M.A.C.

I know for many people that M.A.C. is their “Holy Grail” makeup line, and for good reason. M.A.C. offers a full range of products that won’t leave you yearning to stray elsewhere, their prices are actually very affordable for what you get, the quality is excellent and they are always coming out with new collections.

I didn’t get into M.A.C. until well after my makeup obsession began, but I’ve eased into them more lately. These are the things I’ve gotten from them recently:

• Fluidline in Blacktrack
• Technakohl in Auto-de-Blu
• Lipstick in Cockney (Lustre)
• Eyeshadow (Unbasic White and Satin Taupe)
• Brushes (208 Angled Brow, 209 Eyeliner, 217 Blending, 219 Crease/Pencil)

I’m really happy with all of these products, but the top honor has to go to the Fluidline. I wrote a detailed review about it on MakeupAlley. Basically, it’s the best black eyeliner I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. It’s easy to apply (I use the M.A.C. 209 brush), dries quickly and doesn’t lose any of its color richness, and it stays put on my waterline. Hands-down winner in my book.

Chanel

Yikes. The name Chanel is synonymous with high-end luxury, so what is a very non-rich person doing buying Chanel things? Well, although the Chanel makeup line isn’t what I’d call affordable, it’s not that bad in moderation. Besides, these are probably the only Chanel items I’ll ever be able to buy without needing financing (however, I’ve made a deal with myself that as a reward for finishing grad school I’ll get a quilted Chanel bag with a chain strap – so timeless and gorgeous).

Here’s what I’ve got:

• Rouge Hydrabase in Coco Red (said to be Mme. Coco’s signature color)
• Rouge Allure in Provocative
• Glossimer in Beige Guitare and Venus
• Lip Definer Pencil in Vamp
• Coco Mademoiselle EDT

Coco Red is perhaps the boldest red I have; it’s up there with the likes of my YSL Rouge Pur in Le Rouge. It’s a blue-based red, which I wasn’t sure would jive with my warm-toned complexion, but it actually works for me. It’s definitely bold and makes a statement, though, so it’s not my everyday lip color. Still, beautiful and it wears well.

Glossimer is sort of Chanel’s equivalent to M.A.C. Dazzleglass. It’s high on sparkle and color, but not as thick and sticky. It is, however, still very long lasting. It’s also flavorless and unscented and comes in a very large palette of colors.

My boyfriend gave me the Coco Mademoiselle fragrance for Christmas. I adore it. It is very feminine and youthful, yet evokes the sophistication of Chanel with its powdery drydown (at least that’s my impression). It’s a light oriental, not like my very bold YSL Elle perfume. I just really love it all around. I’m no authority on Chanel perfumes, but I’d say this one is very accessible to people who are sowing an interest in them. The No. 5, while classic, is a bit strong and mature for many women.

Those are the highlights of my holiday makeup shopping. Did you get any beauty products you were especially excited about this holiday season?

My personal makeup style is partly inspired by Kat Von D, and she has a terrific collection at Sephora. Now, I know what some people think about celebrity collections and Sephora brand makeup: that neither are top-quality, and rather just sub-par stuff packed in a redesigned, sleek package with a celebrity name attached to it. But the overwhelming response to Kat’s Sephora line has been positive, and I completely agree with that. She currently has five eyeshadow palettes available — two are permanent, three are limited editions — all of them are bestsellers. Of those five, I have four and will probably grab the one I’m missing (the Ludwig palette — featuring pretty neutrals in green and brown) when Sephora has their annual friends and family sales event.

If I could, I would use these every day. Sadly, working in an office environment like I do, I can’t get away with glamming up my eyes. So, I always turn to my KVD palettes when I’m going out in the evenings or on the weekends. It might be lame, but the part I most look forward to when going out is that I get to wear outrageous makeup using my KVD palettes.

I recently cashed in 500 of my “Beauty Bank” points with Sephora and got the Beauty Insider Kat Von D Rock ‘n’ Roll eyeshadow mini-palette. It has four shadows, taking a shade from four of her Rock ‘n’ Roll Eyeshadow Duos, and puts them in a convenient case. This bonus gift is nothing to be disappointed with! I made a really nice smoky eye the other night for a concert I was going to using that palette, and the quality is right up there with the other KVD palettes I own. I’m really pleased. Maybe the line will introduce other four-shade palettes sometime. That would rock!

These are all the Kat Von D by Sephora eyeshadow palettes that I own.

I used the Beauty Insider bonus gift, the Kat Von D Rock 'n' Roll eyeshadow mini palette, to make this smoky eye the other night. On my lips, I'm wearing Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Lolita.

