Even though emerald green may be the “Color of the Year” for 2013, it’s not the only gorgeous green out there! Olive, khaki, lime, forest, mint, jade… they’re all stunning too! I pulled a few of my favorite ‘green’ finds- not all of the products are actually green, but their packaging made them deserve to be in the group. From fragrance to skincare to nails to makeup- it’s easy being green with these gorgeous beauty buys for summer!

Featured Products

• Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Trio in Helmüt: These new eye trios from celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D not only are gorgeous to look at, but they make for a super simple look too! With three perfectly coordinated shades, the powders blend easily together to create an effortless look, whether its simplistic or smoky.
• Kiss Everlasting Gel Polish in Sweet: Gel polish is one of my biggest obsessions as of late- you don’t have to shell out big bucks at the salon anymore for a chip-free, high-gloss gel manicure! These Kiss Everlasting Polishes are my absolute favorite because they are affordable, they come in a huge range of colors and they are so easy to use!
• Lancôme Énergie de Vie Daily Lotion: Late summer nights can be tons of fun- but they can also cause stress on your complexion. This daily lotion helps to bring the life back into your skin and fill it with radiance, moisture and vitality! No more dull, tired skin.
• CoverGirl Clump Crusher Extensions Mascara: The original Clump Crusher has staked its spot as one of my all-time favorite drugstore mascaras, so I was incredibly excited to see that Covergirl is launching this sister mascara designed to not only build volume without clumps, but also to extend the length of your lashes for an awesome false-lash look.
• Fendi Fan di Fendi Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette: Like a refreshing glass of ice cold lemon water on a hot summer day, this fragrance will regenerate your mood instantly. This citrusy, foral fragrance is an instant pick me up with the most fresh notes that brighten up any moment.
• Hard Candy All Lid Up in Pining 4 U: I’ve been loving these affordable cream eyeshadows- great pigmentation, creamy texture and blend easily on the skin. They work great alone for a quick on-the-go solution, or as a base to build and intensify other eyeshadows.

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Categories: Articles
Tags: Covergirl, Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions Mascara, Cream Eyeshadow, Drugstore, Eyes, Eyeshadow, Face, Fendi, Fendi Fan di Fendi Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette, Fragrance, Gel Polish, Hard Candy, Hard Candy All Lid Up in Pining 4 U, Kat Von D, Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Trio in Helmut, Kiss, Kiss Everlasting Gel Polish in Sweet, Lancome, Lancome Energie de Vie Daily Lotion, Makeup, Mascara, Moisturizer, Nail Polish, Nails, Palettes, Skincare, Toner, What's Hot

Liquid Lipsticks aren’t really a formula that I reach for very often- they are usually extremely long wearing, however not the most comfortable (great for when longevity is needed, but not really for me for every day). Hands down, my favorite liquid lipstick formula is the Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge, in particular I love the shade 8 Iconic Red because it has truly changed the way I feel about red lips. I used to stay far away from red lipstick because I felt so scared in it- worried that it would smudge, fade, migrate, end up on my teeth, transfer on clothes, etc. Even though I felt so powerful and confident with red lips, it wasn’t worth the risks. Ever since Make Up For Ever launched this lipstick formula, that has forever changed!

The range has expanded recently to include more fun, bright and colorful shades… but I’ll always go back to them for when I need a red or burgundy lip. These colors stay put from morning to night, with no fading, migrating, smudging or transferring- even through eating and drinking, these red lips stay put. The glossy top coat also makes it quite comfortable to wear too!

What’s your top pick for Liquid Lipstick?

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Top Picks
Tags: Top Picks

Available this August 2013, a new addition to the Bioderma Hydrabio range for sensitive & dry skin- it’s the Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique ($24.50 CAD), a hydrating toner that actually trains your skin to moisturize itself again.

Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Daily Beauty
Tags: Bioderma, Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique, Face, Skincare, Toner

When I think of luxury meets quality, I think of Hourglass. The up & coming brand has recently launched the Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42 USD / $49 CAD), a luxurious sister to the best-selling Nº 28 Primer Serum. With a price tag like this for a lip balm, it better be made of gold! Oh wait… it kind of is.

This tube of lip oil is the definition of luxury- with the signature mirrored brown packaging and a unique 24K gold-plated slant tip applicator. There’s a ribbed finger pad to press down on which dispenses the lip balm through the applicator. Not only does the applicator look fancy, but it’s actually much more functional than a typical plastic tip- the gold provides anti-bacterial properties as well as a cool, soothing effect when applying the lip treatment.

Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil

Press down to dispense the lip oil

The formula itself feels quite similar to most squeeze-tube lip balms; a little like a gelled oil (think Jack Black Lip Balm). It has a very unique scent as well- not sweet or fruity- more like something you would smell in a spa or a type of aromatherapy product. For being a treatment oil, it doesn’t feel greasy at all. It’s a little thicker and has a little more substance than other lip balms I’ve tried.

Packed with a concentrated blend of vitamins, essential oils, active naturals and botanicals, the formula is truly superior in quality. It hydrates lips beautifully and smoothes them instantly. Dry, chapped lips are no match for this lip treatment, and it goes even above and beyond to shield against the environments, strengthen the natural moisture barrier and even boost skin volume and texture. The treatment oil is clear, but it does leave lips with a slight shine. It heals chapped lips quickly and would be a great, intensive treatment for those on drying medications (I wish I could have had this when I was on Accutane). It has become a life saver for me after swatching lipsticks and lipglosses day in and day out as a beauty blogger- my lips get extremely chapped and dry, and this lip treatment oil has truly made them feel a million times better.

It is a little too heavy to wear as a pre-lipstick balm, as I know many like to do to prevent dryness. It doesn’t completely sink into lips- but you can apply it 10 minutes prior to lipstick then blot the excess off right before applying color on top. Really the only downside of this lip balm is the price; no matter what your subjectivity is on the value, it’s a very high price for a lip balm. If you are familiar with Hourglass though, you’ll know that you truly do get what you pay for in terms of quality.

24K gold-plated applicator tip

Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil, Swatched

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | 4 comments | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Hourglass, Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil, Lip Balm, Lips, Skincare

To celebrate Shu Uemura’s 30th Anniversary, the upcoming Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013 is an ode to ultimate creativity and the experimental 60′s spirit. Throughout the last 30 years, Shu Uemura has continued to re-envision, improve, innovate and forever transform the ordinary into the extra-ordinary and has truly become a future vision of iconic beauty. This collection features exhilarating color, bold prints and a youthful energy, including several new products and limited-edition shades.

The collection features six Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refills, two Duo-color Blending Cheek Refills, two Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners, one Special Decoration Custom Case, six Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks and four pairs of False Eyelashes including a Premium Edition pair. The collection will be available July 2013.

Swatches and reviews are coming up over the next few days- so stay tuned! You can follow along with the coverage of this collection here. Let me know what you think of the collection, and which items are on your wishlist!

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in (L-R) M Pink 345, M Beige 955, M Pink 356, M Beige 930, M Pink 355 & M Beige 942 ($36 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refills in Green Blue (left), Purple (top right) & Yellow Brown (bottom right) ($42 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Duo-color Blending Cheek Refills in Pink (left) & Orange (right) ($42 CAD each) inside the Shu Uemura Retro-Sensation Fuchsia Fusion Palette ($21 CAD, empty)

Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners in M Black (top) & M Brown (bottom) ($36 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Premium Edition Rainbow-Sensation False Eyelashes ($78 CAD)

Shu Uemura False Eyelashes in Mini Pinky Quartz (top left), Mini Mono-Stone (top right) & Mini Yellow Quarts (bottom) ($32 CAD)

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Sneak Peek
Tags: Blush, Cheeks, Eyeliner, Eyes, Eyeshadow, Face, False Lashes, Featured, Lip Color, Lips, Makeup, Shu Uemura, Shu Uemura Collections, Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013, Shu Uemura Summer 2013, Summer 2013

This Spring, Milani is going bold & intense with their new line-up of Milani Color Statement Lipsticks ($5.49 USD); a brand new formula with 30 different shades and 6 different textures including vinyl, metallic, cream, shimmer, pearl and matte finishes. The lipsticks offer full coverage, luscious color with a lightweight creamy texture and packed with vitamins to nourish lips as well. Today, I’ll be showing the nude & brown shades of the collection (there are 9 of them). Check out the rest of the coverage here for the other shades in the line! These lipsticks are available now from Milani retailers.

The lipsticks come in a gold tube with the shade labeled on the bottom. The tube is pretty, but quite the fingerprint magnet! The lipstick itself is ultra smooth and creamy, and smells like watermelon Jolly Rancher candies- yum! They are full coverage but feel lightweight; they really remind me of the new Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids lipsticks that recently launched, only these ones have a few more texture varieties and a lot more shades. The nude & brown shades are definitely more toned down and wearable- but they sure don’t skimp on bold color!

