Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick – Crystal Baby

Two of my favorite you tube channels are Pixiwoo & Pixi2woo. Samantha & Nic Chapman (Pixiwoo) and Tanya Burr (Pixi2woo) do awesome makeup videos. They are so fun to watch and I learn new things all the time. In a few of their video’s they used an Estee Lauder lipstick in the color Crystal Baby and it looked beautiful on camera so I had to have it. I searched on Estee Lauder’s US website and did not see that particular color. So when I googled the color it took me to Lauder’s UK website and I figured out that the color is sold only in the UK. This was kind of a bummer because international shipping can sometimes take forever and the exchange rate can make products more expensive to purchase. However, I found a US website that had the lipstick to ship in the US (Izzy’s Perfume & Beauty Shoppe). I was so excited when I received the product in the mail and here is why….

Crystal Baby is the perfect my lips but better lipstick for me! The color is a beautiful warm pink that add a glossy finish to my lips. It feels super lightweight on and has the classic Estee Lauder scent (kind of a floral fruity smell). It has become my favorite new lipstick that must be in my bag at ALL times. I can just swipe it on and I am good to go. I am super pumped about this purchase!

My Favs: MAC Lipglass

I have been a die hard MAC fan since I was fifteen and have collected many of their lipglass ($14.50) over the years.  I love their texture, smell and staying power.  I thought I would share some of my all time favorite colors.

L to R: Love Nector, Frankly Fresh, Prrr, Nymphette, Viva Glam VI

My first favorite is Love Nectar which is actually a lustreglass not a lipglass.  I think I am on my 5th tube of this color. It is a soft sheer apricot with pearl and a hint of sparkle. I can throw on this color anytime or over any lipstick to add a light shimmer.

My next fav is a limited edition color that came out earlier this year with the Liberty of London collection.  Frankly Fresh is a soft creamy peach beige with subtle shimmer.  This color is a perfect nude gloss and really adds that extra something to any nude lipstick. I wish I had gotten another tube of it because it has become a staple in my handbag.

I was introduced to Prrr lipglass just last year. I was making a casual trip to my MAC counter and was scanning the lipglass and came across Prrr.  I was surprised that I had never noticed it before because the color is right up my alley.  Prrr is a soft pinky peach shimmer gloss with lots of shine.  It has become a new favorite of mine.

Nymphette is probably my absolute favorite MAC lipglass.  It's a perfect golden pink shimmer that makes my lips look amazing.  I have gone through numerous tubes of this color because I use it all the time.  It is a color that goes with most of my everyday looks, so its easy to swipe on and go.

Last of my favorite lipglass is Viva Glam VI.  I am on my second tube of this gloss and is a staple in my bag during the fall and winter.  I have never been a big fan of dark gloss or lipstick, so having a nice warm plum gloss is a far as I will go.  Viva Glam is just that. It enhances my already rosy lips with a beautiful almost 3-D shimmer.

L to R: Love Nectar, Frankly Fresh, Prrr, Nymphette, Viva Glam VI

NARS Fall 2010 eye shadow duo in Tzarine

I stopped by Sephora the other day and decide to pick something up from the NARS Fall 2010 collection. The eyeshadow duo in Tzarine($32) was the only product from the collection that really called to me. It’s a beautiful duo of champagne gold shimmer & steel gray shimmer with flecks of gold.

Both shadows are very pigmented and are very long lasting.  Some of the NARS shadows can be very buttery in texture and some can be too chalky. I was glad to see that both of these shadows were very buttery and smooth when applied. Over all I am very excited about my fall NARS purchase and can’t wait to create a great smokey look with it.

NOTD: Ginger + Liz Swagger

I first read about Ginger + Liz nail polish on Rachel Zoe’s website, www.rachelzoe.com. Rachel has a section called “Ask Rachel” where she answer’s fashion & beauty questions from her readers. One of the recent questions was, “What are your favorite nail polishes right now?” One of her favs was Ginger + Liz “Got My Groove Back” which is a gorgeous metallic gold. So I went to their website to order immediately but got distracted by another shade called “Swagger”.

 
This nail polish is AMAZING! I absolutely adore this color! Swagger is a luxe metallic champagne silver with slight pink undertones. It provides super opaque coverage, after one swipe, the nail was pretty opaque but I added another coat to make the color really pop. I have only had the polish on for a day now and so far no chipping. Hopefully it will last a few days with a chip. I will definitely being trying out more polishes from this range in the future.

Paul & Joe Beaute Autumn 2010 – Lipstick C

I have always admired Paul & Joe Beaute products. I have seen and read review after review about how lovely the products are, but I have never really been intrigued enough to buy. Well when I saw the Autumn 2010 collection, I had to get something. Me being the lipstick and gloss addict that I am, I went straight for the lipsticks. Here is what I got….

