Bath and Body Works Malibu Heat Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Sunscreen Lotion

I was browsing the Memorial Day deals on the Bath and Body Works website when I found a Malibu Heat that I had missed the first time around.  It must not have been up on the website because there ios no other way that I would have skipped over this product.  Last summer, I raved and raved about how this company brought out a spray sunscreen in its Signature Coconuts line and I loved the combination of fragrance and sun protection and hoped that the fragrance would get more people to use sunscreen on a regular basis.  It seems that the products must have sold well last year since Malibu Heat is now being released in an SPF 25 sunscreen lotion, I bought the Mango Coconut sunscreen last year and I will be buying the Malibu Heat sunscreen this year.

The Bath and Body Works website has a full product description.  "Our Malibu Heat Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Sunscreen Lotion helps prevent sunburn and if used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by UVA and UVB rays.  Our exlcusive Malibu Heat is a fresh blend of juicy pineapple, California orange, and creamy coconut milk inspired by hot pink sunsets and twenty-seven miles of beautiful beach."

I love the Malibu Heat scent for the summer and this is the perfect scent for the beach and the any outside occasion in the summer.  I hate wearing perfume to the beach since the direct sunlight can change the fragrance and many fragrances can seem very out of place in the ocean.  This sunscreen gives off a hint of fragrance, enough to be noticed but not enough to be overpowering and annoying to the others around you.  I am glad that Bath and Body Works offered a higher SPF than the traditional SPF 15 that is all over the market, I don't think that this sunscreen has any type of water or sweat resistance so the higher SPF means that it will only need to be reapplied about once every two hours.  I think that the Mango Coconut was an SPF 30 and I wonder why this one is lower but it's not that big of a deal for me. 

I applaud any effort that helps people use sunscreen more, this product makes it both easy and very fun to use any time that I will be outside.  I am actually tempted to buy a few bottles of this so that I have it to use all summer long!

photo courtesty of Bath and Body Works

Laura Mercier Summer 2012 Collection - Summer Jewels

It looks like Laura Mercier has returned to their pattern of releasing two new collections for every season, this seemed to stop for a bit but I now see a second collection on the company's website.  This second summer collection is much smaller than the Belle Nouveau collection and is exclusive to the company's website.  The new collection is named Summer Jewels and I don't really consider this a collection of shades and products to make one "look" for the season.  This is a series of the best shimmering shades that Laura Mercier has to offer,  one or two of these shades would work very well to change up your existing makeup range or to take a day makeup look easily into the night.  I must say that I am excited to see many of these products together in the same collection, I have seen many of these pieces alone in magazines and havew been interested in learning more about many of them.

Summer Jewels consists of five products; there are products for eyes, lips, and face so this collection gives lots of ways to add a bit of shimmer into your look.  I mostly use shimmer on my eyes and lips so I don't know that I would be likely to buy the shimmer powder for the face but I will be picking up some of the other products from this collection.  "Bold.  Glamorous.  Radiant.  It's the ultimate summer sparkle - an exclusive collection of shimmering new shades that can accessorize any look.  This luminous collection of true silvers, bare pinks, and bold brights gives you a radiant, sultry look, perfect for summer sizzle."
Here is the second of the Laura Mercier summer offerings...

Baked Eye Colour - An innovative wet/dry Eye Colour formula featuring Baked technology in beautiful shades that last all day.  This smudge-resistant, lightweight eye colour gently smoothes onto the lid for even application.  Ultra blendable and versatile, apply dry with the All Over Eye Colour Brush for an even wash of colour or wet with the Creme Eye Colour Brush for a more vibrant effect. 
- Rubellite - fushcia
- Silver - deep ice silver

Caviar Stick Eye Colour - Inspired by Laura Mercier's cult classic Caviar Eye Liner, Caviar Eye Stick Colour offers a new technique to enhance the smoky eye look.  In a range of eight beautiful shades, this creamy formula provides endless options for a flawless smoky eye.  Each convenient stick is long-wearing, transfer- and crease-resistant.  The colour glides onto lids and blends easily with a rich colour payoff.
- Sterling - bright icy silver

Creme Lip Colour - Ultra-rich colour in an irresistibly lightweight formula.  This unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and plumping ingredients enhances the lips leaving a smoother, healthier appearance.  One swipe of colour provides hydration and prevents moisture loss ensuring fresh and flawless lips.
- Rose Quartz - soft creamy pink

Lip Glace - A high shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long-lasting colour and brilliant shine that creates the appearance of fuller lips.  Any skin tone is virtually enhanced by creating a subtle contrast in texture.  Contains the Laura Mercier Lip Complex which hydrates and protects lips, leaving a wonderfully smooth surface.  Lip Complex is a unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and plumping ingredients to boost the performance of the Lip Glace.  Non-sticky gloss formula plumps and conditions lips.  Lays down evenly without feathering or bleeding.  Adds a glamourous touch without looking too heavy.  Available in a variety of coverages (sheer, medium, and full) and finishes (shine, sheen, and shimmer).
- Bare Pink - light pink

Shimmer Bloc - A unique baked formula that applies effortlessly while brightening the eyes, cheeks, and body with a hint of natural colour and light.  Contains light-reflecting properties that blend together to give skin a healthy all-over glow.  Modern wearable pearl leaves the skin gleaming without being too frosty or metallic.  Layer over Bronzing Gel or Tinted Moisturizer for a natural sheen.
- Pink Tourmaline - shimmery ice pink

I loved the bright pink Baked Eye Colour, this is a very different shade for me but this is the one product that I really want from this collection.  I have heard a lot of great reviews of the Baked Eye colour formula and I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet, I have been on a MAC and NARS buying spree and need to branch out a bit I guess.  I also really love the Sterling shade in the Caviar Eye Stick, this shimmering silver will work this whole summer against a tan and then I will use it in fall and winter for a foiled eye look.  Lastly, I want the Rose Quartz Lipstick shade, this is a brighter pink than the description suggests and I have been all over bright pinks this whole spring and summer.

The Shimmer Bloc is the product that I am undecided on, I would have to see how shimmery the finish actually is and if I would wear the product on my eyes since I wouldn't really that much shimmer on my face.
I like this little collection, it helps me to see some of the best shimmer products in the Laura Mercier line and the shades that this company would recommend against a great tan.  I am working on creating a pink and silver look for the summer months, I would be wearing this look at night though, I think that it might be too much during the daylight hours.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal

The other week when I was looking at the new Benefit set that has come out for the release of Snow White and Huntsman, I realized that I have a tube of the Benetint Pocket Pal that I have never reviewed even though I have used it on and off for a few years now.  I remember buying my first jar of Benetint when I was a senior in college and I went through it very quickly during the fall semester, I was wearing a subtle red lip almost everyday with a clear gloss on top of it.  When I went to repurchase the product, I was creating a sheer red lip less than I was before and I would go through the product much slower than I was before so I decided to purchase a smaller size than I traditionally would.

That day at Sephora, I decided to purchase the Benetint Pocket Pal instead of the full-sized bottle, the original product is made to be used on both lips and cheeks but this product's packaging seems to be geared more for use only on lips.  I only ever used it on my cheeks once or twice so this new packaging style doesn't bother me at all.  "This glossy color wand is your best beauty pal.  A mini Benetint - the original and still the best rosy lip and cheek stain is paired with a clear shiny gloss on the other end.  Carry it in the handy pocket protector and you'll have kiss-proof, smudge-proof with you wherever you go."  The stain part of this product is applied with a small brush, it is best to use it to dot the product on and then quickly (and I do mean quickly!) apply and smudge the product to your desired shade.  The clear gloss comes packaged with the traditional sponge foot applicator that we see in many lip glosses on the market.

For those of you that don't have a background with this product, I will provide a few quick details on the Benetint stain itself.  "The original - and still the best - rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and waterproof, indelibly sheer tint.  It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "What has she been up to?"  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle."  The texture is a thin, watery liquid that absorbs quickly into the skin and needs to be blended in right after application.  It creates a bright red flush on the cheeks and a sheer red tint on the lips.  I find the product to be more flattering when used as a lip product, I dislike the bright red blush look on my cheeks.  I feel that when used on the cheeks, it makes my ruddiness look much worse than it normally does, this is one of the few cheek shades that I cann't wear at all. 

