A Beauty to Behold ~ Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites

When I first saw pictures of Guerlain's Cruel Gardenia floating about last year October, the artistry and design of the powder really captured my attention (and heart). I had missed out on getting Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous and based on a number of reviews I've read, it is supposed to be a little similar to Cruel Gardenia. I enlisted the service of my high-end makeup Secret Agent to get me one as soon as or even before it hits the counters.

It is such a delight to view Cruel Gardenia in person. The raised 3D floral design emerging from the pan is absolutely beautiful. I'm not terribly familiar with plant species so I can't say for sure if the flower is a gardenia but honestly, who cares when it's so pretty.

Reaching Beyond the Realm of Spring with Blush Horizon de Chanel

Spring releases are my biggest weakness. With all the enchanting, water-colour inspired shades arising in the form of makeup, I find it difficult to resist their prettiness. One of the most anticipated pieces this season is the Blush Horizon de Chanel, and it is the star product of the Harmonie de Printemps 2012 collection.

"The luminous hues of sunset are now captured in one elegant highlighting face powder. Subtle gradations of rose, coral and peach can be applied on their own or blended together, to highlight and sculpt the face or achieve an overall warmth and radiance." ~ Chanel's description

* photo taken with flash to illuminate the golden shimmer *

The Blush Horizon consists of assorted strips in luminous pinks, peaches to berries and plums. The top half of the blush has a sheer and shimmery white strip, which is meant to highlight and impart a soft glow. The lower part is peachier with a mix of berries and is the more pigmented half of the blush. Ultrafine golden shimmer is strewn across the blush and I believe it goes all the way down through the pan. It comes with an angled brush in its own velvet cover but I didn't find the brush usable as it is rather small.

Ushering In Chinese New Year with the Chanel Dragon

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon and I thought it is probably apt that I bust out two wonderful reds Chanel has created, to welcome the New Year. Dragons are the mightiest of the zodiac signs and they are fiercely independent and dominant creatures.

Both the Dragon Rouge Allure Laque and Le Vernis were released in 2009. The nail polish is limited edition but may be available although difficult to come by. I have been to a few Chanel counters and it was already sold out. The Rouge Allure Laque is getting discontinued, which is a right shame and the moment I read the news, I went out to hunt for Dragon as it is one of their best-selling and most elusive shades.

Dior Vernis Spring 2012 Collection in Forget Me Not and Waterlily

This Spring, Dior has created a really pretty range of makeup inspired by lovely Spring gardens in bloom. Aptly named the Garden Party Spring 2012 Collection, we see many shades that are reminiscent of Monet's paintings.

"Dior creates a stir with these limited edition scented nail polishes. Two fresh shades, soft green and flowery lilac that upon drying, release an intoxicating rose fragrance." ~ description by Dior

Dior introduces a couple of scented nail polishes, of which I am very excited about. Waterlily and Forget Me Not from the collection look so beautiful and are definitely unique additions to my current stash.

Waterlily is a mint-green creme with fine golden micro-shimmer and has a milky quality to it. Initially I thought pastel green won't suit me because I generally don't wear this colour well. Waterlily is a little surprising and the light gold sheen adds an interesting dimension to an otherwise common pale green. The formula is quite good and applies without issues. The first coat may be a little streaky but it does even out with the second coat. You'd need at least two coats to achieve opacity.

Forget Me Not is a lilac-purple creme that is slightly dusty with scattered fine shimmers throughout. Application is relatively easy and smooth with the tapered brush. It is well pigmented and is opaque with two coats. The finish is glossy and in certain lights, you'll catch a twinkling of the secret shimmers. Between the two polishes, I must admit I prefer Forget Me Not because I love dusky shades and this has a hint of smokiness which makes quite special.

What about that rose-fragranced nails, you say? The polish smells like most other nail polish from the bottle but it does dry-down and leaves a faint rosy scent. Thankfully, I didn't find it intrusive because the scent does last for a while.

The Dior Vernis in Forget Me Not and Waterlily are a limited edition colours and are currently available at most Dior counters nationwide. They may sell out fast, so if you're interested, do pop by Dior and check out these two lovely Spring nail varnishes for yourself. Each retails at RM72 (think they raised the prices recently).


Previously Reviewed:
• Glamourous Party Nails with Dior Vernis in Apparat

Note:

For more information on the entire Garden Party Spring 2012 Collection, please view Temptalia's write up on this beautiful collection.

