reLYME

In between the moments where I am blissfully applying my makeup in the morning (yes, blissfully...it's like art to me!) and the time I hop in my car to unwind from a long workday, something happens. I can't explain it really. I leave the house feeling ready to face the day with a faceful (tastefully applied, mind you) of makeup and I return looking like Grendel's mother, makeup disintegrated, smudged, non-existent. Maybe it's because I jokingly refer to myself as a "Greasy Italian," but it all starts with the canvas. My foundation fails and the rest of my makeup is doomed. So I started experimenting with face primers until I found the diamond in the rough.

Enter, Too Faced Primed and Poreless Face Primer.

I don't know what it it is about this wonderstuff, but I can't get enough of it. With long-lasting coverage, this stuff not only tells my foundation who's boss, it also makes my skin feel super silky--not slick! And with its heavenly formula, a little goes a long way. And I even gave it a whirl over the weekend, wearing it alone and my skin still looked as precious as it did when I was younger.

So now, I apply my makeup in the morning and 8+ hours later, my foundation, she's a-staying!

If you're looking for a fantastic primer--and really, we all should be--I highly recommended this one from Too Face!

ULTA, $30

The following is a guest post by the lovely Tiera of Beautery. I adore this girl, and her creative and witty take on cosmetics. She has decided to grace reLYME with her presence to tell you about a new ooh-la-la collection that's arrived just in time for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!
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No two items embody women quite like chocolate and pearls. I hear those two words (in a sultry Sean Connery voice, of course) and I just float away to my "Breakfast at Tiffany's" fantasy land, where the boys are gentlemen, the drinks are free, and the luxurious cosmetics don't cost me an arm and a leg!

Too Faced has made a little piece of this dream a reality with their latest collection, Chocolate & Pearls, which includes vampy pinks and browns with a touch of luxury and lots of flavor. This Spring 2009 release features rich color and hints of chocolate and pearls throughout.

Here's a peek at the new collection, available now online at Too Faced and at Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta, and other locations:

Here are the details of the line:

• Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Matte Bronze (chocolate scented)

• Luster Liner Lip Liners in Ayoka (beige), Tahitian (pale pink), South Sea (pinkish purple), and Caspian (golden plum)

• Girls Dig Pearls Lip Gloss in Shell (pink), Tropical Pink (pinky purple), Mermaid (pinky beige), Pink Bling (pinky white)

• Lockdown Cream Shadow in Jailbait (light pink), Bedroom Eyes (medium brown), Bondage (light brown), I’m Guilty (aqua blue), Dramarama (dark brown), Prisoner of Love (pink)

• Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara in Hot Chocolate (brown)

While my moods lately haven't been very much in favor of mega shimmer and shine, I can't deny the appeal of Chocolate & Pearls. I cannot wait to get my hands on the Lockdown Cream Shadows, which come in a wider range of colors than the rest of the products in this collection. Apparently they're a water-resistant combination of metallic pigments and Too Faced Shadow Insurance (one of my favorites, and a best-seller!). I've yet to test the pigmentation, but at the very least they're sure to be color-infused eye shadow bases for my oily lids (and maybe stiff competition for my beloved MAC Paint Pots).

I also wouldn't mind giving Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara a try. I've tried the original Lash Injection, but the applicator wand is just way too big for me! Hopefully this waterproof liner and its sleek brush will fare better!

If you're looking for a collection with a little more variety (and a primer I'm dying to try), check out Smashbox's Muse Spring 2009 Collection. Or for Spring 2009 on the go, take a look at Beauty Addict, Too Faced's new 15-piece palette inspired by the upcoming move Confessions of a Shopaholic.

What are your first impressions of Too Faced’s Chocolate & Pearls?