You drooled over the promotional images and product shots of Dior’s Impression Cuir collection, slated for Fall 2008.  How about some actual product photos?  Swatches?  Even a bit of a review?  Thought you might be interested!  I was fortunate enough to be able to try out the Impression Cuir Eye Palette, Earth Tones #673 Quint, Pink Drama #559 Rouge Dior Lip Color, and Delicious Plum #675 Creme de Gloss.  But let me preface this review with:  DO NOT MISS IMPRESSION CUIR!  Make sure you give yourself a chance to at least go to your Dior counter and play and test and swatch some products for this fall line.

Impression Cuir Eye Palette (pictured above) is gorgeous.  It is a palette that allures you in with the cool, animal-print texture and its shimmery hues.  While it says it is an eye palette, all I want to do is use this on my cheeks (which I probably will do).  The colors are gorgeous when swirled together, but you could feasibly use them as three separate colors.  I love the way the shades fade subtly into each other.  This is one star product that definitely grabbed my attention and kept it.  The animal-print texture does go in pretty deep, so you’ll see some of it remain for awhile, though it doesn’t go all the way through (but the color does, which is, ultimately, what matters). 

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In Bobbi Brown’s Fall Mauve palette, it contains three shadows, three lip colors, and one blush.  I’m much more pleased with this palette than say Bobbi Brown’s Nude palette, because the colors show up on me a lot better.  The eyeshadows include Navajo, which seems to make regular appearances in her palettes, and I find it can be a chalky color on my skintone if I don’t use it right (which generally means using it lightly and blending/fading it moreso than normal); Vintage, a gray with mauve undertones color; and Chocolate Mauve, which is like a subdued chocolate shade.  The blush is simply called Mauve, and it is a pinky-mauve tone.  I imagine this particular shade of pinky-mauve is fairly universal.  As for the lip colors, Dusty Mauve is a creamy lip color that goes on incredibly sheer for me; Mauve lip sheer is a little more pigmented, but not too much; and Vintage Mauve is the most pigmented, though still quite creamy and sheer.  If you go heavier with the shadows, these included lip colors will work out, since you can pair the heavy eyes with softer lips.

I much preferred the individual lip colors for this launch, though admittedly, I’ve only tried Heather Mauve (a truly pale, toned down mauve with gray-pink).  I also tried Black Pearl Shimmer Lip Gloss, which is a deep purplish-brown with icy pearl.  Mauve Lip Gloss is a pale, low-sheen purple-mauve.  It’s very opaque, which I like for this particular color.  But the most stunning item from the launch was Bobbi’s Black Mauve Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner!  It’s like a black-brown-purple.  I suppose it reminds me of a deeper, darker MAC Nice Vice Paint Pot (which was LE, anyway), but this formula is great for when you need eyeliner that sticks around all day long!

Overall, in my limited experience with Bobbi Brown as a brand, I found this collection more impressive than some of the others (like the Nude Collection).  I feel like these offer pops of color and fun, while still being subtle and appropriate.  I hope that you, like me, will look at Bobbi Brown through a different lens than you would a MAC collection–because the brands are distinctly different and separate!

Anything from Bobbi’s Mauve Collection inspire you?  Will you at least check it out or will you let it pass you by?

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In April, Victoria’s Secret launched their Very Sexy Beauty Collection, which included Diamond Eye Duos ($14.00), Diamond Lip Glimmers ($12.00), and a Diamond Luster Face Powder ($22.00).

I really, really, really LOVED the Diamond Luster Face Powder! It has such a gorgeous design, but when you apply the color to your face, it goes on so smoothly and has just the right pop of pink and peach to add glow to your face. I feel like this is a great product for those who love blush or bronzer or even anyone who is looking for something that is a face pick-me-up. I’m all over anything that gives me a sexy summer glow, and the Luster Face Powder does it flawlessly. The Diamond Lip Glimmers come in three shades, and they’re all lightweight, semi-sheer, and non-sticky. They also have an incredible shimmer to them–not a chunky glitter, but a subtle sheen much like Chanel Glossimers (but way cheaper).  I found that the wear-time for the lip glimmers alone was a respectable three hours or more of normal usage (which does not include eating/drinking).

Get yours at www.victoriassecret.com.

DuWop Lip Lingo Palette in Pink ($32.00) contains a base color (pink) lipstick with four lipglosses to mix and match with the matte lipstick color. The palette is also available in a nude version, but I find this pink palette is perfect for subtle pink lips this spring. The lip brush is handy for on-the-go touch ups, and I like that at least they encourage you to not use your fingers (bad! spreads and promotes bacteria!).  The packaging is cute, very high-tech and sleek, which is something that appeals to my inner geek.  It is also incredibly portable, making it an excellent choice to help reduce all of those lipsticks and glosses you have hanging around your purse.

Get yours at www.duwop.com!

