25 December 2013

COSTCO BEAUTY PRESTIGE HOLIDAY LIMITED EDITION BRUSHES 2013







Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday! Today I'm sharing with you a haul/review on some new makeup brushes that I received for Christmas (Thanks Dad!). Now, I was not previously aware of the Beauty Prestige line, so when I was gifted this set over Christmas I was very excited to give them a try!

This year Costco has released a new Limited Edition brush set from Beauty Prestige. In years past Kirkland was the brand of brushes that were offered for the holiday season at Costco. I had never tried the Kirkland brushes so unfortunately I can't compare these to those, but I thought I'd share with you my overall thoughts.




This set comes with six brushes and a travel brush case that features a magnetic closure. The set includes a large powder brush, a dense blending brush, an all over shadow brush, a tapered eye blending brush, a smudge brush, and an angled eyeliner brush. Now, I was not able to identify the material used for the bristles in the pamphlet that comes included with this set nor on the boxing itself, but after closer examination these appear to be synthetic. The handles are wood stained and very sturdy. The ferrules also appear to be well secured into the brush handle as well, so no worries about these breaking off.





The full powder brush is ideal for face powders. The brush itself is well constructed, soft and has enough "give" so you know that you will receive a flawless application of product. Also, when used on the skin, it is not scratch nor was there any shedding.




The blending brush is perfect for applying bronzers and blushes. Unlike your typical blush brush, this individual brush is shaped without any edges so it makes it very easy to buff and blend out products and colors seamlessly. Because of it's unique shape, this brush can also be used to contour and highlight your face while also giving you the ability to blend out the products so that the application is flawless, and eliminates any degree of hard edges that may result were you to accidentally use a heavy hand.




The all over shadow brush is perfect for packing on eyeshadow all over the lid, or from lid to brow bone. This brush features soft and fluffy bristles and just the right shape for product application. To give you a point of reference, this brush somewhat reminds me of the Sigma E60 large shader mostly because of the size, however it has a lot more bristles and is much fluffier.




The tapered eye blending brush can be used to blend out colors, to softly apply color along the crease and it can also be to give a soft wash of color on the lid or from lid to brow bone. The shape of this brush features bristles that are softly tapered creating a subtle dome shape.



The fifth brush included is the smudge brush. This brush has short and dense bristles that are soft and not scratchy. Using this brush you to apply or smudge/blend out color from products such as kohl liners, darkly pigmented shadows and/or gel liners and then smudge them out to add a smoky effect to your look. Though the overall brush is short and densely packed, it does provide just the slightest bit of play to it. It is not as densely packed and firm as the Sigma E20 short shader brush. Also when compared side by side, the Sigma E20 brush does appear thinner than the BP brush.




Finally the Angled liner brush has soft synthetic bristles with an angled cut making this a very versatile brush. Due to its synthetic fibers, you can use this brush to apply powder, gel and liquid products. Use this to define your lash line using your method and product of choice (powder, gel, liquid). You can also use this to apply brow products to help fill in your brows where and if needed.




So to really put these guys to the test, the very, VERY first thing I did when I got these home (after oohing and ahhing over them of course), was take them straight to the sink to see how they would fare after a deep cleaning.




Overall, I was really impressed. The only, and I mean ONLY brush that shed a few bristles was the large powder brush. However, I have to let you know that the shedding was minimal (as you can see in the picture below). I did not see any dye running off while these guys were being scrubbed, and I have to tell you, I wasn't exactly being super careful when washing them either. I was really wanting to test them out and see how they would hold up to a pretty intense deep cleaning, and I think they did quite well.




As for now though, I'm waiting for these guys to fully dry off and then I plan on taking them out for their first test drive. I'll make sure to come back again and finish this review for you ladies to let you know how they held up with product application, but for now..... I'm pretty impressed. 

So far I think that this is a great set for anyone just starting off on their brush collection because it offers some core brushes for eyes and face. Make sure to check back in again for updates on this collection. Thanks again for stopping by!

