Review: AdoreMe Strapless Bra Elana

Elana

Hello everyone! I’m finally back with a new post from AdoreMe. I’ve ordered from them a few times and this is my latest set, called Elana, which is a bra/panty set. AdoreMe has revamped their site to make it much more user friendly; now you can see all the lingerie sets available, not just the ones in your showroom. They always have free shipping & exchanges as well, and right now a special so that you can get your first set for 50% off.

I was in the market for a strapless bra, which are notoriously fiddly, and ordered this set in 34D/M. I’m not crazy about the underwear, which also came with a section of the inside middle fabric unattached to the outer lace (a little inconvenient but not horribly so). The panties were of no great concern to me, just a nice addition to the main article.

The online image of the set is extremely accurate, right down to where the band of the bra fits on the model. It’s a push up black satin strapless bra, and definitely doesn’t feel cheap. The one thing about the bra is that it requires some breaking in (perhaps I was just unused to wearing strapless bras but it did feel a little tight).

From the website:

Spring chic; prepare to bare your shoulders! Choose the sleek strapless Elana set for your warm weather days, perfect for halter tops and strapless summer dresses.

• Seamless microfiber push-up cups
• Silicon taped back-band for added support
• Matching hipster panties
• 84% Nylon/16% Spandex

I really liked the bra after I used it a few times. I was in need of one, and this will do nicely. It held up well after handwashing as well. AdoreMe also gives you a free set after you order 5.  I also have to say that the last time I ordered from them, it automatically paid for the next month and I didn’t cancel it it time so I had to choose another product. If you do order, make sure this doesn’t happen! They have a very friendly customer service.

Alright that’s all from me for today! For a bit of an update, I will be in Taiwan this summer, so you will get to see lots of Asian make up pretties, promise! I will be back.

Giveaway!

Hey everyone! After the holidays, I’ve got something new to give away with you all. You can sign up below!

LISTEN UP JANE’S ADDICTION & TEQUILA FANS!

 

LISTEN UP JANE’S ADDICTION & TEQUILA FANS!

We are giving two lucky continental U.S. readers a special edition photography book from legendary music industry photographer Danny Clinch featuring amazing photographs shot at the inaugural Lollapalooza Festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil with Perry Farrell and high-end embossed leather bracelet.

 

 

To enter giveaway please do the following:

1. Like the Dobel Tequila page here.

2. Send email to contests@theconfluencegroup.com with “La Vie A Beaute + Dobel Giveaway” as the subject. In the email please include your name and shipping address. The lucky winner will be contacted to verify ID.

All entries MUST be submitted by midnight on January 7th.   The final recipient will be chosen at random.

And don’t forget, once you have “liked” the Dobel Facebook page, you can then download Jane’s Addiction’s latest album, The Great Escape Artist, FOR FREE courtesy of Dobel Tequila and the band’s legendary front-man Perry Farrell.

Good luck!

 

I know tequila isn’t really the main part of my blog’s focus but I do kind of try and focus on accessories as well so here you are  

The widget doesn’t seem to be working right now! Leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I have it up and running.

Karl Lagerfield x Shu Uemura Holiday 2012 Collection

Rouge Deluxe has the deets here! British Beauty Blogger with swatches of some products here.

What do you think? Honestly I’m disappointed! The palettes look too glittery/I’m not sure I can pull off the cooler toned palette. Perhaps I can snap up a lipstick or something? I was so excited for this collection when I heard it was coming out, but…I’m underwhelmed. Oh Mr. Lagerfield, why??

MAC 2012 Holiday Collection Sneak Peek

Hey everyone! I’d just like to point you guys over to Yuki’s Lazy Channel where there is a bunch of photos of MAC Holiday. I myself am looking at one of the lipgloss kits. Run the Taiwanese dollar prices through a convertor and I’m sure it will be around that price (most likely cheaper) in USD!

