Thursday, August 30, 2012

butter LONDON Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection

butter LONDON's Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection features five new nail polishes - Shag, Trustafarian, Lovely Jubbly, Dodgy Barnett and Gobsmacked. Two of them swatched are Shag - A metallic, shimmery copper and Trustafarian - Sage green with gold undertones in a holographic finish.


Shag

Trustafarian



Both polishes have a nice formula, thin but easy to work with. Shag is completely opaque in two coats and Trustafarian takes a good 3 coats for the holographic particles to shine through. It looks fantastic under sunlight and pretty much anywhere bright lights hit the polish. It is great to be layered over other polishes too. Shag is a perfect fall color, very rich in texture, something I would reach out to a lot. Both polishes started chipping after about 2 days on me. I wish they lasted a little longer since the colors are very pretty themselves.




Overall, both Shag and Trustafarian from butter LONDON's A/W collection are very well-done, wearable, unique colors just like a few others from the brand. Formula wise, both polishes went on smooth and dried pretty fast too. If you like rich, dark metallics, Shag is a must-have.

butter LONDON ($14) nail polishes are 3-free.

What are your thoughts on the butter LONDON Autumn/Winter 2012 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.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Me Up

Pink Me Up, part of Maybelline's Color Sensational line is a medium, wearable shade of pink that complements a wide range of skin tones. It does not have any shimmer or glitter and the color is very pigmented, opaque and smooth.





Pink Me Up looks more like a toned down, mid tone pink in the tube. It goes on much brighter than how it looks and if you have pigmented lips, it sure does a great job covering any pigmentation. It has a sliglty more matte finish compared to some other Color Sensationals that I've tried. I like to sheer out the color a little, by using it with a lip brush. Applying it directly from the tube adds a nice pop of color that looks very fresh, perfect for when you don't have too much of anything else going on.





As far as the Color Sensationals go, I like the range of colors more than the formula itself, which is slightly drying on me. But, with a good lip balm underneath, they feel much better and last about 3 hours on me. Pink Me Up also leaves a light pink, natural looking stain. It is perfect for summer and a great addition to any pink lover's stash!

Have you tried the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Me Up?

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream

Caudalie's Hand and Nail Cream ($15), formulated with organic shea butter and anti-oxidants, is a rich, non-greasy cream, with a fast absorbing formula that nourishes hands instantly.




Since the cream is concentrated, a little goes a long way, even on the driest of hands. The texture is absolutely fantastic and sinks in really fast. It does have dimethicone so the product has a slip initially, but sinks in completely without leaving a greasy residue. I like hand creams that have a nice fragrance to them and this one has a slight citrus smell that is not overpowering but, very refreshing at the same time. Once completely absorbed, the hand cream also lasts though a couple of hand washings, keeping hands moisturized and balanced. I haven't noticed any great improvement in my cuticles or nails but, it does an excellent job in keeping dryness away and softens hands really well every time it is re-applied.





Overall, it is one of the nicest hand creams I've tried in a while and also one of the fastest absorbing ones that do the job really well. If you are looking for a rich hand cream that nourishes without the heavy feel, this is one that I would highly recommend! Pricey, but definitely worth trying!

Have you tried the Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliners

The ScandalEyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliners ($4.99) are a new launch for fall from Rimmel. The liners come in four shades  - Aubergine, Black, Deep Blue and Brown, with a brush attached to them.




I think Rimmel put together a nice selection of basic colors here. Black is a deep, dark jet black and the Blue is a blackened navy. Aubergine has a subtle, violet metallic sheen while the brown is a taupe-y, matte everyday brown. As for the texture, these liners have a more wet texture than most gel liners I've tried. Although all of them are very pigmented, they tend to go on streaky, especially when used with the brush that comes with the liner. I get much better results with a regular liner brush. Because of the wet texture, they also take a really long time to dry. On the plus side, they are waterproof and do not smudge or smear around once set.