As a lip product, it produces a sheer cherry red flush on the lip.  My favorite aspect of using this stain is that it sets quickly and then will stay on all day long, this product doesn't budge until I wash it off at night.  A clear or shimmery gloss is needed for use with this stain as it doesn't hydrate at all and my lips still get dry throughout the day.  That was my main complaint with the product ever since I had been using it and I was very excited to see that Benefit addressed this and created a product to correct the issue.  One of the best uses of this product is apply it before using red lipstick and as the lipstick wears off, the hue remains and looks more even than when the lipstick just wears off.

Stain products can be a bit harder to apply the first few times that you use them, they set quickly and then stay that way until removal.  I have had it look uneven and unblended before and I have found that this issue is usually worse when it is used on the cheeks.  The product is much easier and more flattering to use on the lips and among my friends that use the product, more use it exclusively on the lips.  I know very few people who use it on the cheeks. 

Benetint has been best-selling product for many years now, it is now considered a cult product and often wins all types of beauty awards.  This is the first product of its kind and so many companies have tried to imitate it.  Benetint remains the best-selling of all the products and is still the top rated stain on the beauty market.  I do wonder if there is anyone in the country who hasn't tried this stain yet...

photo courtesy of Sephora

The Body Shop Summer 2012 Collection - Honey Bronze

The Body Shop has just released its newest summer color collection, I had to ignore all the new body products and force myself to focus only on the color products.  I love the body products from Body Shop and I could spend a small fortune on their Coconut and Mango product lines, they are two of the only product lines that I have continued to purchase year after year and have never gotten sick of.  I have found that I can now buy the body products at my local Ulta stores (though not at Sephora anymore) so I don't stress as much about being over an hour away from the closest freestanding Body Shop store, though I will have to order the makeup online or do some traveling in order to pick them up.

The new summer collection from The Body Shop only consists of bronzing products and all series of brush types to help apply the powders.  I just ourchased my first new bronzer for the summer, so I am not desperately in need of another one but I would like to own two shades for when my tan varies in hue over the next three months.  I see bronzers of all formulas in this collection, the only one that I am very likely to purchase is the pressed powder bronzer, the gels and shimmering oil are more complex products than I often try to work with in the summer heat and humidity.  The bronzers in this collection remind me of one of the MAC summer collections from years part, Naked Honey.  This wasn't a favorite collection of mine but it still had it's memorable pieces.

Personally, I think that this new collection from Body Shop could be a bit more diversified, how many types of bronzers does one need for the summer?  The best part about this collection is that there is a product of two for everyone however the collection range doesn't encourage purchasing any more than one or two products

Here is the new range of bronzers in the Honey Bronze collection...

Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil - Give your skin an even, bronzed look with a hint of shimmer with a lightweight body oil.  Honey bronze glow.  Tan-enhancing shimmer.  Non-greasy finish.

Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face - Get an instant bronze glow with a moisturizing, honey-enriched gel. Moisturizing.  Light, non greasy formula.  Suits all skin tones.

Shimmer Waves - Sweep colors together for a stunning, all-over glow on the face and cheeks or use each one individually on the eyes or to accent specific areas.  Pearl pigments provide shimmer and sparkle, helping to disguise fine lines around the eye area.  Ultra-fine talc is a high-performance powder that enables smooth and even application.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps to repair skin's moisture barrier.
- 01 Bronze - champagne gold/deep brown/red bronze/medium bronze/medium gold
- 02 Blush - medium bronze/medium rose/red bronze/medium bronze/pale cool champagne

Honey Bronzing Powder - Give your skin an even, bronze matte finish with a honey-enriched pressed powder.  All skin tones.  Even matte finish.  Convenient compact.
- 01 Light Matte - light tan
- 02 Fair Matte - light to medium tan
- 03 Medium Matte - medium tan
- 04 Deep Matte - deep tan

Brush-On Beads - Add a touch of radiance to your face, cheeks, and decolletage using bronze or buff colored powder beads with light-diffusing particles and pearl pigments.  All skin types.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps keep skin soft and supple.  Light-diffusing particles and pearl pigments instantly brighten skin and help reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- Bronze - all shades of bronze
Baked-to-Last Bronzer - Create a sun-kissed glow with a natural-looking bronzer, handmade, and slow-baked for up to eight hours of deliciously rich color.  All skin types.  Community Trade organic Olive Oil from Italy helps to condition the skin.  Community Trade Shea Butter has antioxidant Vitamins A and E to help protect and nourish skin.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps to repair skin's moisture barrier, leaving skin soft and supple.
- 01 - deep bronze with pale gold swirled in
- 02 - medium bronze with pale pink swirled in

Retractable Blusher Brush - A retractable makeup brush with a protective cap that is perfect for on-the-go application of your favorite blusher or bronzer.  Super-soft synthetic hairs are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle on delicate face skin.  Flexible, round-shaped head is ideal for applying and blending powder.  Removable cap protects brush hairs without leaving makeup residue in your purse or cosmetic bag.

Kabuki Bronzing Brush - Apply our Bronzing Powder to face, cheeks, and decolletage with a high quality, super soft brush.  Super-soft synthetic fibers allow a seamless application of bronzing powder to face and decolletage.  Bronze opaque and metallic flat-stemmed handle allows for easy application and allows brush to stand upright.
Face and Body Brush - A versatile, larger makeup brush that is just the right size for applying blusher, bronzing powder or shimmer to the face or decolletage.  Soft synthetic hairs are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle on delicate skin.  Wide tapered head is ideal for applying and blending powder formulations.  Slightly tapered handle makes the brush easy to hold and use for controlled, precise application.

Blusher Brush - An indispensable, soft-bristle makeup brush that is just the right size for applying blushers and bronzers.  Super-soft synthetic fibers are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle in delicate facial skin.  Wide, flat tapered head is ideal for applying and blending powder formulations.  Slightly tapered brush handle makes the brush easy to hold use for controlled, precise application.

I think that the piece that I would need most from this collection is the Honey Bronzing Powder in both the fair/medium and medium shades so that I switch them up to make my ever-changing summer fake tan.  This is only product that I am at likely to purchase from this collection, the rest are very nice however I wouldn't use the shimmer finish bronzers enough to warrant a purchase of them. The only product that I would consider buying is the Shimmer Waves palettes, I like both shades of them and since I could use them as eye makeup, I know that I would get use from them all summer.  I would be unlikely to use them in any other way then as eye shadow. 
The last piece from the collection that I have an interest in is the brush collection.  I am considering ordering the Face and Body Brush to use for loose powder since Body Shop has very high quality synthetic face brushes.  This isn't my favorite collection of the summer however it produces a series of high quality bronzers and all types of brushes to aid in application.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Guerlain Summer 2012 Collection - Terra Azzurra

One the most acclaimed summer collections is the newest offering from Guerlain.  I have been seeing hints of this collection on other beauty blogs and in magazines since the beginning of May and I have been consistently checking the Guerlain website to see if the new line is up yet.  I have finally found the line up on their website and I am so excited over the new bronzing products in it.  This collection represents the collaboration of Guerlain and Pucci to create a line of top quality summer shades and amazing packaging.

I love this collection on first sight however I am very unhappy that it only contains two new products and then a brush for expert application.  I would love a whole line of new products from this company with the Pucci packaging.  With my weakness for pretty packaging, I would have done a lot of damage to my credit card ordering tons of products from this line!  I wouls especially love a lip gloss in the Pucci packaging...

This little collection is named Terra Azzurra and I stated above, it only contains one bronzer and one highlighter.  I feel that the size of this colleciton is a huge let down, it could have been unforgettable if it was only a few products larger.  As it stands, I couldn't really go out of my way and search for these products to only purchase one bronzer, I could justify chasing down an entire product line if I could get enough makeup to support an entire summer look. 
Here is the collaboration between Guerlain and Pucci!

