NARS Pierre Hardy for NARS Nail Polish Collection

So far this season we have already seen one new collection from NARS and now the second one has been released.  The same type of occurrence was done last summer, there was the traditional summer color collection and then a series of nail polish shades came out very soon after that.  NARS is taking the same path this summer, the traditional color collection was released about two weeks ago and now I see that the NARS and Pierre Hardy collection of nail polishes are up on the NARS website.  I have seen pictures of these polishes in magazines for the past month and they are said to be the best polishes of the entire summer and almost every article about new trends in manicures and pedicures contains at least one or two of these polish shades.  I believe that one article contained every single shade from this collection and that got me very excited to see when this line got released. 

These polishes are sold in pack of two bottles, one shade designed for manicures and the other designed for complementing pedicure.  I have seen the most pictures of a duo that contains a yellow and a purple hue and also of a duo that contains an orange and a deep blue.  I also see that this collection contains two shades of what I believe are blush.  I had seen these at Sephora before any of the polishes were released and now I know what collection that they are part of.  I originally wondered if they were part of the summer collection but we saw that they weren't and then I wondered if they were just a new product that I hadn't seen yet.  Now I have my answer...

This collection is all about contrasting and complementary shades and I believe that many of these nail polish duos are going to be some of the best polish shades for the summer months.  I am also excited to see if there is a blush shade for me in the two new ones that I have come out for Pierre Hardy for NARS.

Here is Pierre Hardy for NARS!

Pierre Hardy for NARS Blush - Limited edition high voltage blush palette with a shimmering pressing of Pierre Hardy's iconic avant-garde print.  Natural, healthy-looking finish that immediately enlivens the complexion.  Silky texture.  Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable applications.  Inspired by the designer's 2013 high-fashion shoe collection, the Pierre Hardy for NARS collection also includes six nail polish pairs presented in the spirit of his signature shoebox packaging for ultra modern couplings of conceptual color.
- Boys Don't Cry - pink grapefruit
- Rotonde - tiger lily

Pierre Hardy for NARS Nail Polish Pairs - Inspired by his 2013 high-fashion shoe collection, Pierre Hardy infuses his ultra modern color palette into limited edition nail polish pairs, presented in the spirit of his signature shoebox packaging.  These two complementary shades selected by Hardy may be worn together or separately -- hands, toes, anything goes. Sets includes two nail polishes and Pierre Hardy for NARS signature mini-shoebox and dust bag.  Incredible luster and prolonged gloss retention.  Long-wearing, durable chip-resistant finish.  UV protection to prevent polish discoloration. Toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free.  The Pierre Hardy for NARS collection also includes two high voltage blushes with shimmering pressings of the avant-garde designer’s iconic prints. Pierre Hardy for NARS —an ultra modern coupling of conceptual color.
- Ethno Run - orange/navy
- Sharplines - peach/burgundy
- Vertebra - coral/dusty rose
- Easy Walking - rose gold/camel
- Sharks - yellow/lavender
- Venemous - gunmetal/black

Sharks is my favorite combination and this is the one that was in all the beauty magazines and featured on all the beauty blogs, I might have a hard time getting my hands on it soon but I will be holding out for it over the next few weeks.  Sharks is my favorite but I still have several other duos that I would like to order.  Venemous is my second favorite, I will use this one in the fall and winter months and both of these shades will be staples in my polish collection.  Vertebra is the last duo that I want, this one will be best for summer and the coral shade will only work against tanned skin.  I don't love the other duos enough to order them, I love the rose gold shade and the navy shades but not the others in the duo so I will look to see if I can find similar shades from China Glaze or another one of my favorite polish companies.  I will round out my shopping of this collection with the Boys Don't Cry shade of the limited edition Blush shades.

There is nothing that I love more than a NARS collection and this one doesn't disappoint!

photo courtesy of NARS

Estee Lauder Summer 2013 Collection - Bronze Goddess

The Estee Lauder summer collection is either exactly the same or very similar every single summer, this is the third year in a row that the collection has been named Bronze Goddess and I now wonder if all the products are the same yet again.  I have admired pieces of this collection in the past but I have never been able to get my hands on any of the pieces that I really love, many of the palettes and limited shades sell out very quickly and I have had to get on waiting lists for some of the items.  However, none of the waiting lists have ever come to fruition and the counters never really restocked fast enough to fill the whole demand.  The one piece of this collection that I was the most excited about when the collection was brand new was the Bronze Goddess fragrance but I was sorely let down the first time that I tried it.  I imagined a coconut vanilla fragrance with a sophisticated mix of tropical gardenia but the fragrance smelled heavier of vanilla and musk than I would have liked it to.

I do see some new pieces in this collection and some that I know that I have looked at in previous collections.  I see a lip gloss rollerball on here that takes me right back to when I was in elementary school and first started being allowed to wear clear lip gloss, I might just purchase this product for the novelty value but I would hope that I could find a shade in it that I would actually like to wear.  I am also excited to view the bronzers in this collection as this is yet another company that is known in the beauty industry for having great bronzer shades and formulas. 

This season I do not see the fragrance included in this collection but I did see it earlier this month at the counter so I know that it is still available if anyone wants to purchase it for themselves.  Personally, if I am looking for a beachy fragrance, I prefer Bobbi Brown's Beach and I would rather purchase a bottle of that for this summer.

Here is the newest summer collection from Estee Lauder!

Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee - A heat wave of color.  This seductive all-over bronzer is endless summer.  Innovative tri-blend liquid, powder, gel formula goes beyond face powder to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow.  The perfect mix of pigment and pearls for a multi-reflective finish.  Smooths on as an all-over soft sheen. Builds for luminous pearl highlighting.  From the Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 Collection.
- Heat Wave - multiple shades of bronzes

Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer - It's endless summer with this super-luxurious powder bronzer.  Sweep it on and the smooth, oil-free powder gives face, shoulders and décolletage a seductive bronze look.  Unique oil-control complex keeps skin shine-free and comfortable.
- Medium - medium tan
- Deep - deep tan
- Light - pale tan
- Medium Deep - medium to dark tan

Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer - Give yourself a heavenly glow with this super-luxurious liquid bronzer.  Great for all skintones, it includes a unique blend of bronzing pigments in a pearlized, reflective base.  Long-wearing, oil-free formula feels weightless and comfortable as it smooths on a sheer, natural-looking radiance.  Available in one universally flattering bronze shade.

Pure Color Five Color Eye Shadow Palette - EyeShadow palette created by Tom Pecheux for the ultimate eye expression.  A high-style mix of textures and shades to inspire creative blending, highlighting and color accenting.  Release your inner artist. This versatile 5-color palette allows you to play with intensities, mix and blend shades, express different attitudes-soft to bold.  Holds 5 varying color intensities and finishes: matte, satin, shimmer or metallic.  Use the shades for a touch of trend or to make an all-out color statement.  The highlighter is the magic touch. Use it to brighten the look and widen eyes instantly.  The deepest shade structures and defines the eyes.
- Batik - bright aqua/pale champagne/medium red bronze/medium gold/deep brown

Pure Color Liquid Eye Liner Duo - A heat wave of color.  Two shades for eyes that smoulder. It's pure seduction.  Felt-tip wands line and define with precision.  Waterproof formula glides on, stays on, won't budge.  Ophthalmologist-tested. Fragrance-free.  From the Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 Collection. 2 intense liquid eyeliner shades. Waterproof formula.
- Black Sands - black/gold

Sumptous Extreme Waterproff Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara - Extreme volume. Even when wet.Lashes seem to multiply, magnify and grow. Three different high-volume fibers act like lash extensions, creating audacious lash effects-that last through all wet conditions. All weather. All waterproof. Get extreme waterproofing for all wet conditions: Water, Chlorinated water, Saltwater, Tears, Perspiration, Humidity, and Rain.  Everything you love about original Sumptuous Extreme Mascara-now Waterproof.Extreme Bold Volume™ Waterproof formula provides extreme volume, lift and curves for an audacious, false-lash effect-plus advanced total waterproofing.Exclusive multiplying fibers (three different high-volume fibers) are blended in a mousse-light base.Acts almost like lash extensions, multiplying and growing the look of lashes. Lashes are supple, not brittle.Fortified with conditioning Lash-Advancing Vitamin Complex.  Oversized BrushComber Extreme™ with two types of bristles-flexible fibers carry maximum formula; solid fibers comb and separate for clump-free definition.  Extreme volume, lift and curves for an audacious, false-lash effect. Eyes look brighter, wider, more seductive.
- Extreme Black - deep dark black

Pure Roller Sheer Rollergloss - A heat wave of color. Tempt your lips with luscious shine and sheer color.  Irresistible, lightly flavored gloss leaves your lips wanting more.  From the Bronze Goddess Summer 2013 Collection.  Sheer, juicy color in a high-shine gloss.
- Succulent - bright orange coral cream
- Squeeze - bright watermelon pink cream

Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick - Color so incredible, it leaves your lips wanting more. True Vision™ technology takes ordinary color and makes it extraordinary.  In a seductive spectrum of shades, from sublime to vivid.  TRUE VISION™ COLOR: Maximized color impact; Magnified vibrancy, clarity and dimension; Amplified brilliance.  INDULGES YOUR LIPS
In 2 seductive finishes: Satin, Lasting Creme; Lustrous, Lasting Shimmer.  Medium-to-full, buildable coverage.   Long-lasting wear.  Fade-resistant.  Enriched with lip-loving ingredients, including apricot kernel, shea butter and murumuru butter that leave lips soft and creamy smooth.  "Lipstick makes a woman sensual, powerful and kissable." -Tom Pecheux, Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director.
- Solar Crush - bright coral red cream
- Fuchsia Fever - deep cool magenta cream

Pure Color Nail Lacquer - Turn your fingertips into fashion statements with a wardrobe of sensational shades to add definition, polish, and style to your fingertips.  Designed by Tom Pecheux, world-renowned makeup artist and Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director.  Tom combined today's top trends with timeless classics-all the colors he prefers for photo shoots and fashion shows.  Formulated with True Vision™ technology to transform ordinary color and make it extraordinary.  Rich, glossy with an intense mirror-like high shine.  Fast-drying. Long-wearing.  High-pigment, high- impact brilliance in 3 effects: creme, pearl and shimmer.  True Vision™ technology takes ordinary color and makes it extraordinary.  Choose from a multi-faceted spectrum of modern and timeless shades.  Resists chipping-even in water.  High coverage that won't fade, dull or streak, even in strong sunlight.  The brush makes it easy.  Specially designed brush shape makes application incredibly easy.  In 3 strokes-middle, left and right-you're done.
- Hot Spell - bright orange red cream

Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent - Summer's new sun-kissed fragrance.  Inspired by the warmth of the Mediterranean, a citrus floral blend with notes of Bergamot and Orange Blossom.  Fragrance Type: Solar Citrus Floral.  Top Notes: Sicilian Citron, Calabrese Bergamot, Blood Orange, Sweet Tangerine, Provencal Lavender Flowers, Lemon Tree Leaves (Petitgrain).  Middle Notes: Pittosporum, Neroli from Tunisia ORPUR™, Moroccan Orange Blossom ORPUR™, Indian Sambac, Grapefruit Tree Blossoms, Pink Lily Nectar.  Base Notes: Blond Woods, Iris Accord, Ambrette Seeds, Crystalline Musks.

Bronze Goddess Body Oil Spray - A lightweight, silky oil that gives skin a sensual sheen as it surrounds you with the fragrance that makes every woman feel divine.  Spray it on to radiate sensuality from every inch of your skin.  Bronze Goddess.  The fragrance that worships every inch of you.  A sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot and Mandarin, cooled with Tahitian Gardenia Petals and Coconut, warmed with Amber, Sandalwood and Vetiver.  All heat. All desire. All woman.

I will have to try the newer version of the fragrance and decide if the lighter and more citurs version will suit me for the summer months.  Citrus scents and I haven't always gotten along well so this version of the scent might not be any more to my liking than the original version, I might just have to concede that this is not a series of fragrances for me.  Maybe the makeup part of this collection will just work better for me...

I missed out on the eye shadow palette last year, I wanted that product more than any others in this collection and now I have the chance to try and get it again.  I am a bit afraid that it will be sold out at my favorite counter again this year and I will try to search for it on several different department stores' websites.  This is the one and only item that I was really unhappy about not getting last year and I would love for this year to be more successful in that regard!  The other item that I really want is the rollerball lip gloss and I am happy to say that I don't just want it for the packaging, I love the pink hue that is comes in and I don't really have any watermelon colored glosses.  Most of my pinks are much cooler than this one but I have high hopes for this shade against a summer tan.  I cannot wait to try this lip gloss out!

The last item that I am really excited about from this collection is the double sided eye liner pen, I already needed a black pen and I love to use gold eye liner shades on my eyes and this product is just the best of both worlds.  I wanted this product from the moment that I first checked out the collection, I am really excited for three pieces of the collection however nothing else in it really jumps to my attention.  I will be more than happy if I can get my hands on the palette, the lip gloss, and the duo eye liner!

photo courtesy of Estee Lauder

Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes

After this semester is over, I have decided that I must start seriously looking to join and gym and check out every organization that is around me.  With that, I am well aware that I will end up needing new clothing, sneakers, and new beauty products to support this lifestyle change.  I have read so many stories in beauty magazines about increased acne, limp hair, and increased need to shower (therefore drying out my skin even more than it usually is).  I know some women that have issues with visiting the gym just because of these issues and I refuse to avoid the gym and come up with a separate beauty product routine that will combat all the bad that occurs at a sweaty gym.  That means that I have a different kind of skincare product shopping to do...

I started thinking about this about two weeks ago when I was having massive writer's block on my final paper for Leading People in Organizations.  I began by listing all the gyms in my area and then went over to the Sephora website to look at some of the skincare sets listed as "Travel".  One of the first items that I came upon was skincare wipes that are made to clean skin and remove makeup.  A product like this is exactly what I would want for after working out to clean all the sweat and excess makeup off my skin and try to avoid some of the pore clogging issues that will result.  Wipes must be a popular item since a bunch of companies that I already have skincare products from have all kinds of wipes, some companies even have multiple kinds so that they are targeted toward many skin types.  I got really excited to see that Korres (already a favorite skincare brand of mine) has multiple kinds of wipes that are targeted toward different skin types.  Which is great because the last thing that I need right now is for a cleansing product to dry out my skin more and then lead to even more oil production...

Korres has a line for made just for dry skin and I am happy to see that the Milk Protein line continues to grow and grow the more that they release new products, I love combining products from this line and the Wild Rose line to both hydrate and calm my skin.  I ordered the Milk Proteins Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes as soon as I saw them and I have used them the past two nights to try them out (before I decide that they earn a spot in my future gym bag!).

"A travel-friendly package of 25 wipes that gently yet effectively remove makeup, dirt, and oil.  These wipes, enriched with softening milk proteins, effortlessly eliminate eye makeup (waterproof included) and cleanse the skin to create soft, supple, refreshed results. Milk proteins, rich in essential amino acids, nourish and moisturize the skin, while aloe soothes the skin from redness and irritations. This convenient solution is perfect for and on-the-go cleansing."

The key word here is "on the go", these are not a substitute for your traditional liquid cleanser and they will not replicate all the benefits of doing the traditional skincare regime every single day.  I read several reviews on Makeup Alley by people who used them every single day and I can see why they didn't love them, this isn't the way to use them and of course they didn't get the best benefits to their skin.  I would only use these wipes once or twice a week when I go to the gym right from work or class and then would do my regular skincare regime each day. 

These function very well to get my face makeup off and take a good amount of my eye makeup off.  These are not made to get a real deep clean and are not a replacement for a traditional cleanser.  This product got my makeup residue and sweat off after I went jogging the other day and they quickly got face makeup, a bit of eye makeup, and sweat off my face without leaving it feeling tight and dry.  This is exactly what I wanted for this type of product and I highly recommend them for a gym bag or even for a late night.  I would not recommend them for everyday use and anyone who uses them like this will not like the product. 

The Milk Proteins wipes are for normal to dry skin but this company also offers the Pomegranate wipes for normal to oily skin.  I have used one Pomegranate product before and I really liked that face cream and I think that I can safely recommend those to people with a different skin type than mine. 

I will be coming out with more posts over the next few months of products that I am using to fill my gym bag and if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Zoya Summer 2013 Collection - Stunning and Irresistible

We are almost at the end of the month and almost every single summer collection is now out.  Between getting ready for finals and lots of new beauty products and collections, I am going to be a very busy girl over the next few weeks.  I am very excited for the end of the semester but I always miss school within a few days of being down with finals and then I begin collecting books that relate to my fall classes and start reviewing the material before the end of June.  I guess I am just the eternal nerd and will be a student for life!

But back to beauty!  I am very excited to add some new nail polish shades to my collection season, I have found new loves in shades from Nails Inc and more favorites from lines that I have loved for several years now.  The next lines that I try will be Julep and Zoya, my salon carries Zoya so it will be very easy for me to pick up a shade or two the next time that I get my hair done.  Maybe I will even get a manicure to celebrate the end of the semester by scheduling a manicure and pedicure myself!

Zoya's summer collection is named Stunning and Irresistible, two words that I would love to have used to described my personal style.  This collection is actually comprised of two smaller collections, each have a variation of the same shades with different finishes.  We have seen this concept for many companies over the past few years and I usually end up liking multiple shades and then wasn't them in both of the finishes that are offered by the company.  I am envisioning one finish on my fingers and the other one on my toes, I would love to see this collection at my salon and then I could get my manicure and pedicure done in the shade variations. 

