Thursday, February 28, 2013

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel's new spring launch, the Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss ($5.49) features ten new lipsticks with a velvety matte finish and rich, intense color. The formula boasts comfortable, all day wear without the heaviness.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss - 103, 104, 113 Review Photos Swatches

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss - 103, 104, 113 Review Photos Swatches
L-R : 103, 113, 104





The packaging is a simple, plastic tube - pretty decent for the price range. I tried three shades from the range - 103, 104 and 113. 103 is a light, rosy pink, 104 being just a tad darker, more plummy than 103. 113 is a fleshy nude for that pale, concealer lip effect. The formula is very silky and glides beautifully on lips. I do recommend blotting a good lip balm underneath as it tends to cling onto lip dryness a little. There's a slight sheen that fades once the lip color sets and the overall finish is a satin matte without any shimmer/glitter. Color wise, 103 and 104 are perfect pinks for pigmented lips and flattering on most skin tones. 113 needs quite a bit of work and works better as a base for me, rather than by itself. The formula is a very modern matte that feels quite comfortable and extremely lightweight. The regular Lasting Finish Lipsticks by Kate Moss have a sweet scent and this has a slightly more stronger, fruity scent.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss - 103, 104, 113 Review Photos Swatches
L-R : 104, 103, 113

Wearing 103

Overall, a very well done, drugstore matte lipstick with great pigmentation for the price. It isn't extremely moisturizing, but not very drying or uncomfortable for a matte finish either. You'll need a layer of lip balm underneath and/or perfectly prepped lips to begin with. The lasting power is about 4-5 hours on me and there's a very light stain left behind once the color fades, which I'm assuming will be a little more stronger with the darker shades!

Have you tried any of the Lasting Matte Finish Matte by Kate Moss Lispticks?

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, February 25, 2013

The Body Shop Voyage Collection - Madagascan Vanilla Flower & Atlas Mountain Rose Fragrances

The Body Shop's new addition for Spring is the Voyage Fragrance Collection that features EDTs and Perfume Oils in five different fragrances made from natural extracts and 100% organic, community fair trade alcohol made from sugarcane. The scents include - Madagascan Vanilla Flower, Amazonian Wild Lily, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Indian Night Jasmine and Atlas Mountain Rose.

The body shop voyage collection Atlas Mountan Rose & Madagascan Vanilla Flower Fragrances


I tried two of five fragrances - Madagascan Vanilla Flower and Atlas Mountain Rose. The sleek bottles with exotic designs on the back look beautiful! Madagascan Vanilla Flower is a sweet, slightly heavier scent with notes of amber, frangipani and vanilla, categorized as oriental. The very subtle muskiness keeps it from being too sweet. This to me, is a perfect fall/winter scent, since I quite like warm, cozy vanilla scents that time of the year. It does last a really long time on me for an EDT though. A really good choice if you like anything vanilla, without the extreme sweetness. Atlas Mountain Rose is a slightly more toned down, subtler version of the Moroccan Rose from TBS. Atlas Mountain Rose is my favourite among the two and something I'd wear all year round. It doesn't last as long as the Madagascan Vanilla Flower or the Moroccan Rose EDTs, but it sure is a perfect, year round floral, especially if you like rose based scents. There's just a teeny tiny hint of citrus that makes it fresh. Categorized as exotic, this one definitely is a must-have if fresh florals are your thing.

The body shop voyage collection Atlas Mountan Rose Fragrance

The body shop voyage collection Atlas Mountan Rose Fragrance

The body shop voyage collection Atlas Mountan Rose Fragrance

The body shop voyage collection Madagascan Vanilla Flower Fragrance

The body shop voyage collection Madagascan Vanilla Flower Fragrance

The body shop voyage collection Madagascan Vanilla Flower Fragrance



Priced at $22, these fragrances are quite a steal for what they are. There's nothing not to like here and the scents make for an excellent everyday pick for anyone who likes lighter fragrances. The packaging is sleek, not all that heavy and travels quite well.

