No Fuss Makeup (ft. Clarins Ombre Matte, Bourjois 123 Perfect, YSL TheMats)

(Contains press samples. Affiliate links.)

I really like the concept of the No Makeup Look. I just can't be bothered to spend all that time on my makeup only to appear the same walking out the door as I did rolling out of bed. If it's a no-makeup day, then it's really a NO makeup day. If I'm going to wear it, it's because I want to do something transformative and fun with my face - not to create a more presentable version of myself for others, but because the ritual and the results please me.

But then there are those days when I want to wear makeup, but I just don't have the time or the energy for the process - I need effect with minimal investment.

That's when I pull out the three staples that I know will always work for a No Fuss Look: a shimmery, mid-toned cream eyeshadow in a neutral but dimensional colour, a matte finish, medium cover foundation, and a MLBB lipstick.

The cream eyeshadow is what really makes this work. It needs to be something that picks up on the natural colours of the eyelid, so something in the taupe, greige, mauve, plum families for my skin tone. A bit of shimmer keeps it from looking too flat (or the look starts to lean into the Hungover Troll category).

The one I've been loving lately is the Clarins Ombre Matte in the shade Sparkle Grey (#05), which is that perfect mix of grey and plum - more silvered grey when applied intensely, more plum when buffed out. The texture is softer and than the Maybelline Color Tattoos, a bit more along the lines of the powder/cream texture of the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, or the Dior Fusion Monos. (I don't know if that's the case with the other shades in the range, as this is the only shimmer one.) It's ridiculously easy to apply and blend out, which is a big plus for this look, though I generally do need to use a primer as well to keep it from creasing or fading a bit after a few hours.

I usually apply it with a flat synthetic brush all over my eyelid, and run some under my lower lashes (not too thin, the idea is to have a bit of a haze rather than a defined line). Then I take a fluffy brush and buff it out from the crease. Mascara and some black liner to tightline, and done.

Then foundation. Here I do prefer it be matte, because I find the lasting power is generally better, and there's usually minimal need for a concealer or powder on top of it, especially with a medium coverage formula. I always apply with a beauty blender, fas the matte finish is tempered down to a more skin-like satin (which I prefer), without sacrificing longevity.

I've been trying out the new Bourjois 123 Foundation, which is marketed under some dubious claims about having special pigments that counteract the various defects in your skin tone. (Trufact: EVERY foundation has those same pigments. They're what gives foundation the beige/brown colouring. When you were a kid, did you ever mix all your different paints together and get some brown goo at the end of it? Same concept, only with titanium dioxide added to lighten the tone as needed.)

Eye-rolling claims aside, it's actually a very nice foundation. The finish is very comparable to the matte-but-not-flat result you get from the Chanel Perfection Lumiere (not shocking, as Chanel and Bourjois are sister brands), though it shares the latter's similar tendency to emphasize flakiness. (Which is another reason to apply it with a beauty blender.) I don't get the 16 hours of wear promised by the label, but it definitely keeps up during the better part of the day, getting a bit shiny around my nose about 6-7 hours in, but otherwise looking stable. The only touch up I'm likely to do is a quick pat with a kleenex. The coverage is decently medium on its own, and I find that dabbing a little extra on spots is usually all I need to cover those up. (Though I do still need my usual salmon concealer to cover up the epic sleepless zombie purple under my eyes.)

For lips, I like a product that 1) is easy and fast to apply and 2) equally easy to reapply during the day. Usually this translates into a nude-pink shade that just lightly deepens my natural lip colour, and in a finish that's doesn't require precision.

In the past the YSL Volupté Shine in Nude in Private was my go-to, but lately I've been using the YSL The Mats in Nude Acoustic (#210). I have a review here, but the short version: lightweight and comfortable to wear despite the matte finish, superbly flattering colour, and surprisingly easy to apply - no need for lipliner, and can be dabbed on using a window or other shiny surface as a stand-in mirror without getting that lipstick smear that makes me look like a barmy maiden aunt.

