Friday, March 30, 2012

Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème

I've been wanting to try Caudalie's Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème($40) for a while now and my local Sephora always seems to be out of it. I finally got to pick up the last one in store few weeks back. The Quenching Sorbet-Crème is a creme with a weightless texture and feel formulated for dehydrated, sensitive skin.








The texture is more like a thick lotion and it comes packaged in a hygienic pump. I need about less than a pump for my face. The texture is light so, this makes for a great cream for summer or anytime when the weather is quite warm. My skin tends to lean towards combination dry this time of the year and sensitive always so, this is just perfect without being too heavy. However, during the winter, this may be a little too light and you could end up using a lot if your skin leans towards the drier side. The cream takes a while to absorb fully and when it does, it leaves skin feeling super soft without being too greasy. It does not leave any residue yet manages to moisturize so well. It makes for a great day cream to be used even under makeup. I've never had a problem with my foundation sliding off or my face turning into an oily mess. The unique, luxurious texture of the Sorbet-Crème does an amazing job of keeping my face balanced, soft and nourished.




Although pricey, I love Caudalie's Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème so much. I've been using it for a few weeks now and it keeps my skin feeling hydrated without the heavy feel. Although I may need something a little more moisturizing when the weather is a little dry. The pump bottle seems like it doesn't have too much product in there but, I'm hoping to get at least 2-3 months of usage from this one! If you have extremely dehydrated skin all through the year, this may not be something for you. If not, this is a great moisturizer worth trying! I just wish it came with SPF. It does contain fragrance and has a very slight citrusy scent that fades completely after a while.

The Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème is free of Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic dyes, Mineral Oil and Petrochemicals.

Available at Sephora stores and online at sephora.com

Have you tried Caudalie's Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème?

Thursday, March 29, 2012

BUXOM True Hue Blushes - Breathless, Shangri-La-La & Luvitate

The True Hue Blushes($24) are one of the few newer additions to BUXOM's permanent line. These powder blushes come with an ultra-silky, smooth texture and blend like a dream.



Pigmentation varies for each color from sheer to intense. The packaging is beautiful but the case gets scratched easily while traveling around. There's a nice sized mirror for touch ups too.

Breathless


Breathless is a light, peachy pink. It has a nice sheen and is quite nicely pigmented. The color makes for a natural looking blush when you want a subtle flush of color

Luvitate

Luvitate is a shimmery, light peachy gold with hints of pink. It takes some layering to show up and works great as a highlighter on my skin tone.

Shangri-La-La


Shangri-La-La is a dark plummy berry with a little bit of pink shimmer that almost disappears after blending. The color is stunning and very pigmented. I would recommend applying this color with a stippling blush since it is very easy to go overboard. This is a fantastic pick for medium-dark skin tones.

L-R : Shangri-La-La, Breathless, Luvitate



These blushes have a lovely texture with very less fallout for a powder blush. There was very little from Breathless and Luvitate while Shangri-La-La had almost no fallout. With a good primer on, they last for about 5-6 hours. Overall, I''m very impressed with the texture and the way they feel. Although slightly shimmery, they don't emphasize pores, add a nice sheen and blend really well even on dry skin.

BUXOM True Hue Blushes are free of Parabens and Synthetic Fragrances.

Available at Sephora stores and online at sephora.com

Have you tried the True Hue Blushes by BUXOM?

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.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Zoya Beach Collection - Review, Photos & Swatches

Zoya's Beach collection, new for summer features 6 new fun shades. All shades in this range have a creme finish and come with great coverage. A couple of shades look very similar to what Zoya has already done before. There aren't any dupes from the earlier collections but, some colors are close enough.

L-R : Reagan, Lara, Shelby, Arizona, Tracie, Wednesday

L-R : Lara, Arizona, Wednesday






L-R : Tracie, Shelby, Reagan





Lara is a bright, vivid pink with a glossy creme finish. Two coats gives great coverage. The formula is perfect and goes on without being streaky.


Arizona is a soft looking, wearable orange with a slight yellow undertone. The formula was a little on the thinner side but very easy to work with. The color was opaque in two coats.



Wednesday is described perfectly by Zoya as a soft aqua cream. The formula of this one was a little thick and took longer than the others to dry. Slightly brighter and more bluish than Bevin from the Spring collection, Wednesday is a beautiful, fun color for spring and summer.




Tracie is a light green with a slight, pearly finish. The odd one of the bunch. The formula is creamy but the metallic finish leaves brush strokes. The color is undoubtedly beautiful and the soft, pearlescent sheen adds a beautiful shine.



Reagan is a dark pink with a slight blue undertone. It is a great color that can be worn all through the year. It was also the most difficult shade to capture in pictures. I had to tweak the photo to bring the right shade out. The formula was a little thick and tricky to work with but had great coverage.




Shebly is a bright, cool toned pink. It is not the most flattering color on my fingers. I like it better on my toes. Shelby was a little sheer and needed 3 coats for good coverage. The finish isn't very glossy so, be sure to top it off with a good topcoat.



