Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12

Bobbi Brown just launched a new lip color formula for spring called Rich Lip Color ($22).  There are twelve shades in the range, from pink beige to a rich plum. The formula is designed to feel lightweight, give lots of color, with a creamy soft texture to moisturize lips with a SPF 12. The formula also combines pigments with a clear base to deliver pure color with one application.  I picked up a few colors and the first I will review is Bikini Pink (softwhite pink).

Bikini Pink is a light medium pink with no shimmer.  Actually this formula does not have any shimmer in any of the colors. Bikini Pink is a great color for spring and summer, very fun and everyday wearable.  I found that this formula is in fact very lightweight and easy to wear.  I would recommend that you apply this formula on recently conditioned lips.  If your lips are too dry, the color can look a little flakey.  The coverage is pretty much opaque when applied from the tube but can be applied easily and lighter with a lip brush.  Also for extra shine, throw on some Crystal Lip Gloss overtop. Overall, a nice new formula from Bobbi Brown and I hope to see more colors added to the range in the future.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

Chanel’s latest product is Rouge Coco Shine ($32), the company's newest lip color formula from Peter Philips, Chanel's Creative Director for Makeup. This formula will replace the discontinued Aqualumiére formula. Rouge Coco Shine is said to be a hydrating sheer lipshine and that is exactly what you get. The formula is a moisturizing, sheer, shiny lip color with a lightweight feel.

Boy is a limited-release shade launched for Valentine's Day to pay tribute to Coco Chanel’s love, Arthur “Boy” Capel. The full line of shades will be available April 6th at Chanel counter and online and will range from nude to deep berry. Boy is a sheer, warm pink shade with a very slight shimmer. I can detect a faint scent of rose to the formula. Overall, this is a winner in my book. I like the regular Rouge Coco formula but it can be a little drying without a gloss on top. When the line launched fully on April 6th, I will be there to pick up some more colors for sure!

Fresh Beauty Studio Cosmetics: Glamazon Eyeshadow Palette

I have been watching Nikol Johnson’s YouTube channel for some time now (Check it out here). She does awesome tutorials and reviews about different products. Nikol, a former model, is the owner of Fresh Beauty Studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is a beauty boutique that offers beauty services such as makeup applications, brow/lash treatments, facials, waxing and bridal services. Recently Nikol launched her own cosmetic line called Fresh Beauty Studio and has been using her cosmetics in her tutorials. The line consists of tons of different products including lipglosses, eyeshadow palettes, cheek palettes, etc. Once she placed her line on her website, I ordered a few products she used in her videos. The first product I am going to review is an eyeshadow palette in Glamazon.

All of the Fresh Beauty Studio eyeshadow palettes contain 5 shadows in different formulas (matte, satin, shimmer, etc.).  Each eyeshadow is very pigmented and smooth to the touch.  They don't have individual names but here are descriptions of each color:
Cream with a Satin Finish (similar to Brule by MAC)
Peachy Gold Shimmer
Copper Shimmer
Medium Beige Shimmer
Warm Chocolate Brown with a Satin Finish

Overall, this palette is a winner in my book. Each shadow is long lasting and the color payoff is great.  Each palette sells for $39 and I will definitely be purchasing more in the future.  Go check out Nikol's line at www.freshbeautystudio.com.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

MAC Wonder Woman Collection: Emancipation & Marquis D’

 I wasn’t super impressed with MAC’s Wonder Woman collection. The packaging seemed too childlike and overdone; the colors in the collection didn’t seem to mesh to me. Overall, not my favorite and I was planning to skip it entirely but I did decide to get two products: Emancipation lipglass and Marquis D’ lipstick. I thought it would be nice to just have a few products from this limited edition launch.

Emancipation lipglass is a limited edition sheer champagne pink with subtle shimmer. It’s a beautiful everyday color and that is why I picked it up. The lipglasses in this collection are super-sized and cost a little more than normal lipglasses at $19.50. You do get a lot more product for your money.

Marquis D’ is a sheer nude pink with a slight gold sheen. It’s a lustre finish lipstick and is a repromote from Blond, Brunette, Redhead (2009). Not sure why I didn’t pick this color up then but I really like it.

Left to Right: Emancipation, Marquis D'

Overall, the Wonder Woman collection was a real let down for me. Unless you are a fan of the superhero theme of it all, I would skip this collection. I was hoping for more metallics but what can you do. Hopefully MAC will make up for it in their summer collections.