What beauty gifts did you receive over the holidays? Was there an item that you were happily surprised to receive? Was there a product that you just can't wait to play with? Please let me know! I'd love to hear from you!




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24 December 2013

The Perfect Neutral: Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Shimmer Palette

After having purchased the Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer Palette which you can read about here, I knew that I had to get my hands on the original sized Eye on Neutral Shimmer.


                                                 Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Shimmer

I was very excited to get this home and start playing with it! After having gotten a taste of these colors in the SK Limited Edition Neutral Matte/Shimmer Palette, I was itching to get these in their original and much larger size.

I have not been dissapointed! These colors are highly pigmented, they glide on super easy and blending these shades is effortless. This palette in conjunction with my SK Eye on Neutral Matte have been my "Go To" palettes for the last couple of weeks.

                                          Left: Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte
                                         Right: Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Shimmer


I've mostly been using the Matte Palette for transition colors and blending. I've been using the Shimmer Palette mostly to the lid. The versatility offered with these two plattes is phenomenal! I've created some soft smokey looks for daytime, some dark and more dramatic smokey looks for night, and I've also tried my hand at some "barely there" looks for days when I'm feeling a bit minimalist.


Since I have really fallen in love with these palettes, I was considering also picking up the Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye Palette. This one is a Limited Edition Palette for the Fall of 2013. I haven't seen these in the stores lately, but I have located them at Target online here. Honestly, the only thing holding me back is that I don't often experiment with color. I usually stick to my neutrals and call it a day. However, the colors that are being offered in the Limited Edition Jewel of an Eye Palette look like they could be really worked in to my everyday look. I may just have to pick one up next time I do some online shopping at Target.

While at the check out counter when I purchased this, I received another (YES! ANOTHER) $6 off coupon to use on my next visit on Sonia Kashuk products. I've already used the one I had when I purchased this palette and I was really hoping to score another since there are quite a few products from this line that I have dying to try!

So, what Sonia Kashuk products have you guys tried? Any recomendations? Which ones are your favorites?

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22 December 2013

The Winter Lip RX: Exfoliators, Moisturizer and Color!



With the changing seasons, I always find it a good idea to update my skincare routine. I usually find myself changing out my face wash for something that will accommodate my lesser oily skin. I change up my moisturizer to something that will help put some hydration back into my skin which will tend to get a bit drier in the winter months. But one thing that I usually find that most of us forget while in the midst of updating everything else is how we care for our lips in the drier winter months.

Here's something to think about: Lips do not have oil glands. Hence, that's why we usually find ourselves fighting chappy lips when the seasons take a turn for the cold. Keeping them well moisturized, hydrated,and chap free is essential to any updated beauty look.

Here are my top products that will keep your puckers chap free, hydrated, moisturized and looking beautiful all season long!


                                                   Elf Lip Exfoliator

The ELF Lip Exfoliator has been my go to for months now! Retailing at $3.00 it just can't be beat! What I enjoy most about this product is that it is shaped like a lipstick. Therefore eliminating the need to have to stick your finger in a pot. I had purchased the Laura Mercier Sugar Scrub months before in preparation for the coming winter months, but since having discovered this little gem, that particular product has gone untouched. This product provides gentle exfoliation to the lips, and it also leaves them feeling uber soft and ready for color application! I find the scent of this to be very pleasing. It seems like a mix between a warm sugar cookie and vanilla. This product will gently scrub away any dead flaky skin you may have on your lips, and it will also leave them feeling super soft and hydrated! I love this product so much that I've stockpiled quite a few just in case I am no longer to locate them at my local Target or Walmart!



                                                        Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments
                                          
For added moisture, I enjoy the Fresh Sugar Lip Balms. This product keeps my lips moisturized for hours. These are available in a wide range of colors, so you can have your pick of what suits you best. One of my favorite colors from this line is in Honey (third from left) and Rose (first from left). With these the colors glide on somewhat sheer, but can be built up for opacity if that is something that you would prefer. Added Bonus: These have SPF 15, so you can rest assured that your lips are getting the protection they need!