Some of my other faves are the miniature Sephora “blockbuster” palettes. There is a warm set and a cool set, each featuring eight eyeshadows, four lipglosses and one blush. At $15 apiece, you get a lot of product! Plus the colors are really versatile, and everything you need is right there for when you’re in a hurry. I often tuck one into my purse before I leave for work in the mornings. I like taking a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning, so frequently I don’t have enough time to put on a full face of makeup before I need to be out the door. These palettes are a lifesaver in that sense. I don’t have to waste extra time picking the stuff I wanna wear because I know I have everything I need in my palette.

These are the two Sephora brand "makeup to go" palettes, each featuring 8 eyeshadows and pull-out "drawers" of blush and 4 lip colors.

Part of why I like palettes so much is that often times, the cases are beautiful. I’m a girl, I like pretty, sparkly things! This is partly why I went for the new Sephora brand Magic Palette in gold. Just look at it! It’s a work of art, complete with little crystals glued to the lid. The eyeshadows themselves are gorgeous as well. Great for my brown eyes, and appropriate for the coming holiday season. The shimmery, glittery textures are whimsical, feminine and festive. They also have it in silver.

This is Sephora's limited edition "Magic" palette in gold. (Image from Sephora.com)

Palettes are just awesome, right? And speaking of the holiday season, they make great gifts! But whether you actually give them away or keep them for yourself, well… that’s up to you.

Well, all of those are reasonable images to be associated with Finland, but their noteworthy exports are not simply rock music, Father Christmas and the iconic sauna experience. Perhaps still enjoying just cult-success in the United States, Finnish beauty brand, Lumene, offers an outstanding collection of skincare products for women of all ages and with all different skin types. The company, which uses plant ingredients from its homeland, is my skincare brand of choice and for a growing number of American women.

For my needs, I turn to Lumene’s Vitamin C+ line. Enriched with the seed oil from natural arctic cloudberry, a precious (and delicious) berry from Lapland, it delivers nourishment to my 24-year-old skin and visually brightens my complexion through the high concentration of vitamin C that goes in to every one of the products in this collection.

Here are some comments on the products I use regularly from the Lumene Vitamin C+ skin product line.

Vitamin C+ Protecting Day Cream, SPF 15

This is my staple day cream — it goes great under makeup, has a pleasant citrus fragrance (that does not overpower or last once applied) AND provides sun protection. As science has showed, the aging process of skin is significantly influenced by the amount of exposure we have to the sun’s damaging rays. So, using products with SPF is the No. 1 measure you can take to save your skin from early signs of aging, like dark spots and wrinkles. With this day cream, my skin always stays moisturized and protected. I can proudly say that I have not gotten sunburn on my face all summer long thanks to this cream!

Vitamin C+ Nourishing Night Care

After removing my makeup and washing my face at night before bed, I use this night cream to rejuvenate my skin overnight. It is not thick or heavy like many night creams. Rather, it is soft and supple as it melts into my skin. My face feels so pampered without the feeling of greasiness or that I have too much product on my skin. The best part is that in the morning, my skin feels soft and nourished and looks bright and healthy — but there’s no residue left from the previous night’s application.

Vitamin C+ Radiant Beauty Drops

I am nearly through my first jar of this product, and so far I definitely see an improvement in the condition of my skin! Each container has 28 individual drops (they look like little chicken legs) stuffed with serum packed with vitamin C. All one needs to do is twist the end off, squeeze out the product and smooth it over clean skin before layering on day or night cream. The feeling of the product itself is on the greasy side, but it quickly and thoroughly absorbs. After having been using this product for almost three weeks, my skin looks noticeably more radiant and vibrant.

Vitamin C+ Dual Serum

This nifty little two-chambered concoction is an excellent skin-health booster for use underneath regular day and night creams. The day side provides a lightweight serum rich in cloudberry seed oil and the night side contains blueberry seed oil. I have used up one of these and while I was in the habit of applying it morning and night as directed, I got more compliments on how my skin looked than any other time. The dual-pack is convenient and clever, and the serums themselves are lightweight and effective. This is something I will buy again when I’m through with my Beauty Drops.

Vitamin C+ Invigorating Eye Serum

Employing a rollerball-style applicator bottle, this under-eye serum claims to banish puffiness and dark circles. To tell the truth, I have not used this product on a regular basis, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness in the matter of dark circles, but on mornings when I’ve had puffy, tired eyes a little shot of this does provide a needed pick-me-up. I store my bottle in the refrigerator, and the cool serum is very soothing in my delicate under-eye area.

