Beauty Abroad: Lisa Eldridge For Boots No7

It's that special time of the year kids...or not (I know, it takes a special girl to love Boots cosmetics). It's when Boots No7 decides to launch a cool new collection at us. As you know the Muse is fond of the special releases over at Boots and does so wish they'd bring these things over to her side of the pond.

Jump ahead for a peep at the Lisa Eldridge for Boots No7 Collection.

British Beauty Blogger has the word on these new palettes from Boots No7 and after viewing her post the Muse is wriggling in her seat in hopes of collecting both brand new palettes.




The limited edition palettes will be released in November and based on 1930's Russian Art. As for this Muse she can appreciate cosmetic art. That gold one is screaming my name.

Skin79 Diamond Collection Star Glow Ball Powder Review and Swatches

More beauty abroad coming atcha today chicas.

I've been having a ton of fun sampling all the goodies that I got with my Skin79 Diamond Collection Set. This set is an incredible deal as it includes a slew of items for one low cost.

Although the sets aren't sold in the US you can purchase individual items from E-bay and a few select online shops if you Google a bit and search around.

Today I'm reviewing the Skin79 Diamond Collection Star Glow Ball Powder.




Tale a peep after the jump!

This is much like my Esprique Precious Illuminate Nuancer which I simply adore however not as nice, tell you why in a few.




The "powder" is made up of several shades of pastel colored balls to be used to highlight certain areas of the face. It's supposed to brighten the face up while highlighting however the formula is terribly frosty which is unflattering on my face.

The highlighter is housed in a cute, simple pink jar with a super soft puff included. Love the puff...it's truly luxurious and super soft. The balls all range in shades from pastel pink, green, purple, etc...much like you'd find in a jar of Guerlain Meteorites. Where as Guerlain and Esprique is a subtle little highlight this is a rather frosty, shimmery affair that looks like a disco ball blew up in my face. Of course I adore sparkle and the likes but this was a bit overkill.






Not much else to say about it sadly other than the fact it was a sore disappointment and will end up on my swap list directly.

No likey.

Most of the Skin79 Diamond Collection has been a joy up until now but this one is a safe skip if you're not wanting a frosty mess on your face. Pretty in the jar not on the face.

WANT IT: Lush Vanilla Scoop

Ahhh it's still quite Summer and a scoop of vanilla is always in order. Indulge in a Lush Vanilla Scoop and snag a steal and a deal!


Scoop this scoop by taking the jump!

Lush UK Mail Order has a brand new set entitled Vanilla Scoop which is £39.95 and includes all of the following vanill-lish goodies!

• Lush Vanilla Puff Dusting Powder
• Vanillary Perfume
• Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion
• Vanilla Fountain Bath Bomb

The items come to £45 regularly so you'll be saving about £5 on the purchase of the set.

Lush UK does ship to the states however since this contains the perfume I'm unsure if they will ship it. Lush used to ship perfumes abroad but they ran into a few probs with items breaking and the likes and didn't do perfume shipping during forum parties so I'm unsure whether they do or do not as of now since many of my orders haven't included perfumes as of late.

I'm going to attempt to purchase one of these as I haven't tried the dusting powder as of yet and I'm out of lotion plus I can always use a stock up on the perfume and bath bomb. I'll let you know how it goes.

It's a rather nice little package of vanilla treats if you're a lover.

Available now from Lush UK.

Beauty News: Bourjois Paris Launches Makeup Removers and Cleansers

The Irish Beauty Blog girls have the scoop on the new Bourjois Launch Makeup Removers and Cleansers that release this Fall in the UK. Gawd, I hate that we don't get any of the good stuff here!


Here's the deets:
Bourjois Paris Fresh Cleansing Milk (suitable for dry)
Bourjois Paris Vitamin Enriched Toner
Bourjois Paris Express Eye Makeup Remover (two-phase formula to remove all types of eye makeup)
Bourjois Paris Foaming Cleansing Cream (suitable for dry)
Bourjois Paris Express Cleansing Wipes

The Muse thinks she needs it all. I guess I'll have to be hunting down a clever Brit to snag me some of the goods upon release.

