Guerlain Beige Mousseline Kiss Kiss Strass Lipstick

The Spring Season: Guerlain Beige Mousseline Kiss Kiss Strass Lipstick

Guerlain Beige Mousseline Kiss Kiss Strass Lipstick ($31.00) is a new-for-spring shade of nude beige with golden peach sparkle. The press sheet for Kiss Kiss Strass reads like a fantasy–Guerlain has some of the best writers for their collections, I swear.  I feel like I’m ready a fantasy novel!  But basically, Kiss Kiss Strass is an ultra shimmreing, glittering lipstick with a soft texture and moisturizing feel.  Guerlain says that the sparkling is owed to “the inset of purse crystal beads to intensify and multiply the interplays of mother-of-pearl and colours” (see, the stuff of fantasy!).

Now, with all that fancy talk, does Guerlain deliver?  I’m a big fan of Guerlain lip products–they really do a fantastic job with their lip line.  (I am also a Guerlain blush/highlighter fiend!)  Kiss Kiss Strass does have this really shimmery, glittering-water type of effect on lips and doesn’t feel chunky despite all that shimmer.  The pigmentation is decent (you can’t see my birthmark on my lip much), but it really just depends on the shade–some shades run more pigmented than others; I wouldn’t say universally this is a pigmented or sheer line.  It is smooth, soft, and doesn’t suck the moisture from your lips.  It is very comfortable to wear, and it’s priced just around their regular Kiss Kiss line (where each retails for $30, but I’m unsure whether there may be a future price increase to match with Kiss Kiss Strass at $31).

This is a good, subtle beige with sparkling pop.  I can see myself wearing this lipstick alone, because it has that glossy sheen and lots of shimmering reflection, so it doesn’t need a gloss necessarily.  Of course, I am a sucker for lip combinations, too, so can’t say that would stop me from going for it anyway!

Is this the right pink lipstick for you? Would you wear it?

The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Smoky Eyes: Tarnished Gold

A tarnished gold, smoky eye… for school? Sure, why not! Let’s go with that. Wanted to post this before I ran off to class in a few…  that is, if I don’t fall asleep before it’s time to go!  Must. Press. On!

By the way, anyone else going to the Spring Colour Forecast unveiling party at MAC @ Valley Fair (in California) on February 2nd?  I’ll be there at 7pm, so if you see me, say hi

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Wonderland (Maui Wowie) Eyeshadow (tarnished gold), Urban Decay Mushroom Eyeshadow (brown-gray), Urban Decay Mad Hatter (Twice Baked) Eyeshadow (dark brown), Urban Decay Jabberwocky (Oil Slick) Eyeshadow (sparkly black), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Stash 24/7 Liner (antique gold), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium)
• Cheeks: Chanel In Love Blush (soft warm pink), Guerlain Beige Lumineux Meteorite Powder (fleshy beige highlighter)
• Lips: Guerlain Beige Mousseline (#340) KissKiss Strass Lipstick (sparkling beige), Guerlain Champagne Pearl (#847) KissKiss Gloss (sheer beige)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Wonderland eyeshadow on the inner half of the eyelid. Next, apply Mushroom eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Mushroom eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Mad Hatter eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. To deepen the crease, apply Jabberwocky eyeshadow with the 226 into the crease. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Stash eyeliner on the lower lash line and Honey liner on the lower water line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply In Love blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheeks with a light dusting of Beige Lumineux Meteorite Powder with the 165.

For lips, apply Beige Mousseline lipstick first, and then layer Champagne Pearl lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!