                                          IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush in Je Na Sais Quoi

Ever since I got my hands on this at Ulta, I have been wearing it non stop! The Vitality Lip Flush lipsticks offer four products in one. It offers color, anti-aging conditioning balm, hydrating lip gloss and a stain all in one tube! Now, as for the lip stain aspect, I cannot attest to that. Perhaps it is the shade that I chose, but I do not find this particular color to be super long lasting. What I do find, is that is glides one, is super moisturizing and leaves my lips feeling ultra soft! This particular shade looks clear, however, once applied it changes color. I am not sure how this technology works, but perhaps it is something to do with how the ingredients interact with your particular PH levels.


                                    Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Sheer Berry

I am truly a fan of all of the Sonia Kashuk products I have thus far tried, and the Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colors are no exception! These lip colors are not long wearing but what I enjoy most about these is the moisturizing quality that they offer. Contrary to what the title might have you believe, I have not found these lip colors to be sheer. They offer what I would consider a medium opacity, but an added bonus is that you can build these colors up to the opacity of your choice without having to cake on product.


                                         Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Maverick

The Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lip gloss offers sheer to medium coverage and can be built up to opacity. What I enjoy most about this particular line is that the lip gloss is satiny smooth, offers about average wear for a lip gloss and has just the right amount of shine without feeling sticky and/or tacky on the lips. It wears very comfortably for me, and the shade I chose in Maverick is just the right color for the fall/winter.


                                    Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip gloss in Magical Mulberry

Another one of my ALL time favorite products from Sonia Kashuk are her Ultra Luxe Lip glosses. These lip glosses are so incredibly pigmented, are not sticky nor tacky and offer opacity bar none! I have found the wearing time on these to be outstanding! After gently exfoliating my lips with the Elf Lip Exfoliator, I put a nice coat of this on, and I am good to go for hours! This particular color was my first purchase and introduction to this line of lip glosses, and since then I have found myself picking up a new shade whenever I am at my local Target.


                                                   Bourjois Paris Effect 3D Gloss in #50

This little tube of shiny deliciousness was my very first purchase and introduction to the Bourjois line of products. Unfortunately, this is not an item that can be readily found in stores in the US. You can find them at online retailers such as Asos (click here).  This product is a bit sticky, but it does provide just the right amount of shimmer to the lips. It provides about average wear time as far as lip glosses are concerned, but what I do enjoy most about this particular lip gloss is that is does offer a bit of hydration and it does have a deep shiny finish but it also provides SPF 15. The packaging claims to be waterproof, however I have not found that to be the case. This is not a lip stain where you would expect it to last longer and still have color on the lips, so after eating and drinking, it does wear off, but reapplication is a breeze. Hautelook just recently had a sale on these so I took the liberty of ordering a few new lip products while they were being featured. So, keep a look out on Hautelook for this particular brand (at discounted prices) and also, keep an eye out on this blog for upcoming reviews!

                                                The Body Shop Lip Butter

Lastly, The Body Shop Lip Butters are super soft and hydrating to the lips. Though I am not usually a fan of products that are package in pots, I made an exception for this one. It is very hydrating, lasts for hours, is not sticky or slippery and smells amazing! Despite the inconvenience of having to stick your finger into a pot for application, it is something that can be easily remedied with a lip brush (I carry a retractable one in my makeup bag just for this).
I picked up this mini one as part of a holiday gift set that was being offered at Ulta. I have been using this non stop since I purchased it a few weeks ago, and there is still plenty of product left.

I hope that you have found some great information on this post, and have found some new products to try over the colder winter months. I would highly recommend the Elf Lip Exfoliator! Your lips will thank you (and so will your lipstick or lip gloss)! And the Fresh Sugar Lip Balms offer amazing hydration and color!

