Saturday, December 31, 2011

Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer

Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer($58) is an intensive resurfacing treatment that claims to polish, refine and texturize skin. This dermal resurfacer, comparable to clinical treatments, peels with alpha hydroxy acid, exfoliates with pumpkin enzyme and polishes with aluminum oxide crystals.

I absolutely love the scent of this exfoliator. It was released during fall and has the most amazing, warm pumpkin pie like scent. The texture feels gritty, in a non-scratchy way. I like to use this not more than twice a week. To use, I apply a small amount all over my face, leave it on for a while and wash off, buffing away the beads. Since I have sensitive skin, I leave it on for about 5-7 minutes. If you don't have very sensitive skin, you may leave it on longer. There was a slight stinging sensation the first time alone.

More than anything else, I love the way it gets rid of dry, flaky skin around my mouth and cheeks. I've been using this for more than a month, twice weekly now. It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, not stretchy at all. It also brightens up dull skin, making it look more radiant. Although it doesn't dry my skin like a lot of exfoliators, I still follow up with a serum or moisturizer every time. The price makes it an expensive buy which is one of the biggest cons. Also, people with very oily, acne prone skin may find this a little too strong.

Overall, if you have dry skin or aging skin, this is a very good pick for polishing skin and buffing away the flaky bits. After a few uses, skin looks more refined with less dry spots. You may need to exercise caution if you have a lot of breakouts and extremely sensitive skin. Other than that, it is a fantastic product and one of the best, powerful exfoliators I've tried so far.

Available at Sephora stores and online at sephora.com.

What are your thoughts on the Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

BITE Beauty Sheer Balm in Starfruit

BITE Beauty's Sheer Balms SPF15($19)come loaded with anti-oxidants, promise color and helluva hydration. The balm is not as sheer as I expected it to be. It is quite pigmented for a Sheer Balm and very moisturizing. The texture feels very creamy, rich and leaves lips looking moist rather than glossy. Since I have already pigmented lips, the sun protection factor is an added bonus that I like my lip products to have.

Starfruit is a pinkish red with a creme finish sans any shimmer. One stroke deposists a lot of color and feels very comfortable. Although it is not very long lasting, it keeps my lips looking healthy and moisturized, leaving a slight red tint.There's a faint berry smell, not very cloying that stays on for quite sometime. I also love the matte finish packaging, just like most Bite products.
BITE Beauty Sheer Balm is free of Parabens, Sulphates, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals and contains resveratrol, also found in red wine. If you are looking for a sheer balm with a glossy feel, this may not be it. But, if you like to keep your lips soft with quite a bit of color and a lot of moisture using quality ingredients, BITE Beauty's Sheer Balm fits the bill.

Available at select Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com

Have you tried BITE Beauty's Sheer Balm?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Essence Mini Lipgloss Set - Review, Photos & Swatches

This cute little kit from Essence comes with three lip glosses in mini sizes packaged in a small flip top case. "Angel's Kisses in Heaven" is a set that comes with a creamy nude, a shimmery, light pink and a clear gloss.






The set makes a great gift and is a cute little addition to your kit. The glosses feel quite sticky but, go on smooth and keep lips moisturized for about 2-3 hours. They also have a slight sweet smell that doesn't linger on for a long time. The nude shade topped off with the shimmery one makes a great combo, something that's simple, not very OTT and looks good on everyone. The lipglosses are tiny so they won't last you a very long time. But, I've never ever finished a lipgloss so the sizes of these glosses don't matter so much to me. For $2.99, the lovely texture and pigmentation of these glosses give so many others a run for their money.



Available at Ulta, HEB & Fred Meyer stores and online at Ulta.com.


What are your thoughts on the Essence Mini Lipgloss Set?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sue Devitt Gel To Powder Blush in Kelai - Review, Photos & Swatches

Sue Devitt Gel To Powder Blush($20) is an anti-aging blush that comes in four shades, with a unique formula and a sheer finish formulated especially for dry skin. The texture is mousse-like and transforms to a powdery finish when applied on cheeks.





The pigmentation is more on the sheer side so you need quite a bit of product for the color to show up. Kelai is a deep plum with golden shimmer that looks amazingly natural on medium to dark skin tones. The mousse-like consistency helps blend the product in really well. I like to use my fingers to apply this blush. I've tried using a stippling brush and a foundation brush too but, fingers work best for me. The warmth helps create a flawless finish, minimizing the look of large pores. Although Kelai is a shimmery blush, it still looks very natural and since the shimmer is super fine, it does not enlarge pores either.






Like most Sue Devitt products, the packaging is classy and the gel-like texture makes this product super easy to travel with as well. Since the blush is quite sheer especially after blending onto skin, it also has average staying power. You need a good primer underneath to increase longevity. I also wish the end result was just a tad more dewy. Since it transforms to a powder finish, it looks semi matte. Thankfully Kelai has quite a bit of shimmer that keeps it from looking too flat especially on my dry skin.

