Friday, April 5, 2013

Nails Inc Spring and Summer Nail Polish Collection

Nails Inc polishes have been included in almost every single Sephora order that I have made in the past few months, now my polish collection is growing even more and my range of shades gets larger with every single season.  I have been ordering shades from the regular collection lately and have been waiting for some more seasonal shades to be available, it seems like it took forever but I now see them up on the Sephora website.  Just in time for the Friends and Family Sale, I can't imagine what all will be even left after the ten day event so I will need to start getting my shopping lists started right now. 

The new shades of polishes from Nails Inc are available only in the set so far, I don't know if they will be released separately or if I will only be able to get them in the Spring and Summer Nail Polish Set.  This set contains six new shades of polishes and I am on the fence about ordering the whole set or seeing what happens if I wait and see if the polishes come in by themselves.  Choices, choices, choices...

"A collection of six catwalk-inspired trend shades. Behind the scenes at Fashion Week, nails inc. spied beautiful salmon pinks, punchy corals, and desirable mint shades. This collection of six limited-edition glossy shades in a beautiful box were created to celebrate these spring/summer trends."

Nail Polish - Professionally formulated, catwalk-inspired nail colors.  This formulation has been specially created and developed using the latest professional technologies for instant and exceptional results. The formulation is long lasting, ultra glossy, and easy to apply so that you get the best possible results every time. All of nails inc. polishes and products are named after iconic places in the UK and streets in London in order to celebrate the brand's British heritage. The range includes shades such as "Piccadilly Circus," "The Mall" (where you will find Buckingham Palace), and "The Thames," the most famous river in the UK.   Nails inc. has a huge color range including everything from super glossy cream shades, liquid metals, shimmery metallics, and glitter shades. Nails inc. really has something for everyone, every outfit, and every occasion.

The shades in the set are...

- Royal Botanical Gardens - mint cream
- Kensington Palace Gardens - medium peach salmon cream
- Chelsea Physic Gardens - pale blue cream
- Primrose Hill Gardens - medium rose pink cream
- Hampton Court Palace Gardens - medium taupe cream
- Belgravia Gardens - medium orange cream

I am very divided as to what I want to do about these polish shades, I am almost afraid to wait for after the Friends and Family Sale since I know that anything good will not be left over.  I really love three of these shades, I like one of them, and doubt that I would wear the last two shades.  I love the mint, the blue, and the medium rose shade and I know that I would get lots of wear from them.  I like the taupe shade and it reminds me of Porchestor Square, a shade from this company that I have been using on a regular basis.  The orange and yellow shades are not my style and would not be attractive on my skintone, I would try and find a friend to give these away to since I would never wear them.

I am considering waiting to see what happens from this company in the next few weeks, my favorite shade is the mint hue but I don't see that I would buy the whole collection just for that shade.  I would be super willing to order it if it was alone so I will wait or I might have to order a similar shade from another line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Current Favorites!

Spring came pretty late this year and I have mostly been using products that are suitable for the slowly changing seasons, I have not broken any of my warm weather fragrances out yet and am not yet wearing any type of bright shades.  However spring seems to finally have arrived to stay and I already have some new favorites for the beginning of the season.  My bottle of Chloe perfume has been working overtime lately and I may be adding to my list of favorite fragrances, I will be wearing this one for a long time to come yet and it is one of the best purchases that I have made in a long time.  I have also been in love with a new (to me) formula of MAC Lipstick and I am now excited to buy even more shades from this formula, I know that I have a great few months of beauty product shopping coming up!

Here are my current favorite items!

