Beauty Babble: Weathering Makeup

Wanna Beauty Babble with me? During our last babble we were hit with survival beauty and all the essentials we'd need in dire situations.

How To Play:
The Beauty Babble section basically is a scenario of "possibilities" with questions and answers about what you'd do in situations where cosmetics would be needed!

Today's babble is about various weather conditions and makeup items or skincare you'd need in such situations!

Jump ahead to read my babblings and submit your own if you're wanting to play!

You head to work on Monday expecting it to be like any other day of the week when your boss pulls you aside with some incredible news. He relates to you that he wants to send you to London for the entire Summer to work at the UK branch. You're so excited you can't believe your good luck! As soon as you leave his office you dial up your best friend who lives in England to share the details. Your best friend informs you that it would be a terrible time to come to London right now because the predicted weather for the next three months is gloomy, cloudy weather and rain! You're kinda feel badly after you hear this especially since you're having perfect Summer weather right at home. You keep your chin up and decided you'll need a few makeup essentials to bring Summer with you to cold, dreary London. What will they be (choose five)?

I'd choose a fun Summer scent, a great bronzer, a pretty shade of blush, a shimmery, Summery palette for my eyes, and a good primer to keep my makeup from falling off my face in the rain!

My picks:

Fragrance: Harajuku Lovers G
Warm, coconut will help me think Summer during those rainy days!

Bronzer:
Urban Decay Baked Bronze in Glided
As if you haven't heard enough how much I love this bronzer! Shimmery cheeks with hint of gold and peach will bring a little sun to my cloudy day in London!

Blush:
MAC Eversun Blush
My ideal blush this Summer and plenty peachy to bring a little color into my world on dreary days!

Eyeshadow Palette:
Kate Von D Gypsy Eyeshadow Palette
A slew of Summery greens to spring up my look in the rain!

Primer:
Korres Face Primer
Love this stuff! Keeps my makeup so fresh! Hopefully it'll help keep it waterproof too!

Your best friend asks you to dinner on Friday night and explains she has amazing news to tell you! You meet up with her and as you're ordering dinner she springs on you she's getting married to an Arabian Sheikh. With your mouth hanging open you gasp in shock! After getting over your shock you gush how excited you are for her. After the waiter leaves with your order you proceed to ask her for all the details. She explains that the wedding will take place in the Sahara Desert. Trying not to gasp in shock you begin plotting skincare items you're going to need to keep your face properly moist. Pick three items to keep your skin in order!

My picks:

Lush Ocean Salt
Most people don't use Ocean Salt on their face because they feel it's too harsh but I happen to love it! It's ideal for those crazy desert days when my skin begins to flake up!

Mandom Perfect Assist 24 Double Moist Cream
This will keep my skin moist and dewy while the sun is beating down on my head!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sun Block
Gotta have high SPF for those sunny days in the desert! 85+ on this one! w00t!

Ok! Now it's your turn. The desert and dreary, cold rain for three months! Babble it peeps and tell me what you'd need to survive these nasty weather conditions.

Beauty Blast from the Past: Pupa Ocean Glitter

hey chicas!

Check it:


Click ahead for a babble or two!

The British Beauty Blogger found these on Spoiled Brat. Gosh it brings back such memories. I remember when Pupa did all sorts of cutesy styles like these. Remember the Pupa Le'Diable Devil Kit? Spoiled Brat has that too! What a hoot! I didn't even think Pupa made these things anymore for the European market outside of Italy!




These kawaii Pupa Ocean Glitter palettes look like they have four shadows inside, two blushes, and two glosses (or lip creams). Incredibly cute and brings back so many memories when Sephora used to carry Pupa!


Anyone remember the good old Pupa days?

Avon SpectraColor Lipstick Review and Swatches

Keeping up with the techy side of beauty Avon SpectraColor Lipstick allows you to customize your lipstick application by making it lighter or darker or having a more or less during application. First the Avon Pro 3-in-1 Lip Wand and this! Techy Avon, really techy! The Muse likes when you geek it!


Check it after the jump!

Avon SpectraColor Lipstick kinda has a combination glossy lipstick deal going on. I haven't decided if it's a lipstick, a lip cream, or a lipgloss but when I find out I'll let you know.






