Chanel - Holiday 2009 - Cage Doree

Inspired by Coco Chanel's fascination with exotic birds.

Exclusive Creation: Les Tissages Shimmering Tweed Highlighter ($60)
-Lames de Chanel- Woven shades of gold, bronze and copper.

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow ($56)
-Bird Of Paradise: Aqua, yellow, green-gold and copper.

La Ligne de Chanel Professional Eyeliner Duo ($45)
-Celadon-Lame- Rich green black

Aqualumiere Sheer Colour Lipshine SPF 15 ($28.50)
-Galapagos- Lustrous Coral
-Tasmania- Exquisite pink
-Grenada- Soft subdued fuchsia
-Malvides- Warm peach

Aqualumiere Gloss High Shine Concentrate ($27)
-Colibri- Shimmering pearl
-Hirondelle- Vibrant pink
-Canari- Bright citrusy coral

Le Vernis Nail Colour ($23)
-Trapeze- Radiant silver-beige
-Mica Rose- Tender pink
-Orange Fizz- Vivid coral

Issey Miyake 'A Scent by Issey Miyake' Holiday Set

Issey Miyake 'A Scent by Issey Miyake' Holiday Set ($69, $89 value) includes eau de toilette (1.7 oz.) and body lotion (3.3 oz). Described as an "intoxicating blend of fragrant jasmine, aromatic hyacinth and invigorating verbena. The perfect balance between purity and essentiality, 'a scent by issey miyake' is an unexpected mélange of woodsy, floral freshness—an air as luminous and green as nature herself." I really want to try this!

Available at Nordstrom.com

Bobbi Brown - Holiday 2009 - Chrome Collection

"Chrome is cool and icy - it's a very modern, but still pretty way to illuminate the skin."
-Bobbi Brown

Chrome Palette ($75)- 10 eye shadows, 4 lip colors, 1 mini eye shadow brush, 1 mini lip brush. Shades include:
EYES:
-White Eye Shadow- White
-Polar Ice Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow- Pale silver
-Storm Cloud Sparkle Eye Shadow- Gray silver sparkle
-Iron Eye Shadow- Deep Gray
-Thunder Metallic Eye Shadow- Dark silver
-Moonlight Sparkle Eye Shadow- Cool purple sparkle
-Cyber Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow- Medium silver
-Foil Metallic Eye Shadow- Pale bronze
-Chrome Metallic Eye Shadow- Silver
-Charcoal Haze- Eye Shadow

LIPS:
-Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss- Cool pink shimmer
-Winter Bronze Glitter Lip Gloss- Deep bronze shimmer
-Berry Glitter Lip Gloss- Golden rose shimmer
-Chrome Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss- Nude rose shimmer

Metallic Lip Color ($22)
-Chrome- Pale silver shimmer
-Plum Pearl- Golden plum shimmer

Lip Color ($22)
-Port- Deep plum

Mini Brush Set ($55)- 3 must have brushes in a chrome faux-leather zip case.
-Mini Face Blender Brush
-Mini Angle Eye Shadow Brush
-Mini Eye Liner Brush

I think the girl is gorgeous and I love her earrings, but I'm not particularly excited about any of the offerings here.

Bobbi Brown - Extreme Party Mascara

"For women who want the dramatic look of false lashes without the hassle." - Bobbi Brown

Extreme Party Mascara ($22)- Bobbi's new "re-activation" formula allows buildable coverage. No clumping or flaking, smudge proof and removes with soap and water.

Review: Bath & Body Works - Lambie Sleep Blanket

My husband and I just moved into our first house! It's adorable. I'll have to show the pictures soon. It's been COLD in there and there's not a whole lot more I love than snuggling up on the couch with a soft, warm blanket and my kittens (and hubby if he's around). Well, we don't have a couch downstairs yet... it's hard to find one small enough to fit, so I've been confined to the floor. I decided to buy myself a little treat from Bath & Body Works. It's called the Lambie Sleep Blanket ($39.50) and it's huge. It's 56"x60" of plush, warm, fuzzy softness with a lamb face on the corner. I love it. My kittens love it to. It's 100% polyester. Normally, I wouldn't shell out no $40 for a freakin' blanket, but this one is absolutely PERFECT for winter. It's enough to make me excited for the cold that is yet to come.

Want something else? Try the Snuggable, Huggable Lambie Blanket ($49.50) it's a "Snuggie" or "Slanket," basically a large 56"x70" blanket with oversized sleeves and pockets.

A great gift for yourself or someone else. :)

face candy grade: A+

Until November 10th, get 20% off your entire order with code TWENTYOFF.