So what are your favorite lip products for the winter season? Any new items that you are trying out this season? Please share! I'd love to hear your comments and recommendations!
Until next time.... have a great day!

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02 December 2013

Penhaligon's



I'm not sure what urged me to pick up some new 'fumes. Perhaps it was the adorable packaging that I just could not resist. Perhaps is was the teeny sized bottles that piqued my interests, or maybe it was the unusual name that sparked my curiosity. Either way, I quickly found myself purchasing this item after I spotted it on the QVC website.

I must admit, I am very new to Penhaligon's. From my understanding, this brand has been around since the late 1800's, and they also supply the royal family in London, hence the insignia on the label.  You can read more about Penhaligon's here and visit their online store here.

This miniature collection of perfumes comes packaged in an adorable tin decorated with birds. Inside you will find five of Penhaligon's best selling fragrances for women. Each fragrance comes packaged in a 5ml bottle, and each include tassels wrapped around the neck of the bottle in colors that compliment the label. This small detail just adds to the cuteness factor of these miniature fragrances. 



The scents included in this set are: Artemisia, Malabah, Gardenia, Ellenisia and Lily of the Valley. Now, I'm not usually one that gravitates towards the more floral scents. I tend to wear more of the orientals. Fragrances with more warmth and sensuality. Fragrances that contain musks, vanillas and ambers. With that, I found this set to be a pleasant departure from my ordinary preferences.

Out of the bunch, I found Malabah to be my favorite. Mostly because as I've already mentioned, I normally tend to prefer more woodsy, oriental notes in my fragrances. I also really enjoy Artemisia.

I have to admit that I was preparing myself to be slightly disappointed in the other more floral scents that are included in this gift tin, but to my surprise, I actually really enjoy them.
This gift set retails at QVC and Penhaligon's for $50.

If you have someone on your list that is wanting to try out some new fragrances for the holidays, I think that this little set has the potential to really please! You can also separate these miniatures and gift them individually as part of your very own personalized gift set.


So, which are your favorite fragrances? Any that you would recommend?


Read more about Lily of the Valley here.
Read more about Ellenisia here.
Read more about Gardenia here.
Read more about Artemisia here.
Read more about Malabah here.



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26 November 2013

Sonia Kashuk: Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer Palette. Fall 2013

I have long been a fan of the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte Palette. It seemed that every time I visited my local Target, these were completely sold out. With that, I quickly came to the conclusio that this must be one HOT item! I finally spotted one while on a trip to Target, and I had to get my hands on it since it was the last one in stock. After playing around and using the palette for weeks, I realized what all the buzz was about.
This palette really does pack a punch! Included are twelve matte eye shadows with amazing color pay-off and outstanding pigmentation. And these shades are so soft that they make blending an ease.

I have been gravitating towards this palette every day as my "go to" palette, so much so that my beloved LORAC PRO Palette has taken a backseat to this one. The various looks that can be created are limitless, making this one really versatile palette. And given that it consists of all neutral matte shadows, this palette really does work well as a companion palette to others that provide more shimmer but lack in matte shades. For me, the cherry on top for this purchase was the price point. Retailing at $19.99, I really couldn't pass this one up.

Oftentimes Target will run coupons for Sonia Kashuk products on their website, so keep your eyes open for those if you're interested in trying out some of her products.

                                        Sonia Kashuck. Eye on Neutral Palette

After having fallen completely in love with this product, I was curious to try out the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Palette Shimmer. Again, every time I have visited my local Target, this product had been completely sold out! So when I was browsing through the Target website, I noticed that Sonia Kashuk has released a Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte and Shimmer Palette for the Fall of 2013. I quickly clicked my mouse and added that to my cart, anticipating that this product would be out of stock at my local store.

This Limited Edition Palette is much smaller in size compared to the regular Eye on Neutral Matte, and retails for $29.99. These are not full sized eye shadows as you would find in the other palettes offered by Sonia Kashuk, but I think it's a good introductory piece for anyone who is looking to try out a variety of neutral shades. In this palette, you're getting 24 shadows, equally divided into matte and shimmer shades.  



