This eyeshadow palette from Lancome really packs a punch. The range of warm colors (this is the Couture Warms collection) are saturated and cover a range of wearable colors. The shadows wear *incredibly* well- no creasing or smudging and very little fall-out, even with the intense shades!  The case is great too. Shiny black patent type with padding and a magnetic closure. It feels high-class and I like the padding for travel or carrying along in your purse.

• Strut is a gorgeous deep green perfect for brown or hazel eyes, it’s one of Lancome’s “intense” shades.
• Couture is matte berry brown great for contouring or lining eyes. Also an “intense” shade.
• Designer works well with Strut as it is an olive (think camo or khaki) green with metallic shimmer.
• Model is very unique copper shimmer. I love, love this shadow!!
• Pose is a golden copper metallic. This shadow goes on strong or light depending on your brush. Love it alone or blended for an entire look.
• Vue is my second favorite in the palette. It’s a pink toned neutral shadow with slight shimmer. It’s a perfect base for a “no-makeup” look or as a primer under your other shadows.
• Positive is a matte cream. Beautiful under the brow as a highlighter and in the corners of eyes (by your nose bridge) to brighten.
• Daylight is an absolute matte white. I really like using this for a brow bone highlighter.

Here’s a look I created using Model, Vue, Pose and Positive.

I wanted something to wear with a brown, orange, peach and white spring dress over the weekend. Since the dress was patterned and colorful enough, I did not want something overly dramatic on my eyes. And this look was born! I paired it with a muted red lip stain. But a Berry or red lipstick or gloss would look just as nice.

I primed my lid and just up past the lid with Vue.

Then I used Positive on my brow bone and blended the line between Vue and Positive really well.

In the very center of my lid (just above your iris when looking straight ahead), I applied Pose.

For the outer corner of my lid, I used Model. I then blended the shadows on my lid together (Vue is still in the crease, Pose in the middle, and Model in the outer) slightly so there were no strong changes in color.

For a little extra punch and to define my eyes, I used my favorite black kohl eyeliner to draw a very thin line along my upper lashes. For night, you could line both your top and bottom lashes.

Finished with 1 coat of black mascara.

Lancome’s Color Design Artist Palette is available online at Lancome-USA.com for $70. You can choose from the Couture Warms (which I reviewed), Stylish Neutrals (browns and mauves), or Best Dressed Cools (range of blues and grays).

CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) announced their annual beauty award winners on May 2nd. Here’s the breakdown by product type, and market range (budget/mass or expensive/prestige). Have you tried any of the products? If so, what are your thoughts, raves, dislikes?

Bath and Body
Body Treatment
Mass: Olay Thermal Pedicure
Prestige: Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins (TM) The Way of the Bath(TM) Matcha Tea Body Scrub

Scented Bath and Body
Mass: Johnsons(R) Softoil(TM) Melt Away Stress Massaging Moisturizer
Prestige: Tom Ford Beauty Black Orchid Finishing Oil Spray

Facial Skincare
Acne Treatment
Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy

Anti-Aging
Mass: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Prestige: Shiseido Cosmetics (America) Ltd. Bio-Performance Intensive Skin Corrective Program

Cleanser and Scrub
Mass: Dove SkinVitalizer
Prestige: philosophy The Microdelivery Micro-massage Exfoliating Wash

Eye Treatment
Mass: Olay Regenerist Eye Derma-Pod Anti-Aging Triple Response System
Prestige: Estee Lauder Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Eye Creme

Moisturizer
Mass: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX
Prestige: Estee Lauder Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer

Hair Care and Coloring
Mass: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek and Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray
Prestige: Frederic Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm

Makeup
Eye Product
Mass: CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara
Prestige: Dior DiorShow Blackout Mascara

Face Product
Mass: Almay Smart Shade(R) Blush and Bronzer
Prestige: Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

Lip Product
Mass: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour
Prestige: YSL Beaute Lip Twins

Men’s Skincare
Clinique Skin Supplies for Men M Cover

Scent
Men’s Scent
Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Silver Factory

Women’s Scent
Marc Jacobs Fragrances Daisy Marc Jacobs

Sun
Mass: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70
Prestige: Estee Lauder Multi-Protection Sun Towelettes for Body SPF 15

Indie Beauty Award
bettybeauty, inc (tie)
Clark’s Botanicals (tie)

Anyone who orders from Ferro Cosmetics and mentions BIONIC BEAUTY is offered a FREE Mini of their choice- just mention Bionic Beauty at checkout and which Mini you would like.
Plus, if you sign up for the Ferro newsletter first, you’ll receive 15% off your first order (that’s the new subscriber special) so it’s a double bonus!

