I have been excited to try Hourglass’s new Aura Sheer Cheek Stain ($45.00 USD). I have seen ads for it for the last few weeks, and it is even a featured new product on the Sephora website.
So does it live up to the hype, you ask? I think so.
The Aura Cheek Stain is a water-based stain that give cheeks a subtle lit-from-within glow and to last all day. Spring makeup is about looking effortlessly beautiful, and this product embodies this by being so easy to apply. Aura’s unique click mechanism dispenses the perfect amount of product for convenient on-the-go application, and has a sponge applicator which makes it easy to blend.
This product is enriched with Vitamin E to help improve skin’s moisture retention and is free of oil, fragrance, and phthalates. Available in three shades: Rouge (sheer rose); Flush (sheer red); Petal (sheer pink/coral shimmer). I have tested Petal and love the color. It is a soft pinky coral with a subtle shimmer. Anti-aging tip: pinks and corals are perfect for us women who want to look younger. A soft flush is extremely youthful. Pinks and corals are also perfect as a lip gloss for a younger-looking pout!
New lip balm alert! Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7.00 USD) — Care for your lips with beautiful, sheer color. These new tinted balms give you a hint of color with a soft, sweet flavor and natural ingredients that moisturize and condition your lips. Available in six flirty shades – Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Tiger Lily, Pink Blossom, Red Dahlia and Rose.
The main ingredient is shea butter. This natural fat obtained from the fruit of the karite tree is a valuable, nourishing addition to moisturizers for the reduction of wrinkles and to improve the elasticity of the skin and protect it against environmental aging.
What I think: I like these balms. They are very moisturizing and have a sweet taste. They also impart a soft color, like a light stain. The great thing about Burt’s Bees is that you can feel good about using these all-natural products.
You can purchase these at www.burtsbees.com and at drugstores and mass market retailers near you. Enjoy!
This Spring there are a lot of fun and glamorous collections of color cosmetics debuting. I have reviewed a lot of them and plan to review more! The thing is that most of them are available at department stores and they are fairly spendy. The solution? Hard Candy is available at Walmart — and it is cool and affordable.
Hard Candy’s spring line includes lots of skin brightening blushes and bronzers and really fun glitter lip glosses. The products I tried are:
Glossaholic – Sequin Saturated Shine Lip Gloss ($5.00 USD) — One dip covers your lips! Ginormous applicator with gloss cup deposits gloss to your whole mouth in one swipe! These super lustrous lip glosses are infused with prisms of color that make lips appear fuller and plumper. Out of this world hyper-reflective prisms of pearl make lips sparkle like crazy! Feeling tired or wired? Two Glossaholic sparkling clear top coats are infused with mood altering elixirs to help you Chill Out or Rise & Shine! – You can wear alone or as a top coat.
Glow All the Way – Instant Bronzer & Gradual Self-Tanner ($8.00 USD) — Improve your tanitude! A tinted, sunless self-tanner that gives you an all over Tropical Tan. The light, airy formula instantly bronzes face and body while the self tanner gradually builds a lasting tan that darkens with time. This light and airy formula moisturizes and will not streak or rub off onto clothes. Infused with 24 carat gold!
Fox in a Box – bronzing duos & blushing quads ($6.00 USD) — A highly pigmented multi-color powder compact that will surely bring out your inner foxy lady. Each box contains coordinated shades that blend together perfectly and a custom Hard Candy applicator brush. Sweep across chin, cheeks, and forehead and unleash the foxiness in you! This is such a cute box and the shades are gorgeous!
Lip balms are awesome — but lip balms with SPF are even better. Not only are you moisturizing, but you are protecting your delicate lip area. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balms ($7.50 USD) have a whopping SPF 25 that helps protect from sun and wind!
Enriched with superior lip conditioners and antioxidants, these emollient balms calm, protect and relieve dry, chapped, irritated lips. Unlike waxy sticks, the unique formulas penetrate quickly to provide instant relief.
