Monday, February 7, 2011

Review: Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara!

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
THE FORMULA
  • Unprecedented Bold Volume™ formula has ultra light, lash-thickening fibers.
  • Lifts and plumps even sparse lashes into big, lush lashes that are all lightness and flirtatious curl.
THE BRUSH
  • Exclusive BrushComber™ thickens like a brush. Defines like a comb.
  • Wraps your entire lash in air-light volume. Lashes soar with 360° lift and curl.
THE LOOK
  • Daringly full, sensuously curved, all-out seductive lashes.
  • Now take your lashes all the way to big, bold, beautiful.

EL's Sumptuous Mascara has everyone raving. Among all of Estee Lauder's mascaras, Sumptuous is the highest rated on makeupalley. Currently it has a 4/5 rating with a 73% re-purchase rate, which is very good for a mascara. The mascara claims to lift, curl and thicken (doesn't mention lengthen).

I received a tester size of this mascara a couple of months back from an EL counter purchase and haven't tried it until the past few days.
One (1) coat of EL Sumptuous Mascara.
My Thoughts: What is Sumptuous anyway?? Pronounced Suhmp.choo.uhs. It's an adjective that means "Lavish; Luxurious" or "Expensive". First off, let's talk about the formula. It isn't too thick and it isn't too thin. It's the perfect in-between. The formula seemed very wet (most likely because it's new) and coated my top and bottom lashes without having to go for a second dip in the tube. It didn't take long to dry and didn't transfer all over my lids or under eyes. I was able to go back shortly to add another coat. It seems to build volume well - without looking clumpy (Like L'Oreal Voluminous or YSL Faux Cils might). One thing I noticed right away was the richness of the black. It is definitely the blackest black and has a glossy finish - love that!! Although this mascara doesn't necessarily lengthen and the main focus is on the volumizing.. I do feel that my lashes look the slightest longer. Nothing dramatic though. If you prefer a more natural look... you can still use this mascara, but you only need a few swipes. The claims are true that my lashes do feel very lightweight while wearing this mascara. I really like the brush. It is larger at the base and then gets smaller toward the end so you can get extra close to your lashes and get into the small corners of your eyes. The only downside to this mascara was that after a couple hours of wear, I would get black transfer under my eyes. *sigh* This is the main reason I never purchase new mascaras.. because the only one that has never transferred is Covergirl Lash Blast. If you don't have a problem with your mascara transferring, this is a great mascara to check out! Otherwise, if you're like me... you may want to stick with mascaras that claim to be smudgeproof.

 This was last night wearing two coats. My hair and makeup looked terrible at this point because I took the photo after shoveling the snow outside for over an hour.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

NOTD: Forever 21's Love & Beauty Nail Polish in Hunter Green!

Lighting: Indoors. Daylight, No flash.
Hey Everyone!
Thought I'd share with you my freshly painted nails. I purchased this nail polish from Forever 21 while I was Christmas Shopping and thought it was a perfect Holiday shade. Hunter Green is a sheer black polish filled with green reflects. At a glance in low lighting, it looks black. But in daylight, or an area with bright lighting the polish looks like a deep, forest green pearl. With one coat, it is quite sheer and the black base is very visible. By the 2nd coat, the color is very opaque and you mostly only see the green reflects.

The polish really reminds me of NARS Night Porter eyeshadow in liquid form (which is a black eyeshadow filled with green reflects) haha!


I applied one (1) coat of Seche Vite Base Coat, two (2) coats of Love & Beauty Hunter Green Nail Polish and one (1) coat of Sally Hansen Insta Dri Top Coat.
Lighting: Indoors, Flash.
As for an update on my previous NOTD (Revlon Cupid).. it wore very well. I wore it for 6 days and I didn't have any significant chips. It just started to chip off very little near the base of my nail by the last couple of days. I could of wore it for a couple more nails but I was anxious to wear a different color. Pretty good, considering I didn't use a top coat.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

An all natural shaving cream specifically for those of you with sensitive skin!

Hey Guys!

I thought I'd share my thoughts with you about a product I've been using for the past couple of months. It is the Kiss My Face Moisture Shave. Let me give you a little bit of backround info on what possessed me to purchase this product.

