Julep Maven Box: July 2013

I wasn't into any of the nail colour combos that came with any of the July Julep Maven boxes, so I did something very out of character and actually chose the box that didn't come with any nail polishes — a new style option from Julep called "Modern Beauty," which focuses on non-nail products. Now, anyone that follows my Julep Maven reviews will know that I generally hate any of Julep's non-nail products. Their foray into make-up has seriously left me disappointed and disheartened. But this month, they came out with two new products that really piqued my interest — the Sea Salt Texture Spray for hair and the Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil — both of which came with the "Modern Beauty" box. Now, the "Modern Beauty" box doesn't come with nail polish, but that doesn't mean I didn't get any nail polish. I didn't like any of the combos that Julep put together in the other boxes this month, but it doesn't mean that I didn't like any of the shades. Julep came out with their California Coast collection for July, a range of ten shades inspired by "the natural beauty of the California coastline," so I decided to get the two shades I was most interested in as add-ons for $4.99 each.
Blakely (top) and Alaina (bottom)
Blakely and Alaina

Blakely is a dark purple-burgundy with iridescent micro-shimmer in a metallic-chrome finish. It will flash bronze, brown, plum, indigo, and teal depending on the angle and the lighting. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two thin-medium coats. I couldn't think of a dupe for this; it is darker and has more of a plum-teal duochrome than Chanel's Black Pearl, and is lighter and has more of brown-plum duochrome than Deborah Lippmann's Don't Tell Mama. 

Alaina is a medium warm taupe in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in one thick coat or two thin coats. It is slightly more grey than Essie's Chinchilly, lighter and warmer than SpaRitual's Pebble, and lighter and much more grey than Chanel's Particulière.

Even though these two shades are more autumnal, I totally see the oceanic inspiration behind them. Blakely captures the complex dimensional colours of a mussel shell, and Alaina looks like driftwood that's been cleaned and washed smooth from ocean water. Gorgeous. And with beautiful formulas to boot. Definitely pleased with this month's colours. As for the other two products... I recently cut off six inches of hair and had a ton of layers added to create a more choppy "long bob," so I was quite excited to try out the Sea Salt Texture Spray. Julep promises that it "creates soft, natural looking texture without getting crunchy or greasy" and "adds texture and volume with a slight matte finish." I'm happy to report that it does exactly what says it'll do. I have straight, coarse, East Asian hair, and while it didn't add as much grit or make my hair look as "tousled" as some other sea salt sprays out there, it made my hair look more piece-y and and "rockstar bedhead," if you will. I wash my hair everyday, so this is a great way to get that "second-day hair" texture without actually feeling dirty. I like that it has a light marine scent and doesn't make my hair feel stripped or dry, either (unlike, say, Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray). I'm not huge into sea salt sprays in general, but I really like this option.
And as some of you will know, I've been really quite into body oils recently, so I was also excited to try the Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil. Judging from the name, I assume they made this specifically for beach-goers, which I equate to "hot weather." It is lightweight and smells fresh and citrusy. I like the easy spray application (as opposed to something like Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil, which you have to pour out and can get pretty damn messy, as in, everywhere), and I like that it doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It definitely isn't enough hydration for me in colder, drier months, but for humid days (like during that insane heat wave we had a few weeks ago), it's just perfect. It leaves a nice sheen, too, and smells light and fresh. I imagine it would be a great option to bring to the beach to get some hydration after tanning or frolicking in ocean water... you know, if I actually did those things. 

