SEVEN: Favorite things at the moment

Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (Posh Paradise Collection Fall 2011):
Loving this paint pot for quick eyeshadow looks. I've been wearing this all over my lid and just smudging liner on my lash line. Nubile is a beige that leans peachy and pink. It's not shimmery or metallic but still gives a sheen. It keeps my lids from creasing for about 8-10 hours but starts fading at around 6 hours.

                                                         Nars Eyeshadow in Cyprus:
A dirty blonde gold with a serious metallic sheen. This color has been absolutely perfect for the fall weather. It's one of only gold's I've found that isn't too yellow or orange toned. I pack it on my lid with a flat shadow brush to really make my brown eyes pop.

Nubian Heritage Mango Butter Hand Cream:
It smells like orange creamsicles or mango ice cream. Every time I use it, I have my face buried in my hands because it smells so good. It's extremely moisturizing and feels heavy at first but as you rub your hands together, it dries to a soft, light, non-sticky finish. Nubian heritage is also an eco-friendly company that uses only quality organic ingredients. I first picked it up because the ingredients list seemed extremely pure and natural. It's a growing indie company but I've definitely become a huge fan.
Here's their website for a list of places their brand can be found- http://www.nubianheritage.com/

                                         

                                     NARS Yachiyo Blush Brush:
           This brush is one of the softest brushes that I own. It applies even the most pigmented blush delicately and lightly and imparts a glow to your face in just the right places.


NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick:
The perfect red lipstick for fall. I reach for Dolce Vita a lot because it's a sheer red so it's perfect for when I'm on the go. The color is deep and dark enough to look perfect for those autumn months but it's not so dark that it's vampy.

KORRES Lip butter in Jasmine:
This beats EOS, Burt's bee, Rosebud Salve, & FRESH sugar balm. It keeps my lips moist for hours and gives it a lovely tint. It's a light, nude color so it's perfect for muting out my pigmented lips. The only downside is that it's a bit sticky and thick.

Zoya Remove+: Best nail polish remover ever. I was convinced by Michelle1218 on youtube to take a chance and order the HUGE 28oz refill bottle and the flip cap bottle. I'm so glad I did. I always thought nail polish removers were all the same but I was wrong wrong wrong. This nail polish remover has made a difference, not only the amount of time I spend taking off polish, but the overall condition of my nails and cuticles. 

Left to right: Korres lip butter, Nars cyprus, Mac nubile, Nars Dolce Vita

Dior addict vs. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

You know you're a makeup junkie when you have nightmares about your makeup being destroyed. Not saying this happened to me... ok it did happen to me and it was terrifying! haha

Anyway, let's move on to the actual post. Today, I'll be comparing two of the most popular sheer lipsticks on the market right now:  
Dior's addict lipstick and Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine

I have Dior addict lipstick in 578 Diorkiss and Chanel rouge coco shine in 57 Aventure.
I wanted to do a comparison because word on the street is, these two lipsticks are very similar in texture, finish, lasting ability, moisture level, and pigmentation.

Let's start with texture:  Texture wise, they are both soft and buttery. Both are balm-like rather than waxy and lipstick-like. I find Dior addict softer than Chanel coco shine. Dior addict slides on your lips smoother but thicker. I've only used it for 2 weeks now and I can already see the tube diminishing quickly because of this. 

Pigmentation: Pigmentation wise, Dior wins hands down. Its definitely more richly pigmented and gives a much better color payoff. Additionally, because it slides on thick, the color is even more opaque.  

 Finish: I find Chanel's finish glossier and shinier. It fills in all your lip's imperfections and makes your pout look juicy and plump. Dior Addict gives a shiny finish but its less glossy by far.

Moisture level: I find Chanel's coco shine more moisturizing. To be fair, both are pretty moisturizing, especially compared to most traditional lipsticks.

Lasting Ability: Dior lasts longer for sure. It lasts about 1-2 hours more than Chanel Coco shine, which lasts 1-2 hours at most.

