China Glaze Party Hearty

Hey readers! Did you get up to anything interesting over the holidays…or perhaps get any beauty treats? I got some great new nail polishes that I’ll be sharing with you, but let me show you what I wore this week!

Orly Luxe Nail Polish with China Glaze Party Hearty Glitter Topcoat

For those of you who celebrated Christmas this week, I have to admit that this manicure was too festive to keep me from wearing it just once. You may remember the lovely Orly Luxe from a recent post, but the glitter topcoat, China Glaze‘s Party Hearty, is from last year’s holiday collection, and I prefer it much more to this year’s similarly-colored glitter holiday offering from China Glaze, Twinkle Lights. TL is tightly packed red, green and gold microglitter – but Party Hearty is more of a true topcoat, and far more unique. The bottle contains primarily green glitter, with gold microglitter and large red hex glitter mixed in. To me, the large red glitter pieces look like holly berries (too adorable)!

Pros: Unique for a glitter topcoat, definitely, and long-lasting. Cornerstone on festive!

Cons: Seriously gritty without heavy coats of Seche – I found myself picking off flakes of glitter because I didn’t apply enough topcoat. I’m sure it’s very hard to find now, too…

Come on guys, what’d you get for the holidays?! I need to know! Any NYE plans?

MAC Mattene Lipstick – Seeds of Desire

So I may have spoken too soon about the whole “FALL IS SUPER AWESOME!” thing.

It is, of course, super awesome! I’ve been wearing scarves and cardigans, wiggled into a pair of stockings the other evening, and my beloved camel cape has been calling at me from the closet. But there is a major downfall to fall. I forgot how cold it is at night. And I haven’t put my electric blanket on my bed yet (oy vey, I just admitted to that geriatric predilection in writing), so I have been tucking my pajama pants into my socks (again! I am really sexy sometimes). Tea helps, but one can only drink so much tea before they feel like they’re going to float away.

Gee, I’m getting really crotchety in my mid-twenties.

But you know what is great about fall? Animal print. And believe me when I say it is everywhere. I officially have a leopard print everything in my closet, and go wherever you want with that, because I’m done elaborating. In my mind, MAC‘s new and limited edition Mattene lipstick in Seeds of Desire is the perfect pairing to all that leopard print, especially for us brown-eyed girls out there (with brown hair).

MAC Seeds of Desire Mattene Lipstick

Seeds of Desire is a member of MAC‘s Fall 2011 Posh Paradise campaign, and is described on MAC‘s website as a “deep brown plum.” I’d call it more of a “rich mahogany” myself.

Me wearing MAC Seeds of Desire Mattene Lipstick

Unlike its littermate Potent Fig, Seeds of Desire went on extremely smoothly with no skipping and lasted for at least five hours, which is when I took it off to try on another product. I didn’t eat much while wearing this shade, but I’ve eaten major meals while wearing other Mattenes and they wear off very evenly, to the point that I’m not totally concerned with reapplication. This shade in particular leaves a beautiful stain. Fully applied or worn down, Seeds of Desire would look wonderful on just about anyone. As I also mentioned in my post about Potent Fig, though the formula and finish is technically matte, MAC has definitely changed how they make Mattenes. These lipsticks are not nearly as drying as they used to be, and my lips are definitely not parched like they once were after wearing this product. If you want a moisturizing matte lipstick, this is as close as you’re ever going to get in my book.

As I think they do to deliberately annoy me, MAC has made this (like so many others!) collection of Mattenes limited edition – including Seeds of Desire – so check them out here until they’re gone on MAC’s website, or check your local Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, Saks, Bloomingdale’s…

Are you digging this lipstick? Who else loves leopard print?! And who else – fess up – has an electric blanket and loves it? I know someone out there does. Don’t lie. A lie of omission is just as bad. Come on, guys.

Product Spotlight: MAC Kohl Power Feline Eyeliner

It should be fairly evident to you all by now that I buy a lot of makeup. Surprisingly, however, I nearly never purchase backups. There are a few discontinued items that I am kicking myself for not doing this with, but generally, I find that I have enough products to keep me going – besides, there are always new things coming out!

