Thursday, August 9, 2012

Hiatus!

Hi everyone! 

I am sorry for the lack of posts this past week! I am currently I'm the middle of moving and do not have any access to Internet to properly blog! I will return next week! I hope you are all having a wonderful week! 

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Review: Le Metier De Beaute True Eyeshadow Color in Bordeaux

I must admit that my favorite high-end brand of all time is Le Metier de Beaute.  I was initally introduced to this brand by CafeMakeup and The Beauty Look Book after reading their amazing review on their famous Kaleidoscopes.  I couldn't help myself and decided to jump head first into the brand, trusting these reviews, and boy... am I sure glad I did! Words cannot express how much I love this brand and the products that they produce!



I decided to pick up some of their single eyeshadows because I was impressed with the quality in the Kaleidoscopes.  The first eyeshadow that I bought was Bordeaux.  When I had swatched all the eyeshadow colors in the store, I initially wanted Corinthian and Jojo, but they were not in stock at the time.  So, I went to my third choice and I haven't regretted the decision since.  



In terms of the formula, the eyeshadow is buttery smooth -- perhaps not as smooth as a Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow, but soft nonetheless.  It blends well with other eyeshadows and deposits a punch of color with each touch.  Sometimes I find that when the eyeshadow formula is too smooth, it can appear chalky or even unpleasantly powdery.  This is definitely not the case with this eyeshadow.


Bordeaux is a shimmery burnt reddish brown color.  
Although I don't have any swatch comparison pictures for you today, its color reminds me most of Chanel's Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Ebloui except with less sparkles.  

I love using this as a contour color in the crease or even a wash of color over the eyelids.  It is very versatile.  Perhaps the only con I can think of is the price point ($30.00), but I believe if you find a color that you know you will wear on a daily basis, then it is well worth the investment. 


Expect more Le Metier de Beaute reviews to come! What are your thoughts on the brand or the eyeshadow? Leave your thoughts in the comment section! Have a nice day! :) 

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Review: Beauty Treats Makeup Remover Cleaning Tissues

Hello! 


Since getting these Beauty Treats Makeup Remover Cleaning Tissues (2 for $5.00) at IMATS, I've been using them nonstop.  I think that makeup removing wipes are makeup removing wipes -- you can't really go wrong.  However, these... aren't exactly the best makeup wipes I've ever used.  




The good thing about these is that they smell AMAZING! I got these in Apricot and Rose.  They also remain wet in the packaging, especially when stored upside down.  


The bad thing about these is that it doesn't take off all of my makeup.  It takes off enough, but because they are so thin, they rip at the slightest tug or pull.  They also lack texture to actually help rub off some of the makeup.  I end up having to use two wipes to feel like I've taken off enough makeup before proceeding on with my night skincare routine.  


Overall... not bad, but not the best either.  

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Review: Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner

Hello everyone!


Skincare is a very important thing for me -- especially since I've suffered from acne for a long time.  Toner isn't always necessarily needed, but I find that it makes me feel refreshed and is always nice before putting on my moisturizer before bed.  



For the past two months, I have been using Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner.  It is supposed to be formulated for normal to oily skin, which I thought would be beneficial even though I have combination skin.  This toner is unique in the fact that it has small pieces of real calendula flowers floating about. 



The only good thing that I can say about this product is that it is mild and soothing on the skin.


I do not like that this product leaves my skin feeling sticky afterwards.  Also, because of the yellow tinge, I can't tell if I'm wiping away any dirt or if it's just the color of the toner.  I cannot justify buying a toner at this price, especially since there is nothing that is special about it.  I have used the Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner and it has done much for my skin than this has.
My advice: Skip it.  

Monday, July 23, 2012

Review: Dior 5-Colour Designer All-in-One Artistry Palette in Green Design

Hello everyone!


I got the Dior 5-Colour Designer All-in-One Artistry Palette in Green Design a while back, but never had the opportunity to use it.  Since the mint color seems to be all the rage this summer, I thought this would be a good opportunity to put this palette to use! 




