Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Bare Minerals Lipgloss in Cupcake

Cupcake, as delicious as it sounds, is a beautifully pink toned, 100% Natural lip gloss from Bare Minerals. I like the fact that these are free of preservatives, parabens and artificial dyes. I was not quite sure of the texture and pigmentation of the gloss, so I ended up getting 'Cupcake'.It's a rosy pink shade with the right amount of glitter and seemed like a very safe shade to play around with.Turns out, the gloss feels really nice on the lips, moisturizes pretty well and is totally non-sticky too!




Here's a swatch:


Pros :
  • 100% natural with no preservatives.
  • Great packaging that does not leak. 
  • No weird smell or taste. Smells faintly of vanilla.
  • Wearable shade selection and goes on pretty pigmented.
  • The brush applicator picks up the right amount of product and makes application really easy.
  • Non-sticky texture that feels very light on the lips.
Cons:
  • Staying power is not that great. Maybe 2-3 hours. I don't mind this since the gloss is natural.
The full size tube retails for $15. However, they also have smaller sizes of certain shades for $7.50 which I think, is a great pick for people trying this out for the first time.


I totally love the texture of this gloss and more than that, the shade itself. It's a warm pink that would look great on all skin tones.
Have you tried Bare Minerals Lip glosses? Do you like them as much? Share your thoughts.I'd love to know!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser


How much is too much for a cleanser? $30 seems like a splurge for a cleanser to me.The Sephora purity seal and the quality ingredients with a very high concentration of anti-oxidants probably attribute to the price tag of Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser.Does it work? Read on to see.

What does OleHenriksen Claim?

What it is:
A rich, creamy, revitalizing antioxidant facial cleanser.

What it is formulated to do:
Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser cleans skin of impurities without stripping essential moisture. The soothing formula is strong enough to remove makeup, but gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. 

What I think about this Cleanser?

The packaging is lovely and hygienic.Its a pump bottle with quite a bit of product in there.A couple of pumps is all you need for the entire face.The cleanser itself is a soft foam that seems quite gentle.

The citrus smell is amazing and quite soothing to the senses.If you have a lot of gunk on your face, you may need quite a bit of product to cleanse thoroughly.The foam does not lather up pretty well, but cleanses effectively. I wipe off my make-up with a wet wipe and follow with this cleanser sometimes. Since it's quite gentle, I don't think this would make a good one-step cleanser for makeup.

I have dry-combination skin, so I am constantly on the hunt for a cleanser that won't rip my skin off the moisture.I quite like this cleanser for it's cleansing properties, but you may still need a moisturizer, especially during winters.It's comparatively less drying than so many other foaming cleansers. I'd love to use this more in the summer and the fresh scent is perfect for summer.I am sure people with oily skin would love this as much.

That said, I won't say this is something I cannot live without. For the price tag, I am sure there are better cleansers out there. But, this one does contain a lot of natural ingredients.If you are someone who travels a lot, you could probably get the travel size version(around $15) since the packaging is pretty practical to travel along with. Even otherwise, it's better to try a sample before buying the full size bottle. I got this size as part of Sephora's weekly specials which was priced at around $10 for 1.5 ounces.

Available at all Sephora stores,online at Sephora.com and olehenriksen.com.

Have you tried OleHenriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser? Do you love it or hate it? Is there anything else that you like from this line? I'd love to know!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Mauve It Over


Matte lips are beautiful, aren't they? But not every color looks good with a matte finish. I, for one, can carry only pink and toned down red matte lips. I hate browns and plums when it comes to matte shades. My lips get very dry, so I always tend to shy away from matte lipsticks.

Revlon's matte lipstick in 'Mauve It Over', is a perfect shade that gives a light wash of color and pink matte lips. The color is pretty light on my lips, but not so light that it erases my lips completely.The packaging is very classy and the staying power of these are pretty good. A good 2-3 hours, I must say.They pack great pigmentation too.

