Fresh Tobacco Caramel Eau de Parfum

I recently received an email from Fresh Cosmetics that said that following:

"You asked and we listened! Back by popular demand, we are pleased to re-introduce two of our cult-favorite eau de parfums: Patchouli Pure Eau de Parfum, Tobacco Caramel Eau de Parfum.

Tobacco Caramel Eau de Parfum: Infused with voluptuous notes such as tobacco flowers, tarragon, and rich amber, this musky blend captures the mood of glamorous New York City jazz clubs and a bygone era.

These completely unique and utterly addictive fragrances, developed by co-founder Lev Glazeman, are available now exclusively at Fresh retail stores and Fresh.com."

Hm, ok. Let's see here. "Tobacco," "glamorous," "bygone era," "ADDICTIVE!"

After all the known ill-effects of tobacco use and the public health action against big tobacco, I'm truly appalled that Fresh would contribute to positive tobacco associations like this.

I won't lie. I know what they're talking about. I have an uncle who smoked a pipe when I was younger, and reading this email reminded me of that distinct smell I associate so many memories with. But it ends there. No one needs a perfume CALLED "tobacco" and Fresh certainly does not need to use words like "glamorous" and "addictive" to sell it. Really - addictive? What were they THINKING?

Let's not forget the bygone era they are recalling. Which era would that be? Oh right. The one in which everyone set the stage for developing lung cancer and worsening air quality. What an era to long for...

I haven't bought any Fresh products and don't plan on it anytime soon.

More BIV Pencils/Shadows

Wow, I'm sure getting a lot of work done today, aren't I? I've been itching to share my most recent beauty thoughts, particularly this one. After a couple of less than thrilling experiences with BIV eyeliners (as in blue, indigo, violet from the rainbow acronym ROY G. BIV - yes, I know I'm a dork), I refused to give up. After a few buys/returns/exchanges, I gathered the following thoughts on some products:

1) Smashbox Cabernet Eye Shadow ($16.00) - An absolutely *gorgeous* deep wine (as the name suggests) shade with a very small amount of shimmer/sparkle. Like the other Smashbox shadows I've used, the texture of this was soft, velvety, and very blendable. Unfortunately, I just didn't know how to make it work for myself. I wanted to use it as a liner but at this price, I didnt' think it was worth it.

2) LORAC After Dark Eye Shadow ($17.50) - Eye shadow's answer to Laura Mercier Black Violet pencil liner. Wow. Another amazingly pretty, deep, blackened purple whose name clearly follows its function - this is definitely a shadow for heavier, smokier eyes or just as liner. It felt like butter and with a heavier hand, would've given me a black eye. Again, I just couldn't justify keeping it at this price since my makeup use is rather minimal overall. I tried to pretend I would use it. Then I moved into my new apartment and decided I need the almost $20 back immediately.

3) Sephora Jumbo Pencil Pink 503Y ($) - This chubby pencil is a muted, lilac-mauve with a slight metallic sheen. It was easy enough to apply and rather blendable. I actually quite liked it, but the effect wasn't all too noticeable. It took a few layers for the color to really show through, and I didn't want to apply so much product. There must similar pencils out there with slight better color payoff and consistency - I could see this one drying out pretty fast.

4) Sephora Colorful Mat Mono Eye Shadow Mat No. 07 ($10) - This lovely, matte, deep burgundy/purple shadow was actually quite impressive. Very smooth texture and a great, basic shade that could work with so many looks. However, it was slightly chalky and not very pigmented. I layered it over the Jumbo Pencil and it kinda worked...kinda. I was very tempted to keep this but decided to do a little more exploring.

5) DuWop Eye-Catcher Pencil - Brown Eye Intensifier (Dark Purple)($18.50) - Hrmph. This one sort of stumped me. A combination of Almay's Purple Amethyst liner and Laura Mercier Black Violet, this new liner is sized somewhere between a regular pencil and a jumbo one. The color was pretty and intriguing, but the pencil itself was incredibly dry and difficult to apply. Plus, for this shade, the pencil was too thick.

