Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale Mascara vs The Original

I stopped in at CVS the other day to pick up a prescription. Of course the pharmacy is right next to the cosmetics aisle. SIGH. I told myself not to stop, to look, while walking, but not stop. Well, I spotted a 2 for 1 L'Oreal deal and couldn't help myself. (It's research, right??) I grabbed a L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale Mascara ($7.50, which I'd never seen before now) and a regular, waterproof L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara ($7.50) just for comparison.

Here's what I noticed. The formula is not the same. I mean, it's hard to be a "naturale" version of something, there's bound to be differences. This one claims to be 100% clump-free, volumizing, smudgeproof, flakeproof and fragrance-free. The clump-proof thing is untrue. It may be flakeproof, smudge proof and fragrance-free, but it just doesn't live up to the awesomeness that is the original Voluminous Mascara. When I compared the two, the difference was obvious. The lashes done with Original were HUGE. I mean, "where did you get those false lashes" huge. Like, "why did I EVER stop using this" huge. The waterproof version does a fantastic job of curling my stick straight lashes too. The Original is my holy grail mascara. And it's $7.50, people!

It's not that the eye with Naturale on it was bad, just not amazing the way the Original is. I had to apply 4-5 coats to get it to the volume I wanted, but then they seemed clumpy and yucky so I took it off. Overall, I suggest sticking with the Original. But, good try on the Naturale, L'Oreal. Good try.

Face Candy Grade: C

New Product Alert: Urban Decay - Box of Potions

Urban Decay's new Box of Potions ($114 value, for $65) contains:
-1 oz. Complexion Primer Potion - Brightening
-1 oz. Complexion Primer Potion - Pore Perfecting
-0.34 oz. Eyeshadow Primer Potion
-0.3 oz. Eyelash Primer
-0.07 oz. Lip Primer Potion

ONLY AT SEPHORA.

Bobbi Brown - Ivy League Collection - Fall 2009

“Pencils are back in a big way for fall. They’re quick, mistake-proof and can go from subtle to bold in one easy stroke.” – Bobbi Brown

Creamy Eye Pencil ($20)- New and improved, this new formula applies smoothly and evenly with intense color. A built-in smudger on the opposite end allows you to soften the line. It also comes with a sharpener. Available in 9 shades.
-Jet
-Walnut
-Caviar
-Midnight
-Hunter
-Brown Plum
-Dusk
-Charcoal
-Mahogany

Lip Crayon ($22)- Now part of the permanent line, a jumbo crayon-inspired pencil with the feel of a lipstick. Includes sharpener. Available in 6 shades.
-Honeysuckle
-Coral Pink
-Raisin Berry
-Posey
-Dusty Nude
-Wild Rose

Forest Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21)- Bobbi's gel eyeliner with deep green and golden pearl.

Eye Shadow ($20, Limited Edition)
-Autumn Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
-Bash Metallic Eye Shadow

Angle Eye Shadow Brush ($28)- A soft, angled brush ideal for applying shadow in the corner, crease or all over the lid. Good for contouring and smudging.

photo: bobbi brown

Review: beauty ADDICTS Express Collection

beauty ADDICTS products are divided into 4 categories: Glow, Express, Motivate and Seduce. I was most drawn to Express, shown above. Here are some of the things I reviewed.

-Express LUXE Lips ($18)- A nude, brown based lipstick that is said to offer maximum moisturization, long-lasting color and fuller lips. This is a semi-creamy, matte lipstick with... granny smell. That's the only way I can put it. It smells like a lipstick your grandmother would wear to kiss you with. I would like the product a lot more if it was differently scented.

Face Candy Grade: C

-LashGALORE ($18)- A "volumizing, black mascara." This is the second and last product that just didn't cut it for me. Maybe I got a bad batch, but when I went to apply it, nothing happened. Had I not gotten enough on the brush? I swooped it around the tube a bit to see if that would help, but it didn't. The tiny bit that actually stayed on my lashes was waxy and did literally NOTHING for me.

