Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments

Purchased items.

I've had the Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments (24$ CAD) for a few months now and mentioned them in a haul video, but I thought that they might deserve a proper review, what with the Made With Love sale going on over at Sephora.

I'd heard a bit about this brand because one of my favourite makeup artists, James Vincent, is a brand ambassador. Paid spokesperson or not, James has a lot of integrity and I totally trust his standing up for this brand.

So I bought some of the eyeshadows (or pressed pigments, technically), and I am NOT disappointed. These are freaking phenomenal.

I know that honey is a natural humectant, though I'm not sure how well that function is preserved when it's integrated as an ingredient in a pressed powder formulation. I will say that these are incredibly creamy to the touch, with a rich, smooth payoff that isn't too thick. They have a very playable texture, so they're easy to work with, blending almost by themselves.

The copy claims that these have up to 78% pigment and high grade silicone waxes for long-lasting wear. I do think the pigmentation is fantastic, especially for the shades I've selected (there are a few that are more sheer with a sparkly finish, such as Disco). And over a primer, I didn't have any issues with fading or creasing for over 10 hours, if not longer.

The actual colours are awesome as well.

Rose Gold is a slightly "dirty" variation on the theme, so it translates well to a more deconstructed, rocker look, as opposed to something necessarily pretty and polished.

Peacock is one of those teal/red-brown ducochromes that I had to get, even though I own several iterations of the theme. I will say the green in this is much deeper and emerald-like than in any of the other eyeshadows I have.

Hell is really complex and hard to define - sort of a khaki grey-brown with a slight red undertone? It's insane. And fabulous.

Royal is what I'd consider a "hot" violet - purple with deep pink and blue undertones, and super intense. It has a thinner texture than the other three shades here, but it doesn't lack in the pigment department. If you're looking for a purple that maintains its vibrancy and doesn't wind up looking murky, this is it right here.

Rose Gold, Peacock, Hell, Royal.

Rose Gold, Peacock, Hell, Royal.

And how they look actually applied: I used Rose Gold in the inner two thirds of the lid and the inner half of the lower lash line, and used Hell through the crease and the outer third of the eyelid and outer half of the bottom lash line. Super simple, a little grungy, but still chic, I think. They blended perfectly, I really didn't have to do much work here.

Here I just added a plum liner from Tarte to the bottom lash line, and slightly intensified the crease color.

(The other makeup worn: Clarins Everlasting Foundation in #105 Nude, Essence All About Matt! Powder, Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo #1 (bronze shade), MAC Redhead MSF, Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara, Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Blush. Reviews coming soon for some of these items as well!)

Have you guys tried the Ardency Inn line yet? I really want to pick up more of the eyeshadows, but I'll probably wait for the next Sephora sale in the Fall. I can't say I'm super intrigued in the other products in the line, though. Maybe the foundation (which is a concentrate that can be mixed with other mediums), but I have a feeling Cover FX probably nailed the concept better.

(I purchased these items. Not sponsored or otherwise compensated.)

Viseart - #05 Sultry Muse and #06 Paris Nude

(Affiliate links.)

If you're a hardcore beauty junkie or makeup artist, you probably already know about the wonder of the Viseart palettes. And if you're Canadian, you've probably cursed the heavens for the relative difficulty in acquiring said palettes, as until very recently they were only available through pro stores in the US, like Alcone, Naimie's, Nigel's and Frends. (All of these ship to Canada, but not without the hassle of extra taxes, fees and duties when passing through customs clearance. Without the benefit of a pro discount, the added costs were especially dissuasive for a lot of non-MUA consumers.)

And then...a miracle. I was browsing the palettes section of the Sephora site, checking for anything exciting and new (fellow addicts, please stand up) - AND THERE WAS VISEART. Four eye palettes (two of which I don't have and ordered as soon as they were in stock), two lip ones, and two concealer ones.

