Eye Adore: Chantecaille Shark Palette

From Up in the air to Under the sea...

I had been dying to get the Chantecaille 'Save The Sharks' Palette ever since it first came out, but there weren't many of these babies at my local stores. By the time I remembered to get one, the only option was online. And I totally wanted to swatch first.

From the website:

 Inspired by the Spring '13 runway trends and BLOOM'S passionate commitment to ban shark finning, Chantecaille has created the Save the Sharks Palette. A graphic and alluring palette that fuses on-trend colors from the catwalks with the freshness of the oceans, in a bold yet feminine way.

Shades include:
- Great White: a white and sandy beige inspired by the apex of the oceans' ecosystems, the Great White shark.
- Black Tip: an on-trend, deep ocean blue inspired by aquatic spring runway looks and the dark, inky fin of Black Tip sharks.
- Grey Reef: a glistening sandy grey inspired by the Indian and Pacific Oceans' Grey Reef sharks.
- Sea Anemone: a flattering golden coral cheek shade inspired by the underwater gardens of the tropics


So I got the last one from my local beauty supply store. I got to see it and swatch it and declare it worth every penny.

All of these colors (8 total) are silky and fabulously pigmented. Although they are designated for certain areas of the eyes and face, I have absolutely no intention of following directions. l am particularly smitten with the Grey Reef combination. That smoky silver color is to die for.

Chantecaille Save The Sharks Palette is still available at NORDSTROM.com





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Mind + Body Beauty: Changing My Perspective with UP Flying Yoga

I should probably start with a bit of history. I'm not new to yoga. I practiced actively for a decade or so... then left my mat for another decade {I see you trying to do the math and figure out my age :-). Cut that out.}

Last year, I went back to my mat with purpose. While I spent my youth practicing for exercise (and vanity), I began this time and set the purpose seek balance and acceptance.

This past Mother's Day (what...being mommy to three dogs and a cat COUNTS), my amazing Husband asked me what I wanted... and I told him that I wanted Aerial Yoga lessons.

Say what?

I wanted to go 'up' in the air... invert...  let go... and really change my perspective. Aerial yoga seems like the perfect place to help achieve my purpose.

Today, I drove over to the UP Flying Yoga studio -- declared myself an intermediate yogi -- and dared Kimberly Simonetti to challenge me.

She did.

These swaths of silk suspended from the ceiling are the hammocks, and I soon learned... my best friend. Used properly, that fabric is as stable as the ground beneath your feet (well, maybe not MY feet... I live in earthquake prone California). I went from being skeptical (even after Kimberly told me the hammocks can hold 1,000 pounds), to being a massive fan. I felt like a kid again! I had to learn to really listen to Kimberly's instructions so that I wouldn't accidentally unravel. But eventually, I feel like I got the 'hang' of it...

I had the BEST time! Kimberly is very encouraging... and I found that I did best if I just closed my eyes and listened. Placement is everything. You don't want to get up there and realize you haven't secured yourself properly. I am so jazzed about this... I can't wait to do it again!

Flawless Finish: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate (Intensity 1)

This review is a long time coming. I had 'sample pots' of these two cream products that lasted for nearly a year.  Now that they're all used up, I decided to pony up for the actual retail product.

I chose Intensity 1 because it works best with my yellow undertones. Intensity 2 is darker, with a lot more red in it. The whole point of contour is to 'trick' the eye into thinking a shadow is there. That doesn't work if you're sporting reddish brown streaks under each cheekbone.

As you can see, the formula imitates the look and feel of 'skin.' Both the 'shade' and 'illuminate' is subtle. I'm particularly fond of the fact that the illuminator isn't shimmery or glittery. And it's not greasy. The formula adheres to the skin and stays put. Extremely oily skins will need powder to set, but a little of this product goes a long way. There's no need to pile it on... so there's less of a chance of it sliding off.

This is pricey... at $75 it's definitely an investment. But if you think of it as actually getting 'two' products (imagine separate luxury contour and highlighter for about $40 a pop), then it makes a bit more sense.

Tom Ford Beauty is sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

May Favorites (2013)

This month, the list is 'stripped down' to the basics that I feel I must have -- to function in truly flawless fashion.

Salux Cleansing Cloth.
Okay, I know that this is a regular staple in China and Japan, but I'm just discovering it and I LOVE IT! My baby sister insisted that I must get this cloth, and she was so right. I can't live without it now. It exfoliates so beautifully, that it preps my skin to completely absorb the next treatment. I especially love using it before a Habibi Body Scrub. My skin is like SILK afterwards. Totally inexpensive, and totally worth it.

