Fabulous Over Forty – Where Beauty Is Ageless

Avon continues to impress me with the quality and ease of use with their products.   Jillian Dempsey, Avon’s Global Creative Director has created a few mutli-purpose pieces that again impress me with quality and ease.  

The Professional Eye Duo gives you a beautifully polished look that is both easy and quick.   On one end is the color for the eye shadow and the opposite end is a liquid eye liner.

First the color. It comes in 4 shades, White, Shell Pink, Gold or Bronze and I’ve been using the gold shade, which works great with my skin tone.   The applicator is similar to ones used with lip glosses, a sponge doe foot tip applicator.   It goes on creamy and gives you ample time to work it in with either your fingertip or a brush to get the desired look you want.   You can also layer it for a more intense look, too.   Once it dries, it stays put, no creasing or flaking off.   These shades are light enough that they can be used as a cheek highlighter as well. 

On the opposite end the liner color coordinates with the shadow color.  White has Jet Black liner, Shell Pink has Warm Brown, Gold has Jet Black and Bronze has Warm Brown.  The tip is a very fine tip for applying color so you can get a tight line along the lashes to make it look like you aren’t wearing liner, but it gives you definition.  Or, you can apply it a bit thicker and even do a cat eye look.   Again, if you are worried about not having a steady hand for a perfect line, that perfectly OK, too.   When I mess up and can’t get that perfect line, I just take a angled brush or smudge tip brush and smooth it out and you still get a beautifully lined eye.   These are only $9!   Such a smart product and smart price.   I must add the Bronze color my collection!

The other product from the Jillian Dempsey Professional line is this Professional Multi-Pencil.  This creamy pencil is very multi-tasking and comes in three combinations.  Raspberry Radiance, Sugar Plum (shown at left) and Twice the Spice. I’ve been testing Sugar Plum and have had a lot of fun using this creamy pencil.  The lighter end of the pencil can be used for the eyes or as a cheek highlighter.   When I use this as a shadow, I first apply the lighter shade and spread it over my eye area with my fingertip.   On a casual day I can wear that alone on my eye or apply other shadows over it if I want a different look.   

The opposite end is a pretty, soft pinky plum shade that looks great as a lip color and I can dab it on my cheeks and blend with my fingertip, or smooth it out with a brush.   I like to use my flat tipped blender brush with synthetic bristles when using it on my cheeks.   Synthetic bristles work better most times when smoothing out a creamy makeup.   This pencil is only $8!   I’ve seen comparable duo pencils like this for more than triple the price!

I give both of these products a high rating and would definitely recommend to anyone for both ease and quality and wearable colors.

Images from Avon

Beauty companies are dazzling us with new makeup introductions, effective skin care, fabulous fragrances, and new shades for our nails – all kinds of temptations to spend money to be gorgeous! Check out the must-haves that made us swoon this week.

Gaia used the term “perfect” to describe Edward Bess Forever Yours Ultra Sleek Lipstick. If you want to see how “perfect” looks, head over to The Non-Blonde. Of the 13 shades available, she was able to limit herself to just four. Such willpower! It’s also noteworthy that she found a jasmine she likes!

Charlestongirl is already in the holiday spirit, thanks to Shiseido! The Makeup 2010 Holiday Collection Essential Elegance Palette, created by Dick Page, left her gushing at Best Things in Beauty.

The Budget Fashionista is always keeping us up to date with the latest in Fall Fashion.  This new line at Target is one you don’t want to miss. 

Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book is another Edward Bess fan. You’ll want to see her complete review, along with lots of photos, of his Compact Rouge.

Kelly has a new lip addiction. Tom Pecheux is shaking up Estée Lauder. He rocked Kelly with the new Pure Color Gloss. She modeled her lovely shade selections at Gouldylox Reviews.

At BeautyXposé, it was all about REN Replenishing Treatment Mists (and darling flats for fall). Find out why Pamela has been obsessed, spritzing with glee.

Let’s not forget our hands! Laurie at Product Girl  gave us a peek at Essie’s Fall 2010 collection, nail colors to complement the season’s fashion trends.

While we’re on the subject of hands, Marcia and Lisa featured an interview with Ellen Sirot, a world-famous hand model! If you visit Beauty Info Zone Blog, you’ll find a special discount on Ellen’s Hand Perfection products to keep your hands in tip-top shape.

To end our tour on an upbeat, jazzy note, head over to Makeup Artist Backstage and watch the short video on Washington’s style setters (“housewives” and party crashers aren’t DC’s only claim to fame). Victoria worked to beautify this year’s shoot.

You’ll want to drop in on our beauty blogger friends every day over the next few weeks. The beauty world is hopping!

Padded bras, padded socks, padded underwear – all things to make our lives a little smoother, softer and bootier.  And now we have makeup that’s even padded!   It seems to be the newest rage in makeup.  Who would have thought?  

A few months ago Bobbi Brown came out with this Denim and Rose Collection. Believe me when I say this set is much prettier in person than what it shows online.   I didn’t think I’d care for this much until I saw it in person.  Check out Best Things in Beauty’s post on this pretty set.  This set includes 4 eye shadows, 4 lip colors and a cheek color and a nice sized mirror.  All of this is enclosed in a padded denim zip up case.  Cute.

Several years ago Laura Mercier came out with her Library Palettes.   They were these little “books” of color and you could buy them individually or as a 3 book set house in a box just like buying a booked set of reading books.   Now she’s taken that Library Palette to updated looks with this gorgeous palette along with a mini mascara in a Kooba designed (padded of course) case.   This is a beautiful set exclusive to Nordstrom.  This padded set includes 3 lip colors, 3 eye shadows, 2 cheek colors, a glow veil bronzer a dual ended brush, a mini mascara all in a Kooba case (love Kooba bags!).  The mirror and slots for credit cards, license and cash are so brilliant!    It too is limited edition.   So classy.

And now NARS has jumped on the padded makeup bandwagon with two palettes of their own.  The one shown above is Beautiful Life Lip and Cheek palette.   It includes Top Row (left to right):  Sexual Healing Lipstick (sheer, shimmering pink blossom) Honolulu Honey Lipstick (satin, flesh-toned beige) Roman Holiday Lipstick (sheer, delicate pastel pink) Funny Face Lipstick (semi-matte fuchsia)   Bottom Row (left to right): Copacabana Multiple (glistening pearl)  Orgasm Multiple (peachy pink with shimmer) All in a black padded zip case. 

The other new palette by NARS is this Only You Eye and Cheek palette.  It includes Top Row (left to right):  Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow (left side: metallic rose mist)  Mekong Single Eyeshadow (espresso fused with gold) Eurydice Duo Eyeshadow (left side: electric aubergine) Pandora Duo Eyeshadow (right side: matte black) Bottom Row (left to right):    Hungry Heart Blush Duo (left side: iridescent gold ivory) Orgasm Blush (peachy pink with shimmer).   All encased in, you guessed it, a padded case.  

So what do you think about about this padded palette craze?  Is is good or a gimmick?

I admit, I am probably the only person in the universe who hasn’t read Eat Pray Love.   And yet, I am so excited for the movie and to see Julia Roberts in this part.   Last night was the red carpet movie premier, and didn’t she look lovely?!  I think Julia gets more beautiful as she ages.  She obviously is living her life right.

Makeup artist Genevieve Herr created Julia’s chic look for the red carpet last night.  Here are the products she used so you can re-create this look at home. 

For a natural complexion, Genevieve used the new Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation, an amazing radiance-boosting foundation launching next month, and Laura Mercier Secret Concealer and Secret Brightening Powder and a cream blush in plum on the apples of the cheeks. 

She wanted to give Julia soft, smoky eyes with a mix of blacks and plums.  To achieve this, she first applied Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony to line the eyes and then blended shadows from our new fall French Coquettes collection called the French Touch Color Design Quad.  Her lashes were topped with Définicils Precious Cells Mascara in Black for a full, natural lash. 

She finished the look with a neutral lip using Le Lipstique Lip Liner in Sheer Natural, Color Design Lipstick in Love It! and a touch of Juicy Tubes in Spring Fling for the perfect photo-ready pout.

If you’ve read the book or are planning to see the movie, I’d love to hear what you think!

Stila, a line that I haven’t used much lately has these fabulous little palettes at Ulta for only $10!   Yes, you read that correctly, $10!  Granted, these aren’t full sized, but to get a great quality product in this cute travel palette for that price is incredible!   A definite Beauty on a Budget!  There are five total palettes in the line and as of now only #1 and #2 are available.   On top is Palette #1 called “Road to Radiance, Across the U.S.A.”.   It includes 4 eye shadows and 1 Convertible Color for lips and cheeks.   The shades are cool pink tones with a pink/brown eye shadow for the darkest shade.  

Palette #2 (shown above) is called “Pretty in Paris”  This palette is still in light to medium shades, but they are a bit more warmed toned than the #1 palette.   The shades are really not so strong in the cool and warm palettes that you couldn’t wear both/either of them no matter what your coloring you prefer.  

I didn’t find these in the regular Stila section of Ulta, but instead at the checkout counter on a display.   I can’t wait to see what palettes #3-5 will look like!  

Nude Scene

I stopped by my local Ulta this past weekend and caught a look at these new LORAC pieces for Fall.   On top is Nude Scene which is exclusive to Ulta and includes 2 eye shadows; one in a soft beige/nude and the other in a soft light brown.   There is a blush which is a soft rose with some brown in it and a nude/rose lipstick gloss.   There is a flat fan brush included and all of this comes in a silver embossed wristlet.   All of this (sizes are full sized too) is only $25!   It’s an incredible value and the colors are extremely wearable and definitely would fit most skin tones.   For women over 40 this is a beautiful, soft, natural look that so many of us crave.  

Evening Out

I also saw at Ulta this gem of a piece called Evening Out Complexion Kit.   This is not exclusive to Ulta like Nude Scenes is, but I don’t see it online yet even though it was at the store.    Housed in this black/silver case is a powder foundation and underneath that is a pullout that houses two creamy concealers.   Lift up that section and on the bottom is a place for the concealer brush and a small soft powder puff applicator.  The foundation is oil and paraben free and the concealers are paraben free.   One of the big things that LORAC is known for are her foundations and concealers and this all-in-one compact is a fabulous idea. $38

Private Affair

Private Affair is an eye collection from LORAC that is exclusive to Sephora.  The collection has 6 shadows in greys, purples and bronze along with a duo ended eye shadow brush and a mini Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, all housed in a faux croc case only $38.  If you crave a little more color than what the Nude Scene palette offers, this is a beauty!   I will have to get to Sephora soon to get my hands on it as these colors have my name written all over them!