Daphne Guinness for MAC: Red Dwarf Lipstick & Interior Life Eyeshadow Quad Swatches

I've lost count of how many times I've mentioned Daphne Guinness on Applied Glamour.  As regular readers are aware, I hold her style and aesthetics in the highest regard.  Ever since details for her collaboration with MAC were announced, I've been plotting and scheming exactly which pieces of the collection I wanted in my hot little hands.  During a trip to the MAC counter the day after Christmas, this is what I came away with: Red Dwarf Pro Longwear lipstick and the Interior Life eyeshadow quad.  I knew I wanted Red Dwarf but Interior Life was something of an impulse decision and I'm so, so glad I bought it.

Stratus, Bruised Sky, Interior Life, Heather Belles

The cool toned colors of the Interior Life eyeshadow quad are lovely neutrals without being shades of brown.  There's a LOT of versatility in this palette.  You can use all four colors for a vampy evening look or use the three lighter shades for a dreamy, subtle daytime look.  They're extremely easy to apply and go on very well.  Apologies for Stratus being nearly invisible on my skin, I assure you it's there!

Stratus, Bruised Sky

Interior Life, Heather Belles

Day: Stratus on brow bones, Bruised Sky on lids, Interior Life in creases

Day

Night: Same as above, with Heather Belles blended into outer corners

Night

The eyeshadows pair wonderfully with the lipstick I chose, Red Dwarf.  MAC describes it as a dusty blue-pink shade, but in different lighting it can look quite dark and vampy, even more brown than blue-based.  It's the perfect color for day or evening, and I'm wearing it in both the eyeshadow looks I did above.  Red Dwarf is a Pro Longwear lipstick and while for me it didn't last the promised 12 hours, I didn't need a touch up for at least seven.  As with most long wearing lipsticks, toward the end of those seven hours my lips are feeling pretty dry and looking a bit flaky, so I keep lip balm on hand to lock in moisture before reapplying the color.  Aside from that, I adore this lipstick!  I may even get another tube of Red Dwarf for backup, I love it that much. 

Red Dwarf

 

Despite being obviously cool toned colors, I think these shades could work on any skintone, really.  Especially the lipstick, since it looks so radically different depending on the lighting (I wish I had thought to show this in the photos!).  Interior Life and Red Dwarf can be as vampy and dramatic or as light and airy as you want them to be.

The words "limited edition" strike fear in my heart but as of yet, none of the collection has sold out online.  If you really want these or anything else from the collection though, I'd act fast!

MAC Girls Night Out for the Birmingham AIDS Outreach!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of donating to the Birmingham AIDS Outreach (a fantastic organization!) and in return I got a lovely makeover by MAC artist Natalie.  She truly went above and beyond to ensure that by experience was amazing!  Pictured above is the color chart she used, and look!  She even colored in the eyes to match my own!  She was also extremely patient and thorough in answering my endless questions, and I learned a TON of new makeup application tricks.

Natalie first asked how I usually do my makeup.  I answered, "Red lipstick, black liquid liner, very retro, very Dita Von Teese...but I don't want that!  I want to try something different!"  I ended up with candy colored eyelids and nude lips; it was a fun change!  At first it definitely felt weird for me not to have color on my lips, but I think I may have to add a nude lipstick to the family.  Natalie explained every step of the process, went into detail about the brushes she used, and taught me how to duplicate the gradient effect of the eyeshadows.  She also took the time to write down everything she used, which I definitely appreciated!

I still couldn't resist playing with lipsticks and investigating all the new products, like the Style Driven collection of super long-wearing makeup.  I swatched a few of the lip liners and they Did. Not. Budge.  Even when I used cleanser to remove them, the color barely came off!  It was amazing.

The best part, though, was the eyelashes!  I chose the most glamorous pair and Natalie trimmed and applied them for me.  Typically when you wear false eyelashes, you know you're wearing them; your eyelids feel weirdly heavy.  But with these fancy MAC eyelashes?  I couldn't even tell they were there!  They felt so light and natural!  Totally worth the extra $$$.

 

 

I couldn't have had a better time!  Supporting a great organization and getting a makeover: heaven!

Fall Inspiration: Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight, Tonight" / '90s Red Lipstick

This video for "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins is definitely one of my all time favorites.  It's epic and magical with sweeping orchestrals and Edwardian era sci-fi themes.  The video concept is lifted almost entirely from Georges Méliès's 1902 silent film A Trip to the Moon, the first ever sci-fi movie (you can also find it on YouTube, it was pretty incredible for its time).  While the music and visuals in "Tonight, Tonight" are amazing, what I really love are the details.  And I've been patiently waiting all summer to finally rock some ethereal '90s makeup like bassist D'arcy Wretzky.

