Recently in Eye Shadows Category

If a city could perfectly capture the essence of spring, what city comes to mind? ...Paris!

Paris is iconic for its springtime beauty, which has been expressed in many a song, photograph and film. Spring is about pastels and floral prints, milkshakes and balloons =). This spring, the ultimate color 4 pack is "April in Paris" by Alima Pure. This color quad is all you need to embrace the warmer weather (picture yourself in the dreamy medium lavender strolling through an outdoor market, with a basket of flowers -sigh-)! Personally, I have been patiently waiting to put my winter colors on the back burner and play with my pastels, so join me in taking a mini holiday to Paris with Alima Pure's gorgeous new line! April in Paris- $25 (a $36 value) ** $2 from the sale of each Gift Collection will be donated to the Global Fund for Women.**

RANDOM SIDE NOTE: This color collection reminds me of the Miss Dior Cherie commercial directed by Sofia Coppola- which is the inspiration for my daytime makeup look for the summer!

If you do your make up in the car, raise your hand! We all do it and I usually keep to the simple things like mascara, concealer and lip gloss because eyeshadow requires a brush and blending, yadda yadda yadda, way too complicated to attempt on the fly. I have used those powder wands and pens but they are smeary and messy and don't do what I want so if I am going to look worse then why bother, right? I have found the only thing that works, the Sue Devitt E-Z Eye Rollerball Eyeshadow, it comes in 11 shades but my favorite is a warm purple called Hopetown. The roller ball is small enough to get right on your lids so you don't make a mess and the high concentration of pigment goes on and stays on. It puts a light layer on and you just blend the edges with your fingers. It is sheer with a light coverage but if you keep going over your eyes for more coverage, it does start to get messy as the powder has no more skin to adhere to and will start to fall onto your face. It is meant as an easy on the go option. It is super small and compact so just leave it in your bag for emergencies and refreshers. $18 at Barneys New York stores only but it is available on Amazon.

I love having the luxury to sit in front of my vanity at the mirror and primp for an hour but honestly, I don't have time for that! I am on the go and putting on make up in the car! Well, especially this week in New York for Fashion Week, my schedule is crazy but I still need to look like I spent 2 hours getting ready. The Iman Eye Defining Powder is staying in my cosmetic pouch all week, it is a high pigment powder that is in a tube like lip gloss but it is powder on a easy to dispense wand. My magic wand for the week keeps me looking fresh while I touch up in the cab. This goes on and stays on, the metallic is perfectly sheen and glittery without being overly dramatic. It makes no mess going on and I can highlight what I want or do an all over application without getting anything messed up, like my fingers, face or clothes. The best part, it is Frugal Snob worthy for $10.99 at Drugstore.com.

Photos from InStyle.com and People.com
I applaud all those that go bold with their makeup! For the most part I stick with black, gray, olive, brown, and neutrals when it comes to eye shadow, but every now and then I'll mix it up with a purple and blue. When I first looked at these three celeb photos I though that Taylor Momsen looked like she went a little over-board (too Madonna circa the 80s), but the more I look at it, the more I love it! What bothers me is the fact that she's wearing that much makeup at the age of 15, when this is really a look more suited for someone in their mid-20s. Kristen Bell and Katherine Heigl both look understated and glam and their looks both show us that you can wear color without going for an overly-dramatic look. For those looking to play around with blue shades, NARS has a wonderful selection ranging from light to dark and from matte to full of sparkles. I'm a big fan of their line of shadows -- I only wish they came with an applicator brush! What do you think about blue eye shadow -- snob or slob?

I have come to rely on different brands to create different looks, like Bobbi Brown for my every day natural look and MAC when I want to be a rockstar. But NYX is a brand that can create any look with their wide variety of products and colors. It is definitely worth mentioning that I found my ALL TIME FAVORITE EYESHADOW while checking out this line, a trio called "GURU" (the image below). The gold shade on the left side of the palette has become my "go to" color for daytime and evenings, and the consistency of the powder is unbelievably soft and durable for a mere $8.00 =). Also worth noting is their fabulous selection of false eyelashes, which are some of my favorite accessories for glaming up and going out. Yet another great product from NYX is their sturdy and professional cosmetic cases. I don't know about you, but I had a terrible time trying to find cases for my makeup that were sturdy and utility oriented- I LOVE the tool belt and the medium case! Beauty Snob <3 NYX

Images from People.com and Instyle.com

I'm loving the frosty white/silver eye makeup that young Hollywood is rocking lately! This look is especially great for people like me who are always a little weary of color -- it's so easy to cross the line and end-up looking like a clown (a safer alternative is using colored eye pencils)! Though anytime eye makeup is applied under and around the eye one has to be careful to exercise restraint. Chanel once made these wonderful cream eye shadows called Illuminating Eye Cremes (they unfortunately stopped selling them some time ago, but I have a few colors still left). I've never tried the complete frosty look myself, rather I'll apply eyelid base (Kanebo Sensai makes a great one -- I've found this step to be especially important when I'm layering colors and textures) -- then I'll apply a dark color like Silver Dust from Christian Dior ($24.50) and top it off with a white or silver (or both!), creamy eye shadow. I'll usually use a black pencil, but for more of an effect a frosty-colored eye pencil is great. Lastly, you can take your pinky and dab a little bit of frosty cream eye shadow along your lower lash line to tie your winter-appropriate frosty look together!

