bareMinerals Radiance Rocks

Innovative beauty? Possibly. bareMinerals Radiance Rocks are made up of three minerals in their most natural state.


Hmmm....

Interesting but what's it for?

Jump!

This set is made up of three mineral rocks in various shades for a sheer wash of refreshing, cooling color on eyes, cheeks, or body.

Possibly one of the most interesting cosmetic assembles the Muse has seen to date these do so appear interesting. They come packaged with a Kabuki Brush for application and three shades which are bronze, champagne, and warm rose. Honestly, they look gorgeous but the question is will they be messy or way too pigmented to work with?

Remains to me scene but this Muse did so plop 'em in her cart at Sephora and is eagerly awaiting their arrival on her doorstep...maybe they'll be as special as they look!

What do you think?

Available for Sephora Beauty Insiders for $35.

P.S. Bare Minerals has done "rock"-like cosmetics before with a bronzer rock this past Summer.

Reader's Request: Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm Review

You know what the number one problem is when it comes to fine lines under your eyes? Dry skin.

The delicate area under your eyes can occasionally become very dry especially as you age this in fact causes fine lines to look worst than they actually are. At least that's been the case for me.

Your best possible defense against dry skin and fine lines is keeping things as moist and hydrated as possible. Believe me I used just about everything and the kitchen sink to keep the delicate skin under my eyes as moisturized as possible but sometimes even that isn't it enough.

Solution?

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm...miracle in a glass jar.




Check it after the jump!

What is it?

It's a herbal scented balm that resembles vaseline but with a harder texture.

What's it do?

Depuffs, moisturizers, hydrates, soothes, protects, and erases signs of fatigue such as dark circles.

Does it work?

Hells to the yes!


Trust me I'm a Doctor, I think David Tennant said that at one point...but anyway....here's the scoop. Yes, it depuffs, yes it moisturizes, yes it hydrates, yes it improves fine lines (due to dryness) under your eyes, and yes it fights the signs of fatigue but no it doesn't erase dark circles.

So.....

I gave up everything I normally slather under my eyes aside from my AM eye cream to use this for a week and a half. Honestly, that's too short a time to really test it out but the fact is I seen such a dramatic difference since I started might as well tell you the good word now.

It sports a consistency of a balm or a salve hence the name eye balm doh. All you need to do is gently pat it under your eyes and go to bed. Next morning you'll be singing in praise how great you look. It gives an intense shot of good moisture to my dry skin, hydrates it, and does a slight depuff action, LOVE! It also makes me look quite refreshed. Actually when I wake up the following morning it isn't totally absorbed into my skin, it kinda sits around and moisturizes all through the night as I sleep. It's rather ideal if you have some serious dry skin going on. Fact of the matter is if I don't moisture well my fine lines look incredibly bad but when I do get proper moisture you can barely see them and thus the case with this balm. It gives me so much moisture that my fine lines virtually disappear making me look younger, fresher, and flawless.










It's not for everyone.

Thing is I love it but I know that people will likely feel it's like slathering vaseline under your eyes. Not the case as it's a balm and it has a harder texture with a bit of a tacky formula. It could prove to be uncomfortable for some or you may get an "ick" factor after use as it never fully absorbs. As for me I could care less since it gives me all the moisture I crave and than some. I can suffer through a little stickiness for that.

It comes housed in a heavy glass jar and yes sadly you'll have to be dipping your fingers around in there...hello bacteria...only thing I can suggest is to be sure to always use clean hands prior to use. I find that swirling my finger in it with gentle pressure will make the product easier to use as first try it is quite hard and feels like you're not using anything at all. A pressured swirl will get it "worked" up so to speak.

It's $60...honestly, that could be a bit much to drop on a simple balm considering for that chunk of change you can invest in a good quality eye cream. For me it's priceless since it simply works and hey that's what I'm paying for right?

So far, it's on my incredible list. After I'm through with this (which won't be anytime soon as the jar is huge with a ton of product since a little goes a long way) I'll be running to the store for another.