Overall, if you like the idea of a sheer blush that also makes a good base for other powder blushes, Sue Devitt's Gel to Powder blush is worth trying. Kelai especially is a must have shade for this season since it creates the most beautiful looking, natural flush on pale winter skin. Its wonderful texture makes application and blending a breeze. This is also one of the best blushes to travel with since there's no worry of the product melting or breaking.

Available ay Ulta and suedevittbeauty.com.

Have you tried Sue Devitt's Gel to Powder Blush?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Monday, December 19, 2011

bareMinerals Good As Gold 5-piece Smokey Eye Collection

Good As Gold($36) is a QVC exclusive 5-piece kit from bareMinerals for the holidays. The set includes 3 eye colors in Brave, Solid Gold and Chocolate Truffle, Soft Focus Liner Brush and Tapered Shadow Brush. The kit comes perfectly packaged in a gold case and the brushes with co-coordinating gold handles.




Since all eye shadows come in the form of eye dusts, the flat stiff brush helps pack color on. Pigmentation wise, all three of them are loaded with color. Like most loose shadows, these too come with a sifter arrangement. The shadows, although loaded with shimmer, are finely milled and blend amazingly well. There's quite a bit of fall out which is the reason I tend to stay away from loose shadows. So, I usually prefer a wet brush to pat color onto the lids and do my face routine afterwards. The brushes are good quality too and work perfectly well with most loose eye shadows like these.



Solid Gold is a shimmery taupe with golden shimmer. It looks great as an all over lid color and works well as a liner when I want to keep the look soft
Brave is a shimmery champagne that I like to use as a highlight on my brow bone, inner corners and even on the top of my cheek bones. It does look a little frosty on my lids though.
Chocolate Truffle is a deep charcoal that helps create a quick smokey eye.
Solid Gold

Brave

Chocolate Truffle
Top to Bottom : Brave, Chocolate Truffle, Solid Gold
Overall, this kit makes an amazing gift to anyone and the gold packaging makes it luxurious looking as well. The eye shadows may not be the best to travel with but, if you like loose shadows, these highly pigmented ones help create a quick and easy smokey eye!

Available exclusively online at QVC.com.

What are your thoughts on the bareMinerals Good As Gold 5-piece Smokey Eye Collection?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Friday, December 16, 2011

AHAVA Softening Butter Salt Scrub

The Softening Butter Salt Scrub($24) is part of AHAVA's Deadsea Salt line. This luxurious scrub has the most amazing, buttery soft texture that exfoliates without being too harsh on skin.

I take a very small amount in a bowl inside my shower, keeping the tub outside to prevent water from getting in. The texture is very smooth and spreads easily. It looks and feels like butter and has very tiny, super fine exfoliating beads. I prefer applying it to dry skin since the slippery texture becomes a little difficult to spread on wet skin. I also prefer to leave it on for a couple of minutes before washing off. Since there are no gritty parts, the scrub feels quite gentle. It leaves my skin feeling soft and very well moisturized. However, keep in mind that it has a very strong fragrance, which I don't mind but, something people with very sensitives noses may have a problem with. Also, it tends to leave a very slight moisture film because of the oils in it, so I usually skip moisturizer when I use this.






Overall, I like to use the AHAVA Softening Butter Salt Scrub not more than twice a week. It is super moisturizing and gently exfoliating. It smells and feels very luxurious, has a very unique texture & leaves my skin feeling supple.  I only need a tiny scoop of it every time so, the tub will last me a very long time.

Have you tried the AHAVA Softening Butter Salt Scrub?

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

BUXOM More To Love 5-Piece Eye and Lip Collection - Holiday 2011

More To Love($42) is a Sephora exclusive 5 piece, limited-edition collection that comes with Buxom's best selling full size eye and lip products products. Here's what's in the kit:
  • Big & HealthyTM Lip Polish in Clair
  • Scandal Big & HealthyTM Lip Tarnish
  • Stay-ThereTM Eyeshadow in Collie
  • InsiderTM Eyeliner in Onyx
  • Lash Mascara in Blackest Black







     
    Big & HealthyTM Lip Polish in Clair is a shimmery, pinky plum. The shimmer creates an illusion of fuller lips and delivers a good dose of shine too. There's a slight tingle that helps with the plumping action. The glossy shine stays on for a good 2-3 hours.
    Big & HealthyTM Lip Tarnish in Scandal is a creamy plum with no hint of shimmer, that claims to plump and moisturize lips with a natural looking stain. There's a light tingle and a minty feel to the lip stain as well. The color stays on for about 4-5 hours and leaves a reddish stain. The Lip Tarnish also comes with a sharpener but, I would have preferred a twist up pencil instead. It feels very moisturizing and keeps lips looking moist for a long time.

    Stay-ThereTM Eyeshadow in Collie is a natural looking peachy, shimmery shade that works well on most skin tones. The color can be layered on to build the intensity. But, I prefer it as a sheer wash. You don't need a primer underneath since it has very minimal to no creasing and works well as an eye base for most shimmery neutral shades.

    Paired with a jet black eyeliner like the InsiderTM Eyeliner in Onyx and Lash Mascara in Blackest Black, it creates the most natural, everyday look.