If this brand is new to you, let me give you some context and the broad strokes info:

Viseart is and has always been an artist-oriented brand. Their palettes, and especially their #01 Neutral Matte, are kit staples for many, many artists - and for good reason. Made to exacting standards in France, the eyeshadows are triple-milled for an incredibly refined texture that balances perfectly between softness and adherence. The satin and shimmer shades in particular feel silky smooth to the touch, with a plush, creamy texture. These eyeshadows have brilliant pigmentation, and blend and build so easily that you'd swear they apply themselves.

They are, in my opinion, some of the best eyeshadows currently on the market. They easily compete with any other high-end brand I've tried, including Chanel, Dior, and Charlotte Tilbury. Like most brands geared towards working professionals, the packaging is very practical and simple, with sturdy plastic housing the pans and a clear lid cover. Not sexy or swanky, but in this case it really is the stuff that's inside that makes it worth the eye-blinking price tag. (Yeah, the 80$ took me a while to swallow down, but after spending 60$ or so on high-end quints or quads from other brands - sometimes with disappointing results - I managed to talk myself into trying Viseart out. And I'm really, really glad I did.)

Basically, if I could only pick one brand of eyeshadows to use from now on, I'd be hard-pressed to select anything over Viseart - and at that point it might only come down to either the packaging or the variety, as Viseart generally focuses on more neutral, pro-friendly shade ranges (though they are apparently working on an editorial brights palette).

I'll start with a review of the two palettes that I've owned and used for a few weeks - the #06 Paris Nude and the #05 Sultry Muse.

The Paris Nude is a beautiful range of shimmery and satin neutrals, or quasi-neutrals. They're wonderful to integrate with existing matte shades in your collection (or the #01 Matte Neutrals palette), but also work beautifully used together for a softly shimmery haze. The reflective quality here is relatively low-key - this is not a metallic or glitter-leaning palette, so it would work very well for a work-appropriate look, or for a gentle, blown-out smoky eye. (I feel like you would need something deeper and matte to amp up the drama.) There are two shades with micro glitter that have a somewhat drier texture and sheerer application, and to my mind are best applied wet, otherwise the glitter can fall down. Personally, I could have done without them but they do add the potential for greater drama, should you wish it. They do add a beautiful wet-effect sparkle.

What I find interesting about this palette is how bland it looks at first glance. All the shades look sort of muddy, but when actually applied to the skin they have this incredible dimensionality. All of them have a subtle duochrome or hidden shimmer adding depth and complexity.

Pont des Arts, Champs-Élysées, Beax-Arts, Alexandre Trois, 
Saint-Honoré, Orangerie, Marais, Montaigne, 
Vendome, Jeu de Paume, Grand-Palais, Saint Germain

Pont des Arts is a peachy pink shimmer. Champs-Élysées is a white gold shimmer with very faint pink duochrome and small, flaky gold micro glitter. Beaux-Arts is an almost metallic rose gold with a peachy copper duochrome - completely gorgeous. Alexandre Trois is pale gold beige with gold micro glitter. Saint-Honoré is a slightly plummy mauve with a warm taupe undertone, very lovely. Orangerie is a changeling, looking alternatively light brown, bronze or peach depending on the light.

Pont des Arts, Champs-Élysées, Beaux-Arts, Alexandre Trois, Saint-Honoré, Orangerie

Marais is a rich copper. Montaigne is a pale old gold, with a khaki undertone. Vendome is a dusty lilac, with lighter lavender-pink shimmer. Jeu de Paume is a light, silvery sage. Grand-Palais is a smoky olive with a faint mauve shimmer underlay. Saint Germain is a plummy pewter shimmer.

Marais, Montaigne, Vendome, Jeu de Paume, Grand-Palais, Saint Germain

Sultry Muse is a more dramatic palette, with a higher degree of contrast between the shades and four of those micro glitter flecked shimmers. It also contains a few outright metallics. It suits more deeper, smokier, more outgoing eye looks, though you can definitely create a daytime appropriate looks as well. Of the two, it's probably the more versatile palette because of that range of colour depth and created texture variation.

