Rain Cosmetics Tropical Storm Color Storm Lip Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches!

Rain Cosmetics Tropical Storm Color Storm Lip Lacquer

Rain Cosmetics Tropical Storm Color Storm Lip Lacquer ($20) is a medium raspberry pink with cool undertones. It has mostly opaque coverage with a glossy finish. I think it's a universally flattering shade and is perfect for a little extra pop of color without being super bold. I love wearing it on it's own, and I also love it paired with MAC Chatterbox Lipstick (which is similar in color) when I want a fuller coverage.

The texture is very smooth and has a hydrating, balm-lip feel on the lips. It contains Antioxidants, Jojoba and Vitamin E to keep the lips feeling soft as long as it's on. It's not thick, runny or sticky and wears really comfortably. When initially applied, the color is opaque, but upon wear, it settles down into a medium coverage. It wears down after a few hours and leaves a light rosy-pink hue behind on my lips.

It has a light fruity scent, but nothing obnoxious and it goes away upon application.

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Rain Cosmetics is a Las Vegas based makeup line created for the modern and glamorous woman with a busy, on-the-go lifestyle. Recognizing the need for lightweight, long-wearing, moisture-rich formulas, Rain Cosmetics created a product line that lasts flawlessly all day into the night with little-to-no touch ups. I was introduced to Rain Cosmetics recently by my friend Makeup by Lacy and was so excited to see the brand in-person on my recent trip to Las Vegas. It's a great brand, and I'll be sharing with you some of their other products in the upcoming week.

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Rain Cosmetics display outside of the Elements Gift Shop in Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas

Bobbi Brown Bellini High Shimmer Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches!

Bobbi Brown Bellini High Shimmer Lipgloss

Bobbi Brown Bellini High Shimmer Lipgloss ($24) is a sheer, nude-pink with bright pink & golden-white shimmer and a glossy finish. Because it's sheer, it only provides a light wash of shimmering, tinged-pink color to the lips. The result is beautiful, natural and won't overpower your look. It's a great Summer gloss.

The consistency gets an A+ from me - it feels silky smooth and moisturizing on the lips. Despite the shimmer, you can't really feel it. It's not thick, runny or sticky. Just perfect.

It has a hint of mint, so it leaves the lips with a light cooling sensation when first applied.

The lasting power is quite good. I typically get around 2-3 hours of wear from it.

Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lipglosses have been raved about from many bloggers - one including Temptalia, who recommends and loves these as some of her go-to lipglosses. I can totally see why!

MAC Patience Please Pro Longwear Lipglass Review, Photos, Swatches!

MAC Patience Please Pro Longwear Lipglass

MAC Patience Please Pro Longwear Lipglass ($20) is milky pink-beige with a lustrous finish. It's a part of MAC's Pro Longwear line, so it will last much longer on the lips compared to a standard lipgloss. I love light lip colors, but I rarely wear nude lip colors alone as with my warm coloring, they tend to take color away from my face. Patience Please despite being super light, is actually a flattering nude on my skintone as the color leans a bit warm.

The consistency of the Pro Longwear Lipglasses are very thick and tacky - a bit similar to MAC Dazzleglass and just a tad bit thicker/stickier than their regular Lipglass. So for those of you that don't like wearing sticky glosses, this one may not be your first choice, but keep in mind that the thick texture is what helps the gloss last so long without fading.

The only downfall about the texture is that if your lips are dry, the gloss is a bit difficult to apply evenly. And, if you apply too much, excess gloss gathers on the inside of the lips. For even coverage, applying an emollient lipbalm (I like using a squeeze tube balm opposed to a stick balm) will help. I sometimes even like applying over the lipgloss to cut down the stickiness.

The lasting power is really good. It absolutely lasts longer than most of my other lip glosses. Most lip glosses don't stick around for more than two hours - I can sometimes push an extra hour out of Chanel Glossimers, but I think the standard is a couple of hours. This lipgloss lasts at least 4 hours with a little fading. It will transfer if you're drinking from a cup (it's not bullet-proof) but I'm still left with a little color on my lips after drinking a coffee or eating a meal. I actually like the color a bit better once it settles in and isn't so opaque.

Wearing MAC Patience Please Lipglass (MAC NC35 coloring)

A Few Great Hair Products Worth Mentioning!

This post is a bit random, but I thought I'd share with you some products I've been using and enjoying lately that I haven't talked about before.