Chloe Chloe - "Capturing the spirit of women, the Chloé vision is not about one singular woman, but rather about the rich and varied personalities of all Chloé women. This fresh, smooth floral fragrance evokes sublime powdery rose. The effect is chic, comfortable, and entirely addictive.  Top notes of pink peony, freesia, and lychee embody subtle freshness. At the heart, midnotes of magnolia flower, lily of the valley, and rose rise to sublimated femininity. A base of velvety elegance comes to fruition through cedarwood, amber, and honey.  Inspired by the details in Chloé's fashion, the flacon's heavy but softly curved and grooved glass reflects femininity and strength. The plated-silver top is embossed with the Chloé mark and adorned with a hand-tied ribbon.  The notes are: Pink Peony, Freesia, Lychee, Magnolia Flower, Lily of the Valley, Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, Honey."  This perfume has been my go to since the beginning of March and I fall more in love with it every time that I use it.  The mixture of the peony, rose, and magnolia notes mix perfectly with the powdery notes and create a lovely floral that I can wear in any environment.  I have worn this fragrance to work, school, and when going out and it just fits perfectly in each time.  I have received many compliments on this fragrance and I have been relying on it for several weeks now.  This one might be up there with Stella McCartney's Stella as an absolute favorite of mine!

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Behave Yourself - "Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme creates the perfect hybrid - with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion."  Behave Yourself is a "light blue pink" that is perfect for both the spring months and my pale skin.  This lipstick formula was one that I had never tried out before but had several people recommend to me, this is one of the most hydrating and softest lipstick formulas that I have ever used, it goes on smoothly and keeps my lips very hydrated without the use of a separate balm.  When I first felt the texture of this lipstick at the counter, I assumed that it would be more of a tinted balm however it is a full pigment lipstick and I love the color payoff so much.  Behave Yourself is a light blue pink that is the perfect pink for me, I get so many ladies walking up to me and complimenting me on this shade whenever I wear it.  I want to try more shades in this formula now!

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Dab - "A color-rich, water-resistant cream pigment for the lips, cheeks, and eyes that lasts as long as you do.  This versatile cream pigment creates the ultimate in textures on the face, eyes, lips, and anywhere else on the body you fancy. Apply with an Illamasqua brush or simply use your fingers for a buildable and highly pigmented finish that is water-resistant and long-wearing."  Dab is a "pale lilac with a matte finish".  This cream eye shadow is very pigmented and stays all day long (when used with a primer), a little bit of this product goes a very long way.  I pat a bit of this product on in the morning and it is still in place on my eyelids when I go to take off my makeup at night.  Dab is a pretty lilac without a shimmer finish, this is a lovely shade for spring and summer and I have been using it on any warm day that we have gotten so far.  I will be using this shade for the rest of the summer and it is fast becoming a warm weather staple for me.

MAC Archie's Girls Eye Shadow x 4: Caramel Sundae - "An Eye Shadow Quad in four shades: Caramel Sundae, Cheryl Chic, Dreammaker and Showstopper. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition Archie's Girls packaging.  Shades are: Cheryl Chic (light coral pink with frost finish)/Dreammaker (pale frosty yellow with frost finish)/Caramel Sundae (midtone warm tan with satin finish)/Showstopper (dark cool toned brown with matte finish)."  I have been using this palette very often since I first bought it, the shades mix very well together and then with all the other neutral hues that I already owned.  When I am in a hurry, I know that I can grab this palette and combine three of the shades to get a quick but still polished eye look.  Some people have not been happy with the pigmentation of these shades, I agree that they could have more pigment but this would make them harder to wear and work with.  I can apply and mix these shades with fingers or brushes and they allow me to create a great look in less than three minutes.  I am so glad that I ordered this palette right away!

Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Nomad - "A vivacious nail varnish.  Leave your mark with bold, rich, vibrant colors that stand out. The formula is long-wearing and chip-resistant and contains individual finishes from matte to high gloss. Apply two coats for high intensity and use with Illamasqua Nail Base Coat and Illamasqua Nail Top Coat for the perfect finish. Make a statement and talk with your hands!"  Nomad is a "bright jade with a glossy finish".  This is a bright jade green that I bought late in the winter when Pantone announced what their new Shade of the Year is.  I started using it as soon as winter ended and have been wearing it at least once a week every since.  This bright green catches the eye and the formula is the top quality one that I have come to expect from Illamaqua.  I will use this one on fingers and toes all the way through the spring and summer months!

