A few of my favorite things - October 2013

          Happy October! The combination of crisp air, colorful gourds, and candy corn make this my favorite month of the year! Beautiful, striking colors are lining the farm-side produce stands, glowing vermilion, white, and jack-o-lantern orange in the glancing afternoon sunlight. (snapshot by mom!) In commemoration of this final, colorful harvest of the year, I'd like to share a few of my favorite fall-themed accoutrements!

1. Vermilion sweater (St. John) + orange patterned blouse (GAP) - I paired a favorite vermilion sweater with an orange print, to mimic the complementary colors of the pumpkins.

2. OPI Did you 'ear about Van Gogh? (reviewed here) - This shade reminds me of wheat fields ready for harvest; it's an appropriate sentiment, given Van Gogh's proclivity for the subject in his artwork.

3. Essie nail polish in Blanc* -This color channels the pale white of the albino pumpkins, as well as little bedsheet phantasms that will appear on neighborhood sidewalks later on this month!

4. Dior Vernis in Riviera (reviewed here) -I find that sporting a bright vermilion is a chic alternative to classic jack-o-lantern orange this month.

5. CHANEL Double Perfection Lumière powder foundation - I'm proud to say I hit pan on this foundation! Needless to say, it's still getting a lot of love.

6.  Diptyque satchel - I love little logo pouches and was tickled when Mr. Lovey brought this one home for me. It's perfect for housing my collection of Diptyque perfume samples! (Be sure to check out my Diptyque perfume reviews here).

The perfect storage solution for my collection of Diptyque samples!

          I hope you enjoyed my ode to October! The combination of vermilion and white is a colorfully crisp variation on a fall theme that I'm going to enjoy incorporating into my routine this month. And of course, a dash of jack-o-lantern orange is always appropriate as well!

        Thanks for reading! What kind of colors and cosmetics are inspiring you this October?

Love, Dovey.
*Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

Fragrance, a mini menagerie

          This summer I've found my nose perusing the fragrance shelves of Sephora again. I figured it was time to pull out the deluxe sized fragrance samples I've collected from fragrance kits or gift with purchases. Most are florals or fruity florals, which are general crowd pleasers. I'll give a quick breakdown of my thoughts. Stella McCartney Stella is an old favorite of mine; I actually have the bottle in full size. This is really one of the best rose scents out there. Escada Especially Escada is my newest sample; it might still be available as a 100 point perk on Sephora. I haven't pieced through the elements in the scent, but it has a different fruity edge that I'm really liking. The bottle is gorgeous too. Coach Poppy and Versace Bright crystal have smooth fruits mixed in their scents; they'd be easy for even non-fragrance lovers to wear. Dior Addict Shine isn't available anymore online. It's a shame because I did enjoy the fresh blend of cedar and raspberry in it. Givenchy Very Irresistible and Ralph Lauren Romance were ok, but haven't yet left lasting impressions. I believe I wasn't terribly fond of Marc Jacobs Daisy and Juicy Couture Juicy Couture. It's a shame since both of the scents have cute bottles.

           Even with all these delightful bottles, I can't help but eye new scents. I still have my eye on Dolce + Gabbana Light Blue (and its summer counterpart), Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (even though it smells nearly identical to my DKNY Fresh Blossom), and maybe the Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin which I recently read about on The Non-Blonde. I have a little tester of Prada Infusion d'Iris too, which is in a category of its own. However, before I go off the deep end, I'm announcing a fragrance ban until I review each and every one of the samples shown here. I'm inwardly groaning at the thought, but I know it's for my own good. What deluxe fragrance minis do you have on your dresser? What samples or scents have you been liking this summer?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. I already reviewed Coach Poppy (see here). One down!

Wedding nail polish colors

          The big day is drawing closer and a key beauty decision involves choosing polish colors. I hadn't made a final decision yet, so I packed a selection to choose from (shown above). For my fingers, I'm going with a sheer pink. The ones I packed were OPI It's a Girl, OPI Isn't that Precious?, OPI Bubble Bath, and Butter London Pink Ribbon. The first two are cooler pinks, while the second two are more like ballet pinks. Right now OPI Bubble Bath is the front runner because I love the formula and it's a barely there color. For my toes, I want to choose a more colorful pedi that can transition into the honeymoon. The colors I brought for toes include OPI Kiss me on my tulips (reviewed here), Dior Bikini (reviewed here), Dior Riviera (reviewed here), and NARS Trouville (reviewed here). I had initially planned to use OPI Kiss me on my tulips, however I'm now leaning towards NARS Trouville. Both are beautiful, so it will be hard to decide!