Meteorites Perles d'Azur - In a nod to the Pucci shades, the Perles d'Azur are being enriched with a corrective blue pearl and beautifully adapt to the demands of the sun.  The idea?  Three targeted and instant benefits to create a summer glow, thanks to the combination of six colours that even out and correct every skin tone, with a de rigueur ultra-luminous and delicately translucent result.  Already tanned skin is subtly set off with a fine complexion-enhancing and imperceptible veil.  Their incredibly stylish round case is adorned with the Pucci print in contrasting colours with a graphic motif.
Terra Azzurra - The star of the collection, this exquisitely beautiful object combines two success stories: Guerlain's legendary Terracotta powder and Emilio Pucci's iconic prints.  Halfway between a bronzer and blusher, this hybrid powder with a gentle, lightweight formula offers a universal harmony of four shades to meet every desire, from the softest to the most intense.  For the ultimate in sophistication, its smooth and oval case in ebony-coloured varnished wood is presented in an accessory pouch printed with the Pucci motif.

Pinceau - An elegant firm and generous Kabuki-style powder brush designed to subtly crush the Meteorites Perles d'Azur pigments or pick up just the right amount of Terra Azzurra powder.  Its broad metallic ring encircling its natural midnight blue bristles adds a chic detail.  It is stored in its on-trend Pucci print pouch that is perfectly in line with summer's glamorous tone.

I know that the Meteorites highlighter is one of the biggest cult products that is available on the beauty market today however I have never tried them out before.  I would be more likely to try them at my Sephora store and then decide if I liked them enough to order these in the Pucci case.  In regards to the Terra Azzurra, I was really hoping that this was more of a plain bronzer, I didn't really want a product that has a blush in it.

I can't decided if I like the products in this collection only because of the packaging, none of them are really what I am shopping for at the moment and I would need to try them at a counter before I order them from the website.  I am seriously tempted by the bronzer brush (of all items!), I love the blue hue of the bristles and the Pucci container that it comes in...

photo courtesy of Guerlain

OPI Summer 2012 Collection - The Amazing Spiderman

Last week, we saw the new Benefit set that was created for the new Snow White and the Huntsman movie that will be coming out on the first day of June.  One of the other movies this summer that proves to be a huge release is the new The Amazing Spiderman movie.  I saw the first movie but I haven't see any of the subsequent movies so I doubt that I will go and see this film but I will be more than happy to check ou the new OPI series of polishes that have come out for the release weekend.  I am not surprised that OPI has teamed up with the film since they created a collection for The Muppets movie from last holiday season.  Personally, I was more excited about the Muppets movie but I am always excited about new nail polish collections!

This collection is another one that is not considered a typical summer shade collection, the range of shades is all over the place in this collection.  We have brights, pales, deeps, and then one top coat with the crackle finish.  I immediately groaned when I saw the crackle finish top coat, I am so sick of these crackle finish polishes and I thought that trend was on the way out when I saw these polishes on the Sale rack at Ulta and I can't believe that I am seeing yet another one of these.  When is this awful trend ever going to end?!

The first polish that we are going to look at is the only pale shade in this collection, My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  This polish is pale, creamy white.  This shade just showed up in the newest MAC collection and I can see that we are going to be seeing hues like this all summer.  I have never really used white polishes unless I am cerating designs on my nails.  I will be skipping over this shade since I will barely ever use it. 

The bright polishes are slightly less to my liking.  The first shade is my "favorite" of the bright shades, Your Web Or Mine? is very pretty but it leans too much to the warm side for me to find it flattering.  This shade is a warm coral pink with a frost finish, we have seen this shade so many times over the years from OPI and I have never liked it.  This shade would be very pretty against a tan for someone with a warmer skintone, I will never be able to pull this shade off.  The second bright shade is even was, this is a bright orange.  I have never even liked bright orange polishes on someone else and I would never wear a shade like this.  I klnow that oranges are very popular right now but this is not a shade range for me.  This shade is named Call Me Gwen-ever and is a creamy medium orange.  This shade almost reminds me a bit more of a pumpkin than a super bright orange but I still don't like it.  I can't wear either of these shades and so far this collection is not working very well for me.

The deeper tones are the best shades of the collection for my skintone, I would be more likely to buy these shades and then put them aside until the beginning of fall.  Into the Night is my favorite polish from the collection, it is a deep blue shade that will be perfect this fall.  The shade is a medium blue shade with a metallic finish, it is lighter than most of the navy polishes that I own and I have no shades like this in my collection already.  I will be adding this blue to my polish collection.  The second of the deeper shades is Just Spotted the Lizard, a medium toned gold with a green cast.   This polish has a metallic finish to it and remains me very much of the Peridot polish that Chanel released last year.  This shade isn't technically a deep tone but it fits better with this area of the collection than any other.  I really like this shade and I will most likely purchase a bottle of it, this one I would wear in the summer so this is one shade in the summer collection that I would actually wear in the summer.  Number One Nemesis is the last of the deeper tones in the collection, it is deep charcoal shimmer that will be a great neutral in the fall months.  i am planning on purchasing all three of the deeper toned shades from this line.

Lastly, we have the crackle top coat.  This type of finish tends to give me a headache everytime that I see it on someone.  I actually wanted a bottle of the crackle when it was released with the Katy Perry collection and it was only available in a black shade.  The combination of all types of shades with the crackle finish just tends to annoy me now and I wish that this trend would just end.  That being said, I will not be buying this shade.  Shatter the Scales is a deep blue green shimmer that is said to look like the scales of the lizards.  I like the thought of this shade but this shade is just completely ugly, it is destined for the sale rack within the next month or two. 

The only shades that I like are the deep toned polishes in this new collection.  Only the gold shade can be worn now, the other two shades will have to be held until the fall months because they don't really work with my current line-up of summer polishes.  I wonder how many other movie tie-ins we will be seeing this summer...

photo courtesy of OPI's page on Facebook

Chloe Chloe

With the all hype around the new Chloe L'Eau de Chloe fragrance, I remembered how much I wanted the original version of this fragrance when it came out several years ago.  I know that I really wanted this fragrance but just never got around to purchasing a bottle (for some reason or another) and I jumped at the chance to get a sample of it when I was making one of my many Sephora orders.  I have playing around with the sample over the past few days and I have officially fallen in love with this great rose fragrance and now have yet another fragrance that I want to buy (and still have no room for!).  This is one of those few great floral fragrances that is light enough for the spring and summer months but still complex enough to wear in the fall and winter months.  I love finding scents like this because I wear them all the time!

I found this product's full description on the Sephora website.  "Capturing the spirit of women, the Chloe vision is not about one singular woman, but rather about the rich and varied personalities of all Chloe women.  This fresh, smooth floral fragrance evokes sublime powdery rose.  The effect is chic, comfortable, and entirely addictive.  Top notes of peony, freesia, and lychee embody subtle freshness.  At the heart, midnotes of magnolia flower, lily of the valley, and rose rise to sublimated femininity.  A base of velvety elegance comes to fruition through cedarwood, amber, and honey.  Inspired by the details in Chloe's fashion, the flacon's heavy but softly curved and grooved glass reflects femininity and strength.  The plated-silver top is embossed with the Chloe mark and adorned with a hand-tied ribbon." 

The notes of the fragrance are: Pink Peony, Freesia, Lychee, Magnolia Flower, Lily of the Valley, Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, Honey.  The Pink Peony note comes out on my skin right after application and then within the next few minutes, the Rose and Magnolia notes come out.  The Cedarwood and Magnolia notes are the notes that remain on my skin the longest and make the fragrance last all day on my skin.  This fragrance is more of a subtle, powdery rose than Jo Malone's Red Roses and is lighter than Stella McCartney.  It is a contender to be one of my favorite rose fragrances!

This fragrance is available in a full range of sizes in the EDP and a rollerball.  The rollerball is the most practical for me right now since space is at a minimum on my bureau.  I will most likely buy a rollerball now and then later on buy a full bottle of the EDP.  This fragrance is also available in a full range of fragranced body products.  It comes in a Perfumed Deodorant Spray, Perfumed Body Cream, Perfumed Body Lotion, Perfumed Shower Gel, and Body Cream Scrub.  Personally, I can skip over the Perfumed Deodorant Spray but I want the rest of the body products, with the Perfumed Body Cream being my first choice from the collection.

The last thing that I needed to add to my shopping list is yet another perfume but this one is just so special to me that I must at least purchase the rollerball now and then the rest full size perfume and the rest of the body products a months down the line.  This is a rare fragrance in that I can wear all year round and in many different places.  I could easily pull this fragrance off at work and it is still lovely to wear when going out at night, it is a rare fragrance that is as versatile as this one and I can see myself going through many bottles of it in the next few years.