Note the size

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks in (L-R) Naturally Chic, Nude Crème, Dulce Caramelo, Teddy Bare & Candied Toffees

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks in (L-R) Bronze Beauty, D’Oro, Chocolate Berries & Double Espresso

The shades include…

• Naturally Chic: Creamy, rose pink
• Nude Crème: Nude pink cream
• Dulce Cramelo: Nude brown pearl
• Teddy Bare: Creamy, brownish pink
• Candied Toffees: Metallic copper brown
• Bronze Beauty: Shimmering golden bronze
• D’Oro: Metallic gold
• Chocolate Berries: Deep, creamy brownish berry
• Double Espresso: Dark brown pearl

The nudes & browns have a large variety of shades- from pale nudes to warm browns to metallic golds all the way to deep sultry berries. These neutral lipsticks are great for a variety of skintones, but the majority of them are very brownish in undertone (with just a few pinkish nudes on the lighter end). I would have liked to see a few more mid-tone and deep neutrals with a pink undertone instead of so brown though.  I was happy with how comfortable these lipsticks felt and they were quite long-wearing too; I got about 5-6 hours of wear, and didn’t experience any feathering or fading (that doesn’t include eating or kissing though- they transfer easily, so you’ll have to re-apply after coffee or smooching).  The comfort level did vary between textures though- with the cream finishes being the most hydrating and comfortable among these textures (there were no “Vinyl” or “Matte” textures in this shade range). I didn’t feel any grittiness with the pearl or metallic textures- so that’s good news!

I definitely recommend wearing a lip liner with such intense, bold shades like these (may I recommend the new Milani Color Statement Lipliners?)- but I did find I had quite a bit of precision when applying. The lipsticks were hydrating, but not so creamy that they were difficult to apply- a happy medium for bold lip lovers. Definitely use a lip liner with the deeper shades like Chocolate Berries and Double Espresso though- because they are so dark, uneven lines are much more visible.

My favorite shades are Nude Crème, a gorgeous pale nude (think “Kardashian” nude lips), and Dulce Caramelo, a great mid-tone neutral lipstick for everyday. I D’Oro was a cool lipstick- although I wouldn’t reach for it, I think it would make for great costume makeup or dabbing a bit on top of another color.

Overall, I’m very impressed with these budget lipsticks… the colors are fantastic, they feel comfortable and I love the range of shades and textures. I wish they didn’t transfer as easily- I don’t feel as confident with these lipsticks on as I do with long-wearing formulas like Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge, but experienced bold lip lovers will have no problem!

Swatches (L-R) Naturally Chic, Nude Crème, Dulce Caramelo, Teddy Bare & Candied Toffees

Swatches (L-R) Bronze Beauty, D’Oro, Chocolate Berries & Double Espresso

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Naturally Chic

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Nude Crème

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Dulce Caramelo

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Teddy Bare

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Candied Toffees

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Bronze Beauty

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in D’Oro

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Chocolate Berries

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Double Espresso

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Drugstore, Lip Color, Lips, Makeup, Milani, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Bronze Beauty, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Candied Toffees, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Chocolate Berries, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in D'Oro, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Double Espresso, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Dulce Caramelo, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Naturally Chic, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Nude Creme, Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Teddy Bare, Milani Color Statement Lipsticks

1. Philosophy Summer Grace Eau de Toilette ($44 USD / $52 CAD): I’m so happy to see that Philosophy brought back Summer Grace! Last year, I purchased the shower gel and absolutely fell in love! I’m definitely going to stock up this summer on this scent because it’s the perfect fragrance for summer.
2. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan in Dark ($54 USD /$64 CAD): I’m a total self-tan-a-holic, and when I read that this formula promised a 2-3 week tan and it already has great reviews on Sephora, I was sold. A lot of St. Tropez lovers (like myself) swear that this is better, more natural, deeper and lasts longer. I’ve got to try it!
3. Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask ($34 USD / $41 CAD) : This cooling, peel-off gel mask sounds like a dream for soothing and hydrating after a day in the sun!

What’s on your wishlist at the moment?

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Wishlist
Tags: Wishlist

It’s been a long time since I found an incredible drugstore foundation… but this is it! The new CoverGirl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation ($10.99 CAD) is designed for combination skin, offering hydration with a satin matte finish. Available June 2013 in 10 shades.

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Daily Beauty
Tags: Covergirl, Covergirl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation, Drugstore, Face, Foundation, Makeup

Whether you’re craving a simple summer makeup look or you’re hunting for a cute, small gift for your girlfriend- the Sephora Cabana Cutie Kit ($18 USD / $22 CAD) is something to check out. This limited-edition, 2-piece kit includes a travel-sized MicroSmooth Baked Bronzer Duo in Honey Heat as well as a full-sized Color Reveal Lip Balm in Unique Pink that self-adjusts to each individual’s perfect shade of pink.