July Pick-Ups & Deliveries

As it's the end of July, I thought I'd do a cumulative haul post for the month. I ended up doing way too much shopping in the past four weeks, which all started with — what else? — nail polish. I was going through sort of a nail polish funk, during which I was just bored of everything. I'm not sure this has happened to me before, but I guess it was inevitable. Nothing intrigued me all that much anymore; I love brights for summer as much as the next girl, but I had seriously met my quota this season. I'd been intrigued by HARE Polish for a while, though, and figured now was as good a time as any to try them out (love supporting indie brands, too), so I bought six shades that interested me the most. Of course, I saw that A-England also released a new collection inspired by Sleeping Beauty called Burne-Jones Dream, along with a couple of new shades in their already existing collections, and obviously had to get all of them, too.
HARE Polish Nail Lacquer in Hooky at the Hamlet, Golden Years, Oceans of Alloys, Cast in Bronze, Reverie in Rubellite, and Amethystos
A-England The Mythicals Collection Nail Lacquer in Excalibur (Summer 2013 Version); Heavenly Quotes Collection Nail Lacquer in Love is Enough; Burne-Jones Dream Collection Nail Lacquers in Fated Prince, Sleeping Palace, Briarwood, Briar Rose, and Rosebower
While I was walking around the mall one afternoon, I stopped by Lush to pick up a new tub of my favourite Big Shampoo and a small container of Whoosh Shower Jelly (love that ocean smell for summer), and then picked up a few new mascaras as well because despite my eternal love for MAC's Haute & Naughty Mascara, I was in the mood to try out some different formulas (Dior's new Diorshow Iconic Overcurl might actually be my new HG mascara). And, of course, to round out my beauty haul, I ordered a bunch of things from MAC, including new goodies from their So Supreme collection, plus several staple products and a bunch of new brushes. 
Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo and Whoosh Shower Jelly
Lancôme Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara in Deep Black, YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in High Density Black, and Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in Black
MAC So Supreme Collection
MAC Cleanse Off Oil, Fix+, Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation in NC35, and Mineralize Concealer in NC30
MAC Brushes: #239, #217 (x2), #227, #116, and #150
Finally, what with all the summer sales going on right now, I couldn't resist getting some new clothes. I was on the Mackage website a couple weeks ago and saw that nearly all their leather jackets were on sale. I'd been on the hunt for the right leather jacket for a long time, but could never find the right fit for the right price. I'd tried on a few Mackage styles at Aritzia, but didn't love any of them enough to splurge $600+ on it. Enter the Liat, a gorgeous bomber-style lambskin jacket. It has everything I want in a leather jacket: a center zip closure, a higher collar, ribbed cuffs and hem, and just the right amount of detailing to keep it interesting. I was worried that it might not fit properly since that's always a danger to ordering clothes online, but the sucker fits like a glove. The best part? It was 40% off. Seriously, it was meant to be. On that note, I also took advantage of Aritzia's Private Sale at the end of last month, and bought three new Babaton tops 'cause they were 20% off. Figured I needed more black in my wardrobe.
  Mackage Liat Leather Jacket in Black; Babaton Julien T-Shirt in Black
  Babaton Willis Blouse in Black; Babaton Ainsley Blouse in Black
Online shopping is just way too dangerous right now.

Sunday Video Love: We Are

My latest blast-while-driving-with-the-windows-down tune.

Friday Five: At the Movies

This week's Friday Five:

1. Where in the theatre do you like to sit when you're at the movies? Usually middle-to-back, and as centre in the row as possible. It's the most ideal spot to watch a movie in the theatre because you don't have to crane your neck. 
2. What characteristics does the ideal movie companion have? Doesn't ask stupid questions, talk, or generally disturb anyone during the film. Also, smells good. And has a good sense of humour.
3. What memory do you have of things not going quite as usual at the movies? I remember there being a power outage once and they had to refund everyone's tickets. And there was also another time when the video stopped playing but the audio kept on going, so they gave out free movie passes to everyone.
4. What are your feelings about commercials and movie previews playing before the film you're there to see? I'm kind of indifferent to the commercials, but I love movie previews. I get sad if I miss the previews, 'cause it doesn't feel like my movie-going outing is complete. But the best part about watching a movie here in Canada (at Cineplex theatres, anyway) is TimePlay, which plays right after commercials but before the previews. It's an audience participation mini game you play to get random prizes (I've totally won a free medium pizza from Pizza Pizza before) and SCENE points, which you can redeem for free movie tickets. I honestly think the SCENE program single-handedly increased movie ticket sales here.
5. Who is an actor or director whose involvement in a film is enough to make you want to see it? Ryan Gosling, always and forever. Like, I don't even care what the movie is about or if it's critically-acclaimed or whatever. If Ryan's in it, I'm watching it.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed

So, last month, I picked up a bunch of Urban Decay goodies at Sephora in Buffalo, one of which was the Naked Flushed face palette. I have been so busy playing with new products that I hadn't even touched this palette until this week, let alone wear it — but it's got my attention now. The Naked Flushed palette includes three shades: a bronzer, a highlighter, and a blush. Urban Decay states that you can "use these pressed powders individually or blend them together to create just the right effect." The palette uses their "micronized, jet-milled formula [that] has a luxe, featherlight texture" with "light-diffusing particles [that] enhance and perfect to give your skin a fresh, glowy look. The color is intensely pigmented yet blends beautifully — and the universal shades are versatile enough for any skintone." It comes in a small, slim rose-bronze plastic case with magnetic closure, and a mirror lining the entire lid. Each Naked Flushed palette contains 14 grams of product, and retails for $30 USD/$35 CAD.
Naked Flushed
Naked Flushed (swatches): Bronzer, Highlighter, and Blush

The Bronzer shade is a medium-dark golden tan in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less orange than MAC Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skinfinish Natural,  and more golden than MAC Golden Bronzing Powder.

The Highlighter shade is a light-medium peachy champagne beige in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and less bright than MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish, and more pigmented and less sparkly than NARS Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush.

The Blush shade is a medium-dark rose-coral in a soft matte finish. It has a silky, soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more coral than MAC Desert Rose Powder Blush, lighter and much more pink than MAC Pinch Me Powder Blush, and more pink than NARS Deep Throat Powder Blush.

Add this to my ever-growing "loves" list of Urban Decay products. I read some mixed reviews on this palette when it originally launched earlier this year, but I had no problems with texture or pigmentation. All three shades went on beautifully: smoothly and evenly with great colour pay-off. And they actually look stunning mixed together, too. I didn't take a photo of a mixed swatch, but the effect is like a warm rosy bronze with a champagne shimmer-sheen — seriously stunning and makes skin look perfectly healthy and glowy. When Urban Decay says, "the universal shades are versatile enough for any skintone," they really mean it. The bronze shade isn't too orange or reddened or yellow; it's actually a universally flattering bronzer that should work on all skintones and undertones. Even darker skintones will notice a nice warmth to their skin. I love that the highlighter shade isn't too bright or light, too, and unlike many highlighters out there, it won't look ashy at all on darker skintones. Actually, those who are very fair might find it a bit too dark to be a highlighter. The blush shade somehow blends together a cool-toned pink and a warm coral so it, too, works on everyone. Plus, it isn't too dark or too bright that it'll overwhelm any complexion. I think only those who are extremely fair will see this palette as being a touch too dark, though I find that with a nice, fluffy brush, it's easy to blend out well. The best part of this palette, aside from the portability aspect, is that you get serious bang for your buck. At $35 CAD, you get 14 grams of product ($2.50/g), which makes it cheaper than NARS ($6.67/g), MAC ($4.17/g), and Tarte ($5.54/g).

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Smokeluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Smokeluxe
Smokeluxe (swatches)

Smokeluxe #1 is a pale creamy beige in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Brule, and slightly brighter and warmer than Shroom.

Smokeluxe #2 is a medium-dark dirty olive-taupe in a metallic finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. There's nothing really similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is warmer and more brown than Greensmoke, and cooler and much less golden than Sumptuous Olive.

Smokeluxe #3 is a medium golden plum-brown in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more golden than Sable, and more plum than Woodwinked.

Smokeluxe #4 is a medium-dark blue-toned gunmetal grey in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter than Knight Divine, and more blue-toned than Silver Ring.

Smokeluxe #5 is a deep dark carbon black in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish has more of a sheen. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and less matte than Carbon, more black and less sparkly than Black Tied.

Smokeluxe is probably my favourite palette of the six that was launched. All five shades are rich and pigmented and apply beautifully — ultra-smooth, super-blendable, and easily layerable. It's incredibly versatile and works well on all skintones and undertones. I like that there's an equal mix of warmer and cooler shades that somehow blend really well together. The only major downfall that I can see in this formula is that they are rather fragile — the powder is very soft so you can damage the actual pan if you press too hard. But I think if there's one palette to splurge on from this launch, it's this one.

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Bleuluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Bleuluxe
Bleuluxe (swatches)

Bleuluxe #1 is a pale silvered white with sparkle. It has a slightly gritty texture, and goes on a bit patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the pigment becomes smoother. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes a bit of fall-out. It is more silvered than Filament, and brighter than Forgery.

