Succumbing To Feminine's Wiles

Just when I think I'm done, they pull me back in.

I had laid eyes on the palette when it was first re-released, boasting a different color lineup than its predecessor of newly formulated shadows.  But I was a good girl.  I abstained from purchasing and thought nothing more about it.  Well, fast forward to last week when Urban Decay decided to put it and its sister palettes on sale.  Staunch resistance turned to momentary hesitation and then it happened.  Yes, guys, alas... I totally succumbed to the sweet siren song of Urban Decay's Feminine Palette.

The Feminine Palette is one of three, limited edition mini-palettes that were previously released, but with a different collection of colors.  It comes in the usual plastic packaging with the color reference card on the back and also included a free mini Primer Potion with the purchase.

Feminine redux, however, comes in a soft vinyl case adorned with a black lace print on the front and back.

Unzipping the palette reveals a cardboard setting on the inside, complete with mirror and six fabulous eyeshadows.  Nestled in the middle is a mini Lip Junkie lip gloss in Wallflower.

Just as the name implies, the palette is filled with delicate shades that are insanely rich in color but sensible for both day and nighttime wear.  Ironically, it was the tempting teal Hijack that sold me on Feminine.  I just think it's so pretty.  I was going to buy it as a single shadow, but thought better of it when this went on sale.  So glad I waited!

Bordello (top), Skimp (middle), AC/DC (bottom)

Gunmetal (top), Hijack (middle), Lost (bottom)

All of the colors are absolutely like buttah!  I mean, UD is known for their outstanding shadows and these are no exception.  They apply with full-on opacity, are easy to blend and last all day on me with a primer underneath.  Also worth noting is that outside of the five shimmers (high-pearls), there is one satin - Skimp.

Wallflower is a creamy, flesh-hued nude and it is awesome.  It smells and tastes of mint when you first apply it.  The cooling effect of the mint lingers on the lips while the actual peppermint smell itself fades pretty quickly.

The semi-sheer lip gloss is potently packed with color and is perfectly suited for wearing alone or atop a complementary lipstick.

I am really loving everything about this palette.  The colors are so me, unlike the previous version which was more pastel.  The other two palettes from the line up - Dangerous and Fun - are also worth a look or two as they contain their own updated collection of colors and matching lip gloss.  But it was Feminine that used her power of persuasion over me.  And it worked.  And I'm more than OK with that.

Urban Decay Feminine Palette can be found at Sephora and urbandecay.com, and retails for $36.

Storage: My Jewelry (Part 1)

While I'm still fine tuning my whole set up and finding proper placement for my doodads, I have had tremendous help from a long forgotten source.  I stumbled onto an extremely old jewelry container I had packed away for what seems like forever ago and had totally dismissed from memory.  Dusty and dirty from neglect, I cleaned up the clear, plastic gem bought on a whim during my stint in high school but never really used... until now.

This small jewelry container is neat little find.  Besides it being made of the clear, hard plastic/acrylic that is so popular now, it has two main areas that can accommodate variously sized items.

The top part is dedicated to earrings, which can be accessed via lifting the top of the case.  It also has a drawer at the bottom that can easily be pulled out and used for additional items.

The top shelf has two rows of grooves and holes for both your post and small hook earrings to fasten to and/or hang from.

The bottom drawer is better suited for larger pieces like hoops, teardrops and chandelier earrings.  You could really put anything in the bottom, including rings and small bracelets, but I chose to keep it earring oriented.

And did you notice the old school, gold hoops - otherwise known as "donuts" - that I'm still holding on to?  Umm... yeah.  Can't let these go, man.  Just can't.

Anyway, finding this has been serendipitous.  I do have way more jewelry than this could possibly hold, but I think its size and design lends to finding my smaller earrings more efficiently.  It beats having to wade through a huge jewelry box filled with a motley of accessories just to pluck out a pair of studs. 

Not sure if The Container Store or other outlets sell anything similar, but if you happen to encounter something close to its layout I would recommend getting it.  Pretty cool and totally worth it.

Friday Flashback: Roller Girl Madness

When I first saw this, I just HAD to have it!  Yes, it had totally cool colors and came with a bonus lip gloss and eyeliner, but do you see the groovy roller girl chick with the incredible Afro plastered all over the palette?  That's what sold me on it.  I totally fell and fell hard for Urban Decay's super awesome Roller Girl palette.

Roller Girl was a limited edition mini-palette that Urban Decay released a couple of years ago.  It consisted of four different eyeshadows, a mini Lip Junkie in Crush and included one mini 24/7 Glide-On eyeliner in Whiskey.

Whiskey is a dark, chocolate brown and is part of UD's permanent lineup of eye pencils.  Like all of their 24/7 Glide-On liners, it is creamy, well pigmented and lasts all day on me.

Crush Lip Junkie is a creamy, hot pink lip gloss.  Its non-sticky, semi-sheer formula has a pleasant minty fresh smell as well as taste. It is nicely pigmented and leaves ample color on the lips in one application.

