Showing posts with label NARS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NARS. Show all posts

Monthly Faves - August 2011

Hoo boy. I have been absent from blogging for awhile. I have good excuses though. Saying I've been busy would be an understatement.

I had wanted to post my YouTube video of my August favorites for you, but apparently YouTube has other plans. I tried uploading the darn thing 5 times before I gave up. I will try again next month!

So, it's back to a regular old blog post instead of a video this month. Here's the rundown of my favorites this month:

- NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Charade
- NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Tokyo
- NARS Blush in Madly
- NARS Blush in Luster
- NARS Blush in Sin
- MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Mineral Mode
- Annabelle Smudge Liner Eye Liner Pencil in Armour

* All NARS products purchased from Sephora
** MAC purchased from MAC.ca
*** Annabelle purchased from Pharma Plus


August is what I consider to be the beginning of fall - it really starts to cool down where I live in mid-August. Cooler temperatures trigger me to start using products I normally reserve for fall - mostly shades of makeup that are mauve, taupe or grey. With the exception of two of my products (Blush in Luster and Madly) EVERYTHING I have picked as a monthly favorite is mauve-based. I just can't get enough mauve!

I don't know how I ended up diving head-first back into NARS products, but it has happened. I adore the two duos that I have favorited this month. Charade is one of my most favorite and most-used eye shadow duos; Tokyo is one that has kind of grown on me.

The three blushes are fabulous 'everyday wear' blushes that flatter just about any makeup look. Sin is a blush I use very frequently later on into the fall and winter - right now mostly I am sticking to Luster and Madly.

I am head over heels with my MAC Mineral Mode shadow. This is a one of the products from the MAC Semi Precious collection, and I totally had not planned on buying it. I'm very glad I did! It's a versatile shade that I seem to use just about every day.

I love love love love love my Armour eye pencil. It's a taupe-purple shade - very unique and fun. It reminds me of what NARS Ashes to Ashes single eye shadow should be. I've sent a few of these out to some other lovely bloggers as little swaps - if anyone else is interested in trying this pencil, let me know!

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I'm very sorry I haven't been posting lately; I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things next week.

Here's some pictures of my favorite products for this month!



MAC Mineral Mode



NARS Charade



NARS Tokyo



NARS Sin



NARS Luster



NARS Madly



Annabelle Smudge Liner Eye Liner in Armour



Blush Swatches (L to R: Luster, Sin, Madly)



Eye Makeup Swatches (L to R: MAC Mineral Mode, NARS Charade - Salmon Pink, NARS Charade - Smokey Lilac, NARS Tokyo - Opal White, NARS Tokyo - Smokey Grape; Bottom: Armour Eye Liner)

Blither Blither Blither #3

I woke up this morning compelled to write a random post, because I'm in a Review coma (but I promise I will be cranking out some more over the course of the weekend) and haven't published anything new for you guys since Monday.

I wanted to share a fun little tidbit for all of my Canadian readers who adore NARS. Guess what? We can now order directly from NARS! I went to the NARS website out of sheer boredom earlier in the week, hoping to read some reviews of the new Fall 2011 collection, and got redirected to their Canadian site. I was impressed. I was even more impressed when I found out that I can now order my precious NARS stuff directly from them instead of Sephora! The only catch is that we still have to pay exchange (same as Sephora), and duty. For more information about how NARS handles Canadian orders, check out the NARS Canada website by clicking here.

In other news, I finally worked up the nerve to buy my first Coach handbag. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that in November of last year, I was all pepped up to buy a Coach handbag when I was in Ottawa on a shopping excursion. That purchase fell through, because the location I wanted to buy from didn't carry any of the limited edition bags (which was what I wanted!). I've been lemming Coach for quite awhile, and my eye finally landed on a bag that I really like - so I bought it! I picked up the Coach Poppy Metallic Signature Poppy Cinch in the shade Silver/Ash. Normally I find the Poppy bags pretty juvenile looking and unattractive - but this bag drew me in. I really like cinch bags - they're functional and fun. I also found the price point of this bag to be pretty reasonable, compared to other Coach cinch models in their current collection. My bag arrived yesterday, and I am very happy with it! The customer service I received from Coach was phenomenal - my order was processed and shipped very quickly, getting from Florida to Montreal in (get this) 1.5 days! However, the third-party delivery company who was in charge of final delivery took their sweet time getting my purchase to me...I should have had my purse on Wednesday evening and it showed up on Friday. Oh well. It's not the worst delivery experience I've had!

Here is what my bag looks like:

Crappy yellow lighting makes this look more beige - it's not! For a truer reflection of the bag's color, look at the picture below!

The bag has fuchsia pink lining - and as you can see, I've already loaded it with all my stuff! If you want to see an updated 'what's in my bag' post, let me know!

Anyhoo, that's my big update for the week. Right now I'm getting ready to paint my nails with OPI's Stranger Tides from the Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides collection, and then I'll be writing up some more reviews - some of which will go up later today and tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!

Monthly Faves: June



I have been away from my blog for a little while now. I don't have a good excuse, just the usual ones: work, being sick,...life...

Anyway, I'm back on the last day of June to share my June favorites with you!

