD polishes are just ... Meh. It normally takes 3 coats to get an opaque look to the polish or to resemble anything the looks like the color in the bottle.

MAC Sweet Sienna Pigment

So why am I so excited about this color? Well I guess I'm excited because the color is a nice grey with a gold duochrome that makes the finished nail look like tarnished silver....or MAC Sweet Sienna pigment. That's kinda cool...I guess. I'm sad that the pictures I took didn't show the gold duochrome as much as I wanted, but honestly it's very much like MAC Sweet Sienna pigment. However I am hesitant to put "Taupe" in the tags for this post only because well it reads more blue/grey then taupe...but if I was in a generous mood I guess I could call it taupe.

Now I have heard that Sally Hansen HD Opulent Cloud is hard to find. I found several bottles at my local Walgreens...so I'm not sure if that was a fluke or not. But when it comes to my "Do you NEED it" question, I'm gonna say YES only because it's the first Sally Hansen HD polish that I like, that was opaque after 2 coats and is unique enough, color wise, to warrant purchase. It's not a holy grail by any means...but it nice to look at and to match with your eyeshadow.

Have you seen this color at your local store? Would you buy it?

The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

Phyrra's Indie Spotlight for June is an exclusive interview with Evil Shades Cosmetics!

A Touch of Blusher counts down the best summer 2010 makeup collections.

Raging Rouge introduces readers to Marina Cosmetics Sea Perfected Lipstick.

The Pink Sith waxes poetic and extols the benefits of using Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil.

The Makeup Divas reviews tarte new matte park ave princess waterproof bronzer and is also giving away one. Hurry and enter today!

Painted Ladies talks to Nolan Robert, winner of Lifetime's Blush and creator of Nolan Robert Cosmetics.

Elke falls in love with Nexxus.

Beauty Blog Link Love

Over at theNotice, Rae talks about a new Burt's Bees lip balm... and how it reminds her of an old Lip Smacker!

Maggie shares this Foxy dupe of Too Faced's Sexpresso and Peachfuzz duo over at The Polka-Dotted Apple.

Kim Porter talks about a miracle moisturizer that's also a makeup primer, remover, and more!

Vesna from Beauty addict blog discovered one of her blushes is fake, so read this post to find out how to spot a fake Benefit Coralista!

Head over to Beautifully Glossy to discover a lip balm that GlossQueen thinks is an essential.

Glitter Geek is obsessed with everything sparkly, and she puts a glistening spin on the summer smoky eye.

Need some wedding makeup ideas? Check out Audrey Dao's wedding looks!

Pop over to melovemakeup for swatches and thoughts on the New Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks!

Get the only 10 tips you'll ever need for a fool-proof fake tan on beautywoome.com.

Champagne, French macarons and make up... Hellcandy spends an indulgent afternoon with Terry De Gunzburg, founder of By Terry.

Vex in the City takes a look at Mai Couture's Blush Papier - blush with a difference!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed discovers the joy that is cream blushes!

Eyelining Obsession thinks you shouldn't have to spend a fortune on great eye brushes.

You can wear nudes too! Spiced Beauty shows off MAC Lovin' it Lipstick with lip swatches.

Jen from A Beauty Junkie in London has been feeling all posh whilst checking out Estee Lauder's new Pure Colour Shadow.

Retrodiva splurges a bit with Chanel's Coco Rouge and Red Shine Glossamer. Find out if she thinks it's worth it!

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Want to win a $100 gift voucher for all your skincare needs. Head over to Yinnie's blog to check out the details!

Origins Eyeshadow in Frosty Fudge

purchase for free shipping by picking up an eyeshadow and You know how you look for an item to get you up to the free shipping threshold for on line orders? You know how you usually look for things like Q-Tips or Pantyhose or some other small item? well instead of Q-Tips I get Taupe Eyeshadow. I usually try to round up to the minimumpreferably in taupe. This time, during a recent drugstore.com purchase I found myself lacking the total to get free shipping...so instead of buying contact solution or breathe right strips I got Origins eyeshadow in Frosty Fudge!