Very good stuff, Muse Approval for purchase.



Overall, if you need to tame the puff, erase the fine lines, and get a super dose of moisture under those tired, dry eyes, Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm does the deed and does it well.

Loves it.

Laura Geller Baked Eyeshadow and Liner Duo Review and Swatches

Laura Geller Marble Cakes Baked Eyeshadow and Liner Duo makes it so easy to shade, line, and define my eyes with a great little kit that even includes a dual ended brush. Likey!

The Muse enjoys simplicity packaged in one box don't you?




Jump for it!

Although Laura Geller Baked Eyeshadow and Liner Duos are readily available on Sephora for $23 bucks, the Muse highly recs checking 'em out on QVC (Item Number A86595) as they contain not only a baked shadow/liner duo but also come prepackaged with a dual ended brush for application.

After my foray into the world of Laura Geller's Baked products with a kit I recently purchased I'm kinda lusting all things from the line. These duos are super as they are affordable and have great color payoff. The shadow comes housed in a chic black compact with mirror. They are split down the middle with the shadow on one side and the liner on the other. Honestly, if you're wanting to you can easily use the liner side as a contrasting shade of shadow as well. The shadow side has a slightly sparkle finish where as the liner is more matte but not difficult to work with as it blends rather beautifully. Both shades are super smooth, silky, and very easy to work with. Could be the baked formula but they sport a beautiful formula. The basic idea is to use the shadow side as a color wash all over lid and crease and follow up with the liner to define eyes. Lining with the enclosed color proves a little difficult since the shadow shade is so similar in color however it does end up working very well when used wet as you'll get a bolder more dramatic finish. Color payoff on the shades I tried were very good.

The kit also includes a dual ended brush which has a fluffy shadow shader on one side and a flat angled liner brush on the other. Both brushes are good quality with super soft bristles and no shedding.








The colors I tried were SugarSky/BlueBerry and Unearthed/Dark Chocolate. Sugarsky is a shimmering sky blue and Blueberry is a deep navy blue. Unearthed is a sparkling golden brown and Dark Chocolate as per it's name is a velvety dark chocolate.


























For my look below I used Unearthed all over my lid and followed up by lining my lower and bottom lash line with Dark Chocolate. I didn't wet Dark Chocolate so the results aren't as dramatic as they could be.




Overall, these are great little shadows and quite a super deal if you purchase the set for $26. Sephora has a total of four shades including a green combo that I'm wanting to indulge in where a the QVC sets are only available in the shades I have reviewed and swatched for you here. I liked these very much and deem them worthy of a Muse Approval.



Loves 'em! Great deal, beautiful pigmentation, and superb formula to work with.

Lancome Declaring Indigo: Lancome Artliner Eye Liner Indigo Charm Review and Swatches

Some Fall Collections stick in the Muse's head as being unique and interesting. Where as everyone in the makeup world is looking toward warmer browns and golds for Fall, Lancome took a step towards an interesting selection of golds and a dominate shade of blue to make up it's Fall Collection.

Pairing up a deep shade of sapphire blue to reign over it's Fall Collection is probably one of the most interesting ways to gain this Muse's attention.

Jump ahead for a review on Lancome Artliner Eye Liner Indigo Charm from the brand new Lancome Declaring Indigo Fall Collection.


Although I have yet to get my hands on the Lancome Fall Palettes I will say that the main model's look inspired me to recreate it using other items from my collection. Pairing up sparkling gold with a deep set sapphire blue was indeed a rather unique and interesting Fall look to go with. Although I fail to associate blue with the Fall, I will say I'll gladly take the Lancome Declaring Indigo Fall look and make it my own as it's so strikingly gorgeous and different.

Lancome Artliner Eye Liner in Indigo Charm is a beautiful sapphire jewel blue shade. It's a very true blue color that pairs up wonderfully with gold. It's richness is fitting of royalty but also great for Muse's like myself. The liner is incredibly easy to work with as it has a good formula that doesn't skip or require relining. A simple stroke will get you an even, pigmented line of jewel blue to line with.




