Go Get This! Stila Travel Palettes - Fabulous in Fiji + Trendsetting in Tokyo (review)

I’m jumping right to the review so you can jump on this spectacular deal. From Stila.

Travel Palettes - Fabulous in Fiji + Trendsetting in Tokyo

Fabulous in Fiji

Blurb: Sit back and relax as you escape with Ali to fabulous island of Fiji. Inspired by the tropical colors of this serene getaway, this palette will make you sparkle like the crystal clear ocean.

Trendsetting in Tokyo

Blurb: Experience the bustling, fast-paced metropolis as you follow Zoe through her Tokyo adventure. Inspired by the neon lights and classic geisha trends, this palette will have you looking fashion-forward.

These travel palettes are completely and thoroughly awesome. They’re pretty, chic, portable, and the packaging is excellent (a secure magnetic flip top). Each has a lovely convertible (lip/cheek) color, and four shadows (at least one is a darker shade that can double as a liner with a wet brush). There’s a good sized mirror; and the slim palette closes easily, and fits almost anywhere (measures 2.5” x 4.5” when closed).

Fabulous in Fiji features tropical shadows and a bronze convertible color. Trendsetting in Tokyo has edgier pink/purple/gold/black shadows and a convertible color in Sakura.

In addition to wonderful Stila quality, these palettes are also an amazing value. Normally, they retail for about $10 each (I know - wow). And right now, Stila is offering both of these together as a set for…$9. That’s right – 9 bucks for two palettes! I ordered two sets, and I’m keeping one and saving the other two for gifts. I’m actually thinking of stocking up. They would make incredible hostess gifts, bridesmaid gifts, or even stocking stuffers (if you're thinking that far ahead).

The Set is available on the website. You can also enter the Light Up The World Contest and check out the Tips and Tricks page. There are 3 other Travel Palettes too. Each is $10 (still an amazing value), and Stila is also available at Sephora.

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Cherry Pie and Bubble Gum: Stila Twinkle Lip Glaze Set (review)

Okay. That's it. I'm officially tired of being a grown up! Today I wore grown-up clothes, did grown-up work at my desk, had conversations about serious things, and generally behaved like a mature, well-adjusted adult. Phooey!

Trading some of my childhood innocence for experience and self-determination has been totally worth it in my book. Except for today. Today when I spilled water on the front of my dress, I wanted to go home and pout. When there was a problem with my database, I wanted to throw a temper tantrum and call people names. Bad names. The kind that make you have to stay after school.

But I didn't do any of those things. I behaved myself. So to balance out my good deportment, I'm going to talk about my latest thing-that-I-got-because-I-wanted-it-right-this-minute. From Stila.

Lip Glaze Set - Twinkle (Limited Edition)

Blurb: Features four shades of Stila's most popular lip gloss - three new hues and one bestselling color - to keep your pout glossier and sexier with high-shine color! Twinkle set contains: Grapefruit - shimmery pink, Cherry Pie - red with pink shimmer, Mauvelous - mauve with iridescent shimmer, Pinkle Twinkle - pink with pink shimmer.

You surely must know by now that Stila Lip Glaze has an awesome formula. The gloss looks beautiful and has excellent staying power. Enough of that.

The reason to get this kit is the cute, girly colors! All four colors are great, but I got the set because I needed "Cherry Pie" and "Pinkle Twinkle." "Cherry Pie is a pigmented, cherry red with pink shimmer. It's very sweet and sexy (and it really does smell like cherry pie). "Pinkle Twinkle" is a throughly girly sparkly pink – with a scent that reminds me of bubble gum.

For those of you that are also in need of a little age-regression; take yourself by the hand and march yourself over to the website. Stila is also sold at Beauty.com. And if you need to play with your toys right away, head on over to Sephora or Ulta.
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(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Fun with (Stila) Smudge Pots (not exactly a review – more like a helpful hint)

Hi everyone! Today it's back to work and four days of "regular" life. I had planned to feature a product I tried out over the weekend…but said product ended up being very un-blogworthy. Too bad. It looked really promising. And since I have a policy of only featuring products I love; I suddenly find myself with a "free" space in my blog calendar. (Hideously organized people like me actually have a calendar of their upcoming stories – it keeps me from posting 20 eyeliner reviews in a row).

Anyway…a lot of things this weekend didn't go as planned. There were some good surprises, and some less than good ones. But still…it was a long weekend. Even though some plans went awry; I still got to sleep in, talk on the phone, hang out with friends, enjoy the nice weather, and sing along to the radio on a long car ride. Not bad.

Aaaaaand. I discovered the most stay-put, budge-proof, will-never-ever-move shadow combo ever! Using fabulous items (previously reviewed) from Stila.