Here's a swatch.
However, without good prepping, lips can get very dry with these lipsticks. They are a bit more moisturizing than most matte lipsticks that I have tried, but still need a bit of prepping done. I usually apply clear balm over this.If the weather is really dry, I top it off with a gloss. I know that totally beats the purpose, but sometime I just don't have a choice :(  That's what I do when I wanna wear this shade, but don't want the moisture to be sucked out.

To sum up, it's a great buy if you can carry matte lips well and want to add a subtle hint of color or want to keep your look low-key.

I am not sure if I'll ever re-purchase this. The formula is great, it's just that my lips aren't meant for matte lipsticks. They always crave moisture.Applying a matte lipstick and a lip balm over that every time, seems like a HUGE task for the me.

Have you tried Revlon matte lipsticks? What do you think about them? I'd love to know!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - A Lemony Indulgence!


Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream has been a total savior for my dry, ragged cuticles of late. The super affordable price tag and sweet smelling formula is a sure sign that it's going to be a handbag staple.


What does Burt's Bees Claim?

Get 10 perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes.This natural nail treatment softens cuticles and fortifies nails. Sweet almond oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter moisturize. Then beeswax seals in the goodness. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails appear and smell incredibly clean and beautiful. And, with regular use, your nails will become stronger and dry cuticles will disappear.

What I think about this?

The cuticle cream comes packaged in a cute tin with a thick, yet creamy formula.It looks quite thick in the tin, but melts on the cuticles. This is NOT anything similar to petroleum jelly or the Vaseline kinds.
 
Smells of sweet lemon. Fresh and crisp.I gotta warn you, the smell is pretty addictive! The small tin is oh-so cute and travel-friendly too. 
 
The texture of the cream is easy to spread on cuticles. I love the smell so much that I don't restrict this to just my cuticles. In a pinch, this can be used on rough knees and elbows too.Why not? It' 100% natural! It's not sticky at all, and does not leave those icky finger marks on the keyboard,once it's absorbed.

Pros:
  • Affordable.
  • Smells heavenly.
  • Leaves behind no residue and absorbs quickly.
  • 100% Natural.
  • Tote-friendly.
Cons:
  • None!
This product was a total winner for me and I am gonna re-purchase it once I run out. Have you tried Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream? What do you think? If you haven't, I suggest you head to the store and grab one right away!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

MAC A Tartan Tale Holiday 2010 Collection.

A Tartan Tale is going to be MAC's collection for holiday 2010. The collection features gift sets for eyes,face and lips. Brush sets are also included as part of the holiday collection.


Eye Kits include eye shadow palettes, pigments, smooth liner cream and a travel sized brush all packaged in cute little boxes.

The lip kit includes five mini limited edition lipglasses,dazzleglass and lipsticks with cosmetic pouches and blush and beauty powder trio in two different color combinations.
Limited Edition brush sets which consists of mini versions of MAC's popular brushes and a tartan tale bag.
Apart from this, the collection also features new shades of lipsticks, eye shadows and pearl glide liners. Me thinks, the packaging is uber cute. Will update as and when I get more info on the shades. What do you think of MAC's Holiday 2010 collection? What would you buy from this collection?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask seems almost edible!

The Body Shop's Honey & Oat 3-n-1 Scrub mask is a one step face mask that exfoliates, softens and moisturizes in one step. Whether you are lazy,hard pressed for time or want a great multi-tasking face mask, this is something you definitely would want to add to your skin care routine.

What The Body Shop claim?

Save time. Deep cleanse, polish and moisturize your skin in one easy step with a 3-in-1 mask that leaves skin clean, smooth and conditioned.

What I think about this mask?

Oatmeal and Honey? What's not to love in this face mask? It's pretty much thick in texture, easy to spread on skin,contains grains of oat meal and smells oh-so-lovely, its almost edible!