Aubergine
Black
Brown
Deep Blue

Aubergine would make for a great base for quite a few purple shadows and the black is really nice for some bold definition. They are priced really well compared to some other drugstore liners. If only they dried faster and were a little less streaky, they would have been perfect. If you can work with the longer than usual dry time and want a very affordable waterproof gel liner, these are worth looking into!


L-R : Brown, Deep Blue, Black, Aubergine





Have you tried the ScandalEyes Gel Liners by Rimmel?

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, August 27, 2012

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick

The Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks ($19), launched earlier this year are sheer, moisturizing lipsticks with a smooth, satin finish. I've been trying these out for a really long time now and love the texture and feel of these lipsticks. Formulated with mother-of-pearl and colorful pigments, the Rouge Artist Natural adds a translucent shine & a natural looking sheen to lips. 

L-R :  N47(Red Brick) and N9(Copper Pink)

These lipsticks come in two different finishes -satin & pearl and in an array of beautiful shades. Two of them featured here are N47(Red Brick) and N9(Copper Pink). N47 is a sheer red with a glossy sheen which makes it such an easy and wearable red. It's not something I would wear on an everyday basis, but definitely a red I would reach out to more often than a matte or a full coverage red. N9 on the other hand is a beautiful, everyday neutral. It has the right mix of brown and pink that provides a gorgeous wash of color with some sheen. 


L-R : N9(Copper Pink) and  N47(Red Brick)

Wearing MUFE Rouge Artist Natural in N47(Red Brick)

These lipsticks have a super smooth texture and a very moisturizing formula that keep lips soft and hydrated. I have pretty dry lips and I don't even need a lip balm underneath these. Since they have a more slick texture, they last about 3 hours on me before completely fading. They have a scent that could be a little bothersome for some people. Overall, they are pretty amazing for the price and the shade selection is very impressive too! 

Have you tried the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick?

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, August 25, 2012

Pacifica French Lilac Body Wash

Pacifica's French Lilac Body Wash ($10) is a Sulfate-Free, gentle all natural, body wash. The creamy body wash foams up pretty well with a soft lather for a sulfate-free product and cleanses without stripping skin. Pacific's French Lilac Body Wash uses "sodium lauryl sulfoacetate(SLSA)" , a foaming agent that is skin-friendly, derived from coconut and palm oils, instead of SLES (Sodiun Laureth Sulfate). Most natural body washes tend to leave a residue, but this one rinses super clean and leaves skin smelling great for a while after.









I'm not quite sure as to how the scent can be described. To me, it smells very luxurious, soft and feminine with just a hint of citrus to perk you up. The scent is wonderful and would last much, much longer when layered with the matching body butter. Overall, although a little pricey for the amount of product in there, it still is a really nice treat in the shower. The body wash is quite moisturizing itself, but I like to use a light lotion to keep skin balanced.

Have you tried the Pacifica French Lilac Body Wash?

Friday, August 24, 2012

bareMinerals Ready Foundation SPF20 and Precision Face Brushes

bareMinerals has a couple of new exciting launches set to come out at end of August. The Ready Foundation with SPF20 - A sheer-medium coverage foundation in pressed powder form, to be worn alone or over a tinted base and a couple of Precision Face Brushes packed with dense bristles for use with foundation, blush or powder.


Precision Face Brush ($28) and Precision Face Retractable Brush ($22) - Both these brushes come with dense bristles with an angled brush head for precise application. The Precision Face brush seems to be a little more densely packed than the retractable one.





These brushes are made from synthetic hair and work really well with the Ready Foundation. It helps buff the product into the skin for a sheer, flawless finish that looks extremely natural. I really like the design of these brushes and how well they work with cream products too. The retractable brush is like a mini-kabuki, only less dense which makes it perfect for use with pressed and loose powders and great for travel as well. I've washed them a good 5-6 times and they've been sturdy without shedding but, they take a really, really long time to completely dry so leaving them overnight is a good option.