I know what you all are thinking. "Elvira! You don't need another taupe eyeshadow! Don't you have like 3 kazillion of them already?" And here is my response oh judgemental reader.
Yes. I do in fact have 3 kazillion taupe shadows but YOU don't and I'm your humble taupe servant and I NEED to review all taupe shadows so YOU my lovely reader will find the perfect taupe for your collection. I buy taupes so you don't have to....or so you can too....whichever works for you.

OK. Now that I have successfully rebuffed your Judgey McJudgeypants comment I can go on with the review. You never know. You might just thank me. Most likely you will curse me, but I'm cool with that. I like hearing new swear words and teaching them to Darthypie to use at school. Then I act all shocked when the teachers tell me what he said that day. It's great fun. Last week he was using "poopy butt", which by the way I had been saying to him for ages since he was in diapers and actually had a poopy butt when I was changing him. I had no idea this was a bad thing to say...now I know...and knowing is half the battle. Come to think of it. I guess I shouldn't be taking about Darthypie's poopy butt when I'm reviewing an eyeshadow with the word "fudge" in the name. Oh well. Too late. The image has been created.

So the eyeshadow from Origins was a first for me. I have been somewhat neutral about Origins. It's not that I don't like them, it's just I never considered them for color cosmetics. I saw them more for skincare...they have an excellent charcoal mask you all should try. I figured why not try them...it's taupe after all!

Now I apologize that my EOTD does not show the true glory of this beautiful neutral dark taupe. It's really not happy with it at all, so don't judge the shadow by my poor application. Imagine MAC Greasepaint Stick in Dirty, but in powder form! Yes. The color is excellent, and unlike the greasepaint stick from MAC, the POWDER shadow for Origins is blendable, long lasting and smooth in application. Now imagine using the Dirty Greasepaint Stick under Origins Frosty Fudge eyeshadow...yeah. you know it would look awesome. Sadly I didn't have time to do that kind of eye to show you, but just imagine it...it also might help get that other image from earlier out of your head.

Do you NEED this? Yes. I think for $14 USD and for the same amount of a MAC shadow this is an excellent taupe to add to your collection. It's a great neutral that goes well with warm and cool colors. It makes a super crease color and would make an excellent smokey eye. It's awesome as a liner color, because there is little to no powder fallout and it's not too frosty that it would make some of us with older eyelids look even more ancient. Best yet, the formula is creamy and soft and the powder is insanely pigmented, yet is blends effortlessly. I would buy other shades from Origins in the future.

Thursday Poll

Did you notice when you woke up this morning the sun shone a little brighter. Did you notice the air was a little fresher and the birds songs a bit tweetier? When you had your morning cuppa did you notice it was a bit sweeter? Did you notice your hair was a bit better, your smile wider and your makeup a bit more perfect than usual? Do you know why this is? It's because JOEYBUNNY'S BIRTHDAY is today! Yes. Back in 1958 Our sweet Joeybunny was born. She quickly took up residency in The Bronx, NY and in 1978 rose to fame as that Puerto Rican chick with the awesome hair. In 1962 Joeybunny entered first grade and immediately learned to read and write. She was a child genius and easily excelled in school and all things awesome. In 1984 Joeybunny set out on her own to make it on the hard streets on Manhattan. Quickly earning her college degree in 1998, she knew she would take the world by storm. In 2003 Joeybunny realized that there was more to life than being smart and talented and pretty. She decided that she would also become a fixture at her local Bergdorf Goodmans department store. In 2012 she met Mr. Edward Bess who was so enchanted by her, he almost named his entire makeup line after her. It was then that Joeybunny found one of her many callings. In 2008 she generously offered to write a review for The Pink Sith Blog. Her take on all things beauty was so well received that she started her own blog The Eyes Have It, a look into her secret world of eyeshadow hoarding and expert application of said shadows. But this venture was not a departure from the Pink Sith blog. No quite the contrary. In 2007 she realized that she could have her cake and eat it too. So that is why she currently writes for The Pink Sith and other blogs around the interwebz. Today, being that is is her 42nd birthday...and might I add she does not look a day over 23...I dedicate this Thursday Poll to my wonderful, smart, beautiful, talented, caring, funny, sassy, and cherished friend, Joeybunny! I love you! Happy Birthday!