Bleuluxe #2 is a medium silvered blue with sparkle. It has a slightly gritty texture, and goes on a bit patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the pigment becomes smoother. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes a bit of fall-out. It is darker and cooler than Moon's Reflection, and less green and more sparkly than Tilt.

Bleuluxe #3 is a medium-dark navy base with cerulean and navy sparkle in a metallic finish. It has a slightly gritty texture, and goes on a bit patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the pigment becomes smoother. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes a bit of fall-out. There's nothing really similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is more navy and has a lot more sparkle than Deep Truth.

Bleuluxe #4 is a dark navy blue with purple tones in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Contrast, and more purple-toned than Thru the Night Pro Longwear Eyeshadow.

Bleuluxe #5 is a blue-toned black with dark blue pearl in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar though more pearlized than Nehru, and more blue than Carbon.

Bleuluxe does contain a couple of grittier shades that can result in a bit of patchiness and fall-out, but I find that the formula is so malleable and creamy that they can be very easily manipulated to look smooth with intense colour pay-off, even using them dry. Shade #3 from this palette is particularly unique and eye-catching, and totally worth working with despite the grittier texture. However, I do find that three of the five shades here (#1, #4, #5) are very similar to ones found in MAC's permanent range, so it might not be worth getting if you already have any of the shades listed in the dupes.

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Greenluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Greenluxe
Greenluxe (swatches)

Greenluxe #1 is a pale warm beige in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than Dazzlelight, and lighter and less gold than Ricepaper.

Greenluxe #2 is a pale champagne gold with sparkle. It has a slightly gritty texture, and goes on a bit patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the pigment becomes smoother. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes a bit of fall-out. It is lighter than Retrospeck, and darker and more gold than Filament.

Greenluxe #3 is a medium cool-toned gilded taupe in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar though more frosted than Omega, and cooler than Patina.

Greenluxe #4 is a dark blackened green base with dark green and gold sparkle in a frosted finish. It has a drier, stiffer texture, and can go on patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour looks brighter and more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more sparkly than Sumptuous Olive, and more golden than Smutty Green Mineralize Eyeshadow.

Greenluxe #5 is a dark reddened brown with teal duochrome in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the teal duochrome becomes more intense and finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Club and Blue Brown Pigment.

Greenluxe does contain a couple of grittier shades that can result in a bit of patchiness and fall-out, but I find that the formula is so malleable and creamy that they can be very easily manipulated to look smooth with intense colour pay-off, even using them dry. I'm a bit perplexed as to why this is called "Greenluxe," as there's really only one shade that has any green in it, but in any case, it does contain a nice range of cooler-toned neutrals that should work well on many skintones. The only major downfall that I can see in this formula is that they are rather fragile — the powder is very soft so you can damage the actual pan if you press too hard. As the name implies, none of the shadows come in matte finishes, but these are great options for those who like their shadows with shimmer and sheen. They've proven to be incredibly versatile and rather foolproof, too, since the five shades in each palette are complementary. And the best part? They'll be added to the permanent range!

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Pastelluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Pastelluxe
Pastelluxe (swatches)

Pastelluxe #1 is a pale champagne gold with sparkle. It has a very gritty texture, and goes on very patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It looks about the same used both wet and dry. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes excess fall-out. It is lighter than Retrospeck, and more gold than Filament.

Pastelluxe #2 is a pale beige-peach with sparkle. It has a very gritty texture, and goes on very patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It looks about the same used both wet and dry. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes excess fall-out. It is lighter than Jest, and lighter and less pinked than Gleam.

Pastelluxe #3 is a pale slightly warm-toned pastel pink with sparkle. It has a very gritty texture, and goes on very patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It looks about the same used both wet and dry. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes excess fall-out. It is lighter than Sweet Lust, and warmer than Seedy Pearl.

Pastelluxe #4 is a pale cool-toned lavender with sparkle. It has a very gritty texture, and goes on very patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It looks about the same used both wet and dry. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes excess fall-out. It is much lighter than Beautiful Iris, and darker than Digit.

Pastelluxe #5 is a medium-dark taupe-brown in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler and slightly darker than Shale, and lighter and more brown than Satin Taupe.

