The holidays are officially upon us! Hanukkah started two nights ago, there is two days until Christmas, and four days until Kwanzaa, so alas, I bring you the last Holiday Collection post. But don’t worry it’s a good one.
This is something that was on my list which I received yesterday (thanks mom!). Many of you have probably seen this on other blogs, but I know that as soon as I laid my eyes on it on sephora.com I knew it had to be mine.
Nestled in it’s own holiday case is the Danmari cheek palette, a limited edition item for the holidays only available at Sephora. Unfortunately, as of yesterday this product is sold out online but check your local Sephora, they may still have it.
Enclosed inside is six NARS blushes. They aren’t full size but 0.12 oz (full size blushes are 0.16 oz, so you are getting 3/4 a size). This palette retails for $65 USD ($70 CDN I believe), whereas full-size NARS blushes retail for $26 USD ($30 CDN), so to get six of them for basically the price of two is awesome.
From Sephora:
What it is:
Based on the exquisite tradition of Kabuki theatre, a classical Japanese dance drama, this palette features six high-pigment cheek powders that let you play up your features like a true performance artist.
What it does:
The ultimate authority in blush, this limited-edition mirrored holiday NARS compact features the essential blush and bronzer shades, ranging from warm bronze and luminous highlighting hues to shockingly bright pink. Turn a new cheek with this fashion-forward mix created exclusively for Sephora.
I don’t know what this product has to do with Japanese theatre but I find that NARS often themes their products after Japan culture, maybe because the brand is owned by Shiseido? Who knows?
Top from L to R: Hungry Heart, Orgasm, Desire. Bottom from L to R: Casino, Super Orgasm, Sin
As for the actual palette, the colours are truly fab. I already own Orgasm, so I doubt I’ll even touch that one but I have wanted to try Super Orgasm for a while. It’s a bit odd that they put Orgasm and Super Orgasm in here because they are basically the same colour just Super O has more shimmer and glitter. The colours that I am the most excited for are Hungry Heart and Desire (hello hot pink!).
I haven’t had a chance to try out the colours as of yet (I literally just got it) but if they are anything like the NARS blushes and bronzers I already own I’m sure they are perfect. There is a reason that NARS is known for having the best blushes and honestly a palette like this, I think, is the perfect gift for any makeup lover out there.
From L to R: Sin, Orgasm, Hungry Heart, Super Orgasm, Desire, Casino
So why would this make a good gift? Are you kidding me? There is a reason it is sold out online and probably in the majority of Sephora stores. If you can find it, grab it because this is the best NARS gift set I have ever seen. The online beauty world went crazy for this palette, and to get six blushes that are 3/4 the size of a regular blush for $70 CDN? That’s crazy talk!
This palette is perfect for really anyone who wears makeup. The colours are great and would suit any skin tone, and the best part is that it includes and bronzer and highlighter so you have a full cheek set to complete your look. I was so happy to receive this as a gift and I’m sure so would any woman in your life.
Is the NARS Danmari cheek palette on your list this year? Have you tried it? Leave your thoughts below!
So a couple of weeks ago I received a MAC False Lashes mascara postcard in the mail. I guess I’m on MAC’s mailing list or something because from time to time I get these little promo pamphlets sent to me. Unfortunately there were no special offers inside but I really loved the artwork for the ad. I have a pair of glasses similar to the one the model is wearing in the photo and I thought it would be fun to recreate it. Although her look is winged out a little too much to be wearable for everyday, if you tone it down and sport a cat eye instead, this look is totally wearable.
Okay so the first step is to apply a full coverage foundation. I used MAC Pro Longwear in NC15. The model is quite pale and lucky for me, so am I (in this instance), so this light coloured foundation worked perfectly.
After you apply your foundation I recommend using a translucent powder to set the makeup. MAC’s Pro Longwear, I find, you don’t really need to set because it settles onto your face quite fast, however, I did apply a bit of Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Powder on top for the sake of this tutorial.
Grabbing the pinkest blush you have, work that onto your cheeks. I used NAR’s Angelika, which is a blue-toned pink with shimmer. I went a bit overboard for the purpose of this look (the model has a ton of blush on) but obviously if you wanted to wear this in real life you would apply it with a lighter hand.
For the eyes, all I applied was a shadow primer. I used Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray and blended it in. The look for the lids is very natural so no eyeshadow is needed.
Working with a black eyeliner (I used a Joe Fresh retractable eyeliner), line your top and bottom lash line also applying the colour to your tightline and waterline.
After you apply the liner, use a smudger and blend it out creating an exaggerated wing on both your top and lower lash line.
To make the look a bit bolder I went over the eyeliner using a black liquid eyeliner. I used MAC’s Liquid Eye Liner (my personal favourite).
Because this ad is for mascara, make sure that you curl your lashes and apply a volumizing and thickening mascara. I used DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum and Primer and then applied YSL Faux Cils mascara over top. I personally have not tried MAC’s False Lashes mascara or any MAC mascara for that matter, but to be honest, I haven’t really heard great things about them. False lashes were obviously used in the ad, so if you think that your lashes will look like the models if you use that mascara, think again.
Speaking of false lashes, apply the most spidery, longest ones you have and then use mascara again to fuse them together.
Moving onto lips, the model’s lips are a matte pale pink. I don’t have anything similar to that (the closest was YSL’s Lingerie Pink but it’s too creamy for this look), so instead I used NYX’s Dolly Pink lip liner.
Grab a pair of glasses and you are done! Of course it’s not the exact same look but a similar one. Like I mentioned before, I think this is totally wearable if you tone down the wing on the eyeliner.
What is your favourite makeup look wearing glasses? Leave me a comment below?
SpaRitual Rhythm of Life (left) and OPI Rainbow Connection (right)
I was feeling festive this weekend so I painted my nails the most gorgeous hunter green and to really bring in the holiday cheer I paired it with some glitter.
The green I chose was from SpaRitual‘s fall 2011 Wilde collection called Rhythm of Life. It’s the most gorgeous holiday green and has a slight shimmer to it. Over top I used OPI‘s Rainbow Connection from their 2011 Muppets collection.
Sorry for the messy nails, just painted them!
Love this look and the duo together remind me of elves or a Christmas tree, very festive!
Have you tried SpaRitual’s Rhythm of Life or OPI’s Rainbow Connection? What were your thoughts? Leave me a comment below!