Dior Addict 578 Diorkiss

Packaging: I like Chanel's Coco Shine packaging better. It's sleeker and less gimmicky. It's classy and feels delicate in your hands. Dior addict's packaging is annoying to open and a bit too flashy for me.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 57 Aventure

Left to right: Dior 578 Diorkiss, Chanel 57 Aventure

Left to right: Dior 578 Diorkiss, Chanel 57 Aventure

Left to right: Chanel 57 Aventure, Dior 578 Diorkiss

Color-wise I have heard these colors are dupes for each other. They're both medium semi-bright pinks. Aventure has tiny sparkles that aren't very noticeable but they add to making your pout look juicy.
On my pigmented lips, these two look really different. Diorkiss looks much deeper and rosier.. Aventure looks more like a pretty pink gloss.  It comes off brighter and more cool toned than diorkiss.

If I had to recommend one or the other to someone else, it would depend on what they're looking for.
They both have pro's and con's and are great for different things.

Dior Addict 578 Diorkiss: Great if you want a lipstick that actually acts and feels like a lipstick and not a gloss-stick.
-More pigmentation
-Softer
-longer lasting
-but not as moisturizing

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 57 Aventure: Great for on the go applications and lazy days.
-More moisturizing and flattering on the lips
-Glossier, more balm-like verging on being a gloss stick (Pro or Con depending on preferences)
-Sleeker more streamlined packaging that makes it easy to throw in your purse
-but less pigmented

I personally don't mind owning both because they both look different on my lips and serve different purposes. Both are stellar products and you just won't lose with whatever choice you make.

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Review: Chanel LES 4 OMBRES in 33 Prelude

This quad is any neutral lovers dream. It leans cool and looks really amazing on brown eyes. The texture of each shadow is buttery, smooth, and pigmented. I find the shadows in this quad less soft than the Chanel duo shadows but these give no fallout whatsoever. The duos are softer but give me more fallout.

This quad comes with four colors: 

-A light champagne that leans yellow 

-A deep eggplant purple that looks more like a cool dark charcoal-y brown on my skin

-A light beige with green, yellow, pink sparkles. This color leans purple-taupe on my skin. (this is the standout and most unique color IMO)

-A medium cool toned brown with green and red sparkles that looks like a cool brown grey that leans khaki on my skin

I find the medium brown and light beige truly unique. It's amazing how they both look so different on my skin than in the quad. They really transform depending on your skin tone and the lighting you are in. I find the champagne and the eggplant purple pretty but dupable. I probably have 5 other champagne and eggplant colors that look just like them. 

Overall though, this quad is quite versatile. It's basic but edgy enough for any neutral gal who's looking for something just a little more special than their everyday browns and beiges. 

I give this quad an A+ and highly recommend it.

Chanel's Quadra 33 Prelude retails for $57 and can be purchased at any department store with a Chanel counter or Chanel.com

Love at first swipe: Dior Vernis 999 Red Royalty

Dior Vernis 999 Red Royalty is HG status. It's the most perfect true red I've ever come across. The color, the packaging, the formulation, the brush: Everything about this polish is genius. I love the sleek metal cap and the weight of the polish. It feels luxurious but not heavy a la Chanel's vernis. The rectangle shape, weight, and design give it a contemporary feel. Dior's style is definitely a younger, more modern kind of luxury. The formulation is perfection. Opaque enough to get away with 1 coat, not too goopey, not too thick, and not too runny. But the BEST part about Dior polishes are those new stubby little brushes. They're a tad too big for my tiny nails, so I sometimes go a little bit over the edge but who cares! This bad little brush helps me apply polish in less than a minute, I swear.

Anyway, enough rambling. Here are the money shots:

Dior 999 Red Royalty is $23 and is now out on display at any department store with a Dior counter and Dior.com

Let's give this thing a try

This blog thing seems fun so let's give it a try.  :]