butter LONDON introduces LIPPY + spring/summer '12 polish collection

for spring/summer 2012 butter LONDON has released a gorgeous collection of polishes. in addition, they've entered the gloss game with a new line of lip lacquers called...LIPPY!

slang in britain, the term lippy refers to someone who makes impertinent or cheeky remarks. the dictionary also says it means impudent and fresh...

because one of the big trends seen on the runways during the spring/summer '12 shows was a "matchy/matchy" look {not just with fingers and toes but also lips}, what was once thought to be a bit outdated reemerged in a fresh, bold way. the look is deliberate, sometimes clashing with the pops of neon clothing, and definitely a gorgeous compliment to current trends.

LIPPY includes 5 high-pigmented shades ~ Primrose Hill Picnic {fuchsia pink}, Trout Pout {peach-cantaloupe}, Yummy Mummy {medium beige nude}, Snog and Teddy Girl.

Snog and Teddy Girl

free of parabens, petroleum, phthalates, sulphates, or bismuth, LIPPY is definitely pigmented and it's sticky. if you like a thicker, long-wearing gloss, you'll enjoy these. Teddy Girl {a retro, bublegum pink} isn't a flattering shade on me, but Snog {a happy, hot pink} offered my lips the pop of color that's bold and daring without taking me into my uncomfortable red lip zone {try as i might, i'm just not a red lip gal}.

the new spring/summer '12 collection features 5 new fabulous shades:

Bossy Boots ~ a beautiful neutral, opaque pistachio green 
 Knackered ~ a shear, twinkling oyster shade, flecked with micro glitter particles
Slapper ~ a truly teal lacquer, bold and gorgeously bright
Disco Biscuit {not swatched}~ tropical hot pink with an undercurrent of tiny iridescent glitter particles
Trout Pout ~ an opaque cantaloupe, pale and retro

this is such an amazing collection of shades, all of them unique and wearable. love, love, love! if you're a butter LONDON fan, chances are you already have a few {or all!} of these new polishes in your collection.

tell me: have you tried LIPPY? yay or nay?

visit butterlondon.com for more info.

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken my me :)

Too Faced spring 2012 + Mystery Out of Makeup series

bonjour, beauties! the weather remains on the cold-because-it's-still-winter side and i'm still relishing each opportunity to wear layers, but as you already know, beauty brands, including one of my faves, Too Faced cosmetics, are always one season ahead. in this case it means the spring 2012 collection has arrived!

along with a gorgeous selection of palettes and sets, Too Faced has also produced a video series, Mystery out of Makeup, that you can enjoy via youtube.

watch an episode here...




be sure to check out their channel for more fabulous ideas, tips and tricks and visit toofaced.com for more info regarding the new, gorgeous spring 2012 collection!

Revlon beauty looks from new york fashion week

fashion week for spring 2012 is still going strong in nyc {as i write this}, and global artistic director for Revlon, Gucci Westman, is creating some fabulous looks we can get excited about for the season!

take a look...

at rag & bone, the look was natural and sporty; think effortless, sun-kissed 1970's surfer.

"the look is about enhancing one's own natural beauty," says Westman. "i used a rich palette of terracotta, peach, and chocolate brown tones to create a naturally-freckled skin tone."

get the look:on the face: Powder Blush in Tawny Peach and Powder Bronzer; on lips: Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure, Super Lustrous Lipstick in Silver City Pink and Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Petal (with powder over); on eyes: new 16H Eye Shadow in Addictive, Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Sueded Brown, Grow Luscious Mascara in Black and Brow Fantasy in various shades {based on model}; on nails: Jin Soon Choi used Revlon Nail Enamel in Smoky Canvas and Hazy {based on model skin type}.



approachable glamour was the look at Luca Luca spring '12 where Westman paired an angelic eye with a strong lip.

"i chose shades and textures that would bring out the essence of the entire collection...sophistication of an italian vogue story i'd seen with girls that looked very luxurious, young and polished....slightly transparent yet glossy purple eye works beautifully with the lip."


get the look: on face: Illuminance Crème Shadow in Not Just Nudes, Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in Pink Light; Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia Fusion and Berry Haute, Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Lilac Pastelle and Shine City; on eyes: Matte Eye Shadow in Rich Sable, new Diamond Lust Eye Shadow in Plum Galaxy, Luxurious Color Eye Liners in Black and Brown {based on model eye color}, Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara in Black; on lips: new Expressionists limited-edition Multi-Use Palette in Bordeaux in the Snow.



at Oscar De La Renta {swoon! the collection was amazing!!!}, the makeup was natural and feminine with an emphasis on the brows and a nude lip.