Overall, Wednesday, Arizona and Tracie are my favorites from the Beach collection. These three colors are just perfect for spring/summer and have an amazing formula that's easy to work with. It would have been really nice if a soft looking yellow was thrown into the collection instead of one of the pinks. I do love me some pinks but, Zoya already has an amazing selection of pinks to choose from. Wednesday and Arizona are great ways to wear bright colors without having to look too over the top. I'm loving the Surf collection even more so stay tuned for swatches soon!

Check out photos and swatches of the Surf collection here.

Available now at zoya.com

Price : $8 each.

All Zoya Nail Polishes are free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP and Camphor.


What are your thoughts on the Zoya Beach 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.

Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Escape To Paradise Palette - Review, Photos, Swatches & FOTD


The Escape to Paradise Palette ($19.99) is a new addition to Sonia Kashuk's spring 2012 collection. The limited edition palette comes with four neutral eye shadows, a shimmery peachy blush, a dark matte eye definer and three shimmery lip glosses.  The palette also comes with a base to keep eye makeup in place.







The four eye shadows work really well to create a neutral eye. There is quite a bit of fall out from the shimmery shade. It is very glittery and needs a good base to adhere to. The eye base that comes along in the palette is a alright but, it doesn't hold eye shadows more than a couple of hours. The eye definer is a great way to add a little bit of smokiness along the lower lash line. If you have dark brows like me, it also doubles up as a great color to fill in your brows. With the exception of the shimmery eye shadow, everything else is nicely pigmented, blends very well with very less fallout. Since the colors are all matte, they go very well with the peachy pink blush that has quite a bit of shimmer.

Eyeshadows

Eye Definer, Blush



Lip Colors swatched top to bottom


Wearing eyeshadows, blush and the sheer red gloss from the Sonia Kashuk Escape To Paradise Palette


The lip glosses that come in the palette are quite sticky and feel more like lipsticks but, they moisturize really well and last a good 3 hours on me without drying.The packaging is really pretty, very sleek and travel-friendly. The mirror is a nice size that comes in handy while doing touch ups.

This limited-edition palette is available at all target stores and online at target.com

What are your thoughts on the Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Escape To Paradise Palette?

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, March 27, 2012

Zoya Beach & Surf Summer 2012 Collections - Preview

Here's a little preview of what Zoya has to offer this summer! The Beach collection, a mix of creamy brights and the Surf collection, a mix of shimmery foils.

























The Beach Collection

L-R : Reagan, Lara, Shelby, Arizona, Tracie, Wednesday     

















The Surf Collection

L-R : Myrta, Rory, Carly, Kimber, Meg, Zuza

















Review/Swatches coming soon!

Which ones do you like the most?

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.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color - Review, Photos & Swatches

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Colors($6.95) are full on glitter polishes packed in an opaque color base. The polishes are loaded with multicolored glitter, small, big and hexagonal. They look amazing worn alone or over another nail color.








Be-Jeweled is a medium purple with green, red, gold and silver glitter. The color looks stunning on fingers and toes.
Be-Jeweled

Bling-tastic is a blue with tiny silver and blue glitter. The color comes off a little teal-y in pictures but, it is a little more vivid and blue than it looks in this picture.

Bling-Tastic

Cha-Ching is a bright and beautiful red with silver and red chunky glitter. The color looks fantastic worn by itself or over a dark base.

Cha-Ching

All colors feel very gritty since the glitter is quite chunky and start chipping after 3 days with a good top coat on. The polishes applied very well and took longer than usual to dry. I love Be-Jeweled in particular since the color has a lot of multi-colored glitter and the purple will look good on most skin tones. All polishes were very opaque in two coats. Cha-Ching seemed a little more opaque than the other two polishes. These are some great glitter polishes with a nice price tag and wear really well by themselves or when layered over other polishes. If you love sparkly polishes loaded with a super dose of glitter, the Gem Crush range offers a nice shade selection that is worth trying.

Have you tried the Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Colors ?

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.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment

"A breathable, oil-absorbing treatment that minimizes the look of pores and redness while giving skin a smooth, matte finish that lasts throughout the day." 

 

 

The pomegranate mattifying treatment ($38) is a light-weight treatment that claims to treat enlarged pores, redness and improve skin's surface overall. It is formulated to be used as a primer, over moisturizer or alone. The texture is similar to that of a gel like primer and I use a small amount after moisturizer. It vanishes almost immediately, without leaving a film and creates a super smooth canvas, minimizing pores. If you have dry skin, I would recommend using it over moisturizer since it has oil absorbing properties. If you have oily skin, you could use this in place of a moisturizer and skip primer too. It is very lightweight and holds makeup in place and keeps me looking fresh for a very long time. Even the creamiest of blushes stay put.

