Paul & Joe Fall Collection At Bergdorf Goodman

I really should finish packing, but this little PSA really can't wait, because only a handful of items from Paul & Joe's Fall 2009 limited edition collection with the gorgeous cats are still available at Bergdorf Goodman. I know some people are still searching and it's nearly impossible to find online (unless you want them shipped from England), so it's worth your time to give them a call and order what's left. I also found the cutest matching nail file, as you can see in the picture.

When I first saw the stock photos on the various websites, I thought the colors were not for me. The lipstick looked too light and the eye shadows looked glittery. As you can see, that's definitely not the case. I tested everything in store and loved both. The lipstick is a great everyday color and the eye shadows are blendable, satiny and smooth. I didn't swatch them because everything is packed (and already in the new house), but I hope the closeups here give a good idea of the actual colors.

Beauty Habit also carries Paul & Joe, and last I looked, the eye shadows were still in stock.

All photos by me.

Paul & Joe For The Cat Ladies

I have no idea how I managed to miss these items when they were released over the summer, but Paul & Joe's Fall 2009 Collection had the cutest packaging, including these two items. Now, neither the lipstick (too light and sheer) nor the eye shadows (way too glittery) are something I need or would even use, so it doesn't really matter. But, oh my, aren't they lovely? Both are available from Beauty Habit (beautyhabit.com), and if these colors are your thing, use code INSTYLE for a 20% discount. The newly released Winter Collection is also available, in purple and gold packaging. I'm not too excited about any of the items.

Shu Uemura Primal Mix Blush- Rhythm

There is a lot to love about the new(ish. It's a fall 2009 release and has been out for a couple of months now) Shu Uemura Primal Mix Blush: The velvety texture, the ability to mix and customize the two shades in the compact, the colors themselves- vibrant and flattering. But the size and shape drive me crazy. It's a small stripe of color which limits the shape, size and movement of the brush. I like using big and fluffy brushes and lightly swirl them over the blush for natural looking application, but it's utterly impossible here. The Shu Uemura compact is only slightly bigger than your average single eye shadow, so I'm using smaller and narrow brushes, like the Sephora angled blush brush you see in the picture, and make sure to carefully blend the color with the other face products I apply to avoid that streaky 80s look.



The Shu Uemura Primal Mix Blush comes in three shades. There's a peachy option and a brownish one that I liked but found to be too dark. My color of choice was Rhythm, a warm medium pink with the golden/light bronze supplement. It adds just the right amount of perkiness to one's face, but I can't help thinking it would have served me better if it came in a round or even square compact.

Bottom line: Very pretty, flawed design.

Shu Uemura Primal Mix Blush ($24) is available from Barneys, Bergdorf and Neiman Marcus.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Jade & Jade Rose Le Vernis Nail Polish

The more I look at Jade and Jade Rose, the new limited edition nail polish colors from Chanel, the more I wonder why they were released now, with all the other Fall 2009 items. Yes, I know that they were inspired by the tweed fabrics and jewelery for fall/winter shown on the runway, but still- we're talking light rose and mint green, both with very delicate shimmer. They look quite springy, if you ask me.

Today I'm wearing Jade Rose, and it's a pretty, happy color. When staying indoors, the shimmer is all but invisible and the shade looks a lot warmer than in full daylight. It has an almost peach undertone, especially when you put on three coats (quite necessary, as the polish is sheer). As noted by Melanie Parker on Blogdorf Goodman, application can be tricky. I've experimented a little and found out that Jade Rose works best over an Essie glaze base coat. It kept streaks to a minimum and the results are good. So far, I only had one small chip in three days when I banged my hand on a dresser in an odd angle (don't ask).

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish in Jade And Jade Rose ($25 each) is exclusive to Chanel boutiques and chanel.com.

All photos are mine.

OPI Spanish Collection

Fall 2009 is shaping up as a beautiful season for nail polish. I still have to show you the limited edition Chanel colors, but today I'm taking a break from worshipping Chanel in favor of OPI's Spain Collection (La Coleccion De España).

There are twelve colors in the Spain Collection, most fall under the obligated red, fuchsia, purple, etc.. There's also Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow, the must-have green polish every range includes this season, which should delight green polish fans. It's beautiful and dark (I played with it at Ulta), and if I didn't already have Zoya Envy I might have been tempted just because it's so special. And I rarely wear green polish...

