from Sassi, who lived it...: chanel

Showing posts with label chanel. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

❧❦ Haul Time! Chanel, Coach, Armani, Tom Ford, Jo Malone ❦❧

Lisbeth Dahl makeup bags

I love Lisbeth Dahl. I just wish it was easier to find their products in the US. I frequently search Ebay and Amazon for items, or order them from Europe. But this time I found a cosmetic bag at Southern Simplicity. They have since sold out of this one, but they do have a pretty flounced version still available and on sale! These bags are roomy enough for a sizable makeup stash, but pretty enough to sit on your vanity.

Coach Pave Disc Earrings with pink crystals

I was searching for the perfect pair of earrings to wear on Christmas day, and I found these pave disc earrings with pink crystals at Coach. They have since sold out of the pink crystal ones online, but I saw these in my local Coach store last week. In the end, I didn't wear these earrings after all, but I love wearing them to work - especially when I know I'm going out after dark.

Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Ivory

I had passed on this color for the longest time. Each time I visited a Chanel counter I would test the shadow on my hand, but for some reason I never bought it. Then, a few weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and finally add it to my Chanel makeup collection. And I'm so glad I did! A slightly yellow/white shimmer, it's perfect for a brow bone highlight.

Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel in Espresso

My second tube of this tinted brow gel, it matches my eyebrow color perfectly, and enhances it. If I am going through a patchy eyebrow phase (I'm sure it happens to all of us on occasion), then I'll supplement the brow gel with a smudge of an eyebrow pencil (usually Boots). My only gripe is the huge mascara-like brush. I wish the brush was smaller, because no one has brows that thick. It's just not possible.

Armani Eyes to Kill 6

I couldn't resist Armani's Eyes to Kill 6. (Although I hate it when cosmetics companies get lazy and don't name their products and just assign them a number!) It has flecks of green, gold and brown - flattering to my dark brown eyes.

Tom Ford Bordeaux Lust

I found some Tom Ford makeup and nail polish at my local CCO. It's a beautiful color but not worth paying full price for. I was disappointed in the eyeshadows they had there. So I snapped up this instead. It's a rich, dark and sexy red. I can't say that it has any more staying power than other brands like Chanel or OPI, though.

Dior Blush Brush

I saw The Natalie Anna use this blush brush in one of her tutorials, and I was smitten! Big, fluffy makeup brushes are my weakness and this one is no exception. It's certainly not a necessity but it is a lovely brush that buffs color beautifully on the cheeks.

Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit

And finally, Ginger Biscuit by Jo Malone. It really does have a gingery, fresh baked cookie kind of smell that is very caramelized. I can't rave about this enough - I think I wore it every day for a week when I first got it. It's very strong, and a little goes a long way.

That is all.

Take care,
The Sassi Wench

Friday, March 9, 2012

❧❦ My Chanel Nail Polish Collection ❦❧

My Chanel Nail Polish Collection

Chanel Nail Polishes

Chanel Nail Polish Swatches

Note about the swatches - Pirate is more red than it appears here - it is notoriously difficult to photograph.

Chanel Peridot

I began collecting Chanel Nail Polishes in 2010, and my collection has grown a little since then. Because these polishes are so expensive, I pick and choose very cautiously and carefully.

As with many brands, some colors apply easily, and others may streak, require more coats, and ultimately not last as long.

The one thing that Chanel has done really well (aside from creating the timeless packaging), is design a fabulous application brush. I have sampled many brands over the years but I find that the brushes Chanel uses enable me to apply color very accurately every time, with only minimal clean up.

I find that there are standouts in most brands, and Chanel is no exception. Chanel's Particulière lasts longer on my nails than any of the other colors here, and that is the color I have used the most out of all of these colors.

The other stunner, is undoubtedly Peridot - the "It" color of 2011. When I first saw it I was mesmerized by the color - green, gold and blue all at once. Absolutely stunning.

Check out the latest nail colors from Chanel here.

- The Sassi Wench

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Chanel Holiday 2011 Makeup Brush Set Les Minis de Chanel

Chanel Makeup Brush Gift Set

Chanel Makeup Brushes: COLLECTION OF 6 ESSENTIAL MINI BRUSHES Limited Edition

What Chanel says about this set:

This set of six essential mini brushes for a complete makeup look includes: smudge brush, angled lip brush, angled eyeshadow brush, lash/eyebrow brush, foundation/concealer brush and angled powder brush. Encased in a spacious signature cosmetics bag, adorned with the Chanel logo in festive red.

Chanel Signature Cosmetic Bag

The Chanel intertwined "C's" in bold red are simply stunning!

The makeup bag has the Chanel logo in red

Les Minis de Chanel holiday brush set

The one thing that I do no like in this set is the spoolie brush. It's flimsy and unnecessary. I would have preferred another brush.

Chanel Angled Powder Brush, Foundation and Concealer Brush, Lash and Eyebrow Brush

Chanel Angled Eyeshadow Brush, Smudge Brush and Angled Lip Brush

The makeup bag is nice really nice - very practical with a zipper pocket with room enough to store a Chanel eyeshadow quad palette and some other makeup items.

Chanel mini brushes inside a signature Chanel makeup bag

I compared the mini foundation brush with the new Chanel Foundation Brush #6 to give some perspective.

Chanel Foundation Brush #6 versus the Les Minis foundation brush.

