Dior Diorshow Mascara...

On my quest to find the perfect non waterproof mascara for my lashes I've stumbled upon a few that I would consider repurchasing even though they're not quite what I would qualify as HG.

The most notables until now...

Dior Iconic, so far is The One! Sadly the brush is a pain with it's tight bristles. I get about six weeks of use out of it, after that due to the fact the formula thickens a little, the brush becomes hard to work with.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous, an excellent formula combined with a good brush, this one is at the top of my list. Goes on smoothly, keeps the curl and doesn't flake. 

Benefit They're Real!, superior to Estée Lauder (in summer) but the brush now annoys me a little and the formula crumbles under cold Canadian temperatures.

Clinique High Impact, good formula, easy to work with brush, this one almost made it but for some reason on some days it doesn't hold the curl. 

The latest contender?

Let's think for a minute that maybe, just maybe all the Dior mascaras have the same formula but in different containers with different brushes... Yes there are companies out there that do this! Notice how some can launch up to three "new" mascaras a year?

Dior Diorshow Mascara...

As mentioned Diorshow Iconic has an amazing formula so could it be possible that it and Diorshow share the same mysterious recipe but with different brushes?

Sadly no!

Diorshow I was told was developed for last minute back stage "oomphing" up lashes and that, it does beautifully. It thickens and lengthens in two coats, dries fast and will definitely achieve great results on someone who already has lots of naturally curly lashes. Yes ladies, they are out there those who need neither mascara nor a lash curler... don't you hate them? 

Nah just kidding! :)

The brush of Diorshow, although huge, works nicely with the formula and unlike Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara, the product gets evenly distributed on the brush when you take it out of the container. On the picture below you can see there is less mascara on the tip of the Diorshow brush (top).

How does it perform? Read on...

It gives me long thick lashes with no clumps, resists the heat of my lash curler (remember I heat mine with a hair dryer otherwise I get no curl) but for some reason on some days the curl can last up to nine hours while on others I'll get barely two! This puzzles me since I always do the same thing and no, this doesn't happen on hot humid days so I have no smart explanation for this.

On me, it flakes!!! Weird again since this doesn't happen every day just like the curl doesn't hold the same from one day to the next... 

Is my Diorshow Mascara possessed?

Well probably not but it sure is a little cray cray, unstable I mean. Friday it did great and lasted an entire work day but Saturday it did poorly! Same weather except maybe I was outside a little more. When it flakes it doesn't do so in a discrete fashion but instead with big specs so I sometimes end up with black spots on my cheeks!!! Oh and it smudges a little! Now this is something I didn't expect. It does so very lightly in the outer corners of my eyes. I know it's Diorshow because these days I pretty much always wear the same eye makeup but with different mascaras and this happens only with this Dior offering.

The reviews...

After having written the above paragraph I decided to go have a look at some of the reviews on MakeupAlley, just the first two pages because there are 3026 in all... One confirmed something I was puzzled by, thinking it was a problem with mine only but apparently it's happened to others. After a while the wand doesn't screw back on properly and I get the feeling that if I force it it'll break and so it's the weirdest thing which has never happened to me and quite unimpressive coming from a luxury brand.

Makeup Alley: 3.5 / 5 lippies for 3026 reviews.

Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 903 reviews.

Do I recommend Diorshow Mascara? Not really.

In the reviews there are many who swear by this mascara but I can't. Sadly I found it too unstable which is a description I never thought I would give a mascara. Some days are good while others not so much. Great dramatic look that can last and entire day or only a few hours, flakes here and there and a bit of smudging...

The fact that the brush is huge makes it unsuitable for short lashes.

I took my sweet time before writing this review because I wanted to make sure, sure I wasn't imagining things. I wore Diorshow on it's own as well as over other mascaras, namely Iconic, Benefit, Clinique and MUFE for that bit of extra oomph effect. It did that well but the flaking and smudging also happened in those instances. In other words, I really did put it to the test this past month and although it's working a little better now due to the fact it's dried up a little, it's not a formula I'll repurchase. 

If you've never tried a Dior mascara, best steer clear of this one which is $31.00 and either go for Diorshow Iconic or Diorshow Overcurl which is pretty much the brand's best seller and gets the most love from my bloguerette friends.

Now you do know there's a new one coming out don't you?

This little beauty is now available through Sephora's website though I haven't seen it in the store yet and goes for $32.00. The brush does remind me of Benefit's but from other pictures I've seen, appears to be a little thinner which I think will make it easy of use on most eye shape as well as on shorter lashes. I sincerely hope it's as good as it looks!

Do you use different mascaras in rotation or do you always go for the same one?

Dior Hydra Life BB Crème Enhancing Moisturizer...

Getting ready for warmer days... I hope they come quick because I'm really tired of wearing a heavy coat and socks!!! Oh how I hate socks!

Warmer days mean I have to lighten my makeup choices and the Marcelle CC cream I was using this winter would not do and neither did the Clinique CC I tried recently. Since I returned the latter I had to find something else at Sephora and the options were not that many mainly due to the color options. I wanted an alphabet creme simply because I just fell in love with the one step go to concept in the morning. I don't care about the name they're given as long as they do the job.

Dior Hydra Life BB Crème Enhancing Moisturizer For Immediate Beauty SPF 30 - PA+++* ...

Here we go with another super long name to describe a tinted moisturizer with SPF!

