Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Lancome Rose Fresque Blush Review, Photos & Swatches!

lancome rose fresque

Lancome Rose Fresque Blush Subtil

Lancome Rose Fresque Blush ($30) is described on the Lancome website as a dusty, rosey pink. It has a bit of a plummy tone to it, yet it's pretty neutral overall. It doesn't get very ruddy on the cheeks, so it will work well for cooler skin tones, and it doesn't pull too purple, so it will equally flatter warm skin. *Please bear in mind that the blush featured in this post is a sample size, so it is much smaller and doesn't include a brush.

One helpful way of picking out a good neutral for your coloring is by having a look at your natural lip color. Our lip color differs from skin tone to skin tone - look for tones of red, purple and pink. My natural lip color is a light-medium, rosy pink with a hint of red. A similar shade would flatter my cheeks. Always remember that "nude" or "neutral" differs with every shade of skin.  

The consistency is very soft, and it's not overly pigmented, so it provides a soft wash of color to the cheeks. I like using a soft, fluffy blush brush such as the Real Techniques Blush Brush, and lightly tap and swirl the color on my cheeks.

It has a soft, natural matte finish that doesn't look dull or powdery.

lancome rose fresque blush subtil review

lancome rose fresque blush subtil

Sunday, July 29, 2012

MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

mac blossom culture sheen supreme review

MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick

MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick ($16) is described on the MAC website as a soft pink with (white) pearl. It has a hint of coral, so it will work exceptionally well on warm skin tones. It's semi-opaque, and seems to enhance my natural lip color, while bringing a little bit of color to my face. It's a natural shade, making it great for daily wear, yet the hint of coral adds a little bit more. I think it's a great summer shade and will pair well with bronzed cheeks and pinky-coral blush!

If you aren't familiar with MAC Sheen Supremes, they are an ultra-creamy, moisturizing formula with a shiny finish. In some ways, they kind of remind me of the texture of Revlon Lip Butters (but creamier) — they feel like a soft, creamy lip balm, yet the coverage is opaque.

I love MAC Lipstick, and I'm crazy about Sheen Supremes. If you're a MAC fiend like myself, I urge you to check them out. I'm sure you'll fall in love too!

mac blossom culture sheen supreme

mac blossom culture sheen supreme review

mac blossom culture swatches
MAC Blossom Culture on my lips.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Dolce and Gabbana Darling Passion Duo Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Dolce and Gabbana Passion Duo Lipstick

 Dolce and Gabbana Darling Passion Duo Lipstick

Dolce and Gabbana Passion Duo Lipstick ($34) is a 2-in-1 hybrid of rich cream color and satin gloss. The outside lipstick layer provides most of the color, while the middle gloss layer provides shine. Darling is a glistening, warm peachy-pink with a cotton candy pink center. It's a lipstick that falls in the natural/nude category, and one that I find to be very sophisticated. It has light pigmentation (buildable) and leaves my lips glowing!

Although it's not the first time this type of design has been created, and with my personal experiences, 2-in-1 products tend to be failures (usually exceeding in one aspect and falling short in the other) - automatically I think of cream blushes that "can also be used on the lips", which usually ends up in dry, shriveled lips, but perfectly stained cheeks. Well, my good ol' friend D&G hit the nail on the head with the passion duo lipsticks, as the overall formula isn't anything short of fabulous.

The formula is silky smooth and feels great on the lips. The moisturizing ingredients in this lipstick seem to sink into my lips quite well without further drying them out.

The lipstick does have a noteworthy scent/taste of roses. Although it's not crazy strong, it's there. Imagine the scent of Guerlain Meteorites on your lips - that's exactly what it's like.

Darling is actually one of the sheerer passion duos, so the lasting power is very average. I've read that the more pigmented (darker) colors stick around much longer. If you're looking for a sexy, warm red, check out Incognito. (View Crystalis007 review & lip swatch - omg!)

