Friday, September 28, 2012

Laura Mercier Holiday 2012 - Mini Kohl Eye Pencil Collection

The Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil Collection ($32) is a Sephora exclusive set for the holidays. The set features five mini kohl eye pencils - Black Violet, Stormy Grey, Brown Copper, Black Gold and Stone Slate. The full size kohl pencils are 0.04 oz, priced at $20 each, while the mini ones in this kit are 0.03 oz each, priced at $32, which makes it a great value.







L -R : Stormy Grey - Dark, shimmery charcoal grey, Brown Copper - Shimmery chocolate brown, Black Gold - Olive based shimmery gold, Stone Slate (exclusive to this kit) - Blackened metallic graphite, Black Violet - Blackened, blue based violet with a subtle metallic sheen.

These pencils are extremely creamy and an absolute dream to work with. They glide on effortlessly without any tugging or pulling. There's a ton of pigment in each shade and most of them turn up much darker and deeper than how they look. Also since they are smooth, they are prone to smudging (Black Gold being the smudgiest of them all) quite a bit so, setting is the key. If you have very oily lids, you may want to set it with a good eye shadow and/or use a primer underneath. The smudgy texture also makes them excellent bases. The consistency is perfect for the waterline too!




L -R : Black Violet, Stone Slate, Black Gold, Brown Copper, Stormy Grey
Wearing Stone Slate

Overall, if you like soft, smudgy kohls in jewel tones and darker, richer colors, this kit is fantastic and absolutely worth checking out. I love the assortment of colors in here. The pencils are a pretty good size considering the price and the kit is a great way to try out a few colors from the core collection.

I ordered mine online at sephora.com. According to my local Sephora, the holiday kits should start showing up in-stores anytime from October.

What are your thoughts on the Laura Mercier Mini Kohl Eye Pencil Collection?

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ($16) is a soothing, healing moisturizer for dry, cracked skin and lips. This glycerin-based cream is enriched with vitamin E, vitamin B2, and camphor and helps with dry cuticles, elbows and dry patches. 






The strong, camphor scent is what you notice when you first open the tube. The cream itself is rather thick and pretty waxy. I have very sensitive skin so, I don't use this on my face. It is extremely concentrated so a little goes a long way when moisturizing cuticles, elbows or knees. The cream is more of a "healing ointment" so it works pretty fast to fix dry skin problems. One of my favourite ways to use this is to apply a thick layer on cracked feet and seal it with a brilliant pair of socks Yu-Be makes. It doesn't completely get rid of calluses, but seals in the moisture and helps retain it for longer. The cream does take longer than usual to sink in and feels a tad tacky, which is why I prefer to thrown in a pair of socks. It also does a fantastic job in calming down razor burns and minor rashes. 

Photo Credit : Yu-Be website







Overall, the Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is a good cream for pretty much any kind of dry skin problems. For me, this is more of a quick fix cream that I reach out to when I have extreme dryness issues. If strong fragrances don't bother you so much, you can very well use this for the face too. If not, it is fast and effective to be used pretty much anywhere else on the body. 

Available at select Sephora stores and online at sephora.com

Have you tried any of Yu-Be products?


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, September 27, 2012

Nourish - Organic Food for Healthy Skin Bath & Body Products

Nourish is an Organic Bath and Body brand that features 100% USDA certified organic products with quality ingredients in distinctive scents made from exclusive blends of essential oils and extracts. The Nourish collection features fresh and sweet scents, including Fresh FigAlmond VanillaLavender Mint and Wild Berries and is free of parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, artificial fragrances,sulfates & synthetic dyes.









Organic Body Butter in Fresh Fig ($9.99) - A thick, rich body butter, perfect for the colder months ahead. The solid texture melts onto skin and spreads very easily. It is quite rich and takes a while to completely absorb into skin. There is also a slight, greasy residue left behind that can take a while to sink in. The fresh fig scent is nice and pleasant without being overly sweet or overpowering. If you have extremely dry skin, you'll love how this body butter helps retain moisture for a long time. I love to use it on extra rough spots like elbows and knees and just about anywhere I need some extra nourishment. 







Organic Hand Wash in Almond Vanilla ($7.99) - A gentle, sulfate-free hand wash with a lovely, sweet, almond vanilla scent. Unlike the usual hand washes, it doesn't lather so well. But it does manage to clean without a residue and is very moisturizing. I don't even need a hand cream afterwards. The scent left behind isn't as sweet as it is initially but it fades pretty fast. A great hand wash for your kitchen sink that does not dry out skin even after repeated washing.






