Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Estee Lauder Pure Color Extravagant Collection

Hey Glamazons! So, we've previously discussed how much my social calendar has managed to explode over the last couple of weeks (hence my need to consistently change up my makeup look with fun eyeshadow palettes and the like) but we have yet to touch on the topic of holiday beauty products. Or, maybe I should phrase those last words to say "holiday beauty products that you should be giving or getting." (Yes, I do like that verbiage much better!)

Because of the beauty blogging junkie that I am (cc: Amber Katz, the head honcho of beauty blogging junkies) I've somehow managed to amass all of these great products and press releases about fun holiday collections. And, of course, it is imperative that I share all of my faves with you as soon as possible so that you can go ahead and start purchasing. Let's start with the luxe Estee Lauder, shall we?

Never one to shy away from the most beautiful, opulent packaging out there, this season their holiday collection is all about "extravagant indulgence." In the words of my makeup loving mentor (and honorary Glamazon!) Mikki Taylor "How fabulous!"

Designed by my makeup BFF/Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux (Side Note: Yes, he beat my face once as evidenced above in that picture of us which gives me butterflies everytime I look at it!) each product in the line "wraps your features in alluring holiday elegance" as quoted from the press release which just so happens to be totally true!

This collection features:

-Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Extravagant Gold ($42)

-Pure Color Five Color Lip Palette in Extravagant ($42)

-Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Extravagant Red and Extravagant Berry ($22 each)

-Pure Color Gloss in Extravagant Plum; Star Ruby; and Electric Ginger ($20 each)

-Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Extravagant Pearl and Extravagant Night ($18 each)

My personal faves?:

The Pure Color Lip Palette in Extravagant is a must-have for any cocktail clutch. The color is rich enough to be worn alone and there's a nice-sized mirror attached so you can see (and adjust) everything in one fell swoop.

The Pure Color Gloss in Star Ruby (it's the red shade on the right) has somehow turned into my everyday wear lip gloss for the month of December! I just love the sheer juiciness of the color and every time I whip it out on the train for re-application I always notice multiple curious stare from the girls seated around me. It's also the perfect shade to layer over the red lipstick you see above in Extravagant Red.

The Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Extravagant Night is the perfect shimmery/shiny shady of plum that contains loads of glitter but in a sexy, grown up kind of way. (Side note: I'm not really one for a bunch of glitter on my nails. Although I admire it on others, I just don't like it on mine for whatever reason.)

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Extravagant Collection is available for purchase now for a limited time at an E. Lauder beauty counter near you or www.esteelauder.com.

Anyone tried any products from this line yet? Or, after reading this, are you now dying to?!

xo

Ferocia

A Day In The Life: Interview w/Stacey Bendet, Creator of Alice + Oliva (Plus A Look At Her Newest Makeup Collection With MAC)

Hey Glamazons! So, unless you've been hiding underneath a rock these past couple of weeks, I'm sure you've heard all about the fact that MAC hooked up with Alice + Olivia creator Stacey Bendet to create their newest collection . It's fun, flirty and consists of MAC's Dazzleglass Creme lipgloss, Pigment and Nail Lacquer. What's even more fun than playing with the products in the collection? Why, chatting with the designer herself! (That's us pictured together! Isn't she the cutest?! She agreed with me when I said we were very attractive lol) Last night was the official launch party and models along with the media elite gathered at The Beauty Bar to celebrate. Here's what Stacey had to say about the collabo:

Ferocia: Why did you decide to the collection with MAC?

Stacey: MAC has always been one of my favorite brands, just from the purpose of their makeup. I'm like obsessed with all of it and I'm always running to the makeup counters. They always have the most fun colors and, I don't know, I just feel like that's sort of like who my girl is. And, it's not that I don't try a million different makeups because I'm a big collector but, I just love how they do all of their branding. I've always loved how they do their collaborations. So, when they approached me to do something I was really excited because I felt like MAC and Alice + Olivia have a lot of sort of synergies. And it was great. It was so fun!

Ferocia: So, were you really into it when you were creating the collection?

Stacey: Yeah! We were playing with colors, working on the packaging and, you know, it was kind of like what they were like 'Whatever you think makeup is to Alice + Olivia, that's what we wanna do' and it was so sort of like free reign. It was a very fun collaboration.

Ferocia: What's your favorite product in the line?

Stacey: I'm obsessed with the nail polishes because I love funky nails. I have polka dots! I think the colors came out amazing. And the lip glosses are awesome. Like the yellow when you first look at it, it's like 'That's weird!' but then you put it on and it makes you glow.

Side note: Here's the yellow lip gloss she's talking about. It's one of the Dazzleglass Creme's in 'I.Want.Candy' ($18)

Ferocia: What was the inspiration behind the colors that you chose and the names?

Stacey: Well, it was just supposed to be just quintessential Alice + Olivia. So, I wanted the colors to be like really bright, fun and unexpected. It tied into some of our summer collection but it also was just supposed be very like black, white pops of color.

Ferocia: So, are you going to be giving us more cosmetic collections in the future?

Stacey: I'd like to! We'll see!

Ferocia: A fragrance?!

Stacey: Maybe, we'll see, we'll see.

Ferocia: What's the big thing that you must have when it comes to fall beauty?

Stacey: I've been really into red lips. I think it's because my hair is so dark right now.

Ferocia: Can you give us a sneak peek as to what we can expect from from Alice + Olivia this fall?

Stacey: I'm wearing some of it now. It's really rich colors. Kind of rock and roll-y but in kind of a grungier way I'd say. So, there's some really fun pieces coming out. We also launched a whole career line which is all "sexy career." It's dresses and blazers that you can totally wear to the office and then go out in.

The best part of the party were the free manicures! Below is my Beauty Blogging Junkie amiga Amber Katz and AOL Stylelist's Dana Oliver modeling their fresh manis. Fierce, right?! Love that it looks great on all skin tones.

Here's the shade they're rocking. It's called 'Morning.After' ($12).

And here's Dana and I sitting pretty at the event.

The Alice + Olivia collection ranges in prices from $12-$20 and is now available for purchase at all MAC retail stores and maccosmetics.com. Any other Glamazons out there that have gotten their hands on it? If so, what do you think? And who plans on purchasing this collection immediately?!

xo

Ferocia