NARS Eye Shadow Single in Nepal
This is such an easy color to wear. I've been lazy this month, so I usually whack on some of this eye shadow and some mascara, and that's the extent of my eye makeup. Nepal is a pretty pink with a bronze tone to it - great for summer! Purchased at Sephora.ca

Benefit Benetint
Again, I've been very lazy this month. I put this on under my foundation to create the look of a natural flush on my cheeks. I can't be bothered with powder or cream blush at the moment...just give me a stain and I am good to go! I put a few streaks of this on and blend it in with a stippling brush. I am super excited to get my hands on the new shades of Benetint - Posietint (yes, I know it's been out for awhile, I just haven't bought it yet) and Cha Cha Tint. Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

BioSilk Silk Therapy for Hair
When my hair was longer and really damaged, I was using this every night on my damp, post-shower hair. Now that my hair is still short, I find I'm still using it! This oil helps give my hair a healthy shine and keeps it more manageable. It feels softer, and less brittle (even though I don't use heat on my hair!). Purchased at Wal-Mart

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo
I don't know what it is this month, but I have been obsessed with coconut! The scent, the flavour...I just can't get enough. This shampoo smells divine - good enough to eat! It lathers very well and leaves my hair completely clean (no residue) and my scalp nice and moisturized. Purchased at Wal-Mart and Pharma Plus

L'Oreal Paris Studio Mineral FX Control Cream
Now that I've got a shorter 'do, I have an actual need for styling products. I picked this up because it's cheap. I've been using it at least 2 or 3 times a week to give my short pixie cut some definition. It doesn't leave my hair crunchy - it's got just enough hold to control hair but without making it wind-proof :) Purchased at Pharma Plus

Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup in Shade #1
Now that I've used the last of my Clinique Almost Makeup, I've moved on to using their Perfectly Real Makeup instead. I have to say, I'm impressed! The foundation provides light coverage, which is perfect for the summer. The foundation has not reacted with my skin, and it doesn't oxidize or make me oily at all. The drawback is the size of the bottle/amount of product for the price. While $30 doesn't make it the most expensive foundation I've ever bought, it certainly makes it pricey to re-purchase. Purchased at Sears.ca

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
I absolutely LOVE this top coat. I does a great job of instantly drying my nail polish after I've given myself a manicure or pedicure. Will I buy it again? Absolutely! Purchased at Pharma Plus

Cover Girl LashBlast Volume Mascara
Ok - so if you're a follower of my blog you know I'm a fan of Cover Girl's LashBlast Fusion mascara. I had tried this version first, and didn't like it, so tried Fusion instead and fell in love with this. I was in Wal-Mart earlier in the month and was going to pick up another tube of Fusion when I saw that the Volume formula is actually a dollar cheaper. So, I bought the Volume formula instead. Honestly, I don't notice a big difference in the two formulas. Until the price of Fusion is the same as Volume, I'll be buying the Volume formula because it's cheaper. Purchased at Wal-Mart

GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in #86 Kitch
My go-to lip color for the month has been this GOSH lipstick. I really didn't know what to expect from this color since I really did not like Darling...but Kitch is a whole other story! This shade is a pretty nude/berry color. It's a shade or two darker than my natural lip color, which is why I have been using it this month. It's not often that I completely finish a lipstick before it expires (goes bad), but I can see this lipstick being one that I do manage to finish! Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Here's a swatch of some of the products I have mentioned above:



Left: GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in Kitch
Middle: NARS Eye Shadow Single in Nepal (for whatever reason, it looks very gold in this swatch!)
Right: Benefit Benetint


What are your June favorites? Do you share any with me?

I will be back bright an early tomorrow morning with my First Annual Blog Birthday Giveaway! All of the details about how to enter and what the prizes are will be posted tomorrow!

TAG: Summer Eye Color Picks



Doing this part of the Summer Products Tag was pretty darn easy. Probably because over the summer, I get pretty lazy with my makeup and don’t put so much effort into putting it on - why spend a ton of time on it when it’s probably going to melt off in the heat?

Anyhoodles, I have made a nice little list of my Summer Eye Products that I’ve been wearing a lot lately, and plan on continuing to use over the rest of the summer.

Here we go:

- NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Key Largo

- NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Cordura

- Urban Decay Naked Palette

- CARGO Color Palette in Bermuda

- MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Noble Touch


So, that’s a grand total of five products, but each actually contains more than one eye shadow...in truth, there’s a whopping 22 eye shadows in this selection. I think maybe I went a bit over-board? So much for only picking a few products, huh! Ha ha!

As far as the Naked Palette goes, I’m relying on most of the shades on the far left to middle of the palette, to help create a lightly bronzed look on my eyes. I’ve been staying away from the darker and more black or grey based shades (unless I’m having a crappy day - then I slap on some Creep).

Both NARS eye shadow duos are bronze-brown and work quite well together. I use the peach in Key Largo as my all over lid color, and the bronze in that duo as my crease color. From Cordura, I use the lighter brown color as my outer-corner shade, and the dark brown as my liner. This is what I'm wearing today! You can read more about Key Largo by clicking here.

The CARGO Color Palette in Bermuda is an awesome one that I love to death...you can read my review here for all the details!

I use the MAC Mineralize duo in Noble Touch to add a bit more shimmer and shine to looks I create with the other products; the white/pink color is good to use on the brow bone or inner corner as a highlight, and the bronze side adds a nice extra punch of bronze-shimmer on the lid. You can read my review about it by clicking here.

So - that’s Part 2 of my Summer Products posts. Stay tuned for the last part, Part 3: Cheek products. In that post I’ll be covering blush and bronzer.

My week will be super-busy, but I am hoping to get at least two posts done over the course week. It is really hard for me to believe that June will be over soon. The good news that comes with that is that I will be posting the details of my First Annual Blog Birthday Giveaway on July 1st!

Have a great week!

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Single in Abyssinia



I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases.

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Single in Abyssinia, $26.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

You do get quite a lot of product in one single pan (more than MAC).