Dolce and Gabbana Darling Passion Duo Lipstick

dolce and gabbana lipstick swatch
D&G Darling Lipstick on my lips.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Dolce and Gabbana Provocative Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

dolce and gabbana provocative blush

Dolce and Gabbana Provocative Luminous Cheek Colour

Dolce and Gabbana Provocative Luminous Cheek Colour ($44) is a mid-tone cool pink (bubblegum pink) powder blush with a matte finish. Although it has cool undertones, I don't find it to be overly cool, and would be suitable for warm and cool skin tones. Obviously I have very warm, medium skin, and it works well on me without leaning purple or appearing ashy.

I've also worn this blush after my faux tan has faded, and on light skin, it gives a natural flush to the cheeks. It's a bit reminiscent of the pink hue the cheeks would turn on fair skin after a light jog. While running errands yesterday, I had to stop a couple of times in the mirror and admire how pretty it is!

The texture is smooth and very finely milled, so there shouldn't be any problems with blending.

The pigmentation is good - just where you'd want a bright blush like this to be, so you won't end up over-doing it. It's always best to lightly tap the blush with your brush and apply it to your cheeks, and go back for more if necessary, rather than going full-force at once.

dolce and gabbana provocative blush review

dolce and gabbana provocative

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Spotted Maybelline Define-a-brow Eyebrow Pencil at Dollar Tree!

maybelline define a brow

I know the Maybelline Define-a-Brow has been a drugstore brow-filler favorite among many of us (including myself) and was shocked to see it on the rack at my local Dollar Tree today. There were at least twenty of them, all in the shade Dark Brown. Many have compared this pencil to the MAC Eye Brows retractable brow pencil - I agree!

Apparently Maybelline hasn't discontinued the product, but they discontinued the shade "Deep Brown", which confuses me because I'd assume it'd be a popular shade for dark brunettes.

I think they're trying to re-direct consumers to their newer brow product, the Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil, and won't be surprised if they get rid of Define-a-Brow all together. They aren't really comparable products, I like both, but Define-a-Brow has an advantage, as it's retractable (no sharpening) and the product has a small tip (for precise shaping of the brows). Maybelline Master Shape has to be sharpened frequently and due to the soft waxy texture of the pencil, you can't get a very sharp point.

I know stock of discontinued cosmetics will differ from location to location, but I just wanted to make sure you were all aware that you might be able to spot this pencil at Dollar Tree. It's regularly around $8, for only $1 at Dollar Tree - very well worth it!!

maybelline define a brow before and after
My eyebrow before and after it has been filled in with Maybelline Define-a-Brow in Dark Brown.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Wet n Wild Megalast 2% Milk and Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Polish!

I love anything that sparkles, and when I spot a pretty glitter polish, it's pretty hard for me to not toss it in my cart. Despite the P.I.T.A. glitter polishes are to remove, I think they're so much fun! Milani has a big variety of glitter polishes to choose from. If you like smaller, more uniform glitter, you have to check out the Holographic and One Coat Glitter polishes. But if you're a fan of large, chunky glitter, the Jewel FX polishes are for you.

I recently picked up Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Lacquer, and decided to experiment a little bit with it today. I painted some glitter tips, and thought I'd quickly share my NOTD!

milani jewel fx lavender
I used three coats of Wet n Wild 2% Milk, two coats of Milani Lavender Jewel FX and then used the Milani Art of Silver Nail Art polish to create a silver, glittery line across the tip.

From the left to right: Wet n Wild 2% Milk Megalast Nail Color, Milani Art of Silver Nail Art Nail Lacquer and Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Lacquer.

Wet n Wild 2% Milk is one of my frequently used "no polish" polish. Most sheer, light nail polishes apply streaky, but because of the thick, flat brush of the Megalast polishes, it yields minimal streaks. I've gone through so many Essie polishes, and haven't liked any of them. This one is only $2 and it beats them all! I also like using Sugar Coat for a pinker alternative.

