The Master Corrector, By Giorgio Armani (of course)!

Ola from Barcelona! I arrived here yesterday from Lisbon, and am having an amazing time! I sent the day visiting all of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces including La Sagrada Familia, which was truly an awe inspiring creation. Part of the joy of traveling is being inspired by the vision and cultures of other people. We spent hours wandering the city and getting lost in the intricate streets and stopping by whatever caught our eye. I have definitely been exploring the Catalinian culture and enjoying lots of food and wine as well! Our wanderings have led us to some amazing tapas bars where we have tasted the many delights of Catalinian cooking. Our visit today also included a journey along Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona's most famous shopping strip, reminiscent of Fifth Avenue, and filled with chic boutiques and luxury stores. I picked up the Chanel Byzance Topkapi Eye Shadow Quad along the way, and naturally started thinking of you guys and wanted to blog!

One of my saviours this trip has been the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in Shade 2. The shade is an orange peach color that is perfect for olive or darker skin tones to conceal dark circles, freckles, spots or hyperpigmentation. I have been using it under my eyes, in addition to my concealer, to camouflage all the late nights spent wandering and drinking! The formula visibly conceals imperfections with it's Armani micro-fil technology, and also contains light reflecting pearls for a flawless finish. Even though I love my concealer, it did not cancel out the bluish tint of my circles, and this corrector does the trick.

I have tried the Bobbi Brown corrector in the past, and found that the formula was simply too creamy and settled into the fine lines around my eyes. The Armani corrector does not settle into the lines around my eyes, and it is heavily pigmented as well so you need just a drop for effective coverage. I use less concealer as a result, and end up with visibly brighter, more even toned skin under my eyes!

Again, I am working in HTML so excuse the format which is difficult to work in. This is a fantastic product that has truly made a difference in my makeup routine, so I want to share it with all of you! It is available at Armani counters, $36.00.

Just a reminder, don't forget to enter my Edward Bess giveaway!

June Favorites

I'm still in Lisbon, really enjoying the food, wine and culture here. Last night we went to one of the local Fado houses. Fado, which means 'fate', are these beautiful songs sung by men or women, which express betrayal, jealousy, or disappointed love. Fado is also linked to saudade, the feeling of longing for something impossible to attain. Men at sea would sing these songs to the women they left behind, "Wishing they were here, or wishing I was there." The songs are accompanied by a guitarra, a twelve string Portuguese guitar shaped like a mandolin, and a viola, an acoustic Spanish guitar.

June for me was a month of routine. I ended up with a "June" face wearing the same makeup every single day! Many of my favorites from last month were included, such as the Armani Heat palette, which I'm still obsessing over, and my Guerlain bronzer and highlighting star powder. I've added to that my current love, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Gold, and the Chanel Joues Contraste in Espiegle, a warm peach. I use the bronzer for contouring and definition, then add a touch of blush for warmth and color. The Becca highlighter is perfect for creating a glow on my cheekbones as well.

A new discovery for me this month is the Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge. This tinted treatment fluid contains Retinol. I received a generous sample of this from my local sales associate and have been using it everyday. After three days my skin was noticeably clearer! In fact, my skin is softer and smoother, and with this being the only change to my skin regimen I know this is what made the difference. I still use my Armani Luminous Silk at night, or when I want more coverage, but I make sure to use the Peau Vierge at least once a day to obtain the benefits. I will definitely be purchasing this once my sample is finished! I am also looking forward to the Le Metier skin care line which will incorporate the Peau Vierge technology!

Other favorites this month are the Chanel Le Stylo Waterproof Eye Pencil in Rose Platine and the Le Metier de Beaute large concealer brush. Both have become staples.

Sorry the lay out is not perfect, but I am working in HTML which is a little difficult for me, and I wanted to post something while I had the chance!

What are your favorites for the month of June? Any new discoveries? Don't forget to enter my Edward Bess giveaway!

On Vacation in Europe!

Hello Everyone!

I'm currently on vacation in Lisbon, Portugal and on my way to Barcelona, Spain! I was hoping to post during my travels but am finding it hard to come by reliable Internet access. Therefore, my posts will be limited until my return on July 4th. I hope you guys understand and will check out some of my older posts in the meantime! Also, please enter my contest for a free Edward Bess Eye Shadow of your choice!

Talk to you soon,
Nisha

Makeup Mavens Weekly Wrap Up!

The Makeup Mavens stop by every week to show you makeup and beauty you might have missed.  This week, they found some holy grail items, discovered secrets to flawless skin and introduced some bright summer colors.  Kick back, enjoy some lemonade (or whatever your beverage of choice) and enjoy some fabulous reads. 

Summer is the time for new nail polish and Christina of Lovesong for my Lipgloss shares some of her picks for the season.  

Jenn of Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup happened to stumble upon her holy grail base makeup routine.  Check out her products, tools and tips for a flawless complexion.  

For those with sensitive, redness prone skin, The Black Panties has the secret to perfect skin, Nia24 skincare!

Searching for the perfect neutral eye wardrobe?  Lipstick Luvvies has found the only eyeshadows she would replace, Edward Bess Private Eyes.

Klara of Mookie on the Bench shares one of her all time favorites for the perfect cheeks, Stila Convertible Colors in Lilium and Gerbera.

Its often good to switch up cleansers for summer and Nat of Raspberry Rouge has the perfect solution for combination and oily skins, Ren Mayblossom Balancing Cleansing Gel. 

Have trouble applying your concealer flawlessly?  Product Doctor has found a new staple in Le Metier de Beaute's large concealer brush.

Seduced Again! Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick in Demi Buff

The Edward Bess line is about simplicity and universal appeal.  His edited range of shades manages to flatter a wide range of skin tones.  The Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick in Demi Buff is no exception. On me the color appears a rosy pink with slightly cool undertones.  I have seen many other reviews, however, describing it as a pink-brown with neutral undertones.  I believe your natural skin tone and lip color will affect how this shade appears.  This is the secret behind the Edward Bess collection.

Let's examine how Mr. Bess masters the art of seduction with his Ultra Slick Lipstick:

1. The Packaging: Simple, sleek, and sophisticated.  Features clean lines and a black lacquered case with EB in white on the top and embossed on the side of the lipstick.  This is the "new" packaging which has been criticized.  As someone unfamiliar with the previous lipstick case, I find the rectangular shape to be practical.

2. The Scent: Fruity, with a subtle waft of fig.   

3. The formula: Creamy, and ultra-pigmented.  This is not a lipstick for the sheer hearted.  

4. The wear: A comfortable four hours. 

5. The application: An absolute pleasure.  A single swipe delivers full coverage of luscious color for a sensual pout. 

Need a Little Bess in Your Life? 100 Follower Giveaway!

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of my readers and followers for supporting me, and helping me reach 100 followers so quickly!  I truly enjoy blogging and sharing my finds, and I love to read all of your comments as this is what makes blogging so much fun!  As you may know, a recent discovery of mine has been the world of Edward Bess!  Since I am lucky enough to live near a counter, I thought what better way to say thank you then to share with one lucky girl my recent shadow obsession! The winner will receive an Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Eye Shadow of their choice!  

To be eligible you must follow publicly via Google Friend Connect.  Then just leave a comment below telling me your favorite recent beauty find!  To earn a second entry, follow me on Twitter @productdoctor1 and tweet my contest (make sure to include @productdoctor1 in your tweet) !  


The deadline for entries is Sunday, July 10 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.  After that a winner will be chosen at random and announced on my blog.  The winner will then have 48 hours to contact me, and let me know which eye shadow they would like (subject to availability).  If I do not hear from the winner within that time, the winner will forfeit and a new winner will be chosen.  This contest is open to everyone, including international readers! 


Thank you so much to everyone for your support!  Good luck to each of you!

Tagged! Top 10 Award!

Thank you so much to Jenn at Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup for nominating me for this fun award! Jenn has a fantastic blog with some amazing product reviews on high end, luxury brands.  Her reviews are insightful and (let me warn you) usually make me reach for my wallet! I love this tag mostly because I thoroughly enjoy reading about what products other people are loving at the moment! 

The Rules:

1) Link back to the person who tagged you
2) Nominate 10 other bloggers
3) List your 10 favorite beauty products

My Current Favorite Beauty Products:

Le Metier De Beaute Large Concealer Brush

Some of you may recall that my first love affair with a brush was with Edward Bess' Luxury Eye Brush, and that continues to be a wonderful, fulfilling relationship. However,  I have recently become infatuated with a new brush (and I say infatuation because I brought this brush home with me two days ago), the Le Metier De Beaute Large Concealer Brush.  For a while now, I knew that I needed something different in the way of brushes for applying my concealer only I had no idea what it was that I needed.  I had been using the Mac 224 for buffing in my undereye concealer, and the Sephora Professional Platinum Concealer Brush for blemishes.  Neither brush did the job I wanted it to. They either picked up too much product or required to much blending.  I was looking for something that would blend my concealer into my skin seamlessly.  

Enter the Le Metier De Beaute Large Concealer Brush.  My first trip to the Le Metier counter, and I was busy testing out the eye shadows on the back of my hand, admiring the texture of each one.  In between Fig and Chameleon, I noticed the makeup artist using the Large Concealer Brush on a client.  The application was quick and the finish had an airbrushed look. How could something so small complete the job so fast?

Escape to Neiman's

With a high of 95 degrees in sunny south Florida, what is a girl to do besides escape to the air conditioned bliss of the mall?  Before you judge, let me just say that I received a bunch of gift cards lately so I wanted to put them to good use! Naturally I couldn't resist on some self-indulgence and picked up a few new items which I was so excited about, I had to pull out my camera and take a bunch of pictures to show all of you!  After all, the best part about blogging is having so many wonderful friends to share my beauty finds with! 

Coral Pop! Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Orange Fizz

I am currently in Florida and it is about 100 degrees here! Needless to say, it is summer!  So before the beauty scene bursts with luscious looks at the Chanel Nail Colors from the fall collection, I thought it would be fun to revisit an old, fun favorite, Orange Fizz.  Orange Fizz was originally released with the Cote D'Azur Collection in the summer of 2009, which was inspired by the favorite resorts of Coco Chanel, and is now part of the permanent collection.  This creamy coral color is summery and beachy, and perfect with a tan! On my skin tone the color leans orange, but I have seen swatches on other skin tones in which the color seems more pink based. Orange Fizz has a semi-glossy, opaque finish with no shimmer.

Makeup What You Missed With The Makeup Mavens!

Makeup Mavens present makeup you may have missed. With posts this week on Edward Bess, Tom Ford, Chantecaille, Burberry, Lipstick Queen, Chanel and not one but two posts on the latest offering from Le Metier de Beaute (because it is that special!), you are sure to find something luxurious to tempt you.

Understated elegance is the order of the day at Hopelessly Devoted To Makeup as Burberry Eyeshadows in Rosewood and Trench take the spotlight. Definite must haves.

Lipstick Luvvies continues her love affair with all things Tom Ford, focusing on the perfect lipstick shade for summer, True Coral.

Fabulous trainer and artist Erin for Le Metier de Beaute demonstrated some tips and tricks to Christina of Lovesong for My Lipgloss.

The trend for sheer lipsticks shows no signs of slowing down, but Mookie On The Bench shows that it has been around for longer than you might think, with a look at some of her favourites for all budgets.

Product Doctor gives you the ideal makeup remedy by tracking down the only taupe you ever need, from Edward Bess, who is possibly as beautiful as the products he creates.

Is Raspberry Rouge in 'Ectasy' this week courtesy of Chantecaille's blush? Read her excellent review to find out.

So good it deserves to be mentioned twice, The Black Panties showcases the latest Lip Kaleidoscope from Le Metier de Beaute alongside makeup artist supremo Dustin.

Get Your Glow On! Kate Somerville Clinic-To-Go Resurfacing Peel Pads

Skin expert Kate Somerville, master in the art of exfoliation, has found a way to bring the clinic home with her Clinic-to-Go Resurfacing Peel Pads.  This professional strength treatment peel has all the advantages of a chemical grade peel without the scary redness or blotchiness that can result!  This product is packed with Lactic Acid to resurface and renew the skin, Vitamin C to brighten the skin, and Myrtle and Sage Leaf Extracts to soothe the skin. The results?  Clearer, younger looking skin in just 28 days! 

The End of an Affair? Edward Bess Ultraluminous Eye Shadow in Mirage

My exploration in to the world of Edward Bess continues with Mirage, the last of the shadows I picked up during my first Bess purchase.  This shade is the newest of the collection, having been released for Spring.  The color is a golden peach with frosty shimmer. 

The Only Taupe You Will Ever Need! Edward Bess Ultraluminous Eye Shadow in Intimate

In a word, taupe.  In actuality, this shade is multi-dimensional.  Edward Bess Ultraluminous Eye Shadow in Intimate appears in the pan as a soft grayish brown. On my skin the color takes on a grayish hue with a satin finish.  In the sunlight, the warm undertones become apparent and the shadow shimmers with gold.  

Versatile Blogger Award!

I am so honored to receive my first Blog award from the wonderful Zuzu at Everyday Beauty.  Everyday Beauty is an amazing blog with thoughtful reviews on a variety of high end products.  If you haven't done so, go check her out and subscribe! 

The Versatile Beauty Blogger Award is a social award that you receive and give back.  Here are the rules:

1. Show some love for the person who nominated you and link back to her (or his) blog in your post.

2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers.

4. Contact your nominees and let them know you've tagged them.

Here goes:

1. My biggest makeup fear is blue eyeshadow.  

2. I once bleached my hair blonde.

3. In high school I was in the Color Guard. I twirled flags, rifles, and sabers.

4. I have seen 'N Sync in concert.  Twice. 

5. In my next life, I want to come back as a Kardashian.

6. My Laura Mercier creme de pistache hand cream smells so good, I want to eat it.

7. I really, really miss Project Runway. 

I pass this award to:

1. Buy now, blog later

2. Daly Beauty

3. Makeup Magpie

4. Dempeaux

5. Reene

6. Rasberry Rouge

7. Beauty Reductionista

8. Makeup Picnic

9. Cute and Mundane

10. Makeup Academia

11. Makeup Never Sleeps

12. Mookie on The Bench

13. The Black Panties

14. Poseylass

15. Tubby Leopard

Thank you again Zuzu! I feel so welcomed and loved by the beauty blogging community! In just 6 short weeks, my little blog has grown and I want to send many heartfelt thanks to all of my readers for your support!

Chanel Le Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner in Rose Platine

Amidst the Mimosas and bronzers of Chanel’s Summer 2011 Collection, Les Fleurs d’Ete was the understated gem that is Rose Platine.  This unique shade varies from silver to a rosy gold or a taupe with multicolored shimmer.  I pair the liner with a neutral eye, to bring attention to this darling color.  Then I either highlight my inner corner or line my entire lower lash line for an instant bright-eyed effect. The waterproof, smudge proof formula means despite my teary eyes, this color goes the distance.  

Escape with Edward Bess Ultraluminous Eye Shadow

Escape to the tropics...crystal blue waters with pristine white sand beaches.  The warmth of unhampered sunlight bathing your skin.  I think this is what Edward Bess had in mind when he created his Ultraluminous Eye Shadow in Escape, a beautiful soft brown with golden undertones and a satin finish.  At first look the color is understated, but drenched in sunlight it takes on a bronze sheen.   
    

Introducing the Makeup Mavens!

Welcome! Makeup Mavens present makeup you may have missed. We will recap the weeks past highlighted posts, always keeping you in-the-loop and feature the finest beauty finds to help you stay looking gorgeous!


This week, Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup had you beholding the regal-ness that is Giorgio Armani's Eyes To Kill in Purpura #03


Lipstick Luvvies experimented with BECCA's Halcyon Days Palette. Pop on over and see what beautiful results she achieved!


Love Song for My Lipgloss introduced us to the sheer loveliness that is Giorgio Armani's gloss d'armani. How many will you be picking up?


Mookie On The Bench focused her attention on  Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery, an illuminating eye cream perfect for those dark circles!


Product Doctor is head over heels in love with Edward Bess' Luxury Eye Brush. Another beauty blogger falls for his charms!


Raspberry Rouge had us blushing over BECCA's Flowerchild Mineral Blush, and after reading her review, I'm lusting after that shade.


The Black Panties had us all experience some serious infatuation with her insane lashes thanks inpart to Geisha Ink Mascara+ ! 

Jet Setting in June with Birchbox!

I came home this evening to a nice surprise, my June Birchbox!  For those new to the concept of Birchbox, check out my May box for more information. This month's theme was travel, therefore each of the products featured are vacation-ready and designed to help you escape to the exotic island you have been dreaming about!

Holy Grail Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

What makes a product HG material? I think one of the best ways to judge is simply asking yourself, "Will I repurchase it?"  With so many great products out there, and as any product junkie will attest, it is hard to say yes to that question unless you really are in love.  And I am in love.  Quite simply, I will be repurchasing this again and again.  Armani Luminous Silk and I are in it for the long haul.


My skin is not the best, so I rely on a good base to help me achieve that flawless finish.  I am definitely not one of those lucky gals to be able to walk out the door sans makeup!  To give some background, I have combination skin, dry on the cheeks and chin area, and only slightly oily in the forehead and nose region.  I do have areas of hyperpigmentation, so I look for a foundation with buildable, medium coverage.


Enter Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.  My shade is number 8. Winner of the In Style Best of Beauty Award 2011 for best liquid foundation for 10 years in a row.  With its consistent accolades I had to give this formula a try.  I have been using it for 6 months now, and I've come to rely on this base to help me fake radiant, perfect skin.  What have I tried? Impossible to name everything, but in the recent past I have used Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua and Matt Lumiere, NARS Sheer Glow, MUFE HD and Matt Velvet +, Laura Mercier Oil Free, Silk Creme and Tinted Moisturizer just to name a few...

An Edward Bess Love Affair: The Luxury Eye Brush

My love affair with Edward Bess began with the Luxury Eye Brush, a sleek and solid companion for the contours of my eye.  Admittedly, I am not the first to fall in love with this piece of eye candy.  I have read rave reviews at The Beauty Look Book, The Non-Blonde, and Everyday Beauty, among others.  I admired the chic design from afar, until I had a chance to see it in person and pick it up.  Now I am left wondering how I went on without it.  In fact, in preparing for this review, I had a difficult time finding a worthy opponent in my current makeup brush collection. 

They Don't Call it The Cure For Nothing! Natura Bisse The Cure Sheer Eye

Since my dark circles are the bane of my existence, I am always on the search for an innovative new eye cream which will help soothe and protect my undereye area.  I was lucky enough to receive a generous sample of The Cure Sheer Eye from the product specialist at Neiman Marcus, and after a month of using this twice a day, I am sold.  I like an eye cream that "does it all" and The Cure Sheer Eye delivers just that by firming the delicate skin around the eyes, while visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles.  The color enhanced formula self adapts to every skin tone to diminish imperfections, and also provides the skin with exceptional radiance and luminosity.  

Bergdorf's Haul!!!

So I finally had time to go to Bergdorf's and experiment with some new brands that I have been dying to explore after reading so much about them on my favorite blogs!  Armed and ready, with a budget firmly implanted in my head, I navigated my way through the pristine counters, and found myself staring head on, at Edward Bess. 

I proceeded with caution since I am easily seduced by the luxurious display.  I have been researching this brand quite alot lately and have become very interested in their products.  For those new to the brand, as I am, Edward Bess is a line designed by a former model which originally launched in 2006 at Bergdorf Goodman.  His philosophy was to create a collection of shades which were universally flattering and would never go out of style.  In 2008, Time Magazine recognized Bess as one of the Top 100 People and Ideas Behind Today's Most Influential Design.  Celebrity clients have included Kate Moss, Mischa Barton, Ashley Olsen and Penelope Cruz. 

Pretty in Pink! Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Morning Rose

The flurry of posts featuring items from Chanel's Summer 2011 Collection Les Fleurs D'ete De Chanel left me heart sick inside because the one item I did not originally pick up was the Le Vernis Nail Colour in Morning Rose. I'll admit I'm one guilty of falling for hype and so I naturally snatched up Mimosa as quickly as possible, and for me that has quickly become one of my favorites.  However, with all the love being cast for Morning Rose, I also placed an impulsive order on Chanel's website, as it was out of stock at all my local counters, figuring $7.95 in shipping costs was a small price to pay to mend my yearning heart!  I placed my order on a Monday night, and luckily it was in my hands by Thursday afternoon!

Morning Rose, as all of you probably have seen by now is a delicate, warm rosy pink with golden microshimmers. This particular formula is the ultimate in quality.  I was able to apply the polish evenly in one coat, and easily achieve opaque color in two.  The color is truly a universal one, as previous swatches I have seen on lighter skin tones look beautiful and yet it still wonderfully complements my darker skin.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eye Shadow in Champagne (8)- Swatches

A crisp, cool glass of bubbly.  That's what I think of when I see Giorgio Armani's Eyes To Kill Intense in Champagne (No. 8).  This is a more of a pink champagne with a silver microshimmer and a metallic finish.  The color is bright and therefore illuminates the eye with its sheen.

This color is more uniform than the other shades in Armani's Eyes To Kill Intense range, which are multidimensional in tone.  Still, in the pot, you can pick up the dual shades of a rosy pink laced with silver shimmer. This duality is present in the sunlight as well, although more subtle.  

I'm Gaga for Gloss d'Armani! Pink 501 Swatches!

Today I received the most exciting phone call! It was from my Armani Beauty sales associate at my local Neiman Marcus calling to alert me that the new Giorgio Armani Gloss d'Armani finally arrived!  I was so excited by this news since I have been eagerly anticipating their arrival, that I immediately dashed to the store to have my first, real in person look.

The first thing I notice about these glosses is the packaging.  They are created to resemble the Rouge d'Armani lipsticks with an oval base and slim black oval shaped top which sits in the opposite direction.  The Armani logo is displayed as well.  The top has a snap closure which is a nice touch that allows me to throw this in my bag without fret.  There is a flexible velvet applicator which is off to a slant for effortless application.

There are 18 exquisite shades to choose from including 4 nudes, 1 brown, 4 reds, 5 pinks, and 4 plums.  The glosses were so hot off the presses that there were no testers available yet.  Therefore, I vowed to myself to choose just one to start!  I usually am drawn to nudes and pinks, so this helped me narrow my selection, although I could easily have been swayed otherwise.  I settled on 501, a sheer, light rosy pink with warm undertones and pink and golden microshimmers.