    Onyx is not the most long lasting eyeliner but, the color is very intense and the twist up form is very convenient to use. It does not tug or pull and works great on the waterline too. Lash Mascara helps separate and lengthen lashes for a clean look. I would have loved more volume from this mascara since I have very sparse lashes. But, together with the eyeshadow and eyeliner, it works well to create a natural, clean, everyday look.
    Wearing Stay-There Eyeshadow in Collie, Insider Eyeliner in Onyx and Lash Mascara in Blackest Black

    Top to bottom : Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Clair,Scandal Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish, Insider Eyeliner in Onyx &  Stay-There Eyeshadow in Collie

    Overall, this is one well put together kit that contains mostly wearable shades and the full sized products make it a great value as well. All products are travel friendly and are formulated without Parabens, Sulfates & Phthalates.

    What are your thoughts on the BUXOM More To Love 5-Piece Eye and Lip Collection?

    Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

    Monday, December 12, 2011

    Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter

    This 100% natural lip balm made with Kokum Butter is one of the new additions to the Burt's Bees Lip Balm family. I got this about a month back when I wanted something very moisturizing for the cold weather since it claims to be "ultra conditioning".  Along with Kokum Butter, Cocoa and Shea Butter also provide moisture and comfort to dry lips.

    The balm smells wonderful and does not have a waxy texture. It feels very slick, buttery and glides across dry lips coating it with moisture. It is very rich and looks a little glossy too. I've been using this for the past month and absolutely love the way it keeps my lips conditioned and soft. It does have a tendency to wear off sooner than the other lip balms from Burt's Bees because of its slick texture. But there's still a lot of moisture left behind to keep lips nourished. While using it under a lipstick, I apply and blot with a tissue to remove excess or just apply well before applying my lipstick and let it sink in. This is also one of my favourite balms to apply over a lip stain.

    If you are looking for a rich, luxurious feeling lip balm with a super friendly price tag($4) for the winters, this is well worth a pick up. The buttery texture may melt during hot weather but for the colder months ahead, this is just perfect. Most drugstores seem to be out of this variant most of the time making it a little difficult to find. Just like other Burt's Bees lip balms, there's an insane amount of product in there that will last you ages!

    What are your thoughts on the Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter?

    Friday, December 9, 2011

    NOTD with Deborah Lippmann Good Girl Gone Bad - Holiday 2011

    Good Girl Gone Bad, released as part of Deborah Lippmann's Holiday 2011 collection is a deep shimmery, plum loaded with pink and purple shimmer. The color is absolutely stunning and very festive.

    The formula is not very thick for a shimmery polish but still opaque enough in two coats. The polish dries to a semi-matte finish so be sure to top it off with a topcoat for a super glossy finish.
    Good Girl Gone Bad, two coats, no top coat
    It started chipping after 4 days and the deep plummy shade did not stain my nails with a good base coat. Good Girl Gone Bad is perfect for fall/winter and will look great on all skin tones. Like most glitter polishes, it is a pain to remove but, the amazing shade makes up for all that!

    All Deborah Lippmann nail polishes are Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP free.

    What are your thoughts on Good Girl Gone Bad?

    Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

    Thursday, December 8, 2011

    bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 - The Playlist

    The bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow palettes come in two limited-edition shades with gorgeous luxe gold packaging. "The Playlist" is a palette that is made up of golds, greens and shimmery browns, shades that work on most people. The packaging is just lovely and comes with a mirror the size of the case. The luxe kit does not feel heavy and travels really well.

    The Playlist features Pumped(cocoa sparkle) Chart Topper(pewter silk), Max Volume(smokey jade), Louder(burnished copper), One Hit Wonder(butter chiffon), Most Requested(burgundy sparkle),Remix(burnished gold), Speaker Box(shimmering gunmetal)




    The texture of the eye shadows are buttery smooth and amazingly pigmented. The Playlist has mostly wearable shades and I was so happy that there was very minimal to no fallout from all shades except the cream(almost white) highlight shade. But since most shades do have quite a bit of shimmer, I prefer doing my face routine afterwards. The metallic shades have very finely milled shimmer and blend seamlessly. You don't need a primer to boost the vibrancy of the shadows but, I would suggest using one for extended wear. Without a primer, they tend to crease after about 3 hours.
    L-R : Pumped, Chart Topper, Max Volume, Louder

    L-R : One Hit Wonder,Most Requested,Remix,Speaker Box
    Used Louder on the lid, Speaker Box in the outer corner, crease & Chart Topper on the brow bone
    According to bareMinerals, these eye shadows contain no parabens, binders, fillers or harsh chemicals. I cannot speak for the quality of the other palette, The Cocktail as I haven't tried it. But, this one is a definite winner and the colors are a great mix. Whether it's just a wash of color you are going for or a more dramatic look, this palette works just fine.

    Available at Ulta stores, Sephora and online at Ulta.com, Sephora.com and bareescentuals.com

    What are your thoughts on the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 - The Playlist?


    Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.