Sneak Peak MAC Strength Collection for Spring 2013!

MAC Strength Collection for Spring 2013

Some of you may have heard about this collection that's soon to come to MAC counters, but I thought it looked like a pretty interesting collection, so I thought I'd share!

"I am woman: fearless, elegant, strong. We love women who strike powerful poses, stand out, redefine the notion of beauty – and do it with an inner/outer strength that`s irresistible and impossible to ignore. Colour is a vehicle for women to flex their femininity and MAC`s new collection reflects this state of mind and style. It starts with dramatic eyes defined by two Eye Shadow Quads that sculpt and highlight, precision Penultimate Eye Liner and extra-volumizing Opulash. Lips pump up with vivid colour to project power while Powder Blush in natural tones softly chisels cheeks. And, nailing it for overall presentation, MAC`s high-gloss Nail Lacquer."

Lipstick – Limited Edition

• Party Parrot – Bright red pink (Matte)
• Pink Pigeon – Bright cleanest pink (Matte)
• Strong Woman – Bright violet (Matte)
• Absolute Power – Rich red (Matte)
• Firm Form – Gilded black with gold pearlized pigments (Matte)

Lip Pencil – Limited Edition

• Embrace Me – Vivid pinkish fuchsia
• Lasting Sensation – Bright coral

All Woman Eye Shadow x4 – Limited Edition

• Flawless Figure – Pale warm shimmering white (Veluxe Pearl)
• Brains & Brawn – Mid-tone taupe (Matte)
• All Woman – Greenish dark grey (Satin)
• Black Magique – Deep dark black with warm tones (Velvet)

Inner Strength Eye Shadow x4 – Limited Edition

• Lithe Spirit – Palest white pink (Satin)
• Inner Strength – Light cool mauve taupe (Matte)
• Fabulous Fit – Mid-tone cool grey (Matte)
• Heatherbelles – Deep charcoal (Satin)

Powder Blush – Limited Edition

• Taupe Shape – Satiny taupe
• Poised – Muted pinkish brown

Penultimate Eye Liner

• Rapidblack – True black

Kohl Power Eye Pencil

• Feline – Rich black

Technakohl Liner

• Graphblack – Rich graphic black

Mascara

• Opulash – Black

Nail Lacquer – Limited Edition

• Muscle Tone – Pale neutral nude (Cream)
• Triumphant – Mid-tone cool brown (Cream)

Brushes

• 168 Brush – Large Angled Contour Brush (Natural Fibre)
• 275 Brush – Medium Angled Shading Brush (Natural Fibre)

Launch Date: I've read lots of rumors about this collection - some have said it will launch at the end of December/Early January, and there has been speculation that it will be sold exclusively in-store. I asked a MAC representative in the Live Chat, and they confirmed it will be available in-store and online. Still though, I don't know if it's 100% accurate. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

(screenshot of Live Chat)

Source: From my lovely friends on Specktra.

MAC Taste Temptation Collection Now Online!

MAC Taste Temptation Collection Now Online

"A seductive style surfaces after-hours, drawing in an exotic panorama of pleasure-seeking, night-blooming violets. M∙A∙C captures this world in an elegant colour collection of deep purples, plums and amethysts."

The standout pieces from this collection are Mattene Lipsticks ($15) which are intensely pigmented and creamy lipsticks with a matte finish. Temptalia graded the shade Night Blooming an A, so I'd be curious to see how they hold up on the lips. It's always nice to find a good formula of lipstick with a matte finish because matte finished tend to be drying.

The Eyeshadow Palette ($40) is a miss, and the Powder Blushes ($20) and Tinted Lipglass ($15) just look okay.

There's nothing I found really unique, so I most likely won't be purchasing anything. All of the shades in this collection are very cool-toned (pinks, purples and blues) so it's nothing that great for my coloring.

Will you be purchasing anything? Everything is currently in-stock online. The collection will hit stores on the 13th.

Shop the Taste Temptation Collection by Clicking Here.

In other news, Too Faced is on Hautelook today, they have lots of eyeshadow duos in stock for $8 each if anyone is interested!

Also updated the latest drugstore makeup sales on my Makeup Sales and Coupon Codes tab. I apologize that it hasn't been updated all week - the Holiday season gets so hectic!

There's a new poll on the right side-bar as well, check it out!

Julep Maven December 2012 American Beauty Box!

Julep Maven American Beauty Box

The holiday season is all about shimmer, sequins, glitter and rocking dark, sultry shades. Although I love to wear glitter all year round, I especially like to have festive nails during the holidays.

Apparently Julep received the memo and came up with a gorgeous selection of glitter polishes for December's Julep Maven Box.