It's an interesting package that much is for sure. Basically the packaging is made up of dual chambers of color. Included are a light and a dark color in the tube. On the bottom of the packaging is a dial wheel a la Avon Spectra Lash that allows you to phone home for more or less color. The general idea of the dial allows for more product in a darker or lighter format to come out of the tube. So if you want to go lighter you dial down and if you want to go darker you dial up. Kinda an interesting concept.






The formula of the lipstick (gloss, cream or whatever you're wanting to call it) is a tad bit too rich and frosty for me. I tried out the Berries shade selection and it was a bit frosty, metallic looking on my lips. Not flattering on me, yak. Also, don't be discouraged, but the formula looks a tad oily coming out of the tube but once it's applied it's perfectly glossy and shiny.

All in all the packaging is kinda nifty, plus it's quite pigmented, and it's only $7.99. Acting as a gloss, a lipstick, and a lip cream all in one product you can't break the bank for $8 bucks trying it out for yourself.






It's available now from Avon.

Anyone try it yet?

Thoughts?

Tell it!

Sportin' Avon SpectraColor Lipstick in The Berries

P.S. Iris, I heard your request my dear, dear friend and I apologize for the above pictures as they were taken days ago before you asked for closer images, promise I'll do more close ups just for you. Love you.

Light, Fresh Coverage for Summer: DuWop Revolotion Face Tinted Moisturizer Review

Dudes! Check it.

Remember last year I had this mad love affair with Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer? Actually I still dig it to this day!

But anyway this year I'm kinda on this trippy travel to try out any and all tinted moisturizers that I've wanted to for a while but never did. The good news is that since I'm tripping out over tinted moisturizers that means you can get all my babble about which are good, which are bad, and which are Muse Approved for purchase.

Speaking of which....

I've always wanted to try DuWop Revolotion Face but I didn't indulge for whatever reason. I recently scored it for $18 bucks which is about $11 off retail price. I guess the price plus the fact that I'm high on TM's (TM=tinted moisturizer) convinced me to pick it up!

So today I'll give you the low down on DuWop Revolotion Face Tinted Moisturizer and whether it's a rave of a rant!


Click it for the deets!

Few things about tinted moisturizers:

Don't you find they aren't as pigmented as you'd like them to be? I mean they are supposed to be light, natural coverage but don't you yearn for a tiny bit more pigmentation?

Isn't the formula a little too loose? Yes, it's beautifully creamy but I sometimes wish they were a bit less runny.

Well problems all solved. DuWop Revolotion covers it. It's quite a good deal more pigmented than other tinted moisturizers I've tried in the pass. The formula also happens to be nice and creamy but not runny. The result? Flawless, natural, light coverage for Summer wearing and tearing. Loves it!

Speaking from a dry skin stand point the product feels lovely on my skin and gives just the right blend of moisture and color without a greasy, oily feeling. The finish is very lovely. It makes me look quite flawless and blends smoothly and evenly. It's not matte mind you but it's more of a dewy, fresh feeling.




On a side note if you need extra coverage to hide major flaws, acne, etc...this isn't the product you're going to want to purchase as it's simple, sheer coverage. However, if you're looking for a very light, subtle makeup for the hot weather that evens out your skin tone and creates a nice flawless canvas for make up while providing a touch of moisture to skin I'd highly recommend checking out DuWop Revolotion.

Loves it!

Total Muse Approval for purchase.



Anyone a lover?

Tell the Muse!

P.S. You can see me wearing this in a review post I have coming up shortly!

Hot Summer Fragrance: Benefit Crescent Row

Ok, so I gotta tell you. Benefit Crescent Row excites me. If you haven't already heard Benefit Crescent row is a release of three brand new fragrances based on a strip of flats (apartments for the totally clueless) in Bath, England, which serve as a home to several imaginary gals. Their lives are filled with laughter, gossip, and seduction (damn these girl's have it all) and each scent, bottle, artwork, and name was created to reflect the fascinating protagonists.

You know how terribly obsessed I am with England so of course I want all three of these but the real joy is the fact that Benefit knows good fragrance. One thing about Benefit they really put out great fragrance blends and I have the niggle in my noggin that these are going to prove to be something very, very special.