Smudge Pots (in Bronze, Kitten and Golden Noir/Black Cat)

Blurb: The verdict is in, and smudge pots take the prize for sexy eyes! This unique gel eyeliner and shadow is an innovative alternative to traditional powder and liquid formulas. This clever little gel has an inky intensity that leaves powder shadows in the dust. A favorite for the sultry, smoky eye. Apply with a liner brush for razor-sharp precision or smudge it with your fingers for more complete coverage. Remember to always close the airtight lid to keep the gel soft and pliable.

Okay, you've all seen the blurb before on my blog. And you all know that I'm a huge fan of Smudge Pots. I've used them as shadows sometimes; but I'd never done my whole eye with them. I got the idea while I was waiting for the air conditioning to kick in so I could put on my makeup. I had a really long day/evening ahead, and I suddenly got the idea to use nothing but Smudge Pots.

I used a small concealer brush and applied "Kitten" on my brow bone, and on the inner corners as a highlighter. Kitten has a really beautiful pale pink shimmer, so it did a great job of lifting and adding subtle light.

For my lids, I used "Bronze." I did a sheer layer on my lids, and then blended more layers in the creases and edges for contouring. I got a shimmering, deep bronze lid that I loved.

Finally, I used my liner brush to line my eyes with "Golden Noir" (If you don't have this color, I suspect "Black Cat" would work just as well).

The look was awesome! The smudgepots went on smoothly, were easy to blend, and then set to a budge-proof finish. And the liner went on perfectly over the shadows. I looked polished and glamorous without looking harsh or "painted."

And it stayed put all day and all night! I was out in the heat and humidity, met friends for coffee, took a 3 hour car-ride with the top down, went to a club, got home around 3:30 am; and every Smudge Pot smidgen was still there. I couldn't believe it - absolutely no smudging or fading. Totally fab.

This is definitely a keeper for the upcoming months of East Coast heat and humidity. I expect this could last through just about any barbecue or pool party that summer could throw my way.

If you want to see all of the gorgeous smudge pot colors, check out the website. There are 8 regular shades as well as the Smudge Pot Collection and Barbie Loves Stila sets.

Happy Tuesday!
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Fabulousness…now in pencil form! Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner (review)

Whoa, man! My weekly horoscope is awesome (rock on with your astrological self, Rob Breszny)! Take a look (Leo's pay special attention):

"…Now that you Leos are in the "anything goes" phase of your astrological cycle, this full-permission part of me is rising to the forefront, eager to encourage you to go for broke, take it to the limit, and get away with everything you can get away with -- on one condition, which is that it doesn't harm anyone, including you."

Oooh! Anything goes? I repeat: Oooh! And I'm perfectly willing to accept the "no harm" portion.

I'm also thrilled that this came along just in time to justify a recent purchase I made. As part of my (then unknown) "go for broke" behavior, I bought a new, yummy thing from Stila.

NEW Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner (in silverdollar)

Blurb: Obsessed for Smudge Pots? You'll go crazy for Smudge Sticks! This highly pigmented, waterproof eye liner glides on to deliver intense, vibrant color with staying power. These easy to apply, eye liners have it all: Long Lasting, Waterproof, Easy to apply, Several shimmer intense shades to make eyes stand out, Vibrant colors, Self sharpening propel pencil. Shades: stingray- Black, lionfish- Brown with Shimmer, purple tang- Purple with Shimmer, moray- Olive with Shimmer, koi- Metallic Gold, silverdollar- Metallic Silver, peacock- Cobalt Blue, blue ribbon- Navy Grey

So this was a tough one. Since I'm an eyeliner aficionado (spelled: j-u-n-k-i-e), I already have a whole lotta eyeliners sitting on my vanity. And I didn't have a whole lotta money sitting in my bank account. But what could possibly be better than a Stila Smudge Pot? I know – a Smudge Pot in portable, adorable, pencil form!

But still – how could I possibly justify buying another eyeliner? Well, the helpful salesguy at Sephora solved that problem when he…showed me a pencil in a color that I didn't have. Yes. It turns out I have somehow managed to not have a shiny silver eyeliner. Problem solved…ka-CHING!

I'm telling you this story because there's no reason for you not to have already guessed that I love these new liners! It really is the fabulous, smooth, creamy, Smudge Pot formula in stick form (and new colors). It glides on without tugging, looks beautiful, blends nicely, then sets to long lasting, budge-proof, waterproof loveliness. This shade is especially pretty. Silverdollar is a frosty, cool, flattering silver. Great for brightening the inside corners or dramatically lining the entire eye. I even tried it as a shadow and got a spectacular look! I strongly suggest running out this minute and getting one (well, at least those of you who are Leos).

If you want to browse the other colors, check out the website. And if you really want to "go for broke," take a look at the Summer Must Haves page. Mmmm. Stila is also sold at Beauty.com. And if you can't possibly wait for the postman to bring you your Smudge Stick, head on over to Sephora or Ulta.