Flavors include:
New! Black Tea & Blackberry – Smooth and subtly sweet with powerful antioxidants
New! Grapefruit & Ginger – Fresh, subtly citrus and energizing
Lemon & Chamomile – Mellow and refreshing to calm and soothe
Natural Mint & Shea Butter – Clean and tingly to freshen breath
Vanilla & Lavender – Herbal, soothing and healing
I have tried the Lemon & Chamomile, which smells fresh and soothing. And it feels so smooth on and it is not greasy, which a lot of cream balms can be. I think this is a great buy — the product is definitely worth the price!
Availability: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue and at www.getjackblack.com. Enjoy!
I had so much fun trying the Nail Fraud Houndstooth ($12.00 USD) decals! They are a fairly easy (once you get the hang of them) to apply and look very cool on! Here are some details of this cool product:
• Kit comes with two sets of 20 nails, a Nail Fraud emery board inside a re-useable clear pencil case.
• Easy to use. No experience necessary. Just pick the right size, place on nail starting from bottom and file off excess.
• Made from flexible film which is waterproof.
• Stays on for one week.
• Easy to remove, just peel off or use nail polish remover.
• Frauds advantage over Polish:
No waiting, No chipping, No smearing
The pros of this product are that they look amazing and are easy to apply. The cons are that they started peeling off about an hour after I applied them. I think with a top coat, they would last longer. I am now into my second day of wear, and the tips have peeled off of most of them. I would recommend these for a night out or a special event.
International nail care leader JESSICA® is excited to unveil its latest colour collection inspired by goddess-like styles from Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week. The six-colour collection,
named “Runway Style”, compliments the whimsical yet captivating designs and color palette seen
on the runway.
Named after The Sirens Sea Goddesses, the mythical beauties whose enchanting voices seduce
passing sailors to shipwreck, the collection features a color palette of bold corals, shimmering
nudes and fresh grays that are designed to complement frothy chiffons, georgettes and velvet
devoré that mimic the waves of the sea.
The shades are:
Temptress of the Sea — glistening beige
Goddess — shimmery white
Alluring Creature — baby pink
Coquette — iridescent grey
Seductress — ruby pink
Enchantress — orange coral
All of these colors are gorgeous. I especially love the Coquette because I haven’t seen many shimmery grey polishes and the Alluring Creature because a lovely soft pink is perfect for spring. Pearly white is a trend this spring, so Goddess is another fab choice.
About Jessica: Known as “The First Hand in Nails,” Jessica Vartoughian is the pioneer in the professional nail care industry. As the first to recognize that all nails are not alike, Jessica’s unique philosophy has translated into a global cosmetics company. She has utilized her groundbreaking Nail Cultivation System, trend setting range of nail colours and individualized nail treatments to specialize in providing women with beautifully manicured hands and feet.
Today, after over 30 years of being at the forefront of the nail care industry, the JESSICA system and product range is successfully offered in over 28 countries.
Each polish retails at $7.50 USD. Visit www.jessicanails.com to learn more and to purchase.
With spring on its way, it’s time to start grooming again! At least for me it is, I find I get a little lazy during the winter months, when I am all bundled up indoors and outdoors! Try one of the following prodoucts from Tweezerman to start getting your beauty habits in shape — the sun will be here soon, I promise!
Folding Ilashcomb ($9.00 USD) — The perfectly spaced, gold-plated metal teeth glide through lashes to remove excess mascara, leaving your lashes looking long, lovely and clump-free. Comb cleverly folds in to protect teeth when not in use. Great tip: While still wet with mascara, comb your lashes (moving up, out and away from eyes). If applying more than one coat, comb lashes after each additional application. Make sure to look in a mirror when using this precision tool.
NEW Special Edition Hot For Dots Matchbox Itty Bitty Files ($4.00 USD) — Designed to fit easily into the palm of your hand and stored in any size purse, pocket or travel bag, the compact case conveniently houses a dozen durable, disposable mini files. Rough emery grains on one side tackle tough nails while a fine grade of emery on the other smoothly file.