Jump ahead to read more and hear my story about Benefit past blends!

Now as I was saying Benefit has a nose for a good blend. Benefit Maybe Baby and Benefit B Spot are two of my very favorite fragrances. All of Benefit fragrances are Eau de Toilette but this doesn't prevent each of their fragrances from being quality items with long linger and beautiful throw.


Benefit Crescent Row sounds like such a gorgeous little trio that will definately bite me with the pokemon, collect them all disease. With whimsical, shabby chic packaging and a cute little story surrounding each blend it's hard to resist these!

The three fragrances are as follows:

Benefit Crescent Row Something About Sofia
Oriental Floral
Dreamy blend of oriental blossoms, mango & vanilla


Benefit Crescent Row Laugh With Me Lee Lee
Woody Floral
Light blend of citrus, jasmine & lily blossoms

Benefit Crescent Row My Place Or Yours Gina
Woody Oriental
An alluring affair of pink pepper, wild raspberry & patchouli


These cute, whimsical little fragrances are available now from Benefit Cosmetics for $36 each. Bet you can't resist picking up all three for yourself.

Loves It!

P.S. Benefit One Hot Minute officially launched today and is available for purchase from Sephora!

Musings of the Day: Return It? Maybe Not!

The return policy with in the USA on cosmetics, makeup items, bath and body products, etc...is very lean and gracious. Many stores, particularly Sephora, allow easy, fuss free returns. Even QVC has a lovely return policy on many cosmetic items. Even used items are given a free pass for a drama free exchange! Most times a new item is available for you, money back, a credit of some sort, or full refund to your credit is given. This is a policy that many makeup lovers have enjoyed and embraced for a long time now.

This isn't to say that many companies are as gracious. Quite a few counters do give a fair bit of drama to exchange used cosmetic items but with a receipt and a good attitude you should get your way!

The world as we know it has changed considerably after the collapse of our economy and what was once taken for granted is now not as readily available and at your disposable. As the economy continues on it's high and low track stores have begun changing their policies and even a faint whisper and rumor has arisen about Sephora's exchange policy.

I'm sure you remember the day when opening up a box of software and easily returning it because Winblows was being terribly whiny about installing it wasn't a problem at all. I recall Staples smiling friendly like and giving me a full refund. Within that time frame much has changed. Software is exchanged now but only for the same title (absurd if you think about it as if it's crashing on install it's crashing! How can that be helped?) and electronics are occasionally exchanged but with a 15-20% markdown on the original price.

So I ask...what if....your favorite counter, your favorite store, your favorite brand of cosmetics stopped offering credits and refunds on used cosmetics? How would you deal with it? We are a spoiled nation and we take for granted that bright red lipstick that looked fab under the glaring lights in the store can easily be exchanged for money back since it's looking rather obscene in the daylight on our lips.

What if you were stuck with that red lipstick? Without any option to return?

What would you do?

Check below for my answer!

I have two replies to this Musing. One, would be I can understand where these companies are coming from. They have to be losing millions of dollars a week due to chronic returners. Believe me these people exist. I'm not necessarily a chronic returner but I tend to change my mind alot. But where as I normally sell off or swap an item I hate, someone else isn't as gracious. They are in shop, right away, returning for money back or a new item, etc.....When I'm at Sephora I'll see people with big bags of items they are returning, this is rather obscene and could be seen as taking advantage of the system. Granted, if something doesn't work or you hate it by all means return it but do make a smart choice prior to leaving the store that the item you have in your hand is something you want. Don't go home, proceed to smear it all over your lips, and demand a refund a year later. Be gracious and respectable when it comes to returns otherwise we could be in a similar situation as European and Asian countries where returning makeup new or used is unheard of.

On the other side the idea of taking away my privilege to return an item for another item or for my money back is something I value. Sephora's exchange policy is incredible! It's one of the best reasons to shop at Sephora, a simple, mess free return. They even offer free shipping back from their online shop, unheard of on most online stores. It terrifies me that larger stores, such as Sephora, would consider possibly taking away this valued policy!

I do think that everyone should be entitled to a return on occasion as we do make mistakes here and there! Do remember to not take advantage of the system because we seriously don't want to wake up one day in a world where returning makeup or getting a refund doesn't exist!

