Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection: Yea or Nay?

First, can I say what up, Kohl's Cash? You can spend that stuff in their makeup section, and that is the bomb dot com.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I really don't know what to make of this brush from the Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection. I certainly love many of the Real Techniques brushes I've tried, so their (pricier) new range seemed worth trying. This is the 201 Pointed Crease Brush, which you can get for $16. Now, I do like the long handle, and it's comfortable to hold and has a nice weight to it. It was just a little...stabby, when I tried to use it in my crease. The synthetic bristles are very densely packed and evenly trimmed, so they did a good job picking up color, I just felt as if it was a little difficult to apply it to my eyelid given the stiffness of the brush.

I'm not willing to fully give up on it, I'm going to put it to the test again after I give it a good wash. Look for an update here when I reach a final verdict. Have any of you experimented with this line? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

The Search Continues | Perfect Cleanser

As I continue to search for a more reasonably priced replacement for my most beloved cleanser, a Sephora associate at the store in the Shops at Northbridge (who was awesome, but whose name I have forgotten, sorry!) helped me discover the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser.

First, how awesome is it that it comes in a tube?! In my wayward youth, I thought pots of skincare just looked so much cooler, but as I continue to educate myself about skincare, I've come to appreciate the importance of keeping things hygienic. Frankly, that's much easier when you can just squeeze out of a tube instead of sticking your dirty fingers in a pot.

On to the cleanser itself! According to Sephora's website, this "combines both alguronic acid, a patented antiaging breakthrough, and microalgae oil, a new source of nourishing oil, to visibly replensish and smooth skin." Phew! There's definitely a bit of a learning curve here. Less is more, if you use too much it won't "melt" properly and it'll kind of feel like you're tugging the thick gel around your skin. After it melts into an oil, wetting your fingertips and continuing to massage your skin turns it into a milky emulsion that feels very refreshing. I then use a warm washcloth to remove it from my face for some gentle exfoliation and to make sure there's absolutely no residue left. The biggest complaint I've read online is that it leaves a weird film on the skin, but if you just give the washcloth a go, you won't run into that at all.

I use this in the evening as my second cleanser and really take my time with it. I've definitely seen an improvement in the overall texture and hydration of my skin, so I'm super pleased with it! Though I can't really speak to it's anti-aging ability since I'm 26. The only negative I can think of is that it smells a bit odd, but it doesn't linger at all.

Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser is available at Sephora for $38.

blendercleanser solid by beautyblender

Before you say anything, yes, I know that it makes more sense to just use liquid hand soap, but sometimes I will pay a premium to make my life easier. This makes my life easier. Not only does this cleanser get my beautyblender squeaky clean, but it works great for all of my other makeup brushes, as well. I just swirl a damp brush on the bar for a second and then rinse it clean. The best part of all is that the full-size solid cleanser is super travel-friendly, which is extra nice when you're taking one of those longer trips during which your brushes could you a mid-trip wash. It doesn't leave any residue that I've noticed, and my brushes dry nicely afterwards.

blendercleanser solid by beautyblender can be purchased from Sephora for $16.

I'm in Love with My beautyblender

I am jumping on the bandwagon here. I got a beautyblender for Christmas, and after more than half a year of using it, I assure you, it is my favorite makeup applicator of all time. If you like a lightweight feel to your makeup while still achieving excellent coverage, this is your new best friend. It definitely takes a little more time than your average foundation brush, but it blends my makeup in such a way that it's almost impossible to tell I'm wearing any.

To use it, you just get it wet and squeeze out all the excess moisture, then bounce it around your face until your makeup looks perfect. I like to apply my foundation to the center of my face with my fingers first, then use this to even everything out. Quick tip: use the pointy end to really get your undereye coverage exactly how you need it.

beautyblender is available from Sephora for $20.

Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner

I bought this because my boss did and I forgot and asked her what eyeliner she was wearing because it looked so good and the answer was this. And it's a pencil. Or a stylo, as it says on the side of the packaging. And it's been so long since I've used an eyeliner so easily, what with my penchant for liquid and gel lately.

Bobbi Brown really hit the mark on this one. It's beautifully long lasting and the shade I got, Chocolate Truffle, is the perfect everyday color. I'm glad I got a dark brown, I still feel like the black wouldn't live up to my desire for the blackest black eyeliner, but the brown is sharp enough without feeling like it's faded. This sucker lasted me through a pretty intense workout and none of my other makeup did, so I'm calling it a winner.

Emerald Eyes: Rimmel KATE Gel Eyeliner

Recently, I wrote of the failure that was the limited edition colored mascara from Rimmel. Disappointingly, this limited edition eyeliner seemed as if it was going to follow in those footsteps. When I snapped this up at Walgreens and swatched it, I was really put off by how absurdly creamy it was. I didn't think the texture could possibly suit what is supposed to be a waterproof gel eyeliner, but I was absolutely incorrect.