So, if you didn’t win the Bionic Ferro Mineral Makeup giveaway (Congrats again, Claudia!), this is your chance to save some money and order some of their great products!

Walgreens is offering a free sample of Celine Dion’s latest foray into the fragrance world “Sensational“. Visit Walgreens.com to request yours. No strings attached, just a quick form to complete. However, this freebie is for USA residents only and there’s a limited supply so act quickly. Enjoy!

There’s a new poll on Bionic Beauty. I’m asking you if you plan to head to the movie theater to watch the new Sex and the City movie. Is it even on your radar? Or was the show just “so-so” for you? Or, are you already planning your outfit and ready to order tickets?

Personally, for summer movies, I’m thrilled about the new Indiana Jones and The Dark Knight (the next Batman). I cannot wait to see those on the big screen!

So go ahead share your anticipation on the Sex and the City movie by voting in the new poll in the left sidebar of the blog.

Read more for the results of the previous poll…

[Read more →]

To the Moms across the globe and world wide internet, “Happy Mother’s Day!”

My mom lives about 5 hours from us, so we don’t get to visit too much, but we talk a few times a week and email quite often.  My mom always shared beauty advice (some I would take, some I wouldn’t- just like every daughter, I assume) and she raised my sister and I to be strong, independent women. Even though I moved out right after high school, she does not treat me like I’m only 18. She respects me and my decisions and because of that, we go to each for advice and are happy to help each other out.  Through my younger years, she would get up hours before work to take care of all our pets (and we had TONS), make us breakfast, pack lunches, and then she’d head to the barn to feed my horse breakfast, turn him out and finally she would head to work. I’m not sure how she did everything. To this day, her parrots have a cleaner house than I do! :)  She certainly allowed me to get bit by the critter bug, and I would not be the person I am today without my Mom.

The picture above was taken during the summer of me being 16, just outside of Blairsville, Georgia. My parents would drive me 13 hours to the north Georgia mountains to spend the summer at Trackrock Campground. I would work at the stable all summer- guiding trail rides, teaching vacationers to ride horses and training my horse for barrel racing. My parents would make the drive a least once more during the summer to visit and again at the end to pick me up. Dedication.

Mom, I love you!

And now, onto the gifts…

I bought my mom, mother-in-law, and a close friend a Mother’s Day gift pack of Herbaria Soaps. I picked the varieties based on each personality. I’m also bringing 4 bars to another friend’s baby shower today. I figure if I am addicted to these soaps, I should share my obsession. So what did you ladies buy for Mom?

I’m very honored! Jen from Mythbuster Beauty has nominated Bionic Beauty for a 2008 Blogger’s Choice Award in the category of Best Shopping Blog. I’d appreciate it if any readers could spare some time to vote.

Here are the steps to vote:

1. Visit this BCA link.
2. In the upper portion of your screen, click the Sign Up link (unless you already have a BCA login, then click the Log In link).
3. Fill out the short form (your name, email address, pick a username, password, etc). Be sure to check the box that you are over 13 (if you are, of course), and *uncheck* the “keep me informed” box (that way you don’t get any extra emails in your inbox).
4. Submit the form. You’ll then see a “Successful Signup” screen.
5. You’ll get a confirmation email in your inbox, confirm your email address by following the instructions in this email. (Don’t worry, you won’t get spammed by BCA, they are very reputable.)
6. In the upper right corner of your screen, type Bionic Beauty in the search box.
7. Pick bionic-beauty.com from the results, and select “Best Shopping Blog” from the drop down.
8. You’re now at Bionic Beauty’s polling screen. Just click the yellow Vote button to cast your vote.

I appreciate you all taking the time and energy to do this. It just makes my day!