Have you tried any fragrances from The Body Shop's Voyage 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, February 22, 2013

ZOYA PixieDust - Review, Photos & Swatches

Zoya's newest PixieDust Polishes are textured, matte polishes loaded with sparkles. The polish dries to a very matte finish and the sparkles look very unique and absolutely stunning in that finish. I quite like Zoya's selection of colors here - all of them are very wearable, sophisticated and not over the top.

ZOYA PixieDust - Review, Photos & Swatches

To apply PixieDust, I skipped base and top coats. I applied two very thin coats for these swatches and left the polish to dry completely. Even when it is semi-dry, the finish doesn't look quite matte. One caveat is the long drying time, but polishes with glitter/sparkles generally tend to have a longer drying time - PixieDust takes just a little more longer.

ZOYA PixieDust - Review, Photos & Swatches
L-R : Dahlia, Godiva, Nyx, London, Vespa, Chyna


Note : Some swatch pictures have been color tweaked to show as close to the true color of the polish as possible. 

Dahlia - Black with silver sparkles. The sparkles in this polish are really out there! The black base makes it all the more magical.

Godiva - Soft nude with silver sparkles. A very unusual color for a matte finish, but it sure does look great, especially against a tan.

ZOYA PixieDust Godiva
Godiva

ZOYA PixieDust Dahlia
Dahlia

ZOYA PixieDust Dahlia, Godiva Swatches


Nyx - Periwinkle with purple and silver sparkles. I love this shade so much. It is rather sheer, so three coats will make the color pop a bit more. It also dried a lot faster than the other shades.

Vespa - Soft Sage green with silver & purple duo chrome sparkles. The color is very understated and perfect for spring. It reminds me of a sparkly version of Zoya's Bevin.

ZOYA PixieDust Nyx
Nyx




Vespa
ZOYA PixieDust Nyx, Vespa Swatches

Chyna - Red sparkles in a blackened red base. You can never go wrong with a sparkly red polish and Chyna is absolutely stunning in that way. It was the most opaque of them all and you could easily get away with one coat!

London - Multi colored sparkles in a grey base. Another one of those polishes that is perfect for a matte finish. London is also the most grittiest, in my opinion. I love grey polishes and this one is no exception!

ZOYA PixieDust London
London
ZOYA PixieDust Chyna
Chyna


ZOYA PixieDust Chyna, London Swatches

Overall, the texture is unique, a tad gritty to the touch and the formula was surprisingly very easy to work with for a polish with a ton of glitter/sparkle. So far, I've only worn these for swatches, but I'll be sure to update this space on wear time soon! Removal is quite a task, just like any other sparkly, glittery polish. Be sure to wait just a little longer than your average polish to make sure it dries completely to a matte finish. My favourites are Nyx, Chyna and London!

Check out Zoya's video on how to apply PixieDust here.

What are your thoughts on the Zoya PixieDust 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.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner - Review, Photos & Swatches

Laura Mercier's Creme Eye Liner ($22) is a permanent, new addition to the core collection and comes in a total of six shades. Packaged in a small glass jar, the liner has a smooth, silky finish that applies beautifully.

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Indigo & Espresso Review, Photos & Swatches


I have two of six shades here - Indigo (Midnight Blue) and Espresso (Rich Brown). Both colors have no shimmer or glitter mixed in and the creamy formula is extremely easy to work with. I've used these with a variety of brushes and they apply beautifully on the lash line without any tug or pull. I love how very well pigmented they are and how true to color they turn up in just one swipe. Indigo is a gorgeous blue that looks amazing on the lash line paired with some kohl on the waterline and loads of mascara. Espresso is a great alternative to black, if you prefer a more softer look and a great everyday liner for a simple, natural look. 

