Monday, November 29, 2010

Peace on Earth!

'Peace on Earth' is part of the China Glaze Holiday 2010 collection. It's a beautiful, shimmery olive based green. 








It's not too thick, has the right consistency, is opaque and streak free. The wear time is pretty good too. I have applied two coats here. Please ignore the sloppy application, I was in a hurry.
Most shades in this collection are sold out so, if you like this shade, grab it before it's gone! Like all China Glaze polishes, these are also free of DBP, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.
So, what do you think? Do you like Peace on Earth? Well, who doesn't :)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush can handle more than just bronzer!

EcoTools brushes are a great bargain in brushes if you are playing around a lot in make-up and are not willing to fork out $25 for a decent brush. This brush, priced at $11.99, is definitely comparable to any higher end kabuki brush and does the job perfectly.The bristles are really soft and dense.



To me, this is more of an all in one loose powder/mineral foundation brush than a bronzer brush. You will definitely be able to appreciate it's multi-tasking capabilities :)




I use this to set my makeup with pressed or loose powder. Sometimes,it works great in buffing out excess make-up. In a pinch, it would even work great for liquid foundation. Since the bristles are so densely packed, it takes a long, long time to dry! I would best describe this brush as a kabuki on a stick.


Pros:
  • Super soft bristles.
  • No shedding even after multiple washes.
  • Picks up right amount of product and adds a perfect finishing touch to any make-up.
  • Cruelty-free.
  • Great quality for the price.
Cons:
  • The solid handle feels quite heavy. But that doesn't affect the performance of the brush.
  • Since it's so densely packed, it takes a hella long time to fully dry.
I am totally loving this brush and would say it's a must have for anyone who is looking for a great quality, multi-tasking brush. Can't beat the price either!
Have you tried the EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush? What are your current favourite brushes? I'd love to know!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Smashbox Blush Rush in Chiffon

Smashbox Blush Rush in Chiffon has been my go to blush these days. I've been having this around for a long time, but I tend to gravitate more towards this shade nowadays.Chiffon looks a lot like NARS Orgasm/MAC Springsheen in the pan, but turns out quite different. It has amazing color payoff and goes on really smooth. Chiffon can be best described as a peachy pink with very tiny golden shimmer.






The shimmer is not very OTT and pretty much less when compared to Orgasm. 

Blushes with a good amount of shimmer always accentuate my pores, but since this one has less shimmer and more of a golden sheen, I can try it on without having to worry about it.

Here's a swatch:


Pros:
  • Super pigmented and creamy for a powder blush.
  • Totally buildable texture.
  • Great packaging with a handy swivel mirror arrangement.
  • Shimmer in this shade is totally wearable. For that reason, all the blushes in the blush rush range have totally wearable shimmer.
  • With good prepping, the staying power is great.

Cons:
  • It's really expensive ($24). I wouldn't pay full price so, I got it as part of a sale.
  • Contains Talc which is why the texture is so smooth.
I totally dig this shade and since it's shimmery, I can also layer this on top of another matte blush or any cream blush which would extend the wear time. Chiffon is a warm shade and would look great on all medium and dark skin tones. It might sheer out a bit on lighter skin tones , but is always a great option for layering upon another blush.



I would like to try more Smashbox Blush Rush shades and might pick up a few more if I catch them as part of a sale. I would totally recommend this although, I would feel bad asking you to pay full price. It's a definite choice if you happen to catch it as part of a sale :) 

Have you tried Smashbox Blushes? What are your favorite shades?  I'd love to know!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Golden, Rust & Walnut Bronze - Swatches and Review

This particular trio from NYX called as the "Golden, Rust & Walnut Bronze" consists of three warm shades of eye shadows. I have tried the single and trio eye shadows from NYX and I've always found the quality of those shadows to be the same. The trios are as buttery and smooth as the singles.




All three colors are madly pigmented and very vibrant. Golden and Walnut Bronze can be categorized as daily wear shades while Rust, on the other hand is a little more playful.




These shades can also be found as single eye shadows. I found the trios to be a good bargain and storage becomes easier this way.



All of them look great as all over lid shades. Walnut Bronze, looks great as a crease shade too. Rust can be worked with as a crease shade too, but I liked Walnut Bronze better. Golden looks stunning as an all over lid-color.These shades work great with all skin tones!




Pros:
  • Super-pigmented.
  • Creamy, smooth and very bendable textures.
  • Very minimal fallout. The fallout you see in these pictures are because I dropped the pan down.And no, the shadows din't break either.
  • With a primer underneath, they don't budge.
  • Great quality at a very affordable price - It's $8, but often on sale for $5 at cherryculture.com
  • Ridiculously huge amount of shades to choose from.

Cons:

  • I just wish they hadn't put the slogan "Triple Shadows for Sexy Babe's Eyes only!" on the cover. No seriously, the palette as such packs some very gorgeous shades, but this whole thing makes it look cheap.



I completely loved these eye shadows and would totally compare it to some very high end stuff. Have you tried NYX Trio shadows? What are your favorite shades?

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Gloss in Pink Buff

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Glosses are opaque, pigmented glosses that deliver a super dose of color and some serious moisture. To me, they feel more like a liquid lipstick than a gloss. It's not very runny but rather quite thick and non-sticky.




