naturalNchicmakeup

MAC Ricky and Nicki for Viva Glam & MAC Tendertone Swatches

2012-02-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

MAC Ricky and Nicki for Viva Glam is now available at Nordstrom counters for purchase. The lipstick retails for $14.50USD and the clear lip conditioner is $15USD. Along with the new Viva Glam products, I also swatch the new tendertones from Shop, Shop, Shop and Cook, Cook, Cook Collection.

The Ricky and Nicki lipstick is not as cool-tone compared to the previous release. This is a deeper and warmer pink, which I think will be flattering on most skin tones. It has great pigmentation as well. The lip conditioner is clear and has no color.

In terms of the Tendertones Lip Balms ($15USD), Purring and Hot N Saucy both do not have any shimmers. I used a brush to do the swatches to build up as much color as I can. They are quite sticky and has a strong sweet fragrance. Hush Hush and Tread Gently both have gold shimmers. I think these are better as lipstick toppers. They are not as opaque compared to Purring or Hot N Saucy.

Overall, both Ricky & Nicki and MAC Tendertone Lip Balms are pretty but not necessarily must-haves for me.

What's on your list from both of these collections?

MAC Vera Collection Swatches and Review

2012-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

MAC officially launched the Vera Collection today along with Shop, Shop, Shop and Cook, Cook, Cook. I was more drawn to Vera because the shades are more subtle and easier to pull off compared to SSS, CCC for me. Both collections are now available for purchase.

The Vera Collection reminds me of MAC's Spring Colour Forecast Collection, which was the first to launch Crushed Pigments. These cost $34USD for 4 different shades. It's a pretty good deal considering each color costs less than $9 and you get plenty of pigments in the jar.

First up is Butterfly Party, which includes a glittery teal, a blue-based purple, violet, and mossy green. I wasn't particularly impressed with this stack when I swatch it dry. I think they will be much better wet, especially the blue-based purple shade.

Strawberry Patch is actually quite pretty for those who love pink pigments. One of the shades has a lot more glitter compared to the rest but overall, these are nicely pigmented.

As a taupe/brown lover, I liked Aloha pigment stack the most. The orange/copper and gold shades are both beautiful.

I tried both of the pearl matte powders on my face for comparison. Sunday Afternoon is more cool toned and pink on me. It applies more like a pale pink blush and doesn't have as much sheen compared to Flower Fantasy. On my cheek, Flower Fantasy is unquestionably lighter and is more of a highlighter. It has a much brighter sheen compared to Sunday Afternoon. I picked up FF instead since I didn't need another pink blush. However, I think Sunday Afternoon will look very nice on pale/light skin tone ladies.

The Pearlglide Intense eyeliners are creamy, pigmented, and has great staying power. Some of these shades are re-promoted from past collections. One of the most popular shades is Undercurrent, which got sold out almost instantly the last time it was released.

Here they are again in different lighting although the image on the top is the most color accurate.

I did swatch the plushglasses but they were all relatively sheer that it was difficult to capture on camera. Surprisingly, the most opaque was Confetti, a shade that I've seen many times from MAC.

Overall, MAC Vera has something for everyone. The colors are suitable for all skintones and is not too bright or bold.

Bottom Line: Check out the Pearlglide Eyeliners and pick up at least one shade. My top pick is Black Swan since it's a beautiful shade that I haven't seen from other lines. The closest I can think of is Chanel's Black Shimmer, which is more black in comparison. Undercurrent is also very popular as well as Petrol Blue. The Pearlmatte Powders are pretty but not necessarily must-haves. If you're looking for a highlighter, Flower Fantasy is the one to check out. If you want a cool-tone pink blush with a tad of a sheen, Sunday Afternoon would be more fitting. Plushglasses are a skip for me. I don't use pigments much but any of the 3 are good choices depending on your preference of colors.

What came home with me? Black Swan, Black Line, Flower Fantasy.

What will be coming home with you?

Dior Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum Review

2012-02-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure about you, but I think facial expressions are fun. You can tell right away how someone is feeling simply based on an eye squint, a slight frown, or a simple smirk. Most say "I wear my heart on my sleeves" while I say "I wear my emotions on my face". Although facial expressions are very helpful in expressing how I feel, they seem to overstay their welcome as I get older. The first signs of aging are rapidly becoming more and more visible, especially on my forehead. I have been on a mission in the past couple of months to find the perfect anti-aging serum. Lo and behold, I think I might have stumbled onto a hidden gem that has surely turned my little frown upside down.

I vaguely remember doing a search for anti-aging products on Sephora and ran into Dior's One Essential Super Boosting Serum. It has raving reviews with a whopping 4.5 stars out of 5. Everyone seems to love this product, touting it to be a miracle worker for their aging skins. I was skeptical but definitely curious. I went to the local Nordstrom counter and asked for samples of the serum just to be on the safe side. After all, this is not exactly cheap at $95USD for 1 oz.

I came home and excitedly ripped open the first packet expecting little to nothing. I applied the serum at night to "let it work its magic" and went to bed. The next morning, I could not believe what I saw when I looked in the mirror. Those pesky visible fine lines on my forehead? 90% diminished. I literally had to squint really hard to even see them. It was simply amazing! Without hesitation, I quickly placed an order for the limited edition deluxe bottle.

When I read the ingredients in the list, I was definitely bummed to see Alcohol listed as the 4th ingredient. I'm not a fan of alcohol and it has been known to break me out. I will be totally honest, this did cause 1-2 pesky pimples within the first 3 days of use. However, as I continue to use up my sample packets, the breakouts stopped and my skin just looks better and better each day.

The original size bottle of 1.0oz retails for $95USD while the deluxe 2.5oz version costs $150USD. Below is size of the the large version on the palm of my hands. It is rather big and is meant to last for an entire year.

Each bottle comes with a simple pump that easily dispenses the serum.

The serum is milky white and is slightly sticky. You'll feel the stickiness on your hand when you apply the serum, but it doesn't feel that way on the skin.

Once applied, the serum absorbs into the skin instantly, leaving it nice and smooth. I love to use this at night after using my toner. So far, it is the only serum that produces instant result by smoothing my fine lines. My skin glows when I wake up every morning.

Overall, I am a huge fan of Dior's One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum. I think it is worth every penny because it works so well for my skin. Please do keep in mind that we are all different and what works for me may or may not work for you. As a long time user of La Mer, I have to say this beats La Mer by far in the anti-aging department. I have been using this everyday for the past 2 weeks and I love it.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend stopping by a Dior counter or Sephora to ask for some samples before taking the plunge. You may experience some small breakout at the beginning but they will go away by the 2nd week of use. This serum is amazing for diminishing fine lines and it helps skin look so much more radiant.

Have you tried Dior's One Essential? What are some of your must-have anti-aging products?

MAC Kissable Lipcolour Swatches and Review

2012-01-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

As I'm sure most of you have already heard, MAC will soon release a large collection call Shop Shop Shop, Cook Cook Cook. There is a huge offering of various different products ranging from Tendertones, MAC Fluidlines, lipsticks, and eyeshadow quads to creme blushes. Out of the numerous products to be released, the Kissable Lipcolours are one of my favorite lip formulas from MAC. I originally picked these up from the Peacocky Collection.

Kissable Lipcolours retail at $19USD for 5g/0.17oz.

Unlike the traditional MAC lipglasses, these come in a slender long tube with a doe foot applicator.

The formula is similar to a liquid lipstick but goes on smoothly without drying out the lips. I usually use the applicator to apply the colors directly onto my lips. These have the usual vanilla scents but don't smell like plastic after a couple of uses, which is a huge plus for me. I only own 3 out of the 5 shades that are going to be included in the SSS, CCC collection - Woo Me, So Vain, and Scan-delicious. However, I figured I should show you all of the shades in case these get released again in the future.

So Vain is a peachy pink that provides the natural MLBB look. This color is flattering on all skin tones but especially so for light to medium skin tones. I remember this was sold out quickly when it was first released.

Woo Me was the star of the Peacocky Collection. It is a beige pink that provides a lovely nude lip. If I remember correctly, it was the first to be sold out and is highly sought after. On me, it does create a true nude lip with just enough pink so I don't look like a corpse.

Scan-delicious is a bold fuchsia that is surprisingly very flattering on my skin tone. It can certainly be sheered out with a lip brush.

Strut Your Stuff is a blue based red that is not as coral as it seems in the swatches. For some reason, I can't seem to get the correct color to show up on this one. This shade is intense and definitely not for the color shy!

Temper Tantra is one of my favorite shades for a rosy MLBB look. It is a deep brown rose that is similar to MAC's recent release, Pillow Talk.

Exxx-Hibitionist is a bright coral that is much bolder compared to So Vain. I find myself having to blot quite a few times just to tone down the color on my lips.

All of the swatches shown are done with only 1 swipe of the brush. As you can see, these Kissable Lipcolours are quite pigmented. Below is a scrub test after the colors have been on my arm for about 20 minutes.

Overall, I am a fan of MAC's Kissable Lipcolours. The colors are wearable and leave behind a nice soft stain. I do recommend prepping your lips prior to application if you have really dry lips. The overall wear time for me is about 4-5 hours if I don't eat any greasy food. It wears pretty well with drinking, especially with the darker shades.