In my case I took Lancome Artliner to the next level and used it to dupe the Lancome Declaring Indigo look as seen on the model below.


For my look I gathered a rich warm shade of loose gold shadow and placed it all over my lids and lined my lower lash line with the same shade. Taking a small liner brush I painted Lancome Artliner Eye Liner in Indigo Charm in the outer v of my eye and blended it out and slightly upward into my lid. I lined half of my lower lash line with the liner and proceeded to smudge it into the gold already in place. The look is fairly easy to create and doesn't require much blending or skill as the liner is incredibly creamy and easy to work with. Although I imagine Lancome didn't create Artliner for this purpose it does work perfectly as a shadow as well as an eye liner.






My completed look is much like the model's with a shade of blue dominating my eyes but a nice twist of shimmering gold to contrast the smoldering blue.






Overall, Lancome Declaring Indigo has some very promising pieces particularly the Artliner in Indigo Charm which is versatile enough to line eyes with and use as a cream shadow to lend a certain mystery to eyes. Lancome Fall promises a bolder, fresher, more unique look when compared with many of the same repetitive shades of brown that Fall is associated with. Something different and exciting is always in order the Muse thinks.

Likey very much and Muse Approved for purchase. I must get my hands on the Lancome Fall Eye Quads as those look stunning!



Anyone hall from Lancome Fall 2009?

Share it!

Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner Review

Ok, let me tell you a story. A hundred years ago or so I purchased my first MAC Technakohl and promptly fell in love. To this day I still adore Technakohl but I also hate it. Dontcha just love having a love hate relationship with makeup? That so means you're totally a psychotic product junkie like me, yay us!

So let me explain. Technakohl...omg awesome liner. This is such a dreamy, creamy formula that lines my eyes so perfectly but don't let it wear down. I swear it's probably good for three uses tops before the pencil quickly loses it's sharp edge. Now what? Well nothing. You can't do anything. There isn't anyway you can sharpener a dull Technakohl liner. How can something so great be so incredibly crummy.

Sigh.

Someone suggested to be that I can roll the liner between a napkin or paper to sharpen it...yea well people...I am so not that coordinated...I tried and ended up with a mess of black swirls on a piece of paper.

Forget all this though.

MAC I am so sorry but you've been replaced by the joys of Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner, damn straight she cares. She cares so much she included a sharpener and a smudger! My god I heard the angels just sing (in my head that is).

Jump ahead to learn more about the brand new Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner and why the Muse thinks it's the best thing since peanut butter on toast.


What is it?

It's a super, smooth, long wearing, water resistant eye liner that applies like a dream. No skipping, no going back to re-line, just simple one line perfection. This is what love is. The formula is so dreamy and creamy and manages to glide across my lash line in a quick, flawless stroke so I don't have to go back and reline or deal with skippage.






But let's forget the formula for a minute and concentrate on the fact that it has a built in sharpener tucked inside the end cap. Laura you're a master mind! You've solved world peace in my makeup world. I can't believe a soft kohl liner housed in a plastic pencil has a sharpener, it's a gift...from the gods above! The sharpener is really tiny but it manages to create a perfect point each and every single time. It's like getting a new liner every time you sharpener! I admit I purposely squashed the end of my pencil so I could try it out and it created a perfect sharp point for me. I swear my makeup life is complete thanks to this handy, dandy sharpener.


Squashed!

Brand new again!



Ok, enough raving about that.

It also has a flexible, soft spongy smudger that's ideal for smudging out the liner and creating an air of mystery to eyes.






If all this isn't enough let me tell you that Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner is sold in a pair for $22 bucks!

Have I sold it to you yet?

Get it. Now.

You'll be all the happier that you aren't stuck with a dull pointed liner that you can't sharpener!

Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner total loves it moment for the Muse and of course a mega Muse Approval for purchase.



Incredible.

Thank you Laura you've heard my prays.

Available now on QVC, Item Number A84597.