Radiant Orchid: Pantone Color of the Year 2014 (Beauty Edition)

Hey y'all. Today's post has been inspired by the gradient of shades that fall under the umbrella of Radiant Orchid. When I first heard that Pantone's "Color of the Year" for 2014 was deemed Radiant Orchid, I thought to myself, "I was already rockin' this last year." In fact, for the past two or three years, especially around Spring and Summer, I have been drawn to - with blinders on - lilac, lavender, and fuchsia-purple pastel shades. 

At first I was not planning on doing a post dedicated to the Radiant Orchid theme. I don't find purple based makeup particularly flattering on me. The closest I come to wearing purple based makeup is by wearing deep mauve pink and plum shades. Recently, I tried a lipstick by Cover Girl in the shade Delicious. Although I have plenty of nail colors like the shade Delicious and do think such a shade looks lovely on my hands, I cannot carry off such shades on my lips against my skin-tone. Fortunately, thereafter I purchased another shade by Cover Girl called Tantalize. I believe Tantalize is exactly what I had expected Delicious to look like on me. So, Tantalize, which is the color I am wearing in the picture below, is the better suited version of Delicious for girls with a similar skin-tone as me. 

My research for today's post began with this look below: 

What am I wearing? Cover Girl Bombshell Shine Shadow in Oh La La Lilac on the eyes deepened with a matte plum purple shade in the crease and blended out; Milani Baked Matte Blush in Delizioso Pink; Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize. 

However, I did not stop here. I selected two more blushes and plenty of more lip colors as y'all can see from the pictures. I posted one of these images on my Instagram to give a preview, but then I got carried away. 

The picture on the top left corner, first box, are my blush selections: Milani Baked Matte Blush in Delizioso Pink (bottom), Milani Baked Blush in Fantasia Mauve (middle), and Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate (top). 

The picture on the bottom right, fourth box, displays the swatches for four of my top five lipstick "Radiant Orchid" lip color selections are: Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (bottom left), Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (top left), Purminerals 

Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off (top right), and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (bottom right). 

Here are the lip swatches to match the arm swatches above: Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (first), Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (second), Purminerals Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off (third), and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (fourth). Adding Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Viva Violet (fifth) was an afterthought, so I do not have an arm swatch for it.

Y'all may think the inquiry stopped once I added a fifth shade, right? Hereafter, I posted the picture above where I have displayed all of Radiant Orchid selections on Instagram. I think I gravitated towards the products mentioned above because they are all new additions to my makeup collection. 

Once I posted the picture on Instagram, I thought to myself that I must have other colors that might qualify as a Radiant Orchid shade. Indeed, I was right! 

At this point I was overwhelmed by my findings - so many similar shades! What was I thinking when I purchased all of these lipsticks? I was also feeling too exhausted to create more makeup looks or photograph these shades on my lips, so I hope y'all won't mind the arm swatches. I will add links to the review posts for any of these lip colors below that I may have already reviewed. 

Honestly, the way I actually wear makeup in reality does not justify my lipstick collection. Gel eyeliner and lip balm are my staple. I rarely actually wear makeup unless my Beau is taking me out. Sigh! I am glad I had this eye opening experience, however, because now I think I might place a ban on my lipstick shopping as I did with nail polishes last Summer. The nail polish ban was not difficult at all and I continued the ban till January. I am planning on doing a blog sale. I have mixed feelings about it though.

(1) Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in RS745 Fantasia (2) Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture (3) Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Deep Lilac (4) Chanel Rouge Allure in #108 Determinee (5) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Plum Velour (6) Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (7) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Viva Violet (8) Chanel Rouge Coco in #42 Culte (9) Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Sheer Plum (10) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Berry Couture (11) Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (12) Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (13) MAC Satin Lipstick (LE) in Private Party (14) L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Purple Prelude (15) Purminerals Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off 

(1) Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in RS745 Fantasia (2) Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture (3) Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Deep Lilac (5) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Plum Velour (8) Chanel Rouge Coco in #42 Culte (9) Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Sheer Plum (10) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Berry Couture (12) Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (13) MAC Satin Lipstick (LE) in Private Party (14) L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Purple Prelude

*I decided not to swatch (4) Chanel Rouge Allure in #108 Determinee because it is more of a muted mauve pink with a brown base, so it does not truly come under the Radiant Orchid category. This post took a lot of work. I kept going back and forth, adding more lipsticks, taking more pictures, editing, watermarking, and it all happened in annoying incriminates. At this point it would have driven me nut crackers to take another picture without (4). 