Okay, so consider Pastelluxe the exception to my love for the Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadows. Four of the five shades in this palette are so gritty and go on so patchy that they are seriously not worth working with. Not to mention the major clean-up you'll have to do afterwards because the fall-out is ridiculous. Usually shades like this work better wet, but these look exactly the same whether used wet or dry. For those who like intense sparkle, I'd definitely recommend MAC's Pressed Pigments over this palette.

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Pinkluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Pinkluxe
Pinkluxe (swatches)

Pinkluxe #1 is a light slightly cool-toned pink in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly cooler than Pinkluxe #2, darker than Pink Freeze, and cooler than Sweet Lust.

Pinkluxe #2 is a light warm-toned pink in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly warmer than Pinkluxe #1, darker than Sweet Lust, and warmer than Seedy Pearl.

Pinkluxe #3 is a medium-dark pinked plum in a metallic finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more pink than Plum Dressing, and darker than Swish.

Pinkluxe #4 is a dark blackened purple base with purple sparkle in a frosted finish. It has a drier, stiffer texture, and can go on patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour looks brighter and more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than Nocturnelle, and lighter and warmer than Young Punk Mineralize Eyeshadow.

Pinkluxe #5 is a blackened plum with brown undertones in a satin-frost finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is less red than Beauty Marked, and warmer than Shadowy Lady.

The Veluxe Pearlfusion formula actually reminds me a little bit of the Electric Cool Eyeshadows that came out last summer. So, I basically love them. I've had about a month to test these out, and I'm continually impressed by their execution. Pinkluxe does contain a few grittier shades that can result in a bit of patchiness and fall-out, but I find that the formula is so malleable and creamy that they can be very easily manipulated to look smooth with intense colour pay-off, even using them dry. The only major downfall that I can see in this formula is that they are rather fragile — the powder is very soft so you can damage the actual pan if you press too hard. As the name implies, none of the shadows come in matte finishes, but these are great options for those who like their shadows with shimmer and sheen. They've proven to be incredibly versatile and rather foolproof, too, since the five shades in each palette are complementary. And the best part? They'll be added to the permanent range!

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe

Last month, MAC released a new collection called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow. This collection consists of seven products — six new and permanent eyeshadow palettes, and a re-promote of the #275 brush (which is permanent and will not be featured here). Each palette features five separate complementary shades of a new eyeshadow formula called Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, which MAC describes as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains a total of 4 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.
Brownluxe
Brownluxe (swatches)

Brownluxe #1 is a light creamy beige with a soft golden sheen in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than Dazzlelight, and softer than Blanc Type.

Brownluxe #2 is a medium warm-toned brown in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than Soft Brown, and less yellow than Soba.

Brownluxe #3 is a medium brightened warm coppered gold in a metallic finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less orange than Amber Lights, and darker and less yellow than Goldmine.

Brownluxe #4 is a medium-dark warm bronzed brown in a metallic finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour looks cooler and more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is less golden than Bronze, and slightly less plum than Mulch. 

Brownluxe #5 is a dark burgundy brown in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more reddened and more metallic than Handwritten, and more burgundy than Swiss Chocolate.

The Veluxe Pearlfusion formula actually reminds me a little bit of the Electric Cool Eyeshadows that came out last summer. So, I basically love them. I've had about a month to test these out, and I'm continually impressed by their execution. Brownluxe is a stunning palette, and all five shades went on beautifully: smoothly, evenly, and nicely pigmented whether used dry or wet. The only major downfall that I can see in this formula is that they are rather fragile — the powder is very soft so you can damage the actual pan if you press too hard. As the name implies, none of the shadows come in matte finishes, but these are great options for those who like their shadows with shimmer and sheen. They've proven to be incredibly versatile and rather foolproof, too, since the five shades in each palette are complementary. And the best part? They'll be added to the permanent range!

Sunday Video Love: Burn

Oh, look, my girl crush came out with a new single (and, goddamn, how hot does she look in this video?). This song took some time to grow on me (it's more electro house-based, like her song with Calvin Harris), but now I can't stop listening to it because it is so ridiculously catchy. Though the song is co-written by Goulding, it was originally demoed a couple years ago by Leona Lewis, who didn't end up releasing it on her album, but I think Ellie's voice lends a fragile, ethereal warmth that contrasts better with the synth beats. It's a good thing I don't listen to the radio, because I'm sure it's already playing on rotation every hour.