Packaging

This eye shadow single comes in a small black rubberized mirror-compact (the compact is about half the size of a duo - so small that the mirror is pretty useless), with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Abyssinia is a well-know NARS eye shadow shade. I makes a great brow highlight, inner-corner highlight, and simple all-over eye color. The shade is a shimmery white-pink.

This color can be used on its own, or with other eye shadows. If you are pale like me, it is a great all-over-lid color to use when you just want your makeup to be simple and polished. Some days all you need is one eye shadow color.

I had been curious about this shade for about a year before I decided to buy it - and I don’t regret my decision. Out of all of the NARS single shadows I own, this one probably sees the most use.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

Although I like this eye shadow, I would not buy it again - only because I have the NARS duo ‘All About Eve’, which has two similar shades in it. I would rather spend the money replacing a duo than a single eye shadow.

I would only recommend this duo to you if you don’t have a favorite highlight eye shadow shade, and you’re willing to spend the money.

You can get this eye shadow on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora; you may also be able to get it from a NARS counter at your local Bay store.

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Key Largo



I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases.

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Key Largo, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Key Largo is one of NARS’s every day neutral, work friendly duos. It is not flamboyant and super intensely colorful like some of the other duos NARS produces.

The shade on the left of the duo is a satin pale peach with a bit of shimmer, and the shade on right is full-on shimmery bronze with peachy-pink undertones.

The peach shade is my favorite shadow in the duo; it works well as an all-over-lid color and it is impossible to over-do. The bronze shade is the perfect compliment - you can use it as your crease color, liner color and outer v color.

These shades apply like butter. The pigmentation is stellar, and the finely-milled powder that makes up the shadows makes them easy to apply and blend.

The simplicity of this duo is what makes me love it so much. It’s easy to use, and you don’t need to use a whackload of other products with it to create a pretty eye look.

This duo is a great pair of eye shadows to use in the spring and summer. The fact these colors are on the warm side would also make them wearable in the fall.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I would definitely buy this duo again, and I would certainly re-purchase (although, I can’t see myself running out of it anytime soon!).

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora; you may also be able to get it from a NARS counter at your local Bay store.

You just might also be able to get this eye shadow duo as part of my 1st Annual Blog Birthday Giveaway, details to be announced July 1st!

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Misfit



I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases.

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Misfit, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Misfit is yet another one of those NARS duos that is pretty well know; Isabella Rosselini is featured in a NARS ad wearing it.

Every time I hear the name of the duo I think of Gem and the Holograms (a cartoon from the 80s, created by Mattel); their enemy was the band The Misfits.

One side of this duo is a shimmery champagne gold, and the other side is a shimmery emerald green with gold shine. Sounds hard to pull of, right?

It totally is.

I bought this duo because it’s unique. I’ve worn it twice - not exactly the best investment. Both times that I wore this duo, I used the champagne gold shade on my lids and the green as a liner. I suppose I could be really bold someday and use the green on my lids, but I just haven’t gotten that brave yet.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I would not buy this duo again - I bought it for the wrong reasons.

I would only recommend this duo to you if you are absolutely sure you want to wear colors like this; swatching it before purchase might be a good idea!

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora; you may also be able to get it from a NARS counter at your local Bay store.

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Charade


I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases.

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Charade, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Charade is a NARS duo that I use pretty regularly. The colors in this duo are very muted and neutral - a satin salmon pink on the left, and a satin mauve-lavender on the right. Both shades have a bit of very very finely milled shimmer to them - they almost look matte. I have heard that this duo makes hazel eyes look amazing, and it does good things for blue eyes too!

It’s very easy to alternate wearing one color on the lid and the other in the crease - both shades are have enough red in them that they work well together.

This duo sees the most use through the winter months, when I want to wear some color but don’t want to wear any bright colors. I like to wear this duo with NARS blush in Madly or Sin - both shades compliment the duo nicely.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I bought this duo by fluke. Quite honestly, I was looking for a NARS duo I didn’t already own and this one caught my attention. I’m very glad it did!

I would absolutely re-purchase this duo. I would recommend this duo to you if you are looking for colorful eye shadow that isn’t horrifically bright. I know the shades look kind of ‘blah’ in the pan, but they look pretty and polished when you wear them!

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora. You might also be able to get this from a NARS counter at The Bay.

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Pandora



I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases.

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Pandora, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Meet Pandora. Next to Rated R, this is probably the most well known NARS duo available...and with good reason.

Pandora is a very simple duo: one side is a shimmery white, the other is a matte black.

I find the white side annoying to work with; the shadow is extremely sheer. It’s a true milk white with a very fine shimmer to it. I wish it applied to my eyes the way it looks in the pan.

The black side on the other hand, is a whole other story. This is probably the most well pigmented black eye shadow you will find. End of story.

This duo could be extremely useful. The white side can be used as a highlighter or to lighten other shadows, and the black side as a liner or to darken other shadows.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I wish I used this eye shadow duo more. The reality is that it usually get left behind in my cabinet; the colors are so stark that I find I get intimidated about using it just by looking at it. I also don’t use white or black eye shadow often.

If you don’t have a white or black eye shadow, this is a wise investment for you to make. Some buy it for the black side alone because of the pigmentation.

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora; you may also be able to get it from a NARS counter at your local Bay store.

Monthly Faves: May

I love monthly favorites - both posting them and reading them!

I don't know what's been up with me over the last few months, but my monthly favorites in entries past have been small. This one is no different!

These are products that have seen a lot of use this month; some I have used over the whole month.



