Sue Devitt Victoria Falls Eye Intensifier Pencil

The chubby Eye Intensifier pencils from Sue Devitt have been part of my makeup arsenal long before starting this blog. They are wickedly efficient multitaskers that require very little skill or effort to give one a pretty look. They work both as an eyeliner (medium to thick line) and an eye shadow, can be smudged, sheered and create the perfect smoky eye. The Eye Intensifier pencils are also my go-to item for a simple casual look (aka "just dropping at the dry cleaners/post office/corner store before getting back into jammies and slippers") that still gives my eyes depth and definition. So, yes, Sue Devitt has earned her place in my shortlist with this one.

Victoria Falls is a gorgeous rich almost navy blue. It's one of the colors I find most flattering on me, both for my skin tone and eye color. It's not too bright and doesn't look age inappropriate (I keep everything else nude/neutral), but definitely noticeable in a very good way. I've been playing with Victoria Falls in several combinations and looks- top lashes, bottom lashes, paired with nothing but a black mascara or smoked out with some Chanel Bois Bleu eye shadow. The pencil always works and looks much more sophisticated that the 30 seconds per eye it actually takes.

I use a primer, of course, and the Eye Intensifier stays put without creasing or fading for about 8-10 hours (depending on weather and activity). Topping the pencil with an eye shadow cements it in place until I bring on the makeup remover. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is using this product on the waterline. Not that it's meant for that in the first place- the Eye Intensifier is many things but it's not a kohl, as I've learned the hard way- it made my eyes water and sting when I tried. It was my fault, though, so I now keep it on the outer side of my lashes and all is well.

Bottom Line: highly recommended.

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22) is available from Barneys, Bloomigdale's and Ulta, as well as through the company's website (suedevittbeauty.com), which right now offers a 20% discount for the holiday weekend (no code needed).

All photos are mine.

Sue Devitt Nordland Silky Sheen Eye Shadow

I'm a fan of Sue Devitt makeup and have several Silky Sheen eye shadows in my regular rotation.  I was thrilled to get Nordland as a GWP recently, since it's been on my "to buy" list for a while now. The color is a smoky brown based purple that goes very taupish mauve on my skin (wrist and lid alike). It's as neutral as it is pigmented, and the silky texture makes applying and blending a breeze.

You will notice that the finish of Nordland is a little different than that of the three colors I showed in my older post. It's less metallic and looks like a light shimmer over a matte base. That's how it appears on the lid, though I'm pretty sure I used a different base in the previous post. I get more sheen when I use the Sue Devitt shadows over Kanebo Sensai eye base than over the one from Urban Decay.

Bottom Line: Very pretty.

Sue Devitt Silky Eye Shadows ($18) are available from select department stores and suedevittbeauty.com.

All photos are mine.

Sue Devitt Silky Eye Shadow (Agadir, Cap Ferrat, Monaco)

Here's one of my greatest eye shadow loves recently: Sue Devitt Silky Eye Shadows. It's been ages since I bought anything by Sue Devitt, for no reason other than the colors always looked off. But as soon as I saw these eye shadows I knew I had to have them.

The texture is as silky and smooth as Sue Devitt promises. The finish has a metallic sheen, but it's not over the top. Used responsibly, they are perfectly wearable during the day, and the colors are fairly neutral, though Agadir certainly has quite a bit of character and I use it only as an accent. It's very flattering against brown eyes. Cap Ferrat, a sandy beige, is lighter and less pigmented than it appears in the pan. The swatch clearly shows that it's more of a highlight/inner corner of the eye color, though I've been experimenting with blending it with other colors. Monaco is a warm taupe/medium brown- an easy to wear everyday color. I can't have too many of those.

The Silky Eye Shadows stay on beautifully the entire day (over a primer). They don't crease, flake or crumble and remain true to color and sheen (but they lose luminosity without a primer).

Bottom line: Love.

Sue Devitt Silky Eye Shadows ($18 each) are available from select department stores. I bought mine at Barneys.

All photos by me.

Fall Inspiration: Sue Devitt Sea Spray Fall 2008 Collection

What inspires designers when working on a fall collection?
Autumn leaves, darker days, harvest colors.

And, apparently, the sea.

The image above (click on it for a full size view) is taken from Barneys newsletter about Sue Devitt's fall makeup collection. I looked at some of the items on the store's website, and they're very pretty in a not-really-my-color way, but I can't avoid thinking this could have easily been a spring/summer look.

What do you think?

Takin' it EZ

Tomorrow I'm going to post my first review of items from Chanel's fall line, but tonight I have something far for fitting for hot summer nights (but good enough to use for glamorous evenings all year round).

Normally I'm not a fan for loose eye shadow because of the klutz factor. I always end up putting more effort into wiping off stray powder than actually putting it in place. However, with Sue Devitt's roll-on E-Z eye shadow you don't need more than basic brush skills for blending these cute shimmery colors. While there are a couple of darker shades that are probably better applied to the lid and crease, I prefer those that can be used as a highlighter for the brow bone and as a wash of shimmer over another color.

I tested Kouri, a color described as "bubbly champagne". It's very light and the pigment itself didn't show much on my skin. What it did was coat it with a very delicate and pretty shimmer. The roll-on head glides easily, so applying it is a snap. The powder is very fine and blends well with other shadows. I used it over a primer (Urban Decay), as well as over Benefit's Lemon Aid. Both kept nicely in place without flaking, fading or migrating for the entire night.

