MAC Launch: Baroque Boudoir, official product photos and promo info

Baroque Boudoir - Official US Release Date: November 25th, 2009

Decadent, luxurious...liaisons get even more dangerous with formulas for lips and face, and the haute-style clutch of this baroque-inspired collection. Sate your taste for something modern, yet ornate.

Press Release:

Decadent, luxurious… Liaisons get even more Dangereuse! The vintage look of the Baroque Boudoir has inspired our special, limited edition cache of high-style collectibles for lips and face, in silverized and silk-screened packaging containing favourite bring-back luxe formulas. First, Lipstick and Lip Gloss, each in three new shades of lustrous seduction, followed with Sheer Mystery Powder in Light Medium and Medium Plus, the last word in silky finish, divinely dressed in a ravishing round compact, etched like the fine filigree of a French baroque settee. Of course, our new Boudoir Clutch will be instantly treasured. Sate your taste for something modern, yet ornate.

Baroque Boudoir Lipsticks - USD $22.00
Baroque Boudoir - Creamy dark plum (cremesheen finish)
Privé - Creamy light blue pink (cremesheen finish)
Treasured - Creamy warm nude beige (cremesheen finish)

Baroque Boudoir Lipgloss - USD $22.00
(With double barrel tube packaging)
The Lap of Luxury - Sheer baby pink with white and pink pearlized pigments (frost finish)
Preciousness - Sheer metallic pink with white pearlized pigments (frost finish)
D'Nouveau - Sheer dusty rose with light pink pearlized pigments (frost finish)

Baroque Boudoir Compact/Sheer Mystery Powder - USD $60.00
Light Medium
Medium Plus

Boudoir Clutch - USD $65.00
chic black clutch in a brushed crinkled nylon fabric

aSoftBlackStar makeup brush rolls, makeup bags, travel sets

I started making these makeup brush roll organizers for the simple reason that I needed a neat and tidy way travel with my makeup brushes. I own an Etsy Shop called A Soft Black Star from which I sell my makeup brush rolls and makeup bags. I opened my shop in April of 2008 and I've made so many of these already! My brush rolls are made from a medium weight cotton and are thoroughly serged on the inside for extra durability. This is the LARGE size, with 16 pockets of various sizes, some wide enough to accommodate two brushes if desired. I can fit 32 of my professional sizes MAC brushes in this roll. A large top flap covers the brushes so that when rolled, they will not poke out the top. I make these in a medium size and makeup bags also.

large makeup brush rolls

makeup brush roll and makeup bag travel sets

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Skincare: Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

I appreciate any beauty brand that is all naturally derived. Burt's Bees is one of those wonderful brands. This Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub smells amazing. Willowbark extract is a natural source of salicylic acid for the treatment of acne. The exfoliant in this is ground peach stones, which is very gentle. It also contains grape seed oil, coconut oil, chamomile extract, and ginger extract. My skin feels wonderful after using this fabulous scrub!

This product retails for $8.00 for 4oz/114g.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Handmade Jewelry: Moon Raven Designs

So, I will admit that what I am about to say is totally revealing of my nerd-dom, but while watching the new Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince I became obsessed with Bellatrix LeStrange's bird skull necklace. I came home from the theater, browsed Etsy, and purchased this pewter raven skull necklace from Moon Raven Designs in the same day. Isn't it beautiful? I love the detail and the shine. It's hand polished.

"The raven has connections with ancestral spirits, death, psychic realms and transformation among other things. This hand crafted raven skull is hand crafted of mirror polished lead free pewter and measures 1-7/8" in length. It is just the perfect size and is mounted on an 18" steel ball chain that won't tangle or snag on anything. The chain passes right through the skull, so it hangs perfectly when worn and won't roll or flip."

Hand Polished Pewter Raven Skull Pendant available on Etsy for $29.95.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC Style Black Collection, photos, swatches, review

I picked up eight items from MAC's Style Black collection for fall. As soon as I saw the promos I was hooked. It spoke to my fifteen year old self - the girl that loved to wear black lipstick. This collection is pretty much exactly what I wore in high school, when I had black hair. The official release date is September 24th, 2009. You can see the promo photos and info here.