Bottom Line: Do check out the Kissable Lipcolours in the upcoming Shop Shop Shop, Cook Cook Cook Collection. There is a shade that's flattering for everyone whether you're looking for a nude color or a bright, bold red. Woo Me and So Vain are two very popular shades that will probably sell out quickly like last time. If interested, I would nab these 2 first before they're all gone.

What's your take on the Kissable Lipcolours? Which shades are on your list?

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Aventure, Chance, Monte-Carlo, Royallieu Swatches and Review

2012-01-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

When Chanel released the first set of Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks, I was the first in line at my local counter to pre-order Boy (reviewed here). I did not purchase any additional Rouge Coco Shines until the release of Royallieu, which then sparked my desire for more. Recently I picked up 3 shades from the Duty Free stores to add to my collection - Chance, Monte-Carlo, and Adventure. These all retail for $32USD and can be purchased on Chanel's website or from counters such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Saks, etc.

Adventure (57) is a glossy rose pink with gold shimmers. This is more pink compared to Boy and is really great when paired with a neutral eye and a soft pink blush.

Royallieu (58) is a glossy pale mauve that pairs really well with a smokey eye. For me, this is the best "nude" lipstick without making me look like a corpse. This is also a Chanel online exclusive shade.

Monte-Carlo (62) was purchased during my "I crave for color" phase. It is a coral based red that fits perfectly for those who are generally afraid of red lipsticks. It definitely provides a nice punch of color that is quite pretty.

Chance (56) is a bumblegum pink that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It is a beautiful spring shade that pairs well with both smokey and neutral eyes.

Isn't Chance gorgeous?

As you can see from the tube, Adventure has gold shimmers, Monte-Carlo and Royallieu have silver shimmers, and Chance has no shimmers.

In the swatches, Royallieu looks much more vibrant compared to the pale mauve in the tube.

Close up:

Taken with flash:

In the swatch below, you can see the shimmers in Adventure and Royallieu and very small shimmers in Monte-Carlo.

Overall, I really like the shade selection from the Rouge Coco Shine line. I am always in search for the best pink lipstick and I think Adventure, Chance, and Royallieu all fit that criteria. I also really love how moisturizing these feel compared to the Rouge Coco formula. Despite my love for the texture and color, I still find the wear time of these lipsticks quite disappointing. I wish they would last longer like the Rouge Allures or Rouge Cocos. Whenever I wear these, I find myself re-applying several times a day.

Bottom Line: I tread lightly with Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks because while I love the shades, I still have a tough time shelling out $32.50USD (increased from $32USD) for lipsticks that cannot last through a cup of coffee. However, if you don't mind the short wear time, are looking for the perfect MLBB glossy lip effect, and love lipsticks that feel more like a balm, Rouge Coco Shines have just the right formula for you. For those on a tight budget, I highly recommend purchasing these at Duty Free counters at the airport. The cost is slightly lower and you will also save on taxes.

Giorgio Armani Spring 2012 Collection Swatches and Review

2012-01-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

Giorgio Armani's Spring 2012 Collection is slowly making its way to my local counter. The collection offers 2 eyeshadow palettes, 2 eyeliners, 1 blush, and 4 lipglosses. I was surprised that GA did not release any lipsticks this time. You can now purchase the items on GA's website as well although 1 item is already sold out.

The lipglosses are Rouge (405), Pink (508), Beige (105), and Brown (201). I could not get a good camera phone image of the swatches but from what I saw, Pink is light and milky. On my lips, it was too pale to show up and only provided a shiny effect. Rouge is pigmented and great for red lipgloss lovers. Beige and Brown are completely out of my comfort zone and Brown is more pigmented compared to Beige.

The 2 eyeshadow palettes #1 and #2 are shown below from left to right. Palette 1 has pearl violet, jade green, sheer gold, and a silver grey. Palette 2 has grey, olive green, copper, and a golden brown. These palettes are a good mix of browns and pastels. If you like these types of shades, be sure to check these out. I found the eyeshadows to be a bit chalky in the swatch but did not try them on my eyes.

The pink blush shown in the first picture is the Tourmaline Pink blush retailing for $55USD. I found the blush to be chalky and powdery both on my arm and on my cheeks. It is a pale pink blush that was too light on my NC25-30 skin tone.

Out of the entire collection, I was most intrigued by Copper (#5) waterproof eyeliner. This retails for $29USD and is currently the only item sold out online.

When I first saw the pencil, I thought it was a lip liner. It is a really interesting and quite unique shade for an eyeliner. In the bright sun, Copper fits the description of its name with a deep copper color. However, the true color is actually a light peach.

Here are swatches of Copper (#5) and Antique (#4). Both of these are released in this collection as limited edition items. Antique is a frosty gold compared to Copper, a frosty peach.

I have nothing like Copper in my collection. MAC's Eye Get No Kick is more of a white frost, Chanel's Taupe Stylo Yeux is no where close in color, and Chanel's Rose Platine does not have any peach in it.

In darker lighting:

I layered Copper on top of MAC's Teddy Eye Kohl to rim my lower lashes. The combination was simply gorgeous! Copper was an instant eye brightener without looking overly frosty. Giorgio Armani's waterproof eye liner pencil are creamy and glides on effortlessly without any tugging. It came home with me instantly. I know it's a little strange to line your eyes with a peachy shade but it really is unique. This is also great to rim the inner corner of your eyes.

Overall, Giorgio Armani's Spring Collection offers a nice set of colors that are not the traditional pinks or peaches. If you like pastels, this will probably tickle your fancy.

Bottom Line: If you're on a budget, Copper eyeliner is probably the most unique item. I have been so busy this past week that I haven't had a chance to post these swatches. I know Copper eyeliner is sold out online but you may want to check your local Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales counters (if they carry GA). Gold eyeliner lovers will love Antique. The eyeshadow palettes are nice but not a must-have. I was most disappointed with the texture and pigmentation of the blush. The lipglosses are not sticky but the shades are not particularly unique.

What are your thoughts on GA's Spring Collection? Have you seen it yet?

Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites Swatches and Review

2012-01-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

Guerlain Les Roses Et Le Noir is a beautiful collection that focuses on soft pinks and elegant black shades. It is now available at all counters nationwide. One of the star items in this collection is the Cruel Gardenia Meteorites. This retails for $67USD and is limited edition. I purchased mine online from Nordstrom sight unseen but am so incredibly glad that I did. It is probably one of the quickest item to sell out since Terra Inca Sublime Radiant Powder (reviewed here).

Cruel Gardenia's design alone is quite stunning. Yes, it is similar to Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous but this is focused on one large flower instead of multiple small ones. I love the details on the flower and the raised petal edges.

Cruel Gardenia has small shimmers infused all throughout the powder.

Here it is again in direct sunlight:

In the pan, Cruel Gardenia is a soft pink with shimmers. The design is so pretty that I literally did not want to touch or swatch it.

In the finger swatch, I get a pigmented pale pink with multi-color shimmers. The texture is simply divine! It is buttery smooth just like Terracotta Sublime Radiant Powder. I did try to sniff the product but it does not have the same Jasmine fragrance. In fact, I'm not sure I smelled anything at all.

I know for sure I don't have anything that looks like Cruel Gardenia in my collection but did want to show a comparison between it against Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous (reviewed here) and Terracotta Inca Sublime Radiant Powder.

Texture wise, they are all the same. However, that's where the similarity ends between these 3 powders. I took numerous shots of the comparison swatches but could only use one image. I feel that this is the most accurate representation of the colors on my skintone. Cruel Gardenia is unquestionably pale pink, Rose Rendezvous is bronzy rose, and Terracotta Sublime (mistakenly labeled as Terra Inca) is a pink bronze. When taken with flash, Cruel Gardenia can show up as a cream/white highlighter, which I feel is not the true color of the powder.

Overall, Cruel Gardenia is really one of those items where I literally gasp after swatching it on my skin. It is really breathtakingly gorgeous. This is a shimmery pale pink that beautifully highlights my cheekbones. I love to use it on top of Chanel's Rose Ecrin for a nice subtle glow. What makes Cruel Gardenia stands out is not only the design but truly the smooth texture of the powder. The shimmers are fine, not gritty, and also not overly shimmery on the face either.

Bottom line: It has been a long while since I've said this but Guerlain's Cruel Gardenia Meteorites is a must-have item from this spring season. I think it has blown all of the other blushes/highlighters that are recently released out of the water. I highly recommend checking out Cruel Gardenia and getting your hands on it as soon as possible. It is already sold out from Nordstrom online. If you remember how quickly Rose Rendezvous got sold out, you'll understand why this is such a hit.

What are your thoughts on Cruel Gardenia? Are you going to pick it up?

Update - Laura Mercier Spring 2012 Collection Swatches and Review

2012-01-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

While Chanel, Dior, Guerlain, and Bobbi Brown Spring Collections make their debut with much buzz and excitement on the blogosphere, Laura Mercier quietly released an understated yet gorgeous collection called Lingerie. I accidentally ran into the testers for this collection while shopping at Macy's. I could not contain my excitement when I started trying out the colors on myself.

I picked up 4 items from the collection that I thought are the most flattering on my skin tone. They are all limited edition.

The Lingerie Collection has 3 Sheer Lip Colours (1 limited edition, 2 permanent), 2 limited edition Lip Shines, a Cheek & Eye Palette, 2 Crème Cheek Colour, and 2 Tightline Cake Eye Liners. I was instantly attracted to the lip products the minute I saw the collection. Remember the limited edition Gel Lip Colours? I wish those would be made permanent!

