IMAN Cote d' Azur Palette

I have long been a big fan of IMAN's foundations & powders but I had yet to delve much into her other products. I decided to give the eye shadows a shot and what way better than to start with a palette. The one that spoke to me right off the bat is the one called Cote d' Azur. That translates to The French Riviera for us Americans lol. Well just as with the other products I fell in love with these are of similar quality. The set comes with four eye shadows, two lipsticks, two lip glosses, a blush and a cream bronzer. It becomes quite apparent why IMAN's products are called luxury, they are infinitely luxurious. 

(top row: 2 lipsticks, blush, 2 eye shadows. bottom row: 2 lip glosses, cream bronzer, 2 eye shadows)
The lipsticks are moisturizing and long lasting... the red is one of the most dynamic blue based reds I've ever had. And, the glosses are rich and very pigmented and not sticky. The blush while too light for me is good for someone lighter.. it has a nice delicate shimmer. 
The cream bronzer is really nice. Once applied it dries to a nice smooth powdery consistency and doesn't even feel like it's there. The eye shadows, oh the eye shadows! They are fab! The black is very very black with little glitters reminiscent of MAC's Black Tied. The purple eye shadow (my favorite shadow color) has tiny shimmers of gold through out. The sliver is a high shine luster that packs even more of a punch when wet. And the final shadow is a champagne color which works great as a brow bone highlight for me. Everything really has excellent pigment and decent staying power. It's well worth the $20 that it costs. There's an accompanying palette to this called St. Tropez. Same layout but the colors are more neutral, like earth tones. Cote d' Azur gets a 10 from me! 

I'm wearing mostly IMAN Cosmetics. The Stick Foundation, Oil Blotting Powder, Blush, Eye Shadow & Lips from Cote d' Azur Palette.

A Lil Drugstore Haulin'

I have finally been somewhat successful in my search of the new Wet n Wild Trios. I got the last two that Walgreen's had in the store. Why are these so hard to find? lol These probably wouldn't have been my first choice to get, but I just wanted to try them so I got what they had! ;)
The first trio is called 'I Got Good Jeans' & the second green one is called 'I Dream Of Greenie'.
As usual the pigment of their shadows are excellent, especially the 'I Got Good Jeans'... it's incredible. When and if ever I run into the rest I'll be sure to get them!

The next items I got are by Black Radiance. The lipstick is a very rich Fuchsia color which reminds me of the 80's...which I love. The lipsticks are numbered, it's #5004. Then I got a gloss.. the Radiant Lip Gloss in #3431. It's a deep cranberry color with gold glitter through out. It's very pretty, not very sticky as some gloss' but I had to reapply often over one evening, so it doesn't last that long. 

Next I'm excited to share my latest favorite IMAN product! IMAN's Perfect Response Oil Blotting  Pressed Powder. I do not know how I survived without this powder up till now. This is the most amazing powder I have EVER used. Coupled with the already very oil absorbing foundations this leaves you with nearly no shine for hours! I like a matte face unless I choose to apply shimmer. I hate it when I have to keep applying powder to keep down the shine...that's why I stopped using MAC foundations. This is yet another winning item from IMAN's makeup line. I swear I get nothing from singing these praises.. her stuff is just that good! Then as recommended by a friend I picked up one of Milani's Metallic Baked Eyeshadows in Purrr-fect Purple. It's pretty, but frankly I expected better pigment from what I had been told. I have even had other shadows by Milani that were more pigmented and they weren't baked. So, not quite a miss, but nothing special. 

I have lot more reviews/hauls coming. NYX, MAC & E.L.F. 

Brittany xoxo

Gorgeous Iman, The Talented Sam Fine

Celebrity Makeup Artist and in my opinion absolute genius Sam Fine posted this picture this morning of his latest work on the iconic beauty Iman. His artistry never ceases to amaze me. This is so gorgeous...and timely. Neutral makeup looks are so popular right now, Urban Decay capitalized on this with their wildly successful Naked Palette. This look Sam did on Iman is so simple yet high art... it's sheer perfection. I remain in awe of Sam Fine and my foremost inspiration Iman.

It's HAUL Time!

I got a bunch of different things recently on my trip to the mall. Got some other stuff for holiday gifts that I obviously wont be posting. Here's all the stuff I got for myself. Who can can go shopping and not get stuff for they're self? Certainly not me! LOL Excuse the blurriness of some of this pics... it just wouldn't come clearer & I just didn't have the time! ;)

I use IMAN's foundations all the time but had yet to try the liquid that came out a few months back. I finally got the Luxury Radiance Liquid Makeup in Earth 3. A special holiday package of it came with a foundation brush. I'm glad I waited the brush is fabulous! Now I'm on a mission to get the normal size brush. I'm in love with the mini version. And the liquid foundation it self it quite good. Just what I expected.. the sticks & cremes are excellent. ($14.99)

I also got the SuperStay Liquid Foundation by Maybelline. It's the sister to Revlon's ColorStay (which I LOVE!) so I was eager to see what it's like. I've tried it out and it had the long wear it promises but as always my issue with Maybelline is their choice in colors. People with darker skin as myself are hard pressed to find and exact match in Maybelline. I had to mix it with something else to get it to look natural & indeed match me... otherwise it's too orangy. ($10.99)

Got some lotions and a fragrance mist from Bath & Body Works. Black Amethyst Lotion, Midnight Pomegranate Lotion & Dark Kiss Fragrance Mist. I love their stuff.. the lotions are so creamy and the fragrances are not too overpowering. They had a big sale going on this trio was $10.