          The girls are treating me to a spa day before the wedding, and I decided to get a pedi done, but not a mani. I plan on doing my own nails because they're short and tend to grow fast. The nail gap becomes too obvious for my liking if I apply more than a day in advance. Since I'm using a sheer color, I'm confident that I can get it right. I packed the following items with me so I can make sure my manicure will pass muster: OPI Top Coat, Sephora by OPI Base Coat, Tweezerman mini manicure set, and Sephora nail buffer.

         Hopefully all will go well! What nail colors did you wear (or are planning on wearing) on your big day?

Love, Dovey.

Inspired by The Hunger Games premiere

          I'll admit it: I'm a Hunger Games fan. I read the book and saw the movie. When I saw Jennifer Lawrence's Hunger Games Premiere look, I was stunned. First, it was because she was blonde (not brunette as in the movie), second because of her amazing dress, and third because of her makeup. The head to toe combination of gold with sooty blacks was so different from anything else I'd seen on the red carpet this season. It was like a perfect mix of golden girl with femme fatale. I had so much fun writing about it for the Allure Beauty Blogger Awards, I started experimenting with the colors too. Today I'm sharing a color palette of products that I've been using to create my Jennifer Lawrence at Hunger Games inspired look.

          The eyes have depth from the contrast between gold and coal black. NARS Exotic Dance (reviewed here) has a great old gold eyeshadow color that is perfect for blending into a opulent golden smoky eye. A paler cooler gold like Bare Minerals can be used for accents, or alone for a milder, brighter eye. NARS Night Clubbing is the perfect black shadow for the occasion since it has golden sparkles. A black pencil eyeliner like Make Up For Ever can be smudged into the shadow as well. During the daytime, I prefer to keep things tame with black eyeliner and just a whisp of gold shadow. For a beautiful example of a gold smoky eye, check out  this post by Eye Heart It.

         The rest of the face should be kept a natural peachy nude tone. Dior Aurora bronzer (reviewed here) would be the perfect peachy tan flush for the occasion. I've also been playing around with layering cream blushes. In particular, I've been using my Maybelline Dream Bouncy blushes in Coffee Cake and Rose Petal. Coffee Cake is an orangey tan while Rose petal is a peachy pink. I've had a lot of success with layering; it's something I'll definitely continue to experiment with. For lips, I love layering Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink with NARS Greek Holiday Lip gloss.

         I've really been loving this color palette of healthy peachy nude tones with smoky gold eyes. I think the colors are so wearable and translate will into both day and night; it's just a matter of which tones you choose to emphasize!

     Thanks for reading! What color palettes have you been using lately? Have you tried pairing gold with black? Are you a Hunger Games fan?

Love, Dovey.


P.S. There are only two chances left to vote in the Allure Beauty Blogger Awards Challenge #2. Voting closes at noon, eastern time on Friday. Thank you so much for all the tweets, votes, likes, and support this week. They really do make a difference as to where I stand!

Dior Vernis in Riviera review

           Dior Vernis in Riviera is the object of my obsession this spring. Riviera was released as one of four different Dior nail polish colors in the Spring 2012 of Dior Addict Extreme lipsticks. The moment I pulled Dior Riviera out of the box, it would be a favorite for both spring and summer.

Dior Bikini, Riviera, and Aloha (left to right)

          The color of Dior Vernis in Riviera straddles the line between orange, coral, pink, and a hint of red. In different lighting, the color looks quite different. In the fluorescent lighting at work, it appears orange. In the evening light at home, it looks more like a bright pink. Outside in bright light, as in my swatches, it seems like an orange with a hint of red. With such roundabout descriptions, what color do I actually consider Dior Riviera to be? I would call this a hot coral with orange leanings.

          Here are a brief set of nail color comparisons. OPI Guy meets Gal-veston is a bright pink coral and you can see that Riviera leans more red-orange for a coral. Dior Vernis in Bikini (reviewed here) is a significantly lighter peach coral. Dior Vernis in Aloha (reviewed here) is just at bright, but definitely more orange than Riviera. When compared side by side, Aloha is much more orange in person. As you can see Dior Riviera is quite bright. It was a challenge photographing it against my typical white background because it the color is so hot. I would say that is a tad more subdued in person than my camera suggests.

          I'll recap my thoughts on the formula (you can see more in my Dior Bikini review). The formula is a bit on the thick side, but dries quickly to a nice even finish in two coats. The quick dry is my favorite part of Dior nail polish. I had a complaint with the formula thickness in my Dior Bikini post and felt the same way with Riviera at the time. However, I've noticed that the consistency of the formula has improved over time. It's no longer as thick and spreads more easily. The improvement is mysterious, however I noticed a similar phenomenon when I got Aloha last year. The formula was not ideal in the beginning, but over time improved.

