Holiday 2011: NARS Kabuki Collection.

François Nars has simply outdone himself with these pieces of beauty that he has created for the NARS Holiday Collection this year. It is a Kabuki Collection with a modern twist on kabuki.

I am completely fascinated by Kabuki theatre; the makeup and costumes are especially beautiful. My attraction to this art form led to the creation of this Collection.  The shades and products used in the NARS Kabuki Collection range from bright, intense shades to deep saturated hues.” –François Nars

This collection of specially designed gifts for the ardent makeup aficionado were inspired by François' travels throughout Japan. His deep interest in Japanese culture, and his fascination with Kabuki makeup shines through these items. The collection totally captures the exquisite artistry of Japan's Kabuki theater with every detail in a vibrant, modern, iconic interpretation of the centuries-old dramatic form.

Kudoki Kabuki Lip Set ($125.00)
Named for an element of Kabuki dance, this year’s take on the Bento Box set features three new vibrant, super-saturated, limited edition shades poured into custom ceramic cups. Included is its own Kabuki Lip Brush and sleek keepsake wooden box.

  • Ougi - deep red
  • Takebue - neutral
  • Botan - deep pink

Hanamichi Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00)
Japanese for “flower path,” this Kabuki theater walkway that extends into the audience was the inspiration for this eyeshadow palette, featuring a Kabuki-themed design and accompanied by a mini Kabuki Eye Brush. The colors are evocative of shades found in Kabuki theater- an icy white with flowers in rich shimmering deep rose and gold and matte black.

Mie Kabuki Mini Soft Touch Shadow Pencil Set ($55.00)
A collection of six mini, top-selling and limited edition Soft Touch Shadow Pencils. Just like their namesake Mie Kabuki which references a moment of high emotion culminating in an extremely dramatic pose†these creamy, blendable, long-wearing crayons create bold, dramatic looks with just a few strokes.

  • Tall Tale - deep metallic purple
  • Magic Moon - deep metallic navy blue
  • Ballets Russes - silver
  • Aigle Noir - black infused with gold shimmer
  • Palladium - turquoise with silver glitter
  • Skorpios - copper

Nagauta Kabuki Brush Set ($225.00)
Encased in an ultra-luxurious keepsake wooden bento box with red lacquer interior, this exquisite five-piece brush set is named for the principal musical forms in Kabuki theater and includes two new brushes exclusive to the set.

  • Kabuki Eye Brush (exclusive to the set)
  • Botan Brush
  • Ita Brush
  • Yachiyo Brush
  • Kabuki Lip (exclusive to the set)

Kuroko Mini Nail Polish Set ($35.00)
The set includes four mini-sized, bold and vivid nail polish colors based on shades traditionally used in Kabuki theatre.

  • Yoshiwara - red
  • Shiro-Nuri - white
  • Kata - black
  • Senryou - gold

Holiday 2010: M∙A∙C Cham Pale Collection.

Only the finest will do for a M∙A∙C toast to the New Year, of course! With their newest collection that will be out for all to gaze on December 26th, Cham Pale will have you looking forward to the New Year.

Cham Pale is a cuvée colour collection that’s cause for celebration – a Champagne smash, shimmering with all the bubbly optimism and golden glow of the best that’s yet to be, in Eye Shadow, from Brule to Et tu, Bouquet; Paint Pots in Chilled on Ice and Let Me Pop, Lipstick in four shades, especially Quiet Please, and Flustered; Lipgelée from Bubble Lounge to Straight to the Head; two Chromagraphic Pencils (NC15/NW20 and NW25/NC30); Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick; Kohl Power in Feline; Nail Lacquer we call Very Important Platinum!; Studio Fix Mascara, and the Special Reserve Highlight Powder in four shades ending perfectly elegantly in everyone’s favourite: Rosé Olé. 