Priced at $16.50, this tub comes a long long way. I got mine more than 6 months back and it's still gonna last me a good 7-8 uses with twice a week usage.

Ingredients wise, TBS says it contains, organic community trade honey, oatmeal grains and Kaolin clay. I can definitely smell honey and oat meal. Smells pretty much like the oatmeal and honey mask made at home. The results are also pretty much similar to any homemade mask. So, if you wanna save up some bucks, you can very well make this at home. But, I kinda like the consistency of the TBS mask since, the ones I make at home sometimes end up with a different consistency(read:chunky).

I just spread this mask on my face avoiding the eye area,leave it on for 10-15 mins (the mask does not dry fully) and wash off scrubbing away the oat bits.While scrubbing, I concentrate more on my t-zone and other troublesome spots that are prone to blackheads.

Definitely moisturizes skin to a nice extent. Not so much that you won't need a moisturizer after. But, does a good job in softeing and soothing skin. If you have combination to dry skin, this one is a nice moisture treat. However, if you have oily skin, I would not recommend this.

I would definitely re-purchase this once my current tub gets over. As always, I wish TBS had just manufactured this in a squeeze tube form. The tub gets a little annoying sometimes. I have tried a couple of face masks from TBS before, and this one has been the best by far!

Have you tried honey & oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask? Do you love it or hate it?I'd love to know what you think.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Lush Jasmin and Henna Fluff-Eaze makes my frizz ease!

One of the best dry/frizzy hair remedies, Lush Jasmin and Henna Fluff-Eaze has taken a permanent place in my bathroom cabinet. This little gem leaves my hair feeling and smelling great, like no other.

What does Lush Claim about Frizz Ease?

If your hair is a little fluffy, frizzy, dry or out-of-control, this is the one for you. It's packed with copious amounts of moisturizing and nutrient-filled oils including organic jojoba, almond, brazil nut and extra virgin coconut oil. It works brilliantly on curly hair as well, as all the oils help define the curls and add loads of shine. The jasmine fragrance will stick with you for days after using it, so you'll have irresistibly soft, shiny and sexy smelling locks.

What I think about this?
Jasmin and Henna fluff-eaze is a pre-shampoo treatment made from the finest, natural ingredients that is a nice, pampering treat to your hair when it needs that extra something. It leaves my hair frizz-free, conditioned and shiny.

I could smell more Jasmine in here than henna or virgin coconut oil. There is only one size that is available and is priced at $21.95 *ouch*.My hair length is a few inches past my shoulders and this tub lasts me a good 4-5 uses. Thats all! But, it's kinda worth it I say.


Usage is pretty simple. Just take some and apply on dry hair, wait for sometime(maybe half an hour or so) and wash-off before shampooing. While washing, you can feel that your hair feels totally smooth and silky, so it's optional to use conditioner.I just apply very little to my ends. If you have fine hair, skip conditioner since it may weigh down hair quite a bit.Since this is just a hair treatment, the henna in this product does not change your hair color.

This is a great pampering treat for your hair, especially if you do a lot of blow drying and heat styling. I would say, restrict the usage to once a week since it takes a while for the jasmine fragrance to leave the hair. Plus, it might make hair greasy if used more than that.

Some disadvantages I see are, the jasmine fragrance(which btw, I DON'T mind) that is quite strong even after washing, so people with sensitive noses or those allergic towards fragrances might want to give it some thought before buying.The $21.95 price tag seems too steep for something that lasts for just about 5 uses.The tub packaging makes it tough to take product out once it's about to get over.I have to use a spoon/spatula every time.

Unlike other LUSH products, this one has a good one year's shelf life. However, it's highly unlikely that it'll be unused until then.

Apart from that, I think this does a good job in pampering hair, easing frizz and providing it a moisture boost with loads of shine. I am liking it a lot and will definitely re-purchase. A great treat for stressed out tresses.