It comes in only three shades, 01 Luminous Beige, 02 Golden Peach and 03 Sunny Amber. I chose the lightest color and although it's a little too warm for my complexion at the moment I know that in a month it'll be just fine. I can't remember where I read this, who wrote it but truly, companies seem to enjoy giving us few color options when it comes to BB and CC creams. It's like they're getting lazy and expect that these few options will suit all skin tones. Not!

The packaging is just plain perfect! As much as I disliked Marcelle's CC container for the fact that I couldn't see how much product was left I did like it for the pump. I loved my tube of Estée Lauder reviewed here, because I was able to get pretty much every last bits of cream from it. Here Dior offers us the best of both, a tube with a pump that gives the perfect amount of product for one application.

The formula...

It doesn't have that cake icing texture many BB creams have, more "liquidy" than most I've tried I'm surprised at how well it covers. It's not full coverage per say but it's just enough (Lordy I do hope I'm making sense here!). It blends in easily and is much faster to smooth on with a sponge than Marcelle CC was but then again it is slightly less moisturizing. It dries quickly and although I thought at first the finish was too matte it turns out to be a good base and a light dusting of either Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Dim or Radiant or Guerlain Crazy Météorites make my skin look almost flawless, almost! The shine on my nose... doesn't show up until mid afternoon!

The proof...

This past week I had a weird sleeping pattern and felt super tired but a co-worker told me on Friday it didn't show one bit and that I looked well rested!!! Oh the joys of good makeup!!! :)

The claims...

Hydra Life BB Crème combines the moisturizing and protective powers of a skincare product with the immediate complexion-enhancing and even-toning properties of a foundation. The complexion is left moisturized, smooth, and velvety soft. This product provides active defense against environmental stress and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB SPF 30 protection. The ultrafine pigments and reflecting micro-pearl particles immediately embrace the skin to cover its surface with a halo of imperceptible color. 

The formula features a revolutionary nylon powder with high absorption properties to smooth the skin’s texture and control sebum for a long-lasting, perfectly flawless, natural finish. Jisten promotes aquaporins to optimize the flow of moisture on the skin’s surface, correcting dullness, uneven texture, and dryness. Black rose strengthens the skin’s defenses against free radical damage which works towards helping sensitive skin, noticeable pores, and blemishes caused by the environment. 

I won't be relying on Dior Hydra Life alone for sun protection. It does not have a DIN number (Drug Identification Number) so it's not considered a sunscreen but it does have a PA+++ rating which means that it's UVA protection factor is above 8. Surprisingly Estée Lauder DayWear BB Cream does have a DIN number but no PA. Even if Dior's pump provides about 1/4 teaspoon of product the fact that I use a sponge to blend it in thins out the protection so on days when I know I'll be spending more time outside I will wear a proper sunscreen. As for the other claims I take them lightly. For me this is a tinted moisturizer that provides good coverage and protection from accidental exposure like waiting for the bus or a short walk.

Do I recommend Dior Hydra Life BB Crème? Yes!

For normal to combination skin Dior's Hydra Life gives good medium coverage and should help control oil for several hours. I don't know yet how it will fare under hot temperatures but my guess is it should do ok but I don't intend to use it on super humid days.

If you have dry skin you may need a to use a moisturizer first because Dior Hydra Life may not be enough.

If you have a very fair coloring, even the lightest shade may be too dark. I know it's borderline for me and the only reason I'm content with it is that I know it'll be just fine in about a month or so as mentioned. For winter, when my skin is super pale, 01 Luminous Beige would definitely be too dark.

I did try to photograph swatches but they just don't show! :(

The major downside... It's $65.00!!! Just typing this made me choke but you do get 20 ml more than Estée Lauder's DayWear BB cream which goes for $45.00. For fun I did a little calculation and as it turns out, Dior is the least expensive of the two at $1.30 per ml versus $1.50 per ml for Estée Lauder. It's definitely a good chunk of money so if you're hesitant do try to get a sample first.

As with any products if you're clog and/or acne prone or have sensitivity issues do patch test first.


Ingredients: 

Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.6 / 5 lippies for 48 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 125 reviews.


By the way, can I just say I loooove opening a Dior product!

That little CD seal gets me every time!

*PA System: The Protection Grade of UVA (PA) system is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) reaction and is now widely adopted on the labels of sunscreens. According to the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association, PA+ corresponds to a UVA protection factor between two and four, PA++ between four and eight and PA+++ more than eight.


Is the weather finally getting warmer where you live? Have you started to lighten up your routine?

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream...

Warning, this will be a brief and quick "review"!

Reason? I returned it!

Those of you who follow my Sunday posts saw in my most recent one that I had purchased this product to replace my recently emptied Marcelle CC cream which by the way, I ended up liking a lot for winter.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Color Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30...

Ouf! Could the name have been any longer???

As stated Sunday I bought it during Sephora's VIB sale and thought I had gotten a pretty good deal. Regularly priced at $39.00 it was 15% off. Sadly, it's too rich and a little too sheer for me! Not only is it too rich for my t-zone but it made the pores on my nose more prominent. Not the effect I usually go for in a base product.

This would very likely please normal to dry skin, especially if you want a one step option for summer. For those with extra dry skin you may still have to wear a moisturizer under it.

So I'm not saying that this is not a good product in any way, simply that it's not for my skin type and I need a little more coverage.

This is the only picture I took of it from this post, here.