If I have more time and/or energy, I'll swipe on a quick blush, but generally I find these three main items are enough for me to feel "done".

Some quick swatches!

And the finished, No Fuss face! :)

The nice thing about this look is that it can be juiced up with minimal effort as well, should I feel like it. The Ombre Matte works well as a base, so I can just dab a lighter shadow in the inner corner, blend a charcoal in the crease and a bit under the eye, and then add more liner if need be. I can add blush or contour or highlight as I wish, maybe powder if the shine is breaking through on my nose, and then retouch the lip, maybe add a dab of gloss. With that extra few minutes, it goes from No Fuss to Casually Sexy Smokey.

Do you guys have a go-to look for those days when you have limited time or resources? What are the staple ingredients for you?

(I purchased the Clarins and the Bourjois items, the YSL was compliments of the brand. This post is not sponsored or compensated, opinions are my own. Contains affiliate links.)

YSL Fall 2014 Cuirs Fétiches - Couture Palette Collector Fétiche, RougePur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic, Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat

(Press samples. Affiliate links.)

YSL really hit the ground running with the new Couture Palettes. As I mentioned in my previous review, they are truly a cut above previous iterations from the brand, and stack right up there in my top luxury palette picks for superior pigmentation and performance.

I was really thrilled to see a new version for the Fall, with a colour scheme that's seasonally appropriate but not stereotypical. I love russets and burgundies and golds, but the neutral/teal mix is a nice change of pace, with the deeper tones and smoky richness still evoking autumn. The lip products echoed that twist, with nudes sitting pretty beside the classic wine tones, all in hushed, sophisticated textures of matte and cream.

The entire concept of this collection seems best represented by the limited edition packaging of the palette, black leather embossed with the gold lettering. The "fétiche" in the name indicates that they were going with a sexy and dangerous theme, as does the blown out eye makeup of the promo imagery. (A little Fifty Shades anticipation? Understandable, especially if you've seen the adorably awkward charmer that is Jamie Dornan in action. Because, GOOD GOD MAN.)

For me, though, the colour palette and textures are much more sensual than sexual, more sophisticated than provocative. Either way, I approve.

YSL Fall 2014 Cuirs Fétiches - Couture Palette Collector Fétiche,
Rouge Pur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic, Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat

The Couture Palette Collector Fétiche is a stunner, no doubt. Although it looks warm-toned, with the gold and gold-flecked bronze shades, it does also have a black and a rather cool-toned espresso brown for balance. The dusky teal shade is also somewhere in the middle, tonally.

All five have wonderful pigmentation, with the gold being perhaps the sheerest. The bronze and the espresso both have obvious flecks of shimmer, and the gold has the most metallic, reflective shimmer throughout. The teal and the black are satins. (As I mentioned in my previous review, the texture seems almost dry to the touch, when you might expect very pigmented and smooth eyeshadows to be creamy/buttery/dense. It's a really unique texture.)

All five shades blend very well, which in the case of the teal is something to actually watch out for, as the intense initial payoff can rapidly become murky. These are perfect for creating a hazy, slightly metallic, smoky eye, and the intensity and shimmery finish of each shade can be augmented easily by applying them wet.

Wear time is great, easily over eight hours with a primer.

(Really randomly, the press package calls the teal shade Amazon Green and describes it as a deep green. Which...obviously not. So I do wonder if they had a more "usual" Fall palette in mind? I'm glad they changed it, if that's the case.)

Couture Palette Collector Fétiche

Couture Palette Collector Fétiche

Couture Palette Collector Fétiche swatched clockwise

For the look below, I started with the bronze applied to the lid, and the teal in the outer corner in a rough triangle shape. I blended the bronze through the crease, and added the espresso to deepen through the outer crease and corner. I dabbed the gold in the inner corner, and lightly swept a bit over the bronze on the inner half of the lid. I also took a mix of the bronze and the gold under the eye. I wet the black to do a soft, fuzzy liner on the top lid only, mostly as a base for the half-lashes (Prima Donna from Liberty Rebublic) at the the outer corners. (Full face picture further down.)