Now if we could only tempt Bourjois back to US waters.....

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Viva La Diva Tropical Temptation Eye Shadow Palette Review and Swatches

A few months ago I introduced you to a small Swedish drugstore brand by the name of Viva La Diva.




Sadly the brand is virtually unknown in the US, nor available our side of the shore. Golly why can't we have cute cosmetics like this stateside? No fairs!

Moral of the story is Viva la Diva came out with a rather cute collection of goodies for the Summer one of which was a very sweet little eye palette with plenty of shimmering shades of pigmented greens, blues, sandy golds and browns. Rather an ideal palette for Summer and cheap as day old chips.

Jump ahead for a peep at it!

This is my first venture with Viva La Diva and probably won't be my last after experiencing the brand for myself. For it's inexpensive price tag I'm quite delighted with the quality of the shadow palette.




The Viva La Diva Tropical Temptation Eye Shadow Palette is a slim line compact which contains 12 shades of shimmering shadow. The shadows aren't huge and you'll probably hit pan fairly quickly but they are richly pigmented so a little does go a fairly long way.

The shades range in color from deep ocean blues, aquas, and teals, watery greens, and shades of sandy golds and browns. It's a pretty versatile palette that allows for a warm sunny look or a cooler, bolder Summer look. Seeing as it has 12 shades to choose from you can mix and match for any number of various looks. I only did a few swatches below as I was feeling greedy with the palette hehe!












Each shade is nicely pigmented with a shimmery finish however fall out is a problem during application and this could be annoying to some. The shadows are loosely packed into the pans so you'll get a good deal of kick up when your brush hits the shadow. I also noticed shades don't blend particularly well together as they end up becoming one color. The shades all apply smooth and blend easily onto the eye but two or more shades creates a bit of a mess. Aside from these minor rants I absolutely adore the palette.

With it's cute size, inexpensive price tag, and variety of color I'm quite pleased with my first purchase from Viva La Diva and look forward to trying out future items from the brand.

Sadly, I have no recommendations where to purchase these goodies from however I do suggest checking makeup forums or MUA to see if someone in Sweden would be willing to CP a palette or two. Worthy of a hunt down in my humblest. Great little palette!

The two looks created below were created using one shade each from the palette one with a light neon green and the other a white gold.














Anyone tried the line before or any fans of it?

Tell the Muse!

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara Review

I recently got a chance to try out L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara thanks to the gorgeous Helena over at Lipgloss Bitch. I haven't seen this outside of Sweden and the UK but I have heard the whisper of a rumor it's available within the US, where? I haven't a clue but people have been lucky to get their hands on it.

I imagine I wanted the mascara for a few reasons one of which was the fact that it mimics that of Givenchy Phenonmen'Eyes Mascara. Indeed, the medieval torture device that makes up the end of this applicator proves popular in the mascara world with junkies like myself. With it's round ball head and tiny little spikes one would wonder is it for applying to the eye area or torturing it?




Find out after the jump!

I will say I loved Givenchy Phenonmen'Eyes Mascara and the excitement of a cheaper alternative on the horizon seemed quite nice. I also loved that drugstore brands were taking risks with a unique design (even if it was a copy from a posher brand).

But where as Phenonmen'Eyes works well at lengthening, volumizing, and making lashes fuller, L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara fails, miserably. Explosion indeed, explosion of mess all over my bloody lashes.


Although the applicator is about the same size as Givenchy's it seems the formula is the epic fail in this mascara. The applicator picks up way too much of the inky black gel like formula and proceeds to glue lashes together, clumps them up, and creates havoc in the form of a hot mess. The mascara formula is the only thing I can blame as the applicator is an exact dupe of Givenchy. The formula turns my many lashes into one uni-lash by gluing them altogether in a terrible mess of product. On the up side when applied slowly you'll see decent results although lashes will need to be combed out to prove any worthy results with this. Applied to quickly or incorrectly and you'll end up with mascara all over your eye and a gooey, sticky, wet mess of lashes.