We will start with the Stunning part of the collection.  "Just like the sun...  You are the center of it all!"  This is the part of the collection that contains the creams, I believe that the other part of the collection will be more popular but I personally really love cream finishes and want to look at the more basic shades first.

- Darcy - Zoya Nail Polish in Darcy can be best described as a full-coverage, sunny yellow cream.
- Thandie - Zoya Nail Polish in Thandie can be best described as a full-coverage, citrus orange cream.
- Micky - Zoya Nail Polish in Micky can be best described as a full-coverage, amazing coral cream.
- Josie - Zoya Nail Polish in Josie can be best described as a full-coverage grassy green cream.
- Rocky - Zoya Nail Polish in Rocky can be best described as a full-coverage serene blue cream.
- Yana - Zoya Nail Polish in Yana can be best described as a full-coverage, Geranium pink cream.

The Irresistible part of the collection will be the more coveted of the two, I can already see fans of Zoya going crazy for some of these metallic and foil hues and they are much more unique than the first part of the collection.  I am betting that these are the shades that will sell out in days of hitting Ulta and the website and we will see if my prediction is correct!

- Amy - Zoya Nail Polish in Amy can be best described as a full-coverage, red orange foil metallic.
- Tinsley - Zoya Nail Polish in Tinsley can be best described as a full-coverage, rose gold foil metallic.
- Bobbi - Zoya Nail Polish in Bobbi can be best described as a full-coverage, hot magenta pink foil metallic.
- Hazel - Zoya Nail Polish in Hazel can be best described as a full-coverage, blue green foil metallic.
- Rikki - Zoya Nail Polish in Rikki can be best described as a full-coverage fern green foil metallic.
- Kerry - Zoya Nail Polish in Kerry can be best described as a full-coverage, yellow gold foil metallic.

Both parts of the collection are offered in single bottle or sets of six that contain all of the bottles in that part of the collection.  In both cases, there is at least one or two shades that I do not like and would never wear so I can rule out buying either of the six packs.  From the Stunning part of the collection, my favorite shade is the blue hue, Rocky.  This bright blue is cooler and less aqua than China Glaze's For Audrey and would fill a hole in my polish collection.  The rest of the colors that I want are: Josie and Yana.  I think that the Irresistible part of the collection is the harder of the two to wear and the shades that I would be more likely to use in pedicures during the work week and then would only use in manicures when I am getting dressed up and going out.  The shades that I want in the second part of the collection are: Bobbi, Tinsley, and Hazel.  Hazel is my favorite shade of the whole collection and this icy metallic blue would really set off tanned skin so I am very excited to try this one out!

photo courtesy of Zoya

Tarte Summer 2013 Collection - Aqualillies for Tarte

The summer collection from Tarte might be one of the most anticipated collections of the whole season, this collection was made in combination with the Aqualillies.  The Aqualillies are an all female synchronized swimming group that contains some of the most lovely and talented women in the water today.  Working in the water all the time means that these ladies need makeup that will stay perfectly in place for every practice and performance, regular waterproof makeup might hold up to a day at the beach but will not stay in place during a swimming routine.  It is pretty obvious that a team of synchronized swimmers would need some very high performance and special makeup items to keep their faces on in the water.  Where the need arose...Tarte decided to team with the ladies and make their summer collection based off of makeup products that will create lovely looks but stay in place through all the elements.  And what better season than summer to test out products that will stay in place at the beach, the pool, during a thunderstorm...

 

This collection contains high performance products for every facial features and even a great self tanner to keep the bronze glow alive all summer long.  I already see a palette that I would love to own when looking at the first screen shot of this collection and a new shade in the Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye Liner that I want to add to my collection of shades from this product.  A new lipstick formula is also included with this collection and now I am just so excited to look at every product that Tarte has brought out for the summer months!

The Aqualillies for Tarte collection!

Aqualillies Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette - Make a splash this summer with tarte and the Aqualillies! This limited-edition waterproof palette, inspired by America’s most glamorous synchronized swimming group, includes 6 new eye shadows, bronzer, highlighter, and a limited-edition Amazonian clay 12-hour blush. All show-stopping shades are tucked inside a classically elegant, mirrored compact. See below for shade descriptions.  Each nutrient rich formula inside this palette is infused with Amazonian clay, which is harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun. Amazonian clay universally benefits all skin types for a fade-free, flawless finish that lasts up to 12 hours in shades ranging from soft to vivid to suit a wide variety of skin tones.
- 6 new eye shadows: Hammock (chocolate brown), Bikini (golden peach), Barefoot (golden nude), Parasol (champagne rose), sundeck (light brown), Poolside (turquoise)
- bronzer (park ave princess)
- highlighter (champagne)
- Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in captivating (warm peach)

Aqualillies Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye Liner - Make a splash this summer with a limited-edition version of tarte’s signature Amazonian clay waterproof liner inspired by the Aqualillies! Dare to dip? Get their glamorous “splish splash” waterproof eye look with this powerful, dreamy cream liner in blackest-black- a must for achieving the long-lasting Aqualillies look that holds up against rain, sweat, tears – and even swimming!  The custom designed angle of the limited-edition, double-ended bamboo liner brush allows for the most precise line possible for a sleek or bold splash of color. Whether you’re captivating audiences with a poolside performance, or powering through your busy day, the unique fusion of technologies results in an intense, yet smooth and plush cream black line that will stay in place and last in the water as long as you do.
- Black - pure black

 

Aqualillies Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick - A vivacious coral shade of Tarte glamazon™ Pure Performance 12-hour Lipstick inspired by the Aqualillies.  Make a splash with this vibrant coral hue inspired by America’s most glamorous synchronized swimming group! Aqualillies reinvent the classic art of water ballet and mesmerize audiences with their modern strength and vintage beauty. These true Tartelettes—fearlessly powerful, healthy, real women—are the perfect muses for this high-performance, splash-proof collaboration.  A unique blend of emollient-rich butters (mango, avocado, and shea) and high-performance Amazonian clay is encapsulated in this proprietary natural formula to achieve rich, vivid, and long-wearing color that applies smoothly and won’t fade away. Always hydrating and never drying, this high-cushion lipstick keeps lips moisturized all day long, minimizes the appearance of fine lines, and stops feathering in its tracks to give lips a perfect, plumped-up look. Take a dip into the Aqualillies world with a bold-statement lip thanks to this 12-hour wear, clay-infused lipstick. It’s sure to make waves in and out of the pool!

- Timeless - bright coral cream

 

Park Avenue Princess Bronze and Glow Matte Bronzer and Cheek Tint - An innovative 2-in-1 matte bronzer and cheek tint in park ave princess. Transform into a glowing, bronze goddess with tarte’s new Bronze and Glow™ Matte Bronzer and Cheek Tint.  This innovative 2-in-1 complexion enhancer in tarte’s signature park ave princess shade will give you the perfect balance of a sunkissed bronze and a natural flush. Apply the weightless, mousse bronzer over foundation or smooth onto bare skin for an all-over matte radiance. Using the convenient blush tip, invigorate your complexion by applying the tint directly to cheeks and blending with fingertips for a subtle peachy pink glow. By fusing two products into one, the recyclable component prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, making it the most eco-friendly and convenient bronzer and blush choice for the tartelette on the go.

- Park Avenue Princess - peachy pink cream

 

Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Face and Body Self Tanner with Mitt - A revolutionary maracuja-infused face and body self tanner. Achieve a healthy faux-glow while drenching your skin in moisture. This revolutionary hybrid gel formula, infused with pure maracuja oil, delivers replenishing essential fatty acids along with skin-brightening and youth-preserving vitamin C. tarte’s proprietary PUREshield™ scent-control technology allows for a pleasant, spa-like application that smells unlike any self tanner you’ve tried before. You'll be admiring your newly bronzed bod, your skin will feel and look firmer, brighter and smoother soaking in all of the benefits of maracuja oil.  This perfectly-hued bronze gives skin a sunkissed warmth that never looks fake or orange and thanks to the included perfect application mitt you're guaranteed an easy, clean and streak-free, golden bronze tan every time!  Replenish, rebuild and rejuvenate skin for a youthful and healthy appearance year-round. Unlike other tanners that leave an overpowering unpleasant scent afterwards, tarte’s signature PUREshield™ scent-control technology leaves skin feeling fresh and smelling amazing with a yummy, sweet passion fruit after scent.

 

Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment - Refresh, renew and recharge tired eyes with our eye treatment enriched with C-brighter™ technology. By harnessing the power of maracuja fruit, vitamin C and advanced botanicals, this skintuitive™ eye treatment visibly hydrates, firms and brightens the delicate eye area.  This intense, multi-tasking eye treatment contains rice bran, mango and coconut naturally-rich in antioxidants to fight signs of aging and free radical damage. Oat sugars instantly smooth and visibly tighten skin. The nutrient-rich formula also delivers the ultimate in hydration for smooth, youthful-looking eyes. Ophthalmologist tested.

