Viktor & Rolf Bonbon and Flowerbomb Holiday 2016 Fragrance Makeover

Yes...Fragrance bottles get makeovers too and who other than Viktor & Rolf to show us how it's done for this holiday season. Bonbon and Flowerbomb - two of our cult favorites - are getting all dressed up for the holidays!

Let's call this flacon of Flowerbomb "Frozen Rose". It is getting dressed up in a pink (rose) crystal flacon in the style of frosted glass. The neck of the bottle is decorated with a feminine pink crystalize rose around it. The composition remains the same as original edition with top notes of bergamot, tea and osmanthus, middle notes of jasmine, rose orange blossom, freesia and orchid and base notes of patchouli and musk.

It is already available here in 50ml bottles and will be limited edition for this holiday season.

Bonbon gets dressed up with a pretty and pink double bow around its neck for this holiday season.   The composition remains the same as original edition with the melted creamy caramel, dripping Tahitian vanilla and syruped canned peaches. More specifically, the notes include mandarin, orange peach, orange blossom, jasmine, caramel, cedar, guaiac wood, sandalwood and amber. It has an 8 hour+ longevity and a memorable sillage.

Which one are you putting on your holiday wishlist?

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Paco Rabanne Olympea and Invictus Fragrance Review & Twitter Giveaway

In light of the upcoming holidays, it might be time to help you start shopping around for gifts! So let's start with this giveaway for Paco Rabanne Olympea and Invictus Fragrance Review Twitter Giveaway.

Paco Rabanne Olympea is an eau de parfum that is based on the idea of a modern Greek goddess that evokes strength, dynamism and conquests. The bottle is shaped like a laurel crown and adorned with a jeweled cap. It is the female counterpart to the masculine Paco Rabanne Eau de Toilette Invictus, which was inspired by the athletic spirit, competition and victory.

To enter, all you need to do is follow me on Twitter, RT my pinned tweet and you’re entered to win! Make sure you tag a friend so they can enter too (I do have 2 sets and all). 18+ or older to participate. This is only open to U.S. residents (sorry babes).

See you there and remember – we have tons of giveaways across all of the social media platforms so check around!

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Stila Stay All Day, Sparkle All Night Liquid Lipstick Set Review, Swatches, Video & Photos – Baci, Rubino, Fresco, Patina and Bacca

By now you know Stila Cosmetics released their holiday lip kits. I picked up the Stay All Day, Sparkle All Night Set when it first released on Ulta.com because I was obsessed with trying the Glitterati lip topper. The set includes 1 glitter lip topper and 5 liquid lip colors in the shades:

1. Baci (nude pink)
2. Rubino (beet red)
3. Fresco (mid-tone dusty rose)
4. Patina (dusty rose)
5. Bacca (raspberry)

It is limited edition and currently available at Sephora, Ulta and StilaCosmetics.com for $39. I love their liquid lipsticks - the smell, the comfort - amazing. I only wish this set had a bit more variety to it with the colors (like last year's set). All in all, it's a great set for the Gliterrati top coat; a holiday gift set and/or a way to test out Stila's formula before committing to the full size.

L to R: Fresco, Bacca, Patina, Rubino, Baci

Glitterati top coat

Here is a quick swatch video of them all. Make sure you watch until I turn off my studio lights and you can get a better view of the glitter shift of the colors.

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As per usual, here are lip swatches of each of them. Please keep in mind that these are incredible more beautiful with the glitter top coat on (if that's your thing) and it's hard to fully capture the glitter on the lips in a photo.

Stila Rubino

Stila Bacca

Stila Patina

Stila Fresco

Stila Baci

When it comes to the lip topper, make sure that you tap it onto your lips instead of swiping it across so you can build up the glitter. Here's a look of me applying Glitterati to Bacca.

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And just in case you missed it, here is a shot of me wearing an ombré lip with Bacca on the outer part of my lips with Patina in the inner portion.

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Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum Fragrance Review and Giveaway

Normally, I would never order a fragrance online without smelling a sample of it and giving it at least 2 hours wear on my pulse points before deciding to purchase a full bottle. Of course, all of that fragrance knowledge and common sense went out of the window the second that I read about Valentino Valentina's Eau de Parfum.

