Jouer Cosmetics recently did a relaunch this year, and I was excited to try their revamped line-up. Admittedly, I hadn’t tried their originaly products before, but I’m always curious about higher end cosmetic lines. The first thing I noticed when I received my Jouer products was that all of the products can be made to interlock. Yes, INTERLOCK! Like Legos… for makeup addicts. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen, and yet totally creative and different. Each palette is also labeled (blush, face, eye, etc.) on the side, in case you store them that way. All of the sleek compacts included mirrors, even the eyeshadows, which was interesting.
Jouer Rose Blush ($24.00) is a mineral powder blush described as a “soft dusty rose.” I’d buy that description; it’s fairly accurate. The color goes on softly; a very subtle dusting of subdued rose. It’s a buildable color, rather than one that you have to worry about diffusing later.
Jouer Amaretto Eyeshadow ($20.00) is a chocolate brown-bronze kind of color; not overly dark but not too light. The color has warm undertones, but not enough to classify it as a warm color–more neutral. All of Jouer’s powder eyeshadows can be used as a wet or dry, and they aren’t supposed to crease. When I used them (look to be posted next week), I used them over Too Faced Shadow Insurance, so I can’t attest to their power sans a base (but really, why wouldn’t you use a base?!).
Jouer Pink Champagne Eyeshadow ($20.00) is a soft, shimmery pink-neutral color. I see this being used mostly as an all-over lid color or to highlight the brow or inner tearduct. In the look I did using Jouer shadows, I used it as a lid and a highlighter, actually! The texture is very soft and satiny; it blends easily and applies smoothly.
You can find Jouer at www.jouercosmetics.com! Also, on the website, they “show” you what each product looks like on four different skin tones, which is kind of cool!
To compose the line, Edna holed up in a conference room with James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC Worldwide, and Jennifer Balbier, senior vice president of product development worldwide for MAC, to brainstorm. “I sat with very keen people wearing black and came up with a range of colors, which flatter me — and I’m approaching 60 from the wrong way — as well as women of all ages,” said Edna.
The offbeat pairing is the wacky type of deal that MAC seems to delight in. “For us, Edna represents the counterculture that MAC is steeped in,” said Gager. “This is a partnership that will make people stop and take notice.”
The line’s outer packaging is lavender — to match Dame Edna’s hair — and adorned with glittery red glasses, another Dame Edna trademark. Shade names — such as Coral Polyp and Varicose Violet (“my mother has varicosity, and thus inspired the color,” cracked the comedian) — follow Dame Edna’s outrageousness. And don’t be looking for a matchy-matchy mix. “We’re not afraid to clash with colors — we have nail polishes that have nothing to do with the lip colors we’re doing,” said Balbier. “It’s a wacky, fun mix.” Dame Edna’s loopy signature is embossed on the powders.
NP Set by Napoleon Perdis is a line designed for and carried by Target. I’ve used a few Napoleon Perdis products in the past (China Doll foundation being one of them–which was fab, though pricey), and I haven’t been disappointed. I was interested to see how NP Set would meet my expectations. This post is only about the lipsticks (not the primer pictured above). The lipsticks in Rio and Boston Cream Ginger ($15.00) were the ones that I ended up giving a try.
Rio is described as a brick red, but it’s too subdued to be a real brick red. I’d say it is a pinked brick red if anything. It’s a nice color, though, nonetheless; it’s perfect for fall and winter. It’s not pastel or pink or springy in the least bit, but it’s also not overly vampy or dark. It should work with most skin tones. The lipstick formula itself is matte in finish, but it is not at all drying–very moisturizing for a matte. In the lip swatch, you’ll notice despite being advertised as a matte, there is still some noticeable sheen.
Boston Cream Ginger is an incredibly creamy coral-melon color. It’s definitely one of those colors I’m drawn to, because corals are my favorites! The creaminess factor is a huge plus, because a lipstick should be moisturizing and hydrating. It should never dry your lips out! Since I can’t reapply balm throughout the day when I have lipstick on, I only bother wearing lipsticks that keep my lips soft and pouty. This one also has a lot of glossiness in its finish, which makes it incredibly wearable without adding any gloss whatsoever–something I rarely feel comfortable doing!
I’m very impressed by these lipsticks, and I wouldn’t mind checking out the other shades the next time I’m at Target (but I avoid going at all costs–I always end up with a cart filled with 99% of things I didn’t intend to buy!).
