Thursday, January 31, 2013

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colors in Orchid & Sugar Frost - Spring 2013

Laura Mercier's Caviar Stick Eye Colors ($24) get eight new shade additions for Spring! Two of them featured here are Orchid (Icy Violet) and Sugar Frost (Frosty Champagne). There are a couple of darker colors added too, but for the most part, the newer shade additions are lighter, frostier colors for spring.








The Caviar Stick Eye Colors are one of the most convenient, twist up shadow/pencil multitasking products that I reach out to often. I have quite a few shades from the permanent range and think they are fantastic for lining, smoking out or just as an overall wash all over the lid. Both Orchid and Sugar Frost are a tad frosty for my skintone, but they work as excellent bases and pack a lot of pigment. Sugar Frost especially is a good base for most gold shadows I own. Shadows layered over these do not move around and remain crease free for 9-10 hours. And of course, these work just as well on their own too.





The best part of these Caviar Sticks are how they don't set immediately and give you some time to smudge and blend out the color. I don't use a primer and this stuff just glides on my lids effortlessly. The color range was a little too small and I'm so glad they've introduced more colors, although the darker colors are what I gravitate more towards. If you like lighter, shimmery, more frosty shades, about 5 of the 8 new shades are for you. My only gripe with these newer shades are the amount of shimmer they have. At least Orchid and Sugar Frost were quite packed with fine shimmer, but thankfully there's no fallout because of the cream formula. That aside, the overall quality of the Caviar Sticks are perfect for the price and they are a great multi-tasker to have!

Available at all Laura Mercier counters beginning February 2013.

What are your thoughts on the Orchid and Sugar Frost?

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, January 30, 2013

Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eyeliner in Noir

Available in 5 shades, the Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eyeliners ($19) are a new spring launch from the brand. The retractable, twist up pencil is a super convenient way of lining the lash and waterline precisely. 'Noir' is a deep, dark, jet black with a subtle semi-matte sheen.






The best part of this eyeliner is the non-slip rubber grip that easily helps you control the intensity of the line, even if you are a beginner with eye makeup. There's a handy sharpener included that helps keep the tip sharp at all times. 'Noir' is a pretty intense black (see comparison swatches with other liners at the end of the post) and very pigmented. The texture is super smooth, doesn't tug or pull on the lash line. The formula is amazing on the waterline too - there's absolutely no irritation whatsoever. The setting time is pretty quick, so you'll have to smudge it out instantly. On the plus side, it does not budge from the lash line for a good 9 hours! Very impressive since darker, especially black liners, tend to smear after 5-6 hours on me. On my waterline though, it starts to fade after about 5-6 hours.




Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eyeliner in Noir FOTD

1. Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eyeliner in Noir 2. Urban Decay Perversion 3. Urban Decay Zero 4. MAC Kohl Power in Feline 5. L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black 6. Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Onyx

Overall, I am super impressed with the formula, texture and the amount of pigmentation in this liner. The quality is great for the price and if you are sensitive/allergic to certain long-wear, waterproof eyeliners on your waterline, give this a try. It is very waterproof, true to the claims and needs a good oil-based remover to completely take off.

What are your thoughts on the Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eyeliner? What are your favorite black eyeliners?

Available online at anastasia.net, soon available at Nordstrom and Ulta.

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, January 28, 2013

L'Occitane Shea Butter Honey Whipped Body Cream

The Shea Butter Honey Whipped Body Cream ($22) is a limited-edition, nourishing body cream launched as part of the new Shea Butter & Honey Range from L'Occitane. The Body Cream is enriched with the goodness of honey, 10 % shea and quite a few natural extracts in a lovely whipped texture.




Packaged in a light-weight tin, the whipped cream feels incredibly light and super soft. The texture spreads easily and absorbs instantly. Although light, it does help moisturize dry skin very well and the honey infusion helps retain moisture for a good 7-8 hours. The honey scent is quite strong and lingers on for a long time. I think the smell is amazing, but I can see how a lot of you might think its a tad too much. It also doubles up as a great hand cream since it doesn't leave a tacky residue behind.





Overall, I love the whipped texture and the no-residue formula, inspite of it being the 10% Shea Butter variety.  I do have to re-apply after a few hours, but since it sinks in pretty fast, I don't mind having to slather on a little more. The tin is a good size and will last a while - I have been using it for a couple of weeks and there's still a lot more product left. I wish L'Occitane makes more of these whipped textures as they are something I would love to use year round! It is limited-edition, so I'll be stocking up on a tub or two before it sells out.

What are your thoughts on the L'Occitane Shea Butter Honey Whipped Body Cream?

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, January 24, 2013

Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 - Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in Mallow Pink

Burberry's Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in Mallow Pink ($27) is a bright, creamy pink, part of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. The collection has three other lip glosses, of which, Pink Sweet Pea is Limited-Edition. Mallow Pink is a perfect Spring/Summer gloss that can be worn sheer for a light wash or layered on for more stronger color.


