LIPPIE: Tubes of Goodness

      I love CHANEL Glossimers, this is no secret. Since my last post on these I have acquired a few more and have put them together into one pretty group. I'm still impatiently waiting for the Holiday collection to arrive, hopefully they will be in this Friday! The group shot below was taken during daylight in front of a window; it was very cloudy so the shimmers aren't reading on the screen. The shades however are quite accurate, I'd say ~98%. 

From left to right in ascending numerical order: 

Astral (104) - This is one of my favorites. The base looks pink however on the lips it goes on clear and the gorgeous pink shimmer is what makes this shade so lovely. It adds depth to any lipstick - especially over light pinks. 
Wild Rose (119) - I walked into my CHANEL counter one day and saw this shade which I've never even seen the tester for. I was excited. This is a popular one and I know I said I was planning on purchasing the Glossimer Duo but the other shade, Muscat, is not one I would use that often. Actually now that I think about it, I wanted to purchase it solely because I didn't see my CHANEL counter offering Wild Rose at the time. Wild Rose is a beautiful deepened rose-mauve with silver and lilac shimmer. I like wearing this one alone.
Venus (124) - Another favorite of mine. This is very pigmented and shows in the tube as a bright fucshia loaded with fucshia and pink shimmer. On the lips it's a lovely shade of pink, gives just enough color to brighten up the face. 
Silex (126) - This is also very pigmented as well. The base is a peach-coral loaded with pink and gold shimmers. I love layering this over a pink lipstick because it really brings out the pink tones in this gloss. The result is a very, very pretty pink with a touch of peach. The shimmers in this one are quite intense though!
Mica (131) - Mica is a cult favorite and I can see why. It is a very light baby pink with silver and blue shimmers. I have medium pigmented lips and this mutes out the color of them but not to the point where I look dead. 
Mirage (132) - Mirage is a deep purple based mauve with blue shimmers, this one is perfect for days where I am wearing deeper toned blushes. The monochromatic look is one that I love doing - where I will use a similar toned blush to match the lips. 
Pink Teaser (142) - This is what I would call a true medium rose-pink, one with gold and pink shimmers scattered throughout. Out of the four Glossimers from the Fall 2010 collection, this one is the most pigmented. 
Rose Dilemma (144) - Deeper than Mica, I still consider this color a light pink because it is light on my lips. The silver shimmer adds a nice shine and is very natural looking on the lips. For those who like doing smokey looks, this is the perfect touch. 
Coral Love (146) - A peachy coral and not as intense as Silex, this is a peach toned coral with gold and pink shimmers. Very nice. 
Pop (427) - A favorite. I mentioned this in my September favorites, perfect for the days where I'm not wearing any make-up or want something with very minimal color. It is sheer however it gives off a "just-ate-a-popsicle" look, very flattering.

      I realize that I gravitate towards the same shades and color families, I'd rather purchase something I know I would use instead of a color I normally wouldn't use. I don't have "favorites" per se as I love them all! Hope this post was interesting! Thanks for stopping by =D.

Product: 1. CHANEL Glossimer - $31CAN 

LIPPIE: Pucker Up - Guerlain KissKiss

      I have another product I'd like to share with you, yet another lip product. I wanted to test drive a lipstick from their permanent line and KissKiss seemed like the way to go. I tried on the KissKiss Strass which I believe has replaced the now non-existent KissKiss Maxi Shine and it reminded me very much of MAC's Dazzle lipsticks. And just like the MAC counterpart, it was thin and very gritty on my lips. I only had it on for a few seconds and I swear it was drying the crap out of my lips already. Needless to say...it wasn't my favorite. The shade I purchased was 556 - Brun Jazzy. First, the packaging is just ooh-la-la. Although it's a very thin and lightweight plastic (much like YSL's Rouge Pur Shines) I love the stacked cube design, which was also created by a designer. 

       Since it has a gold overlay, the fingerprints aren't as noticeable but it will hold fingerprints. The texture of this lipstick is very thin and slightly creamy, so I was skeptical about whether or not it would dry out my lips. However, after wearing it for a couple of hours I was happy that it remained comfortable on my lips. The color isn't fully opaque, you'd have to swipe it a few times to get the full color. Brun Jazzy is a isn't a true brown, more like a brown based plum with gold shimmer. On my medium pigmented lips, it shows more plum while the shimmer gives a nice gleam. It is quite a dark color, but I can see it looking divine during the Fall/Winter months. 