By the way, the color I had purchased was Light which normally should have been fine but again, it was not enough for my nose. Do know that I'm not Rudolf so it wasn't a color issue, it was an oil issue! It made my pores more visible but I must admit that the coverage wasn't that great to begin with. I thought NARS was too sheer and had passed on it but today I tested both again side by side and Clinique definitely offers the lightest coverage of the two.

I really did think I was going to like it but after wearing it four days straight, had to admit it wasn't for me and so yesterday I was relieved to be able to get some BB from my "superpressed" Estée Lauder tube. Honestly, if Sephora had had this one I would have repurchased it! You can see my review of it, here.

Do I recommend Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Color Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30? Yes and no...

Yes if you have normal to dry skin and if you only need light coverage but it is possible that it could look more opaque on a dryer complexion.

No if you have normal to oily skin or if you live in a warm climate. I honestly don't think it would be long wear on hot days! On me it lasted about three hours on my t-zone and maybe six or seven on the rest of my face which it pretty normal these days.

Needless to say I won't comment on the "color corrector" promises since I haven't used it long enough but then again I don't really believe in these claims to begin with. I like these alphabet creams just for the fact that they're a one step skin perfectors in the morning.

Oh by the way I did replace it with another... Stay tuned...

What was the last veauty product you took back and why?

Mascaras, Let's Compare a Few... Brushes!

Every time I review a mascara I always mention the importance of the combination of good formula and good brush. You really can't have one without the other. Basic I know but this is something that may have been overlooked by some of those who are still searching for "The One".

I think the first step is trying to figure out which brush works best for you and then take it from there because even if you have found a great formula, if you keep struggling with the brush, well, that's not a good thing. There is a perfect mascara for everyone out there, believe me!

Why was it such a struggle for me? My lashes are on the short side and point straight down plus they are stiff and hard to curl. The only way I can keep a curl all day is by heating my lash curler with my hair dryer and that's with mascara on! If I do this before application it's always a major fail. Doing this the mascara formula must be on the amazing side because not all can sustain a heated lash curler. Several "melt" on point of contact and although not super noticeable it's a little annoying.

The mascaras mentioned below all have great formulas that did good with the heated lash curler. Some believe that you're not suppose to curl your lashes with mascara on, thinking that it will break them but I've been doing this for years with no issues. If you break or pull off lashes the problem is the lash curler itself not the fact that you have mascara on. Oh I almost forgot, all these mascaras kept the curl a good 12 hours too!

Let's compare some brushes...

These are the ones I've used this year. Of course if you have long naturally curly lashes (I could almost hate you right now, yes I'm talking to you Melissa from Kiss & Makeup and Tracy from Beauty Reflections) you may not even need to bother with this entry, these comments but, you may still find it... informative. :)

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess:  the brush is huge compared to the others and I don't quite get the curve of it. The wand itself is kind of soft and a little flimsy and I must admit that I was a afraid it would break at one point leaving the brush in the container. Still it was a good drugstore option because it did a good job and it's one I'd reconsider.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous: my favorite! It's a standard no fuss conic shaped brush that due to the fact it's more pointy makes mascara application easier on those inner corner tiny lashes.

Benefit They're Real!: Ok this one is a little funky and prickly but it does a good quick job. Combined with a good product it's one that I now buy in it's small size to always have available.

Diorshow Iconic: I truly loved this beautifully smooth formula but as mentioned the brush is a pain! Notice the difference below compared to the others? How the bristles are tight, close to one another? Once there a bit of products on the lashes it can barely grab on to them for a second coat. I was able to achieve a good look with it but it did take longer and that was rather annoying some mornings.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl: curved brushes aren't my favorite and this one made it hard to grab the lashes on the inner corners of my eyes. I can't comment on the formula since it appears I ended up with a bad one that I had to take back but do know it gets a lot of love. I don't think I will try again just because of the brush.

My wish...

Could someone combine the formula of Diorshow Iconic with Estée Lauder's Sumptuous brush? This would make it one of the best mascaras out there!!!

Yes I dare say, even better than Benefit They're Real!

The mascaras mentioned here are all top sellers and get high ratings so yes, if you want to try any of them do go ahead. You may have noticed in the reviews I wrote about them, I really have nothing negative to say about their formulas* and unlike me, you may have no issues with their respective brushes. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist in this area but at the same time I thought it would give you something to think about the next time you decide to purchase a new mascara. That is if you haven't found "The One" yet!

Of course this year I will be trying others in fact, I already have a few I'm considering and can't wait to play with! :D


When deciding on trying a new mascara, is the brush an important selling point or am I the only nut case out there?



*It was confirmed again this week that there was a bad shipment of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara from another Dior counter where they too had some returns. My guess is it may have been exposed to extreme temperatures.

An Ode to Spring...

Over and done with the holidays now we can start thinking about spring! Seriously! Only 2 1/2 months left of winter! I know, I know we could get a snow storm in April but let's not think about that!

Starting to appear by mid January these beauties below will sure help make you forget about the horrible cold (and snow) outside! Here are the ones I'm most looking forward to see in real life!

Chanel Collection Notes de Printemps...

Ok so these colors, just like the ones from the holiday palette of Ombres Matelassées in Charming aren't the most original but and this is a bit but, given the long wear I get from this brand's eyeshadows, it's more than likely that I will get something from this collection. The duo, Rose Majeur looks mighty tempting and I haven't worn a real purple in ages so the Illusion d'Ombre in Diapason seems to be calling for my green eyes. Now the compact! I mentioned recently in my second Beautiful Compacts post that I was planning on getting a Chanel this year and what would be better than a special edition? This light pinkish color looks perfect to create that spring time glow, you know the one we get from being outside on those first days of sunny warm weather?

