YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick 24 Blond Ingenu

I've waited literal months to get my hands on this lipstick. For whatever reason(s), YSL chose to release the new Rouge Pur Couture shades to the U.S. much, much later than the rest of the planet. They're lucky that I'm a very forgiving addict. Moving along...

I would describe 24 Blond Ingenu as a pinky-peach nude with a tasteful/subtle infusion of micro-shimmer. It looks a wee bit darker in the tube than it applies. The shimmer in this lipstick is so finely distributed that it doesn't look frosty or shimmery. It has more of an illuminating glow-like effect on the lips. 

I absolutely love this lipstick. I can say that, in all sincerity, it was well worth the wait. And, this is coming from someone who *despises* waiting for things, mostly lipstick. Regardless, I feel this particular shade is one of the best "nudes" that I've come across in a while. I feel like YSL brought this shade out as a replacement for the cult favorite Rouge Pur 148 Tea Rose. As much as I love Tea Rose, I think 24 Blond Ingenu is a definite upgrade. 

There's something about the micro-shimmer infusion that makes this shade 1) more interesting and 2) more flattering on a wider range of skin tones. Tea Rose can come across more stark, just by the nature of the finish. I've seen 24 Blond Ingenu on an NW-20/25, and it looked amazing. I feel relatively confident saying that NC/NW-30/35s would still enjoy the shade. You be the judge.  

xxx ~R

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer 545 Psychedelic Orange

I'm still hooked on these polishes. I'm not gonna lie, the Dior stubby brush has been a revelation in my shallow life. I didn't know it was possible to be able to paint my own nails without looking like I had my 4 year old niece do it. The stubby brush is genius. Plain. And. Simple. So...

I would describe 545 Psychedelic Orange as a creamy, slightly bright, orange color. Did that description just blow your mind? I thought so. But in all seriousness, it really is an orange. If it leans yellow-based or pink/red, it's definitely pink/red. So, I suppose some people looking at this would throw it into the "coral" category, which is fine. Coral is the thing, and has been for the last two/three years. I maintain that this is an orange polish, but it's cool either way. 

This shade doesn't exactly dazzle me, but I do like it. It's something I would wear more on my toes than fingers, but I enjoy the "Mad Men" type of vibe this color gives off. It definitely feels vintage late '50s/early '60s. Gotta love it. 

xxx ~R

Dolce and Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Quad 135 Vulcano

I saw this on Makeup Magpie's blog and knew I had to have it. This quad is exactly what I'm into; cracked out, warm colors. I can't get enough of them. It's kind of odd, but "non-wearable" looking shades seem to work the best on me. Or at least I've convinced myself as such. Regardless....

I would describe the top left shadow as a shimmery gold with pinky-peach iridescence, the top right as a matte, terracotta brown, the bottom left as a shimmery, cranberry purple, and the bottom right as an almost blackened, deep purple with a shimmery/metallic finish. 

I truly can't say enough good about the texture and quality of these shadows. In my post about 140 Contrasts, I touched on the foolproof aspect of the Dolce and Gabbana formulation. They're very pigmented (much like Dior), but are still soft enough (much like Chanel) to be able to blend out and build up/sheer down, with incredible ease. It's very difficult to make these shadows look bad, which is invaluable to the normal consumer/non-makeup artist, like myself. 

To a lot of people, Vulcano might look hideous very intense and almost "avant-garde". And, maybe that's the reality. For me, this is what I consider to be my *ideal* variation of a smokey eye. I love how the colors play off each other perfectly, creating a sunset-like effect. Incidentally, Makeup Magpie used the same exact term; sunset. I sound plagiaristic, but I swear that I came to that description on my own. Scout's honor. 

Here's the breakdown of what I did in the pics above:

• MAC Painterly Paint Pot as a base
• D&G gold shadow on the inner third of the eye, slightly on the lid
• D&G cranberry purple shadow all over the lid
• D&G matte, terracotta color above the crease, blended upwards
• D&G super dark purple worked into the outer corner and slightly into the crease
• MAC Brule applied softly onto the brow bone
• MAC Penultimate Liner Rapidblack on the upper lash line
• Dior Crayon Waterproof Eye Liner 094 Trinidad Black on the lower waterline 
• Dior DiorShow Unlimited mascara (black)

I really, really love this palette. I don't know if it's limited edition or not, but I feel confident in saying that  those who are into these types of colors would adore it. Make sure to check out Makeup Magpie's post about this quad, because 1) her swatches are much better than mine and 2) she did an eye look that is much more toned down and work/day-time friendly and 3) it's a great blog. 

xxx ~R

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 58 Royallieu

I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I ordered this. Not much populates in google images when searching for this shade, so it felt like a super blind order. Spoiler Alert: I really like it. Having said that...

