sampling

Do you have an entire drawer filled with product samples?  As you can see in the photo above, I certainly do.  But this month I finished up my usual moisturizer and, partly out of laziness, partly out of a half-assed desire to save some money, and partly because the thought of taking the samples with me when we move across the seas is appalling, I've been steadily going through them and using them up.   To my surprise, some of them are actually pretty stellar products and I might go out and buy a full-sized version once my supply of samples dwindles.  Guess that's why it's successful marketing.

Some winners so far...

on my face - travel edition

I traveled quite a bit over the last few months, including a month-long trip to the States and a little weekend getaway, so I had to do some careful thinking about my makeup essentials.  I pared it down and managed to fit everything into this little makeup bag (which, by the way, is the absolute best for travel, each little compartment velcros out so you can customize it as you like or just grab one little pouch, and the whole thing weighs about as much as a moth).

Here's the final edit: everything you need to look and feel fabulous when you're away from home without being overloaded or deprived.  It will get you through everything from casual cups of coffee to family dinners to glammed up nights out.

See the details...

on my face - november

I swear, I did not wear all this makeup at once.  But the cold weather and the grey rainy days make me want a little something more on my face, a deeper smoke on my eyes or a berry wine on my lips.  And of course, a variety of blushes.  (I am obsessed with having the perfect blush color for any given day, does anyone else out there have this problem?)

The details...

on my face - october

For someone as beauty and product obsessed as I am it strikes me as odd that I don't talk about it here more often.  I could probably fill a small suitcase with all my cosmetics, and I woud have trouble parting with any of it if it came down to it.  On the other hand, at any given moment in time I'm probably only using a handful of products.  I go through phases of absolute obsession, and then suddenly I will look in the mirror and realize, That blush is all wrong.  Luckily there's usually something else in my drawer to replace it and freshen up my morning routine.  For now, for the summer-to-fall transition, these are my go-to products.  Just a little complexion cleaning, a touch of color on the cheeks, and fairly neutral eyes.  Nothing that screams makeup, but still a bit more polished than those hot summer days we're leaving behind.

See the details...

holy grail reconsidered

A few months ago I went on and on about how I'd found my hg foundation, which was actually a mix of two foundations that together resulted in a level of perfection that I thought meant I would never need to experiment again.  Well now I'm eating my words.  I've found a new holy grail foundation.  Apparently I'm fickle when it comes to cosmetics.  Go figure.

My new favorite: a mixture of Chanel Mat Lumiere (shade 20 clair) and Daniel Kern's moisturizer (though I'm sure any simple lightweight moisturizer would do the trick).

I've had the Mat Lumiere for a while now, but on it's own it went on a little too heavy, and I also found it oxidized a little dark on me.  I figured it would just sit on my shelf collecting dust until I gathered the guts to throw it out and forfeit all the money I'd blown on it, but when I hit bottom on my Armani LSF I thought I'd give it another shot.  So happy I did because I discovered that when I mix equal parts Mat Lumiere and my lightweight lotion, I end up with the perfect tinted moisturizer.  And the odd color problems are fixed too (maybe because it goes on so beautifully sheer and natural now).  I mix up a few days worth at a time and keep it in a little sample jar, and I just love it. 

I apply it with my foundation brush after my sunscreen.  Add a little cream blush in Penny Lane and a touch of Orgasm illuminator, both by Nars, and I swear, it's the best natural looking springtime glow you could ask for.

holy grail

People on makeup blogs and forums talk a lot about Holy Grail products. I've always understood this in some abstract theoretical way, but seriously, how can one lipstick be perfect? One blush? Even one foundation? Don't you always keep an eye out for the next best thing? I guess I've never been very monogamous when it comes to cosmetics. I can't help it, I love the hunt and the discovery, just like all other kinds of shopping. It's not about having that perfect item and being satisfied, it's about exploration. But now, I have to say, I understand. I have found my hg foundation.

Unfortunately it's a mix of two foundations. I say unfortunately because this not only necessitates the purchase of two pricey foundations, but also because I have to be a kind of a mad chemist in the mornings.Which in itself is another thing I'd never understood, people mixing foundations. Can't you just find a better one? Well I'm a convert. I'm here to tell you that when you find the perfect mix, there is no better one.

My perfect mix: equal parts Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (number 5) and Armani Face Fabric (number 2). The LSF on its own was a tad too dark to look natural on me in the morning, and felt slightly makeup-y, if that makes sense. And the Face Fabric was a touch too light, and also it's crazy airbrushing effect made me feel a little doll-like (although somehow without feeling too made up. I don't know, I can't really explain it). On my last trip to San Francisco I was explaining all this to the SA at Bloomingdales, all the while thinking, why would she care, and what could she possibly tell me that I dont' already know? Turns out she was amazing. She took one look at me and said 'Mix 'em'. She said, 'It'll make your skin look thicker, more opaque and healthy'. Then she told me all of these other things you can do with Face Fabric, use a lighter one for highlights, a darker one for contours or bronzing, even put it on top of your blush to tone down a too-bright color (wha? really?). She also almost convinced me I needed the Armani foundation brush, but I managed to resist and walked out with only a tube of my Face Fabric. And then, between the holidays and the traveling and what not, I forgot all about this.

Until the other day, when I mixed them, and something magical happened. I know, it sounds absurd, but I'm telling you. The shade was perfect, the texture amazing. Glowy and luminous but still had that matte photoshopped look, but so natural. And even though I had no idea what she meant at the time, the SA was right, my skin looked thicker, in a healthy robust kind of way. And I literally can't tell I'm wearing makeup. Except that my skin looks amazing. Well, that and the fact that I put the makeup on myself in the morning. But still, just saying. Holy Grail stuff folks.