Happy Wednesday!
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Green-Eyed (Beauty) Monster (quick review/redux)

My weekend was wonderful! I feel renewed!

And, oh my goodness today is hectic!

I had actually planned to spotlight these items last week (what with it being Earth Week and all); but I got sidetracked by other ideas and items. So while it's still Spring, still Earth Month, and I'm still feeling renewed; I thought I'd share a few of my favorite green eye-tems (uh oh, cracked myself up again).

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

To keep the delicate skin around your eyes soft and pretty. This is a wonderful, soothing hydrating eye treatment (and yes, it's green).

Almay Intense i-Color Mascara (in "Black Emerald")

This is more of a greenish-black. But I wanted to include something from the mascara category. Almay has a great formula; and for those of you who are sensitive, it's nice to have something other than plain old black.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (in "Mildew")

This is one of their new colors. It's a lovely forest green with gold flecks. My other UD green favorites are "Covet" (peacock green), and "Stash" (er…Oregano).

LASplash Glitter Eyeliner (in "Kryptonite")

I couldn't find a solo image, but it's the one in the middle. “Kryptonite” is a deep, forest green (almost black) with flecks of green glitter. They also make a gorgeous Lid Splash.

Stila Smudge Pot (in "Jade")

This olive green with glints of gold looks amazing as both a liner and a cream shadow. And the creamy, long-lasting formula is one of the best.

Dior 5 Color Palette (in "Mystic Jade")

I got one of these last year and used it all the time. There's a pale green, a deep olive, and an irridiscent brownish green complemented by a peach and a blue shadow. It's absolutely amazing for spring.

Stila Eye Shadow Pans (In "Cha Cha")

A delicate, pale, seafoam green. Looks great with my dark brown eyes; but I think this is another universally flattering color.

This idea isn't entirely off the wall and frivolous. Green is actually a very flattering and versatile shade, and it's perfect for spring.

Must...rush...Happy Monday!
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The Addiction Continues: Stila Holiday Smudge Pot Collection (review)

A quick recap. Me: makeup/product junkie. Drug of choice: eyeliner.

Don’t' get me wrong, I have deep, addictive love for all the world's beauty items; but eyeliner is still the main attraction for me. And Stila Smudgepots are serious compulsions…er, I meant contenders. I won't re-describe why they are so amazing and fabulous (but you can read some previous reviews here or here). Check out the newest fabulousness…

Holiday Smudge Pot Collection

Blurb: FOUR vibrant twinkling shades of our famous gel-based liner and shadow-in-one in perfectly portable mini pots! Set includes two NEW shades and two best sellers. New Violet – pretty purple with shimmer. New Starry Night – bold deep blue with shimmer. Black – intense black. Kitten – nude champagne shimmer. Bonus - mini eye liner brush included for on the go glam!

The collection includes four little, gorgeous, adorable, fabulous, festive smudgepots. It also includes a really great mini liner brush which is absolutely perfect for applying this formula. (I also like the brush because it's short and I can get right up close to the mirror.) The little jars are perfect for your bag and the two new colors are just beautiful. Starry Night is a very deep, flattering shade of blue. It's not navy, but a nice shimmery indigo. Violet is a shimmery…well, violet. Very, very pretty. Smudgepots can be used as liners or shadows, and I absolutely love using the Kitten smudgepot as a shadow.

Since Stila keeps coming out new and fabulous things; I predict that one day my bedroom will be nothing but teetering stacks of little round smudge pots. That will be a great day.

Check out the website. You can browse the holiday gift guide or further your beauty education by checking out beauty tube.
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Love…Now in Smudge Pot Form! Barbie Loves Stila (review)

Well what's not to love?

Stila...Barbie...Smudgepots.

Nuff said? No way, dude.

Barbie™ Loves Stila Smudge Pots

Blurb: Get the perfect dose of eye-drama with Barbie™ Loves Stila shimmer infused Smudge Pots! The multi-tasking gel formula can be used as a liner and a shadow that stays on all day. Available in three bold, of-the-moment shades: Little Black Dress - black with pink shimmer, Purple Pumps - purple with pink shimmer, Cobalt Clutch - vibrant blue with intense shimmer.

Long ago, I submitted to my love for smudge pots, and am now even pushing them on others. I recently gave one to my co-worker (Joanna) so she could practice a cat eye (sorry, Joanna, you're blog fodder again).