I have naturally thick, naturally curly (but not coarse) hair that is prone to dryness and breakage. Since I heat style my hair regularly, I like to use deep conditioners weekly to keep my hair moisturized and looking healthy. Each time I run out of conditioner, I always purchase a different one. I can't really say that any of them have been drastically different from one another. One deep conditioner I'm almost finished with is Kera Minerals by Silk Elements Smoothing Deep Conditioner - this conditioner strengthens the hair by restoring the lost keratin in damaged hair that causes breakage, dullness and frizz. It also combines silk protein that aids in making the hair feel soft and silky and rosehip oil to moisturize. After use, your hair should feel much softer with less frizz and lots of shine.

I've been using this conditioner at least once a week for a month or so and it really does all that it says. My hair feels really soft and silky, but not so light that it won't hold a curl. I notice less breakage when brushing my hair, which is one of my main concerns and frizz is definitely reduced. It smells really good too which is always a plus.

The other conditioner I've been using is Silk Elements MegaSilk Intense Conditioning Mayonnaise. It contains loads of moisturizing ingredients such as olive oil, lanolin oil, keratin, collagen, silk proteins, plant extracts and cholesterol. I think it's a great treatment if your hair is very dry and damaged or after chemically processing your hair.

Although this product is no doubt conditioning, it's more of a treatment for your hair rather a deep conditioner. After rinsing the product from my hair, it didn't feel silky at all like it would with a conditioner. It felt much more like I used a protein treatment. My hair felt slightly coarse, yet smooth at the same time. I was definitely able to tell the difference in texture; when I lightly tugged my hair, it felt a lot stronger. After my hair dried, it felt soft enough (not silky) where using an additional conditioner wouldn't have been necessary.

The only downside is that I felt my hair was slightly weighed down - similar to the feeling I'd get from using too much finishing balm/wax on my hair. Not greasy, just a bit heavier, so I needed to use a little extra hairspray to hold my style. On the plus side, it retained moisture well until my next washing, which is great for my hair type. It was also very manageable.

I avoid products that weigh my hair down, but I think the positives of this treatment outweigh the negatives. The next time I use it, I might just leave it in my hair for a long time with a cap and then shampoo.

As far as Leave-in Conditioners go, It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In + Keratin is one of my all-time favorites.   As with most conditioners, it really increases my hair manageability and helps keep my hair from drying out. It's a little expensive though, and I go through a bottle very quickly, so I've been recently looking for a cheaper alternative. I came across Miracle 7 Leave-In Mist and have been using it a few times a week after I get out of the shower for added protection for my hair. It detangles, adds shine, stops hair breakage and prevents split ends. It also helps control frizz and makes my hair (especially my ends which tend to be dry) feel silkier. Is it an exact dupe for It's a 10? No, not really. They're similar, but I think It's a 10 does a better job strengthening my hair. Miracle 7 seems to do a better job conditioning my hair and making it look and feel silkier. I also love the fact that it doesn't weigh down my hair or leave a coating on my hair like some leave-ins tend to do. I highly recommend this leave-in, especially if you have unruly, frizzy, dry or damaged hair.

Onto heat protection! I've tried many heat protectors, and although I love TRESemme Heat Tamer because it doesn't make my hair feel greasy or weigh it down, I sometimes want something that will make my ends feel silkier (usually on my dirty hair days when my ends feel dry). On those days, I've been applying Silk Elements Megasilk Olive Heat Protection Spray to my ends and curl my hair as usual. It protects my hair from the heat and makes my hair feel ultra silky, lightweight, tangle-free and provides shine. It's great for my straight hair days. You only need they tiniest bit and you want to keep it away from your roots to avoid any greasiness.

Lastly, a fab product I stumbled upon is the Ion Color Brilliance Pre-Color Treatment. It's basically a treatment that you apply to your hair before dying or lightening your hair to even out the porosity of your hair so that when you chemically process your hair, you'll achieve even color results. My hair always comes out lighter on top and darker at the bottom so I gave this product a try and it made my hair color super even when dying. I'll never dye my hair without applying this first!

All products mentioned can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply.

What hair products have you been loving?

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara Review!

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara ($7) is a new mascara that promises to provide 360 degrees of volume to your top and bottom lashes for a wide-awake effect. This mascara is double-sided with two different brushes, designed to be used individually on the top and bottom lashes.

