Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball

Welcome to the Butterfly Ball! Lipstick Queen is introducing a new lipstick formula for holiday. Butterfly Ball lipsticks are sheer*, contain Aloe Vera, vitamins E, C, and B for moisture, and have tiny blue sparkles to make your teeth look whiter. They're $20 each, and if you don't find one in your holiday stocking, don't fret: they are a permanent addition to the line.

Now the reason for the asterisk on sheerness. Trance and Float are obviously sheer. Goodbye, Moment, and Fly will be a little more pigmented on someone of my skintone (or paler), but they'll be sheer on darker skintones.

I tried on Trance and really liked it (it's that sheer strawberry jam look again), but now I'm conflicted because I'm still pining for a Chinatown glossy pencil. I can't confirm that I perceived any teeth whitening wearing the Butterfly Ball... but maybe I'm just self-conscious about my teeth now.
Help me out, readers! Chinatown vs. Butterfly Ball: which should I get?

Lipstick Queen: Butterfly Ball, Goodbye, Moment, Trance, Float, Fly

Various contest reminders

Don't forget to enter TNBTTGSY's Lancome Holiday Giveaway extravaganza! We're already up to at least two prizes!

Also, the contest on the Lancome blog ends today (I assume "end of day" means ~5 pm eastern time). Pick your favorite item from their holiday collection and you could win it for free!

And if you fell in love with Ashley Greene's lipstick from the New Moon premiere (the waitlisted Chris & Tell), Lancome's giving that away, too — and you have until Sunday to enter.

Oh, and it's not a contest, but you will come out a winner: the 20% off karlasugar code at Beaute Cosmetics is good through November 30.

Good luck!

NARS Holiday 2009

NARS' holiday collection is special this year, and not just because I think so: NARS is celebrating it's 15th anniversary (wow!).

There are three new eyeshadow duos ($32): Taiga (soft, shimmery white-yellow and olive-green-gold-black), Eurydice (red plum and soft black with lots of multicolored sparkles), and Brousse (softly shimmery brown and shimmery blackened violet).

There's also a new cream shadow ($21) in Mousson, a green-silver sage I absolutely adore. I mentioned before that green-silver was one of my favorite colors, and Mousson captures it perfectly. Paper Tiger is a repromote of an existing permanent cream shadow shade, but it was in the display, so I swatched it.
There are two new Velvet Matte Lip Pencils ($24): cherry red Pop Life and red-brown-burgundy Toundra. Chihuahua lipgloss is a repromote of a permanent shade, but it's one of NARS' most popular.

There's a new multiple ($37): Luxor. This pale pink stick highlighter can be used anywhere — lids, cheeks, lips, or body — is already getting a lot of love from users amateur and professional.

I think my favorite thing, though, is the new Soft Touch Shadow Pencils ($24). These are a new product: deliciously soft, chubby pencils you could use alone or as an eyeshadow base. After yesterday's breakdown of Ashley Greene's New Moon premiere look, I'm just dying to try Goddess as a liner along my lower lid.

Goddess is shimmery pink-gold; Skorpios is copper; Aigle Noir is a fabulous sparkly black-green.

I originally thought Aigle was a typo for Agile, so I Googled it: it's a city in Switzerland. Apparently the pencil was named after a Himalayan Black Eagle.
There's also a new shade of polish out for holiday. My counter didn't have a tester, but it's called Rouge Andalou and it's a candy cane red shimmer.

Totally Awesome TNBTTGSY Giveaway

NOTE: Please try to enter using the contest widget, NOT by leaving a comment on this post. If you don't see the widget at the bottom, try reloading the page. I know ContestMachine is having problems right now; hopefully they will resolve them soon.

Dear readers,

I have a totally awesome giveaway for you (I know, I get excited about every giveaway) — but this one is pretty special. It's a great big holiday extravaganza, inspired by the Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Soiree collection (see the collection here and here). And your prizes aren't even swatched this time! (Woohoo! Pristine prizes!)

So here's the deal:
• Tell me your biggest makeup wish of the moment for a chance to win all three cream eyeshadows: Pink Lace, Garter Belt, and Haute Smoke
• If I get 100 entries, I'll add a second prize: Luxe Lipstick and Feverish Lipgloss
• If I get 200 entries, I'll add a third prize: Crushed Rose Lipstick and Seductively Lipgloss
• If I get 300 entries, I'll add a fourth prize: Coquette Lipstick and Untamed Plum Lipgloss

• As you already know, I'm also on Twitter. If I make 1,300 Twitter friends by November 30, I'll add another prize: Plum Tease Ink Artliner, Rouge Seduction Lipstick, and Evening Splendor Lipgloss. You don't have to be on Twitter to win this specific prize, but you can earn a second entry if:

1. You follow me (@KarlaSugar)
2. Sometime before November 30 you tweet this: RT @KarlaSugar Follow & RT to win $80 of Lancome holiday makeup! http://bit.ly/3ANpLN
   

Winners will be selected at random; qualifying prizes will be randomly assigned to winners. This contest is open to readers anywhere in the world. The contest ends at midnight on November 30.

