Announcing Makeup Mavens

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MAKEUP MAVENS

Welcome! Makeup Mavens present makeup you may have missed. We will recap the weeks past highlighted posts, always keeping you in-the-loop and feature the finest beauty finds to help you stay looking gorgeous!

This week, Hopelessly Devoted to Makeup had you beholding the regal-ness that is Giorgio Armani's Eyes To Kill in Purpura #03

Lipstick Luvvies experimented with BECCA's Halcyon Days Palette. Pop on over and see what beautiful results she achieved!

Love Song for My Lipgloss introduced us to the sheer loveliness that is Giorgio Armani's gloss d'armani. How many will you be picking up?

Mookie On The Bench focused her attention on  Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery, an illuminating eye cream perfect for those dark circles!

Product Doctor is head over heels in love with Edward Bess' Luxury Eye Brush. Another beauty blogger falls for his charms!

Raspberry Rouge had us blushing over BECCA's Flowerchild Mineral Blush, and after reading her review, I'm lusting after that shade.

The Black Panties had us all experience some serious infatuation with her insane lashes thanks inpart to Geisha Ink Mascara+ ! 

Giorgio Armani's Eyes To Kill in Purpura #03 Swatch and Review

I'm not going to do a lot of talking about this particular eye shadow since I have done in-depth reviews on two other colors (pulp fiction #04 and champagne#08 ) here and  here.

I purchased this directly at giorgioarmani.com because it is not yet available in stores or at the stores online counterparts.

What is there to say about this color except for out of the three Giorgio Armani silk shadows I own, this one is my favorite. The color is so regal looking and the gold flecks keep the color from falling flat.

The swatch, I apologize is not the best. I am home alone with my daughter and I took the picture myself (I mean how hard is it to hold the camera and take a picture? Kids these days! I kid, I kid). I just want to stress that the color in the pan is different from the swatch. In the pan the color may come off as being scary, dark but it swatches into the most beautiful purple with lavender and gold highlights. If worn dry, I think the color would be suitable for conservative work environments and would really set off hazel and/or green eyes.

I just love how blendable these colors are and how well they stay put on the eye without creasing. I still need to experiment and see how these apply wet on the eye. I did do a swatch that is both wet and dry to demonstrate the color intensity and payoff.

The stomper holds the shadow together since it leans more powdery than creamy

This is a dry swatch

A dry swatch

The dry swatch is on the bottom and the wet swatch is on top. 

Retails for $32.00 USD for 0.14 oz. and can be found at high end retailers everywhere (Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, etc.) and found online at giorgioarmanibeauty.com.

Isn't Purpura gorgeous? What is your favorite purple shadow? 

Giorgio Armani's Eyes To Kill in Champagne #08 Swatch and Review

Well, ever since I picked up one of these amazing eye shadows, I knew I needed more. I finally made it to the counter yesterday and after looking at the testers, settled on Champagne (#08).

Champagne is probably the most natural one of the 15 shades offered and is perfect for a natural daytime look. I love how shimmery these shadows are and yet it does not come off in a juvenile way whatsoever.

These shadows are so silky and even though they have a creamy texture they are more like powder shadows. The Armani sales associates recommended putting on a base first and then the shadow to give the shadows something to adhere to and to also prevent fallout since these shadows are shimmery!

The champagne color is closer to a rose gold with silvery undertones.  I noticed this particular shadow did not have the staying power that Pulp Fiction (#04) had (see my review on it here), but I also didn't wear it with a base. Next time, I will wear this over my MAC Painterly pot and see if I notice a marked difference. I also want to experiment and wear this particular one wet to see if it comes across as more dramatic, more intense looking.

I don't need a shadow to last 12 hours on me. I've always been the type that likes to wash her face as soon as I am home, it feels great to let my skin breathe after wearing makeup all day. I'm happy with 6-8 hours of staying power. I did notice that when I was washing my arm with soap and water to get rid of the swatch that the swatch faded quite easily, especially compared to Pulp Fiction (#04).

Retails for $32.00USD and can be purchased from high-end retailers everywhere (Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, etc.) and found online at http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com/ .

Not in direct sun

In direct sun

Not in direct sun

In direct sun

It comes with this stomper to help contain the shadow

Which Eyes To Kill Silk Eye Shadow is your favorite?

Best Beauty Tools Part 2

There really were so many beauty tools that I rely on that I could not possible squeeze them all into one post alone, without further ado I bring you part 2 of the best beauty tools.

• Mason Pearson Hair Brush ($77.00) I never thought I would spend this much on a hair brush...EVER, but what can I say? Now that I've experienced Mason Peasrson brushes it would be hard to go back. It easily tackles hair snarls like nobody's business and will turn you into Marcia Brady, stroking your hair a 100 times a day! Enough said! 

• Clarisonic Face Brush ($195.00) I've featured it here in my April favorites before. I really can not find a flaw with this device. To say that I see a difference with my skin when I use this vs. not using this is a vast understatement. I especially love the fact that despite having very sensitive skin, I can still use this by attaching special "sensitive" heads onto the brush. 