First up are the 2 lip shines in Naked Apricot and Tempting Coral. I have the toughest time photographing Naked Apricot. In the pot, it is a medium tone peach with the slightest hint of pink and very small shimmers. Tempting Coral is a coral-red with gold shimmers. Both are bold in the pot but are sheerer once applied. They are buildable and feels buttery smooth on the lips.

The Laura Mercier SA described these as "lipglosses in a pot". In the bright sun, Naked Apricot looks more coral.

Tempting Coral's gold shimmers can be seen quite well in the sun.

If you have pigmented lips, Naked Apricot is the best "my lips but better" gloss. Think soft, pillowy, does-she-or-does-she-not-have-makeup-on lips. Tempting Coral is a bit bolder but it is a great shade for those who are afraid of red lipsticks. It has just the right amount of red and coral to brighten up any complexion. You can even sheer it out for a slightly bitten red stain effect. The staying power for these aren't spectacular (if you do a lot of drinking and eating) but they are not sticky and lasts much longer compared to Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine.

Next up is Kissed Lips, the only lipstick that was marked "Limited Edition" on the tester stand. It is coral pink with no shimmers. The golden reflection you see in the swatch is from the flash and bright sun. Although it's called Sheer Lips, this is not completely sheer at all. Similar to the glosses, it glides nicely on the lips and feels super smooth.

If you're wondering, the model in the collection has Naked Apricot lip shine layered on top of Kissed Lips lipstick. This combo creates a beautiful and shiny peachy coral shade that is really gorgeous.

Last but not least, I picked up Innocent Peach Cheek Colour. To my surprise, this is a cream blush. There is a similar shade in the palette but that is in powder form.

Innocent Peach is a limited edition shade whereas Rose Desir is a permanent shade. This has no shimmers and is a peachy pink color. At first, I was afraid it would be too peachy on my skintone and too matte. However, I kept an open mind and had the SA tried it on me with a foundation brush.

In the finger swatches, I see a medium peach shade that is slightly scary.

However, this glides onto my cheeks without looking cakey and did not emphasize my pores. In fact,when sheered out, Innocent Peach provides this really surprising soft, pink-peach shade with a subtle glow on my cheeks. It is simply gorgeous! I know you're wondering how in the world a peach shade can turn pink on the skin? I'm not sure either but I double and triple swatched it under different lighting. It turned pink on my NC25-30 skintone as shown below.

Overall, I am head over heels with Laura Mercier's Lingerie Collection. This provides a really great set of shades for those who are looking for soft, natural hues to enhance their natural beauty. Aside from Chanel, I think this is one of my favorite collections this season. It is also on the more affordable side as all of the items reviewed above are $22USD.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend checking out the Lingerie Collection. If you're on a budget and can only walk away with one item, my must-have item is definitely Innocent Peach. It is a really beautiful blush that glides on effortlessly.

Have you seen Laura Mercier's Lingerie Collection yet? What are your picks?

MAC Naturally Collection Swatches and Review

2012-01-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

With numerous items released every year, there is always one particular collection that I look forward to from MAC. The most memorable one for me is The N Collection, which had a lot of beautiful natural, neutral shades that were flattering for all skin tones. This year, we have the Naturally Collection, which falls in the same category. When I heard the words "Naturally", my ears immediately perked up. It is no secret that I love neutral shades so I was extremely excited to see the collection in person. Unfortunately, my camera battery also died at the same time so my advance apologies for the less than stellar camera phone images.

I first gravitated towards the 3 mineralize blushes, each retailing for $22USD. They are buttery soft and incredibly pigmented with a single swipe of the finger. These are definitely bold and bright at first glance. However, when I used a skunk brush to lightly brush them onto my cheeks, they turn out to be quite wearable.

Fresh Honey swatches as as medium apricot. On the cheeks, it doesn't look as scary if you sheer it out.

Early Morning was the scariest in the swatch. It turned corally red on my arm and I thought that I can never pull off the color. Using a light hand, Early Morning was a soft rustic coral with just a slight hint of red on my cheeks. It was surprisingly..beautiful. I didn't look like I got stung by a bee.

Subtle Breeze is also another lovely blue-base pink but not so much that it's too cool for my skin tone.

Next are the lipsticks. I've been on a nude lipstick kick lately so I was really looking forward to a couple of these shades.

Beach Sand is a light tan that was a bit too pale on my lips.
Sweet Sunrise undoubtedly made me look like a corpse. It is a very pale pink.
A Perfect Day is a pink beige nude that I really wanted to work on me. In the swatch, you can clearly see the pink in the shade. However when I applied it on my lips, the beige took over and I looked horrendous.
Pillow Talk is a brown pink that is surprisingly flattering on my lips. It is a my-lips-but-with-a-tinge-of-brown. I took this one home.

The mineralize eyeshadows are quite nice. They have good pigmentation but the shades are not particularly unique. The only 2 colors that stood out to me are Daylight and Cloudy Afternoon.

The lipglasses compliment the lipsticks. Fresh Air is a lovely pink shade with shimmers and Naked Space is a pretty nude peach. I did not take any of the colors home because some had a terrible plastic smell that really made me want to puke. This has happened to several of my MAC lipglasses after 1-2 uses as well.

MAC's MSF in Blonde and Redhead are both re-promotes from the Blonde, Redhead, Brunette Collection. I'm baffled as to why I never picked up Blonde or Redhead the first time they were released. These are both smooth and flattering on the skin as blushes/highlighters. I was complimented many times when I layered Blonde on top of Chanel's Rose Ecrin blush. These are not chunky, glittery, nor do they have a metallic sheen like most MSF. They also do not emphasize my pores either. I will do in-depth reviews of these 2 in a later post.

Bottom Line: MAC Naturally is a nice collection with several wearable, flattering items. My top picks are Blonde MSF, Pillow Talk lipstick, A Perfect Day (for light skin tones) and all 3 mineralize blushes. If you're on a budget and can only walk away with 1 item, my vote goes to Blonde MSF if you don't already have it.

What are your picks from this collection?

Burberry Spring 2012 Collection Swatches and Review

2012-01-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

Burberry Spring 2012 Collection is now available on Nordstrom's website and at selected Nordstrom counters. The collection has 4 new Lip Cover Satin Lipsticks, 2 Lip Glow Lip Glosses, and 1 eyeshadow. I did not pick up any of the items while I was at the counter but will definitely place my order in the near future. Since all of the shades are added to the permanent line, you will have plenty of time to check them out before taking the plunge.

Soft Satin Lipsticks:

No. 27 Tulip Pink is a light pink that provides a nice, natural nude lip without making me look like a corpse. It is pinker and doesn't lean mauve compared to Nude Rose (25). On my lips, Tulip Pink is paler compared to Nude Rose.
No. 28 Devon Sunset is a coral pink that instantly brightens up the face.
No. 29 Golden Peach is a peachy coral that's very pretty for spring.
No. 30 Primrose Hill Pink is a bold, bright fuchsia pink.

Lip Glow Natural Lip Glosses:

No. 13 Hibiscus is a dark fuchsia red with no shimmers.
No. 14 Nude Rose is a milky light rose with no shimmers. When I layered this on top of Tulip Pink, I get a shiny natural nude lip combination.

Sheer Eyeshadow:

No. 22 Pale Barley is a gray with gold shimmer and hints of beige-brown. It is a rather unique shade that looks different in certain lights/angles.

Overall, I like Burberry's Spring 2012 Collection. I'm particularly fond of Pale Barley eyeshadow, Nude Rose Lipgloss, Tulip Pink lipstick, and Devon Sunset lipstick. Although these shades are not particularly mind-blowing, they are still very beautiful for spring. I think this collection will be flattering on all skin tones. Burberry's lipsticks are creamy, opaque, and have a strong rose fragrance. The lipglosses are not sticky but also have a strong fragrance. If you're new to Burberry, the line has some of the best eyeshadow formulas in my opinion. They are buttery soft and apply like a dream on the eyes.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend checking out Burberry's Spring 2012 new releases. Again, these are NOT limited edition so take your time and try out the products in person (if you can) before making a decision. If you're on a budget and can pick only one item, I would recommend Pale Barley eyeshadow. It is soft, subtle, but quite unique.

What are your picks from this collection? Did anything tickle your fancy?

Chanel Grenat Stylo Yeux Eyeliner Swatches and Review

2011-12-30T11:52:00.000-08:00

Chanel Grenat Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner is a newly released shade in the Spring 2012 Collection. It retails for $29USD and can be purchased from Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Saks, or Chanel's website.

Grenat is a deep garnet with cranberry-fucshia shimmers. It reminds of a stained wine shade that is quite unique. I don't think I have seen an exact dupe from other brands.

Chanel Stylo Yeux formula is one of my favorites because of the great wear time. As true to claim, Stylo Yeux Eyeliners stay put on my oily lids throughout a long work day. It is not extremely creamy but it glides on the eyes easily without pulling or tugging. Below are some comparisons between Grenat and other purple/cranberry/brown eyeliners I have in my collection.