You'd think I would have achieved smudge pot satisfaction by now, wouldn't you? No way, dude. My craving knows no limits - I could not wait to get my hands on these. And I was not disappointed. I won't re-describe Stila's amazing formula* (other than to say it's one of the best). Formula aside, the colors in this collection have me all twittery. "Little Black Dress" is a rich black with a twinkly pink shimmer. "Purple Pumps" is the absolute drop dead exact shade of super saturated royal purple that I love. The pink shimmer gives it depth (and keeps it from looking flat). This shade looks great as a liner and a shadow. My hands-down favorite of the three, though, is "Cobalt Clutch." Another amazing royal blue…only with shimmer! Looks amazing as a liner and gorgeous as a shadow. If I love the black and the purple, then Cobalt Clutch is my soulmate.

Okay, obviously I'm feeling a little bit of "the drama" this morning. Not a bad thing. But drama aside; I recommend you head on over to the website and consider grabbing at least one of these. They're really special and they may not be around forever. The rest of the Collection is pretty awesome looking too: stuff like canister kits, Lip Glaze, All Dolled Up Shadow Palette and a new Liquid Liner. And right now you get free shipping with any BLS purchase (use the coupon code: BARBIE).

Okay, now nuff said.


* I gush about Stila's fab formula here.

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Lip Collections from Stila

Since I'm reviewing Smudge Pots this morning; I thought I'd round things out by showing you the latest and greatest for lips from the genius factory that is Stila. I'm planning to try these out eventually, but not until after I've exhausted all of my Smudge Pot options. Take a look…

24kt luxe lip gloss collection

Infused with genuine 24kt gold, this non-sticky formula is loaded with moisture-locking ingredients including Vitamin E to nourish and condition and Vitamins A & C to provide anti-oxidant protection. This collection will make lips glisten with four shimmering shades of 24kt Luxe Lip Gloss. Set includes: Radiant Sunset – a mid-tone red, Precious Coral – a light peachy coral, Golden Charm – a warm sheer gold, Vintage Merlot – a deep berry.

Holiday Lip Glaze Collection

Our iconic lip gloss formula in the clickable pen gives your lips a mega-splash of high-shine color! this must-have set features FOUR NEW SHADES and FOUR BESTSELLERS! New shades: plum fairy - a sheer plum with pink pearl, candy - sheer pink-coral with subtle rainbow shimmer, marmalade - sheer peach with pink and white pearl, pinkle twinkle - sheer mid-tone pink with rainbow shimmer. Bestsellers: kitten - nude pink champagne shimmer with golden pearl, starfruit - neutral pink-coral with white pearl, cranberry - sheer brick red, blackberry - deep purple wine
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Dear Beauty Fairy…Stila Holiday Smudge Pot Collection

Look at this!!!! I am so excited – I love all things Smudge Pot. And the collection from last year is how I got turned on to Stila Smudge Pots in the first place.

This Holiday collection has a mini brush and four mini Smudge Pots in "Black," "Starry Night," "Violet" and "Kitten." Kitten! Kitten Smudge Pot, people! ("Starry Night and "Violet" are new SP colors).

And…this week only (until 9/27 at 11:59am to be exact), you can get free shipping with the promo code: FALLSHIPPING

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Stila Stila Stila!: Tune in for Another Exciting Episode

For all you crazed Stila junkies...and for all you crazed TV junkies. Read about Stila on HSN tonight and tomorrow night:

Tune in to HSN tonight, Wednesday September 2nd AND Thursday, September 3rd!

Stila Pro, Jeanne Tamayo is taking over the HSN airwaves! Jeanne will be featuring exclusive Stila sets for HSN as well as insider beauty secrets. You don’t want to miss it!

Here is a link to the Stila offerings and show schedule: http://www.stilacosmetics.com/special_hsn.asp

Go, people! Stila and TV!

More Candy: Stila Lips (review)

I heart the internet. I heart the mail. I went online found the most fabulous organizer to tame my ridiculous crazy out of control collection of lip sticks and glosses. Take a look at the Acrylic Organizer from Acrylic Home Design.

Huh? Yeah? Are ya feelin it? I ordered two and they arrived yesterday and now every damn lip product I own is organized and tidy. I pretty much blew everything off and sat around organizing my vanity for most of the evening (glamorous). Now it's like there's a little candy box with all the pretty colors organized and visible.

While I was at it, I took time and try out (and revisit) some lip sticks and glosses from Stila.

Long Wear Lip Color

Blurb: The next revolution in lip wear is here! A lipstick and lip gloss all in one that boasts extended wear while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth - never dry. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite gloss. The tip of the pen is contoured to provide easy, precise application - hugging every curve of your lip.

These are a great cross between a gloss and stick. They feel really lovely and soft on the lips and have better than expected staying power. Nice fragrance too. Some favorites are "Paramour" (a medium brick red) and "Rendezvous" (a brownish red with a bit of shimmer). Both Paramour and Rendezvous are pretty highly pigmented. "Darling" is a pale, pearly pink. Very demure.