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Hey, Sailor! - My Haul and Final Thoughts

This morning I was finally able to pick up my pre-order on the Hey, Sailor collection at my local Macy*s.  After sitting in what seemed to be endless traffic and massive amounts of humidity rendering my hair a disaster (I will be redoing it after I finish this post up), I finally pulled into the mall parking lot, found a spot, and then went running into Macy*s.  I even skipped over Sephora on this visit, I was so excited to get my MAC products and then get back home to play with them.  My initial thought when I got to the counter was that there was no excitement around this line, the counter had one poster up and normal-sized display instead of all the bells and whistles that was I was expecting to see.  I did my pre-order a few days ago with the counter manager and I wish that she would have been there this morning since she knows me well and has recommended products that have ended up being favorites of mine.  I ended up only leaving with the four products that I had pre-ordered so I will have to visit again in order to purchase some of the permanent shades that I need.

I narrowed my initial purcahse down to the four products that I wanted the most when I looked at the collection.  The bags are not available at the counters so I wasn't able to buy any of those.  I decided on a Lipstick, two eye makeup products, and a bronzer.  None of the shades and products are super-unique and they are many dupes out on the market from all different brands.  If you love the packaging, then you will be all over this collection; if you don't, then you will not die if you don't buy multiple pieces of the collection.  Did the packaging push me in the direction of this collection?  Of course it did!  The only product that I would have purchased if the collection was in the plain packaging is the powder bronzer since I actually need it.  MAC offers great red lipstick hues but I didn't need another one and wouldn't have really noticed this one had I not be stalking the collection.  The same reasoning holds for the gold eye makeup products.  However I happen to love the packaging and I am so happy with the four products that I have bought!

My Hey, Sailor! haul!

Hey, Sailor! Bronzing Powder - A lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and highlights.  Ideal to enhance and strengthen a tan.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Soft Sand - golden bronze with fine gold pearl

Hey, Sailor! Eye Shadow - Highly pigmented powder.  Applies evenly, blends well.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Barefoot - tarnished gold

Hey, Sailor! Powerpoint Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity of colour-power of ultra-soft carbon.  Provides deep, fully opaque coverage and an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrom pearl.  Versatile in application: blend or smudge.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Handforged - metallic yellow gold

Hey, Sailor! Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips.  Stands out on the runway.  Simmers on the street...or at sea!  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Red Racer - bright yellow red

We will start off with the bronzer.  I decided on the Bronzing Powder because the shades were more neutral, the Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders looked slightly harder to work with; one shade has a red finish, the other a pronounced yellow undertone.  Of the Bronzing Powders, Soft Sand is medium tan with very little shimmer, the other Bronzing Powder has a heavier shimmer and is a darker hue.  Soft Sand is the easier of the two shades for me to pull off.  This bronzer has a sheer to medium finish, it will work best as a light dusting used to lightly tanned to medium skin.  This is the shade that will fit most of the ladies that shop at MAC.

The Barefoot Eye Shadow is the pretty gold shade that I wanted as soon as I first looked at the collection.  The MAC website doesn't give full details but the counter manager told me that the finish on this shadow is closest to the Veluxe Pearl formula, a formaul that manages to produce some of the best and worst MAC shadows.  This shade has a medium to sheer finish and works best when applied with an eye primer.  I will be using it with other golds and champagnes, it is not quite pigmented enough to wear on its own.  I was considering the gold-toned Pigment in this collection but the counter manager told me that the eye shadow is easier to apply and a bit softer than the texture of the Pigment, making my decision of what I wanted easier. 

The Powerpoint Eye Pencil is one of the best quality products that I bought with this collection and I see myself getting the most use of this liner and the matching shadow all year round.  This pencil is less pigmented than the Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils so this isn't the dupe that I was hoping for.  It needs to be applied twice to get a full color intensity, one coat offers a subtle gold look and two coats are needed to create the full gilded eye look.  This pencil lasts all day long and only budged when I used eye makeup remover on it at night, this is a great choice for the summer months.

The last product is the one that is my absolute favorite from the collection and the one product that I had to own from the collection, the Red Racer Lipstick shade.  This a medium yellow red with a satin finish, the finish is very close to a matte and is just slightly creamier than Russian Red.  This shade reminds me of Ladybug with a full coverage finish, a shade that I have often hoped for.  This shade gives me about 6 hours of wear and will begin to wear off with extended eating or drinking.  A primer would be needed under this shade to keep it on all day. 

Overall I am very happy with my purchases from the Hey, Sailor! collection.  I certainly don't need the whole collection even though I love the packaging.  This is one of my favorite MAC collections so far this year, even though I think that the packaging is better than some of the products and shades in the collection.  I like other products in the collection but I really don't need any of those shades as much as I wanted these.  I will be able to use the bronzer all the way into September and the rest of the shades will work well for me all year round and will work well with the rest of the shades in my traincase.  I predict that this will be one of the biggest MAC collections of the year.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Clinique Summer 2012 Collection - Summer Trend 2012

I was all over the spring collection from Clinique, especially the new shades of the Almost Lipstick.  I am still using two of the new shades at least once or twice a week and I will keep this up through the whole summer.  With the new shades that were released in that best-selling, cult product, Clinique has really been holding my attention lately and I am hoping that the summer collection holds the same amount of promise that the spring collection did.  This collection comes with a bold, tropical print makeup bag that I know will be a hit this summer.  I also see Lash Power Mascara and the Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss, products that I have used in previous summers.

"Sun-kissed and ready for summer.", is the simple description of this collection.  This description is short and to the point yet it still right on target with the products that are offered here.  I think that I see a new bronzer in this collection that I have never tried before and that I am very excited about.
Here is the summer collection from Clinique...

Superbalanced Powder Bronzer with Mini Makeup Bag - Limited edition.  Bronzing powder with a smart advantage: Long-wear formula helps absorb oil, maintain skin's moisture balance so skin looks healthy, lit with a subtle radiance.  Mineral and antioxidant-rich bronzer transforms from pressed to loose powder at the turn of a dial.  Lightweight, oil-free.
- Bronzed 1 - medium gold
- Bronzed 2 - deep bronze

Bronzer/Blender Brush - The perfect partner for powders.  Great for blending and highlighting.  Unique antibacterial technology.

Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8-Hour Eye Colour - Creamy, crease-resistant eye colour wears for 8 hours.  Instantly cools thanks to a unique applicator.  Nourishing ingredients coax fine lid lines into a blanket of smoothness.  Antioxidants helps protect eye area skin.
- Bit o'Honey - creamy pale gold shimmer
- Cute-cumber - cool medium olive shimmer
- Seventh Heather - medium heather brown shimmer
- Currant Affair - deep plum shimmer

Lash Power Mascara - Mascara with staying power.  Vows to look pretty for 24 hours without a smudge or smear.  Lasts through rain, sweat, humidity, tears.  Yet the formula removes easily with warm weather.  Unique brush reaches and beautifully lengthens even the tiniest lashes.  Ophthalmologist tested.
- Black Onyx - medium black

Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss - Lip balm with a colourful twist.  Luscious, high-gloss shades treat your most undermoisturized skin to soothing shine.  Instantly relives dryness, protect with antioxidants and more.
- Raspberry - bright punch of sheer cherry red
- Mango - soft orange with a slight pink hue
- Currant - rich reddish deepened purple
- Grapefruit - pale blue pink with white shimmer

The Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit has been a summer staple of mine for about four years now, I am still using the same tube since a little bit of this product goes a very long way.  I always check the Clinique counter for more shades in this product, I want the Raspberry shade for a sheer red for this season.  Lash Power Mascara was a staple of mine last summer, I did a full review on it so I will just sum up some of the major points here.  It helped to lengthen my lashes but it is not a thickening formula.  It stayed put all day long and only removed when I was in the shower at night (it only removes with water - even eye makeup remover didn't get it all off).  This mascara creates more of a natural look than I usually go for so I don't know that I would purchase it again but it is a solid waterproof formula that will work well in any type of weather.