Les 4 Ombres, 537 Quadrille  Ombres Contraste Duo, 70 Rose Majeur

Illusion d'Ombre, 92 Diapason  Chanel Poudre Universelle, 160 Préface

Guerlain Météorites Blossom Collection...

This brand is literally killing me! The eye shadows of this collection are all a bit meh for me (you can see swatches of the quad on Wondegondigo, here) but look at the Doré Météorites!!! I think I died and went to heaven when I saw these! This year Guerlain reinvents the legendary Météorites with the "Stardust Technology" a spherical pigment contained in each pearl. Along with these new beauties, Guerlain is also launching two new cream blushes, (picture from Chic Profile, just click on it to see the rest of the collection) Météorites bubble in Pink (#01) and Cherry (#02). Although I'm not too impressed by the not so Guerlain packaging with transparent caps (Shu Uemura has an almost identical blush, the Creamy Dome Blusher), I believe these will sell like hot cakes especially given their respective colors. Since cream blushes scare me a little so I'm not sure I'll fall for either but I will definitely have a closer look and swatch them.

Dior Trianon Collection Spring 2014...

Inspired by the Petit Trianon the private estate of Marie-Antoinette on the grounds of Versailles, the collection is composed of beautiful pastels in matte and satin finishes. There are two quints coming out but they appear to be a little to light, a little too pastel for my personal taste. Below is the item that caught my eye, the Trianon Palette. From other pictures I've seen the shades seem a bit darker in real life and so more wearable for me. Dior is also launching a new basic called Backstage Eye Primer, an eye makeup base lightly colored to help even out skin tone and make colors more true. 

Dior Trianon Palette

Bobbi Brown Uber Pink Collection...

This collection you can read about on British Beauty Blogger by clicking on the picture below. Both the lipstick and blush are calling my name!!! They look a little on the coral/warm side which would be just perfect for my skin tone. :)

NARS Final Cut, Edge of Pink Collection Spring 2014...

Look at these blushes!!! I might fall for one of them, might! What makes me sad is that there are no "real" lipsticks and only crayons. I dislike crayons with a passion! I know they get smashing reviews but to me they lack in elegance. I might try one this time around but it's really not a done deal.

YSL Flower Crush Collection Spring 2014...

Will I take the plunge? I sincerely have no idea. For some reason I always pass on YSL and to this day have never purchased any makeup from this brand mainly because the packaging just doesn't do it for me. This palette below might change that. The compact is not that stunning but the colors it holds are. I could definitely see myself wearing these right into summer but that of course is if I don't go for the gorgeous Dior shown above. I mean how many Spring palettes does a girl need and there will be more for summer, let's not forget that. 

YSL Flower Crush Collector Eye Palette

Lancôme French Ballerine Spring 2014 Collection...

A beautiful palette with a soft pink and what appears to be a dark purple mixed with neutral earth tones, flattering for almost any carnation. The highlighter blush looks positively stunning with it's embossed Lancôme Rose but I'm actually quite intrigued by the Hypnôse eye colors. I might try one of these so see how they compare with Chanel Illusion d'Ombres. 

Estée Lauder launches Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick...

Designed to sculpt lips with high intensity colors that stay true up to six hours this new formula is composed of an exclusive Time Release Encapsulated Moisture Complex with Hyaluronic Acid. The packaging which is pure Estée Lauder with it's gold enhanced navy blue is elegant and features a magnetic closure. Twenty new shades! I haven't purchased an Estée Lauder lipstick in ages but I do think I'll get one of these babies... or maybe two! :)

Clinique Gerbera Blush "Cheek Pops" Spring 2014...

Ok now these are totally adorable and according to Jane, British Beauty Blogger, they are even lovelier in real life. Read her comment and see her pictures, here.

This was what the weather was like today in Montréal!!! Please Spring, come fast!!!

That's -36.4° Fahrenheit!!!

So, are you as excited about Spring as I am? Did anything strike your fancy? 

Beautiful Compacts, Vol. 2...

Hi! My name is Hélène (aka Icaria) and I'm addicted to... Compacts!

Ouf! Now I feel better! I've said it!

They say that admitting an addiction is the first step on the road of recovery, don't they?

Ever since I was a little girl I've been intrigued by them and whenever I had the chance, would grab my mom's double sided mirror compact from her purse, look at myself and imagine I was famous and beautiful like Sophia Loren or Anouk Aimée. Oh and grown up too! :)

Schoolgirl Primping

Saturday Evening Post cover, September 10, 1921

Paul Stahr (1883-1953)

Fast forward many, many years and I have grown up to become a full blown compact lover/addict. No more intrigued I just love to take out a nice one from my purse to discretely reapply my lipstick! I don't use them to put on a complete face makeup in the metro but the small gesture of taking a pretty powder compact out of my purse to have a quick look is pure joy for me, really!

These past few weeks with all the beautiful holiday collections displayed at different cosmetics counters, I've been drooling at a few beautiful options but this time decided to go for content instead of look. I was a little disappointed that Guerlain decided to use the same compact for both Crazy Terracotta and Crazy Météorites but I really wanted those powders and I have no regrets. Since these where my big splurge I've had to pass on some beauties but since they're not all limited editions I guess I can wait a bit.

