As promised, here is the next installment of our most comprehensive gift guide to-date! This post features my top picks from various holiday color collections that have launched this year. There are a few more holiday shades I haven’t reviewed or swatched, so there might be a few more of my favorites to come.
Eyes
Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Eyeliners ($24) — annoyingly limited edition and really should contain more product, but the color payoff and formula is excellent.
Chanel Beige Lame ($28.50) has been a go-to shade for a quickie wash of color when I want to brighten up eyes.
Dior Couture Gold ($59) is one of my favorite eye palettes for the holidays; it’s very on-theme with golds and peaches and metallic finishes.
shu uemura Eye & Cheek Palettes from WKW for shu uemura ($85 CDN) are fantastic and sadly, not available in the U.S., but our international friends–this is a rec for you–because they’re fantastic (and still to be reviewed!).
Cheeks/Face
NARS Miss Liberty ($27) gives cheeks a really glistening glow, very apropos for the holidays.
Guerlain Parure de Nuit ($67) is the one product I’d recommend above all others for the holidays, and I say that because it’s a product I keep reaching for (to the point that I had to forcibly remove it from my reach).
Lips
MAC What Joy! ($15.50) is a berry-red with subtle micro-shimmer and healthy shine with good color coverage.
Illamasqua Belladonna ($20) is a fierce magenta pink with opaque color and lots of shine.
Bobbi Brown Party Alice ($24) — super pretty pink-coral, perhaps not seasonally appropriate but divine anyway.
NARS Joyous Red ($24) is a muted orange-red that’s workable on cool and warm-toned skin.
Chanel Triomphal ($32) is a pinky-red with great vibrancy and glossy shine; and Chanel Empire is perfect for those who love a brighter pink with yellow undertones.
Dior’s holiday lip colors ($32 each) were my surprise hit for lips this season–they’re so pretty on and wear well.
Nails
China Glaze Let It Snow ($3-4 each) is a perfectly festive set of twelve polishes, and all of them are available individually, so you can pick your particular poison.
Zoya Gems & Jewels ($8 each) is short and sweet with beautiful shimmers and extra-fun glitters (because they’re horizontal!).
Dior Merveille is a festive orange-red with golden shimmer that will work well on warmer skin tones.
shu uemura Bleu Splendor Mini Nail Duo ($32.00 for 2 x 0.168 fl. oz.) is a set of polishes that can be used together or alone. The first shade is a rich, midnight blue cream that’s opaque in two coats. It has just a hint of purple, making it nearly royal blue. Deborah Lippmann I Know What Boys Like is lighter but similar in hue. Orly La Playa is a bit darker but similar as well. The second shade is a multi-colored glitter with large, hexagonal glitter suspended in a clear base. It similar to China Glaze Snow Globe and MAC Unconditionally Fabulous. Together, the two are stunning–multi-colored glitter with larger, hexagonal glitter over such a rich backdrop? It was designed to be lovely.
The application was nice; the formula had a good consistency that allowed for even flow across the nail, good color intensity for each coat, and never felt too thick. I tested out wearing the two layered (the blue as a base, the sparkling shade layered on top), and I didn’t experience any wear issues–the two wore for a week with minor tip wear and no chipping.
I’m a bit stunned at the price tag, though. I believe the full-sized shu lacquers are $16–the two shades together are the equivalent of a single bottle and yet the price tag is double. The smaller bottles are cute to look at but less functional than full-sized polishes because of the smaller, shorter cap, which can be less comfortable to use, depending on the size of your hands.
The formula was easy to work with, and I had no issues with wear (good week's worth of wear), but the price point seems higher than it should be, given the size of these polishes.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
The color coverage is mostly opaque with very little of my lip freckle still visible (and even less visible from afar). The Rouge Unlimited formula has an excellent glide and creaminness that allows for easy application but not so much slip that it becomes prone to bleeding or feathering. This deeper shade wears a solid six hours on me, and then it begins fade and needs a reapplication after seven and half hours. It doesn’t quite reach the “up to eight hours” of wear that the Rouge Unlimited formula touts, though. I did not detect any scent or taste while wearing or swatching.
It's a suitable holiday red that isn't a bright, showstopping red, which may be more your style. If you're looking for a really vibrant red, this one is more muted.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
9.5/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
shu uemura Glitter Fuse Rouge Unlimited Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.13 oz.) is described as an “innocent beige shade with a heavenly splash of golden dust full of hope.” It’s very slick and shimmery with a rosy beige base color (that’s barely visible) with soft golden shimmer and a shiny finish. MAC Gel is frostier and less beige. MAC Quietly Please is a little pinker.
On my lips, it adds warmth to my otherwise corpse-like lips (cool-toned, grayish mauve) along with plenty of golden shimmer. The shimmer is noticeable but feels smooth on the lips, even as it wears away. It seems like the sheerness of the lipstick does make it prone to wearing away quicker than the average lipstick–I managed two and half hours of wear. The Rouge Unlimited formula is marketed to wear for up to eight hours, though. I didn’t notice any scent or taste, though, and I really appreciated that it didn’t feel gritty after awhile.
It's a great shade for everyday wear, but you'll need to keep it with you for frequent applications! If you like the effect but want it to last longer, you could layer it with a lip pencil or lipstick, though it may alter the appearance slightly.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
3/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
WKW for shu uemura: Dance in Glitter False Eyelashes
These are absolutely gorgeous, and I’m working through ideas on the right look to wear them with, because they’re so extravagant, I want something equally extravagant to pair them with! Which leads me to this question…
WKW for shu uemura: Wong Kar Wai Holiday 2011 Collection
Glitter Mascara ($30.00) (Limited Edition)
Golden Masquerade Gold glitter in clear base
Lustrous Glow Powder ($55.00) (Limited Edition)
Rouge Luster Warm rosy glow
False Eyelash (Limited Edition)
Dance in Glitter ($75.00)
Jeweled Love ($27.00)
Rouge Unlimited ($26.00) (Limited Edition)
Rouge Luster Tender red with gold shimmer
Pink Flush Warm pink with a glossy finish
Glitter Fuse Beige with golden dust
Mini Nail Duo ($32.00) (Limited Edition)
Festive Rouge Pearly warm and deep rouge meets golden charm
Bleu Splendor Starry shine in a midnight blue Christmas sky
Flashing Gold Mini Brush Set ($69.00) (Limited Edition)
A light, soft and handy portable brush set for any kind of party, printed with an exclusive image from “Mask.” Includes four professional brushes and case.
Brightening Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula ($80.00) (Limited Edition)
Like watching a scene from “Mask,” an exquisite image decorates this edition of brightening cleansing oil. The perfect way to end a festive day–gently remove your make-up with cleansing oil for beautiful, shining skin.
Eye & Cheek Palette (International Only, $85.00 CDN) (Limited Edition)
Burning in Water Shimmery blue, classic blue with silver sparkles, deep aqua
Drowning in Flame Tender rose, golden dust, warmth
availability: October 18th, 2011 @ shuuemura-usa.com; eye & cheek palettes may not be available in U.S. (press release for U.S. does not mention them, but they were included in the digital image kit–will confirm soon!)