I think I might get a couple more of the Jewel FX polishes. They are great glitters to use for a statement nail, as the glitter is really chunky and metallic - it almost gives off a foiled look.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Milani Quick Flash Haute Flash Full Coverage Shimmer Lipgloss Review!

milani quick flash lipgloss

Milani Quick Flash Haute Flash Lipgloss

Milani Haute Flash Lipgloss ($7.49) is a new lipgloss range from Milani providing full coverage color with an extra shiny finish. It's non-tacky and won't won't feather; meaning, it will stay on your lips and won't travel outside your lip line.

There are six (6) shades available: Hot Flash, Flashy, In a Flash, Star Flash, Golden Flash and Quick Flash. A couple of the shades caught my eye, but I was the most drawn to Quick Flash.

Quick Flash is a light-med pink (I can't decide whether it's a warm or cool pink, it's somewhere in between) filled with a mixture of white and pink shimmer. If you don't like shimmer, steer clear because these contain lots of shimmer.

Some of the shades in this range are more pigmented than others, and Quick Flash happens to be the sheerest. I was a bit disappointed because with the claims of being "full coverage", I was expecting a liquid lipstick type of gloss, and it just didn't deliver. It's very buildable though, and with two coats, it provides a nice medium coverage on my rosy lips.

milani haute flash lipgloss

milani quick flash lipgloss swatch
Milani Quick Flash on my lips.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Eyeshadow Review, Eye Look, Photos and Swatches!

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Eyeshadow Review

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Metallic Eyeshadow ($21) is described as a deep, golden brown. Although I would categorize it as more of a medium, golden brown as it's not dark at all on the lids. In the pan, the color looks very neutral - almost like a taupe brown, but on the skin, the golden tones appear. It's not really a yellow/orange golden, it's rather a bronze.

Although it's not all that unique, I don't own any exact dupes. The closest matches are MAC Tempting and Urban Decay Smog, but both are slightly deeper and warmer.

I've had this shadow for a couple of years now, and reach for it every now and then for a quick eye look. I'm all about simplicity when it comes to my everyday eye makeup, and I love shades that work well solo and give off the "illusion" that I'm wearing more than one shadow, and that it took me more than 30 seconds to complete the look. Burnt Sugar is one of those shades that you can wipe across your lids, apply a little mascara and be done with it. In fact, I don't think I've ever worn this shadow with anything else.

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Review

Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar Eyeshadow Swatches
Bobbi Brown Burnt Sugar applied (packed heavily) all over the lid, stopping slightly above the crease, and smudged on the lower lashline. Then, used a tapered blending brush to blend out the edges and slightly bring the shadow upward, toward the brows. MAC Nylon Eyeshadow applied to the brow bone and inner corner for a highlight.

Monday, July 16, 2012

L'Oreal Blushing Sequin Colour Caresse Lipstick Review!

L'Oreal Blushing Sequin Colour Caresse Lipstick

L'Oreal Blushing Sequin Colour Caresse Lipstick ($9.99) is a vibrant pink with a slight neon pink/purple sheen. What drew me to this shade is the striking resemblance to one of my favorite lipsticks - MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme. Comparisons are at the end of this post.

The majority of this review is duplicated from my previous post, reviewing the shade Pink Cashmere, as every aspect of the lipstick is the same, except for the color.

The Colour Caresse formula is in some ways like Revlon Lip Butters - they are a lipstick/lip balm hybrid, applying to the lips smoothly like a lip balm, and providing a good amount of color like a lipstick. They are sheer upon the first swipe, but the color can easily be built. The pigmentation is comparable to the MAC Lustre Lipstick formula.


Blushing Sequin on my lips.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

L'Oreal Pink Cashmere Colour Caresse Lipstick Review!