Glamourous Party Nails with Dior Vernis in Apparat

About a month ago, I had tested the Dior Vernis in Apparat and immediately fell in love with it but it wasn't officially launched at that time and the Dior lady told me to come back in one week's time. Well, I went back a week later and they had already sold out! I also tried another counter at a different mall and they were out of stock too. I went a little bit batty at that time and it wasn't until another week later that I finally got my mitts on that elusive bottle of nail polish (at yet another mall).

Anyway, to cut my ravings short, Apparat is finally mine! The next time I'll get the sales assistants to put things on hold for me so I can avoid all the drama and the rather insane-sounding, random tweet outbursts (apologies to those who had to put up with me at that time).

Apparat is part of Dior's Holiday 2011 Les Rouges Or Collection, which brings us a gold-themed range of lipsticks, eyeshadows and nail polishes. It is not a colour I would normally choose based on the bottle alone but when applied on the nail, it transforms to a rich burgundy with fine ruby and gold shimmer, and is really quite lush and sensuous.

The formula is relatively smooth and consistent, and I didn't really have problems applying the polish. It is also pigmented and you can probably get away with just one coat but I had applied my usual two coats in the photos. Drying time is average and it dries down to a glossy, cream-metallic finish. I added a topcoat to bring out more shininess.

It brings to mind a rather celebratory feel and is no surprise as Apparat means "pageantry" in French. With Christmas creeping up around the corner, I am sure many of us are already getting ready for the festivities and parties ahead. So, what will you be wearing on your nails this holiday season? Will it be bright and sparkly or rich and vampy?

Dior Vernis in Apparat (871) is limited edition and may be available at a few Dior counters or boutiques nationwide. It retails at RM70 each.

My Small Collection of MAC Limited Edition Blushes

I don't own many MAC blushes and the few that I have in my stash are from previous limited edition releases. I got them just because they seem to be a little more unique than most of their regular blush range. I also purchased them at the time of release so I can avoid having to hunt them down on eBay if I changed my mind ;-)

Oh, Paul & Joe, You Make My Heart Sing New York, New York

Paul & Joe Fall 2011 makeup collection called Manhattan took inspiration from the glamorous New York City and launched a gorgeous range that was released in two parts. This collection recently reached our local shores and I have been anticipating its arrival for more than a month. There is a special set on offer with selected items from both parts of the series, so of course I had to get it.

I won't go into too much detail on the entire collection and you can refer to their website instead. This has to be one of the nicest Fall makeup releases in a while and I absolutely adore everything, which is quite rare because I tend to only like one or two items (or none at all) in most seasonal releases.

Face & Eye Color CS in Empire State (074) comprises of shimmery yellow-gold and dark grey strips that can be used alone or together. The combination is really pretty!

The Pencil Eye Liner WP is a shade called Upper East Side (001) and it's a steely charcoal with gold glitter. It is meant to be smudge-resistant and waterproof.

I am so happy the Nail Enamel that came with the set is the one I had intended to purchase as well. The City Never Sleeps (018) is a gorgeous, bold purple with flecks of gold and navy shimmer. I'd like to think that the colour was inspired by the inky night sky, illuminated by dazzling lights of New York City.

Paul & Joe introduces the newly formulated Lipstick M in this series and the colour NYC (002) is a brilliant jelly fuschia pink with bits of shimmer strewn through. It looks scary and bright but actually applies very sheerly and the finish is a pretty subdued pink that is slightly glossy and glittery. It is surprisingly easy to wear.

Influenced by the art deco designs of the city, the Color Palette in Chelsea (002) with shades for eyes and cheeks is a lovely combination of feminine yet daring colours. The brushes included are actually usable and quite good quality although I find the cheek brush rather small.

Overall, this promotional set does not disappoint and is very limited so I'd recommend that you hurry to your nearest Paul & Joe if you're interested. The set retails at RM360 and it comes with full-sized items.

Note:
I will try doing swatches and individual reviews soon!

At the time of writing, the SA has not received the full product pricing yet and the list below is based on her estimates. I will continue updating the price list as and when I receive more information.

Product Pricing (Updated 20th Nov 2011):
• Color Palette - RM154
• Face & Eye Color CS - RM117
• Pencil Eye Liner WP - RM60 ++ (price to be confirmed)
• Lipstick M - RM87
• Nail Enamel - RM52