 

Lights, Camera, Splashes 4-in-1 Waterproof Mascara - Dare to dip? Discover our best selling lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara in a waterproof version. The same lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning benefits you love in the original are in this splash proof version. Get the bombshell lashes you desire, while olive esters condition, treat and protect your lashes.  Our lights, camera, splashes™ 4-in-1 mascara could be considered a push-up bikini for your lashes—a 4-in-1 (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) plus it’s dermatologist- and clinically-proven to increase the appearance of lash volume after applying giving dramatic, thick and sexy lashes and guaranteed to stay put through rain, sweat or tears.

- Black - black

 

I love so many pieces of this collection and Tarte edges closer to being one of my five favorite makeup brands with every passing season and product that I purchase from them!  The palette is still my favorite product from this collection and I would wear the shades contained in it all throughout the summer and then into the cooler weather.  With the exception of the bright robin's egg blue eye shadow shade, all the neutrals will be easy for me to wear and will mix well with other shades that I already own.  I might be inspired to try the blue shade in my crease and mix it with two neutrals, I will report back if this happens to occur and I purchase the palette.  There have been so many great palettes this season and I still expect to see even more over the next two months!

My second favorite piece is the combination bronzer and blush product, I love to wear peachy pink blush shades when I have a fake tan and this will allow me to find both a new bronzer and a new blush shade.  I am bit hesistant about using a gel bronzer as I have only ever used powder bronzers before but I want to try this new type of bronzer out for myself.  The other product that I am very curious about is the other tanner from this collection, I would love to use a self tanner and bronzer from the same company that will layer and blend very nicely.  I would love to see MAC come out with self tanner that were in the same shade range as their best selling bronzers!

I also want some of the basics from this collection, I have already touched on the new shade of the Amazonian Clay Eye Liner and I am actually in the market for a new black eye liner shade.  The other item that I want is the Maracuja Eye Cream, I love the Pure Maracuja Oil and would love to see the results of this ingredient around my eyes. 

The only way that this collection could be improved for me is if the lipstick shade wasn't that bright coral.  I wish that more colors were offered because I would love to have a bright berry or pink hue that will last through the elements.  I guess that I can't have everything...

photo courtesy of Tarte

MAC Art of the Eye Collection

Another collection has been released from MAC this week and this one is focused only on eye makeup, an area of my makeup collection that always has room to grow.  I have been buying more lipstick and lip gloss from this company in the past few weeks and I need to mix it up with something else from MAC.  Late last winter, I went to the counter and managed to behave and buy only the needed eye makeup products and primers but my last visit was all Lipglasses, Lipsticks, and a bottle of Turquatic perfume.  I think that my next visit should include some new eye makeup and perhaps a new liquid black eyeliner since I have officially used the last drop of my tube of Penultimate last week...

From the MAC website, "MAC Art of the Eye is a new Summer 2013 that unveils a luxurious colour collection where eyes are the fascinating focus. From exotic smoky looks to breathtaking, grand celebration statements that dazzle like ornate multicoloured jewels. Two Eye Shadow X 4 palettes in grey/blue and beige/brown blend beautifully in shades including Gentle Fume, Carbon, Shroom, Soft Brown and Najm el Lail. Small Eye Shadow singles add vibrant highlights in Parrot, Gameela, Farasha, Hajar Karim. Lining is legendary – dramatic black Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline sweeps into a wide wing and Liquid Eye Liner’s gel formula creates an elegant edge. Reflects Glitter gilds with golden shimmer. Opulash lavishes lashes with volume and curl.", is the collection description and I am very excited to see some of the new eye makeup that is available online today!

The Art of the Eye Collection!

Eye Shadow x 4: Masil Al Lail - An Eye Shadow Quad in four shades: Carbon, Rondelle, Waft and Gentle Fume. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully.
- Rondelle - platinum silver frost (Matte)
- Gentle Fume - dirty concrete gray with silver pearl (Velvet)
- Waft - deep navy with pearl (Matte)
- Carbon - intense black (Matte)

Eye Shadow x 4: Rimal Dahabia - An Eye Shadow Quad in four shades: Shroom, Soft Brown, Beauty Burst and Najm el Lail. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully.
- Shroom - soft beige with shimmer (Satin)
- Beauty Burst - rich reddist brown (Matte)
- Soft Brown - soft golden peachy brown (Matte)
- Najim el Lail - deep black brown (Matte)

Art of the Eye Eye Shadow - Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well.
- Farasha - bright deep orange (Matte)
- Gameela - deep pink magenta (Satin)
- Parrot - deep aqua blue with bright green (Satin)
- And - blue pearl (Frost)
- Hajar - clean warm green (Matte)
- Banafsaji - deep purple blue (Veluxe Pearl)

Art of the Eye Chromographic Eye Pencil - A creamy, soft-point pencil ideal for use as a liner, or to outline and define designs. Provides a bold, intensely smooth application with a well-defined, pigment-rich line.
- Process Magenta - magenta
- Hi-Def Cyan - bright cyan
- Landscape Green - lush bright green

Art of the Eye Kohl Power Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour power of ultra-soft carbon. Specially formulated to provide deep, fully opaque coverage, provides an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl. Versatile in application: blend or smudge.
- Feline - rich black

Art of the Eye Liquid Eye Liner - A liquid eye liner formula packaged with a unique applicator for precision application. Liquid Eye Liner is the perfect product for lining and defining the eyes. Use it to subtly enhance or create bold lines. Because it's ideal for creating graphic designs anywhere on the face and body, don't limit the use of Liquid Eye Liner to the eye area. The firm, tapered tip of the applicator is easy to control and allows for a quick and precise application of the liner. Liquid Eye Liner is long-wearing, smudge-resistant and can be easily removed with Pro Eye Makeup Remover.
- Boot Black - intense black

Opulash Mascara - Superlative style & state-of-the-art science merge. A new formula in a more saturated intense black with extra-volumization, expansion & curl delivered dramatically with our most bodacious brush yet. Lasts 15 hours!
- Sama - blue
- Bad, Bad Black - black

Art of the Eye Glitter - M·A·C Glitter can be applied directly to the skin or combined with products to create high-level glitter and sparkle effects on all areas of the face, skin and hair. Please note: Glitter is not eye safe and is not recommended for use on this area of the face.
- Reflects Gold - white glitter that reflects gold
- Reflects Antique Gold - sparkling taupe

Fluidline Brow Gel Creme - Long-wearing waterproof gel in a pot for giving precise definition to brows. Applies smoothly, sets quickly for the ultimate well-groomed brow. Fills, lengthens and shapes for subtle to dramatic looks.
- Deep Dark Brunette - rich brunette

False Lashes: 4 Lash - Natural length. Wispy. M·A·C Lashes are handmade to exact specifications. Each pattern and design is perfectly shaped and arranged to give a striking effect, whether the look is natural or dramatic. Available in a variety of shapes and densities. If properly cared for, lashes can be reshaped or adorned if desired.

There are so many items that I think that I need from this collection!  I have never seen this formula of Liquid Eye Liner from MAC and since I actually am out of liquid liner, I can completely justify needing this product and I will be trying it out the next time that I am at the counter.  I have been looking for new formulas on the Sephora website and now this one has come out in front of every other brand that I have checked out so far.  I also must have the Eye Shadow x 4 that I have pictured here, Rimal Dahabia is a great collection of neutral hues that I will use for a long time.  Shroom is almost always sold out at my counter and it is at the point that this might be one of the only ways that I can get my hands on this shade very soon.

I am not really a fan of any of the single Eye Shadow shades, many of them are too bright for me and I am not yet at the point that I can feel confident about pulling off the really bright shadow shades.  Maybe this will change as the weather gets warmer but I am beginning to really doubt it...  That being said, I certainly will not be buying any of the bright eye liners made for this collection.

Many of the liners and the mascara formula are part of the permanent collection so I am not banging down the door to get many of these products, I love Opulash Mascara but don't need another one right now and the same logic goes for the Kohl Power Eye Liner.  I like that MAC included some of the core products in with this collection but I obviously will be grabbing up the palette that I want first and then come back for some of the core products. 

I think that my next MAC counter visit will be all about eye makeup!

photo courtesy of MAC

Guerlain Summer 2013 Collection - Terracotta

Over the past few days, we have been talking about a few new favorite products of mine and now I feel the need to go back to summer collections.  I see that the Guerlain summer collection is now up on the Nordstrom website and I am all about finding a new bronzer or two.  I shudder to think what might happen if my current MAC bronzer runs out and I have to find a new one on a deadline...  I would have to visit Sephora and dig through their bronzer display and need to try each one out on different areas of my hands and body, not a task that I would look forward to.  So this collection is doubly important to me, I know that this company has some of the best bronzers on the beauty product market.

