Monogram Nails By Nails Inc

Ok, I am torn on this new set from Nails Inc. Not yet, its available for presale in the brands online store for twenty points. I LOVE the look. But......... Think about it. You are paying for the nail decals. If they were a dollar or two a page, I'd be all over this. But at the price, for four or so of each letter? Just not sure I can get on board with it. But its a look I love. And if you remember my newspaper nails manicure, its a very similar look for no out of pocket cost. But the set is cute!

Toronto IMATS 2013

IMATS - International Makeup Artists Trade Show - Also known as a makeup addicts Disneyland! This year I am going! Without fail every year (ok, for the last 5-6 years) I go to New York the week AFTER IMATS is over. On three occasions in the past few years I arrived in NYC literally TWO DAYS after it ended. Talk about frustrating. The timing was just never right. This year, I'd like to hope I will make it to NYC durring the event, but if I go I will likely once more miss it by a few sheer days. 

Now there are still 11 weeks to go but I am getting more and more excited! I am beyond excited about molesting playing with all the Hakuhodo brushes, playing with all the creme foundations from Kett Cosmetics (thanks Wayne Goss for THAT obsession), and finally getting to see Face Atelier products in real life. 

Brushes, brushes and more brushes are going to be there for the buying with Bdellium Tools, Hakuhodo, Royal & Langnickel Brush Mfg and Morphe Makeup Brushes. I know Kind of Magic at least online sells Graftobian, Kryolan and RCMA makeup and those are all brands I am DYING to play with. Ahh, the things I would be so blissfully ignorant about if it weren't for the likes of Mr. Wayne Goss. But I also would be clueless on how to properly highlight and contour my face, so I guess its a draw! 

And while in the upcoming weeks prepare to see some posts highlighting some of the companies mentioned above, for now I will leave with the floor plan for IMATS 2013 Toronto. 

NARS Adult Content & Killing Me Softly Blush Palettes

So NARS has two limited edition palettes that are about to come out. And they are all about blush. I own two of their blushes (one cream and one not cream). This seems like a fantastic way to be able to try out a bunch of their blushes really inexpensively. And yes. I did just use NARS and inexpensive in the same sentence. But 4 blushes for under the $50 mark (think these are $49US) makes it $12.50 per shade. Yes you get less, but I never hit pan anyways!

Adult Content Blush Palette - contains Zen (natural beige), Miss Liberty (soft shimmering peach), Deep Throat (sheer peach) and Desire (cotton candy pink)

Killing Me Softly - contains Gilda (coral with a hint of red), Albatross (luminous glow), Orgasm –(peachy pink with gold shimmer) and Outlaw (soft rose tone with gold shimmer)

Essence Ticket To Paradise Collection

Look what I spotted at Shoppers Drug Mart the other day:

In some ways I was very well behaved (I got no nail polish). But I did pick up a gel eyeshadow for my mom (in green) and the gold gel eyeshadow for myself. And I am embarrassed to admit, a hair mascara.

The gel shadows are TERRIBLE. They are sheer and they drag and.... well, just avoid them! I wasted my money so you can save yours.

As for the hair mascara, I have no idea WHY I picked it up. I am going to go with nostalgia sake. I remember in high school these being super popular. But seriously. A purple hair mascara? When and where am I going to wear this? I work in a super conservative (navy suits only, no bare legs, no excessive piercings or visible tattoos, the list goes on) work environment. Purple hair mascara? No idea why....

Yeah........ it says on the display that the mascara is for eyes and hair, but the packaging specifically says HAIR MASCARA. So I am not risking this on my eyes.

Did any of you pick up anything from this collection? If you did, did you have any better luck than I had?

Deborah Lippmann is Wicked Cool!

Just thought I would share with all of you! I need the two on each end. Obviously I am not feeling the middle one! What about you?

Lancome Gift With Purchase

Now we don't have a Lancome counter at our Holt Renfrew but its a great deal if you do. I really like how the bag is so simple and functional. If it had the brand logo all over it I would not be likely to actually use it, but a simple blue tote? For those of you who have a Holt Renfrew near you and who use any Lancome products, this is a great deal!

Estee Lauder GWP!

So if you all recall my showing you the GORGEOUS new Estee Lauder metallic nail polishes a few days ago (HERE in case you missed it), and you were debating picking one or two up, here might be the push you need!

So if you like me are still dreaming in metallics, I suggest heading over to the Bay! I am just loving the pattern on the bag, compact and lipstick so much!

NARS Eye Paints For Autumn 2013

OK, Nars is coming out with a new brush. There. Said. Can we move on? Can we, can we?

Because OMG am I excited to post what is coming next. I mean, you know I like brushes...... But....

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those are what you think they are!!!! Cream shadows!!!!!! We all know my love affair with cream shadows. And OH MY GOODNESS am I excited that NARS is coming out with some! Now to be fair, these are gel shadows not cream ones and can be used both as eyeshadow and eyeliner. And they will be permanent so need to run out and track them down!

Black Valley

Transvaal

Interstellar

Mozambique

Snake Eyes

Mesopotamia

Iskandar

Solomon Islands

Tatar

These should be hitting stores in September and I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin Infused Complexion Prep Spray

On June 25th, Urban Decay launched two new products on their website; the B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray, and the Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging. Now to be quite honest, I paid little attention to this launch.

Oh my! I certainly should have! I have been using this for....... about two weeks now, and I am quite smitten with it. Let me start by saying it promises some pretty INTENSE results. And those I can not yet speak about. But I will discuss that in a bit.

The packaging, the outer box as well as the actual spray bottle have that kind of soft rubberized textured (think NARS packaging) and under the white cap of the bottle is ANOTHER cap. I have to say packaging sure doesn't MAKE a product, but it is a wonderful touch!

What this actually is:
This is an oil- and paraben-free spray that comes in a soft-touch bottle and emits a calibrated, microfine mist. It goes on so light, you’ll hardly feel it. Vitamin B6 normalizes overactive cell-signaling proteins (called cytokines) to help control sebum production, vitamin E provides antioxidants, and willow bark (rich in natural salicylic acid) aids cell turnover.

So basically, its both a primer in spray form (you put on even before your moisturizer) and a refresher that can be put on AFTER your makeup.

Now take a look at the claims made by Urban Decay:

Now as a girl with pores the size of craters, skin so red its more like it has the odd WHITE spot instead of vice versa and a struggle with blemishes and and oil, I was sold! Or at least, I was sucked into buying this!

Now, two weeks in I can not speak to much of the claims (though I do think I have less shine) but it simply FEELS wonderful. I tend to use the spray bottles from La Roche Possay of water to refresh my face throughout the day, but this just feels so much nicer. The advantage I am already finding with it is it seems to help my moisturizer sink in faster and more evenly. Its not at all irritating on my skin that hates more products than it tolerates and even near the eyes its completely fine. I guess only time will tell if it is the magic potion it claims to be above, but so far, I am certainly enjoying it.

For Canadians out there this was purchased at Sephora for $39 Canadian

L’Absolu Desir Collection For Lancome Fall 2013

I must say the packaging of the new L'Absolu Desir Collection for Lancome is GORGEOUS. Sadly, I think the most exciting thing to me about the entire collection IS the packaging. Don't get me wrong, its nice, but nothing really jumps out at me. Even the polishes seem a little too vampy for my liking!

Now while as said, the collection really doesnt excite me much, I must say the blush has my curiosity piqued! I am interested to see that in person! What about you? What is jumping out at you about the collection? Or is anything? Either way, isn't the packaging GORGEOUS?!