(16) Maybelline Color Elixir in Mystic Mauve (17) Maybelline Color Elixir in Amethyst Potion (18) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Keep Mauving

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

Come back soon. Thanks!

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Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer - Wet Plum, Amber Halo, Mirrored Mauve

 Hey Y'all!!!

I first spotted the Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquers back in late August. I had tested a few shades on my hand. None of the shades in the collection had caught my eye with the exception of Mirrored Mauve. I liked Mirrored Mauve not because it was a unique shade, rather mauves shades are my favorite by default. It is a magnetic attraction!

Price

These richly pigmented liquid lip colors cost $25. Given the high price point, I was a bit hesitant to purchase these lip products until I felt that these were truly impressive. Just in time my mom received a 10% coupon to Dillard's (a U.S. department store). Fortunately, Dillard's, unlike Macy's, Belk, and Kohl's, does not exclude cosmetics/fragrances from the 10% coupon it sends out to its store-card holders.  Although 10% is not much, it at least covers a little more than the state retail tax (7 - 9%).

It is my impression that Estee Lauder is a brand that attracts individuals from an older age group (mid-30s onwards). Apparently, these days people are saying 30 is the new 20 and most days I do feel as if I have the "naivety" of a 14 year old. Wow! Why did I go off on this tangent? Anyways, I feel like young women (early to late 20s) in the beauty-blogger-sphere are more aware of brands such as Urban Decay, Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Tarte, etc. rather than Estee Lauder. 

Some of my most favorite products are from Estee Lauder - Sumptuous Lash Volumizing Mascara, Pure Color Blush, Pure Color Lipsticks, and now these Lip Lacquers. 

Packaging 
Classy. I like this gold. This gold packaging looks much more elegant and sturdier, yet simpler, than the gold tubes of YSL lipsticks.

Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer is an opaque liquid lip product. It is an intensely pigmented synthesis of a gloss and lipstick. Lacquers are most often thicker than glosses with a patent leather sort of shine and not the sheer shimmer/sheen shine of a traditional gloss. 

The swatches on my arm in the pictures below demonstrate the saturated color that appears by just a single swipe of the sponge-tip applicator across the arm. Due to its rich pigmentation, this product must be applied carefully and in front of a mirror. These lacquers can be worn on top of a lip balm, unlike a stain-gloss that requires dry clean lips. 

Mirrored Mauve

Wet Plum

Amber Halo

When these lacquers are first applied, your lips may feel slightly uncomfortable. No, you will not feel a tingling, burning, or stinging sensation. These are not lip plumping products. No, these do not have a minty or pepperminty scent. What am I talking about then? Initially, these lacquers make my lips feel as if they are "trapped", like I have a film of some sort covering my lips. So, these lacquers adhere to your lips, which makes you feel like some foreign thing, like honey, is sticking to your lips, but not to worry because it is not a tacky-sticky feeling. In just a few seconds though this feeling on my lips disappears. 

The few seconds of heaviness is definitely worth it because once these lacquers set in place, the weighty feeling is lifted and you are left with a youthful, colorful pout. The only downside to these lacquers is that sometimes, but not always, my lips feel dry after this product wears off or I remove it. It makes me feel like my lips were exfoliated. This might only be an issue for people with chapped lips. I don't have chapped lips. My lips can get a bit dry from time to time if I am dehydrated or have the heat on too high in the car or at home. 

Lip Swatches

Wet Plum - shades like MAC's Rebel or Urban Decay's Venom look awful on me. This on the other hand suits me perfectly. Sometimes you just need to find the right brand or formula or shade of a particular color and then it suits you so well as if it was specially designed for you.

