Burberry Lipstick In Prune (14)

Prune was the second Burberry Soft Satin Lipstick I chose (the other one was #9 Blush), and I have no idea which one I like better. Both are gorgeous and boast all the nice Burberry features- elegant packaging, superb texture, tons of pigment and a soft, moisturizing feel on the lips.

Prune is deeper and more dramatic than blush, but since my lips are naturally dark, it's a color I wear easily and not only in the evening. It's a brown-based color, not quite purple because it has quite a bit of warmth and red undertones. It's a fall/winter color, for sure.

The second swatch where it's next to the Sepia lip liner, the lipstick was actually rubbed off (either on my pants or on a random cat, I can't remember). Just look how much color is left- that's another testament to Burberry lipsticks' staying power.

Burberry Soft Satin Lipstick ($30) is a Nordstrom exclusive, available online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Lipstick In Blush (09)

This is another one of those reviews that almost write themselves. Burberry launched the beauty line last summer to rave reviews. The colors, textures and packaging are all top notch. The products look and feel luxurious and form a cohesive line of wearable elegance. Burberry's Lip Cover Lipsticks are exactly what one would expect: creamy, hydrating, smooth with a beautiful satin finish. I played with many of them at my local Nordstrom and settled on two. For now, that is. There are several more shades I'd happily add to my collection.

Blush (09) is a red-based rose with maybe a hint of brown for good measure. You can see it compared to the darker and more plummy Prune (photos and review coming soon) and swatched next to a matching lip liner (ditto). It's a versatile color that can work as a day-to-evening lipstick. That's why I'm constantly hunting for my tube- I tend to carry it with me everywhere and forget which handbag has it.

Bottom Line: Big Love.

Burberry Lip Cover Lipstick ($30) in 09 Blush and other shades is a Nordstrom exclusive. Available online and from select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Warm Glow Natural Bronzer 01

I actually bought the Warm Glow Natural Bronzer from Burberry in August, which makes sense considering one usually wants a bronzed look in summer. But I'm finding myself reaching for it even more often now that my complexion really needs some warming up. It might be a psychological thing or simply the change in light, hard to tell. Besides, Warm Glow #01 (this specific shade is also named Warm Glow. Obviously Burberry wants us bronzed and confused) doesn't make me look tan, it just gives a little color and life, especially when applied with a light hand and blended carefully.

It's hard to describe and define bronzer shades- they vary by their levels and ratio of brown-gold-orange. I find Warm Glow #01 to be the less orange on my skin* and most natural. It really doesn't look like makeup, which is probably why it's such a great choice for the season. It can be built up, though, for a more sun-kissed effect.

Burberry bronzers, like their other powder products, feel very luxurious and finely milled. They have a satiny finish that makes skin glow with no actual shimmer or any visible shiny particles. The texture is the silkiest imagined and a pleasure to apply. I've been using several bronzer and face brushes and it works with all of them- I can't say I have a specific favorite for this bronzer, but Edward Bess Face Brush is probably the best.

*I'm often asked about my exact skin tone. It's a pale olive with both green, yellow and pink undertones and no blue. I don't wear MAC makeup, but I've been told that I'm around NC30-35, but there was no exact match the last time I visited their counter, but that was years ago. I can wear several shades of Chanel foundations, as long as they're on the pale yellow beige side. In Nars terms the best match I found was Stromboli (though I don't own it, so my testing was limited), and in Cover FX numbers I'm M40 (Honey).

Burberry Warm Glow Natural Bronzer ($48) is a Nordstrom exclusive.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Taupe Brown (07) Sheer Eyeshadow

Somehow the makeup posts this week seem to be all about eyes. Maybe I'll keep it up with an eye makeup brush tomorrow. We'll see. In the meantime, here is Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Taupe Brown, which is quite dark and very pigmented for a "sheer" eye shadow. I use it along the lash line and in the outer corner before blending upward, and it works very well with Porcelain as a base/under the brow color. I find that I like to also have a medium shade for blending in the crease- those of you who bought Rosewood can try that. I've been using several matte Bobbi Brown colors like Grey and Stone. They work beautifully together.

Just like the other Burberry eye shadow, Taupe Brown has a luxurious texture, making it a joy to apply, blend and wear. Those of you who are pale and blonde can also try it as a liner- it's dark enough to give a soft smoky look.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Taupe Brown and other colors ($29 each) is a Nordstrom exclusive- in store and online.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow 03 Porcelain

During the first weeks after Burberry Beauty was launched it looked like everyone was choosing either Trench (02) or Gold Trench (04) as a base/brow bone color. I tried both and liked them well enough, but my true match was Porcelain (03). It's that perfect neutral- not too pink, not too yellow. Porcelain is not really a highlighter but it's light enough to open up the eye area and make one look awake.

The real story about Burberry eye shadows (other than the sleek metallic packaging and the Burberry check pattern embossed on the velveteen pouch that comes with each one) is the texture. It's wonderfully soft and luxurious and feels almost creamy. The formula is easy to apply and blend no matter which eye shadow brush I tested with it. The satiny finish and color integrity last throughout the day and look just as fresh 12 hours later over a primer (so far I've used it over Kanebo Sensai, Urban Decay Primer Potion and something or other from Smashbox).

I've been Porcelain with Burberry Taupe Brown (photos and reviews coming soon) as well as with darker eye shadows from other brands (mostly Chanel and Guerlain) with great success. It really is a good base color.

The Burberry rep at my local Nordstrom used the brand's makeup brushes when she did my makeup. She said they will be offered for sale around the holidays, which means quite soon. I liked the look and feel of them- they seemed more practical than the face brush with the square handle which is the only one released so far.

Bottom Line: I see more colors in my future.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow ($29) is available exclusively at Nordstrom in store and online (as long as one is willing to deal with the stupid website).

All photos by me.

Burberry Midnight Blue (04) Eye Definer Eye Shaping Pencil

Since I'm obviously in denial about the holidays, holiday makeup collections and the existence of December, I thought I'd talk about items from permanent lines and maybe some unsung heroes. Like this one. Of course, I have several reviews brewing for more Burberry Beauty gorgeousness, but since the eyeliner pencils have yet to get much attention I figured it's a good place to start.

When I went shopping at Nordstrom in late August, an eyeliner pencil was not high on my list. But the Burberry rep who did my makeup used their Eye Definer in #04, Midnight Blue, and I loved the way it looked, especially coordinated with the subtle beige and taupe eye shadows from their line. I'm always surprised when hearing people with brown eyes who are afraid of blue. Yes, I also remember that late 1970s/early 1980s "rule" about brown makeup for brown eyes and blue for blue eyes, but it's wrong. There's nothing like a little blue cautiously applied to make brown eyes pop. And Burberry's Midnight Blue is the perfect color for that.

This pencil has a slight iridescent finish- not quite metallic and not obviously shiny, just a little light-reflecting. The texture is smooth, not very creamy but soft enough for an easy application with no tugging or skin-pulling (It's my biggest pet peeve about the pencils from some high-end brands. Paying nearly $30 to feel like I stabbed myself in the eye is not my idea of a good beauty moment). Burberry found a middle ground between  softness/blendability and precision/control in this pencil, and while I'd probably love it more had the texture been creamier, I still enjoy it a great deal.

Bottom Line: Pretty!

Burberry Eye Definer Pencil ($27) in Midnight blue and other colors can be found at Nordstrom, online and in select stores.

Photos are mine.

Someone at Burberry's PR is having a great day

We can take bets on how quickly this dress is going to be flying of the shelves. Or how much therapy Suri is going to need.

Picture from A Socialite's Life.