Category: cosmetics

New Starry Eye Shadows From Urban Decay and LORAC

 

Looking for eye shadow with a little bit of shimmer, or a whole lot of sparkle? It’s a fun way to add some shine to your evening, or even every day look!

If it’s a smoldering shimmer you want, try LORAC’s Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio ($25.00 USD) is a great little palette that creates a lot of different sizzling eye looks. These are highly pigmented and long-lasting and they allow you to create a sexy, smoky eye with little effort. This trio is available in 6 different color combinations including 3 new ones. I have tried Star Studded, which includes a light gold highlighter, a medium copper shade and a cool dark olive. Very chic! Visit www.loraccosmetics.com to learn more!

Want a more glamorous, sparkly look? Urban Decay has taken glitter eye shadow to the extreme with their Stardust Eye Shadows ($20.00 USD) The cool thing about these is although they are full of glitter, they have a silky texture and they deliver a pretty twinkling sparkle instead of looking like a craft project gone wrong! They have 40% more glitter than Urban Decay’s most sparkly shadows, but just a dusting over your lids gives a sophisticated look. Wet the shadow and you get all-out glam! Each container has almost twice the amount of other Urban Decay shadows so this will last you a long time. Available in 9 shades including Retrograde, a deep purple and Moon Spoon a dark gray. Visit www.urbandecay.com to learn more.

Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation

Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation

 Want a change from your mineral or liquid foundation? Try a mousse foundation. The fluffy texture and good coverage of the Sue Devitt C-Weed Whipped Foundation ($40.00 USD) might be a welcome change from what you are using now!   

This is a great foundation for ladies who want their skin to look extra smooth, because it clams to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while evening out skin imperfections and locking in moisture. The Sue Devitt website explains,  

 “A unique Australian botanical deeply hydrates and replenishes the skin’s own lipid balance up to 20% to restore your natural hydration level instantly. Three types of seaweed revive delicate skin tissue, powerful antioxidant Vitamin C combats free radicals and environmental pollutants, while gentle Chamomile Extract soothes and nurtures. Suitable for all skin types, the Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation offers medium to full coverage and is oil-free.”

Sue’s Secret Beauty Tip: Warm the luxurious Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation between fingertips and massage (not rub) a small amount liberally into the skin to allow nourishing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to penetrate the skin. Use sparingly at first and build to desired level of coverage.   

Why I like this: when I apply the mousse, it feels like I am moisturizing my face with a non-greasy moisturizer (that evens out my skin tone). It feels so good on, light and creamy and leaves my skin soft. It also gives a little glow that is not shiny or glittery.   

 The Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation is available in 8 shades at www.suedevittbeauty.com. Try it — I think you’ll really like it! —

Benefit Cosmetics Confessions of a Concealaholic

Confessions of a Concealaholic

Need a little help making your skin look flawless? Are you addicted to concealer (like me)? Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic ($36.00) is a kit that was created to conceal and to brighten your skin.   

This set contains:
– 0.25 oz “That Gal” brightening face primer
– 2 x 0.04 oz Boi-ing industrial strength concealer in 01 Light (for fair complexions) and 02 Medium (for medium complexions) for custom concealing
– 0.11 oz Erase Paste brightening camouflage for eyes and face in No. 2 (for medium complexions)
– 0.03 oz Lemon Aid (sheer pale yellow) color correcting eyelid primer
– 0.03 oz Eye Bright (pale pink) instant eye brightener
– Concealer Brushes
– step-by-step lesson  

 This kit contains so many great products to give a flawless canvas for color cosmetics. That Gal is a fantastic primer. It’s goes on smooth and gives skin a little glow. Bo-ing is fantastic because it really covers under eye circles and blemishes and it comes in 2 shades. My favorite product is Erase Paste because it covers everything, but the one in this kit is too dark for my skin. The Lemon Aid is an effective eyelid primer and works as a shadow when you don’t have time. The Eye Bright can go in the inner corners of the eye, under the eyebrow, and my favorite — lining the lower lids. It will wake you up!  

I really recommend this kit for medium skin tones, so you can get the full benefits, but light skin can enjoy it too. Visit  www.benefitcosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase this fab concealing kit!

China Glaze Up and Away Collection for Spring 2010

China Glaze Up & Away Collection

 

Looking for fun, new polish shades to brighten your spring? If you’re not into serious, boring colors, China Glaze’s Up and Away Collection is perfect for you. 

If you haven’t tried China Glaze polish before, this is salon-quality fantastic lacquer that stays a fairly long time on the nails without chipping. They have a huge color range and introduce new collections each season. 

The Up and Away Collection includes these 12 Shades: 

Grape Pop — Bright deep purple creme 

Sugar High — Nearly-neon bright pink 

Something Sweet — Soft lilac pink creme 

Light As Air — Very light lavender creme 

High Hopes — Bright coral creme 

Flyin’ High —  Bright bluish teal 

Four Leaf Clover — Bright teal green creme 

Re-Freshmint — Pale mint green 

Peachy Keen — Light peach creme 

Heli-Yum — Bright pink creme 

Happy Go Lucky — Bright taxi yellow creme 

Lemon Fizz — Pale lemon yellow creme 

All of these shades are a perfect wake-me-up from that long, long, winter! Visit www.chinaglaze.com to find a retailer near you. Enjoy!

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Forever Stay Eye Pencil

Forever Stay Eye Pencil

 Trusted cosmetic company and television makeup artist Carmindy have combined forces to creat the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty collection. I have only tried their Forever Stay Eye Pencil ($7.99 USD), but I really like it.  