Have you tried LUSH Jasmin and Henna Fluff-Eaze? Do you like it as much as I do? What are your favorite hair treatments? Share your thoughts.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

NYX Single eyeshadow in Flamingo

I've always felt that NYX single eye shadows were quite comparable to the MAC ones at just a fraction of the cost. If you love pigmented eye shadows, these are a very great option to consider.They are very easy to blend and the staying power is just amazing.

NYX has a whole ton of single eyeshadow shades to choose from.Flamingo, is something I liked a lot but sadly, it does not show up so well on me.




Flamingo has a sheer metallic finish. I would describe the shade as a light golden-purple. The pigmentation is amazing, just that this color was a little too light for me. It would look great on darker skin tones. For a subtle look, this can be worn all over the lid or paired with a darker eye shadow.Great for the no-makeup look when paired with just some eyeliner and mascara.

Here's a swatch.

That said, I still love the shade and the quality.Can't beat the price either!It's a very unique shade.Something that I've not seen else where.

Priced at $5.50, these are available at Ulta and online at cherryculture.com.

Have you tried flamingo? Do you love NYX eye shadows? Are there any great shades you recommend I try? I'd love to know about it!

BCA Month - Goodies with a cause

October being breast cancer awareness month, from Sharpie Pens to Smashbox,see what products are playing their part to support the cause. We all buy stuff , why not buy something that supports the cause and help donate a part of their proceeds to the research fund if you are not already.Apart from the regular self exams and the healthy diet and exercise for our own self, these are what we can do to show our support.

Pink Ribbon Sharpie Permanent Marker

Make your mark in pink & contribute to a great cause. Through December 31, 2010 Sharpie ® will donate $.20 from the sale of this product to City of Hope breast cancer research, treatment & education. Durable fine point tip produces thin, detailed lines on most hard-to-mark surfaces. Quick-drying ink is waterproof, smearproof & fade-resistant

SMASHBOX LIMITLESS LONG WEAR LIP GLOSS BENEFITING THE BCRF 

Contributing to Breast Cancer Awareness Month doesn’t get much easier than this! Simply pick up this pretty pink gloss in a limited-edition package, and all proceeds starting today through October will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The silky-smooth lip color stays put for up to 6 hours and protects your pout with SPF 15.  

BOBBI BROWN PINK RIBBON SHIMMER BRICK

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bobbi created this limited-edition Pink Shimmer Brick Compact. This shimmering, brush-on powder creates a soft, light pink glow. Enjoy Free Standard Shipping as our thank you with your purchase of this item the month of October.

Clinique Great Skin, Great Cause Key Chain

 

Make a dramatic difference. $10.00 from your purchase helps support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Limited-edition Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion comes with a collectible key ring with a pink ribbon heart and Clinique “C” charm

Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Lip Design Collection

A gorgeous way to show your support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Includes full-size lipsticks in shades hand-selected by Evelyn Lauder: Candy, Rubellite and Tiramisu, all in a Pink Croc-Print Clutch. Best of all, the Estée Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection helps raise awareness that early detection saves lives.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

MAC Lovechild : Lipgloss I'm currently loving the most.

MAC's Lovechild lipglass has been my go-to lip gloss these days.The weather is starting to get really cold and dry and my lips have been craving for moisture a lot more than before, because of which I'm switching over to glosses more and more.I am too lazy to apply lipstick and then apply another layer of gloss.Anything that gives me glossy color and a moisture boost in one go!


Lovechild seems to be the perfect shade for fall too.MAC describes this shade as coppered plum.Pinkish Plum with more of a golden sheen would describe this the best.It's really sophisticated and looks great with any kind of makeup.This gloss would look great on women with all skin tones especially, those that are medium skin toned.

My lips are a bit pigmented so, this one shows up pretty well.Just one swipe and I get nice, glossy and moisturized lips.

Here are the swatches.The color looks totally different on MAC's website.It looks much lighter in real.