Review: OPI for Sephora - 212 Sephora Nail Colour

This is my second OPI for Sephora polish I've tried. I had a pale pink one that I can't recall the name of, but its since vanished (after ONE use, I might add.) I threw this 212 Sephora Nail Colour ($9) in my shopping cart when it popped up as a suggestion. I have not jumped on the matte nail polish trend yet. I personally like my nails shiny. But I have and always will really like glittery polishes. When I was younger, I had these 2 Wet'n'Wild polishes, one was a multi-colored glitter in clear polish and the other was a silver glitter in clear polish. I used them ALL THE TIME. I actually kind of wish they still made them... This one was inspired by New York City's after-dark dazzle, created specially for the new Sephora in Times Square. It's only available online and at the 5 Times Square location. It boasts being long-wearing, chip-resistant, GREEN and free of DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde. I'm sold.

I suggest using a base coat AND one coat of a dark polish (like MAC's Nocturnelle) and then layer 212 on top of that and top with a top-coat. I suggest this because the first time I used it, I didn't and instead used 2 coats of 212. I had a HELL of a time getting it off. The glitter stuck like glue. Besides that, I love the color and shimmery glitz it brings to your fingertips.

face candy grade: A

Review: New York & Company Mandarin Coconut Lip Balm

I was purchasing a purse from New York & Company online a while ago. For some reason I was obsessed with finding a faux snake skin purse. I bought this one and removed the ribbon. It's cute. It does it's job. I'm actually getting ready to retire it. I get tired of bags fast. It's actually on sale there now for $20. ANYWAY, I needed more things to make my order total $60 to get a $10 credit, so I bought the Mandarin Coconut Lip Balm ($3.50) on a whim to give it a shot.
Have you ever gotten orange juice concentrate? It smells (and tastes) kind of like that. The coconut is muted, but it's there. I REALLY like this flavor. Orange and coconut. What's better? It has SPF 18 and the formula is waxy so it stays on. Available in Mandarin Coconut, Pomegranate Berry and Pure (unscented). And for $3.50 you can't really go wrong. :)

face candy grade: b+

Review: Laura Mercier - Secret Camouflage

I have heard people say that Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage ($28) is the best concealer, ever. So I bought some. I like that it has two different concealers, one to match skin and one to match the skin's undertone, that's ideal. I used SC3, though maybe I should have picked SC4. Whatever. The left side is harder and best for covering redness or pimples. The right side is very creamy and great for covering under-eye circles. Both are heavily pigmented, so you don't need to pile it on for results. $28 seems like a lot, but you get 2 and I think it'll last you a good long while. You be the judge.

Available in:
-SC-1- Very Fair Skin Tones
-SC-2- Fair to Light Skin Tones
-SC-3- Medium with Yellow or Pink Skin Tones
-SC-4- Medium to Golden Skin Tones
-SC-5- Suntanned and Dark Skin Tones
-SC-6- Rich, Dark with Yellow Skin Tones

face candy grade: A

Manicure of the Moment: NARS - China Town

NARS - China Town Nail Polish ($16) looks deep blood red in the light and this crappy picture and dark burgundy in person. I used 2 coats. And a super thick, old Sally Hansen clear topcoat because I think I lost my other one that I really liked and can't remember the name of. It's stayed on for a few days without any chips so far. Any suggestions for a good topcoat?

face candy grade: A+

A press sample was provided by NARS and did not affect my review in any way.

MAC - Holiday 2009 - Baroque Boudoir

Decadent, luxurious… Liaisons get even more Dangereuse! The vintage look of the Baroque Boudoir has inspired our special, limited edition cache of high-style collectibles for lips and face, in silverized and silk-screened packaging containing favourite bring-back luxe formulas. First, Lipstick and Lip Gloss, each in three new shades of lustrous seduction, followed with Sheer Mystery Powder in Light Medium and Medium Plus, the last word in silky finish, divinely dressed in a ravishing round compact, etched like the fine filigree of a French baroque settee. Of course, our new Boudoir Clutch will be instantly treasured. Sate your taste for something modern, yet ornate.

U.S. Release: November 25th, 2009

Baroque Boudoir Lipstick ($22 U.S./ $26 CDN)
-Prive- Creamy light blue pink
-Treasured- Creamy warm nude beige
-Baroque Boudoir- Creamy dark plum

Baroque Boudoir Lipgloss ($22 U.S./ $26 CDN)
-Preciousness- Sheer metallic pink with white pearl
-The Lap of Luxury- Sheer baby pink with white and pink pearl
-D'Nouveau- Sheer dusty rose with light pink pearl

Baroque Boudoir Compact/Sheer Mystery Powder ($60 U.S./$72 CDN)
-Light Medium- Pale ivory
-Medium Plus- Tan beige

Boudoir Clutch ($65 U.S./$78 CDN)- A chic clutch with black crinkle nylon fabric.

I think I'm going to pass on this collection. Nothing really stands out to me.