Sephora Friends and Family In Store Event

Hey guys!

I'm sure you're busy little bees getting your items all placed in your cart online at Sephora! But if you're one for heading in store to swatch, look at, and touch items you may want to take advantage of the Sephora Friends and Family In Store Event this weekend on Saturday from 8-10 am!

I got a Beauty Insider inviting me to participate in this event but I know not everyone did so I took the liberty to white out my name and slap it up here for everyone to enjoy!

If you're a Beauty Insider just print this out and take it to the store on Saturday morning and the Muse thinks they will honor your request to get 20% off your total order!

Happy Shopping!

Harajuku Girl Solid Perfume Coffrets Contest

Hey Guys!

Happy Friday!

Next week I'm bringing you a Week in Review of the brand new Harajuku Girl Fragrances. I covered these before but I wanted to do an individual review of each perfume because I got an overwhelming amount of e-mails asking how these are, if they are worth purchasing, key notes in the blends, etc...etc...Rather then answer all those e-mails I thought I'd just post a review a day of each fragrance giving you further details about each one, what my favorites are, what they smell like, etc....

In honor of my Week in Review I'll be doing a little contest here on Musings! I know how much you adore my quirky contests where I do my geeky trivia but I'm going to keep this one rather clean and simple!

You have two chances to win one of two Harajuku Girl Solid Perfume Coffrets I have available. The coffrets have all five of the scents available in one cute gift box so you can try each of them out for yourself! Cutes right?!

You have two chances to win one of these two sets by leaving a comment below and if you're already a subscriber to my feed you'll have a second chance to win the set! Which means if you aren't already subscribed you'll want to subscribe so you can have your second chance to win the sets! You can subscribe by entering your email below:

Enter your email address:

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The contest begins today and it will end next week Friday! Sadly, I can only open the contest to US residents right now! Sorry about that but I will have more contests shortly that will be open to non-US residents :-)

For further information about the new Harajuku line you can check out a few of the links below!

Harajuku Lovers MySpace
Harajuku Lovers YouTube
Harajuku Lovers Flickr
Harajuku Lovers Facebook
Harajuku Lovers Official Website

Good Luck and I hope you're looking forward to my week in review!



Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Review

Stila Friends & Family 20% Discount Coupon Code

Mark your calenders ladies! Stila has a Friends and Family Sale from now until December 16th if you're wanting to indulge in some Stila favorites or grab some items up that have been on your lemming list for a while!

The offer is 20% off your total order of $30 or more with Free Shipping! Can't go wrong the Muse says! Use Coupon Code ECYX12 to nab your deal!

Visit www.stilacosmetics.com now to start making your list! Be sure to check it twice!



Stila Surprise and Shine Palette Review & Swatches

Stila Step Out and Shine Color Collection Review & Swatches

Urban Decay Friends & Family

Urban Decay opens it's doors next week and lets us all indulge our sweet tooth for more makeup! It's Friends and Family Discount time! It's likely the discount will be 30% as that's normally the amount during Urban Decay Friends and Family sales.

Starting Novemeber 10th the Urban Decay Friends and Family Sale is on peeps! So be sure to make your wishy list and check it twice!

Hopefully I'll have my review live of Urban Decay Book of Shadows and the other amazing gift sets released for Holiday 2008 up by the time the sale rolls around so you can see the items up close and personal!

Anything you'll be picking up during Urban Decay Friends and Family?

Tell the Muse!



Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil Review & Swatches

Urban Decay Poison Ring Review

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner Giftset Review & Swatches

Urban Decay Limited Edition Lipstick Cap Review

Information About Urban Decay Friends and Family 30% Off Last Round

Urban Decay Lipstick Review

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Giftsets Review & Swatches of VIP and Velvet Rope

MAC Passions of Red Review: Comparisons to MAC Royal Assets & MAC Formal Black

Mallowmars. The root of all evil which is why when my sister offered me one this morning I shook my head absolutely no! As she held the plate before me I realized this was how Adam must have felt when Eve offered him that juicy, forbidden apple! Although my willpower shows strong with the Mallowmars this morning I can't always say the same about MAC and the evil temptation it presents daily.

I wonder to myself if you've been eagerly awaiting my MAC Passions of Red post. I honestly didn't have my whole heart in MAC this year and I sadly admit that.