Just ignore what it says on Sephora's site and don't shake the bottle. I shook it the first time I used my shadow and ended up with a shimmery cheekbone.

Beauty and the Heat

The temperatures here are touching the triple digit zone, and it isn't pretty. Even the best intentions and beauty routines melt when confronted with a scorching and muggy reality and we need all the help we can get. Here are a few of things that help me survive days like these:

• A little color that goes a long way: I use a dab of concealer only where (and if) needed, line my eyes with a thick pencil in a rich color that does double duty as a shadow (my favorite has always been Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier in Gold Reef, but all the other colors are just as lovely. Look at the khaki one, Bangalore), black waterproof mascara (I only use them for a few days this time of the year, and the drugstores are full of good ones. I usually buy Max Factor), and finish up the look with a dark colored lip gloss (I love Chanel Glossimer in Force). Only three or four products, but it looks well put-together.

• It's the only time of the year I'm going places with my hair pulled back into a tight bun. Jonathan's Silky Dirt is keeping it shiny and in place. I'll need to write a full review soon (and probably try other products from this line).

• My flat feet can be the bane of my existence, if I let them. They get swollen in the heat which makes wearing shoes a painful ordeal. I keep my regular shoes or sandals in my beg and put them on before getting anywhere, but until that moment, I live in J. Crew's wedge flip-flops. They're much more comfortable for me than regular flat flip-flops, because they provide support and insulation from the ground, two things that the flat-footed among us know to appreciate.

• Perfume. I like to wear something that takes me away to kinder places. Reverie au Jardin from Tauer Perfume is my choice of escape. It takes me to cool, green gardens. This fragrance comes from Switzerland, which helps with the Alpine fantasy.

The Great Eyeliner Hunt II- On the High-End

Eyeliner is without a doubt my "desert island" product. It's the one thing that I can't do without and must have one in every possible color and texture. I don't think that I'm alone in that obsession. Just ask Cleopatra. Or Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes.




In previous posts I've mentioned some of my most frequently used liners. This is a good opportunity to give them center stage.

Sue Devitt's thick pencil in Gold Reef-I usually prefer thin pencils, as they are better as "liners", and I don't like thick, dark lines over my eye. But this color is magical- it does give contour and definition to the lash line, but it's light enough to not look like something out of Courtney Love's makeup drawer. It's a perfect bronze that works well as a shadow as well as a liner, which is why I love it as part of my "no effort" look.

The pencil glides easily over the lid. It's soft enough and doesn't pull the skin, precise despite the thickness and doesn't smudge or bleed. It stays in place for long hours, fades a little by the end of the day (especially if I don't use shadow to keep it in place) but doesn't migrate. It has an eye shadow applicator sponge on its other end that works well for smudging and blending, which I especially like for its narrow tip. It's a great liner and I keep promising myself to get it in some other colors. It didn't work well with the sharpener I had (a cheap one from target), so I had to purchase the Sue Devitt sharpener from Sephora. It was well worth it, because it sharpens well all my other lip and eye pencils.




Another liner in my collection is Chanel Precision Eye Definer (Le Crayon Yeux)in Blue Jean. This color appeared a couple of years ago together with a beautiful eye shadow compact that was also called Blue Jean and contained four different shades of blue. It was the perfect example of how blue eye shadow can be beautiful, flattering and not make you feel like it's 1980 all over again.

The liner is a very dark navy with a slight hint of metallic (that I find unnecessary). It's not very blue and can be easily worn for daytime. It's almost a "light black", so it doesn't scream "I'm wearing blue eye makeup". The color stays put all day, doesn't bleed or smudge, even when I accidentally rub my eyes.

Its two drawbacks are the slanted sponge applicator that isn't very effective (it's of the smooth, rubbery variety. Not the porous one that I think works better for blending and smudging), and the texture of the pencil itself. I'd expect a high-end product to feel better on my skin- it's too hard and unyielding, resulting in some skin pulling when applying it. My personal preference is for creamy pencils, even if it means less staying power. I use it because I like the color, but when it's time, I'll be looking for a navy pencil from another line.

Practical Magic

Every once in a while I find a makeup item that is pure fun- something that is not just pretty, but also gives you a chance to play, experiment and recreate your face. I just discovered one of those, and I'm still learning what can be done with it.

Smashbox is a pretty hyped brand, but their Eye Illusion is relatively unknown, even though it's been on the market since 2003. I found it while exploring their display in Sephora in search of mascara. I usually ignore anything that looks so pale, but somehow I read the description and had to try it. I was wearing dark blue liner and a hint of blue shadow (both by Chanel, from the blue jeans line). I swiped some of the purple opal (it's actually more blue than purple)over it, using my finger and got a new color: lighter, irridiscent and very pretty. I did the same over the other eye and really loved the look. Needless to say, this compact went home with me.

Since then I've been playing with the different shades (pink, green, yellow gold, and bluish-purple opal), learning what it can do. My findings so far: It looks best over any dark shadow or liner, it also works alone as a highlighter, can be applied with a brush or with a finger and the colors can be mixed together.

Eye Illusions can be a part of an elaborate, carefully applied look. But its charm is that it can also transform the face instantly. What I did today was very simple: I outlined my upper lid with Sue Devitt's thick pencil in Gold Reef. That's my basic, no time, no patience, emergency choice. Then swiped the yellow over the entire eye area- over the liner and on the brow bone in one or two wide strokes using a soft brush. Added black mascara and that was it. Fully made-up eyes in light, pretty colors in less than a minute for both eyes. It doesn't get any better than this.