NARS – Sometimes Yaya

Adventures at Sephora

Hopefully, this is the last time that I mention the backlog of posts and photos on my computer. Keeping current with data and getting back to people (e-mail and phone-wise) is a terrible vice that I seem to have perfected, instead of eradicated. My first catch-up starts with a new series to MOJ. There are always new series I am inspired to bring in, as well as some which don’t make much sense to continue with (do you agree? Let me know which need to be retired, or resurrected!). The new kid on the block is Adventures at Sephora. Sometimes, you just can’t buy everything that you want (wouldn’t that be nice?!).

About a month ago, I tried out some matte lipsticks by NARS. The part that attracted me the most was the allure of the lipsticks being named after cities. Universal glamour! The double win came as I spotted a lipstick with the same name as my hometown. I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan – so imagine my surprise when I spotted a lipstick named the same! The color was a light beige, a little less loud and bright than I may have wished for (if I were to wish for a color…), but then again, this isn’t Vegas we’re talking about.

Womp womp! The color is a fail for me. When trying on nude lip colors, the risk is always choosing a color that matches your skin tone far too much and makes your lips a bit invisible. I was super bummed that the shade I wanted to stock up on, because of the name, ended up being a match not made in heaven for me. [insert sad face here].

I tried to cover it up with a gloss to make my lips a bit more existent, and it worked a little bit. I wasn’t impressed enough though, so I left empty handed. Maybe next time I’ll give Volga and Tonkin a chance.

What do you think? Have you tried any of these?

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NARS Bento Box

After a long ago trip to Japan, Francois Nars has finally done it. After a decade in development, the NARS bento box is going to be available for sale soon, exclusively at Saks, Barneys and Neiman Marcus.

Inspired by Kabuki paint, the little bowls are hand poured with a NARS lipstick formula (there are two colors), enriched with Vitamin E. Each bowl has the same amount as a regular lipstick, and will retail for $125. You can use the brush to apply these babies with the precision of a microscope.

The concept and design is a must see. Interested? There’s a waitlist waiting to get your name on it.

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NARS is 15 & Nail-a-day Challenge

NARS, a brand that needs minimal introduction or background, no? Well they’re getting close to their sweet 16 by hitting their 15 this year.

To celebrate, Francisco Nars is publishing a book with a collection of photographs & makeup, covering his friends/muses (and aren’t they sometimes the same?). The book 15×15 is due out mid November, and will only be available for 30 days.

Check out the countdown on the website here: www.15x15project.com

WWD.com has some great tidbits about the book (featuring everyone from Marc Jacobs, to Amber Valletta). The images are most interesting because of the way that the concepts tie in together. Nars did the makeup on each subject and showed the inspirational photograph as well.

Yet one more reason to show ya makeup isn’t just a pressed powder/color you put on your face!

Read on to check out my Nail-a-day Challenge.

As you may have heard me rambling on and on about polish purchases gone mad, you can assume that I have plenty a polish to show you. I had suggestions about doing a NOTD week, and other similar series, but I also wanted something that would get the most bang for the buck.

I hate buying a polish, wearing it once, and then never using it again. So my pre-New Year’s resolution is to wear a polish a day. I already do this because I get chip happy on the ride home from work most days, but this time I’ll be sharing all of it with you.

If you want to join the challenge with me, let me know and I will post your images up along with mine!

Be ready for heavy weekend nail polish posts, or seven NOTDs for the week. As I go through the swatches, I will take suggestions for my next mani(s).

Additionally, I am thinking, in the efforts of being green, I will give away a couple of bottles come the end of the year (oh yes this challenge is until 12/31!!) that have been swatched once.

To kick off the challenge, we have a much appropriate NARS in Tokaïdo Express (check out the rest of the NARS colors here:

The color is described on the website as “Black amethyst infused with gold.” It is pretty hard to capture the shimmer of the polish. The above two pictures are with no flash.

the pics might look identical but you can play “spot the difference” and see that it is a slightly different angle 🙂

with flash

close up – true to bottle color

What do you think? Are you up for the challenge?

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Allure’s Best of Beauty & Breakthrough Products ’08

So maybe March is a little late to hop on the wagon – BUT yaya has always had her own schedule!

Every year, though I don’t subscribe to Allure (I mean how many subscriptions can my mailbox take?) I always vote in the Best of the Year and if I miss that (followed by heartbreak) I always make sure to see what made the list.

Did you check it out for this year?To check it out, click here; but if ya want to download the Master list, kindly click here.

Here’s what I have in common with the best of list (all info regarding products is listed courtesy of Allure.com):

Lips:
nada – would ya believe it? They have mostly lipsticks though, and I’m more of a gloss girl.

Nails:

OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark

$8.50, 800-341-9999, opi.com

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

$4.29, CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreens, Duane Reade, drugstore.com; sallyhansen.com

Eyes:

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow
$19, Bloomingdale’s (bloomingdales.com), Macy’s (macys.com), Sephora (sephora.com); benefitcosmetics.com

Shiseido The Makeup Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Clover Dew (not in Clober Dew but I have it in Proenza Schouler Blue, Whitelights, and Aqua Shimmer)

$23, Nordstrom (nordstrom.com), Sephora (sephora.com)

Cheeks:

Nars Blush $25, Nordstrom (nordstrom.com), Henri Bendel (800-H-BENDEL), Sephora (sephora.com); narscosmetics.com

Base:

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
$30, Sephora (sephora.com)

Top Splurges:
nada. Well that kinda makes my wallet feel good though.

Cheap Thrills:

Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray

$3.99, CVS/Pharmacy, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart, drugstore.com

Tresemmé Tres Two Extra Hold Hair Spray

$3.99, CVS/Pharmacy, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart

Nothing in the following categories:
Natural Selections, Men’s Stuff, Skin, Body

Hair:

Fine Hair- L’Oréal Paris Vive Pro Glossy Volume Shampoo

$4.99, CVS/Pharmacy, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart, drugstore.com

Dove Frizz Control Therapy Taming Cream

$3.78, CVS/Pharmacy, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart, drugstore.com

Scent:

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

$57.50 to $85, depending on size, Nordstrom (nordstrom.com), Bloomingdales (bloomingdales.com), Saks Fifth Avenue (saks.com), Neiman Marcus (neimanmarcus.com), Macy’s (macys.com)

Tools:

Beautyblender makeup sponge

$20, 888-474-5369, beautyblender.net (I got mine from Sephora – they had a 2 pack w/the cleaner for $39.95)

Less vs Luxe – Dupe Guide?

After much needed inbox cleanup, I found a possible dupe guide. TotalBeauty.com wrote an article about Less vs. Luxe lip products (that I may have to test out for meself in the future), but I saw it as a dupe guide where they just tell ya which cheapie is like which wallet buster.

Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in Fire, $28.50
vs.
Styli-Style Hipstick in Happy, $8.49