Valentino Valentina first launched in September 2011 and was designed to capture the flavors of Rome and Italy while highlighting the sensual and sweet aromatic feel from the fashion house. I remember the first time that I smelled it - the sweet wild strawberries opened up on me and it made my room smell like I was baking a strawberry shortcake. There comes a time when you just know that a blind buy is going to work for you once you get used to understanding the history and notes of the fragrance. And me being a lover of everything gourmand and floral, I knew that this was the one.

The Notes Top: Bergamot, White truffles Heart: Orange Blossoms, Sweet Jasmine, Tuberose, Wild Strawberries Base: Vanilla, Amber, Cedar

The Packaging Valentino Valentina is packaged in a circular bottle that is decorated with elegant pink, rosey and ivory florals. The Valentino name is etched onto the front of the chrome nozzle that is capped with a safety travel top that is easily removable.

The Bottom Line This is a fragrance that is meant for fruity and floral lovers. Seriously, if you don't like strawberries and flowers then "X" out of your browser immediately. But if you do, then... :-).

Availability Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum is available in 1.0 oz, 1.7 oz and 2.7 oz bottles with an accompanying body lotion, body oil, shower gel and deodorant at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Saks starting at $88.

But by now you guys should know that my favorites become your favorites and as you can see above, my Valentino collection kind of exploded after getting my first bottle of Valentino.

So I’m going to be hooking you up with your own bottle of Valentino Valentina with a giveaway!

Blog giveaway (Two winners) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me why you need this fragrance in your collection. Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

Contest ends Sunday, October 16^th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. I will choose two subscribers at random from those who commented on this post within 48 hours of the contest end date. The Instagram winners will be chosen separately.

No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!

Instagram entry (Two winners) To enter this giveaway on Instagram, please head to over to this photo and follow the rules listed to enter.

Good luck everyone!

Colourpop Fall Edit 2016 Dusty Rose Review, Swatches & Photos – Femme, Viper, Times Square, Muse Eyeshadow

Recently Colourpop Cosmetics launched its fall edit - the dusty rose edition which included 4 liquid lipsticks and 3 eyeshadows.

• Femme ($6) – Oops we did it again with this muted dirty lilac in a satin finish
• Viper ($6) – You’ll really want to sink your teeth into this true dusty rose in an ultra matte finish
• Times Square ($6) – You'll always be bright in this muted pink beige that never sleeps in an ultra matte finish
• Barracuda ($6) – You're really gonna heart this warm deepened rose in a satin finish
• Muse Eyeshadow ($5) – This vibrant coppery rose in a Pearlized finish will inspire you
• Brady Eyeshadow ($5) – Here's a story of a soft dusty rose in a Matte finish
• Paisley Eyeshadow ($5) – Sheer golden ivory laced with tons of multi- coloured sparkle in a Glitter Sheer finish

I picked up Femme and Muse during the launch because I already had Times Square and Viper from my labor order. I will include swatches of everything that I have from the dusty rose edition below.

Here is a look at Muse Eyeshadow.

Click the video to see live finger and brush swatches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM2Oj1c5rcc

I will update this post with addition swatches in a bit and some more looks in a bit!

MAC Cosmetics is Releasing New Strobe Powders in Iridescent Highlighting Shades

Update 10.13.16 @ 2:22PM EST: We finally have swatches on a woman of color. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BLgyMY8D97f/[/embed]

Just when you thought you had enough highlighters...MAC Cosmetics goes ahead and releases a new set of iridescent strobe powders! Just look at these swatches that we've rounded up for you.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_PShCDkeX/[/embed]

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BE8I6gTN94L/[/embed]

Had enough? No? Oh, okay.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BKlrwbhj39k/[/embed]

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BKwes28g0EW/[/embed]

Shades from left to right: Soft Frost, Beaming Blush, Double Gleam, and Show Gold.

These are scheduled to launch in November as part of their upcoming "In The Spotlight" Collection. It is being reported that there are 6 new strobe skin finishes being released that will all be permanent.

Stay tuned...we will keep you updated once we have the official press release and samples.

Enter to Win: Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Contour and Bronzing Powder Instagram Giveaway

I can't believe that it's already fall. Yes, it is my favorite season - the cooler weather; the darker makeup; the thoughts of being able to layer my clothes and throw on some booties - the possibilities are endless. So I figured now was a good time to give away one of my favorite bronzing compacts the Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Contour and Bronzing Powder in color 05 Moyen - Brunettes.

The Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Contour and Bronzing Powder has four matte shades that you can use for bronzing and contouring. Normally, I would use a compact that was fully one shade but I have a hard time as a woman of color finding a good bronzer that doesn't run red on my skin tone and the Guerlain bronzers are a god send. With that said, we all know their bronzers can be a bit pricey to purchase especially when I change shade throughout the winter/summer. So I found the 4 seasons Terracotta bronzer which is a great deal for me because it was only $76 on Sephora, I was able to use a coupon and it gives me 4 shades to choose from throughout the year. 

Knowing how hard it was for me to find a high end bronzer, I wanted to hook two of you up with your very own in color 05 Moyen - Brunettes (I ordered three when I purchased - yes, I stick by my statement of my favorites become your favorites). Now onto the Instagram giveaway!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

It’s time to giveaway this high end Guerlain prize to two lucky Instagram followers! The prize includes:

• Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Contour and Bronzing Powder in color 05 Moyen - Brunettes ($76)

1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram.

2. In the comments on this Instagram photo, tag three friends so they can learn about all of the fun we have on here.

3. You can enter up to 5 times with a new set of tagged friends in each comment.

That’s it!

Contest runs from Thursday, September 22, 2016 and ends Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Two winners will be randomly chosen from those who commented (not those tagged within the comments) and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.

No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following @candycoatedclosets. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

Make sure that you click on the links above if you want to learn more about this amazing product from the giveaway!

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Colourpop Fall Edit 2016 Liquid Lipsticks Review, Swatches & Photos – Times Square, Viper, Love Bug, Wolfie

First, I'm shooting all of these photos (and possible video if I upload with the new camera so let me know what you guys think). When Colourpop Cosmetics launched their Fall Edit 1 collection, they included a promo to receive 4 free shade if you ordered over a certain amount: Times Square, Viper, Love Bug and Notion (swatched in this previous post). Of course, I received them all (yes, I shop too much) so here's a look at Times Square, Viper, Love Bug and Wolfie that I received in my last order.

• Times Square ($6) – Ultra Matte Lip
• Viper ($6) – Ultra Matte Lip
• Love Bug ($6) – Everyday is Valentine's Day when you wear this rich Terracota in an ultra matte Lip
• Wolfie ($6) – Leave ‘em howling in this rich rosy pink ultra glossy lip with a flash of gold on top in a Metallic finish

Here is a lip swatch of Viper for you. Let me know what other colors you guys want to see swatched on the lips. 

Viper topped with Wolfie

Here is a lip swatch of Love Bug. While it is a beautiful color, please remember that this is an Ultra Matte liquid lip and it is very drying! 

Also, check out my Instagram for quick video tutorials on how I created the look with Love Bug!

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio - Quick Review, Swatches & Photos

Urban Decay released an illuminating palette that contains three shades of Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body in the shades Pyrite (gold champagne), Oasis (marbled frosted taupe) and Twilight (iridescent pink).

The limited edition palette which retails for $36 includes the three shades in 0.08 oz/ 2.36 mL and a double ended brush to apply them with.

I was able to swatch and play with these during the Sephora holiday preview but sadly, I have nothing positive to say about these. I mean...the packaging is pretty?

Ok maybe I was exaggerating by saying I had nothing positive to say. Pyrite, the gold champagne on the left and Twilight, the iridescent pink on the right did look pretty on my skin tone. They are just very chunky and glittery so I would personally use this on my body as opposed to my face.

Now that shade in the middle - Oasis (the marbled frosted taupe) - just...no UD. This was a major fail on their part because I couldn't even get it to swatch decently. It is too chunky, chalky and fell apart every time I tried to pick the product up on my hand or brush.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this palette at all. Save your money for a better holiday item. If you have to have a holiday highlighting/illuminating palette, I would look into the Laura Mercier Fall In Love Face Illuminator Collection.

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Stila Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette - Quick Review, Swatches & Photos

Star Light, Star Bright First star I see tonight - How I wish Stila Cosmetics got this highlighting palette right. The Stila Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette is a new, limited edition trio of highlighters that was released for the holidays. It includes three radiance-enhancing highlighters with an ultra-smooth formula that was designed to melt into your skin. It is $39 USD and contains 3 x 0.5 oz/ 14.78 mL of product. The shades are transcendence (opalescent pink), Kitten (shimmering nude pink) and Bronze (sunkissed radiance).

