Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Liquid

This highlighter has gotten some rave reviews from the Rouge Bunny Rouge fans, and I think it's worth the hype. This is actually my first liquid highlighter, and I must say I'm glad that I chose this one to start off on. It's very easy to blend out and the finish is beautiful and dewy. The usual complaint is that the pump gives you way too much product, but I just sort of smear the extra on my neck region. The amount of product is so extremely generous (at 30 ml) that I don't mind. That 30 ml does come at a very high price. I just checked, and it appears that Zuneta has changed over to a "choose your currency" system, so no more playing the exchange market. This highlighter comes in at a whopping $70.58 USD. Holy damn! I did not pay that much. Zuneta often has 20% off codes, and "sheerluxez20" is still active. Whoa.

Swatches in direct sunlight, I tired to get different angles to better show the luminosity

From L to R: Blended Swatch, Heavy Swatch, and GLOB!

Okay, the swatches speak for themselves, this is a beautiful highlighter. An excellent product to have in any dedicated makeup lover's arsenal. However, I'm beginning to realize more and more that I prefer extremely subtle highlighters, and although this product is subtle by most people's standards, it's not as subtle and my usual highlighters. The highlighters that I reach for the most are Edward Bess All Over Seduction cream highlighter, and the Este Lauder Tom Pecheux Pure Color Luminous Powder. Both of which are hardly detectable.

So the verdict: I'm glad I got this, because those 30 ml will probably last me at least 5 years. A $70 purchase for 5 years worth of highlighter isn't so bad. I would recommend you skip this item if you already have a liquid highlighter, but if you're about to run out of one, then by all means run out and get this one. You won't be disappointed.

Photo of the Pump

Chanel Soho Story Collection Picks

So this past week I finally decided that I had to take action. The Chanel Soho Story collection came out for new york fashion week, and more specifically debuted on fashion's night out, which was almost exactly a month ago. I went to Bergdorf's that night, and like a total loyalist, had a makeover at the Paul and Joe counter. In other words, I did not go to the Soho Boutique. I've been trying hard not to think about the Soho release, trying hard not to read the essentially rave reviews from other bloggers (especially Amy at CafeMakeup) but alas, I was overwrought. I am a new yorker after all. I have to show some loyalty, just like how I bought the Absolut Brooklyn. So I trotted on down to Soho after work, and did the damage. I chose the "Soho de Chanel" Highlighter/Blush and the Rouge Coco in "Stunning."

Soho de Chanel really is super awesome. I like the brick red blush portion particularly well. I just don't know how Chanel does it, to be honest. The simmer is so sophisticated. When I put it on my cheeks, it's all glowing and nice. I usually reach for matte shades for my cheeks, but I have to admit that this type of shimmer is so seductive. The highlighter portion is less exciting, mainly because it's difficult (for me) to get just that bit on my brush. But I have a feeling that my skillz are not up to par with the experts.

All pictures taken in bright sunlight . . . said captain obvious.

I don't really know how I managed to get my hands on the Rouge Coco Lipstick in Stunning, considering how late it is in the game. But this particular lipstick was a return, from just that very day, and the sales associate told me that I was a very lucky girl. I think it takes more than getting your hands on a lamely limited edition product to make a girl lucky, more like living to see another day and all that, but whatever. This is actually the one item out of the collection that I wanted the most, so why am I complaining? This is my first Rouge Coco, and I'm not that impressed with the formula. It's drying and smells too much of . . . flowery cosmetics. But the color is super nice. See for yourself:

Bright sunlight swatch

As for the rest of the collection, all I can say is "ehh." The nail polishes didn't really rock my boat. And neither did the other lip items. I swear, if Chanel comes out with another baby pink lipgloss with sparkles, I'm going to lose my shit. Oh wait, I already must have lost it when the released freaking "Charming" for the Holiday collection. Oh well.

Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlit and Afterglow

Basically, anything called "all over seduction" has got to be a home run product. Edward Bess has a way with naming products. Everything is either "seductive" or "ultra luminous" or "slick." The man is a genius, fo' real. The product "pure seduction" is a small compact highlighter that comes in a sleek black lacquer compact with a mirror. Don't be put off by the small size, this highlighter is pure gold.

Sunlit on the Left, Afterglow in the Right

Sunlit is a very subtle and natural pale highlight. It's excellent for brow bones, inner eye corners, and top of cheek bones. Because of the sheer nature of the product, I think any skin tone could use it, even the very darkly complected. Afterglow is the darker of the two and equally as subtle and natural. It's also good for all of the same application types, but I actually use it differently. I use Afterglow under my eyes, blended in with my HG Ellis Faas concealer in S202. I concentrate Aftergow at the inner corner under part (if that makes any sense) and leave the outer under eye just concealer. The effect is pretty awesome, if I do say so.

Swatched in full sunlight, from L to R: Sunlit, Afterlgow

Edward Bess All Over Seduction highlighters run for $38 apiece. I know, I know, expensive, but this is why I've slowly acquired all this EB goodness over a long period of time. Seriously, I go every quarter.

Edward Bess products are available online at Edwardbess.com, and Neiman Marcus. If you're in the New York area, you can always stop by Bergdorf's. I also heard that Edward Bess might be coming to Nordstroms, but that might just be an internet rumor (or something I made up).