Burberry Mallow Pink Lip Glow Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 Makeup



Burberry Mallow Pink Lip Glow Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 Makeup Collection

The texture of Mallow Pink is smooth, creamy and although there's just a teeny tiny hint of shimmer, it doesn't show up on my lips. This is my first 'Lip Glow' from Burberry and I quite like the way it feels on my lips. It is a tad sticky, but not overly so. It does have a strong smell though, just like the other lipsticks from the line. If you have a sensitive nose, I strongly suggest you take a whiff before splurging on any lip products from Burberry. I am not too fond of the scent either, but it does tend to fade overtime. Mallow Pink has the right amount of pigmentation for a gloss, turns up true to color and can be sheered out quite well. I prefer a sheer wash, as it tends to bleed just a little after a few minutes when the color is built up. Nothing a good, nude lip liner can't fix! The formula is extremely comfortable and doesn't dry out my lips or enhance lip dryness. I quite like the wand too - it gets the right amount of product and deposits color evenly, so you won't even need a mirror to even it out. The staying power is about 2 hours, which is what I get from most glosses like these.

Burberry Mallow Pink Lip Glow Ingredients


Burberry Mallow Pink Lip Glow Swatch

Burberry Mallow Pink Lip Glow FOTD

As for the color, I think Mallow Pink is a beautiful color that would flatter a lot of skin tones.  If your lips aren't as pigmented as mine, it may turn up looking like a brighter pink with just a touch of red. If you do have pigmented lips though, the color will show through in a very subtle, natural looking way. Like everything else from Burberry, the packaging is just gorgeous! If there's one lip gloss you'd want to pick up from Burberry's Spring/Summer collection, I would recommend Mallow Pink.

What are your thoughts on the Burberry Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in Mallow Pink?

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Beautyblender Makeup Sponge

The Beautyblender ($19.95) Makeup Sponge - a non-disposable, latex free makeup applicator that can be used damp to apply and blend powder, cream and liquid products for a flawless, smooth finish.


When it comes to tinted moisturizers BB creams or foundations, I've always been comfortable using my fingers or in some cases, a dense buffing brush. A couple of months back, I had an opportunity to try out the much raved about 'Beautyblender' sponge. Like any other sponge applicator, this one too gets softer, bigger in size when damp. For use with liquid foundations, I just roll the sponge in small, bouncing action (as recommended by Beautyblender) over areas that need to be evened out. I haven't tried this out with powder products, but for use with liquids and thick creams like concealers, this is just excellent. The pointy end is great for reaching problematic areas like the sides of your nose. It also works well when you've spot concealed and want to gently blend the product in seamlessly. If you do have a problem with blending thicker, more pigmented products with brushes or fingers, this one sheers it out quite a bit and blends the product in flawlessly. Of course, you can build it up for more coverage - it just is easier to work with products when they're applied in thinner layers as opposed to slathering on one, very thick layer.


On my dry skin though, I love the way the end result looks like when I use a beautyblender, especially with dense, more pigmented products. I would still prefer to use my fingers with products that are sheer. It does deliver that flawless, not so powdery look, but be sure to work in smaller areas since it tends to leave certain products patchy looking when you're in a hurry. I've only tried cleaning it with regular/baby shampoo that I use to clean my other brushes and it was fairly easy to clean. Overall, a good, slightly high maintenance, easy to use sponge that works really well with liquid foundations and pigmented concealers for that lovely, natural looking finish.

Have you tried the Beautyblender? Let me know if you have any shortcuts/easier ways to use it!

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.

SeabuckWonders - Exfoliating Facial Cleanser & Body Lotion

SeabuckWonders - a natural skincare line based with the highest concentration of Organic Himalayan Sea Buckthorn, that is loaded with skin healing and softening properties. All products in the SeabuckWonders line is free of Parabens, formulated vegan and naturally scented with Orange Peel Oil!



I got to try out a few products from the SeabuckWonders range and so far, have been trying out the Exfoliating Facial Cleanser and the Body Lotion for a while now. The Sea Buckthorn Body Lotion ($14.97) comes with a potent infusion of Omega 3, 6, 9, and the powerful skin-healing Omega 7. It is a nourishing, no nonsense body lotion that is mildly scented. The lotion has the perfect consistency and keeps me hydrated for a good 7-8 hours. It is loaded with skin conditioning ingredients and absorbs instantly without leaving a residue. I do think it is better suited for when the weather isn't extremely cold and dry, but if your skin doesn't get overly dry and scaly this time of the year, you may not even have to re-apply. It does leave skin feeling super soft with zero tackiness.






The Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Facial Cleanser ($16.97) is something my skin has been loving. It has very tiny exfoliating beads and smells citrusy fresh. I absolutely love this cleanser and how amazing it leaves my skin feeling. It doesn't lather too much, so it isn't a one step cleanser for heavy makeup. I use it mostly in the shower and sometimes when I don't have too much makeup to get off my face. It is mild enough to be used everyday and doesn't strip my skin of the natural oils. It also washes off super clean and leaves my skin very soft and not stretchy. The pump is super convenient to use and doesn't dispense too much product. If you have dry/sensitive skin, I would highly recommend this cleanser as a mild, daily addition to your cleansing routine! 



Ingredients : Deionized Water, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Vegetable Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Oleate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Coco Glucoside, Carrageenan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Phenylethyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate.




Available online at seabuckwonders.com.

Have you tried any products from SeabuckWonders?

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, January 22, 2013

Swatched : Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Polish

A few quick swatches of the Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Polishes ($7). These polishes have what Sally Hansen calls "a lustrous color flip of molten, liquid metal finish". The duo chromes come with a super glossy, metallic sheen that doesn't need a topcoat, unless you want to extend wear time. The formula is absolutely amazing, easy to work with and not too thick. I wish there were fewer brush strokes, but that is expected from finishes like these. All of these polishes were completely opaque in two coats.



Note: Some pictures have been tweaked to show the actual color of the polish, so skin tones may vary.


Azure

Copperhead

Scarab

Lava

Plume

Firefly

A couple of polishes in this range - Plume and Firefly were quite close, color wise. Lava is my favorite color among these and a perfect pedicure color for summer. I've only worn Lava and Copperhead to test wear time and both polishes chipped after 3 days on me. The brushes on these were quite comfortable and not too wide like the other Sally Hansen polishes. Overall, love the color range and would definitely recommend a color or two, especially if iridescent finishes like these are something you love.

What are your thoughts on the Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Polishes?

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, January 21, 2013

Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 - Light Glow Natural Blush in Coral Pink

One of many gorgeous pieces from Burberry's Spring/Summer 2013 collection is the Light Glow Natural Blush in Coral Pink ($42), a matte, slightly bright pink with a subtle sheen.




Coral Pink is very pigmented and the finely milled texture feels incredibly smooth and silky. Burberry is all about subtle colors and natural looking shades, so I was surprised to see a couple of brighter blushes and glosses in the Spring/Summer collection. Although a tad bright in the pan, Coral Pink is perfectly wearable and adds that lovely, fresh glow. I prefer using a stippling brush, just so I can control the amount of product, since it is very easy to go overboard with this one. The intensity is buildable, doesn't get patchy and works really well as a light dusting or as a brighter pop of color.






I had no issues with blendability or staying power either. It stays put for a good 7-8 hours under primer and leaves behind a light flush of color that looks extremely natural. The packaging, although quite heavy, is very Burberry and super classy. The magnetic closure makes it great to travel with. My only issue with Coral Pink is the little amount of fallout it has. Although finely milled, it does tend to make a mess inside the compact with use. That aside, it is a fantastic blush that is perfect for Spring/Summer. The color is something that would work on a lot of skin tones and brightens a dull face instantly. If you do prefer something a little more intense though, Hydrangea Pink from the same collection might be a better choice.





What do you think of the Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Coral Pink?

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Anastasia Bold and Beautiful Kit for Brows and Eyes

Anastasia's new Bold & Beautiful Kit ($36) is a new launch for Spring that features an eyebrow and an eye shadow palette in travel-friendly compacts. The packaging is beautiful and very chic. The eye shadow palette comes with three shimmering and one matte shade. The eyebrow palette is a nice little compact that comes with a wet or dry brow powder and pomade, that can be mixed in to sculpt brows. There's also a dual ended brush that is super easy to work with.








The eye shadow palette has a nice mix of everyday colors, perfect if you tend to gravitate towards neutrals and softer shades. The textures are very smooth and easy to blend, but the darkest shade has quite a bit of fall out when compared to the others. They are very pigmented and don't crease for 7-8 hours with a good primer on. Although a tad shimmery, the dark brown is a fantastic crease color and pairs beautifully with the lighter shades on the lid. It also doubles up as a liner when you want to soften up the look. As for the brow kit, the brow powder is a tad light for my dark brows, but works well when mixed in with the pomade to define and sculpt.  The end result is very natural looking brows, but you can build the intensity up for a more dramatic result.







I absolutely love the dual ended brush that comes with the brow kit. The angled brush is great for an arch lift and the spooley is perfect for removing excess product. The mini tweezer is of great quality too and super convenient to throw into your purse. Overall, the kit is a complete little set for your eyes and brows with colors that are very easy to work with and quite flattering on a lot of skin tones. The palettes come with magnetic closures, making them super easy to tote around. 



Available online at anastasia.net, soon available at Nordstrom and Ulta.


What do you think of the Anastasia Bold and Beautiful Kit for Brows and Eyes?

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.