Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

The Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes were all the rage since their early launch in 2011, and have earned a spot on many bloggers "favorites of 2011" beauty products lists. Infused with natural clay of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types and is long-lasting (supposedly 12 hours).

They are available in several shades (12 on the Sephora website, with four of them being new shades) from nude, light pink, bright pink, coral, etc. I own Exposed, which is the most natural shade of the bunch and one of those no-brainer products you know you can rely on for every day.

Exposed is a soft, neutral brownie-pink with a slight rosy undertone, that never looks orange. Although it looks matte in the pan, it does have a few shimmers, but are barely visible on the skin. Many compare it to MAC Blushbaby, Nars Douceur or Nars Madly; I own Madly and Blushbaby, and although I find them similar, they are actually quite different. Madly is a warm peachy-bronze with a hint of pink & shimmer. It's warmer & shimmery, and almost looks orange when compared to Exposed. Blushbaby and Exposed are more comparable. What differs on my cheeks is that Blushbaby looks slightly deeper and is more rosy (red) whereas Exposed is softer and less ruddy.

Zoya 2 FREE 2012 Promotion!

ZOYA 2 FREE NAIL POLISH CODE

If you're a fan of Zoya polishes, or have always wanted to give Zoya polishes a try, now is a good time! Every once in a while Zoya has some really sweet offers, and I think this one is pretty awesome.

From now through 1/9/2012 11:59 PM ET, Zoya is going to let you try any* 2 bottles of Zoya Nail Polish for FREE on ZOYA.COM. All you pay is the standard shipping charges ($6.95). For reference, the price of one bottle of Zoya polish is $8.

As a bonus, you can purchase an additional $25 or more of Zoya or Qtica products and get FREE Shipping Too!..Bonus!

USE CODE: ZOYA2012

*Promotion Excludes True & Fleck Effect Collection Colors

For swatches, special offers and Zoya news, check out their official blog: http://zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com. (No affiliation)

I don't splurge too often on pricey nail polishes, mainly because I get bored of shades easily. So, if I only use a polish once, I won't feel guilty if it was only a couple of dollars. ;)

 

(Top left: Shay, Right: Jolene. Bottom left: Yara, Right: Neeka)

Narrowing it down between these so far... 

Illamasqua Fable Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Illamasqua Fable Lipstick

Illamasqua Fable Lipstick ($22) is described as a matte, bubble gum pink on the Sephora website, and a bright, rose pink on the Illamasqua website. It's for sure bright, in a pastel sort of way. It has a warm undertone, as it leans slightly coral rather than purple or blue. I can't really call it a bubble-gum pink, because in my opinion, a bubblegum pink would be like a bright, neutral or slightly cool pink. Fable is more of a bright, pastel flamingo pink or salmon pink.

Anyway, Fable is a shade I knew I would love because I seem to have a fascination with warm pinks that have a hint of peach or coral. They just seem to suit me the best, especially when I'm sporting a tan.

I'm a big fan of Illamasqua's lipsticks, even though I've only owned one prior; Illamasqua Obey, which is one of my favorites. All of the shades are packed with pigment in one swipe. In fact, most of Illamasqua's products have amazing pigmentation, which makes me so sad it's so hard to find in the US! I want to do some swatching! *sigh*

The only bad thing I can say about this lipstick, which is usually the case with light colored matte lipsticks, is that it can accentuate any dryness present on your lips. To avoid having shriveled lips, apply a generous layer of lip balm prior to application of the lipstick. If you're not a fan of the matte finish, pop a little lip gloss on top!

Jewelming Madison Avenue Ring Review with Lots of Photos!

 Jewelmint Madison Avenue Ring

I promised you all there wouldn't be any more Jewelmint posts until January, and you got it! I received my January piece a little early - a few days after Christmas and I've been wearing it just about every day since. It has quickly become my "go-to" ring for every day.

It's available in one color, silver, which is slightly oxidized for an "aged" look, with a row of 10 sparkly gray crystals running through the center. The design is inspired by 1920's Art Deco, where such designs have been spotted on the runway by high end designers, such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren. It has an antique feel to it, yet it also looks very modern. It's a ring that can be dressed up or down and will go well with anything.

As far as the sizing goes, my ring finger is a 6. It's an absolute perfect fit. There is no struggle to put it on or take it off, and by the end of the day it still sits on my finger secure without feeling loose. The only thing is, it doesn't fit on any of my other fingers. I can't even get it half-way down my pointer finger or middle finger on the same hand. My opposite hand (my right) is slightly larger; my ring finger is around a 6.25 to a 6.50 and I can't get it past my knuckle. If the band was shaped normally, it would fit, but because it's a square, it's a tighter fit. If you're a very true 6, 7 or 8, I'd recommend going with your size. But, for those with half or quarter sizes, I'd recommend going one size up. If you have large knuckles, you may have a problem with the fit of this ring, and I'd highly recommend ordering a size up.

It's a really comfortable ring and doesn't ever seem to get in the way or bother me when I'm typing on the keyboard or going about my day.