Latest Haul: Master Palette by Mario

I recently purchased the Modern Renaissance palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills, and I just flat out adore it. Since ABH was also putting out the Master Palette by Mario, and I lusted after it since I first saw it, I bought it this week. The mattes in MR are a dream, buttery and easily blendable. The Master palette is quite neutral. We'll see how it goes tomorrow!

Will your favorite perfume still be sold on eBay?

A French Court has fined eBay relative to sales of fakes sold under the LVMH brand names. Additionally, the "court has also ruled that, in allowing the sale of perfumes carrying the brands Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy and Kenzo, products which can only be sold through the network of distributors, agreed by the companies which own these brands, eBay was guilty of practicing unlawful sales.", according to the Yahoo news story.

This ruling is a travesty for consumers! Certainly, I recognize that LVMH wants to protect its brand, but holy hell, what if I decide some Dior sunglasses I bought at Nordstrom Rack aren't for me? I am not a licensed distributor. I am also totally in favor of ensuring eBay takes steps to penalize those jerks who are selling fakes, capitalizing on the LVMH brand names, but that is really only a minor point here. LVMH wants us all to pay top dollar for their brands, and now thanks to this court ruling, we may have to do so.

So does the French Court have jurisdiction over eBay anyway? I believe that this just means that French eBayers are affected. (If anyone knows differently, please comment.)

There's an upcoming US case involving Tiffany & Co. and eBay. Read some more about it here. I know I will be watching for that outcome!

Flowerbomb Purchase

I was torn between buying Flowerbomb or Delices de Cartier for myself as a birthday gift. I ended up going with Flowerbomb. I got the smallest bottle, along with with the Nordstrom-exclusive Flowerbomb hair mist. I ended up getting a GWP of a blinged-out purse-sized perfume bottle.

Let me just say upfront that I really think that I made the right choice. Victor & Rolf have really made a lush, beautiful fragrance. I did not realize that the bottle was shaped like a grenade (duh! how the heck could I NOT notice?!?), until I read this review. That review compares Flowerbomb to Angel, but Angel has a fruity note that smells rather rotten to me. In fact, a few years ago, I went to a fragrance event where the speaker was from Thierry Mugler, and she broke down the notes in Angel one-by-one. It is most definitely the fruity note that I find so offputting.

At any rate, Flowerbomb does not evoke florals to me. Instead, it is a smoldering, somewhat sweet, warm vanilla/patchouli. Looove it!

Here's a link to a page containing the base notes, perfumer, and bottle designer, if you are interested.

Too much Fun in the Sun means a Change in Foundation

Hello, all, I am back from holiday. I just got back from the Caribbean, and I got enough sun for a change in foundation color.

I am usually the second lightest yellow-based foundation color in any given range, but I spent a lot of time on the beach so I am darker by at least one shade. While I am admittedly a high-end cosmetics whore, I decided to slum for my new foundation, since I am unsure how long my tan will stay with me. I went to my local drugstore and attempted the *extremely* difficult task of matching my skintone without being able to properly test the foundation. I ended up buying two foundations - Almay Clear Complexion Makeup and Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse.

Almay Clear Complexion Makeup has been a surprising hit for me. Not only was I able to nail the right color, but it delivers a smooth, matte finish and wears well through the day. I was a little worried it might be too dry or actually drying, but I haven't had any problems.

Unfortunately, the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse is a shade or two too dark, so I can't report anything other than it was very difficult to select the right shade.

Website Focus: shopittome.com

I am so in love with Shop It To Me! This San Francisco-based free online personal shopping service allows you to select your favorite brands, and then receive an e-mail anytime your brands go on sale.

If you are interested in women's clothing, you select your preferences in the following categories:

• brands
• top sizes
• bottom sizes
• shoe size
  
• types of clothing, including shoes and accessories

You can control price preferences by setting an upper limit on the price to be shown in your e-mail (i.e. no items over $1000). You can also set a minimum discount for the items in your e-mails (i.e. only show items that are at least 20% off the retail price).

Men's clothing, as well as girls' and boys', are also available options. Most amazingly, if you do not care for a particular e-tailer that is listing in your e-mails, you can exclude them!

I wholeheartedly recommend this Website. I've been using it for a number of months now, and I scored two of my fashion "white whale" items (highly desirable items one has been searching for and unable to find) via the Shop It To Me e-mails. I found a Diane von Furstenberg Green Spotted Frog Jessica wrap dress and Delman Xosa flax pumps, both at excellent price points.

Red Lipstick Haiku

bright, bold, look at me

commanding presence in charge

fierce feminine tour-de-force


Happy Valentine's Day!

Pink Lipstick Haiku

lips pink and pouting

a whisper of innocence

forgotten girlhood