Like all MAC lip glasses, this is quite sticky and lasts a good 2-3 hours on me.Has the signature MAC vanilla scent which I don't mind.

This is one shade I'm really really loving at the moment and see myself re-purchasing as and when I run out.I can sport this warm, beautiful shade any time of the year!

Lovechild is a part of MAC's permanent collection and is available at all MAC counters and online at maccosmetics.com.

Have you tried Lovechild? Is there another shade you think that looks as great as this? I'd love to know!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

New from Smashbox - Holiday 2010 Wish For The Perfect Pencils Set swatches and photos.

Smashbox has come up with a lot of value sets as part of their holiday 2010 wish collection. One such, is the Wish for the Perfect Pencils set. The set contains four colors of travel-size eye pencils.



  • Onyx - Jet Black
  • Orchid - Dark Purple
  • 14k - Soft Metallic Gold
  • Graphite - Metallic Grey

The pencils are quite small in size. They are pretty effortless to apply and the formula is quite creamy. However, they are not long lasting and smudge with ease. Smashbox claims they stay on for a good 8 hours, but I highly doubt that.

Here are a few swatches.The first picture is taken without flash and the next one with flash.


Top to Bottom : Onyx, 14k, Graphite and Orchid.


The colors are quite pigmented and well worth the $16 price tag.A great travel-friendly set for people who are on the go and a great gift option too! Would have been better if only they had better staying power *sigh*.

Graphite seems to be my favourite amongst the four shades.Available at Sephora and online at Smashbox.com

I am still not sure if I wanna get these.What about you?Do you plan to get this or any other holiday sets from Smashbox this year? Are you loving these shades? I'd love to know!



Friday, October 1, 2010

Can't stop lovin' Milani Minerals Powder Blushes

I had a Eureka moment when I finally found a powder blush, that was talc-free, madly pigmented and the best of all, was a mere 6 bucks!!


Milani Minerals powder blush is one of the best blushes one can find in the drugstore aisles. Available in four shades, Luminous, Sunset Beach, Mai Tai and Sweet Rose, these are a beautiful addition to your blush collection.

I got them in Sunset Beach and Sweet Rose. Sunset Beach is a warm matte apricot, best suited for medium skin tones and Sweet Rose is a flat, matte dusty rose which I think, can be worn by all skin tones.




There is absolutely no fall out here and they go on so smooth and creamy for a powder blush. The texture is slightly more creamier than the usual powder blushes that I have tried so far.

Being talc-free and mineral based, it does not clog pores and the creamy texture makes it suitable for drier skin-types as well. Could I ask for more?

Here are the swatches.The first one is sunset beach and the second one is sweet rose all taken in daylight, without flash.




Oh, not to mention, they come with an absolutely useless brush which does not serve *any* purpose. Well, not that bad actually, I use it to clean my keyboard and dust off eyeshadow fallout! The mirror inside is handy for touch-ups though, which by the way, I needed only after a good 3-4 hours.

Pros
  • Lovely creamy texture for a powder blush, blends like a dream and awesome pigmentation.
  • Something that's so affordable. Seriously, I never thought something as cheap as $6 would perform so well!
  • No fallout.
  • Talc-free
  • Does not clog pores.
Cons
  • Because of the pigmentation, it's easy to go overboard with this one.
  • I wish Milani didn't stop with just four colors :(
I would be buying the other two colors soon. They are 'Mai Tai', a coral shade and 'Luminous', a peachy pink with golden glitter which, is also supposedly a close dupe of NARS Oragsm(let's see  that!).

With no doubt,these are the best Powder Blushes I have tried so far from the drugstore and they perform much better than so many high end, department store ones.

Check it out the next time you are at the store. You'll know what I am talking about.

Available at Target, CVS and online at cherryculture.com.

Have you tried Milani Minerals Blush? Do you love them as much as I do? Share your thoughts.