Lumene has much more to offer outside of the Vitamin C+ line, which primarily targets women in their 20s and 30s. Also available in the US is the Time Freeze line, Premium Beauty line, Sensitive Skin line and the new ExCELLent Future serum and cream.

BUT, if you are lucky enough to get to Finland, the full range of Lumene’s product offerings are at your fingertips. I recently visited the lovely land of Finns (my third trip there) and made it to the Lumene outlet store at their headquarters in Espoo. The inside is a wonderland of Lumene, with shelves and boxes overflowing with bounty that American Lumene fans can only admire online.

I ended up spending more than 80€ on a bunch of stuff, so look for reviews of all that in my next entry!

In the meantime, here are some links to places where you can get Lumene in the US:

CVS/pharmacy

Sears.com

Ulta

Target

Happy Independence Day!!!

Eyes: Kat Von D Rock ‘n’ Roll Eyeshadow Duo – Believer ; Kat Von D Autograph Eyeliner – Rhi-venge ; Too Faced Eyeshadow Insurance ; Lumene Blueberry Volume Mascara

Lips: NARS Lip Stain – Indian Red

Face: Sephora Matifying Powder Foundation – D10 ; LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer ; NARS The Multiple – Orgasm ; Lumene Beauty Base Cover Palette

I’m a big fan of the cult-adored Diorshow, among others. Lumene makes an excellent mascara that contains natural blueberry seed oil, and it nourishes the eyelashes for strength, thickness and length – it’s available at Ulta. I also enjoy the new Lash Stiletto from Maybelline New York, which is in drugstores. The precision brush gives me the longest lashes I’ve ever had (and mine are naturally long as it is) and the formula boasts a shiny finish.

What you might not know, however, is that colored mascaras offer special benefits that regular black or brown mascaras don’t. For example, did you know that blue mascara makes the whites of your eyes look even whiter?

The idea of colored mascara may seem tacky or immature, but the truth is that you can take your makeup to another level of fabulousness with it.

More fun facts about colored mascara:

- purple mascara accentuates brown eyes, making them pop
- green or olive mascara looks beautiful on brown eyes and blue eyes alike
- burgundy mascara flatters green and hazel eyes
- it’s good for everyday wear, not just going out
- the color of the mascara doesn’t normally show up on your eyelashes, but it depends on how much you use. Most of the time only a hint of the color can be seen up close from certain angles; otherwise you get all the extra effects of the color without looking like you have unnaturally colored eyelashes

I recommend Yves Saint Laurent’s award-winning Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara ($28.50). The formula comes in seven gorgeous shades, and it is well-known for giving Diorshow a formidable challenge for its cult-favorite status. The brush is easy to use and as the name suggests, delivers the effect of wearing false eyelashes.

Dior, Benefit Cosmetics, Urban Decay and Tarte are just a few popular brands that carry mascara in dazzling shades. There are also some available in drugstores. Check Max Factor and Rimmel London for some unusual lash colors. Give one a try!

That is  a TON of money to spend on appearances, but I completely see it happening. It is human nature to want to look nice, and putting effort into appearances takes money. We buy clothes, shoes and jewelry that make us look our best — and beauty products nicely fill in the gaps where we each feel we could use improvement or something new and exciting. And with our general fixation on the superficial, trends changes season to season, spurring us into extra spending to keep ourselves on the leading edge of coolness.

Without going through the effort of digging up all my purchase history for recent beauty-related spending and embarrassing myself, I can safely say I’ve shelled out over $1,000 on makeup alone within the last 12 months.

The study takes in account all costs of beautification, including spa treatments, salon hair care, mani/pedis, tanning and waxing, among other stuff like botox injections, laser hair removal and other plastic surgery procedures.

I wonder if this six-figure revelation will curb the money people dole out on beauty stuff. I haven’t been buying much lately, mainly because I have everything I want and need in my makeup collection right now. And given this economic situation we’re in, will the booming beauty industry ever see a slip in its sales? I’m inclined to think not — in this culture, the surface is almost more important than the substance.

Lips: Givenchy Rouge Interdit Shine – No. 5 Candy Shine

Eyes: NARS Duo Eyeshadow – Bohemian Gold; Dior Diorshow Mascara – Noir

Face: Stila Oil-Free Foundation – No. 2; Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil – Feather Light

Most beauty products, like lipstick, moisturizer and mascara, have a little symbol on the packaging somewhere that tells how long the product can be used after opening before it’s no longer “fresh” or suitable for use.

It’s that little jar with its lid off and a number inside or next to it. There’s a Wikipedia entry for it if you still don’t know what I mean.

