Butter London Nail Lacquer - Diamond Geezer

Want a bright, silvery foil with little bits of glitter?  Diamond Geezer would be it.  I almost wore this for New Year's Eve, but I figured bright foily, silver would be too cliche.  Eh, I have the rest of the year to wear this one.

Butter London Nail Lacquer - Branwen's Feather

Branwen's Feather is described as a blackened purple (yes, another one...shocker!) reminiscent of a raven's feather.  Yeah, that pretty well describes is all right.  Branwen's Feather has a deep black base with purple and multicolor shimmers.  Gorgeously vampy is how I describe it.

Again, apologies for the craptastic photos.  Just picture this color richer and not so washed out and you'll get an idea of how awesome it is.

Butter London Nail Lacquer - HRH

You can't honestly be surprised to find another purple on my favorites list.  I love me some purple.  HRH is a vibrant, glowy red-based violet with multicolor shimmer.  It is very nearly a metallic, but not quite there.

Butter London Nail Lacquer - Yummy Mummy

Yummy Mummy is another beautiful neutral.  This one is nearly my skintone, so it makes my hands look long and lean, kinda like a pair of nude platform pumps, but for the nails.  It has just a bit of silvery shimmer to keep it from looking flat.  If you're uber-pale like me, this would be a perfect neutral for you, and I imagine on darker skintones, this would be a gorgeous contrasting color.

Butter London Nail Lacquer - All Hail The Queen

How could I not pick All Hail The Queen (fka All Hail McQueen, originally created for late designer extraordinare Alexander McQueen)?  First and foremost, IT HAS HOLO GLITTER!!!  Plus, it's a beautiful neutral and has silver glitters along with HOLO GLITTER!!!  My favorite thing about this polish is how wearable it is.  Yes, there is holo glitter (yeah, I'm all done yelling), but indoors, it is rather subtle and looks more like fine, silvery glitter, making it great for office-wear, even in those conservative ones.


Check this beauty out!

Butter London Nail Lacquer - The Big Smoke

Continuing the Butter London posts is The Big Smoke.  Never have I received so many compliments on a nail color, from women AND men!  The Big Smoke is an utterly gorgeous, metallic navy blue, remimiscent of the night sky.


If you asked me to recommend a blue polish, this one would definitely be it.  See, I told you I was a liar...I really do like blue polishes, especially this one!

My apologies for the shoddy pictures, we can't seem to get a sunny weekend here.  But, if The Big Smoke still manages to look that gorgeous in pictures, you can just imagine how it looks in person!

Butter London Nail Lacquer - Marrow

I'd been reading lots of good things about Butter London polishes, so I decided to indulge myself in a few (read:  13 or so).  I was going to do just a couple massive posts, but these colors are so pretty I decided each deserves it's own post.  Given all the Butter London polishes I have to post about, I'm going to declare this "Butter London Week" and post all my favorites (of what I have, anyway) this week.


Butter London polishes are all 3-Free and are the creation of Brit Sasha Muir who moved stateside to Seattle and, with the help of fellow Brit, Nonie Creme, created the line based on her home country, complete with a cheeky British naming-convention.  Just about all of the polishes had full coverage in two coats, with the exception of one (I'll let you know which one when I post it).  I always do three coats, though.


Up first from my expanding Butter London collection is Marrow, a beautiful blue-based purple with subtle shimmer.  The first and last pictures are the most color-accurate.

Click the jump for more pics!

Rescue Beauty Lounge Iconic/Ironic Collection Spring 2011

Image:  via e-mail from RBL

I don't usually post about pre-sales, but I am head-over-heels for this collection.  Nude, purples and metallic black...gimme 'em all!  RBL's polishes are just top notch, and totally worth the $18 pricetag.


The pre-sale runs through tomorrow.  Just click on the picture and it will take you right there.  Looking for swatches?  All Laquered Up has some great ones, including comparisons.

Burberry Nude Beige Lip Glow Lip Gloss and Rosewood Lip Cover Lipstick

See, I can follow through.  But before I toot my own horn too much, let's see how the rest of the week goes.  This post is going to be short and sweet, because frankly, I had a bit o' wine while cooking dinner, and I'm just not so much with the words right now.


The lip gloss comes in a clear, square tube with a metal wand that has the Burberry plaid check design etched into it.  The applicator is a doe-foot, which I know is not a favorite of many, but I don't mind it.  The lipstick comes in a heavy metal case which has a magnetic closure and is also etched with the plaid check design.

Swatches after the jump.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadows in Rosewood and Taupe

I've had these shadows for awhile, but I'm just getting around to posting the swatches now because I'm lazy.  Sorry, it's the cold, hard truth.  I have a couple of lip products to post, too.  Judging by how long it took me to post the shadows, I should have the lip stuff up by spring.  Kidding, kidding...it'll be summer before I get around to it.


OK, in all seriousness, I'll get the lip products posted tomorrow.  I actually have huge backlog of stuff, not including the few new things I've gotten in, PLUS the plans I have for swatching my current holdings.


Now for today's post, Burberry Sheer Eyeshadows in Rosewood and Taupe.  These shadows are anything but sheer.  They are silky soft and highly pigmented, and are etched with the iconic Burberry plaid check design.  They come in a sturdy, mirrored compact with a magnetic closure.  The compact is etched with same plaid check design and tucked into a velvet protective case (much like Chanel's).  Truly everything a luxury product should be.