Clinique Almost Makeup in Shade 01 Fair
This foundation has been discontinued by Clinique. This is my last bottle of it. :( I figured I might as well use it up before it expires rather than hanging on to it for special occasions. I still have not landed on a good replacement for this foundation. Clinique Even Better Makeup was close, but not quite perfect! Purchased at Sears

NARS Bronzer in Laguna
I love all three of NARS's Bronzers (I have them all), and Laguna is my second favorite (Irresistiblement is first!). Spring has been quite dreary where I live, so the shimmer in this bronzer has served to brighten my face nicely. Purchased at Sephora.ca

NARS Concealer in Vanilla
I have been using this to brighten the skin under my eyes; I just put three small streaks on under each eye (vertical streaks) and then blend them out with a foundation brush. Purchased at Sephora.ca

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
I have been using this as my eye shadow base all month. I love this primer - more than the original one! It's slightly more pigmented and shimmery than MAC's Bare Study Paint Pot. It came with my Naked Palette - so technically I bought it at Sephora.ca

Calvin Klein CKIN2U (100 mL)
I got a really really really good deal on this eau de toilette. I bought it for $20.00 on sale for Mother's Day. The scent has notes of citrus; it's a very fresh scent that I've been wearing a lot of. It's perfect for summer. Purchased at PharmaPlus

Essie Nail Polish in Shade 383 Innocent
I have found my 'perfect pink' nail polish. I am totally in love with this shade. In the bottle, the polish has a blueish-pink shimmer to it - which disappears on your nails. However, depending on what you are wearing, the shade can pick up other notes of color, switching between being more of a coral pink to a blue based pink. I love it! Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Here is what the polish looks like on my nails (excuse the chipping - I've had it on all week and I need to take it off tonight!):



Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Shade 200 Latino
Yet another blue-based-pink shade of product (I seem to be using a lot of them lately!). I love this lipstick. I've worn it most of the month. It's not obnoxiously bright pink, and it's not super muted either. Just pink enough! Purchased at PharmaPlus

Here is a swatch of some of the other products I've talked about:



L: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Shade 200 Latino
ML: NARS Concealer in Vanilla
MR: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
R: NARS Bronzer in Laguna


One of my other favorites that I can't seem to stop watching is a clip of Justin Timberlake's appearance on Saturday Night Live recently. It's a skit he did with Kristen Wiig and Lady Gaga, called 'Liquorville'. I love it!



I've also been picking up some items to include in my 1st Annual Blog Birthday Giveaway (full details to be announced July 1st!); I have picked up some NARS items, Essie, and an NYC item or two. The prize pack is going to be AWESOME! I'm totally stoked to get June over with and post the details of the giveaway!

I am planning a relatively quiet weekend. I have some homework to do, and a book I want to finish reading. I also have to get my butt into gear and do some more posts - I have lots I want to share with you all!

Enjoy your Friday night!

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag?

I was trying to think of a new post that nobody really does, and this is the first thing that came to my mind. A lot of people post what they carry in their regular kit, professional kit, and purse - but nobody really does their travel kit. So, that's what todays post is about!

The kit (brush roll + bag):

My brush roll is miniature; my mom got it for me for Christmas from Sephora; it's by Bare Escentuals and comes with four mini brushes (powder, blush, eye shadow, liner):

I love that the brush roll is lined with pink fabric and that the tips of the brushes are pink - the bright color makes me happy!

My travel makeup bag is actually a Clinique 'gift with purchase' bag that I got the other day, which contained minis and sample products. I took most of those out (left in a mascara) and replaced it with the contents of my rather run-down and old makeup bag.

Here is what is in my travel makeup bag:


- NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo in Sin & Casino - Full Size
- NARS Essential Eye Palette 9952 (Unconditional Love, Night Star, Galapagos, Nepal, Ondine, Thunderball) - Full Size
- NARS Bronzer in Laguna - Mini (.08 oz/2.5 g, same size as their single eye shadows)
- NARS Makeup Primer with SPF 20 - Full Size
- NARS Multiple in Orgasm - Mini (.14 oz/4g)
- NARS Illuminator in Orgasm - Mini (.29 oz/8 mL)
- The Body Shop Blush Dot in #4 - Full Size
- Clinique High Impact Mascara in 01 Black - Mini (.14 oz/4g)
- Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer - Mini (.02 fl. oz/.5 mL)
- Cover Girl NatureLuxe Foundation with SPF 10 in 305 Alabaster - Full Size
- Clinique Super Balm Moisturizing Lip Gloss in 01 Apricot - Mini (.24 fl. oz/.7 mL)
- Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Zena - Mini (12 mL)
- An Eyebrow Razor - Full Size
- Maybelline New York Gloss in Shade 130 (.8 fl. oz./2.4 mL) - Full Size
- DKNY Be Delicious Eau de Toilette (.05 fl. oz/1.5 mL) - Sample
- Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Toilette (.05 fl. oz/1.5 mL) - Sample
- Tocca Colette Eau de Toilette (.05 fl. oz/1.5 mL) - Sample
- Lip Smacker Natural Lip Balm in Vanilla - Full Size
- Pantene Pro-V Mirror Compact (free with a bottle of shampoo!)

Here is a better look at what the Sin/Casino Duo looks like, as well as the 9925 Palette.


Sin is one of my favorite blushes, and Casino is an amazing dark bronzer, perfect for the summer or as an eye shadow!


This picture makes it look like I haven't used any of the shades, but I swear I have!

These products are both full size, but I don't mind carrying them because they both contain more than one product, which gives me lots of options while taking up less space than brining the individual items contained in the palettes.

