Nails in British Vogue, November 2011

Page scanned from British Vogue, November 2011

Aren't these fun?  I especially like the two by David Barton, Sophy Robson's V-Gap nails for Antonio Berardi, and the snakeskin effect by Jenny Longworth. 

Cabled Cardigan, Vogue Knitting Fall 2011

It's crazy to start a new knitting project with everything else I have on my plate but I couldn't resist this beautiful cardigan!

I'm making it in gray Amherst Valley Yarns.   I would love to have made it in the color shown, but I'd like to see the yarn first.  Maybe later.  Now that I've figured out the chart, it's coming along pretty quickly.  So if it looks OK when finished, I may make the green one too.  Can't have too many cardigans.  There are problems with the chart, but I found errata on Ravelry.

One of my knitting buddies, Deb, is making it too.

Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation, Trench No.8 and Trench No.9

After my experience with Chanel Perfection Lumiere (PL), in which I learned that my complexion can fall between shades, I decided to test a couple of samples of Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation, (1 oz., $52) before buying.  Because the weather is much cooler than when I tested PL, and because this formula is supposed to hydrate, I prepped my skin with a light-weight moisturizer with SPF, but no primer, before applying Trench No.9, then Trench No.8, the two darkest colors.  I wore each for two days. 

I applied the foundation with a kabuki brush, switching to a foundation brush for under eye application.  It has a moderately strong, but pleasant scent that dissipates quickly.  Though it is sheer, the foundation is buildable, and nicely covered slightly dark areas, including under my eyes, in lieu of a concealer.  It dried down quickly into a natural skin-like finish neither dewy, nor matte.  It lasted the eight hours that I wore it, without any signs of fading.

Trench No. 9, the darkest shade, seemed to be the best color match when applied to my jaw, so I tested it first.   For reference, I match MAC NC45, Chanel PL Beige Amber 44 and Beige 60, and Le Métier Flawless Finish Foundation #10.  It darkened a half-shade after drying down (if that's possible) than my neck, but was the same shade as my hands.  I only needed light blotting in the T zone by noon, which, for me, is par for the course.  Thumbs up!

Trench No.8 was a tad too light on application, but darkened to my natural shade and blended nicely from the jaw line into my neck.   Perfect! 

Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation contains UV filters.  Because I tested samples, I don't have a box to reference for other ingredients, nor are they published on Burberry or Nordstrom sites where it is sold.  Cafe Makeup published a list here.  

Burberry is available at Nordstrom online and at a few of their stores.  I got my samples from Kristy Hoffman at the San Francisco Nordstrom on Market Street, 415-243-8500, kristy.hoffman@nordstrom.com. 

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadows - Porcelain No.03 and Midnight Brown No.21

It was hard to capture the apricot hue of Porcelain No.03 in an arm swatch.  It's a perfect eye shadow base for my NC45 skin tone:  apricot looks more natural than yellow or pink.  A tiny hint of shimmer keeps it from looking flat on my eyelid, and makes it a great highlighter too, adding just the right amount of lightness without being too light or shiny.  Midnight Brown No.21 has more shimmer than other Burberry shadows, a silvery shimmer which gives it a cool tone, if a brown can be cool.  You taupe lovers will say that sounds like taupe, but no, this shadow is brown! Both shadows are finely milled, allowing them to glide on and blend without the least resistance even over the NARS eye shadow base I use.  There was no fall out. 

Burberry Porcelain No. 03 is applied on the entire lid and under the brow;
Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in Black lines the outer half of the upper and lower eye;
Burberry Midnight Brown No. 21 applied in the crease and over the black eyeliner;
YSL Noir Radical Mascara;
Elizabeth Arden Dual Perfection Brow Shaper and Eye Liner in Sable 03 on brows.

I love these shadows and will wear them often.

I was happy to see that Burberry has expanded its foundation color range a bit and got a sample to test.

Burberry is available at Nordstrom online and at a few of their stores.  I bought my products from Kristy Hoffman at the San Francisco Nordstrom on Market Street, 415-243-8500, kristy.hoffman@nordstrom.com.  She's always enormously helpful when I'm there and is happy to answer questions and ship.  She gave me this little baby Rosewood lipstick this time. Here it is next to a full-sized tube. Isn't it cute? I love little samples like these.

Favorite Things

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, SPF 20 in Deep Bronze.  The last impossibly humid weeks of September gave me a new appreciation for what workhorse this tinted moisturizer is!  It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, buildable, and water resistant.  It never budged, lasting at least 15 hours with no fading.

Rock and Republic Kabuki Brush.  Not only do I love the airbrushed look of foundation applied with a kabuki brush, I love the speed with which I can apply it, a real boon most mornings.  This brush came with a R&R bronzer and unfortunately is no longer available, but there are many good kabuki brushes out there. 

Chanel Kaska Beige is the shadow quad I automatically reach for when I have a rushed morning. The quad pictured here is my second. The shades in this warm colored quad are perfect neutrals for me.  Most days I apply them over powdered lids, and they last all day with little fading.

The reformulated version of Chanel’s eyebrow pencil applies much more smoothly than the old one.  And it’s waterproof, so didn’t dribble down my temples before I got to the office!  I use "Brun Naturel."

Lip products go on last and by that time I need to run at the door!  I throw on Chanel Chocolate lip pencil, and this month Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick “Sydney” and “Peche Crème” spent the entire month in my handbag, ready for application on the bus.  They produce three beautiful looks, depending upon my wardrobe.  Sometimes I used Sydney alone for an up-to-date burnt orange look; Peche Crème layers beautifully over Sydney, lightening the color a bit, or sometimes I used Peche Crème alone.  If applied first, Sydney lasts through lunch with some color left after eating.    

Finally, I wore Chanel “Graphite” on my nails all month.  It’s a perfect neutral for me!

What are your favorite things?