I’d always wondered what that icon meant. Now, I know it’s called a PAO symbol. PAO stands for “period after opening.”

So I’ve been sitting at my desk, looking at the handful of products I have with me today and finding out what the “expiration” dates for them are. For example, my NARS blush, eyeshadow and lipgloss are good for two full years after opening them. My Diorshow mascara is good for six months after opening it. My Korres lipstick — one year.

I learned about this through Twitter, where I’m following LumeneGal, who tweets about Lumene products (so much love) and other general beauty topics. From her, I came across an article on Daily Makeover about this subject. Since I didn’t know what that symbol meant until today, I figured it made a good thing to blog about since there’s isn’t a whole lot about makeup and the like that I am not at least somewhat familiar with. The more you know, right?

Now when I get home I’m going to be looking at all my stuff (quite a task) to see what’s what in terms of when things will no longer be recommended for use. You should do the same! It’s time for spring cleaning, after all!

I rarely have time to “put on my face” entirely before going in to work, so often I will pack my travel makeup bag and stick it in my purse before I’m out the door.

My tip — put on the bigger picture at home. Foundation/powder, eyebrows, even blush. Tuck everything else (eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, etc.) into your bag and finish things up when you have a free moment to slip off to the ladies’ room or a chance to whip out your compact mirror at your desk.

Wipe any brushes you bring on some facial tissue to minimize eyeshadow transfer to the inside of your bag. Carry a mirror and perhaps some compact brushes in your purse, as well as a nice neutral lipgloss or stain and a mini-tube of mascara, just in case you forget something at home. (This is why I love Sephora’s deluxe samples, they’re perfect for keeping as backups in my purse).

It’s a solution for those of us who, like me, would prefer to get a little more beauty sleep and take a few minutes to put on some makeup at work rather than wake up extra early to get everything done before leaving for the day.

Case in point: the Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene.

Queen Helene products are commonly found in drugstores and are always low-priced. The packaging looks old-school in a somewhat tacky, garish way — like they haven’t redesigned their logo or presentation since the brand was first introduced. That could be off-putting because by nature, consumers judge a product’s effectiveness often by the packaging it comes in. My advice here is to put any of those subconscious (or not) prejudices aside.

The packaging is completely irrelevant because it’s what’s on the inside that counts. (So true.)

I ordered this from drugstore.com, which showcases over 200 reviews for the product — and most of them are very positive, garnering an almost five star rating averaged from the total number of reviews.

It’s hard to ignore that kind of feedback on a product so I tried it for the first time this past Tuesday. After my shower, I slapped on a layer of the thick green mask onto my face and neck, avoiding the more delicate eye area. My boyfriend said that I looked like Shrek (gee, thanks) but you know, that’s cool. Shrek seemed like a jolly guy in the end.

After almost 15 minutes, the mask was totally dry. While it was setting, I could feel it clinging to my skin and drying there, sucking out oodles of dirt, oil and muck. It did feel a bit tingly after first applying it, too.

Using warm water, I rinsed off the mask. I wish I had a washcloth because that would have been more effective. After it was all gone and I patted my face dry, I looked in the mirror.

My skin was so incredibly clear and refreshed! I’ve had problems with blackheads on my nose and cheeks, and they were GONE. Also my skin did not feel dry or wringed-out; just deeply clean and invigorated. Absolutely brilliant! The patch of zits near my chin? Vanished!

All this from a gigantic 8 oz. tube of that cost $4. It will last me quite awhile and I will definitely be purchasing more when it’s time.

I can also vouch for the effectiveness and quality of some other Queen Helene products. The companion to the Mint Julep masque is the Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub. This is gentle enough for everyday use and does an excellent job exfoliating skin. It’s also made with a lot of natural ingredients so for the treehuggers out there, this is something you can feel good about using.

Queen Helene also offers a line of cocoa butter body products. I’ve used both the Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion and Natural Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil with Vitamin E. The lotion absorbs into skin quickly without leaving a filmy or sticky feeling. The body oil is a decadent bathtime treat that leaves skin feeling remarkably soft and nourished. Both boast a delicious cocoa butter scent that lingers on skin afterward for some time, wrapping your senses in sweetness.

I can’t help but reiterate how wonderful Queen Helene products are for the price you pay. They truly outperform their higher-priced drugstore competition, and they give a hard run at premium lines in terms of cost-performance ratio.

Peruse their entire inventory online here. (I will be!) Some of their items are also available in many chain drugstores and online at drugstore.com and ulta.com.

Isn’t it nice to find things that really work but don’t eat up your wallet?