Almost everything I carry in my travel makeup bag and in my toiletry bag (not pictured) is a miniature version of a full size product, or is a sample size. I try not to pack too many full-size items with me when I travel. The great thing is that a lot of cosmetic companies are recognizing this and they're starting to produce miniatures/travel sizes of their most popular products.

What does your travel makeup bag look like - or do you even have one? Do you just reduce the items in your normal kit to the bare necessities and take that with you?

I hope you are all having a good week - thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Hula Hula



I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases (hint: this is one of those not-so-great products!)

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Hula Hula, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 each where the duos are $38.00 - that’s only $12.00 dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. It is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

When Hula Hula was released, I had high expectations for it. The colors looked gorgeous: a yellow gold, and a strawberry pink. What could be wrong with that?

One word for you: fallout.

Both of the colors in this duo are loaded with chunky glitter - not the smaller glitter we’re used to seeing from other companies like Urban Decay. It’s a shame, because aside from the glitter-bomb factor, the colors really are very pretty.

There is a way you can avoid the glitter fallout when you use these shadows: after you load your brush, tap it lightly and all of the glitter will fall off the bristles. However, this will result in you having to spend more time applying as you are also going to lose a bit of the shadow itself when you tap your brush.

When I wear this eye shadow duo, I typically use on color or the other. Most times I use the gold and contour/shade with the pink.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I do not recommend this duo to you - unless (and this is a pretty big unless) you are looking for a set of glittery eyeshadows (with chunky glitter). If you are not, this duo is something you will have to fight with in order to get good results. Swatch it in a store before you buy if you’re not sure.

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora.

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Taiga



Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Taiga, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I looooove NARS eye shadows.

Notable Features

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 CDN each where the duos are $38.00 CDN each - that’s only $12.00 CDN dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. Getting a duo is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

Taiga is an eye shadow duo that did not jump out at me as one that I absolutely had to have. The shades seem fairly ho-hum at first glance.

The first shade of the duo is a light wheat color with shimmer. The pigmentation of this shade is not that great; you have to use quite a lot to get it to show up on pale skin. The second shade in the duo is a dark olive green with shimmers that are the color of the first shade in the duo. Pigmentation in this shade is stellar - the color reminds me a lot of the green ink used on American money.

When I use this eye shadow duo, I put the lighter color on all over the lid and on my lower lash line and then use the olive green color as in the crease and on my upper lash line. The duo looks best when used with an orange-based coral or nude blush, and a brown-based nude lip (with or without shimmer). This is a beautiful duo to use in the fall.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I have recommended this duo to my mom, of all people! My mom is lucky and has more color to her skin than I do - it has olive tone to it. This duo looks awesome on her, with her dark hair and hazel eyes!

I would likely re-purchase this duo only if something happened to the one I already own, or to give it as a gift.

You can get this duo on the NARS website (unless you are Canadian) or from Sephora.

Don't forget to enter my Seven Deadly Sins Makeup Contest! The Contest closes at 8:00 p.m. on April 9th, so get your entries in soon!

Monthly Faves: March



I use to be so good about getting my monthly favorites posted on time - now it seems like I am always posting it a few days late!

The good news is, this month's lineup of products is slightly larger than February's. I have a good mix of high-end and low-end products and I have used them all consistently throughout the month (with the exception of one, which I only got last weekend!).

Without much further rambling, I'll just get started.

CARGO BeachBlush in Tenerife - I have been using this particular product as a bronzer this month, whenever I think my skin looks too pasty. This product is matte and is made up of stripes of beige, taupe, peach and pink. I use a big fluffy powder brush to apply the product to my face. I also use this as blush on days where the only other makeup I've applied is foundation and mascara. Purchased online at the CARGO website.

NARS Multiple in South Beach - You may recall a post I wrote not too long ago where I wrote that I would be keeping three of my Multiples in my makeup bag in an effort to use them up. Well, as I had predicted in that post, South Beach is the one that sees the most use. It has no glitters in it (unlike Orgasm) and the color is very natural and soft. It's a lovely spring blush shade, which I have been sporting almost every day. When I want more punch to the color, I dust a bit of NARS Blush in Lustre over top to add a bit more peach to my cheeks. If, by any chance (although I highly doubt it), there is someone on the NARS creative team reading this, I have a message: Please create a South Beach blush. I would buy a ton of them - it's a perfect natural blush color. Purchased at Sephora.ca

Clinique Even Better Makeup with SPF 15 in Shade 01 Alabaster - This has been my go-to foundation since my Clinique Almost Makeup got discontinued. I love the formulation of this product. I have been very happy to see that, as long as I don't go overboard on moisturizer, this foundation stays matte on my skin and I don't have to blot more than once a day. So far, I have not noticed it evening out or correcting my skin, but maybe with more continuous use I will start to see that. I am very happy with this product, Clinique! To see my review about this foundation, click here. Purchased at Sears.ca

Annabelle Eyebrow Pencil in Shade 040 Medium Brown - While I like a defined brow, I do not like super intense, dark, eyebrows. This pencil is great at helping my brows look more dense while also not looking like I've colored them in! The trick I find is applying the pencil at an angle, with light strokes. I then use the brush attached to the pencil cap to blend the pencil in. I also bought another in the shade Auburn for when I have freshly dyed hair (I dye my hair a light browny-auburn color) and eyebrows. Purchased at PharmaPlus

NARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base - I have had this tube for almost a year now, and it's probably because I switch back and forth between products that I use as eye shadow bases. If I were using this every day, I think I would have needed to re-purchase at least once by now. This is a stand-out product for me. I swear, nothing else I have tried so far has helped my eye makeup last all day like this product can! Purchased from Sephora.ca

Wet-n-Wild Eye Shadow Trios in Shade 381B Sweet as Candy and Shade 335 Silent Treatment - I love these Trios! They are similar, and both are great everyday 'neutral' shades. Sweet as Candy has a shimmery white as the browbone color, a dark shimmery taupe as the crease color, and a shimmery baby pink as the eyelid color. Silent Treatment has a peachy pink shimmery color as the browbone color, a dark espresso brown with dark brown shimmers as the crease color, and an intense shimmery taupe with purple undertones as the eyelid color. I did a review of the Silent Treatment Trio earlier in this past week, and Sweet as Candy is featured in two of the prize packs for my Seven Deadly Sins Makeup Contest. Purchased at Wal-Mart

What are your March favorites? Do you share any with me?