L'Oreal Pink Cashmere Colour Caresse Lipstick

L'Oreal Colour Caresse Lipstick ($9.99) is a new spin on L'Oreal's popular Colour Riche Lipsticks. They deliver a pop of luminous color to the lips, with a smooth, lightweight, non-heavy or sticky feel and a shiny finish.

Pink Cashmere is a light-medium vibrant pink with a subtle glowy sheen.

The Colour Caresse formula is in some ways like Revlon Lip Butters - they are a lipstick/lip balm hybrid, applying to the lips smoothly like a lip balm, and providing a good amount of color like a lipstick. They are sheer upon the first swipe, but the color can easily be built. The pigmentation is comparable to the MAC Lustre Lipstick formula.


Pink Cashmere on my lips (it's a bit more vibrant in person)

Friday, July 13, 2012

GHD Gold Professional 1" Styler Review!

GHD Gold Flat Iron Review

GHD Gold Professional 1" Styler

The GHD Gold Professional 1" Styler ($225) is GHD's sleekest styler ever, with a cooler, lighter body, smoother plates, and an bonus protective plate guard for storage and travel. Rounded barrel and contoured plates means you can not only straighten hair with this professional styler, but create curls, waves, and flips. Sleep mode provides added safety and universal voltage means no converter while traveling, makes the GHD your go-to styling iron.

Throughout the years, I've owned countless flat irons and have never really been 100% satisfied with any of them. For reference, this flat iron is my first GHD flat iron - I've never owned any comparable brands (Chi, T3, Solano, etc).

I've been using this flat iron for the past month now, so if you'd like to know what I think of this iron, please keep reading!

GHD Gold Flat Iron Review

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup Review!

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation Review

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup ($13.99) is Revlon's newest addition to their foundation family. This mousse-like texture feels silky against the skin, with a "time release" formula that balances skin for a flawless long-lasting look. Provides medium to full coverage and withstands heat and humidity.

Available in sixteen (16) shades: Ivory, Buff, Sand Beige, Nude, Natural Beige, Medium Beige, Warm Golden, True Beige, Natural Tan, Early Tan, Rich Ginger and Caramel.

Being a big fan of Revlon, I was really excited when they launched a new foundation - especially since it's a part of the Colorstay line. After reading several very positive reviews, I didn't hesitate to purchase it! I've been wearing it now for a little under two weeks. (I was wearing it in every post for the month of July)

My color match is Warm Golden, which is a warm medium shade equivalent to the MAC NC30 coloring. In comparison to the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation, it's almost exactly the same, but it's a touch less yellow toned. (Comparison swatches later in this post)

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation Warm Golden


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

How to Create Ombre Nails!

ombre nails tutorial

In the fashion and beauty world, we've become obsessed with gradients. From dip-dying our shirts, to our hair to our finger tips, we can't seem to get enough of the trend. The ombre manicure is something incredibly simple and easy to do, and the results are very cool!

There are many different ways you can create ombre/gradient nails, but today I'll be showing you one method, using a craft sponge.

Tools needed:

* You can use any three (more or less) shades you'd like! You can use different colors, or different variants shades of the same color.
* Make sure to allow your nails to properly dry before moving on to the following step.
* If the polish on your nails appear bumpy after using the sponge, don't worry, it will all even out by the time a top coat is applied.

How to Create Ombre Nails in 5 Steps

Step 1: Paint your nails with your chosen base color. Depending on the opacity of the polish, paint 1-2 coats.

Step 2: Pour a little nail polish on the piece of wax paper that will follow. Dip the tip of the brush in the polish. Now, lightly lay the brush on your nail, lining the brush up with the side of your nail, and rotate, or roll your finger against the sponge to coat the bottom half of the nail. Or, you can simply tap the brush across the bottom half of your nail.

Step 3: With the tip of the sponge, lightly tap where the second color began to create more of a gradient effect. Also add to any areas that needs additional polish.