           Dior Riviera that has the intensity and feel of a ladylike red, yet it has a contemporary freshness due to the coral and orange tones. I have a definite weakness for colors like this. I might not wear brights on my lips, but they're definitely welcome on my nails.

          Thanks for reading! Have you tried Riviera? What is your MVP (most valuable polish) this season? Would you choose bright lips or bright nails?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. If you have a moment, I would love it if you could check out my Allure Beauty Blogger Awards entry here and vote (if you like what you see!) I also have the links in my sidebar for easy access. Thank you so much for all the support this week!

Dior Vernis in Bikini (Summer 2012) review

           Dior just seems to 'get' summer makeup. I'm not a year round Dior regular, but I always look forward to their unfurling of the summer collection. On my shortlist for Summer 2012 Croisette collection was Dior Vernis in Bikini - 537, a captivating coral. This month I can't seem to get enough of corals! To my surprise, my coral stash was quite slim, so I made sure to pick up Bikini during Sephora's Chic Week.

From left to right: Dior Vernis in Bikini, Aloha, and Riviera

          In general, orange tones in nail polish are difficult for me to wear; they often leave my fingers looking to yellow or pink. When there's a color family I don't wear well, it's helpful to try a higher end polish. The colors are carefully thought out and may be more flattering. I think this is how, despite being an orange-phobe, I keep buying orange-toned Dior Vernis colors. Above, you can see Dior Vernis in Bikini (Summer 2012), Aloha (Summer 2011), and Riviera (Spring 2012).

           Dior Bikini is a medium toned peachy coral. To me, the color is like that of canteloupe, melon, or papaya. Corals have a tendency to appear and photograph different depending on the light. In the low light of evening, the bottle of Bikini appears quite pink, while in strong sun it's more peachy. My favorite part of the formula is how quickly it dries; I worry less about mussing up my polish when it's a Dior. The formula of Dior Bikini is pretty good during application, but not perfect. I find that Dior formulas are a little thick. They're not fluid, so you can't pick up just a little and expect it to sheer out; you end with an uneven spread and texture.  If you pick up enough, it glides on beautifully. The brush is a thick tip cut on two different biases. It's good, but I still prefer the broad even tip of an OPI. (Also, the Dior brush tends to pick up too much polish for my liking). However, in general I am a fan of the Dior formula.

         Thanks for reading my review of Dior Vernis in Bikini! I'm quite smitten with the color, and will be sure to wear it regularly this summer. I'm currently on the hunt for a new swimsuit, and I think a color like Bikini would be perfect for an actual bikini, don't you think? I'll try to review Dior Riviera soon (you can see a preview of the color here). Riviera is love.

          Have you tried Dior Bikini or anything from Dior Summer 2012? Do you have a favorite Dior Vernis color? Have you found that some brands catch your eye during certain seasons?

Love, Dovey.

Inspired by 9th/10th century Ganesha statue

          Lately I've been favoring a subtle streamlined look that packs some heat. For this 'Inspired by art' post, I'm featuring this photograph I took of a 9th/10th century Indonesian statue of the God Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles. If you look closely, the statue has a rough porous texture. That's because it's carved from Andesite, an igneous volcanic rock. I can't help but wonder if that is the reason the display backdrop was painted a burning red-orange reminiscent of molten magma. The contrast between the calm ash grey rock and the fiery color of volcanic eruption evokes emotion that really transcends time. The simple combination works well for this ancient statue and for a more modern look that I'll describe below!

           A fiery color is best used in small doses. The perfect way to wear an undiluted magma-esque color is to wear a bright nail color. Bright orange and orange corals are very on-trend this season. My favorite colors for this are Dior Vernis in Aloha (Summer 2011) and Dior Vernis in Riviera (Spring 2012). Aloha is a bright orange, while Riviera is a bright coral that looks more orange or pink depending upon the lighting. When worn, brief glimpses of these intense color appear like flickers of flame on your fingertips!

          To keep with the elemental theme, makeup should be natural with only hints of color. Orange toned makeup can be overwhelming when over-applied, however, orange can add a beautiful element of intrigue when trace amounts are used to counter the eyes or cheeks.  NARS Multiple in South Beach can blended onto the cheeks for a sheer, warm, glowing effect. The same color can be used to add highlights or other color elsewhere. To keep the look minimal, I prefer not to add in other blushes, bronzers, or highlighters. MAC Rule eyeshadow, a burnished orange, can be lightly used on the outer V or in the crease for slight contouring of the eye. The result is similar to a nude face. However, the use of orange gives the face a lit-by-glowing embers effect as opposed to the typical sunkissed effect that bronzers and browns might give.

