Urban Decay Spring 2014 Collection - The Naked Collection

Urban Decay was one of the first brands to bring out their spring collection however I haven't gotten a chance to really check it out until I visited Sephora earlier today.  I had seen pictures of it online but it wasn't released to the stores right away and today was one of the first days that the weather co-operated enough for me to head out to the mall.  My goal was to check this collection out today and swatch a couple of the products while I start deciding what types of products I will be picking up for the upcoming spring months.  I am well stocked right now on skincare and am still loving the Bobbi Brown foundation that I tested out last month.

Urban Decay has often brought out more than one new collection each season so there is a good chance that we will be seeing more from this brand in the next few months.  The collection that we are looking today is called the Naked Collection.  The first piece of this collection actually came out several months ago with the release of the Naked 3 eye shadow palette.  I remarked in my review of that product that it was perfect for spring and summer and I put it away after I finished writing up my review of it.  Urban Decay brought out their first Naked Eye Shadow Palette in 2010 and they have been growing the collection ever since.  I have purchased a lot of the items from that line and I am sure that I will picking up more from this collection along with pulling out the Naked 3 palette once spring arrives.

The Urban Decay Naked Collection!

Naked Skin Beauty Balm - A five-in-one beauty balm that minimizes the appearance of pores, lines, wrinkles, and redness instantly for skin that looks firmer in eight weeks.  Blur flaws in seconds and get serious anti-aging benefits in just eight weeks.  This lightweight, velvety, oil-free miracle works instantly and over the long term.  Naked Skin Beauty Balm is invisible on your skin (zero rub-off): the universal shade glides on and dries down to a translucent flawless finish that works on most skintones.  While many beauty balms are tinted to provide coverage, Naked Skin diffuse light with high-tech pigments to give you amazing, natural, naked-looking skin that keeps getting better every week.  Unlike a lot of beauty balms, Naked Skin delivers measurable anti-aging benefits - and the claims prove it.  This product is now available in three shades: Light, Medium, and Dark.

Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Powder - Finely milled, this lightweight loose powder is designed to blur away imperfections, setting the foundation and concealer without creasing.  As with the Beauty Balm, it also provides a demi-matte finish so it doesn't look heavy or cakey.  Available in five shades to suit a range of skintones.

Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss - A nourishing balm and high-shine gloss in the one tube, containing vitamins and Shea Butter, the Naked Glosses provide a subtle color while complementing a range of looks.  With its creamy texture and high-shine finish, Naked Lip Gloss is the perfect gloss to complement a UD smoky eye.  It not only makes your lips dangerously kissable but also feels so luxe that you'll want to keep applying it all day (even when you don't have to).
- Beso - deep mauve pink
- Freestyle - brown-nude with subtle micro-shimmer
- Liar - soft mauve pink
- Lovechild - medium pink
- Naked - nude-pink with a pearly pink shift
- Nooner - light neutral nude
- Rule 34 - medium brown nude
- Streak - coral peach
- Walk of Shame - pale nude pink with subtle micro-shimmer

I am really excited for this new collection and I think this is my favorite collection so far this spring.  I know that I will be buying the Light shade in the BB Cream for summer, I have used the "universal" shade in the past (the new Medium shade" and I always found it to be a touch too dark for my skintone (even with self tanner and bronzer).  I can't wait to try that product out for the summer and I will be ordering this one very soon.  I am putting the loose powder on the backburner for the moment, I don't need a loose powder and it always takes me a long time to finish up a powder so I don't need to order this one anytime soon.  I would be open to this formula once I need a new powder and I will probably try this one out in the next few months.

My favorite item in this new collection are the lip glosses.  I still have some of the two previous formulas of lip glosses from this company in my collection and I am really excited to try this new one out.  My Sephora had the testers out of these glosses however most of the display was sold through and I was only able to grab one of the shades that I really wanted.  Naked was my favorite lip gloss shade in the previous gloss formula and a shade that I also own in their lipstick, this is my perfect nude and I was excited to see that this one was still in stock at my Sephora.  I will be ordering a few other shades online and I already have Beso, Liar, and Lovechild on my shopping.

Urban Decay is often known for creating cutting edge, bold collections and I really like this type of different offering from them.  I think this will be one of their best selling collections as this is a very wearable and universal series of shades and products and I hope all of these products are part of their permanent collection!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Fitness Friday - Eagle Yoga Pose

My fitness focus has been on adding more workouts to my weekly gym routine and I have found that I have a lot more work to do in the leg and core strengths areas.  One of the best ways for me to grow strength in certain areas is by adding new yoga moves to my practice and then adapting them into my gym workouts.  One of my least favorite yoga poses is Eagle pose, a pose that I have struggled in my before due to lacking strength in the above-mentioned areas.  

When I first started working lunges into my leg day routine, one of the first things that this exercise reminded me of was Eagle pose.  In both the pose and exercise, core strength is needed for stability and leg strength is also needed.  I will be forcing myself to work this yoga move into each and every one of my upcoming Vinyasa sessions in the hopes that I can grow my strength in both of these areas.

The steps for a proper Eagle pose...

- Stand in Tadasana.  Bend your knees slightly, lift your left foot up and, balancing on your right foot, cross your left thigh over the right.  Point your left toes toward the floor, press the foot back, and then hook the top of the foot behind the lower right calf.  Balance on the right foot.

- Stretch your arms straight forward, parallel to the floor, and spread your scapulas wide across the back of your torso  Cross the arms in front of your torso so that the right arm is above the left, then bend your elbows.  Snug the right elbow into the crook of the left, and raise the forearms perpendicular to the floor.  The backs of your hands should be facing the floor.

- Press the right hand to the right and the left hand to the left,  so that the palms are now facing each other.  The thumb of the right hand should pass in front of the little finger of the left.  Now pass the palms together (as much as is possible for you), lift your elbows up, and stretch the fingers toward the ceiling.

- Stay for 15 to 30 seconds, then unwind the legs and arms and stand in Tadasana again.  Repeat for the same length of time with the arms and legs reversed.

I have seen my yoga teachers do squats in this position but that is definitely a goal for once I have conquered this pose.  I will start by working Eagle into my Vinyasa routines and continue to add more reps to my lunges with leg day!

photo courtesy of Yoga Journal

Brand Spotlight 2014 - Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment

I am starting my Brand Spotlight products of this month with the eye cream that I have been lovng for the past few weeks.  I made a large Kiehl's order early last month and I have been testing all new skincare products to review this month.  I really do love trying and reviewing new skincare products and my skin has been improving over the past few weeks with use all of the new Kiehl's items.  I have decided to start with the Creamy Eye Treatment as I started using this product a few days before any others.  I know that opinion is divided as to the overall need for a separate eye cream but I do enjoy using a separate product to help hydrate this delicate undereye skin and to help reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

"This nourishing under eye cream offers creamy hydration suitable for all skin types.  Gently moisturizes the delicate under-eye area.  Uniquely concentrated formula does not migrate into the eyes.  Infused with efficacious ingredients including Beta-Carotene, Shea Butter, and Avocado Oil.  Ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested for safety.  For all skin types, including sensitive.  Our top-rated eye cream beloved by Kiehl's customers.", states the Kiehl's website.

The Kiehl's website provides more details on the three key ingredients contined in the Creamy Eye Treatment.

Avocado Oil - Derived from the beloved Avocado Fruit, Avocado Oil has a rich, emollient texture and contains a balance of lipids including omega essential fatty acids.  Within our formula, Avocado Oil is known to moisturize, nourish, and soften skin.

Beta-Carotene - Beta-Carotene is a naturally-derived antioxidant predominantly found in many orange and red vegetables such as carrots.  It is used in Vitamin A production and can give an orange tint when used in skincare products.

Shea Butter - Shea Butter is the natural fat obtained from the fruit of the African Karate tree and is widely used in lotions and cleansing products.  Within our formulas, Shea Butter is known to help defend dehydration, restore suppleness, and improve the appearance of dry skin.

This product can be used day and night and is designed for the undereye area.  I started by using this at both times during the day but I quickly decided that this cream is too thick to use before undereye concealer.  The texture of the Cream Eye Treatment is a very thick, rich cream and needs to be warmed up before application.  I tried to use this product dotted right onto my undereye area and then pat it in but it wasn't fully absorbing when I tried to use in this manner.  After a few applications, I found that I have to get it onto the pad of my ring finger and then rub both of my ring fingers together until I melt the product down.  Once I melt it down, I can easily apply it to the undereye area and it will absorb in quickly.  I found several reviews on this products and nearly everyone recommends using it in this manner.

I love the hydrating properties of this eye cream and I would recommend it to anyone with a dry under eye area.  I am glad that I tried it in the winter months as I am not sure if this would be too heavy in the summer months.  This is a great night eye cream and a great introduction to the Kiehl's brand.  I love that the ingredients in this product are more natural and I can see how this is one of the best selling products that Kiehl's carries.

I have more work to do with the rest of the products that I ordered from this company but this eye cream was a great introduction to the brand and I am looking forward to working more with the rest of my order.

photo courtesy of Kiehl's

Bath and Body Works Mad About You

Valentine's Day is in the air and nearly every beauty product line is releasing something special to celebrate this time of the year and I can't even be too much of a Grumpy Cat this year.  My personal mission is to find a great new fragrance to match the dress that I have picked out for the big day and I am starting right now with testing and searching out new blends.  I still have more than a week to find a new perfume but it has been snowing almost every week since the beginning of December and more than shopping trip has been cancelled due to weather over the past two months.  Let's see if this trend continues for the rest of the month...at the rate that the snow is coming down, we might be able to celebrate Valentine's Day by the beginning of March.

Last month, Bath and Body Works releases three new fragrances for the beginning of spring and I am eagerly looking forward to pulling out my Sky body products once the snow begins to melt.  This isn't what I had in mind for Valentine's Day though so I will be keeping it in the bag for the next few weeks.  I want a pretty, girly floral scent for Valentine's Day and maybe something with roses or peonies as a heart note.  I do see that Bath and Body Works released a new scent at the beginning of this week and this is one that I considered for my Valentine's Day fragrance.  Mad About You even sounds like the perfect date night perfume...

I was first attracted to this fragrance because of the beautiful bottle of the Eau de Toilette but the fragrance inside just wasn't for me.  "A love-struck pairing of soft peonies & black currant kissed with creamy vanilla musk.", states the Bath and Body Works website.  The top notes of the perfume are:  Black Currant, Luscious Strawberry, Sparkling Cassis.  The middle notes are: Ginger Lily, Bright Peony, Pink Jasmine.  The base notes are: Amber Wood, White Patchouli, Vanilla Musk.

This fragrance starts out all berry on me, its too sweet and berry notes often do not work well with my skin chemistry.  I tried to get through this phase of the fragrance and hope that it works better once the floral notes start to come out.  The peony note is too faint for me, the Black Currant and Cassis overpower all of the floral notes and keep this fragrance more berry than floral.  Berry notes sour on me and this one quickly follows that same path, the sweet notes quickly go sour and the whole fragrance is then just bad.  It reminds me of exactly the way that the Juicy fragrances react on me and why I tend to stay away from them. 

The EDT was very strong and lasted through a shower on me so I would give this fragrance full marks for staying power.  I tried the Lotion on my hand but this form was no better on me.  It had too much berry for me and soured within a few minutes of application.  This fragrance was a dud in all forms for me.  Such a shame since the bottle of just so pretty...

Mad About You is available in all the traditional Signature Collection forms along with the new Diamond Shimmer and a Whipped Shimmer Mousse that debuted sometime in the last holiday season.  The following forms can be found in this fragrance: Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Body Scrub, Luxury Bubble Bath, and EDT.  The two shimmer forms are relatively newer and would be great choices for going out.

The Diamond Shimmer Mist is the newest version of a shimmer mist from this company.  I do not believe that any of the old ones are available so I assume that this is the new shimmer line.  "Dazzle with Diamonds! Infused with real diamond dust, our luxurious Diamond Shimmer Mist kisses skin with irresistible fragrance and gorgeous sparkle.", is the product description available on the company's website.  I wonder how much diamond dust is actually found in this product...

This is a nice fragrance for those for those who can wear berry notes, I can't and this ruins the whole fragrance for me.  I was hoping for something more floral and I know that I am going to have to keep searching for a new fragrance for the holiday or wear a current favorite in my collection (if the snow keeps me home the way that it has been).

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers

Yesterday we looked at the green half of A Fantasy of Flowers, this collection is off to a great start for me and I couldn't wait to start blogging again today and to look at the pink part of this collection.  From the green part of the collection, I was most excited by the Fluidline shade and both of the Mineralize Eye Shadow quads and I am hoping that the pink part of the collection will contain more lip and nail hues that I will want to buy for this spring.  I have been all about the pinks the past few springs and I will start wearing pinks in the beginning of February and then all way throughout the spring and summer.  My pink shades have been getting a workout over the past few springs and I always want to find more great pinks for this spring and summer.  I will start wearing my favorite pink lip and nail shades within the next few days and I will be all about bright pinks for Valentine's Day too.

I have said it earlier in the season and I will say it again here because I am pink shopping again.  My dress for Valentine's Day is black with little white polka dots and I want to do all my makeup in hues of pink.  I might start shopping for some pink jewelry while I am on the pink bandwagon...

"A dream world bursting with brilliant blooms of colour. A stunning bouquet of shades draws you in with hypnotic movement as a magical fantasy emerges glowing with a floral essence. Rose-coloured hues burst from lustrous Lipstick, while a heavenly hybrid of Mineralize Eye Shadows blossoms with natural splendour. Cheeks are kissed with the graceful glow of Mineralize Blush, and vivid pops of colour flourish as Fluidline and Nail Lacquer bring this flowery fantasia to life.", states the MAC website when describing the pink part of A Fantasy of Flowers.

The second part of the collection!

Mineralize Eye Shadow - Four coordinating Eye Shadow shades baked together in a single pinwheel pan. A brilliant way to experience Mineralize's unique properties: remarkably blendable pre-coordinated colours, sheer lightweight application, a pearlized finish with a soft shimmer.
- Pink Sensibilities - pinky brown/chocolate brown/yellow pink/icy blue pink
- Great Beyond - deep blue/dusky plum/icy white lilac/soft mauve brown

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. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product.
- Pink Pearl - shimmery lavender pink
- Violet - vivid bright violet purple

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.
- Phlox Garden - vivid violet

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Rose Lily - sheer pastel pink
- Snapdragon - midtone blue pink
- Heavenly Hybrid - midtone berry

Cremesheen Glass - A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own.
- Pagoda - frosted cool pink
- Playful Petal - electric magenta
- Galaxy Rose - midtone violet pink

Mineralize Blush - Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
- Azalea in the Afternoon - midtone blue pink

Mineralize Skinfinish - A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.
- Stereo Rose - coral with golden/bronze shimmering nuances

Nail Lacquer - Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer!
- Saint Germain - light cool pink
- Girl Trouble - super glitter pink

286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush - With its soft dome shape, this two-toned, duo-fibre brush of goat and synthetic fibres provides a sheer, more controlled application of M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow.

159 Duo Fibre Brush - A small rounded, double-chiseled paddle-shaped blush brush for the smooth, refined application of powder to shade, blush and highlight the face. Made from a soft blend of natural and synthetic fibres.

187 Duo Fibre Face Brush - A large full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

This collection is exactly what I thought it would be, I am all over the lip products in this collection and not quite as excited about the eye makeup shades.  All the lip shades are very cool toned and will not work well for many people but they are perfect for me and I have a list of ones that I will want to order.  Rose Lily and Snapdragon are my two favorites in the Lipstick shades, one of these is a pale pink and the other is a medium bubble gum pink shade.  I want every shade of the Cremesheen Glasses in this collection, I will start with the berry toned shade in the winter and then wear the pinks as the spring begins. 

I am on the fence with the bright violet Fluidline, I would either really love it or really hate it.  I am bordering on trying it out since I loved a lilac cream eye shadow from Illamasqua last spring and I am looking forward to wearing it again this spring.  I will have to head to the counter for this product and get the thoughts of the MAC makeup artists on this product.  While we are on the topic of eye makeup, the only eye shadow quad that I would like is the Pink Sensibilities, it contains neutrals and pinks and will work very well with many of the eye makeup shades that I already own.

The Nail Lacquers are my last love of this collection, I must have both of the new shades and I will want to order them right away and start wearing them as soon as they come in.  These are both great pinks and I need to add both to my polish collection.  Nothing else really grabs me in this collection but that is ok since I already have a huge shopping list of items to begin with. 

I still wonder if we are going to be seeing another huge collection from MAC within a month but I think that I will have lots of shopping to do while I am waiting to see what else is on the way from this company!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers

It is very beginning of February and I cannot say how excited I am for this month to be coming to an end; in the past few past, my area in Pennsylvania has received more snow than the whole previous winter and has had only a few days that have climbed over 20 degrees.  Spring will be much appreciated this year than it has for the past few years and I am really looking forward to begin spring shopping for everything from makeup to shoes.  MAC has been releasing a few small collections ever since the day after Christmas and now their huge spring release has just been put up on the website.

I am unsure if this is the big release for spring and will take the place of the collection that always comes out in the first two weeks of February or if another collection is coming our way very soon.  The big February release is often a favorite collection on mine in years past (Hello Kitty, Archie's Girls, Wonder Woman) and I would love for A Fantasy of Flowers to join these collections in my heart and makeup case.  I think this is going to be a great spring shopping season...

The MAC website divides A Fantasy of Flowers into two parts of the collection, it appears that one contains beautiful green shades and the other one is a series of lovely pink hues.  We are going to start with the green collection because that is the one that is working correctly right now.  The MAC website must be very popular right now because the pink collection is crashing when I try to open it up and we will go with the green collection while it works!

"A glorious garden of irresistible shades unfolds, its hidden pleasures unearthed as delicate pastel Pigments unfurl and the dewy sparkle of Cremesheen Glass casts a luminous gleam. Rose-coloured hues burst from lustrous Lipstick, while a heavenly hybrid of Mineralize Eye Shadows blossoms with natural splendour. Cheeks are kissed with the graceful glow of Mineralize Blush, and vivid pops of colour flourish as Fluidline and Nail Lacquer bring this flowery fantasia to life."

Here is the green part of A Fantasy of Flowers!

Mineralize Eye Shadow - Four coordinating Eye Shadow shades baked together in a single pinwheel pan. A brilliant way to experience Mineralize's unique properties: remarkably blendable pre-coordinated colours, sheer lightweight application, a pearlized finish with a soft shimmer.
- In The Meadow - icy shimmering white/dirty olive green/golden mint green/pale yellow
- Golden Hours - copper bronze/golden brown/soft golden peach/pale yellow gold

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. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product.
- Chartreuse Bouquet - shimmering acid green
- Lily-white - pale butter yellow shimmer

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.
- Sassy Moss - vivid green

Haute and Naughty Lash - A two-in-one mascara that lets you choose if you want lashes to be naturally defined, or instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. Easy to use dual-wiper system allows this lightweight formula to go on either way. One wiper refines the application for a clean sweep, while the other loads the lashes for greater impact.
- Haute and Naughty Black - black

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.
- Fleur d'Coral - pale creamy peach
- Naked Bud - neutral sheer nude
- Dreaming Dahlia - sheer red coral

Cremesheen Glass - A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own.
- Nectarsweet - soft pink peach
- Flare for Fantasy - midtone pink beige
- Star Quality - bright orange coral

Mineralize Blush - Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
- Petal Power - coral pink with gold shimmer

Mineralize Skinfinish - A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.
- Perfect Topping - pale pearlized pink

Nail Lacquer - Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer!
- Pep Pep Pep - light peach nude
- Soiree - sparkly light bronze gold

187 Duo Fibre Face Brush - A large full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Blush - With its soft dome shape, this two-toned, duo-fibre brush of goat and synthetic fibres provides a sheer, more controlled application of M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow.

159 Duo Fibre Brush - A small rounded, double-chiseled paddle-shaped blush brush for the smooth, refined application of powder to shade, blush and highlight the face. Made from a soft blend of natural and synthetic fibres.

I am so excited for the bright green Fluidline in this collection, I have never seen a shade of cream eye liner like this before and this is my favorite piece of this part of the collection!  I am not sure how much wear I would really get from this color but I know that it will be fun for going out at night in the warm weather months.  I hope that this color does not sell out right away and that I can get my hands on it.  While we are looking at the eye makeup, I want both of the Mineralize Eye Shadow quads; I will wear the bronze and gold quad immediately and then all throughout the rest of the year.  I will hold off on breaking out the green one until the spring comes but I think that it is my favorite of the two quads.

As with most of the other MAC collections, the lip products get me very excited and I will need to add more than one or two shades to my collection.  Starting with the Lipstick shades, Naked Bud is my first choice for a nude look against strong eye makeup (like that green Fluidline) or for a natural look on the weekends.  I am even more excited to see that the Lipglass formula included with this collection is the Cremesheen formula, I have been a huge fan of this formula since I first tried it out and I am excited to add yet another one to collection.  My favorite shade from these new shades is Flare for Fantasy, this pink beige is perfect for me and I would wear it all the time and with all kinds of makeup looks. 

Rounding out the rest of the collection...  I want the Nail Lacquer in Soiree and the Mineralize Blush in the new pink shade in this collection.  I see that I have a lot of shopping to do from this first part of the collection and I am really excited to see what the rest of the collection holds.

Onto the pink part of this collection!

photo courtesy of MAC

Brand Spotlight February 2014: Kiehl's

I started my Brand Spotlight series with a very popular makeup company last month and this month I will be focusing on a skincare brand.  I first started reading about the Kiehl's brand in Allure several years ago and I have been interested in trying their skincare products ever since.  This is one of the oldest skincare companies that I am aware of and it reminded me of what I used to love about the C.O. Bigelow skincare line.  That company has discontinued tons of their products and I have been looking for another line to fill the void, I fully believe that products from this line will be among my new favorites and I see myself ordering a good amount from this brand.

I had to order all of my products from the Kiehl's website, they are not carried at Sephora or Ulta and the closest store to me is over an hour away.  I made one huge order from them several weeks ago and I would love to visit one of their stores in the coming months.  I ordered a whole range of skincare products and a hydrating lip balm and I decided that winter would be the best time for me to put many of these new products to the test.  I think that is the reason that I didn't want any new skincare in my Most Wanted for this month...

Here is a brief history of this brand...

In 1851, the original Kiehl's apothecary opened at the corner of Thirteenth St and Third Avenue in New York City.  Then in 1894, John Kiehl completed his training as a pharmacist and began operations under the name "Kiehl Pharmacy", growing the business and expanding on the Kiehl's name.  The business grew the most in the early 1920s, the business was taken over by John Kiehl's apprentice and he then turned the apothecary into a full service pharmacy.  In 1921, the first-ever Kiehl's brand product was introduced.  This product is the Original Musk Oil, a product that is now considered the brand's signature fragrance.  This is also the when the brand started to grow it's customer service skills and became known for their great products and one-on-one apothecary customer service.

In 1924, Kiehl's became the first company to list the ingredients of their products right on the label, this practice soon became commonplace and grew the level of transparency needed in the cosmetics industry.  The next period of big growth for this company started in 1962, this is the year that many of the best selling products for this brand were introduced.  I have ordered and used several of these best selling products and I look forward to trying even more of them.

photo courtesy of Google

Most Wanted February 2014

February is one of my favorite months for beauty product shopping, the spring collections are quickly dropping and I am ready to start grabbing all the new releases.  I am ready for some new fragrances and makeup products and my Most Wanted List is full of both types of products, I was a bit surprised that I wasn't craving any new skincare products this month but I have a pretty solid routine right now and I am not really looking to change things until the weather starts to warm up.

I am probably the most excited for the new MAC releases that are coming, the newest collection is called A Fantasy of Flowers and has my name written all over it.  I am so excited to add more pink lip shades to my collection and I have a very good idea of what my shopping over the next few months will look like.

My Most Wanted for the month...

- Bobbi Brown Longwear Eye Base
- Chloe Roses de Chloe
- Elizabeth and James Nirvana White
- OPI Nail Lacquer in Amazon...Amazoff
- Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria
- MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Lipstick in Snapdragon
- MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Cremesheen Glass in Flare of Fantasy
- MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Cremesheen Glass in Playful Petal
- MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Fluidline in Sassy Moss

It appears I have a very large trip to the MAC counter in my future...

Fitness Friday - Walking Lunges

One of my goals for Winter Break was to expand my workouts and improve on my leg day moves.  I started with learning and perfecting traditional lunges and now I am moving on to learning Walking Lunges.  I have seen people doing this move all over my gym for the past few months and they have paired this move with weights to help grow upper body strength, I would love to be able to work some minimal lifting into my leg days and see how it improves my back and shoulders.

Walking Lunges are considered to be a "basic lunge with a boost", as stated by the Pop Sugar Fitness website.  They also state that this move works your glutes, hamstrings, and quads plus it helps to stretch your hip flexors.  I tried this move a few times before at the gym and I really need to work on my balance before doing Walking Lunges when there is more than five people present during my workout...

Pop Sugar Fitness also provides a step by step How To for this move...

- Stand upright, feet together, and take a controlled step forward with your right leg, lowering your hips toward the floor by bending both knees to 90-degree angles.  The back knee should point toward but not touch the ground, and your front knee should be directly over the ankle.

- Press your right heel into the ground, and push off with your left foot to bring your left leg forward, stepping with control into a lunge on the other side.  This completes two reps.

- Do three sets of 20 reps each.

This move helps to slim down the legs and build lean muscle, it also helps to increase mobility and overall hip function.  The article states that you can add light weights to increase the difficulty of the moves and I will need to improve my balance before I can try to add weights.

Walking Lunges are my newest workout challenge and I will be adding these into my upcoming leg days!

photo courtesy of Pop Sugar Fitness

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna

Last year was the year of Rihanna for MAC, there were several sell out collections that featured her and the colors that she loves to wear.  I loved the Ruby Woo shade that was given a makeover just for her and now I see that this year will be another year of MAC and Rihanna.  MAC has just released the latest in their acclaimed Viva Glam collection.  Viva Glam is one of their most consistent best sellers and one that often sells out within hours of the initial release.  My favorites in the past have included the Lady Gaga and Fergie collections and I see that this year we will have Rihanna as our spokesperson for this great cause.

This small collection is now available on the MAC and Nordstrom websites and I am sure that several more department stores will pick this collection up within the next week or two.  "Rihanna launches our new M∙A∙C VIVA GLAM with two strikingly bold shades of red frosted Lipstick and Lipglass, perfectly capturing her fearless, confident style. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Rihanna goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature."  I see that Rihanna has released yet another red shade with her name on it...

I love red lipsticks and especially MAC red lipsticks so I am all about this collection even though I have not been a huge fan of the previous Rihanna and MAC collaborations.  This collection introduces the new shade in both the Lipstick and the Lipglass and I bet that I will want both of them if I like the shade.

Viva Glam Rihanna...

Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick - Rihanna's blue-red with frost finish. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature. Pro discount is not applicable.
- Viva Glam Rihanna - frosty blue red

Viva Glam Rihanna Tinted Lipglass - Rihanna's frost blue-red in M∙A∙C's much loved Lipglass formula. Wear it alone or with a Lipstick. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi's signature. Pro discount is not applicable.
- Viva Glam Rihanna - frosty blue red

I do need to see how frosty these shades really are, they could be great new red shades for me or be way too shimmery for my taste. I am interested in a frosty red from MAC as I have several Mattes and Satins from this line already and this would be a big change for my red lipstick/lip gloss collection.  I am thinking that I would be able to pull off this Lipglass even if I don't like the Lipstick when I try it out.

I wonder how many more collaborations we will have with Rihanna for the next few months...

photo courtesy of MAC

LUSH Honey I Washed The Kids Bar Soap

Late winter is the time of the years when my skin is the driest and I have found that I benefit from swapping out my Bath and Body Works Shower Gels for more gentle bar soap formulas.  This always means that I need to have a decent-sized LUSH order made well before the end of December.  This usually presents no problems as I order from them in late fall once their Christmas collection releases and then I often order again right after Christmas so that I can grab up some last items from their big sale.  This time around, I decided to order a combination of holiday products and a few of the best sellers that I haven't tried yet.  One of the best sellers that I ordered is the best-selling Honey I Washed The Kids Bar Soap and I am regretting that I only ordered one bar of it...

Honey I Washed The Kids has been a cult LUSH product that I remember ever since I started shopping the brand in 2008.  This caramel-scented product is perfect the fall and winter and I can easily see why this is one of the best sellers of the brand.

"This is one of our best-selling soaps and it's no wonder why: it's simply irresistible!  One sniff and you'll need this sweet caramel fragrance in your life.  But get ready to share, because it's so gentle, buttery, and scrumptious that you'll have a hard time keeping it to yourself.  We use real honey and beeswax in every batch to soothe skin, while honey water and aloe help soften and moisturize, leaving the whole family clean and smelling bee-autiful.", states the LUSH website.

The star ingredient in this product is Honey, a natural humectant and hydrator.  I have used honey in my winter skincare for years now and this ingredient (plus the smell!) are what made my try this Bar Soap over some of the other ones that they offer.  Honey will attract moisture from the atmosphere and pull it into the skin and the thicker texture of this ingredient will also help keep moisture locked into the skin.  This is exactly what I need at this time of the year and I will be using this product until it runs out.

I have tried using this product applied directly to wet skin and applied to a washcloth.  I tend to prefer my bar soaps applied directly to wet skin, they will usually lather less and help my skin stay hydrated for longer periods.  I still liked it when applied with a washcloth but I would prefer to use it right on wet skin in the shower.  I have also found that applying the product directly to my skin makes the soap lasts longer and I should be able to use the same bar until the beginning of March.

The caramel fragrance is light and wonderful, this is pretty fragrance for fall and winter but will be too heavy in the warm weather months.  The scent remains lightly on my skin but fills the whole bathroom with fragrance, this is typical of most LUSH bar soaps and is one of the major reasons that I keep purchasing them over and over.

I can't say that Honey I Washed The Kids is any more or less hydrating than any of the other LUSH Bar Soaps that I have used in the past.  All of their Bar Soaps hydrate my skin nicely and I will continue to order these every year.  I will order another bar of this product once the cooler weather starts to roll around again!

photo courtesy of LUSH

Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

I feel like I haven't tested out or reviewed a new eye makeup remover in the past few months, I have been using the same formula from the Clinique and have been quite happy with it.  I originally bought that product a few years ago and I have been repurchasing it ever since.  I am a person that likes to switch up my skincare and try new products and this was one area that I wasn't really reviewing many items from.  It seemed like fate when Sephora was offering a small bottle of the award-winning eye makeup remover from Lancôme as a 100 Point Perk when I was ordering some of the Bobbi Brown products that I spotlighted this month.  I decided to stop hoarding my points to grab this sample and try it out.

I have put my half-empty bottle of the Clinique to the side for the past two weeks and I have been trying out the Lancôme formula every night.  The Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a product that consistently has won the Allure Best of Beauty Awards and has been listed as a best seller as Sephora for as long as I can remember.  This is one of the more expensive eye makeup removers that I have seen and I do believe that the price was the main reason that I have not tried it before but I have decided that it is worth every penny...

The Sephora website provides the following description of this best-selling eye makeup remover, "An award-winning, gentle, liquid eye makeup remover.  This formula activates when shaken to gently whisk away even waterproof eye makeup while conditioning and refreshing the skin.  Ideal for sensitive and contact lenses, it leaves eyes feeling cool and relaxed without an oily residue."

This product contains a liquid layer and an oily layer and the formula needs be shaken before use and the two layers need to be completely mixed.  The oily layer is designed to break down stubborn eye makeup or waterproof products.  I tend to have the hardest issues getting mascara off without leaving traces under my eyes but this product does get the job done (when used correctly).  I have been using it to remove the Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara formula, this isn't the hardest formula to remove and I will need to continue to test this product as I try more mascara formulas.  I have been using the Urban Decay Primer Potion under all of my eye shadows and this formula is able to remove all traces of these products.

I saturate a cotton pad with this formula and then press it up against my eye for 30 seconds before wiping it away.  This gives the product time to break the makeup down and helps it to wipe cleanly away.

My 100 Point Perk size will not last much longer and I will then finish up my current bottle of Clinique remover.  I have already decided that my next purchase will be of this product and I will continue to use and test this product out to see if there are any formulas that it cannot remove.  I don't know that there is too much more to say about this product, it does what it is supposed to and doesn't bother my sensitive eyes.  I would probably go back and forth in between purchasing this product and the Clinique formula, it is nice to have two products that I know will work well.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Brand Spotlight 2014 - Bobbi Brown Beach

We are starting off this year with the last product that is to be featured in this month's Brand Spotlight series, I have been enjoying collecting all kinds of items from a specific brand and I hope you all have been enjoying this series too.  I have found a few new gems from Bobbi Brown and I am really excited to keep ordering and trying more products from this brand, I have a feeling that this series is going to try into a very expensive habit...

We are going to wrap up this month's Brand Spotlight with a review of the iconic Bobbi Brown Beach fragrance, I ordered a bottle of this fragrance at the very beginning of the month and I have been eagerly awaiting the summer months so that I can wear this fragrance as much as possible.  I first smelled this fragrance late last summer and quickly fell in love with it but I forced myself to put off purchasing it until I started to collect products for the warmer weather.  This fragrance smells exactly like the beach and it makes me so excited for the summer!

The Bobbi Brown website provides the following fragrance description, "An eau de parfum inspired by the beach, this best-selling fragrance captures the atmosphere and essence of summer.  Designed with a lightly intoxicating blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin; this fragrance is wearable anytime, anywhere."

I cannot put into words how much I love this perfume, it smells exactly like stepping on the beach and it makes me crave summer (even more than usual).  The main note is sand jasmine, this is the "beachy" note in this fragrance and in most of the "beachy" fragrances on the market.  I first smelled this note in the Suntan candle from Bath and Body Works a few summers ago and I have been obsessed with it ever since.  This perfume is exactly like that candle and somehow combines the smells of the sand jasmine with those of suntan lotion and ocean air and turns it into a fragrance I could wear every single day.

Beach is not a fragrance that I would wear for the office but it is perfect for casual summer weekends and warm date nights, it is a light beachy floral perfume and would pair perfectly with a sundress.  I think that this will become one of my new summer perfume staples!

My biggest issue with this fragrance is that it doesn't seem to last any longer than two or three hours when applied to my skin, this could be an issue with my skin chemistry however I have read several reviews that complain about the lack of lasting power.  I have resigned myself to using the EDP in the morning and then carrying the matching Rollerball in my bag with me.  I started by owning just the EDP but I quickly realized that I needed to purchase the Rollerball and I would need to be able to touch this fragrance up throughout the day.  This fragrance is also available in a lotion but I would love to see it in more body products and home fragrance products.  I do believe that I did see limited edition products in this fragrance last summer and I will be looking for more this summer.

My first Brand Spotlight is in the books and we will be switching gears for next month's brand.  This month we focused on one of the top brands in the makeup industry and I will be featuring a primarily skincare-based brand next month.  Any guesses?!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

OPI Spring 2014 Collection - Brazil Collection

We have already seen the spring nail polish collection from Essie and I have been eagerly awaiting more releases from my favorite nail polish companies, this is one of the times of the year where I purchase the most amount of polish shades and I am excited to keep adding some new shades to my collection.  We have yet to see a collection from China Glaze or Butter London however the new OPI collection is now up on the company's website and I am going to check these shades out today.  OPI usually has one of largest range of shades in their seasonal collections and I always know that I will like quite a few from every collection.

The collection for this spring is inspired by Brazil and contains twelve brand new shades, I have complained in the past about how this company seems to bring out the same shades over and over again and this collection does not contain anything revolutionary.  OPI has a huge shade range and many of their limited edition shades are close to ones already available, I find this to be a good thing as I don't have to be upset if a limited edition shade sells out and I can't find it anymore.

The shades contained in the OPI Brazil collection are as follows...

- Kiss Me I'm Brazilian - bubblegum pink cream

- Live.Love.Carnaval - medium warm coral cream

- Red Hot Rio - medium warm red cream

- Next Stop...The Bikini Zone - pale lavender with a subtle gold duochrome shift
- Don't Bossa Nova Me Around - nude cream
- Taupe-less Beach - pale taupe cream
- I Sao Paulo Over There - medium taupe cream
- OPI Scores A Goal! - deep warm red-brown cream
- Amazon...Amazoff - deep teal cream
- I Just Can't Cope-Acabana - medium banana yellow cream
- Where Did Suzi's Man-go? - medium orange cream
- Toucan Do It If You Try - deep orange cream

The shades in this collection are designed to remind one of the jungles and beaches of Brazil, I have never been to this country so I cannot comment on how accurate the shades and names are.  When I think of Brazil, I think of jungles and numerous Botany classes about the Amazon jungle.  Some of the shades fit this theme very well and others seem a bit out of place.  The bright hues fit perfectly with the season and the theme however I am not sure why two shades of taupe were included with the Brazil collection.  The most unique shade is the only duochrome in the bunch, many of the cream shades are similar to those in the permanent line up or have been featured in previous seasonal collections.

My favorite shade is Amazon...Amazoff, this bright deep teal reminds me very much of Butter London's Slapper shade.  That is my current favorite nail polish shade and I used it like crazy last spring and summer.  I will purchasing Amazon...Amazoff to replace my bottle of Slapper once it runs out.  Next Stop...The Bikini Zone is the only other shade that I find unique enough to purchase from this collection and I will also be grabbing of bottle of this one once it is available at Ulta.  I really like Taupe-less Beach and Don't Bossa Nova Me Around but neither of these shades are unique enough for me to track down, I would buy them if I found them but I can find shades like this from other companies very easily.

I don't like any of the oranges or yellows in this collection, shades like this never flatter my skintone and I would be skipping over all of these.  I also don't need any other pink or red shades right now and this pretty much rules out the rest of the collection for me.

OPI is not my favorite polish formula and one that I will deal with when I really love the shades.  The application of this polish is very easy and the wide brush makes the polish quick to apply.  My problem with this formula is not the application but the wear of the product.  I cannot seem to get more than one day from this formula before it starts chipping off like crazy, there is something about the combination of my nails and this formula that just does not work.  I am the only person that I know with this issue, all of my friends who use this formula absolutely love it and get at least three or four days of wear time without anything more than minor chipping.  I wish I didn't have these issues but this formula just doesn't work well for me and will never been a formula that I highly recommend.

I have a few shades to add to my shopping list but I think that I will have even more shades to add once I see the new collections from China Glaze and Butter London.

photo courtesy of Google

L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Face Milk

Today we will be looking at my second try with the L'Occitane Shea facial skincare line, many of you will remember the disaster that I had last year with one of the skin creams and may be surprised that I have decided to give this line a second go around.  I had very high hopes for the hydrating face cream that I tried from this line and still have very clear memories of the redness and swelling that it caused my face and neck and I went back to using all Clinique products for a few weeks after this issue.  At this time, I decided that I would never use any other product from this line even though I have loved many of the body products for years beforehand.  Obviously, I have decided to give a product from this line a second try and the results are much better this time around.

I decided several weeks ago that I really wanted to give the Shea face line another try and starting thinking about what product I would like to try this time and how I was going to go about it.  My initial thoughts were to chose a product that I do not leave on my face this time around and I settled on a face cleanser from the line and obtained several samples from the L'Occitane store before I decided to order the full size.  We will look at the product that I chose and then we will get into how I patch-tested it and a full review.

The product that I decided to try out is the Face Cleansing Milk from the Shea line, I had used a cream cleanser from another line produced by this company when I was in college and I loved it.  I think my love of that product and the matching face lotion and cream are the reasons that I bought the L'Occitane face cream and never properly tested it before rubbing it all over my face.  "This cleansing milk, with its creamy texture, gently cleanses and removes makeup.  Enriched with softening shea and soothing licorice extract, it preserves skin's natural hydration and leaves it clean, supple, and comfortable.", states the company's website.  

The manager at my local L'Occitane store was very generous with the samples of this product while I was deciding if I could use this all over my face.  I started with testing it on my forearm; the skin in this area is much less sensitive than my face, neck, or hands.  I tested this face wash in the shower for three days on my forearm area and experienced no irritation.  I then moved on to testing it on my hands, my hands are much more sensitive than my forearm and irritation develops easily on them.  Obviously, I had no irritation after three days worth of testing in this area and then I repeated the test on the back of my neck.  After three days of testing on my neck with no irritation, I decided that I would use my last sample to wash my face and then purchase the full size bottle.

I am very happy that this face wash worked out for me, I have been using it for about three weeks now and I have been very much enjoying it.  I use one and a half pumps of this product to cleanse my entire face, I do not use this product to take my eye makeup off and always go in with a separate remover in this area.  I have tried quite a few milk cleansers over the years and I have found that they often need a separate toner to remove every trace of makeup that I put on my face in the morning, this holds true for this product and I have been purchasing the huge bottles of the Clinique Toner designed for dry to very dry skin to use every other day.

This cleanser does not foam up and rinses cleanly with water.  I like that this product doesn't dry my skin out or leave it with the "tight" feeling that most gel cleansers would at this time of the year.  I would recommend this cleanser to anyone with skin that is dry and I could not see anyone with normal or oily skin liking this product.  The Shea Cleansing Face Milk is a very good choice for my dry winter skin and I will continue to use it throughout the spring months.  I do not yet know if this might be too heavy for my skin once the warm weather hits.

I have had one hit and one huge miss from the L'Occitane Shea face line, I am still trying to decide if I will be trying any other products from this line.  I am still hesitant to try other moisturizers from this line and I would be even less comfortable using any product from this line around my eyes.  I would only consider trying other products from this line if I could obtain a few samples and repeat the extensive patch-testing, I am so happy that the manager of my store was willing to help me with all the samples and I would go back to her if I decide to try another products from this skincare line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Fitness Friday - Triangle Yoga Pose

Today we are back to another Fitness Friday and I have decided to return to looking at yoga poses.  Triangle pose is my current favorite yoga pose and has been one of my favorite poses since I first did yoga last summer.  Triangle pose is one of the standing postures that is contained in the Primary Series and one of the first standing postures that is learned in a Level One yoga class.

The following steps are used when getting into Triangle pose...

- Stand in Tadasana.  With an exhalation, step or lightly jump your feet 3 1/2 to 4 feet apart.  Raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down.

- Turn your left foot in slightly to the right directly over the plane of the right leg, bending from the hip joint, not the waist.  Anchor this movement by strengthening the left leg and pressing the outer heel firmly to the floor.  Rotate the torso to the left, keeping the two sides equally long.  Let the left hip come slightly forward and lengthen the tailbone toward the back heel.

- Exhale and extend your torso to the right directly over the plane of the right leg, bending from the hip joint, not the waist.  Anchor this movement by strengthening the left leg and pressing the outer heel firmly to the floor.  Rotate the torso to the left, keeping the two sides equally long.  Let the left hip come slightly forward and lengthen the tailbone toward the back heel.

- Rest your right hand on your shin, ankle, or floor outside your right foot, whatever is possible without distorting the sides of the torso.  Stretch your left arm toward the ceiling, in line with the tops of your shoulders.  Keep your head in a neutral position or turn it to the left, eyes gazing softly at the left thumb.

- Stay in this pose from thirty seconds to one minute.  Inhale to come up, strongly pressing the back heel into the floor and reaching the top arm toward the ceiling.  Reverse the feet and repeat for the same length of time to the left.

Blocks can be used to modify this pose as needed and the hand can be placed anywhere from the shin to the floor.  I tend to prefer wrapping my hand around my ankle and playing with my balance.  I will admit that I fell backwards the first few times that I tried this version of the pose and trying this variation of the pose was actually harder than initially learning the pose itself.  I have been all about playing with my balance lately and trying to deepen poses so I really enjoyed challenging myself with that modification.

Another modification to challenge your balance is leaning backwards in the pose versus keeping yourself with a straight back.  I have tried doing a slight back bend while in this pose but I don't love this type of modification.

I think that I will be back on the yoga pose train for the next few Fitness Fridays...

photo courtesy of Yoga Journal

Brand Spotlight 2014 - Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

We are back on my Brand Spotlight series today and we are looking at my last makeup product from Bobbi Brown for the month.  I have already tried out their lip and eye products and I decided that I wanted to try one of the face products and then finish out my shopping with a new fragrance from this line.  Today we are looking at the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15, I have been testing out this foundation for about three weeks now and it has given me a handle on the quality of their face products.  This foundation has been a great choice for me and I will be trying more face and skin products from this brand.

I chose the Skin Foundation SPF 15 to start exploring the face products in this brand as this is considered a hydrating foundation formula and my winter skin needs any extra hydration possible this time of the year.  This formula is a good choice from fall to early spring and I would like to look for more formulas to use as my skin changes in the warm weather.

The Bobbi Brown website describes this foundation as follows, "This water-based, oil-free formula delivers undetectable coverage and a fresh, hydrated glow for the most natural skin-like finish.  In addition to weightless, long-wearing coverage and hydration, the formula minimizes the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and delivers broad spectrum UV protection.  Buildable formula goes easily from light to medium and is available in a wide range of shades for all skin tones."

The website continues with a few more details about why this formula is unique in the range of Bobbi Brown.  "The lightweight water-based foundation sinks into skin, instantly helping to plump, moisturize, boost skin's glow.  Sustained hydration keeps skin looking and feeling fresh, and ensures that color stays true all day.  The oil-free formula is enhanced with light-reflective optic ingredients to give skin natural luminosity."  I ordered this product in Alabaster 00, "the lightest beige with a white hint and pink undertone, for palest skin".  This is the palest shade in the range and the only shade that would work my skin tone.

Bobbi Brown's website states that this products is designed for normal to oily skin types but I have no issues with it on my combination dry skin.  The formula is water-based so it sinks easily into the skin and helps to moisturize any dry patches that are on my face right now.  I can't say that I have seen a huge difference in the luminosity of my skin however I have been using this product with the Caudalie brightening products that I always use.  My skin looks wonderful with this foundation however I think that it is the combination of the foundation and the skincare products.  The combination of this product not sticking to the dry patches on my skin and the natural glow that it gives my skin make this product a great choice for me to use between fall and spring (I prefer BB Creams and tinted moisturizers during the summer) and I know that I will be repurchasing another bottle of this once I run through this one.

The shade Alabaster is a nearly perfect match for my skin this time of the year, I like that the undertones don't lean too pink and it helps to camouflage the redness in my skintone.  This product does not noticeably change colors as it dries down and I have no other issues with it darkening throughout the day.  This foundation lasts about eight to ten hours on my skin and I do have to blot my T-Zone once or twice during the day, I always set this product with powder and I'm not sure how long this product would last on my skin without setting it with a powder.

I really like this foundation and I think that I will be buying more products from the Bobbi Brown face product range.  I have been very happy with everything that I have tried so far from this company and I know that I will end up buying a ton more products from this brand in the coming months...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is one of my most recent Sephora purchases and I can already say that I have a new obsession with this product.  I first read about this product several years ago in one of the Allure Best of Beauty issues and I have seen that this product has won awards for several years in a row.  I use through powders very slowly and I have been waiting to finish up my last few compacts before purchasing a new one so I have had this one my shopping list for quite a long time.  The Translucent Loose Setting Powder is one of the best selling products at Sephora and one of the top rated powders on their website and it lives up to its reputation.

This product can be purchased anywhere that Laura Mercier is sold, I purchased it at Sephora and will be pulling all of my product details from that company's website.  "An award-winning, silky powder with a touch of sheer coverage to set makeup for lasting.  Translucent Loose Setting Powder locks in makeup for long-lasting wear, without adding weight or texture.  This bestseller creates a modern, matte finish with a touch of sheer coverage, while it absorbs oil and reduces shine all day.  The pros know why it is their favorite: It's a little denser than an average powder, providing super-smooth, even application and blending.  This no-flashback formula means you'll look great in photos, and it creates a soft-focus effect to subtly blur the look of fine lines and imperfections.  This truly translucent shade works on all skintones", states the Sephora website.

I have been using this powder for the past week and I have been very impressed with it so far.  I first tried it with the same big fluffy brush that I would use for pressed powder or bronzer and I found that this is not the best way for me to apply it.  The big brush got product all over the place on my face and I used much more product than I really needed.  I started using the Bare Minerals Flawless Face Brush and this smaller brush allows for more targeted placement and less wasted product.  I have not tried to use any type of powder puff to apply this product as I find that this type of application tends to apply too much product on my dry skin and causes it to cake on my skin.  I am still glad that I received this brush in a Bare Minerals powder foundation kit that I bought a few years ago and I would repurchase this brush if it ever broke.  

The translucent shade adds no color to my face and I do believe that a range of skintones would be able to use this product.  I don't know if those with deeper skintones would be able to use it (at least not all over their face).  I mostly use this product to set my foundation and concealer on my T-Zone and under my eyes.  I usually get a bit oily on my T-Zone throughout the day and I need something to set the undereye concealer that I use every day.  I do use a very little bit of this on my cheeks to set my foundation and create a smooth canvas for blush.  The best mode of application for me is to start with applying this product under my eyes, apply some to my T-Zone and then use what is left on the brush to finish off my cheek area.  I use very little product when applying in this fashion and I will have this product for a quite before needing to repurchase.  I still keep blotting papers in my purse and use these to touch my nose and forehead up around lunchtime.

I can why this Laura Mercier product is a best seller for the brand and a multiple award winner in the Allure Best of Beauty Awards.  I have used a few loose powders over the years and nothing compares to this product, I will repurchase this product as soon as I run out of my current jar and I would recommend it to anyone that it is need of a powder.  I think I have found a new favorite and will look to Allure Beauty Awards for more recommendations!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Bath and Body Works Sky, Air, Sun

Bath and Body Works has just began to bring out the beginning of their spring line and I can say that everyone that lives in this area is ready for something bright and pretty, the snow has been piling up for the past month and there seems to be no end in sight to the cold and ice.  The Polar Vortex has been the big trend for this winter and I want to smell something that will remind me that spring does really exist even though I will not be able to wear any type of fragrance like these for at least two or three more months. 

Bath and Body Works has brought out their spring candles, hand soaps, and a line of limited edition fragrances called Sky, Air, Sun.  These are three new fragrances that are bright florals and will be perfect for the very beginning of spring and I first smelled these scents at the very beginning of January when the company previewed the small lotions during their Semi Annual Sale.  Now all three fragrances are out in the store and I am deciding what scents I will be adding to my collection.  Sky, Air, Sun consists of three fragrances: Sky (Violet Lily), Air (Pear Blossom), and Sun (Golden Magnolia).  Pear Blossom was a fragrance that I loved from this company when I was in college and I have nothing left of it, I got so excited when I first saw these names because I hoped that this Pear Blossom was the same as that one.  Sadly it isn't but it is a pretty fragrance all the same.

We will start with the Pear Blossom Air since I have already began talking about the old version of this perfume.  "Pear Blossom Air is an invigorating blend of crisp green pear, fresh gardenia and narcissus leaf, with whispers of crisp mandarin vapor and white musk."  The top notes of this fragrance are: Crisp Mandarin Vapor, Grapefruit, Red Apple, Crisp Greens.  The heart notes are: Crisp Green Pear, Narcissus, Gardenia.  The base notes are: Heliotrope, Cedar wood, Driftwood, White Musk.  This fragrance is more of a light white floral and less of the great pear and floral mix that the first fragrance was, this one is pretty but it is a bit too light for me to wear.  I prefer the Annick Goutal Petite Cherie when I want to wear a pear fragrance in the early spring.  I would consider the body products in this fragrance but I would not wear the Fine Fragrance Mist.

The next fragrance is the Violet Lily Sky, my favorite of the three and one of the most unique fragrances that I have ever smelled from this company.  "A heavenly blend of fresh violet blooms, sparkling bergamot and pink pepper, floating on a cloud of whipped lily petals and sheer sandalwood."  I do not remember ever smelling a combination of violet and lily flowers and I love this combination.  The top notes are:  Pomelo, Pink Pepper, Sparkling Bergamot Juice.  The middle notes are: Honeysuckle, Fresh Violet Blooms, Gardenia Water, Whipped Lily Petals.  The bottom notes of the fragrance are: Sheer Sandalwood, White Amber, Sensual Musks.  I know that I will want the body products in this fragrance but am currently deciding on purchasing the fragrance itself.

The last fragrance is the warmest of the three and would be better later spring or summer, it reminds me very much of the old fragrance Forever Sunshine.  "Golden Magnolia Sun is a luminous blend of pink magnolia, golden apricot and sun kissed peony, blooming with a touch of sensual vanilla and cassis nectar."  This is a mix of magnolia and apricot and I like it but I don't know that I love it, there is just something in it that turns me off when I tried the lotion on for the first time.  The top notes are:  Cassis Nectar, Mandarin, Apricot, Lotus flower, Leaves.  The middle notes are:  Jasmine, Peony, Water Orchid, Sheer Freesia, Pink Magnolia.  The bottom notes are: Caramel, Vanilla, Amber.  I just don't know what I don't like in this fragrance when I put it on, it smells pretty in the bottle but this isn't the fragrance for me.

I love the Violet Lily Sky, this one will be mine in the body products but I don't know that I would use the Fine Fragrance Mist in this scent.  The Golden Magnolia Sun is pretty in the bottle but I will need to skip over it since one or more of these notes just doesn't work when I try to wear it, this one will not be a choice for me.  The Pear Blossom Air is one that I am on the fence about, I don't know that I will be picking it up.  I like the pear note but I don't like how the florals were mixed into it, I doubt that I would buy anything in this fragrance since I certainly don't need any new body products.

The fragrances come in the typical Signature Collection products; Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Foaming Scrub, and a newer product called the Diamond Shimmer Mist.  The Diamond Shimmer Mist is a product that was just introduced and replaces all the old shimmer products.  I saw the old shimmer products on a Sale table so I would guess that this is the only shimmer product that will be carried by this company.  "Dazzle with Diamonds! Infused with real diamond dust, our luxurious Diamond Shimmer Mist kisses skin with irresistible fragrance and gorgeous sparkle."  I am not shimmer lady so this will not be a product that will be added to my collection...

Spring is a still a very long way away and the prediction for next month is even more snow so I will be picking up some of the Violet Lily Sky products to put away for a few months.  At least spring fragrances get closer each day...

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette - Full Review

I have spend the last few days playing around with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette and I am finally ready with my full review on this palette.  I really liked this palette on my first impressions but I have found that many of my eye looks like very similar no matter what shades I end up using from this palette and two of shades have proven to be complete duds when I tried using them in looks.  Overall, I do like this palette and I know that I will get a good amount of use from it but I can't give it the flawless review that I initially thought that I would be writing...

"A sweetly tempting array of 16 matte and shimmer shadows scented with real chocolate.  Too Faced Co-founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino learned of the healing properties of cocoa while getting a chocolate facial in Maui.  With Chocolate Bar, he created a first-of-its-kind palette that combines the healthy benefits of chocolate with richly pigmented, velvety smooth shadows.  Chocolate has been used for centuries for its soothing properties and to protect, condition, and heal skin that has been damaged by sun and wind.  Studies have shown that the scent of cocoa powder can increase memory and brain power.", states the Sephora website when describing the palette.

The shades that are included in this palette are...

- Gilded Ganache - deep chocolate brown satin
- Milk Chocolate - medium brown matte
- Black Forest Truffle - deep warm brown shimmer
- Triple Fudge - deep warm chocolate brown shimmer
- Salted Caramel - warm brown matte
- Marzipan - medium champagne shimmer
- Semi-Sweet - medium brown matte
- Strawberry Bon-Bon - pale pink satin
- Candied Violet - bright violet purple satin
- Amaretto - medium warm brown shimmer
- Hazelnut - medium neutral brown shimmer
- Crème Brulee - medium warm golden shimmer
- Haute Chocolate - deep chocolate brown matte
- Cherry Cordial - deep plum satin
- White Chocolate - cool champagne matte
- Champagne Truffle - cool champagne shimmer


We will start with a quick recap of my first impressions and initial thoughts on the palette and then I will explain my thoughts in more depth and if my initial thoughts have changed.  I still love that the White Chocolate and Champagne Truffle shades are much larger than the other pans, I use White Chocolate to set my eye primer and Champagne Truffle on both the lid and inner corner.  I hope this is something that we see in more Too Faced eye palettes and I wouldn't mind seeing other brands follow this brand's lead.  I still love the mix of shimmers and mattes that are contained in this palette, the mattes work well in the crease and on the outer V, the shimmers apply well to the lid.  The range of brown shades is very nice and I can use this palette for both day and night.

All four of the matte brown shades perform well; Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet, and Haute Chocolate are true to the colors that they appear in the pan and blend out nicely.  Haute Chocolate is too dark for the crease and I only use it to really deepen up the outer V and along my lower lash line.  I get the majority of use in the crease from Milk Chocolate and Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet is best used in the crease only when creating a nighttime brown smoky eye, I only use in my outer V when creating day looks.  

All of the neutral shimmers perform very nicely on the lid, my favorite shades are Marzipan, Crème Brulee, and Hazelnut.  The two best shimmer shades for daytime looks are Marzipan and Crème Brulee, the rest of the shades are richly pigmented deep brown shades and work best for more dramatic brown smoky eye looks.  I can't say that I can tell much difference between any of the warm brown shimmer shades and the same issue holds for the cooler brown shimmer shades.  When applied on the lid, there isn't much variation in the shades and I took pictures of eye looks that I made with each of the brown shimmers and there was little to no difference in most of the looks.  Cherry Cordial is described as a "deep plum satin" but applies as a plum brown shade on the lid.  It applies as a mildly different shade than the brown shades but still pulls more brown than plum.  Too Faced could have reduced the amount of brown shimmer hues in this palette and I still could have created many of the exact same looks that I already did.  

There are two shades in this palette that are complete duds.  I am aware that every palette has a few duds but I was really disappointed with which shades were the issues in the Chocolate Bar palette.  Candied Violet was simply awful, I tried using it on the lid and there was little to no pigment payoff.  I then used it along the lower lash line and it came out as a muddy brown hue.  I can't use this shade at all and I was so excited at how pretty it looked in the pan.  The other really disappointing shade was Strawberry Bon-Bon, this pink matte shade applied very chalky and had no pigment.  I wasn't happy that the only two shades that aren't neutrals in this palette can't be used and this palette has even less of a shade range than I originally thought that it did.  

I go back and forth on the chocolate fragrance of the palette, I originally loved it but I have found that it made a headache worse one morning when I tried to use it.  I can't use this palette when I have a headache or any other type of sinus issues.  I am sure that many people do love the fragrance of this palette but there are a few people that can't stand the fragrance and it would make the palette unable to be used for them.  

Overall, the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is a solid neutral palette with a great mix of matte and shimmer shades.  This company could have reduced the number of browns in this palette and either made it smaller or added a few more pops of color to this palette.  The two pops of color are the two the weakest shades and I don't plan on trying to use either of them again.  The fragrance could be a huge selling feature to some but a deal breaker to others.  I know that I will use this palette throughout the rest of the winter and into the beginning of spring but I think many of the hues are too deep to use in spring and summer.  Chocolate Bar is a very good choice if you are looking to add another neutral palette to your collection and/or you are a die-hard Too Faced fan and I would recommend purchasing it if these are the types of eye shadow shades that you enjoy wearing.

photo courtesy of Google