I am really looking forward to warmer weather coming and for more days with sunshine; I am pretty sure that is going to be reflected in my April favorites post! I am itching to go through my collection again and pick out some more colorful products to use.

My weekend is going to be full of me practicing to deliver my first corporate training course (I teach on the 12th!), studying for an upcoming exam for school (I am finishing a course on e-business this month!) and also writing up more blog posts. I am one of those bloggers who feels guilty if she doesn't post something new every couple of days, so I like to have some posts complete and on standby for weeks where things are going to be hectic and I know I can't write 'on the fly' like I am right now!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget to enter my Seven Deadly Sins Makeup Contest! The Contest closes at 8:00 p.m. on April 9th, so get your entries in soon!

Use 'em or Lose 'em: NARS Multiples

I am on a quest to use up some of the high-end makeup I have accumulated over the past few years. I have a LOT of stuff, and I don't seem to be putting a concerted effort towards using it all.

So, last night I spent a good hour rooting through my collection and picking out a few products that as of right now, I will be committing to using up over the next few months. I feel horribly guilty when I am surfing the web and finding new high-end products I want to buy - when I've already got a cabinet full of stuff that I don't use half as much as I should.

Here is what I selected to use up:



Left to Right: NARS Multiple in Malibu, NARS Multiple in Orgasm, and NARS Multiple in South Beach

You can use these as cream blush, bronzer, highlighter, or eye shadow. I tend to use these three specifically as blush and eye shadow bases. They have a cream-to-powder formulation, which makes them easy to work with. For the most part, they are also well pigmented.

Malibu is a pink-based brown shade. It's darker than most of the Mulitples available. I bought this color because I thought it would be very flattering on my skin, and because I thought it would be a lovely neutral shade that I could wear most of the time. Unfortunately, I don't wear it all the time. I am wearing it today, though.

Next up is Orgasm. This multiple is exactly the same color as the blush of the same name (and the lip gloss, and the nail polish...); however, I find the glitter in the Multiple a bit more of a pain to work with...it doesn't look 'natural', which is something I do not like in my blushes. Nevertheless, I own it, so I am going to use it up.

The last one is South Beach. It's one of my favorite ones, so I don't really have an excuse for not using it. South Beach is a lovely taupe color with apricot undertones. It makes a lovely eye color, and a very pretty blush. This is probably the one I will finish first.

So, until they are done, these 3 products are going to live in my makeup bag. Once they are gone, they are going to be replaced by three more products. I want to use up more of my collection!

I do love to collect and play with makeup, but you do get to a point where you realize just how much cash you've sunk in to your collection and how little you use some of the things you own, and your pragmatism kicks in. This was the case with me.

If you have any questions about any of these products, just let me know! I am going to review all three in the next little while.

Have a great rest of your week!

REVIEW: NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Alhambra

I have quite a large collection of NARS products, so I am going to be taking the time to review everything for you. If you are a NARS addict like I am, you'll know there are some hit-and-miss products in their line-up; by posting reviews about what I have, hopefully I can steer NARS newbies and those looking to invest in quality products away from some potentially not-so-great purchases! (sidebar: this particular product is great!)



Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Alhambra, $38.00 CDN @ Sephora.ca

Reason for Purchase

I’m a NARS junkie.

Notable Features

Like just about all NARS products, this eye shadow duo is very pigmented.

NARS eye shadows are pricey; I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in trying out a NARS eye shadow, you pick up a duo instead of a single. The singles are $26.00 CDN each where the duos are $38.00 CDN each - that’s only $12.00 CDN dollars price difference for two shades instead of one. Getting a duo is definitely the better investment!

Packaging

This eye shadow duo comes in a black rubberized mirror-compact, with NARS written in skinny white font on the top. The packaging shows dirt/smudges/oil very easily and is hard to keep clean and looking hygienic.

Experience Using Product

The eye shadows apply like butter; they are very smooth and contain no glitter at all. Both shades in this duo are shimmery. The first shade is a peachy-pink color; a good dupe is MAC’s Jest. The second color is a light 14K gold color; MAC’s Retrospeck is a close dupe. Both shades compliment each other very well. My favorite way to use this duo is to put the gold shade all over my lids, with the pink as my crease color and an under-eye highlight (applied to the lash line).

This duo compliments blue eyes nicely; it also looks very pretty on women with fair skin. The shades might get lost on warmer, yellow-based skin tones.

I use this duo a lot during the spring and early summer; you can create a really nice, beachy sun-kissed look with it.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

There are two other NARS duos that are similar to this one (I have both): Windstar and Hula Hula. All three are different from each other in their own way, but ultimately all three eye shadow duos are a gold color paired with a pink color. If I could only choose one of the three to buy, I would pick Alhambra.