As much as I adore MAC I can't help but be disappointed with this year's palettes as it's a bit of a rerun of the same color combinations released in a new brightly packaged compact. Although much of the MAC Red She Said Promo was absolutely awesome I wasn't feeling the palette part of the release as much as the other items! I guess the Muse's honeymoon with MAC is over.

This year like all year's past MAC introduced four eye palettes with just about all the same color combos we have grown to know so well, particularly if you're a huge MAC fan. I think it's super fun and exciting for those who haven't experienced MAC Holiday prior to this but I think it's a huge let down for those who know and love MAC.













I did get three of the four palettes released because I wanted to compare and review them here on Musings and of course like the Mallowmars it's very difficult to resist the call of MAC. I've had these since the official release but just didn't feel up to posting about them however I thought it was about time to take action and see the good points and the bad points of the MAC Passions of Red palettes.

























One key factor of MAC Holiday is that they always release that special little palette that does kind of excite and get me giddy! Last year it was the Royal Assets Metallic Eye Palette that really caught and captured my eye and attention. The year before that it was the Formal Black Intense Eyes Palette. And this year I did so fancy the rather lovely shades included with the Passions of Red Devoted Poppy Classic Eye Palette! Aside from these special releases a majority of the other combos are pretty much reruns and replays of the same old thing year after year. As I type this I can't believe I'm saying as such considering what a huge MAC fan girl I am.









The moral of my short story is that although MAC evolves it's packaging year to year the colors inside mostly remain the same. Keep your eyes on the prize and locate that one palette that's unique from other MAC palettes you own and don't be swayed by the lure of new packaging and the collect them all attitude! The Muse knows as she's one for collecting them all when in fact she really doesn't need them and can easily dupe them from MAC Holiday Palettes past!

The Muse honestly suggest nabbing all four palettes if you're new to MAC as these are some sincerely create color combos! However, if you're an experienced MAC collector the Muse thinks you can settle on MAC Passions of Red Devoted Poppy Eye Palette and call it a day on the other three!



MAC Royal Assets Holiday Collection 2007

MAC Little Darlings Softsparkle/Eye Set Review & Swatches

MAC Adoring Carmine Face Brush Set Review

MAC Devoted Poppy Lip Palette Review & Swatches

Lush Snow Showers Solid Perfume Review

Tis that special time of the year kids when Lush presents us with the Muse's second favorite Holiday item from Lush!

We know Muse, we know!

It's snowcake!

Shhhh! Don't be so quick there lovies! I said SECOND favorite! It's not Snowcake but it's almost as good! It's Snow Showers!

Yay!!!!!

Cure the music, strike up the band, let's celebrate good times come on! We need Kool & The Gang to help us with this one!

What? I couldn't embed the original Kool & The Gang video so you'll have to settle for the Chipmunks! Sorry 'bout that! Yaaawhooooooooooooo! No matter how many times I hear that song (especially when I'm on a cruise) it never gets tiring!

Celebrationnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!! Let's all Celebrate and have a good time!

Anyway.

As I listen to the original version of Celebration and you listen to the Chipmunks screech your ear off I'll give you the deets on Lush Snow Showers!

Excited?

Lush Snow Showers was originally renamed Champagne Snow Showers. The Muse isn't sure why or when but the name evovled into simply Snow Showers....she actually kinda misses the old name as it was quite fitting for what Snow Showers actually smelled like.

Snow Showers has come and gone in various bath bombs but it sticks around for most of the Holiday Season in Lush Jelly form and Lush Solid Perfume. The Muse is not particularly fond of Lush Jellies but she admits that come the Holiday she indulges in purchasing some Snow Shower Jelly to ring in the new season!

Snow Showers carries the wonderful smell of wild oranges and cognac while managing to tickle your nose with an effervescent fresh citrus scent that's reminiscent of a cold bottle of Champs on ice!



Although I'm not the biggest fan and supporter of Lush Solid Perfumes I do admit that when I got Lush Snow Showers Solid Perfume I was quite happy to see the formula has improved slightly! I felt like this year the solid had quite a good strong, throw when applied! I like tucking this into my purse for touch ups when I'm wearing my very rare bottle of Snow Showers perfume that I got from a UK Forum Party a year or two ago.