Well this a fail. Where'd the plum tones go??!? =_=.

      This lipstick is relatively largely less expensive than it's sister - the Rouge G, coming in at $36CAN without tax. It's still steep mind you but I still adore this lipstick. Strangely enough, Sephora does not list this shade online...I was told by the manager that Sephora is especially slow at removing discontinued products from their stock. For example, the Terracotta Original Tan Bronzing Powders are actually discontinued as well as Maxi Shines and Extremes. Guerlain is always trying to improve on their products and I actually wouldn't be surprised if the Rouge G line took over in the future. 

      I also wanted to address something; many people may ask why the hell would you spend over $50 on a lipstick. Well, my answer to that is: because I wanted a piece of luxury. Guerlain is by no means supposed to be "affordable", the same with Chanel, Dior etc. The prices are insanely high because these are exclusive brands, if they priced everything so that everyone could afford it they would lose their integrity as a luxury brand. It's luxury for a reason. 

      I hope this post was slightly helpful and I have a few more products in store. It's freakin' 2am here and I'm still wired on the caffeine I drank 8 hours ago...*sigh*.  

Product: 1. Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick - $36CAN

FAVORITES: Already?!?

Time flies by so quickly nowadays, it's ridiculous. I sound like my mom, "Holy s***, it's Friday already?!?". 'Cause she's a bad-ass like that. Very soon, I'll be pelting candy at kids who walk by.
1. CHANEL Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss/Insolence - I mentioned this in a previous post but I've been using it all month and I adore it. It's the perfect pink, not too bright and not too cool. The formula is silky, smooth and long-wearing. This line is a permanent addition to CHANEL, so you don't have to run out and get it. Confidence, #55 however is limited edition. 

Blurry, sorry T_T.

2. CHANEL Gloss Fluo in Pop - I skipped out on most of the Summer 2010 collection because the lipsticks were just too bright. I first thought this was just a clear gloss, but I had a serious lemming for it after Rae showed this in her June haul. It is so moisturizing I sometimes use it at night as a treatment! It turns my lips a soft shade of pink and it is actually very pretty. 

Again, blurry *RAWR*. It's also more red in real life.

3. MAC Amplified in Kraft - This came out with the Pret-A-Papier collection back in April and I have just started using it this month lol. I have reached an epiphany, browns such as this suit me very well and is so, so flattering against my skin tone. I'm still pretty tan right now but I will continue using this throughout the winter to give me warmth. It's limited edition and I'm kicking myself for not buying a back-up.

4. MAC Sheertone Shimmer in Peachtwist -  This is my go-to blush when I want to add a bronze glow to my cheeks. It's actually not a peach per se, it's rather bronze-y. The shimmer adds a nice touch and the tone is flattering because it doesn't turn my skin orange. I find that this is a problem I have with peach or coral toned blushers. Reminds me of a girl in high school whose nickname was 'Sunkist' because she was literally orange.

5. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep - For those who don't know (and you probably don't even care), I am a big fan of RPG's and video games in general. I purchased a PS1 back in the day when I was 11 years old and have been playing since. I also like FPS or TPS games but these are only fun in Co-op Campaign mode for me. My boyfriend and I play these almost every time I'm over at his place on his PS3. If you game, you'll know these terms. This game has been available in Japan for a while now and it was just released this month. I love it, it beats the original Kingdom Hearts (this is a prequel) in my opinion. The graphics are stellar and the gameplay is seamless. I don't even like Disney but I can ignore the princesses.

I love Square Enix...and I also love captions ^_^.

LIPPIE: Selling A Kidney (Or Both):

      Will get you one of these babies. Well no, not really. But for the low price of $50CAN + tax you too can have one. This is the most expensive lipstick I have ever purchased in my life and I have been wanting one forever. Half of this want was because of the ridiculous(ly lovely) packaging. However, I must say the formula of this lipstick is truly exceptional for me. 