I am really getting ready for summer, I am excited to start buying self tanner again and am checking out bright new nail polish shades that will perfectly offset a tan.  For me, that means bright pinks and aquas (especially for pedicures) and some fun sundresses to match.  I am so excited to started wearing my favorite vintage Lilly Pulitzer sundress and giving myself a matching manicure and pedicure.  With a great bronzer to even out my skintone!

The new collection from Guerlain is called Terracotta and it is all about bronzers and the assorted items that are made to complement bronzed skin.  I am most interested in finding a new bronzer formula but I am open to everything else that is available with this collection!

Here is the newest bronzing collection from Guerlain!

Terracotta Four Seasons Bronzer - As the seasons change from winter through summer, women find that the tone of their complexion and their bronzing needs change as well. From the ultimate authority in bronzing comes Terracotta Four Seasons: a variation in four steps to sculpt your tan all year long. The perfect gradation of caramelized tones, Terracotta Four Seasons features four wonderfully matte shades to blend together to match every desire, skin tone or season for an authentic tan and an incredibly natural result. With endless possibilities for combining and layering, this new powder is essential to sculpt the complexion and reproduce your dream tan to perfection. Its secret to unprecedented luminosity lies in the formula enriched with pure gold that plays within the four tones for a tan that maintains radiance, no matter what the season.
- 00 Nude - pale gold tan
- 02 Natural Blondes - pale gold tan
- 03 Natural Brunettes - light to medium bronze
- 04 Medium Blondes - medium bronze
- 05 Medium Brunettes - medium to deep bronze
- 08 Ebony - deep bronze tan

Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation - Why choose between correction and a healthy glow? Terracotta Skin, the first Guerlain hybrid foundation, perfects the skin with the sheer coverage of a powder. The Terracotta Skin texture is extremely creamy, thanks to a blend of powders and volatile oils combined with an elastomer gel. In just a few seconds, its magical texture melts into the skin to reveal a fabulous complexion radiating health and well-being, as if you've just been on holiday - the unique sensation of bare skin with a matte and velvety finish.
- 01 Blondes - light to medium tan
- 02 Brunettes - medium tan

Terracotta Sun Scrub Tan Enchancing Scrub - Triple-action exfoliation evens tone, softens skin and illuminates. An oily gel formula moisturizes dry skin and leaves a subtle scent of a tropical escape.

Terracotta Makeup Palette for Face and Eyes - The perfect solution to a radiant tan all year round. Set includes two bronzing powders, four eyeshadows and two applicators.
- Eye Shadows - deep charcoal/deep bronze/medium bronze/light bronze
- Bronzing Powders - medium tan and light tan

I love the Four Seasons Bronzer and I hope that this product will be at my favorite local Sephora store, I want to try the shades out before I order it.  The Blondes and Brunettes shades are quite different, the Brunettes are the deeper of the shades however I feel like I need the Blondes since my skin has such pale undertones (even though I have deep brown hair).  Does anyone reading this have any experience with these bronzers and choosing the correct shade?

If I only get the Four Seasons Bronzer from this collection, I will be very happy however I am also very excited about the product that I have pictured with this collection, the Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation.  I would love to have a foundation that compliments my fake tan and gets my skin evened out in one easy step and then I have only to top it off with a bit of bronzer.  This product also is offered in the Blondes and Brunettes shades and again I am confused as to what I should order.  I think that I will need to email Guerlain and ask a few questions if I cannot find these products at Sephora.  The last item that I would like is the palette, I would use all the of the shades in it even though it is not very unique.  Each shade will flatter a tan in the summer months and then I would continue to use it in the fall months. 

I really like the bronze shades in this collection and I will be doing more research to see what shades I should be ordering...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y.

It's official, I have found a new love from the Stella McCartney fragrance line, everyone knows that Stella is my favorite fragrance and now I have found another fragrance for her line that I can wear in the spring and summer months!  Stella McCartney is a favorite designer line of mine and I long for the day when I can own one of her vegan tote bags (and be more vegan myself) and shoes from her wonderful collections.  She is one of my favorite designers (hands down!) and I can't wait to go to her boutique in New York City!

Her newest fragrance is L.I.L.Y. and was named by her father, one of the biggest crushes of my life.  L.I.L.Y. stands for "Linda I Love You" and the name made me melt the first time that I heard it and I knew that this was fragrance that I needed to try.  I decided to order the smallest size of it during the Sephora Friends and Family and I have been using it like crazy over the past few days, this fragrance is worth me buying the massive bottle of very soon.  Let's put it this way...within two days of myself and my co-worker using this fragrance, we used about an eighth of the bottle and I now know that this is fragrance that I need to buy in the largest size possible.  This is the best fragrance that I have tried all spring season and one of my new favorites!

From the Sephora website, "Lily is like nature—vivid and sensual. The contact with nature awakes her sensations and emotions. “It makes me think of my mum. Her nickname from my Dad was Lily. From Linda I love you.” —Stella McCartney"

The notes are: Black Truffles, Black Pepper, Lily of the Valley, Pink Pepper, White Musk, Oak Moss, Patchouli.

This fragrance is a new favorite of mine for spring and summer and it smells like a true English floral on me, not all the musky notes that are described here.  I was originally told that Bluebells were included in with this fragrance but I don't see them in the description, needless to say this is a true English floral on my skin.  I smell the Bluebells and the Lily of the Valley and I fall more in love with it every single time that I wear it, I just can't get enough of this fragrance and I have been using it like crazy.  It is rare that I can see how much I am using in the bottle but in this case I can see the level falling and I know that I need another bottle.

I have talked so much about how I love this fragrance but there is one downfall...  This fragrance doesn't last long enough for me.  To be fair...I spray this fragrance on like crazy and keep spraying as soon as I can't smell it.  I will overlook this aspect since I just love this fragrance.  It is rare that I love a fragrance as much as I love this one and I can't believe that my newest love will allow me to be vegan and still use Stella McCartney in the warm weather.  I don't care ago length of wear...I just LOVE this fragrance. 

Fragrance of spring and summer 2013?!  Found!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Primer

On a daily basis, I use eye shadow primer and then overall face primer so I am always interested in what other kinds of primers are available on the beauty product market.  I have seen lipstick primers, however I have never found a need for this product, a good quality lip stain will function just as well as a lipstick primer and I don't have a need for a priming product underneath a sheer lip gloss or tinted balm.  Ever since I had the realization about the lipstick primer, I have been interested in a mascara primer and I jumped at the chance to order a deluxe sized one from the Sephora VIB program late last holiday season.  This product was included in a set from Tarte that was exclusive to VIBs and this is the place that I first tried the Maracuja Oil (and then fell in love with!) and also received a new mascara.

My goal with this product is to get the same lash look and effects with using less mascara.  I am imagining that I could use a coat of this primer and then one coat of mascara and not need the two or three coats of mascara that I often use.  I will not use this product with multiple coats of mascara as putting more product on will increase the chances of clumping.  There is only so large that I would be able to get my eye lashes until I only begin to get clumps and flakes and I do not plan to get to this state.  I decided to try this product out for two weeks and then decide if it is worth me buying a whole separate product to use in the morning or if I would get the exact same result from two coats of thickening mascara. 

"A one-of-a-kind lash primer that is clinically proven to immediately increase the appearance of lash volume by 739%, while also increasing the appearance of lash length with regular use."

"Prep, prime, and for the first time increase the appearance of lash volume by 739%, while also increasing the appearance of lash length, with multiplEYE™ Natural Lash Enhancing Primer. The groundbreaking, high-performance natural formula combines natural plant waxes and film formers to extend and volumize the appearance of lashes, while the proprietary and clinically proven HydroPlant™ peptide (a soy-amino super protein) helps improve the appearance of lash length and growth. For even more volumized and lengthened lashes, use with multiplEYE clinically proven natural lash enhancing mascara for an incredible 1102% increase in the appearance of lash volume! The precision bristles of the cone-shaped brush separate and evenly coat every last lash, while also delivering conditioning nutrients to stimulate lashes from root to tip. "

"To achieve maximum results, use as a part of the multiplEYE 3-step regimen for naturally enhanced lashes without the prescription or the harmful side effects. This product is free from talc, formaldehyde donors, MEA/ DEA/ TEA, and animal testing."

I have been using this product every time that I put mascara on for two weeks now and I concede that it is a nice product but not a life-changing item.  I used this product every morning on clean, dry lashes and then waited about two minutes to them apply my mascara (the tube did not state a specific time that I should wait before applying mascara so I waited longer then normal just to be safe).  There was a bit of a white substance on my lashes but it mostly dried clear, this is not a product that could be used by itself because of the appearance of my lashes after application.  I am using MAC Opulash Mascara and decided to keep using the same product all throughout trying this primer as I know the results to expect one or more coats of that mascara. 