Yves, Camille, Kifu, Gitte,
Tym, Jori, CIndi, Chantille,
Chloé, Melonié, Diane, Ceska

Yves is an icy white with silver micro glitter. Camille is an almost metallic warm, light brown. Kifu is a pale beige with a slight pink undertone and golden-pink micro glitter. Gitte is a deeper beige with gold micro glitter. Tym is an intense copper metallic with a distinct rose undertone. Jori is a deep, cool, bittersweet chocolate brown. 

Yves, Camille, Kifu, Gitte, Tym, Jori

Cindi is another intensely metallic copper, this one with a strong orange cast. Chantille is a muted burgundy brown. Chloé is a silver-slate metallic, with silver micro glitter. Melonié is a slightly dirty peach with a melon pink undertone. Diane is a deep charcoal shimmer. Ceska is a soft gold shimmer.

Cindi, Chantille, Chloé, Melonié, Diane, Ceska

I also have some quick comparisons with the two brands that I think have the closest match in terms of pigmentation and/or texture. (I wasn't able to get exact colour matches, but something in the general family to give you an idea.)

Below are the three shades from the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita quad (minus the glitter shade) versus three from the Viseart Sultry Muse (Melonié, Chantille, Jori). Among my high end brands, including Chanel and Dior, the CT has the closest similarity when it comes to texture. They feel alike in terms of silkiness, softness, creaminess and refinement of the pigment. I find they also apply and blend very, very similarly on the eye. That said, I do think the Viseart are a bit more pigmented - not a huge difference, but enough to note.

Below are three shades from Urban Decay (Derailed, Half-Truth, Chase) versus three from the Viseart Sultry Muse and Paris Nude (Grand-Palais, St-Germain, Ceska). Again, I didn't have a chance for closer colour matches, and Chase is more metallic in finish compared to the gold from the Viseart. But you get the idea. These are some older UD and definitely represent the best of their quality - they are perfect in terms of opacity of pigmentation and creaminess. They have that classic UD richness and are denser and more buttery feeling than the Viseart, which feel finer and silkier in comparison. The Viseart are somewhat easier to blend out and use, due to that refinement, but the pigmentation is similar. I think these are both excellent formulas and it would be a question of preference. (The ease of use with the Viseart is probably why they end up in pro kits with far more regularity.)

Availability: From pro shops like Naimie's, Frends, Nigel's, Musepro, and now at Sephora, as part of their pro-oriented line-up (though available for anyone to buy). The price is 80$ CAD and USD. I would highly recommend giving them a try during the VIB/Rouge sale, coming soon.

Have you guys had a chance to try these yet? I'm kinda obsessed, if you can't tell. :P 

(PS - I'm trying out the wider shots of arm swatches, for a clearer context for the colours. Let me know if you have strong preferences either way!)

(I purchased both palettes. This post is not sponsored or compensated, all opinions are my own. Contains affiliate link.)

Marc Jacobs 1000 Point VIB Rouge Perk - Love and Lust Lip Set

It seems like Sephora is trying to step up their VIB Rouge program. They recently had an open discussion on the Beauty Talk forums, which gave members the opportunity to lay out all the ways in which they felt the program was lacking. While the initial response from Sephora officials wasn't altogether promising, it appears that they are making some changes, slowly.

I've personally noticed that they are offering more frequent and better quality promo codes for Rouges, both online and in store. (The latter is actually a big bonus for me, since as much as I enjoy my local Sephora, I rarely shop there because the perks were always better online.) It's annoying that the minimum spend for these perks is arbitrarily higher (35$ to 50$), but it is a step in the right direction.

More recently, they came out with a 1000 point perk that is currently limited to Rouges: the Marc Jacobs Love and Lust Lip Set. This set contains two full-sized lip products in limited edition shades, not currently available for purchase.

The items come packaged in a nice little box to make you feel all fancy (though cardboard only goes so far), with a little booklet included. The latter is essentially an advertisement for the Marc Jacobs brand, and the first page congratulates you (yes YOU!) for being part of an exclusive inner circle of awesome people to get these two special shades that Marc designed just for you.