Good luck!

Ashley Greene 60s Makeup Breakdown

Hey readers,

I stumbled across this breakdown of makeup artist Vanessa Scali's look for Ashley Greene (at the LA premiere of New Moon), and I thought it was unusual for actually listing all the products used from every brand. I also love how perfectly 60s it is, and I wanted to keep it handy in case I get inspired for date night with Mr. Salt*.

Artist: Vanessa Scali
Actress: Ashley Greene
Event: New Moon premiere in Los Angeles.

Vanessa says: “The look was classic 60s: Well-defined eyes with lots of lashes, a strong brow and clean skin with subtle pink/coral cheeks and lips.”

Face:
Lancome Effacernes concealer in Light Bisque under the eyes
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick (shade unknown)
Lancome Blush Subtil in Shimmer Pink Pool on the apples of the cheeks

Eyes:
YSL Fard Lumiere Aquaresistant Cream Shadow in Pink Sands over the entire lid
Lancome Artliner in Black to define and elongate the lash line
Shu Uemura Painting Liner in White on the inner rims.
Lancome Oscillation Mascara in Black

I think she's wearing false eyelashes, too (agree? disagree?), but I don't know which ones.

Brows:
Lancome Le Crayon Poudre in Brunet

Lips:
Lancome Chris & Tell (this is the limited edition Pout-a-Porter shade created for designer Chris Benz's spring show. This lipstick goes on sale in February, and if you want to be on the waitlist, you'll have to call Saks in NYC at 212-940-2033


* Who is Mr. Salt? Ages ago, I explained to my husband that in the language of the internet, his name would be Mr. Sugar. He didn't like that — he said it was "too cute" — so I told him I'd call him Mr. Salt instead.

This just in! TNBTTGSY ♥ Lancome

Amazing news, readers! Lancome heard we were talking about them — and gave TNBTTGSY a writeup on their blog!

But the coolest part is they're giving away one item of their holiday collection! All you have to do is leave a comment on their blog with which item you'd most like to win!

Go go go! I hope one of you wins!

Lancome Holiday 2009: Part 2

Yesterday we looked at Lancome's holiday palettes — today let's admire the rest of the collection.

First the lips. There are six shades of L'Absolu Rouge lipstick (and some unusual color choices for holiday). L'Absolu Rouge (Advanced Replenishing and Reshaping Lipcolor) is Lancome's newest lipstick formula. It contains Pro-Xylane, a hydrating ingredient also found in Lancome's Absolue skincare line. (Fun fact: It's pronounced "proxileen" not "pro xylane." Boy do I feel silly.)

L'Absolu Rouge lipstick is $29. It also contains SPF 12, smells like roses, and its case has a magnetic closure. Only Rouge Seduction is a limited edition shade.

There's just one lipliner, a repromote of permanent Le Lipstique Rougelle ($23). I've always liked Le Lipstique liners; they're expensive, but they were my first and I'm still a fan of the formula.

There are also six La Laque Fever Glosses. These are $26, have the famous spatula applicators, and smell like grape. In the name of science, I lip-tested Captivating (love the color. It's like sheer strawberry jam — for that sought-after post-popsicle look). It felt like dense jelly — kind of like the Chantecaille Lip Chics of gloss. If I rubbed my lips together, I did feel a bit of stickiness, but if I didn't rub my lips together it didn't bother me — and it was nowhere near as sticky as the Juicy Tubes.

Of these, Captivating, Seductively, Evening Splendor, and Feverish are limited edition. You've actually seen Optical Rose before — that shade came out with the original release of these glosses in February of this year.
This holiday collection introduces a new product for Lancome: Color Design Sensational Effects Cream Eye Shadow Long Wear (cream eyeshadow, in a tube, with a dense, bullet-shaped brush applicator). These are $22 each, and they're limited edition. I didn't blend my swatches at all, but you could use these on their own or as a base for powder eyeshadow (a la Laura Mercier's Eye Basics).