Honestly, taking into consideration that the fabulous scent of Snow Showers is only available in Jelly and Solid form the Muse does suggest and recommend nabbing one or both as the scent is intoxicatingly addicting and well worth checking out for yourself! The Muse guarantees you won't be able to resist it's gorgeous allure!

Lush Solid Perfume in Snow Showers makes a guest starring appearance in this Muse's makeup bag!

Get yours from Lush before they are gone! Don't want to have to wait till next Holiday to indulge do you?

Lush Christmas 2008

Lush Perfume

Lush Solid Perfume

B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful Perfume

Sephora Haulin'

I came, I saw, I conquered Sephora's Friend & Family Sale!

W00t!

I ended up doing all my own personal purchases and gift purchases for friends and family on the same order. I normally like keeping them seperate because I like to budget my own purchases but this year I just gobbed it all together!

Sadly, it wasn't as thrilling as it would be if I wasn't a blogger. I tend to end up purchasing things way early so I can get reviews up here. If I waited for Sephora FF I'd be WAY late on reviews so I just indulge early! But I did get a few items that had my eye and will review them all for you when they arrive of course!

Here's the final list (I think that's all of it!):

Kate Von D Rock n Roll Eyeshadow in Air Guitar and Confessional
NARS Single Eyeshadow in Emmanuelle
Korres Eyeshadow in 24S Gold
Korres Sugar Plums Gift Set
Stila Eyeshadow Duo in Terracotta
Bare Escentuals Extreme Glimmers Kit
NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Persepolis and Mediteranee
YSL Bow Lip Palette

I won't be posting gifts I brought as my friends and some family members read my blog! Don't wanna ruin the surprise!

How about you?

Whatcha haul?

Tell the Muse!



Sephora Friends and Family Coupon Code

Sephora Holiday Catalog 2008

Sephora Friends and Family Checklist

Sephora Friends and Family Discount 2008: Disappointing News

Lush Paradise Regained Moisturizer Review

I've already did prior reviews on Lush's brand new facial moisturizers Skin Nanny and Vanishing Cream and today I'll be wrapping up my review with Lush Paradise Regained Facial Moisturizer.

The Muse remembers a few years ago when Lush Gorgeous Moisturizer was $69.95 USD. In recent years the price has steadily climbed upwards to $85 USD. The Muse swears by Gorgeous and has been using it for quite a long time but as it reached the $85 USD mark the Muse began to sweat bullets at spending so much on her facial moisturizer. However, she did decide that she must do what she must do because indeed Lush Gorgeous is nirvana for her skin.

Recently, Lush introduced Paradise Regained and of course this Muse rushed right out to purchase it and try it out for herself unknown to her that this would be the day she found a cheaper option to her beloved Gorgeous.





Although Gorgeous is facial cream nirvana for me I actually prefer Paradise Regained over it as it has some options that Gorgeous doesn't offer. Paradise Regained is advertised as a mature skin moisturizer but I think it's perfectly fine for any skin type. It's light, it's refreshing and pure perfect for combination, dry, or normal skin types in my humblest. The moisturizer contains an array of fresh fruits to brighten and revive skin. If you seen some of my Summer FOTD's you may have spotted a certain dullness to my skin, after using Paradise Regained I feel like my skin has a new life and it been glowing once again!









The formula is very similiar to Gorgeous in that it's very light and absorbs quite easily. It has natural ingredients to protect skin from the effects of the sun and plenty of wonderful fresh fruits to whiten and brighten the complextion. Taking into consideration what wonders Paradise Regained has done with my skin I have no question that it can easily replace my pot of Gorgeous and at half the price!

Honestly, it's well worth trying out as it's a fabulous day cream that isn't too oily, keeps skin fresh and dewy, erases signs of fatigue all while brightening your skin!

The Muse absolutely loves it and it's easily become a staple morning moisturizer for her! She recommends checking it out for yourself and gives it a big mighty Muse Approval for purchase as she blames all her good skin days on it lately! Paradise has truly been regained as my skin was lackluster before and now it simply glows!





Picking Apart My Best Feature...My Skin!

Lush Skin Nanny Review

Lush Vanishing Cream Review