The Lovemarc Lip Gel is in the shade Cabaret, which is described as "deepest cranberry", and the Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl is in the shade Shooting Stars, described as "raisin berry".

Love and Lust Lip Set

Lip Gel in Cabaret

Lip Vinyl in Shooting Stars

 As far as the actual product goes, I have absolutely no complaints. These are GORGEOUS.

I don't own of the Marc Jacobs lipsticks, and I have to say I will be investigating them after trying out Cabaret. The texture is wonderfully smooth, and feels rich while still having a light texture. Wear time is about average, and the finish is a creamy satin that retains a bit of sheen as it dries down. It's also vanilla scented, which is always a plus for me. The colour is fantastic for me - a rich wine with a strong violet/grape undertone, almost plummy in certain lighting. It wears down to a plum stain.

I have tried the Lip Vinyl formula before, but Shooting Stars goes on more opaque than I was expecting from previous experience. It's not a liquid lipstick type formula, but it definitely packs a ton of pigment. It feels very comfortable on the lips, cushy and nourishing and not tacky. Lasting power is, again, average, and the scent is faintly sweet/floral, and it has a minty tingle. The colour is a very muted red, with a mauve undertone, (if they want to call this raisin, sure, but I don't see the berry at all) and pretty shimmer throughout.

Both these colours actually feel very autumnal to me, so I wonder if they are going to be released eventually and this set is a sneak peak for those "very special beauty insiders".

Lip Gel in Cabaret

Lip Vinyl in Shooting Stars

So am I happy that I spend 1000 points for this duo? Yes, in the sense that I love them, and I'm glad to own them. I didn't spend any money, and the points would otherwise be sitting in my Sephora account, to be spent haphazardly on random 100 point samples. I'd rather get two amazing full sized items rather than 10 deluxe samples, you know?

That said, I think the actual value system attached to the points is a little nuts. Compared to something like the Optimum Points system, it's laughable and almost insulting that spending 1000$ nets you 70$ worth of free product. I get that companies are under no obligation to give away freebies, but once they make a tiered customer loyalty program, they have to take into account that it also goes up against the loyalty systems offered by their competitors.

I guess I have mixed feelings overall.

What about you? If you're Rouge, are you thinking of picking this set up? If you're not, are you satisfying with Sephora's loyalty program as it stands?

Sephora VIB Rouge In-Store Event

It's no secret that the Sephora VIB Rouge program has had some hiccups. (My faves are the inconsistent treatment and non-existent or irrelevant perks - really, does anyone jump at the chance for free makeovers with germ-laden testers?) Whether you think people had overly high expectations or Sephora just under-delivered on its promises, the grumblings on the interwebs made it clear - this is a program that needs to be revamped, ASAP, or risk alienating those high spenders they were courting.

I've generally been pleased with what is the biggest (and arguably, only) perk for me - the unlimited free shipping. When few US companies and even fewer Canadian companies offer free shipping to Canada, being able to make a 20$ order on a whim is deliriously freeing. (I had no trouble making the 75$ minimum before, but it's SO nice not to have to - especially in conjunction with those 25$ minimum purchase promo codes. As a side benefit, orders under 20$ also ship duty and tax free! Win on all sides.)

That said, there's always room for improvement. If this weekend's Spring Social Rouge events are anything to go by, it might be a case of one step forward, one step back. Early access to chic week and an exclusive event is nice, but there's still a fair bit of dismay on chat forums about the discount amount (same as what BIs and VIBs will presumably get during Chic Week) and the stinginess of foil samples in the free bag.

I'm a cheap wily shopper, so when it comes to Sephora I tend to shop online, where I can combine the free shipping, promo codes and Ebates cash backs to the best advantage. Knowing the discount would barely account for the taxes and having heard about the minimal samples in the goodie bag, I went to this event with a small list and low expectations.

I was pleasantly surprised.

