Smashbox Mini Be Legendary Lipstick Haul in Pretty Social, Fig and Fuchsia Flash

Mini haul of a few new shades from a friends and family sale.

I love Pretty social.  Love.

Rimmel New Formula Moisture Renew Lipstick in 660 In Love With Ginger and 700 Nude Delight

I still think Rimmel is among the best drugstore lipsticks…and the new formula is proving true to form.

Two new shades….

Product grade: A-.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick in Avery, Valentina, Ruby, Elle, Gabrielle and Brigitte

I just like these.  Soft balm texture but so pigmented.  I do get a little bleeding and not always the best wear time.  Peppermint tingle.

But they're so pretty!!!!  On.  Which is what makes me continue reaching for them.

Smashbox Cherry Smoke Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette Review and Swatches

Lovely, pigmented and a great mix of mattes and shimmers, warm and cool shades.  This one can be used for a dramatic or more day look.

Product grade:  A

Blush:  MAC Blunt
Lips: MAC True Love's Kiss and Kiss Me Quick

Shades:

Bare: pink-ivory matte
Unadorned: taupe shimmer with a little gold undertone
Shell: peach shimmer
Rustic: red-brown matte
Oxidize: coral shimmer
Topaz: champagne shimmer, a little brown
Dark cocoa: blackened brown matte
Ebony: black matte

YSL Beauty Parisienne Couture Palette Review and Swatches

Smokier with more plum (including undertones) than I expected.  Glittery…but I love the new YSL formula…

Product grade:  A.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Poe: Review, Swatches and How to Make it Work

The shade is lovely…a deep blue with shimmers of blue and violet.

Use cool tones on your face (and eyes), a strong but neutral blush and touch up even this long wear formula.

Product grade:  A

Givenchy Le Rouge in 204 Rose Boudoir, 301 Magnolia Organza and 304 Mandarine Bolero

Lovely with a soft shine and full coverage.  I like the more statement colors in this formula however…

Product grade:  A

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone, Opal and Topaz Compared and Reviewed

Yes, these really are lovely.  They're also all progressively darker gold shades (so warm toned) and a little metallic.  I really like these…but don't think they're ideal for all (cool toned girls might be better off with Moonstone even if darker skinned…unless you want that gold shimmer).

Product grade: A to A- depending on your skin tone.

Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in 106 Hesitation from Etats Poetiques Fall 2014

Such a sultry and lovely plum.

Great formula too.

This gets an A!

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Hexagram, Wonderchilde, Motorhead, LUV, Thin Lizzy, Vampira and Bachelorette

Amazing shades!  Some are so unusual but so wearable.

Heavier formula…which will be drying for some….and requires more precise application…but wow does it last.

Product grade:  A+

Hexagram and Motorhead

Wonderchilde

Bachelorette, Thin Lizzy, Vampira and LUV (not the best photo of LUV).

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette Review and Swatches...

A few chalky mattes….but overall a great palette.  I would have liked some lighter colors as well.  But - on balance - a lovely effort!

Product grade:  A---

Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in 120 Coque D'Or and 164 Chamade Review

Two of the loveliest shades ever.  And the formula is amazing.

Product grade:  A+++

Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eye Stick in Three Shakes 404 and Frannie 408

Pretty…but they make my eyes sting…

Product grade: B

Marc Jacobs Smart Wand in 220 Light Medium Review

Greasy looking…it never dries down.  Irritates my eyes…  Sheer coverage.  Not my thing…

Good Morning , Mr. Mandela by Zelda la Grange Book Review

Zelda la Grange worked for Nelson Mandela for over 20 years and grew to not only adore him but also rely on him.  This book is both history - a traditional Afrikaner who believed in Apartheid - grew to believe in Nelson Mandela's case of equality for all in South Africa - and a woman who respected someone with a very special character.

Mandela led by example but could be tough on his staff who didn't take the lesson.  He learned to speak the language of his enemies - literally - and was courteous to all (including his jailers).  Reading the book and seeing a great man behind the scenes I was overawed.  I've known many successful people, including politicians, but none who lived as a better person the way Mandela did.  So many play nice in public but behave badly in private.  Not Mandela.

La Grange is a credible witness to this part of history.  Sometimes I wish she'd added more depth to her insight.  Too often she's driven more by logistics than insight.  But I still very much enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Learning about this great man - really - changed me.

Mandela was a truly great man and la Grange was witness to that greatness.

I Will Love Myself: A Poem and My First Attempt at Blogging

I will love myself

I will love myself

No matter how hard the day or how long the night

No matter the mistakes I make or the stupid things I say

If I eat too much, ice cream or sushi, and if I don’t exercise

When I stumble and even fall

If I skin my knees, which I do

Drop, break, lose and not appreciate things

And when I cry

I’ll love myself anyway

Tears black with mascara and eyes red with shame

I don’t care

I’ll ignore the stares, pick myself up again and find a way to smile

I’ll love myself

Even when no one else loves me

Or believes

But I believe and I do great things, even if they’re small

I breathe, and love and support and try

I can only control myself, my thoughts…

And seemingly, only seemingly, my body

But I know that every morning the world begins anew

And I’ll say a prayer to my God and breath deeply,

Appreciating my ongoing and never easy efforts

I’ll love myself this day even if I didn’t yesterday

With every breathe in, and each one that exhales out

I know that I’ve got life, deep, eternal and not so everlasting

With my crazy mind and ever changing body I still exist

And my heart beats

I breathe

And I want, ever so much

Which is all that matters

Given this wonderful life I’ll remember

Always

That I should love myself

The only one I can’t escape and who’ll always be here

For me

The sun will slant, casting its mysterious glow

Across the scenery unfolding before me

And I’ll just be

YSL Couture Palette in 3 Afrique Review and Swatches

Lovely…warm palette and YSL has improved the formula.  Stunning shade.

Product grade: A

Marc Jacobs Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick Heartbreaker, Wham, Pop-Arazzi and Pop Rock

These remind me a little of Melt or the Becca Matte lipsticks.  Like you dotted on a matte color or patted it with a kleenex after.  The ones I got are all bright!  And a little drying (maybe a lot for some…and the finish is dry looking as such mattes are).

Product grade:  A-.  Pretty and the packaging is too adorable to describe…see below and in the video.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Blush 300 Review and Swatches

Stunning!  Super pigmented and natural.

Product grade:  A++

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in 01 Bella Ivory and 06 Bella Espresso Review and Swatches

The darker is more pigmented than the light…but these are pretty on and wear better than I expected.

Product grade: B+

Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia 1931 Review and Swatches

Stunning!

Product grade:  A-