What makes a compact worthy of consideration for me? It has to look good of course, sturdy, must close shut either with a magnet or have the gentle click of a good quality clasp and it definitely has to have a bit or weight. The product inside must be up to par with the packaging. I guess that last bit is a no brainer unless you decide to go for a double sided mirror.

It's understandable that some will not want to spend over $50.00 for a powder compact. Beautiful ones are indeed expensive but most will last longer then their more budget friendly counterparts. In some cases the powder disappears in no time and in others, well it's the packaging that just isn't good. After a few months of use they either don't close shut anymore or they flat out break!

Finely milled, tightly pressed powder in a good quality compact will last and last. You just can't beat quality!


Here are a few to consider...

Guerlain Météorites refilable compact $140.00

Chanel Les Beiges $60.00 and Chanel Poudre Universelle $50.00

Guerlain Crazy Météorites $82.00 and Diorskin Forever $43.00

Estée Lauder Aries Compact $55.00 and Year of the Horse $138.00

These are limited editions.

These two below are compact foundations...

 Chanel Vitalumière Compact Douceur, $66.00

Givenchy Teint Couture, $61.00

Ultimate splurges...

These two below are both over $200.00 CAD. Clé de Peau and Serge Lutens offer these stunning compacts and I must say the first I've seen and swatched and the powder is indeed dreamy as for the second, it's a complete mystery.

Clé de Peau

Serge Lutens

The one I'm still in love with and use everyday...

Givenchy Le Prisme Visage $52.00, reviewed here.

If you were wondering why I titled this entry Beautiful Compacts, Vol. 2, well it's because I did one last year. Most of the ones shown on it (yes there are repeats) are still available and the prices haven't changed much. The only compact that's on it's way out as far as I know is the more affordable version of Guerlain Météorites shown. You can view this first edition, here.

Erm... I don't think this entry has helped me with my addiction one bit! I'm eying both Chanel Vitalumière and Les Beiges and let's not forget that next spring there will be new bronzers!!! Did you know I was addicted to bronzers too? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to face the fact that there's no way out for me and I'll just have to live with it!


How about you? Is a beautiful compact a must and if so which is your favorite? 

My Office Emergency Makeup Bag...

Little essentials to have handy, to avoid panic!

One of the differences between men and women? Beside a briefcase if they have one, men leave home with only their keys and cell phones in the morning while women, many anyway, will want to carry around their entire makeup collection and pharmacy essentials.

There was a time when I had no other choice than to do this. Working as a makeup artist and having to go to different venues or stores all the time, I had to be ready for almost anything. Then when I had to travel, my bag had to be light and so everything in it had to have a purpose. I learned early on to travel light.

We all know that mornings can get crazy! I've never forgotten to put on mascara but lipstick, yes. Weird since I usually carry at least five in my purse. Ibuprofen for that headache, dental floss to get rid of the bits of spinach from the salad I had for lunch and dryer sheets for static cling are some of the things I keep if not with me, in my office drawer. For makeup, promotional sized and drugstore brands are perfect for this. There's no way I'll leave my Givenchy compact at the office!

These days when I see women with huge purses filled to capacity it makes me smile. They could make their lives so much simpler if they were a little more organised. Now do know that I'm not the most practical person and at the moment my house is total chaos but handbag and office drawer have to be top notch!

The makeup bag I chose came with an Estée Lauder Gift With Purchase. 

Not the prettiest, I did think about buying one but then figured it would do fine. 

What's in my emergency bag?

Ever been stuck at the office with a broken nail and nothing to smooth out the edges? Or wearing new shoes and in desperate need of one or several bandages? I have and it ain't fun having to run (unless feet hurt) to the drugstore for stuff you know you have plenty of at home. Even if you only have a tiny space to call your own at work there is a way to keep a few essentials that you may never have any need for but if you do, well, you'll be thankful, believe me!

Biotherm hair brush (seen folded, I've had this for ages), Twinings tea bags (Chai, Darjeeling and hidden under is my favorite Blackcurrent), 2 dryer sheets in a little ziplock (to fight static on clothes and the fragrance will not get annoying given they're sealed in their own plastic bag), a couple of bandages, TBS Honeymania lip balm, Estée Lauder sample double whammy concealer and Sumptuous mascara, Avon's Mark double sided glosses, Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy stick, a small deodorant, compact mirror with a magnifying side, samples of Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire and Dior J'adore, Bourjois blush in Rose Ambré, Rimmel lipstick Kate in 08, Dental floss and a pair of tweezers.

Already at work, small size of Caudalie Huile Divine, Vichy hand cream, nail file and Advil.

The dryer sheet bit is something I learned years ago. I can't remember if it was someone who told me about this or if I read it somewhere but in winter it can be more than useful. If like me you like wearing light fabrics you know what static cling can do. By gently rubbing a dryer sheet on your garment it will help neutralize it! Much better and more convenient than those cans of Static Guard they used to sell. I don't even know if that stuff is still available. These I've used today in fact. The colder it gets outside, the more static cling you get indoors, especially due to nylon coats.

Crabtree & Evelyn Aromathology Pulse Point Balm is also another item I've had for years and sadly I don't think it's still available. It's an oil with a pepperminty smell that you apply to pulse points for relaxation. Soothing when you smell it, it helps with headaches but more importantly it helps me calm down if I get in a bad place. Dealing with people can sometimes be quite aggravating and this has been a godsend in the past.