Paul & Joe Lipstick C in Clair de Lune ($25) is one of the three available colors in their Autumn 2010 collection. Each lipstick bullet is shaped into an adorable cat head, which is super cute! It can be a little difficult to apply because you don’t want to ruin the cuteness of the cat, but oh well. Clair de Lune is a pinky mauve color with slight shimmer. It’s very glossy and sheer. Clair de Lune enhances the color of my lips and adds a slight shimmer to them. This is a great color to keep in my bag for on-the-go application.

I am quite happy with my first Paul & Joe purchase. I am definitely going to keep up with the new collections as they are released and also check some of the permanent colors in the line.

Beaute Cosmetics Review

I have read a few magazine articles and seen other reviews about Beaute Cosmetics and their creative director Beau Nelson. Beau works will tons of celebrities, most recently Kristen Stewart. Being the “Twilighter” I am, I had to try some products if Kristen Stewart loves them. If you go to Beaute Cosmetics website (www.beaute-cosmetics.com) they have pictures of celebrities that have been photographed in Beaute. After perusing the photos, I decided to purchase a few products. Right now Beaute only carries lip products and face/eye/lip brushes. I have read were Beaute will be expanding to other products, such as eye shadows, etc. Here is what I purchased:

Weightless Lip Creme in Trace

I also purchased two of the Luminous Volume Glosses ($26) in Medusa & Elitist. Both glosses have a cream finish and are very lightweight. Medusa is a creamy warm petal pink and Elitist is a creamy nude peach. Both colors are well pigmented and very moisturizing. They both will definitely be staple products in my handbag. Beaute has 12 colors of the Luminous Volume Gloss in their line, with both cream and shimmer finishes. I think next time around I order some shimmer colors to try.

Top: Medusa  Bottom: Elitist

L to R: Trace, Medusa, Elitist

Overall I am very impressed with this line. The colors are beautiful and pigmented which I love. All the colors I purchased really enhanced my lip color and texture and made my lips feel very smooth. I suggest you all check out Beaute cosmetics at their website http://www.beaute-cosmetics.com/.

Edward Bess Daydream Ultra Luminous Bronzer Review:

After reading many rave reviews about Edward Bess bronzers, I decided to give it a try. Since I am a smitten kitten about the other products I have purchased from the Edward Bess line, I hoped to fall instantly in love with this bronzer. And I did! If you already didn’t know, I am a bit bronzer picky. Some are too orange, some too shimmery, some too chalky but this bronzer my friends is none of those things. It is perfection!

Daydream ($48) is a beautiful soft bronze. The finish is between a matte and a shimmer. If you look at it hard enough in the compact you will see the subtle sheen. Once applied the sheen comes out and gives you the luminous glow you want. Daydream would look beautiful on pale to light to medium skin tones.

My Skincare Regimen: Kate Sommerville

Growing up my skin was crazy oily and broke out like crazy. Once I surpass my teenage years, my skin became more combination/oily. My t-zone is usually the oiliest place on my face. The only time I breakout is usually during that special time of the month. Over the years I have tried out tons of different products and product systems. Some were decent, others made my skin worse. I was using ProActiv at the time when my friend had told me about Kate Sommerville. I had read about Kate’s products in many fashion & beauty magazine but had never had to interest in trying them out. Well my friend convinced me that I would love the products so I thought I would give them a shot. I am so glad I did. My skin looks and feels amazing. I finally have a regimen that feel is making my skin better, not just eliminating breakouts. Here are the products I use:

Daily Detox Cleanser ($34) is something I use AM/PM to wash the daily crud off my face. It’s a light foaming gel cleanser that promises to remove impurities and fight bacteria to prevent breakouts. Phytic acid in the cleanser helps fade acne scars and reduce redness. I love the way my face feels after using this because it does not feel sucked dry, but soft and clean.




Next, I use the Clarifying Treatment Toner ($24) which contains witch hazel & phytic acid to clarify and balance the oil production. I also use this AM/PM. This toner does not dry your skin out like some acne toners that contain alcohol can. This is alcohol free and very refreshing.

To treat and prevent breakouts I use the Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39). It contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide to help fight bacteria and calm inflammations. A little goes a long way with the product. You can either you it for spot treatment or spread a thin layer over your whole face. Usually I just use this product at night, but if I am broken out, I will use in the morning to help treat throughout the day.

The last product I use is the Oil Free Moisturizer ($65). Finding a good moisturizer is very important to me. Some can be overly greasy and others don’t provide enough moisture. That is not the case with this product. It provides the perfect amount of moisture thorough out the day to keep my skin hydrated. It also contains an algae based complex that fights lines and wrinkles, which is a plus.