The Body Shop: Bag for Life Haul

Since the arrival of Bath & Body Works in Canada a few years ago, I've sort of neglected all other body products stores. My stop at Fruits & Passion last month was really the only deviation I made, and it's what made me re-think my body beauty shopping habits. I think the major reasons why I stuck to Bath & Body Works for the last few years are their better and more frequent sales, and their insane amount of candles. I like Fruits & Passion but find their prices to be a little too high to shop there on a regular basis, and The Body Shop got really boring because I used to shop there so much when I was younger. But I decided to check out The Body Shop again after ignoring it for many, many years, and everything that I got bored with years ago suddenly became new and exciting again (funny how fickle the mind is). Their online shopping site usually offers a promotion of sorts, but the day I checked it out was a particularly good one that I couldn't ignore: Buy a Bag for Life for $5, get 50% off your entire purchase. Uh, stocking up!
Bag for Life
Banana Shampoo for $4, Aloe Calming Toner and Seaweed Clarifying Toner for $6.25 each, Brazil Nut Body Scrub for $10, Absinthe Purifying Hand Butter for $10, Shea Lip Butter for $3, and Moisture-Boost Gloves for $6.50
Shower Gels in Vineyard Peach, Sweet Lemon, and Olive ($4 each!)
Limited Edition Body Butters in Vineyard Peach, Papaya, and Blueberry ($10 each), and Satsuma (Jumbo for $15!)
Body Butters in Shea, Aloe, and Olive ($10 each)
Bath Lilies ($1.50 each!)
I've always loved The Body Shop's Body Butters but stopped buying them because they were way too expensive at $20 a pop. But with a 50% discount? You know I'm buying a year's supply! I'm especially excited about the Papaya scent; it's limited edition now, but that was my favourite scent back in the day when it was apart of the permanent range and just a sniff of it makes me nostalgic. Another nostalgic item? Banana Shampoo! I can't believe this stuff is still around because I remember using it as a child — like, seriously, 20 years ago. I also picked up a couple toners (the Aloe one on recommendation from Liz, and the Seaweed one because I remember loving it back in the day), a Brazil Nut Body Scrub in hopes that it'll help with the bumps on the back of my arms (and also because I love the Brazil Nut scent), their new Absinthe Purifying Hand Butter that I fell in love with when I tried it in-store (it's intensely hydrating but surprisingly fast-absorbing, and the sweet-grassy smell of it kills the scent of smoke really well), some moisture gloves because my hands are eczema-prone and really dry and I need all the help I can get, a Shea Lip Butter to use as my new overnight lip balm (their other lip products are garbage, as far as I'm concerned), some shower gels in fun scents, and a bunch of their Bath Lilies because The Body Shop makes the best shower poufs in the world — they create the richest, lushest, most dense foam from any shower gel and never feel harsh or scratchy, ever (yes, Shoppers Drug Mart, I'm looking at you).
Consider this my return to The Body Shop. (And the unexpected loophole to my Bath & Body Works ban.)

Friday Five: Bureaucracy

This week's Friday Five:

1. The last time your answer was "no," what was the question? "Do you have this weekend off?" The answer is "no" about 95% of the time. Weekends are the busiest days of the week for make-up artists.
2. What's a rule in your life that just doesn't make any sense? I can't go to bed without showering first. It's a little ridiculous, because I'll end up taking a shower at 4:00am, even if I'm exhausted. It's a weird OCD thing I've had since I was little.
3. What were the professional or personal circumstances surrounding your last passing of the buck? I actually had to look up what "passing of the buck" meant, because I had never heard of that saying before. I wonder if this is strictly an American phrase? Anyway, I gathered that it's basically blaming another person or group for something that is your fault. Honestly, I consciously try not to do that, because I like to take full responsibility of my own actions. I find a big one in the my industry is blaming a client for a make-up mistake. But I learned quickly: Never blame the client, blame your skill.
4. What's an annoying bit of paperwork you have to do with some regularity? Usually business productivity and personal finances. Being an adult sucks sometimes.
5. In some places, employees are entitled to regular smoking breaks. Whether you smoke or not, what would be another thing you'd love to take a fifteen-minute break for, every few hours? I'm a smoker, so smoke breaks are pretty essential. Like, I don't even know what non-smokers do on breaks. Maybe a make-up shopping break? That'd be pretty awesome, actually.