I can't wait for the weather to get warmer and then stay warm, I am off to a great start to the spring with my current products and I only look forward to more MAC collections that are on the way and the Sephora Friends and Family so that I can get more goodies for the upcoming seasons!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC In Extra Dimension

The newest MAC collection was released on the website today and I am getting excited for what we are going to see this month from this company!  Baking Beauties is not due out until the middle of the month so I will be tiding myself over with this collection and the Sephora Friends and Family that is coming up very soon.  I love that MAC always releases great collections right around the same time that Sephora does their big sale, my wallet will be empty by the end of this month at this rate...

I seem to remember MAC has released other versions of collections with the same name several times before, In Extra Dimension in not a new concept for them and multiple kinds of products have been released with this title on them before.  I am not quite sure what about this collection is new but I bet that we will see when we look at the products.  I do seem to remember that in previous years, the products in this collection have been larger than normal size but I do not remember them as being anything really special (correct me if I am wrong), I don't believe that I have anything from the Dimension collections and if I do, then they are not the products that I use on a daily basis.

From the Nordstrom website, "In Extra Dimension Skinfinish, Blush and Eye Shadow feature our unique liquid-powder hybrid formula, delivering high-resolution colour and prismatic reflections in versatile finishes with up to six hours of colour coverage. It’s polished perfection."  I remember the eye shadow from previous collections, is this the same product or was it changed?

The newest collection from MAC!

Extra Dimension Skinfinish - A liquid-powder highlighter with prismatic reflections that sculpts, highlights and models the face. The cool, creamy, near-fluid formula creates a luminous, well-defined finish. Lasts 10 hours.
- Definitely Defined - silvery pink/soft rose with shimmer
- Shape the Future - pastel pink with iridescent/soft brick with shimmer
- Double Definition - soft shimmery gold/patina bronze

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow - Extra Dimension is a liquid-powder eyeshadow with prismatic reflections in shimmering tints with an impact that ranges from sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect and lasts up to six hours.
- Opalesse - opalescent white with pink pearl
- Extra Silver - true silver
- Triple Impact - opalescent lavender with violet pearl
- Zestful - pale iridescent lime
- Dimensional Blue - frosty blue
- Smoky Mauve - mid-tone cool mauve

Extra Dimension Blush - A liquid-powder blush with prismatic reflections in a variety of shimmering shades. Impact ranges from sheer, crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect. Lasts up to six hours.
- Blazing Haute - dirty peach
- Bareness - beige with rose undertones
- Flaming Chic - bright blue pink
- At Dusk - midtone rose
- Fiery Impact - burnt red bronze

Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush - Subtle or sizzling, edgy or elegant, the split-fiber brush allows you to create the eye look you're longing for with its signature blend of goat hair and synthetic fibers.

128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush - Designed for exceptional blush application, this split-fibre brush delivers a soft, diffused look with its unique combination of natural and synthetic fibers.

I like many of these shades and products but I don't know that there is anything that I am in love with.  All of these products has a pretty heavy dose of shimmer and I have never really worn shimmer on my face or cheeks, in fact the reason that I sometimes have problems when buying blush from MAC and NARS is that some shades have so much shimmer in that I consider them almost unwearable (especially during the day) and I feel that all of these blushes will be unwearable for me.  The cream finish will only enhance the shimmer and make it more visible on when applied to my cheeks.  I will be skipping over these blushes unless I try them at the counter and they look completely different than what I am picturing.

The eye shadows are the only item in this collection that I have any interest in, I love shimmer on my eyes.  Extra Silver is my favorite shade, this shimmering silver will look very sharp on the eyes and I would be able to use this shade over multiple seasons.  Triple Impact is the other shade that I would like from this line, this lilac will look great in the spring and summer against a tan.  The other shades aren't really what I am interested in so I will be skipping over them. 