I don't know where Tarte got the 739% increase in lash volume from, that number makes no sense as a lash that became 700% larger would look totally different.  I think that it actually means that each lash is about 7 times larger after use of the product than before use of the product, a number that makes more sense.  Of course, lashes will be larger with the application of a product made to thicken them, the key is for the lashes to look as thick and lustrous as the wear desires (where the products usually die for me).  One coat of this primer really thickens my lashes and then a coat of mascara on top of it will enhance the effect, however I have found that use of this product is no better than applying two coats of thickening mascara.  I have experienced no increase in lash growth and I think that I would have to use the product for at least four to six weeks before I would notice any difference, if this product was really changing my life with how well it volumized my lashes then I would buy another tube if it and keep up the daily use to see how well it performed in this aspect.  But since I could easily just use two coats of mascara, I see no reason to buy this product again and see if it has anymore benefits.

Face and eye shadow primers really make a difference in my makeup application and durability, this product does little more than a coat of a traditional thickening mascara will do.  This product really didn't do very much for me and therefore I will be skipping over it.  If this is the only product that I do not like from Tarte...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Butter London Summer 2013 Nail Lacquer Collection

One of the collections that I have been the most excited about for the summer months is the new nail lacquer shades from Butter London.  I just ordered the Slapper shade from the Sephora Friends and Family sale and this is my early favorite purchase from the sale.  That shade is actually from last summer's collection however it was sold out all last summer on every website and store that I could find Butter London at.  I was so excited when I saw it available for the Sephora sale and I had it sitting in my cart for a week before the sale started and I held my breath until I placed my order.  It is now sold out yet again and for a good reason...it is one of the best teal shades that I have EVER used and I have used it twice already since it came in late last week.  I don't think that I have been so excited about a nail polish color in the past few years...

That excitement is growing even more now that the Butter London summer shades are available on the Nordstrom website (haven't checked Ulta yet but both of the locations near me can never keep their display looking even halfway stocked) and this is mostly likely where I will order from.  We have six lovely new shades to pick from and I know that I will want at least two or three polishes after looking at this collection!

The Nordstrom website provides all the information that I need to check out this collection, it gives details about the background of the collection and then the shades themselves.  "This season is about being inspired by raw, cultural elements and gilded textures. Mix and match prints and revel in fabrics that are foiled, embossed and authentic. Sultry metallics in platinum, gold and rust evoke luxury, while crushed glitter in rich shades of copper and umber are offset by an accent of African turquoise."  I love metallic silver nail polish shades and I am craving a new copper shade to wear on the hot summer nights...

The unique formula of this polish is described as follows, "What is 3 Free? butter LONDON is a 3 Free company: no formaldehyde, no toluene, no DBP (dibutyl phthalate). This luxury nail lacquer is high-fashion, heavily pigmented and safe. butter LONDON believes in rock 'n' roll. Great Britain. And Fashion."

Here are the newest shades for summer from Butter London!

- Bit Faker - dense copper glitter suspended in a clear base
- Bobby Dazzler - platinum silver
- Champers - deep coppery rose with warm shimmer
- Marbs - bright yellow gold with gold shimmer
- Poole - medium robin's egg blue cream
- Sun Baker - deep coppery orange with copper shimmer

My favorite shade is the bright blue, I have been adding blues and aquas to my collection this whole spring and now I have found another one that I want to purchase.  This isn't the most unique shade since I own a similar shade from China Glaze (For Audrey) and therefore I will not be very disappointed if I do not get a bottle of it.  Champers is a really lovely shade and the one that is the stand out from this collection, I have never seen a shade quite like this before.  This is a unique shade of rose copper and it will work with all the rose gold looks that I have been doing over the past few weeks and will look even better against a tan this summer.  This is the one shade that I must own from this collection.  The last shade that I really like is Bobby Dazzler, I wear silvers very often and I would like to own this shade in the high quality formula from Butter London. 

My nail polish collection is just going to get larger and larger with this season and I still have to deal with the issue of how I will be storing all of these new shades.  My current shades are already over flowing and this will only get worse over the next few weeks...  And we are only through about a quarter of the summer collections yet!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

YSL Summer 2013 Collection - Saharienne Heat

We are heading toward the end of April and now I am only thinking about summer collections, I am done shopping for spring and now have turned my thoughts to self tanners and new tropical fragrances for the warm weather.  The spring weather has finally come and now I can really begin thinking about summer dresses and all the matching items that I will need in the hot weather.  In addition, the end of the semester is right around the corner and this is both scary and exciting to me.  I am in the middle of writing the biggest paper of my grad school career and I have so much more work to do but as soon as I wrap it up...summer is here!  The beauty industry is perfectly attuned to my state of mind and now the summer collections are coming out faster and faster.  Today we are going to look at the newest collection from YSL and see what else I will be adding to my summer shopping list.

This collection is available on the Nordstrom website and I am sure that pieces of it will be able to be found at Sephora in the next few weeks.  I have mostly used mascaras from this collection and another version of Faux Cils is on my radar right now and I am always on the look out for great new mascara formulas and this company has never disappointed me for creating huge, lush lashes.  I have to branch out into this line and see what else I fall in love with! 

The new collection is named Saharienne Heat and contains all kinds of bright hues and great bronzers.  It is inspired by the African desert, a place that I long to visit and go on safari to.  "Between sky and sand, a subtle mix of violet, coral and scintillating bronze glimmer in the twilight of the Saharan Desert. Dazzling sun rays fall upon the YSL woman like a golden caress across her tanned body."  This collection looks as though it will contain both face and body products and I could really broaden my beauty horizons with this collection!

Here is the newest summer collection from YSL!

Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow Palette - Through the magic of water and a revolutionary new process, Yves Saint Laurent pushes the limits of color with Pure Chromatics, a new generation of eyeshadows. Real makeup-artist magic is made easy with six emblematic harmonies that captivate the eyes.  The power of water: Exclusively by Yves Saint Laurent, the new water-process technology is the latest discovery in color, allowing pigments to be more intense and metallic than ever before!  Use wet for a chromatic transformation. Expect the unexpected. Water does not dilute but enhances color pigments in Pure Chromatics. When used wet, the water rehydrates the eyeshadows and gives full intensity to their pigments. The effect is the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream while pearls shine with a metallic finish.
- No 13 - medium rose/light champagne pink/medium lilac/deep plum
- No 20 - medium coppery gold/pale champagne/light tan/deep warm charcoal

Dessin du Regard Waterproof Eye Pencil - The look of a liquid with the precision of a pencil. This exceptional long-lasting waterproof eye pencil will stay put on your lids for up to 16 hours!
- No 10 Violet Massa - deep violet purple

Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Lip Stain - A revolutionary new lip product that combines the texture and shine of a gloss with the long wear of a stain. Coat your lips with this lip color that offers a lightweight texture, which immediately melts onto lips. Glossy Stain delivers intense glossy color for an extremely long-lasting shine.
- 14 Fuchsia Dore - medium magenta cream
- 31 Corrail Alla Prima - medium warm coral cream

Terre Saharienne Bronzing Powder - Terre Saharienne bronzing powder provides an instant healthy glow thanks to the incorporation of the new Sun Radiance pigments. These special-effect pigments capture the light and diffuse a golden reflection in all directions. The complexion is smooth, leaving skin looking refreshed and rested.
- No 10 Terre Ambre - light to medium tan
- No 20 Terre Ocree - medium tan
- No 30 Halee - deep tan

La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer - Yves Saint Laurent introduces the La Laque Couture collection. The vibrant assortment of ultra-shiny hues makes every woman feel couture to the fingertips.
- 14 Violine Surrealistic - deep magenta cream
- 36 Vert d'Orient - deep jade green cream
- 37 Taupe Mauresque - deep taupe cream

This might be one of the first collection that I am more excited about the bronzers than I am the lip and nail products!  I love my MAC Bronzer from last summer but I like to have two shades/formulas because my self tan will change hues throughout the summer.  I have a lighter tan shade right now but I am considering the medium shade for when the tan really develops and this looks like one of the best formulas that I have seen so far, I hope that I can find the product at Sephora and try it out.

My next favorites are part of the color products.  I think that the Pure Chromatics Eye Shadow Palette in No 13 would be the product that I want the most.  I have been looking for lilac and purple eye shadow shades all spring and this palette contains four shades that I love and would use in all different shade combinations.  This might be the last purple shadow purchase that I will have to make this season!  I do like the neutral palette also but I pretty much own all of these shades already and I don't really need to purchase this palette even though I know that I would get a good amount of use from it.  I am not really interested in any of the lip stain shades and I will skip over both of them.  Lastly, I love the two jewel tones in the new polish shades, I want both of them and I want to try this new formula out the next time that I go to Sephora.