Review: Anastasia She Wears it Well Eyeshadow Palette

Hello everyone! This is Anastasia’s latest eyeshadow palette, available from Sephora for $34. It seems like, after the mass success of Urban Decay’s Naked palettes, everyone wants to get on the nude eyeshadow trend, so here’s Anastasia’s take on it. Also, as a comparision, their eyeshadow duos retail for $23.

Description: (from Sephora)

“What it is:
A mirrored palette of nine, pigment-rich matte and shimmer shadows in nude and neutral shades.

What it does:
Classic Hollywood glamour meets modern moxie with this array of shadows that impart a sophisticated smolder to the eyes. Anastasia’s Illumin8 formula features Youthful Synergy Complex®, clinically proven to illuminate, firm, and hydrate the skin.

This set contains:
- 8 x 0.025 oz eye shadows in Glow, Latte, Foxy, Onyx, Trophy, Frosting, Almond, Toffee
- 0.063 oz eye shadow in Sunset
- Double-ended brush

What else you need to know:
This product is dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic.”

Shade Descriptions:

Latte: This is a shimmery, light shade that is true to its name. Very versatile, slightly on the warm side. It should be noted that I feel as if all of the shimmer shades have a slight glitter overlay (not too obvious and easily remedied with buffing out the shade). I use this color alot.

Trophy: The glitter problem is the worst with this shade, but the color is gorgeous. It’s a cool, metallic silvery-taupe almost, and this is the shade I use the most.

Glow: Medium bronze; almost no issue with the glitter.

Foxy: Another shade I use alot; a nice chocolate brown. Again, the texture isn’t as glittery as Latte or Trophy, but similar to Glow.

Sunset: This is the largest shade of the palette, and intended for all over washes. I don’t really use it as much since it’s like a slightly peachier version of Latte, but I like that it’s included in a larger size because it’s also a versatile shade.

Almond: This is impossible to see on my skintone. It’s basically the exact, matte shade of my eyelids/inside of my arm. Perfect ‘blank canvas’, matte light beige shade, but hard to see in the picture.

Frosting: This shade was impossible to photograph. Frosting is a shimmery cool pale pink. I like the shade, but I prefer the warm colors of the other side of the palette. It was another shade that was hard to get to show up on my arm.

Toffee: Dark matte caramel. Great for using with Almond for a matte eye.

Onyx: Typical, matte black. I’d say this is on par with MAC’s Carbon; not too dark, but a nice medium black to darken the eye.

The textures of the shadows was generally good. My favorite shades in terms of textures would have to be the shimmer ones; they are very buttery (Glow, Foxy, Latte, Sunset). Trophy has a little too much glitter for me to justify it being in the ‘day’ section of the palette, and I didn’t really care too much for Frosting. It’s nice to have a little variety but personally I can’t see myself using it too much.

The matte shades were nice, blendable and not powdery. I could work with them, but I just love the metallic shades’ formula so much more.

The brush was also nice; double ended, with one side being for use in the crease and the other an ‘all over’ type brush. Not too bad.

For $34, She Wears it Well is a nice addition to the stash of someone who is perhaps just starting out with make up or has a very well edited collection. In light of the Nude eye makeup phase that has been sweeping the collections lately, I would not consider this a must-have, but a good basic palette that is a great value and easy to take on the go.

*Disclaimer: A representative sent this to me for consideration and review. For more information, please visit Disclaimer and Copyright information.

Haul! Urban Decay and MAC Lucky Green

Hey everyone! So when Urban Decay had that big clearance sale, I took advantage of it to pick up a few lipsticks and eyeshadows. Here goes

Also seen: MAC Lucky Green, that I picked up from the CCO!

Look, aren’t they pretty? Love them. Such a steal too.

Here’s another:

UD Sellout lipstick

UD Sellout, MAC Lightly Ripe [L-R]

Did you buy anything from the Urban Decay sale? Have you hauled anything recently?

Review: Anastasia See & Be Seen Limited Edition Kit

See & Be Seen [brow gel on left]

Anastasia See & Be Seen kit retails for $44USD. Inside includes:

- 2 x 0.07 oz Hydrafull Gloss in Heiress and Plastic

- 0.32 oz Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel

- 0.04 oz Illumin8 Eyeshadow Duo in On Set

Plastic is a blue-toned dark pink; when applied it almost looks purple. However, the color does adjust. More on the formula after Heiress!