The brand says that the formula was created with “ultra-fine, light diffusing particles” that will melt into your skin and give you a natural-looking glow...and that's where I think the problem is.

At first touch, these are some of the softest highlighters I have ever felt. So smooth, creamy and buttery that I wanted to just stand there and rub my finger in it all day. When it comes to swatching or wearing it, it gets a big F from me. The colors are pretty but there was hardly any pigmentation to it for it to show up properly on my skin tone. Below there are swatches taken in store.

When trying to apply this with a brush...well just don't. Please don't. If you want to take the chance, I recommend applying it with your fingers first and then blending it out with a beauty blender. Let me know if this works for you or what you thought about it.

This is available exclusively at Sephora.com and in-stores for $39 USD.

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Versace Eros Pour Femme Fragrance Review & Twitter Giveaway

I was first introduced to Versace Eros Pour Femme during the 2016 Fragrance Foundation Consumer Choice Awards.

It's a powerful floral fragrance with hints of citrus that has notes of Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot, pomegranate accords, lemon, sambac jasmine absolute, jasmine infusion, peony, sandalwood, ambrox, musk and various cedars. When I first smelled it, I immediately noticed the ethereal floral scent that was inspired by the enchanting Greek mythology.

The bottle is designed with gold mythological codes of the classic Versace design - the embossed Medusa and Greek key engraving around the perimeter of the bottle is what truly makes this packaging.

So I wasn't sure how many of you had the opportunity to try Eros Pour Femme yet so I figured why not do a quick giveaway on it for our Twitter community?

To enter, all you need to do is follow me on Twitter, RT my pinned tweet and you’re entered to win! Make sure you tag a friend so they can enter too. 18+ or older to participate. This is only open to U.S. residents (sorry babes).

See you there and remember – we have tons of giveaways across all of the social media platforms so check around!

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Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set - Holiday Lipstick Gift Set

Bite Beauty released The Perfect Bite Set - a holiday lipstick gift set that contains: 4 mini Amuse Bouche lipsticks each containing 0.05 oz/ 1.47 mL. I had the opportunity to play with these at the Sephora holiday preview last weekend.

From left to right: Pepper, Fig, Honeycomb & Nori This is a great gift set if you wanted to try out Bite's lipsticks without having to commit to a full sized tube and it will also make a good stocking stuffer or holiday grab bag gift.

Available: Online and in-store at Sephora.com. $25 ($59 value). This is limited edition.

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Michael Kors Collection Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear Collection Re-See Recap

Only Michael Kors could make me want to go home, walk to my closet, grab everything in it and immediately start packing it away to start fresh. Even as I'm typing this, I'm side eyeing my closet and fighting the urge clear it out to make room for nautical and floral explosion that is the Michael Kors Collection Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear Collection. I attended the Re-See event on Wednesday at his studios on 42nd street to get a closer look at the collection.

You can see all the looks from their NYFW runway show here. And in keeping with our follow-me-to-fashion-week, I decided to dip into the fragrance collection to showcase (and giveaway) Glam Jasmine - an eau de parfum that focuses on a bouquet explosion of its namesake flower; Egyptian jasmine, jasmine sambac and jasmine petals. It's a warm and sexy fragrance with sparkling citrus notes and woody cedar mixed with black currant, jasmine, sandalwood,white flowers and cassis.

Blog giveaway (One winner) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me which piece from this collection is your favorite. Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

Contest ends Wednesday, September 21^st, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. I will choose one subscriber at random from those who commented on this post within 48 hours of the contest end date.

No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!

The ESSENCE Street Style Block Party - A Roundup of the Best in Hair, Beauty & Fashion

Last Saturday, I visited the ESSENCE 3rd Annual Street Style Block Party at DUMBO Archway in Brooklyn NY. If you're looking for one place to visit during New York Fashion Week to find some inspirational and edgy street style or head-turning hairstyles then this is the place you want to be.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review, Swatches & Photos – Crème Brulée, Cannelle, Macadamia, Chestnut, Amande, Hazelnut, Cafe, Cacao & Dark Coffee

NARS Cosmetics recently launched 6 new shades to their Radiant Creamy Concealer line. Crème Brulée, Cannelle, Macadamia, Chestnut, Hazelnut and Dark Coffee ($29 each). This is my go-to concealer for covering up my dark circles without it creasing on me so I wanted to make sure that you had swatches of the new shade as quickly as possible.