See the swatches after the jump!

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary 24/7 Liner Collection: Review and Swatches

Well, I finally got a few moments of sunshine so that I could do swatches...most of 'em anyway.  Urban Decay 24/7 Liners are some of my favorite liners.  They don't smudge or crease and the color-range is phenomenal, especially in this collection.  Now for swatches!!


Perversion, Zero, Uzi

I used to think Zero was the blackest black.  But UD stepped it up and brought out Perversion.  Swatched next to Zero, you can see how deep, carbon black Perversion really is.  Zero is still black and I'll still love it, especially since Zero is part of the permanent collection whereas Perversion is exclusive to this Anniversary Collection.  But, if you're looking for the darkest black possible, Perversion it is.  Not to be left out, Uzi is a deep charcoal grey with silver sparkles, and is also exclusive to this Collection.  Uzi is quite a bit darker than Gunmetal.  Gunmetal looks practically silver next to Uzi.


Click for the rest of the collection!

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary 24/7 Liner Collection

Look what swatchcat managed to get her paws on!!

Swatches to follow!

Collection Les Perles De Chanel

In an effort to get all my seasonal relevant posts out of the way, I've got a few items from Collection Les Perles De Chanel from Spring 2011 that I swatched.  I know winter juuuuust got under way, and spring seems like a long way off, but perhaps these goodies will get in you the mood.  I'm also not one to limit colors to a specific season, and these Chanel spring colors are very versatile.  From the collection, I picked up all three Le Vernis, Black Pearl, Pearl Drop, and Peach Nacree, and the Ombres Perlees quint.

Click the jump for the swatches!

MAC Cham Pale Collection

The Cham Pale Collection from MAC is the first one in a while that has caught my eye.  I've been focusing on exploring other brands, so I'd been passing on MAC in favor of other stuff.  I'd been looking for a couple new bases and once I saw the polishes, being the polish-hoor I am, decided I couldn't pass on those.  I ended up purchasing Dangerous Cuvee and Vintage Selection Paint Pots, and Soiree and Very Important Platinum (which is just about the least creative name ever) Polishes.

Keep reading for swatches!

OPI Designer Series Coronation

I decided not to do red or green for Christmas, so I did the other predictable color - silver.  But OPI DS Coronation is a sparkly holo silver, so I give myself a few bonus points for the holo.  Plus, I got loads of compliments on it.  Coronation is a flashy, but not overly so.  Call it grown-up holo.

More pictures after the jump.

Do you measure Christmas Spirit in lights?

Last night Mr. swatchcat and I drove around town looking at Christmas lights before heading off to midnight Mass.  As we drove around, I began to wonder what people are thinking when they decorate the house.  The vast majority keep it simple and understated, which is what I prefer.


This whole block gets in on the act.  Yes, it's a bit over the top, but hey, they sure have the spirit of cooperation down.

We went to one particular subdivision where the houses are ginormous, and therefore, the occupants have plenty of cash to spend on lighting up.

But, there are the few that just don't know when to stop.  Click the jump to see.

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum: Review and Swatches

If I could, I'd steal my sister-in-law's lashes.  Hers are perfect.  Ultra-long and thick - the perfect frame for eyes.  Unfortunately, I wasn't born with lush, long natural lashes, so I'm always on the lookout for a product that promises such...without breaking the bank.  I've been asked what I think about Latisse, the prescription lash enhancer, and I refuse to go there.  Not only is it expensive, but with the chance that it might darken my irises, it's just not worth the results.  I love my hazely-green eyes!  But, if I had dark eyes and wasn't price sensitive, I'd probably try it out.


I purchased Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum a couple months ago, and put it through the ringer, so to speak.  According to Dior, the Maximizer contains hydrolyzed soy proteins and lots of other scientificky-sounding stuff.  After eight weeks of use, testers found the Maximizer increased lash volume by 52%, lash length by 38%, and lash curl by 73%.


So, does it deliver?  Well, I did notice some difference in my lashes, though I don't know how to quantify that difference.  My lashes do appear a bit longer (though it is hard to tell in the pictures because my lash tips are blonde), and more voluminous.  I wouldn't say the Maximizer caused my lashes to grow, rather it conditioned my lashes, allowing them to grow longer (without breaking) and have a longer life before falling out.  I also noticed those fine little baby lashes grew thicker and longer.


Application is like that of a mascara.  It has a spiky, silicone (I think) brush with a little nub at the end.  The Maximizer is formulated for use under mascara, which gives you instant results, as well as on it's own as a nighttime treatment.  You can use the little nub to apply the serum to your eyelid right at the lash line to get the serum right down into the base of the lashes so it will work while you sleep.  I'm puzzled by the use of the word "serum" because the stuff is a white cream.  When I think serum, I think of a light, almost gel-like formula, not a thick cream.

One Coat Primer:

One Coat Primer + One Coat Mascara (at the start of the 8-week test):

Personally, while the Maximizer did produce instant results when I wore it under mascara, it was a bit too much for me for daily wear.  Furthermore, I found my mascara flaked off when I wore the serum underneath.  After that, I limited my wear to nighttime and special occasions only.


Being that I am a visual person, I like to see results, not just read about them, so I have a lot of pictures.


More pictures after the jump - and I mean a lot more pictures!