Amber Halo - I think this is the first traditional beige-nude shade to suit me. I have tried so many nude lipsticks in the hopes of achieving the Jennifer Lopez's or Eva Longoria's trademark caramel-beige-nude pout, but every lip color I tried would look chalky on me... until I found this one! 

Mirrored Mauve - this color fooled me. On my hands it looks like a warm mid-tone mauve pink. However, on my lips it appears more cool/blue-toned and much brighter. This is the barbie hot pink for my beige-olive (Southeast Asian / Middle Eastern) skin tone. 

Demo Swatches 

 Wet Plum 

Amber Halo

Mirrored Mauve

If you like YSL glossy stains, but want a cheaper alternative. If you like liquid lipsticks, but want something more glossy than matte (ahem ahem like Stila or Armani). If you like long-wear glosses, but want more pigmentation and color variety. If you like the Maybelline Color Elixirs or L'Oreal Extraordinaire Lip Colors, but feel like something is still missing (i.e., poor pigmentation, too much slip, etc.)? The Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer is the answer for y'all!!! 

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Beauty / Makeup Haul: MAC, Urban Decay, CHANEL, Estee Lauder, LORAC, Bare Minerals, Giorgio Armani

Hey y'all. 

Here is a preview of the products that I have purchased over the last couple of months and will review for you all in the coming weeks. I plan on reviewing and swatching at least one product/brand per week in the coming weeks. Please be patient because the entire month of November and beginning of December will be very busy and hectic for me as the school semester is coming to an end. Also, my camera decided to take an "early retirement" and is no longer "working" for Strawberry Hearts Chocolate Darts. For now I have an "interim" camera, Sony DSLR, and I am not too happy with it. It definitely takes crisp pictures, however, it is not as user friendly, especially for taking vain selfies, as my Canon Powershot. I am hoping to find a replacement at the Black Friday conference. 

These products are in the high-end range. I decided to post drugstore products, such as the new lip products by Revlon and Maybelline, separately. Perhaps I will have a review and swatches of the new Revlon Color Burst Matte and Lacquer Balms up by this Sunday. 

Nordstroms: CHANEL featuring HOLIDAY 2013 Collection*, Giorgio Armani 

Giorgia Armani Rouge Ecstasy Plum # 602 "Mania"; $34 each

CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet # 327 "La Desiree" (*New* / *Limited Edition) and #36 "La Caline" (Limited Quantity); $34 each 

Macy's: MAC featuring MAC Divine Night Holiday Collection* 

*New* MAC Pro Long Wear Paint Pot "Stormy Pink"; $20 

MAC Eyeshadow "Quarry"; $15

*New* MAC Lipstick "Private Party" (*Limited Edition); $16.50 

*New* MAC Mineralize Blush "Lavish Living" (*Limited Edition); $27.50 

ULTA & Urban Decay (online): Urban Decay 

 *New* Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks - Liar, Rush, Strip (UD online exclusive), Venom, and Shame; $22 each
I purchased some of these lipsticks during the UD F&F Sale (20% off) and received $5-10 off on some of the other shades at ULTA. Luckily, a new ULTA opened up near me and gave out $5, $10, and $100 certificates to the first 100 guests at the grand opening event.
Take a look at my review (and swatches) of this lipstick in the shade "Rapture" here. I am looking forward to sharing swatches of these other shades soon. 

Kohl's: LORAC

*New* LORAC Pro Power Cheek Stain "Rosy Glow"; $22 

As if my excitement about Kohl's carrying Essie since last year was not enough, now Kohl's is carrying  a wide range of some very popular makeup brands. Last weekend, I saw the new revamped cosmetic department at Kohl's. The brands I noticed were The Balm, Pur Minerals, Samantha Chapman, and LORAC. Unfortunately, these brands are excluded from the infamously tempting 15%, 20%, 30% coupon that Kohl's sends out every single week. I was really appreciative of the fact that Kohl's, unlike Belk, Macy's, or Dillard's did not have a catch-all list of "exclusions," but sadly now the coupons do not apply on select brands. I still managed to get this blush for free! Yes, FREE! How? Apparently, I was allowed to use my $20 Kohl's cash for this blush. 

