The DIVINE Dame Edna for MAC.

Yes, I know I just told you about the Dame Edna Collection for MAC that just came out, but I need to tell you just a bit more about it. The products themselves are spectacular - just like MAC's Shadows, Powders, Lipsticks and Glosses always are. But the packaging is unbelievably cool. Very special and collectible. Even the outer cartons are. Here are a few pictures from what I have in the collection.

Did you notice how unbelievably gorgeous that High-Light Powder is? The shade name is Spectacle! and it is the most beautiful highlighter powder I think there ever was. Christina (of Christina Loves and Crazy About Cosmetics) and I were chatting it up today and she mentioned how beautiful this powder is and... my gosh. She is so right (isn't she always?).

If you have a chance, you will be really surprised at how beautiful the shades in this gathering are. Check out Dame Edna for MAC online or at your favorite counter soon, as I don't think this one is going to last long.

BTW - if you want to see a super cute video review of the Dame Edna collection, then you must head on over to makeupbag.net to see Erika's daughter in all her Dame Edna glory. Precious!

Beautiful Makeup Search Top Ten Things I'd Like to Forget.

Oh yes, things are not always beautiful, now are they. There are obviously some items I did not talk about this year or things that I just wish were not so - blah. This is the "Things I'd Like to Forget" edition of 2008. Please feel free to chime in after the post (in the comments) with what beauty related items of 2008 you would like to forget.

1. The Economy - I wish the economy were just not so bad right now. I have known for over a year that we were in a recession and those money people are finally admitting it. It is really tough on a gratuitous industry as beauty. Besides people in the beauty industry getting laid off (CHANEL just reported they are laying off 200 people!), women are giving up their manicures/pedicures, facials, massages, even hair care services. And this affects those in the beauty service industry and the small salons that we will probably see close during the year.
2. Moving Mascara Wands - This still scares me. I know that Oscillation set records for being the fastest selling mascara ever, but I still don't see the point. A good mascara and a steady hand always works - no moving parts needed.
3. NY Times Article Bashing Beauty Bloggers - The end of January, the NY Times pegged beauty bloggers as product whores or just in it for the swag. I don't think I ever wrote about how I felt about the article, but simply put: I started Beautiful Makeup Search in 2001 before blogs were even called blogs. I wrote here for years and years with just a passion for writing about beauty products and that is still why I write it. Yes, there are plenty of bloggers that have started since then just for the swag, as they say, but when those said bloggers realize that the swag just doesn't come, you see their blogs quickly disappear. 
4. Black Lip Gloss - These black hued lip glosses sold out - yes, sold out. I think they sold out for the collector's aspect, as I never EVER saw anyone wearing black lip gloss. There is simply no way to (in the word's of Tim Gunn) make it work.
5. The Posh Bob - Need I say more?
6. Splendicity as a Community No Longer - The wonderful community of beauty, fashion and style bloggers that I put together for b5media was dissolved with no reason except to use the name for something else. It made me mad, but now I am just sad as it was a fantastic community of bloggers. I do cherish the friendships I made through the bloggers though, so if anything good came of it, the friends I found was definitely it.
7. Diversion - I never realized how much of a problem that diversion was until I started seeing Bare Escentuals at Target and the best of hair care brands at cheap variety stores. This is not necessary just to save a buck/make a buck. Please only buy beauty products from authorized retailers.
8. Overpackaged Products - Products with oodles of extra boxes or cartons are not doing us any good. A pretty bottle or compact is all I need. The extra layers of outer packing on beauty products is getting ridiculous. Even though some of them are pretty, the environment would be much better without so much extra packaging.
9. Zit Zappers - I have tried most of the over the counter gadgets this year, and not on myself. I enlisted my hormone raging 13 and 16 year old for numerous tests and trials. Unfortunately, there is not a single one that I would recommend.
10. Imitators - From beauty innovators to magazines, to those of us who author beauty and fashion blogs, there is always someone trying to copy someone. Or something. Yes, imitation can be a form of flattery, but we can do without most imitations. The products and people rarely live up to the hype.

Again, share your worst beauty products/trends/moments in the comments.

CHANEL Spring 2009 Collection - Bohemian Fantasy.

Ok - the year is not even over and I am going to tell you about Spring Collections already? Yes I am. Just a week into Winter, it is so nice to at least dream of the Spring.

Bohemian Fantasy from CHANEL is gorgeous. I have not had a CHANEL Eye Palette in a very long time, but I will definitely be giving this one a good home. It looks beautiful!

Inspired by ‘Coco’ Chanel’s fascination with haute bohemian style, eyes take on deep tones for day and night, while lips are saturated with fiery reds and lush nudes, evoking an earthy sensuality elevated to a new level of sophistication.

The ultimate, the CHANEL Lip Palette, which I think I need, well, just because. It looks to be a collector's item.

LÈVRES SIGNÉES CHANEL – LIPS
Satin Lip Colour - It’s CHANEL lip colour as you’ve never seen it. Five lush satin lip creme shades, from pale pink to deep plum, form the legendary double C signature in a black lacquered case. Complete with a rich velvet pouch and brush applicator, the compact is the epitome of glamour. $60.00

THE COLLECTION
LIPS: Six tempting new shades of ROUGE HYDRABASE Creme Lipstick arrive in luxurious nudes, fiery reds and opulent pinks: Rose Rebelle (pink), Euphoria (intense pink), Fiesta (apricot), Fuego (coral red), Beige Desire (beige) and Gipsy Scarlett (red). Add a translucent wash of colour with AQUALUMIÈRE Sheer Colour Lipshine SPF 15 in Malta (copper) and Positano (beige), or a subtle shimmer with LÈVRES SCINTILLANTES Glossimer in Wild Rose (rosewood) and Beige Guitare (taupe). For rich all-day colour, opt for ROUGE DOUBLE INTENSITÉ Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Alexandrite (red) and Opal Rose (pink).

EYES: CHANEL presents LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in new Mystic Eyes, an inspired palette of plum, pink, beige and bronze. Further accent eyes with metallic touches using OMBRE ESSENTIELLE Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Magic Night (plum shimmer) and Liberty (beige shimmer), or OMBRE D’EAU Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Delta (gold). Finally, define eyes with LE CRAYON YEUX Precision Eye Definer in Brun Cuivré (brown) and magnify lashes with INIMITABLE WATERPROOF Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel Waterproof in Brun (brown).

NAILS: Two new infatuations, Vendetta (dark violet) and Django (beige pink) join the LE VERNIS Nail Colour collection.

FACE: Give skin a flawless, matte finish with POUDRE UNIVERSELLE COMPACTE in Beige. Sculpt cheekbones and décolletage with JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in BRUN, a subtle brown that helps contour bone structure.

The collection is said not to be available until January, but it is available on Chanel.com for purchase already.