1. Since Joeybunny has a blog about eyeshadows Let's start with an Eye Of The Day. - Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Ruthless, Origins Frosty Fudge, Chanel La Ligne de Chanel (cake liner) in Noir and Dior Show Waterproof Mascara in Black.

2. Joeybunny is just a nickname. Her name is Josie. Do you have a nickname? - Mine is EB. (My initials before I got married) It was started by a co-worker as a joke and it just kinda stuck...Plus it's easier to use when meeting new people that can't pronounce my real name.

3. Joeybunny is known for her wonderful hair. She blogged about a recent trip to the Ouidad salon as a hair model. What is your hair like? (curly, wavy straight, long, short, blonde, black, etc.) - I have medium wavy thin hair that is a light brown (wish it was blonde).

4. Joeybunny is obsessed with taupe eyeshadow. What is your beauty obsession? - I too am a taupe eyeshadow freak.

5. Famous Birthdays for June 17th are Venus Williams, Barry Manilow, and M. C. Escher, to name a few. What famous person(s) was born on your birthday? (www.famousbirthdays.com) - (July 2nd) Let's see I have Lindsay Lohan, Jose Canseco, and Thurgood Marshall.

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula

image from http://www.shuuemura-usa.com

I know I have mentioned this product before, but I don't think I have ever done a full review on Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil. Now that Shu counters are going the way of the Dodo in the US I figured now is as good a time as any to get you all motivated to visit your local counter and/or website and order something ASAP. (Note: Shu Uemura products will still be available online for purchase in the US and other countries. I just like causing a slight panic because I'm evil.)

If you wear sunscreen, waterproof make up, long wearing foundation, or any non water based cosmetic product on your face you may benefit from using a cleansing oil each night. I have heard countless stories from women complaining that their sunscreen or foundation breaks them out and I tell you more than half the time it's not the act of wearing the product that is irritating their skin, it's the fact that the product is not effectively removed that is causing the blemishes and irritation. Using many soap based cleansers as one's sole method of removing sunscreen, water resistant and waterproof makeup is not always the best way to deep clean your skin. Sure, you can use face brushes and toners but if you are still seeing makeup residue on your cotton pads after cleansing, then you aren't truly removing all your makeup. While toners do a nice job of removing some of the cosmetic leftovers that your cleanser doesn't get, you might be stripping your skin of natural oils by over using toner...plus that's not the purpose of toner in the first place. So what is a girl (or guy) to do?

Cleansing oil. Not just plain olive oil or mineral oil or corn oil. Cosmetic grade cleansing oils are formulated to emulsify when water is added. This breaks up sunscreen and cosmetics on your skin and help lift cosmetic debris out of your pores for a real deep cleansing. There are many cleansing oils out there to try, but my favorite has to be Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula (HP Oil). The closest to the "Classic" Shu Uemura formula the HP Oil works the best for my skin.

image from http://www.shuuemura-usa.com

Now wait a minute, you might be saying. "Elvira, You have oily skin. Why in the heck (because I like to believe you all talk in PG13 language) would you add MORE oil to your face?" And I would answer you, my All General Audiences Appropriate Friend, that oil is not bad for oily skin. I have already written about the pleasure of seeing a decrease in oil production using essential oils like the Decléor one I reviewed HERE. And fighting oil with oil is a long time and effective practice. Oh and the oil that you use in the Shu Uemura cleansing oils wash off completely. No icky sticky residue.

