Swatchophile: NARS Limited Edition Final Cut Collection

NARS Final Cut swatches from left to right: Love, Final Cut and Sex Fantasy

Earlier today I snuck over to Mecca to take a closer look at NARS' Final Cut capsule collection.

For some reason I'm a huge sucker for NARS blushes. Comes with the territory, I suppose.

Which colours intrigue you? My personal favourite is Final Cut, a soft peach/coral.

Mecca also has the following in stock:

• Illuminator in Adelaide (comes in a squeeze tube)
• Satin Lip Pencils in Descanso, Stourhead, Torres del Paine and Villa Lante. These shades are almost an exact match to the blushes. 

There's a fourth blush called New Attitude, but it was nowhere to be seen.

Nordstrom also has the Final Cut collection available for purchase.

Happy hunting :)

Edit..

So, I went back to Mecca Cosmetica and swatched the Lip Pencils and the Illuminator. I've officially fallen for Descanso and Villa Lante.

Harumph.

Swatches from top to bottom: NARS Illuminator in Adelaide and Satin Lip Pencils in Torres del Paine, Descanso, Villa Lante & Stourhead

Close up of NARS Satin Lip Pencils in Torres del Paine, Descanso, Villa Lante & Stourhead

A glimpse at the lips: MAC's Huggable Lipcolour in Out for Passion and Feeling Amorous?

Hugs and kisses!

Twelve colours round out MAC's limited edition Huggable Lipcolour collection, which promises to deliver high shine (and colour) for up to six hours.

Erm, six hours? Not so much. 

Try three. Tops.

Huggable Lipcolour shades in Out for Passion (left) and Feeling Amorous (right)

Inspired by Asian trends, MAC injected loads of emollients in order to achieve patent leather-like shine --however, the gel-ish texture has proven to be MAC's achilles heel. While the colours are pretty, albeit not unique, they fail to last. It's summertime on your lips and the neighbourhood kids are playing on the Slip n' Slide. Whee?

My full lips might look a tad fuller and feel pillow-y soft when pursed and puckered, with that said I'd definitely trade this feeling (just a little bit) for long-lasting colour.

Out for Passion - "soft warm cream rose"

Feeling Amorous? - "midtonal fuchsia cream"

Swatches of Feeling Amorous? (left) and Out for Passion (right)

Wearing Out for Passion

Wearing Feeling Amorous?

Final Thoughts..

Skip these. There are far better and cheaper options out there. And if you're looking for lots of shine, pick up a cheap clear gloss from Maybelline and layer it over your most-loved shade of lipstick.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for MAC's MAC's Huggable Lipcolour in Out for Passion and Feeling Amorous?:

• $20.00 USD / $40.00 AUS

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 2 out of 10 bags — buyer beware.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Have you heard the news? Kelly and Sharon Osbourne have their own MAC collection coming out this June!

A little book about Bobbi & Katie

I love books, I fell first for Amelia Bedelia's unwitting hijinks and Angelina Ballerina's delicate moves. Almost 25 years later I've replaced paperbacks with my iPad and I know I don't read as much literary fiction as I should. 

Whether it be pictures, touch, your mother's voice or even makeup -- books help our imaginations to thrive, they also offer a few moments of pure bliss and escapism. Ultimately, it's up to you and the feverish pace you've chosen to gobble all of the words told from front to back.

I too want to know where the sidewalk ends and see all the places Harold was able to visit because of his purple crayon.

Bobbi & Katie might not be your traditional story, but its contents inside are certainly telling. 

Eyeshadows, Lip Pots and Eye Pencils, oh my!

If this book had a jacket, this is what it would say..

Created by Bobbi Brown and curated by Katie Holmes, Bobbi and Katie features possibilities, new opportunities, a chance to fall in love, a way to colour your world and eventually, you'll be intoxicated by the presence of such subtlety.

A must read! 

Bobbi & Katie swatches

A little bit closer now (from left to right): Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge, Raspberry Pot Rouge, Cream, Antique Rose, Stone & Black Cocoa; the last four are powder eyeshadows

eyeshadow swatches continued (from left to right): Pink Chiffon, Brown Sugar, Pink Quartz, Ballet Pink & Chocolate (eye pencil)

If you're a makeup newbie, a Bobbi-phile or appreciate softer colours, then I suggest you pick up your very own copy of Bobbi & Katie.

The pot rouges are multi-taskers -- perfect for painting your pout or for cheering up your cheeks. Flip back to the index and search for eyeshadows, you'll find three metallics, a shimmer, a sparkle and three basics listed there. Finally, neatly tucked in the spine is a sickly sweet Chocolate Eye Pencil.

Doing my best Joey Potter sideways smile

In the look above I'm wearing six of the eight eyeshadows (Pink Chiffon and Cream didn't make the final cut),  on my lips I'm wearing Pretty Powerful and last but not least, I applied Chocolate to my upper waterline (this technique is known as tightlining).

As for the rest of the look I'm wearing Benefit's Gimme Brow and Bobbi Brown's French Pink on my cheeks.

The colours are easy to use, last and will suit light and medium complexions.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for the Bobbi Brown's Bobbi & Katie Palette:

• $115.00 AUS / $68.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Despite having to dig a bit deeper in my pockets, I'm glad I picked up Bobbi & Katie.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Jenny of My Funny Valentine may've convinced me to pick up Bobbi's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. Gotta go and brush up on my cat eye skills now.