The Chanel logo in red on the brush handles

Because I travel so much, hauling around my favorite makeup brushes has always been a source of stress for me. I worry about scratching the handles or losing some (or all) of them. I've known for quite some time that I need to find a compact and efficient travel makeup brush set.

I bought two MAC LE Nordstrom brush sets a few years ago, but the quality of some of those brushes is so bad that they are my least favorite. In fact, I haven't used them in years. It was a complete waste of money. The blush brush in one of these sets has some some thick, scratchy and hard synthetic fibers that I simply cannot use on my face.

It didn't help that I've been lusting after the 2009 Chanel holiday brush set for years. But alas, that set is long gone and of course today is nowhere to be found. When the 2010 holiday season rolled around, I didn't care for the 2010 Chanel brush set. But when I saw the 2011 set online, I knew that this was the travel brush set that I had been waiting for!

Upon arrival, my first impression was the red Chanel logo is stunning! The second - these brushes are tiny! While they fit in my medium size hands comfortably, I think that it might be a bit awkward for women with larger hands to deal with some of the smaller brushes in this set.

I haven't had the opportunity to really use these brushes, because I just got the set this week. Once I use them I'll post a review on each brush.

I ordered this set online from the Chanel website for $125.

- The Sassi Wench

Friday, November 4, 2011

October 2011 Favorites

The Sassi Wench October 2011 Favorites with the Urban Decay Quinceañera Makeup Bag

In October my makeup palette of choice was my Stila In the Light Palette. It's a collection of 10 of Stila's most popular colors, including Kitten, and it includes a Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in dark brown.

Stila In the Light Palette

Other favorites in October include:

Bulgari Mon Jasmine Noir To Go

NARS Night Series Nail Polish Night Rider

NARS Bangkok Lipstick

Sally Beauty Sanding Stick

Edward Bess Luxury Face Brush

Macadamia Oil Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Mally Volumizing Mascara

Chanel Eyelash Curler

Urban Decay Quinceanera Makeup Bag

For my October Favorites/Halloween theme video, I decided to go with a vintage look I've loved for years - Priscilla Presley in heyday, with more eyelashes, mascara and lipstick than a Las Vegas Showgirl! It was when she was the bride of Elvis Presley in 1967.

Priscilla Presley Makeup

The Sassi Wench in bridal makeup inspired by Priscilla Presley

It took me about two hours of fussing with two sets of false eyelashes, adding layers of mascara and lipstick and lipgloss to get this look! I don't know how she did it each day - it must have been torture!

The Sassi Wench in 1960's Priscilla Presley makeup

To get this look I used:
Stila Jewel Eyeshadow Palette - Black Diamond
MAC blush in Dame
MAC Yogurt Eyeshadow
MAC Lipstick in Naturally Eccentric
Stila Lip Pencil
Clinique Lipgloss
Asastasia Brow Duality in Matte Camille/Sand Shimmer (layered)
Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Waterproof Eyeliner
Two sets of false eyelashes

- The Sassi Wench

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Eyeshadow Haul - Chanel, MAC, Clinique

I haven't bought Chanel makeup in years. I went through a Chanel phase, starting when I was living in London 10 years ago, but then I kind of lost interest in it.

I'm not exactly sure why, but I think I bought a lip gloss or some kind of lip palette, and it smelled so strongly of roses (not my favorite scent) that I couldn't bare to use it.

In fact, the last Chanel I purchased was a creamy eye-shadow palette where the colors looked like little pearls. The base of the palette broke after about a week (how? I don't know!), and it squashed all the eyeshadow pearls. I wasn't that impressed with the product anyway, and so it was au revoir Chanel!

Recently, I went to a Chanel beauty event at my local department store, Lord and Taylor, and I watched in amazement as the resident makeup artiste transformed a rather dowdy (by her own admission) grandmother into an attractive woman! He used Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow, and I was intrigued! It took me a while, but finally I gave in and took the plunge, and I purchased the Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Dunes.

Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow Dunes.

I couldn't help experiencing a tingle of excitement upon seeing the protective pouch!

The Chanel protective pouch.

I love looking at brand new, untouched makeup!

I have dark brown eyes, so even though I can wear a many different eye-shadow colors, classic neutral shades simply look the best on me.

Chanel 47 Dunes Quad.

I also decided to invest in Chanel's Base Lumiére, because the artiste used this during his demonstration, with stunning results. I caved in and purchased this, but I didn't realize how small the container would be! For some reason I thought it was double this size. But a little goes a long way. I have dry skin, but thanks to the Base Lumiére, it actually makes my skin look dewey again.

So, mission accomplished - I'm using Chanel products again.

Chanel Base Lumiére

I bought this MAC eyeshadow in Henna, and on reflection, I have decided to give it to my sister. She has Heterochromia, otherwise known as someone who has two different (completely different, in her case) color eyes! She has a kind of gray/brown eye, and a deep green eye. It's completely hereditary (she's not the only one in the family), and on her it looks really striking. Often people don't even notice it, and yet others can't figure out what is different about her.

Heterochromia - The Scarlett Wench, sister of The Sassi Wench!

Anyway, she has to stick to more neutral colors, and a deep, rich golden olive green like Henna is just perfect for her!

MAC Henna.

MAC's olive golden green Henna up close.

And finally, I just couldn't resist this - Clinique Fresh Bloom Eye Shadow in 01 Maple Blossom. It's a silvery taupe color duo that is simply stunning!