Eye Liner : Beauty and Fashion Tech

Elizabeth Arden Limited Edition For Fall

Elizabeth Arden has a nice selection of limited edition duo eye shadows for fall, along with a nice gel eyeliner, eye primer, and other items.

I tried out one of the duos in Illusion (center left above) and loved it. Elizabeth Arden shadows are always quality. They are finely milled and have a particularly good color payoff. Arden’s packaging is also always nice, with heavier attractive cases and many choices in palettes. The duo I tried is perfect for a light smoky effect. Pictured below are swatches from the duo:

I also was impressed with the gel liner,which comes packaged with a brush. The brush is useable, but I preferred to use my favorite, a Smashbox Arced Liner Brush. The gel goes on smooth and is easy to work with to create either a sharp or smudged line. There is an eye primer too that I have not tested yet. So keep an eye out for a later review of that!

Elizabeth Arden is available at better department stores, specialized beauty stores such as ULTA Beauty , and various online sources.

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Essence of Beauty Brush Kit with Press Liner

Essence of Beauty makeup brushes come from a quality drugstore line that can be found at CVS stores. For more on them in general, see my previous review.

When I was in CVS the other day, I noticed that the line had a travel kit on sale that included a press liner (also known as a push liner). If you are unfamiliar with what a press liner is, it is a stiff, flat brush, that allows the user to push eyeshadow or liner up under the lashes. Having one is a great way to use dark shadow easily as a eyeliner. Pictured is one from NARS that is a bit expensive, but that I also rather like.

It looks like the only way to get the more affordable Essence of Beauty liner is to buy the travel kit set. If the brush is sold separately, my local CVS did not have it. But the kit was only $9.99. So, anyone wanting an affordable press liner brush might want to take a look at the specials isle at their local CVS (the kit not in the brush section at my local CVS–it was only in the specials area)

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M.A.C. N Collection Colour

I am madly in love with M.A.C.’s N collection, which was quite popular at the spring collection fashion week shows. One example of a look from the J. Mendel fashion week show that I really like is below. Consisting of all neutral and nude shades, the collection is perfect for neutral lovers like myself, and can also provide a great backdrop for adding a splash of color.

J. Mendel designer Spring Collection MAC Face Chart

For example, if you want to do a striking red lip, you could pair it up with a neutral eye. Or do a natural looking lid and lips, but add a bright splash of color along the lash line (I suggest Parrot from the originals collection). In the look above, an overall neutral look is used.

Below are some swatches, taken mostly in sunlight. The shadows are all gorgeous, with the brown Dark Edge being my favorite. Nanogold is very, very light, especially in sunlight. It is also more shimmery than the picture shows. It is great as a highlighter under the brow.

The collection also features three paint pots. Groundwork, which was already out, has been one of my all time favorite eye colors. I also love the previously released shade Painterly, which is another great neutral shade. With the addition of two more neutral shades, my paint pot love continues to grow. For more on the paint pots in general see my previous review. As you can see, soft ochre is almost the same shade as my skin, which is quite pale. I particularly love the Quite Natural shade.

The collection also has a couple of nice creamy eyeliners and some great lip shades. For that, and for another face chart look, head on over to my post at Girl Gloss. Keep an eye out for an upcoming look at the nail polish as well.

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New Shiseido The Makeup Accentuating Cream Eyeliner

Shiseido’s 2007 fall makeup collection has a nice selection of items. I tried two new items from the collection and was left highly impressed.

The Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner is wonderful stuff. I tried the brown shade, which is a nice rich chocolate brown. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the eyeliner comes with a perfectly usable brush that utilizes the cap to give the brush length. The eyeliner itself is smooth and creamy. It goes on with no tugging or clumping, and provides a nice smooth line. It can also be smudged for a smoky effect. I love most cream and gel liners, but I think this is about the best that I have used yet.

At $25, it is a bit pricey, but not overly high, and this is an item that will last for some time. I find it well worth the cost. Shiseido is available at fine department stores and specialty stores.

For a look at Shiseido lip gloss, head on over to my post at GirlGloss!

