Givenchy

Long Live Length, Lift and the Good Fight Against Zombies! Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara by Givenchy

December 3rd, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Hello, lifted lash curl! This is me wearing two coats of Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara (a permanent product in Givenchy’s line) on my upper lashes…

This was the mascara I was wearing when I was watched The Walking Dead mid-season finale last Sunday, and by the time the show finished, I’d already been wearing it, oh, 8-9 hours.

By that point, I knew I liked how tightly it held and lifted my curled lashes and how well it separated and defined (I did want a little more volumizing/thickness, though), but honestly, I was not expecting to also test it for waterproof-ness that day.

Enter The Walking Dead mid-season finale…

If two coats of this stuff can withstand an unexpected 15-minute fit of crying without any smearing, running or flaking whatsoever, then it’s alright by me, even if the three-sphere brush takes some getting used to.

Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara brush head — Check out that brush head… Kinda crazy, right?!

Let me put it this way: the first time I took Noir Couture to my lash lines, I ended up leaving big-honkin’ flecks of mascara on my lids and beneath my eyes.

I think it was partly due to how accustomed I’ve become to haphazardly throwing on a couple coats of Be Long Mascara by Clarins, which I’ve been wearing a lot lately, without having to really think about it.

Muscle memory — you know how it is.

Eventually, I figured out that I had to hold Noir’s sphere-studded brush at a funky angle to avoid bumping my skin. Given a couple weeks…it would probably become second nature.

And for the lazy-pants among us, removing this stuff requires some effort since it really clings to lashes. I have to bust out the big guns (an oil-based eye makeup remover) in addition to my regular cleanser, which is kind of a pain, but I guess that’s the tradeoff for this kind of resilience.

I bet this mascara could be a good fit for you if you like higher-end mascaras with a glossy finish, good length, separation and lift; and a tough-as-nails wherewithal to withstand water and tears.

Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara before and after — Bare lashes on the left and two coats of Noir Couture on the right

I do like it…but it’s not the end-all, be-all solution to my waterproof mascara woes because I do crave more thickness. I’ll still reach for it every once in a while and be happy with the results, especially when I want a really lifted curl, which is one way it’s ca-ray-zaaaay good!

Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara ingredients — Ingredients

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The Givenchy Le Prisme Eye Quad Color & Shine for Metallic Eyes in Acoustic Harmony #80, and Conversations With My Inner Drag Queen ME Glitter

August 10th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

givenchy acoustic harmony

Between the hypnotic packaging sparkling like a shimmery pair of black snakeskin and patent leather heels, the glittery catchlights and the sheer, high-shine finish of its four powder shadows, Givenchy’s Le Prisme Eye Quad Color & Shine for Metallic Eyes in Acoustic Harmony #80 ($58) is like a makeup oasis glistening in a desert flush with fall smokey eyes.

givenchy acoustic harmony product shot
Outside of the packaging

No. 80 is the new quad in Givenchy’s Acoustic Colors collection for autumn/winter 2012, and man! — it’s sparkly.

So sparkly that it even gave my inner drag queen reason to pause…

KAREN’S INNER DRAG QUEEN: “Baby, I dunno if we can do this.”

KAREN: “Yeah, that is a lot of glitter, but check out how sheer the shadows are. They’re really only lightly tinted but have a shiny finish and gobs of glitter.

“I bet if we apply one all over our lids with a flat eyeshadow brush like the MAC 239, it would look really cool. We’d get a wash of sheer pigment, a shiny finish and sparkle from the glitter on top.

“Trust me — we can make it look classy.”

KAREN’S INNER DRAG QUEEN: “Classy with a ‘c’ or klassy with a ‘k’?”

KAREN: “Dude, classy with a ‘c’! It’ll look like twinkling lights, and because the flecks of glitter are pretty big, I bet we’ll be able to see ’em from a few feet away.

“We’ll just have to make sure we don’t go overboard with the rest of our eye look, which we can do by keeping the liner simple and skipping the false lashes.”

KAREN’S INNER DRAG QUEEN: “B*tch, you know the last time I toned anything down was never. Does not compute!”

KAREN: “Okay, well, to turn it up instead, we can press the shadow directly on our lids. That should intensify the pigment even more, KAPOW! We’ll have to start with a layer of primer to get more of that glitter to latch on to our skin… Hey, I thought you were nervous about wearing so much glitter?”

