This was different!  I tried the L’Oreal HIP Kohl Eye Liners in Gold & Navy, two classic and at the same time, trendy colors which makes me happy.

The powder pigments are in little vials and the applicator is on a very short looped handle which I found awkward but workable.  Not to mention this is [...]]]>

This was different!  I tried the L’Oreal HIP Kohl Eye Liners in Gold & Navy, two classic and at the same time, trendy colors which makes me happy.

The powder pigments are in little vials and the applicator is on a very short looped handle which I found awkward but workable.  Not to mention this is a very portable, travel sized makeup staple.  The applicator itself is VERY hard.  Be sure you are totally still or you can do some damage.  I tried this as a tightliner (which I haven’t done since the Thriller album I think) and for regular under-lash eye lining.  When used on the skin, the applicator is much too hard and pulls the skin so I would cautiously advise this product for tight-lining.

A still and steady hand are a must! the pay off is truly pigmented color.  Is it worth it?  only you can tell

I rate it at an 8 for the redeeming color pay off and tightlining use.  Read more L’Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliner reviews on Total Beauty

Post from: Steeping Beauty

L’Oreal HIP Kohl eye liner Product Review

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Every smart woman’s wardrobe includes a great pair of stilettos for their lengthening effect on legs.  So it’s only natural that her makeup repertoire should induce that same dark lengthening effect.  Maybelline’s LASH Stiletto mascara can help you achieve that.  It’s new, it’s washable and it’s awesome.  Maybelline knows about lashes… great lash is still a personal [...]]]>

Every smart woman’s wardrobe includes a great pair of stilettos for their lengthening effect on legs.  So it’s only natural that her makeup repertoire should induce that same dark lengthening effect.  Maybelline’s LASH Stiletto mascara can help you achieve that.  It’s new, it’s washable and it’s awesome.  Maybelline knows about lashes… great lash is still a personal favorite but I would say that it provides a more natural look…  LASH Stiletto is seriously sexy and lenthens lashes.

How do you guard against product build up on your brush?

I usually scrape the brush against the rim of the mascara tube the first time I use it that day.  It takes some of the product off and it’s easy to do.  The less product the better that first layer is, Lash Stiletto looks best with multiple layers, apply while still wet. I used to take off the excess with a tissue but I worried about the tissue ingredients rubbing onto the brush so I came up with this new technique.

The Sweep Grip and Extend Brush is really good because it has a thick end and a thin, smaller end so you can choose which you want to use by the angle.  I’m an all black mascara girl so I’m using 951 very black, even though it’s washable I haven’t had any problems while out and about, I know I’m not the only one paranoid about runny mascara in the rain.  Lest I forgot to mention I experienced no smudging, it’s super easy to take off and available in a drugstore near you.  Give it a try sometime soon and let me know what you think.

Post from: Steeping Beauty

heels and long lashes

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4 shades, one gorgeous holographic covered compact and a joyful “press here” button conspire to give you a smoky eye.  The Stila guide is straight forward and to the point but effective in guided you through the process.

If that’s not enough, there’s a plastic guide sheet [...]]]> Makeup that talks back!  finally, makeup for us not-so-expert applicants!

4 shades, one gorgeous holographic covered compact and a joyful “press here” button conspire to give you a smoky eye.  The Stila guide is straight forward and to the point but effective in guided you through the process.

If that’s not enough, there’s a plastic guide sheet attatched over the shadows so there can be NO confusion as to which color is being referred to.

Smoky eye lovers are already fans of Stila but the care and attention that went into this product deserves even more new applicants to buy in.

For starters, get a bigger, flatter eyeshadow brush to wash the base color all over your eyelid.  Continue on with the lid color and then the crease.  Finally use your liner brush to line your eyes.

The effect is a smoky eye worthy of a night out on the town.  The base is good enough that you don’t HAVE to use an eyeshadow primer but you know it really doesn’t hurt to get that extra anchor on your eyelids from the getgo.

Stila brushes #9, #15 and #4 are mentioned but hopefully you have appropriate brushes of some kind.  Finish off with black mascara as usual.

$32* Shipped!

You MUST use the code ECYX12 when you check out on www.stilacosmetics.com

*$40 – 20% ($8) + free shipping on orders over $30 = $32

offer ends December 16, 2008

The kind folks @ Stila have created this wonderful code to help offset the other expenses and splurges you may be incurring.  The code can be used on anything on the Stila site.

Post from: Steeping Beauty

Smoky Stila Eyes Palette

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I haven’t tried it and probably won’t in the forseeable future, I am so loaded down with mascara it’s not even funny, not to mention the need to ration funds in preparation for gift-giving season.

However, I’m really dying to [...]]]> Lancôme’s big Ô has been on the open market for two weeks (yes, there wuz an underground effect with this one). 

I haven’t tried it and probably won’t in the forseeable future, I am so loaded down with mascara it’s not even funny, not to mention the need to ration funds in preparation for gift-giving season.

However, I’m really dying to know what people think about it and live vicariously through mascara voyeurism.  Alas, as this post goes to publish, there’s only one lonely product review for this possibly superior product… 

If you’ve tried Ôscillation, you are cordially invited to soundoff or write a review on Total Beauty.

Here are some tips from the experts…

• The key to great results with Ôscillation is a certain application technique. Apply in slow, straight and steady strokes.
• Don’t zig-zag and don’t wiggle!
• Don’t overpump the wand. There’s plenty of product on there for multiple coats.
• If at first you don’t succeed…don’t give up! Ôscillation takes a few tries to get the hang of it.
• Ôscillation is great for the lower lashes, so don’t forget to apply there. *I’m not so sure about this one, I still don’t mascarize my lower lashes.