What's your take?

Tell it!

Beauty Reminders: MAC, Bare Escentuals, and the Muse's Contest!

Just a few beauty reminders chicas!

MAC 25% Off Ends Today so if you're hauling best step on it! See here for the coupon code.

Tomorrow my first Summer Lovin' Contest ends and a new one begins late tomorrow evening! If you haven't entered to win yet please step over here to see what's being given away and how you can win it! It's open worldwide readers as well!

And finally don't forget that tomorrow Bare Escentuals begins it's 20% Off Sale! See here for the details and coupon code!

Happy Days!

Best of: Jill Stuart Cosmetics

It's no secret Jill Stuart is one of my very favorite cosmetic brands. With it's elegant packaging and unique makeup items, is it any wonder why it's a makeup junkie's dream come true?

As of late I haven't indulged in Jill Stuart cosmetics due to the repetitive color releases and bad currency conversion. But regardless how repetitious it becomes or how high the cost, Jill Stuart still remains a true favorite that stands out in my makeup world.

Click ahead for the Best of Jill Stuart Cosmetics at Musings!

Click through some great posts, reviews, and babblings about Jill Stuart Cosmetics!

Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color Review

Stash Spotlight: Jill Stuart Blush

Jill Stuart Cleansing Oil Review

Jill Stuart Christmas Coffret 2007 Review

Jill Stuart Perfume Review

Fake Jill Stuart Palettes

Jill Stuart Illuminance Review

See all tagged Jill Stuart posts

I hope you enjoyed clicking through these and learning more about Jill Stuart or just drooling over the greatness of Jill Stuart Makeup!

Do share some of your favorites from the brand!

Or e-mail me some stash pictures of your collection to share with readers!

Beauty Abroad: Marcelle Horizon Bronzing Pressed Powder

Marcelle Horizon Bronzing Pressed Powder is possibly the prettiest bronzer I've seen this year!

Wants it!

Check it after the jump!

I wonder if this as peachy and shimmery as it looks. Made up of 5 strips of color this so looks like something I need! It's available for a limited time so Canadians get on board that ship as it's looking quite lovely.

Also you can print out this coupon and save $1 off the $15.95 retail price.


Road trip? Canada?

The Muse, her readers, snacks?

I call shotgun!

Let's bring Pursebuzz too! I have a feelin' she'd make a cool road tripper!

Bourjois Paris Effect 3D Max Lipgloss

Pimp'ed as a mood boosting gloss, new Bourjois Paris Effect 3D Max Lipgloss could easily enhance my mood from good to great with 33% more shine!

Click it!

A gloss that offers 33% more shine? What does that even mean? It has me hyper. Bourjois Paris Effect 3D Max Lipgloss is a dazzling lipgloss with a smoothing formula that has shine micro-activators...geez so blooming techy!

These micro-activators form a flexible and comfortable film making lips smoother and radiant with softly shimmering colors that enhance your smile. It's ok guys, you had me at 33% more shine.


Available in 6 shades, Bourjois Paris Effect 3D Max Lipgloss is available now within the UK, Much of Europe, Asia, and no where near the US. Yes, the love has left the building and Bourjois Paris US fails to update it's line as quickly as it does in other parts of the world. Oh the sadness, the woe...my heart breaks daily.

Wants it?

Check Evil-bay or start calling up those long lost Brit relatives to grab you some! Review coming soon!

Beauty Most Unusual: Just The Treat For Lips!

We all have those days when we want to turn the other cheek and tell someone to go ahem...intercourse themselves.

A beauty most unusual topic or a cheeky little treat for lips?

Leave it to those crazy people at BlueQ to create a lip balm that tells it like it is.

Supposedly a natural and delicious cherry lip balm this one is for mother intercoursers everywhere......indeed and an SPF of 15 too! It just gets better and better doesn't it?

Beauty Most Unusual indeed, no nerve here to carry this one around, I'm a mush I never tell anyone to go intercourse themselves. I simply nod and smile like an idiot, seems to work wonderfully well!

WANT IT: Cover FX The Big Cover Up 3 Step Essentials

Like everyone else in the makeup world I strive for perfection. I want to look as flawless as humanly possible. Which is why Cover FX The Big Cover Up 3 Step Essentials is currently topping my WANT list!


Check it!

Cover FX The Big Cover Up 3 Step Essentials is a set made up of professional quality products to achieve incredible coverage for a flawless, beautiful complexion.

Baby I'm a want you!

Cover FX is a camouflage makeup that's heavily pigmented to work at covering even the worst flaws, birth marks, tattoos, etc....This kit includes everything for covering minor to major imperfections.

The set includes:

• Cover FX SkinPrep FX
• Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation (3 Shade for mixin' and cocktailin' for your unique shade)
• Cover FX Setting FX
• Cover FX Precision Foundation Brush
• How To Video

Can I tell you I'm totally enamored with this set and want it badly. The only thing that's prevented me from fully exploring Cover FX is having to sit down and have my color matched for me. I'm not a fan of MA's touchin' and feelin' all over my face so I haven't experimented with the wide range of Cover FX foundations. Which brings me to why this kit is so appealing. It's only available in four color combination which totally breaks down the overwhelming amount of colors available in the standard foundation. Plus it has three shades so even if I get a set that doesn't match me completely I can still mix my proper shade.

But...ado...the $75 price tag hurts a little bit. I believe what's included is pretty much trail size so I'm wincing slightly at the price.

Doesn't stop me from wanting this kit though! I'm trying hard not to submit, a little moral support please?

Mineral Powder Review: Aromaleigh Glissade Mineral Foundation Review

I should know by now that mineral foundation and my skin don't get along. I've definitely tried a few I like and some I've gotten very excited about but I notice in the long run they tend to end up in the bottom of my makeup draw.

I've tried a few Aromaleigh products before which I've been very, very happy with so it was the next logical step to try out their Glissade Mineral Foundation which sounds too good to be true.


Check out my review after the jump!

Aromaleigh Glissade Mineral Foundation is pimped out like the gods themselves use this incredible formula. Words like dreamy, luxe, and emollient got me so excited I could barely see straight.

Glissade is described as the perfect solution for women (like me!) that find mineral foundations drying, itchy, tightening, and sensitizing to the skin or anyone who just couldn't wear mineral foundation happily. This is exactly my problem or some of it. Itchy, drying, and just not happy with the overall results of mineral foundations, indeed Glissade sounded like what I needed.

Glissade is a formula that utilizes silicone-coasted pigment technology (I'm sure you're familiar with silicon foundations by now and even liquid foundations that are embracing silicons in their formulas) which provides a buffer between your skin and the pigments. Basically it's almost acting as if you've set your face with a primer first so the minerals are "laying" on your skin and technically touching it. Interesting concept, difficult to understand possibly, but I get it.








Glissade is typically the same formula as any other mineral foundation. It feels smooth, fine, silky. It feels very nice in simple terms. The idea of it being emollient and moisturizing to my skin is absurd because it also acts the way most every mineral foundation I've tried in the pass does. I end up feeling dry, flaky, and looking heavily made up even after finely misting with toner. On a side note prior to ordering I headed into a Bare Escentuals store to get fitted for the color I'd be using from Aromaleigh. I know I'm such a cheeky little monkey getting tips from BE and buying from Aromaleigh, bad Muse! BE was kind enough to point out my shade for me and I purchased just that on Aromaleigh however the BE shade I tried in the store was a bit darker than the Aromaleigh Glissade version. Just a note if you are buying that shades aren't exact from my experience.

The great news is the formula isn't itchy at all. It wears very, very comfortably. However, it does feel dry, it does feel flaky, and it does not wear long at all. Within an hour or two it's virtually gone from my face and even leaves spots behind so it looks like I'm half made up. Gross!

Although Aromaleigh Glissade Mineral Foundation had me wishin' and hopin' that it would turn into this incredible flawless finish I just felt ripped off that I indulged in such a large size. Sigh...always order a sample size kids and don't go full size, even when things sound absolutely amazing.

Glissade lacks the itch but it fails epically the rest of the way around. As for the Muse, she'll keep searching, no sense giving up yet. There has to be a mineral out there that works!

Anyone try?

Love it?