I would describe 58 Royallieu as pale, dusty pink with lavender/mauve undertones. The finish of this one reminds me a lot of 46 Liberte, in that there's an infusion of micro-shimmer, but it's not really noticeable on the lips. This type of shimmer creates more of a Photoshopped effect and overall glow. 

I think that 58 Royallieu is the perfect MLBB/ "my lips but better" shade for those with either 1) a lighter skin tone or 2) less pigmented lips (or both). Essentially, this is what I wished 54 Boy had been for me. Boy was "my lips but fuglier" on me, which isn't an ideal shade. 

From what I gather, this particular Rouge Coco Shine is a Euro/Asian exclusive (??), but is currently available for purchase on Chanel's U.S. site. For how long? I haven't a clue. If you're liking what you see, I advise going for it. 

xxx ~R 

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss 856 Little Red Dress

With makeup, sometimes you just have to go for it. You have to, perhaps, go out of your comfort zone and shake things up. A bright red gloss can do just that. So...

I would describe 856 Little Red Dress as a vibrant, cherry red with visible micro-glitter particles. This gloss has a "Flash" finish, which makes sense, as it's all sorts of flashy. The consistency of this particular gloss is slightly more dense than some of the other Addict Ultra glosses, which I think was necessary to make this product work. If you're going to wear a bright red lip gloss, it *needs* to be as pigmented/opaque as possible. This one fits the bill. 

The one con with Little Red Dress is the glitter particle remnants that are left behind, post removal. I've spoken about my disdain for glitter remnants almost every time I've posted about lip gloss, because I must be passionate about it. However, I give this particular gloss an out because 1) I love the color and texture and 2) I need to get over myself. Basically, if you wear this gloss and share an aversion to leftover glitter particles on the lips, just commit to the gloss for the entire day or evening (by re-applying when necessary). Problem solved. 

xxx ~R

Haul Video: Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel and Some Other Stuff

All items mentioned are listed in the YT description box. Also, feel free to click out of the vid when it goes vloggy. It won't hurt my feelings.

xxx ~R

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss 576 Sari Pink

This particular gloss was sitting in my Neiman's cart for approximately 3 months before I finally purchased it. I think it felt "Summery", so I waited for the cold and darkness to dissipate. I'm not sure. Regardless...

I would describe 576 Sari Pink as a slightly warm-toned, bold, Barbie/bimbo pink. Bimbo good, not bimbo bad. It's not the type of bright pink gloss that looks tacky/'60s Floridian grandma, in my opinion. Conversely, I think it looks fresh/alive/peppy. I also feel inclined to say that Sari Pink would pair brilliantly with Dior Addict 578 Dior Kiss. Just sayin'. 

What I appreciate about this gloss, in particular, is the level of pigmentation/opacity. It really covers the natural shade of one's lips, acting as a lipstick and lip gloss combo. I feel that those with very pigmented lips would appreciate this gloss. Not to mention, the formulation and feel of these are *to die for*. I truly can't say enough good about these glosses. I'm super smitten. 

xxx ~R

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss 157 Twin Set Pink

This turned out to be one of those "Why didn't I buy this sooner"??? type of deals. I have several of the Dior Addict Ultra glosses, and this shade is easily in the Top 3 favorites. Or maybe Top 5. Regardless...

I would describe 157 Twin Set Pink as a beigey pink with a heavy infusion of gold and green micro-shimmer particles. It's not "heavy" as in bad/tacky, as it imparts an amazing glow and gives the lips more dimension. Twin Set Pink has a "Pearl" finish, and rightfully so. It's amazingly pearly and beautiful. Nothing short of glorious, in my book. 

What I really appreciate about these glosses (and this one in particular) is that, despite the fact that there's a very obvious shimmer presence, none of it remains after removal. I talk a lot about how much I hate shimmer/glitter remnants, and this gloss wipes off clean. It's something that a lot of people wouldn't care about, but I'm really bizarre and obsess over focus on the subtleties. It's kind of my thing. 

xxx ~R

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel 547 Bronze Rose´

I haven't purchased a bronzing product in several *literal* years. When you're as pale as I am, there's really no point in trying to pretend that your face has color to it. This "bronzer", however, acts as a really amazing blush, rather than a true bronzing product. Moving along...

547 Bronze Rose´ consists of four color strips: a light tan, a very pale, nude peach, a darker tan, and a warm pink. All color strips combined create a very natural, warm, pink flush/glow to the cheeks. The texture of the powder is incredible, as it's very finely milled and smooth. The consistency of this powder reminds me of Armani Sheer blushes, if anyone is familiar with those. It's a very soft texture, which makes it easy to build up or sheer down without much effort. There's a very micro shimmer infusion in this powder, but so much so that you can't even really see it on the face. It results in a glow, versus seeing obvious glitter/shimmer particles atop the skin. 