Organic Body Lotion in Lavender Mint ($9.99) - The body lotion is quite light, non-greasy and absorbs really fast. It smells more like mint than lavender though.  The smell is quite refreshing but too much of it can also get slightly cloying. For a light body moisturizer it sure does keep skin soft for a long time and doubles up as a great hand cream during the day.





Organic Deodorant in Wild Berries ($7.99) - One of my favorite products from the whole Nourish line! This deodorant is free of Artificial Fragrances, Parabens and Aluminium Salts and is made from 100% Organic Ingredients. Berries does sound very unusual for a deo but this one smells amazingly sweet and fresh at the same time. It is a clear, solid stick that feels a little rough initially but warms up well with use. There's no whitish cast or residue left behind too. It may not provide heavy duty protection, but it sure does a good job of keeping odor at bay without all the harmful ingredients!




All Nourish products are priced under $10 and available at all Whole Foods stores.

Have you tried any of these products from Nourish? Is there anything that you think I must try from the range?


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.

LUSH I Love Juicy Shampoo

I Love Juicy is a clarifying, deep cleansing shampoo meant to thoroughly cleanse oily hair & scalp. It is one of those shampoos that leaves hair feeling "squeaky clean", residue-free and fresh. Made with fresh juices from pineapple, mango and kiwi, the shampoo smells amazingly fresh and juicy.







Since I Love Juicy is a clarifying shampoo, I don't use it on a regular basis. I use it only on days when I pre-soak my hair with oil or have a heavy hair mask to wash off. It does an excellent job in thoroughly cleansing my hair and leaves it looking fresh and bouncy. It does add a good amount of shine too. If you have an extremely oily scalp though, you'll probably love the way it gets all the gunk out and leaves it feeling fresh, which in turn adds a little volume to the roots. It also lathers pretty well and washes off super easily.






Overall, I Love Juicy is a great detox shampoo for oily hair and scalp and good to be used once or twice a week for dry hair too. If you tend to use a lot of silicone based styling products, this takes care of getting rid of all the product buildup. It could be a tad stripping for your hair if used regularly, so be sure to use it only when your hair feels heavy, slick and weighed down, unless you have extremely oily hair and scalp all through the year. 

Have you tried the LUSH I Love Juicy Shampoo?

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Makeup Remover Pads

The Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Makeup Remover Pads ($6.99) are instant makeup remover pads that come pre-soaked with cleanser to remove eye makeup, gently and effectively. The pads are formulated with cucumber extract, sans parabens and perfect for sensitive skin.





Each tub of the eye makeup remover pads comes with 45 thin pads. They are pretty saturated so they work quite well to remove basic eye makeup like liner and non-waterproof mascara. If you have a lot of makeup to remove, it sure does take more than just one pad. I also find that it struggles a little with waterproof stuff and does leave traces of liner here and there. For squeaky clean, I recommend following up with a foaming cleanser. There's no oily or greasy residue left behind so, I find these great to throw inside my bag and use them for touch ups every time my eyeliner smears or smudges.




Overall, it is a nice multi tasking product that I reach out to when I'm just wearing some kohl, mascara and maybe a little eye shadow. If you are looking for a heavy duty, one step eye makeup remover, this may not be it. But, it is pretty easy, convenient and perfect for removing minimal makeup without leaving a greasy residue. It is optional to rinse after, but I always do. The soothing cucumber scent is an added bonus. Also since it is formulated for sensitive skin, it is gentle enough to not sting my eyes.

Have you tried the Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Makeup Remover Pads?


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, September 25, 2012

L'Oreal Paris & Project Runway Electric Fantasie Collection - Review, Photos & Swatches

A few pieces from the L'Oreal Paris Project Runway Limited-Edition Electric Fantasie Collection for fall 2012. Featured here are Eye shadow quads in The Muse's Gaze and The Temptress' Gaze, Studio Secrets Blush in The Queen's Blush, Color Riche Nail Stickers in The Seductive Temptress, Color Riche Lip Color in The Mystic's Kiss, Le Glosses in The Mystic's Shine and The Muse's Shine and Color Riche Nail Polish in The Mystic's Future. Four different color schemes within the line include The Enchanted Queen (for a dark and dramatic look), The Seductive Temptress (for an unexpected, almost venomous look), The Wise Mystic (for a futuristic look) and The Artsy Muse (for a playful and light-hearted look). 





L'Oreal Paris Project Runway Electric Fantasie Studio Secrets Professional Eye Shadow Quad

These limited-edition quads have a mix of bright playful colors to everyday neutrals. Both quads had fairly good pigmentation and little to no fall out. They work well with a primer underneath and stay put, crease-free that way. I din't have any problems blending the colors and the texture of these shadows were quite smooth too. I love how versatile the neutrals quad, The Temptress' Gaze is. The neutrals are perfect themselves and the dark green adds a nice pop. The matte brown also works really well to fill in dark brows. 