If you already own Jest and/or Retrospeck by MAC, you do not need this duo; you will be able to create the same sorts of looks with these two shades as you can with Alhambra. I would only recommend this duo to you if you don’t have these two MAC colors.

I would re-purchase this duo in a heartbeat if something catastrophic happened with the one I have or if I used the entire duo up. This is one of my favorite and most-used NARS duos. I love having it in my collection!

Want to buy Alhambra for yourself? Check out Sephora. Alternatively, you can check out the NARS website (Canadian’s cannot order from it, but several other countries can!).

Have you entered my contest yet? Click here for details!

Top 5 Products I Hate!

Creating a blog post without pictures seems wrong...but here we go anyway.

Hate is usually a very strong word that I don’t like to use in normal conversation. However, I thought it was appropriate to describe the products below - things that I cannot stand and wish I had never purchased.

5. Benefit Georgia

This product is last on my list for the simple reason that Benefit has discontinued it, and it is technically no longer available (although, for whatever reason, you can still buy it at the Shoppers Drug Mart 45 minutes away from where I live).

Georgia is another one of the first things that I bought when I started to shop at Sephora. I bought it because of all of the hype surrounding the product; it was written up to be the perfect peach face powder, scented like peaches too.

It’s light orange. Not peach. The scent is lovely, but the color is not. I tried wearing the product as blusher, but it doesn’t work very well. The powder is not heavily pigmented, so it only gives my skin an orange sheen. I am naturally very pale, so an orange tint on my skin does not look very good at all. The powder has been relegated to the bottom of my blush bin for some time now...I think it’s time to say goodbye to it.

4. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

I had been eager to try this product when it first came out. Finding the price of the product a bit too steep for my taste, I waited for it to go on sale before I bought one.

I don’t find that this product does anything it claims to do. I have talked to some friends who have tried it, and they all feel the same way.

I had to laugh when I read all of the reviews about people liking the tingly cool sensation they feel on their under-eyes when they apply it; the applicator is a metal ball with liquid on it. So, of course it is going to be cold! The product did not de-puff my eyes, and it did nothing to help dark circles.

If you are Canadian and really want a solution to de-puff eyes, buy Preparation H. Canada has the only formulation of Preparation H available with an active ingredient that reduces swelling and discoloration.

3. Baby Phat Golden Goddess Perfume

This perfume is one that I bought a few winters ago. It’s a warm scent that I thought suited me nicely.

When worn religiously though, the perfume seems to morph into some new scent.

Propane.

I do not blame this perfume for smelling like propane on me. It has got to do something with my own body chemistry and natural scent not mixing well with the perfume. The worst part about this is that it isn’t just me who can smell propane when I wear this perfume; someone who sits 2 cubicles down from me at work could smell it too.

In to the bin goes this perfume!

2. Shaving Gel of Any Kind

I know this sounds slightly bizarre, but it’s true. I cannot stand shaving gel - perfumed, unscented, formulated for sensitive skin - any of them! I get an allergic reaction whenever I use shaving gel on my legs. Regardless of the gel brand or formulation, after I use the gel my skin blisters....badly. We’re talking some small blisters yes, but I also end up with bigger ones the size of dimes and pennies. The reaction is painful and I do my best to avoid it. I’ve actually found that the Gilette Men’s Shaving Foam in the Lemon Lime scent is great for use on my legs; I think because the products for men are formulated to be used on the face, they are made to be less irritating and contain much less scent and moisturizing products.

1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I wish I didn’t have to give this product the top-billing of my most hated product, but I do.

I have made an effort to keep trying this foundation, to see if I could find a way to use it that would make me like it. I even wrote a blog post about it. For awhile, I was happy with it. Then, it started to irritate my skin again and the foundation landed on a shelf in my makeup cabinet, never to be used again.

When Sheer Glow was introduced by NARS, everyone could not stop talking about it. I fell for all the hype and bought my own bottle. I was so excited to use the foundation and when I finally had it in my possession and had used it for awhile, I couldn’t help but feel I had been misled. The shade that matches my skin the best is the lightest one, Siberia. The foundation did not blend very well on my skin, due mostly to the fact that it is formulated with a strong yellow undertone that just does not work for me; my skin has pink undertones. The foundation emphasizes any dry spots you have on your skin, raised scars (keloid), or fine lines. I also had an allergic reaction to the foundation; it made my face itch horribly, although I did my best not to scratch I did end up with some blemishes as a result of the irritation.

The price of this foundation is also a bit outrageous; sure, Chanel and a very few other brands have the price of NARS Sheer Glow beat, but it’s still a lot of money to spend on something that you will end up using just about every day. I broke my own rule not to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a product that sees a lot of use (mascara, lipstick and lip gloss are also in that category) and I never should have.

For a truly honest review of this product, I recommend a YouTube video by MsDianaCherie (aka MapleSunset). She does a great job of covering all the bases of the product. Had I seen her review before I bought my Sheer Glow, I probably would not have bought Sheer Glow at all. You can watch her review here.

What are your Top 5 Hated Products? Do you share any with me?

Have a great week!

Top 5 Blushes



Top Row (L to R): NARS Luster, NARS Madly, Benefit Dandelion
Bottom Row (L to R): NARS Exhibit A, NARS Desire, Benefit Dallas


Ok, so I am sure you have noticed that this is a 'Top 5' post but there are 6 items in my photo. I will explain later.

Having done some less-common Top 5 posts, I decided to do one that is more popular and can be found on a lot of popular bloggers websites: my Top 5 Blushes. Basically, I am sharing with you the 5 (well, 6) blushes that I reach for most often and why.