          The cool, calm, and carved stone sculpture above embodies a polar opposite state of its amorphous and volatile origins. To add some human precision into my look, I define the eyes with a liquid eyeliner. My Urban Decay 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Perversion has a nice small tip fit for the occasion. A slightly winged eye, or cat-eye, seems to be trending now. For a more intense look, a stony grey color like L'Oreal Sultry smoke can be smudged along the lashline.

         I hope you enjoyed this 'Inspired by Art' post! As you can see, I've been favoring orange tones quite a bit lately. What color palettes have you been wearing?


Love, Dovey.

P.S. I'm getting to comments--- the internet at my home has been intermittent (at best) for the past few days. Hopefully the repairman will solve things early next week!

Fragrance minis

           As a sample collector, it's simply inevitable that I end up  with a large number of fragrance sleeves and vials. However, the number of scents that make it into my rotation are quite limited. As you can imagine samples come from all genres and I, like most, fall into a certain niche. In general, I'm a 'pink' scent person. As a cheerful chipmunk, I can take maximum doses of bright and optimistic florals with citrus. Hints of musk, jasmine, vanilla, and sandalwood appeal to me. More relaxed citrus based scents are ok. I generally dislike oriental, spicy, powdery, or opulent scents. Two sample vials I remember completely using up were DKNY Fresh Blossom and Kate Spade Twirl. Today' I'm sharing the four sample scents that successfully made it into my rotation.

1. Dolce + Gabbana Light Blue - I'm sure I've mentioned this on the blog and twitter before. Out of the four shown here, Light Blue has the best chance running dry due to use! It's not my typical kind of scent, however it's perfect for winding down at home after a long day.  I wouldn't wear this during daytime; it's too relaxing for me. Light Blue's top notes include Sicilian Citron and apple; the crisp scents add the perfect dash of energy to an otherwise warm cedar/amber/musk base. I might buy a rollerball size one day.

2. Tocca Graciella - Graciella is a medium weight floral musk with definite water tones. The florals include ylang ylang and rose de mai. For some reason, I was expecting Toccas to be lighter floral scents. The inclusion of apricot and asian pear results in a mellow fruity tone that I really enjoy. I think the apricot and pear really add a pleasant and unexpected dimension to the scent. However, after the initial burst, it becomes harder to find these elements, and I am left with a more watery and floral musk dry down. I'm really not a water scent type of person, so though I am intrigued, I would not purchase this. I'm pleased with the overall construction the scent, which makes me want to explore other Tocca fragrances (perhaps Cleopatra or Bianca).

3. Miss Dior Eau de Parfum - Miss Dior seems like a scent worn by a young chic sophisticate. It's a weighty floral (jasmine) with citrus and patchouli. The patchouli isn't really noticeable to me, which I like. The scent is a bit sweet. The scent is a bit heavy for me, but I'll try to finish it anyway.

4. Givenchy Play for Her - From the its namesake 'Play' I was expecting a playful energetic fragrance. However, Givenchy Play is a more relaxed feminine scent that isn't overly opulent or complex. It seems like a fairly mild mixture of woody, citrus, and floral scents. This seems like a good scent for a down-to-earth girl who doesn't want to be overwhelmed by flowers. Overall, I think this is a nice scent, but it's a bit too relaxed for my personality. I need something a little more high strung!

         Thanks for reading this episode of fragrance minis! Now that it's warmer, I've rekindled my interest in fragrances and will try my hand at more fragrance writing. What samples or scents have appealed to you lately?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. Sporadic internet service and a tighter schedule have made me a bit slower in replying to comments; however I do plan on getting to them and genuinely appreciate everyone who has taken the time to leave a note!  Hearing from friends, both old and new, always lifts my spirits, especially during busy times :)

Eleven of 'eleven

        It's the 11th hour here in the U.S. and I'm posting my top eleven of 2011 before the clock strikes twelve! So without further ado, here are eleven beauty products that merit recognition. I've included links to my past posts for your reference.

1. Dior Aurora bronzer was my favorite cheek product of the year. It gives just the perfect amount of glow and functions as a blush and bronzer. I use cheek products sparingly since I found out this year that they cause my skin to react. However, when I do, Dior Aurora is something that I will reach for.

2. NARS multiple in Luxor is my favorite highlighter. I like it slightly more than Copacabana because I favored cooler tones this year.