Okay, so up close her makeup is a little more Goth and ghostly than I realized. What I initially interpreted as brick red lipstick appears black in this screenshot I took, but no matter.  Here are some gorgeous products to get her look of luminous, otherworldly glamour, absolutely perfect for fall! 

The brick red lipstick that was so trendy during the '90s always seems to make a comeback, and fall is the best time to wear it!  MAC launched their first Viva Glam lipstick in 1994, and the brick red matte shade is still available today as Viva Glam I.  With every Viva Glam lipstick sold, MAC donates 100% of the price to their AIDS Fund, which supports men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS.  It goes without saying that this is a wonderful cause to support, right?

In keeping with the celestial themes in "Tonight, Tonight", Benefit's Moonbeam shimmer liquid highlighter that adds a romantic golden sheen to your skin.  It looks especially gorgeous on your cheekbones, browbones, right above your upper lip in the cupid's bow, or all over your eyelids.  This will make your skin look glowing and lit from within!

This Summer Time cream eyeshadow duo from NARS has two beautiful shades in champagne and sunset gold to create a subtle, light reflecting look.  The darker shade would be lovely as an understated liner to slightly define eyes, and the lighter shade would be beautiful layered with Moonbeam all over eyelids.

What are your favorite '90s looks and inspirations?  Another of mine will always be Clueless, which really deserves its own inspiration post! 

Two Favorite Eyeshadows: NARS Daphne & Tarte for True Blood The True Death

The True Death from the Tarte for True Blood eyeshadow palette is the sparkly-est, shimmery-est, most perfect shade of silver eyeshadow there ever was.  I'm obsessed.  A great many silver eyeshadows are, in fact, disappointingly grey.  Not the True Death, oh no.  It's pure silver!   It's definitely my favorite shade from the palette.  I love pairing it with purple eyeshadow shades (especially NARS Daphne) and my beaded/sequined skirt, which is exactly what I wore last week.

 

 

 

skirt detail!

This look was ridiculously simple; it took less than ten minutes!  Here's everything I used:

Face
Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow & Concealer primer (not pictured)
Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in DEA
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Peaceful

Eyes
ELF Defined Angle eyeshadow brushes
Tarte for True Blood The True Death eyeshadow all over lid (not pictured, oops)
NARS Daphne single eyeshadow blended in crease and along upper lashline 
InColor Fabuliner black liquid eyeliner
Buxom Lash black mascara

Lips
Dior Addict Hollywood Rose (the old formula)

...and that's it!

What are your current favorite eyeshadow pairings?  If you own the Tarte for True Blood eyeshadow palette, what are your favorite ways to wear the shades?

Fall 2011 Trend: Blue Period

NARS Fall 2011 Campaign

 It seems a little strange to start thinking about fall trends already, but if turquoise was a hot color for summer, this fall's color is a deeper blue.  More primary than midnight, this sapphire shade is popping up everywhere!  Only fitting, as sapphire is September's birthstone and the primary blue evokes back-to-school art supplies.  Perhaps it also has a bit to do with Kate's iconic engagement ring?

Wearing blue has benefits: it makes your eyes look brighter and your teeth looker whiter!  Throw on Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" and check out these true blue picks to stay on-trend this fall!

NARS released the fabulous bright blue shade Outremer for fall 2011; models for the campaign show you how to keep it modern and artistic (see first picture, above).  Other great blue shadows include Sugarpill's Afterparty, a metallic blue, and MAC's frosty Corn Flower pigment.  If blue eyeshadow is a bit much, try Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner pencil in Deviant, a bright electric blue for a hint of color on your eyelids.  For the most subtle eye brightening trick, try a blue mascara like this one called Blue Noir from Buxom Lash!

Another simple way to wear the blue trend?  Nail polish, naturally!  Essie Mesmerize is a gorgeous primary blue and Sephora by OPI Midnight Mambo amps it up with chunky bits of glitter.

The easiest trick of all is Benefit's California Kissin' lip gloss; it has the slightest aqua sheen to make your teeth look extra white! 

Finally, pretty up your vanity with one of these beautifully blue packaged products.  Van Cleef & Arpels's Midnight in Paris perfume is decorated like the night sky and is one of the most gorgeous bottles I've ever seen.  And don;t forget your complexion!  This enzyme mask from Ole Henriksen is loaded with antioxidant rich blue-and-blackberries to keep skin young and glowing. 

So what do you think?  Will you participate in fall's blue makeup trend?  Which product would you most likely wear?  Let me know!

