I know that a lot of you, like me, have really been inspired by the fantastic artistry in the last few Sephora catalogs. The Fall Trend catalog was no exception. There were some really amazing looks.

Sephora has video tuts for a handful of the looks on their blog. Definitely check them out for some great tips. Here’s the link: Sephora Fall 09 Runway Trend Video Tutorials (or just click on the above pic).

Have any of you tried these? Which one is your fave?

This May, Stila will be releasing a new limited edition Smudge Pot in ‘Golden Noir’ as part of their Indian Summer collection. For those who are unfamiliar with Smudge Pots, they are a creamy, smooth, gel eye liner that is highly pigmented. They have fantastic staying power. Better than MAC’s Fluidlines, in my opinion.

For futher info, swatches and a smokey EOTD, click “Read More” below….

In my experience, the Smudge Pots do tend to keep their creamy consistency a bit better than MAC’s Fluidlines, which is a good thing, as Smudge Pots do provide more product so they hang around your traincase a bit longer. Fluidlines contain 3oz per container and Smudge Pots contain 4oz.

One of the things I appreciate about Smudge Pots is their ability to stay viable for a bit, so they can be perfectly smudged out. On the other hand, if you draw on a cat-eye with a fine-edged brush, you get a precise line.

Colour-wise, ‘Golden Noir’ is very similar to MAC’s ‘Blitz & Glitz’ fluidline, exept that ‘Golden Noir’ is a touch more black than ‘Blitz & Glitz’ (which appears more dark brown, IMO). Additionally, the gold shimmer particles in ‘Golden Noir’ are much more apparent than in ‘Blitz & Glitz’. In fact, the ‘Golden Noir’ Smudge Pot actually contains genuine 24 karat gold flakes, which are really striking against the matte black base.

Like Fluidlines, they work superbly as a cream shadow (zero creasing) and as a base for powder shadows. The first thing I thought of when I saw ‘Golden Noir’ is how perfectly it would work as a smokey eye base. I gave it a shot and was quite pleased with the results, but….as usual, I totally failed to capture the beauty of the product with my crap photography! Sorry guys!

For those of you who have MAC’s Mont Black eye shadow from Chill, try patting it on over a base of Stila’s Golden Noir Smudge Pot. It really picks up the gold particles in Mont Black.

PRODUCTS:
+Highlight: MAC’s Brule and Nylon
+Lid Base: Golden Noir Smudge Pot
+Shadow: MAC’s Mont Black ES (from the Chill collection and still available at Nordstrom.com)
+Blended with Mont Black at the crease: MAC’s Shale
+Tear duct: MAC’s Nylon
+Liner: Top – MAC Liquid Liner in Boot Black / Bottom – MAC’s Powersurge Eye Kohl (waterline) and Stila’s Gold Noir Smudgepot (lash line)

Stila’s ‘Golden Noir’ Smudge Pot is available in May at Sephora and Sephora.com. It will retail for $20.00USD.

Here are the black eyeshadows I’ve tested over the years. Not that much because a pan finally requires lots of time to get finished! Prices are the ones practiced in France.

Sisley Phyto-ombre éclat “Black 12″

For: Skin safe, soft, good lasting, easy to blend
Against: Really expensive
Retail Price: more than 22€ for 1,5g

The Sisley black eyeshadow is not super black in the pot but it is nonetheless one of my favorite as I am using my second one. It is very smooth and silky, soft and also very comfortable. From my experience, Sisley are very good cosmetics, very soft and safe with plant extracts. I have never had a problem with it. Because of its being so soft and delicate, it blend wonderfully. I have bad tendency to get allergy and nothing ever happened with Sisley make up. Will maybe purchase in the future. Expensive but I like Sisley make up.

Chanel – Ombre essentielle – Ombre à paupières mono douceur “n°47 Ebony”

For: Elegant packaging with a large mirror, good staying, good quality
Against: not really intense for a black
Price: 23€ for 2g

Chanel are probably not the kind of brand to make flashy ultra intense make up. Most of their taints, both in lipsticks or eyeshadow are very soft and elegant and if you are seeking for an intense eyeshadow, this might not be the brand you should choose (go to urban decay instead!). So their blackest eyeshadow “Ebony” is not really intense and is more a matte anthracite of a very dark grey than anything else. That said, the lack of ultra darkness get balanced by a comfort and the easiness this shadow has to blend with others. Finally, it gives a more delicate smokey eye than a true black drama look and provides a quite subtle make up looking like true smoke, finally. I am not sure I will purchase an other one in the future but who knows?

Stéphane Marais Ombre Eyeshadow 1

For: Huge (3g vs usual 1,5), random image on the packaging, texture
Against: Doesn’t exist anymore
Price: more than 20€ for 3g

I payed a lot but I never truly was disappointed. Unfortunately, Stéphane Marais make up doesn’t seem to exist anymore and I picked up this one at their only available stand (to my knowledge) in Galeries Lafayette of Paris. Although being a powder, this has an almost creamy texture which make it very comfortable to wear.
The brand quickly disappeared. Maybe due to their only selling to some stores and maybe their being pretty expensive. I won’t buy this anymore as it’s over.

agnès b. Monobulle “Faux Noir”

For: Attractive price
Against: A mediocer power staying, a lack of intensity
Price: 9,95€ for 2€

Not really a true black eyeshadow but as it was my first black one, I think it’s good to include it. It’s a matte black with slight blue pearl reflect. Quite pretty finally. Agnès b. was my first brand of make up, I used to buy this when I was still a student (around 19/20) because let’s be honest, it was cheap, I knew very few about make up, I had never heard of mac and couldn’t pay for the luxury brands. So as CCB was regularly proposing sales around -50%, this was pretty interesting and I’ve been glad to use this but it’s mainly because I had no other point of comparison. I am not quite completely sure to remember this item as it was 12 years ago but the intensity was not terrific, pretty too soft. Also the staying was really not the best. Later, CCB would make other blacks, like the true black “Black velvet” but I have never tested them. The Club des Créateurs de Beauté are really far behind me now and there are far more better make up products proposed to the world. Will never buy again.

Calvin Klein Tempting glance – intense eyeshadow – ombre à paupières “111 – Night dust”

For: Ultra high level of pigmentation, attractive price, incredible staying
Against: nothing in particular
Price: 15€ for 1,4 g

It is hyper hyper black, the most pigmented black eyeshadow I have ever owned. Blackest than black. You really should have some practice before using this one because even with a lot of days of blackened eyes behind me, I had to be very careful with this one. First of all, it is so pigmented that there is no need to get tons of it on the brush. Otherwise, the excessive amount will fall on the cheeks and get lost. It blends very well and I hadn’t problem of staying. Quite an attractive price for a very good product. I will surely buy again.

Mac eyeshadow “Carbon”

For:
Against:
Price: 17€ for 1,5g

Review coming soon

This look is inspired by Angelina Jolie in the movie “Wanted”! I had many requests to do an Angelina Jolie makeup look and I absolutely loved her makeup in this movie because it is so simple, yet sexy. I was wearing a similar eye makeup look in a couple of my tutorials (skincare and brushes) and had a couple of requests for that look. So, here you go! This is a look that can take just a couple of minutes to create and is great for the women who is wanting to try a smokey eye for the first time. This is a more soft and subtle smokey eye look. These are the products that I used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion
Stila Eye Kajal in Ebony
MAC X Mascara
Glo Mineral Blush in Innocent
MAC Gingerroot Cremestick Lip Pencil
MAC Florabundance Lipglass
MAC Beauty Powder in Yogamode