Face Candy Grade: D

-Mineral SheerTINT SPF 20 ($32)- A mineral-based, oil-free, ultra-sheer tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 and ingredients like Ginseng Root Extract and Vitamins A, C and E. I tried Natural Glow, my perfect match. Coverage and pigmentation is sheer, quite sheer, so I only recommend this to the most flawless of flawless faces. It contains some luminizing pigments and moisturizer so it's hard to over-do. My only real gripe is with the packaging. It seems that product seems to consistently ooze out of the top until you screw the cap back on. Waste much?

Face Candy Grade: B

-SleekCHEEKS ($28)- A cheek duo containing one Velveteen Creme, a weightless creme to powder texture and one Build-a-Blush, a sheer, matte powder. I am truly in LOVE with the Velveteen Creme. It's pigmented and lovely, just a dab will do ya, and the fact that it comes with a powder blush too, well that makes it a winner in my book. $28 for 2 products in one. I like to use the powder on top of the creme for extra staying power.

Face Candy Grade: A+

-GlimmerSHEERS ($28)- A highlighting and luminizing duo. One half is a pearly white cream and the other is clear gel. I particularly like the duo for highlighting the inner corners of my eyes and creating a glossy gelled-eye look that's SO in.

Face Candy Grade: B

-SolutionEYES ($35)- A quad of 4 shadows from sheer matte, to subtle shimmer. I LOVE this quad. I could do without the matte ivory, but the other 3 colors are heavily pigmented and smooth and buttery. Highly recommended.

Face Candy Grade: A+

-RelationLIPS ($28)- A quad of 4 lip glosses, infused with shea butter, aloe vera, Vitamin E and wild berry essence. I liked these glosses a lot better than the Lipstick. They are all creamy, with medium pigment and don't smell like your grandma. If you get this, you MUST get the LipCLICK brush too. The two go hand in hand.

Face Candy Grade: B+

-LipCLICK ($18)- A retractable lip brush that opens to reveal a full size lip brush. What more can I say, besides perfection?

Face Candy Grade: A+

Overall, beautyADDICTS products are great. A bit steep in price, but some of the products are worth it. You be the judge of which ones (and then come back and tell me!)

Lancome Sale @ Hautelook.com

Lancome Sale, 7/28/09, 8 AM PST @ Hautelook.com! Not a member? No worries, just click here to join and get access to this sale and many, many more. Spend $50 and get FREE shipping! Remember, these sales only last 1-2 days, so go before everything's gone!

MAC - Baby Bloom

Become a force of nature... Introducing Baby Bloom, the newest and simplest way to combat hot and cold extremes, air-conditioning and outrageous heat, with our next generation collection of STUDIO MOISTURE TINT treatments... makes the sunny side of the street the place to meet!

Five neutral skin-tone shades, all SPF 15, to drench skin in healing emollients, give it glow, rescue it from future damage. And fresh new SUNTINTS SPF 20 LIQUID LIP BALM in five colour shades, from Pink Tinge to Moist Plum, are THE BIG NEWS WE'VE BEEN TIGHT-LIPPED ABOUT... UNTIL NOW!

Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15 ($29.50 US/ $38 CDN)
-Light- Soft Pale Beige
-Medium- Warm Beige
-Medium Dark- Caramel Beige
-Dark- Deep Caramel
-Deep Dark- Rich Golden Bronze

Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm ($14.50 US/ $17.50 CDN)
-Just A Smidge- Soft Pastel Yellow w/ Multi-coloured Pearl
-Lilt Of Lily- Soft Creamy Pale Pink
-Pink Tinge- Clean Bright Yellow Pink w/ Gold Pearl
-Full Of Grace- Soft Sheer Rose
-Moist Plum- Light Lilac w/ Very Fine Pearl

MAC - Love That Look

MAC SHADOWS ARE SIMPLY THE BEST... sought after by Legends and Lolitas, Punks and Princesses, and all the pretty girls and boys who know what's killer when they see it! Season after season they show the love- now it's our turn with Love That Look!

An intensified take on everything incredible about MAC STARFLASH EYE SHADOW, with a formula so astro-silky, creamy, cushion-like, and pearl-finished, in a fantasia of 12 fabulously frosted shades. FOUR PEARLGLIDE LINERS to give the people what they want, essential ZOOMBLACK MASCARA and the 217 BLENDING and 239 EYE SHADER BRUSHES that can make any first-time-tryer a true believer. Love That Look... Everybody interesting does!