3. NARS nail polish in Vestale is the pale ballerina pink that led me down a pale pink road this year. The finish of Vestale is so glossy that you don't need a top coat. I think there was in improvement made when compared to previous NARS nail polish formulations.

4. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is my favorite foundation. I love the naturally glowy finish that occurs over time. I also like that it has good oil control and looks great in photographs. It's my favorite because it's the best all-around.

5. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation is another great foundation. It's what I like to use in lieu of tinted moisturizers. Vitalumiere aqua is so weightless and comfortable.

6. Chanel Rouge Coco in Peregrina was the object of my obsession ever since the promotional photos emerged. This was very well loved.

7. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink was my most-used lipstick this year. It's a very wearable pinky nude. If you read Cute and Mundane regularly, you know this is my kind of color! The Rich lip color formulation is so creamy, pigmented, and comfortable.

8. NARS Larger than Life eyeliner in Via Veneto convinced me that there are awesome pencil eyeliners out there. This stays really black and barely smudges (over primer). I was gel eyeliner only girl until this came along. Recently I've reached for this almost every day!

9.  My custom MAC quad (Soot, Yogurt, Scene, and Vex) was my first foray into MAC eyeshadows. I used this quad so often. Scene (light blue-grey) is my most worn grey this year. I love combining it with Vex (beige sheen).

10. NARS Dogon eyeshadow duo is my vote for the best NARS duo this year. I think that says a lot!

11. NARS Coconut Grove is such a versatile color. It's such a rich cool brown that's great for deepening any look. I used it every day to shade in my brows as well.

          Thanks for reading my last post of the year! I'm off to watch the Time's square countdown in a few minutes. See you in the New Year!

Love, Dovey.

Sephora Friends and Family haul

          Today I'm presenting my purchases from the Sephora Friends and Family sale this year. I was inspired to post by Beauty Vigilante, who shared her haul as well. It's fascinating to see what essentials people pare their lists down to. It says a lot about them, don't you think? I tried to stick to big-ticket basics like foundation and foundation and tools. Recently I've had the notion that I'd fallen a little out of love with NARS. However, judging from the number of black cardboard boxes in my Sephora haul, this was clearly not the case!

          Recently, I've been exploring foundation. I've used most of my NARS Sheer Glow in Ceylan (Light 6) and love the formula, however I felt the color washed me out because it lacked pink. I therefore picked up NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville (Light #4) which has a mix of yellow and pink undertones. Secondly, I've wanted to try MUFE HD foundation for a long time, because of it's photogenicity. I ordered MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Foundation #118 (Flesh) in a value kit that came with the HD powder, primer, and kabuki brush.

          In terms of eye products I ordered NARS Manchourie eyeshadow duo, NARS creamy concealer in Vanilla, NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base, and Sephora Professionel Smoky eye brush. My favorite product so far is the smoky eye brush that I first read about on The Non-Blonde. I didn't know what I was missing until I got this a couple days ago! I was also quite excited to get NARS Manchourie eyeshadow duo. I've been using this as liner for the past two days, and will try to post a review and photos this weekend.

          To satisfy my nail needs, I picked up NARS Orgasm and NARS Bad Influence nail polishes. Both had been on my list for a while. I was sad since I had missed out on Bad Influence, however it recently reappeared on Sephora's website for steal at $8! I also picked up the Tweezerman petite manicure set. It seems like a travel friendly kit, and I was much in need of a pushy tool and a hangnail clipper.In post-sale retrospect, I think I should have ordered more nail polish! I could have used some pink Sephora by OPIs.

          And.... this is for my mom, per her request. It's Christian Dior Capture R60/80 XP Wrinkle correction eye cream. Does anyone know why all Dior products have ridiculously long, difficult to remember names? Also, on a funny side note, the product is listed on Sephora as "wrinkle restoring cream". I'm not sure people would want their wrinkles 'restored'!

          I also received a 500-point BUXOM perk, that I'm enjoying now, as well as a 12 oz. bottle of Philosophy Purity face wash as a 100 point perk. I probably have enough Purity at this point to wash my face well into next next year! I also find the fact that I have 600 points sitting around to be somewhat disturbing, but I should probably not dwell on that fact... Products that I barely passed on during the sale were more Sephora Professionel brushes, NARS Orgasm multiple, NARS Brumes eyeshadow duo, and more nail polish.

          Thanks for reading! Is everyone else enjoying their Sephora Friends and Family hauls? Care to share any surprise favorites?