Twice a week I use Kate Sommerville’s Clearing mask ($45) to help rid my skin of impurities and help clear my pores. This is a Kaolin clay mask that absorbs oil and helps clam your skin. I really like the way my skin feels after I wash the mask off, very refreshed.

Also twice a week I use Exfolikate ($85) to remove dead skin cells and polish my skin. This is Kate Sommerville’s signature product. It has been compared to the facial you can get when you go to see Kate yourself in her clinic. It contains tons of enzymes to clarify your skin and help clear blackheads. It really does give your skin a glow when you wash it off.

I hope you all enjoyed hearing about my skincare and suggest that you check out Kate Sommerville’s products next time you are at Sephora or online at katesommerville.com.

My Bronzers

I have always had a strong affection for bronzers. I have always been on the search for the perfect one or ones I should say. I get a moderately good tan in the summer but in the winter I lose all color I had. I am trying to stay away from the tanning bed considering how awful it is for your skin. So I have turned to self tanning at home. (Review to come on my new self tanners I recently purchased.) When it comes to bronzers I want to achieve that beautiful warm glow that you would get from being on vacation. I definitely stay away from anything too orange or too brown. I am cool with shimmer as long as it is not overboard. Here is a list of some of my current bronzer favorites!

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Bahama ($33) is my go to bronzer when I am really tan. It is describe as a deep golden bronze and that is exactly what you get. This color would really be more suited for medium to tan skin than my light to medium, but it works nicely when I do have a lot of color. It's very pigmented but blendable, so you can make it very light on the skin.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Bahama

Guerlain Terracotta bronzer ($47) has been a cult favorite for years when it comes to bronzing. The Terracotta line is known for creating the perfect bronze look. I own Terracotta 01 bronzing powder which is a soft matte bronze with subtle sheen. This color is usually my go to in the winter when I have less color. It’s goes on lightly but can be layered for more intensity.

Guerlain Terracotta 01 Bronzer

Chanel Soliel Tan de Chanel 4 Facettes is a limited edition bronzer ($65) from the Summer 2009 collection. It is amazing! The four colors blend together to create a soft shimmery peach bronze that looks heavenly on your skin. It’s definitely not overly shimmer, just a perfect amount. What I also like about this bronzer is that it can double as a highlighter using the two lightest shades. Chanel always comes up with an incredible bronzer for their summer collection and this is by far my favorite.

Chanel Soliel Tan de Chanel 4 Facettes Bronzer

MAC Blush Ombre in Springshine ($25) is a limited edition from the 2010 Spring Forecast collection. This was released as a blush but to me it definitely seems more like a bronzer. Springshine has a gradient that fades from one lighter color to the next which is a soft bronze. Swirled together you get a nice peachy bronze effect. It has a soft texture with subtle shimmer and blends wonderfully.

MAC Springshine Blush Ombre

MAC To the Beach Cream Bronzer in Beach Bronze ($25) is the first cream bronzer I have ever owned. I have just recently within the past year gotten into using cream blushers. So when I saw that MAC was releasing a cream bronzer I had to give it a try. I am glad I did because it is great! Beach Bronze is a beautiful sheer warm tan with shimmer. When applied it is lightweight and non-greasy. It leaves you with a warm shimmery glow that lasts all day. Beach Bronze is perfect for light to medium skin tones. However, darker skin tones may find this too light for them. For my first cream bronzer, I was quite happy with this purchase.

MAC Beach Bronze cream bronzer

Left to Right: BB Bahama, Guerlain Terracotta 01, Chanel, MAC Springshine & MAC Beach Bronze

Illamasqua Haul and Review

The British beauty brand Illamasqua has been available at Sephora for some time now but I haven’t really had a chance to check it out because it is only available in select Sephora stores and on-line. I have read several rave reviews of their products so I decide to try a few products that struck my fancy. I purchased two products to start out, Bronzing Duo in Glint/Burnish ($30) and Sheer lip gloss in Provoke ($20).

I love a good bronzer and this duo is a hit for me. It may be a bit shimmery for some but I think it is lovely. The packaging is black and glossy with a big mirror inside. The duo comes with two colors, Glint (soft luminous peach highlighter) and Burnish (soft golden bronze). Together these colors work beautiful together for a soft bronze sheen. Normally I stick to matte bronzer or ones with a very subtle shimmer, but I am quite smitten with this duo.

Left to Right:Glint & Burnish

I also purchased a sheer lip gloss in Provoke which is a warm caramel nude shimmer. There is a slight bubblegum smell to the gloss which I love. The packaging is sleek and light which makes it easy to tote around in a small bag or even your pocket. This color is beautiful, not only because it’s nude (which I love) but it just enhances my lip color with a lovely soft sheen. Definitely a gloss I could just throw on whenever.

Lip gloss in Provoke

Overall, I am very happy with my first Illamasqua purchase. I will most certainly buy more products in this line in the future, so stay tuned. Bye!

