Hey, My Eyes Are Up Here: jane iredale Mystikol™ Eyeliner (review)

Happy Monday, everyone! Mine went by way too quickly...but at least there’s another one coming up. And just to make the days a little special, I’ve decided to use a different eyeliner color every day. Each one is from jane iredale.

Mystikol™ Powdered Eyeliner

Blurb: A totally new kind of eyeliner and highlighter that creates definition around the eye for a soft, smoky eye effect. A creamy powder formula that won't fade, crease or smear. Hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and always formulated with exclusive skin care ingredients, Mystikol™ is safe for even the most sensitive eyes.

Malachite: A sparkling moss (with beige)
Amethyst: Royal purple (with pearl)
Dark Topaz: Rich brown (with rose)
Lapis Lazuli: Vibrant blue (with ivory)
Citrine (Spring 2011): A shimmering combination of ochre and metallic bronze (with gold)
Onyx: Otherworldly black (with pearl)
Aquamarine (Spring 2011): A cool swim through tropical blue waters (with rose)

I’ve never tried liners like these, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was so happy to discover that they were luxurious, different, and really cool. One end holds a subtle highlighter, and the other end contains the liner. I unscrewed the caps, and noticed that the sponge applicators had little springs. (This forces the applicator into the powder when closed, but keeps the powder from spilling out. Very nice.)

Of course it takes more than great packaging to impress an eyeliner junkie – but impressed I was. The formula is a finely milled, silky, highly saturated powder. The sponge applicator is thicker than most liner brushes; and the result is a beautiful, bold line. It was so satisfying. With one swipe, I got a velvety swoosh of really gorgeous, striking color. I used a lighter hand on the bottom lid, and found that if I just touched the tip right up against the lash line, I got a lovely effect. The liner was also very smudgeable, and had great staying power (I did make sure to use a primer, though).

These liners are incredibly easy to use, and they deliver gorgeous dramatic results. The colors are rich and beautiful; and the packaging is not only tidy, but very portable. The picture shows the original five colors; but my two favorites are “Citrine” and “Aquamarine” from the Spring 2011 collection.

Check out the website for more gorgeous items. There’s a handy (and pretty) Follow That Look section, and a page listing the brand’s numerous awards. And if you want to see these colors in person, check out where to buy section.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Maximum Adorability! jane iredale My Steppes™ Makeup Kit (review)

Right now I’m supposed to be getting things tidied up and organized so I can pack for my trip tomorrow night. But that didn’t sound fun. What did sound fun was playing with some of the beauty products I plan on taking with me. Like this one from jane iredale.

My Steppes™ Makeup Kit (in “Warm” and “Cool”)


Blurb: Designed around a color selection that's perfect for your skin's undertone, this all-in-one compact contains two lip glosses, a blush, a bronzer and a mirror for effortless touchups on the go. Features and Benefits. Innovative and convenient packaging makes My Steppes ideal for travel and on-the-go touchups. Contains perfect color selections for warm or cool skin tones.

These fabulous kits are part of the gorgeous Spring 2011 Collection (named “Just for Me”). I’ll be reviewing more items from this collection in the coming weeks, but I had to start with these awesome (portable) little kits.

If I wasn't already a makeup junkie, these would have turned me into one. They’re that yummy and gorgeous. There's one kit for warm and one for cool skin tones; but I think the colors in each kit are universally flattering.

The glosses are fabulous: beautifully pigmented, moisturizing, non-sticky and long lasting. All four shades are lovely; and my favorite was “Pomegranate” (from the cool kit). The “Barely Rose” blush (cool kit) is very nice; and I really loved the “Whisper” blush (warm kit). Both kits contain So-Bronze 3 Bronzer – which is a subtle, and very natural-looking. All of the makeup is excellent quality; and the packaging is soooo adorable.

Visit the website to see the entire Spring 2011 collection. You can also get some tips and check out the makeup artist gallery. And of course, you’ll want to visit the where to buy section.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Golden Globes: Fab Makeup Trends

In addition to all of the oohing and ahhing about the hair; I need to balance things out. With the makeup…and nails...and stuff...

Makeup Trends from the Golden Globes

Trend #1 - The Perfect Glow

Emma Stone and Michelle Williams were fresh-faced and dewy, in peach tones and subtle shades. Both actresses chose peachy-pink lips and cheeks paired with long, luscious lashes for a naturally stunning look. Try FusionBeauty SculptDiva Contouring & Sculpting Blush in Crave and LipFusion Micro-Injected Collagen Color Shine in Sweet. Available at Sephora.

Trend #2 - Bright Lips

January Jones paired a glossy red lip with a striking red dress to achieve a “Hollywood Glam” feel. To get this look, try jane iredale Lip Fixation in Rapture, a timeless and long-lasting red stain with a gloss on the other side for subtle shine. At shop.janeiredale.com.