                       Sonia Kashuk. Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer


This palette is configured in such a way that every other color alternates between matte and shimmer. The shades vary from your light creams for highlighting to your mid tone shades in varying shades of brown, taupe and grey, and finally two very dark and highly pigmented blacks. One in the shimmer variety and the other in matte.

Now, let's get into some swatching shall we?

                                 Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer
                                 Top row.

Out of these, I found the matte cream (third color) to be difficult to swatch as well as the matte pink (fifth color). With that said, I can still see these working great if you're looking to use them as highlight colors. The shimmers in this row really do pack a punch.



                                         Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer
                                         Second Row.

I did not experience any difficulties swatching the second row. None of these colors delivered poor pay off. The colors are intense and highly pigmented. The glide on buttery soft, deliver excellent pigmentation and were easily blendable.

                                         Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer
                                         Third Row.

Once you get to the third row, you start to see the colors deepen a bit. Again, I experienced no problem swatching any of these colors. The texture on these colors still remain soft and as you can see, and they still deliver excellent pigmentation.



                                         Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer
                                         Fourth Row.

With the exception of those two colors on the top row, I find this palette to be a great value. You're getting 24 trial sized shadows, 12 in matte and 12 in shimmer, they offer exceptional pigmentation, and are ultra soft, making for blending these shades super easy.

I can't rave enough about this palette. With the holidays right around the corner, I can see this being a budget friendly gift for the beauty lover on your list! Due to it's compact size, shade variety and versatility, this palette works wonderfully for travel. I also think that this palette would be a great staple piece to any woman's makeup collection.

So what are your thoughts? Have you been able to find the Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer at your local target?


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25 November 2013

2013 Sephora VIB Sale: An exercise in restraint


I am a little behind getting this post up. The 2013 Sephora VIB Sale has come and gone, however, it's never too late to share some of the things that I purchased. Weeks before the sale, I browsed around online at sephora to really give myself some time to think about what items I was really curious to try. Going overboard on purchases was something that I was trying to avoid.

After taking inventory of the items already in my collection, I came to the conclusion that my lipstick collection was lacking. I have what appears to be a plethora of neutrals, yet I lack bright fun colors. Now, I admit, I am not really one to wear a bright pink fuscia lip, especially at the office where things tend to be a bit conservative.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to experiment with some bright lip colors that are still relatively sheer enough to be able to wear to the office. I settled on two of the Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks. I chose the colors in #4 Succulent Pomegranate and #5 Mouthwatering Berry. I also picked up an Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte lipstick in #3 Beige Ultimate (mostly because I'm still in search of that "perfect" nude).



                                         From left to right: YSL Sheer Candy #5, YSL Rouge Volupte # 3, YSL
                                         Sheer Candy #4
In keeping in line with new lip colors, I also picked up the Fresh Sugar Stars Mini Lip Collection gift set. This set comes with 7 of the Fresh Sugar balms. 

The gift set includes: Sugar Rose, whcih is a rosy tinted balm.
 Sugar Honey,  A warm nude.
 Sugar Passion,  sheer rouge
 Sugar Berry, a sheer berry color
 Sugar Petal, a sheer pink
 Sugar Cherry, a sheer red which is a NEW shade to the FRESH Sugar line.
The set also includes an Advanced Therapy balm to correct, nourish and repair lips, and a regular FRESH Sugar to proctect, smooth and nourish lips. Both of these minis have no color, so you have the option of wearing this under or over the other colors that are included in the set.


I find that all of the colors glide on very sheer, but can be built up for more intensity. Perfect for anyone who is just dipping their toes into the world of lip color, also very appropriate for conservative offices.

I have long been a big fan of the FRESH Sugar Rose as it is the perfect light pink sheer color with just the right amount of hydration needed to keep lips smooth and chap free all day. I'm excited to try out the other colors that came in this collection!

So what did everyone else snag during this year's Sephora VIB sale?

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