The colors I chose were Barefoot in Barcelona, a beautiful classic warm beige (you can see it on my nails in this post), Can You Tapas This? (rich brownish burgundy) and Give Me Moor! (deep purple with subtle red shimmer). All are easy to wear and are quite elegant. Barefoot in Barcelona is my current go-to shade, because I don't need to worry about it clashing with my clothes or overwhelming anyone. The dark colors are as sexy as they come and definitely say "fall", even if I hate to admit the cold days are coming.

OPI Spanish Collection ($8 per bottle) is available at Ulta and from several online sources.

All photos are mine.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Palette

Three or four weeks ago, when I first got the Armani newsletter announcing the Eyes To Kill eye shadow palettes, I dropped by my local Saks hoping to see them in person before buying. The SA looked at me as though I was insane and informed me there's no such thing and there wasn't going to be, and she knows it because she "had all the training". I looked at her back, pressed some buttons on my phone (Giorgio Armani Beauty is in a dire need of a good mobile version of the website) and showed her the collection. The blank look she gave me wasn't encouraging or friendly. If the website was a bit easier to navigate on a mobile device I would have placed an online order right there, while she was watching and calculating the commission she just missed. But I waited until I got home and had the palettes in my possession a few days later.



But let's talk about the good stuff: the colors and texture. I got #1 Steel Black and #2 Brown Copper. Steel Black is elegant and cool toned. The heart is a low-shimmer (but not matte) satin soft black for lining. It performs beautifully even without a sealing liquid and doesn't flake or fade. The second circle is a stone white highlighter with a satin texture. The outer circle is a silvery frost. It's shiny but wearable and I don't have any issues with it- it's not over the top and doesn't require a lifestyle that includes clubbing.

Brown Copper is a collection of warm tones, from the dark chocolate brown in the centre to the gold and copper that surround it. The colors are metallic but appropriate for daytime and look very flattering without stealing the show.

All the eye shadows are very silky and blend beautifully. There's no question of quality- it's superb. While the concept of palettes in black and brown isn't all that original, the looks are complete and elegant. My one gripe with these compacts is the usability of the design. It's gorgeous, of course, and the circles really stand out. But their width is such that my thicker makeup brushes are too big if I want to only pick one color at a time. It's workable and I have enough brushes to use with this, but I strongly prefer the fluffier ones.

Bottom line: Love, despite the flawed design.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill eye shadow palettes ($58 each) are available from Barneys, Saks and Neiman Marcus (in store only, for now) and online from the Armani website. There's actually a 20% coupon code on giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com, valid until Friday, September 18th. Use code MAKEOVER to get the discount.

All photos are mine.

Nars Lipstick Fall 2009 Fast Ride

Nars lipstick for fall 2009 is Fast Ride in their sheer formula. Sheer is a relative term here, since while not nearly as dark as it looks in the tube, Fast Ride still has enough purple pigment to make a statement. But it is very easy to wear (compared to the gorgeous but opaque YSL Plum Exquisite)- on me it's even daytime appropriate as long as I keep my eye makeup minimal and natural, and I think even blondes would be able to pull it off, at least as an evening lipstick.

My issue with Nars lipsticks remains, though. Even the sheer formula (like in Fast Ride) is too dry and becomes almost grainy after a while. I also need to be careful when applying, to make sure it doesn't build up in my scar (a lip brush is helpful). I usually need a balm underneath Nars lipsticks, which makes it a little too high maintenance when on the go. So as much as I enjoy this color and the look, Fast Ride isn't my first choice lipstick for the season.

Bottom line: Fabulous color, sucky formula.

Nars lipsticks ($24) can be found at Neiman Marcus, Sephora and narscosmetics.com
All photos are mine

Bobbi Brown Ivy League Collection- Eyes

Bobbi Brown's first offering for fall, the Nude look might have been a huge snoozefest, but she has fully redeemed herself with the Ivy League collection. It has a cute "back to school" vibe, pretty colors and green eye shadows. I couldn't ask for more.

The Ivy League collection offers a new Long Wear gel eyeliner color, Forest Shimmer Ink. It's a dark almost-green brown with gold shimmer. The color is very pretty, perfect for daytime (don't be scared of the shimmer- it's low key) and it coordinates well with green eye shadows as well as with taupe and brown neutrals. The quality is the same as always- this eyeliner stays put and doesn't budge. The color, however, loses some intensity after 8-10 hours.