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Indigo

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Espresso

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Indigo & Espresso Swatches
L-R : Indigo, Espresso





I like how these don't set instantly giving you some time to smudge. My one complaint with these liners however, are how they tend to smudge along the outer corners after the 6 hour mark. It does stay intact everywhere else, but tends to crease a little on the outer corners. Thankfully it smudges evenly, so I don't end up with product all over my face. I also find that a dab of eye primer along the lash lines helps with the creasing a little more. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints! Love the formula and the small, but beautiful color range. I definitely will be checking out more colors from this range!

Have you tried the Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liners? What are your thoughts?

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.

bareMinerals Remix Collection - Ready 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Next Big Thing & The Wild Thing

Two beautiful new limited-edition quads in The Next Big Thing and The Wild thing were released as part of the bareMinerals Remix Collection for Spring 2013. I've tried a few of the Ready 4.0 quads before and loved the smooth and buttery textures very much.

bareMinerals eady 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Next Big Thing & The Wild Thing
L-R : The Wild Thing, The Next Big Thing




The Next Big Thing & The Wild Thing are nothing short of amazing in the pigmentation department (except Icon). All shadows blend like a dream and deposit a ton of color with just a single swipe. The Next Big Thing is more my kinda quad. It has a lovely mix of neutrals and golds with a very wearable soft pink and a matte crease color, while The Wild Thing is more of a colorful quad with blues and greens for color pop. There is a lovely taupe in The Wild Thing that I absolutely love all over my lid. The lightest color, Icon is just a tad sheer when compared to the other shades, but wears better over a primer.

bareMinerals eady 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Wild Thing

bareMinerals eady 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Wild Thing Swatches
The Wild Thing - Sensational, Icon, Elitist, Controversy

bareMinerals eady 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Next Big Thing

bareMinerals eady 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Next Big Thing Swatches
The Next Big Thing - Rising Star, Smash Hit, Hoopla, Ensemble


A tiny gripe though with these quads are the little amount of fallout they have. I've never had any problems with fallout from any of the bareMinerals quads in the past. With these, I prefer doing my face routine afterwards. Other than that, they are of very good quality, have no issues with blendability and wear about 6-7 hours over a primer before slightly creasing. Not to mention the very pretty, limited-edition glossy blue packaging that I love.

What do you think of the bareMinerals Remix Collection - Ready 4.0 Eye Shadow Quads in The Next Big Thing & The Wild Thing?

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, February 18, 2013

Lancôme Baume In Love - Review, Photos & Swatches

Baume In Love ($26 each), a sheer, glossy moisturizing balm for lips that comes in four new shades as part of Lancôme's Spring 2013 collection. Although very neon and bright in the tube, they go on sheer and provide a light wash of color without any shimmer or glitter.


Lancome Baume In Love Review, Photos & Swatches



Similar to the Rouge In Love lipsticks, the packaging is a small, slightly heavy metal case. I love the packaging - it is extremely easy to just throw into your purse and travel with. The textures of these tinted lip balms are very smooth, easy to apply and not the slightest bit heavy or waxy. The colors don't show up too well on me, I doubt if it will on anyone though. But it doesn't look just like another clear gloss either. I like the very subtle tint it leaves on and the slight stain that is left behind especially by Coral Electric. I don't detect any scent or flavor and absolutely love these this time of the year when all I'm looking for is a super easy product to nourish and add a little bit of color. I get about 2-3 hours, just like I would from any other sheer, glossy balm.

Lancome Baume In Love Coral Electric, Urban Ballet
Coral Electric, Urban Ballet

Lancome Baume In Love Rose In Love, Midnight Rose
Rose In Love, Midnight Rose

Lancome Baume In Love Review, Photos & Swatches

Lancome Baume In Love Review, Photos & Swatches
L-R :  130 Midnight Rose, 120 Coral Electric, 100 Rose In Love, 110 Urban Ballet

Lancome Baume In Love Review, Photos & Swatches, FOTD
Wearing Midnight Rose




Overall, if you don't mind how sheer they are and like the very natural, barely there color, they are well worth a pick up. I din't have any problems with these drying my lips out even after fading. The formula feels really balmy and a tiny dab works really well as a base under most lipsticks too.