I only like two items from this collection and I think that I will be saving my money for the Sephora sale, there is nothing that I am really needing from this collection and I won't die without either of the two eye shadow shades...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Too Faced Summer 2013 Collection - Hello Sunshine

The summer collections are really coming quickly now and the weather is beginning to actually show signs of spring and I now am really getting excited for some big beauty product shopping.  I am also starting to think about the upcoming Sephora Friends and Family and will be checking out more brands and products that I will be able to order during their event.  Too Faced is one of the companies that Sephora has a large selection of items from and I will be looking at their summer collection otday and deciding if there are any items that I must have from this company.  This is another company that offers a large range of bronzing products and I am hoping that this collection will make up from how disappointed that I was yesterday when looking at the few bronzers in the new Laura Mercier collection.

The Too Faced summer collection is named Hello Sunshine and this looks like one of the largest collections recently from Too Faced.  I see a combination of brand new products and best selling products that will be perfect for the summer months.  I am very happy to see that there appears to be several formulas of bronzers in this collection and this might be the place where I find a couple formulas that I am interested in and begin to narrow my purchases down.  I can't begin to decide what items I am most excited for; I see a new summer eye shadow palette, a new lip gloss formula, and all kinds of bronzers for the face.  I can see this collection selling out almost instantly from Sephora!

Here is the newest collection from Too Faced!

Summer Sexy Eye Shadow Collection - A hand-picked collection of nine exclusive resort-inspired eye shadows will be your temptation to take a vacation. Like all Too Faced palettes we’ve included a show-and-tell centerfold we call a Glamour Guide to give you instructions and a start on creating three Summer Eyes looks.  Our shadows are created with high concentrations of color so what you see is what you get—pigment-rich shades with a brilliant finish.
- Seashell - pale pink shimmer
- Peach Fuzz - pale matte peach
- Sunbeam - pale gold shimmer
- Plumeria - medium matte pink
- Coral Crush - medium matte coral peach
- Mermaid - medium matte aqua
- Cocoa Beach - deep chocolate brown shimmer
- Chocolate Sun - deep matte chocolate brown
- Toasted Coconut - deep bronzer satin

Sweetheart Beads Face Powder - Catch the light with buildable color and a hint of shimmer. Inspired by nature’s most flattering pink and golden-light at dusk, these multi-colored heart pearls blend to impart a lit-from-within radiance.  The heart bead colors work together to create the perfect combination of color, coverage and glow for a healthy radiance.  Colors illuminate and brighten for a romantic finish.  100% cruelty-free product.

Sweet Sun Shines Lip Gloss - A moisturizing, lightweight gloss with gorgeous shimmer in high impact pops of color. Sweet Sun Shines Lip Gloss comes in three delicious, juicy shades: Watermelon Ice, Papaya Slushie and Mocha Freeze.  Exclusive formula prevents water loss for intense hydration.  Lightweight, non-sticky gel formula.
- Watermelon Ice - pink
- Papaya Slushie - coral
- Mocha Freeze - bronze

Endless Summer 16+ Hour Long-Wear Bronzer - All good things don’t have to end. Get a lit-from-within bronzed glow that lasts 16-hours or more courtesy of our exclusive “Double Bond” formula that combines staying power technology with long wear pigments. It’s a bronzer that works harder than you play.  Our Double Bond Formula combines the staying power of film formers and polymers with prolonged wear pigments.  Buildable bronze pigments can be dusted all-over for an even bronze glow.  16-hour wear.  100% cruelty-free product.
- medium gold tan shade

Bronzed and Poreless Pore Perfecting Bronzer - Create radiant-looking skin with all-over natural warmth. Bronzed & Poreless is infused with the same pore-banishing and skin smoothing properties that made our original Primed & Poreless famous—with an added warm matte bronze finish. It’s the must-have little black dress of bronzers.  Minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections.  Infused with Mulberry Extract for a brightening effect.  Matte bronze finish.  Fragrance and oil free.
- medium bronze tan shade

Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer - Our mostpopular, dual-toned bronzer is a silky combination of a rich, goldenbronze and a classic bronze with a touch of pink undertone to achieve year round bronzed perfection that mimics a natural tan without any of the orangey ick!  Universal Shade: Perfect for all skin tones to provide a medium tan tone.  Multi-use: Easy to apply shades can be used to shape and contour, or to produce an all-over rich glow.  Protect Yourself: Stay away the sun’s harmful rays by faking your bake!
- medium bronze tan shade

Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer - Bronzing has never been so delicious. Our chocolate-scented, shimmer-free, matte bronzer is perfect for contouring and creating an all-over deep tan using real antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. It’s all the tan without the twinkle.  Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone.  100% cruelty-free product.
- medium/deep bronze tan shade

Milk Chocolate Soleil Light/Medium Matte Bronzer - Bronzing has never been so delicious. Milk Chocolate Soleil is the lighter version of our best-selling Chocolate Soleil. It creates a matte, shimmer-free tan using the power of antioxidant-rich cocoa powder to bronze and contour the skin. It’s all the tan without the twinkle.  Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone.  100% cruelty-free product.
- light/medium bronze tan shade

Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer - Four complementary shades are combined in this skin-perfecting bronzer tobanish redness and rudiness, correct imperfections and add an all-overfaux glow.  Universal Shade: Perfect for all skin tones.  Protect Yourself: Stay away the sun’s harmful rays by faking your bake!
- medium champagne/medium bronze tan/pale pink shimmer/medium tan

Pink Leopard Blushing Bronzer - Our lovely little leopard bronzer combines gorgeous shades of golden bronzes, gilded pinks and neutral fawns to brighten skin and create a glorious all-over glow that will have you looking sun-kissed any time of the year.  All Skin Tones: Fair to medium skin tones are enriched with warmth while deeper skins are infused with a healthy radiance.  Natural Finish: Beautifying combination looks natural when applied and creates a look that lasts for hours.
- mixture of medium pink and medium tan matte shades

Beach Bunny Custom-Blend Bronzer - Our deep, illuminating bronzing powder is a silky combination of four rich,sun-kissed bronzers and shimmers that create a perfect, deep summertime tan anywhere, any time of the year.  Universal Shades: Perfect for all skin tones to provide a rich, deep tan tone.  Multi-use: Easy to apply shades can be used to shape and contour, or to produce an all over rich glow.  Protect Yourself: Stay away the sun’s harmful rays by faking your bake!
- four shades of bronze from deep to pale

Now I have some choices for bronzers!  I think that the one that sounds the most attractive to me so far is the Bronzed and Poreless Bronzer and then the Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer, I would like to buy and try both of these formulas so that I can have a variety of formulas to fit my skin as my tan changes throughout the summer.  I never self tan enough to get very dark but there are certainly days where my tan is more vivid than other days and then days where I have minimal color and it would be great to have shades of bronzes that will allow me to vary how I appear.  I am very excited for this collection to get to Sephora!

The other item that I really want to try is the new lip gloss formula, I love that pink shade and I always wear pink lip gloss in the summer months.  I haven't used many lip products from Too Faced and this might start another lip gloss obsession for me.  I thought that I would be more excited about the eye shadow palette but the shades aren't very unique and I own most of them already.  Unless it looks very different in real life, I bet that I will skip over it in favor of the lip glosses and the bronzers.

photo courtesy of Too Faced

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Laura Mercier Summer 2013 - Folklore Collection

The next collection that we are looking at for summer is the newest one from Laura Mercier, usually there is more than one collection made for each season so there is a good chance that we will be returning to this company within the next few weeks.  This seems like this winter went on forever and now we are finally getting into the spring weather and I am not yet ready to start thinking about bronzers and self tanners but the collections are out and I will start having these types of items at the back of my mind.  This new collection from Laura Mercier is named Folklore and contains wonderful neutrals and bronzes for every facial feature along with several well placed pops of bright color.  The brights will be very beautiful against a fake tan and I am excited to see how Laura Mercier decided to work these types of shades into her bronze collection.