Love, Dovey

Little luxuries for stress relief

  
           I should be tooling away on my project, but I have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to photographs. I decided to oblige myself with a couple of camera phone pics. Today I'm sharing some of the products that give me some stress relief. When I'm busy, I gravitate towards bath and body products with scents, textures, and fragrances. These little luxuries for the senses are more keenly appreciated during these times.

Some of the things I've been reaching for are:

1. Dior Addict 2 - This is my most used fragrance. It's a strong feminine, floral, sweet, and very optimistic scent. It's young, but I think it still represents my personality quite well.
2. DKNY Be Delicious - I've spritzed this once in a while since it's apple season. It's more of a simple fruity tomboy type scent. Not my usual MO, but it's good to mix things up.
3. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - I rediscovered this from my skincare stash. It's a very gentle cleanser with a lot of slip and a clean cucumber scent. The slip allows me to massage my face longer without tugging. I really like the scent too. This cleanser is not a heavy duty cleanser though! I only use it after my makeup has been completely removed or in the mornings.
4. LUSH Tea Tree Water - This is an astringent spray with tea tree and juniper. I'm not sure how effective its blemish fighting capacity is, however the smell and feeling is relaxing. A spritz on my face is a nice picker-upper while I'm working.
5. LUSH Ocean Salt - I love this salt and lime scrub. It's clarifying, and massaging. I love it.
6. Shu eyelash curler - I'm obsessed with my lashes. No matter what, I need to curl them and apply tons of mascara. Then I feel ready to tackle whatever comes my way!

          Thanks for reading! I've got to get back work, but I'll check back to see if there are comments =). Do you go scent and spa crazy during tough times too? I'm fascinated to know what scents people like. It says so much about their personality. I'm obviously a pink bottle type girl. Mr. Lovey is a woodsy type guy. What about you?

Love, Dovey.

July Favorites

          July was a month of excitement and experimentation. Companies let loose their Fall 2011 floodgates and the Nordstrom Anniversary sale went into full swing. I scoured the web and scurried to stores to pick up my precious new goodies. It was an enjoyable, but hectic time. I'm looking forward to the slower pace in the coming couple of months. My purchases this month are all NARS. Because there were too many NARS products I had to have, I had to pass on my other interests. Some products I thought were great but passed on were: Chanel Fall 2011 lip colors, Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell  Sand palette, and the Urban Decay 15th anniversary palette. Sigh. There's always next season!

         My favorites this month are a mix of new and old things. I've gone back to my smokey eye and nude lip standby. It's a very happy (makeup) state of mind for me.


1. NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo - (Reviewed here) This had me playing with my crease colors this month.
2. NARS Bright Lights, Big City eyeshadow palette - (Photos here) I love this palette. The colors are perfect for a smokey eye. I can use all six colors at once!
3. NARS Vestale Nail Polish - (Reviewed here) This is going to be a favorite of mine for a very long time. I'm wearing it one my toes as we speak.
4. NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara - This is really waterproof, doesn't flake, and provides good volume. It's not my all-time favorite mascara, but I like it.
5. NARS Smudge Proof eyeshadow base - I'm favoring this over my UDPP lately.
6. NARS Pago Pago Lipstick - I haven't reviewed this yet, but it's a beautiful light lippie from NARS Fall 2011.
7. NARS Greek Holiday Lip Gloss - I use this to add a dab of shine on my otherwise flat nude lips.
8. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencil in Zero/Whiskey - This came with the Naked palette and got little use. I rediscovered it this month. Because I've been wearing smokier eyes, a thick smudgy black line is ideal. Zero does the trick. I think NARS Smudgeproof holds on to pencils better than UDPP, and I don't have to worry as much about the thick line creasing.
9. Bobbi Brown Bare Pink Rich Lip Color - This is one of my favorite lipsticks ever. The formula is awesome.
10. Bobbi Brown Blondie Pink lipstick -  The color is a slightly darker nude than my other two lipsticks this month. I'll use this when I don't want to look as washed out.


          Next up are my face products. This month I finally came to the realization that I'm allergic or sensitive to blush. I've had small bumps / breakouts on my upper cheeks for a long while now. I finally realized that the big culprits were sunscreen and blush. It took me so long to figure out the sunscreen part. Sunscreen is marketed in such a positive light that I never suspected it until recently. It's also quite hard to avoid since it's present in almost all lotions and foundations.  I stopped using blush and cheek products and there has been improvement. It's frustrating because I really enjoyed using blush. Without it, my face looks drained of color. I've tried adding in a little bronzer for color. I think I'm slightly  less sensitive to bronzer than blush. Perhaps it has something to do with the red pigment. Because of this, you won't see any blush products below.