Clinique’s Long Last Bronze Collection is gorgeous in the colors and hues, but so innovative with new formulations and products that I know you’ll fall in love with.

In April, Clinique will launch 18–yes, EIGHTEEN!–shades of their latest gloss formula Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 ($14.00). The science behind it says that there are “film-formers” that help create a seal to help your gloss stay on for up to eight hours. And you read it right, these glosses contain SPF 15, which means even your lips will be protected by the harmful rays of the sun.

• Nudes: Goldspun, Brandy Twist, Knockout Nude, Sunset
• Taupes: Cabana Crush, Juicy Apple, Bonfire, Guavagold
• Pinks: Clearly Pink, Fireberry, Bamboo Pink, Air Kiss, Kissyfit
• Violets: Mystic, Whisper, Tenderheart, Stellar Plum, Rock Violet

What I love about this new formula is that I can wear this gloss and go through a cup of coffee without much disturbance to my lips. I’m fascinated by how well the gloss does adhere to your lips throughout the day. If you don’t eat/drink, I have no doubt that this gloss will be rockin’ for at least eight hours, if not more. Color pay off will depend on the hue and shade you get, as some are more opaque and others are quite sheer. The glossy sheen you get is amazing, and I just really enjoyed how high-gloss it was. I tried Clearly Pink, Guavagold, Juicy Apple, and Tenderheart, and I really did like all of them. I was actually sporting Juicy Apple to school without a lipstick underneath, because it gave me these lovely pinky lips.

Quick Eyes Cream Shadow ($15.00) is another new product launched this summer that is purported to be a cream shadow that will give you all-day wear without creasing or smudging. Using a combination of water and silicones, it is supposed to dry to a powdery finish to last up to ten hours. It is water resistant, transfer resistant, and crease proof according to Clinique. There will be 9 shades launching this summer: Cocoa Shimmer, Sparkling Nude, Sunlit Palm, Lucky Penny, Starlit Pink, Muffin, Rock Vioilet, Truffle, and Sea Shell.

I used Muffin in a recent look, and I didn’t experience any creasing whatsoever throughout the day. I was honestly a little worried it might, because it is truly like applying a liquid on your eye lid (reminds me of a liquid liner’s viscosity). I do recommend that you go lighter and then build up the color to minimize your chance of overdoing it (which will hinder the product’s effectiveness a bit). The doe-foot applicator does make it easy to get the initial product on your eye, but you’ll need a brush, sponge, or [if you have to] your fingers to blend it out.

But you know what I LOVED from this launch? The Shimmering Tones Golden Bronze powder quad. I didn’t even expect to like this, but it gives me this gorgeous bronzy flush. One quare is a raspberryish red color, which helps give a little bit of color to cheeks while still adding a little bit of bronze. Just absolutely gorgeous on the skin!

Will you be heading to the Clinique counter in April to check these out? I think you should! I know I will be so I can see the other shades of the new glosses and cream shadows since I’ve only had a preview myself.

Find Clinique products at www.clinique.com or at a Clinique counter near you.

Physician’s Formula Mineral Wearâ„¢ Talc-Free Mineral Lip Sheen in Quartz ($7.95)

What I liked:  It comes in a hand-dandy lip tube with the applicator being a curved plastic “lipstick shape.”  It’s convenient to apply on-the-go and when you don’t have a mirror nearby.  I found the sheen that it gives you to be pleasant, nothing frosty or over-the-top, which makes it a great gloss for everyday wear or just to add glossiness to any lipstick.  The shade I tried was “Quartz,” which is obviously a sheer, non-color option.  I can’t speak for intensity of the other variations (five colored ones) and whether they add much color to lips or not.

What I disliked:  There was nothing really that I disliked, but I find that it doesn’t meet a need that I have, which is why it is just so-so.  The price seems a little high to me, for a drugstore gloss, that really just adds a touch of shimmer/glossiness.

Flirt! Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lipgloss ($10.00) is exactly what it says–a super shiny lipgloss–without stickiness. The colors I tested were fairly sheer, so you get more like a subtle hint of color with lots of shimmery shine. If you’ve ever wanted ultra glossy lips, this is a great solution. They have a good range of colors, so it makes it easy to find a few that would work for you. Personally, I found the tube size to be a little small for the price of a non-high end brand. On the flip side, the small size makes it perfect for traveling and tossing in purses.   I do wish they were more pigmented, as that’s my general preference, but I know a lot of people like sheer glosses.

Oh, you thought we already reviewed plenty of lip products?  Think again.  This is the one of the few times of the year that I can focus on the beauty that is the lips, and I fully intend to milk it for all its worth.

Cargo Plant Love Lipstick ($20.00) in Joshua Tree was a sheer cinnamon red color, very subtle and wearable for the everyday. I must extoll the values of the PlantLove line, because Cargo donates $2 for every sale of every shade to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The lipstick is moisturizing because of the jojoba and shea butter found in it; it is also eco-friendly because of the ingredients it uses (and the packaging, too–the tube is made entirely out of corn and the outer carton is flower paper embedded with real seeds). Cute fact: moisten the outer carton, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers (seriously? I think I need to try this).

Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing LipSheers ($8.99) come in a variety of shades, and for those who want subtle color, these offer a solution! They are sheer, buildable colors that are incredibly moisturizing, much like a tinted lip balm, that come in sleek silver tubes.

Palmer’s Dark Chocolate & Cherry Lip Butter ($2.40) is an easy way to go for this Valentine’s Day, when you want an ultra low-key, totally natural kind of lip. It’s glossy and shiny, but not sticky nor goopy. It’s very moisturizing (yay!), and did you not see the price? Because I think that sells the product! I found that it smelled much like dark chocolate, less noticeable cherry scent, but hey, I liked it. My boyfriend could smell it immediately after I put it on, too. Yummy! Oh, plus, it is pocket size, so it’s perfect to carry on-the-go in your jeans’ pocket or in your purse, regardless of whether it is a tiny clutch or a huge mega-purse.

Kiehl’s Lip Gloss Trio ($43.50) comes in three different sets: cool, warm, and kiss me (new shades). Their newest shades are French Rose and Downtown Peach. As I am a fan of super glossy, moisturizing, non-sticky glosses for everyday, “I’m just going to the grocery store,” kind of times, Kiehl’s is one of my favorite go-tos. I tend to have one of these stashed in at least one of my purses, because they’re totally portable and easy to use. Don’t let the potent color scare you, because all of these glosses are sheer and forgiving. Kiss your boy with this without worrying about leaving a lip imprint behind!

Who doesn’t think about lips, kissing, and wanting it to all go smoothly on Valentine’s Day?  Of course, I may be the only one obsessed with having the most kissable lips this side of the world year-round, but let me share with you a few product finds I’ve been playing around with for the past month.

Peter Thomas Roth’s Lips To Die For Lip Facial Trio ($60.00) gives you three products for three steps to make your lips their most kissable this lovin’ season. Use the lemony sugar scrub to exfoliate lips to give them a smooth finish. Next, apply the lip putty, which is clay-based, that goes on for a few minutes, rinsed off with lukewarm water, and gives your lips some hydration and moisturization. Finish with a cute pink balm that gives the slightest tint to natural lips while keeping them soft.

Bella Il Fiore Sweet Talk Spice Set ($15.00) is a cute trinket to keep stashed in your purse for last minute lips and breath. See, it’s a multi-tasking product! You get this cute mini gloss that’s a sheer shimmery grapefruit kind of color. The mints are underneath the lipgloss, and they’re quite tasty (cinnamon-y). The only downside to this is that minty dust can wind up on the lipgloss. It feels like every girl’s emergency kit for all those impromptu love connections, though!

Philosophy Candy Hearts Set ($25.00) is like a Valentine’s Day stocking stuffer (heart stuffer?). Three darling tubes that say “love you” (raspberry sorbet), “ask me” (vanilla birthday cake), and “be mine” (melon daiquiri). I love me some good lip balm/clear gloss for those lazy days, and if I’m going to go gloss, I want to go super glossy. This is why I have a good relationship with Philosophy’s lip shines–they give me that shiny result that I lust after with a subtle scent and no real stickiness.

theBalm’s Stainiac ($14.00) in Beauty Queen appears as a deep red color in the tube, but it goes on as a light reddish/berry stain (more pink-red than purple-red). I found this product a little tough to work with - I honestly could not seem to get the product to adhere to my upper lip (maybe mine is wonky, it wouldn’t surprise me!). It looked fab on my bottom lip, but unfortunately, without the top lip tinted, I look like a bee stung my bottom lip! Nevertheless, as a true blue beauty blogger, I made sure to wear it around the house to check out the wear time on it. It was great - it rubbed off minimally and the stain kept for hours.

I recently tried out three Guerlain KissKiss glosses ($26.00) in Secret Beige, Rose Florida, and Fraise a Croquer.  KissKiss glosses are delicately scented with something akin to a raspberry-sweetness.  It is light enough that I find I don’t notice it very much after I’ve applied it to my lips.  I did find that these particular shades gave me moderate color pay off, as far as glosses go, with no stickiness or goopiness.  They applied easily, precisely, and really didn’t require much effort before my lips looked delightfully shiny and glossy.  What I really liked about Guerlain’s KissKiss glosses was that they are incredibly moisturizing; as a compulsive lip balm user, the hardest thing about getting into lipgloss and lipstick was knowing I wouldn’t be able to repeatedly apply lip balm throughout the day.  Having a gloss that is moisturizing and longlasting is thus imperative for me.

Verdict?  At this price point, I can say that personally, my budget nor my conscience, would permit indulgences such as these very often, but if a certain shade comes around, I may splurge.

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