Mini Brow Rescue Kit ($25.00 USD) — Keep your brows looking perfect any time, any where with this convenient, travel sized brow essentials kit. Fits in any makeup bag or purse for quick touch ups on the go.
Kit Includes:
Mini Slant Tweezer
Mini Browmousse™
Mini Brow Brush
Mini eyenhance Brow Highlighter
Stylish Travel Case
Tweezermate 10X Lighted Mirror ($15.00 USD) — Isolate even the finest hair for precise, easy tweezing with our optically correct and lighted 10X magnifying mirror. Clear from edge-to-edge with no distortion — you won’t miss a hair.
I love spring makeup because of its ability to freshen and brighten my pale winter skin. The colors this season are romantic and much softer than the bold winter hues.
A fab collection that embodies the new lovely spring colors is the In Bloom collection from Smashbox Cosmetics. The look on the spring runways were delicate and girly –from radiant, lit-from-within skin to hazy, neutral eyes and glossy nude pouts. With light, luminous looks for eyes, cheeks, lips and skin, In Bloom is your ultimate spring beauty update.
The In Bloom Collection includes:
IN BLOOM EYE SHADOW PALETTE & BRUSH ($48.00 USD value $180.00 )-ballet pink, lavender grey, golden pink, warm taupe, bone, soft violet, marine blue, shimmering copper, moss, nude — Spring beauty is in full bloom with this ten shade palette of ultra-luxe shimmers and wearable mattes, arranged vertically in duos for effortless customization. Apply with the included eye shadow brush for a flawless finish.
CREAM CHEEK DUO in BLUSHING/PEONY ($26.00 USD) -soft pink/bright pink — This duo of creamy, rose shades offers a sheer natural flush to cheeks and lips anytime, anywhere. Wear alone or pair together for a rush of custom color. Apply with fingertips or a Foundation Brush and blend.
SOFT FOCUS POWDER EYE LINER ($22.00 USD each) -heather grey or dark brown — This innovative powder formula creates a soft smoldering look in seconds. Before using, shake well and tap off any excess powder before lining the lashline.
LIMITLESS LONG WEAR LIP GLOSS WITH SPF 15 ($21.00 USD each)-Timeless (soft pink) or Endless Kiss(coral pink) — Get juicy color and long-lasting shine with added pout protection from SPF 15. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this unique formula benefits and boosts lips. Apply to bare lips or layer over your favorite Smashbox lipstick for gorgeous color and shine that lasts up to six hours.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT LUMINIZING POWDER ($20.00 USD) -shimmering soft nude — Inspired by top-selling Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion, this soft shimmering powder highlights and brightens for a radiant glow. Apply to inner corners of eyes, down the bridge of nose, above brows and to the tops of cheekbones with the targeted applicator. It can also be mixed with body lotion and applied to arms, legs and décolleté for a subtle shimmer.
I have tested the Timeless lip gloss and the cheek duo. Both products give beautiful color. The lip gloss is sheer and so pretty on. It is a bit sticky, but does last a long time and is moisturizing on dry lips. I also love that it includes SPF, which is perfect for sunny spring and summer days. The cheek duo looks brighter in the pan then on the face. It is so soft and pretty on. I love the glow that cream blush gives, plus you can put it on your lips for a pretty monochromatic look.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Smashbox.com, Sephora, Sephora inside JCPenny, Ulta, Nordstrom, Beauty.com, and select Macy’s — Enjoy!
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I love reviewing new mascaras. My favorites are ones that lengthen, volumize and do not smudge. A tall order? Perhaps, but I think I found a mascara that provides all three.
It is d.j.v. beautenizer Volume Lash mascara ($24.00). This mascara, available in Pure Black, claims that it volumizes, conditions and smudge-proofs each and every lash. Volume Lash’s versatile volume sculpting brush is designed to hold plenty of its new, 3D film-coating formula to cover and condition all your lashes with nourishing oils. This quick dry formula prevents lashes from clumping while giving you an all day smudge-free look. Of course, when you’re ready to remove Volume Lash at the end of the day, all you need is warm water. It’s fuss-free.