There is also a limited edition powder called Sparkling Cherub Sheer Warming Illuminating Powder. When you first buy this it has some crazy gold overspray, but once that's wiped away, you're left with a light ring and a dark ring of powder that mix to make a really pretty, barely there, golden highlight. Sparkling Cherub gives a really subtle effect, and though I was tempted to make fun of the ridiculously long name, I think "Sheer Warming" does sum up what it's all about.
There are also two new limited edition Ink Artliners ($23.50). We first saw these potted cream eyeliners in the Declaring Indigo collection — those shades were also limited edition (and Declaring Indigo's Brun Elegance looks like it was perhaps a darker, more blackened brown than Brun Mystere).

I'm not sure, but it seemed to me that the Declaring Indigo liners were creamier than the Rouge Soiree ones. Plum Tease and Brun Mystere felt a little gummier than I remembered.

There are also two limited edition holiday polishes ($18): In All Her Splendor, a candy cane red shimmer, and Untamed Plum, which in one coat is sexy-gothy-vampire plum, and in two coats is nearly black.

Just one more unswatched item I think I should mention: there's a limited edition Oscillation mascara topcoat in gold or silver for $34.

Lancome L'Absolue Rouge Soiree: L'Absolu Rouge, Luxe, Crushed Rose, Coquette, Rouge Seduction, Absolute Rouge, Aubergine Velvet, Le Lipstique, Rougelle, La Laque Fever Gloss, Captivating, Untamed Plum, Seductively, Evening Splendor, Feverish, Optical Rose, Pink Lace, Garter Belt, Haute Smoke, Sparkling Cherub, Plum Tease, Brun Mystere, In All Her Splendor

These Boots Were Made for Winning

Congratulations, Ann G., who won a $100 gift card to Shopbop!

Huge thanks to everyone who entered — your responses were hilarious and delightful and it was SO hard to choose just one winner.

Luckily for me, we have more giveaways coming up, so I'll soon have more prizes to give away.

Lancome Holiday 2009: Part 1

Lancome’s holiday collection, L'Absolu Rouge Soiree, is lovely and quite extensive — and on account of the length of my arms, I had to break it into two posts. (If I were taller, I could have fit two palettes to an arm.) It'll be worth the wait, though: there's going to be a completely awesome giveaway starting tomorrow.

Part one is the Eye and Cheek Palettes. These feature six shadows and one blush in a hinged compact... and they’re $39.50, which seems pretty fantastic (especially since MAC’s holiday palettes — six shadows, no blush — were $36).

I definitely think Plum Irresistible is the best of the four; it's just fabulously pigmented. I'm not sure which shade is which, but its shadows are Rapturous, Seductive Gaze, Magnificent, Captivating, Diva Shimmer, and Entrancing. The blush is Violet Sunrise.
I mentioned four eye and cheek palettes, but I think Alluringly Bronze is actually a Nordstrom exclusive. Though Lancome's website lists the details for Alluringly Bronze, you can't buy it there. The holiday display units in stores also only accommodate three palettes; as a result, Nordstrom is missing La Nuit Seduction.

Alluringly Bronze contains shadows Fabric, Alluring Presence, The New Black (that's probably the first shade, right?), Enticing, Get It Now, and Daylight. The blush is Mocha Havana. The only other thing I need to tell you about these palettes is that the matte shades can be a little more difficult to work with than the shimmery ones... but there also seems to be some variation from palette to palette. The final eyeshadow shade in Nordstrom's Evening Splendor was a little hard to work with, but that same shade in the display in my freestanding Lancome store was fine.

Evening Splendor contains (in no particular order): Honeymoon, Tempted, Impress, Mannequin, Model, and Lezard. The blush is Bronze Escapade.
La Nuit Seduction is listed online as Nude Seduction, but the display unit says "La Nuit," so I'll go with that. The eyeshadow shades are Pink Zinc, Wear It Well, Erotique, Amorous, Kittenish, and Feline Strut; the blush is Aplum (the only matte blush in any of these palettes).
So what do you think? Which is your favorite?

Bonus! Mischief Makers on NC44 Skin!

It is endlessly fascinating to me how different makeup looks on different skintones. And, as some of you already know, my ultimate vision for TNBTTGSY is to one day show swatches on all different skintones. It's been tricky finding arm models with enough free time to donate, so it is with pride and gratitude that I'd like to introduce you to Dr. G.

Dr. G is NC44 (and has, like, the world's nicest skin). She didn't have time to accompany me through all my swatching, but I did get this great picture of the warm and cool pigment sets on her. (Click here to compare her swatches to my NW15-20ish skin).
Dr. G was horrified that I'd swatch pigments and glitters without anything underneath, but I said we had to do it that way for consistency with other pictures. She was actually the one who told me about Trish McEvoy's Finish Line, a liquid that basically turns a pigment or glitter into an eyeliner.