The upper lash brush has a fluffy, twisted, spiral design. I'm personally not the biggest fan of the twisty design - The bristles are all different lengths and aren't uniform all the way around. I find that the awkward shape doesn't allow even coverage with each stroke.

The bottom lash brush is very small and thin and is perfect for coating the bottom and corner lashes. It doesn't over-apply product which is super nice, and separates really well. If you have very short top lashes, this may be helpful for your top and bottom lashes.

The formula is pretty wet and is a super dark glossy black - reminiscent of other washable mascaras and tubing mascaras I've used in the past. Every black isn't created equal in the mascara world, and I personally as deep and rich of a black as I could find. I can vouch that this mascara is one of the blackest I've used. Due to this, after a few coats, your lashes will be super noticeable, even from a distance.

It builds volume super quick, but with each additional coat, expect some clumping. A clean spoolie is really helpful. If you're a natural mascara kind of girl - one coat with this mascara is great. Of course I'm all for dramatic lashes, so I just carefully comb through my lashes until my desired effect. I always curl my lashes prior and apply a mascara primer for the best results.

Unfortunately no length is achieved what-so-ever, which for me is probably the biggest downfall. Some days I'll apply one coat of a lengthening mascara and apply this mascara as my second coat for volume.

It's supposedly smudge-proof, but after several hours I have minimal transfer under my eyes. It's also a washable mascara, so it comes off really easily with warm water.

I apologize in advance for my clumpy lashes in the last photo - I couldn't find a lash comb. 

Just an Update!

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to give you all a little bit of an update on things that are going on with me right now. 

As I'm sure you've noticed, my blog posts have been fewer and fewer over the last few months. Keeping up with my blog on a regular basis has been a priority of mine for the past four years, but there are periods of time where I'm sure just about every blogger needs a little bit of a break. 

If you remember back in March, I mentioned that my aunt was diagnosed with colon cancer (among other things) and had a pretty extensive surgery, followed with some complications and lots of recovery time. Luckily, I work from home and my aunt now lives with me, so I've been able to be there for her whenever she needs anything. The recovery period has taken a lot longer than initially expected, but she is doing well. She just begun chemotherapy which she will be administered for 6 months, which quite frankly really scares me because I really don't know too much about it and the overall effects it has on the health. I've read up on it, but I know everyones body is different and each person doesn't respond to treatment in the same way. She has been experiencing some side effects, so she hasn't been able to return to work, but we're very hopeful that she will get through this with the love and support of our family and friends. I really appreciate any well wishes and prayers because it is a really scary thing, especially for my aunt or anyone that has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Hopefully you can understand why my posts have been on the decline lately.

My Aunt and Me on my Birthday on June 2nd

On a more positive note, I just returned from a wonderful two week long vacation from Las Vegas with my boyfriend and his brother, sister and husband and it was seriously the break I needed. We had loads of fun and hit up all of the yummy food spots and did lots of over indulging.. haha! It was worth it anyways, and I feel so refreshed and ready to get back into my daily routine. 

George & Me at the Venetian in Vegas

Lastly, I'd like to ask a favor from my readers! It's a bit random, but my niece made the Top 12 in her local town "idol" signing competition and our family is so proud of her! She is a very smart and talented 14 year old girl and if anyone deserves to win, she does! She tried really hard and picked a tough song, and I think she did amazing. It would mean the world to her and me if you took a moment to vote for her! It literally only takes a couple of seconds once you reach the page to vote. If she receives enough votes, she will make it to the next round and will get to choose another song and prove to the judges that she can sing! Please help her get that chance! 

The link to vote is: http://www.parkfun.com/programs/cultural-arts/schaumburg-idol/2013/round-1

Please scroll down to the voting box and select Katerina Perez. Press Continue and your vote is in!

Thank you so much!!

As a thank you, I will be getting together a giveaway soon! If you have any ideas for the giveaway prize, please let me know in the comments. Thanks again!!!

Some of My Guilty Pleasures. What are Some of Yours?

Some of My Guilty Pleasures

We all pretty much have guilty pleasures that we like to indulge in whether it be listening to some of your old-school jams, going on unnecessary shopping sprees, getting an occasional massage or indulging in something sweet. I think it's a way of keeping our own sanity even though many of us don't like to admit some of the things we occasionally enjoy when there's a small feeling of guilt involved.