Eye Shadow ($14.50 US)
-Grand Entrance - Cool apricot beige
-Dreamaker - Frosty yellow gold
-Smoke & Diamonds - Frosty dirty gray taupe
-Glamour Check! - Reddish brown
-Strike A Pose - Dirty deep sea blue
-Ego - Light yellow pink
-Fashion Groupie - Light, blue violet
-Unbasic White - Snow white
-One-Off - Medium green with silver pearl
-Rated R - Light, yellow green
-Style Snob - Dirty pink brown with gold pearl
-Fashion Light - Gray-green with gold pearl

Pearlglide Liner ($14.50 US)
-Fly By Blu - Light blue with blue glitter
-Molasses - Brown with mid-tone brown glitter
-Rave - Deep purple with purple glitter
-Black Russian - Black with navy blue glitter

Zoom Lash ( $12 US)

217 Blending Brush ($22.50)- For shading or blending of colour or creamy products. Densely packed fibres in a oval shape.

239 Eye Shader Brush ($24.50)- Soft, dense brush with tapered, rounded edge with smooth, firm, fine fibres.

Review: Garnier Nutri-Pure Microbead Cream Scrub

I was in the market for a new face-wash because the ones I had were simply NOT cutting it. I have the tendency to extract pores pretty frequently around the sides of my nose, which can sometimes turn that area into a flaky mess. (And let me tell you, putting foundation on top of those flakes is pure, magnifying disaster. Flashback: 10th grade, I sat eating lunch with my crush.
Him: "Are you wearing face makeup?"
Me: "Yes... Why?"
Him: "I can see it."
END.
That was pretty much the end of that dream and my most mortifying makeup moment.)

Anyway, I was in CVS and I picked up Garnier Nutri-Pure Microbead Scrub ($6.49). It's a cream cleanser based scrub that detoxifies without drying. Oil-free, non-comedogenic, non-allergenic and gentle. Contains "Skin Nutrient" which includes Vitamin E + Grape Extract to detoxify, Vitamin B5 to infuse skin with moisture without overdrying and Green Leaf Extract to soothe and refresh.

I was truly amazed to see this work after using it for the first time. I'd tried all my exfoliating options to rid the dead flaky skin on my nose, and MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator AND Prescriptives Instant Gratification did nothing. This cleansing scrub does its exfoliating duty while being gentle enough to use every day.

Face Candy Grade: A+

Review: eos Lip Balm

eos stands for the evolution of smooth. (I don't really know what that means, it's only what I'm told). The company only has 2 products right now, lip balms and shave cream. So maybe it's about having... smooth lips and smooth legs, who knows?

I used the eos Organic Lip Balm Smooth Sphere ($3.99) in Honeysuckle Honeydew. This little ball of balm is 95% organic and 100% natural organic and petrolatum & paraben free. It's packed with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil. The shape of the balm reminds me of Lancome's Baum Baiser, but bigger. I enjoy it because you don't have to stick your finger in a pot and contaminate it constantly. I first read about the sphere in Lucky magazine, last month and was intrigued ever since. Available in: Honeysuckle Honeydew, Summer Fruit and Sweet Mint.

I also tried the eos Organic Lip Balm Smooth Stick ($3.99) in Vanilla Bean, which is pretty much the same balm, vanilla flavored in a stick form. Available in: Sweet Mint, Vanilla Bean and Pomegranate Raspberry.

Face Candy Grade: A+

I'm happy to say that both balms lived up to their rave reviews, PLUS they're green, which is a good thing in my book AND they are quite reasonably priced. Buy them online at the eos Online Store or at in-store at select Rite Aid's.

Gilt Groupe/ Hautelook Sales This Week

Starting today, 7/20 at 12:00 p.m. EST, there will be a Stila sale at Hautelook.com.
Sign up here!

* * * * *
Hautelook.com is hosting these sales:

7/20 at 8:00 a.m. PST - MOR Cosmetics

7/21 at 8:00 a.m. PST - Korres
7/22 at 8:00 PST - Freeze 24/7

Not a member? Sign up here.

Check me out on Chicisimo.com!

Hey guys, I was featured on a style website called Chicisimo.com! Check out other cool styles and bridal dresses here.