Lip Glaze Stick

Blurb: Available in the same flavors and hues as our popular stila lip glazes, these pencil-like sticks come in the same rich, moisturizing formula that your lips love. A high level of pearl in each shade has upped the shimmer factor for a luminous pout.

Something else from the Land of Really Good Ideas. If you're a fan of the regular lip glazes, you will want to add a few of these to your collection. They're convenient and precise like a pencil, but shiny and sheer like the glazes. The formula is actually more emollient than the regular lip glazes and glides on easily. Great for your bag, because you can take one out and apply a quick swoosh any time. "Peach" looks like a bright coral in the package, but on the lips it’s a delicate peach. "Fruit Punch" is my new favorite pink. It looks sweet and sexy and has lots of shimmer (kind of innocent, but kind of not). BTW: These are seriously on sale right now and I am planning to snap up a bunch!

Lip Color

Blurb: Available in three formulas: creme, shimmer, and sheer, Stila Lip Color glides on smoothly, stays true to color and stays put. Packaged in a durable, aluminum tube designed to stand up to the harshest conditions - so there's no need to handle with care! Just toss one (or two) into your bag and go.

Now we’re talking bona fide lipsticks! Yeah! Tons of great colors and formulas. "Pixie" is a creamy pale mauve/tan. It has a great hip 60’s vibe to it (rock this with a dramatic cat eye). "Jo" is a lovely sheer plum: not too light, not too dark…just right.

High Shine Lip Color

Blurb: Stila takes lips to a whole new level with high shine lip color. The incredibly buttery soft formula feels like silk across your lips, adding intense shine to seductively sheer color. Your lips never looked so sexy and they never felt so luscious!

Also on sale right now! Really soft and shiny. My suggestion is "Micaela," a sheer, shimmery tangerine. Looks great on its own or layered over another color.

SPF 20 Shine Lip Color

Blurb: SPF 20 shine lip color, is packed with healthy ingredients to beautify lips both inside and out. Vitamins A, C and E deliver maximum antioxidant protection, while rich vegetable-bases oils provide lightweight moisturization for the softest, smoothest lips. This smooth, sheer formula provides a perfect shimmery sheen and is available in eight luscious shades. The vanilla-scented formula is guaranteed to make mouths extra kissable.

This is one of those perfect summer things to have with you at all times. Beautiful shiny color with SPF protection. Great to put on when you're anywhere outside and want to look great and protect your lips. My favorite is "Tina," a sheer copper that gives my lips a little bronzy sheen.

Don't forget to visit the website and check out the Stila specials page (I repeat: some of the products mentioned above are on sale). I am pondering my purchases right now (also craving the Barbie Love Stila smudgepots).
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Calming My Fragile Nerves: Stila Shadows (review)

Remember how on Monday I told you all about my sad automotive situation? Well it’s gotten even sadder. Turns out that Sylvia (aka my car) has been deemed a “total loss” and cannot be saved. So not only am I sad (and furious at mr-hit-and-run-with-no-regard-for-anyone-else); but now I’m all nervous and wound up waiting to find out what my settlement will be.

And what does a beauty junkie do when there’s nothing to do but wait and over analyze everything? Well yours truly spent the evening trying out eye shadows. (Although, now that I think of it, there’s a pretty good chance I might have played with eye shadows all night even if I wasn’t a nervous wreck.)

Honestly, there’s never really a bad time to check out eye shadows. Especially if they're shadows from Stila.

Convertible Eye Color (Dual Shadow and Liner)

Blurb: Stunning color and unbelievable ease is what you can expect with stila's convertible eye color. This versatile, dual-ended eye color wand is a sleek, pen-shaped makeup ace that has an eye pencil on one end and a smudging tool on the other. Twist the middle and there you have the perfect coordinating eye shadow ready for application. Perfect for the stila girl who is looking for no mess, no fuss and no worry color-coordinated lids in a flash!

Another item from the Land of Really Good Ideas. Each is a shadow, with a matching liner and blendable tip. Of course, both the shadow and liner have serious staying power. And since it does double duty, it’s perfect to stash in your bag. The liners were soft and lined really well; but I think they looked truly outstanding applied in the crease and outer corners of the lid. I was able to get much more precise application than with a powder shadow (and the blender tip was perfect for smoothing everything out).

Slate – The shadow is a dark slightly silvery gray and the liner is a deep matte grey (similar to the grey Smudge Pot). This is probably the most versatile combo since grays go with absolutely everything.

Berry – This makes a little more of a statement. The shadow is a pale soft raspberry and the liner is a deep magenta. The combination is really striking. I really loved the effect of creating a “berry smoky eye” with these two colors.

Eye Shadow Pans

Blurb: Inspire your inner artist and create a palette of color with stila's award-winning eye shadows. Our assortment offers something for every Stila girl - from classic neutrals to the hippest, trend-setting shades in mattes and shimmers! Our award-winning shades are known for their high-quality formula and texture which can be worn wet or damp. Each sold in pans so you can create your own custom kit!