Step 4: Repeat Step 2 with your final shade, but this time only covering 1/2 of the previous color. White would have looked cool for my nails, but I wanted a little more flare, so I chose a holographic glitter.

Step 5: Finish off your nails with your favorite top coat. I like using a fast-dry top coat to reduce the chance of nicks and smudging.

ombre nail polish tutorial

Monday, July 9, 2012

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skin Finish Review!

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skin Finish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish ($29) is a new limited edition baked highlighter, released in the Heavenly Creatures Collection that launched in-stores July 5th.

If you typically aren't favorable of shimmery face products, you might want to steer clear of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes, as they are frosty and sometimes shimmery. The amount of shimmer differs with each shade. I can't help but drool over Mineralize Skinfinishes each time MAC launches new shades.. they're just so pretty to look at! And although I'm not too crazy about too much shimmer, I love highlighter, and I always use a bit in my daily routine!


Star Wonder is described as a plummy pink with multi-dimensional pearl. It's made up of a few different shades - there's a warm pink, plum and pale gold. When combined, a shimmery plummy pink with a golden shimmer is created. 

Mineralize Skinfinishes have the typical smooth and soft texture of baked powders, and blend really well with minimal effort. Some shades are dark enough to be used as a blush, while some are light and frosty, and work best solely as a highlighter. Star Wonder could be used for either purpose, but is dark enough to use as a blush. Because it's shimmery, only a touch is needed for a natural glow. When buffed out, the shimmer isn't as noticeable, but it's still there, providing a glowing sheen to the cheeks. While it looks nice applied either way, I like wearing it across the top of my cheekbones as a highlight, paired with a pink blush.

I usually use a duo-fiber fan brush, but any duo-fiber brush would work well at laying down minimal product at once.

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skin Finish


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Green and Brown Cut Crease Eyeshadow Tutorial!


Green is actually one of my favorite colors, but I normally shy away from colored eye shadow. I've been wanting to do a look with green eye shadow, so this morning I decided to mess around a little bit with some green and snap some photos during the process.

Green looks great paired with almost every color. It's a earthy color, so it looks great paired with warm autumn shades (brown, gold, burgundy, orange, etc.) and it also works well paired with bright, floral shades (pink, purple, blue, etc.) You all know that I love my neutral and warm shades - so my favorite pairing is brown and gold.

I actually don't own very many green eye shadows - in fact, I got rid of most of them a while ago because they started collecting dust in my drawers (well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.) I would've loved to use an olive green for this look - I've had MAC Sumptuous Olive on my "to buy at some point" list for ages, so I'm definitely going to add it to the top of my shopping list.

Anyways, enough babbling..


Products Used:
Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow (used in Step 1)
YSL Absinthe Green 4-Colour Harmony for the Eyes (used in Step 2)
MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow (used in Step 3)
MAC Tempting Eyeshadow (used in Step 4)
MAC Brun Eyeshadow (used in Step 5 and 7)
Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow (used in Step 8)
Physician's Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Brown Eyeliner (used in Step 9)
Elizabeth Arden Caramide Mascara (review soon!) (used in Step 10)
Ardell #116 False Lashes (used in Step 11)

Brushes Used:
Sponge Applicators (used in Step 1, 2 and 3)
Sigma E30 Pencil Brush (used in Step 4)
Small Generic Shader Brush (used in Step 5)
Sigma E65 Small Angle Synthetic Brush (used in Step 7 & 8)

*A non-shimmery base would've worked better for this tutorial - I used gold to warm up the green, but this base in particular made the otherwise smooth, pigmented green appear patchy.

*A thinner line with a matte, cream eyeliner would've worked better for this tutorial (I made it too thick, and it was pretty much irreversible!)

*When using tape, make sure to press the tape on the back of your hand a couple of times before applying it to your face. You don't want it to be very sticky, because you don't want the tape pulling your skin when you remove it.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

mac supernova blush

Mac Supernova Mineralize Blush 

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush ($23.50) is a new, limited edition baked blush released in the Heavenly Creatures Collection that launched in stores yesterday (July 5th).