Although I seriously love every single shade in this collection, I went with the American Beauty box.

What's inside the box:

• Julep Instant Warming Foot Scrub (Full size - $22 value): This cucumber mint scented scrub warms up on contact like magic. Packed with natural pumice to exfoliate, chili pepper oil to stimulate circulation, and vitamin E to nourish. Can't wait to try this! 
• Juelp Julia Nail Color (Full size - $14 value): Purple orchid with golden micro-glitter metallic. The base is a sheer purple packed with a golden shimmer that looks different in all angles. This color is so gorgeous and unique. 
• Julep Patti Nail Color (Full size - $14 value): (full coverage black multi-dimensional glitter) The base is a black shimmery jelly combined like larger chunks of silver glitter. A super pretty edgy color that is so me.
• Create-your-own Cabochon Ring (see in the photos below!)

* I also received a peppermint candy. :)

A Fragrance Review - Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Spray ($105, 1.7 oz) is a fragrance I've been wanting to try for a long time now, mostly out of curiosity because of it's large fan base, and was ecstatic when it was offered as a 100 point perk at Sephora recently.

Flowerbomb is quite different than what I expected it to be. I love florals, so I expected nothing other than the name suggests, flowerbomb, to be an intense explosion of different floral notes. Something obvious - like a punch of geraniums, lilac and roses. Maybe even obnoxiously so, but it's not the case at all.

Notes: Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia, Patchouli.

Upon the first spray, it's only strong for a moment (maybe a minute or so) before it already starts to mellow. It's not a punch of flowers as expected, but a soft and sugary sweet (not sickly sweet) tea floral. It's soft, slightly spicy (like spice tea), and after it has really eased in, you get those subtly sweet chocolatey notes (not imitation cocoa, something more refined). Flowerbomb is shy, flirty and feminine - not too complex, but classy and reserved.

It's kind of a like a grown-up tea party in cotton candy clouds, where you're wearing your finest pearls and silk gloves while eating cupcakes and truffles as flower petals fall from the sky. Or the delightful smell of a morning tea latte sprinkled with sugar crystals and a single flower waiting for you on a Victorian tray by your bedside. It isn't loud or overbearing. It's very daytime appropriate, as you don't really notice it's there (but I suppose that depends on how much you spray).

Regardless, it's not something I'd particularly choose to wear at night, I'd choose something a little louder and sexier like Narcisco Rodriguez which I can smell on my skin for hours. I prefer a scent that I can smell on myself since I'm the one who wants to enjoy the scent I'm wearing, but it's nice to wear when you want something subtle, and only very noticeable when someone comes very close. I like to put some on my hand/wrist so I can smell it throughout the day.

I think it's easy to wear, and those who like sugary sweet scents will like this. Don't confuse sweet with cheap or adolescent though - it doesn't have the caramel/vanilla notes that I find can sometimes cheapen a sweet fragrance and it doesn't make me think of highschool.

The more I wear this fragrance, the more I like it, but I don't think it's something I'll be purchasing myself. I really enjoy it, but for my signature scent, I prefer something slightly less sweet. If I collected perfumes, I'd probably get a bottle. 

A really pretty fragrance, but I'm not sure that it's unique enough to match the price tag. It's a I feel like I can find something similar if I look around Victoria's Secret. It's a luxury perfume and a treat for sure, but $160 for 3.4 oz... ouch!!

Comparisons to Flowerbomb

In comparison to other florals/sweet fragrances, it's nothing like Prada Candy, which is also sweet, but Candy has strong notes of caramel and vanilla (dare I say cheap?), which are absent in Flowerbomb which is more complex. Coach Poppy Flower is more youthful , fun, fresh and fruity, whereas Flowerbomb is a little more mature and doesn't contain any fruity notes. Gucci Flora Eau Fraiche is a little more in-your-face citrusy-floral and can be smelt a mile away, while Flowerbomb is so much more sweet, subdued and reserved. It's often compared to Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber, which is one of my favorites, and although I agree that they are similar, Sensual Amber is a bit younger and much fruitier and less sugary. But they are both light and share some familiar notes. Also, those that tend to like Thierry Mugler Angel seem to like Flowerbomb, but it's not a fragrance I really care for. They do share the notes of Patchouli and Chocolate, but Angel is much stronger and a much warmer, spicier (almost somewhat masculine) oriental fragrance overall. More of a nighttime fragrance, which Flowerbomb can go either way. The patchouli in Flowerbomb isn't as earthy, and almost barely there (which is a plus for me). I also read if you like Aquolina Pink Sugar, you might like this.

Have you tried Flowerbomb? What's your current favorite fragrance?