Monday, April 28, 2014

Thymes Tiare Monoi Cologne Roller Ball

"Anytime or anywhere, bask in the intoxicating oasis of Tiare Monoi cologne rollerball. The sultry perfume of Tiare flowers, wild jasmine and ylang ylang are hard to resist. Breathe deep and enjoy being in the essence of the moment." *Press Sample








Thymes' Tiare Monoi ($19 for the rollerball; thymes.com), is one of six scents launched as part of Thymes' Studio Fragrance Collection this Spring. Tiare Monoi is a fresh floral with notes of Jasmine, Tiare Flowers, Ylang Ylang and Osmanthus. The cologne comes packaged in a pretty little travel friendly rollerball inside an eco-friendly cardboard packaging.











Tiare Monoi opens up with heady notes of Jasmine and is pretty long lasting and intense for a roll-on. I almost, always have the worst luck with roller balls, but was surprised with how potent the scent was throughout the day. The headiness does dissipate within the first few minutes, while the dry down is more of a feminine, powdery floral. Its quite an intoxicating scent as Thymes describes it to be and very calming once it settles down and starts to fade. Thymes does make some amazing scents that are true to what they are described to be and Tiare Monoi is definitely one of them!

Have you tried Tiare Monoi by Thymes?

Concealers/Correctors I've Been Trying Out With Some Quick Reviews

I'm always on a never ending quest for the prefect concealer since most of them turn into a cakey mess after a few hours on my dry skin. So, I always opt for sheer coverage for the under eye area and something with a tad more coverage for blemishes. Now, I almost, always go in for a tinted moisturizer, especially during the warmer months and skip concealer on my trouble spots, but when I do use one, I look for something lightweight with medium coverage - I'm just too clumsy with thicker textures. Here are a few I've been reaching out to recently. *This post contains Press Samples provided for consideration.




Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach ($24; sephora.com) - Its a must have for me for the under eye area. I love the color match (Peach, in my case) and how subtly it color corrects my dark circles. Most days, I don't even layer concealer on top, just some tinted moisturizer and some powder to set. As you can see, its well-loved and I've almost hit pan on this one.




L'occitane's new Immortelle Brightening Targeted Touch Corrector ($32; usa.loccitane.com) is a sheer, highlighting concealer that I like to use under the eyes, along the bridge of the nose and anywhere else my complexion needs some brightening. It is very sheer, but easy to blend and doesn't cake or settle onto fine lines. The consistency is thinner, so great for dry skin. Its also supposed to brighten skin and fade spots with regular use. 







A similar one I would recommend is the Clinique Airbrush Concealer ($19.50; sephora.com). I use Medium, which is good for brightening than covering itself. Its sheer coverage, so super easy to work with - just apply with the brush applicator and blend away with fingers. From the drugstores, I absolutely love Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($7; target.com) - its got a bit more coverage than the L'Occitane and Clinique ones, so its more like a concealer and brightener in one. Best suited for the under eye area and fabulous for the price!






For the face, when I do conceal, I prefer something creamy yet long wearing. A recent one I've been liking a lot is the Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer (in the shade 3.5) ($28; lauramercier.com). Although formulated for the under eye area, I much prefer using it for tiny blemishes and spots on the face. The texture is thick, so I've been using it with a damp beauty blender than with a brush - its more forgiving and easy to work, gets sheered out a bit and blends well that way. Below is a limited-edition Beautyblender Royal ($19;50; sephora.com), which pretty much works the same way as the original Beautyblender Sponge (read my detailed review of the regular beauty blender here, in case you are interested to know more). Its also important to moisturize really well before using this concealer, especially if your skin is dry like mine. It is quite long wearing though and setting it with powder can make it look a little too flat, so I usually skip doing that. If you do need some heavy-duty concealing for the under eye area and don't have very dry skin or too many fine lines, you can be assured that this will cover quite a bit of the darkness around that area very well, but the formula does need some quick blending as it sets almost immediately. In my personal experience, I would recommend sheering it out as its much more natural looking that way.









What are some of your concealer/corrector favorites? 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer in 970 Nuit 1947

Nuit 1947($25; shop.nordstrom.com) , is another one of many gorgeous shades launched as part of Dior's Gel Nail Lacquer range. Nuit is a glossy, vampy, blackened maroon with teeny tiny shimmer in the bottle, that is hardly ever visible on the nails. The color is just beautiful - although a perfect fall/winter color, I can wear vamps like this one all year long!

Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer in Nuit 1947 970 Review, Photos, Swatches


The formula was very smooth, almost jelly like, but a bit trickier than Front Row because of the slightly thicker creme consistency. I haven't tried Nuit prior to the gel re-formulation, so can't really compare old and new, formula wise. This one had quite good coverage and was completely opaque in two coats with absolutely no streaks or brush strokes. Since its a darker color, it stains around the nails quite a bit and although Dior's new flat and curved brush does a fantastic job with application, I did have to clean up around the edges a bit. On the plus side, its quick drying for a thicker polish and wore a good 4 days on me with very light tip wear. The color looks almost black in the bottle, but turns up far more rich and fabulous on the nails. The finish is quite glossy, but I would still recommend a good top coat. Overall, a definite must have from Dior's Gel Nail Lacquer range.

Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer in Nuit 1947 970 Review, Photos, Swatches


Have you tried Dior's Nuit 1947 Nail Lacquer? Are there any must haves from the range?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Burberry Lip Mist in Pink Heather No.210

Pink Heather No.210 ($30; burberry.com) is a sheer, pinky nude, one of many neutral shades of Lip Mists by Burberry. Pink Heather is a very light pink, with just a hint of beige and a very nice neutral to pair with a stronger/smokey eye.

Burberry Pink Heather No.210 Lip Mist Review, Photos & Swatches

Burberry Pink Heather No.210 Lip Mist Review, Photos & Swatches

Burberry Pink Heather No.210 Lip Mist



Burberry's Lip Mists are supposed to be a sheer washes of color with a glossy sheen. Pink Heather is sheer, but much less glossy than a few other lip mists I've tried. The color is beautiful though - its a great neutral to have if overly cool toned, pink based neutrals tend to wash you out. Pink Heather doesn't wash me out so much when worn with a good, flawless looking base. Otherwise, it does look a touch pale on my pigmented lips, but definitely not bad enough on its own. Its a great color that pairs with a ton of neutral and sheer pink glosses and I prefer it that way than wearing it alone.The formula wears comfortably for about 3-4 hours - its not drying, but at the same time, does not provide any extra dose of moisture. My only qualm though, like with all other lipsticks from Burberry, is the scent. That apart, Pink Heather is definitely worth looking into if nude pinks and neutral lip colors in general are something you'd wear often.

Burberry Pink Heather Lip Mist

Burberry Pink Heather Lip Mist

Burberry Pink Heather Lip Mist Review, Photos & Swatches

Burberry Pink Heather Lip Mist Review, Photos & Swatches

Burberry Pink Heather Lip Mist Swatch


What are your thoughts on Burberry Lip Mist in Pink Heather?

Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Color Lip Perfector in Beige Adage

Lancome's newest lip product, the Lip Lover Dewy Color Lip Perfector ($23; lancome-usa.com) is a smooth, pigmented lipstick/gloss hybrid that provides a good dose of moisture without compromising on color. Lip Lover comes in a beautiful array of (16) shades ranging from sheer nudes to bright pinks and plums. *Press Sample

Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Lip Perfector in Beige Adage Review, Photos & Swatches

Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Lip Perfector in Beige Adage Review, Photos & Swatches

Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Lip Perfector in Beige Adage




Beige Adage, is just the sort of color I would gravitate towards, if I had to choose one. Its a sheer, rosy pink with a hint of beige. The color turns up just as it looks in the tube, with just a teeny tiny hint of shimmer. There's a very mild fragrance - I'm quite sensitive to scents in my lip products and this one doesn't bother me at all. Beige Adage has very nice color payoff - there's enough color to even out my natural (uneven) lip pigmentation while providing a lovely with a wash of pink, in just one swipe. The intensity is perfectly buildable and the formula feels super comfortable even on my very dry lips. Although Lip Lover has a very smooth, creamy texture, it is just a tad thicker than your average lip gloss, but the color evens itself out very well and the applicator does a fantastic job at even application, smoothing out dry patches, if any. There's a beautiful hint of shine that fades after an hour or so, while the color lasts about 3-4 hours on me. Overall, I love it - the formula is fantastic, not too sticky, effortless to wear and perfect for the warmer months ahead.

Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Lip Perfector in Beige Adage Swatch


Have you tried the Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Color Lip Perfector?

Saturday, April 19, 2014

NUDE Skincare Miracle Mask

NUDE Skincare's Miracle Mask ($48; sephora.com) is an exfoliating mask that helps brighten, polish and revive dull, tired skin. Formulated without any Parabens, Artificial Dyes, Synthetic Fragrances, it exfoliates with the help of glycolic acid and rice beads, leaving skin feeling super smooth and glowing. *Press Sample




The mask itself has teeny tiny exfoliating granules in a clear base. I just apply a light layer on my face, leave it on for a few minutes ( NUDE suggests massaging it for one minute and leaving it on for five) and wash off. If my skin is feeling particularly congested, I use a washcloth to remove. I do have pretty sensitive skin and I found this to be gentle enough not to irritate or cause any redness. Neither did it dry me out. The results were pretty fabulous - my skin looked smoother, more polished and the mask added a nice glow. It is very similar to REN's Glycol Lactic mask, another one of my favorite exfoliating masks. The glycolic acid content tends to leave skin a bit sensitive, making it a little more susceptible to sunburn, so be sure to slather on a good sunscreen, if you plan to step out soon after. I usually prefer doing exfoliating masks like these in the night. Overall, I love it - its a really nice mask that exfoliates without too much effort and leaves your skin feeling nice and smooth.