Couture Palette Collector Fétiche - applied

The Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in shade #210 Nude Acoustic is the lone nude shade in an otherwise classically wine-coloured array of lip offerings. It's a warmish pink with a strong beige undertone that falls on the MLBB end of the nude spectrum (or at least it does with my colouring).

This was my first experience with The Mats formula, and I have to say that while it was really nice, it din't blow my mind as I was expecting. The lipstick is light and very pleasant feeling on the lips, matte without feeling dry. I can't say that my lips felt particularly loved after the application, but they weren't parched, and the formula didn't make a muck out of fine lines or dry bits. It applies smoothly, and this shade in particular is a great one for touch-ups, as it's so forgiving. I don't think this lasted as well as the darker ones in the collection probably do, as the staining effect is limited by the mild colour, but it wasn't out of line with what I would expect from a matte (a few hours, but not past a meal).

While I can't say it's a formula that wows me when it comes to matte lipstick, it is lovely. (That being said, the colour is a hands down winner.)

The Gloss Volupté formula is a stronger contender for my heart. Creamy, cushy, non-sticky, moderately thick, it's a formula that is lovely to apply and feels even better on. It's a great winter lip gloss, if that makes any sense. The shade here is #106 Cuir Grenat, a wine berry that looks way more warm and red-toned in the tube than it does swatched or on my lips. It also appears to have some faint shimmer in the tube, which doesn't translate at all on the lips. It has a moderately pigmented, creamy finish that doesn't look overly glossy or goopy. As it wears down it leaves a faint stain, but the lasting power is otherwise average for a gloss.

I have to note that both of these have a very strong floral-fruity scent. I'm not usually bothered much by scented lip products, but these were quite noticeable, so take that for what it's worth.

 Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat and Rouge Pur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic

Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat and Rouge Pur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic

Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat and Rouge Pur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic

Rouge Pur Couture The Mats #210 Nude Acoustic

Gloss Volupté #106 Cuir Grenat

So this is the whole look with the items that I received from this collection. I'm wearing the Mats #210 here, with just a bit of lip balm underneath to temper the matte finish. (I also used the YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, review coming sooooon.)

Availability: At YSL counters at Hudson's Bay, Holt Renfrew. Possibly at certain Murale locations? Also at www.thebay.com. Price is 39$ CAD for The Mats, 35$ CAD for the Gloss Volupté, and 64$ CAD for the Couture Palette.

Have you guys already checked out this collection? Anything ring your bell? I'm pretty much addicted to the palettes, and will be going all Pokemon on them as soon as I can swing the dough. I had a peak at the Holiday ones thanks to a lovely YSL SA at Hudson's Bay, and I need to have the limited edition version of the Tuxedo palette. SO MUCH.

(The YSL items mentioned were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. The Liberty Rebublic lashes were purchased by me. This post is not sponsored or compensated, all opinions are my own.)

YSL Couture Palette - #02 Fauves, #08 Avant Garde, #09 Rose Baby Doll

(Contains one press sample. Affiliate links.)

YSL palettes tend to be a dividing line for a lot of makeup junkies. Most of the ones in the past have tended towards the sheerer side of the pigmentation spectrum, which serves those who prefer a diaphanous wash of shimmer, while frustrating those who prefer a punch of pigment to go with the colour and sparkle.

If you're in the latter camp, and have since written off the YSL eyeshadow offerings, I would urge you to take a look at their new Couture Palettes. They are really something else.

The packaging and style here is classic YSL - gold metallic casing, simple, elegant, graphic layout. Most of the palettes have a monochromatic theme, though a couple feature more vivid combinations.

The actual formulation of the eyeshadows is where YSL has proven itself to be truly innovative. When I first touched these eyeshadows, they felt a little dry, and I was concerned. Upon swatching them, I was much relieved - they had some serious payoff. Swatches are one thing, however, and how a product applies to an actual human eyelid is another.