What else is left to say about Stila shadow pans? They’re like an assortment of gorgeous little...bon bons (the kind your dentist and dietician would approve of). The colors are amazing, the formula is smooth, weightless and lasts all day. You can put them on with a dry brush for sheer buildable coverage, or use a wet brush to get creamy saturated color.

Kitten (shimmering nude pink) – The quintessential Stila color. I have kitten eye shadow (and kitten silk shadow wash and kitten lip gloss). This shade is fresh, dewy and looks great on every complexion. It's pretty all by itself and makes a fab highlighter.

Flicker (shimmering apricot) – Another fresh, feminine color. Gives a really flattering glow. It’s slightly more pigmented than Kitten. Looks pretty and ethereal when dry, and when applied with a wet brush it creates a beautiful apricot wash of color.

Diamond Lil (shimmering metallic platinum) – This is a soft, burnished metallic shadow. It almost seems to have a bit of olive in it. It’s very pretty dry; but I thought it looked extra cool applied wet. It’s not a dark shadow, but it’s got a rich deep glow.

Mambo (shimmering lavender) – The website describes this as a periwinkle blue, but I would place it squarely in the purple family. No problem, since purple is my favorite color. Love this shade - it’s got a little bit of a 60’s “flower power” vibe to it.

Cha Cha (shimmery sheer sea foam green) – Super duper pretty! A delicate, pale green. Looks great with my dark brown eyes; but I think this is another universally flattering color. I liked it best with a dry brush (really emphasized the sheer, delicate qualities of this shade).

I could go on all day about Stila eye colors. Don’t worry I won’t – I need to take a break from blogging so I can do some quality obsessing about my car situation. But while I’m busy over thinking everything; you go right ahead and take a look at some of the Eye Shadow Duos, Eye Shadow Mattes or maybe a palette or two.
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More eyeliner talk: Stila

Yes indeed. We're back to my favorite subject – eye liner. (sigh.)

And today it's all about some of the many liner options from Stila. You know, sometimes I think I could spend my days just working my way through the eyeliners of every major brand and be perfectly happy. But then there's lipstick, and bath and body, and…Ok, never mind – let's get started!

Liquid Eye Liner (Black)
Blurb: Stila's new Liquid Eye Liner is the perfect tool for precise and professional liner application. Housed in a palm-sized tube that allows for ultimate handling and control, the formula is water-based, yet water-resistant, and glides on smoothly through a tapered applicator. No skipping, pulling, or smudging! Available in rich black, you'll be amazed by your new sultry style.

I'm starting with this because I think black liquid liner is probably the one item every eye liner aficionado needs. And Stila's is exactly what it is supposed to be and does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It's probably also my favorite liquid liner packaging. Easy to use, compact, portable and the brush is perfect for making a 60’s girl-group cat’s eye, or getting that tiniest, thinnest of lines right up against the lash line. And the color is just the right deep, inky black.

Kajal Eye Liner
Blurb: These richly hued pencils are formulated to mimic the ultra-soft texture of the Indian eye darkener of the same name. The luscious formula glides on perfectly, without dragging across the fragile skin of the eye area. Delivers bold, clear, true color that easily blends and beautifies.

I could not believe how soft these pencils were. They feel downright creamy. And the pigment is very deep and rich – the most saturated color of any liner I’ve tried. What worked best for me was applying the pencil and then using an eyeliner brush to smooth and blend. (I got the precision of the pencil and the smoothness of a brush applicaton.)

The "Onyx" liner is the absolute blackest black of total blackness (it's really, really black). The "Topaz" liner was very unusual. It’s a pale apricot that looked pretty cool against my dark eyes. I tried tight lining with this one for that wide-eyed effect (again, I’m not recommending – just reporting); and I thought it looked a lot more subtle than tight lining with white.

Smudge Pots
Blurb: The verdict is in, and smudge pots take the prize for sexy eyes! This unique gel eyeliner and shadow is an innovative alternative to traditional powder and liquid formulas. This clever little gel has an inky intensity that leaves powder shadows in the dust. A favorite for the sultry, smoky eye. Apply with a liner brush for razor-sharp precision or smudge it with your fingers for more complete coverage. Remember to always close the airtight lid to keep the gel soft and pliable.

Oh how I love Smudge Pots! They go on like buttah! Buttah, I tell you! Smooth, creamy, multi-colored butter. And if you want a really FIERCE look, you can brush them on your lids as a stunning (stunning!) cream shadow. And once they set, they are SET.

Bronze – I don’t know how I waited this long to mention the bronze smudge pot. It's the first Stila liner I ever tried and it's one of my everyday, go-to items. I get so many compliments when I wear this. It’s the perfect go-with-everything-without-being-boring shade. It's got sparkle, it's got sass, yet it's still soft and flattering.