6) Revlon Beyond Natural Eye Pencil, Dark Brown & Plumberry) ($7.99) - After testing Plumberry, I didn't even bother with the Dark Brown. It was neither plum nor berry. In fact, it was a slightly metallic, muted lilac. Yeah, seriously. It disappeared right into my skin with one smooth blend. Utterly forgettable and not worth a cent. If you're into smokier brown/black eyes, perhaps those shades will work for you (although a better option would be NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils or Jane's ColorSticks Eye Crayons). I wasn't too impressed.

All this, and all I really ended up lusting after is the DuWop Smoke eye shadow duo in Plum Wine (pictured above). These are exactly the shades I've been looking for and the cream, non-pencil formula looks like it might be easier to work with.

I'll keep you posted on the rest of BIV shadow/liner hunting, and hopefully this DuWop duo - stay tuned.

NYX - Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil - Slate

Couldn't help it. Tried to stick to trustworthy lipsticks for experimenting. But you know me. The eye makeup battle is one I keep fighting. Plus, since I have this in French Fries, I really wanted to give another shade a try, and since the cold weather is approaching, it was time to try something deeper and more interesting for fall/winter.

As an eye shadow pencil generally, this one is excellent - silky, smooth, and non-greasy. There was absolutely no tugging involved, and the color is easy to blend. Excellent for the lower rim, although the thickness of the pencil doesn't allow for thin, precise lines. I'm not sure how this will fare during sharpening though - it will need a good one.

Now, the color - a beautiful, deep, steel/gunmetal, blue-toned jade with a subtle metallic finish. Less "slate" than I would have liked. On my hand it was perfect (yeah, yeah, I know...) but on the eye, it was definitely more blue-green. I drew a thick line over my top lashes, blended out over the lid, and finished with liquid black eyeliner. Very pretty and different, especially for me. Yet I know I won't use it much, as lovely as it is. I would have preferred a true, blue-based slate.

I mayreturn this but will sleep on it since it's a unique, high-end color with great performance and price. $1.99 @ Select retail stores or NYX Cosmetics

NYX - Diamond Sparkle Lipstick - Sparkling Chestnut

Ah, NYX. How grateful am I that I discovered you. Especially since I've been good and haven't bought any new products from either Sephora or Macy's (any new products were bought on credit I had - really!).

The NYX line has allowed me to fall in love with some products very, very cheaply. My latest find is the Diamond Sparkle Lipstick. Normally, I would've been cautious of the "sparkle" in the title but this lipstick was a surprise. I've also been looking for a great, neutral bronze and this quickly ended that quest - for once!

The Diamond Sparkle formula applies like butter, and has the perfect balance between shimmer, gloss, and pearl finishes. Sparkling Chestnut (DS18) is a difficult color to describe. It's a soft, fleshy pink-brown bronze/copper shade. I've been looking for a shade like this that wasn't too dark or frosty. I'm tempted to call it the perfect, slightly glam nude because it manages to be great for that dark eye/pale lip combo without making you look dead or like a porn star. At the same time, it has just enough pigment to be worn alone.

On my lips, the effect was slightly glossy and wet, but not in that awful plastic or glassy finish - just dewy and elegant. I should add that in the tube, it looks there is some MAJOR silver glitter/sparkle action going on, but the particles don't show up on your lips at all.

I'm not sure about the lasting power, but for the results and price, it's worth taking a few extra steps to make sure it stays put. I have issues finding the right color for my skintone, and this is, in one word, Perfect. $3.99 @ Select retail stores or NYX Cosmetics

Daily Beauty Gripe - Brow Behavior

Some people have facial ticks, some, beauty ticks. You know, that weird little mishap that seems to occur repeatedly, daily, that you can never really fix? Some have complicated solutions, others, none. My personal daily beauty gripe is The Brow Droop - my sister and T will know exactly what I'm talking about.

I have pretty thin but just full and shapely enough brows. They are easy to maintain except for The Droop. See, my eye brow hairs are on the longish-side, especially in the middle (like most probably). At some unpredictable points throughout the day, some will fall out of place and tip unattractively into the middle of my arch.

