Latest Beauty Haul from Sephora, eBay, and Bobbi Brown

Here are some reviews of the most recent new products I have tried. I love to watch some of the beauty shows on QVC to see the new products and watch the makeup artists apply them. I hope to learn new techniques and information, but am sometimes disappointed that I don’t really learn anything. Well, the last Bobbi Brown shows were NOT a disappointment. I learned how she applies a smokey eye, her fabulous concealer techniques and foundation. I love to look on eBay for products I want to see if I can get them for less money (and yes, usually I can) and found some Bobbi Brown products to die for. You have to watch out for fakes on eBay, so be sure you know exactly what you are looking for.

Bobbi Brown Oil Free Foundation- I got a sample size of this off of eBay and tried it out and was very happy with the ease of application and wear. It is a very liquidy liquid, and is easy to blend. The color match was perfect for me in Sand and I think it did help control my oil somewhat. I have used this for a few days and am really happy with it. I still look great after getting home from work and I don’t need to touch up my foundation to go out. It’s great! 5 stars!

Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette- The colors in this palette are beautiful colors for an everyday look. They aren’t too neutral that it looks bland, and they last all day. It is great makeup for the office. The blush is a really flattering shade on me and I love all the lip colors.  5 Stars

Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit with Sand and yellow Powder-  I am so happy I bought this concealer. It gives me the exact even look that I have been seeking for so long! I apply it in the morning before work and it still looks good when I take off my makeup before going to bed. it is a thick creamy texture and completely takes care of my dark circles.  I wish I would have tried this sooner.  I have not had any problems with it settling like I have heard others talk about. It stays put on me. I give this 5 fabulous Stars!!

Bobbi Brown Oil Free Compact Foundation in Warm Ivory- I ordered this off eBay before being color matched be a Bobbi Brown rep. I probably really need the Sand shade, but this color still looks great on me. it is very forgiving. I could really wear either shade. I love how this goes on creamy and sets to a nice matte finish in one step. I love compact foundations for travel and for times when I need to do my makeup quicker. I will probably use this shade more in the colder months once my skin pales even more. I also plan to purchase this in the Sand shade to keep in my purse. I give this 4 stars only because I think I need the other color.

From Sephora VIB Sale : 20% off is a great time to try new things and stock up on products you use all the time. I was almost out of my Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion so I got the Urban Decay Hall of Fame Set because the deal was too good to pass up. It includes the XL size of my Eyeshadow Primer Potion, which is a must have for me.  I have not tried the Eye Pencil in Zero (black) yet, but figure i will like it. The  mini Lipstick in Midnight Cowboy (sheer beige shimmer) is really sheer but pretty. It’s a cute tiny lipstick and I think I will use this up, but doubt I will buy the full size because I have too many lipsticks in similar shades already. I absolutely hate the smell of the mini Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in Timothy (coral with pink glow). I just can not get over the smell when i put this on last night. I won’t be using this. yuk! The color was pretty, but smells terrible. It also looks more like a hot red on me than a coral. I have yet to try the  mini Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara. Overall this set is a 5 stars for the value because I needed to replace my Primer Potion anyway. It’s a great way to try more Urban Decay without spending a fortune. That lip gloss gets 1 star for color, and nasty smell.

Nars lip gloss set- This was a really good purchase for me because I love every shade in this set. The Turkish Delight is the prettiest sexy pink shade, Striptease is a nice nude shade on me, orgasm is a staple for me, so now I have a small size for my evening clutch, Dolce Vita is just the shade I was looking for that shows up more on me but still looks natural. I got this shade in lipstick too and know it will become a Holy Grail color for me. I understand all of the raves on this color now. Greek Holiday is a beautiful golden nude color that I can see using over top all the lipsticks I have for some added depth and shine. Love them all! I give this set 5 Stars!

Nars Lipstick in Belle De Jour and Dolce Vita-  Belle De Jour is a beautiful nude shade on me. I was worried it would not look right on me since I am fair, but I was wrong. It is lovely and creamy.  Dolce Vita is a new staple for sure! I have been looking for just this tone in a lipstick for a long time. I am so glad I finally found it. It looks natural, but still adds more color than a beige or light pink. I can still wear this shade with a smokey eye, too, without being too much. I’m so happy! 5 stars for both beautiful colors!

I will be posting looks using these products soon.

Bobbi Brown Chrome Palette Review

I recently tried Bobbi Brown’s New Chrome palette and I have to say that I’m in love. The eye colors gave me the most sultry smokey eye I have done in a while. I wore it when we went out this past weekend and got several compliments. The lip colors are sheer, which is perfect for a day at the office, but for a night out I paired it over my favrite lipstick and it added so much depth and shimmer.

Palette Eye Colors: White eye shadow, Polar Ice shimmer wash eye shadow, Storm Cloud sparkle eye shadow, Iron Eye shadow, Thunder metallic eye shadow, Moonlight sparkle eye shadow, Cyber Grey shimmer wash eye shadow, Foil metallic eye shadow, Chrome metallic eye shadow, Charcoal Haze eye shadow.

Palette Lip Colors: Pink Mist shimmer lip gloss, Winter Bronze glitter lip gloss, Berry Shimmer glitter lip gloss, Chrome Pink shimmer lip gloss.

Over all I give this palette 5 stars for quality, content, wearbility, and style. it is a little pricey at $75.00, but for the quality and as long as these colors should last I think it’s worth it.