      Guerlain has a long history, with a very loyal and long list of followers. Guerlain started out in the perfumery business in the 1800's and has now expanded to include beauty and skincare. The products are beautiful and of formidable quality, Guerlain is always pushing the edge of innovation. The price point for some of the items tops that of other high-end brands such as Chanel and Dior, however I do believe in "you get what you pay for". Granted, this lipstick without the metal case would probably be worth $30 so tack on another $20 for the packaging and you get the Rouge G de Guerlain. 
      The case was designed by Lorenz Baumer, a prolific jeweler in Paris. It looks like a mini elongated spaceship to me (and to others, completely phallic)...totally unnecessary but I still love it. It only has one flat side where the number and name is engraved so you cannot stand this lipstick up straight, it must be laid horizontally. It has Guerlain engraved on top and when you pull the base out, the top compartment will automatically flip open to reveal two mirrors. One of these mirrors is a magnifier. The only problem is that the only way to keep the 'lid' part shut is to put the lipstick back into the case. The closure is also magnetic. I think Guerlain was trying to make it more functional but I think it's a little cumbersome. Nonetheless, I will get used to it. 
      The silver metal is a fingerprint whore, and if you're OCD like me you'll find yourself wanting to sit in a corner and polish the damn thing. Rouge G's used to come with velvet pouches but they have since stopped. The manager at my Guerlain counter told me to pop in time to time as she might receive a few in some stock orders. She was so, so helpful and informative about the line which is nice since I could retrieve accurate information. 

So *gorgeous*, right?

     This lipstick has ruby powder listed in the ingredients. Don't get too excited, it's only synthetic. I think the powder is the reason why the lipstick reflects light and gives the lips a shiny appearance. Personally, I could care less if diamonds were in this because the formula is what is outstanding. The lipstick is creamy, soft but does not slip and slide all over your lips. It grips them comfortably and lasts for about 4 hours on me while drinking water. The color I purchased was #10 - Gaia, a brown with a hint of red. It is definitely a MLBB color on me. The color is true to the tube and is very opaque. It makes me look instantly put together but it is very natural; the effect is *lovely*. I have sensitive lips so I am happy to report that this did not dry my lips out during wear. Now, I own a couple Chanel Rouge Cocos and compared to them the Rouge G is a little bit better. I love Rouge Cocos don't get me wrong but this lipstick is not as hard as the Rouge Coco.You get the standard amount of lipstick in the tube, 3.5g. 

         I believe that lipstick is one thing you should spend money on, but I am biased because 90% of my collection is all about the lips. I also believe in quality over quantity. The Rouge G is a special item because I will not be purchasing another until Guerlain releases a color that is truly 'me'. It is not refillable, therefore the packaging is wasted once you finish it. I plan to keep it for decor purposes. Oh, I forgot to mention, this thing is HEAVY. I mean really, really heavy. If you were in a dark area at night and someone was trying to -insert verb of choice here- you, if you threw this at them they'd probably end up in a coma. Ok, that's exaggerating. However, it WILL do some damage. Overall, the Rouge G is definitely a luxury item, it is part lipstick and part accessory that exudes elegance. If you are thinking of purchasing one, I highly recommend that you try them on first because for the price you want to make sure that it is a color that you will find yourself reaching for over and over. If you want swatches check out Temptalia or KarlaSugar, they have great ones. 
*Granted, this is most definitely *not* the most expensive lipstick on the market: Cle de Peau Extra Silky and Extra Rich lipsticks are $65CAN while Serge Lutens lipsticks are $75US a piece. 

TAG: 2 For 1 Deal!

I think I may have enjoyed the previous tag a little too much as I am going to follow up with the "Top 5 Pet Peeve" tag. The free dictionary definition of a pet peeve is: 
 'pet peeve'  n. Informal Something about which one frequently complains; a particular personal vexation. courtesy of freedictionary.com
 This word is often synonymous with the word 'annoyance'. Believe me, I have plenty. 

1. This has to be my number one: people who overuse the word "like", "um" and "i don't know" when trying to explain something. Unless you're actively writing an essay about metaphors, why oh why must you keep using the word "like"? In high school every other word coming out of someone's mouth was a) either one of the above, b) a combination or c) all damn three. It still peeves me to this day as I hear at least one person talk this way daily!

