If there’s one thing I love and hate about seasonal holiday periods it’s definitely the gorgeous collectible make up sets that are pushed out to tug at your heart strings. After the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 3, I can safely say I have enough eyeshadows palettes to last me the whole of next year.

So although I might not be buying any more eyeshadows (I reckon one month of abstinence should be a good start), I can still tempt you to buy some right? Heehee.

Because it’s December and the end of the year is coming, bring out your party clothes and most glamourous make up because it’s time to make merry. The bareMinerals Shimmer & Shine Collection seems well stocked for that. It’s a 10 collection packed with paraben-free, sulphate-free mineral make up that will set you glowing in the most brilliant shades.

What’s inside:
- 4 x 0.01 oz Eyecolor in Shimmer (frosted cappuccino), Flicker (burnished violet), High Shine Gold Medal (pale gold), and High Shine Vapor (graphite)
- 0.012oz Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black
- 0.02 Clear Radiance All-Over Face Color (sheer translucent glow)
- 0.02 oz Pink Petal Blush (bright poppy pink)
- 0.14 oz 100% Natural Lipgloss in With a Twist (tulip pink)
- 0.14 oz 100% Natural Lipgloss in Sprinkles (diamond shimmer)
- Full Tapered Blush & Eye Brush
- Booklet featuring instructions for Shimmer and Shine looks

Sejaa’s philosophy is simple: Love life. They do that by being conscious, being grateful for what they’ve been given and by taking care of what they value—including our planet, each other and ourselves. Something I can fully relate to. It’s paying attention to what we have to fully appreciate how blessed we are.

Their products, including packaging and manufacturing, have been well thought out to fully stick to its green values.

- Labels are printed with soy-based VOC-free inks.
- Manufactured using post-consumer waste paper.
- 100% recyclable Forest Stewardship Council certified fibers.
- Manufactured with clean hydroelectric power. Hydroelectricity produces no waste and does not produce carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas.

Most impressive, is the fact that Sejaa’s products are manufactured with Green-e Certified Renewable Electricity (windpower). Green e-certified Wind Power Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) have been purchased to support the development of new wind-powered renewable energy generation. Wind power consumes no fuel for continuing operation, and has no emissions directly related to electricity production. Operation does not produce carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, particulates, or any other type of air pollution.

A $70 2-oz jar of day or night cream may not having us looking like Gisele anytime soon, but the 100% natural ingredients might do good for sensitive skin types.

All formulas are never tested on animals and the collection is sold exclusively on the Sejaa website.

Tying up with Disney, British designer Stella McCartney has hand-made necklaces and bracelets for this movie. The adorable charms hang off a gold chain and come in the form of a rabbit, the Hatter’s top hat, a heart, spade, diamond and clubs; all of which represent the various prominent characters from the movie. Faux pearls add a touch of feminine elegance to the accessory.

As much I love charm bracelets, I feel Tom Binns, on the other hand, has designs that are thoroughly stunning. The necklaces are layered, bracelets are chunky and teeming with charms of all sorts. Now, that’s the way to go when it comes to being charmed. The luxury fantasy pieces scream decadence and embody the essence of Tim Burton’s take on the movie so well. Their darkness and gothic elements reflect Burton’s personality to a T.

images from boutiquetoyou.com

Then there’s crystal-makers Swarovksi who’ve pushed out necklaces, rings and even earrings with gorgeous pendants ALL encrusted with their brilliant crystals. I’m most impressed at how they’ve made the entire range of jewelry depicting almost all the main characters: Alice Kingsley, The White Rabbit, The Chesire Cat, The Mad Hatter, The Flower Garden, The Tea Party, The Red Queen.

images from Swarovski

I absolutely love how they thought about the little details that make each character unique. For instance, because the Mad Hatter is a hat-maker, the necklace has a scissors and thread spools to reflect his craft. The Cheshire Cat necklace, on the other hand, has the head and tail of the cat because he is famous for disappearing. Brilliant!

Which of the three jewelry designs do you like most? If I had to pick, I’d pick either Tom Binns or Swarovski! I wouldnt mind getting my hands on a few of those pieces. Haha.

How cute is the packaging?! They used Disney’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

Blotting Paper with mirror for shine control and their refills.

Lip Treatment that works to add a hint of colour while conditioning dry lips
Sweet Milky Pink – Fantasy (pink set)
Sheer Orange – Daydream (blue set)

According to BritishBeautyBlogger, the collection has launched in February on ASOS.com. I wonder if they’re still available.

Are you as mad-hattered as I am with regards to all the merchandise relating to this movie? I would totally buy everything if I could, because Alice in Wonderland is such a classic!

About M.A.C Viva Glam:

Time to wham up the GLAM in VIVA VIVA GLAM !…and celebrate the indestructible idea that ALL girls (and boys) just wanna have fun! It’s a gaga-glamorous look at our abiding passion: The M·A·C AIDS Fund and the VIVA GLAM program are the heart and soul of M·A·C Cosmetics.