Foundation Search 2011

Up until recently, I have been religiously using Chanel Mat Lumiere foundation.  But with the weather being so dry, i have found that this Chanel foundation isn't working for me right now.  Its been difficult to blend into my skin, even with moisturizer, and the color has gotten a little to yellow/orange on me.  SO that being said, I have been out looking for another foundation that might work better for my skin right now.  I normally use Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in the weather months but I am about to run out and thought I might try out some other brands before buying another bottle from Bobbi.  The search will begin this weekend and I will keep you posted on the results.  Here are some brands and foundations I have been wanting to try just by word of mouth from other bloggers and youtubers.....

Estee Lauder Double Wear
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light
Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup Oil Free SPF 15

DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25
Korres Wild Rose Foundation
NARS Sheer Matte
Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Any suggestions for foundations for my combination skin, let me know!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Lights Shimmer Highlighter

 I love Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder, so when I had the opportunity to try another product, Eye Lights highlighter ($21), I was excited to see if I would like it. This product is a favorite amongst professional make-up artists. It promises to add a soft, satiny glow to eyes, lips or cheeks. I got the color Sand, which is a light neutral beige. The creamy texture applies soft and smooth and is very easy to blend.

You can use it many different ways. You can apply directly beneath the eyebrow and along the brow bone, blending with your finger to give your eyebrows a lift. You can also use as a liner under the eye and inside the water line to brighten. Also it can be used to highlight your cheekbones and brighten up your lipstick. I mainly use on the eyes to highlight my brows and I really like the consistency. It’s easy to apply and lasts all day. I haven’t tried this on my cheeks yet since I am not a big cheek highlighter person, but I will give it a try. From the way it stays on my brows, I am sure it will last on cheeks. Great product and I would definitely check the full line of Anastasia products at Sephora, Ulta or Anastasia.net.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils

 Along with their Spring 2011 collections, NARS launched a new product: Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils ($24). The collection launched with six shades ranging from nude to blackberry. I picked up two colors, Hopi and Frivolous. Both colors have a natural finish and are not super pigmented, almost like a glaze. They offer a smooth texture with a super glossy sheen and contain Vitamin E, making them moisturizing. After applying and wearing the formula, it’s very lightweight and lasts for a decent amount of time. Now onto the colors…

Hopi is a peachy nude (no shimmer) and is the most pigmented of the two colors.

Frivolous is an iridescent pink and is very sheer, subtle when swatched and applied on the lips.

January 2011 Favorites

The first month of 2011 has flown by and its already on to the next month. Here is what I have been loving in the last month.

Maybelline Great Lash BIG mascara – Love the formula and brush of this mascara. Great drugstore buy!
MAC Clam Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner – this lightly tinted balm smells great and leaves my lips smooth and hydrated.
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit – the skin under my eyes has been a little dry during these past few months and this concealer is great for concealing dark cirles and hydrating skin.
MAC Creamsheen Glass in Deelight – great go to color, medium pink that is easy to throw on with any look at any time. I love the creamsheen formula.
MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee – definitely my go to eyeliner, I like the deeper brown color rather than a true brown liner.
mark Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation in Nude Skin – similar to MAC Studio Fix powder but a little less heavy when applied. It lasts a long time and sets my foundation perfectly.

Clinique Spring 2011 Milly Pretty in Prints Palette

 The Pretty in Prints palette from the Clinique 2011 Spring collection is simply perfect for Spring. The colors are soft, simple and feminine, perfect for the girly girl. This is the palette Clinique designed and collaborated with Milly designer Michelle Smith. The mirrored palette contains a Colour Surge Eyeshadow Quad in Printed Pinks and a Blushing Blush in Precious Posey. The palette also comes with 2 brushes, one for eyes and one for blush. The palette also comes with a small drawstring pouch in a signature Milly pattern and a look instruction card. I have been a fan of Milly for a few years now and love the prints that Michelle designs. Her clothes are very chic and classy and that is exactly how I feel about this palette. Now onto the colors…

Colour Surge Eyeshadow Quad in Printed Pinks contains an ivory shade, a shimmering bronze, a soft shimmering medium pink and a matte chocolate brown. I love chocolate shades mixed with pinks, its very girly and feminine looking. Precious Posey Blushing blush is a beautiful color for spring! It’s a gorgeous melon pink shade with golden shimmer and complements the eye shadow quad and Milly Pink lipgloss perfectly. Overall a great pink (I mean pick) for spring! Go check it out soon because it is limited edition.

Colour Surge Eyeshadow Quad swatches

Precious Peony blush swatch

Cute Milly drawstring bag!

Face Chart included with palette