Trend #3 - Striking Eyes

Megan Fox complimented a pale pink dress with siren-like smoky eyes. Get the look with jane iredale Mystikols – a dual-ended eyeliner with a powder eyeliner on one end and a shimmering highlighter on the other. Smoky eyes can be achieved without a whole makeup bag of products. Mystikol in Onyx. At shop.janeiredale.com.

Trend #4 – Neutral Nails

January Jones’ chose the classic French manicure to contrast her statement gown and glossy red lips. To achieve the perfect French manicure in 4 easy steps—try Orly’s French Manicure kit. At SallyBeauty.com.

Globe winner Natalie Portman chose to downplay her nails for the evening with a demure gray polish. China Glaze in Avalanche adds a finishing touch to high-fashion looks. At SallyBeauty.com.

Special for Sunday: Alterna, RapidLash, jane iredale, and FingerPaints are Giving Back

More opportunities to look great and give back. Check out these beautiful companies joining the fight against Breast Cancer…

Shop for the Cure

Almost 200,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. To combat this extremely important issue many beauty brands aid by giving back a percentage of their sales to various breast cancer charities during October - National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Look good and feel even better!

Alterna Caviar Working Hairspray: Alterna haircare is doing their part in the fight against breast cancer with the Limited Edition Breast Cancer Awareness Alterna Caviar Working Hairspray. 5% of proceeds from every can sold will go to Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation!

RapidLash: Eyelash and eyebrow renewal serum, Rapidlash, is all about beauty that gives back! All year long, the brand supports the fight against breast cancer by donating 5% of company profits between Susan B. Komen and The American Cancer Society. At drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide.

jane iredale Phoenix Sugar&Butter Lip Exfoliator: In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, a new version of the popular Sugar&Butter Lip Exfoliator and Plumper called Phoenix will be released. jane iredale will donate $2 from each sale of Phoenix Sugar&Butter to Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC). At shop.janeiredale.com.

FingerPaints Nail Enamel in “I Pink I can” and “I am a Survivor”: In October 2010, Sally Beauty will make a $65,000 donation to the Cancer Support Community as a proud sponsor of its mission to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. At sallybeauty.com
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Protect the Pretty: Jane Iredale, Cetaphil, PCA, Dickinson's and Bio-Oil

It's awesome that there are so many products these days to keep our skin looking great while protecting it from the sun. (The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.) Check out some new suggestions I got!

Sun Protection from Head to Toe

Sun Protection Face Makeup: Why not add another layer to your sunscreen with face makeup that contains an SPF.

Try: jane iredale’s Amazing Base and PurePressed Base, mineral foundations with an SPF of 20 and Dream Tint, a daily tinted moisturizer with an SPF of 15. These products are now recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Lip Protection: Don’t forget the lips! This is a common place on the body to neglect when going on the sun.

Try: jane iredale’s Lip Drink, a colorless, moisturizing, protective lip balm in a base of macadamia nut oil. Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation this lip balm has an SPF of 15 and provides broad spectrum protection.

Touch Up’s: Don’t just apply and hope for the best. Continue to touch up your sunscreen throughout the day – especially when indulging in outdoor lunch breaks.

Try: jane iredale’s Powder-Me SPF in Tanned and Translucent, an all-over face and body powder recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation helping protect against both UVB and UVA rays with an SPF 30 and a very water-resistant rating.

Protect the Face: It is vital to always use a facial moisturizer with an SPF year round.

Try: Cetaphil’s UVA/UVB SPF 50, a non-greasy, fragrance free, daily facial moisturizer for all skin types. The press tube application allows consumers to properly measure the amount of protection they apply to their face.

Protect the Body: At least 20 minutes before heading outdoors cover your entire body with a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.

Try: PCA SKIN’s Hydrator Plus SPF 25, a nourishing sunscreen moisturizer formulated with aloe and vitamins A, C and E for normal, dry and mature skin types. This sunscreen is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and protects against UVA and UVB rays.

And for those who are actually listening to the rules of the sun protection and choose to avoid the sun all together then may want to self tan! Here are two products that are great for before and after self tanner.

Prepping for Self Tanner: Apply self tanner to a non-cleansed skin is a no no! It’s vital to make sure after bathing or cleansing that all dirt and makeup is removed from your skin to avoid unwanted marks.

Try: Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner and Daily Facial Towelettes. These products are the only 100 percent all natural Witch Hazel formula is non-drying and helps remove excess dirt and imperfections from the skin.

Keep the Self Tan Glowing: Moisturizing a self tan is just as important as moisturizing a real tan!

Try: Bio-Oil, is a water based moisturizer that helps lock in moisturizer much better then the traditional lotion.
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