A Tarte Summer

I love Tarte, with their eco-friendly ways, so I was excited to try these products out. Here's a selection of some of my favorite items from them:

MultiplEYE Natural Lash Enhancer ($65)- A super-protein base that fortifies and nourishes lashes.
Results:
-152% change in appearance of lash length after 6 weeks
-100% of subjects reported increase in the overall appearance of lash length
-100% of subjects reported increase in overall lash health
-90% of subjects reported an increase in lash thickness
This is a new product and I have to say that I'm not the kind of person to remember every single night to put this on. In fact, I have used it probably 4-5 times only. There has been no increase in lash appearance or volume. I am determined to continue using it, so I'll let you know how that goes. Overall, it's very easy to use and my only gripe is that it seems to turn into plastic (or some sort of weird, white flaky substance) after application.

Face Candy Grade: B

Emphaseyes High Definition Eye Pencil ($18)- A super-slim eyeliner specifically formulated for the inner rim of eyes so it won't fade or run. I tried black. This thing is TINY. If you're a fan of tight-lining, this pencil will be your BFF. The mechanics of the pencil are great. But I'm not so impressed with the pencil itself. It barely lasted 15 minutes without setting it with eye shadow. Regardless of the fact it makes application super easy, it doesn't stay on.

Face Candy Grade: B-

Eco-Cheek Natural Cheek Stain ($30)- A natural coral stain in Tarte's signature formula. Eco-Cheek is a gorgeous coral. I LOVE it. A couple dabs on each cheek and it dries down to a streak-free finish. I layer on powder blush to add staying power.

Face Candy Grade: A

Sunburst Beaded Bronzing Facial Moisturizer ($28)- A moisture-rich lotion that contains mini bronzing beads that burst on contact with the skin, for a gorgeous sun burnished glow. I love me a good liquid bronzer. This one does the job, I like to mix it with my tinted moisturizer for natural looking color. Just make sure you rub it in.

Face Candy Grade: A

The Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer ($19)- A concealer that treats and soothes irritated skin and blemishes. I enjoy the pen style that this comes in. On the website, there's a complexion chart for the 10 shades available. I used Golden Bisque, and surprise surprise, they say "Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh and Ann Curry." Wow, those must have been the 3 semi-asian people they could think of. Anyway, it's a perfect match. I like to tote this around in my purse. I use it to brighten under my eyes, the outer corner of my eyes and around my nose and mouth. There is a bit of a funky smell, but nothing to complain about. My only problem is that it does tend to crease after a bit. Fix that about it and I'll endorse it 100%

Face Candy Grade: A

Beautyfix.com

What is Beautyfix?

As a blogger, I have to say that I feel extremely overwhelmed with the multitude of choices of products on the market. Every day someone is coming out with something new, there's no way to be on top of it all. How many nail polishes would you have to try to try every single one in existence? A lot. A sh*t load, actually. Beautyfix delivers deluxe travel sized or full sized products that are hand picked by experts, for a fraction of the price. You'll get a box delivered to your door every month and also receive member-only discounts on additional products.

Beautyfix 2 rocked it. I was super impressed. Here's what it included:
-3LAB "M" Cream (deluxe sample)
-Bella Bronze Golden Chamomile & Goats Milk Self-Tanner (full size)
-Exuviance Rejuvenating Treatment Masque (full size)
-Global Goddess IDivine Eyeshadow (full size)
-Glowelle 7-Day Powder Stick Pack Kit (full size)
-Jonathan Product Finish Control (full size)
-Kerstin Florian Neroli Water (deluxe sample)
-Lisa Hoffman Beauty Vitamin A & E Serum (full size)

All in a pretty sweet black Beautyfix makeup bag. It costs $49.99 quarterly. So that may seem like a lot, but for what you're actually getting it's not. At all. After that you go online and write about the products and share with cool ladies like myself. What could be better? I definitely recommend it and if not for you, give it to someone else! It's an awesome idea. I'll review more of the products soon.

MAC - Colour Craft

"Colour Craft is all about making it your own... perfection as The Muse intended. This unprecedented assortment of Mineralize Skinfinish shades work it out beautifully, with three new mosaic combinations: Triple Fusion, Smooth Merge, Warm Blend; or simply singular one-shade Sunny By Nature, just Porcelain Pink or rich Cheeky Bronze. 130 Duo Fibre Brush with built-in short natural fibres AND longer optic fibres all-in-one comes together as the ultimate Artist's tool for sleek shading and haute highlighting."