I’ve already sung my praises about Sephora’s baked cosmetics, and this travel-sized bronzer is going to stake a permanent spot in my travel bag for that reason alone (I’m in love with the full-size version, which is available separately here).

Sephora Cabana Cutie Kit

What I love most about the bronzer is that it features two shades, each with a different texture; a lighter, shimmery bronze on the left is great for giving a luminescent glow while the deeper, satin bronzer on the right is perfect for creating a flawless all-0ver natural glow. I use a blush brush to apply the bronzer, because it is so small it’s not really easy to grab each side individually with a large, fluffy brush.  You can of course, just mix the two sides together for a perfect harmony of both shades and textures.

The lip balm is pretty awesome too- if you love the smell of vanilla extract, you’ll love this lip balm. It glides on smoothly, and after a couple minutes, it reveals a glowing shade of pink that really just enhances the color of you lips. It lasts surprisingly long for a lip balm, with the color lingering a little longer than the hydrating feel. It’s quick and easy to apply sans mirror, making it the perfect beach bag companion.

This duo is a great, affordable summer face (the bronzer can be used as eyeshadow too FYI) or travel buddy!

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Bronzer Duo in Honey Heat

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Bronzer Duo in Honey Heat

Sephora Color Reveal Lip Balm in Unique Pink

Sephora Color Reveal Lip Balm in Unique Pink

Swatches (L-R) Color Reveal Lip Balm, Shimmer Bronzer, Satin Bronzer & Mixed Bronzer

Wearing the Sephora Cabana Cutie Kit (with BB Cream & Mascara- that’s it!)

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Bronzer, Face, Lip Balm, Lips, Makeup, Sephora, Sephora Cabana Cutie Kit, Sephora Color Reveal Lip Balm in Unique Pink, Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Bronzer Duo in Honey Heat, Sephora Summer 2013, Summer 2013, Travel Friendly, Value Sets

The OPI Couture de Minnie Collection for Summer 2013 includes five OPI Nail Lacquers ($9 USD / $10.95 CAD) inspired by a fashionable, couture version of the classic Minnie Mouse character. The collection features two creams, one shimmer, one glitter and one of the new OPI LiquidSand textures, and will be available in June 2013.

The only thing really ‘couture’ about the collection is the names (and even those are a little too playful to be couture)- the collection is really just an extension to the Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection that launched last summer (remember it?). The colors are pink & red- nothing super original or unique… but still beautiful on their own.

OPI Nail Lacquers in (L-R): A Definite Moust-Have, Chic From Ears To Tail & Innie Minnie Mighty Bow

OPI Nail Lacquers in (L-R): Minnie Style & Magazine Cover Mouse

The shades include…

• A Definite Moust-Have: Bright reddish-pink cream
• Chic From Ears To Tail: Baby pink cream
• Innie Minnie Mighty Box: Deep red with gold shimmer
• Minnie Style: Pink, red and white confetti glitter
• Magazine Cover Mouse: Red and gold liquid sand

Even though the collection didn’t excite me, it did impress me. A collection of pinks and reds has been done countless times, so a color really needs to have a unique twist to it or an interesting texture to grab my attention… but even with that said, they are all still lovely polishes. The quality is quite fantastic, with pigmented shades (A Definite Moust-Have is so pigmented that only one coat is really needed) and great textures. I do love seeing such variety in texture in a collection- with creams, glitters, shimmers and LiquidSand all together in a small collection.

My favorites are A Definite Moust-Have because of its unreal opacity (makes it quick and easy- and it’s just such a perfect pedicure color for summer) and Magazine Cover Mouse, because it’s one of the prettiest LiquidSand textures I’ve seen! I also liked how Minnie Style looked a bit like polka dots (even though I’m not a fan of confetti polish… I thought it was cute)!  They are all great, so if you personally don’t have anything like some of these in your collection, you won’t be disappointed if you pick up a few of them.

OPI Nail Lacquer in A Definite Moust-Have

OPI Nail Lacquer in Chic From Ears To Tail

OPI Nail Lacquer in Innie Minnie Mighty Bow

OPI Nail Lacquer in Minnie Style (on top of Chic From Ears To Tail)

OPI Nail Lacquer in Magazine Cover Mouse

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Nail Polish, Nails, OPI, OPI Collections, OPI Couture de Minnie Collection for Summer 2013, OPI Summer 2013, Summer 2013