Folklore will be a great collection for the summer and for those who love to sport a fake bronze look from Memorial Day to Labor Day, I am very excited to see what I will want to buy from this collection and start putting together a summer shopping list.  "It's a naturally bronzed, sun-drenched look that is created with rich earthy tones and accentuated with bold tribal shades.  Perfect for summer days and nights."  I am thinking that I might find a new bronzer in this collection along with some new brights for lips and eyes.  I was very happy with my MAC bronzer all of last summer and I still have some more to use this summer but I am still keeping my eyes open for new formulas that I might want to try later on.

Here is the new collection from Laura Mercier!

Illuminating Eye Colour - Eye colour with a multi-dimensional, luminous pearl finish with a soft, bouncy texture for excellent colour pay-off and a smooth, even application.  Provides a multi-dimensional, luminous pearl finish an incredible metallic effect.  Soft, bouncy texture provides excellent colour pay-off.  Applies smoothly onto eyelids without dragging, skipping or pulling skin.  Stays colour-true and does not fade throughout the day.  Long wearing formula wears all day (8 hours).  Provides perfect adherence to the eyelid.  Crease-resistant, transfer-resistant.  Non-drying and comfortable formula.  Designed to apply with an even colour release to blend without being powdery or dusty.  Dermatologically and allergy tested to minimize the risk of allergy and irritation.  Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive.  Ophthalmologist tested.
- Fire Glow - copper shimmer
- Sun Glow - gold with shimmer
- Earth Glow - deep brown

Creme Eye Liner - An ultra-smooth, water-proof creamy eye liner that applies with the ease and smooth silky finish of a gel and the precision of a liquid liner. Smudge and transfer-resistant, this long-wearing formula goes on “foolproof” with the Laura Mercier Angled Eye Liner Brush.  Ultra-smooth creamy formula provides precision of a liquid liner, with a silkier, softer finish.  Water-proof formula for extended long-wear (8 hours).  Smudge, transfer, crease-proof formula.  Easy to use, allows for mistake-proof application.  Glides on smoothly and evenly; does not drag on skin.  Product has ample playtime, staying workable to allow for the perfect application before it dries.  Delivers immediate colour impact and intensity.  Creates a fine, precise line and provides definition in one stroke.  Provides a beautiful semi-matte, non-oily finish with full coverage colour.  Non-greasy; non-drying formula is comfortable to wear.  Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive; suitable for contact lens wearers.  Ophthalmologist and dermatologically tested.  Allergy tested to minimize the risk of allergy and irritation.
- Canard - teal
- Cobalt - vibrant midtone blue

Faux Lash Mascara - Give real lashes extreme volume and length for intense exaggeration and drama. The formula is extra-smooth, glossy and good-for-lashes, created with a blend of waxes and absolutely no fibers. Build rich, exaggerated lashes that are extraordinarily thick, super-shiny and conditioned.  Blend of waxes deliver extraordinary volume.  Provides a “false lashes” effect for high impact lashes.  Absolutely no fibers.  Extra-smooth, glossy formula.  Oversized brush builds lashes for maximum impact.  Provides buildable volume for a day to night look.
- Sierra Brown - chocolate brown
- Black - black

Long Lash Mascara - Long Lash Mascara extends and precisely separates the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes by expertly scooping up and lengthening each lash while delivering just the right amount of product. The 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.  Contains rich dark pigments to enhance lash colour for maximum drama.  Clump-free, fiber-free, paraben-free and ophthalmologist tested.  Suitable for contact lens wearers.
- Bleu - navy blue

Baked Blush Bronze - Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze is a baked powder with five complimentary shades that together provide the perfect, natural colour for cheeks and face. Each tile is hand-mixed with a unique design.  Provides healthy-looking, natural colour to cheeks and face.  Applies smoothly onto skin and blends effortlessly.  Ultra lightweight formula, feels weightless on skin.  Smooth, silky, velvety texture feels comfortable on skin.  Longwearing formula wears all day (8 hours).  Colour stays true without oxidizing for an even wear.  Non-dusty; non-drying formula.  Dermatologist tested.  Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive.  Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect skin cells against the effects of free radicals.  Jojoba Oil is moisturizing and helps soften skin.  Spherical Powders allow for increased comfort and blendability.  Fragrance-free.
- Ritual - mix of all shades of bronze