TV is a common guilty pleasure whether it be watching some old re-runs, "reality" shows, daytime talk shows or following a new series. As a Glam Media publisher, I get the wonderful opportunity to work with many different brands. Right now, Glam is celebrating the premiere of ABC's new show Mistresses. A bit scandalous, Mistresses is a new drama about four girlfriends on their own paths to self-discovery. We have a bit of a feeling that it's sure to be one of our next guilty pleasures.

Continue reading to see what some of my guilty pleasures are. I'd also love to read some of yours!

A Certified Pamper Day

Keeping up with a beauty regimen can be a lot of work and can require loads of upkeep. One of my guilty pleasures is designating myself an all-out "Pamper Day" to myself. My pamper day is an all-out spa day for myself, hosted by myself and usually falls on a Sunday when I have absolutely no plans and feel like sticking around at home for the day.

I usually do what I tend to neglect on most days, which would be a full body exfoliation in the shower, shaving from head to toe (sometimes waxing) and loading myself up with a good moisturizer and throwing a protein treatment and deep conditioner in my hair and cover my hair with a shower cap while I do some of my other things. I like leaving deep conditioners in my hair for as long as I can, so with some time to kill, I like to tweeze my eyebrows really good with a 5X mirror (and any other strays I can find) and pick from my array of beauty masks. If my nails aren't looking the best, I'll paint my finger and toe nails - one of dreaded chores of being a girl. I love freshly polished nails, but I just hate doing it. I try to be good though about removing my polish as soon as it chips, but I've been guilty on several occasions of having chipped nails for days. My day usually ends with a self-tanning session and by the next morning, I feel incredibly refreshed and ready to take on the day. I loathe the feeling of when I neglect my beauty routine, but to my defense, it's only usually the periods of time where I've been super busy and haven't had much time to myself.

Thrift Stores, Consignment Shops & Garage/Estate Sales

Who doesn't love a bargain, right? So it's no secret that If I see a sign for an Estate Sale, I'm following the signs and arrows all the way to the sale. I've always enjoyed going to them since I was really young to see if I can score something really good for a low price. You definitely have to get there early if you want dibs on the good stuff, and sometimes you can get really lucky. I always have the hopes of snagging some vintage designer fashion jewelry or accessories. I've found some pretty cool things, including a real Louis Vuitton wallet for like fifty cents.

I also really enjoy going to random thrift stores and consignment shops once in a while when I get the chance. It's not something I do regularly, because frankly I don't have any good shops that are local, but if I spot one, I always like to take a peek inside.

Lately though I've been regularly looking at online consignment stores that specialize in designer goods (mostly handbags) in hopes of scoring a great deal on something that really wouldn't be in my budget otherwise. Hey, no one has to know that you weren't the original owner.. haha!

Splurging on Makeup

Surprise! I'd consider purchasing makeup a guilty pleasure only because I own so much already that I absolutely do not need any more. It's really hard for me not to give into makeup temptations, but you can bet that If I spot anything pretty at a makeup counter, it's going to go home with me. My ultimate guilty pleasure is the higher-end, pricier brands of makeup that I don't purchase too often. Purchasing a pricey foundation or blush makes me feel extra luxurious.

Junk Food

I eat very healthy regularly for the most part, but I'm guilty of indulging.. maybe a little too often than I should. There are many "forbidden" foods on the invisible list in my head which mostly consists of fast food, junk food (candy, chips, snacks, processed baked goods) and pretty much anything loaded with calories and that's high in fat or sugar.

One of guilty pleasures believe it or not is just a regular, greasy, fast food meal. I never eat fast food - maybe once or twice a year and when I go to restaurants, I will never order fries with my food. Don't get me wrong, I love it! But it's something I've steered clear of for many years. Actually eating a full meal at McDonald's would be a treat for me! Don't judge. haha!

I'm also a sweet addict and can't go to any store without looking at the bakery section. I won't necessarily purchase anything, but I love to feed my eyes with all of the yummy treats. A really good coffee cake would be a total guilty treat for me. I also love cannolis (with chocolate chips), napoleons and pretty much anything filled with custard and topped with whipped cream.

1990's Animated Movies

I was huge on Disney Movies as a little kid and during my Summer vacations I use to watch my Disney movies over and over again. I was a child with a large imagination and I remember I had a big selection of VHS tapes and I always acted like I was shopping at the video store when it was time to pick a movie. I think I even use to stamp a card with the date to "return" the movie (back to my shelf) because I saw them do it at Blockbuster. Some of my favorite movies were Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Thumbellina, Once Upon a Forest, Princess and the Goblin, The Swan Princess and many more! I still love these movies, and if I happened to run across any of them playing on TV, I'd definitely watch them.