I never really noticed this until the sis and T, being the older sisters that they are, would delicately smooth it back into place. Frankly, it doesn't bother me all that much - I have worse problems during the day and cannot check my face all day long. But it occurred to me that I could use a swipe of clear mascara/brow gel or something along the lines of Vaseline to fix things.

Almay used to make a great clear mascara but I think it's been discontinued, so I tried one from Maybelline that essentially did nada. I'm going to have to succumb and use The Body Shop's brow gel which is what the sis uses. I also came across this one from Anastasia and was surprised at the rave review. Too pricey for my purposes, but good to know nonetheless.

A weekly trim might be in order here. Perhaps this is why I crave being at home most of the time instead of going out. When else would I have the time to think so hard about brows and such?

Black 'n' BIV

Remember how I mentioned Laura Mercier's Black Violet eye liner oh, just about every other day? I reluctantly let go of that irrational desire for a violet/purplish eyeliner only to circle back to it a few weeks ago. Damn that Jordana Easyliner in Eggplant! I liked it enough to continue searching for similar, but perhaps slightly better options that are in the BIV family (blue, indigo, violet - yes, as in ROY G BIV).

I like Eggplant a lot. I really do. But that wine/burgundy quality about it that I liked so much? Well, surprise, surprise - it made me want to go bluer and more purple. Go figure. So I subconsciously edged my way towards LM Black Violet without ever quite getting there.

I began by perusing the drugstore aisles for a cross between Black Violet and Eggplant. Some contenders: Almay Amazing Eye Liner in Purple Amethyst and Raisin Quartz (liquid and pencil formulas), N.Y.C Waterproof Eyeliner in Smoky Plum, Wet 'n' Wild H20 Proof Eye Liner in Amethyst Pearl, Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner in Rich Raisin, and Revlon Beyond Natural Defining Eye Pencil in Plumberry, and Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Burnished Amber.

I bought, tried, and returned both the Almay in Purple Amethyst (pencil) and the N.Y.C Waterproof liner in Smoky Plum. First off, let me just say how impressed I was the N.Y.C pencil - it was soft and creamy (but not too creamy), actually gliding on with no tugging. The color was also pretty nice - a slightly blue-toned plum with a slight metallic sheen. Sadly, this just wasn't pigmented enough for me. Gave some sort of simple, smoky effect but wasn't all that noticeable. However, at a later time I will definitely purchase a basic black from this line - it may just be the budget-conscious option to Make Up Forever's Aqua Eyes in Matte Black 01.

Purple Amethyst was an almost neon, blue-purple nightmare on my hand but it was less than special on the eyes. I would have been better off using a simple navy blue instead because this color just didn't stand out or blend in - very weird.

Chances are that the Raisin varieties won't fare much better either. Sigh. I may just have to succumb and try Black Violet, but I know it will be a royal mess on my eyes. With cooler weather approaching, however, perhaps it stands a chance.

For now, it's back to the basics - a swipe of black liquid eyeliner and lipstick. Always reliable, if a bit boring.

Hope to try Revlon's Plumberry next - stay tuned.

On Indian Beauty

Do you want this woman giving you beauty advice? To be fair, the woman pictured on the left has been called the Helena Rubinstein of India - mighty impressive if you ask me. She is Shahnaz Husain, Indian beauty entrepreneur whose Ayurvedic products reach the likes of yours truly from New Delhi to New York. Read about her empire in "Indian Beauty" from the Wall Street Journal.

I myself am a total sucker for "natural" skincare and beauty products, particularly if they are from reputable Indian brands, including Shahnaz Husain, Biotique, and Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. When it comes to Shahnaz, I've had pretty good experiences with the line's kajal eyeliner, moisturizer, and an occasional face "pack" or two. Don't know how I feel about the company's philosophy or business aspirations, but wouldn't it be funny if this was the face behind the latest addition to Sephora, QVC, or Whole Foods?