Have you tried any of Lancome's Baume In Love Tinted Lipbalms? What do you think of them?

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, February 15, 2013

Zesty Bath & Body Duo - Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel & Body Butter

If you love fresh, zesty citrus based bath and body products, the Korres Lemon Basil range is something you must check out. Korres describes it as a "fresh spice with a vibrant touch of lemon zest". 
Korres Basil Lemon Body Butter and Shower Gel Review, Photos



Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel ($19.50)Slightly moisturizes, cleanses really really well!  I did find the scent of the shower gel to be really strong initially, but it does fade quite fast. There's a ton of lather and it cleanses skin really well, without leaving it begging for moisturizer afterwards. Since I have dry skin on my body, I quite like to follow up with a lotion or a body butter. The shower gel is rather concentrated and I still haven't finished even half of what I started using a good month or so back. It is a tad more expensive than quite a lot of shower gels but there's also a lot more product in there for the price. If you like zingy, fresh, anything citrus in your bath, the Basil Lemon shower gel is a great pick. It does have sulfates though, so if you are looking for something sans sulfates, this might not be it. I would probably try other shower gel variants from Korres and come back to this one in the summer!


Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel Review, Photos

Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel Review, Photos

Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel Review, Photos



Korres Basil Lemon Body Butter ($29) - A scented, moisturizing body butter that keeps skin soft and moisturized for about 5-6 hours. It is a tad light for a body butter and the super fresh scent lingers around for a really long time, especially when layered after the shower gel.  The textue isn't too thick, spreads easily and doubles up as a wonderful hand cream too. It has sweet almond oil, shea butter and avocado oils to nourish skin. I love how there's absolutely no greasiness or tacky residue from this body butter. If you are looking for a heavy duty moisturizer, this may not be it. But, if you like body butters that you can use all through the year, without the heavy feel, this one is worth looking into!


Korres Basil Lemon Body Butter Review, Photos

Korres Basil Lemon Body Butter Review, Photos

Korres Basil Lemon Body Butter Review, Photos, Swatches



Both the Shower Gel and the Body Butter are formulated without Parabens, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, Pthalates and Triclosan.

Available at all Sephora stores and online at sephora.com.

Have you tried anything from the Korres Basil Lemon 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.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

L'Oreal Age Perfect BB Cream Instant Radiance

Part of L'Oreal's new spring launches, the Age Perfect BB Cream Instant Radiance ($16.99) is a sheer, beauty balm that helps nourish, moisturize and correct in one luxurious step!

L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Reviews

L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Review

L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Review



The BB Cream comes in one shade (Light/Medium) and claims to blend and match most skintones. The thick texture of the cream is perfect for dry skin, whatever be your age. There are tiny spheres that vanish once the cream starts to blend in. I only need a dab for my whole face & neck and prefer using this as a base, before foundations that struggle to go on evenly. For a BB cream, I don't see much of color at all, just a faint hint when it starts blending in. Lighter skintones might see more of a tint, but its not something you can rely on to cover up dark spots or blemishes. It is more of a moisturizing balm that leaves skin looking dewy and smooth. If you do have oily skin though, the dewiness might be an issue. On the plus side, it feels comfortable on the skin and serves as an excellent base, smoothing out dry patches, if any.

L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Ingredients

L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Ingredients
L'oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Swatch

Try the Age Perfect BB Cream Instant Radiance if you have very dry skin and/or mature skin in need of a good moisturizer and primer in one that preps, leaving it smooth and moist. You may be left dissapointed if you are looking for something with the same coverage level as a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream. I've been using this as a base quite a lot lately and my parched winter skin quite likes it. There's a faint sunscreen smell that fades pretty fast and a generous amount of product in there that will last a really long time.

Have you tried the L'Oreal Age Perfect BB Cream Instant Radiance? What are your thoughts?

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.