I'd love to hear what some of your guilty pleasues are! Let me know in the comments!

Four friends. Four hearts. 13 weeks of seduction. Based on the hit UK television series of the same name, "Mistresses" is a provocative and thrilling drama about the scandalous lives of a sexy and sassy group of four girlfriends, each on her own path to self-discovery. These four friends find support and guidance with each other as they brave their turbulent journeys and life's storms of excitement, secrecy and betrayal, all the while bound by the complex relationships they've created. "Mistresses" stars Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim, Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan. Don't miss the series premiere Monday, June 3rd at 10|9c on ABC after an all-new "The Bachelorette."

Sally Hansen All Fired Up Complete Salon Nail Polish.

Sally Hansen All Fired Up Complete Salon Nail Polish

I haven't posted any nail posts recently, mostly because the cold weather this past winter was super harsh on my nails. I have Nail Miracle (blogged about this a few months ago) to thank for my now long, healthy nails.

I like wearing neutral and dark nail colors all year round, but this Summer I've been loving the classic neon and bright pinks, coral, warm reds and orange.

Sally Hansen All Fired Up is a warm, summery red with a hint of orange. In some lighting, it reads a bit of a warm coral. It's a very classic color that you can't go too wrong with. I love the way it looks on my nails, especially when I have a little bit of a tan going on.

The Sally Hansen Complete Salon Nail Polishes have a thick, flat, stubby brush so you can coat more surface area in less strokes. I like the brush because I can paint my nails quicker with a larger brush. If you have very petite hands or very small nail beds, you might find it to be a little large.

The formula is fantastic and applies evenly and opaque. Two coats is perfect.

Paired with Orly Bonder Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat, my manicure lasted a full week with minor tip wear.

This is definitely a nail polish I'll be rocking all Summer long.

What's on your nails?

Rocksbox Review Vol. 002!

Rocksbox Review Vol. 2

This is my second Rocksbox, and I could hardly wait to open it once I saw the package lying on my doorstep. Within seconds I was busting the package open with a pair of scissors - sounds a little dramatic, I know.

For a recap, Rocksbox is a new subscription box company where you pay a $19/month fee to borrow unlimited designer jewelry. You'll receive three items at a time, and with the enclosed prepaid envelope, you can send your items back at any time and you'll promptly receive a new package with three different items. You can wear and enjoy items up to the 60 day deadline, and if you want to keep any of the items, you can purchase them at the discounted member price.

It's really exciting not knowing exactly what's inside and knowing that I'm about to unleash some trendy, designer jewels.

My box contained:

• CC Skye Resort Cuff in Green Ostrich (retail price $150)
• Urban Gem Pave Crescent Necklace in Gold (retail price $65)
• Dara Ettinger Cynthia Double Druzy Earrings in Lunar (retail price $180)

In my style survey I completed, I stated that I prefer statement pieces that are modern, glam, edgy and a bit feminine. I think they did a great job catering to the type of jewelry I'd like to wear. I actually love all three items I received.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might know about my newfound love for CC Skye jewelry so I was really excited to find the cuff in my box. Forest green is actually one of my favorite colors, so I can't wait to wear it. I recently purchased a CC Skye Kenzie Lock Cuff Bracelet, which is very similar, so I won't be purchasing this item, but I will enjoy wearing it over the course of the month.

I'm loving the dainty rhinestone bar necklaces that are popular right now, and given this piece isn't too expensive, I think it will be staying with me. But, I'll wear it and see if I can part with it or not.

The earrings are absolutely gorgeous and I may have a hard time giving these back as well. It has peaked my interest in Dara Ettinger jewelry - if you have a minute, I urge you to check some of her things out. They are just so pretty and unique to look at.

Again, I'm super happy with this box, and I've been searching the hashtag #rocksbox on Instagram almost daily and have been loving what others have been receiving as well.

It's definitely a subscription box that I'm going to stay subscribed to. And for the records, I like much better than Jewelmint, which in my opinion is going straight downhill (more about that later).