KAREN’S INNER DRAG QUEEN: “Last time I checked I was the one who held the diva card in this relationship, which means I can change my mind whenever I want. 🙂

[Snaps three times in a Z.]

“Now go about your business so I can practice lip-synching It’s Raining Men.”

As I was saying, this is one of those products where you really have to love glitter.

Good thing I do (I go through phases) because the stuff gets everywhere!

givenchy acoustic harmony

givenchy acoustic harmony
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And the Award for Longest Name in a Lip Gloss This Fall Goes to…Givenchy Acoustic Colors Gelee D’Interdie Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose!

August 10th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

givenchy acoustic wild rose closeup

Wild Rose.

That’s what they call me — the people who know me best — but everyone else just calls me by my given name, Givenchy Gelee D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose #18.

I’m new here. I actually don’t even start work till the fall. They got me sitting on shelves at this place called Sephora. It’s a contract position — you know, a limited time. I told them I wouldn’t work for a nickel less than $27.50. I said, “That’s my price.” And they agreed.

The job description called for someone who “has a thing for biker bars, bouquets, and playing breakup songs on her guitar at corner coffee shops on open mic night.”

Eh, I needed the work…

I’m a very sheer, shimmery pink, and have pearlescent purple and golden glitter. If I had my druthers, I would have preferred a job looking smooth, shiny and dainty on the lips of ladies who lunch — the bored ones who like a kick of disco glitter to spice up their cucumber sandwiches at afternoon tea.

You think maybe you’d like to show me around? 🙂

givenchy acoustic wild rose closeup

givenchy acoustic wild rose

givenchy gelee d interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose and Le Prisme Eye Quad in Acoustic Harmony
Gelee D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose #18 (left) and Le Prisme Eye Quad Color & Shine for Metallic Eyes in Acoustic Harmony #80 (right)
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What Do the Givenchy Acoustic Colors Magic Lipstick and Lipgloss Reveal? Here’s a Tint: It’s Sheer, Pink and Looks Natural

August 9th, 2012 by Karen 33 Comments

givenchy Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink
Wearing Givenchy Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34 on my lips

First, mood rings. Now, mood makeup! How do you feel about lip products designed to change colors once you get them on your pout? The idea’s nothing new, but Givenchy’s new take on it is making me smile. 🙂

Some of that’s because of these chic, sleek outfits. Givenchy always turns that mutha out! when it comes to good-looking packaging.

And then there’s the way new Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #57 ($30) and Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34 ($27.50) feel on my lips — lightweight, silky and comfortable, like my favorite silk dress.

Both the Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #57 and Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34 were inspired by Givenchy spokeswoman Liv Tyler, hence the shout-out to her name in the products’ spelling.

Apply either the light pink Lipstick or clear Gloss on bare lips, and ahhh… Feels so good! Lo and behold, about a minute or so later, both colors have changed into deeper pink hues that last about two hours on me.

givenchy Le Gloss Revelateur De liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink
Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34; lashes worn in this look: Urban Decay Sly

givenchy Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink
Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34

givenchy acoustic colors fall 2012
From the left: Gelee D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose #18 ($27.50), Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34 ($27.50), Le Prisme Eye Quad Color & Shine for Metallic Eyes in Acoustic Harmony #80 ($58), Le Rose Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Releaver in LIVely Pink #57 ($30)
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Metallics, Shimmer and Shine? I Heard That! Introducing the Givenchy Acoustic Colors Collection for Fall 2012

August 8th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

Givenchy Le Prisme Eye Quad in Acoustic Harmony

Now here’s something to hopefully brighten your Wednesday morning: Givenchy’s new Acoustic Colors collection for fall 2012, coming soon exclusively to Sephora.

Here’s a quick look-see at four of the six pieces in the limited edition release…

givenchy acoustic colors fall 2012 swatches
Swatches from the left: Gelee D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm Crystal Shine in Acoustic Wild Rose #18, Le Prisme Eye Quad Color & Shine for Metallic Eyes in Acoustic Harmony #80, Le Gloss Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipgloss Lipcolor Revealer in LIVely Pink #34 and Le Rose Revelateur De Liv Magic Lipstick Lipcolor Releaver in LIVely Pink #57
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