Crème Brulée - Fair with a light pink undertone Cannelle - Light with a peachy undertone Macadamia - Medium with a peachy undertone Chestnut - Medium with a pink undertone Hazelnut - Medium Dark with a warm red undertone Dark Coffee - Dark brown with an olive undertone

Also, while I was at it, I rounded up some swatches of the 5 darkest shades for give women of color a better comparison.

Mariah Carey X MAC Cosmetics Collaboration - First Sneak Peek & Photos

Please visit the updated blog post with the official prices, photos and swatches from MAC Artist here http://bit.ly/MariahxMAC. Update from Vogue France: Original article, source and photos: http://bit.ly/2e8cdz0

Glitter, gold, butterflies ... Mariah Carey binds MAC time to a range of exclusive Christmas, in perfect harmony with its image. At the heart of this collaboration, where the glam world, even a bit of bling the singer mixes in the Christmas spirit: nude shades, beige tones, browns and bronzes, available in lipsticks, blushes at eye and lip gloss. The festive lipstick "All I want"  in the shade " champagne iridescent" is perfect to celebrate the holidays in style and slip into the skin of a diva.

It's Everything Eyeshadow Palette, Mariah Carey x MAC,  exclusive online,  $48 USD

Blending Brush Mariah Carey x MAC, exclusive online, $57 USD.

Brush eye Mariah Carey x MAC, exclusive online, $33 USD

Powder Extra Dimension Skinfinish, My Mini, hot iridescent gold, Mariah Carey x MAC $38 USD

Lip Pencil pro Longwear, So dramatic, intense brown, Mariah Carey x MAC $19 USD

X MAC Lipglass Mariah Carey, Butterfly Bling, pink iridescent bronze, exclusive online, $23 USD

Powder blush, You've got my feeling, light pink candy, exclusive online, $26 USD

Update 10/13/2016 at 5:45pm EST: 📷@MariahTrends on Instagram

If you're a collector of MAC Cosmetics limited edition packaging then brace yourself. It seems that we have the first look at her upcoming collaboration (rumored to launch this December 2016).

Queenofshademc shared the above photo on Instagram and of course it has the beauty community going crazy and rightfully so - the compact is beautiful.

The release date, names and prices is still to be determined but we will update you once we hear anything. But for now....are you excited?

Misha Collection SS17 Runway Show NYFW Recap

There's a sense of delight when you give into opulence and the Misha Collection SS17 Runway Show was a testament to that. The luxury Australian fashion label, led by Creative Director and designer Michelle Aznavorian, made its New York Fashion Week debut with its opening and closing walk done by the superstar Jourdan Dunn.

The Misha Collection SS17 oozes opulence, extravagant glamour, luxury and mystery. The collection was inspired by fashion icons of Studio 54 gone by evoking feelings of elegance and supplication. With references to classic vintage shapes from the seventies and eighties, the seductive mood is enhanced by breathtaking new textures, custom lace, ostrich feather, silk Devoré and pony leather are intertwined with a monochromatic colour palette splashed with leopard print and daring red. 

Click on the photos to see a bigger slideshow.

I loved how the designer was able to incorporate hints of elegance and sophistication into the spirit of Studio 54. Now for the makeup - one of our favorite beauty brands - Stila Cosmetics was responsible for creating the luxe and lust beauty look for the runway. Check out these photos of Sarah Lucero of Stila working her magic on Jourdan Dunn.

You can see all the looks from their NYFW debut on their new Runway page here and you can watch SS17 runway show from start to finish below.

[wpvideo yiQSjtPo]

Saw anything that you liked? Well I did because I immediately ran home with my gift bag and i had to figure out which meals I was cutting out so I that could afford that red wool coat. :-) Luckily, there was a surprise in the gift bag.

 

So our gift bag included a cute keychain and notebook from the Misha Collection, a Stay All Day Matte'ificent lipstick in the shade Jolie from Makeup Partner Stila Cosmetics, a volumizing conditioning spray from Hair Partner René Furterer and a $100 gift card to the Misha Collection! And as usual, I have an extra bag for one of you!

I want to be sure to bring as much of New York Fashion Week to you as I can so here is your chance to enter to win everything pictured in the gift bag photos.

Blog giveaway (One winner) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me which piece from this collection is your favorite. Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

Contest ends Sunday, September 18^th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST (my birthday woot woot). I will choose one subscriber at random from those who commented on this post within 48 hours of the contest end date.