Style Black swatches on bare skin from left to right:
Glimmerglass in Blackfire
Lipstick in Black Knight
Greasepaint Stick
Penultimate Eyeliner
Eye Kohl in Smoulder
Mineralize Eye Shadow in Young Punk
Mineralize Eye Shadow in Cinderfella

Nocturnelle Nail Lacquer

MAC Black Knight lipstick

The first black lipstick I ever had was Raven from Manic Panic. It was stolen. I immediately replaced it. When I first started wearing makeup I attempted to collect all of the lipstick shades Manic Panic had, the deep reds, the dark purples, I loved them all. Unfortunately I don't have them in my collection anymore because I periodically sort through my stuff and discard old products, but I wish I could share a photo of my old collection. Alas, (dramatic swoon) it is not meant to be..

So, what do you think? Will you be rockin' a black lipstick anytime soon?

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Handmade Jewelry: CuteAbility on Etsy

Browsing for jewelry on Etsy can be quite the undertaking. You can lose hours to searching for whatever it is you have in mind. I wanted something super girlie, Japanese inspired, kawaii and made in the US to avoid paying for expensive shipping. Fortunately, I found CuteAbility and promptly made a purchase.  I am such a sugar fiend that these make me really giddy.

"Imaginative and Whimsical Handmade Jewelry, Hand-Crafted with a mix of unexpected elements along with Sterling Silver and Gold Filled Jewelry made with high quality Gemstones, Gorgeous Pearls, Charms and Pendants."‎

I selected this Vanilla Cake Necklace, a pastel cake necklace with pearl chain. It has alternating roses and candy as decorations on the top with strawberries in the center. It even has a bow! Super cute.

 The next item I bought is the Black Forrest Cake adjustable ring. It has white chocolate sides, and a strawberry topping surrounded by whipped cream and sprinkled in sugar! It's such a sweet treat. So, who's hungry for cake!?

Sharon from CuteAbility doesn't only offer cutesy cake jewelry. She offers hand-stamped silver pieces, lockets, 14k gold pieces, and solid silver pieces. Take a peek at her shop, I'm sure you'll find something to admire.

Available for purchase at: CuteAbility.etsy.com
Vanilla Cake Necklace: $25.00
Black Forrest Cake Ring: $15.00

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC A Rose Romance Collection, Blush of Youth, photos, swatches, and review

This blush is from the MAC A Rose Romance collection. This was released on April 23rd. I loved the promo photos for this collection and had to have this blush. Blush of Youth is described by MAC as a "clean pink with gold pearl." It's a very light pink. The color payoff is very light. I read that it's meant to be sheer, so if you want something bright, this isn't it. It's subtle on fair skin. It's also rose scented!!!

You can see here for the official promo info.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Sweet Tooth: P.I.L.'s Metal Box + pineapple upside down cake = post-punk baking

Sometimes all I want, all that I have planned for the day, is to bake a cake. Today was such a day.

I've been listening to mostly post-punk lately, and mostly This Heat. Currently, it's Public Image Ltd.'s Metal Box. This is my favorite album Johnny Rotten ever did.
"Bone Appetit" plates from foldedpigs.etsy.com

Now, I bake all sorts of cakes and pastries and whatnot, but I had never baked a pineapple upside down cake before. I love pineapple beyond measure, even though I'm slightly allergic. I used a recipe found in a 1928 pamphlet from the Swans Down Cake Flour company. I left out the nuts, only because I didn't have any on hand. Cherries are optional.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

1 1/4 cups Swans Down Cake Flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
4 Tbs butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 slices pineapple, cut fine
1 cup pecan meats, slightly broken

Sift flour once, measure, add salt and baking powder, and sift together three times. Cream butter thoroughly, add sugar gradually, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add egg, then flour alternately with milk, a small amount at a time. Beat after each addition until smooth. Add vanilla.

Melt 1 Tbs butter in 8-inch iron skillet, or in cake pan, 8x8x2 inches. Add brown sugar. Stir until melted. On this place pineapple, and sprinkle nuts over top. Pour batter over contents of pan. Bake in moderate oven (325 F) 40 minutes. Loosen cake from sides and bottom of pan with spatula. Serve upside down on dish, with pineapple on top. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

♥ ♥ ♥

Lotus