Mineralize Skinfinish ($27 US/ $32.50 CDN)
-Sunny By Nature- Rich bronze with pink pearl
-Cheeky Bronze- Soft golden coral with bronze pearl
-Porcelain Pink- Soft pinky coral with gold veining
-Triple Fusion:
-Left: Soft champagne gold
-Center: Soft golden pink
-Right: Rose pink with golden nuances
-Smooth Merge:
-Left: Soft champagne pink
-Center: Deep rose
-Right: Pale cool pink
-Warm Blend:
-Left: Antique gold
-Center: Mahogany bronze
-Right: Copper

131 Duo Fibre Powder Brush ($40 US/ $48 CDN)- Flat, tapered brush that contains a combination of short and long fibres ideally suited for Mineralize Skinfinish Powders.

P.S. I don't know why my computer saved the photo with a dull, brown overcast. But it did. And I apologize. These colors are NOT accurate.

Givenchy Gloss Poetique

Givenchy Gloss Poetique Natural Color-Enhancer Lip Gloss ($45) - A unique, gel-textured formula in the perfect shade of pink to complement any skin tone. This is from Givenchy's Autumn Winter collection. One reviewer wrote it is similar to Smashbox's O Glow but it works better. I'm very interested in this, but a $45 pricetag?? It is cool looking...

MAC - Colour Crafted

A sensibility that surpasses expectations with inventive new Mineralize Eye Shadow pinwheel designs that combine new hues in modern, neo-geo ways; Lipglass gets a lift too, now with three shades swirled to create a one-of-a-kind marble finish delivered in a new, sleek vial. The small but seriously artful 109 and 226 Brushes are musts... add the newest colour sensations in complementary Lipstick, Mineralize Eye Shadow and Mineralize Blush, and any glamorous gallery will go gaga to give you your own one-woman show!

Lipstick ($14 US/ $16.50 CDN)
-Madly Creative- Pink neutral with white pearl
-Ever Embellish- Plum brown with red pearl
-Made with Love- Bright coral pink
-Colour Crafted- Milky pink
-Trimming Talk- Bright Fuchsia
-Most Popular- Purple with yellow undertone

Lipglass ($17.50 US/ $21 CDN)- 3 shades swirled together to create a one-of-a-kind marble finish.
-Pretty Pattern- Warm dirty beige
-Crazy Haute- Blue pink
-Nice Mix Up- Burnt ginger
-Funky Fusion- Pink coral
-Eclectic Edge- Cool violet
-Miss Marble- Muted pink

Mineralize Eye Shadow ($19.50 US/ $23.50 CDN)- 4 shades create a pinwheel design in one compact.
-Assemblage- White with silver pearl/ Deep grey/ Black with silver glitter/ Warm yellow gold
-Odd Bits- Mid-tone silver grey/ Dusty rose with gold pearl/ Dark burgundy/ Peach bronze
-Fashion Patch- Ice blue/ Off white/ Black with silver glitter/ Light white pink
-Eccentricity- Rich gold/ Light violet/ Deep plum/ Rich bronze
-Natural Flare- Copper/ Yellow orange/ Dirty Brown/ Rich Gold
-Girlish Romp- Dirty violet/ Yellow white with gold pearl/ Light pastel coral/ Mid-tone pink

Mineralize Blush ($21 US/ $25 CDN)
-Hand-finish- Light pink with deep gold veining
-Fad-dabulous- Dirty burnt coral with yellow gold veining
-Daft Pink- Deep blue pink with light yellow veining
-Improvise- Mid-tone neutral coral with light white yellow gold veining
-Cheek & Cheerful- Mid-tone bronzy brown with yellow gold veining
-Style Demon- Dirty brick red with copper veining

109 Small Contour Brush ($32 US/ $38.50 CDN)- Small contour for application, blending and contouring of powder products.

226 Tapered Blending Brush ($24.50 US/ $29 CDN)- Small tapered blending brush for application and blending of shadow.

MAC - Euristocrats 2

"While "a kiss on the hand can be quite continental," a modern girl does the kissing now, knowing she has the drop-dead drama of these hot new Dazzleglass shades.