5. TIED - Benefit's Dandelion and Dallas
This is why there are 6 products in my shot above!

Technically, neither of these is a blush. Dandelion is a highlighter powder, while Dallas is a bronzer. I consider both items to be far too pigmented for their intended use. When Dandelion is applied as a blush, it gives me a nice flushed, fresh look - without making me look super made-up or like I am wearing makeup. If I use Dallas as a blush, it gives me a nice pop of tan/plum on my cheeks and really picks up the blue in my eyes. The products both smell great and come in recyclable cardboard packages. However, the downside to the products is also their packaging - it's huge! They take up a lot of room in your bag.

4. NARS Blush in Madly

Madly is a blush that probably doesn't get as much recognition as it should. It's a lovely muted pink, with silver shimmer. I like to wear it on days where I don't really know what I want to do with my eyeshadow. It's a neutral shade of blush that looks great both with glamorous makeup as well as regular everyday makeup. Madly is a staple in my collection.

3. NARS Blush in Exhibit A

This, next to Orgasm, is probably one of NARS's most infamous blush shades. Exhibit A is a very bright tomato red color. This blush is extremely pigmented - you only need to tap your blush brush on the surface of the product to pick up enough color to use. I am super pale girl, and even I can pull off this blush. I would just warn against using this blush with a full-face of bright makeup. The blush is best used when it doesn't compete with dramatic eyes or lips.

2. NARS Blush in Desire

I have said it before, but this is my favorite blush. Desire is a neon-pink blush that works well on just about everyone's cheeks. Like Exhibit A, this blush is extremely well pigmented so a little tap is all you need to give your cheeks a nice flush. This blush does NOT go on as brightly as it appears in the pan. I like to wear this color when I feel bummed out - seeing the bright color makes me happy. I love to wear this blush with black-lined eyes and a fuschia gloss on my lips.

1. NARS Blush in Luster

Of all of the NARS blushes I own, this one has seen the most use this year. Luster is a light apricot/peach shade of blush with shimmers. It compliments nude/bronze makeup very well, and also doubles as a pretty eyeshadow. Like Madly, this is a neutral blush that will pretty much work with any type of look. Although well pigmented, I often find I use more of this blush in my application than any of the others - I usually have a light hand when applying a NARS blush, but this one I use more liberally.

What are your Top 5 blushes?

If you want to learn more about any of the NARS blushes I have talked about, go to their website here.

If you are curious about Benefit's products and want to try some out for yourself, check out their website here.

Monthly Faves: November

It's the first day of December, and it's SNOWING! Our weather has actually not been terribly pleasant today...but it does look pretty outside now!

This month's favorites list is very short. I only have a few things to share.



My MAC Pro Palette (x 15)



Top Row (l to r): Shadowy Lady, Smut, Coquette, Shroom, Brown Script
Middle Row (l to r): Black Berry, Club, Concrete, EMPTY, Expensive Pink
Bottom Row (l to r): Shale, Scene, Copperplate, EMPTY, Gleam

It wasn't until I starting de-potting shadows and loading them into the palette that I noticed I tend to favor gray shadows and dark purples (and then there's the 3 warm neutral colors at the end of the palette). I am chomping at the bit to fill the last to spots in my pan - I have picked Bisque and Corduroy to fill them - but have decided to wait to buy them until Boxing Day, so I can also get a few things from the Champ Pale collection at the same time and qualify for free shipping.

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

This paint pot came in the Tartan Tale set that I bought in Ottawa a few weeks ago. It's become my favorite base to use, and has also gotten me back into my other Paint Pots (Painterly, Rubenesque, Fresco Rose). It's a great neutral base that works very nicely alone, or with other shadows on top. I think this Paint Pot with NARS eyeshadow Duo in All About Eve would look heavenly together - I'll have to try it out!

NARS Single Eyeshadow in Ondine

Now that winter is finally here, I find I am very much drawn to mauve makeup, and plum shades. I've been wearing this eyeshadow a lot lately - sometimes on it's own, sometimes mixed with another shade. It compliments my blue eyes nicely, and it doesn't look too dark on me. It also does not emphasize any under-eye circles I may have. I do not wear this much in the spring/summer, but love to wear it in the fall/winter. I didn't realize how much I missed wearing it until I started to use it again!

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Habanera

This is an item I had mentiond in my NARS Starter Kit post, and with good reason. This is one of NARS more unique eyeshadow duos; you would never think that a smokey plum color would match nicely with a frosty sea-foam green - but it does! This is what I have been wearing along with Ondine. I put Bare Study paint pot on all over my lid (lashes to brow bone), then Ondine all over my lid. Then, I apply the plum shade from Habanera from lashes to crease, and the sea-foam color as an inner corner and under-eye highlight. It's a very nice sophisticated look, with just enough color to be work appropriate and not clown-like.

NARS Blush in Sin

This is one of my favorite NARS blushes, and is my favorite one to use in the winter. It's a shimmery mauve-plum shade, that looks amazing on in the winter. You get that 'rosy cheek' look without the pain of wind-burn. Like most NARS blushes, the product is super pigmented, so you can apply it with a light hand - a little goes a long way.

NARS Bronzer in Casino

It's the darkest bronzer that NARS makes, and even I - with my pasty pale white skin - can pull it off. This bronzer adds a lot of warmth to your skin, and the shimmer in the bronzer does not make me look overly oily. This is an item I got from a blog sale by fellow Canadian beauty blogger, Amy Nicola. I do not think I would have gone out to the store and picked it up full price, at the risk of being disappointed if it didn't work out for me - but at a blog sale, why not?

So, like I said, this month it was a very short favorites post.

What were your November favorites?