At first I thought Grenat would be similar to Chanel Ebloui Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadows but Ebloui leans more eggplant Urban Decay's Rockstar is purple and Whiskey is brown. Lancome's Amethyst (discontinued) doesn't have as much garnet either. The closest shade I could find to Grenat is the Cranberry color in Wet N Wild's Knock on Wood Eyeshadow Trio (reviewed here).

Overall, I like Grenat because it is a beautiful and unique shade. I like to pair this with a cranberry eyeshadow shade and Ebloui. It shows up well when I use it rimmed on the lower lashes. On the upper lashes, it takes some work to blend with the eyeshadows so it doesn't look so jarring on the eyes. I think Grenat will look especially gorgeous on those with hazel or blue eyes.

Bottom line: Grenat is a nice shade to check out and add to your collection. The Stylo Yeux Eyeliner formula is superb and well worth the money. This shade may or may not make your eyes look too red or tired. If paired with a shade that is too close to Grenat, it may also give a "bruised eye" look. Since it is a permanent shade, I recommend checking this out in person before taking the plunge.

Have you picked up Grenat? What are your thoughts on it?

Sears Trendsetter - Splurge vs Steal

2011-12-20T22:13:00.000-08:00

Every holiday season, I remind myself to stay away from the malls, especially during the week before Christmas to avoid the crowds. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I always forget what I say and I find myself perusing the racks at the local stores. This year, I was done with Christmas shopping before Black Friday even started, but the deal seeker in me really wanted to see what other sales are available. Thus, I set out on a "splurge vs. steal" shopping mission to find myself a new wardrobe for work. Without further ado, here are my finds from Sears:

My close friends and family all know I am a very casual person. On most days, I would throw on a T-shirt, some jeans, and a pair of canvas. I absolutely love heels and dresses so I really wanted to find a more feminine wardrobe without putting a dent on my wallet. Luckily, I found this simple dress from Apostrophe on sale for $24.99USD.

I like the dress' soft fabric and its versatility. It can be paired with a long sleeve cardigan or a skinny belt. To make it look a little bit more dressy, I paired it with my "steal", a faux pearl necklace for $9.60USD!

I love the simple yet unique details on this necklace.

Here is the necklace worn with the dress and a simple pair of heels. I like this look for a date or a family gathering at a nice restaurant. It's also appropriate for work if worn with a cream or gray cardigan. This entire outfit costs under $35USD so it's definitely a steal!

For my splurge item, I found a cozy long sleeve black sweater from UK Style by French Connection for $35.99. In case you're wondering, yes, it is from the same company that makes FCUK. I love their cheeky name!

This has a twist to the classic sweater cardigan style with a belt looped in the front. I really like the open collar and and how soft it feels against my skin. I can easily wear this with a ruffled top or a long sleeve v-neck shirt. Without the belt, I can also wear it with a dress or the pearl necklace for a more sophisticated look.

Overall, I am happy to find 3 really nice items to add to my closet without breaking the bank. These pieces are simple, which fits my personal style, but they are also sophisticated enough for both work and the weekends. Since I'm not much of a dress and high heels type of gal, I would love to get some suggestions from all of you on other ways to wear these items. What else should I pair them with? What are some other great deals - splurge or steals for this holiday? Thanks for letting me share my shopping excursions with you. It's definitely a much tougher post compared to makeup swatches!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was provided by Sears or Glam Media for this post. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sears.

Blush Horizon de Chanel Swatches and Review

2011-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

One of the most talked about item in Chanel's new Spring 2012 Collection is the Blush Horizon de Chanel. It retails for $58USD and can be purchased on Chanel's website, Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Macys, etc. In my previous post with swatches of the entire collection (here), I said I would reserve judgement on the blush until I receive a brand new one from Chanel. In this post, I will share with you lots of pictures and my personal thoughts on the blush.

The blush has a beautiful design that is similar to the striped bronzers that were released in last Summer's Collection. This also comes with a small brush that is separate from the compact. As usual, Chanel's mini brushes are soft, not scratchy or harsh on the face.

Ingredients in the blush:

Blush Horizon de Chanel can be best described as 2 blushes and a highlighter all in one. The top part of the blush has 3 stripes - garnet, medium rose pink, and a white highlighter. The bottom half of the blush has garnet, a peachy pink, and a shimmery light pink.

In bright sunlight, you can see the shimmers in each stripe. This is exactly what you can expect to see after application. When I first used it, I found myself looking like a little disco ball under the sun. I also find that it emphasizes my pores greatly due to the shimmers when my skin is dry or blotchy. Under normal skin conditions where my face is moisturized and clear (acne free), the blush provides a nice pink soft glow.

Close up:

Here are the swatches of the individual stripes:

In different lighting:

The combination of all the stripes create a glowy pink shade with small flecks of shimmers. You can adjust the amount of peach or pink by layering the different color stripes. For those who want more pink, use the first half of the blush. If you're looking for a peachy look, use more of the bottom half of the blush.

In natural light:

In sunset lighting:

Overall, I like Blush Horizon de Chanel because it is very pretty. The blush is quite pigmented so use with moderation to avoid getting clown cheeks. I like the soft glow of the blush and the option of getting either peach or pink shades. With that being said, I don't particularly think this is a revolutionary product in any way because it is a similar concept to Guerlain's Blush G (reviewed here). You can certainly dupe these shades with other products at a lower price point. However, it will take at least 3 other products to provide the same effect/colors as Blush Horizon de Chanel.

Bottom Line: Blush Horizon de Chanel is a nice item to add to your collection whether you're new to Chanel or a veteran to the line. It is not necessarily a must-have if you're on a budget or already own a lot of blushes that are similar to these shades. If you're new to makeup, this is definitely not a bad product to start with. Think of it as spending $58USD for 2 blushes with a soft glow, which is cheaper than purchasing 2 Joues Constraste at $43USD a piece.

Have you picked up Blush de Horizon yet? Do you think it is a must-have?

Aveeno Positively Nourishing Body Moisturizer Review

2011-12-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

When it comes to skincare, I have a very specific routine (described here) that I strictly follow every single day. No matter how tired or lazy I am after a long day of work, I will find the energy to remove my makeup, exfoliate, put on my toner, and moisturizer before going to bed. Since my face gets the highest priority, the rest of my poor body is often neglected. With such a cold winter this year, I find that my arms, legs, and feet are hideously dry and flaky. Luckily, Aveeno's Positively Nourishing Body Moisturizers came to the rescue just in time. These were sent to me from the Aveeno team. I cannot tell you enough how much I love this product and how smitten I am with their lovely scents.

You can soon find these at your local drugstore shelves (Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, etc) at a low price of $8.49USD. I know Ulta also has this available on their website.

The Aveeno Positively Nourishing 24-hour Body Moisturizer comes in 3 different scents - Refreshing, Invigoration, and Soothing.

Each lotion contains shea butter, glycerin, skin soothing oatmeal, and fruit or plant extracts.

First up is one of favorites, Soothing. This a very soft and warm scent of vanilla and chamomile. Just as advertised, the smell is so light and soothing.

Next up is Invigorating. Just like its name, the smell is fun and uplifting with grapefruit and rosemary extracts.

Last is Refreshing, which has blueberry and goji berry extracts. The scent is fresh!

Each moisturizer comes with a pump that can be locked with a simple twist on the cap. This is a great feature to avoid spills if you accidentally push on the pump.

Gently press on the pump when you're ready to use and voila!

For both of my feet, I use about 2-3 pumps depending on how dry or crackly they are on that particular day. The moisturizer is light, not sticky, and absorbs quite well after application. It doesn't leave a strange film on my skin either. What I like most is that the scents are not overwhelming.

Overall, I really enjoy using Aveeno's Positively Nourishing Body Moisturizer. It does a good job of keeping my body moisturized for at least 24 hours as promised without being overly thick or sticky. The major selling point for me is the lovely fragrance each of these moisturizers have to offer. Despite my usual laziness, I have been dousing myself with the Soothing moisturizer ever since I received it. My body is finally getting the attention it deserves and smells pretty darn nice too!

Bottom Line: Check out this line of lotion at your local drugstore. It is an affordable product that's well under $10. The moisturizer smells awesome and will keep your skin nice and soft throughout this dreadfully cold winter.

Disclosure: This post contains samples provided by PR for consideration. This does not alter the opinion or views of the blog owner. If you're not sure what this means, please visit the Disclosure policy listed here.

Have you tried this line yet? What's your favorite scent? Refreshing, Soothing, or Invigorating?

Chanel Spring 2012 Collection Swatches and Review

2011-12-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

It is December, a little less than 2 weeks before Christmas, and yes, I am writing a post about Chanel 2012 Spring Makeup Collection. Personally, I am not quite ready for Spring just yet as I sit here typing with a cozy sweater and a warm cup of cocoa. However, as a beauty blogger, it is my duty to entice you with what's to come this spring season. Let's get to it shall we?

Chanel's Spring Collection is now trickling into stores such as Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, etc. The collection is also available for purchase on Chanel's website.

First up are the infamous nail polishes called April, May, and June. Pictures of these shades have been circling the beauty community for quite a while with lots of excitement for all three.

June is a creamy soft peach with no shimmers. This is a bit sheer compared to the other 2 and it requires 3 coats for full opacity.

May is a bright pink that leans cool but not so cool that it clashes with my warm skin tone. Again, no shimmers and it requires only 1-2 coats.

April is a unique shade that reminds me of a creamy beet red. It also has no shimmers and is my favorite out of the 3. This really requires only 1 coat for opacity but you can add 2 to make the color darker.