Lip Crayon - A smooth lip colour that provides pure, long-wearing colour to lips in three on-trend shades for summer. With a convenient purse-friendly package, Lip Crayon never needs sharpening, making it perfect for travel and touch-ups on the go.  Delivers smooth, pure colour to lips in one swipe.  Sheer to medium, buildable coverage with a natural, luminous finish.  Applies smoothly onto skin; does not skip, drag or tug.  Moisturizing, non-drying formula leaves lips feeling soft and nourished.  Feels lightweight and comfortable on lips.  Long-wearing colour (8 hours) stays colour-true throughout the day.  Transfer-resistant; does not bleed or feather; does not settle or migrate into fine lines.  Portable package is perfect for touch-ups and travel; never needs sharpening.  Dermatologist tested.  Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive.
- Folklore - fushcia
- Mayan Sun - orange pink
- Burnt Clay - deep brown

Angled Eye Liner Brush - Specifically designed by Laura Mericer to work with the Crème Eye Liner, the ANGLED EYE LINER BRUSH uses high quality synthetic fibers in a narrow, exact point with a thin profile that creates the most precise looks. Angled ferrule allows you to reach up over the lashes to easily apply along the lash line.  Shorter handle is easy to hold and lets you get even closer to your mirror for a more precise application.  Unique point lets you determine the width of the line- simply increase pressure to widen the definition.  Professional nickel-plated ferrule will not rust or discolor when used with liquid liners.

Body Bronzing Makeup - Available for a limited time, Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Makeup instantly reveals healthy, radiant, bronzed skin without long-term commitment.  Satiny smooth formula with light reflective particles helps disguise imperfections.  Adds a subtle all-over sheen.  Lightly scented with the Almond Coconut Milk.  Streak-free, transfer resistant and easily washes off when ready.  Available for a limited time only.

I am a bit disappointed to not see more of a bronzer selection in this collection.  In years previous, Laura Mercier's summer collections already has several selections of bronzers and you could try all of them and find the best formula and shade for your skin.  I am unhappy to only see the Body Bronzing Makeup (which comes out every single year) and the Baked Bronzer.  I have never been interested in the Body Bronzing Makeup, I prefer to use self tanner every few days and then not worry about having to apply a separate bronzer.  I am interested in trying the Bake Bronzer and seeing how natural it looks on my skin tone, I will need to visit Sephora when this collection comes to their counter.

I am most excited about the eye makeup from this collection, I am really interested in the bright teal cream eye liner even though I have never used a shade like this before.  This might be the perfect time to try it out as this is a shade that would really pop against tanned skin.  The Cobalt shade is not what I find flattering for my eye color and I will skip over this shade.  The next items that I want from the eye makeup part of this collection are the pale gold and copper shades in the new Illuminating Eye Color, I have never see this product before and I hope this it is not limited edition for this collection only.  The last piece from this collection that I am considering buying is the bright pink lip crayon, my lip product collection only continues to grow and the end will not be in sight anytime soon.

I like this collection but I was hoping to find more bronzers in it, I prefer the eye makeup from this collection and will be using some of these gold and bronze shades in the late spring and early summer.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Monday, April 1, 2013

DKNY Be Delicious Eau So Intense

One of my favorite fragrances in college was DKNY's original Be Delicious fragrance, the one that is contained in the green apple bottle and has been one of their best selling fragrances for years.  I used to use this fragrance almost every single day during the early spring and then into the summer and I quickly burned through a good sized bottle of it and then I never repurchased it since I was beginning to get sick of it.  Over the past few years, all kinds of new versions of this fragrance have been released and my favorite still remains the original version and the floral version.  None of the other versions have really attracted me as much as the original has and I never bought a bottle of any of the others and I have recently been thinking about picking up another bottle of the original for the warm weather months. 