On a more serious note, I do think it would be a refreshing addition, and would be thrilled to find such products at popular stores rather than hunting them down in Little India or Jackson Heights in NY. Can't say the prices would be so pleasing, but let's see what happens.

Here's to Husain's rosy aspirations...

Much Ado About Metals

Convinced that few deep colors look good on me and that neturals are dulling, I've been on a gold/bronze eyeshadow trip for the last few months. Yes, trying to find the perfect ones that could work both in a number of different ways.

It was LORAC to the rescue. Bronze and Gold are exactly that - a basic bronze with a hint of coppery pink, and a slightly mustard gold. These shadows are great alternatives (and improvements upon) my previous MAC Bronze and Woodwinked shadows. In truth, the MAC versions are slightly truer to the respetive metals they are named after but I wasn't too happy with their results. This is still something I'm mulling over, but for now, I feel safer with LORAC.

However, if you're really on a budget or are obsessed wtih drugstores like me, try Jordana's Sunset and Marigold shadows. The quality is wonderful, especially for the price ($1.99) and the shades are nearly exact matches for both Bronzes, Gold, and Woodwinked. Sunset has more orange/peach than either Bronze, but still gives a pretty, sunkissed look. Hard to find, but worth it. Again, that Duane Reade near the NJ Transit at Penn Station is a gold mine...

I also recently (as in...this morning) experimented with Revlon's Illuminence Creme Eye Shadow palette in Precious Metals because it was on sale with a mascara and I've always wanted to try it. I happen to really like creme eye shadows - they are so easy to apply and blend, and I prefer the finish over most powder shadows (I think they look a bit "dusty").

However, this one is going back to the store. These are very, very sheer shadows that take more than a few dabs of the finger to show up, crease easily, and leave behind more shimmer particles than anything else. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks (or use my never-ending Sephora credit) to try Clinique's Quick Eyes Cream Shadow.

Whew, that's a lot of metal for now. Time to explore some deep browns and plums for fall!

Back!

Wow, I cannot believe I haven't expressed my odd views and makeup love in almost 15 days. Unheard of. I wasn't even able to christen the new month with a post on Sept. 1st. This is due in part to the fact that I was out of town for about a week and a bit busy before and after.

Some news: have an apartment, and so now must become obsessed with a different, more necessary kind of shopping. Shower curtains, utensils, lamps, anyone? Believe it or not, this is more my world :) If I had a fatter wallet, however, I'd go the high-end way to decorate or at least, Urban Outfitters (although I can't say I love their stuff). Not necessary though. I love my pad, but will decorate and furnish as simply, cheaply, but somewhat elegantly as possible.

I have very little to report makeup wise except that I discovered some Artiba products in San Francisco and found them interesting, but didn't buy anything. Will have to look it up. Exchanged some old, unused products for LORAC eyeshadows and so happy with them - read here for more.

Buying into all this MAC Cult of Cherry Spiced Chocolate Quad and wondering how to get my hands on one!

Overall, been wearing very little makeup lately, but skin is better and weather is cooling down, so now I'm psyched about having fun with fall makeup - so much easier, so much more fun and interesting, right?

More to come!

More NYX Love - Golden & Walnut Eyeshadows

Watch out - I'm sure there are going to be several more posts like this about how much I like a new NYX product I've tried. I've been so extremely satisfied with my Trio eye shadow palette in Guru that I couldn't help but experiment with 2 new eye shadows - Golden and Walnut.

I bought these shadows seperately, but they also come in a Trio with Rust, a bright pink shade comparable to Milani Flare and MAC's Cranberry. I really wanted another trio, and this had the 2 shades I liked best, but the Rust was really killing it, so I settled on the singles. Rust is definitely a beautiful color, but I know it's not one I would have really used. If I ever get to that level, I will surely try Rust as well.

I was most interested in these warm, golden/bronze shades because my love for MAC's Bronze is quickly waning. I wear it on my lid, but when too much hits my crease, it just starts to look dirty. I already have tan skin, so a dirty bronze does nothing for it. If just applied in the crease, it is barely visible - the slightest shimmer that is not worth the price.