Gray – Another good all-the-time shade. Sophisticated, universally flattering, and moves easily from day to evening. It's not as in-your-face as black, but it still makes a statement.

Brown – Everyone needs a good brown liner and this just the right shade of chocolate. Also looks great as a shadow.

Jade – A shimmering olive green with gold/copper flecks. This one really surprised me. I looooove this color. Exotic, striking and very beautiful. As a liner it was gorgeous, and as a shadow it was amazing!

Golden Noire Smudge Pot – NEW! I have been pining for this and it absolutely lived up to my expectations! A soft black with flashes of gold. Just enough flash to be exciting and interesting. Really beautiful and seductive. Use this for instant sultry bedroom eyes. And if you really want to go all the way there, use it as a crazy, fierce black cream shadow. Do it! I dare you.

So I'm done for the moment, but I have more planned for the summer. Will I be discussing more Stila? Oh yes, indeed! Will I be discussing more eyeliners? You betcha!
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Friday Fun: LA Lakers Love Stila!

Even though I am pitifully ignorant of sports, I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in LA County – so if I don't post this, I probably won't be allowed to return home for Thanksgiving.

It turns out that Stila sponsored the beauty wardrobe for the Los Angeles Laker Girls (FYI: basketball). Kudos to Stila! I'm pretty impressed that the Laker Girls can jump around in a hot stadium for hours and still look great!

And to congratulate the 2009 NBA Champions, Stila has put together a Stila Loves The Lakers Set. The set includes: Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, Convertible Color, Smudge Pot in Golden Noir and Lash Visor in Brown.

(Now see, if sports had more fun beauty products and a little less chasing balls around, I might become a fan.)
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From Dramatic Glamour to Subtle Shimmer

I seem to be preoccupied with my eyelids this week because I'm also going nuts over my new stila silk eye shadow wash (in "kitten").

Blurb: The best just got better! We've come up with a new way to wear stila's number one best selling kitten eye shadow. Enriched with silk proteins, this oh-so-portable water-based, liquid-to-powder shadow goes on smooth and light for flawless application. The universally flattering pink and gold tones is perfectly pretty alone or as a highlighter.

This is so pretty! It glides on with a delicate, dewey wash of color. It's shimmery and bright without looking overdone. And 8 hours later it's still there. I also got a surprise bonus: besides looking great on its own, it made an excellent primer for my powder shadows – who knew? The smooth finish made a great base and a little bit of the shimmer peeked through.

Now this is definitely the opposite of yesterday's big drama shadows. But if you want a quick fresh look, this is it.
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Even though I'm Gone...You Can 'stila' Read On!

Okay, so I guess all this travel preparation is making me a little goofy. Hopefully I'll be back to my normal, sane(ish) self on Monday. In the meantime…

We've definitely got our stila back and the Indian Summer 24k Gold Collection is now live on their website!

This collection is infused with luxurious, glamorous (and let's not forget sparkly!) 24k gold. I'm "eyeing" (sorry for the pun) the smudge pot eyeliner in "golden noire". Smudge pots are awesome eyeliners (I'm partial to bronze), and this new color is a matte black with 24k gold flakes. Gold! Flakes! Woo hoo!
The new charmed eye shadow palette looks pretty darn gorgeous too.
Go! Check out the sparkliness at a computer near you!

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Travel Buddy: Cover Girl Outlast Lipstains (review)

Over the last few days I was on a whole bunch of airplanes. Okay, maybe there were only 4 airplanes, but it seemed like a whole bunch. I know that things had to change; but I really miss the days when I could easily find non-stop cross country flights. I also miss the days when I didn't have to try to fit all of my beauty products into one little bag. One whole quart – oh big deal.

And don't get me started on the whole bottled water thing.

Anyway, I didn't want to check baggage, so I started shopping around for airline-approved containers. And I kept running across bags that came with 3 bottles. Three? Are you kidding? Luckily, I finally found an awesome Carry-On Bottle Kit at Bed Bath and Beyond. It has zillions of little bottles and jars (well – maybe only 15, but it seemed like zillions).

I wedged everything I needed into this thing and then I realized (steady yourself)...I had forgotten the lip products! How had I done that? What would I do? Would I spend my trip with colorless lips? No, of course not. Covergirl Outlast Lipstain to the rescue!

Blurb: The water-based colorants of Outlast Lipstain give lips a beautiful, lightweight flush of color that won't come off, lasting for hours without the heavy look or feel of an ordinary lipstick. Its pen-like precision applicator makes it easy to define your lips-just draw on color without any hassle!

