The Lime Crime Chinchilla Experiment: Grey Lipstick Swatches, Mini-review and Look

[Pictured Left-to-Right: Lime Crime My Beautiful Rocket, Lime Crime Chinchilla]  

Some of you may recall a few months ago, I posted about Lime Crime's limited edition Chinchilla lipstick, which is the unlikeliest and most unexpected shade of grey.
Well what does a girl do on Cyber Monday while stocking up on staples like Great Pink Planet and Countessa Fluorescent? She drops an extra "experimental" lipstick into her cart for the heck of it.
Well that experiment took a long time to ship, but has finally arrived.
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When I opened the tube, I wasn't too sure what to make of it. The first thing I thought was, "This isn't really grey." Well, it is, kinda.
I would describe it as a smoky lavender. Equal parts purple and grey. So I compared it to my other purple lipsticks for reference. As you can see below, even NYX Power looks pink in comparison, so if you're not very comfortable with that shade on your lips, you will most likely not like this one.

Swatches from L-to-R: MAC Sheen Supreme in Asian Flower, Lime Crime Airborne Unicorn, NYX Power, and Lime Crime Chinchilla

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Now the important question: how does it look on the lips??
On its own, I wouldn't call it the most wearable lipstick around. The formula is great; very creamy and opaque, with that lovely vanilla scent. But it will take some getting used to when you look in the mirror for the first few times.
I definitely don't find it ugly, but I can't quite imagine this being too flattering on anyone who isn't at least medium-fair in skin tone. If you are deeper than about NW30-NC35, this might really look weird. If you are very pale with minimal or no ruddiness in your skin this is likely to look quite beautiful. In an odd way.
This is definitely a statement lip without having to be really loud.
With that said, here's a picture of a smoky, monochromatic look featuring Chinchilla on NC25 skin. I've found this lipstick looks more "wearable" with muted cool-toned shades like greys, charcoals, and deep purples as these bring out the purple tones of the lipstick. If you want it to really look grey, pair it with stronger, or warmer shades as the lipstick will look even more muted in contrast.
Topping it with a gloss will also make the shade a lot more wearable.
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Edgier Monochrome Look (above) -
On lids: MAC Crystal eyeshadow, Shale eyeshadow, and Grape pigment.
On lips: Lime Crime Chinchilla
On cheeks: TheBalm Bahama Mama as contour
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Softer Look (above) -
Add to cheeks: NYX Dusty Rose Blush on apples
Add to lips: Kiehl's Lip Gloss in Mahvelous Mauve dabbed on lightly
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Verdict?
Definitely interesting, but I'll just stick with my more "conventional" Lime Crime colors (neon orange and electric pink) for everyday wear, though I will be pulling this out from time to time, and wondering if I just might have the guts to wear it out.
The color is so unique as a lipstick that I can't really call the look beautiful or ugly. Maybe my mind can't grasp how lips could be that color, and is simultaneously attracted by the dusty lavender shade and repulsed by the alien-ness of the color worn on my lips.
Takes time to get used to, and definitely not for the faint of heart, because you will likely find yourself the only one who will really appreciate it. (The only word the BF could think of to describe this was "scary".)

Holiday Gift Idea #1: Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection Swatches and Review

Am going to randomly post about products that I think make really fabulous gifts for makeup fanatics.

The first of these is the Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection.

The great thing about this collection of 15 intense shades is that they are all completely original. These are not a compilation of "best-selling" shades from the regular lines. The bad thing of course, is that they will not be available after this limited edition collection sells out.

That aside, I've only had time to swatch these, and I must say I'm impressed with pretty much ALL the colors. I prefer to group them by column, as they seem to be positioned by theme. 

15 Year Anniversary Collection Column 1

The first column on the left is a compilation of lighter neutrals with a trace of warmth. Very wearable and versatile. The whole row is metallic. Colors go from L-to-R.

• Midnight Rodeo: Soft beige-bronze metallic with gold glitter
• Midnight 15: Beige metallic with silver shift and gold glitter
• Vanilla: Pearl with pale yellow-gold shift (yes, MAC Vanilla pigment dupe)
• Flow: Cool peachy beige metallic
• Chase: Golden-bronze beige metallic

15 Year Anniversary Collection Column 2

Column 2 in the center of the kit is a collection of strong, cool-toned shades that can give quite a bit of drama to your look. 