The palette includes four eyeshadow colors: forest green, sheer glittering mint, sea foam green, shimmering ivory, and an eyeliner in matte dark green cream color.  


The texture of the eyeshadows are soft, but not too soft enough to be too powdery.  However, the pigmentation is severely lacking in these shadows.  I wanted to use the ivory and mint color, but found that they appeared too alike on the eye.  The dark green cream color was hard and was difficult to apply as an eyeliner without dragging it along my eyelid.  Overall, I am disappointed in this palette and the quality does not justify its price.  

Friday, July 20, 2012

Review: July 2012 Birchbox

Hello everyone! 


I can't help but rave that I am in LOVE with July's Birchbox! I was impressed with last month's offerings and continue to be impressed by Birchbox.  This month, Birchbox collaborated with Glamour magazine to bring us a box inspired by Glamour's Five Senses of Summer issue.  Each item included in the box can be attributed to one of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.  



In this month's box, I received... 



Beauty Blender
Sample of Harvey Prince's Hello Fragrance
Sample of Jouer's Luminizing Moisture Tint 
Stila Lip Glaze in Camera
Tea Forte Minteas
Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

If you've read my previous post on the Beauty Blender, you know how in love I am with them.  So imagine my delight when I received one in my Birchbox! The $10 I spent on the box this month has already been justified with just this one product.  

While I don't mind fragrance samples, it's always a difficult product because everyone has their own preference.  I don't mind Harvey Prince's Hello, however, it is not what I consider a summer scent.  It is very floral and I can see it giving me a headache if I apply too much.  

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint / Stila Lip Glaze in Camera

The mini sample of Jouer's Luminizing Moisture Tint was interesting.  I've been meaning to try out Jouer's products since hearing about them on missglamorazzi's YouTube videos, but haven't had much access to them.  Now that they're being sold at Nordstrom's, I may think about test driving out some of their products, especially after trying out this Moisture Tint.  The coverage it provides is very light -- very much like a tinted moisturizer.  It evens out my skintone, but does not cover my blemishes.  It feels very lightweight and refreshing to wear, especially in this sweltering summer heat.  

I've had a couple of Stila Lip Glazes before and I can say that I am still not a big fan.  The tacky texture and sticky residue it leaves is irritating to me.  I like glosses that have no taste and a non-sticky residue, much like Le Metier de Beaute's Sheer Brilliance Lip Glosses.  

The lifestyle extras were definitely fun! I can't say if the Teamints provided me with a boost of energy, but they are certainly delicious.  The bright colored earbuds are useful because I'm constantly misplacing my own earphones, so these will be a nice backup! 

I highly, highly, highly recommend you get a Birchbox... and soon! :) 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Review: NARS Joie De Vivre Cheek Palette

For Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, NARS released an exclusive cheek palette, Joie de Vivre.  It is very similar to the Danmari palette that was released exclusively for Sephora last year.  I had skipped on the Danmari palette because only half of the shades appealed to me, but this year's offering made my heart skip a beat.  It is currently available for Nordstrom cardholders, but will be available to the public on July 20.  It retails for $65.00 and features 4 blushes (Gaiety, Orgasm, Luster, Angelika), one highlighter (Albatross), and one bronzer (Laguna) with 0.12 oz of product each.  A regular sized NARS blush retails at $27.00 for 0.16 oz of product, so you're getting quite a deal! :) 




The packaging itself is like all other NARS packaging -- it has a rubberized covering with the NARS logo across the front.  I find that anything left on your hands will stick to the cover and make it look very dirty.  


From L to R: Albatross, Laguna, Gaiety, Orgasm, Luster, Angelika


The formula is very dry and hard (especially when swatching), but the color is certainly buildable when applying on the face.  The only color that required very little work was Angelika since it was very pigmented.  If anything, I would be careful with Angelika and apply with a light hand.  I think that this palette is a very good palette for those who are looking to explore NARS cosmetics or for makeup artists.  While I already own two of the blushes and the Laguna bronzer, I think that it is a welcome addition to any travel bag with its wide variety of colors.  It'll help you with any kind of look you're trying to achieve while on vacation!