NOTD : Chanel Paradoxal

Part of Chanel’s Fall 2010 cosmetics collection, Paradoxal has become another cult shade for Chanel lovers. I have been a lover of Chanel polishes ever since Vamp was released many years ago. So when a new shade comes out that is as amazing as Paradoxal, I must have it. Paradoxal is a gray violet color with shimmer. With inside light the shimmer is hard to see, but outside the shimmer really comes out. You will only need 2 coats for opaque coverage.



Great color for fall!

Edward Bess Haul & Review

I had been hearing a lot of buzz around other beauty blogs about Edward Bess Cosmetics. Everyone has been saying how amazing his line is, so I had to check it out for myself. Edward Bess' line in stores is exclusively sold at Bergdorf Goodman but his products are available on his website EdwardBess.com. His line started out with lipsticks and glosses, but now it has expanded to eye shadows, bronzers, compact rouges, highlighters, etc. Here is what I purchased....

Pure Impulse Ultra Slick Lipstick

I picked up two lip products, Ultra Slick lipstick in Pure Impulse ($32) and Deep Shine Lip gloss is Soft Whisper ($30). Both products are a warm peach nude color with a creamy finish. Together they are the perfect warm nude lip, which is perfect for me because I have very pigmented lips. Most light nude colors look awful on me, so this combo has made me very happy. Each product has a slight figgy smell to it and is not overpowering at all.

Deep Shine Lip Gloss Soft Whisper


L to R: Soft Whisper, Pure Impulse

I also purchased three of Edward's Ultra Luminous Eye shadows ($30) in Intimate (a golden khaki), Mystery (chocolate brown shimmer) and Dusk (green gun metally gray).

Intimate eyeshadow

Mystery Eyeshadow

Dusk

All of the shadow are finely milled and super smooth going on. Intimate and Mystery are great for a neutral day look. Dusk is a beautiful color to use for a soft smokey eye. Although Dusk was said to be gun metal gray, it definitely has a tinge of green in it, which was a pleasant surprise. That made the color different than other gray shadows I have.

I was so impressed with my first Edward Bess order, I have already placed my second. Coming soon in an upcoming review, Luminous Bronzer in Daydream, Ultra Slick lipstick in Secret Desire and Deep Shine Lip gloss in Desert Glow. I have also heard that Edward will be releasing some new shades and products in September, so I can't wait to see what those will be. Bye for now!

Burberry Beauty Haul and Review

I was super excited when I heard that Burberry would be coming out with a beauty line. Promo images of the products where beautiful, so as soon as they were available, I jumped at the chance to purchase some items to try. The line can be found on Burberry.com and Nordstrom.com. When looking at all the shades available in both eyeshadows and lip products, I was overwelmed with delight. So many to choose from, what was I to do. Since I am a normally a neutrals girl, I decide to try a few of the neutral lip glosses, which they call "lip glow" and one lipstick or "lip cover". Here is what I decided on.

I purchased Burberry's Satin Finish Lip Cover in Cameo #02 ($30). It's a nude peachy beige with a very soft sheen. The color goes on very pigmented and really smooth. I love the soft fragrant smell it has, very feminine. Overall, I am very impressed with the packaging and product. Very classic and elegant.

The two "Lip Glow's" I purchased where Cameo Pink #7 and Rosewood #1 ($27). Both are absolute winners for me. Cameo Pink is a beautiful shimmering pinky peach which goes gorgeously over the Cameo Lip Cover as well as by itself. Rosewood is the perfect warm pinky brown that you can just put on whenever and look stunning. Its very wearable and a must have in your purse for on the go. They both have a lovely soft texture and smell wonderful too!

Top: Cameo Pink Bottom: Rosewood

L to R: Cameo Lip Cover, Cameo Pink Lip Glow, Rosewood Lip Glow

When it comes to the eyeshadows in the Burberry collection, they are all about the neutrals. The majority of the colors range from creamy beiges and browns. I decide to try out a few of the deeper colors that seemed alittle more fall to me. I purchased Rosewood #09 & Pearl Grey #17 ($29)

Rosewood

Pearl Gray

Left to Right: Rosewood, Pearl Grey

Both shadows are very soft in texture and have a shimmer finish to them. The colors glide on very smoothly to the skin and are not overly pigmented, but can be when layered. Rosewood is a beautiful brown shimmer with a hint of rosy color. Although Pearl Grey looks very blue in this picture, its really a soft light grey with a hint of blue. It's the perfect color for a soft smokey eye.

Overall, I am very pleased with my Burberry purchases. The colors and packaging are very luxe and are a great addition to my makeup collection. I have a few more products I would love to try out like the Warm Glow bronzer, Light Glow Blush and Sheer Luminous Foundation. So stay tuned for more Burberry goodness to come!