• Tainted: Soft satin-matte mauve with pale gold glimmer (the sheen is barely visible when applied)
• Junkshow: Fuchsia pearl with blue shift
• Omen: Violet metallic with blue shift 
• Evidence: Deep, dark navy (Goes on a little like MAC Blue Storm pigment)
• Deep End: Metallic teal (MAC Steamy lookalike)

15 Year Anniversary Collection Column 3

 Column 3 is another standout column composed of deep, smoky shades, and the only true matte in the palette. Colors from left to right:

• Deeper: Deep Bronze Brown metallic (similar to MAC's discontinued Brass pigment)
• M.I.A.: Deep, dark cocoa pearl 
• Ace: Black with a metallic teal-grey shift
• Blackout: True, matte black
• Half Truth: Smoky eggplant purple with violet shift

Overall:

The colors are extremely pigmented and very soft. (I actually dropped my palette right after I purchased it, and shattered one of the shadows. The very kind SA at Sephora actually got me a new one on the spot even though it was my fault.)

If you like rich, strong colors with intense pay off, Urban Decay is one of the best brands to go to.

I love that these shadows are all new, and the quality is outstanding, although it's not the cheapest thing around. 

The combination of shades is also lovely, and I like how they are sorted into soft neutrals, strong cool colors, and deeps. I'll definitely be doing a series of looks using this kit, so watch out for that!

Poison Orchid: Too Faced Exotic Color Intense Eye Shadow

Too Faced Exotic Color Intense Eye Shadows

Too Faced Intense Eye Shadow in Poison Orchid

I snapped up just this one shadow from the new Too Faced Midnight In the Garden of Glamour collection. This midnight amethyst shade is a smoky dark grey with oodles of magenta sparks, and was the instant standout shade for me, because I haven't found anything else quite like it, and the camera just can't capture how beautiful it is in real life (the sparkles are actually more pink/red than they appear on the images). 

If you already have tons of shadows in your collection, DEFINITELY just check out Poison Orchid as it's unlike any other color I've seen or owned.

To better showcase the shadow, I did a very simple eye look that enhances and elongates the eye using this smoky, duo-chrome purple.

Step 1: Use a matte black shadow and a smudger brush to line the outer half of upper and lower lash lines. Don't worry about getting it neat. Just get it really dark at the lashes.

Step 2: Using a flat brush, pack Poison Orchid on top of the black, diagonally upwards from the inner corner, so it flares up into a wing. (An easy way to do this is to hold the brush at the outer corners and sweep in, and downwards.
Also add smoky purple outside the black that you drew along the lower lashes.

Step 3: Add a matte beige on the inner half of the lids, diagonally inwards, wherever the purple isn't. To shew the contrast better, I took the above picture with flash. (The eyeshadow shifts to a smoky indigo violet in flash!)

Step 4:  Finish with black liquid liner on the tide line (under your upper lashes), and then 2 coats of black mascara. 

Weekend Lip Shade: Barry M Sunset Lip Paint Review and Swatch!

Swatches (L-to-R): NYX Indie Flick (matte), Barry M Sunset, Revlon Kiss Me Coral, NYX Haute Melon

I mentioned my Barry M haul a couple of days ago, and I've tested all of them in the last couple of days. Of the lot, I have to say #151 Sunset is probably my first recommendation, although I do really like most of the others as well.

Coral Lipsticks (L-to-R): NYX Haute Melon,Revlon Kiss Me Coral, Barry M Sunset, NYX Indie Flick (matte)

The shade itself is a true vermillion-coral creme (think Disney's Ariel) that I enjoy for its opacity, and ability to make the skin glow. 

You can wear this with deep-bronze, dewy skin for the super-hot "Summer-vacation" look, or you can matte your skin and paint on kitten flick liner for a retro pin-up look. 

Barry M Sunset is very opaque and saturated compared to the Revlon and NYX, while retaining its sheen very well. (I'd say it has a similar texture to an Amplified Creme lipstick.)