Ojon Tawaka “The White Ball” has launched just in time for the winter season (only available at Sephora)–that’s right, it’s white. Be sure to read my original review of The Ball here for insight on what I thought about the original (so you have a point of comparison). ”The White Ball” produces a creamy lather designed to help moisturize skin, often prone to dryness during the winter time. Unlike “The Ball,” this version has no real scent. I would say you might notice a starchy, rice-like scent if anything–but that’s really only if you’re trying to find a scent.
“The Ball” has Ojon’s signature cocoa-rich scent while “The White Ball” lacks any identifying scent. “The Ball” is designed to be more of a body buffing product, while “The White Ball” adds moisture and leaves skin feeling clean and smooth. Both the consistency and color of the product while being used is milky. It’s easy to get confused between the two, but they are distinctly different products that do different things. They might have the same shape and come with the same wooden bowl, but otherwise, don’t lump them together!
Like the original, I find this to be an indulgence. It’s a product you splurge on, something to use when you want to prolong your shower by pampering and rolling away every stressful thought. The ball shape is meant to be rolled over the skin, which simultaneously gives you a little massage while you clean! Bonus points for this one not leaving any residue on your shower!
CLEAN’s latest addition to their scent line-up is Winter ($48.95). Clean always has scents that remind you of exactly that–cleanliness. Whether it be fresh laundry or reminiscent of soap-lathered skin…it’s clean. This scent does seem grittier, deeper than the traditional Clean scents, but it is still a soft, crisp scent. It does live up to its name Winter. It reminds me exactly of cool winter days when the wind blows harshly and the air is crisp and fresh. I notice a touch of floral, a little spice, and a taste of the outdoors in the fragrance. I find this lasts on me several hours, and it never is overpowering. The way it lays down after about thirty minutes is very similar to how it smells initially. I really wish I could describe the scent better–I couldn’t even find a list of notes for this scent, which makes it even harder. I’ll just say this: if you love opening your door to a fresh powder of snow, taking a deep breath and inhaling the cool air… this scent is for you.
Clean Winter eau de parfum is currently available on HSN!
LUSH always has a lot to offer for the holiday season! Last week, I mentioned how great their all wrapped up holiday gifts were, because they were filled with awesome products and easy to give (and receive!). Now, let me tell you about just a few of my favorites that they’re offering this year that you can buy one at a time… or you know, ten at a time You’ll notice the price points for most of the products are under $10 and dominated by bubble bars and bombs. These kind of lend themselves to the stocking stuffers category (guess what everyone I know is getting?!), but they’re also easy gifts to give to casual friends.
I picked up A Gold Star Bubble Bar, Holiday Bubble Bar (so pretty!), LUSH Pud Bath Bomb (x2), Snow Fairy Shower Gel, Snowcake Soap (x2), and Let Them Eat Cake Lip Balm. But I’m pretty sure I’ll be going back for more soon enough! My only disappointment with their holiday offerings is their Jingle Jelly didn’t make a reappearance. I really LOVED that scent. Smelled exactly like Christmas to me.
Holiday Offerings…
Holiday Bubble Bars/Bombs: A Gold Star Bubble Bar ($6.25), Candy Cane Bubble Bar ($6.95), Chocolate Santa Bath Bomb ($6.95), Christmas Kisses Bubble Bar ($6.95), Christmas Morning Bubble Bar ($5.95), Christmas Party Bath Bomb ($5.95), Frothy the Snowman Bubble Bar ($5.95), Holiday Bubble Bar ($6.95), Humango Bath Bomb ($14.95), LUSH Pud Bath Bomb ($5.50), Magic Bath Bomb ($6.95), Marzibain Bubble Bar ($5.95), Mr. Butterball Bath Bomb ($3.95), Snowdrops Bath Bomb ($6.25), Twinkle Star Bath Bomb ($5.75)
You’ll notice the price points for most of the products are under $10 and dominated by bubble bars and bombs. These kind of lend themselves to the stocking stuffers category (guess what everyone I know is getting?!), but they’re also easy gifts to give to casual friends.
But I’m pretty sure I’ll be going back for more soon enough! My only disappointment with their holiday offerings is their Jingle Jelly didn’t make a reappearance. I really LOVED that scent. Smelled exactly like Christmas to me.