Grace Restaurant

I've had a really hectic couple of weeks — what with long hours of work (lots of weddings, bridal parties, engagement shoots, and baby showers this month) and generally trying to avoid the insane heat (the temperatures lately are getting unreal here, guys), I've only really had time to go to those two concerts (I apologize for the bombardment of videos; I get excited about live music). But I finally found some time to have dinner with Steph this evening, and we decided to take advantage of the Summerlicious prices at Grace:
Tuna sashimi with citrus, sprouts, and traditional garnish
During Summerlicious, all participating restaurants offer a prix fixe menu for a set price, and Grace is offering a three-course dinner for $35. For the first course, I chose the tuna sashimi, a plate consisting of five slices of fresh, fleshy white tuna, drizzled with tart citrus, and topped with fish roe and leafy sprouts. I didn't love the cilantro in it, but I can appreciate the contrast of it against the citrus. Light and refreshing — a lovely appetizer for a sweltering day like today. I was surprised that tuna sashimi was offered on the menu, though, because Grace is meant to offer "modern farmhouse cuisine." Unless that farmhouse is actually a fishing village in Japan. 
Grilled flat iron steak with ramp whipped pomme fondant, grilled summer vegetables, and bordelaise 
For the main course, both Steph and I got the grilled flat iron steak. Flat iron steaks are supposed to be flavourful but on the tougher side, but I thought it was really juicy and tender, cooked at a perfect rare. It was served with slices of Gruyère, which added a beautiful earthy contrast to the meat. To round out the meat, there was grilled beans, broccoli, and squash on a bed of "ramp whipped pomme fondant," which is basically a smoother, lighter version of garlic mashed potatoes. The portion was on the smaller side (Steph was like, "We might need to go to Sneaky Dee's for nachos after..."), but I actually preferred it so I'd have room to fully enjoy the next course.
Flourless chocolate cake with dehydrated meringue, peanut pulse, and dulce de leche
For dessert, I opted for the flourless chocolate cake, which wasn't so much a cake as it was a rich, dense mousse made of bittersweet chocolate. I normally wouldn't get something so blatantly chocolatey, but I was craving it today (as girls sometimes do, you know). I think on any other occasion, I'd think it's too much, too cloying (I am not a chocolate person), but I actually quite enjoyed that sweetness tonight, especially with the dulce de leche adding a nice creaminess and the flurry of peanuts adding a nice salty contrast. Steph ordered the parfait, a simple but addictive concoction of fresh strawberries and blueberries, honey chantilly cream, and candied granola, which was light and summery, and not as heavy or sickly as my choice; something I would definitely have preferred had I not been having a rare craving for chocolate. 
Overall, both Steph and I thought it was a solid Summerlicious meal, one that made us just full enough (no need for those nachos after all), and I definitely thought it was worth $35. Their regular menu sounds really intriguing, too, definitely enough for me to go back and try it (smoked chicken terrine and duck breast with gnocchi? — yes, please!). The service was okay, not particularly memorable, attentive, or efficient; aside from the girl who took our orders, who was very nice and sweet, everyone else who served us seemed... harried, running from table to table, like either the turnover was too fast or they were understaffed. I have found service to be like this during Summerlicious and Winterlicious, though, so it's not a make-it-or-break-it point for me. I will note, however, that I didn't think it was worth the mandatory gratuity fee that is automatically added on to the bill. I get why they do it, what with the lowered price of the Summerlicious menu, but I feel like service should be a little better than mediocre to be worth 18% gratuity, no? 

Grace Restaurant 503 College Street Toronto, ON M6G 1A5 (416) 944-8884

Weezer: Live at Downsview Park — Buddy Holly

This is the video I took of Weezer at Downsview Park on July 12, performing "Buddy Holly" from their 1994 self-titled record also known as The Blue Album (Weezer has three self-titled records, so they are recognized instead by the background colour of the album covers). "Buddy Holly," the second single from The Blue Album, is one of the most well-known songs of the '90s and is probably the song that Weezer is most recognized for. Yes, feel free to sing along.

