By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Blonde Opal

I bought the By Terry Ombre Blackstar ($42.50) on the recommendation of The Black Panties.  When I was in Seattle during the summer, I happened upon a Barneys and decided to pick one of these up.  I chose shade 3, Blonde Opal.  This is a cream eyeshadow stick with a twist up mechanism.  You can apply straight from the tube and blend with fingers or a brush. 

The packaging is pure luxury, a shiny gold tube.  The cap opens to reveal a gorgeous shimmery cream colored cream shadow (ha).

It definitely has gold undertones.  I'm not sure if this would work for people who are extremely cool toned.  It is extremely creamy and easy to blend.  And now we get to the not so good part.  Unfortunately, this did not stand up to my oily lids.  I did experience some creasing.  However, the Panties says she does not experience any creasing so YMMV.  I still love it as a brow and inner corner highlight as well as a base.

Overall, if you have dry lids, I would definitely check this out.  Also, if you are a cream lover, as I am, you might want to check it out.

Perfume Lust

Here is It's a Small World, dressed up for the holidays.  It was literally an event when the lights came on at night.  If you haven't been to Disneyland for the holidays, I would recommend it.

And on to the post.  I have been sniffing various perfumes lately.  I am not a fragonerd by any means.  In fact, I'm just now struggling to pick out different notes in perfumes.  However, I have found some gorgeous perfumes in my journey.  I thought I would do a little post for you on what I have been liking.

1. Serge Lutens Bois Oriental-  Sadly, this is a Paris exclusive meaning you can only purchase at the Lutens boutique there.  However, I have been able to purchase decants from the Perfumed Court.  This is the only scent my boyfriend has ever genuinely liked (so far).  I smell it and I smile.  Its gourmand and a bit spicy.  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  I wish I could go to Paris.

2. Frederic Malle Une Rose-  It smells like walking through an actual rose garden, outside, in the dirt.  Unfortunately, a bottle of this is crazy expensive (sad face).

3. By Killian Love and Tears- I realized a loved jasmine with Oscar Blandi Jasmine Hair serum.  This is a gorgeous Jasmine soliflore.  Another crazy expensive one.  However, they offer a solid perfume, which is cheaper, and I may cave on.

4. Annick Goutal Rose Splendide- This is a kind of tart rose fragrance.  I like this alot for spring and summer.

5. L'Artisan La Haie Fleurie-  Another white floral.  Gorgeous blend.  My sample spilled in my makeup bag, which consequently smelled amazing.  My only qualm is that L'artisan scents don't last very long on me.

6. DSH Cimabue- Yummy spicy gourmand. Saffran and vanilla is what I smell.  This is a lovely fall scent.  It makes me want to try others from DSH. 

Well, I hope you liked my post.  What are some of your favorite scents?  Anything I should try?

Becca Brow Shaping Gel

The Becca Brow Shaping Gel ($20) was a new product in 2011.  It is a clear gel that sets the brows in place.  It contains a wand with a spoolie brush to brush the product through and smooth the brows into place.

It is clear in color and holds my brows in place without making them feel hard and crunchy.

Overall, for $20, this is certainly not a bad product.  If you have thick brows that don't need any shading or want to set your powder/ pencil brow color, this is a really nice option.  Would I purchase this again?  Maybe.  However, I would really like to try something with a little color. 

Top Products of 2011

Happy New Year!  I am officially graduated from college and hope to resume a more regular blogging schedule with the new year (resolution 1).  The above photo was taken with the Instagram app in San Francisco on New Years Eve.  You can follow me on Instagram if you would like under the name Luvsong4mygloss.

Because I love best of lists, I present to you my top products of 2011.  My list will not have only products acquired in 2011 or released in 2011.  I will just let you know what I have been using the most this year.  I'm posing off of Dempeaux and doing 11 for 2011 (hope you don't mind). 

1. Chantecaille Future Skin
 I love this foundation.  I have loved it ever since I tried it.  I think I have gone through 4 pots of it.  It creates a really natural finish and really blurs imperfections.  It isn't the longest lasting but it doesn't break me out or irritate my sensitive skin. 

2. Chantecaille Lip Chic
These are ultramoisturizing, sheer, balm like lipsticks.  I aspire to own every color.  My favorite at the moment is still tea rose.  Its the best my lips but better shade.  This year I upped my drama ante with violetta.  

3. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Shadows
These were a fairly recent discovery.  The powder/ cream hybrid shadows are easy to apply and high impact.  I added two from the holiday collection to my collection and haven't looked back.  If you don't have one yet, get thy self to Neimans, Saks, or select Nordstroms and pick one up now.  

4. CND Sticky Basecoat
I used this a while ago and then strayed.  I don't know why I did.  This stuff is amazing.  It really holds my polish on.  I apply it over my treatment product, currently Essie.