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M.A.C. Cosmetics Antiquitease Holiday Collection Part Two: Eyes and Lips

Yesterday, I looked at the nail effects from the Antiquitease collection. Today I cover the rest! The collection is available beginning today, October 18, 2007!

M.A.C. Cosmetics Antiquities Holdiay Collection Makeup

I normally don’t like to think about the holidays before Halloween, but this entire collection is amazing and it definitely put this makeup lover in a holiday mood! I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview when I went backstage with M.A.C. before the first Chicago Fashion week show, so I decided to put a bit of extra effort into getting some photos out there of the shades that I have! Plus I really wanted to play with the colors! For the eyes, the collection features the following mineralize eyeshadow duos:

Silversmith: A silver blue with dirty mid-tone blue and white veining (frost)
Earthly Riches: A deep plum and dirty deep grey with pink veining (frost)
Engaging: A pinky beige and yellow gold with rose veining (frost)
Family Silver: A dirty light silver and mid-tone
Mi’ Lady: An intense blood red and rich purple with white veining (frost)

Because the mineralize colors work so well blended and have some blending already going on in the case, I didn’t try to swatch each side of the duos separately. Instead, I went ahead and blended them for the below photo. The colors can be used without mixing though and are pretty true to how they look in the case when that is done.

From left to right below: Mi Lady, Earthly Riches, Family Silver, and Engaging

M.A.C. Cosmetics Holiday Antiquitease Eye Mineralize Duos

The collection also has a nice set of three pigments, which are quite light and sheer when used dry, and become darker and more brilliant when wet. They are also quite true to how they appear in the pot. From left to right below are:

Sweet Sienna : A dirty brown with grey pearl
Gold Stroke: A mid-tone chocolate brown with red pearl
Your Ladyship Creamy white with gold pearl

M.A.C. Holiday Collection Antiquities Pigments

In addition to the shadows and pigments, the collection includes a gorgeous gold eyeliner and features M.A.C. Fibre Rich Lash Mascara. For the lips, there are a number of very pretty shimmery lipsticks and a set of lipglass shades, described as follows:

Lipstick
Gilty Kiss: Yellow gold with gold pearl (frost)
Her Fancy: Sheer light pink with gold pearl (frost)
Antiquitease: Copper with red pearl (frost)
Queen’s Sin: Intense red with red pearl (frost)
Budding Lust: Deep neutral plum (frost)

Lipglass
Red Romp: Mid-tone red with red pearl (frost)
Corsette: Dirty grey brown with gold pearl (frost)
Trifle: White pink with pink pearl (frost)
Majestic: Yellow gold with gold pearl (frost)

Below are the lipsticks. From left right: Her Fancy, Gilty Kiss, Antiquitease, Queens Sin, Budding Lust.

M.A.C. Lipsticks Holiday Antiquitease Collection

I also have swatches of three of the four Lipglass shades. To view those, head on over to Girl Gloss! for my report on the lipstick and lipglass shades.

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Fresh Satin Liner Eye Palette

The Fresh Satin Liner Eye Palette is a pretty little palette of liners. Fresh always makes top notch items, and this one is no different. The cream liners have light reflecting pigments and add a nice shimmer. It also goes on nice and smooth.

I particularly like the soft colors. At $45, it is pricey for a set of liners, but oh so luxurious!

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M.A.C Cosmetics Blue Storm Collection

The M.A.C Blue Storm Collection is a collection based on blues hues released just in time for fall. The shades are also utilized at fashion week for the spring looks.

The shadows range from a beautiful light blue/gray to a rich teal, to a deeper and brighter blue.

Also available are cool tone lipglass shades in silvery violets and plum, and eye pencils in a teal and black.

My favorites of the collection though are the nail lacquers, which come in a teal blue frost and and gray frost with lilac undertones. Both are unique and interesting shades that should work well with the blues, blacks and other darker nail polish colors that are in style this fall. They also should provide interesting looks well into next spring.

The Blue Storm collection consists of mostly limited edition products. So take a look at it while you can!

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Popularity: 8% [?]