Walnut (#Es72) is a deep, mauve bronze in the pan, but goes on a more rose copper/bronze in a slightly pearl/metallic finish (by the way, the NYX color swatches are actually pretty accurate). Gorgeous over the lid for day, and with extra layering on the lid/crease for night. This shade would go with so many pink and brown shadows. Due to my skin tone and tinted lids, I need to use a heavier hand with this, but it is still far more pigmented and buildable than its Milani counterpart, Spice, which is currently collecting dust.

Walnut also reminds me of MAC's Glamour Check from the Starflash collection (which I didn't keep). Starflash is seriously overrated - the finish of these NYX shadows is actually better in my opinion (almost creamy and less dusty), as are those of several other shadows (Smashbox included).

Golden(#ES12) is an almost mustard gold with similar pearl/metallic finish and minimal shimmer. I like this on my lids for a little oomph that is warmer than some of the Guru shades I love. This is also great for daily wear depending on how it's applied, and of course, any gold would work for night. This is the effect I was going for with MAC's Woodwinked, but that also had the tendency to look a bit dirty.

I highly recommend these NYX shadows in particular - all of them are great quality, but next to the Trio in Guru, these are particularly versatile. I hope to try Champagne and Platinum Pink at some point, too! $3.99 @ Select drugstores or NYX Cosmetics

Best Lipsticks - Top 10 on All Women Stalk

Believe it or not, my neurotic ramblings were recently quoted in All Women Stalk's Top 10 Best Lipsticks.

One of my favorites, Maybelline Moisture Extreme (Plum Sable) made it to the list.

The list features a diverse selection of popular favorites, so be sure to check it out!

Much Ado About Clinique & Such

Being that I was born the day I wrote about my Clinique concealer, it's not surprising that I've rediscovered the entire brand. Actually, discovered is more like it. Clinique has always seemed too old-school and basic to me, and I've really bothered with it.

That's right - I've never owned a Clinique skincare or cosmetic product. Once in high school I experimented with the Facial Cleansing Bar and Dramatically Different Moisturizer and hated it. I currently have the gel version of the same moisturizer and feel the same way. I love the 2 lipsticks I have though (Chocolate Ice & Rum Raisin)!

My first real makeup purchases were either from the drugstore, MAC, BeneFit, Prescriptives, or similar, newer lines that didn't exist when my sister was in high school (yeah, that's kind of how I define such things...).

When the sweet sales assistant at the Clinique counter matched me for concealer and the Almost Powder Spf 15, I experimented with its eye shadows, and was so impressed. While I haven't yet found the right shade, there were more than enough options. The few that I did test had an excellent finish - sort of shimmery but not sparkly, pigmented, but not too much, wearable for work but not completely boring either (Gold Rush and Sienna Glaze).

I mentioned to her that I was less and less satisfied with MAC lately (returned Starflashes and contemplating getting rid of Bronze shadow) and she explained the most basic thing to me - certain lines are for certain kinds of makeup and wear, and few of the ones I've been exploring would thus have what I'm looking for. Light bulb moment. Clinique may not have the best shades for my skin tone, but it will be worth exploring brands that carry the lighter, more natural, everyday makeup I'm looking for.

So in addition to the concealer in Deep Honey, I also go the Almost Powder in Deep. It was perfect in the store and has been reasonably good the last few days - no drying, good color match, made my skin feel smooth afterwards. This morning, I had one of those Makeup Alley moments that I loathe reading about - the color seemed to magically change on my face!

Ok, ok, I'm sure it had something to do with the awful condition of my skin when I applied it...I had just walked across Central Park in oh, about 80 degree weather. My face was ruddy, sweaty, and irritated. In an attempt to correct the situation, I brushed some powder on and - ew. It went on an ashy, muddy taupe that looked nothing like my skin.

I hope this doesn't happen again, otherwise I might considering taking this back to the store. In general though, I'm pretty happy with this powder - it's one of the many staples I didn't really have (L'Oreal was temporary) but need. $22.50 @ Sephora

Quick Cetaphil Update

I felt the need to update my thoughts on Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser because as expected, I've hit a snag with it. Ah-ha! I knew SOMETHING had to be wrong with using this product. My initial review was unexpectedly positive, but I'm having second thoughts.