Pink Buff can be described as a mauve-pink that would look good on all skin tones especially medium and dark. Lighter skin tones can carry this off well by toning down the color a bit by mixing and matching it with another lip color. I have very pigmented lips and since these glosses have killer color payoff, the color shows up pretty well on me. They are super shiny and feel quite light on the lips and have no added shimmer to them. 




Swatches of Pink Buff with and without flash. The topmost picture is taken with flash:


Pros:
  • Rich color.
  • Moisturizes very, very well.
  • Non-sticky. 
  • The shade selection for these Rich Color Glosses are very unique. There are no funky colors. Everything is very wearable.

Cons:
  • The price!!!I was kind put off since the $20 price tag yields just 0.14 fl. oz!!! The lip gloss tube is ridiculously small in size, imo. I have compared it to a MAC and an NYX lipgloss. Just check out the size of this one.
  • They are not very long lasting which is probably due to the fact that they are non-sticky. The small tube is not going to last a very long time if it has to be re-applied so frequently.
Will I re-purchase? The formula and color payoff is great but, keeping in mind the quantity and the price, I would say, not unless it's on a sale or something. This is a nice little addition to your lip gloss collection but definitely, not a must-have. But, it's great to snag one if you can find it for a very good deal. I wouldn't mind trying more colors if I can find these as part of a holiday set.That way, the price is also justified.


Have you tried Bobbi Brown Rich Color Glosses?Let me know what you think of them!

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Butter

Spiced Vanilla is as buttery and ultra-moisturizing as the other body butters from The Body Shop. This is limited-edition and is part of the holiday collection. The fragrance is somewhat similar to last year's Nutmeg and Vanilla. So, if you like that, this is worth trying out.




The scent seemed to be pretty mild in the tub, but goes on strong after applying. There is a strong vanilla smell and a hint of spice. Quite Yum!!!


Pros :

  • Moisturizes really well.
  • Priced reasonably.
  • Absorbs really very well and keeps skin moisturized for a very long time.
  • The fragrance lingers on for quite sometime.

Cons:

  • People with sensitive noses might want to avoid this. Some may find the fragrance to be too strong. I like it a lot, but I know I'll get bored of the smell after a while.
  • The tub-packaging.
  • Limited-edition.

It's worth checking out, imo. At least the small tub of body butter. The body scrub seems delish but, I am not sure if I'll get it since I have a ton of other scrubs waiting to be finished.

Have you tried anything from The Body Shop's holiday collection? Spiced Vanilla anyone?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

La Source Hand Therapy by Crabtree & Evelyn

La Source Hand Therapy is an award-winning hand cream from Crabtree and Evelyn. They have a great range of scents to choose from. I think fragrance is really important when it comes to hand creams. The smell of a hand cream really determines how often I want to use it.


La Source has a very mild, soothing fragrance, more like a spa that leaves hands smelling and feeling soft and supple. Crabtree and Evelyn describes the smell as a "Relaxing sea air fragrance".I am not sure what that means but, it smells great for sure!!! It is also not disturbing to be used at night
The packaging is really cute. It's a cool blue colored squeeze tube that's really hygienic and also easy to be carried around. The cream has the pefect consistency that spreads easily and gets absorbs really, really fast. It does not leave icky fingermarks on my keyboard which, is a HUGE plus!!! This cream keeps my hands moisturized really well so, I don't need to re-apply it that often.


The small size is $10(50g) and the bigger one is priced at $15(100g). They also have gift sets that contain three hand creams in one, which I think is a great way to try. 
There's nothing I don't like about this hand cream. I totally love it and I think it's worth every penny. I'll definately re-purchase this one for sure!!! It has become a staple for me.
Have you tried Crabtree and Evelyn hand therapy creams? What are your current favorite hand creams? Share your thoughts.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Liner in Caviar Ink

I was never too sure I could believe all the hype surrounding the Bobbi Brown gel liners until I personally tried them myself.The formula is really creamy, glides on so smoothly and stays put for hours together. 


They come in a variety of matte and shimmer shades. "Caviar Ink" is a beautiful deep brown-black that looks more like black than brown. It's not jet black and hence, is not very harsh. It's a soft, muted shade that can be worn with the slightest of effort.


I've tried many gel/cream liners and so far, this had proven to be the best. The packaging is classy and pretty to tote around. Many gel based liners I have tried, dry up as soon as they are applied on the eyes and make smudging a pain! These liners, have a setting time and make the job much easier and once set, they just don't budge. Love it!




Pros:
  • Super creamy formula.
  • Long wearing.
  • Easy to remove. It's waterproof, so you'll need a makeup remover.
  • Does not irritate eyes.
  • Great selection of shades.





Cons:
  • A bit pricey for the 0.1 oz./ 3 g amount of product. 
I totally love the creaminess and warmth of this shade and the formula beats so many gel-liners in the market. This tends to be pricey, but is totally worth it. I'd love to try Ivy Shimmer Ink and Black Mauve shimmer next. What do you think? Do you like Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel liners? Are there any other affordable alternatives you would suggest? I'd love to know!