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. IV (Volume 4)

 

Urban Decay just posted this sneak preview of their upcoming Book of Shadows Vol. IV eyeshadow palette on their Facebook page.  So far commenters appear to have mixed feelings about it.  Many are disappointed with the abundance of neutral shades, but an equal number seem to be enthusiastic.  Everybody, though, is speculating what that cord included on the right must be for.  This Book of Shadows features technology like no other palette before it!  Included is a portable speaker, audio cable, and USB cord so you can access "Get The Look" palette tutorials via your iPod or smart phone.

What do you think?  Would you purchase this?

Tarte for True Blood Eyeshadow Palette SWATCHES!

This incredible gem of a palette was waiting for me when I returned from my vacation with Jessica!

The Tarte for True Blood palette packaging is super sexy.  It's all corset laces and red and black reptilian-embossed vinyl, very much like something the dancers and regulars at Fangtasia would keep around at all times.  At the bottom is a drawer with the instructions "Open After Dark" that contains an eyeshadow primer, mini mascara, and eyeliner.  Also included is a tip sheet put together by True Blood's makeup artist Bridgette Myer-Ellis to get you started on a few different ways to wear the eyeshadows.      

The shades range from innocent barely-there whispers of color to full-on, dramatic, and impossible to miss.  Kind of like the characters themselves.  They all have names inspired by the show like Fairy, V, and Telepath.  There are four matte and thirteen shimmer/glitter formulas for a whopping total of seventeen unique colors!  There are a million ways to wear them; I can't wait to experiment with different looks.

 

Some of the colors proved very difficult to photograph.  The super light shades didn't show up so well on my wrist (because I'm super pale) and the complex microglitters weren't always apparent, either.  Some of the dark shades like Glamour Me (center) and Nocturnal (second row, far right) photographed on my wrist like dark blobs rather than the elegant plum and navy colors they really are.  Glamour Me, Bayou, and The True Death are three of my favorites.  Each shadow easy to apply and even the more glittery ones like Waitress and True Death had almost no fallout.  I swatched each one with the Tarte Lifted Natural eye primer that was included with the palette.

Top to bottom: The Light (shimmery ivory), Fairy (shimmery faint pink), and Dusk (matte taupe)

Dawn (shimmery faint gold), Werewolf (matte deep brown), Waitress (sparkly champagne), Nocturnal (sparkly navy)

Charmer (shimmery copper), Glamour Me (sparkly deep plum), Stake (matte steel grey)

Bayou (shimmery deep gold), Telepath (sparkly rose pink). The True Death (sparkly silver), Immortal (sparkly black)

Moss (shimmery deep green), Legend (matte deep black), V (sparkly crimson)

The first look from the included tip sheet, Vampy Vixen, is super quick and easy glamour.  True Death is washed all over the lid with the EmphasEYES Aqua Gel eyeliner lining upper and lower lashlines, and Glamour Me smudged on top of the eyeliner.  The eyeliner was a little bit unwieldy and difficult to use, but the Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara was amazing!

Since it was daytime I went very light on my lower lashline and applied the thinnest layers of liner and shadow possible, but for a truly vampy look for evening you can of course apply more.

The Tarte for True Blood eyeshadow palette is a must have for fans of the show and Tarte alike.  These colors will look especially gorgeous during fall and winter or going out after dark, of course.  Soft, subtle shades round out the deeper dramatic ones to create looks appropriate for day as well as evening.  The variety is incredible and with seventeen shades it's possible to create a looks that are totally unique.

Which colors are your favorites?  Which would you like to pair up most?

Super Sale! Urban Decay Preen Shadow Box

Urban Decay is having a SUPER SALE right now on their website!  I'm talking $5 loose pigment eyeshadows, cream eyeshadows marked down to $8.50, and this gorgeous palette for only TEN DOLLARS!  It's marked down from $30, so this is a pretty big deal.  Urban Decay makeup at drugstore prices, you guys!  Go go go!  But first, take a look inside the Preen Shadow Box.  Could the peacock packaging be any more amazing?

In addition to six shimmer metallic eyeshadows, there's a little bottle of Eyeshadow Primer Potion and a mini 24/7 eyeliner pencil in Zero, the blackest black you'll ever find.

Top row from left: Snatch, Mildew, Flash
Bottom row: Painkiller, Smog, Toasted

Snatch and Painkiller are exclusive to this Shadow Box.  All the shades are super metallic, while Snatch has some extra gold glitter.  Here they are swatched over the Primer Potion.

Snatch, Mildew, Flash

Painkiller, Smog, Toasted

There are a million ways to wear these eyeshadows!  There are plenty of neutrals to mix with the bright colors and coming up with different looks has been a lot of fun.  And did I mention that this is only TEN DOLLARS?!?  This is too good to pass up!