"i was inspired by the pre-raphaelite painters...i used rich a palette of creamy, peach and nude tones to create a fresh dewy skin tone."


get the look: on face: Illuminance Crème Shadow in Not Just Nudes and Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in Pink Light; on eyes: Matte Eye Shadow in Rich Sable, new 16H Eye Shadow in Moonlit {available jan. '12}, Grow Luscious Lash Liner in Espresso, Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara and Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde and Brunette; on lips: ColorStay Lip Liner in Natural, ColorBurst Lipstick in Fashion's Night Pout, and new Limited-Edition Lip Gloss Palette in Bordeaux in the Snow




at J. Mendel the look was futuristic, complete with shimmering, metallic skin and eyes.

"i wanted to create a simplistic look" says Westman. "i used very little color on the cheeks and played up the eyes with hues of brown and added a hint of gold in the crease to create a glowing affect.”

get the look: on face: new Expressionists Limited-Edition Lip Gloss Palette in Bordeaux in the Snow; on eyes: new ColorStay 16H Eye Shadow in Bombshell and Adventurous {available jan '12} and Illuminance Crème Shadow in Black Magic and Not Just Nudes: on lips: ColorBurst Lipstick in Fashion's Night Pout mixed with Revlon Foundation to mute the color {available for a limited-time on lookgoodfeelbetter.org/revlon}: on nails: Nail Enamel in Smoky Canvas and Gray Suede

so many looks from such a fab brand, don't you think?

visit your local drugstore or mass retailer for products and be sure to visit revlon.com for more info

images: teen vogue, birchbox, racked, paul wilmot communications, vogue.com

Vivienne Tam spring 2012

taking inspiration from a japanese zen garden, Vivienne Tam created a gorgeous spring collection, complete with delicate sheer prints, embroidery, lace, and flowy gowns.







in keeping with this zen theme, lead hairstylist Leon Gorman {for Redken} kept models' hair simple and modern. "the more messy it is, the better. i don't want it to look like a hairdresser has touched it," he said.

to break down greasy strands, Gorman sprinkled on baby powder or spritzed with dry shampoo. after creating a side part, he pulling hair back into a relaxed, off-center chignon, finishing with Redken Fashion Work 12 Versatile Working Spray to wet roots towards the crown.



for the makeup look, Maybelline makeup artist Andy Koh created a clean, fresh face, inspired by 1970's glamour.



products used: Fit Me Foundation; gold shade from Color Explosion Luminizing eyeshadow in Forest Fury ; copper shade from Eye Studio Color Plush Eyeshadow palette in Irresistible Ivy in the crease and outer eye; Falsies Volum' Express; Color Sensational High Shine Lipstick in Coral Lustre topped with a dab of gold cream shadow; Shine Sensational gloss in Minty Sheer.

images: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week; style.com; tumblr.com

Peter Som spring 2012

featuring 60s tailoring, bright, bold color, stand out prints and edgy hair styling led by Eugene Soulieman and colorist Aura Friedman, the Peter Som spring/summer 2012 collection was another fabulous one from fashion week!




the hair, with a deep side part, swooped to the opposite side of the face and tousled with texture, was described by Eugene as "an undone 'do approached in a classic way." Wella Professionals color ambassador, Aura, chose a universally-flattering haircolor palette of warm pastel shades varying from rose gold, peach, apricot, and salmon.



as far as makeup was concerned, Tom Pecheux led the makeup team for MAC Cosmetics, giving each model a fresh, healthy-looking skin; eyes were the focal point. choosing a violet-burgundy shade, noting that this had no connection to the collection, he decided to play with color, adding a playfulness to the girls' faces.

watch the collection...

