So I was at Holts recently when I was out of town and after perusing around the makeup area I got suckered into a makeup touch up at the Laura Mercier counter.  I thought “why not?” I love her foundation but I haven’t really been interested in any of her other products.

One of the products that the SA used on me was the Caviar Stick in one of their summer colours from the Belle Nouveau collection, the most beautiful turquoise shade, aptly titled Turquoise (shocker, I know).  I already had my makeup fully done but what she did was draw a line of the product over my black gel liner.  When I looked in the mirror the effect was just so gorgeous.  The shade made my already-blue/green eyes pop even more.  The Caviar Sticks retail for C$30, which is kind of pricey, but then she dropped the bomb – the product was sold out across the country and they had only two left and one was on hold. Oh, and apparently the Belle Nouveau collection is exclusive to Holt Renfrew so I wouldn’t find it at my local Sephora.  I was sold.  So $30 poorer I left Holts fully satisfied with my purchases (I also picked up a pair of the Tory Burch Reva flats) and I have been using this product non-stop since I got it.

The Turquoise Caviar Stick is the perfect makeup item for fall and I believe it’s also waterproof as it takes some heavy-duty makeup remover to scrub it off.

I hope you enjoy the look!

As always, prime your lids with either an eyeshadow primer (like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion) or a cream eyeshadow.  I used MAC’s Bare Study paint pot and applied this all over the lid up to my brows and along my lower lash line.

I only used the Urban Decay Naked Palette for this look (in terms of eyeshadows) but the colours can be easily duped.  As a highlight, I applied Virgin on my brow bone, although any creamy-white colour will do.

Mixing together Sin and Sidecar, apply the colour all over your lids.

Using a fluffy crease brush, mix together Darkhorse and Smog and pat the colour onto the crease area, however, don’t blend just yet!

Taking Half Baked, a shimmery gold colour, pat this onto the middle of the lid area.  Then, grabbing your fluffy brush again, blend all the colours together.

With a pencil brush, grab Smog again and line your lower lash line.  Using your finger, blend the colour in.

Using a black eyeliner, I used a waterproof gel one by Sephora, line your upper lash line using a thin line.

To finish the look (and of course to add a pop of colour), use a thin liner brush and grab some colour from Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick in Turquoise and draw a thin line above the black liner.

Finally, apply a coat or two of mascara and you are done!

I absolutely love the finished look and love the Turquoise Caviar Stick even more!  The product is just so extremely creamy and it glides right on.  It’s expensive but I think it’s worth it.

On another topic, today is my birthday!  Yay for turning one year older!

Let me know if you try the look out.  Oh, and also your thoughts on the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks.

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On to the last colour from Essie’s Bikini So Teeny summer 2012 collection, All Tied up is a rustic bronze colour with subtle gold shimmer.

This was the last colour I tried from the collection and the least excited about.  I feel that summer colours should be bright and fun and although this one is different with that hint of gold shimmer, it’s not my favourite from the collection.  All Tied Up is, in my opinion, the most plain out of all the colours.  

The good thing about this colour is that it can easily transcend into any season.  I would definitely wear this shade in the fall or spring and it’s a great subtle shade for the more serious events in life, like a business trip (which I’m actually wearing it for).

As for application, the shade went on very nicely, becoming quite opaque after two coats.  You don’t really notice the gold shimmer once the colour is applied (well you can if you look super close).  Like the other colours in the collection, this one wasn’t streaky.  As always, I finished off my mani with a coat of OPI Top Coat.

Gold shimmer

I feel like if there was one colour to skip in this collection, this would be it.  The gold shimmer makes the shade different from others out there, but I just don’t feel that it compares to the other polishes in the collection which are all bright and fun and summery. Don’t get me wrong, it’ a pretty colour, I just feel like this isn’t the right polish for this particular collection.

Have you tried Essie’s All Tied Up?  What were your thoughts?
*Please note I did receive these products for review purposes.  All opinions are my honest own.

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Feeling wild?  Essie’s Mojito Madness is satisfying my cravings for a hot nail polish colour this summer.

Mojito Madness is a creamy kelly green colour that is very bright and bold.  I’m not sure if Essie has ever done a colour similar to this one as they are mostly known for their pastels.  When I first got the Bikini So Teeny summer 2012 collection this was the colour that I was so excited to try.  I don’t really have any greens in my collection, I have a ton of pinks and blues but greens are a colour that I’m lacking (I have China Glaze’s In The Lime Light which is a neon green colour but dries matte and starts chipping in less than a day).

The shade is basically what you see is what you get, it’s a solid colour with no glitter or shimmer.  After two coats of the polish the colour was opaque and actually quite glossy.  I finished off the manicure with a coat of OPI’s Top Coat on top.  It is a fun summer colour and when I look at it it reminds me a lot of limes.  The name is fun too and I could definitely see myself sipping some mojitos in the summer sun with this shade on.

If you are into greens I would pick this one up.  I haven’t seen a colour like this in a long time, I find that usually greens are either more pastel or bright neon, it’s not everyday where a colour like this one comes along, especially from Essie.

Have you tried Mojito Madness?  What were your thoughts?

*Please note I did receive these products for review purposes. All opinions are my honest own.

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