Ray of Light for Today 11-10-09

“Letting go is the most arduous task humanity faces, has ever faced
and will ever face.  Sleeping, we will give up everything for some cause
whether it be noble or foolish but we will always refuse to give up even a
slight Cause of our Suffering.  It is not that we enjoy suffering, but we
will not let go of the notions that are the Cause of that Suffering.  When
we Dwell AS the Moment, there is no room or time for anger and/or hostility
so we simply let them go their merry way.  No one Saves us but ourselves,
no one can and no one may, others can Point to the Path, but we ourselves
must Walk the Way.  For you see, the Causes of our Suffering is our
preconceived notions.  So it is our preconceived notions that have to be
let go of.  And there is no *quick-fix*.  There is simply Truly observing
our thoughts and behavior and picking out that which offends or blocks our
Awakening and pluck it out.  Not a simple task, and is a task that we
ourselves must do ourselves.  Another can Recognize a deficiency, but
another can not pluck it out.  As painful as some of our notions are to let
go of (pluck out), the pain will be a most Wonderful Relief and reduction
of the massive baggage that the Sleeping carry around with them.  Observe
yourself, your thoughts and behavior, and actions and reactions, and see
how they control and manipulate you.  And do something about it — like
pluck them out, let them go.  Before reacting or responding to anything,
consider, and in the considering, observe yourself, and see what should be
plucked out.  Start with just one simple little preconceived notion — and
one by one, inch by inch, slowly we turn toward Awakening.”

                                      — Yogajyotii

Update to ShoeDazzle November Selection

Well, the bad news is my Frankie flats did not fit. Which means I have to return another pair of shoes. The worse news is that I have decided to leave ShoeDazzle because of this. 3 strikes and you’re out as far as I’m concerned. They simply have nothing to offer me because they do not carry my size (9.5). They only offer 9 and 10. I have not had a really good fit with any of the sizes I have. The replacement shoes for the last two months also do not fit perfectly but are wearable, I guess. So the Frankie’s are going back with my request to refund my CC and cancel my membership.  I can just go to the store and buy any shoes I want, try them on and be happy right then, rather than these weeks of going back and forth and having to get a fedex pick up and all that to return. It’s still a hassle even though the shipping is free. Not to mention my continued disappointment. I was really excited about shoedazzle, but can no longer recommend them for people in my size range or who are hard to fit.

Ray of Light 11/05/09

“A person begins with dissatisfaction. Not content with the world he seeks
satisfaction of desires by prayers to God; his mind is purified; he longs
to know God more than to satisfy his carnal desires. Then God’s Grace
begins to manifest. God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the
devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and
contact; the mind gains strength, is able to turn inward; with meditation
it is purified yet further, and eventually remains still without the least
ripple. That stillness is the Self. The Guru is both exterior and interior.
From the exterior he gives a push to the mind to turn inward; from the
interior he pulls the mind towards the Self and helps the mind to achieve
quietness. That is Grace. Hence there is no difference between God, Guru
and Self.

“The master is within; meditation is meant to remove the ignorant idea that
he is only outside. If he is a stranger whom you await, he is bound to
disappear also. What is the use of a transient being like that? But so long
as you think you are separate or that you are the body, an external master
is also necessary and he will appear to have a body. When the wrong
identification of oneself with the body ceases, the master will be found to
be none other than the Self.”

                                  — Ramana Maharshi

ShoeDazzle November Shoes

For my November ShoeDazzle selection I chose the Frankie flats. They are adorable and are completely different than any other flats that I already own. I can’t wait to get these in the mail.

ShoeDazzle: Keila and Pepper

I ended up exchanging my Kassidy shoes for Keila because they were too big. Keila fits perfectly and will be more appropriate for the office. I was disappointed that I could not get the Kassidy shoes in a smaller size, but I am very happy with the Keila’s.  Just a note, that since I am a size 9.5, I seem to be ordering the 9’s with better luck. So far all the size 10 shoes I have ordered had to be exchanged because they were too big.

My Isis shoes were also too big once I received them and ended up being sold out in the smaller size, so with my credit I for the Pepper flats. They are very cute! Love the studs.

Since having knee surgery on October 26th, I can’t wear heels for a while anyway. Stylish, comfortable flats are perfect.

MAC Magic, Mirth and Mischief Eyeshadow Palettes

Here are the new MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief eyeshadow compacts in Sorceress and Smoke and Mirrors. I am wearing the top row of colors in the Smoke and Mirrors palette and LOVE them!

Sorceress Colors: White Rabbit (F), Hold My Gaze (S), Edge of Dark (L), Magnetizer (VP), Hypnotizing (F), Altered State (VP)

Smoke and Mirrors Colors: Fire in Her Eyes (F), Wide-Eyed Wonder (F), Black Magique (V), Spell No. 9 (S), Deception (F), Smoke & Mirrors (S)

These compacts are a lot smaller than the holiday compacts were last year. You get a lot less of each color than last year’s palettes. The colors are gorgeous!

Ralph Lauren Photoshopped Model and Fired Her

Ralph Lauren Photoshopped Model and then fired her for being over weight at 5′10″ and 120lbs!!? Read the article below. I am boycotting Ralph Lauren because they are obviously adding to the distorted images people have of their own bodies.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/was-the-photoshopped-ralph-lauren-model-fired-for-being-overweight-525248/

Update on my ShoeDazzle Selections

OK, so since I wear a 9.5 and ShoeDazzle does not offer a 9.5, I have had trouble choosing the right since with both pairs of shoes. My first pair in September is going back since it is still within the 30 days. They are still too big even with heel pads and ball of foot pads. I chose something else instead. I’ll have to try to use a size 9 and see how that goes. The same happened with the Isis shoes. I chose bigger thinking smaller would be too small and that was wrong. The Isis shoes were SO big on me that they flopped around. Part of it is my narrow feet. But I never had problems buying some brands that actually offer my size in 9.5. I hope when I get the different sizes they fit perfectly. I’ll keep evveryone posted on my experience. If this continues, I will be leaving the club because it is getting to be a hassle already because of the size problem.