Today, I’d like you to meet MAC Feline eyeliner. I have two – one’s a backup! Let me state here and now that you need this, and though it is limited edition, it is a current (September/October 2011) rerelease on MAC’s site. You can find it HERE!

Okay – so now that you have it in your shopping cart, let me tell you why you need to check out the goods.

This sucker is the blackest freaking eyeliner I have ever used in my life. I can’t wait to get my claws into Urban Decay‘s 24/7 in Perversion to do a comparison (it is KILLING me that they haven’t released the full size for individual sale, but this set has the mini for those, like me, who are interested), but they might as well have called this eyeliner Black Hole. I have brown eyes, and this eyeliner makes an impressively stark contrast. The pencil is also exceptionally creamy and smooth – no tugging, not ever, and it lines the waterline like a dream.

If you are into a more grungy/punky/laissez-faire eyeliner look, then you will absolutely love this liner. It is extremely blendable. Admittedly, I’m not into smudging. This liner smudges very, very easily, which takes major points off in my book, and even more of a pet peeve, prints onto my upper lid almost immediately after application. If that’s not your bag, keeping MAC Feline from moving around is a simple fix – just pat MAC Carbon eyeshadow on top with a liner brush. However, while I don’t like that I have to add another step to my routine when one beauty product should get the job done, I understand that it is kohl, which is much smoother than your standard eye pencil and therefore transfers more easily.

So why then, if the liner moves around so much and makes me use extra steps, do I like MAC Feline so much?

I typically don’t line the waterline. I think it looks great on most people when they do it, but I feel like on me…well, I think it makes me look like a bit of a putana, which is generally not the look I go for in my day-to-day.

But sometimes, a gal just wants to bring sexy back.

Me wearing MAC Power Khol Feline Eyeliner

Buy MAC Feline for a limited time here. Though it’s limited edition, it’s repromoted once or twice a year on average, so you won’t permanently miss out.

What do you think of MAC Feline? Are you a proud owner? Do you have a beauty product that makes you feel like you could take over the world with a good LBD and five inch heels? I have a handful…would you like to see a series on this?

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure – Silver Lining and Sephora by OPI – Too Good for Him

This hurricane that’s coming toward NYC means that it’s been cloudy and drizzly all day, which makes the weather neither mood-lifting nor good for taking pictures. Since my Revlon Blue Lagoon manicure chipped after just two days of wear, I had to change up my polish. I decided to go with something weather-related, but added a little something extra to boost my spirits.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Silver Lining, Sephora by OPI Too Good for Him (ring finger and thumb only)

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure‘s Silver Lining is a limited edition product from last spring.

Pros: I love the Sally Hansen CSM brushes, and I’m often pleasantly surprised by how innovative and trendy their colors are – especially the limited editions. This is an absolutely gorgeous shade – a shimmery, iridescent silver with a blue/green cast. It didn’t take too long to dry, which was particularly important during this application process…

Cons: This is four coats, which is a little annoying (though I once had the amazing patience to do seven coats for an Essie color I love). Only because of the application am I not too saddened that it’s no longer available.

Sephora by OPI Too Good for Him closeup

As you can see, I added a glitter topcoat on my thumbs (“Blackberry Bling”) and ring fingers. I was able to gradate the glitter on my thumbs, but the nails on my ring fingers turned out to be too tiny for it to work out! This color is Sephora by OPI‘s Too Good for Him, which was a limited edition color for New Year’s 2009/2010.

Pros: The color! It’s a predominantly fuchsia glitter with blue and silver glitter mixed in to a clear base. (I’d say 4 parts fuchsia, 2 parts blue, 1 part silver.)

Cons: Dry time sucked, as it often does with glitter top coats  – I’m just sitting here with Seche on top waiting for it to do some magic – but regardless, it’s still a great shade, which is why I’m bummed that it was a holiday exclusive. It also had a little bit of a shrinkage (pulled away from the tip of the nail) issue. However, SOPI still has some great glitter topcoats out that are fabulous, inexpensive alternatives to Deborah Lippmann polishes, and I recommend you check them out.

This was a fun manicure to do – despite the dry time issues with the glitter and the number of coats needed for the shimmer, I’d do it again!

What do you guys think? A little much for a weekday? Do you have either of these?