AND YOU GUYS.

They looked on the eyelid exactly how they looked in the swatch. Not only that, they actually looked like do in the pan. They have some of the truest colour transfer I've ever seen. I applied these with my usual MAC paddle brush, and with just a tap into the pan I had a ton of product clinging to the brush hairs. There was a fair bit off powder kick back when I did so, but as long as I tapped my brush off, I had no fallout when I applied it. All the shades went on true and vibrant, and blended out well, without sheering out too quickly. What seemed a little dry in the pan actually felt smooth and silky when used.

Each palette has a mix of satin and shimmer/microsparkle shades - the finishes vary subtly from shade to shade, with the darker eyeshadows in #02 Fauves having the most matte-leaning finish out of the the ones I've tried. The satin shades all have strongest pigmentation levels, while the shimmer/microsparkle shades are initially a little sheerer, though buildable. The sparkle is extremely refined, lending a beautiful, sunlight-on-water type of liquid shimmer to the eye. They can be applied all over the eyelid, overtop another shade for greater dimension, or just in the inner corner for an amazing highlight.

The wear time on these is very good, with no sign of fading or creasing after 8-10 hours over my usual primer. As far as downsides, other than that bit of powder kick-back to watch out for, I can only think of the value ratio, as they are quite spend for the amount of product you're getting. That said, I think the texture is unique enough, and I don't see any immediate dupes.

The #02 Fauves is fantastic, especially for those looking for a workday staple. It's spot-on neutral, leaning neither warm or cool. The dusty camel shade at the top left works perfectly all over the lid, or as a blending/transition colour, depending on your skin tone. The three brown shades provided varying levels of intensity of creating a defined crease, lash line or soft smoky effect. I do wish there was a bit more variation between the middle two browns, but other than that, I really can't complain. This has become my default everyday palette.

I loooooove green (makes the chestnut in my brown eyes more apparent), and the #08 Avant Garde does not disappoint. I was a little perplexed by the olive green in the bottom left, as it seems so incongruous with the other, cooler leaning tones, but when used together, the look is dimensional, not discordant. That blackened green in the middle is also an awesome eyeliner. The only downside to this palette is that it doesn't appear to be available in-store at Sephora, though it is orderable.

The #09 Rose Baby Doll was a whimsical purchase. I don't what it is about hot pink that draws me in so much, but usually I limit it to lip shades. Somehow I got sucker punched by this one. I....am still figuring it out. That hot pink is just SO VIBRANT. I do kind of wish there was another mid-tone shade in there instead of one of the peach or pink shimmer shades, since they're quite similar. Then again, they're also both so pretty, it's hard for me to complain.

Availability: At Sephora stores and www.sephora.com, as well as counters at Holt Renfrew and Hudson's Bay, and www.thebay.com. If you're stateside, they can also be ordered on www.yslbeautyus.com. Price is 60$ USD and 64$ CAD.

I'm quite impressed by the Couture Palettes, and I know I'll be adding more to my collection soon. How do you guys feel about them?

(The #02 Fauves was provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. I purchased the other two palettes. All opinions are my own, this post is not sponsored or compensated. Affiliate links.)

Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato Lip and Cheek Color - Spiced Orange (CR 04), Blood Orange (CR 01), Berry Berry (PK 01)

I do believe this dual lip/cheek thing is a trend. YSL did it, and Shu Uemura is in the game as well with the Tint in Gelato Lip and Cheek Color.

Tint in Gelato, top to bottom: Spiced Orange (CR 04), Blood Orange (CR 01), Berry Berry (PK 01)

Like its sister brand, Shu Uemura has created a dual-purpose product that actually works well on both the lips and the cheeks. 

Both products share a similarly perforated doe-foot applicator that captures a bead of product, making for a smooth application to both lips and cheeks - though Shu opted for the more classic lipgloss tube packaging rather than the nail polish bottle shape of the YSL variant.