Asheida Face Sponge.
I absolutely love this sponge for removing makeup. I use it in two steps: first to take off the initial layer of makeup, and second to cleanse. I find it less messy than  my Clarisonic (which I still use religiously every night before bed) and easier to clean when removing makeup. It's a fabulous little addition to my makeup removing routine.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.
This is  my new 'go to' for removing makeup... especially  heavier foundations. The oil interacts with the oils in my skin (and the makeup) to cancel the latter out, and my makeup just slides off! I love it. Right now it's on sale - so now is one of the best times to try it out!

Sunday Riley Start Over.
I've been using this eye treatment religiously since discovering it last year. It is fantastic for targeting any puffiness or darkness around the eyes. Continued use has left my eyes brighter and 'puff free.'  It's not the most moisturizing formula on the planet, so I think it's better suited to oilier skins like mine.

Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil.
I really didn't expect to rely on this formula the way I've come to. It's really wonderful. I love the idea of a 'serum' for the lips, and I love the way it perfectly preps my lips for lipstick application, without the 'slick' of a traditional lip balm. I'll definitely be keeping this one in heavy rotation.

 

Tom Ford Shade + Illuminate.
This rather pricey, but fantastic addition to my 'skin kit' is a must have if you can swing it. The double contour/highlight cream formula imitates 'skin' in a way that leaves the skin dewy, but not greasy or glittery. Perfect for both a 'no makeup' makeup... or a full on  makeup. A complete review is coming.

MAC Riri Woo Lipstick.
Say what? I went from being skeptical about this lipstick to hopping on board as a full on fan. Wow, I love it. I really do. The matte formula is friendly enough to wear without any other real embellishment on the face, which is rare for this kind of finish. It will totally pull your face together with just a bit of mascara and a groomed brow. But it also works incredibly well as part of a full dramatic look. MAC did extremely well with this lipstick, and they deserve major kudos.

Diptyque Eau Moheli Perfume.
I think I may have found my 'summer staple' fragrance. Eau Moheli uses an insane amount of ylang ylang to set the base note for this unusual floral. This fragrance plays so well with others, it's amazing. I've been layering it like crazy with other scents (even traditionally masculine fragrances), to see what I can come up with. Right now, my absolute favorite combination is Eau Moheli, layered over Habibi Body Balm in Pink Grapefruit. Every time I wear it, someone asks me what I'm wearing. It's that amazing.

That's it! Those are my faves for the month of May. Ciao for now!

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Lashing Out: Lancome Hypnose Star Waterproof Mascara

No.

Lancome seems to have gone from the #1 selling most fabulous mascara ever (Definicils), to this not-even-remotely-close-to-drugstore-quality stuff that they're hocking these days. I don't even know what's going on. I'm a major fan of the Hypnose Drama mascara... so this waterproof version of Hypnose Star (which doesn't contain shimmer, by the way. It's just a latex finish) seemed like a perfect companion for hot weather makeup.

It's not.

The wand on this mascara is flat on one side and wide on the other. It reminds me a lot of the Armani Eyes To Kill Stretch wand. So I thought it would operate the same way. You apply the product with the flat side and use the wide side to comb it through. I tried it that way. Didn't work. Then I tried it the traditional way. Didn't work. So I just applied product using the flat side and hoped for the best. DIDN'T WORK.

Here's what my lashes looked like... no matter HOW I tried to apply this mascara:

Barely enhanced. Minimal lenghtening, absolutely no volume, and mediocre separation. I had the nerve to even get a few clumps. Unacceptable... particularly from a brand that used to crank out some of the most incredible mascara formulas on the market.

Bless Nordstrom for their generous return policy, because I would have been so mad if I was stuck with this mascara. Dear Lancome... do better. No... really.

Lip Service: CK One Beauty

I've been taking my time working through some of the products in the CK One Beauty Collection. I would have to say that the most noteworthy items are the nail polishes, and the lipsticks. I really like the lipsticks in particular.

My favorites (so far) are the peachy-nude shimmer Lipstick in Brainiac, and the plummy-rose Lip Shine in Blow.

Brainiac:

Blow:

In the US, CK One Beauty is available at ULTA. Internationally, you can get it at Debenhams

Lip Service: Kanebo Sensai Intense Lasting Color (#102)

I've been meaning to try this brand for the longest time... I just kept setting it aside and setting it aside...

I recently scored the Kanebo Sensai Lipstick in my favorite lip shade on earth... Orange. #102 looks reddish (maybe even coral) orange in the tube, but goes on a distinct juicy shade of orange.

Do not be fooled by the color in the tube. At first, I was a bit skeptical. But then I put it on...

In natural light:

Right. Love! You can find out more about Kanebo Sensai Lipsticks HERE.

*pr sample