Before


After


As you can see in my after shot my lashes are a bit clumpy (this is after a comb through! They'd be glued together in one lash if I hadn't combed eep!) and there is mascara all over my lash line yak. It's impossible to apply this mascara without getting it all over the place.

The potential to create longer, fuller lashes is there but the formula is just to runny to succeed.

Overall, a complete and utter waste. Best bet is running out and splurging $28 on Givenchy, some times it pays to go the expensive route.

Final results? No likey. Bit hot mess waiting to happen.

Anyone try this?

Love it?

Leave it?

Tell the Muse!

WANT IT: SilkyGirl BB Cream

I dunno why but the Singaporean population flocks to Vox to blog. What's this mean? It basically means I'm probably lurking around Vox reading gorgeous Singaporean chick blogs. They always have such great finds on there. It's terribly addicting.

My latest find?

SilkyGirl BB Cream! 'ello awesome! Omg!

Learn more after the jump!

Although SilkyGirl isn't a Singaporean brand it is sold in 'pore. It actually originates in Malaysia and basically is this cheapy, cheesy drugstore brand with a pretty large cult following. Translated: cheap but good quality.

When I recently seen a blogger from 'pore waxing the good word about a new release from SilkyGirl I was all over it. SilkyGirl BB Cream looks dreamy! It's about $6-$8 bucks in USD so it's way cheap. It comes in two shades, has an SPF 25, and looks like it could be super nice. I'm a picky person when it comes to BB's but I'm all about the cheap factor.

Want it?

Hells yes.

My little sis, plue, is on the case to snag me one. Be on the look out for a review upcoming shortly.

Image Borrowed from Fr0nd's Makeup Madness

Beauty News: Stila Pulls Out Of Japan

We were discussing Stila's demise in Europe and Asia a few weeks ago and it's finally confirmed that Stila is now out of Japan as well!

My good friend Iris reports that Stila will be completely pulled from Japan by the end of August. I'm shocked to hear this as Stila does very well in Asian countries. It's quite sad!

The good news is Stila is working on gaining ground again in the cosmetic world so just be patient and I'm sure you'll see Stila back in your country again soon!

Beauty Babblings: Sephora France Shampooing Shampoo

Ha and you thought that Sephora US had some stupid offerings! Check out Sephora France's Shampooing Shampoo.

It's a shampooing shampoo which basically means it's a shampoo you can shampoo with. Cool right?

Um clearance rack anyone?

Jump for it!

Available in 14 scents this is a mild shampoo from Sephora France.

Ok, ok I admit that I'm eager to start shampooing my hair with shampoo that has scents like Chocolate Praline and Vanilla Creme Brulee. Maybe Sephora France does have the upper hand here.

Want it?

Can't have it, exclusive to Sephora France sadly.

No worries maybe the shampooing craze will catch on and Sephora US will start carrying these and we can all indulge when they hit the clearance rack for a buck.

Likey!

What do you think about Sephora releasing shampoos?

Yay or Nay?

Beauty News: Twiggy New Spokeswoman For Olay Definity

Twiggy is one of my fashion and style icons so it's nice to hear she's making a come back and will be the mod icon and spokeswomen for Olay Definity in the UK.

Jump ahead for the details!

Twiggy will be the new face for the Olay Definity advertising campaign. Nearly 25 years later after her original stint as the spokeswoman she'll be returning to the position to front the new Olay commercials!


Even after 25 years she remains timelessly beautiful!

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Image Source

WANT IT: Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection Pastel Eye Palette

We've already gotten our fair share of the Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection this year but that hasn't stopped me from loving all over the Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection Pastel Eye Palette.

Released in both Asia and Europe this gorgeous little palette shouts summer fun with shimmering baby blues, grays, buttery yellow, and a fair share of pink. At one time I considered myself a big fan of pastels but lately I feel like they look washed up on me however my mind can be changed when presented with a pretty little palette such as this.

No news of when or if it might release state side but we can all drool away happily and hope!