• MAC Brush Cleaner ($12.00) this cleaner gets the job done in-between me deep cleaning my brushes with baby shampoo. I pour a little onto a paper towel and swipe by brushes back and forth until all traces of  shadow are gone. Viola! Pretty simple and effective, a whole bottle last me months and months too!   

• Tweezerman Slant Tweezers ($25.00) these award winning tweezers helps me remove every stubborn eye brow hair that is out-of-place with its precision and sharp edge. Tweezerman also lets you send your tweezers in for sharpening (although I've never done this yet). Plus, isn't the animal print on these cute? 

• Tend Skin Ingrown Hair Solution ($10.00) you know those irritating red bumps we are prone too after shaving delicate skin around our bikin line or underarms? Well, with this solution I don't get those bumps again...ever! If you do have those bumps you can apply this liquid onto it for a soothing treatment that works to rid yourself of them. After I shave my armpits I pour some Tend Skin into my palm and rub it into my skin and then I don't have to worry about it again. 

• MAC's #219 Pencil Brush ($24.50) is the best brush I have come across to give you that purposeful smudgey smokey eye along the lash line. 

• Clinique's Take The Day Off Remover for Lids, Lashes, & Lips ($18.00 for 4.2 oz.) I have very sensitive eyes and luckily, I have found a remover after much trial and error that I can use that does not disturb my delicate eye area. 

• Crest Whitestrips + Tar Protection ($16.00) there isn't a person I know who doesn't wish for whiter teeth and these little babies make that wish a possibility. They are easy to use, inexpensive, and fool proof. I love that I can slap them on and by the time "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" is done I have whiter teeth! 

I hope you found this post to be semi helpful and introduce you to some new beauty products that make your beauty routine easier. I'm sure that there are even more tools that I am forgetting at this time. Note, I did not touch on hair products that extend in curling irons, straighteners, hair dryers, etc. this is because I know squat about hair! :) I stick to what I know and love - makeup! 

Did any of your favorites make my list? 

The Best Beauty Tools Part 1

We all can get caught up in the allure of a new cosmetic collection and be swept away by a palette full of tempting colors whether it be plums, taupes, or berries and we start fantasizing about the myriad of color combinations we can create with that makeup.

In reality, tools will take you farther than color and makeup alone. It can additionally help you achieve the look you want in a more polished manner.

Here is an overview of what I deem to be some of the best beauty tools:

• Le Metier De Beaute Eye Lash Curler ($18.00) was just reviewed here for my May favorites. This eye lash curler does not crease, is easy to use and and really helps your lashes maintain its curl. Shu who? 

• MAKE UP FOREVER Double Eye Pencil Sharpener ($7.00) - it accomodates both small and large pencils, the blades are sharp and gives my pencil a sharp edge without breakage, and it is easy to clean. After my Trish McEvoy sharpener crapped out on me, I was in the market for a new one and this sharpener fulfills all my sharpening needs, plus it's sturdy. 

• Le Meier De Beaute Concealer Brush  ($50.00) wide and easy to use with synthetic bristles. It was love at first stroke when I went to order this brush, there was little to no reviews on it so I felt like I was taking a gamble (a small one, but one nonetheless). I am so pleased that I have this brush and it is now my favorite! 

• MAC's #227 Brush ($30.00) I don't talk about MAC on here a lot, I went through my MAC phase but haven't stepped foot in a MAC Cosmetic store in several months. This large fluff brush is labeled under MAC's eye brush section, but I actually use this for my powdered highlighter and sweep it gingerly on top of my cheek bones. I like the size of the bristles and find that the size works perfectly for larger area like my cheek bones and the side of my eyes to blend my makeup out (a trick I picked up from watching Tiffany D.'s makeup tutorials on YouTube).   

• Le Metier De Beaute Peau Vierge Lash Growth Serum ($95.00) I'll do a future post on this with pictures and everything, but in the mean time I wanted to talk about this fabulous serum. I was skeptic at first but that skepticism went out the window after about three weeks of use and I woke up to fuller, lusher looking eye lashes. I don't know a single lady that doesn't want fuller lashes, so this is something to consider if you were aching for lash lusciousness. :)

• Evian Facial Spray ($10.00) I'm not sure what category this would really fall under, it's not makeup so I'm putting it here under tools. I use this spray every day after applying my makeup to help it "set". I also will take this with me when I travel and use a "TSA Approved travel size" on the plane, when I feel like my face is so parched from the dry, stifling cabin air. For $10.00 I always have a bottle or two of this stuff in my arsenal. 

• Trish McEvoy Finish Line ($24.00) this incredible dropper contains a waterproof formula that can take your shadows from eye shadow to a liquid liner that won't budge or smudge!   

• Deborah Lippmann The Stripper Nail Polish Remover ($18.00) I've talked about my love for this polish remover back in March, here (who knew one could love a polish remover so much?!) but really it smells good thanks to the lavender addition and makes removing those stubborn glitter nail polishes a breeze! It also comes in a convenient twist cap making it safe for storage and a pump applicator that dispense the right amount of remover! Now that really is special. 

 There are more tools that I have not mentioned and am saving for part 2's installment. I've just wanted to do this post for awhile now and share with you some of favorite my beauty tools. 

What are some of your favorite tools?