Lipstick Bandits Holiday Edition: We Do Sparkles. MOAR SPARKLEZ!

December 28, 2011 | 32 Responses

The Lipstick Bandits Holiday Edition is near and dear to my heart because I get to play with glitter. This time around we are layering products over a red lipstick to create a sparkly red lip.

When we came up with this challenge, I thought I was doomed. None of my five lipglosses (yeah… only five) were sparkly enough for the job. I had to be more creative and pulled out Sonia Kashuk Eye Quad in Bronzed Beauty from a swap from fellow Lipstick Bandit Danielle. The gold glitter was chunky and sparkly enough for me.

Giorgio Armani Rouge 406, Chanel Fatale, Sonia Kashuk Bronzed Beauty

Giorgio Armani Rouge 406, Chanel Fatale, glitter from Sonia Kashuk Bronzed Beauty

To get my sparkly holiday lips, I started with Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani in Rouge 406 as a base. I added a small amount of Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Fatale to create a sticky base, then patted the glitter all over for… well, pure awesomeness.

Not the lowest maintenance of lip looks, but holy crap; seeing my lips like this make me want to kick myself and yell out expletives.

If sparkly lips are your thing — and if not, why are we friends? — you definitely have to check out the rest of the Lipstick Bandits’ red and sparkly lips:

See You in 2012, Beauties!

What are your New Year’s Eve plans? As for me, I’m going on a brief hiatus for the rest of my holiday break. Once again thank you for reading Glitter Geek! I appreciate your continued support for Glitter Geek. Have a safe and fantastic New Year!

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Best in Makeup and Nail Sets

November 28, 2011 | 22 Responses

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For the budding artist or makeup junkie

Smashbox Click You’re It Holiday Palette ($56). With 15 eyeshadows, 5 cream eye liners, a lid primer and how-to guides, this is the ultimate colour palette for the creative ones. See swatches on Makeup and Beauty Blog. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For the natural beauty or mama-on-the-go

Laura Mercier The Book of Nudes ($60). Laura makes some of the best eyeshadow palettes on the market; they are soft, luxurious and always well-coordinated. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For the life of the party

Lise Watier Soleil Festive Palette Eyeshadow Trio and Mascara * ($39) and Liquid Gold Eye and Cheek Illuminator * ($25). Lise Watier eye palette — beautifully dressed in gold and black — is sure to be a hit! The classic shades mixed with multi-dimensional glitter is perfect for all the parties she will be crashing this season. See swatches on Beauty Reflections. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Lise Watier counters and online.

For the pickiest girl on your list

Laura Mercier Limited-Edition Mini Lip Glace Set (US$48). Even a lipstick kinda girl (me) will love this gift set. This is for the girl who cannot just have one lip colour in her purse. See swatches on Makeup and Beauty Blog. Available at Laura Mercier counters and online.

P.S. Send you my address?

For the teen girl or the young-at-heart

Nails Inc The Glitterati ($30). I love these chunky glitter polishes from new-to-North-America Nails Inc! Watch your teen girl swoon over her manicure instead of complaining about how gross boys are. See swatches on Oh, Dollymix. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For anyone (Glitter Geek’s TOP PICK)

China Glaze Winter Ice Nail Polish Set ($30). This one is a crowd-pleaser. Wear the nail polishes alone or layered for a true disco ball effect. My absolute favourite is Tinsel Town. Make sure you buy this for your favourite beauty blogger, too. See swatches on Vampy Varnish. Available on NailPolishCanada.com and Trade Secrets.

What are your top picks this year for makeup and nails?

As always, Glitter Geek is a safe place to enable your fellow peers. Go ahead and comment then.

Disclosure: Products marked with * were provided by the manufacturer for editorial consideration only. For more information, see my Editorial and Advertising Policy.

Dupe Alert: Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion vs. Soulstice Spa Troy Nail Polish.

October 3, 2011 | 17 Responses

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Back in July, a black holographic nail polish made this beauty blogger go gaga, and it was called Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion Nail Polish from the Nordstrom-exclusive Rock ‘n’ Romance nail polish set (US$25 for 4 minis). I was so crazy about this little nail polish that I even asked sweet Danielle of Bloomin’ Beauty to custom purchase a set for me (thanks again girl!). In real life it doesn’t disappoint, and it was the definite star of the set.

Recently, Soulstice Spa Troy Nail Polish ($8.50 at NailPolishCanada.com) came into my life. Hmm, Troy sure looked familar. As luck would have it, it’s a dead on dupe of my beloved Chrome Passion.

Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion / Soulstice Spa Troy

Wearing Soulstice Spa Troy (and LMdB Chrome Passion on ring finger) – natural light

This is the first time I tried the Soulstice Spa brand, and honestly I am blown away. The products are free of the toxic trio — toluene, formaldehyde and DBP (click here to read more information), and are also vegan. I have pathetic, sensitive eczema hands and constantly wearing and taking off nail polish makes them itch and burn, so I appreciate that these do not contain nasty chemicals.

Can I also talk about the smell? As in, there is none. I always get a little light headed when I paint my nails, but Soulstice Spa’s nail polish is scent-free. Great for someone whose boyfriend/husband/brother/father usually complains about the room smelling like a cheap nail salon. Here’s another photo, just so you can appreciate the holo glitter that just blows my mind.

Wearing Soulstice Spa Troy (and LMdB Chrome Passion on ring finger) – with flash

I have to say that Soulstice Spa Troy is even better Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion. In the photos, I’m wearing two coats of Troy and three coats of Chrome Passion. Incredible, right? Now you can have your own bottle of Troy for 50% off courtesy of NailPolishCanada.com. Just enter the code TROYGEEK on checkout (one per customer; valid until October 10). You’re totally welcome.

Disclosure: Product was sent by Nail Polish Canada for consideration only.