2. Women who carry their dogs as if they were accessories. I remember seeing a picture of Paris Hilton do it...then all the sudden everyone started doing it. I went shopping at the mall one day and I saw this woman with her TINY dog stuffed inside her purse as if it was natural. Right. They have legs for a reason. I love dogs don't get me wrong; but they're not human. Stop treating them like mere objects/decoration. It looks stupid.

3. I don't mind public displays of affection, however I find that this is popping up even in the younger generation nowadays. I must be getting old. It's natural to hold hands, hug and kiss each other sweetly but if you're practically molesting each other IN A PUBLIC AREA, please continue your activities elsewhere. Unless you're an exhibitionist. And for the record: I'm not bitter, I have a boyfriend of 4 years =_='.

4. Bugs that bite you. I don't know what it is about my skin but bugs LOVE me. Summer is hell for me because even if I hose myself down with bug repellent and wear long pants, the little sh*** still get me. I have sensitive skin as well and they take forever to go away. Don't they realize that I can squish them with my finger and kill them? Why must you bite? 

5. Facebook. Don't even get me started on this whole social networking thing. I get it, people want to keep in touch and share their thoughts, pictures etc. However, when people start saying things like "I gotta update my status!" or "I need to Facebook this!" it irritates the hell out of me. 90% of the time it's completely unimportant information and do I really need to know what you're eating or showering? I feel like a stalker every time the freakin' front page loads. 

There you have it! I know I sound angst-y but really I'm sure you can relate to some of these too! I have plenty more...maybe I should start doing a daily pet peeve post. I'll think about it. Thanks for reading! =D

TAG: Everyone and Their Grandmother Has Done It...

The 40 questions beauty tag that is. Were you thinking of something else? =D 

SKINCARE
1.  How many times do you wash your face daily?
           Twice, morning and night.
2. What skin type do you have?
           Combination - oily in the T-zone and slightly dry on the cheeks. Also sensitive. 
3. What is your current facial wash?
           Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Foaming Cleanser.
4. Do you exfoliate?
           Yes, every other day. This may seem like a lot but the product I use isn't harsh and it has  helped my skin greatly. 
5. What brand do you use?
            St.Ives Apricot Scrub (the one for Blackheads & Blemishes).
6. What moisturizer to you use?
            Estee Lauder DayWear SPF 15 for day; 40 Carrots Sleep Cream for night. 
7. Do you have freckles?
            No. 
8. Do you use eye cream?
            Yes. MAC Fast Response Eye Cream for day; 40 Carrots Retinol Rich Eye Gel for night.
9. Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
            I had my share of acne when I was really young (maybe 12 years old?). Now, I very rarely ever break out and when I do it's usually only one and during 'that time of the month', =_='. 
10. Did you ever use Pro-activ?
           No, because I am not interested and I think the product is gimmicky. Just my opinion though, great if it works for you. 
MAKE-UP (Holy crap - why does this section have so many?!).
1. What foundation do you use?
           I don't use foundation. Actually, come to think of it I've never tried it either. 
2. How about concealer?
           For my undereyes, MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW35. 
3. Do you know your undertone color?
          I'm Asian with more yellow undertones and green-ish veins making me more warm. 
4. What do you think of fake eyelashes?
          I have never used them and don't plan to. Not that I have awesome lashes, I'm just too lazy to care. I would consider them for special occasions but I would never make it a habit of using them everyday. 
5. Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? 
          Yup. Although...I slack a bit in this area lol. 
6. What brand of mascara do you use?
          CoverGirl Lash Blash Luxe,  Estee Lauder DoubleWear and CHANEL Inimitable. 
7. Sephora or MAC?
           Sephora.
8. Do you have a MAC Pro card?
           Nope. 
9. What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
           My ring finger for my concealer and the MAC 116 blush brush for blush. 
10. Do you use make-up base/primer for your eyes?
           No. 
11. For the face?
           Nope. 
12. What is your favorite eyeshadow?
          I don't wear eyeshadow. Blasphemy, right? 
13. Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
          I ditched eyeliner a while back too but I used a pencil eyeliner by Estee Lauder.
14. How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
          Well, these days never because I don't wear eyeliner! 
15. What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
          I like the idea of pigments but I don't use them as eyeshadow, I use them as blush! 
16. Do you use mineral makeup?
          Nope. 
17. What is your favorite lipstick?
          I have two, MAC Cosmo and CHANEL Rouge Coco Mademoiselle. 
18. How about lipgloss?
          Hands down, any of the CHANEL Glossimers. 
19. What is your favorite blush to use?
         MAC Tippy from the Hello Kitty collection back in 2009. 
20. Do you buy makeup on ebay?
         I've considered it for hard-to-find items but I worry too much so...no =_='. 
21. Do you like drugstore makeup?
         Revlon is the only drugstore brand I use, they make the best drugstore lip products IMO.  
22. Do you go to CCOs?
           No, the only one close to where I live is about 2 hours away in a different city!
23. Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
           Yes, but only as a hobby. 
24. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
          I hope not. 
25. Name a makeup crime that your hate?
          The 'nude' lip trend. Why must people wear 'nude' to the point where you look like a porn star or that you're dying? You know who you are. 
26. Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutral ones?
          I prefer pink, rose, or mauve for my makeup choices. 
27. What celebrity always has great make up?
          Korean actress Park Si Yeon. She's breathtaking. And no, I am not Korean. 
28. If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
          Any lip product with SPF in it. 
29. Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
         Yes, and I have before. Scary. 
30. Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
          Haha! I think I do, I think I have pretty good skin so why not? 
31. In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