Swatches again in darker lighting:

Blush Horizon de Chanel's design was pretty much destroyed by the time I reached the counter. I did a quick swatch of it and found it as a beautiful soft pink. For now, I will reserve judgment until my un-touched blush arrives from Chanel this Friday. Eclosion Quad contains 4 soft shades - peachy pink, ivory, light taupe-beige, and brown-plum. I like each of the colors but was not particularly blown away by the quad as a whole.

Tiger Lily is a golden orange that has very subtle shimmers. In fact, I can hardly detect them on my arm. I can't quite pull of this shade but I'm sure some of you can.

Rose de Mai is a light pink with a matte texture. I like the shade but wasn't particularly impressed with it either.

Jasmine is a beige pressed powder with shimmers. When I applied this on my skin, I could not see the shimmers or any differences between before and after.

Here are the blush, quad, eyeshadows, and pressed powder all shown together:

In different lighting:

In bright sunlight:

The collection also has 4 Rouge Coco Lipsticks, 2 Rouge Coco Shines, 3 Glossimers, 1 Rouge Double Intensite, 1 eyeliner, and 2 lip liners.

Rose Topaz Rouge Double Intensite is a medium rose with no shimmers.
Superstition (Rouge Coco) is a beige with subtle gold shimmers. On me, this is a very nude beige that was not very flattering. It looks better topped with one of the shimmery glossimers in this collection.

Charme (Rouge Coco) is a light rose pink with shimmers. I will do a more thorough review of this once I receive it on Friday.

Paradis (Rouge Coco) is a coral pink that's fun and brightens up the face instantly. I thought this was the best shade out of the 4 offered.

Destinee (Rouge Coco) was missing from the tester but brought out much later. I didn't get to snap a picture but it swatches/looks very similar to Etole.

Grenat Stylo Yeux Eyeliner is a gorgeous deep garnet/burgundy with very small gold shimmers. Think Ebloui but deeper and more garnet.

Bois de Rose Lip Liner is a medium rosewood.

Rose Corail Lip Liner is a bright coral pink that's quite pretty.

Candeur Rouge Coco Shine is a pastel pink. On my lips, it is super sheer and makes my lips look glossy but pale. This is my least favorite item of the collection.

Flirt Rouge Coco Shine is a beautiful coral. I think it also has a tinge of pink and some very small shimmers. It instantly brightens up my face.

More swatches in bright sunlight shown below. Note that Flirt looks coral-pink in some light and coral in others. In the tube, it is coral.

Grenat, Bon Bon and Bagatelle in the bright sunlight are shown below. The SA accidentally put Coral Love in the tester instead of Petillant. Therefore, I don't have a swatch of Petillant but is is a much lighter, sheerer version of Coral Love with gold and coral shimmers. It reminds me of a coral version of my favorite Glossimer, Waterlily. Bagatelle is a bright rose pink with gold shimmers. This is the darkest and most opaque shade out of the 3. Bon Bon is a sheer gloss with pink and gold shimmers.

Grenat and Bagatelle again in different lighting:

Candeur, Flirt, Rose Corail, and Bois de Rose swatches in bright sunlight:

Overall, this is a beautiful collection with lots of pinks and peach/coral shades. I am a fan of the products because I know Chanel always creates very flattering colors. With that being said, I wasn't particularly blown away by any one item after seeing them in person. My top picks for now are Paradis lipstick, Grenat eyeliner, April nail polish, Flirt Rouge Coco Shine, and Bagatelle glossimer. As previously stated, I will reserve judgment on the blush until I receive it Friday. I will also do a more in-depth swatch/review of my top picks in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

What are your picks so far from this collection? Did anything catch your eyes from these swatches?

HG Series: Shiseido The Makeup Facial Cotton Review

2011-12-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

I distinctly remember reading about Shiseido's Makeup Facial Cotton on several beauty blogs a couple of years ago. The bloggers raved about these cotton pads and how super soft they are on the skin. I was intrigued but very skeptical. $7 for a pack of cotton pads? You have to be joking, I thought. I simply balked at the idea of having to pay more than 0.99 for a pack of cotton balls or pads. Fast forward 3 years later, I once again was at a DFS in Japan. There was a sale at the Shiseido counter and they were selling these 2 for $10. Seeing how I can't walk away from a sale and with a nagging curiosity in me, I purchased exactly 2 to see what the fuss is all about. To this day, I can say that was the best decision that I've ever made. Shiseido's Makeup Facial Cotton has become a staple in my drawer and is my HG must-have facial cotton.

The facial cotton can be purchased at any Shiseido counter (Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdales, etc) or online. It retails for $9.50USD (oh how the prices have gone up!) for 2.8 oz. Each pack contains roughly 80-100 rectangular cotton pads.

How are these cotton pads different from the usual cotton balls? They are thicker, much softer, and most importantly, they do not leave behind little cotton fibers all over your face. The image below shows the thickness of 3 cotton pads:

Here is the thickness of each individual pad:

I usually do not need an entire pad to apply toner or remove eye makeup. Therefore, I cut each in half to use each time. It takes about 2-3 months for me to go through each pack depending on frequency of usage.

The pads are 100% cotton so they are very soft on the skin. It is designed for maximum absorption so when I use them, I don't have to use as much toner, lotion, nail polish remover, or eye makeup remover. They are also nice and soft on the skin and eyes.

For tough jobs such as removing dark and glittery nail polishes, I use an entire pad with some polish remover. I remove nail polish on 5 fingers with 1 side and the remaining 5 with the other side. With cotton balls, I have to use at least 3-4 and a ton of nail polish remover. The same goes for removing eye makeup. I only need to use 1/2 of a pad to remove heavy eye liner/mascara. Since the pad is thick cotton, it does not leave behind those annoying cotton strands in my eyes or on my fingers.

Another cotton pad that is comparable to Shiseido comes from Shu Uemura. It is slightly thicker and bigger. I also purchased these in Japan out of sheer curiosity. These cost $10USD for 90 pads.

When placed on top of the Shu Uemura pads, you can see that the Shiseido pad is only a tad smaller.

With Shu Uemura, I can cut the pads into 3 smaller pieces. If you do the math, one pack can be as much as 270 smaller pads. The one reason I cannot say the Shu Uemura pads is my HG is because it is harder to purchase in the US compared to Shiseido. There are no local counters of Shu Uemura so it can only be purchased online.

Overall, I really love Shiseido's Makeup Facial Cotton pads. They are strong, soft, and versatile. I have a tough time going back to traditional cotton balls/pads after using these. The pads greatly reduce the amount of products that I have to use and is very gentle on my face/eyes. I stock up on them every time there is a Sephora or Shiseido F&F event.

Bottom line: Give these cotton pads a try. They are worth every penny even though they cost $9.50 per pack. You don't need to use a lot and it will cut down the amount of toner/remover you have to use compared to traditional cotton pads. It is also much gentler on your skin.

Have you tried Shiseido Facial Cotton before? What's your take on traditional cotton balls vs these?

Chanel Rose Cache Le Vernis Swatches and Review

2011-12-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

Chanel Rose Cache is a limited edition nail varnish from Chanel's latest Rouge Allure Velvet Collection. It retails for $25USD and can be purchased directly from Chanel's website or at your local Chanel counters. There are also 2 other shades released in the collection called Pirate (a jelly red) and Rose Exuberant (a bright pink). I did not pick those up because they do not have the signature Chanel shimmers.

I find Rose Cache most appealing because it is a soft shade that is very easy to wear. It can be used for work, interviews, weddings, first dates, or even a night on the town. I am always drawn to soft pink, nude, and beige colors and this is no exception.

In the bottle, Rose Cache is a dusty soft pink that is significantly lighter compared to Morning Rose.

At first glance, the pink shimmers in the bottle are not very noticeable. However, it can be seen if the bottle is tilted in the right angle.

Despite the gorgeous shimmers shown above, Rose Cache failed to deliver the same amount of intensity on the nails. The formula is rather sheer so it takes 3-4 coats for full opacity. I can still see visible nail lines with 1-2 coats. Rose Cache did however, glide on smoothly without clumps or streaks.

In direct bright sunlight:

On my nails, you can see a faint hint of shimmer peaking through. With indoor lighting, Rose Cache looks like a simple glossy soft pink without any shimmers.

In darker lighting with flash:

Here are a couple of possible dupes for Rose Cache from my collection of pink nail varnishes. From the bottle alone, Essie's Innocent looks the most promising but it doesn't have any pink shimmers.

On the nail wheel, Innocent is darker and most pink, Essie Ladylike is cooler toned, Zoya's Pandora is not as pink, Tickle My France-y has more gray undertone, and Skinny Dip'n In Lake Michigan is a nude salmon-beige. Alas, I don't have an exact dupe for Rose Cache so I'm quite glad I had picked this up.

The same shades in bright sunlight:

Overall, I'm quite smitten with Rose Cache. To me, it is a gentle and girly shade that I can wear in any season like a classic Chanel purse. I feel that Rose Cache is the most unique out of the 3 in this collection because of the subtle shimmers. However, I do wish that the shimmers would translate a little bit better on the nails.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a simple yet elegant and chic pink nail varnish, you may want to check out Rose Cache. It is a bit on the sheerer side so it will take at least 3 coats for full opacity. I am sure there are similar shades to Rose Cache but nothing quite exactly the same. When it comes down to these natural types of shades, Chanel always manages to come out on top. It is a must-have? Probably not unless you are drawn to shades like it. It is a nice-to-have? Absolutely!