Lastly I got some ELF products. An Angeled Eyeshadow Brush ($1), an Eyeliner & Shadow Stick ($3). This is a great product! The shadow side is a metallic green & the liner is in moss (a darker green). I would love to see them make this in more colors! And a Studio Eyeshadow in Butter Cream ($3). This color is Amazing! It is perfect for a highlight color on the eyes for me. I've worn it everyday I've done my makeup since I bought it! And then I got a blush by IMAN. I love it! It has a slight shimmer and the color works great for me. It gives me a red cheek without being too red. This color is called Peace. ($10) 

Brittany xoxo

Inspiration For The Week

This is my first in what will be my series of what inspires me in beauty for the week. It my not be each and every week, I will update as I am inspired. I always think it's a good thing to have inspiration in what ever you do. The things that inspire you feed your creativity and  give you purpose. Iman is perfect to start of the series... she is Divine! At 55 years young she is still one of the most vibrant, relevant and most iconic trend setting beauty's of our time. She is Classic. I remain in awe of this accomplished woman. Thanks for inspiring me Iman!

It's All About IMAN!

Second To None Semi-Loose Powder

Undercover Agent Oil Control Primer

I keep getting so many questions about Iman makeup. I've made it clear it's the foundation & powder I use now after years of living by Dermablend. I cannot convey enough how extraordinary the results are of the creme foundation & powders. You have an amazingly matte face and the times you have to powder due to shining is diminished by leaps and bounds. I haven't tried the new liquid foundation yet.... but that's next! As I've stated before Smashbox has the best Primer to me. I've recently discovered Iman's Under Cover Agent Oil Control Primer is a strong second. It's really good. It's  $14.99 like most of the products in the line. What's so great is you can purchase this great makeup at your local Target or Walgreen's and other drugstores. Write and let me know how Iman's working for you! xoxo

Ready, Set, Go... Out!

I took this shot right before I left on my way to a good friends birthday party. It was a fun night had by all. I'll be having my own birthday party this coming weekend and I will post some great pictures from that. I have an idea what makeup look I want to do for that night... stay tuned!


Makeup:
Foundation & Powder-IMAN
Eyes-Revlon: Lilac Shimmer Cream Shadow, Mac: Silver Micro Glitter, Mac: Black Tied Shadow, Makeup Forever: Blue and e.l.f.: Soft Pink, Blush-Covergirl: Raisin Shadow, Contour-Bobbi Brown: Black Plum Shadow, Lips- Tropez Deep Red Gloss & Tropez Magenta Gloss

Light Smoky Eyes

Foundation:

IMAN - Earth 4/5

Powder:

IMAN - Clay Medium

Highlight:

IMAN - Sand Light Medium Pressed Powder

Countour:

Bobbi Brown - Black Plum Shadow

Picture 1

Picture 2 (cell phone pic)

Eyes:
HIP Loreal - Shimmer Purple
MakeUpForever - Brilliant Matte Purple
MAC - Black Tied
MakeUpForever - Pearly Pale Pink
MAC - Smolder (eyeliner)
Lashes - NYX
Blush:
CoverGirl - Raisin Eyeshadow
Lips:
Max Factor - Deep Pink Lipstick
Rimmel - Burgundy Lip Liner
NARS - Giza Lip Gloss 
\
                                               

My Foundation: Revisited

Anyone who knows me knows I am singing the praises of IMAN's foundation as of late. It is truly amazing , exceptional coverage and it absorbs oil like no other! I wanted to update and clarify that I am using the Creme To Powder Foundation now instead of the stick. It's even smoother going on... so easy to apply. FYI: you should always wear a moisturizer under all make up and/or a good primer (I recommend Smashbox). The Creme is $14.99 just as the stick.

My NEW Foundation!

My new foundation isn't really new at all, but it's new for me. I have been wearing Dermablend for years. It's always been my must-have. I've always had a second choice for those occasions when I run out and have no time to get to the stores that carry it. That second choice of late had been a foundation stick by a company called BlackOpal. They cater to people of color and they're shades are complimentary. But lately I've noticed the longer your day or night goes on you become so greasy and have to powder your face endlessly so not to be shining like the sun. I've used the IMAN Foundation Stick before but never really appreciated it. It was someone else (who I recommended it to) that sang it's praises and told me how matte her makeup was even on the hottest and most of humid days . I gave it a try again and it is FABULOUS! Excellent coverage, so smooth.. incredibly matte! It is just as good as Dermabland. I had to powder so infrequently it felt weird lol. I've been wearing it ever since. Dermablend is just sitting in the makeup case. AND it's only $14.99 compared to Dermablend's $32.00. I swear to you it gives equal results!