No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!

Colourpop Fall Edit 2016 Liquid Lipsticks Review, Swatches & Photos – Notion, Hutch, Sookie, Dukes and Stereo

Colourpop Cosmetics recently launched their Fall Edit 1 collection which is described as your new favorite color for fall - blackened violet and rich plums. It includes 6 items:

• Notion ($6) - A deep berry with subtle, warm undertones in an Ultra Matte finish

• Hutch ($6) - A deep blackened violet in an Ultra Satin finish
• Sookie ($6) - A rich plum in a Creme finish
• Dukes ($5) - A dark blackberry in a Matte finish
• Dukes Pencil ($5) - A dark blackberry in a Matte finish
• Stereo ($5) - A blackened burgundy with copper and pink violet duo chrome glitter sprinkled on top in a Metallic finish
• Tang ($5) - A soft dusty plum in a Matte finish

Here is a live video swatch of the colors while I was snapping them 👻: candy_closets so you can get a better look.

[wpvideo PWFUzBLD]

Stereo is still one of my favorite eyeshadows. What do you think of the fall colors?

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Fragrance Review and Giveaway

Have you ever really listened to someone as they raved about their signature scent? I couldn't quite understand the enamor with finding one scent that truly captured everything about myself; one fragrance that captured that personality, my love, my bubbliness or my passion in a bottle? There was absolutely no way. But then, Yves Saint Laurent launched Black Opium and well...I found my holy grail fragrance.I was first introduced to this fragrance in October 2015 and it has taken over my life since then - seriously, I think I gave everyone this fragrance for the holidays and I probably will again this year with the re-release of it as Black Opium Wild (the same fragrance in a limited edition wild leopard print bottle).The NotesTop: Pink Pepper and Orange Blossom Heart: Pear, Jasmine and Rich Coffee Base: Sensual Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar, Musk and Sandalwood

The Packaging Black Opium is packaged in a textured glass bottle and covered in glitter that sparkles when the light catches it. In the middle, sits a glass opening with the YSL logo and Black Opium signature. It was designed as a rock'n'roll interpretation (and flanker) to the classic 2010 Opium which is much more spicier.The Bottom Line This is a fragrance that is meant for floral and coffee lovers. Personally, I don't like to drink coffee but I love the aroma of it. Whenever I smell someone brewing it - especially the french vanilla flavored beans - I am in heaven and that's what Black Opium is to me.

Because of the mix of Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar and Musk, it makes it a heavier fragrance which is perfect to take you through the Fall and Winter. Availability Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum is available in 1.0 oz, 1.6 oz and 3 oz bottles at Sephora, Ulta, Saks and Nordstrom from $68 - $115. But by now you guys should know that my favorites become your favorites. I'm going to be hooking 2 of you up with your own bottle of Black Orchid with a giveaway!

Blog giveaway (Two winners) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me why you need this fragrance in your collection (hey you can even tell me your favorite coffee flavor - I'm looking for new ones to smell :). Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

Contest ends Monday, September 12^th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. I will choose two subscribers at random from those who commented on this post within 48 hours of the contest end date. The Instagram winners will be chosen separately.

No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!

Instagram entry (Two winners) To enter this giveaway on Instagram, please head to over to this photo and follow the rules listed to enter.

Good luck everyone!

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The Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario Is Coming In October 2016

It's official. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Master palette by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is coming in October 2016. It is a limited edition eyeshadow palette that looks to be more neutral and cool-toned.

During his official announcement of the palette, Mario instagrammed his excitement and stated that “all of the shades are named after the most influential women and places in my life. These women and places have all been very significant in my life and career.” 

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ6TrNigpx7/?taken-by=makeupbymario[/embed]

The palette includes 12 shades and an eyeshadow brush. The shades are (finishes to be announced):

• Hollywood
• NYC
• Kim
• Muse
• Marina
• Claudia
• Lula
• Isabel
• Violeta
• 5th Ave
• Bronx
• Paris

It will retail for $45 (no pro discount available) and will be available online at Anastasia Beverly Hills on September 29th, October 4th online at Sephora, Ulta and Macy's and in-stores on October 15th. Again, it is limited edition. Here are additional swatches taken from Norvina's Instagram page.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ62pQ5DDQL/[/embed]

 Now that we're finally seeing the palette up close, are you interested in it?

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