I'm sure you have already read the fabulous reviews of these lip stains. As soon as they were available, I bought a couple and have loved them ever since. They're long wearing, easy to apply, non-drying and look great. What I really appreciate is their versatility. I can smudge a little bit on with my finger for a natural look, or use the pen applicator to get really intense color. Recently I've been pairing them with a gloss or sheer lipstick. Even when the gloss/lipstick wears off, the lipstain stays put underneath.

I ended up squeezing one (in "Cinnamon Smile") into my already stuffed beauty bag along with a tiny bit of Stila's High Shine Lip Color in "Amber," and my lips were good to go for the whole trip.

Even when you're not traveling, these are great for every day – especially when you don't have the inclination to keep re-applying. If you haven't tried these yet (or you just want to check out some new colors), now is a great time to stock up. Drugstore.com is having a BOGO sale.

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stila illuminating powder foundation (review)

So on Monday morning I had two surprises.

Surprise #1: My car died while I was sitting at a stop sign. And it wouldn't restart. That was a bad surprise. Luckily, I was close to home, it was a week day and some nice people pushed me into a parking lot across the street where I waited safely until the professionals could take over. Not surprisingly, my poor little budget is being stressed further.

Surprise #2: A wonderful powder foundation! That was a good surprise. I received some stila illuminating powder foundation as a gift and decided to give it a try. I've always wanted a powder foundation for my bag, but never seemed to find one that I liked. Usually they make my complexion chalky and/or my pores huge. But, surprise – this foundation is great! Blurb: Let your inner radiance shine through with this unique, all-in-one powder foundation. Infused with Mica, tiny crystals found in nature, this unique formula helps reflect light for luminous skin that looks fresh and bright. Perfect for all skin types, illuminating powder foundation minimizes skin imperfections while maximizing sun protection with SPF 12 for ageless, timeless skin that simply glows. Apply dry for a light coverage or damp for more complete coverage.

This foundation comes with an applicator sponge (the compact is sold separately). I applied it (dry) with a kabuki brush, and it looked fabulous. It gave me great coverage and smooth finish. My skin did indeed look "fresh and bright," and this foundation kept the shine at bay for a long time. At the end of the day (which included a stressful morning and a really bumpy ride in a tow truck), it was still in place.

Something else: SPF 12

Something else: stila is "appreciating" their customers at their website by offering a free 24kt Lip Gloss with any $25 purchase. (I have this gloss - it's pretty darn glamorous.) Use coupon code: APPRECIATE.
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For your eyes only: Delicious Purple (part 2)

Well it seems that I went on quite a bit yesterday about purple. But when I re-read my post, I realized it still wasn’t enough. So I will now further everyone’s education on the many more delicious purple products available. Adjust your reading glasses and take a deep breath…

Powder Shadows:

NARS eye shadow in Night Rider: As discussed last week, this shadow is my eyelids' new best friend. I had been wanting this forever, and I finally snapped it up when Sephora had a 15% off promotion.

Makeup Forever #92: Royal Purple. Pure royal purple. The purpliest of purples I have found in a powder shadow. And for serious party eyes, layer it with Makeup Forever Star Powder in #954.

smashbox Eye Shadow in “Spellbound”: This is an awesome soft lilac with a hint of gold shimmer. The saleswoman in Nordstrom kicked it up a notch by by pairing it with Estée Lauder Double Wear base in "Lilac Petals".

NARS duo eye shadow in “Jolie Poupee”: Yowza! This duo pairs a blue-ish violet with an iridescent purple. Really, really cool.

stila Eye Shadow Duo in “Orchid”: This is a gorgeous pair of matte shadows: a pale lilac paired with a dark smoky purple.

Crème/Liquid Shadows:

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows in “Va Va Va Bloom”: I have been using this versatile little palette forever. The colors range from gold to plum to deep wine. I use them to color my lids, as a sheer wash over other colors, as highlighting and to line my eyes. Tons and tons of options.
Vincent Longo Liquid Shadow in “Midnight Mauve”: This is called mauve, but it’s really a deep, royal purple. Very dark and very dramatic. I also use this as a liner (and I usually apply with a brush instead of the wand).

Eyeliner:

#5 smashbox Cream Eye Liner in “Midnight Purple”: If you had to pick only one purple eyeliner (perish the thought), this would be the one. Smashbox has one of the best liner formulas around and this color is a very deep, wearable shade.

Urban Decay Liquid Liner in “Crash”: This is a lighter, edgier shade with a silver sparkle. I love the little brush too.

Mascara:

Awake Stardom Side Long Lash Mascara in “Glossy Purple”: I really love Awake's Stardom line, and oh how I love this mascara! It's shiny. It doesn’t clump. It lengthens and adds volume. The wand is great. And the color is just purple enough to be flattering instead of silly. (This mascara also comes in black and brown.)

Okay. Whew. I think I've gotten it out of my system…for now.
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