 

I wore this for Chicago St. Patrick's Day this past Saturday, and it was awesome. It applied like a dream with the included brush (!!!) and, since I was bad and didn't was my face before bed, I can assure you that it lasted without turning patchy or smeary amidst sweaty dancing and sleep for a total of 20 hours. That is truly absurd. It's just the most beautiful rich green color with the slightest shimmer and I'm utterly in love with it. Add to that the extremely friendly price tag, I suggest you go see if you can snap this sucker up before it's gone.

Seeing Double with Hourglass

I'm sure all my fellow makeup addicts have seen photos and swatches of the new Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes by now. Seems like they've been a pretty major fail across the board, with an unfortunate texture that's just inexcusable in such a high-end brand.

But, on a happier note, I wanted to take a look at two of their earlier releases, from which much of their caché has come.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is everything I dreamed it would be. Two of the shades, Dim Light and Radiant Light, can be purchased separately, but Incandescent Light is exclusive this this palette. They're really all lovely and I've been enjoying the palette both for its variety and compactness. Incandescent Light is my favorite, though, it works perfectly as a highlight and also manages to give my makeup a glow without looking oily when used lightly all over the face.

Now, when I was making my Christmas list, that was the palette I had in mind, but one of Sephora's elves accidentally gave Santa the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. I was aware that these blushes were pretty universally loved, and once I had it in my greedy little hands, I just couldn't part with it. Like the first palette, the middle shade, Incandescent Electra, is exclusive. The most interesting shade for me, though is Mood Exposure, a dusty plum mixed with the powder shade Mood Light. It gives my cheeks the most perfect, luminous color and the application seems to be pretty much foolproof.

I highly recommend either of these palettes, if you can snag them. The packaging is pretty damn fly, too, which shouldn't matter, but we all know it does. They're a pretty penny, but they've been a standout addition to my makeup collection.

Orly Neon Heat

Wearing loud as hell nail colors probably ranks as my favorite thing about summer. My all-time favorite, Essie Punchy Pink, having finally bitten the dust and proving GD impossible to get a hold of, I'm always looking for another neon pink to add to my collection.

Here we have Orly Neon Heat. Orly has some strong contenders in the neon department, and I am loving their redesigned bottles. When I spotted this sucker on sale at Sally Beauty Supply, I knew I had to give it a go.

This is a nearly neon magenta pink creme with great opacity that dries down to a satin finish. Application was a breeze, it was nearly opaque in one coat, though I did two for good measure. This may sound odd, but as soon as it hit the nail, I knew it wasn't going to be quite what I was looking for. The telltale problem of a true neon is that the formulas tend to be streaky mofos that are near impossible to level out and dry down to a totally matte finish. It came out much darker than I expected it to, and though I do like it for its own sake, it won't fill Punchy Pink's place in my heart.

I can't call it a failure, that's for sure. This is a really excellent summer pink. If this is the kind pink you've been looking for, look no further, it's pretty awesome. You can usually find Orly on sale at any of its typical locations, if not, just give it a week and check back. And Punchy Pink? I know you're out there, I'll find you, baby.

Numbers 29, 33, and 34: The Maddaddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood

One, Two, Three

I have read A LOT of Margaret Atwood's work, starting (of course) with The Handmaid's Tale as some of my required reading in high school. Still, I resisted reading her 2003 novel Oryx and Crake for the past eleven years. One of the things I like best about her writing is how beautifully she narrates from a female character's perspective. Oryx and Crake was her first novel written from the viewpoint of a male character and, without knowing anything else about the book, I avoided it.

I know now that this was wrong of me.

Oryx and Crake is awesome. Atwood limits the reader not only to the main character's knowledge, but to his stream of consciousness. She reveals the background of this world through his fragmented mind, a mind tortured by both his past and his present. I don't want to give anything away, so all I'll say is I'll be damned, if this isn't one of the finest stories I've read in the past decade. Just fucking read it.

The Year of the Flood makes a powerful case for itself as the strongest book of this trio. Rather than a true sequel in the sense that most people have of the word, the events run concurrently with those in the previous book. Here, Atwood splits the narrative duties between two women whose connection becomes clearer as the reader moves through the tale. The prose, as always, rings with clarity and precision as it fills gaps in knowledge from the previous book, giving a lush impression of a world gone horribly awry and yet, somehow, still full of hope. You don't have to read Oryx and Crake to understand what's happening in this book, such a rarity in most trilogies, and it stands on its own as another excellent addition to Atwood's canon.

In Maddaddam, however, some important nuances and connections might go unnoticed had the previous two novels gone unread. It serves the purpose of joining the first two and forming a cohesive whole. While not quite as stylistically and emotionally captivating as Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood, it provides a welcome sense of closure to the world created in those novels. Though sad to see it end, I did not feel unsatisfied in any way other than my typical sadness at having reached the end of a great story.