I have used some of the other oils in Shu's line but the HP oil is my favorite. It's not too thick, it's not scented (as far as I can tell, but the ingredients do list perfume) it doesn't break me out and promises nothing more than effectively removing makeup from my skin without stripping it. YAY! But in case you are wondering what other oils Shu offers, they are:

Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O - Green color. Supposed to provide some anti aging benefits. I have used this in the past but had tiny white heads form after use, so I stopped.

White Recovery Brightening Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - Light violet color. Enhanced with vitamin C this oil is supposed to brighten and smooth your complexion. I have used this formula, but not long enough to see any brightening effects.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh -Pink color. This oil is lighter weight in formula and is scented. It is supposed to be ideal for very oily skin types and provides the same essential cleansing that the regular formula does with a lighter consistency in the oil. I have used this and personally didn't care for the scent. It worked just fine and might be ideal for use in the summer when a heavier oil isn't as needed.

Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/I - Golden color. Similar to the HP oil but geared toward dry skin tones that need extra nourishment. I have not used this formula

So anyway....back to the cleanser at hand...

Here's how I use it:
At the end of the day I put one and a half pumps into the the palm of my hand. (Shu Uemura's website recommends 3 to 4 pumps but I find that overkill and unnecessary). I apply the oil to my dry face. I use the oil as my primary makeup remover. I carefully rub my eyes to remove mascara and massage the oil evenly over my face and neck. Once the oil is evenly distributed you will already see it breaking down your eye makeup and other cosmetics put on your face that day.
Then the "trick". I rinse my hands off in lukewarm water. I do not towel dry them, but I shake off the excess. With damp hands I massage the oil on my face. The water mixes with the oil and emulsifies creating a milky white liquid. If I find the oil is not emulsifying enough I add a few droplets of water. Remember less is more. The result I want is a milky white water all over my face where the oil once was.
Once I have achieved that, I simply rinse my face in warm water and follow with a cream or foaming cleanser of my choice.
On days when I don't wear makeup, but I do wear sunscreen, I still use the Shu HP oil to breakdown and remove the sunscreen and then follow with a toner instead of a second cleansing.

Now some of you may think I'm crazy for washing my face twice. Some of you may think that if I had an effective cleanser I could skip the oil cleansing method. And I would tell you that you are WRONG. OK. I probably wouldn't be as rude...well to some of you I would. I have tried just cleansers, no oil cleansing and nothing...and I mean NOTHING has been able to maintain the clarity of my skin better than cleansing oil followed by a regular cleanser.

Do you NEED this? Well I have to say YES! I prefer Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils, but you don't HAVE TO buy one of them. DHC makes a less expensive one, and there are a host of other Japanese brands that offer cleansing oils. Heck, even some domestic brands in the US have cleansing oils now. (MAC, Clinique, Lumene, etc.) A 450 ml / 15.2 fl oz bottle of the Shu HP oil will cost you $62. The bottle should last you over a year (using about one to one and a half pumps a day) It is an excellent investment in your skin. Because the better you take care of your skin up front, the less stuff you have to buy to cover up and treat blemishes and imperfections later on. (At least that's what I tell myself to justify my purchases)

ingredients: paraffinum liquidum / mineral oil , zea mays / corn germ oil , polysorbate 85 , carthamus tinctorius oil / safflower seed oil , cetyl ethylhexanoate , sorbitan trioleate , simmondsia chinensis oil / jojoba seed oil , camellia kissi / camellia kissi seed oil , macadamia ternifolia seed oil , canola oil , squalane , zingiber officinale extract / ginger root extract , rosmarinus officinalis extract / rosemary leaf extract , sea water , isohexadecane , c12-15 alkylbenzoate , dicaprylyl carbonate , ethyl oleate , isopropyl myristate , tocopherol , glycerin , propylene glycol , linalool , parfum / fragrance