(Photo Credit: veganessentials.com)
I shave my legs 1-3 times a week. It really depends on how irritated my legs are. I have very sensitive skin.. so, by the third day after I've shaved.. my legs and thighs are irritated with razor burn. Sometimes I get it pretty bad.. sometimes I'm lucky and don't get it at all.. but for the most part I get it quite often. It also happens quite frequently with my armpits. By the third day.. I'm scratching the heck out of them & it's a little unpleasant to shave over. It's like shaving when you have the goosebumps.

So, one day I started to browse what products Kiss My Face has to offer with high ratings, as I tried their "Big Body Shampoo" and loved it. I came across reviews for "Moisture Shave". Once I started reading the reviews.. many of the reviewers suffered the same problem as me and looked to this product as their solution. (You can read the reviews by clicking here.

Kiss My Face Moisture Shave comes in 7 different scents. Fragrance Free, Key Lime, Lavender and Shea, Cool Mint, Peaceful Patchouli, Peaches and Creme and Vanilla Earth. Kiss My Face Moisture Shave claims to be the #1 natural shave "on the planet". 

Product Description (for cool mint - which is the one I have)
Our Cool Mint moisture shave is a moisturizing formula with highly effective natural essential oils, extracts and vitamins for the best shave ever!
- antiseptic peppermint to cool and stimulate
- emollients olive oil and coconut oil and aloe vera for healing
- antiseptic Goldenseal, also for healing
- Arnica aids circulation
- Lady's mantle is an astringent and has styptic properties
- Sage, horsetail, and orangeflower act as astringents and refreshers
- Soapwort is rich lathering, effective with acne, and like lemongrass, cleansing
- Vitamins A and E are important nutrients for healthy skin
...and all with a cool mint essence.

GOOD FOR YOU BECAUSE...
Olive and Coconut Oils: emollient and moisturizing
Soapwort: rich, lathering herb
Lady's Mantle: astringent and styptic properties

INGREDIENTS:
Aqua, Potassium Myristate*, Sodium Myristate*, Propylene Glycol, TEA Stearate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Olea Europaea (Olive Oil), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate), Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Allantoin, Lecithin, Extracts of Mentha Piperita (Peppermint), Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime), Alchemilla Vulgaris (Lady's Mantle), Saponaria Officinalis (Soapwort), Equisetum Hyemale (Horsetail), Nasturtium Officinale (Watercress), Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass), Salvia Officinalis (Sage), Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange Flower), and Arnica Montana, Hydroxyethylcellulose+, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate *Derived from vegetable oils +Plant source

This product contains no animal ingredients, artificial colors, or unnecessary chemicals and was not tested on animals.
(Source: Kissmyface.com)

My Review: Like I said, I've been using this product for around two months now and it has helped me SO much. I'm able to shave more often now because my legs aren't always irritated like they use to be. The consistency is almost like a soap that lathers like a thin cream. I like to let it "sit" on my legs for a minute before I shave to let the oils sort of penetrate in my skin. It allows me to get a very close shave and it makes my legs very soft and silky. And, I love that it's all natural and it contains so many different oils and extracts that are great for your skin.

You can find this product at your local Target or Whole Foods as well as some select Natural stores. You can click here for a store location in your area.

I am in no way affiliated with Kiss My Face.

Friday, February 4, 2011

NARS Irresistiblement Bronzer Review, Swatches & Comparison to MAC Smooth Harmony!

nars irresistiblement bronzer review

Nars Irrisistiblement Bronzer

Nars Irresistiblement Bronzer ($34) is described on NARS website as a "golden terracotta". Terracotta is the exact color I would describe this bronzer as. Instead of a golden brown like Nars Laguna, it is a red/orange brown. I know many out there typically try to avoid any tones of orange in their bronzer and steer towards true brown bronzers, but my warm, medium skin takes terracotta tones very well. This bronzer is especially nice on light skin as well.

This bronzer will work on anyone who takes well to warm rosy brown, caramel brown and peach blush shades.

I was a bit disappointed with the texture of the powder; it's a bit on the drier side, but despite the texture, it blends well on the cheeks, and picks up a good amount of product.

Irresistilement is very pigmented, and a little goes a long way. 

(Terracotta Bricks. Source: Matching Pegs)
nars irresistiblement bronzer