NARS - Guy Bourdin Blush Palette

NARS came out with another blush palette this year which stores were completely sold out of. I was lucky to pick one up during the Sephora Friends and Family sale (getting 20% off the retail price of $65.00). 

The palette is from the Guy Bourdin collection---I have no ideal who Guy Bourdin is but apparently NARS joined with him to create this palette.

To show you the size of the palette, I took a picture of it next to the bronzer palette and traditional blush palette.

The blush palette includes a bronzer, a highlighter, and four blushes. 

The top roll are new colors, the bottom roll are colors from the original NARS line. 

Swatches: top roll from left to right.

Devotee (highlighter) 

Mistinquette (bright pink matte)

Goulue (shimmery peach)

Swatches: bottom roll from left to right.

Laguna (bronzer) brown powder with golden shimmer

Orgasm (peachy pink with shimmer)

Deep Throat (peach with shimmer)

I love NARS blushes so I was determined to get this palette once I saw it on the Sephora website. The main reason for getting this palette was for traveling; this palette is great because it has a bronzer, highlighter, and several choices of blushes depending on what look I'm going for (day/evening). I haven't even used this palette yet but I'm not worried that it won't be a great product....I'm waiting to take it on vacation with me. <3 

Real Techniques silicone liner brush

As I was walking around in Ulta I was really excited to see a display of several new Real Techniques brushes. For those who don't know, Real Techniques is a brush line created by Sam Chapman (AKA Pixiwoo on You Tube). The line was first created by Sam, but recently her sister Nic joined the Real Techniques family and together they created several new brushes, one of them being the silicone liner brush.

On written the box: "Our silicone liner brush is the ultimate tool for smooth, precise application of liquid or cream shadows."

The brush has a silicone tip, its not hair like traditional brushes.

Here is a picture of the Real Techniques silicone liner brush (bottom) next to a MAC 210 (top) precise eye liner brush.

Review: I was intrigued when I discovered that this wasn't a brush with hair but instead a silicone (plastic like) tip; I quickly wanted to try this brush out when I got home. Although I'm not great at making a strait line applying eyeliner, I can determine what products work and don't. I applied liner using MAC's Fluidline; I used the Real Techniques brush on one eye and the MAC 210 on the other and I'm sorry to say that this item did not work for me.  I feel that because its a silicone tip, it did not pick up a lot of the product, so I had to re-dip the brush several times. Applying it on my lid wasn't any better; moving the brush from one side of the eye to the other wasn't a smooth transition as when I applied the liner using the MAC 210. Don't get me wrong, I have several Real Techniques brushes and I love them. Overall, I am not pleased with the silicone liner brush and I will be returning this item back to Ulta (retail cost $5.99). 

Thank you for reading my blog, Christine

MAC Magnetic Collection

I went to the mall yesterday and couldn't leave without going to the MAC counter to check out their new collection; I was quickly sucked in by the loud music and eccentric sales people. MAC recently came out with their magnetic nude collection which includes glimmering metallics and natural nudes. Although I had no intention to buy any cosmetics once I swatched one of the eyeshadows I was sold on it. Most of the colors from this collection were sold out but I was very pleased with what was left; I picked up a lipstick and two extra dimension eyeshadows.

Sweet Heat..a peachy pink shimmer. I discovered that this product is the same color of MAC's extra dimension skinfinish in SUPERB from a previous collection. This color is also great for a cheek highlight. 

CORRECTION: I just discovered that in this collection, MAC has the same extra dimension skinfinish in SUPERB....DUH!!!!!!

Silver Dawn..a grey mauve shimmer. 

Carnel Instinct..a brick color with gold shimmer.

Swatches from top to bottom: Carnel Instinct lipstick, Silver Dawn eyeshadow, Sweet Heat eyeshadow.

I am very pleased with this collection, defiantly worth checking out, if there is anything left of it. 

I am looking forward to trying these products out to create a perfect and shimmery New Year's Eve look.