Estee Lauder Hot Fuse and Techno Jam Pure Color Lip Shine Review, Photos, Swatches!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip Shine

This Spring, Estee Lauder is all about bringing us bright and fun colors in sheer, lightweight formulas. All of the products in the Estee Lauder Pure Color Cello Shots Collection all commonly share the same characteristics of being beautifully bright yet very subtle for a fresh, healthy look.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip Shine ($26) is described as bringing a sheer rush of color to the lips. The formula is lightweight, moisturizing and long-lasting.

Available in (6) limited edition shades: Pink Patent, X-Pose Rose, Plexi Pink, Hot Fuse, Techno Jam and Poppy Shock.

Does the description sound familiar? If you've had a chance to look at my previous review for the Estee Lauder Pure Color Sheer Rush Lipgloss, this product is exactly the same - but in lipstick form. Luckily, there is a bit more pigment with these lipsticks.

The two shades I have are Hot Fuse, which is a soft blue-based red, but when applied, it gives off more of a raspberry/rose tone. Techno Jam is a slightly deeper cherry red, and definitely is more red on the lips than Hot Fuse. Both are equally as pigmented, and comparable to something like Revlon Lip Butters. Sheer upon the first swipe, but very buildable to a fairly opaque coverage.

Estee Lauder Techno Jam

Estee Lauder Hot Fuse

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder #03 Review, Photos, Swatches!

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder #03

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder ($51) is a best-selling luxury bronzer that promises to "enhance" the complexion and provide a natural, radiant and luminous tan with a texture that won't look streaky or overdone on the skin. It contains moisturizing ingredients that won't dry out the skin or look powdery.

There are (8) shades in total: Numbers 00, 02 and 04 are geared for rosy complexions and 01, 03, 05, 07 and 08 are for golden complexions.

I purchased shade 03, as I really liked the golden-yellow bronze (slightly orange) tone. It works really well on my warm, medium (MAC NC35) skin tone. Bronzers that are too neutral or red-toned have the tendency to make my skin look ashy or bruised, so I lean towards very warm toned bronzers. I find that this one works really well without being too light or too dark.

Guerlain Bronzing Powders are finely milled and are super soft upon application. What I love about soft powders such as this one is that they're almost fool-proof because the powder blends so well on the skin and if I've made the mistake of coating my brush in too much product, it won't leave a big blotch on my cheek. It blends out with no problems.

Some bronzers have a tendency to sit on top of the skin, but this bronzer seems to melt into my skin with no obvious edges and a lovely satiny finish. It's a fabulous bronzer for adding all over warmth to the face and neck.

This photo was taken at the same time as my MAC Angel Lipstick Review - I used the Guerlain Terracotta #03 all over my face - on my cheeks, nose and the outer edges of my face. You can see that there are no obvious edges and my face is very naturally bronzed.

Comparisons from left to right: Guerlain Terracotta #03, MAC Give Me Sun MSF, NARS Casino Bronzer, NARS Laguna Bronzer and MAC Refined Golden Bronzer.

Estee Lauder Hot Fuse and Pure Rose Pure Color Sheer Rush Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Sheer Rush Lipgloss

The new Spring 2013 Estee Lauder Cello Shots Pure Color Collection is all about playful and bright colors delivered in sheer, lightweight formulas that will keep the skin fresh and glowing all day. Tom Pecheux, the Creative Makeup Director at Estee Lauder says, "This season, I’ve been working a lot with what I call “acqua color”. It’s a gentle, watery look with just a touch of bright, vibrant color."

Estee Lauder Pure Color Sheer Rush Lipgloss ($24) is described as a "cellophane-sheer" gloss that brings a super-sheer rush of vibrant color to the lips with a high shine finish. It's moisturizing and long lasting.

Available in (6) limited edition shades: Pink Patent, X-Pose Rose, Plexi Pink, Hot Fuse, Techno Jam and Poppy Shock.

The two colors I'll be talking about are Hot Fuse, which is a bright cherry red and Pure Rose, a vibrant grape.

Some companies tend to "embellish" the product claims to make their product sound wonderful, but refreshingly, I found the description to be dead-on.

These glosses are super-sheer and tint the lips with vibrant, transparent color. The finish is very glossy, so it almost gives a watery, juicy look to the lips. It almost looks like a very mild stain with a clear gloss on top.

The formula is amazing. It doesn't settle in my lip lines or accentuate dryness and it even makes my lips appear slightly fuller. It's very silky and feels wonderful on. It has a glossy, balm-lip texture on the lips, so when I'm wearing it, I often rub my lips together to be reminded of the softness. No lip balm is necessary, just this lipgloss and I'm good to go.

