Kat Von D Ludwig Palette Look.

Really quick, I thought I'd try out the other palette. It's nice. Very nice.

I used the right side of the Ludwig palette (Leather, Baroque, Downtown, Clay, Tequila).




And a flash one, cause I thought it looked cool and sparkly.




You know, taking good pictures of your makeup is 5000 times harder than taking pictures of your nails. I still haven't mastered this makeup photo thing yet.

Kat Von D Beethoven palette look.

So, looks like I have to take back everything I said about these palettes being crappy. They are really nice. Sure, they could be more pigmented, but they're nice and smooth and the colors all work together.

I did a Kat-inspired blue semi-smoky eye with liquid liner because it seemed appropriate.

Just an eyeball shot. I used the left side of the Beethoven palette (Speed Blue, Raxor Gray, Tequila).

Kat Von D Sephora Exclusive True Romance Eyeshadow Palettes - Beethoven and Ludwig

Ok, so I was bitching about how crappy I thought these would be and blah blah blah, you know the drill. This time I decided to see if they were actually as bad as I had thought.

I haven't worn them yet, but they actually don't seem so bad. They could be a lot more pigmented, but the colors are much better than they looked in the pictures.

The outer packaging was especially nice- it felt almost like a luxury product. The beautiful outer box that opens to reveal artwork inside, the special gunmetal wrapping paper with the Kat Von D seal. They were really trying to make a good impression.

Some pictures:
Click to enlarge.








Seriously, people. View the larger images. I intentionally left them huge.

Beethoven pallete:


Top (indoor lighting): Galeano, Leather, Rad Purple, Sinner, Tequila, Raxor Gray, Speed Blue, Lucifer.
Bottom (outdoor, full sunlight) same as top, just reverse order.

Ludwig palette:

Outside, full sunlight. Leather, Baroque, Downtown, Clay, Tequila, Dimebag, Orbi, Lucifer.


I like how they included two double-ended brushes instead of sponge-tip applicators.
The downside is that the texture of the brushes is more like a lip brush and unlikely to pick up much pigment. They're tiny and way too smooth.

Overall, they're much nicer than I thought they would be. I'm going to use them and then give a final review.

OPI It's Summer For Shore

While I'm waiting for the sun to come out so I can start my next big photo project (photographing every silver polish I own), I thought I'd post one of the best OPI collections to ever be released.

OPI It's Summer For Shore collection.



Blue Moon Lagoon



Coral Reef



Crim-Sun



A Day At The Peach



Sand-erella (how did this one end up sideways?!)



What's Dune.

Aren't those incredible? OPI Needs to release more like that. Sure, they have the Designer Series, but they're twice the price.

I love the old OPI formula and brushes. These were so easy to apply. I miss it.

Rescue Beauty Lounge and Lippmann Collection

I got my first Rescue Beauty Lounge and Lippmann polishes today. I was hesitant because of the price tag, but I had a sale code so I took the plunge.

I am happy I did.

Rescue Beauty Lounge has to be the best polish I have ever used. The bottles are beautiful, the application is like butter, the formula is perfect and the colors were completely opaque and true to bottle color in ONE COAT. If you're going to buy a pricey polish, forget Chanel- these are some serious high-quality polishes.

The colors I chose were Black Russian (aka Revamp?), Dead Calm and Recycle.




Black Russian, Dead Calm, Recycle. Click to enlarge.

Now, the Lippmanns, I love them, but I do have one small complaint. The brushes are defective. They have bristles sticking out, like the problem OPI brushes have been having lately. Sure, I could fix it myself, but if I'm paying a premium price for a premium polish, I expect it to be perfect.

Other than that, the formula is great, the bottles are very nice and the colors are right up my alley.

I chose:


Bitches Brew


Hit Me With Your Best Shot

and



Nefertiti.

They're beautiful, aren't they? I am pleasantly surprised.

Rescue Beauty Lounge is available at their website, http://www.rescuebeauty.com , and also at Beauty Habit. Lippmann Collection polishes are available online at Bath and Body Works
and QVC.com .

My Essie Collection

Since I took pictures of almost all of my Essie collection, I may as well post them. There doesn't seem to be much going on in the beauty world right now, but I'll have reviews and pictures of the Kat Von D for Sephora eyeshadow palettes this week.

Oh, there's new MAC collections, but I'm sure you've all seen the pictures. If not, head on over to Specktra and take a look.

On to the pics!

All are listed thumb to pinkie, and as always, click for more detail.

Pearly White, Tennis Corset, Pink is Powerful, Pinkadelic, Cool-Lots


Cantaloupe, Political Party, Meet Balls, Fondola Gondola, Porcini


Funships, E-Nuff is E-Nuff, Red-y Set Ex, Wife Goes On, Valentine Red


Style.berry, Jelly Apple, Pepperoni, Wild Thing, Swing Velvet


Brilliant Ball Gown, UP'S, Sway Date, Downtown Brown, Munis Mauve


Decadent Diva, Viva La Vespa, Can't Filmfest, Laced-Up Bootie, Huckle Buckle


Starry Starry Night, Aruba Blue, Barbados Blue. Blueberry Crumb, St. Lucia Lilac


Jazz, Sterling Silver, Opera, Classical, St. Barths Blue


Chocolate Kisses, Lady Godiva, Double Dip, Poppie Cock, Eighteen Carrot


Guchi Muchi Puchi, Secret Affair, Pound Cake, Canary Diamond, Cherry Pop



Marshmallow and Vanity Fairest.

*whew*

I'm in love with Essie now. I can't believe I used to hate Essie! Sure, they have fifty bajillion boring pale pinks and beiges, but this formula is incredible. It goes on so smoothly and dries so fast. I must have more.

OPI Beyond Chic and Retro Fun in the Sun Calendar Girl

Wow, I can barely tell the difference between Calendar Girl and Give Me A Coral Sometime. See for yourself:


Calendar Girl, indirect sunlight and full sunlight. Click for larger images.


Give me a Coral Sometime, indirect sunlight.

They're much more similar in real life, with Calendar Girl being just a bit more pink/magenta.

Now, for something I never usually do, pictures of sheers. I never wear them because my nails are stained most of the time (I wear a lot of blue and purple) and because life's too short for pale polish.

Anyway, here's the OPI Beyond Chic collection.
Kiss On The Chic





Makes Men Blush





Oh So Glam




Pearls Night Out




She's Golden




Time-Less Is More.

I'm really impressed by how pretty these are. I was expecting "blah" but these are actually interesting. I would consider wearing these if my nails weren't perpetually stained. They are pretty streaky, though. These took three coats to even them out.