          CHANEL. 

32. What do you think of make-up?

          It's an art, and I think a science in a sense. There are so many different shades, textures and finishes to choose from. I think makeup is a great way of expressing yourself or simply just to make you feel and look good! However, it should never replace the confidence that you look just as good without it = ).

I thought this tag was an interesting albeit loooong one and if my responses come off as rude to you I'm sorry lol. The way I talk in real life is much worse...I like to call it eloquently blunt. My sister thinks I'm downright rude -___-.  Thanks for stopping by!

RANDOM: I Feel Like a Kid at Christmas...

      Summer is slowly coming to an end...and to be honest, I won't miss it one bit lol. I am over summer and cannot wait until the Fall/Winter season. There have been times where it was so hot that even wearing next to nothing, I was still sweating like a pig outside. I will not miss that. I am hoping for a white Christmas this time around; I live in Canada and last year we had rain on Christmas =_='. I love the contrast of stark white snow on the ground and how winter makes everything muted and pale. 

      As you may know, I have been obsessed with CHANEL. I've been to my CHANEL counter so many times in August alone that the SA and owner there, Desiree and Gina, know me by the sound of my voice alone...from 50 feet away. Sad. When MAC released their new collection 'Fabulous Felines' I didn't even bother going to look. In fact, I didn't even go near the MAC counter. I'm over MAC sadly. 

      Another reason why I love the holiday season so much is because a lot of times there will be gift sets available. And this season, CHANEL really has me going. There are 3 sets available I believe which will launch around the same time as their Winter 2010 collection. The one I am most excited for is this one: 

 *Image courtesy of karlasugar.net, all credit goes to her!

 

I believe Muscat and Wild Rose have come out before, but I missed out on them both as I was not into lip gloss at the time. I adore the makeup pouch they come with, Gina was kind enough to let me see the look books they had for the holidays. If I remember correctly, this will be $56CAN(?) which is a steal! One Glossimer is already $31CAN.

CHANEL is also coming out with a Winter 2010 Collection, which is pictured below:

 *Image courtesy of chicprofile.com, all credit goes to her! 

      I plan on purchasing the Magnolia Rouge Coco and Pink Pulsion Glossimer (Gina received one from beauty school however she did not have it on her to show me but from what she told me it's going to be a VERY shimmery bright pink). Some of the colors are re-promotes such as Futile. On another note, Guerlain's Christmas collection is also very drool worthy. If you have a chance, Google the promotional ads and you'll know what I mean = ). I hope you aren't tired of all the 'Chanel this', 'Chanel that'. If you are, I'm sorry but it's a sick obsession that cannot be cured. I blame Desiree and Gina, my enablers. 

One more thing before I forget >_<. The Bay where I live has the new Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss line out for purchase and I had to buy a couple of course. Let me just say, these are absolutely amazing. I purchased Insolence (57) and Fatale (61), both of which I have reviewed on MakeupAlley under the username 'jubez'. You can read them here:
Insolence - Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Insolence
Fatale - Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Fatale

Sorry for the long post/rant! I thank you for stopping by, I hope you like my posts. Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!