(I accidentally labeled Pure Rose as Techno Jam)

MAC Angel Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches!

MAC Angel Lipstick

MAC Angel Lipstick ($15) is a soft pink. It's a frost finish by MAC, but I don't find it to be noticeable (at all, really) frosty. It does has a bit of a light pearl to it which makes the color shine and glisten on the lips. The coverage is sheer upon the first swipe, but it's very buildable to opaque coverage. I find it to be a very wearable every day baby pink, which is probably why it's one of MAC's best selling lipsticks.

In comparison to other popular MAC pink lipsticks - Angel is very similar to MAC Creme Cup in color and depth, but Angel is a touch cooler. It's almost difficult to tell them apart in different lightings, but I tell on me that Angel leans slightly more lilac and is a touch brighter/lighter. MAC Hue is a couple of shades lighter and is a bit warmer. MAC Lovelorn is deeper and pinker.

To be truthfully honest, it's not super flattering on my tan skintone, but when I top it off with a brighter lipgloss, it looks really pretty. It will of course vary on your personal taste and coloring. I think it looks lovely on light to light-medium skintones, but if you like nude pinks in general, Angel is a great choice.

Swatches from left to right: MAC Angel, Creme Cup, Lovelorn and Hue.

MAC Angel Lipstick on my lips

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review, Photos, Swatches!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This past February, Nars added a new concealer to their permanent line. It's about time, right? Nars is such a fabulous brand, and it was only a matter of time before they'd launch a liquid concealer, as the brand prior had only a stick/cream concealer, which frankly isn't that popular.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28) is a lightweight creamy liquid concealer with a medium (buildable to full) coverage and a luminous finish. It is creaseproof and long-wearing. It doesn't contain parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, etc.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is available in (10) shades: Chantilly (True ivory for fairest skin), Vanilla (Slight pink for for fair skin), Honey (warm peach for light-med skin), Custard (yellow tone for light-med skin), Ginger (golden tone for med skin), Biscuit (neutral med-dark skin), Caramel (golden yellow for med-dark skin), Amdande (med-dark w/ golden olive undertones) and Cafe and Cacao (for dark skin w/ deep gold/brown undertones).

I chose the shade Custard, which is a good MAC NC25-NC30 match. I could've gone a shade darker, which would have been Ginger, which is a good MAC NC35 match.

The consistency of this concealer is a creamy satiny-velvet. Despite it being liquid, it's not very moist in comparison to MAC Select Moisturecover or MAC Pro Longwear which feel wet and creamy to the touch & provide a dewy finish. The NARS concealer wipes on in an opaque layer (literally like paint) and blends quickly to a high coverage perfection and dries to a natural, non shiny, non matte finish.

One layer of product provides adequate full coverage for me. It doesn't settle in my fine lines (I'm assuming because of the high silicone content) and it brightens up my eye area really well.

Here's a before and after of one layer of concealer blended with a foundation brush.

Estee Lauder Pink Patent Pure Color Cheek Rush Review, Photos, Swatches!

Estee Lauder Cello Shots Pure Color Cheek Rush

The new Spring 2013 Estee Lauder Cello Shots Pure Color Collection is all about playful and bright colors delivered in sheer, lightweight formulas that will keep the skin fresh and glowing all day.  Tom Pecheux, the Creative Makeup Director at Estee Lauder says, "This season, I’ve been working a lot with what I call “acqua color”. It’s a gentle, watery look with just a touch of bright, vibrant color."

Estee Lauder Cello Shots Pure Color Cheek Rush ($28) is a water-based transparent gel that provides the cheeks with a vibrant, yet very sheer stain. It's super lightweight, easy to blend and gives such a natural, fresh and dewy look to the skin.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush is available in (4) shades: Hot Fuse, Pink Patent, X-Pose Rose and Techno Jam.

I have the shade Pink Patent, which is a lovely soft pink that warms up beautifully to my skin. I think it's a shade that's best suited for fair, light and medium skin tones and would adapt well to either cool or warm undertones.

The consistency is exactly what it sounds like - a water-based gel. It's kind of hard to explain because it's not runny, nor is it thick. It's light and airy, but not moussey. I'm not sure I've used any other product like it. It's cooling to the touch and disappears into the skin once blended without any greasy residue.