I have reviewed Caudalie Huile Divine last summer and what I thought would happen indeed did! It's perfect to help tame the static I get in my hair from my coat and scarf. One spray, I rub my hands together and run my fingers through the length of my hair. No more static cling and fresh smelly hair. I rub the top of my hands with what's left. Perfect!

Everything fits and I still have room to spare!

I don't know about you but me I hate having to ask others for anything and I'm one of those people who likes to be ready for any situation or in this case, little emergencies.

The only thing that's missing is a little kit of thread with a needle. For some reason I can't find the one I had so it's on my list. You never know when a button will pop!

Do you have a little emergency bag/kit?

Marcelle CC Cream / Review...

My tube of Estée Lauder DayWear BB Cream is done! Empty to the last drop, I simply ended up loving it and there's a good chance I'll repurchase next it summer.

Now it's December and thinking about getting something a little more moisturizing I wanted another one-step do-it-all. I'm done with the whole moisturizer and foundation bit in the morning, for now anyway.

The contenders where Diorskin BB Cream and Chanel CC. Both have a beautiful creamy texture, penetrate quickly and give a soft luminous finish to the skin. I almost fell for Chanel but at sixty something dollars I didn't want to go there since I've splurged quite a bit lately and I still would love to get Accent the blush from Chanel Nuit Infinie Holiday 2013 collection.

Talk about having my priorities straight! Makeup instead of skincare? Yup, I'm vain!!!

The whole alphabet theme is a little annoying really because I haven't seen much difference between BB and CC so far from swatching on my hand. This I did with some of the brands available here, Estée Lauder, Dior, Clinique, Clarins, Vichy and Chanel. The only thing I've noticed is that CC's seemed a little more moisturizing and so for winter this was what I wanted.

Now the price was a deterrent on most of these, even Clinique is close to $50.00!

Drugstore? Well, I haven't had much luck with the lower priced brands this year and figured why go there if it's to still get a high end CC after a few weeks of being disappointed? You just can't get samples of those and some you can't even try for there are no testers. Still I went to the drugstore looking and stumbled on this one from Marcelle.

Marcelle CC Cream...

Regular priced at $29.95, I purchased mine on special at $19,99. Now that's what I call a good deal!

Product description and claims as per Marcelle website...

Pure 24K gold has been infused into Marcelle’s Complete Correction Cream to diminish the appearance of dark spots and skin tone imperfections that can be caused by sun exposureor the aging of skin. The formula’s lightweight consistency and ingredients provide full coverage and leaves your skin feeling smoother, firmer and highly moisturized. Radiance is boosted to give your complexion a perfect glow! With SPF 35.

12 IN 1 MULT I-BENEFITS

1. Corrects and helps prevent the appearance of dark spots and imperfections
2. Offers complete coverage
3. Evens out skin tone and texture
4. Controls shine
5. Provides anti-dull radiant complexion
6. Allows long-wear hold for lasting perfection
7. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
8. Reverses the signs of aging
9. Favours and improves skin elasticity
10. Protects skin from environmental stressors
11. Offers immediate and intense hydrating benefits
12. Soothes and calms dry/damaged skin

What I like about it?

Fragrance free, it covers well, still controls shine on my nose (although not quite as well as Estée Lauder) and mostly, give my skin a nice natural satiny finish. It's not matte like some others I've tried like Vichy or Clarins for instance which looked stiff on my skin. Lastly it's quite comfortable to wear and so I feel my skin is getting some moisture.

The texture is not as thick as Estée Lauder's BB but not as liquid as a regular foundation.

According to Marcelle this would appear to be the perfect product to use in the morning but the fact is I didn't buy this CC cream for all it's claims but more for how it felt and the SPF.

What I don't like about it?

The container! There's no way to know how much is left in it and no way to know if I'll get the lats bits with the pump. Others like Dior come in a tube with a pump which I think is quite smart but not this one. Rethinking the packaging would be a good thing in my view. It may look somewhat more luxurious but in fact it's not a smart container.

Do I recommend Marcelle CC Cream? Yes.

Despite it's bad choice of packaging, Marcelle has come up with a good affordable option that in my view would be suitable for normal to combination/oily skin. Someone with dry skin may have no other choice than to use a moisturizer underneath because I don't think this would be enough.

As with any skincare if your skin is sensitive or is acne and/or clog prone, either getting a sample or patch testing would be advise.

• Ingredients Active

  OCTINOXATE,TITANIUM DIOXIDE

• Ingredients

  ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER,ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE,ALUMINA,ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE,ANHYDROXYLITOL,AQUA/WATER/EAU,BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1,BIS-PEG/PPG-14/14 DIMETHICONE,BUTYLENE GLYCOL,CAMELLIA OLEIFERA LEAF EXTRACT,CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE,CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT,CICHORIUM INTYBUS (CHICORY) ROOT EXTRACT,COLLOIDAL GOLD,CYCLOHEXASILOXANE,CYCLOPENTASILOXANE,DIAZOLIDINYL UREA,DIMETHICONE,DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER,DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE,GLYCERIN,HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER,HEXYL LAURATE,HYDROLYZED PRUNUS DOMESTICA,HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN,IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE,IRON OXIDES,ISODODECANE,ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE,JOJOBA ESTERS,MICA,OCTINOXATE,PISUM SATIVUM (PEA) EXTRACT,POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE,POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE,POLYSORBATE 20,POTASSIUM SORBATE,PROPYLENE CARBONATE,PROPYLENE GLYCOL,SODIUM BENZOATE,SODIUM CHLORIDE,SUCROSE DILAURATE,TALC,TITANIUM DIOXIDE,TOCOPHERYL ACETATE,TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE,XYLITOL,XYLITYLGLUCOSIDE

What are your staple morning go to for good looking skin?