China Glaze Anchors Away Collection

while i bask in the fabulous, cool, layer-friendly weather, i can't help but be reminded that spring is just around the corner, thanks to China Glaze's new spring '11 collection, Anchors Away.

with 12 nautically-inspired colors, these bold and confident brights are reminiscent of a carefree natural getaway, with soft ethereal hues that inspire leisurely thoughts of sand and sea.

colors include:

Life Preserver: highly pigmented and luxurious poppy creme
Hey Sailor: vibrant creme red
Ahoy!: delightfully intense pink that flashes with reflective glass speck
First Mate: sophisticated and rich navy creme
Starboard: hip and playful green creme
Lighthouse: multi-dimensional, bright yellow glass speck
White Cap: whimsical and sparkling multi-dimensional white
Pelican Gray: high shine, cool toned grey creme
Sea Spray: calming pale blue creme
Below Deck: a flirty mix of taupe and violet
Sunset Sail: delightful peachy pink high shine creme
Knotty: micro-particle beige shimmer



the Anchors Away collection will be available in Ulta, Sally Beauty, and select salon supply stores by february, 2011. p.s., if you're a fan of the brand, follow them on Twitter!

from the descriptions and looks of the pics, i'm really curious to see Below Deck, Ahoy!, Pelican Gray, Sea Spray, Sunset Sail and Knotty in person.

tell me: which color(s) are you drawn to?

xo
info and images courtesy of China Glaze

NY Fashion Week: Backstage Beauty at BCBG Max Azria Spring 2011

Charlotte Willer created a gorgeous, muted and polished look for the spring 2011 BCBG Max Azria show-- i can't help but love it!

"the look was barely there, confident and natural, characterized by soft neutral tones, and no mascara." ~Charlotte Willer



to create the look, Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation was applied all over the face in the same manner as a moisturizer, giving skin a natural luminosity. on the eyes, the creamy golden shade from the Eye Studio Quad in Green with Envy was used to create a chic and subtle effect.




since there was no mascara for this look (a huge trend on the runways this season-- gasp!), brows were the focal point. to give them the right amount of soft, easy definition, Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil was used.




Color Sensational LipStain in Buff was applied on lips. a little balm was applied on top to add a hint of shine.


xo
info and images courtesy of Maybelline's PR agency

Jason Wu Nail Polish Collection by CND

i always love the details that go into putting the finishing touches on the ensembles presented during fashion shows. of course, drooling over the clothes is a given, but sometimes i just have to know what nail color the models are wearing and who designed the shoes and accessories, if not the designer.

for Jason Wu's spring 2011 runway show, i was excited to discover that another color was created exclusively for the runway by CND, and will also be part of a new polish collection! the Jason Wu Nail Colour & Effects Collection will be the designer's first beauty endeavor and CND's first direct partnership with a designer.

"every season i play with different ways of using color in my collection, so it was a natural choice to collaborate with CND on a capsule of nail colors that reflects my aesthetics," the designer told WWD.

these shades will be limited edition and available may 2011. the stylish palette features four staple colors: Miss Wu (a limestone gray), Brigitte (a dirty rose), Veronica (a blood red, pictured below on model), and Sophia (a dark mushroom). also part of this collection is an effect topcoat, named Anna, that contains silk fragments to provide depth.




tell me: is this a polish collection you'll be interested in purchasing for yourself?

xo

Spring Beauty 2010: Dolce&Gabbana Intimate Sensuality Collection

though i love this time of year, i know many of you are battling the incredibly cold weather. let's think warmer, more cheery thoughts for the time being, shall we? the spring season will be here soon and Dolce & Gabbana have a gorgeous makeup collection called the Intimate Sensuality Collection that will help compliment those fabulous warmer-weather ensembles you can't wait to wear. take a look...


for the eyes:



Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Petal




Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Mystery




Crayon Intense in Nude



for cheeks:



Luminous Cheek Colour in Apricot



for the lips:



Classic Cream Lipstick in Petal




Classic Cream Lipstick in Glam




Shine Lipstick in Precious




Precision Lipliner in Ultra




Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Innocence





for the nails:



Intense Nail Lacquer in Petal (left) and Drama (right)



such a gorgeous collection, right? this luxe line is pretty, feminine, and will add major glam to your spring should you choose to splurge on them. what do you think? anything catch your eye?

Dolce&Gabbana The Makeup Intimate Sensuality Collection will launch in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online at saks.com in march 2010.

xo