Application: You can absolutely use your fingers and tap the product into your cheeks, but because it can temporarily stain the fingertips, I like using a small stippling brush such as the MAC 130 or 188 Brush. Since the formula is so sheer and easy to work with, just about any brush would do (I'd stick with a synthetic brush though).

Here are a couple of photos where I was wearing Pink Patent on my cheeks - this is 7 hours after it was applied! I wasn't wearing any other cheek products but a bronzer all over my face and you can see that my cheeks look fresh and glowing.

My March Beauty Favorites!

Most Loved Beauty Products March 2013

We're already halfway through April, but I still wanted to share with you all my March beauty favorites! My schedule has been a little hectic this month, so I apologize for the lack of updates. I appreciate those who have asked about my aunt - there have been a couple of complications, but overall she's recovering very well!

The products I'll be talking about in this post are beauty products that I've used frequently and loved in the month of March. Reviews for each of the products will follow!

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Makeup Base - $34

I've used samples of this product in the past, but have only recently been using it regularly prior to applying my foundation. As far as silicone based primers go, I really think this is one of the best. It smooths out my skin for a flawless, even application of foundation and it doesn't cause my skin to itch, feel heavy or greasy like many other silicone based products tend to do for me. I love applying this before my concealer to mildly fill in fine lines and provide a smooth base for a more natural finish. I also like applying this on my chin and forehead (where I tend to have visible pores) and it softens them so they aren't as noticeable. I'm definitely going to purchase a full size container.

MAC Mineralize Moisture SPF15 Foundation - $33

I've been using this foundation all month and I really like it. This foundation seems to oxidize (or darken) a little bit after applied, so I've been mixing it with a lighter shade of MAC Studio Fix Foundation and it works perfectly. I love the thin, creamy consistency and how well it blends across the skin. It gives an almost transparent veil across the skin with light (to light-medium, not full) coverage and a dewy glow. I highly prefer wearing this foundation mixed with another foundation as on it's own it's a bit too shiny for my liking, and transfers easily. Mixed with Studio Fix Fluid, it gives my skin the right amount of glow and looks great all day.

Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer - $30

This is only the second tinted moisturizer I've ever used (the other one was Laura Mercier) and I love it! It provides just the right amount of coverage and evens out the skintone and covers mild discolorations/red splotches without making the skin look "made up" with foundation. The lasting power is great too. After wearing it the first time I was really surprised that my face wasn't blotchy or greasy by the end of the day. The only downside is that it oxidizes like crazy! There are only 4 shades, so it doesn't leave you with too many color options. In order to make this work, I like taking a concealer  (or concealer/highlight pen) that's lighter than my skintone and apply it under my eyes in the shape of an upside down triangle, down my nose and in the middle of my forehead and blend outward. It adds a highlight to the skin without really adding much more weight or coverage.

MAC Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - $30

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powders are some of my favorite products to use for bronzing and contouring. The powder is very soft and lightweight and glides across the skin so well without ever looking patchy. Give Me Sun is a light, peachy-tan which leans on the orange side, but with my coloring, I really like the look of terracotta toned bronzers. It gives lots of warmth and healthy color to my face and pairs really well with coral blushes.

Benefit Bella Bamba Blush - $28

Bella Bamba is a watermelon pink with golden sparkles. It sort of leans into the Nars Orgasm category of shades, but there aren't really any peachy-coral tones. It has a prominent warm, vibrant pink tone, and in conjunction with the golden sparkles, it gives a nice sheen to the skin. I've been loving this blush on the days where I want a little color on my cheeks (since most days my blush is pretty subtle).

Milani Baked Powder Blushes - $8

Believe it or not, I haven't tried any of Milani's baked blushes, so I recently picked up a couple. I got the shades Dolce Pink - a light-medium rosy pink with golden shimmer and Corallina - a vibrant coral-orange with shimmer. I love both blushes equally. They are super soft and blendable and provide such pretty, glowing color. Corallina is especially nice if you're a lover of peach and coral-toned blushes. They do alright without a base, but I find they last much longer with one. I usually just dab a neutral cream blush on my cheeks to give the baked blush something to stick to, and it prolongs the wear. Definitely recommend for a good drugstore blush, although if you prefer a matte finish, you may want to skip.

Swatches from left to right: MAC Give Me Sun! MSF, Milani Corallina Baked Blush, Milani Desert Rose Baked Blush and Benefit Bella Bamba Blush.