Guerlain Crazy Météorites...

Oh quelle folie!!!

This wasn't planned I swear!

Guerlain Crazy Météorites Radiance Powder...

If you've never tried a Guerlain powder before, if you've been somewhat intimidated by their fabulous Météorites Pèrles well now is the time to take the plunge and you better make it quick before this special edition is gone!

The compact version of Crazy Météorites is one of the most perfect finishing powder there is at the moment.

When I say it wasn't planned it truly wasn't.

My intent was to get Crazy Terracotta and be done with it but then...

... Several of my bloggerette friends started to post entries about this and their reviews were all extremely positive and their beautiful pictures made it almost impossible for me to resist. Argh!!! I already have Météorites Travel Touch in Mythic (not reviewed yet) which has become after one application a favorite and in fact in my opinion it should actually be called "Perfect Touch". Although Travel Touch is indeed perfect it's not very convenient to carry in one's purse since I have the loose version.

Guerlain's holiday 2013 is called Crazy Paris and on both Crazy Terracotta and Crazy Météorites compacts you find the number 68 for Guerlain's Champs Élisées address (thanks again Sunny!). My only criticism is the compacts themselves. Although it's quite perfect for Crazy Terracotta, they could have created something different for Crazy Méréorites. It would have been smashingly beautiful had it been black like the Crazy Pèrles.

The beautiful pattern of Météorites Crazy Pearls Illuminating Powder - Pure Radiance,

 black lacquered metal case with a touch of hot pink! $67.00 CAD

To please loyal fans, the cult pearls offer a play on their legendary combination of six shades: beige and rosy beige to even out the skin, mauve to refresh, white to light up, gold to illuminate and pink for a healthy glow. The subtly pearly Météorites light up the face with a delicately satiny halo, discreetly perfumed with the inimitable powdery violet trail. 
In a wild decoration the letters “Champs-Élysées” dance in full colour, and seemingly in three dimensions, all around the black lacquered metal case.* 

The difference between the Crazy Pèrles and the compact? The Crazy Pèrles Illuminating Powder like the name points to, have a little extra light to them creating more of an illuminating effect. In other words they create a more shiny look but not to the point that one's face would look like a disco ball. The compact adds a more natural softness to the skin in other words a light radiance, which I personally find it more appropriate for daytime. The finish looks beautiful under any lighting and is quite subtle. I know this may appear a little confusing since illuminating and light radiance are similar adjectives but believe me they are not the same and you truly do have to try these on your skin to see the subtle difference.

Why is this one so worth it?

The delicate beautiful finish it provides would be enough for me but there's more. The light violet fragrance makes it a joy to use in the morning especially when it's cloudy/snowy/cold outside and... The price!

$82.00 CAD

Wait what? The price???

Well, this is in a way the "cheap" version of Météorites Voyage. Have you ever seen the original compact? A beauty! I think I could actually sell a kidney for it if scalpels frighten me so much!

This compact goes for $170.00 USD!!! 

Ok it's refillable so you will have it for a long time but like I said, I'd have to let go of a relatively useful organ to get it, or, win the lottery! This beauty along with Estée Lauder's Ru Yi, is quite simply one of the ultimate makeup splurge readily available. Did you know I had a thing for Beautiful Compacts?

Météorites Voyage, the quintessence of colour-blending expertise is revealed in an exceptional case to reproduce the purest radiance on the skin. A blend of matte and pearly shades, an ingenious mixture of six correcting or light-enhancing colours to deliver the purest radiance to all complexions: pink to refresh the complexion, green to diminish redness, white for a brighter complexion, mauve to catch the light, gold and pearl to add a perfect touch of radiance to the face…**

The pattern of Crazy Météorites Radiance Powder compact is not as intricate as Voyage but I think that on skin you'd have to look at yourself in a magnifying mirror all day to really see the difference. The finish of Mythic is slightly pinker and has a little more subtle glitter to it. As mentioned I have the loose version of it and although I can detect a little more "lightness" with Mythic, Crazy does a beautiful job in the radiance department. Some say it's more vibrant due to the pink but this I believe actually depends on the lighting. If I were to stop and think hard about the difference between them, looking at myself in a normal mirror, I'd say Mythic makes my skin look a little paler than Crazy but honestly, the difference is extremely subtle.

On the right you can have a better idea of the gold but the pink the colors are actually more true on the right.

Quite a "Crazy" splurge but given the fineness of this powder it'll take sometime before I hit pan on this one. I believe that just like Crazy Terracotta, this version of Météorites should also be part of Guerlain's regular line up. Oh and don't be fooled by the flatness of the picture, you really have to see this one in person to be able to appreciate it's true beauty.