Weezer: Live at Downsview Park — Undone (The Sweater Song)

This is the video I took of Weezer at Downsview Park on July 12, performing "Undone (The Sweater Song)" from their 1994 self-titled record also known as The Blue Album (Weezer has three self-titled records, so they are recognized instead by the background colour of the album covers). "Undone" was Weezer's debut single, and is still one of Weezer's most well-known songs to this day (19 years later!). I have no idea what the song is really about as Rivers Cuomo says it's supposed to be a sad song, but I just take it as face value and assume it's about destroying a sweater. Instant classic.

Weezer: Live at Downsview Park — El Scorcho

This is the video I took of Weezer at Downsview Park on July 12, performing "El Scorcho" from their 1996 sophomore album, Pinkerton. In general, Pinkerton didn't sell well at the time of its release, especially given the success of Weezer's first record, and their first single from the album, "El Scorcho," failed commercially as many radio stations refused to play it and it wasn't popular on MTV. But "El Scorcho" has achieved cult status over the years and remains a fan favourite to this day. The song, named after a packet of hot sauce from a Mexican fast food restaurant, sounds like they were drunk during the entire writing and recording process, but if Weezer's good at one thing, it's having really memorable lyrics filled with zingers and witty one-liners. And what's more memorable than a love song that starts with, "Goddamn you half-Japanese girls, do it to me every time"?

Weezer: Live at Downsview — Hash Pipe

This is the video I took of Weezer at Downsview Park on July 12, performing "Hash Pipe" from their self-titled record also known as The Green Album (Weezer has three self-titled records, so they are recognized instead by the background colour of the album covers). "Hash Pipe" was the first single released from The Green Album, and is probably Weezer's biggest hit outside of The Blue Album. It was a really controversial release at the time, but only Weezer could release a song called "Hash Pipe" about a male transvestite prostitute and get away with it.

Weezer: Live at Downsview Park — Island in the Sun

This is the video I took of Weezer at Downsview Park on July 12, performing "Island in the Sun" from their self-titled record also known as The Green Album (Weezer has three self-titled records, so they are recognized instead by the background colour of the album covers). The Green Album in particular was considered by many to be the "rebirth" of Weezer after a long hiatus after the release of 1996's Pinkerton (which had considerably darker material, and did not do well commercially), and is Weezer's quickest selling album to date. "Island in the Sun" was the second single from the album and was hugely popular, becoming one of Weezer's biggest hits internationally. Weezer has always come out with ridiculously catchy songs, but you can't help but sing along to this one the moment you hear the opening chord (also one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar), followed by a simple but memorable "hip hip" that is repeated throughout the song (and that everyone sings along with regardless of whether they know the lyrics or not). It's light-hearted and peppy, and was the ultimate summer song when I was in high school.

Weezer: Live at Downsview Park

It seems that it's music week here on Circuits of Fever, as I am here with yet another concert post. Just having seen Tegan and Sara last week, I headed back to Downsview Park last night to see Weezer for the first time:

I am by no means a die-hard fan of Weezer. In fact, I haven't bought a single Weezer album since The Green Album. But they are a band that has persevered through nearly two decades (and, as a result, two generations) and are one of the biggest and most influential bands to come out of the '90s. So when I got an e-mail announcing that they were going on tour to perform the The Blue Album, I knew I had to get tickets. The Blue Album is one of the most highly regarded albums of the '90s, and by far Weezer's most substantial record; it's one of those albums that you can play to just about anyone born from the late '70s to mid- '80s regardless of what their favourite genre of music is, and they'll likely know most of the songs and their lyrics, too.

Their set last night was cut into two parts with an intermission in-between: the first half featured their greatest hits from most recent (2010) to Pinkerton (1996), and the second half featured the entirety of The Blue Album played in order from first to last track (they even changed their outfits during intermission to match the ones they wore on the cover of The Blue Album — they are the founders of "geek rock," after all). If audience participation was any indication, the second half was by far greater than the first — like me, people were there to see Weezer perform the entire Blue Album live, which likely hadn't been done since its release 19 years ago. Nearly every person there knew every single word to every single song, bringing out proper lighters to wave around instead of cell phones, and feeling generally nostalgic for "the good ol' days." Needless to say, it was epic.