I’m thankful that I have a skin tone that’s pretty easy to match to a foundation shade. No tweaking necessary. But tweaking or customizing colors isn’t all bad. Sometimes it can be fun, like the last time you layered two gorgeous lip colors and produced an even more stunning, if that was possible, shade.

That is the sort of mentality I had to take with the NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Calabria ($24 US). It’s a truly beautiful color on it’s own, but it applies to the need for some minor adjustments because of its disappointing formula.

This eggplant plum has such a lovely richness and complexity like the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never that I reviewed recently. Unfortunately Calabria is too creamy to last long and creases on me rather quickly, a few hours.

What this really needs is a lot of smudging and sheerly applied layers with powder eyeshadow on top to make it work. It sounds like a lot, but if the mood for purple eyes strikes this is definitely worth it.

In fact, I had a hard time picking a swatch photo. In some shots and in real life, the color has a smokier tone and in others it’s more jewel-like. That gives it a little bit of versatility in that you can layer anything from a lilac to a violet shadow on top and Calabria will give it some sort of depth.

I had the best results very lightly laying down a hint of color, smoothing that layer with a synthetic shadow brush, then going back in with whatever powder eyeshadow. I suggest black eyeliner to make the eye look pop, but would not recommend using Calabria as an eyeliner as it smudges too readily.

What do you think of Calabria? How would you wear the purple color this Summer?

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This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by PR.   We do not do paid or guarantee reviews. For more information, please read our Editorial & Content Disclosure.

Bronze hues with bright lips and nails are forever a classic portrait of Summer makeup. As seasoned beauty addicts, we technically may not need that new bronzer or neon lip stain, but they’re just so fun to buy it’s hard to resist!

Like many, I’ve already decided to splurge on one of this season’s gorgeous bronzers (The only question is which?), so there isn’t a lot of leeway in the makeup budget. It’s a good thing the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set ($29 US) helps stretch that dollar while bringing us the trendiest lip colors.

These mostly sheer glosses add a hint of color and sparkle that invites you to play with the prettiest lip layering combinations imaginable. The vibrantly colored hues deposit just the right amount of shine and a thin layer of pigment that boosts any lippie worn underneath.

Going from left to right we have: Candy (bubblegum pink), Buff (nude), Hibiscus (fuchsia), Papaya (peach), and Star (pearlescent shine).

I tried Smashbox’s tip for applying Star on top of any lip color to tone it down and it worked like a charm. The whitish, clear sheerness adds shine while subtly muting the intensity of the color beneath.

My favorites are Papaya, which has this hot orange undertone that is so chic now, and Hibiscus, which features intense gold sparkles that make lips look extra eye-catching.

These glosses aren’t full-sized, but at .19oz they’re more than generous minis and will definitely last the entire season. The squeeze tube and slant applicator make them easy to take on the go as well.

What Summer makeup have you been buying lately? Have you picked up any new glosses yet?

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This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by PR.   We do not do paid or guarantee reviews. For more information, please read our Editorial & Content Disclosure.

I have a penchant for dark or glittery polishes. All the better if they happen to be both. There’s not a lot of pink in my stash though. Maybe it’s because pink nails get a rep for being girly and old-fashioned.

While the NARS Nail Polish in Trouville ($18 US) may be guilty of being unapologetically girly, old-fashioned it is not. From their Summer 2012 Collection, this polish is a great compromiser for pink.

This bubblegum pink shade has enough brightness to feel right for Summer, without sacrificing the ballerina pink softness that makes the color so feminine. This should appeal to both a pink loyalist and newbie. This would also be an appropriately trendy nail color to wear to the office since it only boarders on a brighter pink.

The smooth formula certainly helps create that rich-looking color. I suggest waiting more than a few seconds between coats to achieve true opacity, something I should have done. Two coats was all I needed and am wearing in the photo.

From my limited experience with NARS lacquers, durability isn’t an issue. I got about six days of wear with minimal tip wear when I added a base and top coat.

Are pink nails your thing? What do you think of NARS’s nail polish formula?

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This review contains sample products sent for consideration by PR.   We do not do paid or guarantee reviews. For more information, please read our Editorial & Content Disclosure.

One of the trickiest things to master is applying false lashes. For me, the key was frequent practice. Making excuses to apply and wear them whenever I had a spare 15 minutes got me to the point that it takes me less than five minutes.

During my learning trial, I never tried any application tools. I don’t know why, but I only practiced with the lashes and glue. It’s true that’s all I need now, but something like the Andrea Modlash Starter Kit ($6.99 US) definitely could have helped me.

Included in the Modlash Starter Kit are lashes, lash glue, and an applicator. I find it nice that there are many kits, each with different eyelashes inside, so you don’t sacrifice options. I tried 45, a dramatic style that emphasizes length and separation.

The three-step instructions in the kit are pretty clear, so beginners shouldn’t be too confused. Below I’ve followed the directions, which I’ve copied out, and photographed each step, but I also shared my thoughts on the step as well as any relevant tips.

1. “Prepare lashes. Use after applying eye make-up. Hold lash band at both ends and flex it gently a few times. Align lash band with your natural lash line, starting at the outer edge. If the band is too wide, trim the outer end with scissors to fit.”

My take: I think this step is well written. The band of false lashes are usually too long, so trimming them down to size is important. It’s crucial to trim off the outer side of the band and not the inner to make the lashes appear more natural.

2. “Apply adhesive. Place a lash strip in the applicator, exposing the band. While clamping the lashes firmly with the applicator, apply a thin line of adhesive along band. A little drop is all you need (see inset for amount size). Use a toothpick if necessary to spread evenly. Wait until adhesive becomes tack (30 seconds).”

My take: I actually really like the applicator for holding the lashes while applying glue. Usually my fingers get sticky too since I have to hold the lashes, but this prevents that. If you don’t have toothpicks handy, you can try using the handle end of a small eye makeup brush. Do not use a Q-tip though, since the fibers can stick to the glue.

3. “Apply lashes. Looking into a mirror, press band against eyelid as close to your lash roots as possible. Gently press corners with fingers for a few seconds to secure. Adhesive will dry clear in 3-5 minutes.”

My take: I was confused about whether or not to use the applicator to place the lashes, since it’s not clarified. However I assumed you do use it, which didn’t work very well for my small lids. I found it easier to just take the lashes out and apply them myself.

Overall, this is a good one-time investment for false lash beginners. I imagine that the applicator will be much more useful to them or for those with eye shapes that match the curvature of the applicator. Otherwise, the lashes and glue are great too.

How long did it take you to get the hang of falsies? Do you use lash applicators?

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This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by PR.   We do not do paid or guarantee reviews. For more information, please read our Editorial & Content Disclosure.

Guess what I finally got around to buying? Yes, the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette! It’s been on my wish list forever, but always got pushed back in favor of limited edition items. Now that it’s in my hands, I realize what I’ve been missing out on.

The amazing value aside, these eye shadows are gorgeous. Urban Decay is probably my favorite brand for eyeshadows, and these are beautifully pigmented and buttery as expected. I can’t wait to play around with the different colors this weekend!

The Sheer Summer Glow Highlighter is beautifully done by Burberry and beautifully worn by Viviana Does Makeup.

The limited edition By Terry lip tint on The London Beauty Review creates on-tred stained neon lips.

Who wouldn’t fall for these beautiful Models Own glitter polishes on Makeup Savvy?

Pearls and Poodles reviews and swatches the Lily Cole for The Body Shop Collection.

Check out Clinique’s newest Chubby Stick colors for the season at Dainty Dollymix.

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