The Lid Smoothie is a product that I have been interested in since I first saw it at the counter but I haven't purchased any of the shades yet.  My first choice for summer would be Bit o'Honey to use as a highlighter this summer or against a bright pink lip.  I will be more likely to buy the deeper toned shades in the fall months.  Lastly, I want to try the new bronzer formula, I have used Superbalanced products in the past and I have gotten greeat results from them so this bronzer formula looks very promising.

photo courtesy of Clinique

Bath and Body Works Malibu Heat

Malibu Heat is the newest fragrance from Bath and Body Works and I have been excited about the release every since I first smelled the small lotion that was available before the fragrance was released.  I use tropical body product fragrances all year round, they help to keep my mood up during the depths of winter.  Being a huge Jimmy Buffet fan, tropical body products help me look forward to summer nad beach and allow me to have a bit of Margaritaville with me all the time!  Malibu Heat is the perfect way to add more tropical scents to my collection and I find this scent to be very unique among the rest of the summer scents that are on the beauty product market today.  This scent has a coconut milk note in it but when combined with the orange scent, it creates a crisp tropical scent that is easy for many people to wear.

Bath and Body Works describes this fragrance as "a fresh blend of juicy pineapple, California orange, and creamy coconut milk inspired by hot pink sunsets and twenty-seven miles of beautiful beach".  This is one of the few coconut scents that is not reminscent of sun-tan lotion and therefore can be worn by ladies who doesn't always worship the scent of coconuts.  On my skin, this starts out smelling very strong of the orange and then fades down to a mixture of the coconut and the pineapple scents, I love the way that the lotion dries down and provides just a light hint of coconut on my skin. 

The top notes of the fragrance are: Fresh Mandarin, Juicy Orange, Crisp Pear, Succulent Pineapple.  The heart notes are: Orange Blossom, Lily of the Valley, Coconut Water.  The base of the fragrance is: Coconut Milk, Creamy Vanilla, Sandalwood, Sunny Musk.  I don't smell any of the floral notes in this fragrance and I was surprised to see the Orange Blossom and Lily of the Valley notes in the fragrance.  Neither of the floral notes come out on my skin at all in the body products.  The Orange Blossom note only comes out when I tried the Fragrance Mist, the only product that I didn't like from the collection.  The body products are a great tropical scent on my skin but the Fragrance Mist just smells slightly tropical, with a hint of Orange Blossom that doesn't work well with my skin chemistry.
This fragrances comes in the traditional body products; the Fine Fragrance Mist, the Shower Gel, the Body Lotion, the Triple Moisture Body Cream, and the Glowing Body Scrub.  I first bought the Glowing Body Scrubs with the Wild Garden Collection scents and I am very happy that Bath and Body Works is beginning to offer scrubs in more fragrances than they have in recent years.  I have already bought the Shower Gel, Body Lotion, and Triple Moisture Body Cream and I plan to purchase it in the scrub within the next few weeks.  This scrub will work very well to complement the self tan that I will be building over the next month or two.

This fragrance comes in one product that is unique to it, the Malibu Heat Surf Waves Hair Mist.  "Our Surf Waves Hair Mist with mineral-rich Sea Salt adds a sexy texture to hair and gives you the perfect beach blown 'do.  This special formula leaves hair feeling soft and lightly scented - never sticky or shiny!"  Why wouldn't we want our hair to be shiny?  Is there something that I am not understanding about this product?  I am interested in this product and am glad that Bath and Body Works seems to be expanding their Signature Collection product line but the description reads exactly like the wave spray from the True Blue Spa Malibu Waves that I have already bought and been using for a month now, why would I need to own both of these?  What is the point in having two tropical-scented beach wave sprays with the same active ingredients?  I would be much more likely to buy the Malibu Heat Surf Waves if I didn't already own the True Blue Spa version of the spray.

Lastly, this product is available is a lip gloss.  It is a sheer nude with a hint of gold shimmer.  It is a pretty shade in the tube but it is too warm and it will completely wash my skin out.  I will be skipping over the lip gloss in this collection even though it smells fantastic.

I have found a new scent to use all throughout the summer and well into the winter months.  This is one of my favorite Bath and Body Works releases of the past few months and I hope that it is a permanent addition to their fragrance lineup.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

MAC Hey, Sailor! Colour Collection - Lips and Nails

I saved the best for last!  I have been looking forward to the lip products in Hey, Sailor! since I first heard about the collection months ago, my first thought that was that I would find a great new red lipstick shade with the release of this collection.  And I was right...the first piece that I wanted when I saw pictures of this collection is the Lipstick in Red Racer.  A new red lipstick from MAC in the nautical packaging is just too god for me to pass up and I can't wait to buy a tube of this shade!

"Set sail this summer with a colour collection inspired by the glam of vintage pin-ups girls.  Go overboard with the never-ending colours of Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Zoom Waterfast Lash, Lipglass, and more!  Limited edition."  It goes without saying that the Lipsticks will be my top choice from this collection however MAC has included a full variety of lip products including both Lipglass and the limited edition Sun Tints lip balms.  I have decided to group the nail polish shades in with the lip products since many of the shades complement each other and I was inspired by the Fashion Sets collection that came out earlier this spring and I admired the way the display was set the last time that I was at the MAC counter in my Macy*s.

Lips and nails from Hey, Sailor!...

Hey, Sailor! Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips.  Stands out on the runway.  Simmers on the street...or at sea!  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Sail La Vie - bright midtone orange
- Salute! - neutral peach
- To Catch a Sailor - highly frosted tan
- Red Racer - bright yellow red

Hey, Sailor! Lipglass - Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick, Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts.  It's pigmented, very shiny, and can impart subtle or dramatic colour.  Limited edition Lipglass is packaged in blue and white stripes; it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!
- Cut Loose - white gold with pearl
- Orange Tempera - pale peach
- Blessedly Rich - pale coral
- Rivera Life - bright tangerine
- Send Me Sailing - bright orange red

Hey, Sailor! Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm - A beach-bound essential.  Protects lips against sun, wind, and salt in summer's softest tint with luscious liquid shine.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Sea Mist - peachy nude with multi-dimensional pearl
- Au Rose - poppy coraly pink with gold pearl
- Abalone - see through hot pink with no pearl

Hey, Sailor! Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - A new generation of longwearing lip pencil technology.  Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly.  Defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour.  Prolongs the hours between re-application.  Transfer-proof.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Saunter - pale nude beige
- Shore Leave - light vibrant coral
- Throw Me A Line! - bright true red

Hey, Sailor! Nail Lacquer - Revolutionary high gloss formula.  Provides no-streak/no-chip finish.  Contains conditioners and UV protection.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Vestral White - creamy white
- Touch of Red - bright yellow red

My favorite piece of the entire collection is the Hey, Sailor! Lipstick is Red Racer, I must own this lipstick and I don't care how much it resembles any other red that I own.  This is a great red shade that I will wear all the time, MAC makes some of the best red lipsticks that I own and I will never stop wearing red or buying MAC Lipsticks.  Red Racer is the only one of the lipsticks that I must own, I can skip over the other shades.  The Lipglass shades all look too warm for my skintone and the red in this product looks to be more of a orange red, a shade that has never flattered my skin.  I am interested in the Au Rose and Abalone shades from the Suntints but I have read on mulitple beauty blogs and online reviews that these are so sheer that they have next to no tint to them and are best for hydrating lips and not for shading them.  I will have to swatch these at the counter and then decide if I want to buy either of them. 

One of the odd products that I am considering is the Lip Pencil in the Throw Me A Line! shade, I am considering purchasing it to wear underneath the Red Racer Lipstick to keep it on all day.  Lastly, I do like the Touch of Red Nail Lacquer but this isn't the most unique shade and the MAC Nail Lacquer formulas have been all over the map with formula quality.  I have seen reviews of some shades that applied well and lasted for several days and then I have seen reviews of shades that chip and fade within a day.  I would be more likely to find a similar shade from Illamasqua or China Glaze than to buy the red polish in this collection.

I will be going to the counter right when the mall opens on Thursday morning so I can do some shopping from this collection.  As of right now, I know that I must buy the Lipstick in Red Racer, at least one of the gold eye makeup shades, and one of the bronzers.  I will be following up in the next few days with what I actually purchased and a review on all the products!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Hey, Sailor! Colour Collection - Blush and Highlighters

We have just finished up on of my favorite parts of the Hey, Sailor! collection, I loved the eye makeup part of the Colour Collection and I think that I have already found several of the products that I will be buying on Thursday morning.  I haven't used many blushes and highlighters from MAC, the one product that I have in this line is a Beauty Powder from the Rose Romance collection.  I'm not really in the market for new blush shades at the moment since I am currently using the shades that I have collected from Illamasqua and am very happy with their blush formula.  However, we have already seen how well I can remain strong against the temptation of this collection, the packaging is doing me in and making me want to buy almost all my summer makeup from this collection!