Barry M Sunset stays on well through drinks and talking, and I find you get more applications out of firmer, more pigmented lipsticks like these. (You know how you seem to go through some tubes of glossy lipsticks so fast because they are too soft and creamy?)


Visit my TUMBLR for the tutorial featuring this lip shade!

The Weekend Mouth: Barry M Lip Paint in Sunset, with NYX Cinnamon Blush and black accented eyes.

Big, Fat, Bombshell Lashes: Double-Lash Demo

Double-lashes; Ardell 122 over Ardell 110, worn with NYX matte lipstick in Sweet Pink 

A lot of movie starlets stack lashes for a real lush-lashed bombshell look. Unlike wearing a strip of full, showgirl lashes, stacked lashes are more irregular, more wispy, and somehow more subtly-glamorous looking.

Ardell 122s stacked over Ardell 110s.

Step 1: As a base, don't wear too much eye makeup unless you're intentionally going for a drag look. Apply a little neutral or warm shade along the socket line just for definition, as all the attention is going to go to your lash line.

10 Favorite Lipsticks (March 2011)

I've always been obsessed with lipstick. Nothing in the world feels quite the same a gliding a creamy bullet of rich color over your lips.

Here are some of my current favorites.

Group 1

1. Bourjois Sweet Kiss Shine #59 Rose Etincelant
Sweet sheer candy pink with gold highlights makes this a soft peach/nude on the lips (below) that's flattering if you have medium to dark skin.

2. Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick #301 Crystal Baby


3. Sephora Lip Attitude #G20
A more chocolate-y version of Crystal Baby, this is a sheer glossy nude-brown lipstick which feels and looks almost like a gloss. Perfect as a base color to mute redness when wearing sheer tinted gloss. Best thing? It's so inexpensive!

4. MAC Lustre Lipstick in Fresh Brew
A slightly deeper version of Sephora #G20, but I love it because it can look like a nice caramel-y true-brown on lighter skins, and a non-chalky nude on darker-toned complexions. Definitely check this out if you are NC40 and deeper, and can't find nice nudes.

5. Maybelline Watershine Pure Lipstick #B24
A pale pink-based nude which is the pinker and more opaque counterpart of Crystal Baby, but at a fraction of the price. If you like milky nude-pinks with a glossy sheen, this is a great one to try.

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Group 2

1. Sephora Lip Attitude Star #S22
A flattering, ultra-shimmery caramel, I bought this because it looked so much like a Dior Addict Shine lipstick. It's rich, creamy, sheer, and feels just as luxurious as a high-end lip color.

2. MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Till Tomorrow
Bruised-lip color which stays put for a few hours with normal activity. I'll always find kiss-proof lipsticks fascinating because of Revlon Colorstay, but then there are no Revlon equivalents for this shade where I am.

3. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick #180 Vintage Pink
This quirky and beautiful dusty lavender-pink always makes me think of a scene in Anne Rice's Pandora, where an ancient vampire sits anonymously in a cafe, writing the story of her life wearing a "purple" lipstick. (I somehow always imagined it to be a mauve that is atypical but subtle, rather than dark and dramatic.) On light to medium skin, this is a medium tone, but if you are about NC40 onwards, this will be a lovely cool-toned nude pink for you.

4. MAC Amplified Lipstick in Up The Amp
One more purple. And what a purple! It goes on more blue than the swatch above. This is the loud and attention-seeking rebel of the family. If you have golden or olive-toned skin, this purple looks sooo nice as statement lips, paired with minimal makeup.

5. L.A. Girl Lipstick in Dreamer
I mentioned this before in my Robin Blue nail polish post. This is a lovely, lovely black. I say so because it does not go on streaky or patchy, and is not stubbornly hard to even out (below). Wear this with any other shade you have to deepen it dramatically.



P.S. Some other favorites which I love but are either discontinued or a little easier to duplicate are:

1. MAC Syrup (dupe this with Urban Decay Rush or Etude LED lipstick #10)
2. Revlon Matte lipstick in Really Red
3. Lancome Color Fever Dewy Shine lipstick #258