L-R : The Muse's Gaze,  Temptress' Gaze

Temptress' Gaze Quad

The Muse's Gaze Quad



L'Oreal Paris Project Runway Electric Fantasie Studio Secrets Professional Blush in The Queen's Blush

As for the texture of this blush, it felt a little dry and lacked pigmentation. It is buildable though and blends very well and doesn't look patchy. The color is beautiful and has no shimmer or glitter. It lasts quite well under primer and is perfect as an everyday blush or anytime you want to keep it subtle and natural looking. I did detect a faint perfume-y smell that fades pretty quickly.




L'Oreal Paris Project Runway Electric Fantasie Colour Riche Lipcolour in The Mystic's Kiss

The Mystics's Kiss is a dark, purple with teeny tiny blue micro shimmer. It is not something I would reach out to myself, but was surprised at how beautiful it turns out when applied with a lip brush. The color sheers out a little and works as a beautiful base for sheer, shimmery glosses. Apart from the smell, I like everything about the Color Riche Lipsticks. They have a moisturizing, super nice formula that glides even on dry lips and this one is no exception.




L'Oreal Paris Project Runway Electric Fantasie Colour Riche Le Gloss in The Muse's Shine, The Mystic's Shine 

The Mystic's shine is a shimmery duo chrome purple with blue shimmer. The shimmer isn't too obvious on lips but layers well with lipsticks like The Mystic's Kiss. The Muse's Shine is a shimmery gold, beautiful on its own or on top of a nude-ish lipstick and a smokey eye. The gold flecks aren't terribly obvious on the lips so, after a while it does look like a regular gloss with some shimmer scattered here and there. The Le Glosses have a nice, caramel smell and feel extremely comfortable on lips. I'm not too fond of the squeeze tubes but when applied with a brush, it's fine. 


L-R :  Lipstick in The Mystic's Kiss, Le Glosses in The Mystic's Shine, The Muse's Shine


L'Oreal Color Riche nail color in The Mystic's Future and Nail Stickers in The Seductive Temptress Swatches

These Nail Stickers are new to L'Oreal and they say this is a sneak peek so, I wonder if they'll launch them sometime in the future permanently. They are just like any other nail polish strips that need to be peeled and filed in to fit the nail. The patterns are rather nice and these filed off easily but they were quite big for my nails. I cut a strip into half and used it for a couple of nails. They started to chip after about 3 days of wear. The Color Riche nail color in The Mystic's Future is a fantastic shade and my favourite piece from this whole collection. I love the duo chrome purple-blue and how beautifully it applies. It is completely opaque in 2 coats and dried extremely fast. Perfect fall color that you can jazz up with some shimmer or flakies on top!




Wearing Lipstick in The Mystic's Kiss with Le Gloss The Mystic's Shine on Top, Blush in The Queen's Blush and Studio Secrets Eye Quad in The Temptress' Gaze

The Temptress' Gaze Quad

Price: Each product within the Project Runway Electric Fantasie collection is available for individual purchase at drugstores nationwide (beginning in September 2012 and until supplies last); prices range from $5.99 to $9.95.

What are your thoughts on the L'Oreal Paris & Project Runway Electric Fantasie 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, September 24, 2012

MAC Cosmo Lipstick - Review, Photos & Swatches

"Pink Coco" is how MAC describes this Amplified Creme Lipstick in Cosmo ($15). The color is a mid tone pink with subtle hints of brown, perfect for every complexion and extremely easy to wear.




Amplified Creme is one of MAC's more moisturizing finishes. There's a perfect mix of moisture and pigment in there that does not dry out lips, unlike the Lustres. Cosmo has a semi-matte, creamy finish that works alone or under a sheer gloss. The color is very buildable so you can wear it like a light wash or a full coverage, cream lipstick. I like to use a nude lip liner with such finishes as it tends to feather quite a bit. The staying power is about 3-4 hours, the highest I've gotten from any MAC lipstick.


MAC Cosmo Lipstick FOTD

Cosmo is such a beautiful, no fuss shade that goes with a ton of eye looks. You can tone it down with a smokey eye and wear it straight out of the tube with neutral eyes. Overall, Cosmo has two of the best things I look for in a lipstick - moisturizing formula and gorgeous color that I reach out to quite often. If you like wearable, neutral pinks in a comfortable, creamy formula at a good price point, Cosmo fits the bill!

Have you tried MAC Cosmo Lipstick?