To see more swatches and comparison, check out TheBeautyLookBook and MakeupMagpie. Both have really beautiful images on this collection.

Will you be picking up Rose Cache? Do you have a similar shade in your collection?

La Mer The Moisturizing Lotion Review

2011-12-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

La Mer has always been associated with the word "luxury" in the world of skincare. I personally am a fan of La Mer's products. I know there are a lot of questions about the quality of their products and whether or not that matches up with the high price points. I will be doing a series of thorough reviews on La Mer's products, ranging from lip balm and skincare to body moisturizer. These are my personal experiences with the products so please keep in mind that they may or may not work for you.

The first product I will be reviewing in this series is La Mer's Moisturizing Lotion. It retails for $210USD for 1.7 fl oz and can be purchased on La Mer's website, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, or Bloomingdales.

The Moisturizing Lotion was my very first product introduction to La Mer. It comes in a thin white bottle and a plastic cap. This fits nicely in the palm of my hands. It is also very easy to pack along for those who travel often.

Similar to Creme de La Mer, the Moisturing Lotion does contain mineral oil. For those of you who are allergic to mineral oil, please be aware. There are, however, a lot of other ingredients in the Moisturizing Lotion such as the nutrient-rich sea kelp that's in the "miracle broth". I highly suggest reading the ingredients list prior to purchasing so you understand what is in the product.

The bottle is made of sturdy plastic so it has a nice feel/weight to it. Unlike Creme de La Mer, the lotion comes with a pump which makes it much more hygienic. The only downside to this packaging is that you cannot tell how much product is left in the bottle.

La Mer has only one set of instructions printed in the back of the bottle. In most cases, people often ignore the instructions in the back or are not told by their SAs at the La Mer counter. As a person who has used Creme de La Mer, the Moisturizing Lotion, and the Gel Creme, I will say that it is extremely important to follow these instructions.

When using this product, the first step I take is to press the pump lightly twice to dispense the lotion onto my fingers.

You really do not need a lot of product when using the Moisturizing Lotion. One or two pea-sized pumps above are enough to cover the entire face.

As instructed, warm the lotion between your fingers. For illustration purposes, I did it with my thumb. Normally, I use my fingers from the other hand to warm it up.

This step should take 15-30 seconds before the white lotion turns into a clear liquid consistency as shown below. Once you warm up the lotion, gently press it either all over your face or onto areas that need more moisturizing. This was the method that I was instructed by the SA and it has worked well every time. I find that if I do not warm up the lotion and simply rub it all over my face, I am guaranteed to break out every single time.

Overall, I have purchased the Moisturizing Lotion twice because it works very well for my skin during the harsh, cold winter. I do not use this every day or during the warm summer months. As illustrated in this post, I follow the instructions very carefully to get the best results from the product. The lotion works extremely well on the dry patches on my cheeks. It takes only one to two applications to keep my skin soft, glowing, and nicely moisturized. I do break out from using this if I don't warm up the product or apply it near my sensitive eyebrows.

Bottom Line: La Mer's Moisturizing Lotion is undoubtedly a splurge skincare item. Its price similar or even lower compared to Chanel's Sublimage, Guerlain's Orchidee, Cle De Peau, SKII, etc. The lotion does a great job of getting rid of stubborn dry patches that other brand's lotions/creams cannot do for my skin. I love the fragrance of the lotion as well. It is much lighter compared to Creme de La Mer and is much quicker to warm up. If you have Creme de La Mer, you don't necessarily need the Moisturizing Lotion. The best thing about La Mer products is that you don't need to use a lot but get results almost instantly. It is well worth the money spent if you're looking for a great moisturizer, but not so much as an anti-aging product.

If you really want to try the product, I recommend visiting a local La Mer counter to ask for a sample. There are some SAs who will refuse to give samples unless you purchase a product. In that case, pump a small amount, warm it up on your fingers, and dab it either onto your neck or inner elbow to test out the lotion. I'm wary of ebay sellers because some may sell you counterfeit products. Therefore, I don't recommend going that route unless you know that the seller is trustworthy.

For die-hard La Mer lovers, I am sad to share that the prices will increase come Jan 1, 2012. Below is the new price list thanks to my trusty SA Trish. If you are interested in purchasing the products prior to the price increase, please contact her at Trish_Joma@neimanmarcusstores.com. She is extremely helpful and friendly.

PRODUCT	CURRENT RETAIL, 2011	SUGGESTED RETAIL, 2012
Creme de la Mer 1 oz.	$135.00	$140.00
Creme de la Mer 2 oz.	$250.00	$265.00
Creme de la Mer 16.5 oz.	$1650.00	$1,800.00
The Moisturizing Gel Cream 2 oz.	$250.00	$265.00
The Moisturizing Lotion 1.7 oz.	$210.00	$220.00
The Oil Absorbing Lotion 1.7 oz.	$210.00	$220.00
The Radiant Serum 1.0 oz.	$250.00	$260.00
The Regenerating Serum 1.0 oz.	$250.00	$260.00
The Lifting Intensifier 0.5 oz.	$155.00	$155.00
The Lip Balm .32 oz.	$ 45,00	$50.00
The Body Creme 10 oz.	$195.00	$220.00
The Body Creme (Tube) 6.8 oz.	$130.00	$150.00

Have you tried the Moisturizing Lotion or any La Mer products? What are some of your experiences?

Stila Lip Glazes Swatches and Review

2011-12-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, I purchased Stila's Lip Glaze Set from Costco for $16.99USD. The set came with seven 0.05 fl oz best selling lip glazes. I thought it was a great deal since a set of 8 costs $25USD from Sephora.

The 7 shades in this set are:

Stila Lip Glazes is different from your traditional doe-foot applicator. It is a click pen with a white brush tip. For first time users, I recommend tilting the pen upside down and twisting the bottom of the pen several times. You will hear a clicking sound every time you turn the pen. Keep on turning until you see gloss ooze out of the white tip.

Below is a shot of the shades in bright sunlight. Some of them have shimmers while others do not. You can also see the gloss saturate the tip of each pen.

Stila does include a plastic cap on top to protect product transfer, which makes it easier to store these lip glazes.

Apricot (08) is described as a melon nectarine and looks that way in the pen. However, in the swatch, it is a very sheer beige-peach that gives the slightest hint of shimmer. This is more of a lipstick topper for me. By itself, it is too sheer.
Grapefruit (07) is a soft pink with shimmer. It is a little bit more pigmented compared to Apricot but I still find this more suitable as a lipstick topper. It is sheer by itself.
Guava (28) is a beautiful rosy pink with no shimmer. It is more opaque compared to Grapefruit and Apricot. On my lips, this gives a slight rose tint.
Merry Merry (C4) is a red with red and gold shimmer. It is a bright color that is quite opaque on my lips.
Kitten (B1) is a coral-copper with gold shimmers. It's a beautiful shade that can be used by itself or on top of a lipstick.
Seashell (C1) is a pink with gold shimmers. It reminds me of a much lighter version of MAC's Nymphette.
Majesty (C3) is a bright fuchsia with no shimmers. It is quite bold by itself.

Overall, I find Stila's Lip Glazes quite fun. They are definitely "ultra-high shine" lipglosses. I find them slightly tacky but not so much that it bothers me. I like the click pen packaging but find it a little difficult to use the brush tip applicator. With darker colors such as Majesty and Merry Merry, the brush tends to smear the gloss all around, making it difficult to get a clean application around the edge of the lips. In terms of the fragrance, some shades such as Guava smells great while others have very strong artificial sweet scents.

Bottom Line: Stila Lip Glazes costs $22 at regular full size (0.08). With that in mind, I think you get better bang for the buck with the gift sets. My favorite shades from this set are Apricot and Seashell, two great lipstick toppers. I am happy with this set but will not splurge for a full size gloss given the cost and size of the product. I am also bothered by some of the shades due to their incredibly strong fragrances.

Have you tried Stila's Lip Glazes? What are your thoughts on them?

Benefit Georgia and Thrrrob Blush Swatches and Review

2011-11-28T17:40:00.000-08:00

I confess, I do not own any Benefit blushes. Well, that is, until now. I have seen the blushes so many times at Sephora but never quite made the commitment to take one home. That all changed last Thursday when I hastily perused the Black Friday ads while waiting for my food to finish cooking itself. Ulta had a bright, beautiful photo of Georgia and Thrrrob blushes with a screaming caption of "$19 for 2 full-sized Benefit blushes". Now being the beauty-nista that I am, I simply could not walk away from such a great deal! Each of these blushes alone costs $28USD so getting 2 for less than the price of one was a no-brainer.

Ulta had this as a special Black Friday deal and was going to open at 6AM. Now, as much as I love cosmetics and shopping, I love my sleep even more. Luckily, when I stopped by the store at 11am, there were still 4 of these duos staring back at me from the counter. Score!

Benefit blushes can be recognized from miles away just from their unique packaging. The blush is contained in a small carton box. What a novel idea.

Inside each little box is a small travel size brush that is surprisingly soft. I love the attention to detail that Benefit puts into each brush. Notice how the handle colors correspond to the packaging (i.e Georgia has a peach handle and Thrrrob has pink bristles).