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Taiga

One of the most fun aspects of makeup is fantasy, wouldn't you say?  Its transformative powers have always appealed to me; I can channel anyone I want in seconds flat!  With kohl eyeliner I'm Cleopatra ruling an empire; with silver nail polish I can be a femme fatale out of a Raymond Chandler novel; with false eyelashes I'm Edie Sedgwick running around the Factory.  And with the Taiga Eyeshadow Duo from NARS I can be a fairy tale Russian princess.

Taiga is a Russian word to describe the ecosystem of forests that encompasses most of the country, in addition to Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.  The climate is harsh and cold but beautiful, and is the largest terrestrial biome in the world.  Fascinating, right?  I've always thought so.  I have a bit of an obsession with all things Russian, so the Taiga Eyeshadow Duo was a must-have for my makeup bag!

This is no ordinary white and brown eyeshadow you're seeing; no, no, far from it!  Taiga is the makeup equivalent of a dense fairy tale forest when the last bits of sunlight shine through the trees and everything seems to magically glow.  The shade on the left is a cream colored shimmer that almost disappears into my skin, leaving behind the faintest hint of color imaginable, really more of a glow.  The shade on the right is the real showstopper.  I've been searching for the perfect pewter-green-gold-dark-khaki color and that's exactly, exactly what this is.  It's rich with a bit of gold shimmer but isn't overtly glittery, which I definitely appreciate.

On bare skin--you can just barely see the light shade, but it's there!

Over Urban Decay Primer Potion

Taiga is perfect for creating a subtle smoky eye that's guaranteed to smolder.  The lighter shade makes a great highlight, while the darker shade would look amazing blended into your crease or as eyeliner.  Another lovely wonder from Monsieur Nars!

NEW! Tarte For True Blood Collection

Don't even try to tell me that vampires sparkle.  I won't hear of it!  No, vampires live in the Deep South and own bars and rule kingdoms and cry blood instead of tears. Of course I'm talking about True Blood, and I couldn't be more excited that season 4 starts this weekend!

To celebrate the premiere, natural makeup giant Tarte has teamed up with the show's head makeup artist Brigette Myre-Ellis to produce a limited edition collection of beauty products.  In addition to iridescent red shades in Tarte's cult favorite Natural Cheek Stain and Lip Surgence Lip Tint, there's an enormous palette of eyeshadows with True Blood themed names like Fairy, Waitress, and Bayou.  The palette also comes with eyeliner, mascara, and eye primer.  For only $52 this is a pretty amazing deal!

 

The most unique thing about this collection is that each product is similar to those that Brigette Myre-Ellis uses for the characters on set.  She's revealed in interviews that she used Tarte eyeshadow palettes for character Maryann Forrester's exotic eyes and always applies a very dramatic red lip for Vampire Queen Sophie Anne.  Cheek stains also perfect for the dewy look of the human characters on True Blood; the humans are always "bronzed and sweaty (we spray them with water) to serve as contrast to the vampires, who are always cool and collected." 

Even if you aren't a fan of the show, these products are difficult to pass up!  The variety of matte, shimmer, and smoky shades in the palette will create so many gorgeous looks.  If you love red lips as much as I do, this Lip Tint is a must have!  And cheek stains are an essential item for summer because they'll last all day with no regard to sweltering temperatures.   The Tarte for True Blood collection is beautiful, wearable, and a genius collaboration!   

L'Oreal HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments in Intrepid

Intrepid from L'Oreal's HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments collection is one of THE coolest colors I've ever seen.  I've wanted it forever and I finally caved in and bought it!  I love Intrepid so much I'm willing to overlook the fact that it's a loose pigment.  At least the jar has a sifter, so the packaging is good.  And the little brush that comes with the pigment works very well, too, which I didn't expect.  But you came to see what's inside the jar, didn't you?  Here it is!

 

Isn't that cool?!  Intrepid is a beautiful reddish brown topped with a greenish-blue sheen.  It sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it works!  I don't know how, but it looks like magic.  In the pictures below, I blended Intrepid into the crease of my eyelids.    

The two-tone effect is way more noticeable in person (sorry the lighting is weird), but you can still see the shimmer along with the reddish-brown base.  I paired it with two shades from Too Faced's Natural Eye palette, with Push Up on my lids and Silk Teddy under my brow bone.  

You can prevent "fallout" from loose pigment eyeshadows by tapping the brush first to remove any excess powder and by holding a blotting paper or tissue underneath your eye.  If you do end up with colored powder under your eyes, don't brush it away with your finger.  This can pat the color into your skin and actually make it stay rather than removing it.  Instead, use a clean brush or a tissue to remove the color, and apply concealer last!