Every sensible person knows having a bottle of good Champagne on ice at all times is a must! So too this premium skincare collection, inspired by the sublime simplicity of the finest quality pale cuvée, the care and nurturing required to get it right, and the extraordinary satisfaction that comes with an appreciation of the ultimate luxury: Introducing new Complete Comfort Creme, an ultra-riche facial moisturizer that relieves visible redness immediately, for a gentle, soothing, calming, hydrating formula that makes life prettier, like only the best Champagne can do. The soothing properties of French lavender enhance well-being, body, mind and spirit. M∙A∙C Fix + Lavender, Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender and Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender round out the collection.   

The complete Cham Pale collection rundown and prices:

STUDIO FIX LASH - $14.00
Black Fix - Black

SPECIAL RESERVE HIGHLIGHT POWDER - $28.00
Chez Chez Lamé - Soft gold with silver shimmer
Rosé Ole - Soft pink with gold shimmer

EYE KOHL - $14.50
I Get No Kick - Metallic nude

KOHL POWER - $14.50
Feline - Rich black

CHROMAGRAPHIC PENCIL - $14.50
NC15/NW20 - NC15
NW25/NC30 - NC25

PAINT POT - $16.50
Chilled on Ice - Frosted white gold
Let Me Pop - Frosted light copper
Vintage Selection - Frosted dirty peach
Dangerous Cuvée - Frosted cool grey

NAIL LACQUER - $13.00
Soirée - Sparkly light bronze gold (Frost)
Very Important Platinum - Dirty platinum (Frost)

LIPSTICK - $14.50
Tanarama - Pale Beige with golden shimmer (Frost)
Flustered - Frosted pale bronze (Frost)
Quiet, Please - Frosted pink champagne (Lustre)
Gel - Sheer metallic beige (Frost)

LIPGELÉE - $14.50
Luxure - Off white with pink pearl (Frost)
Sin-tillation - Sparkly pale icy pink (Frost)
Bubble Lounge - Sparkly pink peach (Frost)
Straight to the Head - Sparkly bronze brown (Frost)

EYE SHADOW x 4 - CAVIAR DREAMS - $36.00
Brule - Soft creamy beige (Satin)
Et tu, Bouquet? - Frosted pale pink gold (Frost)
Caviar Dreams - Dirty frosted pewter (Lustre)
Retrospeck - Beached blonde (Lustre)

FIX+ LAVENDER - $18.00

COMPLETE COMFORT CREME - $32.00

LIP CONDITIONER SPF 15 + LAVENDER - $14.50

TINTED LIP CONDITIONER SPF 15 + LAVENDER - $14.50
Calm Mode - Light neutral beige

Cham Pale will be avaialble, like I said, the day after Christmas, December 26th at all MAC counters and locations as well as online at maccosmetics.com.

Holiday 2010: Party Perfect Nails with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure.

A quick and easy way to jazz up your look for the holiday is with a handful of pretty, party perfect nails. With the new Complete Salon Manicure Holiday Collection from Sally Hansen, you will get that in just a few short minutes.

The colors in the collection are gorgeous, and any of the shades will do for this most festive time of year.

The glitter nails are full on glitter. My shade below is Starry Starry Flight, and I used only one coat of the polish, after a base coat and top coat. Though you do not need a base or top coat with this polish, I chose to apply than, as I like to get the absolute longest wear out of it.

The new Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is like getting the full manicure treatment, in one step, right at home. You see, five steps are packed into one formula: Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color, and Top Coat. The patented formula also contains Vita-Care Technology for advanced wear, more shine, and nourishing care. The brush is shorter, more tapered and more full than your standard brush. It picked up just the right amount of polish and applied evenly and seamlessly in a quick coat. Also important is the fact that all shades are Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free.

Look for all of these Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure shades at our favorite drugstore or mass merchandiser, where they sell for about $7.00 each. To learn more about this innovative new formula and to see all of the colors available, be sure to visit SallyHansen.com.