Here are the ingredients in Georgia:

Ingredients in Thrrrob:

In the pan, Georgia is a light peach and has a peachy fragrance. I can see very fine shimmers when I hold the blush in bright sunlight.

Close up of Georgia:

Thrrrob is very different from Georgia in that it is a soft cool-tone baby pink. This has larger shimmer bits and can definitely be seen with the naked eye in the pan.

Close up of Thrrrob:

I honestly did not have any expectations for these blushes. I have read reviews where most people didn't like Georgia or Thrrrob because they are sheer. However, I was quite surprised to see how pigmented they are with 1-2 swipes.

Both Georgia and Thrrrob appear to be chalky in the finger swatches.

On my arm, Georgia is quite sheer and not as peachy as it looks in the pan. The shimmers in Georgia are much finer compared to those in Thrrrob. I don't think Georgia is a blush in any sense because it is so pale in color. Thrrrob on the other hand, is true to the color in the pan. The baby pink blush can definitely be used on paler skin tones.

Although I don't own too many peach blushes, I know right off the bat Georgia looks nothing like what I have in my collection. Nevertheless, I did try to find a dupe for it with Chanel and MAC. In the pan, it looks like a lighter, less shimmery version of MAC's Fun & Games.

In a side by side swatch, Georgia is too pale to be similar to any of the other blushes. I think I would have better luck comparing Georgia to Laura Mercier's loose powder or Chanel's Rose Merveille pressed powder.

Thrrrob was in the same boat as Georgia. Although I own a lot of pink blushes, I don't have an exact dupe for Thrrrob both in the pan and on the skin. I think MAC's Pink Cult comes closest but it is darker and cooler. MAC's Pretty Baby leans more pink and Pet Me is completely different.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with my first experience with Benefit blushes. Since Georgia is so pale, I think of it as a highlighter rather than a blush. Thrrrob is surprisingly not chalky when applied with a dense blush brush. It provides beautiful doll-like pink cheeks by itself on my NC25-NC30 skin tone. I think this might look chalky on darker skin tones but quite nice for pale/light skin tones. Georgia on the other hand, will most likely not show up peachy on any skin tone. It looks lovely on top of Thrrrob as a highlighter or can be used to tone down other bright blushes.

Bottom Line: This is a great deal if you've always wanted to try out Thrrrob at a lower price point. Georgia is discontinued and I can understand why. I honestly think these are geared towards pale/light to medium skin tones. By themselves, I don't think I would splurge for either blushes. However, I am glad I own both of them. If anything, they smell really good!

What are some of your favorite Benefit blushes? Do you have Thrrrob or Georgia?

Solutions to Your Skin Dilemmas - Dr Wu

2011-11-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder why you're still getting adult acne or why there are strange dry flakes behind your ears? Lucky for us, celebrity dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu has teamed up with Aveeno to answer some of our common skin dilemma questions. Normally I don't write interview posts, but reading through some of these questions made me realize how important it is to understand our skin better. I hope this will be helpful to all of you who suffer from acne, hyper-pigmentation, as well as other skin conditions that we'd all like to improve or eliminate.

image via Fashion Trends Live

How much is too much in skincare?

Listen to your skin. If it gets red, itchy, flaky, and angry-looking, you may be over-using some product in your skincare routine.

I'd like to know what to do /how to handle "ear acne," i.e. comedones on cartilage of the ear; as well as dry skin on the back of ears.. basically ear skin care!

The first step is to be as thorough cleaning your ears as you do your face. The skin on your ears is thick and has a high concentration of oil glands, so it tends to get clogged and form blackheads. If you have lots of blackheads, you can swab the earlobes and outer ear canal with a cotton swab dipped in acne toner. Careful not to drip into your ear. Facialists or dermatologists can also do extractions if you have large, compacted blackheads that won’t go away.

Flaky skin on the back of the ears is often a sign of seborrheic dermatitis (a type of dandruff). This is caused by overgrowth of yeast that feeds on your skin and oils. Washing with a dandruff shampoo daily and using an anti-yeast cream (like Lotritimin) for a week or two usually calms the problem. Taking a probiotic (or eating yogurt) daily has also been shown to help this condition. If the flakiness spreads, oozes, or gets crusty, it’s best to see a doctor to make sure it’s not a Staph bacteria infection.

Suggestions for adult acne.

    Adult woman with acne tend to have drier skin than teens with acne, so traditional acne medications are often too drying and irritating, and make the situation worse. Your best bet is to use a gentle foaming cleanser to remove makeup & surface oils, followed by a sulfur-based mask or treatment product. Sulfur is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, without being as drying as benzoyl peroxide. Since adult acne is often hormonal, it’s also a good idea to watch what you eat, especially when you’re PMS’ing: try to avoid dairy, refined carbs (bread, rice, potatoes, pasta) and sugar, which can trigger your hormones and make you break out. And, if you have irregular periods and facial hair growth along with your adult acne, be sure to see your doctor, since these can be a sign of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Suggestions for dry skin
      For dry skin (or if your normally normal-oily skin gets dryer in the winter) , try to avoid treatments and products that will strip your skin of its natural oils. Instead, wash with a mild, creamy cleanser, using your fingertips, and avoid alcohol-containing toner. Dab or spray it on if you feel like you need extra hydration before applying moisturizer. Better yet, skip the toner and go straight to the moisturizer. Look for richer cream formulas rather than lotions or gels. If you use a serum or medicated cream, apply that first, then your cream moisturizer to seal in hydration.

Suggestions for oily skin
      If your skin is oily, look for a foaming cleanser to help break up oil. A skincare brush or washcloth can help remove oil and makeup. Follow with a toner; if you also have acne, choose one with salicylic or glycolic acid to help unclog pores. For anti-aging, look for antioxidant or retinol in gel or serum formulas (which are water-based) instead of a heavy moisturizing cream. If you have any dry patches (like your cheeks), apply a moisturizing lotion (not cream) to those areas only. Choose a moisturizer that’s oil-free, with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to hold moisture in your skin, rather than oil-based creams.

What are the best kinds of vitamins to take? Do you like Liquid or pill form?

Depends on the vitamins…for example, most of us could benefit from omega-3 fish oil, which has been shown to help dry skin, eczema rashes, & psoriasis. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so it can help calm acne breakouts. For fish oil, I prefer liquid form; there are fewer additives and starches, and more of it is absorbed by the body. Stronger Faster Healthier makes a chocolate-flavored fish oil that I take every day. For hair and nails, I recommend biotin. This comes in pills.

What are those chicken bumps on my arms and what can I do about them?

The bumps on the backs of your arms are most likely a condition called “keratosis pilaris” which is caused by clogged hair follicles. This is a genetic condition that may improve with age. However, if it persists, you can minimize the bumps by exfoliating to help the dead skin cells slough off. I also recommend using a body wash containing salicylic acid to loosen the dead skin. In the morning, use a body lotion containing lactic acid (like Lac Hydrin or Am Lactin—both available at drugstores). At night, use a rich body butter to make the bumps smoother. For stubborn cases, I sometimes prescribe a retinoid like Retin A or Tazorac, and also do light in-office chemical peels.

Best treatment for under eye puffiness:

It depends on what the puffiness is caused by. For example, if the puff comes and goes, or is worse in the morning, it may be due to water retention. In that case, avoid salty foods and foods with added salt after lunch and then sleep on an extra pillow. In the morning, hold cold teabags over your eyes for a minute or so, or use the Aveeno Anti-fatigue eye roller, both of which shrinks puffy tissues. Also, avoid hot water on your face. This should help reduce the fluid under your eyes. If your puffiness is associated with allergy symptoms (runny nose, itchy eyes), taking an antihistamine or using a neti pot may help. However, if it’s a hereditary fat pad, the best treatment is surgery.

Beauty Bloggers for Charity - Beautiful Inside and Out

2011-11-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

As you might have remembered, last year's Beauty Bloggers for Charity was a wildly successful event led by the amazing Karla from KarlaSugar. This year, the event is back with a stunning collection of beauty products. For the second year in a row, beauty bloggers and brands have joined forces for an online auction benefiting Doctors Without Borders.

Over 60 participants have donated a treasure of the best beauty items this year. There are countless amazing products from this year's holiday collections and limited edition cult favorites. When the auction ends, winning bidders will make their donations directly to Doctors Without Borders. Please be assured this will all go through the site’s secure giving page (http://www.beautybloggers.org/)

The auction will be live Monday, November 28th through Monday, December 12th. Most of the items are now available for viewing online. All you have to do is register on the site with your first and last name, and an email address so we can contact the winning bidders.

Natural N Chic Makeup is honored to be a part of the event this year with a gorgeous gold-infused deep berry nail varnish. Dior's limited edition Apparat will spice up your nails and cause heads to turn at this year's holiday parties.

You can check out the complete list of participants here and more about Beauty Bloggers for Charity/Doctors Without Borders here. I hope everyone will join us this year to support this amazing cause. It is a great opportunity to fulfill the beauty fiend in all of us AND donate to charity. We can be beautiful both inside and out!

I know there are numerous items I will definitely be bidding for this year. Will you be joining me? What's catching your eyes so far?