Roller Girl boasts a pretty hip list of shadows: Woodstock, Verve, Suspect and Darkhorse.  Like all of UD's shadows, they are super plush, potently pigmented and so easy to work with.  These shades are all glitter-free so fallout has not been an issue.  At the time, Verve was a color that was unique to the quad.  However, it has since become a part of Urban Decay's regular lineup with the introduction of its newly formulated single eyeshadows. 

If you weren't able to snag a Roller Girl palette when it was first released, you can totally get all the colors and the liner and the lip gloss that it included now with no problem.  In fact, if you're a UD fan, you probably already have a deconstructed version of this in your stash.  So in that regard, you didn't actually miss out on the contents.  But the packaging is a whole 'nother thang.  I mean, did you lay your peepers on the palette's design and the gorgeous chick adorning it with the funkdafied coif, knitted legwarmers and old school roller skates?  I mean, how cool is that?  It's totally cool, man!

And if you totally feel the palette's vibe and are hip to the jive then slip me some skin, man, so I know you dig.  Can you dig it?  Right on, man.  I knew that you could. 

Lip Glacé Poppin'

Not that I need another lip gloss, but there are a few out there that have piqued my interest.  I definitely do not qualify as a lip gloss fiend; I mean, there's not too much that separates all of them except for maybe texture, taste and smell.   However, I do sometimes find myself caught up in the pretty colors and lose myself to temptation.  It's because of this that I wanted to try a Lip Glacé from Laura Mercier.  And so I did.  And its name is Coral Diamond.

Coral Diamond is a lovely pink-coral shade with silver shimmer.  It has a nice consistency in that I didn't really find it to be tacky or overly sticky (which I know some find bothersome).  It has no discernible taste, but it does have a sweet smell to it.  I can't put my finger on what it smells like, but I didn't find it to be cloying.

Coral Diamond is semi-sheer, but the doe foot applicator picks up enough product so that you can have visible color and luster with just one swipe.  And this is absolutely crazy over a nude lip; it adds potent shine and will almost certainly give your nude a nudge.

Needless to say, I like it mucho.

Laura Mercier Lip Glacés can be found at Sephora and retail for $24.

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White Metals

Looks can be very deceiving. What may seem like a simple color, upon further inspection, may actually turn out to be a little more complex.  Such is the case with two lovely items I happen to be very fond of: MAC's Vanilla pigment and NARS' Albatross.  Let's have a chat about Albatross first, shall we?

Upon first inspection, Albatross looks to be an unassuming, ivory-white cheek product.  It's finely milled, like most of NARS' powdered products, but its stark color could be viewed as intimidating...

... until you swatch it and discover that the ivory-white is more of a white gold as it yields a soft, gilded shimmer upon application.

The swatch above is obviously heavy.  However, with a lighter hand and blending, the yellow-goldness of Albatross prevails and serves as the perfect highlight for the cheeks as well as under the brow and even your décolletage.

Now Vanilla is a loose powder pigment from MAC's permanent line of products and it behaves in almost the same manner.  It's a seemingly coy, off-white color that, at first, appears to be pretty basic.

It comes in a clear, vial-like container with a plastic stopper and rubberized lid.  No big deal, right?  The color seems quite ordinary...

... until you take a peek inside,

and take a swatch of the contents, which will immediately reveal Vanilla's true beauty.  The ivory white pigment is actually more of a white bronze and it is ab fab!  The picture above is not doing this shade any justice; if you're not already familiar with this frost white then you may have to see it in person in order to truly appreciate it.  And for those already acquainted with Vanilla, I'm sure you will quickly co-sign my sentiment when I say that it is downright pretty.

MAC Vanilla (above), NARS Albatross (below)

In comparing the two, you can see the difference in undertones and finishes.  But both are equally gorgeous and versatile in their uses.  Besides using it on the eyes and/or cheeks as a highlight, a little shake of Vanilla in a clear lipgloss will give you an awesome lacquer for your lips! (You can thank me later.)

Two delightfully deceitful products that prove to be more faceted than their ivory-white exteriors would imply.  

MAC Vanilla pigment can be found at Macy's and MAC stores, and retails for $21.  NARS Albatross can be found at Sephora and retails for $29.

Ma Vie En Rose

Did you all know that my favorite color is pink?  Probably not.  But it is.  I absolutely adore the color and, therefore, I am the typical "girly-girl" when it comes to my relationship with the shade.  I've been trying to build my collection of pink lipsticks, but it's been kinda hard because some end up taking on more of a purplish hue once they hit my lips.  But there are a few that have stayed true to color and I would like to sing the praises of one in particular: Revlon's Silverspun Rose.

Silverspun Rose is an endearingly feminine, frosty, carnation pink.  It is from Revlon's Moon Drops line of lipsticks.  It applies smoothly, feels moisturizing and is semi-opaque to opaque in nature.

As I mentioned, this pink stays pretty true to color on my lips and what a color it is!  I continue to be impressed with Revlon's line of lip products and this offering is no exception.  The color lasted all day on me with only minor fading after eating and drinking.  So for all my fellow pink enthusiasts, this one may be worth checking out.

Revlon Moon Drops Silverspun Rose can be found at Target and various drugstores, and retails for $8.