 




Korres also has a pomegranate mattifying primer which works on a similar concept except that this truly leaves a matte finish and claims to work with treating treat redness and pores. I do have very visible, quite large pores and I cannot say it treated them or made them disappear but, for a silicone-free base, this does a fabulous job shrinking them prior to makeup application. I do prefer a dewy look when I'm done with my makeup but, a clean canvas with a matte finish as a base helps makeup glide on so easily. I've had great luck with Korres' skin care range in the past and this one too is a winner for me. I would reach out to this more during summer and since it is pricey, I would save it for use during special occasions when I want my makeup to look fresh and neat for hours together. It also has a mild rose scent that I absolutely love.


 

Have you tried the Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment?

 

Available at Ulta, Sephora and online at sephora.com


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, March 21, 2012

BITE Beauty Spring 2012 - High Pigment Pencils in Rhubarb and Chablis

BITE Beauty has added a few new shades to their range of High Pigment Pencils($24) for spring. I have here Chablis, a bright coral pink and Rhubarb, a plummy rose with hints of mauve. The pencils have a slight sheen to them although they are said to be matte. Rhubarb is an amazing color, so perfect for medium-dark skin tones and my favourite of the two.

L-R : Chablis, Rhubarb




The high pigment pencils are packaged in a matte finish case, just like other Bite products. The pencils come in a twist up form, which I like since there's no product wastage. They have a slight smell which I'm not too fond of but it fades pretty fast. The texture is smooth and glides on coating lips with rich pigment. When my lips are not in a good condition, I apply a lip balm underneath. If you don't have very dry lips, you can very well get away without one. Both Chablis and Rhubarb are very bright, vivid colors that last a good 4 hours on my lips. They leave behind a beautiful stain without drying out lips. The intensity is buildable and the product itself doesn't feel waxy or heavy at all. When I want to tone down the color a bit, I dab on a little and go over with a gloss. The pointy tip also helps define lips without having to use a lip liner.

L-R : Chablis, Rhubarb

BITE Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Chablis

BITE Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb


If you have extremely dry lips, keep in mind that they do have a tendency to enhance flaky lips so, be sure to add a layer of lip balm underneath. Like most bright lip colors, Chablis and Rhubarb need touch ups in between to keep them looking vibrant. Although very creamy for a matte lip color, they still don't bleed or transfer. If you like richly pigmented lip products with a semi-matte finish and a light-weight feel, these are well worth a try!

BITE Beauty High Pigment Pencils are formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances & Petrochemicals

Available at select Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com

Have you tried BITE Beauty's High Pigment Pencils?

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, March 19, 2012

Melvita Ultra-Nourishing Body Balm

Melvita's Ultra-Nourishing Body Balm($28) is a rich body moisturizer that combines 3 honeys (Thyme, Acacia, Orange Blossom), royal jelly and cocoa butter, formulated for dry, delicate skin. Melvita's products are certified organic, made with 99% of the ingredients that come from natural origin.







Ingredients : Aqua [Water], Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil [Helianthus Annuus (Sun ower) Seed Oil]*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Olus Oil [Vegetable Oil], Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil [Carthamus Tinctorius (Saf ower) Seed Oil]*, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cera Alba [Beeswax]*, Mel [Honey]*, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter [Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter]*, Lauryl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter  [Butyrospermum Parkii  (Shea) Butter]*,  Sesamum  Indicum  Seed Oil  [Sesamum  Indicum  (Sesame)  Seed Oil]*, Dicaprylyl  Ether, Cetearyl Glucoside, Royal  Jelly*, Potassium  Sorbate,  Sodium  Benzoate,  Xanthan  Gum,  Levulinic  Acid,  Parfum  (Fragrance),  Galactaric  Acid,  Sodium  Levulinate,  Stevia  Rebaudiana  Leaf/Stem  Extract, Bisabolol*, Linalool**, Tocopherol, Citronellol**, Limonene**, Terpineol, Sorbic Acid.
** Constituants naturels du concentré aromatique / Natural components of fragrance



The balm comes packaged in a plastic tub and is rather thick. It does seem a little pricey but, there's a lot of product in there and since it is very thick, a little goes a long way. The texture is smooth and spreads well on dry skin. I do have to massage it in for a while before it gets completely absorbed. The smell is a little strong but, in a nice way. It smells a little fruity with just a hint of sweetness and doesn't linger around for a very long time. The balm is very rich and extremely moisturizing so, if you have dry, itchy skin it is just amazing. It keeps me moisturized, sans the greasiness for more than 8 hours. It might be a little too much during the warmer months but when the weather is slightly dry, it does a fabulous job in keeping my skin soft and supple. It keeps rough spots like knees and elbows moisturized for the longest time. I also love to use a little on my heels when they feel really dry and rough.




Melvita Ultra-Nourishing Body Balm is a fantastic pick if you have very dry skin that also tends to be itchy. It does a great job nourishing and calming dry skin. I don't have to re-apply it so often which makes it a winner for me. It also doubles up as a rich hand cream and keeps hands moisturized without feeling greasy or leaving icky finger marks.

Available online at Melvita.com and Melvita boutiques. To locate a store, click on the store finder tab on the Melvita website.

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.