I really like this collection and this is a contender for one of my favorites of the season and I am really excited to pick several pieces of it up!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Bath and Body Works Take Me to Italy Body Products

Bath and Body Works is all over the fragrance spectrum this spring, they started with the fabulous Fresh Picked line and then introduced a light, fresh fragrance named Beautiful Day.  Fresh Picked in one of my favorite lines that this company has introduced in the past few years and I can't wait to see if they bring more fragrances out in this collection since I know that I will keep buying these products for years to come.  The newest fragrances in the Signature Collection are very different from every other fragrance that has been introduced in the past few months and it seems a bit out of the blue.  The three new fragrances are all based on Italy and the fragrances that are popular in that country, it is very similar to the three limited edition Paris fragrances that I loved late last summer.  These fragrances may be out of the blue...but I have tried all three and I am loving this new direction for the end of the spring months!

Three new fragrances have been introduced with the Italian theme and new home fragrance products and hand soaps have all been introduced at the same time.  I started with collecting some of the new candles, my favorites are Expresso and Limoncello, and I started picking them up as soon as I could at the end of last month!  I am really pumped to add the soaps and the fragrance body products to my collection, I loved Italy when I went there in high school and some of these fragrances can take me right back to Venice and the Italian countryside.  At the rate we are going, I will be able to visit the whole world by just taking a shower with the right fragrances...

The three new fragrances are: Capri Seaside Citrus, Rome Honeysuckle Amore, and Venice Dolce Berry.  My early favorite is the Capri Seaside Citrus, this is a great citrus scent and it smells like nothing that I already own (a huge feat for any fragrance)!  "Lavishly spray on our sunny seaside fragrance and radiate this sparkling blend of fresh citrus, juicy nectarine & orange flower."  The top notes of the fragrance are: Mediterranean Grapefruit, Sparkling Bergamot, Juicy Nectarine.  The heart notes are: Muguet, Orange Flower, Coconut.  The bottom notes are: Amber Driftwood, Creamy Musks, Whipped Vanilla.  This fragrance is a mixture of citrus, delicate floral notes, and driftwood.  I love this fragrance in the body products, however the Fragrance Mist doesn't work well on my skin chemistry.  This is a great citrus however the driftwood keeps in unique and like nothing else that I have used recently, I will be buying the body products in this fragrance over the weekend.

Rome Honeysuckle Amore is my second favorite of the fragrances, this one is the floral fragrance of the trio and it reminds me of fragrances that I have had in the past from this company.  I had something many years ago and this fragrance is so similar to it, of course I don't even remember the name or the bottle but the scent still sticks with me.  The smell of honeysuckle has been a favorite of mine for years and I was as excited to see this fragrance as I was the Capri Seaside Citrus.  "

Lavishly spray on our glamorous fragrance and radiate our head-over-heels blend of pink honeysuckle, golden peach & cyprus woods."  The top notes are: Italian Peach, Blackberry, Green Mandarin.  The middle notes of the fragrance are: Pink Honeysuckle, White Raspberry, Peony.  The bottom notes are: Golden Amber, Soft Sandalwood, Cypress Wood.  This fragrance starts out with the strong peach note but then quickly goes floral on me.  The amber and sandalwood stay on my skin the longest and mix with the honeysuckle note to make the fragrance last longer than your average honeysuckle mix.  I will be buying the body products in this scent but I found the peach  note to be too strong in the Fragrance mist, I was hoping for a perfume with less fruit and more floral and wood mix.  Any ideas?

 

The last fragrance is my least fragrance of the three, Venice Dolce Berry is very sweet and a gourmand fragrance.  I found this fragrance to be too strong for the summer and I might have liked it better if it was a fall fragrance.  I think this fragrance was introduced at the wrong time of the year and I might revisit it at the end of August (if it is still around).  "Lavishly spray on 'la dolce vita,' the sweet life, and radiate our playful blend of plumberry, frosted magnolia & sandalwood sugar."  The top notes of the fragrance are: Pink Plumberry, Apple Blossom, White Iris.  The middle notes are: Venetian Raspberry, Red Apricot, Frosted Magnolia.  The base notes are: Blackberry Musk, Sandalwood Sugar, Vanilla Biscotti.  This fragrance smells like blackberry and biscotti and will be very popular among those who love sweet fragrances or strong berry scents.  This fragrance is much too strong on my skin, in both the body products and the Fragrance Mist so I will skip over it.  Maybe if this would have been a fall fragrance, I might have different thoughts...

 

This fragrance comes in the traditional Signature Collection Body Product forms: Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, and one new product.  The new product that was released is the Bronze Shimmer Fizz Body Mousse, a product that holds no appeal for me.  "Soak in a faux sun-kisssed glow with our bronze shimmer fizz body mousse, a silky-smooth, body bronzer that leaves skin sparkling with a kiss of color.  Goes on smooth with a fresh, fizzy sensation."  I use self tanner instead of dealing with body bronzers so I would never use this product.  The last product that comes with this collection is a lip gloss that matches each fragrance, I will skip over the lip gloss also and just stick with the body products.

 

Overall, this collection will appeal to ladies with all kinds of tastes, the three fragrances are all very different and everyone will be able to find at least one that they really like.  I love the Capri Seaside Citrus and the Rome Honeysuckle Amore and will buy the body products in both fragrances to wear in the spring and summer months.  Bath and Body Works has released quite a wide variety of fragrances this spring and I am looking forward to what else will be coming out over the next few months! 

 

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Trish McEvoy Summer 2013 Collection - Essential Summer Beauty

I have been looking at some of my favorite makeup brands and their newest collections and now I want to go over to a line that I use very little of but it said to contain some of the best quality makeup items on the high end beauty market.  Trish McEvoy's travel sets and palettes have been called some of the best releases and contain some of the prettiest and most universal shades on the planet.  I really do wish that this line was carried at more department stores and then I had greater access to the product line.  This line is very small but all of the products contained in really improve the appearance of the wearer, especially many of the face products.

The summer collection from this company is also quite small and contains only two items, one for eyes and one for lips.  I have been all over lip products when shopping the summer collections, I have been finding so many more products for lips and nails than any other category.  This is not surprising since these are my two favorite types of products to shop and they are the products that I own the most of.  I have been trying to cut down on my lip gloss shopping as I am really beginning to get some very similar colors but I haven't yet been successful at this feat...

Here is the newest group of items from Trish McEvoy!

Essential Balm - This ultra-light yet moisturizing lip color combines the plush feel and finish of a balm with a cushion of complexion-enhancing, light-reflective color that adds fullness to lips. The jumbo crayon design offers an effortlessly precise application as the hint of mint refreshes.  Plant-derived moisturizers increase hydration and improve barrier function.
- Gorgeous Pink - medium magenta cream
- Gorgeous Coral - medium peach coral cream

Eye Essentials Classic - Look no further than these essential eye collections to perfectly enhance your eyes for day or night. Trish’s intensely pigmented, longest-wearing gel liner in pencil form delivers instant definition while the pocketable palette features a must-have edit for effortless brightening, contouring and defining. Wear each shade singly or mix and match to suit your mood. Finish with Trish’s iconic lash-curling mascara—famously formulated to wrap each lash with water-resistant tubes and never smudge or smear.
- Top Row (from left to right): Eye Definer Espresso, Eye Shadow Ginger, Eye Shadow Shell, Eye Shadow Crystal Snow
- Bottom Row (from left to right): Eye Definer Black, Glaze Eye Shadow Rose Quartz, Eye Shadow Crystal Shell, Eye Shadow Snow

The Eye Essentials Classic would be a great purchase for me this summer, in fact I would be very likely to use this product all year long.  This palette contains a full range of nude shades, along with several black and charcoal hues that I can use as a liner or right on the eyelid.  This is one of those palettes that will create endless looks and has the potential to be the only palette that I would need to take on vacation with me this summer.  I will need to find out more about these shades and this eye shadow formula before I order but there is a very good chance that I will order soon.  I like the pink shade of the lip balm pencil however as I stated earlier in this post, the last thing that I need is another lip product so I will skip over this product and focus my time on the eye shadow palette instead.

photo courtesy of Trish McEvoy

Escada Especially Escada

As you all know, I have been playing with perfume samples all spring and have not had much luck in finding my newest fragrance love for this season.  Lately that seems to have been changing, I liked how unique the fragrance High Line from Bond No 9 is and my newest sample has been the real winner so far.  I have acquired several samples of Especially Escada from past Sephora orders and I have started wearing it twice or three times a week for the past two and my love affair with this fragrance has begun.  I am so happy that I have found a fragrance that I love in the middle of the Sephora Friends and Family and I have already added the rollerball to my cart.  I guess that the second order will be occurring sooner than I thought that it would...