Beauty Abroad: L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Collection

You all suck in the UK. Ok not really I absolutely adore Britain, all hail the Queen. The point is you guys always get the good stuff. Pout! 'Bout to have a proper Muse tantrum after seeing the new L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Collection available exclusively at Boots UK.

Oh my gods wants!

Check it after this jump.

Bjooti posted about this today and I must say it intrigues me something fierce. I'm not a huge fan of L'Oreal but they have gone and outdone themselves with this collection. We got hi-def foundation, skin brightening primer, shimmery shadow, indeed this collection looks gorg!

Dear L'Oreal Paris,

Can we has Studio Secrets Professional Collection here in the states? If you bring it I will buy.

Also I'd love you forever too!

k, bye.

Talk soon.
the Muse

Check it:

L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Primers

How incredible do these look? You got one for anti-shine, one for anti-dullness, one for anti-redness, a solution for every skin type! £9.99 each and they look like Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer but heaps cheaper! Want!

L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Primers

Available in 8 Shades for £15.99 (plenty of rosy under tones as well, score!)

L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Ultra-Glossy Lip Lacquer

Available in 11 shade selections with an ultra glossy finish supposedly. £7.99 Each.

L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Lipstick

Available in 23 shades for £8.99

L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Eye Intensifier Eye Shadows

Slap me, I'm feeling excited about L'Oreal eyeshadow! Available in 16 shades for £5.99

L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer

Available for £11.99

Well, that's about it folks! Pretty nice right? I'm lemming a majority of it as everything looks super nice especially those primers. The price ranges aren't too bad considering sterling is converting decently to USD at the moment although if available in the US it might be considerably lower priced with many coupon and sale options. I'm trying to sit on my hands and not jump on board asking people to haul me some as I'm wondering if Boots might go ahead and do a buy two get one sale soonish? But I know myself and I'll jump to snag some way before that.

If you're wanting it your options are to fly to the UK (not a terrible thing I'll come with too!), have a friendly Brit buy some for you (check MUA, forums, etc...), or search evil-bay UK (on occasion deals do arise on the UK side of the evilness).

I must say this looks like an astoundingly good collection from L'Oreal and it's a shame we probably won't ever see in the US or if we do it'll be sized down and revamped to be el suck.

What do you think?

UK'ers, anyone haulin'?

Tell it!

Beauty Credit Lovely Auto Gloss Review

I'm a pretty big fan of Beauty Credit because it's so inexpensive and has such a wide variety of fun items from makeup to skincare and beyond. You've probably already ready many of my past reviews on the brand and perhaps you're even a fan yourself of the line.

Although I've always had great success with many of the items I've tried from Beauty Credit one item I was slightly disappointed with.


Allow me to tell you about it, click for it.

The only item, thus far, that I've tried from Beauty Credit that I really didn't love was the Beauty Credit Lovely Auto Gloss. Beauty Credit Lovely Auto Gloss has a whole lot going for it with it's cute packaging, inexpensive price tag (£4), variety of colors, and nice pigmentation but I'm not the biggest fan of the formula.

A cute click pen houses the gloss which is rather great packaging as I love this style gloss since it makes applying so easy. It also features the cute Beauty Credit rocking horse emblem. The sponge tip applicator is a bit on the smallish side but it applies the gloss pretty well regardless.

Auto Gloss has great pigmentation, enough so you don't have to wear a stain or lipstick beneath however it's the formula that I find terribly crummy. It's not at all glossy or shiny and has a slightly silicon feel which ends up making it feel more like a lip color rather than a gloss. I didn't find it moisturizing but more drying on my lips than anything else.






I suppose if you like a silicon-like gloss you may like this but I'm not a fan. I've run into a similar problem with many Maquillage glosses as well.

Beauty Credit remains a fond favorite of mine for price and selection but Auto Gloss was a fail for me. No likey!

Beauty Credit has it's own website and certain vendors around the world carry the line including ones in New York City if you're interested in exploring the line further.

Anyone a fan of Beauty Credit?

Which items do you like?

Tell the Muse!