In the very latest violet, coral and pink passion hues, to add the sheen, the sparkle, and the OOH-LA-LA that never fails to entertain. They're the "something extra" we've added to the LIPSTICK and DAZZLEGLASS collection Euristocrats can't get enough of. MORE, MORE, MORE!"

Lipstick ($14 US /16.50 CDN)
-Costa Chic- Frosty light coral
-Naked Paris- Sheer pink brown with multi-dimensional pearl
-Patisserie- Sheer creamy neutral pink
-Milan Mode- Sheer deep pink with multi-dimensional pearl
-London Life- Sheer deep berry with multi-dimensional pearl
-Saint Germain- Clean pastel pink
-Cockney- Sheer yellow red with multi-dimensional pearl

Dazzleglass ($18 US/ $21.50 CDN)
-Date Night- Soft blue purple with pearl
-Euro Beat- Peach coral with gold pearl
-Internationalist- Yellow pink with blue pearl
-Local Colour- Neutral yellow pink with gold pearl
-Roman Holiday- Medium brown coral with pink pearl
-Rue D'Rouge- Light red with pink pearl
-Via Veneto- Light violet with blue pearl

Lip Pencil ($13 US/ $15.50 CDN)
-Magenta- Vivid pinkish-purple
-Cherry- Vivid bright blush-red
-Subculture- Underground pink
-Whirl- Dirty rose

Trish McEvoy Power of Makeup Classes

Get a makeup lesson with Trish McEvoy's specially trained makeup artists and learn to create a look that works specifically for you. You'll learn about new products, application tools and techniques.

Find a location near you...

Arizona
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Scottsdale

California
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Corte Madera
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Topanga
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Walnut Creek
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- UTC
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Fashion Valley
-7/24-25- Nordstrom-Grove
-7/24-25- Nordstrom-Mission Viejo
-7/24-25- Nordstrom-Palo Alto
-7/24-25- Nordstrom-San Francisco
-7/30-31- Nordstrom- Arden Fair
-7/31-8/1- Nordstrom- Westside

Colorado
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Park Meadows

Florida
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- International Plaza
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Merrick Park

Georgia
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Perimeter
-7/31-8/1- Nordstrom- Phipps

Illinois
-7/17-19- Nordstrom- Michigan Avenue
7/17-20- Nordstrom- Old Orchard
7/24-25- Nordstrom- Oakbrook

Maryland
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Montgomery
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Towson
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Annapolis

Massachusetts
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Natick

Michigan
-7/17-19- Nordstrom- Troy

Missouri
-7/17-20- Nordstrom- Kansas City
-7/24-26- Nordstrom- St. Louis

New Jersey
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Paramus
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Menlo Park
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Short Hills

New York
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Roosevelt Field
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- White Plains

North Carolina
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Durham
-7/31-8/1- Nordstrom- South Park

Ohio
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Beachwood

Oregon
-7/31-8/1- Nordstrom- Washington Square

Pennsylvania
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- King of Prussia

Rhode Island
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Providence

Texas
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Houston
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Barton Creek (Austin)
-7/24-26- Nordstrom- Northpark

Utah
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Murray

Virginia
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Tysons
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Richmond
-7/31-8/1- Nordstrom- Pentagon City

Washington
-7/17-18- Nordstrom- Seattle
-7/24-25- Nordstrom- Bellevue

Wow I can't believe I just typed all that.

Review: Eyeko Products

Eyeko means LOVE and LOVE CHILD in Japanese. It's a London based manga-esque brand, imagine if Hello Kitty had makeup. You can get it at Cherry Culture.com if you live in the US. You can also order from the Eyeko website and get FREE Shipping worldwide on all orders. The prices are in euros I guess... the ones I put are from Cherry Culture.