Dior Silver Lake Swatches and Review

2011-11-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Allure's 20th Anniversary, Dior released a limited edition nail varnish, Silver Lake. This can be purchased exclusively on Dior's website for $22USD. At first I was really hesitant to pick up another silver nail polish because I already have Chanel Graphite and LMdB Tarnished Silver. However, I am quite glad that I had taken the plunge with this purchase.

In the sun, Silver Lake is a dark grey with silver and green shimmers. The green shows up at only certain angles so it was incredibly tough to capture on camera.

Here are the comparisons between Silver Lake, Tarnished Silver, and Graphite in bright sunlight. Graphite has visible gold shimmers whereas Tarnish Silver has a hint of blue. Silver Lake is also more of a light gray compared to Graphite.

The varnish flowed easily onto the nails and is opaque with 2 coats. It definitely was not streaky, clumpy, or even sheer. I think Dior is on to something with its unique tapered brush.

I was pleasantly surprised that Silver Lake is much darker on my nails compared to the color in the bottle. It is a gorgeous dark metallic gray with highly visible silver shimmers. This bold yet chic shade is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

In bright sunlight:

At another angle:

When Silver Lake is placed next to Tarnish Silver and Graphite, the differences are subtle but still noticeable. I honestly thought they would look really similar to one another. In dark lighting, Graphite's gold shimmers dominate over the gray base. Silver Lake is a dark sooty gray compared to Tarnish Silver's lighter blue-based gray.

With flash:

In direct sunlight:

Overall, I am a big fan of Dior's Silver Lake. I am sure there are similar shades like it from other brands. However, I don't own very many silver/gray/gunmetal nail varnishes and this one is simply gorgeous on my nails. I get about a week's worth of wear time before seeing minor chipping on the tips. The fine shimmers in Silver Lake makes it not overly metallic or glittery.

Bottom Line: Silver Lake is not as unique compared to Chanel's Graphite but is a very chic color for the fall/winter/holiday season. If you don't own any gray metallic polishes, Silver Lake is worth looking into. For those who already own a lot of similar shades to SL, I'm not sure this will blow you away. I would not say this is a must-have item but more of a nice-to-have.

What are your thoughts on Silver Lake? Other possible dupes?

HG Series - Liquid Lipsticks: Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Swatches and Review

2011-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

As a beauty blogger, I am always photographing, swatching, and oogling over the latest and greatest beauty products. Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter, Holiday, and everything in between, there is always a new collection to capture this fleeting heart. Once in a while, it is nice to step back and appreciate the tried and true products that have always been a staple in my drawer. In the next couple of months, I will be featuring my HG products in various categories. First up are Chanel Rouge Allure Laques, my holy grail liquid lipsticks. These retail for $32USD and can be purchased on Chanel's website, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, or Neiman Marcus.

There are a total of 9 shades currently available at various counters. I have 7 out of the 9 colors but will definitely pick up the last two very soon. I am incredibly disappointed that Chanel is discontinuing a majority of these shades. Right now the website lists them as "limited edition" but Coromandel and Imperial, the shades that I don't have, are already gone.

The packaging for Rouge Allure Laques are different compared to the traditional Rouge Allure or Rouge Coco lipsticks.

They are shorter in height and have doe-foot applicators. These also have Chanel's typical rose fragrance. You can definitely smell it if you put the applicator right in front of your nose. However, the scent does dissipate shortly after application.

The 9 now limited edition shades are:

Coromandel (72) is a bright coral red. I currently do not own this shade.

Imperial (73) is a berry rose that is darker than Dynastie. I currently do not own this shade.

Dynastie (74) is a deep rose with subtle shimmer. It leans slightly red on my lips and is the perfect shade for those who are generally afraid of red lipsticks.

Dragon (75) is an extremely bold blue-based red with subtle shimmers.

Ming (76) is a beautiful soft pink with subtle shimmers. This is one of my all time favorite shades. It gives the perfect pink hue without being too light or too pink. Just right.

Santal (77) is my second favorite shade. It is a peachy nude with a slight hint of pink. I find this as the perfect nude color without making me look like a corpse.

Phoenix (78) is a hot pink with subtle shimmers. I usually rock this color during the spring time.

Mandarin (79) is a dark coral-red with copper shimmers. This is a unique shade but is quite difficult to capture in the swatch.

Empire (707) is the latest shade release in Chanel's Holiday 2011 Collection. It is a a medium rose pink with gold shimmers. Empire is a mix between Phoenix and Ming.

At a different angle:

The Rouge Allure Laques provide medium coverage with a glossy finish. Its subtle shimmers glisten in the sun and give the lips a full, luscious look. Since it is a liquid lipstick, the laque applies like a liquid but is not sticky. The laque glides on smoothly and does not settle into lip lines. The best part is the staying power of these babies. I get a good 4-5 hrs of wear with just one coat. If I blot and use a second coat, I get 7-8hrs of wear time. These also leave behind a nice stain.

Here they are again in soft sunlight:

After the swatch, I tried to remove the product with makeup remover and oil-based cleansers. The image below shows what is left behind after all the manual scrubbing. Dragon leaves the darkest stain since it is the boldest, darkest shade out of the 7. Ming and Santal are basically gone because they are lighter and I don't have much of the product left for a dark swatch.

Overall, I highly recommend checking out Chanel's Rouge Allure Laque. These hold a very special place in my heart. Every time I have to attend a wedding, party, or special dinner events, I always reach for these beauties. I know I can always count on them to provide a gorgeous glossy stain of color without drying out my lips. The most important thing to me is the wear time, especially in occasions where I know I will be photographed before and after eating a full meal. The Rouge Allure Laques have never failed me. That in itself is a testament as to how awesome these lipsticks are in order to make my HG list.

Bottom Line: Grab at least one of these incredible Rouge Allure Laques before Chanel discontinues them all. I honestly think these are sleeper hits that do not get enough attention/advertisement from Chanel. My favorite shades are Ming and Santal, two soft and beautiful shades that can be used for any occasion. For those looking for a reliable liquid lipstick that has great wear time without drying out your lips, these laques will be well worth your money.

Do you own any of these laques? What is your favorite shade?

Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous Face Illuminator Swatches and Review

2011-11-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous Face Illuminator retails for $42USD and is the newest star from the Moonlight Collection. The design is absolutely stunning! You can purchase this at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or on the Laura Mercier website.

The beautiful rose patterns looks 3D and the shimmers are highly visible. In the pan, Rose Rendezvous looks both frosty and metallic depending on the angle or lighting conditions. This makes it rather tricky to capture the real color of the product. Below is the best representation of Rose Rendezvous with indoor lighting.

In bright sunlight:

A close up shows the intricate design and beautiful shimmers.

Rose Rendezvous feels buttery soft and is highly pigmented in the finger swatch.

The first thought that came to mind when I saw Rose Rendezvous is how similar it looks compared to Guerlain's Terra Inca Powder. It has a lot more shimmer compared to Terra Inca but both are buttery smooth. Rose Rendezvous is rosy whereas Terra Inca is more bronze. It is also similar to Estee Lauder's Illuminating Powder Gelée but I do not have it for comparison purposes.

Despite looking metallic in the swatch, don't let this scare you away from trying Rose Rendezvous. I admit I was terrified at first as well. A frosty AND metallic highlighter? No thanks! I walked away from it the first time I saw the product at Sephora. However, I went back to the counter a second time and asked for a skunk brush. Once I applied this on my cheeks, I finally understand and appreciate the beauty of this illuminator.

On my NC25-NC30 skintone, Rose Rendezvous acts both as a highlighter and a blush. With a skunk brush such as MAC 187, I get a very soft glow on my cheeks that really illuminates my skin. It surprisingly does not look metallic or overly frosty at all. I was incredibly shocked when I applied this both in the store and at home. For a darker rosy look, I use a dense angle blush brush to apply it on my cheekbones. The result is a bronzy rose that is slightly frosty with the tiniest hint of metallic finish at certain angles.

What makes this product so interesting is that it is only super shimmery under very bright sunlight. In normal indoor lighting, Rose Rendezvous' shimmers are soft and subtle. Compared to Guerlain's Terra Inca, it is definitely not as bronzy and leans more pink/rose.

While testing out Rose Rendezvous, I had a nagging feeling it looks oddly familiar to something else in my collection. Lo and behold, it is nearly identical to the latest varnish shade from Le Metier de Beaute, Lame Entertain You (reviewed here).

I was quite amused that I had to rack my brain trying to figure out the dupe when it was on my pinky finger all along. Below is a sample swatch of Rose Rendezvous compared to Lame Entertain You. Quite similar aren't they?

Overall, I really like Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous Illuminator. I was really terrified of the metallic finish of this product at the beginning. However, I am so glad I gave this a second chance and tried it on my cheeks. The texture is soft and smooth. It is not insanely shimmery and does not have any glitter fallout. In fact, Rose Rendezvous' subtle shimmers "illuminates" the skin just as promised. I think lighter skin tones can certainly use this as a blush and contour as well. I have worn this nearly everyday to work and dinner ever since I picked it up from the local counter.

Bottom Line: Rose Rendezvous is a beautiful illuminator that is worth checking out. The intricate design is gorgeous enough to mesmerize any makeup collector. For those who missed out on Sephora's FF, you will have another chance to pick this up at 20% off in the upcoming VIB sales event.

What are your thoughts on Rose Rendezvous? Are you surprise at how it looks in the swatch?