Almay Intense i-Color Powder Shadow Trio For Hazels 023

One great thing about having a blog and having a few fans of the blog, is that people will write to me and tell me about their favorite taupe eye shadows. Since It's no secret that both Joeybunny and I have an insanely irrational addiction to taupe eye shadow, we have readers that are all to happy to feed our addiction with recommendations and suggestions. Now once in a while I have a reader that will suggest a taupe I haven't thought of using before....and 9 times out of 10 it will be a taupe from a Drugstore Brand. It's no secret that I am a high end make up snob. I prefer high end cosmetics over Maybelline, Revlon, and whatever else may be lurking in my Local CVS or (shudder to think, Rite Aid)

So I'm not a fan of drugstore makeup. So sue me. So what in the world possessed me to buy drugstore eyeshadow? Well a kind reader and fellow blogger recommended Almay Intense i-Color Powder Shadow Trio For Hazels. Having never used Almay eye color before I was curious to try it out. Plus it was taupe...and three shades of taupe so how could I say no?

Almay Intense i-Color Powder Shadow Trio For Hazels is supposedly geared towards hazel eyes to enhance the hazel color...but I believe anyone can wear such a lovely neutral shade and benefit from the pretty colors. The trip comes with a light silvery taupe highlight shade or base color. A dark steel grey shade to use as a liner or as a crease shade our in the outer V and finally a cool silvery grey taupe to use as an all over lid color or as a crease.

The shadows are all imprinted with the signature a for Almay. They are semi hard but not lacking in pigmentation. I have used this trio at least 4 times now and I have yet to see the "a" pattern disappear on any of the shadows. The shadows had minimal powder fall out however the deep grey one did have some fall out when I used it as a liner, but that could have been user error.

While the trio isn't lacking in pigmentation I do find that it lacks staying power. Even with an eye base the shadow faded and creased on me after 5 hours of wear. When compared to Bobbi Brown shadows, which last a good 12 to 14 hours (with a base) without fading and creasing, the Almay shadows fall terribly short. Why compare to Bobbi Brown? Well Bobbi Brown has a huge selection of neutrals and while I think Almay is the drugstore equivalent of Clinique, I think you all know how much I detest that brand and I didn't want that to taint the comparison, so I chose another neutral, high end brand. I could have gone with Laura Mercier or Trish McEvoy...but I have more experience with Bobbi Brown so that's what I chose.

Do you NEED this? Well I know the person who recommended it to me will disagree...and I'm sorry about that, but no. You don't need this. Even if it is less expensive than Bobbi Brown or any other high end brand, a shadow that doesn't last is a waste of money and lid space. It may have cost me only $7.99 for the trio but that's $7.99 down the toilet because after a few hours its all faded and muddy. What's worse, that $7.99 purchase is mocking me every time I open my makeup case because I know I won't wear it again, yet I can't bear to throw it away. Save your money for some Bobbi Brown shadows; trust me it will be worth the investment.


Ingredients: Talc, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Zinc Stearate, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbic Acid, Octyldodecanol, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Chromium Oxide Green (CI 77288), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77189).

The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

Phyrra gives you incentive to participate in the Zoya Nail Polish exchange by swatching her entire Zoya collection!

Raging Rouge reviews MAC Opulash Mascara, a new favorite!

Head on over to The Makeup Divas and enter to win over $200 of MAC makeup!

The Pink Sith manages to tie in Lynda Carter and applying lipstick in public pools into her latest review of BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour in Tatiana. See how she does it!

Elke gets the latest hair color trend for this fall from Redken.

A Touch of Blusher looks at Kanebo Lunasol's fall 2010 makeup collection.

Beauty Anonymous loves the lightness and glossiness of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect.

The Makeup Blogger is loving her new, fuller lashes, thanks to Talika Lipocils .

Beauty Junkie in SF finally tries the famed MAC Paint Pot in Painterly and falls in love.