I love that this mascara does volumize plus lengthen. It also doesn’t smear, but flakes a bit at the end of the day. Removal is a bit tough, you need lots of water to get it all off. Makeup wipes do not work on it. But, if you want a dramatic look, this product delivers!
This is available exclusively in Sephora, Sephora inside JCPenney and Sephora Canada.
The 3D Multidimensional Beauty Collection from LORAC is a great way to infuse your Spring makeup look with some shimmer. The products below are very unique in that many of them include holographic pigments. The products are:
MULTIPLEX 3D LASHES MASCARA ($22) – This volumizing and thickening mascara takes your lashes to the next level by instantly delivering 3 times the volume. MULTIPLEX 3D LASHES has a buildable, smudge-resistant and multidimensional formula that creates a dramatic lash look. Featuring beneficial ingredients like silk and keratin to nourish and condition. The professional curved brush easily grabs, lifts and curls for maximum coverage and length.
3D LIQUID LUSTRE ($16) – A shimmering top coat that lets you amp up your look. This paraben-free, long-lasting, shimmering coat can be applied over eye shadow or worn alone on eyes and cheeks for a luminous, prismatic 3-Dimensional sparkle and shine.
3-in-1 WATERPROOF EYELINER PENCIL ($18) – Get sexy, smoldering, defined eyes with this no-smudge, no-budge waterproof eyeliner pencil. This new eyeliner features a creamy, velvety-smooth texture and intense rich color that easily glides on for a clean, precise line. This transfer-resistant retractable pencil is equipped with its own sharpener and “smudger” for effortless, versatile application. Available in Ultra Black, Chocolate and Eggplant.
MULTIPLEX 3D EYE SHADOW PALETTE ($38) – This Sephora Exclusive Limited Edition Palette contains high-wattage 3-Dimensional color with 6 velvety-smooth shadows infused with luminous, prismatic, holographic lustre, long-lasting pigments and versatile color. The shadows can be worn dry for a soft, natural finish or wet for a more intense color pigment. It can even be worn wet or dry as an eyeliner. The faux animal print palette fits perfectly in your purse or clutch and is very on-trend for the season!
MULTIPEX 3D LIP GLOSS DUO ($28) – Get two glam and gorgeous shades of our popular Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss for the sexiest lips ever! This innovative, paraben-free lip gloss contains holographic pigments, long-lasting color and high-lacquer shine. The duo features 2 shades – 3D (Rose Bronze with glitter) and 4D (Bubble Gum Pink with glitter).
MULTIDIMENSIONAL BEAUTY COLLECTION ($35) – This ULTA Exclusive Collection contains everything you need for MULTIDIMENSIONAL eyes and lips. Featuring 3 prismatic light-reflecting shadows for dramatic shimmering color and MULTIPLEX 3D Lip Gloss in ULTA GLAM for super glossy 3D lips. All enclosed in a metallic mesh makeup case that can double as your evening clutch.
I tested the 3D Eye Shadow Palette and the 3-in-1 Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil. I love the shadows because not only do they give a great variety for many looks — the multi-dimensional shimmer is really gorgeous. The color included are Opalescent Gold with Pink Pearl, Amber Bronze with Gold Pearl, Red/Brown with Green Pearl, Silver with White Pearl, Royal Blue with Electric Blue Pearl, and Midnight Black with Holographic 3D Glitter. The ones I have been loving are the gold with the pink pearl because it is soft and pretty and the red-brown with green because it is so amazing. I dust it over my lid and when I turn my head the color changes. So cool! The shadows are also very long-lasting.
The eyeliner is very good, too. It has a fairly soft consistency and can give a light or heavy line. It is also very pigmented and stays on all day!
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 