Review of Burberry Beauty

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog - lots going on in my life, and little 'free' time. I've decided to write about my experience with the new Burberry Beauty line, which I purchased online from nordstrom.com.

I purchased 3 eyeshadows, in Pale Rose, Tea Rose, and Trench, and the Light Glow blush in Rose. Overall, the shadows are very soft (which also means a lot of fallout), and require quite a bit of building to get the desired color payoff. They do, however blend beautifully.

Tea Rose is a very basic rose tone - very neutral, nothing special.
Trench is a dead-on dupe for MAC Brule, but at $29, I'll be keeping Brule.
Pale Rose is a nice pale pink with irridescence, and maybe my fave of the three. Despite the brand name, and high expectations, they just don't live up to my makeup standards. The colors are essentially dupable, and are do not stand out enough for me to shell out $29 apiece for them.

The blush is nice - very soft and sheer, easily buildable, and the color is a good, everyday color for my NW25 skintone. But for $40, I think I'd rather use one of my MAC or LORAC blushes.......it just really isn't that special.

In the photo below, L-R: Tea Rose, Trench, Pale Rose. Bottom: Rose Light Glow blush. All are over UDPP, patted on. And yes, the camera captured the color depth well.

Sadly, these are going back.

In the photos below, for the eyes I've used the 3 shadows, plus MAC Charcoal Brown in the crease, and Chanel Cassis to line. Cheeks are Burberry Rose blush. Lips are Chanel Legende Rouge Coco topped off with MAC Easy Lounger lipglass.

New hauls, photos yet to come......

I have some pics to show, for the new MUFE Aqua Creams and some of my favorite brushes....but alas Google is experiencing issues with photo upload....so we'll just have to wait.

On the haul front, I finally have my MAC To the Beach collection (can I just say WOW) and am enjoying it a lot! I might even post an FOTD if I'm feeling particularly bold :).

I also recently came across some Chanel glossimers that (gasp) had been hiding from me in the black hole of my closet - I was astonished to discover some oldies but goodies, all new and pristine. It was like finding a treasure given my renewed Chanel obsession. I also recently received my Chanel Dreams quad, which I am anxious to try today - very pretty colors, and my first 'non-US' version of a Chanel quad!

In other news, I'm really liking the sample of Chanel Hydramax+Active Nutritive moisturizer. Maybe this will be part of a permanent skin care regime.....I also picked up the Ultra Correction Lift lip contour cream, and I'm really liking it. Hopefully I'll see some long-term benefit!

Yet to try:
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base - I had heard that this is a really interesting product, and since I'm not the biggest fan of bronzers, I thought I might have better luck using something that was more of a base to my makeup, rather than applied as an almost-last step.
Shu Uemura Pink Gloss collection in #333 - I saw these on Nordstrom's website and thought I would give one a try - the color is beautiful in the tube - very fine particles of shimmer in a perfect pink base - Shu's glosses generally have an almost weightless feel to them - I have a few others that I use from time to time (I'm on a Chanel glossimer kick at the moment, fickle me ;) ), so we'll see how this one does. I think it will be a great addition to my summer lip collection.
Nars Albatross highlighter - again, given the rave reviews, I have to see if it lives up to the considerable hype. This weekend will be a good time for me to try some of these new goodies!
Chanel Nude lip pencil - this was a must-have for me, given the various very positive reviews I've seen around the net. I'll be using it today to see what all the fuss is about! Hmmm.....maybe with the Shu gloss over it?
Smashbox Second Skin Longwear Concealer in Light (Waterproof) - I just received this product from QVC, and am excited to try it out. I'm a huge fan of MUFE's Lift Concealer, so that will be a tough act to follow, but I'll give Smashbox a whirl!

New additions to my collection, tried, using and loving:
Chanel Inimitable mascara - this is a favorite among some of my Spektra sisters so I had to give it a try - I liked it so much I bought it during the 'buy 2 get one 1' mascara offer at Nordstrom this past Saturday. Very black, not clumpy, it elongates my lashes nicely. A keeper!
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing powder in Antigua and Maui - these came highly recommended by a dear friend from Spektra.net. These are beautiful powders! I love the colors especially - Antigua is a pinky-nude color and Maui is a golden rose. Both have subtle shimmer, and I love using them on my cheekbones and lightly at my temples....haven't quite gone the true 'bronzer' route with the application yet, but I'm very happy with my application results!

That's it for this post - I'll patiently (?) wait for Google to fix their photo upload issues, and hopefully give you something to look at soon!!

Make it a great day! I'm too blessed to be stressed!

Now let's talk foundation.......

Now this is a complicated topic for me, because I'm not really a brand loyalist, but am always on the hunt for a good foundation. I use different foundations in different climates, and usually prefer the 'dewy' look I get from a liquid or cream foundation. But then again, I like the 'smooth' look I get from a powder foundation. I'm really all over the map, as they say. Since spring is here, I'll start there - this is the season that I use both types of foundation, depending on my mood. None is a miracle worker (are there really silver bullets in the beauty world?) but these do the job better than most.

So what is important to me in a foundation?

• I have combination skin this time of year, so I want something that handles that aspect.
• I am of Irish and Scottish descent, so I have freckles. I also have an age spot. I'm not opposed to my freckles showing through, but I do like some coverage that evens things out without looking like I spackled it on with a trowel.
• I want my skin to feel hydrated - I don't want my foundation to undermine my moisturizer. If it contributes, great, but I also don't want to look like an oil slick.

MAC Studio Sculpt (NW20 and NW25): I like this foundation for its texture and coverage, and the fact that you don't have to use gobs of it for it to do its job. I usually use the darker tone on the outer portion of my face, and the lighter one on the inner 'inverted triangle' (the area of my forehead, down my nose and inner cheek area, down to my chin) to bring light to that portion of my face. I use a brush to apply (I'll have a post on my favorite brushes - one or two of which may surprise some people).

Laura Geller Balance & Brighten: I LOVE this foundation product! I first discovered it a few years ago, and end up going back to it over and over again. Its combination of colors really evens out my skin tone, and the fact that it isn't a powder per se, it never looks cakey. It lasts a really long time (I'm still not through my first one, though I do not use it every day).

Revlon Colorstay Normal/Dry in #250 Fresh Beige: This foundation has something of a cult following, and I'm definitely on the bandwagon. I use this foundation quite often, but truthfully moreso in winter. I just love the finish it gives my skin, and it really does last all day long (with or without primer). I'm just hoping they don't change the formula or discontinue the color (don't you just HATE it when cosmetic companies do that??).

Makeup Forever High Definition Foundation in #120: This is another favorite - it's like wearing no makeup (which is the point of HD) but it gives my skin a subtle luminosity and evens everything out.

(New foundation awaiting trial) Chanel Teint Innocence in #76 Voile - Soft Bisque/Intensity 2.5: I have not yet tried this foundation, but I did purchase it based on the results when the MA tried it on me. I want to use up some of my others before digging into this, but it holds promise ;).

Following are other products I have tried and use from time to time, but are not the ones I usually reach for:
Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder in Light: I like this product, but it doesn't give me the coverage I typically want, but I do use it from time to time when I want just a sheer finish.
Bare Minerals: I really have wanted to love this foundation, based on all of the great reviews it gets. I don't know. I just don't get the same results others do. I have tried different shades, different application amounts, different brushes, the whole nine yards. I just can't get it to 'work' for me consistently. Do I use it? Yes. Do I use it a lot? No.

That wraps up my foundation opinions. I hope you all have a great weekend and get to enjoy some good spring weather (those of you in the northern hemisphere, anyway! ;) ).