The first great thing that I noticed about this eyeliner is that it glides smoothly across my lids, not tugging. This is especially important for aging skin, as pulling around the sensitive eye area only causes problems. Then second thing I noticed is that you don’t have much play time with this liner, because it dries quickly and stays on, well, forever (or at least all day)!  

 There are 5 fabulous, rich shades to complement any eye color and if you choose opposite shades to your eye color your eyes will really pop! The shades are:   

Pure Plum for Green Eyes
Chocolate Brown for Blue Eyes
Blue Indigo for Brown Eyes
Deep Jade for Hazel Eyes
Deep Black is versatile for all eye colors   

Some of Carmindy’s tips are: To use small connecting dashes across the upper lash line to create an easily lined eye, apply the pencil under your lower lashes for a thicker-looking lash line, apply one shade of liner on the top lash line and another smudged underneath for a modern look, and line the upper lash line and then trace over it with a cotton swab for a soft-looking smudge.   

Visit www.sallyhansennaturalbeauty.com to learn more about these products that are available at most drugstores.    

Get a Matte Pout with Smashbox Lip Tech

Lip Tech

I love to try different lipsticks and glosses, but recently I’ve been using a lip product that is like nothing that I have ever tried. It is called Lip Tech by Smashbox ($24.00 USD).  

This cool little pot of product is touted as “an innovation in lip color”.  It is a lightweight satin-matte formula that has Vitamin E and emollients to protect and make lips soft, but the finish is definitely matte.  

This is packaged in a a little mirrored compact with a silicone applicator that looks like a plastic eye shadow wand. I brush it across the lip color and it applies just enough product to my lips. The applicator is really pliable and is fun to use. Lip Tech is available in 4 shades: Nude (creamy nude), Peony (rosy pink), Sangria (berry fuchsia) and Maple (deep warm nude). I really love the Peony and the Nude. They are soft and pretty for spring. I also like the matte finish, it is so different from the shiny gloss that I usually wear. and gives me a whole new look!  

Visit www.smashbox.com or run into your nearest Sephora or Ulta and try it out. Enjoy!

Essie’s The Art of Spring Collection

The Art of Spring Collection

I love the mixture of soft and bright colors that are coming this spring. Inspired by the colors from the Art-deco era, Essie’s new Art of Spring Collection is ripe with 4 pretty pastels and 2 fun, bright colors.

The shades in this collection are:

Lilacism — satiny smooth lilac

Neo Whimsical — rose plum

Pop Art Pink — sheer chiffon pink

Red Nouveau — fiery hot red pepper

Tart Deco — creamy coral

Van D’Go — ripe melon

I think these colors are so pretty and are making me wish for warmer weather so I can paint my toenails Red Nouveau or Tart Deco. I have worn the colors on my finger nails and really love the Neo Whimsical and the Van D’Go. The colors are soft, but unusual which makes them fun and easy to wear.

Visit www.essieshop.com to learn more and to purchase these beautiful polishes.

Paint Your Face Beautiful Naturally, with Josie Maran Cosmetics.

I have been wanting to try and to review Josie Maran’s Natural makeup for a while, because it is glamorous as well as great for you and the environment. Josie Maran is a former top model who had a contract with Maybelline that lasted 10 years — which is amazing. She loved learning makeup trips from the artists, but decided to make a cosmetics line that complimented her natural and organic lifestyle. Thus Josie Maran Cosmetics was born!

I have tested ( and love ) the following products:   

Mascara ($22.00 USD) — First of all this is a great mascara. It lengthens and defines my lashes without clumping or smearing. Plus it is paraben and fragrance free and contains organic ingredients like Jojoba oil, Argan oil and Beeswax to condition and strengthen. I love the fact that my lashes are being treated as I am wearing one of my favorite types of beauty products (I never leave the house without mascara).  Available in Black and Brown.

Eye Shadow ($20.00 USD) — This is  beautiful, velvety eye color that glides on and blends so easy. The ingredients are natural plus paraben and fragrance free — and even cooler is the fact that each shade comes in a state-of-the-art biodegradable compact.  You can apply the shadows dry, or wet for more intensity.  Available in 27 shades. I have Beach (shimmery pale sand), Embrace (shimmery coppery brown), and Divine (matte medium brown). All three shades work together seamlessly to make a natural look or a pretty smoky eye.  

Lip Gloss ($18.00 USD) — I love a good, non-sticky lip gloss — and I have found a great one here! Full of natural and organic ingredients, this gloss contains no parabens. Available in 6 shades. I have Confession, which is a coppery gold. It looked very shimmery in the tube and I thought it might be too coppery for me. But it goes on sheer and very pretty.

Visit www.josiemarancosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase these fab natural products.

Lashes Lacking? Try Imju Fiberwig Paint-On False Eyelashes Mascara

Fiberwig Paint-On False Eyelashes

I love trying new mascara — especially one that gives length and volume and makes your lashes look fake! That’s what Fiberwig Paint-On False Eyelashes ($24.00 USD) mascara claims to do. 

Fiberwig is the top-selling mascara in Japan, and it is easy to see why. It contains  micro-fine interconnecting fibers which creates a long-lasting film coat around your natural lashes. This is what gives the false eyelash look. 

I have noticed that not only does it make my lashes long and lush, it is water-resistant and clump-free. I hate the spider-eyes look, and this gives great separation. And it is very easy to remove. A little warm water removes the fibers from your lashes.      

You can learn more about the mascara at www.fiberwig.com and can purchase through www.sephora.com and www.amazon.com. Enjoy your lashes!