"Set sail this summer with a colour collection inspired by the glam of vintage pin-up girls.  Go overboard with the never-ending colours of Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Zoom Waterfast Lash, Lipglass, and more!  Limited edition."  This part of the collection offers two new shades of blush and one new highlighter, this is the smallest part of the Colour Collection and one of the least exciting.  One first glance, none of the shades in these products are very unique and they wouldn't be among my first choices of the collection.

The Blush and Highlighters in the Hey, Sailor! Colour Collection...

Hey, Sailor! Powder Blush - Colour for the cheeks and face in a satin finish.  Comes in a nautical blue and white striped compact.  Limited edition.
- Launch Away! - true peach
- Fleet Fast - pinky golden coral

Hey, Sailor! Highlight Powder - Pearlized highlights in a superfine pressed powder.  Goes on easily to create a smooth, sophisticated pop of light.  Packaged in a jaunty nautical striped compact.  Limited edition.
- Crew - soft peachy cream with fine shimmer

All of these shades have warmer undertones, none of these are that great of a choice for me.  Launch Away! is a lighter peach shade that is on the sheerer side.  This shade would be great for someone with light to medium skin that has warm undertones.  Fleet Fast looks like a deeper and less shimmery version of NARS Orgasm, this is a must-have only if you don't own any of the peachy pinks from NARS.  The Highlighter Powder is very pretty in the compact and I believe that this is going to be one of the best-selling products from this collection, it reminds me of the To The Beach Marine Highlight Powder that became an instant cult classic and was commanding top price on Ebay within weeks of the collection release.  This highlighter is a warmer tone with lots of peachy shimmer in it so this is another product that isn't for me.

This is one part of the Colour Collection that I can totally skip over...none of these shades will work very well for me and I would rather concentrate my energies toward the eye and lip parts of the collection.  I can see these shades working very well for someone with a warmer skintone and I do see them selling very well when the collection hits the counters this week.

Now we are heading to the lip and nail part of the Colour Collection...I see some new reds in my future!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Hey, Sailor! Colour Collection - Eye Makeup

We are now at my favorite part of the new Hey, Sailor! collection - all of the Colour products.  Based on the sheer size of this collection, I have decided to break down my posts about the Colour collection into smaller parts that are more manageable and will be easier for my readers to narrow down what they are most interested in.  Also, more posts means more pictures for me to put up and since we all know how much I love the packaging on this collection, it goes without saying that I love to post pictures of the products and shades. 

There are fantastic products and shades in every single part of this collection and I am confident that this collection was worth waiting for and that this will be on part with A Rose Romance and Venomous Villians as one of my all-time favorite MAC collections!  "Set sail this summer with a colour collection inspired by the glam of vintage pin-up girls.  Go overboard with the never-ending colours of Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Zoom Waterfast Lash. Lipglass, and more!  Limited edition."  I am very happy to see that many of the products in this collection are longwearing formulas and are made to stand up to the heat and humidity of the summer months, nothing is worse than when your carefully made up face is destroyed within 30 minutes of leaving your house on a summer morning.

Here is the eye makeup part of the Colour Collection!

Hey, Sailor! Eye Shadow - Highly pigmented powder.  Applies evenly, blends well.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Crystal Avalance - white with reflects
- Jaunty - light yellow beige
- Barefoot - tarnished gold
- Feeling Fresh - bright green
- Nautical Navy - navy blue

Hey, Sailor! Pigment - Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin.  Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Old Gold - high frosted tarnished gold
- Naval Blue - deep smoky blue

Zoom Waterfast Lash - The fast-to-act drama of creamy, velvety Zoom Lash in a tear/sweat/humidity/waterproof formula.  Curls and lengthens with flexible, sculpted application - everything you love about the original is here.  Provides up to 12 hours of smudge-proof wear!
- Black - black
Hey, Sailor! Powerpoint Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour-power of soft carbon.  Provides deep, fully opaque coverage and an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl.  Versatile in application: blend or smudge.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Handforged - metallic yellow gold
- Emerald Sea - kelly green
- Blue Stripe - dark navy

I see some great golds in the eye makeup part of this colour collection, I will be buying at least one or two of these shades.  My favorite piece from this part of the collection is the Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Handforged, this is a lovely gold shade and is one of the best golds that I have seen since since Urban Decay discontinued their 24/7 Eye Pencil in Honey (I have less than two inches of product left and I use it all the time).  I will be buying the eye pencil and I want the eye shadow to match.  I am considering the Pigment in the Old Gold shade, however this is a permanent shade so I can skip over this for now and purchase it later on.  I have one Pigment in my collection and I use it so rarely that I can't go really crazy for the Old Gold shade even though I find it very attractive.

After buying the gold pencil and shadow, I would like to buy the Eye Shadow in both the Feelin Fresh and Barefoot shades.  I am not head over heels in love with either of these shades but they would be nice to own for the summer months.

Next up...blush and highlighters!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Hey, Sailor! Bronzing

The second part of the collection is the Bronzing products, this is a big part of the collection and I see many of the same types of products that we see every summer from MAC.  Are some of these products permanent or does MAC just bring out the same summer bronzing products out every single year in different limited edition packaging?  I feel like I saw many of these products in 2009's Style Warrior and then again in 2010's To The Beach.  Last year, nothing from the Surf Baby! face collection popped out at me, most of the shades were too warm for me and I am hoping that this collection changes that.  The models for this collection look much different than the ones from the previous years, this year's model is much less bronzed and has a more polished makeup look from the previous years.  That should mean that MAC has brought out more of a shade range and it will contain shades that work better for skin that is cool-toned and doesn't get very tan.

"Set sail this summer with a gorgeously golden bronzing collection inspired by the glam of vintage pin-up girls.  Go overboard with Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder, To The Beach Body Oil, and more!  Limited edition."  It looks like To The Beach was the big inspiration for the bronzers in this collection and MAC is using the best pieces of that collection to re-release this year.  From what I remember reading, To The Beach was one fot he best-selling MAC collections of the past few years and I can see that MAC would want to continue to capitalize on it again.

Here are the Bronzing products from Hey, Sailor!

Hey, Sailor! Bronzing Powder - A lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and highlights.  Ideal to enhance and strengthen a tan.  Packaged in blue and white stripes.  It's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Soft Sand - golden bronze with fine gold pearl
- Refined Gold - finely spun golden with soft pearl finish

Hey, Sailor! Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder - Combining comfort, flawless sheer-low transparent coverage and long wear, this is bronze with a fully dimensional yet natural finish.  Comes in a nautical blue and white striped compact.  Limited edition.
- Nude on Board - bronzy, yellow tone
- Sun Dipped - dirty red tone

To The Beach Body Oil - A shimming body oil formulated to bring a sheer sheen and sexy gleam to skin.  Soothing, naturally emollient.  Its fusion of three botanical oils help soften, smooth, and moisturize skin.  Limited edition.
- Seaside - dirty blushy pink with multidimensional sparkles
- Man Rays - glowing tan with multidimensional golden shimmer

167 SH Face Blender Brush - Specially designed for the lightweight application/blending of face powders, highlighters, and bronzers; this short-handled brush of white goat hair is dome-shaped, luxuriously full and fluffy, to create a flawless look.

I must have both of the new Bronzing Powders in this collection.  Refined Gold will be the best shade for the beginning of the summer as I am still building a tan and then Soft Sand will be better for the middle to the end of the summer when I have a full (for me) tan built up.  Even my full tan isn't very dark so I want the bronzers that aren't quite so dark.  The two shades in the Pro Longwear look slightly harder to pull off , they both appear deeper and warmer than my skintone will ever get so I will be skipping both of these products.  I have heard rave reviews about the original To The Beach Body Oil however this is a product that I don't really need and I don't know how much use i would really get from it.  It would be a fun product to buy but it isn't anything that I will be rushing out to buy on my first haul of the collection.