The "Mineralize" products by MAC are either hated or loved, and I love them. What I love specifically about the Mineralize Blushes, is that they are very soft and blend easier than standard, pressed powder blushes.

Typically, those who prefer matte finish cheek products steer clear of Mineralize cheek products because of the pearly (sometimes shimmery - but not glittery) finish.

Supernova is described on the MAC website as a magenta and burnished gold melange. That pretty much says it - it's a magenta base, intertwined with a swirl of gold-bronze. The magenta is quite cool, but when the swirl of gold and magenta is combined, it creates a slightly reddened pink tone to the magenta.

The blush itself is very pigmented, and because Supernova is a fairly deep shade, you have to apply it with a light hand, or you can quickly go overboard with it. A duo fibre brush (such as the E.L.F Stipple Brush or MAC 187/188 Brush) will work best for laying down the least color. If you're using a standard blush brush, you only need to tap the product once, and dust the brush on a tissue prior to application to ensure a light application.

mac supernova blush


Friday, July 6, 2012

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

mac chatterbox lipstick

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick ($15) is described as a bright, red-pink with an amplified creme finish. It's definitely vibrant, but it's not in the neon category (ie: Vegas Volt, Morange, Viva Glam Nicki, etc.) It's a medium, rosy pink that is really easy to wear and adds a bit of color and brightness to the face.

This is a shade I've had on my wishlist for a while now, and recently decided to pick it up as my 'Back to MAC' trade-in.

MAC Chatterbox is extremely pigmented, creamy and applies smooth and even.

I love MAC Lipsticks in general, and I don't have a problem with any of their formulas. The amplified formula is definitely one of my favorites because of the bold, bright pigmentation, shine and the comfortable wear.

mac chatterbox lipstick

mac chatterbox lipstick swatch
MAC Chatterbox on my lips

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet Review!

jewelmint classic cinema bracelet

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet is a new spin on the Cinema Americano Bracelet. It's the same design, but for July, the new version was released in silver.

The bracelet is a mixture of curb and cable links with two textured links that give this bracelet a bit of style. The bracelet measures 7 1/2".

I love the gaudy, chunky chain trend, so when I saw this bracelet in my July showroom, I thought it'd be a perfect everyday piece. You may have noticed that I skipped June, because I really didn't see anything I liked. But I actually liked a few items this month, and I ended up deciding on one that I thought I could get the most use out of/the most practical.

Needless to say, I received it in the mail today and wasn't too satisfied with it. Had I saw the bracelet in person, I would have chosen something else.

The weight of the piece is nice - it's not heavy, but it's not ultra-lightweight. It's well-made, and the links are attached very sturdy. The clasp is also very sturdy.

It's not a shiny silver, but it's not grungy/oxidized . It looks a lot like dull, stainless steel.

jewelmint classic cinema bracelet review
Wearing the Classic Cinema Bracelet mixed with other bracelets (H&M)

Photo Credit: Luuux

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

My Ombre Hair Experiment + How I Achieved It!


I've been wanting a change with my hair for a while now, and after procrastinating for months, I decided to finally "ombre" or "dip-dye" my hair. 

The ombre hair trend has been really big these past couple of years among celebrities, bloggers, and well - what seems like everyone. It's in fact so popular, that there are countless tutorials on blogs, Youtube, etc on how to achieve the look yourself with a couple simple tools.

What does ombre mean? Ombre (a french word) specifically means "shadow" or "shade". If you own a lot of French cosmetics, you may have spotted the word here and there - such as Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow or the lovely Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadows. When referring to clothing, hair, etc, it simply implies a "gradient", a graduation of a color from light to dark, or vice-versa.

So it makes sense to name this hair trend "Ombre hair", as it's a gradient of hair color. 

Here's are a few examples-