Have you tried the NUDE Skincare Miracle Mask?

A Few Fabulous Bath and Body Care I'm Currently Loving

Just a quick roundup of some fabulous, new (&old) bath, body, hand and foot care I've been trying out recently. Absolutely loving these new finds from Osmotics, L'Occitane, Burt's Bees and more! *Some products featured in this post are press samples



Shower Gels & Scrubs

Orico Jazzy Moisturizing Body Wash ($19; oricolondon.com)  - Its a natural, organically derived body wash made from Orange and Mandarin Essential Oils. The scent is zesty, it cleanses without stripping and leaves a subtle, citrus scent. Its also free of sulfates, parabens and artificial dyes. I've only tried one other body wash from Orico, which was great, and this one too is just as fabulous! The only downside is that they're hard to find in stores and can only be ordered online through their website.





Osmotics Sugar Scrub Body Polish ($38; osmotics.com) - Its a perfect blend of slightly gritty sugar granules in a creamy oil base. Both are well blended, so there's no mixing the sugar and oil - just scoop a little and scrub away! I love the scent - its very light, citrusy and leaves my skin feeling luxuriously soft. There's just a slight hint of a creamy residue left behind, that my skin absorbs instantly. This is my first body product from Osmotics and I absolutely love it.



Korres Bergamot Pear Shower Gel ($19; hsn.com) - Korres makes excellent shower gels in so many nice variants. I can't find this particular one, Bergamot Pear, anywhere else other than HSN, but apart from the scent, it perfoms pretty much the same way as other Korres shower gels. It does feature SLES as a cleansing agent, yet is non-drying. The scent is ah-mazing and lingers on for quite sometime after a shower. Perfect for the warmer months ahead and the scent stays on forever if followed up with the matching body butter.




Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub ($13; burtsbees.com) - Burt's Bees makes really nice bath and body stuff, and at a great price point. I picked this one randomly - got sucked in by the Cranberry and Pomegranate description. I don't regret though, since its super exfoliating and moisturizing at the same time. The granules aren't too scratchy, yet manage to get rid of dry, flaky skin really well. The only downside though, is that it leaves my shower a bit slippery. That apart, its one very affordable, natural body scrub - great for the feet too! Definitely re-purchasing after I'm done with this tub.



Body Moisturizers

The only body cream I've been reaching out to a lot recently, is the L'Occitane Rose Heart Ultra Soft Body Cream ($24; usa.loccitane.com) - it smells like a rose bouquet, feels luxurious and keeps the roughest of spots nice and soft. I absolutely love how well it locks in moisture and keeps my skin from drying out for hours together! As of now this is a limited-edition product, so I'll stock up, but definitely wish L'Occitane makes these permanent soon enough!



Hand Creams

Tocca Crema da Mano Hand Creams ($10 each; sephora.com) - Tocca's amazingly scented, paraben-free hand creams now come in travel friendly sizes. I've tried the full sizes before and think they are excellent, especially for daytime use. The scents match with Tocca's EDP's and the texture is light, moisturizing, quick absorbing and leaves no icky finger prints behind. Great, non-greasy ones to carry around in your purse or to keep on your desk.




Carol's Daughter Almond Cookie Hand Cream ($14; carolsdaughter.com) - Another one of those light textured creams with a almond-y baby powder scent. The scent is a little strong for me, but its not something I don't like.  Its made from a healthy dose of coconut and soybean oils that moisturize, but without the heavy feel.



Foot Creams

Curel's Foot Therapy ($4.59; drugstore.com) promises softer feet in 2 uses. Its not in the most fanciest of packaging, but does the job really, really well. The texture is fast absorbing and keeps my feet soft well until the next morning. Its definitely one of the nicest I've tried from the drugstores - amazing for the price too!



Soap & Glory Heel Genius ($18; sephora.com) - Heel Genius is packed with nourishing ingredients like Macadamia Oil and Sugar Cane extract in a creamy base, so its best suited for the night time. Its a cool blue colored foot cream with a light, fresh scent. The texture is fast absorbing, but it does leave a light film, so be sure to slip on a pair of socks. S & G claims that Heel Genius softens dry feet in one night - I have super dry skin, so it did take a few uses before my feet were soft, but it definitely works! It also leaves a cooling sensation that lasts quite a while - great for tired feet.



L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream ($12 - $28; usa.loccitane.com) - With a 15% Shea Butter content, this is one cream I can recommend even for the driest of skin. The scent is nice and soothing and the cream, although rich, still works for day and night. Its a tad expensive though, but like everything else from L'Occitane, it feels luxurious and gets the job done really well. L'Occitane also makes travel sizes of these, so that's a nice way to try it out before splurging on a full size. Definitely one to check out if you stop by a L'Occitane Boutique!


Have you tried any of these products?