Established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS globally, VIVA GLAM I, II, III, IV, V and VI were launched as continuous shades and have achieved tremendously gratifying success over the years. Spring 2010 sees two new Lipstick shades introduced as limited life for 12 months on counter. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the sensational Cyndi Lauper and the electric Lady Gaga!

Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

For all the Cyndi and Gaga fans (me me!) out there, the collection should be out here in Singapore March 2010. I want those gaga-licious pink lips! Ma… ma… ma… Muah!

NARS is one of my favourite makeup brands because the pigments are amazing. My collection of NARS items is small. I only possess the NARS Orgasm blush and bronzer on top of the awesome Pandora eyeshadow palette because they dont carry NARS here in Singapore, otherwise I totally would have more. I got the bronzer and blush from the Philippines while Arissa personally hand-carried the Pandora eyeshadow from the States.

So when they introduced their new Spring collection 2010 consisting of lipsticks, liners, glosses, shadows and polishes, you can imagine my excitement. A chance to own ALL of these at once! OooOoooo….

From the website,

The NARS Spring Collection starts with lips that signal the season, from the deceptively demure Easy Lover Lip Gloss in hot pink, to the nearly nude subtlety of Lipstick in Cruising. For eyes that demand center stage, NARS mixes rosy gold with luscious boysenberry hues and sparkling sienna with moss flecks. A sky blue Glitter Pencil makes the eyes pop. Highlight your mesmerizing new look with Orgasm Illuminator and finish with the next cult nail color, Purple Rain.

I love how the colours are cheery, bright and fresh; obviously meant to make you look as pretty as a spring flower.

The collection can be viewed at Sephora.com. Hooray for online shopping!

What do you think of the new NARS Spring Collection?

Lip Pencil – A pencil designed for shaping, lining or filling in the lip.
Beet – Vivid Reddish-pink
Dervish – Pinky-mauve
Redd – Clearly Red

Lipstick – Colour plus texture for the lips.
Lovelorn – Emotive blue pink (Lustre)
Lickable – Bright clean blue pink (Cremesheen)
Lady Danger – Vivid bright coral-red (Matte)
Snob – A ladylike mauve (Satin)
Violetta – Bright violet (Amplified Creme)

Dazzleglass Creme – The M?A?C cult favourite Dazzleglass with a creamier, smoother, but no less shiny or dazzling effect.
My Favourite Pink – Light Blue Pink With Pearl
Creme Allure – Bright Yellow Plum
Totally Fab – Bright Yellow Red With Pearl

I’m not that much of a lippie girl (more of an eyeshadow person), but I’m totally diggin’ the lipsticks Lovelorn, Lady Danger and the Dazzleglass Creme in Totally Fab and My Favourite Pink! Although this is a slightly dated collection and you cant find these in stores, you can still get them at maccosmetics.com. Maybe they should have launched this a leeeeeettllee later for people like me who do last minute shopping. Haha.

My love affair is with eyeshadows. What’s yours?

I know I do.

Image courtesy of M.A.C Cosmetics

With the arrival of a new year, new season, there’s always a good excuse reason to buy makeup.

There’s something very seductive about lace. Something alluring, sexy, sensual yet not too over the top about lace. I love how lace embodies femininity yet at the same time shrouds you in some sort of a mystery. I love a good mystery, dont you?

This new collection captures precisely just that with subtle yet smokey eyeshadows, pale pink lipsticks and tinted lipglass.

The look features primarily the eyes. They are dramatic and bold in cool colours like Suave Intentions and Hypnotizing. The cheeks and lips are kept pale and neutral with just a hint of colour.

A little different from the bright and cheery Spring looks you’d expect, but lace never goes out of fashion. You just might want to consider this look for your upcoming Valentine’s hot dinner date! Always good to seem a little mysterious on your first dates. Haha.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

Let’s not talk about Alice whom everyone obviously knows. But who can forget the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit with his pocket watch, the Cheshire Cat with his amazing wide grin and of course, the Queen of Hearts.

Off with her head!

Not only does the collection come out in time for Spring 2010, it also marks the launch of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie.

The palette comes with 16 eyeshadows, 2 eye liners and it’s famous Urban Decay Primer Potion all in a beautiful box that opens to a pop up of Alice in the mushroom forest.

Named in line with Wonderland, the 16 best-selling eyeshadows are given topsy-turvy names like White Rabbit, Jabberwocky and Oraculum. With the best-selling Urban Decay Primer Potion tucked neatly beside these shadows. I’m quite eagerly awaiting the palette to arrive here so I can lay my grabby little hands on them! I might take a leaf out of the movie stills to inspire me to use the psychedelic colours.

What do you think of this collection? Would you buy it?