This is mostly because I don't like the method for using Cetaphil, not necessarily the product itself. You're supposed to slather it onto your face and then wipe it off with a washcloth or tissue. I don't like using tissue because it's not strong enough to take off the cleanser or makeup residue, and also leaves fibers behind. Up until recently, a washcloth was working just fine - now, my skin is a bit dry and flaky in the way it used to be before clearing up. I think it's also more irritable, and I'm sure it's due to the rough texture of the cloth.

I'll admit that I should upgrade to a better quality washcloth, but at the end of the day, the texture of any durable fabric will be somewhat rough for the skin, and I don't like the idea of doing that to my skin daily. I've already tried just washing it off, but didn't find that to be too effective.

What to do?! Not quite sure. I don't want to go back to some of the harsher cleansers I've tried. Either I will use this less often during the week, go back to rinsing it off with water, or try the other Cetaphil products (bar soap, gel cleanser) which can just be washed off.

This shouldn't be so hard, should it?

Missing Fellow Blogger

No, she's not actually missing, but I just miss her! San has officially moved - physically, geographically, away from me into a galaxy far, far away, i.e., The Black Hole that is not-New York (give us a break, we haven't lived anywhere else). The time has come to send her all the online coupon codes available, because the poor thing is nowhere near Sephora and I have to make sure she gets her makeup fill.

I've been away from friends/family before, and it always sucks not to just be able to pick up the phone and chat/vent/spew/giggle. Not being able to grab coffee well into dinner-time is also wretched.

But not having your friend around to whip out her retractable blush brush and introduce you to the wonders of NARS blushes? Or explain what BOGOF means on MUA? Heck, tell you what MUA is? It is almost too much to bear.

But San & I are committed to sharing our stories with each other and this funny little cyber world, so of course we will both keep it coming - she from The Black Hole (I promise I'll stop calling it that in a few week's time) and I from The Apartment I Hope My Application Got Approved For. Look forward to even more interesting stories as we continue to evolve for sport.

Concealer Revealed

I'm going to sound like I was born yesterday. Or even earlier this morning. I just discovered a beauty basic that most woman have experienced except for yours truly - concealer.

I only ocasionally use my Black Opal concealer to cover scars. Recently at the Clinique counter, I had a beauty epiphany, a revelation - good concealer makes a gargantuan difference, one that I most certainly need.

I have few Wow moments with makeup - some Whoa's, but not Wow. After the sales assistant blended Clinique Line-Smoothing in Deep Honey under my eyes and on my lids, I could not believe the drastic results - Wow. I looked younger! Awake! Refreshed! Even complexion all the way up to my beady little eyes! I recalled my face 60 seconds before and was truly ashamed. I haven't been doing myself justice.

Don't ask how I went 25 3/4 years without understanding the importance of concealer or getting matched for a good one. I don't have huge undereye circles but they are definitely noticeable - if I were to tell someone I was sick or had pulled an all-nighter, they would certain agree that I look it. Also, since my eyes are on the smaller side, those circles have always prevented liner and shadows from looking their very best.

According to my mom, my eyes looked smaller. I told her that they must have appeared larger before because they were being dragged outward by the abyss of undereye circles. A more even complexion made them pop out for what they are!

If there is one thing I apply everyday, it should be this. I've always been weary of face makeup, but I'm almost 110% sure I should be more consistent with concealer - maybe not every single day, but frequently, and definitely for special occasions.

Application was a cinch (just dot beneath eyes and on lids, and tap to blend in - no rubbing!). Checkout An Indian's Makeup Musings concealer tutorial for additional tips.

This Clinique concealer was a great match, doubles as a good base for other eye makeup, and the consistency is just creamy but thin enough for me. So happy to find something that I don't just like on the back of my hand, but that actually contributes to some real evolution. $14.00 @ Macy's