Giorgio Armani Kaleidoscope Fall 2013 Makeup

Giorgio Armani Beauty is back this autumn with Kaleidoscope, their fall 2013 makeup collection. It includes the limited edition Fall Look 2013 Palette 1 and Palette 2, the star products from the lineup. 

I got to play with Palette 2, which includes a light copper rose face powder with a subtle shimmer. It's so convenient for creating a polished glow, especially when you don't have time for foundation. Three satin eyeshadows are nestled within the bottom tier. My favorite shade is the center one, an iridescent jade. If you wear a blue top it will transform into a striking turquoise. The frosty sea green shadow on the right is great for daytime looks, but you have to layer it on for maximum effect. Blending it might wash out the color. To smoke things out the warm copper wood with gold shimmer can be used to turn things up a notch. 

Fall Look 2013 Palette 1

Click to read more ...

NARS Brow Gel and Brow Perfector

Groomed brows are so important. They frame your lovely features and give the face more definition and structure. Whenever mine are looking a bit wild, the NARS Brow Gel will keep them in check. The Piraeus (medium brown) shade is too light for me so I will stick with Oural (clear) for a natural look. Kinshasa (dark brown) also worked in terms of color matching but the brush circumference is wider than my brow's natural thickness, so it's a bit tricky to apply. If I wanted an Audrey Hepburn-esque brow, Kinshasa would be perfect.  

For those who prefer a soft brow pencil, the NARS Brow Perfector is a fantastic option. The Kalamata (light brown) shade looks so natural on my dark brown brows. I'm impressed with the color choice; this is a surprise favorite. I thought I would need Caucase (brown) but this one's the perfect shade on me. If I wanted a stronger brow Caucase would probably work too. Suriname (black) is too harsh on me, unless I need it for performance makeup. I love how it's retractable (no sharpening) and the velvety tip won't break as you're applying product. It won't fade much and cleans up easily. 

The Brow Gel is and Brow Perfector ($22 each) are both available at www.narscosmetics.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Sky 170

I don't always opt for a blue eyeshadow duo, but the Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Sky 170 is seriously wearable. If your budget allows for it, I'd give this a shot for year-round use and if you have brown eyes, you're really in luck with this choice. 

The left pan contains a satiny royal blue while the right is a dreamy aqua blue with a hint of silver shimmer. Depending on your ensemble, both shades will evoke different moods. The royal blue is excellent for a sexy smoky lid (date night!) while the aqua blue is awesome for a sunny beach outing or weekend brunch. Or, layer both shades on if you're feeling extra wild. 

$42; available at Sephora.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Dolce & Gabbana Love in Taormina Nail Collection

This month Dolce & Gabbana released their Love in Taormina summer nail collection. It's quite refreshing to see a summer beauty collection when it's actually summer, isn't it? The capsule collection consists of five classic shades and I got to try Oleandro, a soft pearlescent pink, and Ibisco, a dark pink with a slight hint of coral.

Dolce Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Ibisco.

These colors are elegant enough to wear year-round so it's worth the splurge if you don't already have these shades. The formula is fairly opaque but the brush is a bit tricky to use. You have to work quickly to get away with one thick coat. Without a top coat, I got minor tip wear after five days. That's pretty good as I putz around the garden and kitchen a lot these days.

D&G The Nail Lacquer in Oleandro.

Click to read more ...

Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau Lip Colour

Laura Mercier introduced Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Colour, a new line of lipsticks for the fall season, and I love them. These wax-free lippies provide lots of moisturizing pigment and coverage in a few swipes, but are light as a feather. I could hardly feel it on my lips. 

Myth and Cafe are my favorites. Cafe is a neutral mauve-brown (creme formula, medium-full coverage) that is great for everyday wear. Myth is a deep pink brown (matte finish, medium-full coverage) that is darker than Cafe, but is still very wearable for many skin tones. The matte formula is not drying on the lips. Even as it wears off the color fades nicely, like a lip tint. The collection also has a few shades in a sheer finish for those who want less coverage. 

To see more shades, head over to www.lauramercier.com, Sephora, or all Laura Mercier counters. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Mujjo iPad Sleeves

Functional and minimalist chic, the Mujjo iPad Sleeve can easily double as a fashionable clutch. Made with 100% wool felt and vegetable-tanned leather, the sleeve is soft, lightweight, and surprisingly durable. Carry your iPad to work in this stylish accessory, then come home and swap in your lipstick and mascara for a hot rendez-vous. 

The simple leather flap and strap design makes it a pleasure to open yet tight enough to secure. The wool is treated with an anti-peeling, water-repellent finish so I don't have to worry when Seattle starts raining in the fall. How convenient is that? Dutch minimalism at its best. 

Credit: Mujjo

Each iPad Sleeve goes for about $65 (€49.95) and is available in two color schemes (brown/black and white/grey); shop online at www.mujjo.com. 

For editorial consideration, a review sample was provided by the brand's PR representative.

NARS Fall 2013 Makeup

Bold matte eyes are the main focus of the NARS fall 2013 makeup collection. I tried the Kamchatka Matte Eyeshadow, one of the star shades for autumn. The deepness of the purple-navy shade is perfect for a smoky eye, yet it's not the ubiquitous grey or black smoky eye. You need a primer for this color as it can get a bit too sheer and it's best to pat it on versus blending. 

Campaign look for NARS fall 2013 collection.

Click to read more ...

Marie Veronique Organics Pacific Face Oil

I'm so in love with the Pacific Face Oil from Marie Veronique Organics. The formula is lighter than their original Face Oil so it's much easier to distribute onto the skin. My skin has been quite reactive to the hot summer weather (hello heat waves) and was suffering from dry patches. I've been using this for nearly a month and there is a noticeable improvement. Color me amazed.

Chia seed and kiwi seed oils deliver a powerful source of omega-3 fatty acids while passion fruit and papaya seed oils replenish the skin with omega-6 and -9, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Last but not least, Astaxanthin and red raspberry seed oil are added to prevent sun damage. Derived from Hawaiian red pond algae, astaxanthin is apparently the most powerful antioxidant on record.

My forehead lines are somewhat diminished and my overall skin texture is softer and more healthy-looking. There's this lovely glow from within that I haven't seen lately...even my significant other noticed the improvement! You only need 3-4 drops for the entire face so the 1 ounce bottle ($110) will last for a long time, perhaps 3 months if you're careful with it. For easier application you can use a toning mist right before application or pair it with their MVO Mist.

Get the Pacific Face Oil at truebotanicals.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Walgreens Balance Rewards Program & Beauty Box

I love popping by the drugstore to grab my daily beauty and skin care essentials, but did you know that Walgreens has a Balance Rewards Program that lets you try new products and trends? Whenever you use your Walgreens Balance™ Rewards card to spend $30 on qualified beauty items, you can redeem your complimentary beauty box at Walgreens.com/beautywithin. This special program is valid from now until supplies run out.

Click to read more ...

Delicious Karma

Thanks to Delicious Karma, a social website that offers daily flash sales on gourmet food products, I got to try the addictive Hey Boo Srikaya. A decadent coconut jam that originated in southeast Asia, their small batch kaya is slow-cooked with cage-free eggs in San Francisco. You can use it for many things (waffles, ice cream, fruit, etc.), but it's so good that I tend to eat it straight from the jar. The traditional and mango flavors are both lovely, but I prefer the traditional recipe. 

Click to read more ...