Before I made my decision, I saw that a sample of a new version was available as a sample on one of the many Sephora orders that I have made over the past two months and I jumped at the chance to really try another version out and see if this might be a version that I would actually purchase and wear.  The new version is a stronger and more intense apple version of the original and is fittingly named "Be Delicious Eau So Intense".  One of my favorite aspects of the original version is the balance between the tart apple and the lighter floral notes and I am thinking that this version will not have that balance and has the potential to be too heavy on the apple.  We shall see...

"All the things you love about Be Delicious is now intensified—decadent and refreshing. A delectable fragrance that is the pick of the crop, Be Delicious Eau So Intense is all of the things you love about Be Delicious, but even more ardent. A higher concentration of our classic Be Delicious fragrance accentuates the key apple note, resulting in a more intoxicating scent that resembles the first bite of a freshly picked apple."

The Sephora website does not list the notes for this fragrance so I will list the ones that were provided for the original version instead.  The notes are: American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.

The original fragrance started off apple and then the apple faded away slightly and the mix of florals becomes more evident.  After about two to three hours, the fragrance gradually fades into the wood and sandalwood notes.  The original fragrance never lasted long enough on my skin so I was originally quite excited when I saw a more intense version of this fragrance.  My first hope with the version was that it would smell very similar but last longer on my skin and that this would become a fragrance that would last all day long on me instead of one that I must carry a small version of the bottle in my bag for frequent touch ups.  Well this new version is not quite what I was hoping for...

The new version is a very intense green apple scent and that note never softens.  The first hit of the fragrance is very green apple (similar to the original) and then I was waiting for the apple to soften a bit and then the floral notes to emerge.  I was even open to the possibility for a mix of floral and apple with a stronger emphasis on the apple.  This fragrance is very heavy on the apple, it made more sense once I read the fragrance description from Sephora and I saw that only the green apple note was intensified and none of the others.  They are completely correct when they talk about the intense green apple notes, this is all that the fragrance smells like and it never fades down into a mixture of notes.  This is the closest to a singular green apple fragrance that I have ever smelled and this was not what I was hoping for when I tried this fragrance.

This might be one of the worst versions of the original, it is such a singular note fragrance that I find it boring and rather flat.  The original was sparkling and fun, this one is just much too strong on the apple and reminds me of the old Victoria's Secret Apple-tini scent (fun at first but got boring very fast) and this is not what I was expecting from a fragrance from DKNY.  Someone who loves very crisp and simple scents might find this fragrance appealing but I am no closer to finding a new fragrance for spring after using this sample for two days...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Most Wanted April 2013

April may be the cruelest month in poetry (T.S. Eliot) but this is one of the best months for beauty product shopping!  Sephora Friends and Family occurs for two weeks this month and MAC has several good collection that will be released in the next four weeks.  All the spring products are out and the summer collections are now on the way too so I can start wearing my favorite new items for spring and then begin to start crafting my summer makeup looks.  In addition to new MAC collections, I am craving some new fragrances for the spring, I have been trying and using samples for the last few weeks but so far I haven't found my newest series of fragrance purchases.

This month will be a huge shopping month for me and I know that I will be updating with favorite products and new finds throughout the whole month.  I already talked about new MAC collections but there all kinds of products on my shopping list.  This month alone, I have three new fragrances on my shopping list and I will be searching for more samples of them so that I can try each of them again before buying them.  I have smelled each of the fragrance on my list and so far I am really liking them but a second round of trying is needed.  I will be reporting back in the next few weeks...

My Most Wanted List for April!

- OPI Euro-Centrale Nail Polish in You're Such a Budapest!
- China Glaze Avant Garden Nail Lacquer in Tarty for the Party
- Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection See-Thru Blush in Light Show
- Bobbi Brown Lilac Rose Eye Shadow Palette
- MAC Baking Beauties Lipstick in Raspberry Swirl
- Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Plushest Punch
- Kate Spade New York Live Color Fully
- Tocca Liliana
- Jurlique Essence of Rose
- Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Sacred Strengthing Hair Serum

I have never used anything from Jurlique but the fact that they have released a natural fragrance filled rose oil makes me want to try this brand out and see what all they have.  Not that I need yet another brand to become obsessed with.

This is going to be a good month!