I should mention that I had to drive 30 minutes through a snowstorm, so being greeted personally by the Store Director was nice (she knew my name without asking) and I very much enjoyed the good coffee, chocolate croissants and the deluxe sample bar (3 samples per Rouge, from a great selection).

The service was spot-on - all the SAs were friendly and cheerful, and they had a nice selection of reps across makeup and skincare. I wandered idly by Caudalie, where the fabulous rep took me in hand and somehow convinced me to buy that 100$ eye cream that I had been contemplating not at all. Seriously, she used sorcery of some kind. She then placed some amazing GWPs into my bag, which amounted to a 70$ value!

I also got two sets that are not available on-line (the Fresh Skin Superstars), or at least not on Canadian orders (the Sephora X system), as well as a staple I didn't want to wait for (Josie Maran Cleansing Oil) and the lone Hourglass Ambiant blush missing from my collection and out of stock online (Dim Infusion). No worries about sacrificing my Ebates cash back, and then I still received my deluxe samples and the Rouge bag o' samples.

Overall, I was very happy with this event and felt like it was well-organized and fun, and a good value for the amount of money I dropped.

But it appears like that experience was uneven across the stores in the Montreal area, and that is perhaps the biggest issue with Rouge at the moment - the lack of consistency. Some people get to experience awesome events because they're in NYC or SF (I would have enjoyed meeting Marc Jacobs and receiving a free MJ palette as well, not gonna lie). Others get full-sized products included in orders. (Only a handful of people, it seems, but this one has fostered whale-sized resentment.)

What do you guys think about the program and/or this event in particular? If you're Rouge, are you feeling it? If you're not Rouge, are you enticed to try to qualify?

Sephora Divergent Makeup Collection Spring 2014 - Photos and Info

I haven't been this excited about a film/makeup collaboration since MAC Venomous Villains. Extra awesome is attached to this one because it was a book before it was a movie. (For those who don't know, I work a day job at a bookstore/gifting store as a visual merchandiser. Divergent was one of those books that got a ton of really intense love from the sales staff way before it ever hit the popular list. It was the kind of book that staff were devoutly pressing into customers' hands, assuring them that THEY HAD TO READ IT. And customers would inevitably come back three days later, asking WHERE IS THE SECOND BOOK, and cry bitter tears because it wasn't out yet.)

The Divergent collection will be coming out in March, as a limited and exclusive collection available at Sephora. Both the colours and the packaging will be inspired by the iconography and characters of the film, and the collection will feature some new and innovative formulas and textures.

Three pieces and sets are included in the collection:

Divergent Limited Edition Multi-Piece Collector’s Kit ($71.00 CAD - $59.50 USD)

With three limited edition eye shadow palettes, a cheek palette, and four lip glosses inspired by the traits of each Divergent faction, and a double-ended application brush, this multi-piece kit includes everything to define your inner self. For inspiration, three “Get-the-Look” cards are included and provide tips for creating different Divergent looks. 

Each of the three Eye Shadow Palettes contains four coordinating High Pigment Eye Shadows plus one High Gloss Transforming Eye Shadow to draw immediate attention to the eyes. The transformer shades impart a diamond illusion, shimmery, mirror-like reflection that is transparent when applied dry, and translucent when applied wet, showcasing fluid, twinkling particles that look like they are suspended in air. What’s more, you can mix and match the High Gloss Transforming Eye Shadows to give you a unique look every time by breaking apart the palette and swapping with another. Along with these 12 stunning shadows, the kit includes a Cheek Palette with two Long-Wear Blushes, Shimmering Bronzer and Radiant Glow Illuminator, four High Shine Lip Glosses and a Double-Ended Eye & Cheek Brush for flawless application.

Divergent Limited Edition Multi-Piece Collector’s Palette ($39.00 CAD - $32.50 USD) 

Portable but impactful, this limited edition palette contains three High Pigment Eye Shadows in versatile neutral shades: Candor Lace, Luminous Taupe, Envious Chocolate, one Long Wear Blush in Rosy Horizon, one Matte Bronzer in Compassionate Copper, and a High Shine Lip Gloss in Artistic Mauve.

Divergent Limited Edition 7-Piece Nail Art Kit ($33.00 CAD - $27.50 USD) 

This 7-piece set includes five Long-Wear Nail Lacquers, one High-Gloss Transforming Nail Lacquer and six Nail Water-Transfer Tattoos so you can proudly signal your Divergent allegiance on tips and toes. Create endless nail art looks by layering the unique High-Gloss Transforming Nail Lacquer over any shade to create an opalescent, shimmering finish, and then add one of the exclusive, easy-to-use Nail Water-Transfer Tattoos. Just cut the paper to any shape or size desired, add water, hold onto nail, and peel back for flawless application.

You obviously can't see me right now, but I am making grabby hands at everything here. I am especially tempted by the set, which seems like a really good price for all that's included, and I am intrigued by the High Gloss Transforming Eye Shadows. (I'm thinking something like the current Kat Von D holo lip gloss, but for the eyes?)

What do you think? Have you read the books or are you taking it as it comes as a makeup collection without getting invested in the story behind it?

(All images courtesy of press release.)

Cheapies and Freebies - A Roundup Haul

Since I blew most of my seasonal budget on The Makeup Show, I've been trying to stay thrifty with my makeup spending in the last month. I did manage a small haul by taking advantage of GWP offers, Optimum points and some drugstore deals.

This is just a quick pull from my Instagram featuring some of these finds, more in-depth reviews (or at least swatches) forthcoming.

From my local Jean Coutu drugstore, I picked up these Jumbo Glossy Balms from Marcelle. They were discounted 50% off from 12.49$, so 6.25$ each. A little bit less than comparable stick glosses from Cover Girl and Revlon at full price, and I'd been eyeballing that display for weeks.

Also from that same Jean Coutu, I noticed a limited edition nail polish display from Maybelline. Half of the polishes were this polka dot type texture, and the other half were holos. (HOLOS, people. Though  they looked almost like a cross between duo chromes and holos.)

These weren't on sale, but at 3.49$, it was a nice option to temporarily curb my lemming for the Illamasqua speckled polishes. Because I desperately want nails that look like bird eggshells.

And from my local Pharmaprix drugstore, I hauled these goodies - for free, y'all. God bless their Optimum Points program, especially the Beauty Bonus Splurge days. I turned in my points for some lemmings  and impulse try-outs. I saw Caroline from beautymouth.com ardently recommending the Hydraluron Moisture Booster (which is like a super shot of hyaluronic acid to put under moisturizer), so when I spotted it I almost squealed. And I had to try some Shiseido after watching Dick Page's inspiring seminar.  So 90 000 points later, I had me some hooch!

The other day I received an email from Sephora, informing me that as a VIB I could get a free, full-size Bare Minerals duo (The Perfect Storm) with a 35$ purchase. Faster than you can "lunch break" I dashed across the street. I've been wanting to try the Bare Minerals concealer (especially since I'm on a concealer kick with the non-sleep I've been getting), and this gorgeous hot pink (what else??) lipstick also sucked me in.

The duo itself is very nice, with a satin-finish white and a grey-taupe matte, both pigmented like crazy, so it was 30 minutes and 50 bucks well spent. If you can't get to a store, use code VIBREADY to add the duo to your cart.

And also at Sephora, I raided the Charlotte Ronson end cap over the past month to get ALL THE PALETTES, as the whole line is now discounted. (These went from 26$ to 18$, though a few of them were 10-15$. Those the SA actually had to look for in the back, since they weren't even on display any more.)

So all in all, not a bad month for me in terms of getting the most out of my beauty dollar!

What about you guys? Did you come across any great savings or deals? Or conversely, did you haul big?