“Research results: Illumin8 Eye Shadow Duo:

-Clinical result at 1 hour showed 29% increase in skin hydration

-Consumer results after 4 weeks on eyelids:

-70% appear firmer

-83% appear smoother

HydraFull Lip Gloss: clinically proven results after 4 weeks:

-83% saw improvement in the texture of lips, 90% reported lips are hydrated” [from Sephora] 

I loved these two glosses. They’re a line Anastasia has brought out, but these two shades are exclusive to the kit. The glosses are thick, but not sticky; they have a slick feel but they really do feel moisterizing. I LOVE THESE! I love the spatula applicator [more commonly found in Asian cosmetics] and the colors are vibrant and lightly stain after some time. They apply with less color; don’t over apply because they will get darker. Great, great glosses. Heiress is a vibrant hot pink; I prefer this to Plastic because it’s a warmer color and something that is, to me, quintessential summer.

Anastasia On Set Eyeshadow Duo

Next piece of cosmetics is the eyeshadow duo. They are very buttery and soft; a little powdery because they are so soft, but easy to blend. The duo is a metallic peach and a darker bronze color, two very summer-y colors. They’re great quality and good for the season, but I have many colors similar to this already.

Last but not least, the brow gel. I don’t ever use brow gels, so I had a bit of a learning curve when it came to this, but I figured the best use is to use this after powder/whatever you normally do to your brows to set them. However, I just took pictures of my natural brow and the gel, so you could see the difference there. I liked this, didn’t love it though, mainly because of the color. My brows are very dark and so the color kind of looks a bit off. When I use the Anastasia brow powder and set it using Caramel brow gel it almost glints a bit golden/brown, but I like to think I can pull it off.

 

Bare eyebrows/Anastasia [You can see the brown from the gel. Admittedly, on me, it doesn't really darken my eyebrows that much; I use it to set powder]. One last photo–
Alright! Overall, I loved the glosses. The eyeshadow duo was a nice addition, and the Caramel brow gel wasn’t my cup of tea [too light for me!] but it would be nice for those whose hair color matches it. I thought the kit had great value, and I’d highly recommend it.

*Disclaimer: A representative sent this to me for consideration and review. For more information, please visit Disclaimer and Copyright information.

Review: Anastasia Lash Genius

Hey all! Lash Genius is Anastasia’s rendition of a lash setting gel; promising to water proof any mascara. There’s a similar product in Urban Decay’s line I believe, but I gotta tell you, I love Lash Genius.

Lash Genius

Lash Genius

Described on Sephora:
“What it is:
A clear topcoat that instantly waterproofs, refreshes, and protects any mascara all day, without drying or clumping.

What it does:
This advanced, lightweight formula glides on smooth, dries quickly, and gives your lashes a touchable, soft lacquer finish that lasts all day.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens”

Anyways. What can I say about this? I’ve gone swimming with this stuff–didn’t budge–cried–no smudge–and sweated it out.

Here’s how I use it:

1. Apply mascara as normal.

2. Brush on lash genius, like you are applying mascara. If I’m going swimming and know my full face will be submerged, I like to brush on a bit on the top part of my lashes too, not just the under part.

Anyways. This is genius. It’s the first ‘lash lacquer’, as I like to call it, that I’ve tried, but I’m hooked. Definitely will be a repeat purchase, especially in the hot Chicago summer and beach times to come!

It costs $21 from Sephora. Ingredients:
“-Jellified Triglycerides: Provide a creamy, lightweight texture.
-Silicone Resin: Provides long lasting hold and a waterproof film.
-High Melting Point Wax: Provides high definition and lasting effects.

Isododecane, Polyethylene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Propylene Carbonate, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butylhydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol.”

*Disclaimer: A representative sent this to me for consideration and review. For more information, please visit Disclaimer and Copyright information.