MAC: The Look of Style Black Video

I don't know if any of our Canadian readers visit the US MAC website (http://www.maccosmetics.com/), but the site hosts a library of videos made by various members of MAC's pro artist team, which are curiosly NOT on the Canadian site. These videos showcase the amazing talent of their artists and are a great way to learn new techniques, tricks and get inspired!

In the latest video "The Look of Style Black Video with Nadine", MAC takes on the number one runway trend for fall: black lips. This video coincides with the release of Style Black - if you ever had your doubts (and who hasn't?) about the wearability of black lipstick, I urge you to check out the video. Not only will you glean new tricks to perfect your lip line, you will also see how the layering of products can really build colour and texture.

www.maccosmetics.com/makeup_artistry/video_styleblack.tmpl

Chanel: Eye Gloss Autumn 2009

Have you ever wanted something really beautiful but totally impractical? Like that pair of stilettos you can barely walk 2 blocks in. Well such is the case with Chanel's latest fall offering - Eye Gloss Luminous Cream Quadra Eyeshadow.

The iconic black, double C case opens to reveal 4 shades of gloss: a shimmery pearly white, a light gold shimmer, a black creme and a dark red "rouge noir" creme. All photos taken in natural light on NC 35-42 skin.

The shimmery white and gold glosses when swatched are pigmented but on the sheerer side. The black and red glosses are incredibly pigmented. All glosses have a thicker texture on account of the pigmentation, but are not sticky.

Because these are glosses, not cream shadows or paints, these will not set and therefore will smudge and crease.

So why buy these? If you're a junkie like me and you want to experiment with different textures and products, you might like these. People with shallow eye creases, or flat eyelids will probably also have better luck with this type of product as the skin folds on the eyelid will interfere less with the product as it sits on the skin.

Hot, wet editorial eyes here we come!

J.

NARS: Fall 2009

NARS is one of my favourite brands, not only do I admire the artistry of Francois Nars, but the inventive and intense colour combinations the brand has churned out since it's inception in 1996 were what sealed the deal for me.

I have two selections from the NARS fall 2009 collection - the Pleasures of Paris eye palette ($67.00 CA) and Brumes eye shadow duo ($ 37.00 CA/$32.00 US).

One point to mention, when I purchased the Pleasures of Paris palette, I was under the impression I was buying The Essential Eye Palette, which is available in the US at Nordstrom & the NARS website. This is not that palette, but instead it seems to be an exclusive palette to Holt Renfrew. All photos taken in natural light.

NARS Pleasures of Paris

(left to right, top row): Nepal, Violetta, Demon Lover
(bottom row): Fez, Abyssinia, Cordura

NARS eye shadow duo in Brumes.

Swatches and FOTD's to follow.

J.

Lancome: Declaring Indigo

Based on the tricolour of the French flag, Lancome has released a very inspired and unique fall collection focused on the colours indigo, red and gold. The items I have for review from the collection are the Indigo Royaute eye palette and Midnight Glam Le Vernis nail polish.

All photos taken in natural light, NC 35-42 skin.

Left to right: 01 Indigo Royaute eye palette ($54.00 CA/$42.00 US), Midnight Glam Les Vernis ($21.00 CA/$18.00 US)

Indigo is a colour that sits between blue and violet on the colour spectrum. It's not quite blue and not quite purple, but it is 100% gorgeous!

Midnight Glam has a dark blue based polish with blue and violet shimmer laced throughout. It spreads on the nail smoothly and is well pigmented, only needing 2 coats to be perfectly opaque. The brush in the Le Vernis bottle is flat and wide, similar to OPI's Pro Wide brush, I find it applies the polish smoothly in only a few strokes. This polish is similar to Chanel's Blue Satin, but is a richer blue due to the use of a dark blue base over a black one. Blue/black polish lovers will want to pick this one up!

The Indigo Royaute eye palette is for me the gem of the collection. The glitzy gold case houses 4 shadows - a deep metallic indigo, a antiqued/bronzey gold, a lighter antiqued gold and a deep metallic indigo laced with gold microglitter. The texture of the shadows is divine - they are creamy, deeply pigmented and smooth. They remind me of the texture of Shu Uemura ME shadows, which is about the highest compliment one can give to an eyeshadow in my opinion!

Although the two blue shades look very similar, it is worth noting that the gold microglitter in the 4th shade actually adheres to the skin with the shadow - no annoying glitter fall-out here. I think this is a sign of how superior the shadow formula is as you can't say that about many glitter infused eye shadows out there.

I also wanted to purchase and review the new Indigo Charm Ink Artliner, but couldn't find it on any of the counters or the website. It appears as if it didn't make it to Canada! To our Canadian readers, please let me know if you find it!

I think Aaron de Mey's first collection for Lancome is fresh, a bit unconventional and very exciting. I haven't bothered with Lancome for a few years now, but this launch really drew me in - both in terms of promotional images, inventiveness and product quality. The last time I was this excited about a Lancome launch was many years back when Fred Farrugia did a whole collection based on red - red eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks - the works. I'm glad to see Lancome thinking outside the box again!

J