The Ready Foundation with SPF20 ($29) is a foundation with sheer-medium coverage that comes in a pressed powder form. It can be used alone or over a sheer base like a tinted moisturizer. You could even use a fluffy brush and use it as a dusting to set liquid or cream foundation. When used on its own, over a moisturizer, it doesn't entirely take care of blemishes or dark circles but, if you tend to prefer a very natural looking coverage, this is a fantastic one to consider. I like to use the Precision Face Brush to buff this in, over moisturizer.




In the photo, I've used it alone, over a moisturizer and as you can see, it hasn't entirely covered blemishes or dark circles but, the finish is really nice and quite natural. For a powder product, it is quite moisturizing and did not dry out my skin or make it look flaky overtime. It does get a little dewy looking after a few hours but not in a oily kind of way. Medium-beige is a good match for me now that my summer tan has faded a little. There are a total of 20 shades with different undertones to choose from.




Overall, I really like the ease of use and the natural looking, medium coverage of this lovely light-weight foundation.

Available August 30, 2012 at Ulta, Sephora.

What are your thoughts on the Ready Foundation SPF20 and Precision Face Brushes by bareMinerals?

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, August 23, 2012

MAC Dark Diversion Fluidline - Styleseeker Collection

Dark Diversion ($15) is a dark, blackened plum with barely there shimmer. I've been wanting to get dark diversion since it's release last time and this time around I managed to get one when it got re-promoted as part of the Styleseeker collection. The color is perfect when you want to switch it up for a black liner and the formula also works really well as a base or a cream eye shadow all over the lid. I like to use it as a liner, on the upper and lower lashline, keeping it away from the waterline because of the shimmer.





Like most fluidlines, this one too goes on smooth and the very, tiny shimmer in Dark Diversion does not show up on the eyes at all, which I'm really glad for. It is pretty pigmented, but I would recommend going over a second time to build the intensity for that deep, dark opaque finish.  The gel-creme formula stays put without smudging or smearing for hours together!







I'm so glad I picked up this limited-edition shade and I really hope MAC makes it permanent just like they did with Feline. Dark Diversion is beautiful, rich in color, effortless and perfect for use any time of the year. 

Have you tried MAC's Dark Diversion Fluidline?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Maybelline Fall 2012 Scene On The Runway Limited Edition Color Tattoo Eye Shadows - Review, Photos & Swatches

I've been testing these Limited Edition Color Tattoo 24 hr Eye Shadows from Maybelline for a couple of days now. Being a neutrals lover, I'm glad that Maybelline put out some beautiful golds, browns and olives just in time for fall. These are some gorgeous colors that can be worn alone or as a base for a ton of metallic and shimmery eye shadows!




The colors are Rich Mahogany - A deep,dark plummy shimmery brown, Mossy Green - Dark, Olive based green with gold shimmer and Gold Shimmer - Shimmery, bronzy gold. The formula of these eye shadows are smooth, blendable and easy to work with. However, I did find that Rich Mahogany and Mossy Green were a tad less smoother than Gold Shimmer. They work great as a base but, these two dried a little faster than Gold Shimmer which made them a little difficult to blend. With all three colors, I would recommend using fingers to blend the color out as the warmth helps blend them better, especially if you like to use these alone. 

Rich Mahogany

Gold Shimmer

Mossy Green









L-R : Mossy Green, Gold Shimmer, Rich Mahogany

Gold Shimmer has the best pigmentation and a fantastic formula. It looks stunning when paired with a matte brown along the crease and adds a pop along the lower lashline too. Mossy Green and Rich Mahogany tend to get a little patchy because of the slightly drier texture but, they are still easy to work with. Overall, I think these are definitely worth getting, considering how beautiful the colors are and how they perform for the price. If you like a shade, get it soon though since they are LE and seem to be flying off the shelves!

Have you tried any of these Color Tattoo Eye Shadows?