I attempted to do swatches of this product, but it was an absolute disaster. For arm swatches, check out Karla's swatches, as her's are always the most accurate. Otherwise, you can click HERE to see this product in action (on my face), in one of my weirdo videos. I'm wearing it/talking about it at the 5:50 marker. 

All in all, I'm *very* pleased with this product. I never thought I would say it, but I feel like this bronzer is a must-have. And, not a must-have just because it's a limited edition item, but because super pale people all around the world can feel normal, if only for a little while. Give it a try. 

xxx ~R

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 62 Monte Carlo

This is, essentially, what I wanted 63 Rebelle to be. The hand/arm swatches skewed my perception of this particular shade, as I thought it looked disgusting. I'm wrong, from time to time. Shocking, I know. So...

I would describe 62 Monte Carlo as an obviously shimmery, cherry red type of color. It has that "bitten" sort of element to it. "Juicy", maybe? I don't know. The more and more I try, the worse my color descriptions become. The type of finish of 62 Monte Carlo is the same as 57 Aventure, if that gives you a better idea of the shimmer intensity. 

Regardless, I enjoy this shade. It's not something I would wear on the reg, but it's still nice to have. I used a pretty heavy hand when applying this for the lip shots, so in real life, it's not as obviously red. I tried to build it up as much as possible, because 1) that's how I roll and 2) I would rather over-apply a lip product rather than under-apply. I figure that if I'm going to wear something, I might as well go the full way. Call me a lipstick badass. 

xxx ~R

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer 677 Blazing Pink

So, Blogger decided to delete any posts created on 5/11/11. Will I accept this? EFF NO. So, here's a shadily-written re-post of this super, duper pretty nail polish...

I would describe 677 Blazing Pink as not a pink. It's more of a pink-toned red, but not 100% a red. It's on the verge of being a red. 

Semantics aside, I absolutely adore this shade, as well as the formulation and genius stubby brush. This color is very similar to the likes of OPI Dutch Tulips and OPI Red Hot Ayers Rock. What this has over OPI is the bitchin' stubby brush, that allows a precision manicure for the nail painting challenged, such as myself. Hence, this is now a favorite of mine. I highly recommend Dior nail lacquers/polishes to everyone/anyone. 

xxx ~R

MAC Packed To Go: 6 Warm Smoky Eye Shadows

This is one of the best palettes that MAC has released in years, as far as I'm concerned. The packaging is normal, and the colors are versatile and complimentary. Simple concepts work, people of MAC. Maybe you're reading this. Well, you're probably not. Whatever, I digress...

Top Row: Shroom (Satin), Naked Lunch (Frost), Tempting (Lustre)

Bottom Row: Greensmoke (Lustre), Stormy Love (Frost), Showstopper (Matte)

Top Row: Shroom, Naked Lunch, Tempting

Bottom Row: Greensmoke, Stormy Love, Showstopper

This palette contains 4 permanent eye shadows and 2 LE/limited edition shades. Showstopper has been released with multiple collections, but Stormy Love is making it's grand debut. Essentially, I purchased this whole thing just to get my mits on Stormy Love. I'm very glad I did, because it's really flippin' pretty. 

I've swatched all shadows in the palette, as seen above. Are they the best swatches? Not really. But, it gives you an idea of the colors and textures. Swatching isn't my forte. Anyway, Shroom is a light, shimmery beige, Naked Lunch is a pink-toned, metallic beige, Tempting is a burnished copper, Greensmoke is a (crappy) frosty, olive green, Story Love is a *gorgeous* metallic blue-toned green and Showstopper is a matte, deep charcoal color. 

Overall, I'm quite pleased and impressed with this palette. The only shade that makes *zero* sense to me is Greensmoke. This palette would have benefited much more from a transition color, on the order of Soft Brown or Kid. Basically, anything other than Greensmoke would have been better. The texture is hideous, and the color is very lack lustre. Literally and ironically. Otherwise, I love the rest of the colors and the versatility aspect. You can wear these during the day and into night. Quick and easy. 

Breakdown of how/where I used these shadows:

• MAC Painterly Paint Pot as a base
• Shroom on the inner third and slightly on the lid
• Stormy Love all over the lid and lightly applied under the inner third of the lower lash line
• Showstopper in the crease and blended slightly up and out and used to line the lower lash line
• Tempting worked into the crease and over the outer third of the lid
• Naked Lunch on the inner corner/tear duct area
• MAC Penultimate Liner in RapidBlack (applied very sloppily on the upper lash line)
• Armani Eyes To Kill mascara

I believe the availability of this product is kind of difficult outside of the States, from what I've read/heard. If you're in the U.S., I recommend purchasing this. If you live outside of the U.S., figure out a way to slither into duty free. It's totally worth it. 

xxx ~R