Tint in Gelato, top to bottom: Spiced Orange (CR 04), Blood Orange (CR 01), Berry Berry (PK 01)

The formula for these two products is markedly similar, with the first 14 ingredients being identical. (Not surprising, since YSL and Shu are siblings in the vast l'Oréal luxury family.) I didn't find there to be a difference in terms of how the product applied or wore, but I did find the Tint in Gelato formula to be less...translucent? It's thicker and more opaque in texture, and more matte on both cheeks and lips, even when freshly applied. Where the Kiss & Blush dances the line between lipgloss and lipstick when worn on the lips, these are more clearly in the liquid lipstick family. (You can, of course, vary the pigmentation by applying it more lightly and blending with a finger.)

The Gelatos have that creamy, whipped texture that makes them a dream to blend out on the cheeks. Seriously no-fuss, and easily polished in less than three seconds. (They also work just fine over both foundation or powder.) You can apply with a brush if you prefer, but I like just dotting the product on and blending out with my fingers.

The formula also shares that quality of sitting slightly on the lips, due to the particular nature of the silicone polymers used. I find this is what keeps the formula feeling cushy, even as it dries down, but the sensation can feel odd. (See Tracy's review here, if that's the case for you.)

Because it has a thicker and more matte texture, as well as the slip of the silicone, it's best to apply in light layers to the lips - it's easy to underestimate how much you're putting on, and wind up with goopy lips. I don't find these drying or line-emphasizing, but they don't leave my lips looking quite as full as the YSL Kiss & Blush, probably because they reflect a less light due to the matte finish and opaque pigment.

Below are swatches - thicker and blended out - and you can see that they can go on quite punchy when applied straight on (the way you might prefer on your lips) but also sheer out and blend nicely for a faintly glowing but still relatively matte blush.

Tint in Gelato: Spiced Orange (CR 04), Blood Orange (CR 01), Berry Berry (PK 01)

I received a few shades to try out, included two from the "orange" portion of the twelve shade range. I admit to being a little wary of that word included in my lipstick/lipgloss names, but these were anything but tangerine on my lips. (I'm really curious who does the shade naming over at Shu, because I suspect they need to have a little convo with Inigo Montoya.)

This is Spiced Orange, which is more of a light, peachy nude. It's a completely wearable nude sorbet shade on me, and looks even lovelier as a blush - just healthy and faintly sunny.

Tint in Gelato in Spiced Orange (CR 04)

Tint in Gelato in Spiced Orange (CR 04)

This is Blood Orange, which is a bright pastel version of the classic coral that generally looks amazing on anyone with olive or tanned skin (and with the pastel quality will also look awesome on paler skin). This shade is ALL about the Summer.

Tint in Gelato in Blood Orange (CR 01)

Tint in Gelato in Blood Orange (CR 01)

And finally this is Berry Berry, which...ok, this one sort of makes sense. If your berries are GMO'd like whoa, that is. This is a HOT berry shade, just this side of pink to be considered fuchsia. And obviously, I love it.

Tint in Gelato in Berry Berry (PK 01)

Tint in Gelato in Berry Berry (PK 01)

Though you can see the blended out swatches above, here is a picture of what the Spiced Orange looks like worn as blush (also on the lips).

Availability: At Holt Renfrew and select Sephora locations, as well as at www.shuuemura.ca. Price is 28$ CAD.

What are you guys feeling for these? Are you liking the dual function, or do you want your lipstick to be lipstick and your blush to be blush, dammit?

(Items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. All opinions are my own, I am not compensated. This post contains an affiliate link.)

YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks - #5 Rouge Effrontée and #7 Corail Affranchi

Is there any makeup-loving woman out there that doesn't appreciate the idea of a dual-use lip and cheek product? I think for most of us, the experience doesn't always live up to the claims. What feels lovely on the lips tends to slide off the face, and what sets to a beautiful, seamless stain on the cheek has us reaching for lip balm every 17 minutes.

Kudos to YSL for creating a product that strikes the perfect balance between the two, with their Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks.