5. The Body Shop Shea Butter Body Butter
This is a recent discovery.  As you may or may not know, I have sensitive skin and psoriasis.  I have a tendency to break out in hives at certain products (oh hi korres).  I tried this and haven't looked back.  It is scented but not offensively so.

6. Chantecaille skincare 
I have finally (mostly) cleared my skin.  I use the rice and geranium cleanser, vital essence, flower harmonizing cream, detox mask and fruit and flower acids mask.  Its really gentle and smells great.

7. Kim's Beauty Detox
I tried this out thanks to Christa of Perilously Pale.  The glowing green smoothie has been integral in clearing my skin.  If you haven't heard of Kimberly Snyder, you should definitely check out her site.  

8. Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric
This was a new acquisition for 2011.  Its a silicone texture, super easy to blend out and beautiful colors.  Give me more!! 

9. L'Occitane Hand Cream 
I have tried the original and lavender and loved both.  These are super moisturizing and don't leave my hands greasy.  I also love that it comes in a purse friendly size.

10. Wen Cleansing Conditioner 
I have to thank Jeanie from Makeup Merriment for this one (owe you one!).  Its a one step shampoo, conditioner AND leave in conditioner.  I found it helps my hair dry faster, lessens frizz and leaves it volumized and shiny.  

11. Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme
Its like a liquid lipstick.  The colors are gorgeous.  It lasts longer than a regular gloss.  I need more!

And now, to change it up, here are the products I would like to try in 2012.

1. Guerlain Rouge Automatique- I've heard many good things about these, and I do love me some lipstick.

2. Something from Cle de Peau- Panties of The Black Panties has me dying to try an extra silky lipstick.

3. Kiehls Creme de Corps- Since I have moved back to a drier climate, I need to moisturize more often.  This sounds nice.

4. Fragrance- Near the end of 2011, I started to really get into fragrance.  I would love to explore more.  I have already added Diptyque Eau Duelle to my collection and hope to add more.

What were your favorites of 2011?  What do you hope to try in 2012? 

Estee Lauder 'Double Wear' Stay-in-Place ShadowCreme

Ah yes, another cream shadow.  This one is Estee Lauder's 'Double Wear' Stay-in-Place Shadowcream.  Its a shadow that comes in a clear pot with a gold screw on lid.  The texture is nice and smooth.  I can get good pigmentation with just one swipe. 

The color is a warm golden brown, almost bronzey.  It's highly shimmery but not too much for every day.  Cool toned girls beware, it is a very warm color.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who isn't warm toned. 

I find the wear time to be great.  I can get all day wear with no creasing, which is great since I usually get creasing right away with many of my cream shadows. 

Verdict:  At $17.50, I would definitely recommend picking at least one color up, maybe not this one unless you are quite warm.  I have my sights on mochachino.

Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask, Because I Like to Scare My Roommates

Earlier today I was sitting around, studying for finals, looking like this...

Sorry, I'm not sure I gave proper warning before that one.  That is my Chantecaille Detox Clay mask, and I love it.  I love it so much I am sharing how much I love it by posting a picture of myself looking utterly ridiculous for all the web to see.

The texture is whipped and mousse like.  Its a dream to apply and blend into an even layer.  The color is a bluish dark gray.  My boyfriend compared the color to a definitely blue piece of clothing, but he isn't the best at identifying color.

This mask is a detoxifying and purifying mask.  I find it helps to lessen the amount of breakouts I experience while also calming the redness I experience due to extremely sensitive skin.  It doesn't dry hard like most detoxifying masks, which is nice since that is the feature that usually irritates my skin.  It claims firming properties, but I am not really qualified to assess that.

Overall, I never want to be without this mask.  However, some might not agree as it retails for $78.  If you don't have sensitive skin, you might not need it.  If you do, you should definitely try it.

Disclaimer: Skincare is very personal.  What works for me might now work for you.  I just want to let you know my experiences. 

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric in 2 Creates the Perfect Flush

Hello all!  I'm back with a little review for you.  Today I bring you Giorgio Armani's blushing fabric in shade 2 (note to Mr. Armani, please give your makeup shade names...numbers are so hard to remember!).  It comes in a squeeze tube with a small opening which helps easily control the amount you dispense.

The texture is very silicony.  It is very easy to blend because of that and you only need a small amount to get the right amount of color.  For those with darker complexions, you can easily build this up.  The lasting power isn't the best, probably 4 hours.  However, you need such a small amount to get the right amount of color, you could apply this more than once per day and I bet the tube would still last quite a few months. 

The color, oh my goodness, is a gorgeous bright pink with no visible shimmer. 

Applied to my skin, it imparts the most gorgeous flush.  I get that really nice just in from the color color.  Not that I remember what cold is like, living in San Diego and all (HA). 

Just one more swatch so you can see it in cool light.  Amazing, right? 

These retails for $38 and all colors can be found at Nordstrom.com.  I purchased mine off of ebay.