MAC Mischief Makers: Haute Hijinks, Jardin Aires, Rushmetal, Copperized, Museum Bronze, Reflects Gold, Cool Capers, Kitschmas, Fuchsia, Grape, Deep Blue Green, Reflects Transparent Teal

MAC Mischief Makers: Lipgloss and Pigment Sets

The "mini sets" are an annual MAC tradition, and this year they come to us in the form of Mischief Makers, quintets of mini lipgloss and pigment vials.

There are three gloss sets: 5 Sexy Shenanigans, 5 Frisky Business, and 5 Models Misbehaving. Each set is $29.50 and contains 3 Lipglasses (these are stickier and have a doe's foot wand) and 2 Lustreglasses (less sticky; brush wand).

There are also three pigment sets: 5 Haute Hijinks, 5 Cool Capers, and 5 Sexpot (smoky). These are $32.50 each, and contain 4 pigments and one glitter — all repromoted shades. It's a good idea in general to apply your pigments on top of something (Fix +, paints, paint pots, greasepaint sticks, some kind of primer, etc.), but it's really necessary with the glitters; they don't stick to skin very well on their own. You can also add your glitters (or pigments) to nail polish, use them for body shimmer, even put them in your hair.
Jardin Aires is a pale peach-beige. Rushmetal is copper with silver sparkles. Copperized is olivey green with gold sparkles. Museum Bronze is a golden brown. Reflects gold looks white in the vial, but is actually nothing but fabulous tiny gold sparkles. And you can make a really fantastic liner out of it (or any of these shades) using something like Trish McEvoy's Finish Line.

Kitschmas is a cool, whitened pink. Fuchsia is cool pink. Grape is a fabulous rich purple. Deep Blue Green is deep and complex. It really is blue-green, but I think this picture makes it look more blackened. Reflects Transparent Teal (which also appears in the Love's Divine Lash set) is green-blue sparkles.
Naked is a pale Volvo pink. Sunnydaze is silver-brown with perhaps a touch of purple. Sunnydaze is one of those beloved, limited edition colors, and it seems to me that this version is actually better than I remember. Maybe a reformulation happened with this release? Chocolate Brown is a red brown, and reminded me of Copperbeam from Overrich. Dark Soul is black with sparkles. Reflects Antique Gold is a blackened antique gold — and unlike the other Mischief Maker Reflects, it has a more pigmented base (it's not just sparkles).

5 Models Misbehaving is the "deep" lipgloss set and its shades are the most opaque. Pinkular is actually a russety orange with lots of silver sparkles (never would have guessed, based on the name). Magnetique is a magenta creme. Gitane is a deeper, more red version of Pinkular. Angel Wing is a sheer berry purple with pink and gold sparkles. Instant Gold is very sheer peach with silver sparkles.
Elle is a milky opal shade with pink sparkles. Poetic License is a creme peach-pink. Cruise Control is pink with multicolored sparkles. Ensign is an opaque rose with gold shimmer. Morning Glory is a clear pale pink with silver sparkles.

Silly Girl is peach-brown with silver sparkles. Totally It is hot pink with pink sparkles. Beaute is peach pink with silver and pink sparkles. Pinkarat is clear pink with gold sparkles. Wonderstruck is pink with silver sparkles.

Congratulations, winners!

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter Shopbop giveaway! Win a $100 gift card to spend as you please, just for picking out a pair of Frye boots.

This week has been giveaway-crazy! Now I have a bunch of Stars Makeup Haven eyeshadows to mail out, so if I call your name, please step forward (and send me an email with your name and mailing address).

I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments; these winners were chosen by random number generator.

From Tuesday, winning Sin-sational and Breathless: OneGreatSmile (who recommended youtube guru Marlena/makeupgeek)

From Wednesday, winning Foxy and Raisin' Cane: hi (who said she'd like to see a berry-colored eyeshadow)

From Thursday, winning Rush Hour and Call a Treuse: Mary in Wonder (who created the quad "See Me Pink," with Cat's Meow, Fifi, Starlet, and Chic)

On Twitter, LuvJ won Striptease, Pandora, and Ultra Violet for retweeting my follow message. Bastylefilegirl won Fireflies, Teal Tuesday, and Calypso for telling me her favorite mascara.

On Facebook, Christine T. won Sex Pot and Two to Tango for telling me her favorite YouTuber. Jinath H. won Bombshell and Southern Belle for leaving a comment on my post.

Thanks everybody! And stay tuned: there are still more giveaways to come!