Bobbi Brown is our all time favorite Beauty Guru! For my thirteenth birthday, my mother gave me a copy of her book "Teen Beauty" and various starter beauty products. It was this experience that laid the framework for my product obsession and desire to learn about all things aesthetically pleasing! This palette is SO useful, and a fantastic platform to experiment with colors. Many people are apprehensive to use colors or venture away from the realm of neutrals when it comes to eyeshadows; but you can use bright, vibrant colors in many unobtrusive ways. When I go out I often line my eyes with bright shadows, blending away from my lash line and following with a thin layer of black eyeliner. Hot pink and teal are two of my favorite colors use ;) This pack of 35 colors is a great way to discover your favorite brights and pastels for a great deal, the single shadows go for $20 a pop when you can get this FANTASTIC palette for $70.00!!!!

Don't even hesitate, Bobbi Brights is only available for a limited amount of time!

I was so excited to read in WWD that Kanebo is gearing-up to launch Sensai Colours, a new treatment makeup line consisting of 22 eye, lip and cheek items with formulas that draw on water and silk to address moisturization and impart a silk-like glow! Sensai Colours lip items consist of two ranges: Lasting Treatment Rouge and Deep Moist Shine Rouge. Lasting Treatment is offered in 18 shades and is formulated to provide long-staying, vivid color with pigments coated with kanten, a jellylike substance obtained from red seaweed and often used as a thickener in Japanese food. The Deep Moist Shine items aim to moisturize lips with a translucent film of color with Phyto Volumising Oil. It is available in 12 shades. There will also be a silky lip gloss in two shades, a lip base with SPF 15, three eye shadow palettes each with four shadow choices, five cheek blush, two eyebrow pencils, two liquid eyeliners, two eyeliner pencils, six lip liner pencils, and a fragrance-free gentle makeup remover. After the jump see photos of Scarlett Johansson in the upcoming film, The Spirit, where she's decked-out in Kanebo!

Heidi Klum was at The Grove yesterday to promote her new make up collection, Very Sexy, for Victoria's Secret. I was lucky enough to have been able to get an interview with her before she began the personal appearance event. She is as sweet and beautiful as you imagine her to be. And super tall. I took a picture with her and it was quite ridiculous, I am 5'6" but look 4 feet tall! Well, I was wearing flats and she had these impossibly high platforms on. In case you're wondering, she is wearing a dress by past Project Runway contestant, Rami Kashou. She says you can tell it is his design because of his signature sweet hear neck line. Hmm, I thought his signature was "draping". Anyway, it looks great with her wings!

She was at the Women's Conference, which I attended, so I asked her about that. She was moved by Maria Shriver's speech, like everyone else, she cried when Maria talked about getting in bed with her sick mother. She talked about how Maria feels like she always has to be strong, she is the rock for everyone in her life and Heidi identifies with that, she says that she is the same way, "It is a German thing", then added, "But the day was about empowerment and kicking butt!". At the conference, she was on the panel about being an entrepreneur so I asked whether her looks has helped or hurt her in business. I felt it was topical because it was something that was discussed at the conference. She began by saying that it hasn't hurt or helped her but then paused and said, "Well, it certainly hasn't made it any easier. I have to fight the battle that being good looking means you're stupid. But of course my looks has brought me all the things like Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated and being on TV as a host". It would truly be the dawn of a new era when someone who looks like Heidi is the Secretary of State or President! I was going to ask her what she does to look so good after 3 kids but I already know the answer. The answer is "nothing". People like Heidi are given the gift of just looking that way, plain and simple.

Win this fabulous Glamour Envelope from Senna Cosmetics. It will transform your morning routine as it did mine! These gorgeous and vibrant shadows are all you need, plus it has 6 blushes, a bronzing duo and shimmering powder. It is so fun to play with all the colors of this palette and now you have a chance to win one for yourself.

To win, name this actress on Heroes, a show that uses Senna Cosmetics for their long grueling shoots, yet everyone always look fabulous even after a long day of battling evil. I love that she wears too much makeup on the show because she is a teenager (hello, lighten up on the mascara, please!) - well, we've all made that mistake at that age! But in this season, they show her in the future when she is older and her makeup is noticeably more "grown up". Please put your answer in comments by this Sunday Oct. 26th at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person please and make sure to include your email address in the email box in the form. This prize is worth $99. A big huge Thanks to Senna Cosmetics for sponsoring this Pop Quiz!

Oh Fall! ....How I love thee!!

What is better than curling up in your favorite, cozy sweater when the weather gets its first chill? -How about extending the pleasure to your eyelids? Well, I don't know where you are...but here in Southern California the summer heat is still going strong. I have been perusing shopping sites, lusting after fall accessories and outerwear that if I wore outside tomorrow, would surely cause me to pass out from heat exhaustion! My solution: the Alima Pure "Sweater Set"! These four soft and lovely shades are made with all natural ingredients and are also cruelty free, perfect for sensitive skin, and won't pass out wearing them while I await cooler weather! I love how fine the consistency of these shadows are, it makes them so easy to blend and you only need a touch to give you the perfect shade. And with names like Angora, Mohair, Merino and Pashmina- you will feel soft and luxurious through the last of the summer heat and into nippy fall (and your favorite sweater)!

Sweater Set available for $25 at Alima Pure <3

*$2 from the sale of each Sweater Set will be donated to the Global Fund for Women*