Promotional background photo courtesy of YSL/L'Oréal

Packaged in a bottle that doesn't quite convey either blush or lipstick, it looks almost like some bizarrely elegant offspring of a swanky nail polish bottle, the Clarins Instant Light Liquid Blush, and YSL's own Glossy Stain packaging. It's cool and feminine and vanity-table appropriate.

I like it.

I like what's in it even more.

Left to right: YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #7 Corail Affranchi and #5 Rouge Effrontée

Left to right: YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #7 Corail Affranchi and #5 Rouge Effrontée

The applicator is a slightly chubbier, more oval version of the Glossy Stain one, albeit with a perforation in the middle for catching and holding a bead of product. This helps in picking up the amount required when withdrawing it from the bottle. (One downside I foresee with the packaging is getting the last bits out.)

The shades featured here are #5 Rouge Effrontée, a candied, pink-toned red that applies lighter and softer than it appears in the bottle, and #7 Corail Affranchi, which is a muted apricot that plays almost like a nude with my particular colouring. I thought it would be too orange-toned for me, but it actually looked amazingly natural. 

Left to right: YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #5 Rouge Effrontée and #7 Corail Affranchi

The texture of the Kiss & Blush is unusual. If the Benefit Tints could be whipped up, this is sort of the result you'd expect - liquid yet mousse-y, dense but instantly spreadable.

As a blush, it has a lovely translucency that looks soft and sheer on the skin. My preferred method for applying cream or liquid blushes is with a duo-fibre brush, and with this formulation, the result is especially natural. Very much the kind of water-colour flush you see in paintings of frolicking milkmaids. The finish is a soft matte, meaning no shimmer, but very gently light enhancing. (If you're curious, I dab the brush directly over the applicator to pick up the product needed.)

This can be built up as well, but I would recommend some care at first, as it does dry fairly quickly. That would be the main drawback to this formulation - if you don't work quickly or carefully, you can wind up with some splotchy-looking cheeks.

(You can also apply and blend out with your fingers, as you prefer.)

Left to right: YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #5 Rouge Effrontée and #7 Corail Affranchi

It applies to the lips in much the same manner as a liquid lipstick, but with a smoother feel. It "pushes" across the lips easily, with none of the goopy drag of a lipgloss. It can be dabbed on lightly with a finger for a minimal stain, but applied straight it has medium to full opacity.

The "soft matte" finish here is especially cool. It initially looks more satin, and then matte as it dries - yet this is one of the plushest matte you're likely to find. If a matte finish could be pillowy, that's what it would be. My lips actually looked fuller and plumper, almost more hydrated. (A note here that the formula is not actually hydrating, just the look it creates.) It's sort of in between sitting on top of the lips and absorbing, and I suspect there's some silicone in there creating that feeling. Whether you like the sensation or not is a matter of preference, but I believe that's what gives it that cushy finish.

The formula stands up for a solid work day on the cheeks, and for several hours (though not a meal) on the lips. It has a faintly floral, sweet scent, which is less strong than the Glossy Stain fragrance.

YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #7 Corail Affranchi

YSL Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks #5 Rouge Effrontée

Availability - YSL counters at select Hudson's Bay and Holt Renfrew stores, as well as certain Murale and Sephora locations. Price is 40$ USD and 45$ CAD for 10 ml/0.33 oz. (For comparison, the Glossy Stains are 38$ CAD for 6 ml/0.2 oz.)

Have you tried this new-fangled formula yet? Are you a fan of the duo-function, or are you sticking to separates?

Personally, I have to say that while I really enjoy using this product as a blush, I am especially a fan of how it functions as a lipstick.

(Items were provided by the brand/PR. All opinions are my own, this post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Pantone Color of the Year "Radiant Orchid" - featuring Lancome, YSL, Tarte and Elizabeth Arden

Oh, the Pantone Color. I feel like by the year's end we are all well and done with whatever the shade is. (I'm looking at you, Emerald. Not even Once Upon A Time will make me love you again.)

