Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Holiday 2014 Review, Photos, Swatches + GIVEAWAY

I have been a fan of Shu Uemura since my aunt introduced me to the eyelash curler and lipsticks nearly a decade ago. The Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura collection, however, is going down in the books as one of the most fashionable and memorable. Most of you know I am a new fur momma to Beau (who is always trying to lick my face), but I lived with my best friend and her two cats Crystal and Tucker for many years. So as an ode to the Shupette collection and my love for both pooches and kitties, Beau and I posed for an "opposites attract" themed photo!

em cosmetics by Michelle Phan The Day Life Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

The beauty realm is abuzz over the launch of em cosmetics. This collaboration by Michelle Phan and L'Oréal was two years in the making, with Michelle's fans providing input throughout the entire process. em cosmetics is an intro-to-luxury brand that boasts an extraordinary 250 products, and I will first introduce you to the refillable Life Palette in The Day Life. Click more to view all swatches and discover if it is worth the splurge! 

Freelance Makeup Artist Must-Haves [My Recommendations]

Makeup began as an interest, a hobby, a passion.. now makeup is my life, though I never imagined it would be. I can confidently tell the world that the thrill of cracking open a fresh tube of lip color will never lose its appeal, and I know I am not alone! Over the years, I have received many inquiries regarding where to start when building a high-end kit, which is why I created the video below. I wanted to introduce a few ideas and show you my personal favorites in action. I have worked with countless makeup artists in the past decade in many capacities, so I have been lucky enough to snoop through hundreds of kits (including some backstage at Fashion Week NY) and have fine-tuned my own based off what I have learned. Keep in mind this is just my perspective, and it merely covers the tip of the iceberg that is artistry.. I hope you find the recommendations helpful!

Makeup Used:
Bobbi Brown Eye Corrector and Concealers from BBU Palette
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural
Bobbi Brown Retouching Powder in Peche
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black Ink
Armani Eyes to Kill WP Mascara with Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara
Velour False Lashes in Lash in the City
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss is 4 Buff

Nail Polish:
Givenchy 12 Purple Crosiere

Now here are some additional thoughts:

--Most of the Bobbi Brown products used and reviewed in the video are part of the Bobbi Brown Pro Makeup Starter Kit. The classic colors and best-selling formulas included in the kit are a great place to start shopping once accepted into the BB Pro program (40% off retail prices, redeemable only through BobbiBrown.com), which you may apply for through her website. The new Retouching Powders with the Sheer Powder Brush are also must-haves for makeup artists. The finely milled loose powder formula is available in 6 shades and suits all skin types and colors, so I highly recommend them to be used in conjunction with the Sheer Powder brush. Interestingly enough, the pink shades can double up as blushes! Also, my BBU Palette is undoubtedly my favorite Pro product. It makes my life so much easier because I can access any shade I need might need in one palette, and the packaging is incredibly streamlined.

--The ZÜCA shown in the video is the Artist Sport case, in Mystic/Black, which retails for $209 USD. There is a Pro version but it is more expensive, so I find the Artist is a great place to start. The Artist case is incredibly useful and travel friendly, though it does not fit in commercial airline carry-on bins. I love playing tetris with my makeup when organizing each of the four vinyl-lined utility pouches and am always amazed at how many products I manage to cram into each one.

--I buy many of my disposable sponges and cotton swabs from CVS because it is convenient to do so, but you can purchase disposable mascara wands and sanitizers like Beauty So Clean from stores like Camera Ready Cosmetics or Naimies.

Do your research.. know your makeup and understand your cliente. Best of luck and happy shopping!

The Balm Nude 'tude Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

The Nude 'tude is a neutral eyeshadow palette with the greatest versatility in its class. There are both warm and cool shades, with more than just brown tones. I prefer it to the original Urban Decay Naked because there is more variety in colors that can create natural or smoky eye looks, though I do enjoy and use the Naked II palette most out of the three. Nude 'tude boasts phenomenal quality, and it is definitely worth the splurge if you can find it at a discounted rate on HauteLook, as I did. It retails for $36 USD. I cannot say I am a fan of the packaging, as I prefer plastic and metal to cardboard, but it is thin and lightweight yet durable with a sizable mirror on the lid panel. 

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Color Quad in Golden Mink Review, Photos, Swatches

As many of you know, one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes of all time is Tom Ford's Cognac Sable. Because I am so devoted to the palette, I was reluctant to try any of the others in fear that I would be disappointed. Golden Mink, however, is a more subtle alternative to Cognac Sable and I am happy to announce it is a lovely addition to my Tom Ford arsenal. I have been mixing and matching all eight of the shades, what a lovely natural pair. I will show you swatches after the jump!

YSL No. 13 Candy Ombres 5 Lumieres Eyeshadow Palette for Spring 2012 Review, Photos, Swatches

The Ombres 5 Lumieres Palette in 13 for YSL's Spring 2012 Candy Face Collection, $56, is breathtaking. It brings out the little girl in me! I purchased it as soon as my local YSL counter received the shipment, even before the testers arrived. The cotton candy color scheme might seem juvenile to some but this eyeshadow palette is surprisingly wearable and it is a great alternative to the various greens that have overrun this season's eyeshadow palettes. Doesn't it remind you of Easter eggs?

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Color Quad in 02 Cognac Sable Review, Photos, Swatches

I generally prefer cool brown shadows to warm brown shadows but Tom Ford's eyeshadow quad in Cognac Sable (which I ordered from Bergdorf Goodman) has temporarily, at least, altered my preference.

Though I do own individual shades or duos that may be considered 'dupes' for the shades in Cognac Sable, the only quad in my possession that comes close to Cognac Sable is Chanel's Kaska Beige (now discontinued). Kaska Beige, however, is a mix of warm and cool tones whereas Cognac Sable is strictly warm. These two palettes look more similar once applied to my eyes, since both ultimately create a bronzy, smoky effect.

The golden peach shade is similar to Lancome's Kitten Heel, though the texture of TF's shadow is superior (smoother and more pigmented). I don't have anything like the glittering orange-bronze in Cognac Sable, though the base color is similar to D&G's orange-bronze in the Gold duo (one of my favorite eyeshadows of all time). The warm medium brown and deep chocolate could probably be duped by MAC or any other premiere eyeshadow brand but the texture is what makes them unique. They are matte shades with a touch of shimmer particles running through them. In the pan, they look to be cohesive but once applied to the eyes, the shimmers do sit on top of the shadows. I don't mind that look at all but many prefer shimmers that are infused into the base colors of shadows so I figured it was worth mentioning.

The eyeshadows were swatched on my bare arm but on the eyes, a primer is necessary for oily lids. I found they work best with my NARS Pro-Prime eyeshadow base. Some have found that the colors look better swatched than applied to the lid but I have discovered the more I play with this eyeshadow palette, the more I fall in love with it. The colors coordinate beautifully and I can use it to create both naturally brightened or dramatic, smoky eyes. It's now officially the one warm eyeshadow palette I will travel with. The case could have used some extra weight, but the extra large mirror is a compromise that I do not begrudge.

I'll be posting a full video review and tutorial using all the Tom Ford Beauty products I purchased and I have to say, it's one of my favorite looks of all time! It's very warm, not too neutral, and simply sophisticated.

Here is a full-face preview of my Tom Ford Beauty Look!

Close-up of CS on my eye!

Bottom Line: Tom Ford's Cognac Sable Eye Color Quad may not change your life, but it is admittedly a gorgeous indulgence!