To revive winter complexions and sweep away dullness, Guerlain gives a “crazy” tangy pink, in its limited-edition Météorites compact powder to creating a radiant and glowing effect.
The original gradation of the legendary shade 01 revived with pink, to refresh dull complexions and offer a beautiful springtime glow.***

Crazy Terracotta and Crazy Météorites come in the same compact and in the same black velvet pouch with pink stitching on the openings and the Guerlain name embossed on them. A little annoying when you own both since in the morning I never know which is which!

Ok, ok, I won't cry over that especially since I use both anyway! :)

I prefer to play it with a soft blush brush instead of a big face one for a more precise application. No fall out whatsoever, just like for Crazy Terracotta. These powders are so finely milled and tightly pressed that you may have the impression that nothing is going on your skin but believe me, they do show up.

I do believe that once you've tried a Guerlain powder there will be no turning back! Really!

Guerlain Crazy Météorites with it's "Spring time glow" is in my book one not to miss and boy am I ready for warmer days!


What was your most recent big beauty splurge?


*, **, ***: as per Guerlain website.

What to do with my Sunday Post?

Before you start you may want to go grab a coffee or tea for this is a long one!

A little personal update...

As some of you may have guessed, I'm still trying to figure out how to organize my schedule between work, blogging and home time. I do think I'm slowly getting it but this week everything went kaput due to a horrible back pain that came out from nowhere!

It started last Friday just as I was going back to work after lunch. For some reason I could barely walk. That evening I was suppose to take Catherine to see a movie and so she had come downtown to meet with me. She was disappointed when I told her there was no way I could suffer sitting in a theatre for two hours straight. I took her to eat something and home we went.

In the morning I would have needed a mechanical lift to get me out of bed! This lasted until Thursday making this Friday morning almost normal. I still feel it but at least now it bearable.

My best friend this week was my heating pad. :(

The movie, we finally managed to go see this Friday. I almost bailed out again due to the fact I was so tired but I didn't want to turn down Catherine again. She rarely asks for anything and is such a good reasonable girl she totally deserved the treat. We went to see The Hunger Games and both loved it!


What to do with my Sunday post...

I'm not sure when I'll be able to continue my Notable Reads post. Having less time I kind of knew that it would suffer and so for now I won't stress and will simply put it on the back burner.

What will I replace it with? I just don't know yet! For now just bare with me. Sundays will likely be either New Additions, Weekly Makeup, New Makeup Love or maybe simply a new review.

This week I have a bit of everything!


Faithful purse companions...

This week with a more smoky eye it was all about Rouge Dior Grège 1947 and 

Givenchy Le Prisme Visage compact is always in my purse!

New additions...

I've purchased several new amazing items that have yet to be reviewed and this past week I've again indulged in a few additions... It would seem that I am doomed!!! Sephora and The Bay just a few minutes away from my office... This clearly means I'll be purchasing a few weekly goodies.

Here are the items I got this week. During my lunch hours I had to get up and walk since this was the only thing helping me with the pain. On Monday I went to The Bay to get Diorific Frimas! Not my kind of color but for some reason I just fell in love with it. On Thursday I went over to the Eaton Center and walked into Sephora just to "browse" and see what special holiday kits were left. I was told by an SA that there would be specials for Black Friday!

ARGH!!! 

Prices reduced on Dior fragrances? Little minis for $12.00?

Of course I went back the next day and took advantage of these specials. On top of those I purchased two sets of pyjamas for myself. Who could resist a 2 for 1? I mean really!

When I purchased Diorific Frimas I received a cute Miss Dior mini! Who doesn't like minis? :)

Both Tocca and Bite where special Black Friday goodies at $12.00 each! 

This week's makeup love...

...For eyes was all about Chanel Charming (yet to be reviewed I know *sigh* time goes by way too fast), Chanel Fatal and Dior Velvet...

... For face, it was Guerlain with  Madame Rougit, Crazy Terracotta and Crazy Météorites (also yet to be reviewed)...

There were of course the tag along, Estée Lauder BB cream, NARS Pro-Prime, Rimmel concealer, L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner and Diorshow Iconic mascara.


On my list...

This coming week I may get Diorshow Iconic Curl mascara since my Iconic is starting to be a little harder to apply. It seems to have gotten thicker and some mornings I've had to struggle a little which resulted in taking longer to achieve my usual lash look. Not a good thing!

I may also get a new lipstick, been thinking about NARS Dolce Vita but I might wait. Pictures of Dior and Chanel new spring collections have started to surface and of course I've already spotted a few items I'd love to get my hands on. There's also the fact that I'll need a new morning moisturizer soon and Chanel Vitalumière compact foundation is kind of calling my name. I've swatched it several times and the texture is just dreamy.

Then again, I may not get any of these since I do have to think about Catherine's Christmas gift. She may end up with the equivalent of my goodies and more in one gift. As mentioned, she's been such a good reasonable girl and with what she's been through this year I do want to get her something special. Ok she's always had the privilege of getting gorgeous Christmas goodies but this year I want to give her something meaningful she'll remember. I can barely believe it's already December 1st! Seems to me that only last week I was wearing flip flops and writing in my gazebo!


For your viewing enjoyment...

This week is all about Dior makeup, more specifically the Golden Winter Christmas Makeup Collection.

The Ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC3O7oAriA4

Le look Golden Winter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baT8lwO9Dx8&list=PL1BC1B82A424FE06A

This makes me almost want to get 5 Couleurs 644 Golden Snow, almost...


Ouf! I think I'm done! Would you believe I had a bit of writers block yesterday! :)


Have a great week everyone!  Hélène xoxo