Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup

Remember that episode of 90210 when Donna was co-hosting the radio show with David and she had a complete melt-down on the air? She caught a glimpse of her reflection on the back of a CD and started rambling, "Where does the makeup go? You put it on in the morning and it's gone?!"

That is how I feel when I wear Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. Sure, the foundation goes on smooth, the shade is a perfect match and the semi-matte finish is nice. But if the dog-gone stuff doesn't stay on, what's the point? This foundation only lasts a few hours max, and then I'm looking in the mirror, scratching my head, and thinking "was my whole getting-ready makeup routine this morning just a dream?"

If my foundation doesn't look fabulous, I don't feel fabulous. It's a good thing I have my old stand-bys, Revlon Colorstay and Estee Lauder Double Wear, to fall back on!

Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes

I love goooooold!* No, I'm not talking about the precious metal, I'm talking about gold eyeshadow! Gilded lids flatter every eye color and look stunning with baby pink lips, screaming red lips, and everything in between.

One of my favorite tones of gold is Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes in #7, an antique gold. Formulated with pearl particles and refined shimmer, this rich powder imparts a gorgeous sparkle on the lids. The sifter-top keeps accidents at bay, and one jar lasts and lasts.

This product reminds me a lot of my favorite collection of shimmering shadows, Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Glimmer, which boasts 30+ shades, compared to Stila's sparse 4-shade collection. Thankfully, Stila decided to include this hue in their pared-down collection, because you can never have too much gold!

*Remember Goldmember from Austin Powers? :)

Stila Eye Shadow Pan

Eye shadows that can be used wet or dry are awesome for their versatility, but I can't stand it when they form that hard shiny crust on the surface of the shadow pan after re-drying.

But Stila Eye Shadow Pans make the cut. Use them wet or dry; no matter what, the surface always dries back to its silky texture. The colors are richly pigmented, and the shadow won't crease or fade as the day wears on.

Apply them dry for a sheerer application, or dampen them for a more intense shadow color or to use as a bold shadow liner.

I own this shadow in Pewter, a shimmering gray black shade. It's a beautiful shade to create a smoldering eye, or to simply line the eyes. I like to wet a stiff angled brush, dip it in the shadow, and draw on a sexy cat-eye line. It's a simple way to create a daring look that stays defined.