Kat Von D Shade Shifter eyeshadow - On The Road

I've been eyeing the Kat Von D Shade Shifter eyeshadows for a while now, and courtesy of the VIB 20% off sale, I recently succumbed to their lure. These are billed as multi-dimensional shades that are "activated" by water. The duochrome nature is however quite evident when used dry as well. If you've tried Club from MAC, you might expect something along those lines - only MUCH better. (More on that in a bit.)

The packaging is the usual KVD affair, though the sticker of the eye on the outer packaging feels a bit cheesetastic.

The duochrome is already very obvious in the pan, going from brilliant emerald green to a murky reddened brown at different angles. It's equally apparent when applied.

For comparison's sake, I dug out the other green/red-brown duochromes in my collection to see how they compared: Club by MAC, Lounge by Urban Decay, and the definer shade from the Comfort Zone palette from Wet'n'Wild.

Clockwise from top left: KVD On The Road, Urban Decay Lounge, MAC Club, Wet'n'Wild Comfort Zone palette.

Left to right: KVD On The Road, MAC Club, Urban Decay Lounge, Wet'n'Wild Comfort Zone 

Left to right: KVD On The Road, MAC Club, Urban Decay Lounge, Wet'n'Wild Comfort Zone

As you can see from the swatches, Club has the murkiest coloring and the subtlest shift. Lounge pulls more teal than green, and the comparable shade from Comfort Zone is also a touch more blue, and the pigmentation is the thinest out of all three. Out of the four, I have to say that On The Road has the most vibrant duochrome effect. The value for the money is also something to consider, as the KVD version contains 2.76 grams of product, while Club and Lounge are both 1.5 grams.

Like most of the KVD shadows I have tried, the texture is wonderful. Dense, buttery, smooth, it is a pleasure to apply and blends very well. If you have oilier lids like me, I would recommend a primer as it can begin to crease and fade after 4-5 hours when worn on bare lids.

Availability: Exclusive to Sephora stores and online. Price is 19$ CAD.

Pros: Very strong duochrome effect, soft and smooth, blendable texture, terrific pigmentation.

Cons: May require a primer to prevent creasing midday.

(I purchased this item at Sephora.)

Sephora Cinderella Compact Mirror

I'll be honest - when I heard that Sephora was putting out a Disney Cinderella collection I was expecting something aimed for the tween market. Cute, bubble-gum, insipid.

How wrong I was. The whole collection is beautiful, whimsical and aimed at adult women who can still remember themselves as girls, warbling along to Ariel and Belle (my personal favourite - her face when she saw the Beast's library endeared her to me forever). The star product is the most unexpected: the compact mirror. I'm not the type of girl who carries a compact with me, but I'm damn well going to be from now on, just so I can have an excuse to whip this out at any given moment.

YOU GUYS. I CAN'T EVEN.

So, so pretty. It's beautiful, and intricate. It feels like you're holding a fairytale in the palm of your hand.  It makes me want to coo at birds and squirrels. Plus it actually feels substantial and well-made.

Yeah. I have the sudden need to watch Enchanted, right this minute.

(I purchased this item at Sephora.)

MAC Extra Dimension

Now THIS I'm excited about. After nearly a year of yawn-worthy limited edition collections, MAC seems to have finally put together something special with their Extra Dimension collection. These not only look to be gorgeous colors, but they boast a new technological formula and metallic finish.

All images courtesy of MacKarrie.

Except... isn't this familiar? These look like the MAC version of the Estée Lauder Pure Color Cyber eyeshadows and tri-brid Illuminators. It seems MAC is lagging a step or two behind her older sister. (Did MAC somehow become the Jan of the EL empire?)

If it makes MAC feel better though, it seems like Estée also took inspiration from Italian brand Kiko cosmetics, which came out with their water eyeshadows in Spring of 2011. And which Sephora copied almost EXACTLY with their Prisma Chrome line just a few months ago.

Image from www.kikocosmetics.com

Image from www.sephora.com

I guess a good thing can't be contained?

I will definitely be ordering from the new collection, because I think the texture on these tri-brid powders is incredible, and I like that there will be more colors available. With this range of choices, will you guys be sticking to one brand or dabbling in all of them?