Ôscillation is available at counters nation-wide or www.lancome-usa.com and retails for $34

Pretty picture of Daria Werbowy courtesy of Lancome. And a previous post about the one day launch this summer…

Post from: Steeping Beauty

Lancome’s BIG O power mascara

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The mascara brush is long and straight with packed in bristles.  Does a great job applying mascara, I love that Extremist has a long wand since it’s my personal [...]]]> Why play it safe when you can be an Extremist?  long and bold lashes are yours when you add Rock and Republic’s Extremist Mascara to your life.

The mascara brush is long and straight with packed in bristles.  Does a great job applying mascara, I love that Extremist has a long wand since it’s my personal preference.  The formula is great too, no clumps, flakes or running.

Available in one color, Noir, the perfect accessory no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing.  Dressed up or down.

Let me know what you think…

Post from: Steeping Beauty

Rock and Republic Mascara Extremists

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Of [...]]]> Have you updated your makeup bag for fall yet?  Most women I know are buying makeup left and right, non-stop this season.  The reasons are numerous… forgot makeup in car, something melts and leaks/ruins everything, with the hustle and bustle of summer makeup got left at the hotel room or slipped out of a beach bag.

Of course there are more inspiring reasons to buy new makeup in fall… like getting a new look and attitude for a new season at work or school.   So with that in mind, I have LOTS of new makeup to review this week!

My new favorite eyeshadow is also the newest single shadow from NARS, Fez.  It’s a perfect brown for my skin tone.  I often find browns that are too matte, but Fez has got just the right glint of shimmer.  I use it just in my crease after some shadow potion.  A great discrete makeup item with powerful pigment that you can layer sheer or dramatic.  An essential for your fall makeup bag.

I LOVE the cushy feeling to NARS’ packaging.  It just makes it feel special and I’m convinced it helps to protect the shadow if you should accidentally drop your makeup.

NARS Fez Single eyeshadow $22

Please forgive the lack of a picture, I’ve had so much trouble with my cameras I’m off to buy ANOTHER one today!  it seems every 7 months I’m buying something new, very irritating!!

Post from: Steeping Beauty

NARS Cosmetics: Fez Eyeshadow for your makeup bag

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The three lash looks are a stand alone accessory, inspired by [...]]]> Shu Uemura has a new collection of false eyelashes that are batting their way to the top.  The result of an artistic collaboration with Dutch design duo, Viktor & Rolf, the lashes are encased in a luxurious box and come with a masquerade eye mask.

The three lash looks are a stand alone accessory, inspired by V & R’s latest collection.  I’m convinced the Wing Couture, is inspired by paper clips, you have to see these on to notice I think.  I’m totally intrigued by  Swirl Couture and Rhombus Couture.

  Viktor & Rolf Wing Couture

 Viktor & Rolf Swirl Couture

  Viktor & Rolf Rhombus Couture

Since I’m an eyelash novice I may work my way up to the big leagues and start with Shu Uemura’s mink-inspired synthetic lash.

All Photo Credits: www.shuuemura.com

Post from: Steeping Beauty

Viktor & Wolf inspired lashes for Shu Uemura

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Anastasia’s Beverly Hills salon was one of the stops on the Total Beauty Tour and was amazing.  The open layout of the salon is very nice and bright with a stunning array of celebrity clients on the walls.  Clients are consulted and brows are groomed in the main room.  I was suprised to see there are a [...]]]>

Anastasia’s Beverly Hills salon was one of the stops on the Total Beauty Tour and was amazing.  The open layout of the salon is very nice and bright with a stunning array of celebrity clients on the walls.  Clients are consulted and brows are groomed in the main room.  I was suprised to see there are a lot of other services offered from body waxing to facials, you could have all your needs met in one place. 

As a treat we got to watch Anastasia’s brow shaping work first hand. Annie from BellaSugar was chosen for an on the spot brow fix and in a few minutes changed her already beauty-full expression. 

I could not leave without a consult so I basically begged for help and it was granted!  If you had asked me before the consult, I would have said I had bushy brows but after talking to the brow authority I know I have too big a space between them and they are too thin.  How do you like that?  I’m thinking that my subconcious fear of uni-brow has blinded me to the waxers taking off to much in the middle - but no more, I’m going to pay much better attention now.

you learn something new everyday they say

This is a time I wish I had a flair for the artistic so I could draw a diagram, or that I could explain succinctly what Anastasia explained to us so eloquently.  There are two types of eyebrow hair.  Top eyebrow hair grows straight and down, bottom eyebrow hair grows up.  The key to getting a good arch and look is getting some of both of those hairs in your eyebrow so that your brows will stay nice and contained.  It really doesn’t matter the method you use to get the hair off according to Anastasia, tweeze, wax or thread.  And enough of the old advice about not taking off the top hair, it’s so wrong and outdated.  The most essential thing is to get the right combination of upper and lower eyebrow hairs. 

If you can ever make it in to Anastasia’s salon I highly recommend it.  If possilbe grow out your brows so they can really define your arch from scratch.  The price is $80 w/Anastasia herself which is a lot but VERY reasonable considering the demand.  She could charge much more and the rich would pay but she’s keeping the service at a reasonable price point for us average folk in need of a special memory.  The cost is $50 w/an eyebrow specialist.

Check out the Anastasia Salons on the bottom left there are links to International Locations and Find a Store to find someone trained in the technique near you. And if you prefer a DIY approach, I will have product reviews on kits you can use from the convenience of your own home.

Post from: Steeping Beauty

Anastasia Salon Beverly Hills Beyond Brows

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