What are your HG mineral foundations?

Tell the Muse!

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Man Hunt Contest Voting

Hey guys!

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Man Hunt Contest Voting has started. I told you about the Urban Decay Man Hunt Contest a few days ago well voting is happening right now.

Click ahead for some of my favs!

I was unsuccessful convincing Martin that it would be a good idea to allow me to submit his photo for a geeky lip gloss. Sigh. What a wuss. But looks like many other guys are out there for a vote and some are mighty fine lookin'!

Here's my picks for the gloss:
NickB
Ronnie
Gabriel

Go vote and come back hear to tell me which guys you think should win!

Curious what you think!

Cast your vote by clicking here.

Product Musings: MAC Eversun Swatches

I do believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that MAC blush in Eversun from Style Warriors is easily overlooked. It doesn't really look all that appealing does it? Kinda brown, kinda meh.....

Hmmm!


Muse with me?

Jump for it!

At first glance MAC Eversun isn't anything particularly wonderful. Brownish ho-hum with a bit of bronze thrown in for good measure. But...it manages to morph delightfully once applied and becomes this juicy, sunkissed peachy shade that's an exciting Summer color!

I picked it up on a whim and bless be the gods that I did because I'd normally skip it any other day. Turns out it's simply gorgeous!






Worthy of a pick up if you missed it. Especially for warmer tones and hey equally gorgeous on fair skinned girls too! Don't let all that muddy brown sway you, have a swatch and a try, it's quite pretty!

Loves it!

Anyone grab Eversun from Style Warriors?

Loving all over it like the Muse?

Tell it!

Best of Inexpensive Asian Skincare: B&C Super off Eye Make-Up Remover

As you may know I have a slew of Asian drugstore finds hiding out in my closet. I really like shopping inexpensive Asian skincare and I'm always full of glee when I can score a deal online or have a friend pick me up something from Japan or Korea. One of my fav finds from the Asian skincare world is B&C Aqua Way Super Off Eye Make-up Remover. You may recognize the B&C name if you know Japanese cosmetics as they are the company behind Love Clover. B&C also offers a slew of inexpensive drugstore skincare items such as Aqua Way Super Off Eye Make-Up Remover. This retails for around $4-$5 USD in Japanese drugstores but it's available readily online for US shoppers at around $8-$9. The price is a tad jacked up so the question to answer is it worth the price increase?


Jump ahead to hear about it!

Yes, if you have no friends or contacts in Japan to get this for you than yes it's worth the price jack. It's a quality item that I've used for two years or more now and absolutely adore.




What is it?

It's a subtly orange scented gel which removes waterproof mascara, hard to remove eye makeup, and eye shadow.




I'll start off by saying I'm not partial to gels or balms for removing my shadow. For example I think theBalm Balms Away is awesome however it's not my ideal makeup remover. I do prefer liquid to remove my eye makeup. That being said I can be convinced to love good quality items like Balms Away and Super Off Eye Make-Up Remover.

The formula is a very thick gel that doesn't foam or sud, no tricks or gimmicks, simply a gel here. Taking a little more than a pea size amount you rub it on makeup laden eyes sans water. As you rub the gel breaks up makeup and goes to work to remove it. After gently rubbing for a minute or so you can proceed to rinse with warm water. Presto! Eye makeup, even hard to remove waterproof mascara, is rinsed off.




I imagine the idea of rubbing your eyes for a minute or so isn't too appealing but I find that the gel allows your fingers to gently glide across your eyes so no severe tugging is involved. If you're terribly uncomfortable with rubbing you can simply work the gel onto lashes and ever so gently rinse them clean. Honestly, the friction of the gel makes for a ever so gentle removal.

It's possibly one of the best removers I've come across aside from Lancome Bi-Facil plus it's way cheaper. You get about a 3.7oz to 4oz tub for the price which will last well over 3 months with daily use.

If you're looking for the Best Inexpensive Asian Eye Makeup Remover, B&C Eye Make-Up Remover is it. It's Muse Approved for purchase! A tried and true favorite.



The Muse recommends purchasing from the following places:
Sasa $8.90
Imomoko $12.95

I'll be bringing you more of my favorite, best inexpensive Asian skincare picks soon!