My biggest purchases from this part of the collection will be one, if not both, of the new Bronzing Powders.  I am in need of a new bronzer anyway so this is one of the practical items that I will purchase from the collection.  Next up, we will go onto to looking at the Colour part of the collection and all the non-practical items that I will want from Hey, Sailor!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Hey, Sailor! Bags

MAC's Hey, Sailor collection contains a full color collection and then a series of matching bags.  We are going to start with the bags part of this collection since I find them adorable and I bet that they will sell out early.  I am willing to bet that these bags will be online or free-standing store only, since my local Macy*s counter very rarely carries all the accessories to match the limited edition collections.  I first saw these bags up on the Temptalia blog and I fell in love with them at first sight! 

This collection consists of two new bags, one that is a makeup bag and the other one that is a full size tote bag.  I want both of these but if I had to choose, I would chase after the tote first because it is just so adorable!  "Join the crew of the sailor-inspired elite with beach-bound essentials inspired by the glam of of vintage pink-up girls and sexy sailors.  Set your style on course with the limited edition Gone Sailing Tote and Makeup Bag Set."  I am adding these bags to my shopping list!
Here are is the bag collection of the Hey, Sailor! collection...

Gone Sailing Makeup Bag Set - Join the crew of the sailor-striped elite with the Gone Sailing Makeup Bag Set.  Both in navy-and-white striped canvas, featuring bright red patent edges and gold rope hardware closures.  Small 4" x 5.5".  Large 5.375" x 10.5".

Gone Sailing Tote -Set your style on course with this canvas tote.  Sailor stripes, gold grommets, gold rope closure, and a navy faux leather base bring chic on board while the Op-art twist is, of course, all MAC.  One size: 10" x 20".  Limited edition.

I love, love, love the Gone Sailing Tote!  This bag has the potential to be a staple in my summer bag wardrobe, I can take it to the beach or for a lazy shopping weekend.  It is too casual for work but it is pretty much perfect for anything else that this summer can throw at me.  If I have the funds to buy both the products in the collection than I will be using the makeup bags all year round, even though I tend not to always carry full makeup bags around with me, I will make an exception for bags this cute!

Onto the Bronzing part of the Hey, Sailor! collection!  I have been looking forward to the bronzers from this collection ever since I first heard about the collection and I am so excited to look at details of the products now that they are up on the company's website!

photo courtesy of MAC

Essie's Second Summer 2012 Collection

Several weeks ago, we looked at the first Essie summer 2012 collection, Poppy-razzi and now I see that there is a second summer collection from this company.  The first collection was full of brights and the only shade that I loved was a bright neon pink, the oranges and corals would all be awful on my skintone.  I am happy to report that this second collection contains a very different series of shades, this collection ranges from pale blues and pinks and then ends with a medium green shade.  I can already see that this will contain much better shades for me!

Essie states the following about this new series of nail polish shades, "If you ask me, all signs point to a bikini so teeny".  I am so excited to go to the beach this summer and I will be all about self-tanning and working on my beach body for the next few weeks.  Summer is so close that I can taste it and I am so ready to have some fun over the next few months!

The first two shades of the collection are my early favorites, these are the two pale shades in the collection.  The first shade is my absolute favorite, Bikini So Teeny.  This shade is a "sparkling cornflower blue" and it is the shade that I have pictured here.  This is the perfect pale blue shade with a subtle shimmer finish, it looks like the ocean and I love this shade for the summer months.  This shade will be flattering against my current pale skin and then will really pop against my fake tan.  The second pale shade is another one that I am considering buying, not like a need another pink shade since I have bought so many of them since the beginning of this spring but I love every single that I have bought and keep finding more shades to love.  The pale pink in this collection is called Cascade Cool, a "creamy, sweet dustly pink".  This shade is a cream finish and is almost the exact same color as cotton candy.  Itis not that unique but it is very pretty shade, I don't know that I actually need this shade but I would like to own it.
The rest of this collection are brights and one odd bronze shade that doesn't fit with any other category.  The bronze shade is my least favorite since I know that bronze will not work for me at all.  I am going to cover it quickly and then go into the brights in more detail.  All Tied Up is a "rustic bronze with subtle golden shimmer".  This is a pink bronze that I don't find attractive at all, it might be pretty against a tan but I can't see myself every wearing this shade.

Onto the brights!  The first shade is called Off the Shoulder, yet another bright pink shade.  I wonder how many bright pink shades have come out this spring and summer, I feel like almost every single collection had at least one or two bright pinks in their shade range.  The market for this shade must be large since they seem to be selling well.  Speaking for myself, before this season I owned no bright pinks and only one pale pink and now I have a full shade range of every single pink on the market.  If there are enough ladies like me out there, then I can see why the companies continue to release pink shade after pink shade.  This shade is a "bold, hot pink" and it is a cream finish.  This one doesn't look much different than the pink that was featured in the Poppy-razzi collection, it is slightly more subtle than that shade but I doubt that you need to own both shades.

The rest of the brights are the true summer beach shades, orange and green.  Fear or Desire is another shade that I would never buy, I hate orange shades and they are never flattering on me.  This is a "bright, orange crush", this polish has a cream finish and looks exactly like orange juce.  This is not a shade for me but I could see it working well for someone with a tan and much warmer skin than mine.  Orange has been a huge shade this summer, I see it being a top seller for the company.  The last shade is a bright jade green, Mojito Madness.  This shade is described as a "fun-loving, lime green".  Personally, I don't see this as a limie green, the shade appears much more jade on the website.  So I need to see this shade in person before I decide what I am doing here.

Essie makes nice polishes but since aren't my favorite formula (and I hate the small brush!), I need to be really in love with the shades before I decide to buy them.  The only shade in this collection that I am crazy about is Bikini So Teeny, I love this pale blue and I must have a bottle of it very soon.  Caacade Cool and Off the Shoulder are both nice pink shades but I don't need to own them.  I would buy them if I can't find any other pinks that I like this summer but with all the companies releasing great pink shades, I doubt that I will need to buy these two.

photo courtesy of Essie

NARS Beach Lover Set

Francois Nars has been my god lately and my last big Sephora haul included several new lipstick shades from this company.  I am still in love with the foundation that I have been using from this company and am still craving a bunch of the NARS and Thakoon nail polish shades.  Hopefully when I am on vacation, I am go up to New York City and go to the NARS flagship store.  Even if this is not a reality in the next few days, I will be paying another visit to the counter at my Sephora store, I have only purchased a few of the lipstick shades that I wanted and I still have a list of shades that I want to buy.  Just released at Sephora is the Beach Lover set, an exclusive, limited edition set that contains a bronzer and shades that are perfect to complement a tanned look over the next few months.

The Beach Lover set focuses on two of NARS top-selling shades, Laguna and Orgasm.  In fact,t hsi set contains the Laguna Lip Gloss, a limited editon shade that was made only for this set.  Laguna has always been a top-selling bronzer shade for this company so I can't see that the lip gloss will be flattering on me but I bet that it will work very well for ladies with warmer skin tones.  "A five-piece travel-size gift set for eyes, lips, and cheeks.  This set includes iconic NARS shades for an idyllic island glow, including a limited edition shade of Laguna lip gloss."  Included in this set are: Blush Duo in Hungary Heart and Orgasm; Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Skorpios; Lip Gloss in Laguna; and Illuminator in Laguna.