Face products

11. Dior Aurora bronzer - (Reviewed here) I love this bronzer. It has a little color so I've tried brushing some at the apples of my cheeks and avoiding the more sensitive areas that are nearer to the hairline.
12. NARS Laguna bronzer - (Swatch here) This is another favorite bronzer of mine. I'm too nervous about my sensitivity so I try not to use it everyday. I have, however, discovered that it makes a nice crease color on the eyes.
13. Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Pressed Powder - I shopped this out of my stash. I use it to set my Sheer Glow Foundation. It's very finely milled and works well.
14. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Ceylan - My everyday foundation. I love the color and the coverage. It doesn't have sunscreen which is probably why it agrees well with me. It also photographs quite well.
15. NARS Luxor Multiple - I've become interested in multiples as an alternative to normal blush. This is more of a highlighter than a blush, but it helps give some dimension to my face.

There you have it: my favorites for July. The no-blush situation is kind of sad, but I always liked eye makeup better anyway =). Thanks for reading!

Love, Dovey.

Dior Aurora bronzer

Finally, I'm getting around to reviewing the Dior Aurora Bronzer that's been flying off shelves everywhere. Somehow I had the foresight to order this early on, which is surprising for me, since I like to mull over things too long before buying them! I'll refer to this as Dior Aurora bronzer because the official name Dior DiorSkin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora is just too much to handle. What is it with Dior and ridiculously long unmemorable names?

I'll try to keep this short, since I plan on catching some Z's.

Dior Aurora's been getting lots of love on the net, unsurprisingly, because of the beautiful basket-weave pattern. The bronzer comes with a dark blue velvet pouch and a flat soft brush for application (see above). The brush is actually quite nice, and I've used it exclusively for my application. However Aurora's beauty is more than skin-deep. It also applies beautifully, which I'll discuss later. It's the lighter of two bronzers, the other shade being Sunset (for darker skin).

The casing is a reflective silver. It matches the summer theme, although I secretly was wishing for Dior's holographic blue packaging.

And the bottom.

And more gratuitous shots of the beautiful pan.

When I first saw photos circulating online, I was concerned that Aurora might be a little too peachy and look odd on my skin. I was imagining what I'd look like with NARS Deep Throat applied all over! Not good. I must have been delusional, and took the plunge anyway. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I applied it, brushing downwards in locations that the sun would normally hit the skin, such as cheek bones, forehead, bridge of nose, chin, etc. The effect is a just-come-from-the-sun glow as opposed to a deeper golden bronze glow which would suggest a tan that's already settled in.

You can see the swatches of Dior Aurora bronzer below. I've swatched the individual colors, as well as all of them blended together. There's no way you'll ever use the colors individually, unlike Chanel's bronzer, since they're too small, so this is for interest only. The colors are swatched over UDPP, however they're still quite light on my NC20 (?) skin. I suppose that's why this is named a "Summer Powder" as opposed to a bronzer. It's quite subtle, but buildable for sure.  The pigment is very smooth and finely milled and doesn't look or feel powdery at all. There are micro-sparkles mixed in so your skin does shimmer if you look really really up close. However you don't notice any shine from afar. 

Overall, a definite thumbs up. The idea is different from your typical golden bronzer, perhaps more along the lines of a terracotta bronzer such as NARS Irresistiblement.  It can be used as an all over bronzer to tan skin, or it can be used to contour. One plus is that Aurora also works as a stand-in for blush.

I hope you enjoyed the review! I have more bronzers than I can handle, so now I'm on an official no-bronzer-buy for the rest of the year. I wasn't planning on posting tonight, but I found out about a personal issue today which put me off kilter. Doing something artistic or creative (blogging included) always helps me feel better when I'm feeling a little down!

Thanks for reading, and hope all is well with you guys!

Love, Dovey.

Dior Electric Tropics Vernis in Aloha

Dior Electric Tropics Catwalk Duo Vernis and Top Coat in Aloha

At long last, I'm posting my reviews and photos on what I'm calling the Dior Vernis in Aloha Catwalk Duo, which is a part of Dior's Summer 2011 Electric Tropics collection. The silver packaging box reads:  Dior Electric Tropics Catwalk Duo Vernis Fluorescent & Top Coat Glossy. Clearly, minimalism was not the desired effect here. But, I digress...

This duo is my first foray into the world of high end polish. I love nail polish, and I first started this blog with the idea of this being a nail blog. However up til now, I've never paid more than $10 for a bottle. Even $10 makes me cringe, because there are so many good colors and formulas available at budget prices. It's a lot easier to make a good polish than it is to make good makeup! And, I'm still not convinced there's a formula out there that can consistently top OPI's. So, how did I end up with this duo? I think it insidiously crept into my mind through all the beautiful promo pics, and other blogs raving about its super-bright nearly fluorescent qualities. I loved the idea of a bright red-orange, and the color was unique yet still classy.