Touch Up & Go Concealer (I just noticed that I put the wrong picture in the collage. The one pictured is Touch Up & Glow, and it should be the one with red letters. Oops.) Touch Up & Glow is a highlighting pen and Touch Up & Go is a concealer pen. LOVE it. Dirt cheap for a peachy concealer that instantly brightens and neutralizes under-eye circles. Contains purified water and jojoba. Try it, you'll like it.

face candy grade: A+

Fat Balm ($13)- Berry tint for lips and cheeks. The packaging is so cute on this. I tried Strawberry. I think it's better for cheeks than lips, not too moisturizing.
Available in:
-Strawberry- Bright Pink
-Raspberry- Medium Purple
-Minty- Pale Pink

face candy grade: C

Nail Polish- These little bottles of polish are so cute! I love how all the labels are different. I tried the pale blue one. I like how tiny these are too. I'm not a big fan of the tiny little tops though, doesn't give you a lot to hold on to.
Available in:
-Pretty Polish- Sheer Pink
-Vamp Polish- Dark Midnight Blue
-Punk Polish- Fluorescent Pink
-Pastel Polish- Baby Blue
-Red Plish- Hot Hot Red
-Disco Polish- Glittery Silver

face candy grade: B+

Cream ($12)- A 3-in-1 moisturizer, highlighter and eye cream infused with skin perfecting light reflectors and Vitamins A, C and E. This cream looks pink in the picture, but it seems more golden to me. I mix it with my foundation for a slightly pearlized finish. LOVE it.

face candy grade: A

Mascara ($15)- A black mascara with natural oils and silicones with Panthenol (Vitamin B) in a silver tube. The brush is long and thin. This didn't work for me. I ended up getting it all over my face and it clumped my lashes together.

face candy grade: D

Overall, Eyeko is a really cool brand and you'll be sure to find something you like. I definitely recommend it. :) Happy shopping! K

Review: ChapStick True Shimmer

ChapStick True Shimmer ($2.99) is traditional ChapStick with pearly white glitter in it. My favorite is Tropical, it's pineapple-coconutty. A little bit too frosty for my lips. No SPF. I like the flavor, but it could use some SPF and maybe a little bit of pink to offset the frostiness. Read more reviews at Total Beauty. Available in:
Botanical Berry
Tropical
Peppermint Rush

Face Candy Grade: B

Laura Mercier - Fresco Collection

Satin Creme Eye Colour ($22)- New in:
-Amber Velvet- Warm terra cotta
-Teal Cashmere- Dusty teal

Creme Cheek Colour Pot ($34)- NEW! A dual pot containing a creamy cheek colour and a soft-focus loose cheek powder. Available in:
-Sienna Sunset- Warm tawny rose
-Soft Apricot- Soft peachy apricot

Lip Watercolours ($48)- A Limited Edition painter's palette of lip stains. Includes a Lip Prep and double-ended mini lip colour brush. Available in:
-Fair
-Medium

Bobbi Brown - Fall 2009 - The Nude Collection

"Nude makeup never goes out of style-- it's polished, sophisticated, and always looks modern." - Bobbi Brown

Nude Eye Palette ($60)- 3 nude eye shadow duos in 3 different textures: soft matte, lightly pearlized and metallic high-shimmer, in a customizable 3 Pan Palette.
Includes:
-Navajo Eye Shadow (creamy pinkish white)
-Pebble Metallic Eye Shadow (silvery sparkle)
-Chino Eye Shadow (medium brown)
-Beige Linen Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow (golden shimmer)
-Maple Sugar Metallic Eye Shadow (medium gold shimmer)
-Caviar Eye Shadow (deep black)

Nude Shimmer Brick ($38)- A shimmer brick containing 5 pure pearl pigments: pink, gold, bronze, beige and caramel, designed to be blended together to give skin a soft nude, lit from within glow.

Creamy Lip Color ($22)
New shades:
-Soft Blush (pink nude)
-Rose Bud (warm brown)
-Rose Garden (rosy nude)
-Twilight (medium brown)

Caviar Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21)- Bobbi's best-selling eye liner in "the richest, deepest brown."

Review: L'Oreal HiP Color Presso Lipgloss

I tried L'Oreal's HiP Color Presso Lipglosses ($13) in two color combos, 182 Trendy and 180 Swanky. Swanky was my favorite because it gives more color but Trendy makes a lovely nude lip. I like these much better than the Kohl Eye Liners. These make more sense. You can mix and match the 2 colors to make endless combos. The glosses are thick and creamy and smell like cupcakes but tend to wear off pretty quickly. For $13 that's not a lot of bang for your buck. Available in 10 color combinations. Read more reviews at Total Beauty.

Face Candy Grade: C