First a few more product details from the NARS website!
Blush - The ultimate authority in blush, NARS offers the industry's most iconic shades for cheeks.  Natural, healthy-looking color that immediately enlivens the complexion.  A light application of even the highest-intensity hues delivers a natural-looking finish.  Silky texture in matte and shimmering shades.  Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable application.  Iconic NARS shades.
- Hungary Heart - gold ivory
- Orgasm - peachy pink with gold shimmer

Soft Touch Shadow Pencil - Soft Touch Shadow Pencils provide easy, portable, long-wearing application.  These jumbo-sized pencils have versatile functionality to shade the lid, line, or highlight the eye.  Smooth, creamy texture delivers a smooth, velvety feel to the eye and make for easy blending and an ideal base for layering with a powder shadow for increased color intensity.  Portable application.  Smooth, creamy, long-wearing formula.  Easy and seamless blending.
- Skorpios - iridescent copper

Lip Gloss - Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, semi-sheer, and creamy formulas.  Extremely wearable and versatile shades may be worn alone or over other lip formulas for added dimension.  Ultra-smooth, non-sticky, comfortable wear.  Enriched with Vitamin E to help lips feel supple and hydrated.
- Laguna - bronze

Illuminator - Light the skin from within.  A collection of light-reflecting liquids that glide on to refresh and enhance the collection with shimmering incandesence.  Deceptively sheer, decidedly luminous.  Can be applied all over the face or used as a highlighter.  Can be worn under, over, or mixed with foundation.  Iconic shades.
- Laguna - brown with gold shimmer

This set will work wonders on the complexion of anyone who has a great tan and a warm skintone.  Since neither of these descriptions apply to me, this is a set that I will have to skip over for the time being.    Neither of the Laguna products will work for me, any shade of bronw on my lips completely washes me out and makes me look ill.  The Illuminator might work for me well after I have gotten my self-tanning regime underway.  I also will investigate what other shades are offered in this product, I am hoping for something a bit more pink-toned.  The same thoughts apply for the Hungary Heart shade of Blush, I can't see this gold ivory shade working at all for my skintone.  I already own both Orgasm and Deep Throat and don't need another peachy pink shimmer blush from NARS.  Lastly, the piece that I want the most from this set is the Soft Touch Shadow Pencil, Skorpios will work very well to highlight my blue eyes and I think that I will just buy the single product in this shade the next time that I go to Sephora!
I predict that this set will sell very well for Sephora however most of the shades inside will look awful on skintone so I will not be adding this to my NARS collection.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Philosophy Summer 2012 Body Product Collection

I have been all over the summer color collections for the past month and a half and I have decided to change it up a bit today, we haven't yet looked at any new body products for the summer and this is the best time of the year for some great new fruit and tropical fragrances.  The last time that I was in Sephora, I saw some of these products in the Philosophy section of the store and now I see that they are available on the Sephora website.  This company has released a series of body products that are available individually, in duos, and then in sets that are perfect for summer birthdays and hostess gifts.  My early favorites from this collection is actually the first scent that I smelled from this new collection, the Mangos and Cream scent of products.  This product reminded me of the Bath and Body Works Apricot Vanilla scent that I can no longer get and I already love the scent of mango and therefore this is one of the best body product scents that I have smelled in the past few months. 

The products are available in either the traditional 3-in-1 formula and many are available in a matching body lotion.  I have been dying for lotions to match the great Philosophy scents for years and I must not have been the only one!  "The body lotion formula of natural oils, shea butter, and anti-oxidants helps moisturize, soothe, and soften your skin.  This lightweight texture absorbs quickly to leave your body feeling extra silky.  The three-in-one cleanser for hair and body has a rich lather that gently cleanses and conditions, leaving skin and hair feeling hydrated and super-soft."

First we will start off with the single products that are available in this collection.  Cabana Girl is the first of the new scents, it is a mixture of coconut and guava notes.  This is sure to be a hit this summer especially with those of us who love coconut scents.   I have so many coconut scents but a mix of guava and coconut is one of the few that I don't own at all and I can't wait to play with this scent.  "A bath and body collection infused with a sunny, tropics-inspired scent.  Go poolside and quench your island thirst with the sweet scents of juicy guava and fresh coconut.  This tropical temptation is a head-to-toe paradise."  This fragrance comes in the full sized 3-in-1 and matching body lotion and I want to buy both of these products, I am all over coconut scents all year round and this will be a great addition to my collection.

The second of the new scents that is available in single products is Black Cherry Italian Soda, one of the most unique body product scents that I have ever smelled.  "A bath and body collection with a fragrant burst of effervescent black cherry.  Turn your shower into an Italian soda bar and give your skin the ultimate refreshment.  The scent of Italian soda contains a burst of sugar and refreshing fruit to give you a true soda experience."  I don't know that I could stand this scent in the full-sized products since this sent is very strong but I think that I would purchase a set of it in the smaller sizes.  I will have to see what all this is offered in other than the full sizes in the 3-in-1 and body lotion.

The duo of products is available only in Mangos and Cream, one of my early favorites.  This is one of the best mango scents that I have ever smelled, it reminds me of a mixture of mangos and sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream.   "A cleansing and hydrating combo scented with fresh, ripe mango and a touch of vanilla.  Treat any mango lover to this sweet and creamy set of fresh fruity favorites.  The three-in-one cleanser scrubs and conditions skin and hair with a rich foaming lather that leaves the body silky soft from head to toe.  Enjoy the multi-sensory experience in the shower or add it to the bathtub for a fragrant soak.  The lightweight, non-sticky body lotion is formulated with macademia seed and olive fruit oils, shea butter, and antioxidants to moisturize, soothe, and soften, while protecting skin from environmental attack."  I love this scent so much, I wish that it wasn't limited edition and that I could get it all the time.  This is simply one fo the best mango scents that I have ever smelled.

Now we are onto the giftsets that have come out for the summer!  The Cabana Girl Trio is the first set that I see available on the Sephora website.  This set contains small sizes of the Cabana Girl body products and the matching lip gloss.  "A three-piece collection for hair, body, and lips with a sunny, tropics-inspired scent.  Go poolside and quench your island thirst with this trio of sunny essentials.  Infused with the sweet scents of juicy guava and fresh coconut, these tropical temptations are a head-to-toe paradise gentle enough for everyday use.  Formulated with natural oils, shea butter, and anti-oxidants, the body lotion moisturizes and soothes parched skin.  The three-in-one cleanser conditions body and hair and enhances any shower or bath experience.  The lip shine glides on smooth = never tacky or sticky - and moisturizes for a soft, delicious pucker."  I am more interested in buying these products in the full sizes, however I would give this set as a gift to many of my friends that have summer birthdays.

The second of the giftsets contains only three-in-ones and it does contain the Black Cherry Soda scent in a small size, just like I hoped for above.  It also contains a strawberry scent and a lemon soda scent.  I think that I would be more interested in the lemon soda scent in a huge bottle.  "A trio of multitasking cleansers for hair and body with refreshing soda-inspired scents.  Turn your shower into an Italian soda bar for the ultimate, refreshing clean.  The three-in-one formulas provide a rich, foaming to clean and condition from head to toe, leaving skin and hair feeling ultra-soft and luxurious.  The Italian soda scents contain a burst of effervescence and refreshing fruit to give you a true soda experience.  Reach for the flavor of your choice and enjoy the fizzy pick-me-up."  The three scents that are in this collection are Black Cherry Italian Soda, Strawberry Italian Soda, and Limoncello Italian Soda.  I am not craving black cherry soda and I am more likely to buy this set than the full sizes of the Black Cherry Soda itself.

To round everything out, Philosophy has brought out a few limited edition scents in their best-selling Lip Shines.  These have never been among my favorite lip glosses, they are shiny and smell great but they have little to no color so I only buy these when I am in love with the fragrance.  "A high-gloss, high-flavor lip balm that hydrates with a sheer hint of color.  Give your lips a burst of effervescence and a true soda experience with this super-glossy, emollient-rich formula.  This lip shine goes on smooth - never tacky or sticky - and moisturizes for a soft, smooth pucker."  The first scent is the Strawberry Italian Soda, a "sweet, strawberry scent that will quench your thirst and make your smile fizz with delight".  This is a sheer pink shade that is on the warmer side.  The second Lip Shine is the Cabana Girl scent, a tropical-scented lip gloss.  "The coconut and guava flavor will quench your island thirst and the sheer tint will make your smile shine bright".  This scent is a coral shade that will never work on my skin tone.  I doubt that I will be purchasing either of these Lip Shines, neither shade will work for me.

My favorite things that from this collection are the Cabana Girl line of body products.  I will be buying the full sizes in both the 3-in-1 and the body lotion.  I already I am thinking about what summer birthdays are coming up among my group of friends since the Cabana Girl set will work well for lots of ladies.  I must have the set in the Mangos and Cream, I love this fragrance and I am actually considering purchasing a back-up set in this scent, it is just that good!  Lastly, I want the smaller 3-in-1 set of the soda scents, I like the Black Cherry but I don't know how much of it I could use without it beginning to get on my nerves.

This is a great summer body product collection, Cabana Girl and Mangos and Cream are among some of the best scents that I have seen this summer.

photo courtesy of Sephora