When I first got the bottle in the mail, early May, I of course rushed to try it on. I liked it, but it wasn't love. The color seemed more orange, and I couldn't detect any of the red I'd read about on blogs, and it was definitely not fluorescent. Bright, sure, but not even the brightest I've ever seen. Perhaps for those accustomed to only demure high-end colors, this might be the brightest out there, but it doesn't hold a candle to, for example, a China Glaze summer collection (real fluorescents). In addition, upon first application, I found the shortness of the handle to be irksome, and the brush shape to be a bit difficult (I still prefer OPI wide), and the formula to be not as smooth as I liked. Inside I was crying from disappointment that I paid $26 for just another orange polish. Fortunately, impressions can change over time. After a few weeks of sitting on my dresser, the days grew warmer, summer exploded onto the scene, and I found myself reaching for it again. I gave myself a pedicure, and haven't taken it off for at least a week now. It's the perfect summerized alternative to a classy red. When I started preparing this review, I painted just a few nails on my hand for swatching purposes. However, after taking the photos, I decided I really liked the color and manicured the rest of my fingers as well! I think this polish was made for summer, and it took summer's arrival to warm me up to this set. I'm quite happy now.

Enough story. On to the review...

Dior Vernis Aloha, uncapped!

Dior Vernis in Aloha is a bright orange, with a very slight hint of red. The bottle is small and you get less product than your average drugstore polish. The cap comes off to reveal a black plastic top as shown above. The packaging looks quite nice and fancy shmancy, however the short handle is a bit more difficult to wield than a traditional handle. The brush is wide, kind of like OPIs. I like wide brushes, and find them easier for application, however the cut of this brush wasn't ideal. I think OPI does a better job with the brush shape. You can see from my swatches below that the edges near my cuticles aren't perfect. I have a steady hand, and usually get a more consistent cleaner edge with other brushes. I think it's easy to pick up too much or too little polish, which is a bit frustrating, but not the end of the world. The formula is mostly smooth, but again, just a tick less smooth than what I was hoping for. Two coats are necessary. Please note that these are nitpicky details. I still think the quality is good, however I have very high expectations considering the price tag. One plus I've noticed is that the drying time is a bit faster than my other polishes, which is great. Less duvet marks!

There is also a clear topcoat, which you may have noticed. I actually like the topcoat a lot. It's smooth and dries quickly to a very glossy clear finish. Two manicured thumbs up for the topcoat!

Dior Vernis in Aloha in strong sunlight

I've swatched and photographed the polish in full sunlight (it's summer!) I have to say that capturing the qualities of this color was quite difficult. Part of the reason, is that the color seems to have chameleon-like properties. It looks different in different lighting. I'd say it looks the most boring in fluorescent lighting, which was the cause for my initial disappointment. It looks mostly dull orange there. However, if you go outdoors, the reddish tones become more apparent, and the color appears to be a bright orange-red, that I love. My photos make it look extremely bright, however this is because of the sun's effect. I'd say that in reality, the color is slightly darker and more toned down when outside. You can see more pictures in my NARS Dogon post that reflect a more indoor color in non-fluorescent (i.e. prettier) lighting.

Dior Vernis in Aloha and a tasty basil plant

So there you have it. Dior Vernis in Aloha. I'm really loving it now, especially when I'm outdoors, which unfortunately isn't a lot during the work-week. I know some of you expressed opinions that this would totally not work for you, however, I think this color would work well on a lot of people, athough better on warmer toned skin. Aloha could be office appropriate, if you consider red nails to be office appropriate. In fact, I think the color looks best against a refined neutral wardrobe. Perhaps this is the intangible aspect that makes it a more expensive color.  With that said, I wore it with a slouchy tee and my destructed boyfriend fit Joe's jeans today. Haha.

I hope you enjoyed my review. This polish was unexpectedly thought provoking. I'm still not completely sold on high end polish, but I've noticed that I didn't feel the need to pick up any other nail polishes this season. Hm. So, what do you think of Aloha? Still no? Are high end polishes worth it? What future colors are you anticipating (Chanel Graphite, anyone?)

Happy End-of-Monday!

Love, Dovey.

 P.S. I planted my first "garden" this year. Right now it only has the basil plants and some mint (that I almost killed), but I'm hoping to add some peppers or other veggies soon. I'm hoping the mint grows faster so I can make mojitos =P