By the way, Bobbi Brown re-did the Ultrafine eyeliner brush. It is now cut even slimmer, making it easier to draw the finest line. I've seen SA for other lines use these brushes on customers, so I feel even more justified in loving Bobbi's tools.


My eyeshadow of choice from the Ivy League collection is Golden Leaf (Bash is a stunning metallic deep emerald green, but I've already bought the new Chanel Murano quad, so my greens are covered). It's a delicate shimmer golden khaki/brown color. Hard to describe, beautiful to wear. The pigment is substantial and can be deepened if you pile it on, but I see no reason to go that way. I wear it over a primer and the shadow stays on without creasing, crumbling, flaking or fading until I take it off. The golden green color is very flattering and brings out my eye color- they look extra chocolaty brown.

Bottom line: Love.


The model for this collection speaks to the 80s preppiness in us and Ralph Lauren lust, but I looked for older fashion inspiration and found this cuteness from vintage Seventeen magazines. All photos are from 1948-1953:



Bobbi Brown's Ivy League Collection is available from most decent department stores and from bobbibrown.com.

Product photos are mine
Vintage scans from myvintagevogue.com

YSL Rouge Volupté #22 Exquisite Plum

You don't need me to tell you that plum is big this fall. It's everywhere, from makeup to boots, and personally- I'm very happy about it. Plum lipsticks come in every shape and texture, from the sheerest to vampy opaque. I have several reviews coming, but decided to begin with one of the boldest options, YSL Rouge Volupté #22 Exquisite Plum. This is the star of the YSL fall makeup collection and it's impossible to ignore.

Exquisite Plum is dark, creamy and offers full coverage. This is a sexy, after dark color that commands attention and dresses up your outfit. It applies easily wears beautifully, just make sure to exfoliate your lips and use a liner. The texture is rich and moisturizing, it keeps the lips feeling soft without compromising the lasting power. Actually, this Rouge Volupté mostly survived dinner, though I reapplied to restore its shine.

Bottom line: Gorgeous (if you dare).

YSL Rouge Volupté #22 Exquisite Plum ($34) is available from any YSL counter. I hope they now have testers, because when I bought it a few weeks ago, my local Saks didn't have any and the SA said they were not allowed to make one. Is it better for their business to have customers return the product rather than just "waste" one as a tester?

Photos: mine

Beautiful Compacts and Makeup Palettes

As the competition for our hearts, faces and charge cards becomes more fierce, it's no longer enough to simply launch pretty makeup items and coordinated collections. Many companies are putting a lot of effort into creating stunning compacts and embossed pans. The new palettes catch our eyes with textures and patterns the like of which haven't been seen until now.

It used to be the domain of the top brands- after all, Chantecaille has been doing it for several years, with flowers, butterflies and animals embossed in their face, eye and lip compacts. Last year, Lancome made an attempt with their Elephant bronzer, but in that case the execution was somewhat lacking and the actual product didn't look as good as in the stock photo. This season many more brands are offering elaborate products, and so far, everything I've seen looks gorgeous and is worthy of a holiday gift status.

Perhaps the most unique in this bunch is actually the Cargo Runway Palette. It's big, bold, and the patterns of the blush and the bronzer are unlike anything else on the market. It looks even better in person (review coming as soon as I can talk myself into dipping my brushes in the colors).

Click on the image above to see and drool.

Fleurs Célestes de Chanel Natural Finish Face Highlighter

Some products have such beautiful presentation it makes one hesitate before dipping a brush and actually using them. Fleurs Célestes de Chanel Natural Finish Face Highlighter is a good example. You just want to keep staring at the colors and the embossed pattern and admire them.



Fleurs Célestes de Chanel is a hybrid is a limited edition finishing powder and highlighter from Chanel's fall 2009 Symphonie Blanche, a collection with a shimmery white theme (there's also an eye shadow quad that looks a bit too transparent for me and a white nail polish). The compact includes three colors- the white shimmery highlighter, a warm pink and a very light bronze. By swiping a powder brush (there's one included with the compact in its own velvet pouch, but I usually prefer a round, full-headed brush for a lighter application), you can determine how much of each color would be applied. The shades combine well and the powder has just enough warm pigment to avoid a chalky look. The shimmer makes it ideal for a glamorous evening look, and you are also supposed to apply some to your décolleté, but I prefer my cleavage to look natural and not twinkle with a pearly shimmer. I'm weird like that.

Fleurs Célestes de Chanel is still available from most Chanel counters at the better department stores, though it seems to be sold out online.