With the freshness and bright promise of spring lurking (possibly hiding) around the corner, though, I am MASSIVELY feeling the Radiant Orchid. I love pink, and I adore purple, so this not-quite-pastel lovechild of the two is right up my alley, trend or no.

Makeup brands are obviously feeling it as well, and have pulled out several offerings from their permanent lineups to cater to the demand. I was sent a few different ones to try out, and I shopped my stash for another item to cover all aspects of my face. (In retrospect, the Benefit Lollitint would have been perfectly appropriate as a cheek option.)

From Lancôme, we have the Artliner 24H in Amethyst, the Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eyeshadow in Golden Orchid, the YSL Vernis à Lèvres Rebel Nudes in #108 Violine Out of Control, and the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fantastic (limited edition from a past holiday set).

This was my first time trying out an Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow, though I've been lemming them for a while now. From what I recall from my obsessive swatching, they seem to vary a bit - some are dense, creamy and more opaque, some are softer in texture and payoff. Golden Orchid is one of the latter, and works very nicely as a wash over the eye. The shade itself is a warmer, more neutral play on the Orchid theme. It's not a faithful interpretation, but probably a more wearable one for a lot of people.

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eyeshadow Golden Orchid

This was also my first experience with the Artliner, and I loved both the formula and the application. This has the same kind of applicator as the Stila and Make Up For Ever waterproof liquid liners, and the same kind of shellac-like finish. Intensely liquid, setting to a vinyl shine and holding on for dear life in the face of oil, sweat and tears (and most makeup removers). It did crackle a bit in the folds of my eyelid after several hours, but that's the norm for me when it comes to this kind of formula.

Application was super smooth and easy to control, with really great pigmentation on one pass. The colour is a blue-toned, almost eggplant purple, with a bit of shimmer. It's lovely with brown eyes, and should be stunning with green eyes.

Lancome Artliner in Amethyst

I'm already a fan of the YSL Vernis à Lèvres, and this had the expected feel and performance. Long-wearing and glossy (though it did not make it through a meal), it also seemed to plump my lips slightly, which was an unexpected bonus. (The copy claims a Euphoric Pearl technology that creates a 3-D luminous effect, so perhaps that's it?)

Probably the truest interpretation of Radiant Orchid, this is a lilac tone with subtle shimmer. I don't think this pulls the yellow in my teeth nearly as much as others in this colour family do, but it's not brightening either. If you have concerns, layering it over a trusted lipstick might also be a (subtle) option for getting a bit of that orchid tone.

YSL Vernis à Lèvres in Violine out of Control

The mini Tarte blush was one I pulled out on a whim. I wanted a fairly cool, bright pink to keep in tune with the rest of the face, but one that would be a supporting player. As with all the other Amazonian Clay blushes, it's ultra-smooth, long-lasting and pigmented, so I used a light hand to add just the faintest hint of colour.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fantastic

And, of course, the comparison swatches:

Left to right: Elizabeth Arden Golden Orchid eyeshadow, Lancome Artliner in Amethyst,
YSL Vernis à Lèvres in Violine out of Control, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fantastic

This is the look I put together, which is what I actually wore to my birthday supper. (The big 3-6. I'm not traumatized or anything.)

I used Golden Orchid all over my lid, with some added definition in the crease and lightly in the lower lash line with some brown and taupe shades from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. Then I did a simple wing with the Artliner, keeping the flick fairly straight. (Eyebrows au naturel, because I'm lazy.) I used the new Benefit BB Cream as my foundation and concealer (no powder), and a veeeeeery light dab of the Tarte blush. The finishing touch was a single coat of the Violine Out of Control.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out. I generally love purple tones, and the various incarnations of Radiant Orchid seem to work nicely for me. 

Are you guys feeling the Pantone colour this year, or is it a miss for you?

(Some of the items featured were provided by the brands/PR. This post is not sponsored or compensated, all opinions are my own.)