ULTA: Bare Minerals 

 Bare Minerals Lash Domination 10-in-1 Mascara; $18 

I used my "non-exclusions/entire purchase" 20% off coupon, which ULTA sends out randomly once a year, on this item.
Take a look at my review of this mascara here.

Cosmetic Company Outlet: Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder Pure Color #11 Deep Lilac; $15 

Dillard's: Estee Lauder

 *New* Estee Lauder High Intensity Lip Lacquers #11 "Wet Plum" and #12 "Amber Glow"; $25 each

I used a 10% off coupon on these items. Dillard's sends out these coupons to Dillard's card holders. Sadly, the coupons are sent out once in a blue moon and 10% off seems so insignificant, especially because you only receive this coupon after spending a significant amount. 

I created a "Wish List" page, which lists the products that I would like to purchase and try out in the future. However, I am fully abstaining from purchasing any new products until the New Year. Well, fingers crossed that I stick to my words. 

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Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick #75 "Forbidden Kiss"

If Snow White owned a lipstick, it would probably be Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick called Forbidden Kiss. This lipstick could not have had a more appropriate name. I definitely feel like I am Snow White with this lipstick on. The boldness and depth of the red lips brightens up my face. Who knows... maybe my Prince Charming himself chose this color out for me...

As Snow White was roaming through the "Cosmetic Company Outlet" Forest, she came across this shiny golden and red object. Out of curiosity, she opened it and smelled the rosy fragrance of the product. She decided to color her lips with this rouge colored stick and there and then Snow White discovered her statement lip. If only she knew then that generations of girly girls would venture on this same quest to find their perfect red statement lip and a Prince Charming too... of course!

I purchased this lipstick at the Cosmetic Company Outlet for about $18. An EL lipstick typically costs about $25. CCO's carry ESTEE LAUDER Company products, which includes MAC, BOBBI BROWN, and CLINIQUE products. The reason for the discounted price is because the Cosmetic Company Outlet mainly sells discontinued or limited edition or seasonal beauty products, but sometimes you do find permanent products. For instance, I have seen MAC lip conditioners and MAC black track fluid line gel liners sold at CCOs as well. Now, I am not sure whether Forbidden Kiss was a limited edition shade because I did not see it listed on the EL website. However, I did see a new product that may be similar - New Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick called Forbidden Apple. I would still ask an MUA at your local EL counter before giving up hope in case you do not have an outlet near you or the CCO near you does not carry this shade.

This lipstick is meant to have a lasting creme finish and it surely lives up to that promise. It glides on smoothly and stays in place. Of course reds do tend to smear, so be careful, but I never use a lip liner and I definitely felt like I had control when I was applying this one.

It lasts for a good portion of my day and fades into a stain after I have had a meal. I am not a fan of long wearing or stain sort of lipsticks, so the lasting power is not a major factor for me. I definitely would not like an $18 lipstick to wear off within half an hour and need constant reapplication, but this is definitely not like one of those cheap formulation lipsticks. This lasts a few hours, long enough for my day or night outing, and that suffices me. 

I have included four images so you all can have an idea of the color and its variations with in different lighting. I am not sure whether this has any prominent undertones. In my opinion, it is a pure red, but it is dark and bold, much deeper than a tomato or fire-engine or cherry-berry red, but not a vampy oxblood shade.  I cannot detect hints of plum, brown, magenta, purple, or burgundy. To state more succinctly, it is a maroon, but not a wine-burgandy shade. I think these images will give you a better concept of the color than my extensive, yet somewhat confusing description. 

This lipsticks looks, feels, and wears like a luxury lip product. Like I already mentioned it has a strong rosy scent, which I love, but some of you may not if you are sensitive to scents. The texture is so smooth and creamy, but the application is not messy. The color is a gorgeous dark red. It brightens your complexion and whitens your teeth. Overall, an "A+" lipstick and a must have for any red lip lover. 

Bisou bisou (kiss kiss) as a friend from France used to say... 

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~Meesha~