This fragrance I have seen only at Sephora so far and I have never used a fragrance from this company before so I went in completely open-minded and with no idea of what to expect (quality-wise).  I know that this company has had fragrances out before the release of this one but I have never gotten around to trying any of them and since most of them seemed to be tropical fruit-based fragrances, I was never really interested in this line of products.  It seems like all of the bottles looked very similar when I looked at them on the Sephora website and this one looked very different and I am happy to report that this is a fabulous floral that could worn for many different occasions!

"A luxurious and feminine scent, Especially Escada carries a joyful, spontaneous, and glamorous spirit. Inspired by the glistening scent of morning dew on a sparkling rose, Especially Escada says luxury, but in a modern and light-hearted way.  The fragrance opens with a sparkling top note of pear and combines with the exotic notes of ambrette seeds. A luxurious combination of rose and ylang ylang radiates a fresh and natural aura of floral joy and happiness. Light musky notes complete the scent, adding a subtle touch of femininity."

The notes of this fragrance are: Pear, Rose, Ambrette Seeds, Ylang Ylang, Musky Notes.

This is another rose fragrance and it is no wonder that I loved my sample from the moment that I first used it, I wasn't aware of what was in when I used it the first time and I consulted the Sephora IPhone app to determine what notes were in it that was making it work so well for me.  The fragrance does start out with the pear notes, one time it smelled almost citrus on me when I first applied it and then the floral notes begin coming out within the half hour.  The rose note is the strongest on my skin and this note stays on me for the entire wear time of the fragrance.  I get very little of the musk notes at the bottom, this fragrance stays much more of a true rose and the base notes never really develop.  This is fine with me since it keeps it light and fresh enough to wear during any type of weather and many different occasions.  I could wear this fragrance when going out or just as easily for a casual lunch date or the office. 

This fragrance is very similar to Jo Malone's Red Roses and Dior's Dior Addict 2, it is light and fresh and very easy to wear.  I love a good rose scent and this is one of the best that I have tried all spring.  I will order the rollerball first and then I will order the full bottle when I have some more space cleared aside on my dresser, I have a 75% used up bottle of Valentino's Rock and Rose that will not last much past the beginning of the summer and I will have several candidates for a bottle to fill up the space very soon!

photo courtesy of Sephora

NARS Summer 2013 Collection - Summer Shock

Yesterday was a big day in the world, for most people it was Tax Day but it was also a day of several great collection releases in the beauty industry.  I was very excited to see that both Butter London and NARS' newest collections were released late yesterday and are now both available on their company websites.  I don't need to say how much I love both of these companies, I already rave about their products on here as much as I can and am often picking up new items from them.  In fact, I have an untried Butter London polish that just came with my Friends and Family order and I use at least one product from NARS every single day.  What an exciting week for beauty!

We are going to start with the new collection from NARS and then will head over the Butter London website in the next few days.  This collection is available right now on both the NARS and Nordstrom website so I am pulling my information from a combination of the two places. 

The Nordstrom website provides a description of the collection, "The modern face of summer reflects a striking tension in tone – sexy, unexpected glam filtered through futuristic new wave sophistication."  The model for this collection is again Stella Tennant, I do wonder how many collections she will be the face of over the next few seasons.  She is rocking bright eye makeup and very defined cheekbones, two of the looks that I have been seeing in magazines for the past few weeks.  I have been talking about bright eye makeup ever since I started looking at summer collections and am still working on how I want to pull this look off.  The brights in this collection are very bright and I know that these are not the shades that I would be starting off with...

Here is the new collection from NARS!

The Multiple - François Nars' iconic innovation, the original multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. Its unique creamy formula and sheer color blends effortlessly to create shimmering accents; contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones. Apply with fingers: the skin's warmth allows for perfect blending.  Mistake-proof color; quick and easy to apply.  Sheer, natural finish for eyes, cheeks and lips.  Enriched with Vitamin E and açai oil for antioxidant benefits.
- Puerto Vallarta - shimmering tangerine

Duo Eye Shadow - Modern, unique, sometimes unexpected color combinations of eyeshadow shades. Worn alone or together, all Duo Eyeshadow shades feature micro-fine powders that are highly pigmented, longwearing and crease resistant. Color glides on smoothly, evenly and blends effortlessly. The effects can be subtle or smoldering- the options are endless.  True color application.  Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.  Multi-function use for shading, lining and highlighting the eyes.  Fashion-forward shade pairing.
- Fashion Rebel - dandelion/african violet

Shimmer Eye Shadow - Luminous, light-reflecting shades for shading, highlighting and lining eyes. Highly pigmented, longwearing, crease resistant colors that can be applied sheer or layered for more dramatic effects. Color glides on smoothly, evenly and blends effortlessly.  True color application.  Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.  Multi-function use for shading, lining and highlighting the eyes.  Sophisticated, luminous shades.
- Euphrate - frosted mint steel

Larger Than Life Long Wear Eye Pencil - Defined. Dramatic. Intense. NARS' Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner takes liner to the next level. Rich, creamy color that glides on smoothly with a completely budgeproof finish. Incomparable 12-hour wear with no smearing and no caking. Nine deeply dramatic shades named for the most iconic streets in the world.
- Barrow Street - mint green

Larger Than Life Lip Gloss - Outrageously lustrous color meets high-impact shine. Dramatic, stay-in-place shades glide on smoothly and evenly for lips that are more luminous and voluminous than ever before.  High-shine, high-impact finish gives a dramatic effect.  Long-lasting, stay-in-place wear.  Infused with ingredients to nourish and fight free radicals while natural lip enhancers pump up volume.  Shorter-bristle brush delivers the most precise application possible.
- Paris Follies - pink flamingo

Satin Lipstick - A lustrous, long-wearing lipstick infused with conditioners to provide comfortable wear and sumptuously silky color.  Smooth, ultra comfortable wear.  Sophisticated shade range.  Patented blend of conditioners and antioxidants that hydrate, nourish and protect lips.
- Tolede - pink rose

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design. Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish. The long-lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours. Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product.  Enriched with Vitamin E.  Convenient, easy application.
- Tender Night - iridescent lilac

Opaque Nail Polish - Fashion-forward and classic NARS Nail Polish shades impart incredible luster and prolonged gloss retention with UV protection to prevent polish discoloration. An advanced polymer system provides extended wear and a durable, chip-resistant finish.  Modern, iconic shades.  Long-wearing, chip-resistant.  Toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free.  Ships via ground only.
- Madness - electric orange crush

Stick Concealer - A unique yellow-toned shade to instantly correct redness. With a few gentle strokes, this quick-fix tool camouflages redness to create a more even-toned complexion. Crease-proof and easily blendable for a flawless finish. Use alone or with additional NARS concealers. Ideal for touch-ups throughout the day.  Long-wearing.  Enriched with moisturizing Vitamin E.  Crease-proof.  Paraben-free.
- Pear - pale yellow (correcting shade for light to medium skin tones)

Light Optimizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15 - Primed. Revived. Radiant.NARS Light Optimizing Primer SPF 15 dramatically extends and transforms the appearance and vibrancy of makeup. Weightless and oil-free, it minimizes signs of fatigue to leave the skin luminous and revived. May also be worn alone as daily sun protection and/or to create a natural luminous complexion.  Dermatologist Tested.  Oil-free. Paraben-free. Alcohol-free. Synthetic fragrance-free.  Non-comedogenic.

I have already seen several pictures of this shade of the Eye Shadow Duo in magazines for the past month, this is supposed to be one of the best choices for colorful eye makeup for the late spring and the rest of the summer months.  This would be better for someone who is already used to applying and wearing colorful eye makeup, it is really just too much for me to start out with and I will be skipping over it this season.  I also have the exact same feelings for the mint green eye liner, again just too much for me right now.  The Single Eye Shadow from this collection is a bit more to my liking, this frosted mint green silver is much more wearable and I can mix it will all shades of silvers and platinums on my eyes, I am looking forward to finding this product at Sephora.

The lip products are what I am most excited about in this collection, this really seems to be the trend for me since the beginning of the spring collections and I foresee it remaining the trend for the rest of the summer collections too.  I love the Larger Than Life Lip Gloss shade, this bright pink will be perfect against pale skin or a tan and I could see myself wearing this shade long after the end of the summer.  The Lipstick is on my shopping list too, this is a second great pink for the summer and yet another shade that I would wear all throughout the year.  The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil shade might be hard for me to pull off, I love this product so I want it to work for me but this is an overall hard to pull off shade. 

The last product that I am really interested in is the new primer formula from this company, I love their eye shadow primer and I want to see if their face primers are the same high quality.  I am disappointed that it only has an SPF of 15, this is simply not enough protection for the summer months and I will need to use a separate product and risk the products beginning to cake in the warm weather.  I might have to put off this primer until fall since I need at least SPF 30 for the sunnier months.

I really do like the new collection and I can see how it will be one of the top rated collections for summer, the looks that these new products will create are right on trend but just may be on the harder side for many women to pull off...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom