Laura Mercier Spring 2010 Collection - Polished Collection

The power of a name...I already like collection and I haven't even looked at it. The "Polished Collection" just sounds as though it will be flattering and beautiful. The three words that are used by Laura Mercier to describe this collection are "Feminine. Modern. Chic." I already love this. Those three adjectives are ones that were in my head when I went to get my haircut and are my new beauty objectives. "Welcome Spring with Laura Mercier's new Polished Colour Collection. A feminine, modern look with radiant opalescent touches that accent the high points of the face, contrasting an overall polished matte look", states the Laura Mercier website when introducing this collection.

Here are the new shades...

Sateen Eye Colour Duo - Laura Mercier Sateen Eye Colour Duo immediately releases intense luminous colour with superior blending in two complimentary shades. The creamy powder texture provides distinctive full colour and unique blendibility. Long-wearing and crease-resistant, the non-dusting formula can be applied sheerly or layered for additional coverage.

- Plum Spice - deep peach/reddish plum

Matte Eye Colour Duo - Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour Duo combines two mistake-proof matte formulas to deliver intense, pure colour in one stroke that lasts all day. Each perfectly paired duo adheres to the eyelids with extreme comfort for a smooth finish imparting a soft feel and light-diffusing effect. Bringing out true colour and brillance, apply each colour individually or combine for a sheer finish or layer for additional coverage. Non-dusting colour. Long-wearing and crease-resistant.

- Cocoa Rose - light pink cream/deep brown

Luster Eye Colour Duo - Laure Mercier Luster Eye Colour Duo offers two flattering shades of pure, dynamic iridescence with a sophisticated frost finish. With superior extended wear, each colour will not crease and looks freshly applied throughout the day. Bringing out true colour and brillance, apply each colour individually or combine for a sheer finish or layer for additional coverage. Non-dusting. Long-wearing and crease-resistant.

- Golden Brown - golden brown/brown

Radiant Creme Cheek Colour - Laura Mercier Radiant Creme Cheek Colour accentuates the high points of the face with touches of soft, radiant opalescence and adds warmth to the cheeks with blendable creme colour. The multi-shade compact allows for buildable, customized intensity to create a natural flush on a range of skintones. Light coverage. Elegant finish. Paraben Free.

- Polished - light pearly cream/fuschia pearly cream with gold

Lip Shine - Laura Mercier Lip Shine adds a touch of polish to lips with a lightweight, pearlescent gloss finish. Shea Butter and Vitamin E moisturize lips without being too heavy or greasy. Emollient, blendable texture. Lightweight, non-tacky formula. Delicate colour blends easily, leaving a polished finish.

- Crystal Pink - midtone pink

Satin Lip Colour - Laura Mercier Satin Lip Colour is the first semi-matte lipstick to combine long wear and comfort in a non-drying formula. Lips got from satiny to matte within minutes with Softisan, a lightweight "elastic" seal that perfectly adheres to lips to set and lock in highly pigmented colour and moisture without feathering. Wild Mango Butter intensely hydrates lips. Volulips and Laura Mercier's exclusive Lip Colour Complex plump, soothe, and condition lips. One swipe leaves lips feeling incredibly soft with medium to full coverage in a satiny finish.

- Barely Nude - flesh-toned neutral brown

- Maple Brown - medium neutral brown

- Pink Cocoa - medium brown with pink undertones

Eye Basics - Laura Mercier Eye Basics creates the perfect canvas for eyes by camouflaging eye imperfections and enhancing the durability of eye makeup. Skin friendly ingredients enhance the delicate skin on the eyelids. Botanicals soothe distressed lids. Vitamins A, E, and C provide anti-oxidant protection. Sheer, creamy texture blends easily and smoothly leaving a long-lasting semi-matte finish. Natural clay prevents creasing. Water-resistant. Eyes are primed with this highly versatile product. Use as a primer or alone to add a little colour to your eyes.

- Flax - beige-with-pearl

- Peach - sheer-orange-peach

Eye Crease Brush - Travel - Laura Mercier Eye Crease Brush is ideal for eye crease work with its broad tapered bristles allowing complete control and precise application. Round base with bristles tapered to a point. Perfectly sized to blend eye colour into the crease. Tapered tip allows precise application.

Eye Colour Brush - Long - Laura Mercier Eye Colour Brush is a soft 100% natural brush perfectly sized to apply Laura Mercier "cashmere" eye colour to the eyelid and brow bone. Flat bristles with tapered, oval tip. Gently blends edges.

Long Lash Mascara - Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara extends and precisely separates the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes by expertly scooping up and lengthening each lash while delivering the right amount of product. Perfectly engineered brush, designed to meet Laura's specifications, dramatically lengthens and defines lashes while enhancing the eyes. An innovative stretch formula lengthens, separates, and curls each lash, making lashes appear longer in just two strokes. Long-wearing, water-resistant, and smudge-proof. The formula contains rich, dark pigments to enhance lash colour for maximum drama. Clump-free, fiber-free, paraben-free, and ophthamologist tested.

- Black - deep black

These are some amazing offerings for Spring, they will stand out on their own but while I was writing this, I was thinking about some of the other collections that I have looked at so far and I can see many items blending together to create amazing looks. From this collection, I want the Matte Eye Colour Duo and the Luster Eye Colour Duo. I also want the Eye Basics in Flax, I am interested in how this product matches up to Urban Decay Primer Potion. It also looks like an easy product for a lazy day. I really want the Crystal Pink Lip Shine also, it is already looking like Holy Grail material for me. I think that all of the other lip colors are going to be too brown for my cool tonmed skin so I will be passing on those. Also, I don't think that the Radiant Creme Cheek Colour will work since it has a plum shade in it, I will need to test this one out. I also want to try out the mascara (of course). I love this collection and hope this sparks a big trend in pushing makeup to more professional shades and look.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Awake Hydro Force Oil-Free Treatment

A couple of years ago, I developed an obsession with Awake skincare and makeup. However, that was when it was more readily available than it is now. With Bath and Body Works now longer carrying the brand and it not being available at Sephora, it is no longer a line of products that I can drive to my nearby mall and pick up quickly if I hear about an interesting product from them. Which is a shame, since almost every product that I have used so far from this company makes me very happy. Awake is a brand that is part of Kose, it is made in Japan, and is centered around the use of botanicals to brighten and improve the skin.

Hydro Force Oil-Free Treatment is the current moisturizer that I am using to take my skin from later winter into early spring. For this time of the year, I need something that is very hydrating and soothing since during the changing of the seasons, my face gets very dry and is more easily irritated than usual. I bought this product at Bath and Body Works sometime before they discontinued the line and I just found it recently in my pile of unused skin care products.

"A lightweight, intensive moisturizer that provides 24-hour hydration for soft, smooth skin. Phospholipids supply natural moisture, while pure Almond Extract creates a water reserve for long-lasting hydration. Uses a Hydro-Fix polymer base for a water-like texture that transforms into jelly-like texture when absorbed into skin, helping to retains moisture", states the Awake website when describing this product. This product can be used once or twice a day, applying after serum for best results. This product is housed in a pump bottle and usually one or two pumps is perfect to cover my entire face. At one point, this product was also available in a creamier formula housed in a jar however I no longer see it on the Awake website so I guess that it is no longer available.

I use this product both morning and night. My favorite aspect of this product is the texture, I love the light texture because it is easily absorbed and it still very hydrating. This product has not irritated my skin but I really haven't noticed much redness reduction in my cheek area. I also haven't broken out once since using this product, which is a huge plus in my book. The product has no real discernable fragrance and is a good choice for those who have sensitive skin.

I really wish that I didn't have to drive an hour and a half down to King of Prussia to get this line of skincare products.

photo courtesy of Awake/Kose

Lippmann Collection Spring 2010 Shades

Lippmann Collection (also known as my favorite nail polishes in the entire world!) has released now new shades of polish for this spring. The first one that caught my eye was the new shade that is named after a Katy Perry song that I love. I might be alone in this but I look at the names of the new shades before I even look at the colors. When she released Tiny Dancer (after the Elton John song - a longtime favorite of mine), I wanted it without even knowing what color it was. Good thing that it is a beautiful sheer pale pink...to add to my collection of sheer pinks! If she released a polish named Bad Romance...

The first new shade is called I'm Not Innocent. This shade has a cream finish and it is a "clean, creamy peach". This shade is very pale and I could see it being flattering on those with both paler complexion and those with a bit of tan later on in the season. I think that this is pretty shade for other people, I think that my skin is too cool toned to make this one very flattering.

The second new shade is called Waking Up In Vegas and this is the one that I was so excited about earlier. Being that it's Katy Perry, I was hoping for a brighter shade but this one is a grey hue. Lippmann describes it as a "puddy-liscious gray" and it has a cream finish. I guess maybe the shade is based on what Katy felt like in the song after waking up and trying to figure out the night before. I don't really know but I do know that I like it a lot and I can see this one working as a neutral to flatter everyone.

The third new shade is one that was designed especially for Shape Magazine and is named Shape of My Heart. I love this shade so much...it's another sheer pale pink to add my evergrowing collection of polishes in this hue. As I said above, this polish was created for Shape Magazine to help fight breast cancer. I am making an assumption then that some of the proceeds of this shade are donated to charity. I want this shade and this is one that I know that I will get a lot of use out of.

The last new shade is called Happy Birthday and is my least favorite out of the group. It is a glitter finish and when she labels a shade with a glitter finish, it contains tons of either chunky or fine glitter. And this shade is no exception to that rule. This shade is described as "party in a bottle" with tons of multi-colored glitter in it. I have always found that glitter formula polishes are awaful to both get on and remove so at least if Lippmann can do it right then I don't mind it quite as much. But I would never wear this shade so there is no point in me testing it out against other glitters.

I want Waking Up In Vegas and Shape of My Heart, I tend wear mostly pales in spring and that appears how most of the nail trends are going this season.

photo courtesy of Lippmann Collection

Kim Kardashian Perfume

Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim's Twitter, Reggie Bush...I am pretty much a huge fan of Kim Kardashian. and now she has both a new fragrance and an app for the IPhone. I haven't checked out the app yet but today we have going to check out the fragrance. The fragrance is housed in a deep plum bottle that is round and very curvy. Not a giant shock...

This fragrance was released only to Sephora and there were a ton of parties held at the different stores to launch this fragrance. I read everyday on Twitter about when Kim would come to the parties and her reactions to her fans. Sephora describes this fragrance, "TV star, entrepreneur, model, actress, and trendsetter Kim Kardashian adds another accomplishment to her portfolio: a trademark fragrance. Discover the sensual scent inspired by one of the world's most idolized women. The essence evokes Kim's sultry style with crisp top notes, lush mid notes, and a sexy drydown. Gorgeous, voluptuous florals reflect her allure, while soft jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia mirror her feminity. Tonka bean, jacaranda wood, and sandalwood add a warm, sensual base."

Here are the notes of the fragrance - Mandarin, Honeysuckle, Orange Blossom, Pink Jasmine, Tuberose, Sensual Spice, Lush Gardenia, Jacaranda Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla Orchid, Sexy Musk, Creamy Sandalwood.

This fragrance is available in three sizes of EDTs and a roll-on fragrance. I don't know that I will like this fragrance due to gardenia being one of the heart notes. Gardenia combined with the other floral note of tuberose might make this fragrance too "white" for me. Gardenia gives me a headache in high doses so I doubt this one will work out for me. I like the jasmine and honeysuckle notes in it but I think they won't be enough to temper down the gardenia.

I wish that I liked this fragrance because I love Kim and I think that this might be one of the few celebrity fragrances that actually capture the allure of it's namesake. However, I believe that the main notes of gardenia will be too much for me to stand it for very long.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Spring 2010 Collection - O My Rose!

O My Rose! This is so exciting...Lancome's Spring 2010 collection (designed by Aaron de May) is all based on my favorite flower. Everything is the collection is based somehow on roses. Aaron de Mey has done some amazing collections since he joined up with Lancome but I have a feeling that this will be my favorite of all time. "Feminity. Playfullness. Irreverence. Now Aaron de Mey, Lancome's International Artistic Director for Makeup, brings you spring's prettiest and most provocative shades. Experience the sweetness of soft corals, mixed with a playful pop of teal to instantly update lips, cheeks, and eyes...O my!" This is a very large collection so get comfortable...

Time to look at the roses...

Color Design Quad Limited Edition Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quad Smooth Hold Spring 2010 - Design eyes with a color designer's palette of finishes: from shimmer to sheen, metallic to matte. Micro-aired powder technology offers supreme smoothness and blendability in the sultriest new shades.

- Kissed By Copper - copper/bronze/deep brown/white

- Pop'n Green - white/pale grey/mid-tone grey/deep teal

Ink Artliner Longwear Calligraphy Gel Eye Liner - Eye lining becomes calligraphy. This superb new gel formula has the rich, creamy texture that ensures a luxuriously smooth application. With deep, luminous pigments offering the most intense color imaginable, this liner creates pure drama.

- Teal Delight - deep teal

Oscillation Powerbooster Vibrating Amplifying Primer - Feel the vibration. See the growth. The vibrating powerprimer to boost the appearance of natural lash growth. Innovation: combination of Crescentia complex with the vibrations that act as a massage, see lash expansion day after day. Oscillation vibrating Powerbooster helps lashes reach their full potential and boost the appearance of natural lash growth. First apply Oscillation Powerbooster to prepare and improve the lash surface followed by your favorite mascara to maximize your makeup result. Results are spectacular: visibly stronger, fuller, longer day after day.

Blending Shadow - Brush # 17 - This versatile, long-haired brush gradually tapers to a medium-size dome of soft, natural hair bristles. Its unique shape makes it ideal for applying shadow all over the lids, softening eye contour colors, diffusing shadow pigments, or setting concealer to perfection. Shadow is seamlessly blended with horizontal strokes from the outer corner of the lid into the crease, making eyes look extra defined. Concealer is set by using light vertical strokes around the eye area.

Le Crayon Kohl Waterproof Eye Liner - Le Crayon Kohl makes a splash with a new waterproof formula. This creamy smooth eye pencil perfectly lines, defines, and contours. Glides on to dramatically define eyes or use the smudger to create a soft, smoldering effect.

- Brun Tease - brown

- Noir Desire - black

- Teal Kiss - teal

Definicils High Definition Mascara - Lashes with superb definition. For lavishly long, prefectly defined lashes, Definicils mascara provides the ultimate in shaping and separation. This best-selling mascara's patented brush coats each lash, from base to tip, for superb definition. Ophthalmologist-tested. Fragrance-free. Suitable for contact lens wearers.

- Deep Black - black

Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor Smooth Hold - Dress your lips in new Color Design Lipcolor for full coverage, smooth hold, and sensational effects in one coat. Creams, sheens, shimmers, and metallics - four modern finishes for custom lip styling. A range of 36 shades to create the perfect designer's palette for any lip tone.

- Copper Desire - mid-tone copper shimmer

- Groupie - mid-tone rose shimmer

Retractable Lip - Brush #9 - This versatile, synthetic-bristled brush is the ideal partner to all Lancome lip colours and glosses. This sleek, precise applicator retracts evenly for portable convenience. Precisely and evenly applies lip colour for a flawless, professional look.

Le Lipstique Lip Coloring Stick with Brush - Two tools in one: a soft, creamy, waterproof pencil for gorgeous, professional-looking lips on one end; and a brush for blending on the other. Worn alone or under lipstick, colour stays in place - no feathering or bleeding. Unique brush tip blends and applies lipstick beautifully.

- Sheer Natural - nude

Color Fever Gloss Sensual Vibrant Lip Shine - Magnify your lips with dazzling radiant shine. With Shine - Reflect Technology, ultra-radiant shine is revealed. Ingenious Lip-Magnify applicator provides even coverage and contours with amazing precision for voluptuous plump curves. Multiple glamorous shades. Just dare!

- Tango Scene - warm-toned coral shimmer

- Tangerina Sweetie - mid-tone pink shimmer

La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full Color Lipshine - Revolution in shine. High potency color. Lacquered lips last for eight hours. For the first time at Lancome, an elixir of vibrant concentrated color and unprecedented shine in one gliding stroke. From the moment of application, densely pixilated pearls combined with unique polymers give multi-dimensional shine that truly holds to your lips: no touch ups for eight hours. New soft-sculpt applicator smoothly polishes and precisely designs fuller lips in a perfectly even layer for sensual impeccable contours.

- Mandarina - shimmering nude

- Golden Sunshine - mid tone shimmering copper

- Pink Lace - shimmering rose

- Beige Lust - pale shimmering nude

Pop'n Cheeks Gentle & Lasting Blush - Spring colors are popping up all over Lancome, especially cheek to cheek. This gentle and luxurious powder blusher offers an extremely soft texture, in a range of colors as true as nature's own. Glides on easily to create a healthy glow that lasts for hours.

- Coral Flirt - shades of coral

Oscillation Powder Foundation - Micro-vibrating. Polishing. Mineral Makeup. SPF 21. The 1st micro-vibrating mineral foundation. See a pixel-precise complexion with 14 hour wear. Never messy. Never so simple. Simply push the button and let the velvety cushion applicator glide effortlessly across skin for perfect coverage. 7000 micro-vibrations per minute break down the featherweight mineral powder for seamless blendability. Feel newborn skin: Every day, micro-massages work with gentle minerals to revitalize skin, making it smoother, softer, and visibly healthier even after makeup removal. Talc-free, oil-free, fragrance-free. Safe for all skin types, even sensitive. Available in 12 natural shades.

Flash Retouche Perfecting Brush-On Radiance and Anti-Fatigue - Highlight and conceal in one simple sweep. Pearlized micro-particles brighten the eyes and diffuse light for a radiant look. Innovative pen-like brush sweeps away flaws and signs of fatigue while chamomile and hydrating agents smooth and comfort skin.

- 04 Universal Light - all skintones

Cheek - Brush #6 - This compact, natural-bristled brush is the ideal partner to all Lancome powder blush. It easily and evenly applies colour for a professional blushing effect.

To be honest, I was expecting a lot more pink in this collection. I tend not to associate roses with coral shades so I am a bit disappointed since I was envisioning tons of pinks in this collection. I want a few pieces in this collection but a bunch less than I thought that I would. I want both the of Eye Quads and the teal shade of Artliner (going to give it a shot). Lip product wise, I want the Color Design Lipstick in Groupie and all the Laque Fevers except for Golden Sunshine. I also want the Pop'n Cheeks Blush. I like this collection but this wasn't the love that I was hoping for from the title of the collection.

photo courtesy of Lancome

Bath and Body Works P.S. I Love You Spring Fling

Now it is time for the part of my shopping trip to Bath and Body Works. In addition to all the rest of the newness in the store, they have released an update to their P.S. I Love You fragrance from their Signature Collection line of body products. Last fall, I raved about the original P.S. I Love You and I might even like this new version more. Like I need to like another fragrance from Bath and Body Works... It is at the point that I scroll down the fragrance list on the website and I own products from 95% of the Signature Collection fragrance and the Classics Collection. I think I have a disease...

But I digress... Here is the description of the new version of the fragrance right from the Bath and Body Works website, "Inspired by the thrill of falling in love, master perfumers have created this playful twist on our original P.S. I Love You with a flirty blend of soft petals, sparkling water, and wild honeysuckle, and fresh air." It is lighter and softer than the original and the sprakling water notes make it quite a different scent. This is not P.S. I Love You in a different package.

Let's compare the notes of the two fragrances. First, P.S. I Love You Spring Fling. The top notes are: Sparkling Water, Melon, Fresh Air Ozonic notes, Sparkling Citrus, Rose. The middle notes are: Muguet, Rose, Honeysuckle, Plum. The base/dry down notes are: Amber Musk, Cedarwood, Sheer Vetiver. Now for the original. The top notes are: Fresh Citrus, Lychee, Peony, Yellow Rose, Sparkling Riesling. The middle notes are: Scarlet Velvet Rose, Orchid, Purple Lilies, Jasmine, Hyponotic Incense. The base/dry down notes are: Creamy Sandalwood, Patchouli, Golden Amber, and Musk. The new one has a more rose in it and i love how they blended the water and air notes in.

I bought the new version in the shower gel, body lotion, and the new version of the body cream. The updated version of the body cream is called the Triple Moisture Body Cream. Here is the description of the new product, "Fortified with our exclusive Triple Moisture Complex of conditioning milk proteins, rice bran oil, and protective acai berry extract, our Signaure Triple Moisture Body Cream provides deep, 24 hour moisture that softens even the driest skin. Our non-greasy formula deeply conditions, leaving skin moisturized, fragrant, and more beautiful than ever before." Off the top of head, I am pretty sure that the two major ingredients in the original body cream were the milk proteins and the rice bran oil so the change in the two products is the addition of the acai berry extract. I haven't gotten to really use this new product yet so I am unable to comment on how it performs against the old formula.

I would also like to get the new version in the EDT and I hope that it is not limited edition. At the moment, it appears that it will be since Bath and Body Works did not release it in all the Signature Collection products. I will have to head back to Bath and Body Works soon since I was given a massive pile of coupons on my last visit and see what else I end up buying.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Most Wanted March 2010

Spring beauty in full swing. This list took me about two minutes to make this month and then another ten to edit down to only ten items. I have pretty much loved everything so far. Good for my mood, bad for my Visa card.

Here's what I must have this month...


- Essie Nail Polish in Lilacism
- Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette
- Stila Yumberry Crush Lip Stain in Light Pink
- Guerlain Blush Eclat in Cherry Blossom 07
- Guerlain Ombre Eclat 4 Couleurs in Jeu d'Ombrelle
- Bond No. 9 High Life
- Dr. Brandt Anti-Irritant Soothing Moisturizer
- Alterna Caviar White Truffle Hair Elixir
- Kinerase Hydra Boost Intensive Treatment
- Chanel Glossimer in Futile

Spring makeup and St. Patty's Day! Yay!