Honestly, I think if you start this trilogy at any point, you won't want to leave it behind until you've read all it has to say. Of all the books I've read so far this year, none has been so fascinating or touching as these three (and I have already re-read a book this year that makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME). I suggest you get your ass on over to the library, or if you're not feeling patient, buy 'em up. These are worth adding to any collection.

N.B. Do yourself a favor and don't read any little breakdowns or copy for these. Discovering what's between the covers is part of the magic.

Review: Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins

Over the past year, I've really tried to upgrade the caliber of my skincare.  As I sweat a great deal in the summer, there really is no makeup in the world that will stay on my face all day, so I figured the best solution would be to get my skin in tip-top shape.  That way, I wouldn't have to worry about wasting makeup as it invariably slides off my face throughout the day for the next three months, I could confidently go au naturale instead. There are so many reasons to do it anyway, from reducing the signs of aging to limiting sun damage, that I figured it must be the right path.

One of the pieces of this puzzle that I most struggled to find was a good night moisturizer.  I have a fear of putting anything too heavy on my face, but as I journeyed further into the world of good skin, I discovered that nighttime is the perfect time to slather up and soak in all that moisture.  Cue the most recent addition to my skincare routine:

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-enriched Renewal Cream.  I have to say, I really am absolutely in love with this product.  This formula definitely falls into the "a little bit goes a long way" category (and yes, I did just type that to the tune of the Jessica Simpson gem of a song).  A quick swipe across the top of the pot is enough to get your whole face covered for the restorative night ahead.  Like many Origins products, the scent is absolutely lovely, just a subtle touch of oranges that brighten the experience immeasurably.  I awaken with my skin feeling plump and refreshed, more than ready to greet the day ahead.

For those of you who suffer from oily skin, this also comes in an oil-free formula, so don't automatically rule it out!  It's really done wonders for me, and, though I can't speak to the efficacy of the oil-free version personally, I haven't heard a negative peep about it anywhere.  This is definitely going to be a permanent fixture in my routine, and bonus points for how long this pot should last me!

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins ($39.50) available at Origins counters, Sephora, and online.

Julep Maven April 2013: Avery Review

Oh my God, oh my God, you guys.

I'm in love. Head over heels, can't get it out of mind, about to lose my head in love. With this nail polish, duh. I got it in my April Julep Maven box and it is deeeeee-vine. Solid one coat potential for anyone better at this than me, and almost a dupe for Essie Punchy Pink, but less neon, making it the perfect hot pink.  I defy you to present me with a hot pink that I will like better.  And lemme tell you, as hot pink as it look in that picture, it is even hotter.

I may have to wear it Avery day.


Haha, I'm so punny.

Topshop Eye Crayons

Picture 1: Marble (top), Rust (bottom)
Picture 2: Rust (top), Marble (bottom)

You know, technology sorely vexes me sometimes.  I just discovered that an excellent photo I took of the Topshop in downtown Chicago was the victim of a botched iPhone upload.  So not only did I learn that, but it took me forever to do it because iPhoto is very bad about telling me where it puts my uploads. Rant over.

So, these are a couple of goodies I picked up on impulse one day.  I had read a few good reviews of these from bloggers in the UK, but you never can tell if the American version is going to be the same, so I wanted to approach them with an open mind.  They retail for $14/crayon, which is definitely in the low mid-range, but maybe a bit more than I expected from Topshop.  Then again, their prices in general versus quality seem a little inflated.  I digress.  So I shimmied on in, wearing my disgusting gym clothes (God forbid I ever be able to swatch or try on anything in the store), and I selected these two shade out of what was, admittedly, a limited range.  The color of the Eye Crayon in Rust reminds me of Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Copper, although the finish and lasting power do not compare to the more expensive BB shadow.  Still, I got a good 4-5 hours of it before I needed a touch-up, and in the pencil form, application is a breeze.  What it lacks in staying power, it makes up for in how easily it blends as opposed to the BB. Definitely a great alternative for on the go.

The Eye Crayon in Marble snagged my eye because I'm always looking for multi-taskers to reduce the sheer number of items I have in my bag every day.  The color is somewhat reminiscent of one of my very favorite shadows, Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow in Champagne Quartz, but without the pink undertones.  There's also something about it that reminds me of the NARS Multiple in Copacabana, but it does have a bit more of an opinion color-wise, than that product (WHICH HOLY SHIT IS AVAILABLE IN ST. BARTS AGAIN I JUST LOOKED OMG SO EXCITED WEARING IT ALL SUMMER NATCH).  Ahem, anyway.  I've been using Marble just to open my eyes up a bit, for a quick highlight, or to just slap a little something on my eyes when I don't feel like the whole shebang on a given day.

The product is definitely on the soft side, so don't push too hard or you may end up with a sad, wasted, broken-off bit of cream eyeshadow (not that I have personal experience with that, erm.)  Sorry to blather on!  I hope you all enjoyed, for those of you not located near a Topshop, you can order through their website.  I think these are a fun addition to my makeup correction and I can't say I regret this particular impulse buy.